THE GHOSTS OF EVIL

A vacation in paradise leads to intrigue for a group of psychics in this third installment of a paranormal romance series.

Following the adventure in The Crystal Skull (2021) in Valenti’s Sentinel 10 series, Amanda Griffith and her fellow Sentinels, a group of psychics investigating paranormal phenomena worldwide, celebrate their success at a luxury resort in Antigua. But the return of Amanda’s former lover Alain Proctor threatens to break the bonds within the group. Unable to deny her feelings for Alain, Amanda, who’s engaged to fellow Sentinel James, breaks up with her fiance. Still, the vacation unfolds as planned until the appearance of ghosts, both metaphorical and literal. Alain begins having a series of recurring visions; he’s stalked by a shadowy figure and hears a voice telling him to “put your hands around her throat and give it a squeeze—you know how it feels.” These visions are an ominous reminder of Alain’s dark past. Alarmed by Alain’s admission that he’s hearing voices, the Sentinels turn to their adviser, Basil, for help. Their investigation leads them to discover the resort’s history of hauntings and that a hex may have been cast, but will their skills be enough to defeat an obviously dangerous and cunning enemy? The latest installment of Valenti’s series offers an appealing mix of romance and action, anchored by the love story of Amanda and Alain. The well-developed supporting characters include Lydia, Amanda’s best friend and a woman determined to see the good in everyone, even the villain. Valenti’s brisk, compact narrative is punctuated by flashes of humor, especially Vicky’s observation, “Is it just me, or does this vacation really suck?” While Valenti does a fine job developing the relationships among her lead characters, the stories of the ghosts, an intriguing part of the narrative, comprise only a few pages.

Slightly short on thrills, but a satisfyingly fast-paced continuation of the series.