Editorial Review: Trudy Hicks Ghost Hunter . Case One -The Deceit

Trudy Hicks hunts ghosts. Not to prove they exist— but to figure out why they’re still here. For readers who enjoy a fun, adventurous paranormal mystery, Case One - The Deceit, this is the book to pick up.

Trudy's first case at a mansion in Chicago brings her to the mystery of a young woman’s death, and the possibility that the woman’s ghost is still trudging the halls of her former estate. While there, she’s partnered with a man who wants nothing more than to debunk her theory that ghosts roam this land. Trudy really wants to hate this man, he’s basically the antithesis to everything she believes, but as they work together, she realizes that she may be falling for him. Every time he tries to show her up, it seems to bring them closer.

Told through alternating points of view, past and present, Lori Zaremba weaves an intriguing story.  Through Vanessa's viewpoint, readers get to know the young woman who fell to her death all those years ago. Interspersed between chapters narrated by Trudy, Vanessa’s story gives the book the perfect amount of mystery. As the tone changes between Trudy’s sarcastic character to Vanessa’s innocence and back, readers can really get a feel for how the times have changed.

Case One - The Deceit has several different sub-stories, which makes it even more fun to read. Not only do readers get to watch Trudy ruefully fall for her supposed worst enemy while trying to dissect the mysteries of the past, but also discover what happened to Vanessa almost one hundred years ago.
Trudy has her stuff together, though she has her faults - but that’s to be expected, as she’s human. The characters in this novel are well thought out, three dimensional, and come off the page like real people.

The writing seamlessly flows between the two narratives. Zaremba writes Trudy in a very modern voice, while Vanessa has an air of historical virtue. The book is easy to read, something that can be picked up and put down, or read all the way through without an issue. Even when the narrator changes, it is done in such a way that the reader still feels as if the story has not changed. It’s clear the author took the time to integrate different parts of history to weave a cohesive story. 

Many different genres are interspersed throughout these pages - people from all walks of life will enjoy this read. Those looking for a lighthearted novel that will shock, entertain and bring a touch of fantasy, will find this book the perfect place to start. 

A light hearted mystery novel that packs a romantic punch.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.