Graveyard Shift in Ghost Town by Michael Pryor
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760523930. pbk., 307pp.
Following the success of Gap Year in Ghost Town (2017) comes
a sequel, Graveyard Shift in Ghost Town, where Anton and
Rani continue to work together to rid inner city Melbourne of a
swathe of ghostly manifestations. Pryor has lots of fun with
ghoulish humour keeping readers totally engaged and laughing. Anton
is nineteen and trying to be more mature and make mature decisions.
He is now part of his family firm, the Marins coming to Australia
after parting with the Company of the Righteous whose members get
rid of ghosts. Anton's family helps ghosts on their way, assisting
them leave this earth, a gentle strangely satisfying task. Anton and
Rani are about their trade one night when they discover there are
many many more ghosts than usual, and not just ghost: Lingerers,
Thugs, Moaners and Weepers are also hanging about in large
aggressive numbers.
Lulled into a smartly written and clever ghost hunting story I was
amazed when the duo came across the bodies of several homeless
people, strung up by chains, blood leaking all over the factory
floor. The mood of the book changes to something far more sinister
as Anton and Rani along with her researcher girlfriend, Bec, realise
that they were lured to this place and are now facing the worst of
the ghosts - Trespassers in the form of the Ragged Sisters with the
aim of ridding Melbourne of the Marins.
As the story becomes darker and more creepy, Pryor keeps the story
light with his emphasis on word play and asides, while their meeting
up with the brother and sister duo from London adds a new dimension
of intrigue to the story. When long lost aunt Angie turns up with an
horrendous story of being in the other world for five years, her
experiences help them with the ghost outbreak. Laugh out loud
humour, referencing up to the minute events, the setting in
Melbourne is intoxicating as the story and characters play out a cat
and mouse game to the death.
Fran Knight