THE GHOSTS OF GWENDOLYN MONTGOMERY

A superstar publicist has to contend with the literal ghosts of her past when they attempt to ruin her life in this debut novel.

Gwendolyn Montgomery has it all: the nice apartment, the fancy clothes, the perfect job, and she’s just recently begun dating James H. Watson, who just might be the man of her dreams. So when terrible things start happening at all of her events, with a clear message that they’re intended for her, she knows the past she’s been running from might have caught up with her. Across town, Fonsi Harewood, shop owner and medium, is informed of a breach between the world of the living and the world of the dead which will come to a head very soon. In order to stop it, he needs to find help from someone more powerful, someone who can manipulate the worlds themselves, while also dealing with the love triangle he’s found himself in with his ex-boyfriend and an attentive ghost. Together, Gwendolyn and Fonsi might be either the team that can save the world or just watch as it burns. Haynes has created a mystical, sensuous, dangerous world of spirits and power while also making characters that feel three-dimensional and knowable. Friendships feel real, family problems have the weight of generations of fights and secrets behind them. Like the best fantasy novels, there is room for a million more stories to be told, to see how things progress after the last pages with both the characters and the world itself. There are twists and turns but everything is grounded in a sense of reality, impressive for a world steeped in spirits. This is a strong debut for a new, interesting voice with things to say.

A smart, sexy story filled with ghosts, history, and resilience.