The Ghost Walk by Australian author Karen Herbert is a fictional, psychological medical mystery filled with death, danger, and dark secrets.
Ruby Rose Gillespie has lived with cystic fibrosis all her life, constantly navigating the emotional and physical strain of living with the disease. She was fortunate enough to have a lung transplant performed by her long-time high school friend and secret lover, Dr Gabriel Beaufort. Ruby will forever be indebted to him for a second chance at life.
When Ruby is admitted to the hospital for an infection due to her lung transplant, Dr Gabriel Beaufort is found dead in the wetlands near the Ghost Walk next to the hospital. As the investigation begins, grief-stricken Ruby begins to piece together her own clues. She knew Gabe better than anyone, or so she thinks.
The Ghost Walk is an exciting and engaging read, with action kicking off from the very first page and never letting up. The narrative flows smoothly, it lures readers in and makes them want to stay just a little longer. With numerous twists and turns, it wasn’t easy to foresee what would happen next, and I found myself surprised at every turn.
Never has my brain been given such a workout in a murder-mystery tale. It had me glued to every single page, determined to spot any clues to try to solve the mystery. I applaud the author’s technique in presenting such a complex tale.
Herbert has done an exceptional job of balancing the cast of characters. All are well developed, and the details of their lives and their backgrounds seep out throughout the story. By the end of the book, you know those characters as if they were people you met with daily.
Ruby is a character that many readers will fall in love with. Her realistic qualities and struggle living with cystic fibrosis make her unique, and her complex relationship with Gabe provides the story with something original. This also makes her desire to solve his death more personal, while at the same time engaging you in the mystery as you want her to succeed.
This cover manages to hit so many notes; it’s atmospheric, taut, beautiful, ominous, and inviting. Every time I look at the cover, it catches my eye. The illustration is gorgeous, and the minimal colours are used so well. You could not walk past this on a shelf and not pick it up.
The book’s strength lies in how it continues to build steam, making each new revelation feel earned. With a well-developed plot that keeps readers guessing, this is a satisfying and unpredictable read for mystery fans. I highly recommend.
A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club members are reading The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.
My love of books started at a very young age. My mum has always been a reader and encouraged me to read, buying me endless book from classic fairy tales advancing to the world of Enid Blyton, CS Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, Kathryn Kenny, Carolyn Keene, Francine Pascal. In my adult years the list of authors is endless and every room in my house is filled with books.
One of my favourite novels is Narnia which has always has a special place in my heart. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 1978 and when I was given this book to read it let me escape to another world where I felt like I was in the book with all the characters, it wasfun and exciting to escape from reality and eased the ups and downs of the disease at such a young age.
In books nothing is impossible and there is endless potential and hundreds of places to explore or being taken to places that are only made up from the authors’ great minds, the past and future to navigate, characters lives you step into taking you on an emotional rollercoaster ride or being scared out of your wits. I can experience things that I can’t in real life because they’re not possible or real. It challenges my perspective and mindset expanding my worldview.
I find joy, comfort and peace with books, many people may not get it, but I know bookworms like me truly understand. Reading makes my heart happy.
Thankyou Beautyandlace and Freemantle Press for the opportunity to review, ‘The Ghost Walk’ by Karen Herbert.
Dr Gabriel (Gabe) Beaufort Lung Transplant Surgeon’s body is found at the Ghost Walk. This being in the wetlands near the hospital where Ruby Rose Gillespie is being admitted with a fever.
Gabe was respected and worshiped by everyone including Ruby Rose whose life he saved by her own lung transplant, owing to the cystic fibrosis which she has experienced since childhood.
She had been his friend from school days and had been in a secret relationship with him.
A crime scene investigation begins .
Ruby Rose has lived an interesting life (some would say risky) and we meet many of the people who have entered her life from university days, and her sister Titsy and husband Pete.
I really enjoyed this exciting read. Ruby Rose is a lovely character although I guess she wouldn’t like me calling her lovely!
Very enjoyable and truly difficult to put down, loved it.
This fantastic thriller does more than just present a mystery, it immerses you in a world where secrets lurk beneath the surface Karen Herbert’s The Ghost Walk, a psychological medical thriller published by Fremantle Press.
Ruby Rose Gillespie, a woman living with cystic fibrosis who received a life-saving lung transplant from her high school friend and secret lover, Dr Gabriel Beaufort.
The story begins with a tragedy: Dr. Beaufort’s body is discovered in the wetlands in the ghost walk in Western Australia near the hospital where Ruby has just been readmitted for a fever. With lots of twists and turns the story captivates you in as you try to solve the murder .
Karen brings all the characters to life exceptionally well i can imagine them in my own mind .
A beautiful twisted plot i never seen coming.
I love a good crime story that keeps you captivated until the end .
I love the front cover and the beaitiful colours it is very alluring .
Thankyou beauty and lace .
I loved it. I also went to school with Karen Herbet what a great Author well done .
Karen Herbert has done a great job with her latest book, The Ghost Walk.
She presents highly relatable characters, descriptive text and a thrilling plot.
Ruby Rose Gillespie is deeply troubled by both, her cystic fibrosis condition and the apparent murder of her childhood sweetheart/lover/transplant surgeon; Dr Gabe Beaufort.
Each piece of evidence she uncovers brings new questions about her relationship and the life of Gabe.
The Ghost Walk, comes highly recommended; I couldn’t put it down!
The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert certainly gave my head a workout. I did enjoy the book although I found it hard to keep up with past and present. Gabe was talented doctor taken too soon and that mystery was just that till the end and that I love in a book I didn’t see that coming. It’s 100% worth reading. Thank You for such a great crime/love/betrayal novel