A SASQUATCH, AN ALIEN, AND A DEMON WALK INTO A BAR
Ghost Squad 2
By Darryle Purcell
Digital Parchment Press
193 pgs
In this second Ghost Squad adventure, unemployed Arizona newshound, Mike Scott, is once again plagued by his ability to see ghosts. In particular, the ghosts of old Hollywood stars, all of them led by the original swashbuckler of the silent screen, Douglas Fairbanks. Our story opens with Fairbanks appearing and announcing that Mike and his wife, Betty, will soon be visited by a California Sasquatch named Bob who needs their help urgently.
When the eight-foot hairy Bob arrives, it is with a tale of alien invasion by ten-foot green worms in the mountains of California. Whereas Sasquatch can see and communicate with ghosts, the ethereal undead are of no help when it comes to fighting aliens. What they need are real live people to help confront and defeat the big bugs. Mike and his wife reluctantly agree to answer the call. Once in the high country, they soon recruit and old Vietnam Vet named Tom and a beautiful saloon owner named Red to their cause. Their initial plan is to locate the alien spaceship and proceed from there. Along the way, they discover a second threat in that of a giant alligator like demon traveling the woods devouring any unfortunate hiker in its path. Suddenly our heroes have two nightmarish threats to deal with.
What we’ve always loved about Purcell’s tales is just how outlandish they are. Just when you think he couldn’t possibly come up with a more bizarre plot and characters, he does just that. And he does it with so much flair and humor that the reader is swept along for the ride, enjoying every bloody minute of it. This latest book is no exception.
