Perfect for fans of ghost hunting shows like Buzzfeed Unsolved, this debut sampler from C.J. Daley’s upcoming short story collection ‘Tales From Cemetery’, is a fun way to kick off spooky season. A short, quick read that will thrill and chill. I had an absolute blast with this one. I love ghost stories and ghost hunter shows and this little novelette packed a punch that left me very excited to read more of Daley’s stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and BestGhost Books for the eARC of 'BestGhost' by C. J. Daley in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars out of 5.

This is not ready for the shelves, at all.

The text is extremely crowded and as such is very hard to read, at least, for me, personally. Perhaps a different font would fix this? I think skipping the cool font and keeping it normal and focusing more on the cover and content to give the little shiver because the font just isn't cutting it.

However, being a found footage horror (which I have never really enjoyed) it wasn't bad, had a good couple twists and it left you with more questions than you had before and during combined.

I didn't really click with the characters and there was a lot of talk about characters I know nothing about which I felt steals the attention away from the plot and story and just feels like unneeded filler

I think you should bring back the dog. Lmao. I love dogs. Just don't hurt it.

Anyway, this has great potential, I think.

4 stars

Modern ghost hunters with the latest equipment looking for proof of life after death disappear in a haunted mansion. Say less. This short novella hit all my buttons. I can't wait for this author's full length novel!

A fun, short, creepy read full of paranormal deliciousness.
Sean and Devon run a ghost hunting video channel and are on a mission to capture evidence in their town’s supposedly haunted old mansion. Sean believes in every bump in the night, and Devon is the comedic skeptic. The characters feel real, the atmosphere is alive - or dead? - and the spine chilling factor is amped up from the beginning. When video equipment of the boys’ adventure is discovered, nobody can truly make out exactly what happened during their investigation… and what became of them that fateful night.
I can’t wait to read more from this author, and am throughly impressed at how spooky this was in only around 40 pages! Bravo!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love a spooky little story, but this one just didn't work for me. I struggled a lot with the writing, and especially the dialogue, feeling like it lacked finesse. Neither the diction nor the syntax read as particularly atmospheric or even intentional, which left me struggling to feel very immersed in the world the author had created.

Comparing this to Buzzfeed Unsolved isn't entirely incorrect. It's two guys, one believer and one skeptic, walking around a purportedly haunted house, hoping to catch some ghostly activity on camera for their channel. Unlike Shane and Ryan, however, Sean and Devon didn't have any particularly enjoyable banter. Their conversations were stiff and awkward for two characters intended to be fairly young.

I wanted to like this. I wanted this to help get me in the mood for Halloween and all things spooky. Unfortunately, it didn't. I don't foresee myself ever seeking out the larger collection of which this novelette will be a part.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Best Ghost a Novelette.
Fast and quick and scary read.
Two ghost hunters go to an old abandoned mansion I search of well ghosts.
Well this is pretty good well worth the 15 minutes. Short and scary. 4 stars

a short introduction to the cemetery’s series soon out. i’m a fan of “ghost hunting” “paranormal investigations” — that type of stuff. so, when i discovered this novelette (my first one!) i was immediately hooked. it gave me chills, the writing style is immersive to the reader. i’m highly anticipating the full story of cemetery!
really great if you want to tape in in a new genre, without giving too much of your time because you’re not sure if it’s going to work with you.

i’ll recommend it to my friends! and also, perfect for the fall season for a quick read!

This worked so well as a opener to the Halloween season, it was so well done and was a great teaser for Tales From Cemetery. The story had that horror element that I was looking for and glad it worked in the genre. I enjoyed getting to know the characters in this and how it worked well with making me want to read the full book.

This is a very short story given as a sample of the upcoming Tales From Cemetery. Since the complete volume is not available yet, I may be mistaken but the concept reminds me of Josh Malerman’s excellent “Goblin.” Cemetery is the city where the action is set. The old, abandoned, Mayor’s Mansion is said to be haunted. Sean and Devon decide to film an episode there for their Ghost Hunter’s channel. The story is too short to give an idea of where a complete collection would go, but I enjoyed the creepiness. I was surprised to find that some parts were actually scary. There is enough backstory on the characters to care about what happens to them, and the plot is paced well. The balance between the descriptions of the place and the action sets up the story without slowing it down. I wasn’t completely in love with the dialogues, but the characters are younger than me, so they may sound more realistic to younger readers.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/BestGhost Books.

This is a fun little spooky read. It will definitely get you in the mood for spooky season ahead. I can definitely recommend this one.

I always enjoy a good ghost hunters getting more than they bargained for story and this was a very good one. The best part for me was the ending and the eeriness of it; it just really made the entire novelette for me.

The writing was enjoyable and engaging and I look forward to seeing the full collection from the author. This story is definitely worth reading.

I enjoyed this short little ghost story. Now that it’s fall, I’m looking for all the spooky vibes. This delivered! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this novelette in exchange for an honest review.

I admit to being easily scared, IRL and in books/film/tv/videos. That has nothing to do with my total fright at BESTGHOST, which contains admirably implacable and unexpected REAL HORROR!! Never has an amateur Paranormal investigation resulted in such incredible consequences nor such terrible results! Skeptical about Life-After-Death? Scoff no more. I'd check to see if my hair turned white...but actually, I'm too afraid to look in a mirror.

A town called Cemetery. The Old Mayor’s Mansion. An unsolved murder of a family of eight decades ago. Add Sean and Devon, hosts of the BestGhost channel. They spend two nights in this dark, creepy house, testing their new equipment, recording a show and…well, you’ll have to read this suspenseful, terrifying 44 pages of horror to learn what comes next.

BestGhost: A Novelette is a sample from the upcoming Tales from Cemetery. Author C.J. Daley has a gift for building tension, the kind the makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up. If this is an example of what will be included in Tales from Cemetery, I can’t wait to read it. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, BestGhost Books and C.J. Daley for this ARC.

This is exactly what it claims to be. A short and sweet ghost hunting tale that is perfect for fans of Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural or any ghost hunter show.

A couple of friends go in to investigate a very well known haunted building in the town of Cemetery and record it for their burgeoning social media career. They get more than they bargain for during their investigation, though…

I enjoyed this!!

Short but tense and morose in a good way. Daley has a brilliant way of impactful prose that really grasps you.

Another Buzzfeed Unsolved inspired 'youtubers investigate a haunting and shit goes south' story. This was fine but nothing new or original. If you're in the fandom, you might enjoy this more than I did. I enjoyed the section Night Two but the banter in the lead up felt awkward and forced.

Horror doesn’t often wait to be invited in”

Join Sean and Devon (aka Boomer) from "BestGhost Hunters" as they explore the spine-chilling Old Mayor’s Mansion, a Victorian-era hotspot for paranormal activity in the town of Cemetery. After the gruesome murder of Mayor Ratchett and his family in 1878, this mansion lay abandoned and promises thrills and chills for both the hosts and viewers.

The first night kicks off with Sean and Devon setting up for their ghost-hunting adventure. Armed with their Spirit Box, they recount the mansion’s dark past, as a creepy intro for their viewers. As the night goes on, eerie noises begin to echo through the halls, culminating in a series of ominous thumps from above that leave them questioning what truly lurks within the shadows.

Returning for a second night, the two attempt to communicate with the spirits. Devon's misadventures take a turn when he is seemingly pushed down the basement stairs. The atmosphere quickly shifts when he feels a mysterious grip on his arm, and viewers are left with his screams. Meanwhile, Sean is faced with the daunting task of uncovering the mansion's secrets alone while battling the supernatural forces at play.
Sean and Devon’s banter added a fun touch amidst the chilling discoveries, making for an engaging read. Will they uncover the truth behind the hauntings,and be able to contact the spirits or will they become part of the mansion's tragic legacy?

Stay tuned for more short stories coming soon….mwah ha haaaaaa…

I’m not really into horror, especially this type of horror, but since it was really short and it was the author’s birthday, I wanted to give it a try. The writing flowed really well and the story creeped me out so much! So kudos to the author for that. Well done. Something about the ending didn’t quite work for me though. Something was missing. I can’t really put my finger on it. The abruptness was good but I don’t know. Keep in mind that this isn’t really my genre so take my opinion with a grain of salt. But overall, well done​ and I’d be happy to read more from the author (as long as it’s not horror).