Shattered Echoes by B.A. Shapiro

One of the most wonderful things about reading is that books never expire. For example, I recently read Shattered Echoes. It was published in 2015. Still, it hadn't grown stale on the shelf, and it didn't smell weird. The story was as vibrant the day I read it as the day it was published. This is only one small reason books are so appealing to me.

But that's a blog post for another day.

Ms. Shapiro has crafted a tense, creepy, and curious story. A ghost story with a twist of insanity, this one was a fun ride from beginning to end. The cast of characters are tremendously diverse; so much so that often, I wondered what small bit of their personality would be the next startling spice added to this feast of second guessing. The narrator was unreliable throughout most of the pages because her own estimation of her sanity fluctuated so often. I think writing from this point of view increased the "creepy" factor exponentially. It became difficult to know what to believe.

Ms. Shapiro uses aroma in ways few authors consider. This is a detail I find lacking in so many of the books that I read. But not in this one. The fragrances she encountered not only informed the main character's surroundings and her state of mind, it added depth to the inner dialogue wrestling inside her head as her questions, fears, hopes, and disappointments fought for validation.

Having lived for a time in the Boston area, it was fun to read the names of streets and public spaces, and find a familiarity that solidified my connection to the characters. Do you need to visit Boston before you read this book? Of course not... but as with anything, if you have an emotional connection, the story and characters seem to resonate more strongly as you read.

The ending was unexpected - as it should be with any good ghost story - and the abrupt finality of it caught me holding my breath. The loose ends were all swept away in the end... but I had not even the smallest inkling of what those final few pages would reveal; the sign of a good paranormal experience.

I'm interested in reading more from Ms. Shapiro, and I recommend you try out her books, too. I think you'll find the adventure thrilling.