BestGhost: A Novelette

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.

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.

In the late hours of night I held my kindle tight in the dark, my blankets pulled up around my shoulders.
The blankets can’t stop the chills rolling through me as I read Bestghost and imagine there’s something in the dark with me. This story short yet incredibly effective in giving me the full blown creeps and then leaving me wanting more.
5 stars

A Novelette.

A short story. What better way to read a new author and dabble in an unfamiliar and less favoured genre.

Shops are already getting ready for the festival Halloween has become with ever more substance and decorations to capture a spooky trick or treat experience. What better time to read a ghost story and catch a chill or two running down my spine.

BestGhost is a sampler of a larger project, Tales From Cemetery!

Loved the quote about Scooby-Doo. But this isn’t some comic character driven ‘scare fest’ with explainable denouncements for the haunted fairground or mysterious circus. There is no logical explanations here, just a runaway ghost train of a ride with no driver or final destination.

The story builds slowly as two friends, Sean and Devon drive to an abandoned house to investigate a property with a gory past and a current reputation as a paranormal hotspot.

Armed with the latest gadgets and scientific equipment, the two intrepid ghost hunters aim to reach out to any trapped spirits and help them on their way. While feeding an ever growing fan base that tune in to their psychic presentations, blogs and podcasts.

The tension quickly ratchets up as they prepare for a long night in the old mansion. The writing is crisp and builds a sense of foreboding as the deserted house throws up unexplained events and possible encounters within the spirit realm.

The ending leaves the reader breathless and at a loss to fully comprehend what has happened over a couple of nights. Scope for the sceptics but room for an unexpected outcome, a deeper mystery and a legend to continue.

Wow. This is proof that you don’t need a lot of pages to sell a story. Daley’s novelette BestGhost entertains, grabs hold, and spooks you out! It’s definitely an homage to classic ghost stories and feels like something you’d tell over a campfire. The story follows two boys, Sean and Devon, who are filming content for their podcast/YouTube channel titled BestGhost. In their little town with its eerie cemetery, they decide to visit the haunted mayor’s mansion—known all throughout town as the place where the mayor, his wife, and their six children all died one tragic evening. There are rumors that the mayor was responsible, but no one really knows for sure.

As Sean (the believer) and Devon (the skeptic) hunt for the paranormal, they start to gather more and more evidence that makes them question everything. From flickering lights, weird noises, and strange audio, the tension slowly builds, and we feel the presence of something darker over the course of the two nights they spend in the mansion. Because this is a short read, I don’t want to spoil anything, but the balance between comedy and creep was perfect here.

What also stood out to me was how relatable the two boys felt. In such a short time, we’re able to easily get a sense of their friendship and see ourselves in both Sean and Devon. I really enjoyed the brevity of this read—it felt concise, with conversations that were to the point and contributed directly to the story’s end. Just know that BestGhost doesn’t end here. Do they live on to share their story, or do their experiences now become part of the haunted tale?

If you’re looking for a quick and spooky read, this is it. I’m glad I picked it up to kick off my spooky season. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more.

Thanks to Netgalley & the author for this digital arc.

This was a super short read but it packed a punch. I absolutely loved this. A paranormal investigation is always a winner in my eyes and this one was no exception. I feel like the length of the story was perfect for it, and I'd honestly LOVE the author to actually revisit this location and show us another investigation team going in to find out what happened to the people in this one. I feel like this story really sets up a fantastic base for the author to revisit the world and do more with it, I've got everything crossed that this will be the case.

There was sufficient creep factor, which in 44 pages can be difficult, but hey, Daley did it! I loved the characters, and I REALLY want to find out more!!

If you're after a quick spooky read for Spooktober, give this one a crack. I freaking loved it, can you tell?

This was a great short story paranormal book. For such a short book it was well paced. I would encourage anyone who is looking for a quick spooky read to give this book a try.

I have to be honest….this little Novlette terrified me, and books rarely give me the heebie jeebies. At first I thought it was going to lead toward corny. But it definitely was NOT corny. I would love a full length novel with fleshed out characters and backstory (what happened to the third member of their ghost hunting trio??). If you are looking for a quick scare, this will do it.