Killing Ghost

Ransom (The Birthing House) imagines a shadowy and convoluted tale of obsession, identity, and possession, published in the U.K. as The Haunting of James Hastings. James Hastings is traumatized when his wife, Stacey, is killed in a hit-and-run outside his house while he’s inside sleeping off a stint working as a body double for provocative rap star Ghost. A year later, during an alcoholic haze, James sees Stacey alive in his neighbor’s house. As James tumbles down the rabbit hole, beautiful Annette Copeland, who looks eerily like Stacey, scams her way into his life. Soon Annette morphs into Stacey and Hastings morphs into Ghost against the background of violent, misogynistic Ghost lyrics. The tension is hampered by uneven pacing, unsympathetic characters, and distracting descriptions of scenery. Readers looking for spine tingles won’t find them here, but they may be intrigued by the tortured inner dynamics of a shattered man. Agent: Scott Miller, Trident Media Group. (May)