Ghosts of Harvard

A Novel

By: Francesca Serritella

Narrated by: Karissa Vacker

Length: 16 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Teen Vogue Book Club Pick

A Harvard freshman becomes obsessed with her schizophrenic brother’s suicide. Then she starts hearing voices.

"A rich, intricately plotted thriller.... Serritella, who is a Harvard grad herself, writes about the campus with an insider’s savvy.” (Maureen Corrigan, The Washington Post)

"Every time I thought I knew where Ghosts of Harvard was heading, I turned out to be wrong. Part mystery, part ghost story, part psychological thriller, this novel is all entertainment." (Jodi Picoult, number one New York Times best-selling author)

Cadence Archer arrives on Harvard’s campus desperate to understand why her brother, Eric, a genius who developed paranoid schizophrenia, took his own life there the year before. Losing Eric has left a black hole in Cady’s life, and while her decision to follow in her brother’s footsteps threatens to break her family apart, she is haunted by questions of what she might have missed. And there’s only one place to find answers.

As Cady struggles under the enormous pressure at Harvard, she investigates her brother’s final year, armed only with a blue notebook of Eric’s cryptic scribblings. She knew he had been struggling with paranoia, delusions, and illusory enemies - but what tipped him over the edge? Voices fill her head, seemingly belonging to three ghosts who passed through the university in life, or death, and whose voices, dreams, and terrors still echo the halls. Among them is a person whose name has been buried for centuries, and another whose name mankind will never forget.

Does she share Eric’s illness, or is she tapping into something else? Cady doesn’t know how or why these ghosts are contacting her, but as she is drawn deeper into their worlds, she believes they’re moving her closer to the truth about Eric, even as keeping them secret isolates her further. Will listening to these voices lead her to the one voice she craves - her brother’s - or will she follow them down a path to her own destruction?

©2020 Francesca Serritella (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Ghosts of Harvard is written with a masterly, focused hand, belying the fact that this is Serritella’s debut novel. The pages burn with frenetic energy and are peopled by memorable, compelling characters. The tension is palatable, the twists and surprises perfectly timed and the stakes as high as humans should be asked to endure. The end result, a novel you will long remember and characters you will want to see again. A triumph in every respect." (David Baldacci, number one New York Times best-selling author)

"Wow, what a lively, compelling, and intoxicating debut. Ghosts of Harvard is so many things - a rumination on grief, a glimpse behind the ivory walls of a famous institution, a poignant look at mental illness, and a powerful story about the ghosts that haunt us all. Francesca Serritella is my new ‘go-to’ author." (Harlan Coben, number one New York Times best-selling author)

"Ghosts of Harvard is a wrenchingly beautiful book. With immense heart and unwavering empathy, Francesca Serritella explores the legacy of loss and the mystery of family. It’s one of those rare novels that spirits you to a deeper understanding of your own life, one of those stories whose voice you’ll continue to hear long after you’ve turned the last page." (Bret Anthony Johnston, internationally best-selling author of Remember Me Like This)

Excellent first novel!

This engaging novel has something for everyone- family secrets, history, ghosts, and love. And a few other things I won’t mention (because I don’t want to spoil it)! This is a fantastic book written by a talented young writer.

Wow! A compelling story right up to the end!!!

I highly recommend this book! Lots of surprises and a very satisfying read. I loved the author's notes at the end too!

Fabulous book

This was one of most enjoyable books I have ever read (actually listened to). Karissa Vacker was simply superb in the reading of the book.

I couldn’t put it down

Didn’t know what to expect. But it is an interestingly woven story of family struggles, loyalty and forgiveness. Combined with mystery and self discovery.

Okay, I finished this book

In a previous review, I said the book was slow. I stand by that review. I bought this book solely because the author's mother is Lisa Scottoline, and I love her books. So, I thought this author would write at least similarly but she doesn't. This book takes a painful look at mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, and the havoc that disease can create for the one who suffers from it. Her portrayal of Eric Archer is true to form. Eric won't take the medicine that will allow him to have a somewhat decent life. Schizophrenics rarely do take their meds with any regularity because they believe they will not see clearly or that the meds will harm them somehow.

Overall, the book was tolerable. However, I don't think that I will be using my credit for another book by this author. Your mileage may vary from mine, and that is okay. For me, this book simply didn't hook me at any point.

Excellent listen

Great, well-developed, believable characters. Interesting and thought provoking analysis of mental illness and the toll suicide takes on family and friends. Intellectually stimulating ideas about the time-space continuum. Intricate plot. Definitely worth a credit.

loved it!

great story telling! the narration was very good! I can't wait to read more from Francesca! keep them coming!

Complex

4.5 STARS

Only months after Cadence’s schizophrenic brother Eric committed suicide at Harvard, she begins her freshman year at the prestigious university. Soon she begins hearing voices. Wondering if she inherited Eric’s mental illness with auditory hallucinations as a symptom, Cady also considers she’s hearing the purported GHOSTS OF HARVARD others have heard for decades. Cadence also searches for answers about her brother’s last months including his scientific research. Danger lurks nearby, but is that peril in her head or from outside sources?

Francesca Serritella’s debut novel follows her humor essays penned with her mother, best selling writer Lisa Scottoline. A talent in her own right, Serritella’s word building is compulsively readable. Though GHOSTS OF HARVARD gets off to a slow start with backstory, after about 20% the pace picked up.

I loved Cadence. Her earnestness, kindness and smarts had me rooting for her from page one. I didn’t like her mom one bit and had difficulty seeing her as multidimensional, even while understanding she was mourning her son. Throwing Cady under the bus and canonizing Eric hit too close to home for me. I enjoyed Cadence so much, I imagined seeing her in a sequel.

GHOSTS OF HARVARD is the first of what I predict will be many well-written novels by Francesca Serritella.

WOW!!

Well now, the apple sure doesn't fall far from the tree in this case, does it? Francesca Serritella definitely got her writing skills from her mom! This was magnificent! I loved this book so much!
The supernatural aspect made this one of the best books i've read or listened to this year!
Bravo, Ms. Serritella!

Narration was wonderful too! Karissa Vacker completed this great package!

Too much of the same old, same old.

Story gets stale. Repeats and repeats. Wanted to like it but the characters (especially mom and dad) were flat and unlikable.