Tom Hoffman's The Ghost Ring: Specters of Caligo Woods is an entertaining paranormal thriller starring ghost detectives Simon Moody and Clara Barley as the main characters. Paranormal experiences have occurred at Caligo Woods’ Devil's Lake dating back to WWII. Edmund Wilder’s final gift to his grandson Simon is a silver cross with a cryptic note and a warning not to swim in Devil’s Lake. Even more intriguing, the crucifix has the engraving "HELL BOUND." What is the connection between the five dead bodies discovered in 1867, the silver crosses, a ghost child from the 1800s, a preacher, and a WWII plane disaster about a mile away? Using the Ghost Ring's powers, Simon and Clara go back in time to understand and reveal the clues and their relationship to the spirits they see.

The Ghost Ring is Tom Hoffman's fourth book in the series. The tale is full of mystery, suspense, and curiosity about how the seemingly different mysteries and spirits are linked together. The plot contains creative twists, and the reader is lured in by the anticipation of the events that connect them. The reader is kept extremely engaged. The characters are strong and likable, and the settings are vividly portrayed, demonstrating the author's excellent writing that keeps you turning the pages. As Simon and Clara relive the ghosts' past lives, the engaging storytelling takes you on a thrilling adventure. The novel explores mystery, suspense, paranormal occurrences, and compassion. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Fans of crime and detective novels with paranormal and ghost elements will enjoy this fascinating read!

Tom Hoffman brings us paranormal fiction with a dollop of mystery in The Ghost Ring: Specters of Caligo Woods. Simon Moody and Clara Barley are home from college for the summer. Being back in Caligo Falls allows them to solve some cold cases, using the mysterious ring Edmund Wilder gave Simon. Ghosts are aplenty in the fourth book in the series as Simon and Clara meet Abigail, a child with dark messages; Fred and George, WWII pilots who crashed in Caligo Woods with secret plans as cargo; and victims of the dangerous monster who laid the murdered bodies on the shores of Devil’s Lake. What the duo soon realizes is that it could all be connected, and they wonder how they can help each specter move on.

Author Tom Hoffman has done a brilliant job in this new adventure featuring two relatable, likable characters. Entertaining dialogue enhances the relationship dynamic between them. Even though The Ghost Ring: Specters of Caligo Woods can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend getting to know the characters from the beginning and reading the first three books beforehand. The rules of engagement are pretty straightforward, making it easy to follow. It helps that the author mentions previous adventures, reinforcing the lore of this series. The plot and pace are steady, making this an easy read while still containing an abundance of mystery. The pages are saturated with a theme of the balance between darkness and light, making this suitable for young adult readers who enjoy ghost stories.

The Ghost Ring: Specters of Caligo Woods by Tom Hoffman is part of The Ghost Ring paranormal series. Simon Moody has returned home for the summer, and when he is given the last gift from Edmund Wilder, it comes with a warning. The gift is a silver cross. The warning? To stay away from Devil’s Lake and never to swim in it. Simon and Clara are paranormal investigators, and an encounter with a centuries-old ghost child drags them into a dark mystery that takes them to Caligo Woods and Devil's Lake. When the ghost of a crashed WWII pilot enters the story, Clara and Simon discover dark secrets that uncover the connections between their ghostly encounters.

Specters of Caligo Woods is the fourth installment in the Ghost Ring series. I haven’t read the other books, but having read this one, I believe this is a series where the books should be read sequentially to fully understand the story. I enjoyed this book, and it did make me want to read the rest of them to fully appreciate the characters and the storyline, which clearly runs through all four books. I found the character development excellent, though, and I got to know enough about the two main protagonists to understand them. The plot is unique with plenty of action, and it’s guaranteed to hold your attention all the way through. The writing is descriptive, bringing the spooky setting to life as you read, making you part of the story, and the twists and action keep you turning the pages. It’s a fun read, wholly engaging, and highly recommended for all fans of the paranormal.

The Ghost Ring: Specters of Caligo Woods by Tom Hoffman is a chilling supernatural thriller. Everything starts when Simon Moody receives a final, deeply unsettling gift from Edmund Wilder: an engraved silver cross with the words 'Hell Bound.' With the cross, Simon gets a warning letter never to swim in Devil’s Lake. Soon after, Simon and his girlfriend, Clara, are confronted by the ghost of a child from the 1800s. This ghost appears to know Simon personally. Simon and Clara’s elderly friend has a vision revealing the location of a forgotten Army Corps plane that crashed in Caligo Woods in 1940. There were also rumors about people disappearing near Devil’s Lake, and that an evil being is living in the lake. This place was also known for brutal murders that happened from 1867, and the victims were found with silver crosses. Edmund’s final gift is tied to Devil’s Lake’s secrets and the restless spirits bound to it.

Tom Hoffman's The Ghost Ring: Specters of Caligo Woods is a captivating read. As Simon and Clara discover hints during their investigation, I wondered where it would lead them. I was hooked from the first page and could not put the book down. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, turning the pages as fast as possible. When Simon wears his ghost ring, he and Clara can communicate with ghosts, and they take pleasure in helping them move on to the afterlife. The book is intertwined with themes of trauma, hereditary guilt, and the existence of evil, which one can actually sense. I was able to picture the encounters because of the detailed explanations. The book was brilliantly written, and Simon and Clara’s interactions with ghosts felt natural. This was an unsettling read that lingered with me long after the final page.