This first novel by Brian Corley was a delightful surprise. It is not often you come across a novel that is equal parts scary, funny and insight-fully sweet. This is one of those few exceptions. Billed as falling into the comedic horror genre this novel really delivers. Do not get me wrong this is a scary story, but it is a story with heart, soul and a well developed funny bone.



The premise is just as preposterous as it sounds: two Bros buy a house where a cranky computer programmer ghost alread

This first novel by Brian Corley was a delightful surprise. It is not often you come across a novel that is equal parts scary, funny and insight-fully sweet. This is one of those few exceptions. Billed as falling into the comedic horror genre this novel really delivers. Do not get me wrong this is a scary story, but it is a story with heart, soul and a well developed funny bone.



The premise is just as preposterous as it sounds: two Bros buy a house where a cranky computer programmer ghost already lives that just wants them out. The battle for the house is the smallest part of the story but serves as a great gateway to the funny and poignant story within. After the initial twist very early on, the story really takes off. It is the remainder of the story that provides the largest insight into the main character, Jonah. The reader is invited to ride "shotgun" on this enjoyable road trip through Jonah's city and psyche. The abrupt shift in story line are at once jarring and hilarious. The veritable clown car of crazy characters creates a gleeful ensemble cast that will leave you with laughter bubbling up with every word.



The many sundry characters within this story are the true diamond of this novel. They are the joke, but not in a forced laugh track kind of way. Ghosts, angels, demons, priests, paranormal investigators and witches are just a few of the people we meet along the way. Despite the "brohamness" of the protagonist Jonah, he is not at all un-likeable. His is a kind, innocence of youth and not the more malignant ignorance that can often be associated with this type of character. He's your goofy, right out of college little brother who still eats while standing over the sink, plays too much X-Box and occasionally uses the phrase "Dude" as a verb. Lovable and well meaning. The supporting cast, as this novel feels very much like a sit-com, is played for laughs and not developed in any meaningful way. This takes nothing away from the over all novel however, as their job is simply to provide humorous backbone for the story to build on. In particular the demon Masephson is spot on. As a lover of all things Tim Curry, I was instantly reminded of his brilliant turn as Frankfurter in Rocky Horror Picture Show. Masephson is dramatic, English for no reason and just a little scary. It is the perfect blend of comedy and power. There are a few other creative characters which serve to enhance and advance our heroes plight and overarching goodness. These characters are the perfect tent poles to hold up the general kindness of our characters actions. In a novel that is not written for character development but for story line I found them to be near perfect in their superficiality.



In terms of genre this novel is an excellent example. Hard core horror fans will probably not give this book a chance as it is more funny and heartwarming and less terror and fear, however it would well be worth anyone's time. It is a quick and enjoyable read. The humor is breezy and at times belly laugh inducing. This is the Monty Python of ghost stories. It's silly, clever, quirky and thoroughly pleasurable. Being an escapist novel my only criticism would be the middle 100 pages. They are slightly too long and repetitive. As a reader I felt I was stuck in a bit of a wash, rinse, repeat cycle. There are only so many times I want to hear about mysterious meet/cutes with a hot but elusive chic. The author relies heavily on repetition to build drama and as such the story does drag in the middle. This is a minor point ultimately as the novel is a fairly quick read. The finale is satisfying and surprisingly endearing. This is the type of book even those uninterested in horror could appreciate.