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Ghost Talkers

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Ghost Talkers

By: Mary Robinette Kowal
Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal
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About this listen

Ghost Talkers: a new novel from beloved fantasy author Mary Robinette Kowal featuring the mysterious spirit corps and their heroic work in World War I.

Ginger Stuyvesant, an American heiress living in London during World War I, is engaged to Captain Benjamin Hartshorne, an intelligence officer. Ginger is a medium for the Spirit Corps, a special Spiritualist force. Each soldier heading for the front is conditioned to report to the mediums of the Spirit Corps when they die so the corps can pass instant information about troop movements to military intelligence.

Ginger and her fellow mediums contribute a great deal to the war efforts, so long as they pass the information through appropriate channels. While Ben is away at the front, Ginger discovers the presence of a traitor. Without the presence of her fiancé to validate her findings, the top brass thinks she's just imagining things. Even worse, it is clear that the Spirit Corps is now being directly targeted by the German war effort. Left to her own devices, Ginger has to find out how the Germans are targeting the Spirit Corps and stop them. This is a difficult and dangerous task for a woman of that era, but this time both the spirit and the flesh are willing....

©2016 Mary Robinette Kowal (P)2016 Audible, Inc. Classics Fantasy Fiction Ghosts Historical Horror Haunted Scary Paranormal War

Critic reviews

"Imagine that the British military of the Great War utilized intelligence gleaned in their soldiers' final moments by having the dead 'report in' for debriefing with spiritualists. Kowal spins this idea into a thoroughly satisfying and believable novel blending fantasy, history, and suspense. The story is peopled with mediums, officers, servants, and gossips - some American, most English, and a few German - and with a plot that makes fine use of action as well as emotions. Kowal goes a giant step further with her narration, which is fully voiced, perfectly smooth, and paced with spot-on accuracy to invest every passage with compelling listening. With such a unique and thoroughly developed story, and a performance that brings it as fully to life, this is a must-listen for everyone." (AudioFile Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant
This was brilliant. What a wonderful writer. What a journey. The concept and the execution are both fantastic.
And the voice acting! Just how is this writer so talented?!

I will be looking into other books she wrote.

SPOILER WARNING

There were very few things I did not get/catch. Perhaps it was the medium or the fact that I'm not native English speaker.

I just don't know why Mrs. Ridchardson had to go. I really don't know. Maybe I missed it.. I also wish I knew her last words and ALL she had said when she 'reported'.
And I don't understand how Ginger was against ghosts lingering about to spy, but at the end there were plans for them to poltergize around on a regular basis? Perhaps It's queston of long-term vs. short-term commitment.
But the one thing I have mixed feelings about is the very end of the story. I don't believe one success can erase sexism and racism to such extent. It felt a bit too much like sunshine and rainbows in comparison to the rest of the book. Altough, after what Ginger has been through, I wished her all the best.

I LOVE her

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Would rather have read this on the page because the author is not ready for prime time with accents, and there are many.

Fine book but would love it read by a professional reader who can do accents.

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Its an interesting new version of a ww1 story. I love the idea of the ghost army. Well written and interesting story.

The humanity of the mfc

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