Ghost Huntress 4: The Counselling

Author: Marley Gibson

Published: Sept. 6, 2010

Publisher: Graphia

E Arc provided by: Publisher and Netgalley

Summary: Netgalley

Kendall has just discovered who Emily really is, lost her boyfriend, and nearly died doing the thing she loves most—ghost hunting. It's time to take a break and try to reconcile all the changes she's going through. So Kendall heads to the Sierra Mountains, where there's a camp especially for young people with gifts such as hers. It's a time for reflection and self-discovery. But when she gets to California, she once again finds restless spirits—and the boy in her last vision. It may be the end of one chapter of her life and the beginning of a new one.

I really enjoyed reading this book and felt the story had a sense of reality to it, as if the author knew what she was writing about. I read an interesting note attached to Ghost Huntress # 1, which I read in May of last year, that said ' The story is fiction, but the science is real'. It turns out that Ms Gibson knows a lot about ghost hunting and this comes through very clearly in her writing. She talks about different types of psychic abilities without ever making them seem far-fetched or unreal. Some people might think that guiding a restless spirit into the light is a bit hokey, but I found it rather beautiful.

The main character, Kendall, seems like a genuinely nice person and I found myself really rooting for her. She has a rather wry sense of humour, which was wonderful.

"My vessels pulse under my skin in my anticipation and eagerness, coupled with, quite frankly, my being scared shitless. I'm crawling on my trembling hands and knees on the dirt and grass with Talking Feathers's butt in my face as he leads the way in ........Sort of like how Luke Skywalker went to fight Darth Vader in the cave on Dagobah, or, in actuality, into his own dark side. Will I have a vision of slashing off some unknown enemy's head only to find my face on the decapitated portion? Jesus, Kendall. Get a grip, I hear Patrick say in my head."

Kendal is at a retreat with 12 other boys and girls. In the story they all pair up and I loved the way this happened so naturally, with no scheming or nastiness.

"Our unintended pattern of boy-girl-boy-girl seems fine with our two leaders."

As Kendall and Patrick are trying to solve the mystery behind one ghosts' death, their relationship developes slowly and carefully, both of them feeling their way around without rushing and Ms Gibson made it all seem so natural. Aaah, I wish I was 17 again - or not! Unfortunately I haven't read the 2nd and 3rd novels in the series, but luckily that wasn't too disastrous. I was able to follow along with the story quite nicely, and I am now determined to read them both so that I can find out what I missed.

If you like stories with a psychic element you're just going to love this one.