STRAW GIRL

In Barry’s novel, a woman reflects on her experiences with the supernatural and how they ultimately led to her believe in ghosts—and in herself.

It’s 2003, and 34-year-old Melisandre “Mel” Roberts has never believed in the existence of the supernatural. However, when her best friend, Alexandra, asks her to cover a housesitting shift for a local psychic, Mel’s world is changed forever. There, she has her first encounter with an unseen force when she sees a “faint bluish light” emanating from the kitchen and hears mysterious, heavy footsteps on the floor above. From there, Mel becomes more interested in learning about the world that might exist beyond the one she knows, and she joins a ghost-hunting group with a charismatic leader. At one point, she hears a ghostly voice on a recording from one of their hunting expeditions, but she still struggles with doubts about the existence of spirits, as well as her own self-esteem issues. As she dives deeper into the ghostly realm, Mel finally finds a way to move forward with the help of her friends (both new and old). Barry keeps the supernatural descriptions fairly basic, which may disappoint readers who are looking for major scares: “The air around me crackled, and the hairs on my neck and arms stood upright. I shivered as a cold gust of wind swept past me.” However, the novel, which the author notes is based on a true story, makes up for the lack of frights with sharp characterization. The story delicately weaves Mel’s painful past, which includes an assault during her time in the military, into her quest to find meaning in the strange events around her. Her unique path toward healing makes for a compelling work that deals just as much with metaphorical ghosts of the past as it does with real-life phantoms in the present.

A story that’s light on scares but offers a poignant reflection on recovery and second chances.