Help for the Haunted

A Novel

By: John Searles

Narrated by: Emma Galvin

John Searles’s Help for the Haunted is an unforgettable story of a most unusual family, their deep secrets, their harrowing tragedy, and ultimately, a daughter’s discovery of a dark and unexpected mystery.

Sylvie Mason’s parents have an unusual occupation—helping “haunted souls” find peace. After receiving a strange phone call one winter’s night, they leave the house and are later murdered in an old church in a horrifying act of violence.

A year later, Sylvie is living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened to their parents. Now, the inquisitive teenager pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night—and to the truth about her family’s past and the secrets that have haunted them for years.

Capturing the vivid eeriness of Stephen King’s works with the compelling quirkiness of John Irving’s beloved novels, Help for the Haunted is that rare story that brings to life a richly imagined and wholly original world.

Twists and suspense plus believable

Really liked the suspense and twists.
You may think you have it figured out. Just wait and see. Sylvie is a brave gal!

A page turner that will keep you wanting more

I loved this book. I liked the pace of the story told through a teenager’s voice as she remembers things about her parents who were murdered. It is suspenseful and the main character is one brave girl.

Not as good as I had hoped

The description sounded much more exciting than the book was. The title led you to believe that it would involve more hauntings, but it didn't. I do have to say that I didn't see the ending coming but was still disappointed.

Flawed but gripping

Any additional comments?

I don't usually like books in which a precocious pre-teen/teen is the main character, but in this book it works, especially with the excellent reading by Emma Galvin. I grew more squeamish about the parents and their weird life but kept reading because the mystery was compelling. Did not like the ending...culprit came completely out of left field which I think is cheating for a mystery writer. Also, Mr. Searles has a wonderful writing style but seems to have problems with past participles of some verbs and it's kind of jarring..."she sunk", "we snuck" (really?!), "he spit".

thoroughly absorbing

An excellent mystery that all though very slow moving draws you in and keeps going till the end. If I were to compare it to another book it would be Lovely Bones although the story is very different , the feel of it is very similar. It is the story of a 14 year old girl whos demon/ghost hunting parents are murdered. Follow as she struggles to come to terms with and piece together what happened on the night of their murder and deals with what she learns about her family in the process. Although not high action suspense I did not want to stop listening until I finished the book. I did not figure out the ending until it was revealed. The narrator did perfect portraying a 14 year old girl.