misspider

Stunning romance/mystery novel

Revisado: 05-13-15

What did you love best about Phantom Traces?

The well-balanced mixture of romance and ghost mystery, past and present complementing one another perfectly, weaving both plot lines into an intricate tale of love, loss and reunion. And the library setting, of course.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Harry the ghost! Because of his undying love for his wife and because he not only used Abbey for his own purposes, but helped her keep the library going.

What does Joshua Saulter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The smooth voice and subtle changes in pitch to reflect different voices or situations fit the story perfectly and was a pleasure to listen to. Being able to close my eyes while listening, I was able to visualize a very vivid image of the story taking place.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Two, actually. First the discovery of the graves, and second Harry's happy end.

Any additional comments?

The tension between Abbey and Jack was perceptible from the moment they first met, and what followed was the well-known romance routine: the first awkward encounters until both realize and succumb to their mutual affection for each other. The misunderstandings that leads to their breakup, leaving both of them miserable. The ultimate happy end when love overcomes all obstacles and brings them together again. While this may sound corny and boring, it was anything but, not least by the added ghost mystery.

With ardent zeal I followed Abbeys and Jacks inquiries about the history of the library and its ghostly resident Harry and his wife. The solution was a sad yet at the same time happy one. The past and present love stories complemented one another perfectly, weaving both plot lines into an intricate tale of love, loss and reunion.

The characters were well-drawn, very vivid and each one unique in their own way, creating a kaleidoscope of odd and endearing personalities. Add to that the library itself, which can be considered a main character as well. Following Abbey's tireless struggle to revive the musty old building against all odds was a pleasure by itself.

A note on the audio book version: this was my first real audio book and not being a native English speaker I was concerned about understanding everything correctly. However, the speaker was very well chosen, with clear pronunciation, using only subtle changes in pitch to reflect different voices or situations. The soft smooth voice fit the story perfectly and was a pleasure to listen to.

An outstanding romance/mystery novel in every sense - highly recommended.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

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