A well written novel but I didn't finish the book. This is not my sort of read as it involves supernatural subjects in which I have no interest

"October Surprise" wasn't really my cup of tea. I think I was expecting more from the synopsis and was just let down by the actual story. I didn't really enjoy the writing style either.

This short short story had an interesting idea that could’ve been developed more, but still worked for me as a quick read. Essentially it’s a political conspiracy thriller with a supernatural slant set in an unspecified American city.

Esme, a medium whose gift has inexplicably abandoned her, feels bereft when she can no longer help her clients or make a living. What she doesn’t know is that a skilled team of public relations operatives, commissioned by the corrupt state governor who is up for reelection, are controlling everything that happens to her and trying to manipulate her into an assassination attempt which will gain him enough sympathy to win. With radio-frequency blockers cutting her off from her powers and her life in ruins, only The Lady, her spirit guide, can take back control and wreak revenge.

I’m generally not a fan of short stories unless they feature characters I already know, as I always want more background, more descriptions and a properly fleshed out plot, but I did like this and did not foresee how it would pan out.
At the time of writing this only has one other pretty harsh review on GR. It would be better if it was clearer from the blurb that this was only a short story to avoid further reader disappointment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.
October Surprise is available now.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

what i thought sounded like an interesting book to get stuck into turned into something that was just a tad unbelieveable...more umph was needed and better thought out paragraphs...and in the end i could not finish it

but thats not to say if the story was redone...with added material in there it could be a better book

Esme was a gifted medium able to communicate with the dead. No longer held back, spirits were freer to unveil their never-before-revealed true feelings once they had crossed over. It'd brought her great satisfaction being able to bring the deceased together with their loved ones. Nothing else in the world could replace the satisfaction she received from her pivotal role in it.

On another front, the governor's bid for his re-election was in full swing. Esme vehemently found herself in staunch opposition. It was blatantly shown, during his previous term he ruled with a merciless, iron fist. Anyone that was careless enough to get in his way would pay dearly with their life. His campaign had been illegally overfunded from a chemical company that had been responsible for many avoidable deaths. It was the worst of dirty politics ever witnessed. At all costs, this man needed to be stopped.

Any demonstrators that rallied against the governor were harshly met with violence by neo-Nazi thug supporters. Their sanctioned actions only further divided the alienation between the two sides. Whatever it would take to win, the power-hungry governor showed no remorse.

Esme was in possession of damning evidence that would surely derail the governor's bid for re-election. It would be released one month before votes were cast. It would be his October surprise. He would never see it coming.

Totally unexpected, a strange occurrence of a supernatural order had chosen Esme and unleashed upon her great power. Outnumbered and completely alone, she would take on the governor and his group of gangsters. If worst came to worst, she would go down fighting for a just cause.