Genre: Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Darik Wilson was normal young man in college until the day he stumbled across a man’s body in a local park. When he touched it, the man’s ghost appeared. It scared the hell out of Darik as the ghost of Cornell Albright begged him to find his murderer. He was the thirteenth victim of the serial killer dubbed as X for the way he laid out his victims. Cornell told Darik what little he recalled about his killer, which Darik passed on to Detective Lang, who believed in the paranormal. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to find X, who ceased his murderous spree after Cornell’s death. Cornell stayed around, unable to move on because X was never caught.
Ten years later, X reappears. Darik is on the scene when the third of his victims is discovered, and with Cornell’s help he is able to talk to Morris and relay what he learns to Detective Lang. Now, Darik has two ghosts to contend with. At the same time, he meets Steve Grainger while out jogging. When Steve comes to Darik’s costume shop to rent a costume they strike up a tentative friendship, planning to run together at a park the following Sunday morning.
Things don’t go quite as they expected when X strikes again, killing a man who, in the early morning light might have been mistaken for Steve. Darik and Steve are there when a woman finds the body, at which point Steve discovers he, too, has the ability to see ghosts.
Now, the problem becomes, was Steve the intended victim? If so, will they be able to find and stop X, with the help of the three ghosts, before he strikes again?
The Review
Darik Wilson is on his way through the park when he discovers a body. Little does he know it’s the latest victim of X, the serial killer. Cornell Albright is now a ghost, and begs Darik to find his killer.
Darik can’t believe he has just seen and heard a spirit. As scared as he is, Darik finds the police and tells them about the body. Before the spirit disappears, Cornell gives Darik clues of what he remembers: big, dirty, rough hands which smelled of grease and motor oil.
Darik is a college student, and he fears what might happen to him if he relays to the detective what he was told by the ghost. He struggles through his lectures, and when he returns home, the ghost is waiting for him in his apartment. They talk, and try to come up with an idea of how to tell the police. When Darik sees a newscast about the murder, he does some research and finds the detective Robert Lang, who has worked with psychics in the past. Luckily for Darik, he finds an ally in Detective Lang. But X, the serial killer, is never found, and Cornell can’t move on without resolving his own murder.
Ten years later, Cornell and Darik are still companions. Darik graduated with a BA in costume design, found a job at a local theatre, and at twenty-seven became the owner of a costume shop. Now at thirty, his costume shop has gained a great reputation, which helps him buy a small house.
Then it happens – a new victim – and Cornell and Darik are at the scene. Cornell makes contact with the victim’s spirit. Darik is shocked to find it’s one of his customers from his shop. His name as Morris Burke, and the clues he provides are the same. The only one Darik can relay any of the information to is Detective Lang.
Besides dealing now with both Cornell and Morris, Darik takes up jogging at the local park. Periodically, he sees another man jogging, and waves hello. To his surprise, the man shows up one day at his costume shop.
Steve Grainger lives a busy life, with both work and night classes. Darik is very busy too, with his shop. Steve encourages Darik to join him on his runs. A very gradual friendship develops between them. One day, while Steve and Darik are out for a run in the park, there’s another victim. Steve can’t believe what he’s seen, and finally tells Darik that it’s not the first time he saw a ghost.
Now all three victims – Cornell, Morris and Eddie – are relying on Darik and Steve to help them discover who X is, so they can move on. Darik and Steve, along with the ghosts, will have make a plan to catch X, before Steve or Darik become the next target.
I like that it is centered around the investigation of the murders, and X’s motive. It’s also fun to watch Darik and Steve go slowly from friendship to dating to more. Darik is the “take it slow” type, while Steve would like to speed things up, but he respects Darik’s wishes.
Darik Wilson, Ghost Talker reminded me of another series by Kendrick about Sage Crewe and Detective Mike Harris. Sage could see and hear ghosts. It was fun, as the ghost were all gay and often got into mischief. But it also had its moments of sadness as the victims realized their fate. As I read along I kept thinking Sage or Mike would pop up in this story.
I was very entertained with Darik Wilson, Ghost Talker and liked the direction Kendrick took this story. It was different – a bit more serious than some of his earlier ghost tales – with twists and turns and just the right touch of humor. Another great ghostly tale with a sweet, slow burn romance.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.