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jeathhp's review against another edition
5.0
This book had been on my wish list for some time, and when it arrived, it landed on the top of my to-read-next stack. I'd already read and thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Prasil's Spectral Edition, an intriguing log of newspaper articles of hauntings in America on either side of the turn of the last century. His commentaries were thoughtful; his research, clearly a labor of love.
I'm not sure what I was expecting with Help for the Haunted...I believe I was thinking along the lines of a fictional occult detective duo. This is far, far pithier than Carnacki and his cronies, flat characters arranged for an after-dinner telling of wild ghost stories. Vera and Lida are plucky and thoughtful-- not paper dolls. What I wasn't expecting was a) they really existed! b) the humor, the twists of emotion as we gradually learn more about both ladies, the social commentary on sexism and racism at the time --well addressed with sensitivity without bludgeoning the reader or overshadowing the stories. I have flagged this as a favorite and am elated to see that this is subtitled, volume 1. I eagerly await volume 2! Charming, entertaining, thoughtful, original. Loved it! Long live Vera and Lida!
I'm not sure what I was expecting with Help for the Haunted...I believe I was thinking along the lines of a fictional occult detective duo. This is far, far pithier than Carnacki and his cronies, flat characters arranged for an after-dinner telling of wild ghost stories. Vera and Lida are plucky and thoughtful-- not paper dolls. What I wasn't expecting was a) they really existed! b) the humor, the twists of emotion as we gradually learn more about both ladies, the social commentary on sexism and racism at the time --well addressed with sensitivity without bludgeoning the reader or overshadowing the stories. I have flagged this as a favorite and am elated to see that this is subtitled, volume 1. I eagerly await volume 2! Charming, entertaining, thoughtful, original. Loved it! Long live Vera and Lida!
mizzelle's review
4.0
Tim Prasil's "Help for the Haunted" contains thirteen stories about two women researching ghost stories/hauntings in late 19th-early 20th century America. Vera Van Slyke is a crusading journalist with a taste for beer and an interest in the supernatural. Researching a story, Van Slyke outs the fake psychic medium Lucille "Lida" Parsell and the two set up an unusual partnership for the next decade. Each woman is not entirely what they seem. Parsell is a recent Czech immigrant, while Van Slyke's has mixed heritage. Honestly I think Prasil handed Parsell/Prasilova's conflicts over her heritage than Van Slyke. Because we see the stories from Lida's perspective, it does make it harder to see into Vera's head. I did enjoy seeing their growing friendship and how the team evolved from the initial encounter to final one.
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