Thirteen (Psychic Surveys Companion Novels #2) by Shani Struthers

From Goodreads

Although Thirteen feeds into the bestselling Psychic Surveys series, it can also be read as a STANDALONE

Don’t leave me alone in the dark…

In 1977, Minch Point Lighthouse on Skye’s most westerly tip was suddenly abandoned by the keeper and his family – no reason ever found. In the decade that followed, it became a haunt for teenagers on the hunt for thrills. Playing Thirteen Ghost Stories, they’d light thirteen candles, blowing one out after every story told until only the darkness remained.

In 1987, following her success working on a case with Sussex Police, twenty-five year old psychic, Ness Patterson, is asked to investigate recent happenings at the lighthouse. Local teen, Ally Dunn, has suffered a breakdown following time spent there and is refusing to speak to anyone. Arriving at her destination on a stormy night, Ness gets a terrifying insight into what the girl experienced.

The case growing ever more sinister, Ness realises: some games should never be played. 

My thoughts

My thanks to the Author via the TBConFB for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for an honest review. I gave this an 8/10 or 4 stars.

Whilst, it can be classed as part of a series it can easily be read as a standalone. This is the first story that I've read by this Author and I will in due course be looking out some of her past novels. Shani Struthers knows how to draw the reader in, her writing is to the point without the need to embellish her point unnecessarily. I enjoyed both the story and the writing style.

As the title suggests the number 13 figures quite heavily in this story. To a lot of people the number
13 can be an unlucky number and one that people have a phobia about. I wouldn't say that I had a phobia per se, but I do prefer to read a few pages into Chapter 13 rather than leaving it at the beginning when I'm putting my book down. Likewise, I never stop reading at page 13 either.

Ness Patterson is a 25 year old psychic who has had some success in the past at solving problems for the Police. Following events at a lighthouse on the isle of Skye, where a group of youngsters got involved in things they shouldn't and as a result several of them haven't been the same since. Ally, one of the teens has been particularly affected by the events. As Ness arrives on Skye, she realises that what she is about to become involved with in her investigations might remind her of things in her past, that she would rather stayed exactly there.

It's not long before Ness comes up with a plan, but the plan involves other people who she needs to try to convince that this is the right thing to do. Will Ness's plan work or will it backfire not just on her, but on other people too?