In "The Ghost Photographer", Hollywood executive Julie Rieger offers a surprisingly down-to-earth look at an unusual hobby that keeps her connected to another dimension: taking photos of ghostly apparitions. Drawn to the paranormal while grieving a loss, Rieger found comfort and healing by developing her relationship with the spirit world. Whether or not the reader finds Rieger's account convincing, it is hard to resist her pragmatic outlook and conversational, humorous style.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from the publisher/author in connection with Killer Nashville and Netgalley in return for my review. Copyright © 2018 Laura Hartman

The Ghost Photographer takes the reader along on Julie Rieger’s cosmic course of self-discovery. Her journey of is not always an easy choice, but she jumps in with both feet willing to take the ride wherever it takes her. But her newly found psychic powers allow her to be at peace with herself and others. Isn’t that about all anyone can ask for?

Julie is often bawdy, funny and willing to share both the good and bad parts of her life with her readers. She explores the reason for her grief, but realizes grief comes to others in different forms that are just as devastating as the loss of her mother was to her. She knows she needs to dig deeper to figure out the person she will be now that she is really on her own for the first time in her life.

Her journey begins when she discovers pictures of ghosts in photographs she has taken. (The pictures are included at the end of the book for you to decide for yourself). She works to develop her psychic gifts with close friends who have clairvoyant abilities. She also references famous people who were prophetic, second-sighted and/or were precognitive. They include Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill to name a few.

The thing that may surprise readers about Julie is her reliance on religion throughout her journey. She repeats how often she uses the power of prayer to protect herself and others from evil spirits. It should not surprise us that good and evil go hand in hand, and protecting yourself with a higher power is often necessary when delving into the unknown. There are a few things that might give you goose bumps. The chapter about “Old Scratch”, whom the Bible says is a stand in for the devil, is pretty creepy.

This is a very interesting, funny and thought provoking book. It is fast to read and full of things that you may or may not believe could ever happen. If so, take it at face value for your entertainment. That is okay, it is Julie’s journey to document and share. If you are a fan of Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert or Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Sheryl Strayed you need to read this book. Journey and self-discovery comes to different people in different ways, each of them unique and interesting to read about.

Whether you are a dedicated believer or not, this book is a fun and entertaining read with a lot to offer anyone interested in the things we don't quite understand fully, from a scientific or religious perspective.

Thanks to this book and this author, I now have a house full of black tourmaline crystals. I felt the author was very open and honest about her own struggles with belief and seeing the photos that she has captured were interesting, although I admit, I do not see them just as they are described in some cases.

Overall, I thought the important points in this book were that you can be different and it's okay. Not everyone has to agree with you to make something real or true and we should all live by our own personal code of belief. This is quite the story and would make for good reading for nearly anyone. I hope this author will continue to write. I look forward to seeing what else she has to say.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.