My So-Called Haunting - Tamsyn Murray

My So-Called Haunting - Tamsyn Murray

Pages: 207
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Release Date: 24th September 2010

Other Books in this Series: My So-Called Afterlife

Skye, a fourteen-year-old who can see ghosts, is very stressed. Not only is the ghost of a sixteenth-century witch giving her fashion tips, but she’s struggling to settle into life with her auntie, and is developing a crush on the most unattainable boy in the school, Nico.

When her aunt asks her for help with a troubled teen ghost called Dontay, she’s glad of the distraction. But then Nico starts paying her attention, and she’s soon facing a battle to keep her love life and her psychic life separate.

As things get ever more complicated, it looks as though Dontay’s past may cost Skye her future.

Tamsyn Murray’s second novel, My So-Called Haunting, is just as funny, spirited and moving as her first. I loved it so much.

When I first realised that My So-Called Haunting was a sort-of sequel to My So-Called Afterlife, I wondered how on earth the two books could be connected. But I had my answer within the first few pages: Jeremy, who helped Lucy to cross over in My So-Called Afterlife, is the boyfriend of Skye’s aunt Celestine, who also featured in in Lucy’s story. I loved them then, so it was a pleasure to have them back.

But it was the new characters that really captured my heart. Skye is very stressed, and rightly so. She’s adjusting to her new life in London with her aunt, starting at a new school, keeps getting detention and has an earth-shattering crush on the mysterious Nico. Oh, and she sees ghosts on a regular basis. I really felt for the girl. But the dark, brooding and gorgeous Nico really caught my attention. He was not at all what I expected, though, and yet I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him in My So-Called Love Life. However, Mary the ghost who haunts Celestine’s house is my favourite. She was a witch in the sixteenth-century and has retained that style of very amusing speech, disapproves of modern clothes and plays continuous tricks on Skye.

There was also quite a few unexpected turns of plot. With the introduction of Dontay, a dead teenage footballer, the world of London gang culture was brought to Skye’s attention. Once again I became very glad that I live a rather sheltered life and haven’t been involved in any aspect of that life. There were also elements of the supernatural that stemmed from Romanian folklore. It was kind of fascinating really.

Tamsyn Murray is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and so I can’t wait to read her next offering, My So-Called Love Life.

For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge

Sophie