“Well, Mr. Gabriel. What do you know about…demons?”
For most people, that’s a question that never comes up. Medium Seth Gabriel isn’t most people and for him, it’s another normal day in an abnormal life. It’s bad enough that his love life has seen better days but his personal problems are only the half of it. Seth’s ghost hunting business, SG Cleaning Services hasn’t seen a client in weeks and he’s desperate for a paycheck. Things look up when two potential clients seek him out.
Courtney Reeves hires Seth to investigate a paranormal disturbance in her home. On the surface it’s a run of the mill cleaning job but when you deal with the dead for a living, there’s no such thing as routine. The close of the case is the start of even bigger problems and Seth will find that, while there’s nothing to fear from the dead, the living are another story.
When the nervous and persistent Evan Gallagher enters his life, Seth sees the promise of a big payday. There’s only one catch. The wealthy lawyer thinks his wife is possessed by a demon. Seth doesn’t believe in demons…not anymore, but the money is too good to turn down. Is Evan crazy or is he one hundred percent sane? As Seth digs deeper, he’ll ask the same question of himself.
For a guy who’s coasted through life on not much more than Greek takeout, tequila, and attitude, Seth’s going to have to dig deep to survive what will turn out to be a very bad week.
Schiariti draws a complex anti hero in Seth Gabriel -- sharp-witted, coarse, funny,and raw -- battling the demons of his own existence, real and psychological. This innovative story takes us on a wild ride integrating the supernatural, as Seth Gabriel is a bonafide ghost hunter, and a hefty dose of realism as we take a walk through his embattled life. The twists and turns Schiariti makes aren't always predictable but that's only a bonus in this well-crafted piece.
Funny, scary, heartwarming, Matt Schiariti blends these seemingly discordant themes into a thriller of a ride. The story is tight, well thought out, and told in a way that keeps the reader guessing and on the edge of their seat the whole read. At moments terrifying and hilarious, I loved this book.
Even those times I was forced to stop reading; need for sleep, the traffic light turned green, my wife told me to get off my ass, I couldn't stop thinking about what was going to happen next. Completely mesmerizing and worth every second of my time to read. Will be seeking out other work by this talented storyteller
Meet Seth Gabriel, a wise-cracking, down-on-his-luck medium trying to make his way in a world that doesn't understand him. He's in the process of a divorce, has a twelve-year-old son, Mitch, who has to stand up for his father's unconventional skills at school, and work is slow enough that it's hard to maintain even a low-rent lifestyle in a trailer whose condition is just this side of condemnable. Littered with booze and clutter, this place epitomizes Seth, a bit of a disaster, himself, until a special someone in need of rescuing does a little rescuing back.
Jaime is a working girl, and one of Seth's many vices. Theirs is an unconventional love story, at best, but one you root for from the beginning. Matt does a great job of painting two damaged individuals whose bad life choices spring from necessity and tragedy. Jaime is a sympathetic character, a girl whose endured the worst and taken back control of her life the only way she knew how: hooking.
Ghosts of Demons Past was a fun ride from beginning to end and I read it in what is some kind of record time for me. I'm not a fast reader, but the story kept calling me back. Laced with sarcasm, Ghosts reminded me a bit of Charlie Huston's writing. Seth Gabriel had an undeniable Joe Pitt quality to him, so if you're a fan of the underdog, this story won't disappoint.
The characters--Seth, Jaime, Mitch, Homer, and even the curler-wearing landlady--are all expertly drawn and three-dimensional. Their personalities are vastly different and leap off the page. Homer, proprietor of A Real American Gyro, and Seth's business landlord, is a great addition to the quirky cast.
There's tension as Seth gets into unforeseen trouble, unexpected tenderness, and a genuinely satisfying conclusion. Matt left no loose ends, though he did leave me wanting more of Seth Gabriel. This is an excellent debut and I'll join the others in shouting for more Seth. He's a character you just can't get enough of.
So words to describe this book are Fantastic, funny and totally gripping. I was totally gripped from the start of this book. Seth Gabriel is a ghost hunter. No one knows he can talk to ghosts but he has made a business out of it by getting rid of ghosts. Business is going well and because of the things he can see, he has an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. He gets hired by Courtney Reeves to get rid of a ghost in her house and Evan Gallagher hires him because he believes his wife is possessed by a demon but the problem that Seth doesn't believe in demons but Evan is offering a lot of money to help him which Seth can't refuse. You do find out a lot about Seth and his life and you go along. At first I didn't think much of Seth but as the story processes, you understand more about Seth and the things he's sees. I was really hooked on this book and I had to make myself put it down at times. There were a few funny moments. One I laughed out loud at for ages. Just an all round great book. I was so pleased I got to read and it a a bit gutted I finished it so quick. Highly recommend this book. It is so worth reading, you will not be disappointed. Loved it!
