The Ghost Manuscript is an adventure, thriller, mystery in the style of Indiana Jones, Laura Croft, and Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt. I loved the main character, Carys Jones, who gets sucked into a client's fantasy and never looks back. With the help of a 1500 year old ghost whose manuscript she's working, she chases one of the greatest mysteries -- the legend of King Arthur. I really enjoyed the ride! Highly recommend!

I liked this book. The summary gave me hopes that it would be one of those "can't put it down-can't wait to turn the next page" type of books. I would not say that it captured me like that, however It is still a good story. I had a hard time liking or pulling for the main character. Some of the plot seemed a little unrealistic. The book just did not capture my attention as I had hoped.

This book had all the right ingredients, but then again it was also by an unknown author and from an unknown publisher, but then again…ghosts and manuscripts, yes please. Plus it was very much a bibliomystery and I love those. Still, don’t think I was prepared for how much I liked it. It was like a grand adventure, the sort of treasure hunting adventure I normally expect and don’t especially enjoy from the likes of Clive Cussler, but pleasantly testosterone free, actually well written and smart. This book features an intrepid, emotionally unavailable book expert who gets involved in deciphering an ancient manuscript that can potentially lead to one of the greatest historical discoveries of all time. Needless to say she and the man who hired her aren’t the only ones after it, soon it gets messy, even deadly, but it’s just too irresistible of a quest to walk away from. And so this bicoastal adventure goes, discoveries, dangers and daring dos. It is all genuinely very exciting. And yes, there is an actual ghost, a very obliging and supportive kind, albeit there turns out to be a perfectly rational explanation for him, so this book can’t be chalked up to some sort of supernatural mystery. There is a mystery here, several in fact, including a very nice surprising plot twist in the end, but it’s all of a very regular, albeit extraordinarily exhilarating sort. Definitely the best take on the King Arthur legend I’ve read, a very original and interesting theory. Plus great descriptions, charismatic multilayered characters and oodles of thrills. The only thing that threw me was the body count, somehow I wasn’t prepared for how high the author would take that, didn’t quite seem like that kind of a book. But at any rate, it was a very exciting, fun and enjoyable read. Recommended for all fans of great stories and grand armchair adventures. Thanks Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book, thoroughly entertaining and maintained a fast pace throughout its entirety. Carys Jones, the main protagonist is well thought out and easy to connect to. She starts out as a rare book authenticator hired to evaluate a library of ancient manuscripts which is where she becomes entangled in the journey of one particular manuscript and the journey it describes.
The plot line is engaging although sometimes predictable, this didn’t put me off the story though by any means. The landscapes surrounding the story are well described and there is enough real lore involved to keep my interest throughout the whole story. Would recommend 4.5/5 stars.

I loved this book! The plot was so well done and so well researched. I was annoyed that it wasn't longer!

An entertaining and fast paced book. I liked the style of writing and the plot.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC

Great book. Frieswick pulls you into story quickly and never lets you go. I really enjoyed the plot. It was fast paced and a great read.

If you know me, you know this kind of history-based story is right up my alley. I was not disappointed.

This book is about a rare book authenticator who comes upon the job of a lifetime. She is tasked with using an ancient manuscript to locate a piece of history that will change everything. However, she is not the only one searching for this artifact, and she finds herself in a race to locate it.

I love this kind of story, and I found myself flying through the pages to find out what would happen. It did feel like the plot got lost for awhile later in the book, but overall I thought it was great.

The Ghost Manuscript by Kris Frieswick – 4 Stars
Publisher: Post Hill Press
ISBN: 9781642930245

Having ancestors from Wales, I found the first part of this book real enjoyable, supplementing my discoveries about Wales and the Welsh life. Also, the details about historical library management from provenance to preservation were interesting. Although the plot began to mimic The Di Vinci Code and setting my expectations to be immersed in surprising with respect to King Arthur throughout, the story becomes more of just a mystery hunt with words and words, a lot of conversations, and then some unnecessary intimate romance. In no way is its main character Carys a feminine Indiana Jones as touted by one best-selling author. Other than a similar type of adventure or expedition, Carys does not come close the predicaments or edge-of-your-seat actions Indiana experienced. The hunter, Carys, is being hunted by someone who also wants the “ghost” manuscript -- this brings some needed excitement to the table despite the interactions being short and far between.

Was there a real King Arthur? Did Carys find his grave? Where would you expect such a grave to be? What role does the six-century manuscript play? Are there treasures found, maybe even Excalibur? Who ends up with them? What artifacts were found that led to further discoveries? How are they related to America? Who was behind hunting Carys?
These are just a few questions that should entice you to delve into this book. Although I found it a bit too long in words and for a few other reasons as already stated, I’m sure you might enjoy every second.

Reviewer: Rich

Interesting and well-written, I enjoyed every hour I spent reading this much better than average portrait of time, place, and people. Highly recommended for an excellent weekend read!

greed, suspense, supernatural, Wales, murder, family-dynamics, friendship

A rare sixth century codex, an American obsessive collector who seems to have gone round the bend, a gifted scholar masquerading as a housekeeper, a true villain and his despicable henchman who call England home. That's pretty much the ancillary cast, because the main characters are the rare book authenticator and the visible presence of the writer of the book; a monk who followed and was at the death of the man who was to be known later as King Arthur.
Lots of stress and suspense, bloody murder, incognito travel from Boston to Wales, and a bit of romance are tightly woven into a plot that educates even as it entertains.
A riveting read!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Post Hill Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

The story took a really hard turn toward the end that I wasn’t entirely on board with (more “seeds” sown earlier in the story would have helped a lot). I also felt a bit let down when the story didn’t end in a 100% satisfying way, but I’m going assume that was by design and was meant to set up a sequel. It was a rollicking adventure up until then, so I’d still give it 4 stars. The characters were interesting and easy to care about, including one with a fun surprise. One adventure just kept unfolding into another as the search – and the chase – sped on. I would recommend to readers in search of excitement and mystery.

A fast paced story that I found hard to put down. It kept me guessing to the end. I’ve been a huge King Arthur fan forever and found this very intriguing! Loved it!!

Fans of stories about King Arthur will appreciate this interesting treatment of the Arthur legend and the people obsessed with it, but The Ghost Manuscript will also appeal to readers who just enjoy a good mystery.

The characters are appealing and the story is by turns riveting and engrossing, mostly due to the author’s skillful switching between the more cerebral puzzle-solving and the physical activity of dealing with bad guys while actively searching for treasure. The big shocker about Arthur’s origins was somewhat similarly treated in an early Elly Griffith’s “Ruth Galloway” book, but the tribal involvement here makes this wholly original. Well done.

This was a book that I couldn't put down. It was fast paced and tbe plot was well written. I loved the historical aspect of it. I highly recommend this book.

Frieswick brings to life Carys, a manuscript reviewer for Sothington's Auction House. Part-Indiana Jones, part-Laura Croft, The Ghost Manuscript offers a unique take on Arthurian legends. For me, it was a little hard to get into and I found it not very engaging, but it picked up and finished strong. I am very happy that NetGalley and Post Hill Press gave me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and the author, Kris Frieswick, for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Ghost Manuscript in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I am so happy I received a digital copy of this book. The premise of the story was extremely appealing and I knew it was something I wanted to read. And, I was not left disappointed.
To say I loved reading this book is an understatement. I thought the storyline was extremely well written and the characters intriguing. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Definitely well worth a read.

Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. What a fantastic story about seeking knowledge and the lure of finding Arthur. I was captivated from the beginning to the end. It has everything; conspiracy, murder, Arthuriana, treasure, history, and the love for ancient manuscripts. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves great historical fiction and for those who love the idea of finding a lost manuscript that leads to a thrilling discovery.

Carys Jones loves her job as a rare book authenticator and when she gets the chance to own a huge collection of Dark Age manuscripts, she’s ready to do whatever it takes to get them. The current owner has been committed to a mental institution and has agreed to give Carys the manuscripts if she follows the clues in an old journal to find a lost tomb. She begins in Wales where she falls into a tempestuous affair with a local man and begins communicating with the monk who authored the journal 1,500 years before

4 stars

I read the Kindle edition.

Carys Jones is a rare book authenticator who is happiest when immersed in manuscripts and books from the earliest centuries of Great Britain. She gets a request from a wealthy man’s son to examine and value his Dark Ages books and manuscripts for sale at auction.

While perusing his fabulous and extensive library, Carys comes across a journal she has never seen before. It is written in Latin and very early Welsh by a monk. It is the first hand account of something totally unbelievable. If this manuscript can be authenticated, it will change English history as we know it. The owner of the library offers Carys his vast and priceless collection if she will just pursue the information in the journal and prove it to be the truth.

But all is not well. Unknown to Carys, there are some English gangsters who want the monk’s manuscript. They are willing to kill to get their hands on it. And they aren’t the only ones. In a twisty turn of events, Carys finds herself in more danger. She then finds out the surprising truth behind the whole story. Will she get out of this latest fix?

This is a very well written and plotted novel. I liked Carys and can fully understand her love of old books and manuscripts for I love them too. There are too many books and too little time to read everything I still want to read. Darn it! This is my first Kris Frieswick novel, but it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to look for more of this author’s books.

I want to thank NetGalley and Post Hill Press for forwarding to me a copy of this great book for me to read, enjoy and review.