Rainbow Reading is our weekly series focusing on book recommendations with a geeky/sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural flair with LGBTQ characters. Today I discuss “Fish and Ghost” by Rhys Ford.
I love the premise of Fish and Ghost. Tristan is caretaker of a home that is a way station for ghosts for their last three days on earth before passing on. Wolf and his team of ghost hunters are called in by Tristan’s family to prove that he is crazy. What could go wrong?
Hoxne Grange was given to Tristan by his great uncle Mortimer. Mortimer did this because he knew Tristan would take care of his guests as he had done for all of these years. Tristan can not only see the ghosts – he interacts with them, checks them in and provides them rooms for their last days on earth. After three days, any ghostly guests move on. To Tristan these ghosts are as real as people. Wolf leads Hellsinger Investigations, and Tristan invites him into his home once he has learned that his family hired Wolf.
Hellsinger Investigations focuses on exposing people who claim to have paranormal activity in order to increase business but in reality it is human trickery. Wolf can’t figure out Tristan’s angle and what he stands to gain by claiming that there are ghosts at Hoxne Grange. The place isn’t open for any type of business. Wolf’s team consists of Matt, the cameraman, and Gidget, the technical expert. During their first night of recording, all of the equipment gets moved around or has issues. Wolf is convinced that Tristan is doing this, but Tristan says that ghosts are perturbed at the intrusion by Wolf’s team. Things start to get really interesting as Matt and Gidget starting fighting. There is something to be said for not sleeping where you work. Matt and Gidget seem to awaken a malevolent force that is affecting all ghosts at Hoxne Grange.
Tristan demands that Wolf fix the problem since his people caused it. Tristan’s ghostly guests are not showing up, and his in house ghosts are disappearing. Heather, the cook, comes through every Tuesday, and Tristan greets her with the same message every week the same as Mortimer used to do. Mara, the cranky housekeeper, is around on a daily basis and watches over Tristan like a mother or big sister. There is Jack, the ghost dog, who will drive people crazy with his continual need to have someone throw his red bouncy ball. Tristan wants his people back in his home, and he is demanding that Wolf fix it. So, what does anyone do in that situation? Wolf brings in his mother, Meegan. This is when s*** gets real. Meegan brings the chaos while trying to restore order to Hoxne Grange.
This book has humor, ghosts, romance, crazy family members and scenes straight from a horror movie. What I always love about Rhys Ford’s book is the relationships - relationship among the two main characters, but also between Wolf and Meegan, Tristan and Mara, Meegan and Tristan, Jack and Wolf. I fell in love with all the characters in this book. Duck Duck Ghost is the next in the series, and is available to be read. There are to be more in this series as well, and I can’t wait.
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