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 listening.
The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is a fast-paced paranormal fantasy that intertwines family secrets, betrayal, and vengeful ghosts into a highly original story!
The narrative follows Gwendolyn Montgomery, once known by her birth name, Griselda, who has reinvented herself as a top-tier publicist in NYC. When horrifying incidents keep happening at her publicity events, it becomes clear that her buried past is resurfacing. Simultaneously, her cousin Fonsi, a queer Latinx psychic medium from the Bronx, begins sensing a weakening barrier between the living and the dead. Having not seen his cousin in years, he seeks her out, knowing she’s the key to fixing the barrier!
The story alternates between the POVs of Gwendolyn and Fonsi, both of whom are passionate and highly opinionated characters, offering readers an entertaining reading experience from start to finish. The story explores many powerful themes, including identity, self-acceptance, ancestral legacy, and the veil between the physical and spiritual realms. In addition, the book takes a deep dive into Afro-Latinx spiritual traditions—orishas, ancestor spirits, and limbo worlds are all explicitly discussed—adding layers of complexity to the narrative!
Gwendolyn is a very multi-dimensional character. On one hand, she’s a strong and confident publicist who demands respect and attention. When Fonsi finds her, she’s forced to confront her past, and her vulnerability becomes much more apparent. After a lot of arm twisting and inner reflection, she embraces her hidden gifts and ancestral duty, making her character arc deeply satisfying!
Fonsi is a highly emotional and reactive character. When his ex, Rafael, returns to ask for a reconciliation, it’s clear that he’s been hurt and is unwilling to trust again. His casual side romance with a ghost is really intriguing and adds a playful element to the story. Just like his cousin, his emotional arc is profound by the end, as he forges healthier relationships and honors his identity above the expectations of others.
The story also has a wonderful array of side characters, including malevolent spirits responsible for creating a breach between worlds and who have a vendetta against Gwendolyn—be prepared for some very intense paranormal family drama like nothing you’ve ever read before! Gwendolyn and Fonsi’s Panamanian family history is also explored during Gwendolyn’s dream-like (flashback) sequences while she’s lost in the spirit world and provides readers crucial backstory to help understand all the paranormal chaos!
The story has a slow-burn start but quickly picks up pace once horrifying mayhem unfolds at Gwendolyn’s museum show. From there, the tension continues to rise, and the story becomes increasingly unpredictable! The explosive climax sees New Yorkers being attacked by ghosts flooding through the breach between worlds, as Gwendolyn simultaneously battles power-hungry spirits who are hell-bent on her demise. It’s a real page-turner until the very end, and the final chapters will linger afterwards!
In summary, The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is an impressive genre-bending debut that offers a unique combination of urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, and Latinx spiritual traditions! Readers who enjoy fast-paced paranormal thrillers and cultural identity stories will be completely entranced by this one!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is an atmospheric, suspenseful listen narrated by talented narrators Brittany Bradford and André Santana.
Brittany Bradford brings Gwendolyn vividly to life with polished high energy and clear enunciation, perfectly capturing the persona of a confident, top-tier publicist. As Gwendolyn confronts her supernatural past, Bradford seamlessly shifts her performance to a tone infused with unease and vulnerability. The dialogue scenes between Gwendolyn and her ghost aunt at the climax of the story are a real highlight of the audiobook—and Bradford elevates her performance to another level, keeping listeners simultaneously on edge and entertained!
André Santana portrays Fonsi in a more grounded performance with warmth and subtle emotion in his tone. In the dialogue between Fonsi and his ex, Rafael, Santana conveys a more fiery and resolute Fonsi, making the character more multi-dimensional. Fonsi’s relentless determination to save his cousin later in the story shines through in Santana’s performance, with Santana’s impressive acting skills and well-placed dramatic flair on full display that will keep listeners fully engaged!
Both narrators pace the story well throughout and build palpable tension during the ghastly moments. Nothing feels over-dramatized, and listeners will be especially easily drawn into all the dream-like flashback sequences and terrifying climactic scenes by both narrators, making for a very immersive listening experience!
Overall, Bradford and Santana are a compelling duo whose performances complement each other and elevate Haynes’s story—making the audiobook the recommended format for enjoying this book! It’s a must-listen for those who enjoy urban fantasy or paranormal or supernatural thrillers with a dash of romance!
Narrator Performace
The audiobook of The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is an atmospheric, suspenseful listen narrated by talented narrators Brittany Bradford and André Santana.
Brittany Bradford brings Gwendolyn vividly to life with polished high energy and clear enunciation, perfectly capturing the persona of a confident, top-tier publicist. As Gwendolyn confronts her supernatural past, Bradford seamlessly shifts her performance to a tone infused with unease and vulnerability. The dialogue scenes between Gwendolyn and her ghost aunt at the climax of the story are a real highlight of the audiobook—and Bradford elevates her performance to another level, keeping listeners simultaneously on edge and entertained!
André Santana portrays Fonsi in a more grounded performance with warmth and subtle emotion in his tone. In the dialogue between Fonsi and his ex, Rafael, Santana conveys a more fiery and resolute Fonsi, making the character more multi-dimensional. Fonsi’s relentless determination to save his cousin later in the story shines through in Santana’s performance, with Santana’s impressive acting skills and well-placed dramatic flair on full display that will keep listeners fully engaged!
Both narrators pace the story well throughout and build palpable tension during the ghastly moments. Nothing feels over-dramatized, and listeners will be especially easily drawn into all the dream-like flashback sequences and terrifying climactic scenes by both narrators, making for a very immersive listening experience!
Overall, Bradford and Santana are a compelling duo whose performances complement each other and elevate Haynes’s story—making the audiobook the recommended format for enjoying this book! It’s a must-listen for those who enjoy urban fantasy or paranormal or supernatural thrillers with a dash of romance!
The audiobook of The Ghosts of Gwendolyn Montgomery is an atmospheric, suspenseful listen narrated by talented narrators Brittany Bradford and André Santana.
Brittany Bradford brings Gwendolyn vividly to life with polished high energy and clear enunciation, perfectly capturing the persona of a confident, top-tier publicist. As Gwendolyn confronts her supernatural past, Bradford seamlessly shifts her performance to a tone infused with unease and vulnerability. The dialogue scenes between Gwendolyn and her ghost aunt at the climax of the story are a real highlight of the audiobook—and Bradford elevates her performance to another level, keeping listeners simultaneously on edge and entertained!
André Santana portrays Fonsi in a more grounded performance with warmth and subtle emotion in his tone. In the dialogue between Fonsi and his ex, Rafael, Santana conveys a more fiery and resolute Fonsi, making the character more multi-dimensional. Fonsi’s relentless determination to save his cousin later in the story shines through in Santana’s performance, with Santana’s impressive acting skills and well-placed dramatic flair on full display that will keep listeners fully engaged!
Both narrators pace the story well throughout and build palpable tension during the ghastly moments. Nothing feels over-dramatized, and listeners will be especially easily drawn into all the dream-like flashback sequences and terrifying climactic scenes by both narrators, making for a very immersive listening experience!
Overall, Bradford and Santana are a compelling duo whose performances complement each other and elevate Haynes’s story—making the audiobook the recommended format for enjoying this book! It’s a must-listen for those who enjoy urban fantasy or paranormal or supernatural thrillers with a dash of romance!
