Digital Reads Reviews

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My review

I loved the way the book started. It had the right amount of horror and paranormal. The story had Riley, a reluctant medium, forced to spend a weekend with friends in Jordanville Ranch, home of deceased serial killer, Orin Jacobs. There Riley not only met the evil force of Orin, but a gentle spirit, Pete, who needed to be found. His mother was still mourning and waiting for him forty years hence.

Debut by Melissa Jackson started with a bang. I am not generally brave and this seemed like a good book for my foray into horror. The initial part was total fun and scary. I loved the way my fear skittered across my skin like tiny critters in a dark room where only the claws could be heard. I loved the way evil Orin sent his message to the main character, Riley for daring to enter into his territory, there was room rampage, the downing rods burning up palms. Wow!!

I loved the way Riley had to find her courage and go back to solve the kidnapping and murder in 1973. Romance started with the entry of Michael in the horror house, where both of them clicked. Michael was a great male lead, and the interactions between Riley and him were humorous and flirty. Besides he was very supportive. Romance between the two was light and breezy and it felt just right.

Then the book went into investigation and the reveal of a secret which had been kept buried for forty years. Therein started my niggles, I could read the horror in an hour, but the rest of the book took a couple of days. The investigation was slow and hardly any horror, and it felt like a routine mystery book. For me it lost its steam.

Overall the book had everything, horror, romance, mystery, ghosts, paranormal. So it was enjoyable.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating : 4 stars

About the Author

Melissa has had a love of stories for as long as she couldcan remember, but has only started penning her own during her freshman year in college.

She alternates mostly between fantasy and mystery with a paranormal twist. The Forgotten Child is her debut, the first in a paranormal mystery series.

Book blurb

Ever since Riley Thomas, reluctant medium extraordinaire, accidentally released a malevolent spirit from a Ouija board when she was thirteen, she’s taken a hard pass on scary movies, haunted houses, and cemeteries. So when her best friend pressures her into spending a paranormal investigation weekend at the infamous Jordanville Ranch—former home of deceased serial killer Orin Jacobs—Riley is one-hundred-percent not ready.

Shortly after their arrival at the ranch, the spirit of a little boy contacts Riley; a child who went missing—and was never found—in 1973.

In order to put the young boy’s spirit to rest, she has to come to grips with her ability. But how can she solve a mystery that happened a decade before she was born? Especially when someone who knows Orin’s secrets wants to keep the truth buried—no matter the cost.

Product Details

Publication date : 10th October, 2018

Publisher : Ringtail Press

30 Responses

  1. Very interesting review! I’m a huge fan of horror so I’m always on the lookout for creepy books. Too bad the investigative aspect detracted from the story 🙁

  2. Hmmm that’s always a shame when a book starts promising, and then runs out of steam😢 Loved the horror aspect you describe here though: and it’s Halloween this month: so I guess the perfect time to read this one😉😊 Wonderful post…but that ‘s no surprise😘😉😊

    1. Thank you… You are my staunch supporter😘😍 I don’t celebrate Halloween, it is more of a fun festival time in my country from today…
      I did want more of horror in this book

  3. You’re very brave to read horror…not my cup of tea. When I was younger, I loved Robert R. McCammon’s books, but in my old age, I seem to prefer less scary books. Another nice review, Shalini. Hope all is well in your part of the world. 🙂

    1. Hahaha darlin, unless you are 85, you are not old. So you are young and chirpy and I am trying out light horror to get over my fear hehehe. How has your week been?

  4. Well, in that case, since you have declared me young (my kid would disagree–in her eyes, I’m ancient LOL), then I might just check this one out…I will honestly read anything that holds my attention. Enjoy the rest of your week! 🙂

  5. Now this sounds interesting! I like the cross-genre between horror and mystery, sorry to hear that the investigation wasn’t as entertaining though. Sounds like a good Halloween read though. Great review!

  6. Hi girl, I’m so glad that you gave this book a try. I personally got too into the book to even care about the slower parts. This was one of the best debuts that I’ve read in a while… I hope that she releases physical copies soon. ♥

    1. This was a fab read… The previous book had child abuse so I was a little apprehensive, but this was not so graphic… So it was a good police procedural

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