Editorial Note: I’ve reviewed a lot of books through the years, many back when I had fewer readers. This year (2024) we will begin occasionally reposting reviews you may have missed. This review of Albrecht Drue, Ghostpuncher, was first published on June 17, 2021.

I recently treated myself to Paul d. Miller’s novel, Albrecht Drue, Ghostpuncher. This is a book I’d love to see as a graphic novel. It’s the sort of vivid, visceral, visual-image-rich narrative that cries out for pulpy illustration justice. What’s the story about? Exactly what it says on the tin: A guy name Albrecht Drue who punches ghosts. Albrecht Drue  is a hilarious supernatural horror tale with a soupçon of bizzarro weird flourish.

Disclosure: I have a business relationship with Paul D. Miller’s publisher, Montag Press, which will be publishing my Sean Joye Investigations novel in the future. (Editorial Note: Montag Press published The Big Cinch in December of 2021).

A Haunted Town

Before he became a ghostpuncher, Albrecht Drue was an occasionally charming town drunk. He spends his injury settlement check each month self-medicating away regrets over a failed boxing career and the torch he carries for the Cyclop Bar’s lovely bartender. And starting fights.

Until the fateful day the TV ghost hunters come to town. You see, the New England town of Bitburg is awash in ghosts, from vengeful Puritans haunting the house on the hill to the spirit of 1970s blaxploitation films star guarding a downtown burned-out ruin’s hidden treasure. So much ghost. The town even has its own resident paranormal investigation crew. Mostly they do research and make plans over drinks at the Cyclop, but now the TV show has invaded their turf.

Eventually a bar fight ends in Albrecht being thrown out of the Cyclops. He wanders the means streets of Bitburg in the rain until he hits rock bottom, and there discovers he has an amazing hidden ability: He can punch ghosts, right in the nose and into whatever afterlife they belong to. Will he use his power for good? Or try to get on TV?

Ghostpuncher Bros?

The story is told with wry, detached humor by a fourth wall—breaking narrative voice. Because the novel is quite violent and profane, this is an excellent choice: This story isn’t taking itself seriously, and the reader needn’t do so, either.

At my house we are ardent fans of making fun of ghost hunter shows (and there are a lot of them), even nick-naming our favorite the Ghost Bros, so I was delighted with Albrecht Drue’s wicked parody portrayal of this bizarre entertainment genre.

Recommendations

Albrecht Drue is a complicated story with interwoven plot threads that link up together into a satisfying tale. The cast is large, but each character is distinctly quirky and compelling. The rich worldbuilding hints at many more ghosts that need punching. I’d recommend for speculative fiction readers that like some humor with their horror and paranormal tales.

If you found this review of Albrecht Drue, Ghostpuncher interesting, you might enjoy reading this review of the sequel, Albrecht Drue, Paranormal Dick.

Click here to order The Big Cinch, supernatural noir novel from Kathy L. Brown.

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