Kindred Spirit [Mass Market Paperback]

John Passarella (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 2006

Popular television reporter Hallie Moore seems to have it all. She's young, single, attractive, and her signature "best of" segments -- Hallie's Comets -- seem primed to send her career sky-high. Yet Hallie is haunted by the unsolved rape and murder of her identical twin, Heather. On the first anniversary of the brutal crime, Hallie visits her sister's memorial and -- suddenly, inexplicably -- experiences her twin's memories of the murder.

Convinced she's been touched by Heather's spirit, Hallie recalls the near telepathic bond the two shared during childhood. Is it possible that bond persists -- even from beyond the grave? Compelled to solve her twin's murder, Hallie finds herself drawn to Heather's husband and six-year-old son and, unknowingly, puts herself into the killer's lethal orbit. For in his twisted mind, he believes he's been given a chance to commit the perfect murder...again.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Stoker Award–winning horror novelist Passarella (Wither) brings a paranormal twist to this thriller about a television reporter probing the murder of her twin. On the first anniversary of Heather's slaying, her identical twin sister, Hallie Moore, revisits the crime scene and unexpectedly taps into her sister's final memories, seeing the attack through Heather's eyes. Hallie becomes more than haunted by Heather's spirit, recalling their childhood talent for communicating telepathically. Driven to solve the slaying, Hallie pursues several angles, including ghost research and hypnosis, while spiraling ever closer to danger, in the process neglecting her job and distressing Heather's surviving husband and son. A meticulous researcher, Passarella deftly interweaves Hallie's crisis of identity with her investigation. The early revelation of the killer's identity (from his viewpoint) can frustrate, as the reader watches Hallie make obvious mistakes despite all her unearthly assistance. Still, Passarella offers enough tension and fresh twists to make this a strong entry in the evolving field of cross-genre suspense. (June)
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About the Author

John Passarella currently resides in Swedesboro, New Jersey, with his wife and three young children. His co-authored first novel, Wither, published under the pseudonym J. G. Passarella, was a Bram Stoker Award-winner and is available from Pocket Books. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (May 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743484800
• ISBN-13: 978-0743484800
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,222,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was ten or eleven, I started telling stories by drawing them. (To this day, drawing and doodling helps open up my creative side for storytelling. Once in college, during a very boring lecture, I doodled in the margins of my spiral-bound notebook and those doodles eventually turned into a complete science fiction novel manuscript.) By twelve, I began typing one page stories. Into high school and college, I was writing short novel manuscripts.

My first novel, the co-authored WITHER (by "J.G. Passarella") won the Horror Writers Association's Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Columbia Pictures bought the feature film rights. I followed up with two stand-alone sequels, WITHER'S RAIN and WITHER'S LEGACY (Wendy Ward novels), plus the paranormal thriller KINDRED SPIRIT and SHIMMER. In addition, I've authored four original media tie-in novels, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: GHOUL TROUBLE, ANGEL: AVATAR, ANGEL: MONOLITH and SUPERNATURAL: NIGHT TERROR. (Look for SUPERNATURAL: RITE OF PASSAGE August 2012.) My fiction collection EXIT STRATEGY & OTHERS (with two new novelettes) is now available for Kindle.

I graduated from Interboro High School (Prospect Park, PA) and Widener University (Chester, PA). Currently, I live in New Jersey with my wife, three children, a dog and a cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Excellent Paranormal Thriller, May 25, 2006

By 

Jare (Los Lunas, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kindred Spirit (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the best book I've read in a long time. Passarella sure knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats throughout the stories he spins, and we, his readers, love him for it. The connection between Hallie and Heather both before and after Heather's death was touching. This book has some really awesome twists that you just don't quite see coming. You may think you have it all figured out, but he throws a few loops at you! And not since Aycliffe's Naomi's Room have I been so moved by a 'ghost story'! 5 Stars all the way!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paranormal thriller that will send chills down your spine., May 28, 2006

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kindred Spirit (Mass Market Paperback)

Heather and Hallie Moore were identical twins. As children the two were so closely connected that they could actually speak directly into each other's mind. That ended at the age of ten. Heather fell from a tall tree and was in a coma for a week. Things were never the same again.

The girls grow up into adulthood. Hallie becomes a reporter for NBN-7 News in Pennsylvania. Her segment is called "Hallie's Comet". She gives out awards for "the best" in businesses.

Heather gets married to Tom Galloway and has a son, Shane. She even has a home business involving homemade gift baskets. However, she only gets to see her son reach the age of five. Heather is violently murdered on a roadside one night while driving home from her yoga class.

On the first anniversary of Heather's death, Hallie goes to the site of her sister's murder. A small white cross marks the spot. The instant she touches the cross, Hallie is mentally bombarded with visions of Heather's last moments. Upon awakening, Hallie finds her sister's golden locket. The locket had disappeared the night Heather died; which means the killer had come back to the scene recently. Feeling her sister is with her some how, Hallie begins looking into Heather's last days. Hallie has been close to Tom and Shane, seeing them almost daily. Therefore, it is not difficult for Hallie to talk Tom into letting her go through Heather's home office. Odd things begin happening to Hallie, especially in her own apartment. Visions, all the electrical appliances go wild, floating objects ... and that is only the beginning. Hallie better work quickly, because Heather's murderer is getting prepared to kill again.

***** I could not decide if this should be labeled as "Horror" or "Paranormal Thriller". One thing is for sure, this story will send chills up and down your spine. It is so creepy that I had to stop twice and take a breather. When the phone rang near me I actually screeched. Yes, I SCREECHED! Author John Passarella is well known for his skills in creating horror stories, but his poison pen is even more lethal in the paranormal thriller realm. I feel sorry for anyone who misses out on this outstanding novel. I cannot recommend it highly enough. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Kindred Spirit" delivers the creepy goods, May 31, 2006

By 

Joseh S. Lee "javajoe96" (Manchester, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kindred Spirit (Mass Market Paperback)

John Passarella is back again weaving a fine paranormal thriller for the reader to unwind. I have read his Wither Trilogy and have been a horror fan for a long time. So I was intrigued when I found out that he was striking out on a new path with "Kindred Spirit". As to be expected he is back at top form with his character development and his ability to weave the reader right into the story.
Hallie and Heather have always been close being that they were identical twins. They were so close that they knew what the other was thinking but Heather's childhood accident changed their relationship and it took one year to the day of the seemingly senseless murder of Heather to reestablish that bond between them. While visiting Heather's road side memorial, Hallie senses Heather and relives her murder and this experience has changed Hallie. Struggling with her sister's murder being unsolved she works to make sense of the facts of her case and the weird things that have started to happen around her.
Can Hallie use her abilities as a news reporter at NBN-7 to help her solve her sister's murder and bring closure to herself and those Heather left behind? The line between Hallie and Heather blurs and Hallie must redefine her identity and recognize what is most important to her.
"Kindred Spirit" is chock full of creepy moments and will have you jumping at the slightest sound as you enjoy the way this thriller plays out.