YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT

Author: Terri Garey ISBN: 9780061582035 3/2009 PARANORMAL Publisher: AVON

The devil went down to Georgia . . . Nicki Styx has always known that the devil's in the details—but does he have to move in next door, too? Worse, he won't take no for an answer. Nicki would never leave her beloved boyfriend, ER doc Joe Bascombe, but hell hath no fury like a devil scorned. He's determined to make Nicki's life a living hell—even if it means exposing Nicki as an unwilling ghoulfriend to the dead. Now, just when she was getting used to being able to see and hear—and help—spirits, Nicki's got a whole new set of problems. With ghosts descending from all sides, the bereaved knocking down her door, and Joe trying to take things to the next level, Nicki may finally be in over her head. It would be so easy to dance with the devil . . . but if Nicki crosses over to the dark side, she may never leave.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Terri Garey’s Nikki Styx series is by far one of the most entertaining I’ve ever read. Wild and witty, and with enough sarcasm and good-natured paranormal ribbing to make even the most serious reader grin, it tells the story of a second-hand clothes shop owner, her openly gay assistant and the endless stream of dead people who come into their lives. Nikki helps ghosts take care of any unfinished business they have, sometimes in less-than-orthodox ways. The whole ghost-whispering thing was new to her a few books back but now she’s got her feet under her and talking to spirits isn’t nearly as off-putting as it was in the past.

YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT is incredible. From the first pages, where Nikki and Evan, her assistant, talk about his troubles with his boyfriend, I was hooked. I wanted to know why Evan’s man had changed his email password. I couldn’t wait to see who would make a ghostly entrance into Nikki’s life. And I wondered if her boyfriend, Joe the doctor, would still be on the scene. Yes, I’m hooked on this series—but good. Fortunately I didn’t have long to wait to find out what was in store for Nikki in this installment.

Possession, a ride with the Devil himself and an anorexic hurling accusations set the tone for what is a roller coaster ride. Nikki publicly accused Joe of killing Crystal, a woman whose diet-diminished medical condition made it impossible for Joe to save her. She blames him for her death and, with Satan’s help, she plans to get revenge.

There isn’t anything not to like about this book. Campy and well-written, with razor-sharp dialogue and a plot that speeds along, Terri Garey’s YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I HAUNT is another hit! I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Kay James