I’m probably going to write a long and gushing review and bore you to death, so here is the bottom line: GO AND BUY THIS BOOK! I practically read it in one sitting – well, 80% of it anyway. I stayed up until 1 am even though I knew I was going to hate myself for it, but I HAD to know what happens.

Lionel is a famous reporter in Chicago whose career was built on debunking fake healers, magic users and generally anyone who cheated people out of their money. He always looked for proof of magic existing but all he found were liars and disappointment. As good as he was digging up secrets he was just as good at keeping them. But of course no one can hide from their past and his is about catching up with him. To run it off for a few more days he makes a deal with the mysterious Regina Dunkel who sends him to New York in chase of a very rare first manuscript of one of Poe’s short stories. Which starts as a simple investigation and an easy case turns into a complicated maze of lies and mystery. Lionel’s world turns upside down and it’s time for him to unlearn everything he knew and believed in.

“Ugh.” She rolled her eyes. “Ever wonder why that’s the conversational default? People always want to know your job. Not what you love, what you hate, but what you do to earn money. What does that say about us as a society?” – Maddie

Schaefer has a talent for writing a bit cynical, sarcastic but at the same time charming and relatable male protagonists. I really enjoyed reading about Lionel and the way he dealt with hard pressing situations. His no-nonsense attitude and his stubbornness. I seriously didn’t envy Brianna, his boss at the Chicago News for having to deal with him. Not that you could get mad at him, but the way he jumps into dangerous situations not caring about anything but the story can be such a pain in the ass. And a nightmare to sort insurance out afterwards. All that said, I would love seeing Daniel Faust and Lionel get together at one point. The way we slowly learn about Lionel’s past is really well done and I liked how it was worked into the plot to give the story more layers.

Lionel crosses two women’s path and they set his world upside down. There is cold, ruthless Regina Dunkle, whose role in the grand scheme of things isn’t revealed until the endgame and whoa, I didn’t see that coming. Then there is Maddie. At first I liked her, she was mysterious and obviously had a past and some (in)visible scars, and some interesting tricks. She cries blood for one thing. I was intrigued by her and how she’ll fit into the picture. She was a bad-ass and liked her view on things.

“We are all a story,” she told him. “I’m a character in your story; you’re a character in mine. And we’re both part of the story of New York, along with eight million other people. It’s all fiction, it’s all true, and just like you were taught as a child, there’s a world of possibility on every new page.” – Maddie

Then she started to annoy me because I couldn’t wrap my mind around why she did let Regina treat her the way she did. What could be so bad that she punishes herself this way? Of course we get an answer and if I didn’t see Regina’s true identity coming then I’m sure as hell didn’t expect to learn THAT about Maddie’s past. And Lionel, like a champion took everything in stride. Maaaybe a bit too easily at that, but then he hardly had time to sort things out as everything kept happening. It’s a small miracle he didn’t freak out right there and then.

“His thoughts raced too fast to put the words together, because the words he wanted to say – the truth, mostly – wouldn’t come out. When he’d crashed to a dead stop, they’d crashed along with him, lying in a broken pile at his feet.”

As for the plot, I liked how Schaefer blended Greek mythology with Poe, and witchcraft and ghouls. The concept is a bit of a cliché with a sceptic protagonist with a secret to hide which comes back to bite him in the ass while he discovers the world is not exactly as he imagined, while of course meeting and falling for a gorgeous woman. And honestly, that’s fine. Schaefer’s characters are coming into life and feel very real and complex. You feel like you’re walking right beside Lionel as he discovers New York for the first time. And, as I said, Schaefer mixes things very well. I have to give him extra points for using lesser known figures from Greek mythology!

I had a few issues though, mostly minor things that didn’t make much sense or weren’t really explained: for example, at one point, Lionel asked for help from Brianna, digging up some info about a secret society, and she agreed to set some interns on the matter. But then this gets dropped as Lionel find his own way to them. In the end we didn’t learn much about the society itself apart from their role in the plot. Another thing I didn’t quite puzzled out is how Maddie found Lionel when he got into trouble. She popped up conveniently at the right time to save the day, but how did she know where to find him? Well, okay, this is really just me nitpicking, as probably she did it the same way as Lionel found the place in the first place. Still.

The ending. While some of the revelations caught me off guard, there was one I suspected toward the end. But overall it left me a bit underwhelmed for some reason. Don’t get me wrong, this book is really great and a total page turner, but the last big confrontation left me, well, underwhelmed as I said. The story built up nicely until the scene in the train tunnel, but from then on, it was a bit rushed maybe. Even though the big revelations come right after each other, and you basically have no time to blink. The confrontation scene I mentioned was used more like to show off who is who than a satisfying cathartic end.

That said, I still like Craig Schaefer’s style of writing and the worlds and characters he creates. I had quite a few lines marked as I read and let me tell you, it was damn hard to choose just a few for this review! He really does have a way painting a scene, an emotion to make us feel what he wants us to.

“Strobes washed his vision in flashing white and scarlet, ambulance lights, turning the crowded club into the scene of an accident. Bodies writhed in the glow – dancing, fighting, bounding against each other like pinballs of flesh and bone.”

Considering everything, I think Ghosts of Gotham is my favorite novel from Craig Scheafer so far, and definitely not the last I’ve read. Ghosts of Gotham is fast paced, magical and one that is hard to put down. I don’t think I’m far from the truth if I say that this was only the beginning of a series that would rival his Daniel Faust one. I urge you to give it a chance if you like: Greek mythological figures in a modern setting, protagonists with mysterious and dark past, magic, characters you can enjoy hating and wondering about (Regina), and a mystery which means leaving bodies all over the place. In short: it has everything you might wish for!

I loved everything about this! Lionel is the sole survivor of a brutal massacre, but he tries to keep his past hidden. When his past was about to be exposed, an unexpected source offers to help as long as he tracks down something in return. Then lots of murder, mystery, magic, and mayhem ensues.

Lionel's career revolves around debunking magic. Little did he know magic did exist. While tracking down a manuscript that people are being killed for, Lionel discovers that witches are real. There is more going on than it originally appeared.

The characters were great! I liked the romance but was happy that it wasn't the focal point of the story. A world with Greek gods having witches at their disposal was fascinating. I'd love to read another story set in this world even if Lionel and Maddie weren't the main characters, but I'd also be thrilled to learn about their next adventure.

I was very curious when I discovered the theme of this novel. An impossible manuscript of Edgar Allan Poe or even the somewhat paranormal side that the author has added? All this could only intrigue me! That’s also why I plunged into the story with pleasure.

Lionel is a journalist whose mission is to find and expose charlatans. But now, his past catches him up, a past he does not want to hear about, or even to remember. To prevent this, he spends a deal with a strange woman who wants him to find and authenticate a manuscript of Edgar Allan Poe. However, this investigation will take him on unsuspected paths that will change his life and that will allow him to meet Maddie.

I thought the ideas and the mix were very interesting and original, and if I was interested in events from a distance, I admit that I had a hard time getting into the story. I also admit that I have trouble explaining why, but perhaps it is due to the somewhat complex style of the author. I do not know.

An interesting novel in many ways, but with which I had a little trouble.

I received a copy of this from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my open and honest review.

Would you like a story that has ghosts, witches ghouls - and an almost crim noir plot with an intrepid reporter. Have I got the story for you.

Ghosts of Gotham is about Lionel Page, referred to as little lion occasionally, a thirty-something investigative journalist. Lionel is given an investigation by a mysterious woman, Regina Dunkle. Is she just a wealthy reclusive heiress with a fascination for all things old or is she more? What follows is a well-written adventure into the world of antiques and the Poe Manuscript. Instead of going the way of some crime books, with a "who done it?" Schaffer has involved all sorts of creatures of myth and lore that are dealt out to you slowly like receiving cards while playing poker. He expertly and slowing brings the "things that go bump in the night" into the narrative that by the end of it you realize had you followed the clues you would have realized they were there all along.

I haven't read any of Schaffer's books, something I plan on rectifying, but I found this book to be a very well formed story. It could go on to more in a series or be an excellent stand-alone story and a great place to start reading his work. This story was a great introduction to me of Schaffers works, and I am looking forward to diving into his other series. Check it out.

I accidentally reviewed another book instead of this one! Review to come! Currently Reading! I will write a full review upon completion of the book.

This was my first Schaefer experience, and it was exceptional! The best part is now I get to sit with the cool kids in the Schaefer Cult.
Ghosts of Gotham fits snuggly in the Urban Fantasy genre. It had all the juicy bits I come to expect from an UF. Action, magic, gods, creatures, and a dose of gore. Schaefer also threw in some romance and sex to give it that exceptional spicy taste.

One of my favorite aspects in a good author is how well he uses dialogue in telling a story. Schaefer has top of the line dialogue between characters. The flow was easy and carried plenty of personality. The story was intriguing without being confusing or convoluted.

Now that I've had my first taste of Schaefer I plan on gorging myself with all his books. If you haven't had a taste of Schaefer, I recommend starting with Ghosts of Gotham

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

It’s official: Craig Schaefer is one of my favorite authors ever. I absolutely loved his previous series, and Ghosts of Gotham is another home run. The book is fast paced, full of unexpected twists and turns and nail bitting mystery. The mix of dark and morally gray characters is clever, original and unforgettable. There’s action, drama, comedy, romance, and absolute chaos and mayhem. The perfect blend of urban fantasy with a detective story, this is a book that you don’t want to miss. Highly recommend!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book as I’ve only read one series by this author, but since I really enjoyed the books I have read, I dived right in. And, this book wasn’t anything like I expected even half way in. I can’t really describe too much as I don’t want to spoil anything, but this book was a well-written thrill ride from start to finish. From one moment to the next, I never knew what was going to happen, but I had a great time throughout the book no matter what did. I adored both Lionel and Madison, and even though I guessed part of Madison’s history, I was quite surprised to find out everything. And, Regina, she was quite the character (no spoilers!). Equal parts romance, supernatural mystery, and horror story, everything meshed well, and I loved every minute. I wish the end was a little longer, but I was left with the feeling that maybe there will be more (please?!?). I recommend this book highly enough! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Ghosts of Gotham is a unique and peculiar read, written by Craig Schaefer. The novel follows an investigative reporter, but not the kind you’re used to. Lionel Page specializes in debunking the supernatural. Have a guy claiming to be a faith healer? Lionel will be there, and he’ll prove just how fake that guy is. Have a cult that needs to get outted? He’ll take care of it.
I went into Ghosts of Gotham expecting it to be a series of Lionel busting the fake supernatural, but instead I found myself reading a much larger mystery. One that I’m sure that Lionel was not prepared for.
Ghosts of Gotham is a blending of many of my favorite things. It’s a paranormal thriller first and foremost. But it also has a dash of horror, some of the classic investigative journalism I expected, some romance, and so much more.

Ghosts of Gotham was a fun and fascinating read, with a specialty in showing us a world through an eerie lens. It was incredibly well written, and I was captivated from start to finish.
I went into Ghosts of Gotham expecting one thing, and ended up getting so much more. This was a spine-tingling read at times. Other times I enjoyed trying to piece together the mystery alongside the main characters.
There were moments where you could see, without a shadow of a doubt, where Lionel’s lack of exposure to the world was going to cost him. That may sound like a bad thing, but for me it just meant that Craig Schaefer was writing in a believable manner. We saw Lionel getting set up to be taken advantage of (or rather, being set up to make a deal with the proverbial devil), but obviously we’re not Lionel. Who’s to say that we wouldn’t have made that call, had we been in his shoes?
Seeing it happen did help me become more attached to his character fairly early on, and honestly I’ll confess more than an idle curiosity about his backstory that he was so desperate to hide. That along would have been a strong enough hook to keep me reading. But of course there was even more thrown into the mix, ensuring that I’d read the whole book cover to cover as quickly as possible.
Actually, I enjoyed this book so much that I honestly sat down and read the whole thing in one sitting. And no, it wasn’t a book short enough to do so easily. It was just that enthralling.
In particular I loved the Edgar Allen Poe hat tip. It added a whole new tone to the novel, and honestly I just couldn’t wait to see where that was going to lead. Also, I’m not ashamed to confess that before the book finished the introduction of Edgar Allen Poe’s mysterious works, I went and did a quick search to learn more about any missing works. Just out of curiosity more than anything else.
I’ll be curious to see if they turn this novel into a series. I could very easily see it going either way. It’d work as a standalone, but likewise they’ve developed a world that could be interesting to return to once again. I guess I’ll wait and see what happens with it.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Ghosts of Gotham by Craig Schaefer from NetGalley and 47North in order to read and give an honest review.

I’m a Craig Schaefer virgin so to speak. I have had quite a few people recommend his work to me but I’ve always seemed to have let it slip by. This time when given the chance to read and review Ghosts of Gotham I finally seized the opportunity, and wow, I am so glad I did! It’s so unique, is a bit of everything…urban fantasy mixed with mythology, bibliomystery and so much action making this such a fun page-turner.

Our main character, Lionel Page is an investigative journalist who has made it his mission to debunk anything that is considered “Supernatural”. When another up and coming journalist finds out about his past and threatens to expose him things get serious. Enter Regina, a wealthy, a very powerful socialite who wants to hire him to investigate the discovery of, and the impending sale of, a mysterious manuscript by Edgar Allan Poe. She promises him that if he gets to the bottom of things, he will never have to worry about his past being exposed, she will protect him. He agrees and the adventure begins. Immediately flown to New York City he barely gets time to breathe as he is running over town, finding bodies as well as clues that make this manuscript more than meets the eye. When Lionel learns that the reporter who threatened to expose his past is murdered, he truly wonders what he has gotten himself into. His path keeps crossing with Maddie a very strong, savvy and beautiful woman who is mysterious and holds secrets his life will depend on knowing.

I absolutely loved everything about this book, the characters, the pacing, the writer’s voice, his twisty plot turns…it kept me voraciously reading and desperate for more when I finished. I also love the way he portrays women in this book, smart, flawed, beautiful and resilient.

Filled with magic, mayhem and amazing plot twists that you just don’t see coming. This is a fantastic book I highly recommend! I will definitely be reading more of his work.

Ghosts of Gotham, out on the 9th April 2019, is the latest book from Craig Schaefer, who has spent the last few years writing a consistently high-quality collection of interlinked books in the form of the Revanche cycle, the Daniel Faust series, the Harmony Black series, and most recently the Wisdom’s Grave trilogy.

I was given an advance review copy of the book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review avoids spoilers as much as possible.

I always enjoy Schaefer’s nuanced characters, and this book was no exception. Most authors in the urban fantasy genre either write antiheroes or paragons of virtue, but Schaefer seems to enjoy giving even the noblest of characters a few fatal flaws to make them feel more real and complex, without veering into edgelord grimdark territory.

Lionel, the protagonist of Ghosts, is one of Schaefer’s more wholesome characters, but even he has some personality traits that make him more than a clichéd urban fantasy hero.

Like Schaefer’s other protagonist, Daniel Faust, Lionel is prone to snarky humour. Despite this superficial similarity the two read quite differently, and I never felt that I was just reading another Faust story as I got into the meat of Ghosts of Gotham.

The supporting cast is also highly enjoyable, from Lionel’s work colleagues and friends in Chicago to the weird and wonderful denizens of New York whose acquaintance he makes during the course of his search for an original Poe manuscript.

On the surface, Ghosts is a literary mystery story, but it’s not too long before the straightforward plot goes off the rails and introduces us to a new world of magic and mysteries not linked to Schaefer’s previous works. I thoroughly enjoyed Lionel’s trip down the rabbit hole and didn’t want the novel to end.

I’m absolutely certain that Schaefer’s existing fans will love this book, but equally I’d highly recommend this as an opportunity for new folks to come into a series on the ground floor and have a taste of what’s on offer from one of my favourite urban fantasy authors.

DNF at 65%

Character romance really threw the entire book off. Plot was confusing but I was still enjoying the book. Romance was the straw that broke the camel's back so to speak. Forced and just plain gross.

I came into this book already a fan of Craig Schaefer's writing, and this book did not disappoint. In fact, it might be my favorite of his so far.

I love that the story is rooted in reality, making the supernatural and fantasy aspects feel like they might well be happening around us. While we delve into magic and witches and ghosts, the content never feels far-fetched. So I now believe in secret magic societies. Go ahead and judge me!

The characters are all well developed, unique, and fascinating. Lionel is the perfect everyday hero. He's likable, imperfect, and unprepared for the craziness he finds himself drawn into.

The plot immediately hooked me. This story is complex, yet easy to get lost in.

I want to talk about Madison and all that we learn about her, the underworld and what exists there, and that Poe manuscript... but I can't, because I don't want to give any spoilers. And so I'll just I found it all fascinating.

This is a fun, exceptionally well written, totally entertaining novel.

I really liked this book. It had everything I like, mystery, suspense, romance and magic but it also included tragedy, death and deception. This book started as an investigative journey and turned into a paranormal adventure. A mystery involving a short story by Edger Allen Poe turns into something else entirely and it’s all good. The story includes the Russian mafia, Greek mythology, Arthurian legends and a magical underworld all woven together seamlessly. I will definitely read more books by this author and hope that this book is part of a series and not just a standalone. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

What can I say? Craig Shaefer has done something really special in Ghosts of Gotham. He has taken an Edgar Allen Poe story and made it the focus of a mystery that delves into occult, that in itself is a good story. But he has also taken two characters, which on their own might not be incredibly sympathetic and turned them into the heroes of this tale and made me wonder how long should someone pay for the sins of their past? The magic in this story isn’t just in the plot but in the stories of both Lionel and Madison ( omg hold onto your hat for her backstory, it's knocking me off my feet )
The woman was a mystery. No. Mysteries were made to be solved. She didn’t want any part of that. Maddie was a palace of locked doors. Lionel had been invited into her halls, permitted to walk through her world and get the barest sense of her design, but the actual rooms— the places where Maddie actually lived, where her heart and her memories held sway— were denied to him.

Lionel is a reporter with a strange past who debunks frauds pretending to use magic. He is good at his job and so far hasn’t found one case of true magic, that is until now. Lionel meets a powerful woman, who would like him to get a copy of the true final page of an Edgar Allen Poe story. It seems simple, go to New York, find the book and authenticate the final pages. It’s not simple, its not easy and Lionel is about to find out the true magic he has been looking for is out there and it is coming for him.
“This is New York City, sir. All the hotels are haunted by someone or other. You just have to pick the one with the ghosts that suit you.”

ღღღ The Best Things About this Story ღღღ

It is fun; it's fast and it takes two characters with demons and pasts of their own and makes you root for them while trying to decipher their backstories. Lionel has few friends and a string of prior lovers who were left with feelings of overwhelming disappointment. Maggie is a witch and she is about to lift the veil for Lionel and show him things he can never un-see. She is strong yet somehow broken, so I loved her immediately. Maybe these two broken characters might have it in them to fit together and fill the lonely gaps in each other’s lives.

This Urban Fantasy world is subtle and fantastic. There are witches, gods, cults, demons, ghouls, necromancy, secret societies and other things left unnamed that haunt children’s fairy tales. This is a detective story wrapped up in all the best things occult. You might think a book about searching for a book might be boring but when the undead alligator comes for you in a New York Sewer, I think you might change your mind.

Maggie’s backstory was so unexpected that when it was revealed my jaw might have dropped to the floor with the stroke of genius it was. I loved how Shaefer took a character I thought I knew and blew my mind with the ‘what if’ of it. *applauds* Well done Mr. Shaefer, well done.

Regina, the very powerful, very rich woman who hired Lionel and has some ties to Maggie as well, turned out to be a fantastic plot point and I loved the story arc behind her. She is so mysterious and the pages couldn’t turn fast enough to get through the story to learn everything about the pasts of all the players in the story.
“My dear boy, how charmingly naive. You know perfectly well that murder is humanity’s favorite pastime. People will kill each other over a scratched fender or a pool-hall bet. The answer to ‘Will someone kill for this,’ no matter what ‘this’ is, is always yes.”

Shaefer’s writing and style is one with great moments of emotional connection to the characters, moments of fear for the characters and moments of wonder about how all of this is going to come together. It is so easy to pick ir up and get lost.

☢☢☢ The Worst Things About this Story ☢☢☢

It might be a standalone, currently it looks like a standalone. I loved being in this world and I adored Lionel and Maggie by the end of it. This is a completely self-contained story but I want more time with Maggie and Lionel. I want to go on more adventures with them and while this adventure is concluded, I really hope Shaefer has more ideas for the characters in this world.

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Ghosts of Gotham is about Lionel Page, a journalist who makes a living out of exposing conmen and proving that there’s no such thing as miracles or magic. An expert skeptic, his life quickly takes a turn after a meeting with the mysterious Regina Dunkle who wants him to find a lost Edgar Allan Poe manuscript for her and verify its authenticity. In exchange, she offers to protect him and safeguard his secret. Lionel is then quickly thrust into a world he was not prepared for and in the process, he finds many secrets in his past won’t stay buried for long.

I thought that Ghosts of Gotham was a pretty okay book. It definitely wasn’t what I expected and it does get kind of confusing but I did like it. I didn’t love it, but I liked it well enough. The characters are kind of okay although I felt like Lionel’s romance with Maddie was kind of forced and unnecessary. I could have done without it and it may have been a stronger book if the romance hadn’t felt so forced. Still, the author does a good job at portraying this character who’s completely unprepared for the kind of world he’s suddenly facing. I don’t buy that he learns so quickly but it does get kind of waved away by his parentage or something.

The plot moves pretty quickly and it does diverge a bit from the finding the lost manuscript part, although everything gets tied together in the end with a neat solution. A little too neat for my taste personally but everything does get resolved. I’ll admit that certain parts were more interesting to me and I wished that they were explored further in the narrative. The twist it took was less interesting to me and while I liked it enough to finish it, it felt like there’s a lot of wasted potential there that I wished was explored further.

Overall, I’d rate Ghosts of Gotham a three out of five stars. It had a good premise and kept me interested enough to read through the end but I can’t help but think of the wasted potential in plotlines that could have been explored further. Still, it’s a good urban fantasy which I can recommend to fans of the genre.

3.5 An interesting mystery turned paranormal urban fantasy. I was really into the Poe manuscript search and Lionel's own history mystery, but then it took a turn that I hadn't expected into urban fantasy. I liked Lionel's journey and to a lesser extent Maddie's, but had to suspend disbelief about the big bad. <Spoiler> It reminded me a bit of Jordanna Max Brodsky's Olympus Bound series. </Spoiler>

I have enjoyed reading the Harmony Black series, so was excited to have a chance to read a new book by Craig Schaefer. I love the mix of mystery/thriller and magic/supernatural in his writing.

The plot and pacing were good throughout the whole book but seemed to pick up even more towards the end. I had to stay up way too late to finish since I just couldn’t leave myself hanging! It was so easy to imagine how the supernatural and mythologic worlds were woven in just below the surface of our world. Schaefer’s storytelling makes it all seem possible. I hope there will be more of Lionel and his story in the future.

I didn't really know what to expect from this book, yet it still somehow surprised me! Phenomenally written, with superb pace and a dazzling blend of mystery, horror, supernatural, fantasy and mythology - if not several other genres as well. Schaefer weaves words with skill and dexterity, building a world the reader is instantly and utterly immersed in. Loved it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was my first Craig Schaefer book but sure won’t be the last.

I can honestly say, I was very surprised. This was my first Craig Schaefer book and I will not be the last. The moment I started reading it I knew I would not be able to put this book down. The world and plot of this story was very well written and explored by the author.

We are met with our two main characters are Lionel and Maddie. Lionel is a reporter whose purpose is to debunk frauds. Because of his past and in order to make sure that his past stays behind him, he makes a deal with a woman named Regina Dunkle. She wants him to find a Poe manuscript for her and so from there the story begins. Then we have Maddie. She is so not what se seems. Maddie has a dark past of her own. The relationship between these two characters, I loved!

I am not sure if this is a stand alone or if there will be others but I think this book has more it can grow on. If we knew more about the past for both of them, this story could really grow.