The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery

A Novel

By: Clarence A. Haynes

Narrated by: Brittany Bradford, André Santana

AudioFile Magazine Earphones Award Winner

In this sexy, page-turning debut, a high-powered publicist receives a threatening message and must confront her secret mystical past as ghosts prepare to invade our world.

"A must-read book for fans looking for a fresh, authentic voice in urban fantasy and horror." –Tananarive Due

To be a client of Gwendolyn Montgomery—New York’s most powerful publicist, at Sublime Creative—is to be infused with a certain oomph, a mysterious glamour. She seems to have created the ideal life with her handsome new boyfriend, the perfect match. But Gwendolyn has a legion of long-buried secrets that could unravel everything.

After a grisly, bizarre incident at the Brooklyn Museum, Gwendolyn begins to realize that something nefarious is happening tied directly to her past, right as Fonsi Harewood comes back into her world. Fonsi is a queer Latinx psychic from the South Bronx who’s caught up in a love triangle with a ghost and his mortal ex. He’s able to communicate with the dead, and he comes with a dire warning for Gwendolyn, that the barrier between humans and spirits is weakening.

Gwendolyn would prefer not to have anything to do with ghostly drama. Yet in order to get to the bottom of the spookiness derailing her life and threatening the world, she must face the demons she’d long left behind. The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a sensuous, funny, mystical adventure that will leave you spellbound as you keep the pages turning.

Critic reviews

"Haynes’s spellbinding solo debut… Dovetailing of external and internal stakes keeps the pages flying. The result is an accomplished urban fantasy that’s sure to win Haynes plenty of fans."—Publishers Weekly

"The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is an adrenaline-fueled nightmare of relatable characters navigating both the living and the dead in contemporary city life. Great characters and a story that doesn't let up! Clarence A. Haynes has written a must-read book for fans looking for a fresh, authentic voice in urban fantasy and horror."—Tananarive Due, award-winning author of The Reformatory

"The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a spellbinding tale that boldly transports the reader to spectacular, supernatural places. Pulsing with magic and sensuality, its characters shine as they confront past harms, consider mystical possibilities, and fight otherworldly battles. Haynes has penned a riveting story that kept me turning until the last page of his lush, transcendent novel."—Diane Marie Brown, author of Black Candle Women

"Relentlessly awesome, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a compelling and exhilarating thriller of a ghost story that will consume you in the best way!"—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

"Clarence A. Haynes's The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery kept me wide-eyed and quickly turning pages, gasping, ‘What? ... WHAT?’ until the final chapter. Shocking, sensual, and at times laugh-out-loud hilarious, Ghosts has it all: family and friendships, love and legacy, belief in the old ways and the new. This novel is truly magical."—Rachel Howzell Hall, bestselling author of The Last One

"The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is full of vibrant characters, sublime mysticism, and captivating twists that includes a world-renowned goddess. Readers are in for a wild ride!"—Luanne G. Smith, bestselling author of The Vine Witch

“With orishas, angry ghosts, and a breach between worlds that can only be sealed by a badass mystical heroine, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a gritty New York feast.”—Veronica G. Henry, bestselling author of The Canopy Keepers

"A beguiling and sensual page-turner, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn delivers an engrossing tale that taps into the supernatural and mystical while remaining rooted in the bonds of friendship and family. The ties between Gwendolyn and Fonsi will ring true to anyone that grew up among neighbors who become play cousins, and the pull of personal history runs deep. This propulsive novel intertwines horror, romance, and reconciliation with a deft touch of humor. Destined to be a book club favorite."—Rasheed Newson, National bestselling author of My Government Means to Kill Me

Amazing!

The narration was wonderful and the story compelling. Loved it and couldn’t stop listening. I hope there is a sequel because I’m ready.

I’m forever an immersive reader

I was already clenching my pearls when I received an E-ARC OF THIS BOOM AND TATED IT 10/10. The audio of this book only enhanced my love for this book. Download it now and enjoy this ride. I can’t but hope maybe the story will continue. The way the epilogue ended

Powerful Character Development

This book captured me more deeply with every chapter. While the story was rich and filled with the history and culture of NYC, it was the characters and their deep connections that drew me deeper and deeper. I laughed out loud with them and feared for their lives as Clarence Haynes made them more real than real. Don’t miss out on this powerful work and get excited about more to come!

I loved everything

If you're looking for an intelligent, well thought-out book review, keep scrolling. I quite enjoyed this story, and I was a little sad it was over. The characters were imperfectly wonderful, with interesting relationships and the story was very interesting! It was a fast listen and I found myself not wanting to turn it off when I got home. I thought the narrators did a great job, I am not normally a fan of multiple narrators but it was a smooth transition. I'm guessing there is, or will be, a next installment and I cannot wait. I'm going to look right now in fact.

Something Unique

Not reading what the book was about before I started it, I was surprised to see the ghosts were literal and wondered if I was unscary enough to continue. I'm glad I did. A lot of interesting things to learn; I assume all of the language is associated with actual mysticism. I'd love to ask the author about some of the language choices, such simple words like "juice" but sufficient. I only wish it was longer. Overall, I enjoyed an unpredictable story with colorful new imagery.