Tag Team Review and Giveaway ~ Deadly Spirits

Posted: January 16, 2017 in giveaways, Mystery, reviews
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This is a Tag Team Event hosted by myself and Sherry.

 It’s always a pleasure 

For today, I’m sharing my review of Deadly Spirits,book four of the Mac McClellan Mystery Series.

After reading my review, head on over to Sherry’s blog at fundinmental and check out her review. Leave a comment for more entries!

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Deadly Spirits

A Mac McClellan Mystery #4

by E. Michael Helms

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Genre: Mystery

My Review

This is my favorite in the series so far. I think it’s because I’m falling more for these characters with each new book. That and there’s something a bit more mysterious.

Mac McClellan is branching out from private investigations. His girlfriend talks him into joining the Palmetto Paranormal Society. Now he’s ghost hunting. Not one for whimsy, his military background formed him into a no nonsense man, he’s skeptical about things that go bump in the night.

It’s not long before his lark with the paranormal becomes real. The president of the society is found dead under suspicious circumstances and, as Mac does his thing investigating the death, more bodies start piling up.

Since the dead aren’t speaking, Mac investigates the only way he knows how, checking suspects off his list, digging up knew ones (pardon the pun), and stepping on toes. He may not be subtle, but he’ll get his man, or woman.

I really like Mac. I admire his discipline and bravery. Adore his affection for his dog, sneaking him human tidbits even though the dog will thank him with odiferous emissions later. And he’s quite the ladies man. Though he’s not fooled by a pretty cover. He’s just as likely to open a ladies door as to grill her when he suspects something fishy.  And he doesn’t stray from his lady love. Mac knows a good thing when he’s got it.

The author gives you a wide variety of suspects and more than one mystery to solve. He puts you in the setting, feeling the humidity of the southern air, smelling the fishy scent of the ocean, and hearing the calls of the soaring gulls. I’m a southern gal and felt right at home. Minus a dead body or two.

There’s also plenty of action. Things get burnt up and bullets fly. SSDD for Mac.

If you’re looking for a fun detective series with a great storyline, look no further.

  5  Stars

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Synopsis

When PI Mac McClellan’s girlfriend convinces him to join the Palmetto Paranormal Society, he becomes embroiled in a case of whooodunnit. The society president, while investigating an old hotel, is found dead at the foot of the stairwell, his neck broken. The man’s secretary and current squeeze stands horrified beside his body. Authorities rule the death an accident. Mac has doubts—no one heard the man tumbling down the stairs. Then the secretary dies in an apparent suicide. Two deaths in two paranormal investigations, and not a peep out of either victim. Mac suspects there’s more going on than a vengeful spirit.
Book 4 in the Mac McClellan Mystery series, which began with Deadly Catch.

AMAZON

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Author E. Michael Helms

E.Michael Helms

E. Michael Helms grew up in Panama City, FL. He played football and excelled in baseball as a catcher. Turning down a scholarship offer from the local Junior college, he joined the Marines after high school graduation. He served as a rifleman during some of the heaviest fighting of the Vietnam War until wounded three times in one day. Helms discounts it as “waking up on the wrong side of the foxhole.”

His memoir of the war, The Proud Bastards, has been called “As powerful and compelling a battlefield memoir as any ever written … a modern military classic,” and remains in print after 25 years.

The Private War of Corporal Henson, a semi-autobiographical fictional sequel to The Proud Bastards, was published in August 2014.

A long-time Civil War buff, he is also the author of the historical saga, Of Blood and Brothers.

Seeking a respite from writing about war, Helms decided to give mysteries a try. The first novel of his Mac McClellan Mystery series, Deadly Catch, was published in November 2013 and was named Library Journal’s “Debut Mystery of the Month.” The second Mac McClellan Mystery, Deadly Ruse, premiered in November 2014. It won the 2015 RONE Award for “Best Mystery.” Deadly Dunes was published in March 2016 by Camel Press. Deadly Spirits is scheduled for release in January 2017.

With his wife, Karen, Helms now lives in the Upstate region of South Carolina in the shadow of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. He enjoys playing guitar, hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and is an avid birdwatcher. He continues to listen as Mac McClellan dictates his latest adventures in his mystery series.

Represented by Fred Tribuzzo, The Rudy agency.

Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Amazon / Google +

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The grand prize is a $25 Gift Card, and available for anyone in the U.S. or Internationally, where legal. Also giving away 4 ebooks ( U.S. and/or International, in whichever available format you prefer). And two paperbacks (US Only).

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address so I can contact you if you win, let me know which format you are entering for, and answer this question:

Have you ever went ghost hunting or had a paranormal experience?

Now hop on over the Sherry’s post on fundinmental for her review. Be sure to comment for more entries!

Giveaway ends January 30th

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Other Books in the series.

17737094  20819729  27400409

My review for Deadly Catch

My review for Deadly Ruse coming soon.

My review for Deadly Dunes

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Comments
  1. Lisa Brown says:

    I have never gone ghost hunting or had a paranormal experience, thank goodness 🙂 Would like to win a paperback
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I like to think I’d be brave, but I’d probably scream and run if I ever came face to face with a spirit.

  2. Mary Preston says:

    I visited a closed down hospital one time. It was a ghost tour, but alas no ghosts. Still scary.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  3. debby236 says:

    I really have not. I have gone on ghost tours but still ever saw anything.
    debby236 at g mail dot com

  4. Fabulous review, Laura!
    sherry @ fundinmental

  5. I really need to try this series! My aunt and I went and stayed in a haunted hotel once but though some strange things happened I am not sure if it was ghost…lol. It was a lot of fun though!

    Stormi
    booklady2007 at gmail. com

    • fuonlyknew says:

      Yeah, sometimes the hunt is fun even if nothing scary happens. I know you’d have fun with this series, Stormi.

  6. Peggy says:

    I have never gone ghost hunting or had a paranormal experience.

    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

  7. valerie theberge says:

    I really have not 🙂
    I would like epub format.
    v_theberge@hotmail.com

  8. Anne says:

    I haven’t gone on a ghost tour nor experienced a paranormal occurrence.

  9. Hi everybody, and thanks for the wonderful review, Laura! I DID have a rather “unnerving” paranormal experience, which helped lay the foundation for DEADLY SPIRITS. My two young grandsons love watching those “ghost hunter” shows on TV. So I purchased a “ghost hunting” kit so they (we) could do some investigating of our own. One night we sat around my dining table with our newest “toy,” a ghost–or spirit–box, the same model used by some of the TV paranormal investigators. My daughter & son-in-law were also present. (My wife was visiting family in California.)
    We began by introducing ourselves and inviting any friendly spirits/ghosts to communicate with us. Three distinct voices (two male, one female) called several of us by name. A few other questions were answered by “yes” or “no.” Eventually, my son-in-law asked if anyone knew his wife’s (my daughter’s) nickname. I had forgotten all about the nickname, and it had never been used, to my knowledge, in our ten-year-old home. A few seconds after the question, two very distinct voices (one male & one female) said: “Hello Puah,” and then, “Hi Puah.”
    Let me tell you, jaws around the table dropped. I’m sure the chills I felt racing up and down my spine were also felt by all of us (on THIS side, that is).
    I’m still “on the fence” when it comes to fully being convinced that ghosts/spirits exist, but I can assure you what I described actually happened as I’ve written it. We were so “spooked” that we thanked all those who had “visited and shared” with us, and then we signed off. It’s been quite a while since our last paranormal investigation. 🙂
    Thanks for all your comments, and best of luck to you all!
    –Michael

    • fuonlyknew says:

      Wow, that’s intense. And unnerving. LOL Thanks for sharing, Michael.

    • I have heard of others psychic experiences, and I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but I still need to experience it for myself. I do believe there is more to the world than meets the eye, so anything is possible.

  10. I worked at the Hotel Del Coronado where there was a haunted room. One night while I was working a guest staying in that room called down to complain about the people above him making lots of noise, but he was on the top floor, there was no guests above him. Thanks for the giveaway! Mobi is the format I use.

    micklovesbooks@gmail.com

  11. piroska says:

    I have never gone ghosthunting, and I don’t think I’m brave enough. I have had an eerie experience, though, just after my mom died.

  12. diannekc says:

    While on vacation in Nashville TN we visited a home that was used as a hospital during the Civil War. While we were in the room they used for the surgeries, I felt a cold chill around me. It was a really eerie feeling.

  13. Taylor Dean says:

    Mick loves books: My mom stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado and says someone knocked on her door and when she went to answer it, no one was there. She was spooked because of all the ghost stories surrounding the hotel.

    I’ve been to two creepy places. The Winchester Mystery House and the Hayes Mansion. Both in San Jose, CA. They are both CREEPY, but I didn’t have anything weird happen. Although they both felt like something could happen at any minute!

    Michael: Your story gives me chills!!! I would’ve been screaming and running out of the house.

    The book sounds great. I’d love an ebook. taylordeanbooks@gmail.com

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I think I’ll skip staying at the hotel. LOL And I’d be the one running in front of you, Taylor. LOL

    • Hi, Taylor. That experience really creeped me out! My wife is from San Jose and has visited the Winchester house. That poor lady was a little “bonkers” in my humble opinion. But she had to spend her money on something, I suppose. Good luck in the contest! 🙂

  14. The retirement home I use to work…lot of strange stuff, especially at night.
    whistleinthewind74(At)hotmail(Dot)com

  15. karen blue says:

    I love a good ghost story! I have had some paranormal experiences, in my child hood home(s). I am all about finding ghosts and watching ghost shows. This book sounds really good. Thanks for sharing!

  16. This sounds awesome and I’m loving the creepy cover. Of course, when you mentioned his relationship with his dog, my C-ADHD creeped in and I had to add it to the wishlist.

  17. I am entering for either Print or epub, we’ve gone ghost hunting at the cemetery, but I think we just scared ourselves more than anything. my email is cmh62789@gmail.com

  18. kim says:

    cheetahthecat1986(at)gmail(dot)com

  19. WL Hawkin says:

    Does waking up one Christmas eve and seeing a ghost standing at the end of your bed watching you sleep count? I’d love to read Michael’s book. It sounds wonderful. I’m a Canadian, so I guess it’s ebook. Wendy at bluehavenpress@gmail.com

  20. Awesome! My email address is:
    Nickelodeon43(at)hotmail(dot)com

  21. I’ve never been ghost hunting, but I once had a ghost visit me…story for another day! I’d love to win this book. jsheluk at rogers dot com.

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I hope it was a friendly visit:)

    • Well DANG, Judy–you really tweaked my curiosity with THAT statement! Come on, I gotta know! 🙂
      –Michael

      • It’s not a happy story. It was many years ago, when I was 14. A very close friend of the family had recently died of cancer. In the middle of the night, she came to visit me in my bedroom. She was wearing a long flowing white gown, very gauzy, and she told me that she was sorry but my father would have to go away. He was healthy at the time, but was diagnosed with stomach cancer 3 months later, and did within 8 weeks. He was 42. To this day I know Aunt Hannah came to warn me. I never saw her or any other ghost again, but I believe I closed myself off to them. If I had the courage, I’d open myself to them, but I don’t.

  22. my ghost piss me off here he turn water on and off and then slam the bath room door but i used to have 2 women in house who would trow thing at you if they did not get there way and then one in ark she was killed in the hosue and she saved me form chocking on my tongue and then she prevent the dog and me getting hurt by the hot water tank blew up i seen over 1000 of them sprits at the loretta lyns place and then the batte it made me sick and elevis place is haunted bad

  23. Judy, that is a sad story indeed. So sorry for your losses. But in a way perhaps there was some comfort in the message from Aunt Hannah, knowing that death is but a door. Thanks for sharing such a personal story.
    –Michael

  24. mnleona says:

    We stayed at a castle in Dubrovnik and my husband work me as I was having a nightmare. I know the place was haunted (at least I think so).

  25. babyblue7299 says:

    Nope, never…life can be scary enough! I’ve read E. Michael Helms’ books and they are always fantastic! He is a very well-rounded and talented author. Thanks for a great giveaway and best of luck to Michael!
    babyblue7299@yahoo.com

  26. I’ve never had an encounter with a ghost or gone looking for one.
    International, so ebook please.
    lyndajdickson@gmail.com

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I used to want to go looking. Not so sure about that after all of the books and movies I’ve seen. I’d probably be terrified. LOL

  27. Lisa Goldman says:

    I have not had any paranormal experiences but believe. Pennsylvania girl here.

  28. I’m not going to leave my email publicly, so if I should win, just comment on one of my blog posts. Goof luck with the book!

  29. Ally Swanson says:

    Hi! Congrats on the new book and good luck on the book tour! I am entering for the gift card format please. No, I haven’t ever been ghost hunting or had a paranormal experience before. I’ve been curious, but more scared to actually look lol. Thanks – allyswanson at hotmail dot com.

  30. Never “hunted” for ghosts, seen and heard and felt them all my life. Prefer Mobi. Craving the cover house.:)

  31. Susan Barton says:

    Yes! My husband and I love ghost hunting and have gone several times. We’ve even captured one or two interesting photos. We’ve also had some paranormal experiences in the process 🙂

  32. I went on a ghost tour in Charleston, SC. No ghosts seen, but we had a great tour guide. We had a ghostly legend near the town where I grew up. I drove out there, but alas, no ghosts showed up there either.

    I am happy to take an ebook copy, mobi format. roger.jackson2011 at gmail dot com.

    • fuonlyknew says:

      SC is a great place to try! Lots of history there. We have some abandoned houses that I pass on the way to work. A friend and I have talked about exploring them, but too chicken. LOL

  33. Pamela says:

    I havent had a paranormal or ghostly experience, Guess I havent got luck yet. If chosen will take an a pdf or mobi. p_dewolfe at yahoo dot ca

  34. Serena S. says:

    I’ve never had a paranormal experience. Even though I’m the sceptic in my friend-group, I always wanted a “proof” if something like ghosts really exit. So far no luck. Funny thing how those who want to “see” never see/experience anything. :/

  35. Meredith Miller says:

    No, I haven’t. Could be fun! When I was a kid, my uncle managed a cemetery and we spent lots of late nights exploring it.

  36. teresa Lavender says:

    I have never, but does watching it on TV count??

  37. Melissa Crisp says:

    I have had Paranormal experiences just no bad ones. We lived in this house for 25 years and we were pretty sure the ghost were kids. I grew up there and just moved in 2015, but for as long as I could remember they would play little tricks or games. It seemed like they really liked to do it to new people. Like one night a friend had to stay at our house and he thought we were messing with him by opening the fridge door and leaving it opened. He said he had to get up and close it like 10 times. He said it wasn’t just a crack but wide open. But nothing bad ever happened.

  38. Magickangel says:

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!!
    Magickangel102 (At) gmail (dot) com

  39. Magickangel says:

    Edit to my original comment. No I’ve never been ghost hunting before but I believe I’ve been present for a supernatural spiritual encounter. Very startling scary and intriguing.
    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!!
    Magickangel102 @ gmail .com

  40. Kathryn says:

    I haven’t been ghost hunting but in college we were all really into weird NJ magazines. We used to drive around north jersey finding abandoned homes and creepy roads. I was a bit of a coward so I was usually the lookout!

    I’d love a paperback copy!

  41. S. says:

    I’d like to think that I had enough courage to try and find a ghost, but I don’t. 🙁

    My email is iread78 at yahoo dot com

  42. I have never went ghost hunting but I have had many paranormal experiences especially when my grandmother was dying everyone in the house heard footsteps up and down the hall that sounded like my grandfather but he had passed away 6 months before. I would love to get a paperback please. Thanks for the chance.!

  43. Yes. I have gone ghost hunting, and yes, I have had many paranormal experiences..did I give you goose bumps? Lol.

  44. Trisha James says:

    No..but wish I have.

  45. Chrystal Hendrix says:

    I’ve been on the tour at Waverly Hills Sanatorium. It was certainly an experience and I want to go back again. Mobi format please. ?

    Dale_jr_fan4ever at yahoo dot com

  46. Linda says:

    I have never gone ghost hunting and I’ve had friends who’ve had paranormal experiences, not myself.

  47. I’ve never had a paranormal experience with ghosts or anything related, but I do have dreams that tend to come true, especially when I dream of myself pregnant or with a new born it means a woman close to me (family, friend) is pregnant, worked every time.

    Email: kings.tfomd@gmail.com
    Format: mobi

  48. Stacie says:

    Let’s win

  49. Went on a ghost tour in Tasmania but no ghosts:(

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