How to Seduce a Ghost

I had a difficult time getting into this book and considered putting it aside but I pushed past those feelings and I'm glad I did. I'm still not sure I actually care for the Nathalie (Lee), the protagonist, in fact, I convinced I don't like her. I am incredibly intrigued by her often ridiculous and neurotic thoughts and generally self-excusing behavior. There is a great cast of secondary character, eccentric and thoroughly British. The mystery is a bit scattered and surrounded by red herrings that seem more developed than clues about the actual culprit. The book was part murder mystery part the daily dealings of an almost 40-something woman. It was interesting and I'll read the next but I wasn't left anxious for more but several plot points were left hanging and I would love to find the answers.

A mix of Bridget Jones and Monk is how one of the cover quotes describes the character of Lee. That blends is what makes the book work and pulls you into the story, at least that is what made me relate to her. Not to mention the story has the perfect blend of romance, mystery, comedy and drama to keep the reader entertained throughout.

I think the author tried to cover too many issues in too short a time and it bogged the book down. It hasn't stopped me from reading book 2!

Sorry, but this book was plain stupid to me. I picked it up at the library just for the title, which is very clever and by far the best part of the book. There were about five zillion characters and subplots, most of which had nothing to do with advancing the actual storyline at all. The protagonist is just irritating. The writer fails miserably at trying to create a character with depth, and she just comes off as ridiculous. It's one of those books where this happens, then this happens, then this person says this, and that person says that, but there's no really getting to know that person. It's a lack of all those great things you learn about in English class - metaphor, simile, symbolism, etcetera. Blah blah blah blah. So glad it's over so I can move on to something better.

Lee is a ghostwriter for the stars--and it's the perfect job for her. She's a loner and a homebody unwilling to change her ways, even to marry her longtime boyfriend. She's too lazy to even call an electrician and worried they might disturb her routine. And then everything ruins her routine. A neighbor is killed, she thinks the celebrity she's writing for is being abused by her husband, and her mother moves it.<br /><br />This mystery was engaging from the beginning. Lee is a well-drawn interesting character I really felt a connection to. The writing was wonderful and the plot interesting. This is one of the best books I read this year.

Reading this book, I slip inexorably into the narrator's state of mind "oh, no, I couldn't POSSIBLY manage that." "Fancy a bit of a kip, do you?" She's passively aggravatingly twitteringly incapable.... and then she isn't. Fun read, a bit of a Mary Stewart vibe, some cloak and dagger, mixed in with a bit of afterschool special and some spunk. Home improvements. Housekeepers. The creeping, menacing DAMP. Fresh, hand delivered vegetables! (Although of course here they're "veg" since it's screamingly British.)

This book, which I picked up by chance at the library, almost surpassed it's 100 page limit (my "get out now" magic page number) and never really redeemed itself. It was very difficult to get into, the story line was all over the place and, to make matters worse, the main character, Lee, annoyed me with her indecision, "the recluse who is afraid of being alone". I can't recommend this book to anyone.<br /><br />

The best part about this book for me was the title. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but somehow it wasn't a book about women who love badly. Or rather who choose bad men to love. Or are unable to love, whether it's man, friend or parent. All in all it was rather depressing, especially since I somehow expected lighthearted romance. I did like the ending though, in terms of which man Lee ended up with. I'd say more, but it would be a spoiler.

I wouldn't exactly classify this book as a crime novel, yes a crime was committed, but Lee didn't seem particularly inclined to solve it until way over half way into the book. <br /><br />It was quite frustrating at times, I suppose I just couldn't relate to Lee at all, despite being very introverted as she is also meant to be. <br /><br />I was hoping for a little more with Max Austin, but that didn't seem to go anywhere. I don't think I'll be picking up the next book in the series.

A moderately reclusive ghostwriter becomes obsessively concerned, as she often does, when someone seems to have been murdered in her neighborhood.<br /><br />The plot thickens when she starts her new ghostwriting job.<br /><br />A page turner! I couldn't stop thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it. The ending was pretty good too. All in all a very good and entertaining read.