This was one I was glad I stuck with, because I really enjoyed the last 3/4 of it. Once it took a surprise weird turn, I was in.
The beginning reminded me too much of other things I’d read with a bunch of culty, rich, puppet-master types manipulating the heroes. I was feeling bored with that and with Lionel and Maddie’s initial flirtation, which felt forced and smarmy. After getting to know their characters more in a magical context I enjoyed, I was rooting for those crazy kids all the way. The action was good, and I was able to figure out some, but not all, of the mysteries.
This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and it makes me curious about his other work. It was good on audio, bumped up a notch for speed. Susannah Jones did a nice job with all the different characters and accents. ( )

Marked DNF and 75%. I just had no interest in continuing this.

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Ghosts of Gotham by Craig Schaefer is a novel taking place in present day New York City, involving a search for a missing manuscript by Edgar Allen Poe in a hidden world of magic and magical creatures. Mr. Schaefer has wrote several books which deal with the supernatural and the occult.

Lionel Page, a journalist, is making a name for himself exposing con men, specializing in those promising miracles, through G-d or otherwise, as well as psychics. Lionel is hired by an elderly, and very wealthy, woman to track down a valuable manuscript by Edgar Allen Poe.

Finding himself in New York City, Lionel meets Maddie, another lost soul trying to get away from her past. Together Lionel and Maddie team up to an adventure which changes Lionel’s perspective on the world as he knows it, as well as his own life.

Reading the description for this book it seems to be right up my alley including books about books (who doesn’t love those?), magic, and an interesting premise. With these high hopes, I was glad that Ghosts of Gotham by Craig Schaefer actually did deliver.

While the manuscript is a small part of the story, simply meant to drive the plot forward and an excuse to join up some characters, it was still a worthy idea and well executed. New York City, written in a way which reminds me of the grim noir novels, is a perfect setting for the dark forces at work, as well as the personal trauma the protagonists of this story go through. While I read better books that deal with the magical aspect of their respective worlds, I thought that the characters were written very well and helped tremendously to drive the plot forward and tell the story.

How Lionel Page, a public figure, managed to stay hidden all these years after what has happened to him as a child, becoming a minor macabre celebrity was the biggest plot hole for me, but didn’t really take away much of the enjoyment from the book. The magical / witching aspect was a fun side, but even without it the book would have been a wonderful mystery, even if it just followed Poe’s strange manuscript.

This novel was a lot of fun to read, a tongue-in-cheek madness with fun characters and narrative. The climax is predictable, but did not detract from my enjoyment. ( )

I really liked this book. It had everything I like, mystery, suspense, romance and magic but it also included tragedy, death and deception. This book started as an investigative journey and turned into a paranormal adventure. A mystery involving a short story by Edger Allen Poe turns into something else entirely and it’s all good. The story includes the Russian mafia, Greek mythology, Arthurian legends and a magical underworld all woven together seamlessly. I will definitely read more books by this author and hope that this book is part of a series and not just a standalone. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. ( )

I came into this book already a fan of Craig Schaefer's writing, and this book did not disappoint. In fact, it might be my favorite of his so far.

I love that the story is rooted in reality, making the supernatural and fantasy aspects feel like they might well be happening around us. While we delve into magic and witches and ghosts, the content never feels far-fetched. So I now believe in secret magic societies. Go ahead and judge me!

The characters are all well developed, unique, and fascinating. Lionel is the perfect everyday hero. He's likable, imperfect, and unprepared for the craziness he finds himself drawn into.

The plot immediately hooked me. This story is complex, yet easy to get lost in.

I want to talk about Madison and all that we learn about her, the underworld and what exists there, and that Poe manuscript... but I can't, because I don't want to give any spoilers. And so I'll just I found it all fascinating.

This is a fun, exceptionally well written, totally entertaining novel.

*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via NetGalley.* ( )