Spellbindingly dark and suspenseful, "Ghosts of Mateguas" will captivate gothic fans and keep thriller addicts on the edge of their seats.

An old and wizened Native American shaman reveals what the ancient ones knew: Mateguas Island is steeped in spiritual power. He speaks of the positive effects of the swirling vortexes that lie on and around the island, but also warns that "The same healing energy, when disturbed by outside influences, can create vortexes that have the opposite effect." He continues to explain that there's a terrible evil on Mateguas, and it has manifested itself in a toad-like creature known as the Aglebemu - an entity that is an omen of tragedy to come.

The story has characters compelled to return to mysterious Mateguas by their previous forays on the island. Watkins pulls readers into the story to question and investigate secrets of the island: What is this island hiding? Why do people seem to be drawn back to it despite problems that have occurred there for each of them? Many questions are answered as Watkins deftly weaves them together in this eerie saga.

When the protagonist's son begins displaying odd behaviors, she begins to wonder if he could be the legendary Blessed Boy. Could this boy, who began displaying unbelievable powers upon coming to Mateguas, be a legend come alive? What does the Blessed Boy have in store for the islanders?

This suspense-thriller is a follow-up to the previous two titles, "Mateguas Island" and "Return to Mateguas Island." Linda Watkins continues to engross readers in her compelling world of supernatural intrigue with this third thriller novel, "Ghosts of Mateguas."

Although it’s not required to enjoy the storyline, I recommend reading the first two books in the series first to become well-acquainted with the intriguing characters. Even though I read the third book out of sequence, I had an entertaining and scary time exploring its contemporary American gothic world. I am looking forward now to reading the prequels for the series’ full impact. This romantic thriller novel contains some sexual content that may not be suitable for readers under the age of 18.

"Ghosts of Mateguas Island" is a haunting novel packed with realistic characters and unpredictable twists placed on the backdrop of a spooky, magical island. As one of the main characters states in the book: “Welcome to my world…Strange paths no one else can find, evil spirits….it’s a wonder we're not all in the loony bin.” Highly recommended for horror and gothic fiction enthusiasts and those who enjoy romantic thrillers.

"Ghosts of Mateguas joins others in the Mateguas Island saga in providing the third novel in a series that excels in blending supernatural forces with a family's relationships and the lure of an island which has changed all their lives ... Ghosts of Mateguas offers a compelling saga of grief, guilt, and perseverance that deftly combines suspense with supernatural intrigue. Prior fans of the series, especially, will find the further interactions between the characters to be engrossing and satisfying, staying true to prior events while adding deeper insights and tension and intrigue to the mix and adding a dose of revelations and truths that draw together prior events in a satisfying new story just as well-crafted as its predecessors." ~ Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

Completed on: 02/11/2016

Review Rating: 5 stars!Reviewed By Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

Ghosts of Mateguas is the third novel in the Mateguas Island series by Linda Watkins, a gripping story of a family in quest of redemption, a story of mortals and ghosts. In Scarborough, people have been disappearing over the years, with no one knowing what happened to them or where they went. When the corpse of a young girl is found on the waters, Karen knows it’s time to trace the mysterious killer. Will she and her family be able to tame the ancient ghosts of Mateguas this time and put them to rest, bringing peace to the land?

Those who love stories with some touch of mystery will not be disappointed with this one. The story, for sure, will grip readers at different levels. First off, Watkins writes with moving simplicity, a kind of prose that tantalizes and is difficult to put down, because it rings with an eloquence that is akin to the spell of the ghosts sauntering along the rocky shores of Mateguas. It can be difficult to believe a story told about humans and ghosts, but when that story is told by Watkins, it becomes as convincing as it is real.

The setting is perfect for a tale that involves the herald of evil: the rocky shores, the eternity of the sea, the marshes… The story is fast paced; the suspense is so skillfully built into the story to have the reader turning the pages, and the characters are solid enough that any reader will care about what happens to them. One would say that Ghosts of Mateguas comes with a spell that makes the book impossible to put down. Beautifully written by a writer of a rare caliber.

Completed on: 02/17/2016

Review Rating: 5 stars!

Reviewed By Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite

Ghosts of Mateguas: A Mateguas Island Novel is a supernatural suspense novel written by Linda Watkins. Dex Pierce and his wife, Karen, are getting ready to move back to Mateguas Island for the summer, along with their one-year-old son, Alex. Karen would really rather stay in Monterey, California; however, Dex’s business interests are a major reason for their travel plans. Both Karen and Dex are worried about the fact that Karen’s ex-husband, Bill, is living on the island. Bill is still suffering from the ordeal he endured when he was knocked unconscious and left for dead on uninhabited Puffin Island and his later stay as an amnesiac in a mental hospital. He’s obsessed with getting Karen to return to him and will stop at nothing to do so. Bill’s never gotten over her leaving him, and the intensity of his emotions makes Dex nervous and suspicious of any interactions between his wife and her ex. Karen has other reasons to stay away from the rustic and beautiful island off the coast of Maine. There are powerful supernatural forces residing on Mateguas Island, and the strange golden flecks in her infant son’s eyes have her wondering if he is The Blessed Boy.

Linda Watkins’ supernatural suspense novel, Ghosts of Mateguas: A Mateguas Island Novel, is dark, fast-paced and intense. This is the third book in Watkins’ Mateguas Island series, and, while it can be read on its own, I strongly recommend that the reader begin with the first book in the series, Mateguas Island, to get the full impact of this powerful series. I enjoyed seeing how the author builds on her earlier works and keeps the energy and dread building. Karen continues to be a plausible main character whom the reader can’t help but empathize with as she battles some extraordinary and terrifying dark forces, and tries to contend with her obsessed ex-husband and his unscrupulous reporter girlfriend who are each determined to assassinate Dex’s character. There’s a marvelous Native American influence at work throughout the story, as well as appearances by a local healer and midwife. I had a grand time reading Ghosts of Mateguas and hope the author decides to write a fourth book in this terrifying and suspenseful series. It’s most highly recommended.

Completed on: 02/26/2016

Review Rating: 5 stars!

Reviewed By J. Aislynn d’Merricksson for Readers’ Favorite

Linda Watkins’ Ghosts of Mateguas is the third in the Mateguas Island series. While the stories are connected, they can be read as stand-alones. Later books provide sufficient back information so a new reader won’t feel lost. This story heralds a return to the infamous Mateguas Island for Dexter Pierce, and for the shattered remnants of the Andersen family. Karen Andersen, now Karen Pierce, returns to the island for the summer, accompanied by her infant son and her husband, Dex. Her daughter, Terri, has also returned to the island to spend the summer with her beau, Shawn, and get hands-on experience with the fishing industry. Bill Andersen, Karen’s ex-husband once presumed dead, had returned earlier, purchasing a home and renovating it. Each of these people has returned to the island they once called home for varying reasons. And each has secrets that weigh down the heart. Secrets that will tear them apart. Secrets that have left a few of them just a little off their heads.

All of these events form a confluence that sets into motion a waking darkness on the island older than time itself. For much of this story, I was left wondering if the supernatural and preternatural occurrences were actual physical events, or were purely in the minds of the participants. To a degree, I found it to be both. A shuttered mind is unlikely to see that which it cannot comprehend, and an open mind can sometimes be too fertile. I found Ghosts of Mateguas to be a quick-paced psychological thriller/horror story. The various stories that made up the tapestry of the whole were equally engaging, and kept me turning the pages. If you enjoy books similar to Stephen King and Dean Koontz, be sure to check out the Mateguas Island books!

"...a vivid and poetic read that beautifully channels modern supernatural melodrama ... Watkins plays to some deeply apparent strengths in this series, and Ghosts of Mateguas is another home-run of a title. Anyone looking for something different along the lines of Shirley Jackson or Stephen King, your prayers have been answered. Ghosts of Mateguas stands as a spellbinding exemplar of modern Gothic Americana." ~ SELF-PUBLISHING REVIEW