👻 Ghost Stories

Static

✍️ Mason Carlisle
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$15.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A skeptic debunks ghosts while falling for a woman haunted by her own regrets.

Mason Carlisle presents a debut work that merges paranormal fiction with deep character study. The plot centers on Jessie Creek, who struggles with the ghosts of her regrets and her mother's influence. Ryan Hackett, a clever skeptic with an online audience, challenges her reality. Their forced proximity reveals that ignoring their connection is perilous. The text uses dark humor to balance heavy themes of grief and trauma. It questions the boundary between denial and belief. The story avoids generic horror tropes by focusing on the psychological cost of being haunted. Carlisle writes about the human capacity for empathy amidst despair. The narrative structure supports this exploration by keeping the focus tight on the protagonists' internal states.

Key Themes
trauma empathy belief and denial
Literary Context

This 2026 independent publication sits within the contemporary paranormal fiction genre. It draws on gothic traditions of haunting and regret. The work reflects modern anxieties about digital skepticism versus spiritual belief. Carlisle’s debut engages with current cultural conversations about mental health and visibility.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Neil Gaiman · Silvia Moreno-Garcia · Tana French
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798186463511

📝 Description: Static

Jessie Creek battles a haunting born from personal regret and her mother’s choices. She stands on the edge of becoming one of those ghosts she fears. Ryan Hackett enters her life as a sharp-tongued skeptic who has built an online following by debunking paranormal stories. He is devoutly rational, yet fate throws them together when strange incidents around Jessie become impossible to ignore. Their connection feels dangerous to neglect. The narrative weaves romance and drama with dark humor to explore trauma and empathy. Carlisle’s debut in paranormal fiction examines the fragile intersections between belief and denial. It focuses on the people who become ghosts rather than the spirits themselves. The story offers an unflinching look at what it means to be seen when one prefers to disappear. This book suits readers interested in psychological horror and character-driven romance. It appeals to those who enjoy stories about grief and the weight of past mistakes. Readers seeking traditional jump scares or fast-paced action may find the tone too introspective. The narrative prioritizes emotional depth over supernatural spectacle, grounding its fears in human experience.

💎 Our verdict on Static

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Carlisle’s debut effectively merges paranormal fiction with deep character study, avoiding traditional horror tropes by grounding fear in human experience. The narrative prioritizes emotional depth over supernatural spectacle, creating an introspective tone that may challenge readers seeking fast-paced action. However, for those who value psychological horror and character-driven romance, the work shines. The use of dark humor balances heavy themes of grief, making the exploration of denial versus belief both accessible and profound. It is best suited for readers who enjoy stories about the weight of past mistakes and the complex dynamics of forced proximity between a skeptic and the haunted.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a departure from generic jump scares will find this book compelling due to its focus on the psychological cost of being haunted. It appeals strongly to those who enjoy character-driven narratives that explore the fragile intersections between belief and denial. The story offers an unflinching look at grief, regret, and the human capacity for empathy amidst despair. Those interested in how trauma shapes identity and relationships will appreciate the tight focus on internal states. It is ideal for fans of dark humor balancing heavy themes, providing a nuanced exploration of what it means to be seen when one prefers to disappear.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Carlisle’s debut effectively merges paranormal fiction with deep character study, avoiding traditional horror tropes by grounding fear in human experience. The narrative prioritizes emotional depth over supernatural spectacle, creating an introspective tone that may challenge readers seeking fast-paced action. However, for those who value psychological horror and character-driven romance, the work shines. The use of dark humor balances heavy themes of grief, making the exploration of denial versus belief both accessible and profound. It is best suited for readers who enjoy stories about the weight of past mistakes and the complex dynamics of forced proximity between a skeptic and the haunted.

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