I loved the first two books in this series, and it’s the only series I’ve given five stars to every book so far, so I went into this one with high expectations. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint! It’s possible to read each book as a standalone because the author does a great job weaving in enough backstory to keep new readers oriented, but I’d recommend reading them in order to see how the MCs, Simon Moody and Clara Barley, relationship develops and how the mysteries are interconnected between books. This story picks up shortly after the events of book two, with Simon beginning his studies at MIT and Clara at Harvard after leaving Caligo Falls behind following their intense paranormal investigations. The story begins with a haunting in Clara’s Harvard dorm room involving the infamous “Coughing Ghost,” the spirit of a student murdered in 1841.

What I love most about these books is that the mysteries are always much more intricate than they first appear. What begins as a ghost story gradually becomes multiple intertwined mysteries with historical elements woven in. This story has a big focus on fate, synchronicity, and, more subtly, the concept of reincarnation, all seamlessly woven in and makes some of the dialogue very thought-provoking!

The story is told in a dual POV, following both Simon and Clara. Since they’re together most of the time investigating, you really get to see how much their relationship has evolved and how comfortable they now are with each other. They definitely have a Sherlock and Watson dynamic, constantly bouncing ideas off each other while sharing entertaining banter. I loved how the story opens with conversations about Simon’s studies at MIT and Clara’s psychology courses at Harvard, particularly her fascination with Carl Jung and his theories surrounding synchronicity—it perfectly sets up the recurring theme.

The first mystery involving Henry Whitmore, the Harvard student murdered the night before he planned to elope with his professor’s daughter in 1841, gripped me. I was also impressed by how quickly their investigation into his murder became intertwined with other ghosts and mysteries. Simon and Clara soon encounter the ghost of artist Silas A. Morgan at Edmund Wilder’s gallery exhibition, linking events back to book two, while repeatedly crossing paths with a mysterious man, Joseph. I needed to know why Joseph kept appearing and how he was connected to everything—and it’s slowly revealed through a series of secrets and shocking revelations that are very well laid out. Their investigations eventually lead them back to Caligo Falls, where all the events of books one and two took place—but this time, to the haunted, abandoned Caligo Farm, depicted in a haunted painting. Without giving too much away, they soon uncover another paranormal mystery tied to Simon’s grandfather. I warned you this was intricate, and let me tell you—we’re just getting started here! Just like the previous books, I never had any idea where the story was heading most of the time!

The banter between Simon and Clara is one of the series’ biggest strengths, while the supporting cast—especially their family and found family in Caligo Falls—continues to add warmth and humor. And of course, Simon and Clara again use the Ghost Ring to see, communicate with, and touch spirits, allowing them to relive some of the spirit’s memories from a fly-on-the-wall perspective. The ghost memory sequences transport them to different time periods, including the 1840s and the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and every flashback is immersive and full of clues.

If that’s all not enough, Simon and Clara return to Caligo Falls for Christmas and are drawn into another paranormal mystery involving Mrs. Beasley, who became one of the most intriguing new characters in the series for me, and who I suspect will play a larger role going forward. I also loved how cryptogram puzzles are woven into the investigations, and there’s even a terrifying visit to an abandoned lunatic asylum where Simon and Clara have to decipher more puzzles.

The fast-moving narrative and short-to-medium-length chapters, along with the good mix of banter, thought-provoking dialogue, and puzzle-solving, make this book immersive and hard to put down. If you’re listening to the audiobook, I’d definitely recommend listening at a slower speed because of all the subtle details and clues in almost every chapter that you’ll want time to absorb.

Although this series is marketed as young adult paranormal fiction, its complexity and puzzles make it very suitable for adults. Even seasoned mystery readers will have a difficult time solving all the mysteries in this book. I also loved that just when I thought the story was finished with a few key unanswered questions, the author continued it long enough to close all the plot holes and provide much-needed resolution, particularly regarding Joseph’s true significance—and for that reason, I have zero complaints, and this lands as a true five-star read for me! Hoffman also plants some intriguing threads that have me very excited for the next book!

If anything I’ve written sounds interesting, or you’ve seen these books around and have been wondering whether they’re worth picking up, I can’t recommend them enough! And if you’re an audiobook listener, Christian J. Casas, who narrated books one and two, delivers another fantastic performance here, bringing every character to life. Whether you choose the physical book or the audiobook, don’t hesitate on this hidden gem of a series. It deserves so much more attention!