Tangible Spirits Cover

Tangible Spirits – Review

TANGIBLE SPIRITS
by
BECKI WILLIS
Genre: Paranormal / Thriller / Suspense
Publisher: Clear Creek Publishing
Date of Publication: May 13, 2017
Number of Pages: 316

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Reporter Gera Stapleton has a difficult choice to make: write the story of a lifetime or save the legacy of a town—and a man—she has come to love. Assigned to a piece in Jerome, Arizona about a once-friendly ghost gone on a crime spree, Gera stumbles upon an amazing tale of greed, deception, and family honor—and murder. When the killer targets her as the next victim, an unlikely savior comes to her rescue. Smart dialogue, plenty of action, and a touch of the supernatural make this a must-read novel.

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“Becki Willis blends bits of history with bits of fancy and weaves a tantalizing tale you won’t soon forget.”
CLICK TO PURCHASE
2018 Best Paranormal Fiction
by The Association of Texas Authors
2018 RONE Award Finalist for Paranormal Long
Crowned Heart Recipient from InD’Tale Magazine
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Clueless Gent’s Rating

Tangible Spirits is not your typical ghost story.  Or even your atypical ghost story.  It is a story about greed, love, and an entire town’s willingness to believe in the possibility of life after death.  For this reader, that’s all it took for this story to completely draw me in.

At face value, that may not seem like a great recipe for a ghost story, or any story for that matter.  But that’s where the magic comes in!  The way Becki Willis intertwined greed, love and belief made for a very, very compelling story!

The Setting of Tangible Spirits

Map of Jerome, Arizona
© Arizona Leisure

This story takes place almost entirely in present day Jerome, Arizona.  Not only does this town actually exist, but it is heralded as a ghost town!  Arizona Leisure reports, “Jerome, Arizona is a ghost town alive and well. From wickedly wild to wildly artistic.1

I’m always fascinated when an author can so keenly craft fact with fiction, as Becki Willis did in Jerome, Arizona.  Her descriptions of the town are quite vivid.  For instance, one of the key landmarks in the story is a dilapidated building in the center of town.  I cannot imagine a building in this condition being easy to describe, yet Willis provided an imaginary view so realistic that I could clearly see the important parts in my mind’s eye.

(If you’re interested, I came across a cool YouTube video titled, Ghost Town! Jerome Arizona.)

The Determined Protagonist

I think all the key traits of a good protagonist can be found in reporter Gera Stapleton.  She is confident and extremely determined.  As an outsider only visiting the town, she is clearly at a disadvantage from the antagonist(s) when it comes to navigating the dangerous, sloping switchback roads or knowing who to trust.

As with any really good story, things are never as they seem.  Gera did not want this assignment – writing about a helpful ghost, of all things!  But when she arrives in town mere hours after a murder, her interest is piqued.  When she learns the most likely suspect is the ghost, which she does not believe exists, she puts herself on a mission to get to the real truth behind the killing.

Technically Speaking

I’ll admit that as I neared the end, I began to read more quickly.  But in the entire novel, I found only a single SPAG issue.  Kudos to Becki and her editing team!

The character arcs are clever, but the pacing is insane! (In a good way.) Seldom do I read a story where I have to fight my eyes trying to skip ahead to see who done it!  Yes, this occurred at the climax, but it was just so thrilling! By the time the climactic chapter ended, I felt like I was out of breath.

Now for the question that all would-be readers want to know: is there really a ghost in Jerome, Arizona? Hmm…. I can’t remember. I guess you’ll just have to read it for yourself.

I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
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CHECK OUT THE TRAILER!
To the delight of readers around the world, Becki Willis writes memorable characters in believable situations. Best known for Forgotten Boxes and The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series, Becki has won numerous awards, but says her biggest achievement is her family and her loyal reader base.
Tangible Spirits cover set in eerie forest backdrop
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GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
1st Prize: Signed Copy of Tangible Spirits + $20 Amazon Gift Card
2nd Prize: Signed Copy of Tangible Spirits
JUNE 27-JULY 6, 2018
(U.S. Only)
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
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Book Trailer
6/28/18
Review
6/29/18
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6/30/18
Author Interview
7/1/18
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7/2/18
Author Video I
7/3/18
Review
7/4/18
Author Video II
7/5/18
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7/6/18
Review
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Footnotes

  1. “Jerome Arizona Ghost Town.” Arizona Vacation, Arizona Leisure, www.arizona-leisure.com/jerome-arizona.html.

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