[Audiobook Review] Ghost 19 by Simone St. James

Publisher's synopsis: Is there something wrong with Ginette Cox? It’s what everyone seems to think. When a doctor suggests that what she might need is less excitement, she packs up and moves from New York City to a house in suburban NY: 19 Howard Ave.

The town offers Ginette little in the way of entertainment in 1959, but at least she has interesting neighbors. Whether it’s the little girl with her doll or the couple and their mother-in-law, Ginette watches them from her window and makes up names and stories for them.

But it’s not all peaceful in suburbia. Ginette finds it hard to sleep in her new house. There are strange and scary noises coming from the basement, and she is trapped, either by a ghost or her own madness.

But when Ginette starts to think a murder has taken place and a mysterious man starts making terrifying appearances outside her window, it’s clear she must deal with whatever isn’t allowing her to escape this house…

My thoughts: I thought Ghost 19 was a great, suspenseful novella with some excellent narration from Brittany Pressley. I love a good unreliable narrator, and Ginette Cox fits that definition to a T. As weird things begin to happen to Ginette while stuck in the house at 19 Howard Avenue, we as the reader (or listener) truly get to question what's real and what's imaginary right along with Gin. Simone St. James gives us so many reasons to doubt Ginette: she's an out of work actress who's used to lying for attention, she's given a prescription that likely alters her brain function, etc. Of course, there could be a very real reason why Ginette can't leave the house, but the reader is truly left to doubt her right along with all the secondary characters in Ginette's life. 

Ghost 19 is a novella-length story, and it was the perfect length to get through in one day (or one sitting) so you don't have to be left in suspense for long. St. James has crafted a unique tale with more questions than answers, and Ginette's story will keep you guessing until the very end. 

This is my time listening to Brittany Pressley's narration, and I really liked her work. Pressley kept me engaged with the story, and I found her cadence and voicework easy to listen to even as Ginette's story became more complicated. It was easy to tell characters apart; Pressley gave each character their own personality. As Ginette spiraled, Pressley kept her story moving forward with a clear voice, albeit one wrecked with Ginette's uncertainty. Throughout the novella, Pressley kept Ginette's story intriguing and entertaining and kept me listening to the very end. 

Ghost 19 was a quick listen, one I easily knocked out in an afternoon, but it brought all the suspense and uncertainty I look for in a good thriller. 

I received an ALC copy of Ghost 19 via Libro.FM's librarian ALC program. I voluntarily reviewed this title; all opinions are my own. 

---------------------

Release date: 10/4/22 (audio)/1/3/23 (ebook)
Format: audiobook/ALC
ALC provided via: Libro.FM