Ghost novel review: Chasing Vito’s Ghost by G.R. Benyue

Publisher: SDP Publishing
Format: ebook
Source: Netgalley via Book Review Buzz in exchange for an honest review

Becka Brandt wants a new life. Grieving the death of her fiance in an explosion, Becka moves to New Bedford and rents a cottage. Once there, she discovers her new home comes with a cantankerous ghost named Vito. Becka has been able to see ghosts since childhood, a gift that has enabled her to win cases in her law practice.

Vito is not the only ghost Becka encounters. There are foretelling ghosts and even a squirrel ghost (I could do without the latter).

Becka soon becomes embroiled in solving a kidnapping and outwitting two poltergeists. To do this, Becka will need to delve into Vito’s past with the help of her prosecutor friend Faith and new love interest Ken. As Becka begins to fall for Ken, she must fight a feeling of disloyalty to her dead fiance. The author creates some nice tension around this plotline.

The story is quite good. It’s complex–moving between Becka’s home and FBI headquarters–and involves characters with varied backgrounds and secrets. All of which the author explores.

What is not as good is the writing. The sentences tend to be long and wordy or contain “as” clauses that confuse the reader. For instance, “Becka screamed as Veet’s hand grabbed Alec’s ankle” is confusing because the reaction precedes the action so the reader has to turn it around in her mind. What could have been an exciting moment is lost when the reader is pulled out of the story. There are many such opportunities to capitalize on tension with tight writing, opportunities the author misses.

Chasing Vito’s Ghosts feels quite cinematic and would made an exciting movie. However, flabby writing detracts from what is otherwise a wonderful ghost story.