In September 1982, Martin Hedblom is about to spend the final night of his life while working overnight security at the Smorregard Children’s Home on a small island off the coast of Finland. He is drawn outside to the dock area where he believes he sees a young girl dressed in blue standing not far from the edge of the water. It will be the last thing he ever sees.

Thus begins GHOST ISLAND, the fourth entry in Max Seeck’s Ghosts of the Past series, featuring homicide detective Jessica Niemi of the Helsinki police force. Jessica has been having a difficult time, especially since the death of her partner, Erne Mikson. Her behavior has been erratic, to say the least, and she has a highly publicized negative encounter with a citizen that prompts her into a forced vacation.

"The resolution of GHOST ISLAND is quite clever, and Seeck may very well have penned the most engaging Ghosts of the Past novel thus far."

Jessica elects to stay at a villa on a small island off the coast that was used to house the long-closed Smorregard Children’s Home. It is run by an elderly woman, Astrid, along with her son, Ake, both of whom are quite sociable and accommodating. They knew of Jessica from a high-profile case she solved and are more than happy to have her stay there.

Interspersed throughout the novel are chapters going back in time to the orphanage and one resident in particular. Jessica learns from her hosts and other island locals that Maija disappeared one night from the orphanage by row boat never to be seen again. She also may be the “girl in blue” that still haunts the island. Those who are even more superstitious believe that Maija, who was bullied and mentally abused during her short time at the orphanage, may be getting ghostly revenge on those who did her wrong.

When Elizabeth, an elderly guest at the villa, is mysteriously killed one night, the handful of residents staying and working there are immediately under investigation. Of course, Jessica is quick to let the officer in charge, Johan Karlsson, know who she is as she cannot help but do her own part in trying to figure this all out. It is not outlandish to think that Elizabeth may have been Maija’s primary bully.

Jessica is not in the best frame of mind to be working a case at this time, especially one that may or may not have a supernatural element to it. Max Seeck does a bang-up job keeping readers guessing about the clues that are carefully uncovered and the potential existence of the vengeful girl in blue. The story is truly chilling stuff and quite claustrophobic, especially as the investigation occurs during the height of a storm that keeps all the residents of the island from leaving.

Jessica is determined to come up with answers, which may be found at the abandoned orphanage. The resolution of GHOST ISLAND is quite clever, and Seeck may very well have penned the most engaging Ghosts of the Past novel thus far.