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Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #4
Terminal
Ellie Jordan and her apprentice Stacey investigate a house in an elaborate planned community that was only half-built before it went bankrupt, leaving an instant ghost town with only a few residents. The entity haunting this house is a banshee that feeds on sadness and misery.
Unfortunately for Ellie, this is no simple haunting, but just one symptom of the cursed land on which the suburban community was built. The old railroad line running through the nearby woods might just be a conduit for lost souls, including dark spirits with ill intentions toward the living. Ellie soon finds herself facing one of the most complex and difficult hauntings she’s seen in her career.
Unfortunately for Ellie, this is no simple haunting, but just one symptom of the cursed land on which the suburban community was built. The old railroad line running through the nearby woods might just be a conduit for lost souls, including dark spirits with ill intentions toward the living. Ellie soon finds herself facing one of the most complex and difficult hauntings she’s seen in her career.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2015
378 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Bryan
52books1,028followersJ.L. Bryan studied English literature at the University of Georgia and at Oxford, with a focus on English Renaissance and Romantic literature. He also studied screenwriting at UCLA. He lives in the metro Atlanta sprawl with his wife and son. He is the author of the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper books and some other assorted novels like Inferno Park, The Unseen, Jenny Pox, and basically a lot of supernatural stories, some of it dark, some of it very dark, some of it less dark than that.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
July 19, 2018
Terminal
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper, Book 4
By: J. L. Bryan
Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer
This one had me hooked right away! Best so far! Freaky! Scary and good! Love a good creepy ghost story with a bit of humor mixed with the suspense! The narrator makes the story even better with the excellent performance! Great job!
Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper, Book 4
By: J. L. Bryan
Narrated by: Carla Mercer-Meyer
This one had me hooked right away! Best so far! Freaky! Scary and good! Love a good creepy ghost story with a bit of humor mixed with the suspense! The narrator makes the story even better with the excellent performance! Great job!
Read
November 19, 20173.5 stars rounded up.... another read/listen with my 14-year-old reluctant reader, he wasn’t quite as interested in this book, it didn’t hold his attention quite as well as the previous books....
Longer review to come...
Longer review to come...
September 29, 2015
With the exciting installment that was the third book in this series, I immediately dived right into this one. I so wasn't ready to leave Ellie's world yet and I wanted more of everything.
More creep factor, more horrific stories, more learning about our bunch of ghost detectives and especially, more of what is hopefully going to be a spicy romance for Ellie. I just wanted more.
I'm happy to say that Bryan delivered. I got everything I was expecting, in fact, this series has quickly moved up to my must buy and read every single book ever written list. Yes don't mock, I really have a list like that.
This series just keeps getting better and better and with so much now on the line for the team both in work and their personal lives, I can't wait to see what Bryan does with them next. I will be diving right into book five in no time.
More creep factor, more horrific stories, more learning about our bunch of ghost detectives and especially, more of what is hopefully going to be a spicy romance for Ellie. I just wanted more.
I'm happy to say that Bryan delivered. I got everything I was expecting, in fact, this series has quickly moved up to my must buy and read every single book ever written list. Yes don't mock, I really have a list like that.
This series just keeps getting better and better and with so much now on the line for the team both in work and their personal lives, I can't wait to see what Bryan does with them next. I will be diving right into book five in no time.
February 12, 2019
3.5
The job starts as all their jobs start. A haunted house, a family wanting to get rid of the nuisance/danger/noises and all that. It starts like that, but it definitely turns into something even more exciting. Parts of the book are all about the actual investigation, reading and trying to find out more about the events that led to the haunting. And Terminal overall is really good.
I wasn't a fan of two things. Or three, not really sure.
First, I'm not sure about the direction this series is going. There are people sniffing around Calvin's business and he is thinking of selling the agency to them. I guess the story must evolve and change to be interesting, so I'll hold my judgement until after all that happens.
Second, there's a weird and unnecessary moment in the story when Stacey hugs Ellie's boyfriend and she thinks it was a bit longer than she'd preferred. There was absolutely no reason to put that there! The third thing is connected to the said boyfriend. Why is he necessary here? Sure, he helps her but any other character could have done that. Their relationship is not well developed anyway.
The job starts as all their jobs start. A haunted house, a family wanting to get rid of the nuisance/danger/noises and all that. It starts like that, but it definitely turns into something even more exciting. Parts of the book are all about the actual investigation, reading and trying to find out more about the events that led to the haunting. And Terminal overall is really good.
I wasn't a fan of two things. Or three, not really sure.
First, I'm not sure about the direction this series is going. There are people sniffing around Calvin's business and he is thinking of selling the agency to them. I guess the story must evolve and change to be interesting, so I'll hold my judgement until after all that happens.
Second, there's a weird and unnecessary moment in the story when Stacey hugs Ellie's boyfriend and she thinks it was a bit longer than she'd preferred. There was absolutely no reason to put that there! The third thing is connected to the said boyfriend. Why is he necessary here? Sure, he helps her but any other character could have done that. Their relationship is not well developed anyway.
August 5, 2015
As much as I love the Ellie Jordan books, I was disappointed by this one. The strongest point of these books is the plot, the mystery and this book fell short in comparison to the previous three. It's an interesting overall story about a haunted housing estate, but it just did not hang together as well as the others.
There are some gaps in the story that bothered me. For example, there is an encounter between Ellie and a large number of ghosts in a basement, there's a silent face to face and then it just gets forgotten, not mentioned again. Since EVP had already been used, I thought there might be follow up using this, but there isn't. There's also a lack of interaction with 'the clients' towards the end of the story. I was always rooting for not only Ellie, but the clients as well by the end of the other three stories, but this one felt like they were remote from the end of the story and it left me dissatisfied.
I'm only making a supposition here, but I think the gaps and the remoteness of the story are down to the fact that, as has been the case with the other stories, J. L. Bryan is going bigger with the ghosts, but rather than making an individual spectre more dangerous, he has gone with more ghosts instead, and he's opened the 'stage' of the story out from one house to a large area of country. That created a separateness for me from the people in the story and there were too many moving parts for the plot to keep track, too many ghosts, not really enough resolution.
I also found the climax this time a bit too OTT.
There are lots of good ideas in this story - J.L. Bryan's take on a banshee, which had potential, making deals with hostile ghosts, a mixture of bad guys, but there were so many that none really bore fruit.
I hope the next book focuses back down. This is an okay story, but not a great one like the rest.
There are some gaps in the story that bothered me. For example, there is an encounter between Ellie and a large number of ghosts in a basement, there's a silent face to face and then it just gets forgotten, not mentioned again. Since EVP had already been used, I thought there might be follow up using this, but there isn't. There's also a lack of interaction with 'the clients' towards the end of the story. I was always rooting for not only Ellie, but the clients as well by the end of the other three stories, but this one felt like they were remote from the end of the story and it left me dissatisfied.
I'm only making a supposition here, but I think the gaps and the remoteness of the story are down to the fact that, as has been the case with the other stories, J. L. Bryan is going bigger with the ghosts, but rather than making an individual spectre more dangerous, he has gone with more ghosts instead, and he's opened the 'stage' of the story out from one house to a large area of country. That created a separateness for me from the people in the story and there were too many moving parts for the plot to keep track, too many ghosts, not really enough resolution.
I also found the climax this time a bit too OTT.
There are lots of good ideas in this story - J.L. Bryan's take on a banshee, which had potential, making deals with hostile ghosts, a mixture of bad guys, but there were so many that none really bore fruit.
I hope the next book focuses back down. This is an okay story, but not a great one like the rest.
May 11, 2015
Four Stars: Another addictive installment in a terrific, realistic ghost series.
Ellie and Stacey finish setting up the cameras at their latest job. They have been hired by a young couple, expecting their first baby any day, who are living with a wailing ghost in their basement. Ellie suspects a banshee, but what she finds is far more sinister. The young couple lives in a community that was never fully built, and it turns out the reason why is because the area is haunted. When Ellie and her friends dig deeper, they run into a ghost train. Its passengers met an untimely death, and now a hundred years later, they are still trying to catch the train. Will Ellie figure out how to stop the haunting?
What I Liked:
*With each and every installment, I am loving the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Series more and more. I love that each book presents another creepy haunting, while developing the characters and adding to the overall story arc. I especially like that this addictive little series is publishing at a rapid fire pace, so I don't have to wait long in between books. If you want a great series, I urge you to try Ellie Jordan.
*One of the reasons I am drawn to this series is I love that it is realistic ghost hunting. Ellie and her friends live in Savannah, Georgia, one of the most haunted cities in the United States. Every old home or abandoned property, presents the possibility of ghosts. So far, Ellie has solved some creepy cases. This time out, Ellie is investigating a ghost train that stems from a train robbery gone horrifically bad at the turn of the twentieth century. A large group of ghosts wander the tracks hoping to catch the train once and for all. I thought this was the best ghost mystery to date. I loved the history and the mystery behind the ghost train, and all the twists that went with it. This one had its scary moments, but it wasn't quite as creepy as its predecessors. In my opinion, this was the best Ellie Jordan book to date. *This series brings you history, mystery and science along with the ghosts. I like the realistic feel to it.
*I am enjoying watching the character development with each and every book, especially when it comes to the new found friendships. In this haunting, Ellie and Stacey receive additional help from Michael, the firefighter, and Jacob, the psychic. I am liking the possibilities for romance and I am eagerly looking forward to watching the friendships/ relationships develop. I enjoyed the dynamic between the four characters, there was a lot of fun dialogue when all four were together.
*This one was a bit on the lighter side. It had its scary moments, but all in all, it was more mystery. I also loved the fun witty banter between the characters. One of my favorite scenes was when the gang met for breakfast. The conversation had some hilarious moments, and I loved when there was a nod to one of my all time favorite movies, Stand By Me. I appreciate that there was more humor. I felt that this was a great blend of mystery, ghosts and comedic relief.
*In the past, the books have been focused on the main story line, but in this fourth installment, the series is beginning to branch out a bit as story lines are introduced that are tied to the series story line. I am anxious to see what will become of the agency and how the romances will play out in the upcoming installments.
*I appreciate the attention to detail and the realistic aspects of this series. This is ghost hunting in the real world with science, history and special ghost trapping equipment. For all you who love the ghost hunting shows, this is a series you need to read.
*I love that with each and every book, I get a complete, rapid fire, ghostly mystery. Each case is resolved by the end of the book so you aren't left with irritating cliffhangers or a bunch of nagging questions.
And The Not So Much:
*I wasn't' fond of the way the story switched focus midway. At first, it appears that Ellie and Stacey are investigating a banshee haunting in a home, but then their investigation takes them out into the woods where they encounter the ghost train. It works, but I feel like the story wasn't as cohesive. It felt like Ember and her haunting were flipped to the back burner and they became nothing more than a mention in the second half of the story. Not a big issue, but I was invested in Ember and the banshee and then to have them mostly out of the picture was a bit jarring.
*As much as I like Ellie, she frustrates me a bit because she makes some rash and often times, stupid decisions that land her in a compromising position. There hasn't been a book yet where she hasn't gotten her ass kicked. I am hoping that she will learn a thing or two and not get her butt handed to her so much. However, she is a good hearted person, and she always tries to protect her friends, even at personal risk to herself.
Terminal is the latest in a thrilling and exciting ghost series that you need to be reading. I love this addictive little series because it is realistic ghost hunting with science, history and gadgets and gizmos. Not to mention it has terrific characters, including some creepy ghosts. I also appreciate the humor. This is a must read series, and the best part is that it is rapid fire releasing. Book five is due out this fall. So hurry and catch up.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
Posted@.
Ellie and Stacey finish setting up the cameras at their latest job. They have been hired by a young couple, expecting their first baby any day, who are living with a wailing ghost in their basement. Ellie suspects a banshee, but what she finds is far more sinister. The young couple lives in a community that was never fully built, and it turns out the reason why is because the area is haunted. When Ellie and her friends dig deeper, they run into a ghost train. Its passengers met an untimely death, and now a hundred years later, they are still trying to catch the train. Will Ellie figure out how to stop the haunting?
What I Liked:
*With each and every installment, I am loving the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper Series more and more. I love that each book presents another creepy haunting, while developing the characters and adding to the overall story arc. I especially like that this addictive little series is publishing at a rapid fire pace, so I don't have to wait long in between books. If you want a great series, I urge you to try Ellie Jordan.
*One of the reasons I am drawn to this series is I love that it is realistic ghost hunting. Ellie and her friends live in Savannah, Georgia, one of the most haunted cities in the United States. Every old home or abandoned property, presents the possibility of ghosts. So far, Ellie has solved some creepy cases. This time out, Ellie is investigating a ghost train that stems from a train robbery gone horrifically bad at the turn of the twentieth century. A large group of ghosts wander the tracks hoping to catch the train once and for all. I thought this was the best ghost mystery to date. I loved the history and the mystery behind the ghost train, and all the twists that went with it. This one had its scary moments, but it wasn't quite as creepy as its predecessors. In my opinion, this was the best Ellie Jordan book to date. *This series brings you history, mystery and science along with the ghosts. I like the realistic feel to it.
*I am enjoying watching the character development with each and every book, especially when it comes to the new found friendships. In this haunting, Ellie and Stacey receive additional help from Michael, the firefighter, and Jacob, the psychic. I am liking the possibilities for romance and I am eagerly looking forward to watching the friendships/ relationships develop. I enjoyed the dynamic between the four characters, there was a lot of fun dialogue when all four were together.
*This one was a bit on the lighter side. It had its scary moments, but all in all, it was more mystery. I also loved the fun witty banter between the characters. One of my favorite scenes was when the gang met for breakfast. The conversation had some hilarious moments, and I loved when there was a nod to one of my all time favorite movies, Stand By Me. I appreciate that there was more humor. I felt that this was a great blend of mystery, ghosts and comedic relief.
*In the past, the books have been focused on the main story line, but in this fourth installment, the series is beginning to branch out a bit as story lines are introduced that are tied to the series story line. I am anxious to see what will become of the agency and how the romances will play out in the upcoming installments.
*I appreciate the attention to detail and the realistic aspects of this series. This is ghost hunting in the real world with science, history and special ghost trapping equipment. For all you who love the ghost hunting shows, this is a series you need to read.
*I love that with each and every book, I get a complete, rapid fire, ghostly mystery. Each case is resolved by the end of the book so you aren't left with irritating cliffhangers or a bunch of nagging questions.
And The Not So Much:
*I wasn't' fond of the way the story switched focus midway. At first, it appears that Ellie and Stacey are investigating a banshee haunting in a home, but then their investigation takes them out into the woods where they encounter the ghost train. It works, but I feel like the story wasn't as cohesive. It felt like Ember and her haunting were flipped to the back burner and they became nothing more than a mention in the second half of the story. Not a big issue, but I was invested in Ember and the banshee and then to have them mostly out of the picture was a bit jarring.
*As much as I like Ellie, she frustrates me a bit because she makes some rash and often times, stupid decisions that land her in a compromising position. There hasn't been a book yet where she hasn't gotten her ass kicked. I am hoping that she will learn a thing or two and not get her butt handed to her so much. However, she is a good hearted person, and she always tries to protect her friends, even at personal risk to herself.
Terminal is the latest in a thrilling and exciting ghost series that you need to be reading. I love this addictive little series because it is realistic ghost hunting with science, history and gadgets and gizmos. Not to mention it has terrific characters, including some creepy ghosts. I also appreciate the humor. This is a must read series, and the best part is that it is rapid fire releasing. Book five is due out this fall. So hurry and catch up.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
Posted@.
April 28, 2015
Well... 4 1/2 because I can't believe she actually did that...
I received Terminal in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I’m still totally enamored by Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper and Terminal just reinforced that fact. The cases are getting more intense, the characters are revealing more layers and I find myself wanting the next book in the series as soon as I finish the current one. Yep, it looks like J.L. Bryan has definitely done it again ;)
As you can tell from the description, this case involved a lot more than just one unwelcome ghost. The whole community was affected by a group of spirits and they were all tied to one source. Terminal proved once again that there’s a lot more involved in Ellie’s form of ghost hunting than just tracking down and trapping the offending ghosts. It’s definitely a team effort that involves hours of research, sleepless nights, cunning and sometimes brute strength. I think that’s one of the reasons why I like this series so much. Ellie is nothing without the people who work with her. That’s also why I get so mad at her at times. She puts the job and everyone around her above her own personal safety.
I was also trying to do the math in my head. If a train leaves point A heading west at thirty or forty miles an hour and climbing, and the tracks end in half a mile, how long until Ellie gets splattered? What if the train is a ghostly apparition that could disappear at any moment, leaving its sole living passenger hurtling through the air until she lands on a rusty iron rail? Show your work.
Okay, so Ellie is a witty character. That doesn’t mean I forgive her for doing stupid things� maybe� Some of those crazy things actually made me admire her. There’s also a fine line between ‘good� and ‘evil� entities that Ellie worked around. Her whole thought process about where spirits should end up said a lot about her and the people she worked with and cared about.
There were a few other things happening behind the scenes that had Ellie just a little distracted. Things may be changing and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I love the team just like they are now, which is pretty much where Ellie stands on the subject. It will be interesting to see what twists and turns J.L. Bryan has in store for Ellie and company. ;)
I received Terminal in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I’m still totally enamored by Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper and Terminal just reinforced that fact. The cases are getting more intense, the characters are revealing more layers and I find myself wanting the next book in the series as soon as I finish the current one. Yep, it looks like J.L. Bryan has definitely done it again ;)
As you can tell from the description, this case involved a lot more than just one unwelcome ghost. The whole community was affected by a group of spirits and they were all tied to one source. Terminal proved once again that there’s a lot more involved in Ellie’s form of ghost hunting than just tracking down and trapping the offending ghosts. It’s definitely a team effort that involves hours of research, sleepless nights, cunning and sometimes brute strength. I think that’s one of the reasons why I like this series so much. Ellie is nothing without the people who work with her. That’s also why I get so mad at her at times. She puts the job and everyone around her above her own personal safety.
I was also trying to do the math in my head. If a train leaves point A heading west at thirty or forty miles an hour and climbing, and the tracks end in half a mile, how long until Ellie gets splattered? What if the train is a ghostly apparition that could disappear at any moment, leaving its sole living passenger hurtling through the air until she lands on a rusty iron rail? Show your work.
Okay, so Ellie is a witty character. That doesn’t mean I forgive her for doing stupid things� maybe� Some of those crazy things actually made me admire her. There’s also a fine line between ‘good� and ‘evil� entities that Ellie worked around. Her whole thought process about where spirits should end up said a lot about her and the people she worked with and cared about.
There were a few other things happening behind the scenes that had Ellie just a little distracted. Things may be changing and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I love the team just like they are now, which is pretty much where Ellie stands on the subject. It will be interesting to see what twists and turns J.L. Bryan has in store for Ellie and company. ;)
February 7, 2017
Ellie and Stacy are investigating a house of a young couple with a baby on the way, living in a community that was never fully developed. Ellie suspects that the ghost might be a banshee and is feeding off on the soon to be mother because of her delicate state.
It should have been a simple haunting, but Ellie and Stacy soon find that the situation is a bit more complicated. Near the failed development runs an old railroad through the woods, a ghost train, lost souls and dark spirits that can be harmful to the hand full of people living nearby.
Wow, what a thrilling ride. Bryan has done it again with this new installment that focuses on a much more complicated haunting that takes the duo out of the house and into their surroundings. I love the creepy, atmospheric setting of the woods, the ghost train and the mystery behind what happened when a train robber went wrong.
I thought this was a very nice addition to the series and I liked how the story branched out and that it wasn't just a regular house haunting. As always Bryan does an amazing job putting together an interesting background story of what happened to the people on the train and I found the entire thing exciting and fascinating. It made me eagerly flip through my kindle pages to see how it all turned out.
As much as I absolutely adored the story and train robbers and how it connected, I was a bit rattled by the ending. It felt a bit strange, too convenient, too random, as if Bryan wasn't sure where he was going with it and just threw it all together the last minute. I was left with more questions than answers.Out of all the times she had spent trapping ghosts, why did it happen this way now? The whole resolution with the main baddie ghost was just odd and I have a feeling that whatever it was that Ellie saw that night might not get addressed in later books. I hope that Bryan will prove me wrong in that regard.
It should have been a simple haunting, but Ellie and Stacy soon find that the situation is a bit more complicated. Near the failed development runs an old railroad through the woods, a ghost train, lost souls and dark spirits that can be harmful to the hand full of people living nearby.
Wow, what a thrilling ride. Bryan has done it again with this new installment that focuses on a much more complicated haunting that takes the duo out of the house and into their surroundings. I love the creepy, atmospheric setting of the woods, the ghost train and the mystery behind what happened when a train robber went wrong.
I thought this was a very nice addition to the series and I liked how the story branched out and that it wasn't just a regular house haunting. As always Bryan does an amazing job putting together an interesting background story of what happened to the people on the train and I found the entire thing exciting and fascinating. It made me eagerly flip through my kindle pages to see how it all turned out.
As much as I absolutely adored the story and train robbers and how it connected, I was a bit rattled by the ending. It felt a bit strange, too convenient, too random, as if Bryan wasn't sure where he was going with it and just threw it all together the last minute. I was left with more questions than answers.Out of all the times she had spent trapping ghosts, why did it happen this way now? The whole resolution with the main baddie ghost was just odd and I have a feeling that whatever it was that Ellie saw that night might not get addressed in later books. I hope that Bryan will prove me wrong in that regard.
April 23, 2015
(I received a copy from the author, In exchange for an honest review.)
I really liked the main characters again this one. Ellie and Stacey are both brave, and they work really well together.
There wasn't quite as many creepy moments in this one as there has been in the previous books, but there was a still a decent few. The case was interesting enough that it didn't need loads anyway, so it wasn't an issue.
This series hasn't disappointed so far, and I'm now looking forward to book five!
I really liked the main characters again this one. Ellie and Stacey are both brave, and they work really well together.
There wasn't quite as many creepy moments in this one as there has been in the previous books, but there was a still a decent few. The case was interesting enough that it didn't need loads anyway, so it wasn't an issue.
This series hasn't disappointed so far, and I'm now looking forward to book five!
March 27, 2019
Ellie Jordan and her apprentice Stacey investigate a house in an elaborate planned community that was only half-built before it went bankrupt, leaving an instant ghost town with only a few residents. Unfortunately for Ellie, this is no simple haunting, but just one symptom of the cursed land on which the suburban community was built.
After liking the last book so much and thinking it was an improvement over the first two, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately this one was a disappointment. The story fell flat and was just plain boring at times. The idea of the ghost train with all the ghost passengers was kind of cool, but there was no real tension, and none of the ghosts were creepy to me. The whole point of reading a ghost story is for it to scare you at least a little bit. So yeah, this one fell flat.
Then there was the lack of any chemistry in the relationship between Ellie and Michael that was beginning to build in the last book. I was really happy that Ellie was dating someone and had a personal life other than just solving cases. There was huge potential there, but this time around she is ignoring Michael's calls because apparently she is scared of getting into a relationship. It felt like needless drama to me. Eventually she ends up talking to Michael after Stacey forces her to, and makes a date with him, a really weird cheesy date in which they double with Stacey and Jacob. There was some of the fun banter between the two of them that I liked in the last book, but that was about it. Then he ends up joining her on her ghost hunt. At times it felt like it did when reading Nancy Drew when Ned tagged along on one of her cases. Needless to say, I was disappointed that there wasn't more spark between them.
After being this disappointed, I have to reevaluate this series. Since it is so hit or miss I'm not sure if I want to continue.
Review also posted at
After liking the last book so much and thinking it was an improvement over the first two, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately this one was a disappointment. The story fell flat and was just plain boring at times. The idea of the ghost train with all the ghost passengers was kind of cool, but there was no real tension, and none of the ghosts were creepy to me. The whole point of reading a ghost story is for it to scare you at least a little bit. So yeah, this one fell flat.
Then there was the lack of any chemistry in the relationship between Ellie and Michael that was beginning to build in the last book. I was really happy that Ellie was dating someone and had a personal life other than just solving cases. There was huge potential there, but this time around she is ignoring Michael's calls because apparently she is scared of getting into a relationship. It felt like needless drama to me. Eventually she ends up talking to Michael after Stacey forces her to, and makes a date with him, a really weird cheesy date in which they double with Stacey and Jacob. There was some of the fun banter between the two of them that I liked in the last book, but that was about it. Then he ends up joining her on her ghost hunt. At times it felt like it did when reading Nancy Drew when Ned tagged along on one of her cases. Needless to say, I was disappointed that there wasn't more spark between them.
After being this disappointed, I have to reevaluate this series. Since it is so hit or miss I'm not sure if I want to continue.
Review also posted at
August 11, 2015
Same Review Posted Here:
Compared with the previous books the plot of this book seemed much more mysterious than the others. Ellie traps ghosts who are so against to let go the human realm and haunts happy families but she never had dealed with a ghost train before which was the surprising twist of this book. I really enjoyed reading it throughout and the series is becoming more interesting with it’s going further. In this new case, Ellie has to deal with more ghosts than before and some of them were strong entities that they can be able to physically hurt a person or might kill them too.
Ellie and Stacey are back again with a new case to investigate in which a happy couple who are expecting a new born baby seemed to be haunted by a wailing banshee which draws energy from the sadness of the people. While investigating the case they find it linked back to the old case she has worked before and they also find that the whole community where the couple are living is actually haunted with too many spirits.By digging deeper into the history of it, they come across a ghost train which was a total surprise to them. After checking out the background history of the train they find out that all the passengers in the train has been murdered for a robbery gone wrong. There was a mystery surrounding the train, the robbery and the robbers but Ellie couldn’t understand why they killed all the passengers which eventually sets her on the path to unveil this mystery.
The plot is really fantastic and I think there was more mystery than Horror in it which I really liked it. Everything in this seemed so realistic with all the paranormal investigation stuff they do.Micheal, who is almost boyfriend of Ellie also helped in this case. Ellie was hurt a lot more in this while unraveling the mystery but she still stood up strong with so much courage which I really loved about her. At the the final showdown where Ellie enters into the ghost train was the amazing part of this book. The end was totally unexpected I mean WTH was that thing and where did it come from, it looked really scary which raises more questions.There was also some new interesting characters entrances which were introduced for a short while but I think they are going to play major parts in the future releases.
The author has written a plot which was both scary and mysterious enough to make the readers engaged to it till the end. Overall, It’s a great read and I hope the next one would be much more fantastic and of course scarier too. I’d highly recommended this series to readers who like reading ghost hunting/trapping novels or paranormal novels.
Compared with the previous books the plot of this book seemed much more mysterious than the others. Ellie traps ghosts who are so against to let go the human realm and haunts happy families but she never had dealed with a ghost train before which was the surprising twist of this book. I really enjoyed reading it throughout and the series is becoming more interesting with it’s going further. In this new case, Ellie has to deal with more ghosts than before and some of them were strong entities that they can be able to physically hurt a person or might kill them too.
Ellie and Stacey are back again with a new case to investigate in which a happy couple who are expecting a new born baby seemed to be haunted by a wailing banshee which draws energy from the sadness of the people. While investigating the case they find it linked back to the old case she has worked before and they also find that the whole community where the couple are living is actually haunted with too many spirits.By digging deeper into the history of it, they come across a ghost train which was a total surprise to them. After checking out the background history of the train they find out that all the passengers in the train has been murdered for a robbery gone wrong. There was a mystery surrounding the train, the robbery and the robbers but Ellie couldn’t understand why they killed all the passengers which eventually sets her on the path to unveil this mystery.
The plot is really fantastic and I think there was more mystery than Horror in it which I really liked it. Everything in this seemed so realistic with all the paranormal investigation stuff they do.Micheal, who is almost boyfriend of Ellie also helped in this case. Ellie was hurt a lot more in this while unraveling the mystery but she still stood up strong with so much courage which I really loved about her. At the the final showdown where Ellie enters into the ghost train was the amazing part of this book. The end was totally unexpected I mean WTH was that thing and where did it come from, it looked really scary which raises more questions.There was also some new interesting characters entrances which were introduced for a short while but I think they are going to play major parts in the future releases.
The author has written a plot which was both scary and mysterious enough to make the readers engaged to it till the end. Overall, It’s a great read and I hope the next one would be much more fantastic and of course scarier too. I’d highly recommended this series to readers who like reading ghost hunting/trapping novels or paranormal novels.
April 15, 2025
If I had to pick the less scaring book from Ellie's series, this would be it. We had some creepy moments, but overall the others were much scarier.
Still, I like this book for so many reasons! Ellie and Stacey keep on building their soon-to-be best friends relationship, Jordan never fails to bring me comic relief and cutesy moments with Stacey and the cherry on top was the fact that Michael is actually back!
I really hope we can get to see more of him and Melissa, the siblings kinda have a special place in my heart. (Not so excited about the hole of hell technically closed, but still in their basement)
Anyway, I'll have to take a little break from this series just to finish reading my Kindle Unlimited list (bec the subscription ends in December) but I'm definitely gonna buy the next one and leave it there waiting for me.
Still, I like this book for so many reasons! Ellie and Stacey keep on building their soon-to-be best friends relationship, Jordan never fails to bring me comic relief and cutesy moments with Stacey and the cherry on top was the fact that Michael is actually back!
I really hope we can get to see more of him and Melissa, the siblings kinda have a special place in my heart. (Not so excited about the hole of hell
Anyway, I'll have to take a little break from this series just to finish reading my Kindle Unlimited list (bec the subscription ends in December) but I'm definitely gonna buy the next one and leave it there waiting for me.
June 23, 2021
Fun
I really b enjoyed this book as I enjoy all of you're. Thank you for taking the time to write it tell you what you keep writing them and ill keep reading them sincerely christinedunne Harlingen tx
I really b enjoyed this book as I enjoy all of you're. Thank you for taking the time to write it tell you what you keep writing them and ill keep reading them sincerely christinedunne Harlingen tx
March 9, 2022
This is such a fun series.
June 20, 2015
Was originally posted on Paranormal Sisters:
*Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
I actually had to check first if there was going to be another Ellie Jordan adventure after this one before I could actually start reading it, I had to prepare myself to see if we were going to be saying goodbye to the characters or not......that's how invested I am with them! I'm not ready to see this series end anytime soon, it's such an amazing series!
Anyways......
After The Crawling Darkness being such a high, the best in the series by far, I was so excited to start Terminal. However, this one was a bit slower than I expected it to be. The pacing was fine, the development of the mystery was top notch but for me it wasn't as easy to get into the story like the previous ones.
I loved that in each book it's a different type of ghost and I really loved that this time the ghost was a form of a Banshee. However, this ghost just really didn't hook me right away. Yeah, it was creepy how she could make people near her feel absolutely miserable and not themselves but other than that she just wasn't really that scary. Actually most of the ghost weren't really scary. Yes, eerie and they brought a chill to my spine as if someone was in the room with me, watching me. But they just weren't physically scary like his previous stories. And because of that I felt like Terminal was more low key than the first three books.
Even though it felt a little slow for me and it took a little bit longer for me to really get into, it was still a great read! The tale was spun beautifully and I just loved that we got to see past clients from previous books show up in the story! And the new clients, well, it wasn't hard for me to enjoy them! That'll probably be me and my hubby one day haha.
Overall it was an enjoyable read! Yeah, in the beginning I felt like it was bouncing around too much and it took me till they found the ghost train for me to really get into. Because of this it was hard for me to really connect to the new clients, the bouncing around felt weird and different but I also understand that it being the fourth book you need to bring something new to the table so I'm happy that Mr. Bryan was feeling adventurous with this one! Another thing, I was also sad to see was Ellie closing up again. In The Crawling Darkness we got to see her grow so much and then to see her close herself up around Michael, well it made me a little sad. Hopefully she'll let him in in the next one! I know it's hard for her to let people get close to her, afraid that they'll get hurt if she does let them in, so because of this I'm kind of letting it slide but in the next one Ellie I best be seeing you open up to this amazing man that doesn't get easily scared! And with your job, well, only real men can handle dating a ghost hunter haha. I'm thrilled for the next one!
November 9, 2016
All aboard! This series takes a trip to the past. To the wild west, train robberies, and murder. What begins as a banshee threatening a family quickly becomes a show down between Ellie and her team and gun slinging ghosts.
It’s bad enough to trap ghosts in one location. Imagine a whole ghost town, and a haunted train.
I’m still loving this series and it’s characters.
The hauntings get stranger and scarier.
The romance is there. Not too much in this book as there are too many things going on for any of them to be indulging much in affairs of the heart.
And a big change might be coming soon. Ellie’s boss, the owner of the ghost trapping agency, has been acting morose, withdrawn. He’s mentioned maybe selling the agency and retiring. What will Ellie do then? She can’t see herself working for some phony ghost busting show, or bilking customers for large amounts of money. Can she keep doing this without him? Is she ready?
This installment in the series is more complex, tighter. There’s a lot of history leeching into it. There’s always some of that as the things being investigated are dead. You have to go back to the beginning of their stories to solve the current hauntings. But this was double fun. I love the old west and couldn’t be happier with how this investigation went down.
Another excellent book in the series. Still loving it.
I received this book free of charge from the author.
It’s bad enough to trap ghosts in one location. Imagine a whole ghost town, and a haunted train.
I’m still loving this series and it’s characters.
The hauntings get stranger and scarier.
The romance is there. Not too much in this book as there are too many things going on for any of them to be indulging much in affairs of the heart.
And a big change might be coming soon. Ellie’s boss, the owner of the ghost trapping agency, has been acting morose, withdrawn. He’s mentioned maybe selling the agency and retiring. What will Ellie do then? She can’t see herself working for some phony ghost busting show, or bilking customers for large amounts of money. Can she keep doing this without him? Is she ready?
This installment in the series is more complex, tighter. There’s a lot of history leeching into it. There’s always some of that as the things being investigated are dead. You have to go back to the beginning of their stories to solve the current hauntings. But this was double fun. I love the old west and couldn’t be happier with how this investigation went down.
Another excellent book in the series. Still loving it.
I received this book free of charge from the author.
August 27, 2015
This was probably my favorite Ellie Jordan to date. It was super creepy, and I loved the haunted train aspect. Each new book takes us just a little bit darker, the ghosts get a little bit scarier. And now there are other outside forces that are putting pressure on Ellie and Stacey. If you like things that go bump in the dark then Ellie Jordan is definitely a series you should be reading. If you enjoyed Jenny Pox I think you will love this series too.
January 18, 2016
Best of the bunch, so far.
I really appreciate the fact that although there is a bit of a romance that's been developing in this series, it's a slow burn not insta-love, and that, while enjoyable, it takes a back seat to the ghost trapping main plot.
I really appreciate the fact that although there is a bit of a romance that's been developing in this series, it's a slow burn not insta-love, and that, while enjoyable, it takes a back seat to the ghost trapping main plot.
May 4, 2015
Review coming soon!
February 27, 2021
This was so good! I haven't been super into these books, but this one hooked me! Very interesting and I'm glad I continued on.
January 29, 2020
Ghost train! Ghost train ghost train ghost train!
I think this has been my favorite book in the series so far, and not just because I, as a grown ass man, was jumping up and down a little when I realized there would be a legit, actual ghost train in this book.
Unlike the last three books, which all started with our main ghost hunters Ellie and Stacey pulling up to the reportedly haunted house, ready to meet their client and beginning learning about the "spooky" stuff that's been happening, this book starts with them already in the middle of their first night of their investigation as they encounter their first spirit. Given the title of the book and the great big train on the front cover, I thought they'd be investigating a haunted railroad station in this book. So I figure the book was starting this way because either they were going to finish up an investigation very quickly before moving on, or that their investigation might somehow lead to a separate investigation. Either way, it would be a first for the series in that it would mean having two hauntings in one book.
It turned out to be more of the latter, though the further investigation ended up being connected to the initial haunting. As they continued to investigate deeper, the mystery they were looking into continued to grow and get more and more complicated.
And that investigation, which led to learning about a more than 100 year-old railroad robbery and a tie-in to the railway system they learned about in book 2, was definitely the best mystery story developed in the series so far.
I'm getting a little worried how much I seem to share a sense of humor with the author. Between the last book and this book, I've had a number of moments where I ended up saying the exact next line in scary, scary unison with the audiobook narrator without expecting to. Like when, while the group was investigating the haunted rail line and came across a rickety old bridge over a small stream, Ellie said, "I think we're going to have to cross the stream."
Well, I think my response was obvious.
Stacey's joke was admittedly pretty good, too, though.
My biggest complain is probably how robotic Ellie still seems by this point in this series. I was sure she'd develop some personality just naturally through the course of four books, and in some ways she kind of has. But every time I start feeling like, okay, maybe the robot-ness isn't so bad, she does something to really reinforce it, like this line at a different point that they were investigating those same train tracks:
"Turning around and walking backwards on the tracks, like I'd seen kids do in a movie one time."
What are you? What. Are. You?
Sigh. It's a good thing I like robots, I guess.
The complaint is pretty minor though. This book was creeping me out the most out of all the series. Probably primarily the stuff about all the spooky, half-built houses in the neighborhood they were investigating, something I've spent a lot of time in in my own life. Overall, the series is still going quite strong, so on to the next one.
I think this has been my favorite book in the series so far, and not just because I, as a grown ass man, was jumping up and down a little when I realized there would be a legit, actual ghost train in this book.
Unlike the last three books, which all started with our main ghost hunters Ellie and Stacey pulling up to the reportedly haunted house, ready to meet their client and beginning learning about the "spooky" stuff that's been happening, this book starts with them already in the middle of their first night of their investigation as they encounter their first spirit. Given the title of the book and the great big train on the front cover, I thought they'd be investigating a haunted railroad station in this book. So I figure the book was starting this way because either they were going to finish up an investigation very quickly before moving on, or that their investigation might somehow lead to a separate investigation. Either way, it would be a first for the series in that it would mean having two hauntings in one book.
It turned out to be more of the latter, though the further investigation ended up being connected to the initial haunting. As they continued to investigate deeper, the mystery they were looking into continued to grow and get more and more complicated.
And that investigation, which led to learning about a more than 100 year-old railroad robbery and a tie-in to the railway system they learned about in book 2, was definitely the best mystery story developed in the series so far.
I'm getting a little worried how much I seem to share a sense of humor with the author. Between the last book and this book, I've had a number of moments where I ended up saying the exact next line in scary, scary unison with the audiobook narrator without expecting to. Like when, while the group was investigating the haunted rail line and came across a rickety old bridge over a small stream, Ellie said, "I think we're going to have to cross the stream."
Well, I think my response was obvious.
Stacey's joke was admittedly pretty good, too, though.
My biggest complain is probably how robotic Ellie still seems by this point in this series. I was sure she'd develop some personality just naturally through the course of four books, and in some ways she kind of has. But every time I start feeling like, okay, maybe the robot-ness isn't so bad, she does something to really reinforce it, like this line at a different point that they were investigating those same train tracks:
"Turning around and walking backwards on the tracks, like I'd seen kids do in a movie one time."
What are you? What. Are. You?
Sigh. It's a good thing I like robots, I guess.
The complaint is pretty minor though. This book was creeping me out the most out of all the series. Probably primarily the stuff about all the spooky, half-built houses in the neighborhood they were investigating, something I've spent a lot of time in in my own life. Overall, the series is still going quite strong, so on to the next one.
January 29, 2020
"The museum and library Mafia, my dear. Our tentacles are everywhere."
I'm actually not very sure if this book was a little bit boring or if it was just my lack of ability to pay attention to it.
I'm just gonna say it: nice title. 🤗 Just the right amount of cringe for the cozy genre.
So, I'm super glad that the author knows how incredibly gross it is that the husband is trying to keep his pregnant wife from doing absolutely anything. Because it's really, really gross.
I'm also not a fan of the way he described a well-groomed business-type older woman as not at all grandmotherly and then finally as cruella devil. Despite the fact that the woman said nothing the entire time. Why would you describe a person who has a certain age who you know nothing about in such horrifying ways that are so different? you get a demerit for assuming that a woman is a grandmother despite no context clues present to prove this. in fact knowing this author I'll bet that the guy with her was her grandson for some reason. Rude.
A Smokey and the bandit reference? I don't even really think I know what that is. Was there a monkey? Or maybe a dog. Am I thinking of The dukes of Hazzard? Hmm.
This is a public service announcement that may prove instructive to the author: dad humor and where it belongs: at the dinner table. Where dad humor doesn't belong: in your book. The cheeseball similes and mega-dated references are giving me frequent cringe disorder. I'm not even talking about the Colombo reference. Referencing other detective things and Scooby Doo things makes sense.
I'm actually not very sure if this book was a little bit boring or if it was just my lack of ability to pay attention to it.
I'm just gonna say it: nice title. 🤗 Just the right amount of cringe for the cozy genre.
So, I'm super glad that the author knows how incredibly gross it is that the husband is trying to keep his pregnant wife from doing absolutely anything. Because it's really, really gross.
I'm also not a fan of the way he described a well-groomed business-type older woman as not at all grandmotherly and then finally as cruella devil. Despite the fact that the woman said nothing the entire time. Why would you describe a person who has a certain age who you know nothing about in such horrifying ways that are so different? you get a demerit for assuming that a woman is a grandmother despite no context clues present to prove this. in fact knowing this author I'll bet that the guy with her was her grandson for some reason. Rude.
A Smokey and the bandit reference? I don't even really think I know what that is. Was there a monkey? Or maybe a dog. Am I thinking of The dukes of Hazzard? Hmm.
This is a public service announcement that may prove instructive to the author: dad humor and where it belongs: at the dinner table. Where dad humor doesn't belong: in your book. The cheeseball similes and mega-dated references are giving me frequent cringe disorder. I'm not even talking about the Colombo reference. Referencing other detective things and Scooby Doo things makes sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2024
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
So far, this was my least favorite of the Ellie Jordan books. It took me forever to get through. The story was kind of all over the place and boring for a lot of the book. It did pick up steam (no pun intended) towards the end, though.
I was a bit bothered by Ellie in this book. She didn't act like herself. Normally she's smart, tough, and at least a little fearless. She was none of those in this book until the end. She did several things that just weren't in line with her character.
Most of the other characters were pretty one-dimensional. There wasn't much character development in this installment.
And lastly, there were numerous errors throughout the book, both grammar and continuity errors. For instance, on one page, a character's eyes were "dark amber", then on the next page they wete suddenly "sky blue". I understand mistakes happen, but there were way too many in this book.
All in all, I am glad I read it so I can continue the series. Hopefully things will improve and be more like the first three books, which I love.
So far, this was my least favorite of the Ellie Jordan books. It took me forever to get through. The story was kind of all over the place and boring for a lot of the book. It did pick up steam (no pun intended) towards the end, though.
I was a bit bothered by Ellie in this book. She didn't act like herself. Normally she's smart, tough, and at least a little fearless. She was none of those in this book until the end. She did several things that just weren't in line with her character.
Most of the other characters were pretty one-dimensional. There wasn't much character development in this installment.
And lastly, there were numerous errors throughout the book, both grammar and continuity errors. For instance, on one page, a character's eyes were "dark amber", then on the next page they wete suddenly "sky blue". I understand mistakes happen, but there were way too many in this book.
All in all, I am glad I read it so I can continue the series. Hopefully things will improve and be more like the first three books, which I love.
October 23, 2021
This series is really easy to read. The books are entertaining, the characters are likeable and believable and the hauntings satisfyingly creepy.
is my favourite so far. Although I don't think the haunting was quite as scary as (it didn't push my buttons in the same way, anyway), that was probably a good thing - I sat up reading way into the night because I couldn't put it down.
If you are looking for a creepy series with a kick-ass lead character, who isn't perfect and gets the job done with hard work rather than superpowers, this series is for you.
is my favourite so far. Although I don't think the haunting was quite as scary as (it didn't push my buttons in the same way, anyway), that was probably a good thing - I sat up reading way into the night because I couldn't put it down.
If you are looking for a creepy series with a kick-ass lead character, who isn't perfect and gets the job done with hard work rather than superpowers, this series is for you.
February 8, 2022
Had a big gap in reading between book 3 and 4 for me, which meant the characters weren't quite as fresh in my mind, but it was easy enough to get back into the swing of it.
The hobo signs were really interesting and I want to learn more about them now. I'm not at all sure I get what is going on in either Stacy or Ellie's relationships, but the book really doesn't centre around those so I guess I am fine being uncertain there.
I kind of wanted more closure on the relationship of the couple who hired them, that seemed hella weird, but not really dealt with.
But overall it was fast, and fun, and somehow having a main character who walks towards the danger makes it less scary which is nice. Horror elements, but as long as she's not scared, we're cool.
The hobo signs were really interesting and I want to learn more about them now. I'm not at all sure I get what is going on in either Stacy or Ellie's relationships, but the book really doesn't centre around those so I guess I am fine being uncertain there.
I kind of wanted more closure on the relationship of the couple who hired them, that seemed hella weird, but not really dealt with.
But overall it was fast, and fun, and somehow having a main character who walks towards the danger makes it less scary which is nice. Horror elements, but as long as she's not scared, we're cool.
June 17, 2018
Excellent and Satisfying Read
I absolutely love Bryan's Ghost Trapper books. I'd love to stay into the story, but I can't seem to take my face out of the book, and before I know it, I'm at the end and clamoring for more!
I am so glad there are many more yet to read in this series. The backstory for each book so far has been well thought-out and interesting, with some very good frightening/tense moments, to boot.
Keep them coming, I say! When other book series' tend to decline towards absurdity or bad characterization, Bryan's Ellie and gang just keep getting better and better.
I absolutely love Bryan's Ghost Trapper books. I'd love to stay into the story, but I can't seem to take my face out of the book, and before I know it, I'm at the end and clamoring for more!
I am so glad there are many more yet to read in this series. The backstory for each book so far has been well thought-out and interesting, with some very good frightening/tense moments, to boot.
Keep them coming, I say! When other book series' tend to decline towards absurdity or bad characterization, Bryan's Ellie and gang just keep getting better and better.
October 1, 2020
I'm still enjoying this series. Still sometimes find Stacey annoyingly unprofessional, but it was a little better in this one than in the previous installments. There were a couple places in this one where it wasn't edited as well as the previous installments as well, unfortunately. And there were a couple times where Ellie seemed like she *might* have a deathwish in this one, which I wasn't as enthusiastic about as I could be... But I enjoyed the social events of this one and the various relationships and world building continuing in this story. Overall, a solid continuation of this series in my opinion.
September 16, 2021
These books aren't bad but I find that each book repeats parts. Like explanations about the traps and it always ends with where they will be released. Like each one is a stand alone and yet they make so many references to past books that its not like you can read it without reading from the beginning. If you've read them from the beginning then by book four you really do not need the same explanations over and over again. And the ghost still aren't plausible. How would "energy" hit you when you cannot hit it back? It takes matter to be physical, energy is not matter so it cannot hit you. Maybe it could jolt you or maybe start a fire but come on, energy making a fist and punching you?
September 30, 2022
These books are not going to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature, but they are SOOOO fun! I love that Ellie Jordan's case load always involves violent, dangerous, super-scary ghosts. In this installment, Ellie starts off by facing a banshee that has moved into her clients' new construction build in a bankrupted community and ends up with solving a century-old train robbery-turned-mass-murder. The "historical" element that is always brought into these books is detailed and interesting. I do not read these books at night.
August 28, 2018
Every book in the series is better than the one before and all are great!
Very original take on all things paranormal. The entities never quite act in ways that you've come to expect from paranormal accounts. The pace is fast and completely captivating.
This series is definitely worth reading and is completely responsible for my new habit of sleeping with the lights on and having a tactical flashlight on my nightstand!
Very original take on all things paranormal. The entities never quite act in ways that you've come to expect from paranormal accounts. The pace is fast and completely captivating.
This series is definitely worth reading and is completely responsible for my new habit of sleeping with the lights on and having a tactical flashlight on my nightstand!
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