Let the Ghosts Speak

De: Bryan Davis

Narrado por: David Pickering

Let the ghosts speak, but will the sane heed their counsel?

In 19th-century Paris, Justin Trotter, an immigrant from England, is making his way as a book translator while paying for his blind twin sister’s care. One evening, Marc Noël, Justin’s well-to-do friend and fellow thespian, invites him to a masquerade party at an abandoned schoolhouse.

Justin hopes this will be an opportunity to get to know Marc’s lovely though sharp-tongued sister Francine. At the event, Justin meets four ghostly strangers - two adults and two children - who warn him that the party guests are in danger, and they must leave at once.

True to their prediction, a murder takes place, and Justin is the prime suspect. He escapes and becomes a fugitive, hiding in the Paris catacombs. Mystery and intrigue swirl as the ghost of Joan of Arc and other martyrs guide Justin on a lonely journey to prove his innocence and protect his sister from an abusive caretaker.

Who really committed the crime? Marc? Francine? A ghost? And does seeing these ghosts mean he is going insane?

Maybe, he really is the murderer, after all. There is only one way to find out: to let the ghosts speak as they reveal the mysteries within Justin’s mind.

©2020 Bryan Davis (P)2020 Mountain Brook Ink

Spellbinding

Wish there was a series of these books. I would listen to all of them.

A supernatural murder mystery with deep themes.

Let the Ghosts Speak by Bryan Davis, is a historical murder mystery with supernatural elements.

I was enthralled while listening and the story kept me guessing at every turn.

A murder at a masquerade party leaves Justin Trotter as the only stranger and the prime suspect. He knows he didn't do it, but the person he suspects is a ghost.

The plot is intense, not only is it a fast paced mystery, it even includes a treasure hunt for lost relics. Add to all this the ghosts which leave you wondering at the mental state to our narrating protagonist.

I couldn't stop, and I found myself dwelling on the story while unable to listen. This is in part because of the writing but also in lage part because of the narrator. David Pickering reads this story with a true gift for voices and accents.

What makes a great story though is the resolution and this one is sure to haunt me for days to come.

Amazing Story

I had already read the print version of this story, so I already knew the story, but even knowing the story the audio version adds so much life to the story. I recommend all who get a chance to listen to it.

A dream-logic tale of murder and mysticism

I got to read an alpha version and an advanced reader copy of this before finally getting the Audible version, so I got to enjoy seeing it develop into the current form.

The story has a framing device of a detective investigating a vicious crime, and a narrator sharing a tale in his own defense. Much like Till We Have Faces (C.S. Lewis), the narrator's perspective colors the facts and leaves the reader wondering how much is entirely true, and how much the narrator has misinterpreted. Much of the narrator's thinking is dream logic and mysticism. The book itself is firmly in the genre of magical realism. After reading through three times, I am not convinced of the narrator's innocence, though I believe he believes it.

For those familiar with the author, this is much deeper and artistic than his usual offerings. He's written many entertaining stories, but this has significant literary merit.

This is the first time I've heard this audio book reader, but his performance is superb.