THE GHOST OF SHANTEL THOMPSON
by Curtis Maynard
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
Paranormal Thriller
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
When the Riggs family in Mobile, Alabama, faced the mysterious death of their adoptive daughter Shantel Thompson, they never imagined her ghost would linger for decades…
In Curtis Maynard's heart-stopping paranormal thriller, 'The Ghost of Shantel Thompson,' a new family, fifty years later, grapples with a haunting legacy where the line between life and death is hauntingly thin.
Just as they begin to settle into their new life, their own young daughter is gripped by chilling visions of Shantel. It's not just fleeting shadows—she's entangled in a vengeful spirit's relentless quest for justice, a quest that spans generations.
As whispers from the grave reveal long-hidden secrets, this new family faces a terrifying truth: some ghosts refuse to be silenced. Now, they must confront the mystery of Shantel's death before her ghostly agenda consumes them all.
Dare to uncover the truth? 'The Ghost of Shantel Thompson' awaits to send shivers down your spine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Hours drifted away as they immersed themselves in the accounts of the murder day, meticulously examining interviews with the neighbors. It was during this exhaustive search that Sarah stumbled upon an article that sent a shiver down her spine. Her face turned pale, and she repeated the word "no" in disbelief.
Concern etched on his features, Damian inquired, "Honey, what's wrong?" His worry grew as he witnessed his wife's deteriorating condition.
Handing him the article, Sarah whispered, "Read it. It's about the little girl who was murdered. She was adopted, just like Alicia. And look at the name. Shantel."
Damian's trembling hands held the article as he absorbed its contents. Shantel had been ten years old, the exact age their daughter had been when they had adopted her and moved to this very town. The uncanny similarities between the two girls sent a chill down his spine.
"D-Damian?" Sarah attempted to regain her husband's attention, her voice quivering. "Damian?"
"I'm sorry," he replied, placing the article down. "It's just... It hits too close to home. I mean, what are the odds that we would move into the very house where she was killed?"
"And the name, Damian. Shantel. How could Alicia possibly know about her? We never disclosed the fact that a murder had occurred in our home," Sarah lamented.
"Do you think she found out from someone else?" Damian posed the question, searching for answers.
"Who, Damian? She hardly leaves the house, except to go to school. Yet somehow, she learned about Shantel. Unless... never mind," Sarah dismissed a fleeting thought, her anxiety evident. "I'm letting my imagination run wild again. I've watched one too many horror movies," she chuckled nervously, masking her unease.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: It all began when two loving parents adopted 10-year-old Shantel Thompson.
At first, the little girl would crawl into her own quiet shell, not really relating or talking to her new parents. Eventually, Shantel opened up to their love.
The words here were flowery and well-put. Although the dialogue was nice and strong, it just seemed too Old English and not really fitting for a couple from Mobile, AL. It felt more like reading King Arthur or Robin Hood. The pace was rather slow. It takes a while for things to get going and for anything to happen. Even when the parents discover that Shantel was missing in chapter 3, the narrative was still quite heavy with superfluous dialogue and scenery. It picks up slightly when the police announce discovering her body on the beach.
50 years later, new homeowners move into Shantel’s old house, where the daughter forms a friendship with an “imaginary friend.”
This sounded like your classic ghost story, which was pretty interesting. However, I expected more excitement and suspense.
The read was pretty long and mild, but it was fairly nice.
Rating: 3 stars
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Curtis Maynard is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, and author passionate about suspenseful storytelling. Enthralled by the paranormal, his mysteries and thrillers feature everything from hauntings and visions to cryptic messages from beyond the grave. Curtis currently resides with his wife and son in Alabama, a setting rich with inspiration for his novels and short films. He hopes his stories will leave you spellbound, disquieted, and suspicious of the slightest shuddering shadow.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Curtis-Maynard/author/B07PQ88PSZ
https://twitter.com/CurtisMaynard12
https://www.tiktok.com/@maynardproductions
https://www.facebook.com/curtis.maynard.5076
https://www.facebook.com/maynardpr
https://www.instagram.com/curtis_maynard1/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for reviewing.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite scene?
ReplyDelete