Last fall I had the privilege to read an advance copy of Paul d. Miller’s new novel, Albrecht Drue, Paranormal Dick from Montag Press. Like its Ghostpuncher predecessor, Paranormal Dick is a hilarious supernatural horror tale with a bizzarro weird flourish.
Disclosure: I have a business relationship with Paul D. Miller’s publisher, Montag Press, which also published my novel, The Big Cinch.
Paranormal Dick
In the six months since the action of Ghostpuncher, Albrecht Drue has done well for himself by punching ghosts for hire. He has a nice office, designer suits, and top-shelf liquor. That situation obviously can’t last. Through an interlude with a sexy dame of a ghost (or should we say, “ghost of a sexy dame”?) he uncovers some new facts about the ghostly world, his own powers, and, most importantly, a snazzy new item for his work attire: a legit WWI trench coat. Since he now looks the part, Al figures he might as well go all in as a Paranormal Dick.
The interlude between Ghostpuncher and Paranormal Dick included a ghostpunching road trip with Bitburg’s local paranormal investigative team, The Ghost Geeks. However, it also included some unfortunate events. It doesn’t take much for Al to withdraw from his friends and fall into the depth of despondency. By way of redemption or perhaps suicide-by-ghost, he turns his attention to the most haunted spot in town, the colonial era manor house on the hill. With several sources of unexpected aid, there Al engages in an epic battle against overwhelming forces.
Behind the Scenes Secrets
The story continues to use the omniscient narrator of Albrecht Drue, Ghostpuncher. The voice is fourth wall-breaking, funny, and irreverent. The narrator is a strong, distinct personality and knows (and tells us) what everyone is thinking and feeling. This point-of-view allows the reader to see all the behind-the-scenes puppeteers. And there are several, with intricate webs of deceit and control, pulling everyone in Bitburg’s strings.
Recommendations
Paranormal Dick is a rich, imaginative story. The cast is large, and the reader will likely enjoy it most if they’ve recently read Ghostpuncher. The story’s conclusion implies that more adventures for Al and the Ghost Geeks beckon. I’d recommend this book for speculative fiction readers who like some humor with their horror and paranormal tales.
If you enjoyed this review, you might like to read the interview with Paul d. Miller.
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