Book Review: Ghost Hotel

By Arthur Slade

Shadowpaw Press Reprise
Review by Shelley A. Leedahl

Arthur Slade’s Ghost Hotel, the second novel in his Canadian Chills series, has been resurrected for a new generation of readers. First published in 2004, this middle-years mystery follows junior detectives Wart and Cindy as they encounter a ghost named Archie and a string of supernatural hijinks in Saskatoon.

The tone is light and funny, with wise-cracking young sleuths, eccentric adults, and plenty of inventive gadgets—including a glowing watch and a time-travel-ready cellphone. Slade’s flair for language and character shines through: a magician’s face “the colour and texture of mottled Swiss cheese,” a principal obsessed with toy trains, and a batty librarian insisting every child read The Wizard of Oz.

The story races from a post-badminton ghost sighting to a 1936-era Delta Bessborough, complete with a ventriloquist’s dummy, ghost goo, and a family mystery. Slade, a Governor General’s Award winner, proves once again why his books consistently delight young readers.

Ghost Hotel is original, hilarious, and fast-moving—a hard yes for kids and anyone who loves spooky fun.

Available at local bookstores or through the Saskatchewan Publishers Group: www.skbooks.com