The Sceptic

By: Lily Morton

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

As the best friend of a psychic, Will Buchanan can’t help but believe in the dead. It’s the living that he finds to be problematic. However, after a spate of betrayals, he finally has the chance of a new life within his grasp, and he’s not going to risk it for anyone or anything. Staying safe is the name of Will’s game.

Jem Dawson defines the word temporary. A talented cameraman, he’s here today and will undoubtedly be gone tomorrow chasing adventure and danger. But, while he’s in York, he’s made it clear he wants Will, and Will can’t help liking the charming daredevil.

This inconvenient attraction results in Will accompanying Jem to the site of a notorious poltergeist outbreak. A malevolent spirit has targeted a family, and now the ghost hunting team for whom Jem does camerawork are going to be locked down in the house for three days.

The house is strange and filled with sinister and violent undercurrents. One by one, the group experiences threatening incidents, and as events escalate, Will has to ask himself if he's risking not just his heart but also his life with this impulsive gesture.

This is the first book in the Arcana Books series featuring characters from the best-selling Black and Blue series.

©2022 Lily Morton (P)2023 Lily Morton

Not One of my Favorites

Overall this was an ok listen. I enjoyed some parts of the story more than the others, I liked the romance and the humor and Will was my favorite character. For me story was moving with a very good pace for the first half of the book, but around 60% mark it started dragging a little bit. Narrator did a good job with character voices, but it did take me a little time to get used to the voice he was using to tell this story. Usually I enjoy listening to this author/narrator team and I am looking forward to their other stories.

Will and Jem’s ghostly romance

I really enjoyed this book. Will and Jem’s story was sweet but a bit creepy. All of Lily Morton’s books are incredible and this one is no exception. As always, Joel Leslie’s narration was done well.

Interesting

This was a interesting story. I liked the layout and the story it was interesting and kept me in gaged. The characters blend well together. Will and Jem make a intriguing couple. The narration was amazing love Joel Leslie and his amazing ability to bring stories to life. Can’t wait for more.

Excellent story and just what I needed

Lately, I’ve been feeling slow on romance novels, and this one gave me exactly what I needed as a pick me up! It was a sci-fi ghost story with just the right amount of action, horror, and mixed in with a little bit of love. I almost wish that there was a part two to the story. I very much enjoyed the characters and want to see where their relationship goes. Joe Leslie 💉, of course didn’t outstanding performance as always kudos to him! If you’re looking for an engaging read and are a little bit of a sap then this is your book!

Very well done paranormal romance

The Sceptic is a paranormal romance that has a bit of a different feel to it than many Lily Morton books. Honestly, I think it had more of a scare factor and suspense than The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings, which this series is a spin-off from. That said, the spookiness is well balanced with a sweet romance and some lighter moments to make it an enjoyable read I was more than happy to get lost in while listening.

Both main characters in The Sceptic are introduced in The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings and there is some character overlap fans will no doubt appreciate. However, I believe this book could read just as well as a standalone as it follows secondary characters on an entirely new adventure. I quite liked both men and found Jem’s gentle demeanor and calm insistence to fit well with Will. Conversely, Will is a complex, interesting character I really enjoyed seeing develop throughout The Sceptic. I loved how his comfort in himself and his place in York among his found family palpably took hold while the story unfolded. It drew me into Will and Jem’s life just as much as the ghost story intrigued me.

The paranormal element in The Sceptic is exceptionally well done. I loved the twists and revelations throughout the book. I also appreciated that there was a full story to learn, rather than a jump scare factor for the reader.

As always, Joel Leslie imparts a fair bit of personality and emotion into his narrative performance. I believe his bright, lively tone probably lightened the book a bit—as even with the scary bits, I didn’t feel exceptionally jumpy. Rather I was pulled along on a wonderfully spooky adventure and lovely romance. I’d definitely recommend The Sceptic to readers who enjoy paranormal romance and think the audiobook may be a particularly good option for those readers who tend to get scared more easily.