Devin Drake and the Roller Ghoster by R. M. Clark
Publisher: Solstice Publishing
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeDevin Drake, a twelve-year-old paranormal ghost detective, is asked by Cassie Waite, the smartest, most athletic girl at their middle school, to help with a ghost problem.
It seems her family’s house, built on the site of a former amusement park, is haunted by two roller coaster-riding ghosts from a century ago.
While trying to figure out who they are and what they want, Devin realizes the amusement park spirits are in danger and he’ll need all his paranormal powers to find them a new hangout in the afterlife.
But when the ghosts trick Cassie into getting on the haunted coaster, Devin enlists the help of an offbeat, local historian to rescue Cassie from their world before she is trapped in it forever.
The past can never be forgotten.
I enjoyed Devin’s unique and sometimes slightly quirky friendship with Cassie. There were a few times in the beginning when I thought she was a little rude to him, but my brief confusion was soon replaced with an explanation that made a great deal of sense and helped me to get to know them both better. Everyone has off days, after all, and it was interesting to see how he responded to her when she said and did things that other kids might have found odd. There is something endearing about characters who don’t always know how to respond to each other, and I look forward to reading more about them in the future if the author writes a third instalment.
It would have been helpful to have more details included here. I had some trouble imagining what was happening because of how little time was spent describing the characters, settings, and a few moments later on in the plot that discussed how the ghosts died that I thought could have used extra attention. As much as I wanted to choose a higher rating, this was something that held me back from enjoying this tale as much as I had hoped I would.
The mystery elements of the storyline were well done. I liked the way the author shared most of the clues slowly as the plot required them. That kept my interest levels up as I waited to find out who the ghosts were, when they died, and why they continued to haunt that old amusement park. As much as I’d love to dig more deeply into this topic, I think other readers will enjoy it more if they know as little about the ghosts as possible ahead of time.
This is part of a series that does not have to be read in order, but I do recommend checking out Devin Drake and the Family Secret to anyone who enjoyed this mystery.
Devin Drake and the Roller Ghoster kept me guessing.
Speak Your Mind