Cover Image: The Ghost Manuscript

The Ghost Manuscript

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I have been going through my back log of all my unreviewed books.

Thank you for the opportunity for reading this book but I could not finish this book.

Was this review helpful?

The characters were well-developed, and I found myself invested in their lives. The plot was well thought out and had enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I appreciated the attention to detail, and the author did a great job of creating a vivid world that was easy to picture in my mind.
The themes explored in the book were thought-provoking. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story with well-developed characters.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with this book and would definitely read it again. It was a great addition to my reading collection, and I can't wait to see what else this author has in store.

Was this review helpful?

I’m currently going through my backlog of unreviewed books, and sadly had to dnf this very early on. The writing is stilted, and dialogue does not flow naturally. It is also not well researched, with a number of stereotypes about academia and the early Middle Ages showing up in early chapters that made me struggle to read as someone who has done academic research in that field.

Was this review helpful?

Such a great book. Makes for a wonderful read. I can not wait to read more from this author. I love books like this.

Was this review helpful?

I was interested in the book from the blurb and when I got to read it I was happy. I really enjoyed in the first part of the book where I had a feeling I read about new Indiana Jones. All that old books, twists and turns with danger were interesting, some parts connected with Native Americans were confusing, but this is fiction not a scientific research. This is my first book by by Kris Frieswick and I will look for other ones written by him too.

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book. This premise we followed our main character Carys who has an obsession with ancient Manuscript. I find this book to be well written but at time the story got boring and somethings never got explain.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoy a book-based mystery, but the way this book deals with Native American culture is problematic at BEST. That alone significantly lowered my rating.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

I have to say, I really liked the first half of this book, it had me hooked and I couldn't wait to see where it would go; then I hated where it went. I found then second half of this book so hard to read, I didn't care for the story-line and since I have never not finished a book, I made myself finish it. The ending was okay but in all, the story was quite a let down.

Was this review helpful?

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2020 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/2020-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Was this review helpful?

The Ghost Manuscript attempts to fuse Arthurian legends with action and adventure. The main character was a bit aloof and hard to get to know as her tragic past kept haunting her and she had difficulty in forming lasting relationships. Her love for books and her work as a rare book authenticator were the best things about this book.

As a fan of Arthurian legend, I expected I would like this book, but unfortunately, the plot was far-fetched and this book could be offensive in the extreme to Pagans and Native Americans. The ghost was interesting, but the explanation for his existence was a bit of a letdown.

The style of writing was okay, but didn’t wow me in the least. This was a fast paced book that can easily be read in one sitting.

Was this review helpful?

This was the best kind of historical mystery I could imagine. I LOVE books like this and have a more difficult time finding them than one might imagine. Weird people, conspiracy theories, historical mysteries, and self-enlightenment makes for a delightful read. I have recommended it and it is being received well in my library!

Was this review helpful?

This was an enjoyable read, and hit on some of my favorite fantasies. A big 'ole library, King Arthur, travel, figuring things out, Latin, something else in the last quarter of the book....
All of the characters were likable, and, I thought, acted realistically, mostly, and the book kept me awake reading way beyond bedtime many nights.

Since this is a mystery, and a great deal of it involves solving clues as the characters do, I'm finding it difficult to review without spoilers. So I"m painting in large sweeps, I realize. I would certainly recommend the book, but I really, really didn't like the ending. I know it's a set up for a sequel, but there is a flaw, if I understand what happened correctly....

Rats, I just can't figure out how to review this.

Was this review helpful?

I was surprised by this story. I am usually not that into this type of story but this got my attention and would not let go. the story, characters, tension all came together perfectly.

Was this review helpful?

Has all my favorite things....books, history, ancient mysteries. This is one of those books you don't want to put down, you just have to find out what happens next. Loved the smart, expert in her field heroine. Plenty of historical details make the conclusion seem plausible.

Was this review helpful?

The Ghost Manuscript was an interesting book, it reminded me of a supernatural Dan Brown novel. Carys Jones is a medieval manuscript expert who works for an auction house. Carys is asked by her boss to catalogue a medieval library for a billionaire, John Harper, a collector who has been hospitalized for a mental breakdown. Carys discovers that her boss is blackmailing John’s son to sell the library to a customer who deals in antiques, legitimate and otherwise. Since Carys sourced most of the library over the years, she is loathe to see it broken up. In the library is a medieval codex purportedly written my a monk, Lestinus, who was the spiritual advisor to King Arthur, yes that King Arthur, and the book supposedly has clues that lead to King Arthur’s tomb. Carys is of course skeptical at first, but when ghostly monks start to appear to her and people around her start dying,, well maybe it is not as crazy as it sounds.
I enjoyed the pacing of the novel and the villains were particularly villainous. Th action kept me riveted. The ending was a bit rushed and jarring, but overall a good exciting read for those looking for a book in the vein of Dan Brown or Steve Berry.
Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for copy of this book for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Man oh man, I was so dubious going into this. I am a History buff and love anything to do with King Arthur and the legend surrounding him. I do love the paranormal but in the right context. I did read some reviews and DNF's so was prepared for the worst...
I was blown away by this book and I ended up trying to read slower to make it last longer. Any book lover will know what I mean.
Carys Jones is an expert rare book/manuscript authenticator who is reluctantly (at first) drawn into her firms biggest clients obsessive search for the real King Arthur's tomb and the treasure it holds. She is just one step ahead of others who would not hesitate to kill to take what she is searching for.
As I said, I was prepared for the worst when I started reading this and was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book.
I like accurate details and I took a break from time to time to research some things in the book from types of clothing and mold spores to types of flowers. Needless to say, I was impressed by the author's dedication and preparation.
Some might be disconcerted by a possible paranormal theme in the book but rest assured that there might just be a logical explanation so don't let that dissuade you from picking up the book. Also, I understand it might be possible for some to be offended as to where the novel leads but at the same time, it is no different than Roanoke theories and the author did not mention a specific tribe. I don't usually give spoilers but I felt it was important here.
I was not keen on Carys but then again at the end of the novel, I got a distinct impression that there might be a book two someday (please say there is). Her character was opening up and it seemed like there was a bit of a cliff hanger.
I think this is going to be one of those books you either love or hate. I loved it because of the subject matter and the matter of fact details. I am really hoping this is a series that will continue in a book two...

Was this review helpful?

I'm all for female adventure stories and was hoping that a book about an implied ghost manuscript would offer me some lessons in history with some spooky ghost stories along the way. I went into this expecting an Indiana Jones story (the main character's last name is even Jones, after all), but this ended up being much more like The Da Vinci Code, or National Treasure than anything else, with ghost monks and rare manuscripts and hard to believe legendary stories.

I'm not a huge fan of Arthurian history, so the fact that this was primarily focused on a rare King Arthur manuscript was a bit lost on me. But that isn't to say I can't appreciate a treasure hunt. I thought the overall story was well laid out and plotted and it moved along fairly quickly. The Arthurian treasure hunt seemed well researched (though I wouldn’t really know otherwise) and it was really interesting. I liked seeing the pieces come together and these kinds of stories deeply entertain me.

I did have a few issues though, mostly with the convenience of getting from one place to another and the abilities of Carys, a book authenticater who seemed to enjoy her time in libraries as opposed to the outside world, to be able to outwit goons and go on this wild adventure. A lot of things fell almost too easily into place, certain characters seemed to pop up only to serve the main characters journey, and then what we were left with at the end seemed kind of strange given the way the book built up.

But overall, if you don't look too hard for the cracks, the road was kind of fun. Carys was a strong character to follow and the history and legendary stories were very interesting to read about, having no other knowledge. It was a fun, quick read if you don’t get too hung up on the details.

Was this review helpful?

When rare book authenticator, Carys' is told by her employer to research a specific journal from the year 550 she has no idea is is in for the adventure of a lifetime. She meets with the owner of the journal and soon begins a story that is part Indiana Jones and part pure excitement from the time of King Arthur. Cary's soon finds that a Monk to King Arthur's time holds the key to Arthur's tomb and the answers she needs and employees him as her guide. She loves to investigate old books so she is up to the mysterious task . Soon she is delving into Saxon times with a fast pace that kept this reader on the edge of my seat. The excitement grows throughout as she finds herself hunting information with the help of the Monk. I loved the history and the author does a wonderful job of blending modern time and history together .
You will find this story keeps you reading until past your bedtime and is as exciting as reading The Divinci Code.

I loved it and enjoyed the fast pace , well crafted history and exciting characters . This is a book I highly recommend. Very well done to the author.
Thank you for the ARC to Net Galley and to the publisher . My opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Interesting story. Well-developed characters and great plot twists.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

The Ghost Manuscript is a unique book that is written well and I enjoyed the characters. You will either like the ending or hate it.

Was this review helpful?