Audible Book Review: Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal

I enjoyed this ghosting mystery.
Ghost Talkers
By: Mary Robinette Kowal
Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-16-16
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Ghosts, Military Fantasy
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
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.

Review:
Ginger is an American Heiress engaged to Captain Benjamin, a British intelligence officer during WWI. Ginger has a secret job as a medium in the Spirit Corps. Although women are still viewed as less important, the corps serves a crucial purpose, receiving the last messages of the soldiers as they die. The soldiers are able to report their death circumstances and any special intelligence that may help the British. Ginger and the other team members share harrowing deaths and then pass the information to the highest officials. Ginger experiences the murder death of a man who overheard a traitor in London. Ben is away in the field and the officials she reports to shrug off her concerns even though the threat appears to be targeting the Spirit Corps and its vital work.

Ginger and another brave member of her direct team set out to the front to try to uncover clues. They are accompanied by Ben’s batman, an unimposing soldier. Ginger is pushing herself under extreme stress, but she has a secret soldier at her side. Their efforts to gather information are challenged by Ben’s cousin who competed with Ben, the heir, all of their childhood.

Ginger has to use unconventional sources to battle the enemy and unmask a traitor who is threatening her close friends as well as her allies. There is heartbreak and sorrow and Ginger has to dig deep in her character to brave the danger and losses.

This story is well written and creative. There is good action and mystery, tense suspense and a sweet love story. I found it all engaging and recommend this to readers who enjoy fantasy and military (WWI) mystery.

Audio Notes: I didn’t realize initially that the author, Mary Robinette Kowal, narrated her own story. There were moments where the voice seemed whispered and a strain to hear, but for the most part I was impressed by the voices and fitting presentation. I am glad that I listened to this on audio.

Source: 8/2/18 Sci Fi Sale $4.95 each. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goal.