Friday, August 24, 2018

Review: The Monster Museum by J.L. Bryan

Title: The Monster Museum
Author: J.L. Bryan
Series: Book Ten in the Ellie Jordan Ghost Trapper Series
Genre: Fantasy
Published: August 31, 2018
Source: ARC Provided by the Author (in exchange for an honest review)
My Rating: 4 Solid Stars!



Book Description:
Just outside the small but colorful mountain resort town of Foxboro, Tennessee lies Dr. Weirdman's Mountain Museum of Monsters, Curiosities, and Ancient Mysteries. Once a major tourist attraction, it offers travelers the amusement of touring unusual underground caves and pseudo-scientific exhibits ranging from strange creatures to the supposed artifacts of lost civilizations.

Now the museum is a crumbling relic of an older age, fallen into disrepair. Its longtime owner has died, leaving it in the hands of a younger distant relative who knows nothing of how to run a failing tourist trap of a museum, but who is desperate to make a living and provide for his own children.


The museum has a serious ghost problem, though, and Ellie Jordan is called in from Savannah to help. An unexpected old friend joins Ellie at the last moment so that they can spend a snow-filled Christmas together in the mountains...if the ghosts of the restless dead don't turn the holidays into a horrific tragedy.








Sometimes after ten books a series can go stale, get old, and become unoriginal. I'm happy to say that isn't the case with the Ellie Jordan series.

After ten books, if anything, it is even more original, creepy and exciting. Truly this has quickly become one of my all time favorites that I look forward to and eagerly await each new release because I always know I will get something unique, fun, and most importantly, something that keeps me on the edge of my seat and constantly looking around me to make sure nothing is lurking in the shadows. 

Full of not only all the things that go bump in the night but cases and characters that are every bit as intriguing and interesting. 

I love the direction this series turned. Without going into too much detail it had more of certain characters I was really hoping we would see again and even more so, the ghosts! 

 I loved the intense mystery not only about the museum and ghosts that were haunting it but Ellie's own ghosts, both mentally and physically. We get more background, more info on them all and I just soaked it up.

I love too, weirdly enough, that this one ended on a cliffhanger of sorts because, I really am excited about were the story is going to go from here and can't wait for the next book. I know it's going to be even more intense, scary and personal. Personal for Ellie and all the characters as they battle one of the worst ghosts they have ever come across. I just can't wait! 






*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

24 comments:

  1. Thanks to you I'm at book 4! SO curious for more

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    1. Yay! I'm so excited about that and so happy you are loving them too!

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  2. You had me at ghosts and Savannah! This is new to me but you definitely have me curious. Happy Friday! :)

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    1. It is such a fun series and usually book one is free on Amazon so definitely grab it and give it a try!

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  3. Sometimes the right cliffy leaves me giddy. I am so glad you are loving this series.

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    1. So true, it really does just depend how it is executed. ;)

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  4. Well even though it had a cliffhanger of sorts, you still want to read more so that's a good sign.

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  5. I realized the other day when I received book ten that I haven’t read nine so I am binge reading 9 and 10 this weekend. Yea!

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    1. I think you will like them both Heidi and be waiting for book 11 just like me!

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  6. Wow after ten books and the story is going strong. This sounds like a really great series.

    Tori @ In Tori Lex

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  7. Wow. Ten and still going strong. That says a lot about the author's writing and creativity. And, it does sound like a series I would love to get caught up in.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. It's a great series, especially if you want something spooky without being too spooky.

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  8. Oh wow this is a new to me series. I think I might like this installment but i'm guessing i would need to start at book 1. Okay on my larger than life wish list LOL

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    1. Definitely start at book one Debbie and usually it is free on Amazon so grab it! ;)

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  9. Ooh the title of this one got my attention! And wow- ten books and still going strong? That's no mean feat. Sounds intense too!

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    1. For sure but, I'm not surprised. He has been pretty unique in all of his books so far and I love that and I think that's helped a lot.

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  10. I'm not at all against cliff hangers when they're done right. It sounds like this one hit the mark.

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  11. Can you believe I've never heard of this series? It sounds exactly like the type of series I'd love and better still, there's so many books already out! Must look up and see if there's an audio version. Thanks for putting this on my radar! :)

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    1. So glad I could introduce you to it! I know the first book is free for Kindle but I'm not sure about an audio version of it. Hope you find one!

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  12. 10 books in and still original. That's pretty good. I can't say that I'm happy to see a cliffy. But if I start this series, the next book will be out before I have to worry about it. LOL

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart

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    1. Yes, thankfully the next book will be out in a few months so that is a relief. ;)

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  13. It is pretty amazing when so far in they're still awesome reads. Hope the rest of the story is just as good for ya!

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