Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

Ghost Station (Ghost Station, #1)

by S.A. Barnes

Space exploration can be lonely and isolating.

Psychologist Dr. Ophelia Bray has dedicated her life to the study and prevention of ERS - a space-based condition most famous for a case that resulted in the brutal murders of twenty-nine people. When she's assigned to a small exploration crew, she's eager to make a difference. But as they begin to establish residency on an abandoned planet, it becomes clear that crew is hiding something.

While Ophelia focuses on her new role, her crewmates are far more interested in investigating the eerie, ancient planet and unraveling the mystery behind the previous colonizer's hasty departure than opening up to her.

That is, until their pilot is discovered gruesomely murdered. Is this Ophelia’s worst nightmare starting—a wave of violence and mental deterioration from ERS? Or is it something more sinister?

Terrified that history will repeat itself, Ophelia and the crew must work together to figure out what’s happening. But trust is hard to come by…and the crew isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

Share

Summary:

Dr. Ophelia Bray is a psychologist with a past. So maybe her decision to go into space and study ERS (a deadly space-based mental condition) is more than a little bit self-serving. But then again, who hasn't wanted to run from their problems?

Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for Ophelia and the crew to realize there is something very, very wrong on this abandoned planet. It's almost as if there's a reason the previous attempts to understand it have failed...

Review:

She does it again! I fell in love with S.A. Barnes' writing style when Dead Silence was first released, and Ghost Station did not disappoint. If you love claustrophobic sci-fi horrors, this is the perfect read.

Ghost Station delves into the horrors of our past while playing with the psychological implications of isolation and space travel. This feels far too human and real on many levels, giving a solid foundation for the more sci-fi elements to take hold.

There are layers of mysteries hidden within Ghost Station. It is a true psychological horror; each character comes aboard with their own baggage. Meanwhile, the atmosphere alone will give readers the chills. This is the sort of novel I'd love to see make it to the big screen.

Highlights:
Sci-Fi Horror
Space Horror
Claustrophobic & Body Horror
Aliens & Other Horrors

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 11 March, 2024: Finished reading
  • 11 March, 2024: Reviewed