Ghostland

Infinite: Ghostland Trilogy Book 3 by Duncan Ralston, Narrated by Joe Hempel

/ MeltdownMessiah / Leave a comment

Duncan Ralston brings his Ghostland trilogy to a superbly fitting conclusion with Infinite. He takes us back and forth in time, as the mystery surrounding Rex Garrote’s plan is revealed, and the truth is more horrifying than anything Ben Laramie and his friends could have imagined. The stakes are higher, and the enemies are far more numerous than solely Garrote and the forces he’s aligned beside him, but Ben is not one to give up. As Ralston races us toward a final confrontation that threatens existence, we’re forced to wonder how Ben and his allies fight an enemy who seems to know what’s coming, and who seemingly orchestrated every step they’ve taken to reach this point?

It was a treat, getting this deeper glimpse into Garrote’s life and personal history, the relationship between Garrote and Hedgewood, and the previously unexpected nature of Garrote House. Similarly, getting a deeper investment in Ben and Lilian’s families was an excellent experience, as the horrors of the Dark Rift loom ahead of our heroes.

As with the previous two installments of the Ghostland trilogy, the cast of characters is fantastic and each one is well-drawn and believable in their motivations and attitudes. The action is fast-paced and exciting, even as Ralston succeeds in giving us numerous breathers as he unveils the history that set the stage for the events we’re bearing witness to.

Joe Hempel’s narration is–as always–spectacular. There seem to be few narrators as prolific or in such high demand, and for good reason.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Infinite-Audiobook/B0B2FHQGFM?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

Afterlife: Ghostland Trilogy Book 2 By Duncan Ralston, Narrated By Joe Hempel

/ MeltdownMessiah / Leave a comment

Months have passed since the dramatic cataclysm at Ghostland, and the world has not yet come to an end…but the once tranquil life for people living in Duck Falls is over, as the town becomes a beacon for both activists and curiosity-seeking tourists. Ben Laramie has become a hero following the sacrifice of his life to get his best friend, Lilian Roth, to safety…and to keep Rex Garrote and the monstrous etherials he commands trapped within the confines of the former amusement park.

While Ben may have died, that hasn’t stopped him from striving to fulfill his mission to stop Garrote, as he and Lilian work alongside Ghosts Are People Too in order to assemble an army capable of fighting Garrote when the inevitable war arrives. With each day that passes, fewer people believe in Ben’s prediction of a coming battle or the danger Garrote still poses…but nothing will sway him from the mission at hand, not betrayal, torture, or even the convincing manipulation of Rex Garrote himself, as he shows Ben they may have a common enemy in Garrote’s former benefactor.

When a ghost-hunting reality television crew ventures into Ghostland, the true danger of the place becomes painfully obvious to people everywhere. Events are set in motion that could bring Garrote closer to achieving his ultimate outcome, but if Ben can’t find trustworthy allies, the war may be lost before it begins.

Taking the story out of the amusement park was a bold and necessary move. Ralston introduces us to a whole new cast of compelling characters while we follow Ben and Lilian in their quest to save the world from a threat it refuses to acknowledge exists. The frustration is palpable, and the stakes feel higher. Ralston guides us through a narrative replete with twists and turns, stumbling blocks, and dead ends…making it feel as if the haunted house aspect has simply grown to encompass the surrounding environment. In all ways, this is an excellent follow-up to the fantastic tale the author brought us with Ghostland.

As always, Joe Hempel provides excellent narration, a voice with richness and tone that brings the story to life for the listener.

Ghostland by Duncan Ralston, Narrated by Joe Hempel

/ MeltdownMessiah / Leave a comment

Duncan Ralston’s Ghostland seamlessly blends elements of 13 Ghosts (or the more high-tech remake, Thirteen Ghosts), Jurassic Park, and The Matrix into a thrill ride of a story. Thankfully, it’s marginally less exciting than the Ghostland attraction itself. Otherwise, Ralston would be responsible for a lot of carnage.
Something Ben Laramie catches a glimpse of when he witnesses his favorite author’s house inexplicably transported through town is enough to stop the young boy’s heart. It can’t possibly be Rex Garrote standing in the window and seemingly staring back at him because Rex Garrote has been dead longer than Ben’s been alive. But as the world will learn over the following years, death isn’t quite the conclusion most people believe.
On the opening day of the Ghostland theme park, Ben manages to recruit his former best friend Lillian and her therapist to join him as he enters the park on a mission they know nothing of. Since his heart attack, Ben has set his sights on one objective, and it’s one he’s willing to sacrifice himself to accomplish.
What starts as a coming-of-age reflection on mortality rapidly transforms into a harrowing and violent struggle for survival amid the exploration of the most haunted places in the world all in one place. Ralston paces everything perfectly, never wasting a beat as he drags us along with Ben and Lillian through a gauntlet that only the luckiest can hope to escape. As he leads us to a conclusion that is both satisfying and open-ended for the sequels, the author displays keen storytelling instincts that should impress anyone daring enough to enter Ghostland.
Joe Hempel is always a thoroughly competent and capable narrator, and his performance for the Ghostland audiobook is no exception.