Ghost Dreams is a genre-bending thrill ride of a page-turner! Totally unexpected and the conclusion will leave you gobsmacked! Matthew Hughes pulled a fast one as he took what could’ve easily fit into the ‘horror’ genre and completely transformed it into a crime caper mystery whose moving parts will give you whiplash.
Using a traditional ghost story/haunting as the catalyst, Hughes lures the reader into solving the mystery of Jane Manchester. While her story is tragic, it isn’t novel as tales that mirror her experience have been explored in the media. That said, it doesn’t take away from the ‘horror’ of it nor the affinity I felt for her and her circumstance. Through Jane’s story, Hughes addressed themes that are just as relevant today as they were in Jane’s lifetime. Themes relating to classism, the usurpism of female rights, mental health, loss, and trauma were filtered throughout the plot shown through flagrant displays of prejudice, injustice, and the more insidious presentations of it within contemporary society.
Hughes exercised restraint and mastery as he eloquently weaved these themes into the plot’s fabric. His subtlety in their introduction and consistency in their maintenance didn’t fall heavily onto the plot but landed with a grace that enabled the themes to seep into the readers’ subconscious while the mechanics of the overarching mystery monopolized the reader’s mind.
From the very first page, I was taken with the ‘regular-ness’ of the protagonist, Stan. He felt familiar, much like a neighbour that you see often and like, but don’t know too much about. As the plot unfolded, Stan became the epitome of the anti-hero, and who doesn’t love an underdog? His protectiveness of Jeannie, his autistic daughter, and Jane made him even more endearing. Possessing a “Robin Hood-esque” quality, I rationalized his occupation and marveled at the options it afforded him. Options that many leading lives that stayed within the lines of society would not have had access to. It was not lost to me that Stan’s occupation was ultimately needed to fight the patriarchy that stole Jane’s life.
I appreciated that Hughes didn’t try to paint Stan as infallible but recognized that he was ultimately a criminal regardless of his honorable intentions and desire to obtain justice for Jane. The author did an excellent job showing Stan wasn’t selfless as righting the wrong dealt to Jane also became a matter of self-preservation. I liked that Stan was an older character with all that encompasses—his strengths and weaknesses.
Hughes’ showcased his aptitude for research as he engineered every facet of Stan’s capers—the technical support needed, and the tools and people that could facilitate or hinder Stan’s career. His understanding of autism was also well researched and helped to craft the fully developed and nuanced character of Jeannie as well as the relationship between her and Stan.
Hughes showed insight, compassion, and grace as he presented relatable and believable conversations, reactions and resolutions to Jeannie’s condition and Stan’s ability to navigate it as a single parent. Their relationship was one of the book’s highlights. Hughes’ understanding of the intricacies of the crime world that Stan lived in also reflected the elevated level of research that went into creating this world. Meticulous, refined, intricate, believable, and plausible, you will enjoy the attention to detail.
The relationship between Jane and Stan was also quite intriguing. Hughes’ take on ghosts is refreshing, and his thesis regarding Jane’s development as her relationship with Stan grew is equally disturbing and believable. Their relationship opens a discourse on supernatural entities and their connection to the natural world. It also hints at a link between possessions, hauntings, dreams, and mental health. The injection of romance followed a natural progression and was unsurprising. It was commendable that Hughes’ wrote the romance to develop organically, and it wasn’t fetishized as it could have been.
Ghost Dreams had more than a few characters and moving parts which grew overwhelming as some of the characters rarely appeared and there were a lot of names to keep straight. That said, it was a plausible facsimile of the world Stan resided in. The supporting characters of Lele and Cheeks were charming and well written.
The conclusion’s ambiguity is another testament to Hughes’ ability to weave a supernatural tale with contemporary sensibilities. This plot required a lot of finesse and well-timed reveals, and Hughes proved a master at juggling and providing a well-paced narrative. This book seamlessly blends the supernatural with the crime world and proves to be a thriller with a heart much like its protagonist.
Ghost Dreams is nuanced, complex, relatable, contemporary, unexpected, and fun. Exactly what you want in a thriller!
Pros:
- Unexpected and well-researched genre twist
- Relevant themes written with grace. Not at all heavy handed or evangelical
- Nuanced and well-written characters
- Relationship between Stan and Jeannie, Stan and Jane
- Refreshing and FUN!
Cons:
- Lots of characters and places can make it challenging to keep it all straight
- Not a completely original plot but well executed
Favourite Characters:
· Jeannie – quirky, relatable, nuanced
· Stan – epitome of anti-hero
· Jane – tragic and well written
Cover Score: 9.0/10
Book Score: 9.0/10
This book was reviewed by The Reviewblr
The editing of this post was made by Deon Ashleigh. Visit Deon’s site for more.
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