Erryn reviews The Ghost Slept Over by Marshall Thornton. (Released on audio February 2, 2018. Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins. Narrated by Jason Frazier. Ebook self published January 8th 2015, 237 pages) A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
When failed actor Cal Parsons travels to rural New York to claim the estate of his famous and estranged ex-partner, he discovers something he wasn’t expecting – the ghost of his ex! And, worse, his ex invites Cal to join him for all eternity. Now.
As Cal attempts to rid himself of the ghost by any means, he begins to fall for the attractive attorney representing the estate. Will Cal be able to begin a new relationship, or will he be seduced into the ever after?
Runner Up 2014 Rainbow Awards – Best Romantic Comedy
Buy links: Audible | Amazon | Add to Goodreads
Rainbow Gold Reviews did a previous group review that can be found here.
*****
Erryn’s Review:
A number of readers, including several of my fellow reviewers on this blog, have been encouraging me to try Marshall Thornton. When I discovered ‘The Ghost Slept Over’, I leapt at the chance to listen. Cal Parsons has a problem. Well, several, actually. First, he’s broke. Really broke. Like living-in-his car broke. Second, he wants to turn his one-man show about Rock Hudson’s love life into a Broadway show. His agent doesn’t see the vision, but Cal’s convinced if he can just get the quarter-of-a-million dollars, everything will be fine.
Oh, and his ex-lover has just died and now Cal has to get across the country to claim his inheritance. Since their parting was, well, acrimonious, and Mac had humiliated him, Cal’s convinced this is all a sick joke. That Mac is going to continue the humiliation doesn’t surprise Cal.
Dewitt ‘Dewey’ Morgan is the late McCormack Williams’ lawyer. Mac, after leaving Cal, became a prolific and critically acclaimed playwright. During his later years, Mac developed a friendship with Dewey and became the patron of the local amateur theatre group. The troupe has never been financially stable (as in they have never broken even on a show), so Mac’s money was always appreciated and necessary. His untimely demise – along with leaving all his considerable estate to Cal—, has put in jeopardy not only the future of the playhouse, but its current production as well. So Dewey’s goal is to get the apparently mercenary Cal to stick around long enough to fall in love with the theatre and the town.
That is a tall order because Cal is a California boy and has rarely left SoCal, let alone lived in the Northeastern United States in the dead of winter. Snow? He doesn’t even own a winter coat, let alone boots that will withstand the weather. He plans to hightail it to New York City as soon as possible to launch his show.
Well, just as soon as he gets the estate and rids himself of the ghost.
Yep. Cal isn’t just the beneficiary of Mac’s estate – he’s apparently inherited the man as well. To say this is fodder for much humour would be an understatement. I’ll give you a taste:
“Just because HE didn’t meet you at Heaven’s Gate, doesn’t mean HE doesn’t exist.”
“You think someone would have met me. Even Walmart has greeters.”
And so it goes. Mac feels obligated to Cal and is going to do everything he can to atone – including hanging around until Cal dies and they can be together for time immemorial.
Oh, and Dewey and Cal are, uh, attracted to each other.
I loved the antics, especially when Cal tries to enact Mac’s final wishes for his remains. Who knew ice fishers were so helpful?
I participated in amateur theatre for years – acting, props, costumes, and – most importantly – stage manager. I loved the job of coordinating everything and apparently I made good coffee, although I never drank the stuff myself. This book threw me back into that world. I loved it. And I am very grateful I never had to deal with a ghost in any of my theatres.
Jason Frazier was the perfect narrator for this book. I adore his work and he brought this story to life. And the first love scene? Perfection.
I have several more of Mr. Thornton’s books in my library and I plan to listen to them soon.
10/10 pots of gold = 5/5 stars
*****
Marshall Thornton writes two popular mystery series, the Boystown Mysteries and the Pinx Video Mysteries. He has been a finalist for the Lambda Award five times and won once. His romantic comedy, Femme was a 2016 Lambda finalist for Best Gay Romance. Other books include My Favorite Uncle, The Ghost Slept Over and Desert Run. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America.
Rainbow Gold Reviews 