Review and Giveaway: Notes From Ghost Town by Kate Ellison

They say first love never dies... 

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there? 

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.

Notes From Ghost Town Review:
The book starts out as a sweet YA. Two friends who have known each other since they were very little start noticing each other in a new way. Both are embarking on their own adventure, just starting out in life. The sweetness of this beginning only enhances the horror to come. Lucas, aka Stern, is dead a week later and her mother is accused of his murder. In the midst of it all Kate loses all color. Everything is grey and it's not just her circumstances of what is happening around her. It's something as an artist she can't seem to fathom and is afraid she is becoming like her mother, schizophrenic.

This is just the start of the book. Not only do we have the mystery of Kate's illness, but we also suddenly get the appearance of Stark back in her life. Stark's ghost who claims that Kate's mother had nothing to do with his murder. Kate starts looking for clues trying to not only save her mother, but in doing so, she is also saving herself.

As far as how the mystery plays out, I'd have to say I was captivated. I enjoyed the way it unfolded and even how Kate seemed to find pieces of herself at the same time. I would have to say that there was only one loose end involving a lawyer, but even though I noticed, it did not take away the fun of wrapping up the rest of the mystery.

As a side note, I did have one thing that went through my mind about Kate's inability to see color. I thought that it would actually end up making her a stronger painter in the end. She would be able to concentrate on contrasts without the distraction of color. However, I understand why she may not have seen it the same way especially when she was really worried about becoming sick like her mother. Oh and yea.. I'm probably the only one who thought of that while reading the book. What can I say, I'm strange like that. :)

I give this book 4 stars. It's a good mystery that doesn't start out with one but builds as you go on Kate's adventure.

I received this ARC from Media Masters and no compensation for my review was given.

Check out the author's blog! You have a link to some of her artwork which is worth checking out!

• Kate's Blog
• Kate's Etsy Store: ScandalMonger

Where to purchase a copy of Notes from Ghost Town:

• Barnes and Noble
• Amazon
• Indiebound

Winner gets both books! Notes from Ghost Town will be a HC and The Butterfly Clues will be a paperback! Both published by Egmont. Open to US/Can snail addys only.

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