Lisa Reviews: Mara Purnhagen's "Beyond the Grave"

Hi Everyone! Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3? …..Does this mic work? I have another book review for you guys, and it goes perfectly with the month of October. Today’s lucky book is Beyond the Grave by Mara Purnhagen; another e-book from Netgalley. I just finished it yesterday, and couldn’t wait to start writing my review!

Beyond the Grave was something new, something I hadn’t read before. I really enjoyed Mara Purnhagen’s writing style and I can’t wait to read more of her works. You might find this a bit dorky, but I love watching those paranormal ghost hunting shows. I don’t really know why, but I do and they interest me. I can’t watch them at night, right before I go to bed, because I am the biggest scaredy cat, and will just end up being having nightmares. But still, what isn’t cool about talking to the dead? You might even be able to communicate with one of your family members who had already passed away! But for Charlotte and her family, this is normal, and this is what they do. They go out to haunted houses, churches, prisons, and hospitals, searching for any kind of paranormal activity, recording their finds and making DVDs and TV shows. Watching it on TV is cool, but I don’t think I would ever want to actually do it!

In their most recent case, in a haunted prison, a entity, named The Watcher, actually attacked Charlotte’s mother, leaving her in a coma for months. Not only do Charlotte, and Shane almost lose their mom, but in a way their dad too. Instead of continuing on with his day to day life, and finishing the project they started, he barely ever leaves the hospital. Months have passed and Charlotte’s mother still hasn’t made much progress. Her family depends on the money that comes from the DVDs they make and sell. Not having enough footage means that they won’t be able to finish a DVD, and won’t earn any money. Without their father’s permission (of course, who would send their kids to the place their wife was almost killed?), Shane, Noah, Trisha, and Charlotte head back to the haunted prison to get some more footage.

Things between Noah and Charlotte have always been great! Noah seems like the sweetest guy in the world, never wanting to hurt or lie to Charlotte. But after coming back, things between Noah and Charlotte seem different; Noah isn’t being himself, and is acting distant. Not knowing what to do or who to turn to, Charlotte finds herself on the door step of her former high school enemy, Bliss. Putting their differences aside, Charlotte begins telling Bliss about everything that’s going on with her mom and dad, and even about the difference in Noah’s attitude. After losing both her mom and her boyfriend, Charlotte’s ready to do anything to get her family back. Which includes going back to the prison for the third time, to finally close the gate.

If you haven’t read Beyond the Grave, you definitely should! And what time better than now? It’s October and we should all be reading something scary 🙂

Mara Purnhagen – Beyond the Grave

Published by Harlequin 23 August 2011

Paperback, 256 pages