Rating: 
Summary: Tremendous Historical Detail
Review: As a native Newporter, I found the book to be tremendously accurate and insightful with both its present day and historical details of Newport and New England in general. The author weaves a suspenseful, exciting ghost story crossing between the present and past. This is the type of book you simply can't put down!
Rating: 
Summary: Better luck next time
Review: As someone else has said, I seriously wonder where the editor was on this book. Between grammatical errors which kept me wanting to reach for a pen and use of tedious cliched set ups, reading this book got tiresome very rapidly.In addition, knowing via the characters personalities what was going to happen to whom, when and why almost from the first page made it hard on the reader to stay involved in the story. I really like a little ambiguity in who is good and who is bad - after all that's life - but this did not give it to me. I kept hoping for the "bad character" to be killed off quickly simply to end my annoyance. This was recommended to me as someone who has also purchased A Winter's Haunting by Dan Simmons. Though, A Winter's Haunting is probably the weakest of any of his books that I have read it was still better than this.
Rating: 
Summary: A clever ghost tale
Review: For most Americans, the Mayflower and its Pilgrims exemplify the beginning of the great American Dream. Victims of social and religious persecution, they were among the notable first to come to the New World and prosper from all it had to offer. In his novel "Mean Spirits", author Roger Chiocchi presents an opposite view. He introduces us to Charles Pennfield, a Pilgrim for whom the Mayflower was the beginning of an American nightmare; a nightmare that would span four centuries and plague multiple generations of the Pennfield family. Set in New York City and New England during the mid 1990s, "Mean Spirits" focuses on the lives of two modern Pennfields: Jonathan and Christopher. Jonathan is the chief executive of an airline company in New York City and Christopher is a university professor in a quiet New England town. Both brothers begin to experience an increasing frequency of inexplicable hauntings and supernatural events. As the severity of these hauntings intensify, they are brought together in a quest to understand why this is happening to them. From the beginning, the two brothers' personalities are in stark contrast of one another. Jonathan is growing unhappy with his life of privilege and is beginning to discover that his priorities are not set on what is truly important in this world. He is disinterested in maintaining his family ties and sees them as a burden to his freedom. Christopher Pennfield, however, is quickly recognized as a preservationist of the Pennfield family name. He possesses a great pride in his family lineage that fuels his arrogance and sense of superiority. He regards the Pennfields as a virtuous clan and is committed to making the world aware of their accomplishments and contributions. To aid in their search for answers, the brothers enlist the help of a New Jersey ghost hunter by the name of Ed Swann. Swann, a retired contractor, is interested in the scientific explanation and legitimization of hauntings and ghostly encounters. Through his scientific approach he begins to meticulously uncover the secrets behind the Pennfield's supernatural burden. During his investigation, Swann also discovers that he has a weak psychic connection with a passed member of the Pennfield family. This spirit is an interesting addition to his search and proves to be helpful in uncovering important information that otherwise would have been overlooked. Throughout the course of the story, the contradiction of ideologies between the two brothers creates an ongoing tension and rivalry. Although they are brought together in their desires to end the hauntings, at times their polarity proves to impede their search. Christopher's dedication to the family name, in particular, is a major hurdle. His desire to suppress anything that might tarnish the family name is complicated by the realization that the reason for these hauntings is directly related to the deeds of their ancestors. The process of investigating the hauntings leads both brothers to ultimately question their identities and forces them to face the truths of their origins. Probably the most interesting aspect of "Mean Spirits" is that it covers a time period of almost four hundred years. While it seems that such a timeline might be cumbersome and difficult to follow, Chiocchi carefully reveals the story of the Pennfields in small fragments that prove to be effective in maintaining suspense and interest throughout the novel. Also interesting is Chiocchi's method of melding a fictional tale with factual events and authentic ghost hunting procedures. In doing this, he successfully gives the overall story an air of authenticity and realism that probably could not have been achieved otherwise. Energetic and quickly paced, "Mean Spirits" proves to be a fascinating and haunting narrative that cleverly follows the legacy of a single American family. Those who appreciate tales of ghosts and the supernatural will find "Mean Spirits" to be an entertaining and enjoyable story.
Rating:
Summary: A clever ghost tale
Review: For most Americans, the Mayflower and its Pilgrims exemplify the beginning of the great American Dream. Victims of social and religious persecution, they were among the notable first to come to the New World and prosper from all it had to offer. In his novel "Mean Spirits", author Roger Chiocchi presents an opposite view. He introduces us to Charles Pennfield, a Pilgrim for whom the Mayflower was the beginning of an American nightmare; a nightmare that would span four centuries and plague multiple generations of the Pennfield family. Set in New York City and New England during the mid 1990s, "Mean Spirits" focuses on the lives of two modern Pennfields: Jonathan and Christopher. Jonathan is the chief executive of an airline company in New York City and Christopher is a university professor in a quiet New England town. Both brothers begin to experience an increasing frequency of inexplicable hauntings and supernatural events. As the severity of these hauntings intensify, they are brought together in a quest to understand why this is happening to them. From the beginning, the two brothers' personalities are in stark contrast of one another. Jonathan is growing unhappy with his life of privilege and is beginning to discover that his priorities are not set on what is truly important in this world. He is disinterested in maintaining his family ties and sees them as a burden to his freedom. Christopher Pennfield, however, is quickly recognized as a preservationist of the Pennfield family name. He possesses a great pride in his family lineage that fuels his arrogance and sense of superiority. He regards the Pennfields as a virtuous clan and is committed to making the world aware of their accomplishments and contributions. To aid in their search for answers, the brothers enlist the help of a New Jersey ghost hunter by the name of Ed Swann. Swann, a retired contractor, is interested in the scientific explanation and legitimization of hauntings and ghostly encounters. Through his scientific approach he begins to meticulously uncover the secrets behind the Pennfield's supernatural burden. During his investigation, Swann also discovers that he has a weak psychic connection with a passed member of the Pennfield family. This spirit is an interesting addition to his search and proves to be helpful in uncovering important information that otherwise would have been overlooked. Throughout the course of the story, the contradiction of ideologies between the two brothers creates an ongoing tension and rivalry. Although they are brought together in their desires to end the hauntings, at times their polarity proves to impede their search. Christopher's dedication to the family name, in particular, is a major hurdle. His desire to suppress anything that might tarnish the family name is complicated by the realization that the reason for these hauntings is directly related to the deeds of their ancestors. The process of investigating the hauntings leads both brothers to ultimately question their identities and forces them to face the truths of their origins. Probably the most interesting aspect of "Mean Spirits" is that it covers a time period of almost four hundred years. While it seems that such a timeline might be cumbersome and difficult to follow, Chiocchi carefully reveals the story of the Pennfields in small fragments that prove to be effective in maintaining suspense and interest throughout the novel. Also interesting is Chiocchi's method of melding a fictional tale with factual events and authentic ghost hunting procedures. In doing this, he successfully gives the overall story an air of authenticity and realism that probably could not have been achieved otherwise. Energetic and quickly paced, "Mean Spirits" proves to be a fascinating and haunting narrative that cleverly follows the legacy of a single American family. Those who appreciate tales of ghosts and the supernatural will find "Mean Spirits" to be an entertaining and enjoyable story.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: Mean Spirits is a great, unique and compelling ghost story. I just don't understand what the reviewer from North Carolina was thinking. This book was original, fresh, unique to its genre and sent a tantalizing chill through my spine. The scene where the ghost hunter, Ed Swann, solves an almost century old murder mystery through his ghost hunting techniques and an apparition is truly breakthough. Read it.
Rating:
Summary: The Real Deal
Review: Mean Spirits really pulls you in! With a hell of a start and an even better finish it's gripping and you just can't set it down! The characters are enticing; someone to hate and someone to love with every flip of the page! Spookernatural! A heck of a read!
Rating:
Summary: Clever, taut and enthralling!
Review: Mean Spirits really pulls you in! With a hell of a start and an even better finish it's gripping and you just can't set it down! The characters are enticing; someone to hate and someone to love with every flip of the page! Spookernatural! A heck of a read!
Rating:
Summary: A great ghost story!!!
Review: This is a real great read. A ghost story, but much more. It has intrigue, mystery and suspense plus very realistic descriptions of psychic phenomena. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: Scalp-Tingling
Review: This is a scalp-tingling good read. I also recommend Covenant by E. J. Deen.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and unique story!
Review: This story grabs your attention and never lets go. It's intriguing, well-written and engaging. It's novel, too, as it traces a curse from the days of the Mayflower into the 21st Century. Whether you're a ghost story fan or you're just looking for escape, you'll really enjoy Mean Spirits!
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