The Skelf women have been keeping their heads down, running the family’s funeral directors and private investigation businesses. But when a woman collapses at her husband’s funeral and is saved by Dorothy, she finds herself drawn into the murky world of ‘grief tech’ – a booming new industry that creates digital avatars of the dead.
Jenny’s latest case – a simple blackmail job for an old school friend – quickly spirals into chaos as the woman’s tangled love life pulls Jenny towards dangerous old habits.
Meanwhile, Hannah and her wife, Indy, are confronted by the unexpected arrival of Indy’s ex-boyfriend, claiming to be dying and eager for the Skelfs to arrange his funeral. But his arrival uncovers more ghosts from the past, and threatens to upend everything they’ve built.
As their cases collide and their personal lives spiral, the Skelfs face danger from all sides. How far will they go to protect one another, and what will it cost to finally silence the ghosts?
Warm, tense and full of heart, Ghost Notes is another masterful instalment in Doug Johnstone’s award-winning, addictive Skelfs series, and the stakes are higher than ever…
What did I think?
Ghost Notes is The Skelfs book 7 and I just cannot get enough of this fabulous series. I don't even read the blurb when a new instalment comes out as they are must-reads for me. You could most definitely read Ghost Notes as a standalone but you really don't want to miss the earlier books in the series too,
The Skelf women work both separately and together as they are very busy running their funeral and private investigation businesses. I just love catching up with Dorothy, Jenny and Hannah and I am so invested in their lives that it feels like meeting old friends. There are several strands to the perfectly plotted storyline but it never gets confusing and it keeps the pace going at a rate of knots.
Combining mystery and intrigue with a hugely entertaining and thought-provoking story, I positively devoured this book as if I hadn't read a book for years. I found it very thought-provoking as Doug Johnstone candidly explores how we deal with death and grief. I just hope the avatars of the dead remain in the book and they don't make it out into the real world, although I also wouldn't be surprised if there's something like this already out there. As comforting as it would be to have a digital version of your loved one, it also leaves bereaved people open to exploitation at their most vulnerable time.
Incredibly entertaining from start to finish, I couldn't read Ghost Notes fast enough and I'm still thinking about it long after turning the final page. The Skelfs is one of my favourite series and I hope that it never ends...fast forward to 3026 and Digital Doug Johnstone releases book 1007 in the series!
I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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Doug Johnstone is the author of twenty novels, many of which have been bestsellers. The Space Between Us was chosen for BBC Two’s Between the Covers, while Black Hearts was shortlisted – and The Big Chill longlisted – for Theakston Crime Novel of the Year. Three of his books – A Dark Matter, Breakers and The Jump – have been shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize. Doug has taught creative writing or been writer in residence at universities, schools, writing retreats, festivals, prisons and a funeral home. He’s also been an arts journalist for 25 years. He is a songwriter and musician with six albums and three EPs released, and he plays drums for the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a band of crime writers. He’s also co-founder of the Scotland Writers Football Club and lives in Edinburgh with his family.
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