Darkhouse by Karina Halle Series: Experiment in Terror #1
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Published by: Metal Blonde Books on May 1, 2011
Format: eBook
Pages: 338
Source: Author
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There’s always been something a bit off about Perry Palomino.
Though she’s been dealing with a quarter-life crisis and post-college syndrome like any other twenty-something, she’s still not what you would call “ordinary.” For one thing, there’s her past which she likes to pretend never happened, and then there’s the fact that she sees ghosts. Luckily for her, that all comes in handy when she stumbles across Dex Foray, an eccentric producer for an upcoming webcast on ghost hunters. Even though the show’s budget is non-existent and Dex himself is a maddening enigma, Perry is instantly drawn into a world that both threatens her life and seduces her with a sense of importance. Her uncle’s haunted lighthouse provides the perfect catalyst and backdrop for a mystery that unravels the threads of Perry’s fragile sanity and causes her to fall for a man, who, like the most dangerous of ghosts, may not be all that he seems.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A ghost hunting adventure with original characters guaranteed to please!
Perry Palomino is a college graduate who is back home living with her parents, teenage sister and working at an advertising company as a receptionist. With a troubled past, Perry is trying to find herself in the world like any ordinary young woman; only Perry is far from ordinary. She has the ability to see spirits and ghosts, an ability she keeps to herself. On a weekend family trip to her uncle’s, Perry encounters ghost hunter, Dex Foray, while she’s exploring the rumored haunted lighthouse on the property. When things get a little too paranormal in the lighthouse, Dex realizes Perry is the real deal and jumps at the chance to have her cast in his new ghost hunting show, ensuing a chain of events that will bring Perry to the brink of losing herself in the dangerous and haunting supernatural world they discover.
I’m a huge ghost hunter, paranormal investigating fan, making this book my cup of tea. This is a fun, character driven story with enough spooky paranormal elements to keep you on the edge of your seat but not scare you to death! The author brings the characters to life with her descriptive and splendid writing style, allowing the reader to connect with them almost instantly.
Perry is a self-discovering, flawed protagonist you can’t help but love. Sure she might get on your nerves a tad bit, at times, but just about every woman who has been 22 can identify with her in one way or another. I found it absolutely hilarious that she initially can’t stand Dex but then lusts for him…all while questioning herself for finding the guy incredibly sexy when he treats her like a child for half of the book! Perry lacks some confidence when you first meet her but eventually begins to find her way on her own. She’s smart and sticks to her own style which you have to admire her for in a world constantly concerned with fitting in.
Dex is definitely an enigma. He’s good looking and charming one minute and the biggest jerk the next. You never know what his motives are and want to hate him, until he does or says something to totally redeem himself. I’m all for loving a bad boy but didn’t really fall for Dex in this book, he has potential, but there are times you just want to slap him and give him a piece of your mind (which was for more than half of the book in my case)! As unappealing as he might seem after my assessment, Dex and Perry have some great moments and sexual tension that keeps you interested throughout the story.
DARKHOUSE is a fun tribute to all the entertaining ghost hunter and paranormal investigating shows out there. It focuses more on the characters than on the supernatural, but there are a few creepy moments for those who love a little scare. The supporting characters add a bit more flavor and humor to the story that blends in perfectly. I found the pace a little slow at the very beginning but that all changes after the first few chapters. Karina Halle does a fantastic job of keeping her story and characters believable while extremely entertaining. Fans of the paranormal and supernatural will find DARKHOUSE a promising start to a series that can only get better!
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