Ghosts Fantasy Books: Best Reads

Ghosts fantasy books center on restless spirits, hauntings, and the boundary between life and death. These stories suit readers who enjoy eerie, emotional encounters with the supernatural.

Curated by Fabled Tome

15 Books in subgenre
Apr 13, 2026 Last updated
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1 The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings

The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings

By

Rated 4.32 out of 5 stars, based on 5,646 reviews.

The Mysterious and Amazing Blue Billings by Lily Morton blends contemporary romance with a paranormal mystery set in the historic city of York. After a breakup and personal loss, Levi Black inherits a house with a grim reputation, where unexplained noises and increasingly dangerous events force him to confront the possibility of ghosts. Seeking answers, he turns to Blue Billings, a blue-haired ghost tour guide whose sharp exterior hides deep trauma and closely guarded secrets. As Levi and Blue uncover the dark history of the house and the source of its haunting, their growing emotional bond is tested by escalating supernatural threats and the question of whether trust can survive when lives are at stake.

Book 1 of Black and Blue series

Romance Mystery Supernatural LGBTQ Horror Contemporary Drama Gay Male Protagonist Ghosts
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2 The Girl Who Kept the Castle

The Girl Who Kept the Castle

By

Rated 4.29 out of 5 stars, based on 649 reviews.

In The Girl Who Kept the Castle, Ryan Graudin introduces Faye, a practical and determined maid who discovers that her absent-minded employer, Wizard West, has died and returned as a powerless ghost. With the enchanted castle of Celurdur due to collapse at the next full moon unless its foundation magic is renewed, West hastily organizes a successor’s competition filled with young spellcasters, temperamental creatures, and unpredictable magic. As Faye manages crises from kitchen mishaps to a compost dragon and dangerous cockatrice pens, she uncovers sabotage linked to the Shadow Queen’s servant and a threat that reaches beyond the castle walls. This cozy fantasy adventure for children centers on Faye’s resourcefulness, quiet courage, and emerging magic as she works to protect both Celurdur and the kingdom of Solum.

Book 1 of Faye series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Dragons Cozy Childrens Strong Protagonist Female Protagonist Ghosts Competition
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3 The Red Collar

The Red Collar

By

Rated 4.29 out of 5 stars, based on 644 reviews.

The Red Collar by M. Kato introduces Chief Inspector Hayashi Teruo, a demanding Tokyo homicide detective whose career is on the line if his latest partner transfer fails. Miyazaki Shinji, eager to leave his past in Hiroshima behind, brings an unusual advantage to the Tokyo MPD: he can communicate with the ghosts of murder victims, giving their new cases a distinctly paranormal edge. Their first investigation together centers on a series of killings linked by a weapon resembling a dog’s collar, drawing them into a complex pattern of crime, secrets, and restless spirits. As professional respect turns into an intense romantic and sexual relationship between these two men, hidden truths and Shinji’s evasions threaten both their work as detectives and their fragile bond.

Book 1 of Tokyo MPD Mysteries series

Adult Romance Supernatural LGBTQ Gay Male Protagonist Crime Ghosts Spicy Suspense Detective
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4 Dead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey

Dead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey

By

Rated 4.28 out of 5 stars, based on 3,650 reviews.

Dead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey by Vawn Cassidy introduces Tristan Everett, a socially awkward pathologist at Hackney Public Mortuary whose quiet routine ends when a bizarre accident leaves him able to see and talk to ghosts. His unwanted new talent becomes a problem when the spirit of legendary London drag queen Miz Dusty Le Frey refuses to move on until he helps investigate her murder. Drawn into the queer nightlife scene and a dangerous criminal mystery, Tristan must balance spectral demands, a growing attraction to Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, and a killer who has added him to their list. This contemporary paranormal mystery blends slow-burn gay romance, crime investigation, and ghostly interference with a humorous, slightly irreverent tone.

Book 1 of Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed series

Humor Romance Mystery LGBTQ Paranormal Contemporary Gay Male Protagonist Crime Ghosts Slow Burn
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5 P.S. I Spook You

P.S. I Spook You

By

Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars, based on 8,226 reviews.

P.S. I Spook You by S.E. Harmon blends paranormal mystery with contemporary gay romance as it follows SSA Rain Christiansen, a once-celebrated FBI profiler whose career unravels after he admits to seeing ghosts. Sent to Brickell Bay to consult on a stalled missing-person cold case and repair his reputation, Rain must work alongside local detective Daniel McKenna, the ex-boyfriend he never really got over. As Rain’s unwanted ability draws him into contact with the dead connected to the investigation, he struggles to balance skepticism, duty, and the unresolved feelings between him and Daniel. The novel combines investigative tension, ghostly encounters, and a second-chance relationship in a modern setting.

Book 1 of The Spectral Files series

Humor Romance Mystery LGBTQ Contemporary Gay Male Protagonist Ghosts Detective
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6 Cemetery Boys

Cemetery Boys

By

Rated 4.24 out of 5 stars, based on 110,016 reviews.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas follows Yadriel, a transgender teen from a traditional Latinx family of brujx who doubts his identity and abilities. Determined to prove himself as a real brujo, he secretly performs a ritual to locate the spirit of his murdered cousin, only to accidentally summon Julian Diaz, a restless classmate with a reputation for trouble. As Yadriel and Julian investigate the mysterious death and the strange events surrounding their community, their uneasy alliance deepens into a tender queer romance. Blending contemporary urban life with paranormal elements, this young adult fantasy explores gender, family expectations, and the cost of letting go.

Book 1 of Cemetery Boys series

Romance Young Adult LGBTQ Queer Paranormal Contemporary Male Protagonist Transgender Ghosts
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7 By Fairy Means or Foul

By Fairy Means or Foul

By

Rated 4.24 out of 5 stars, based on 1,901 reviews.

By Fairy Means or Foul by Meghan Maslow introduces Twig Starfig, a half-dragon, half-fae private investigator coerced into tracking down a stolen enchanted horn for an alluring unicorn client. Forced to accept the unicorn’s human servant, Quinn Broomsparkle, as his partner, Twig navigates a case filled with zombies, a haunted pirate ship, and unreliable magical transport while juggling pressure from his powerful fairy father. As Twig uncovers the secrets Quinn is keeping and the involvement of an old enemy, professional obligations collide with an unexpected romantic attraction. The novel blends paranormal mystery, queer romance, and urban fantasy elements in a world of dragons, shapeshifters, and dangerous fae politics.

Book 1 of Starfig Investigations series

Humor Romance Dragons Shapeshifters LGBTQ Fae Zombies Gay Male Protagonist Ghosts Detective
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8 The Fantastic Fluke

The Fantastic Fluke

By

Rated 4.22 out of 5 stars, based on 3,346 reviews.

The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns blends urban fantasy, paranormal mystery, and slow-burn gay romance in a modern setting shaped by magic and ghosts. Sage McKinley, a struggling mage and grieving bookstore owner, has resigned himself to a small life until the ghost of an old West gunslinger appears with a warning that Sage’s magic is far stronger than he believes. As a murderer targets those connected to this hidden power and the death toll rises, Sage must confront his own insecurity and learn to control abilities he barely understands. The growing bond between mage and spirit adds emotional depth to a story that balances investigation, danger, and an emerging sense of self-worth.

Book 1 of The Fantastic Fluke series

Magic Romance Urban Fantasy Mystery LGBTQ Gay Male Protagonist Ghosts
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9 Spirited Situation

Spirited Situation

By

Rated 4.19 out of 5 stars, based on 3,931 reviews.

Spirited Situation by Louisa Masters follows a man who has seen and spoken with ghosts his entire life, a talent that has left him isolated from the living. Hoping to finally belong, he takes a job at the notoriously haunted Mannix Estate, now run as an immersive historical attraction where his supernatural skills are openly valued. Complications arise when he discovers that Ewan, the blacksmith with whom he shared an intense one-night encounter, is now a colleague, blurring the line between work and romance in this contemporary gay paranormal setting. As the estate’s resident spirits begin to behave in increasingly secretive and unsettling ways, he realizes that something is deeply wrong at Mannix, and that his unusual connection to the dead may be the key to confronting a threat no one else can see.

Book 1 of Ghostly Guardians series

Humor Romance Mystery Supernatural LGBTQ Contemporary Gay Strong Protagonist Male Protagonist Ghosts
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10 Not Dead Yet

Not Dead Yet

By

Rated 4.17 out of 5 stars, based on 2,825 reviews.

Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke introduces Wes Cooper, an immortal “not-ghost” who slips between the living world and a spectral otherplane, using his unusual magic to recover stolen property in a modern urban setting. When he stumbles across a genuine murder for the first time, his work collides with official police business and with Detective Hudson Rojas, the ex-boyfriend who once walked out of his life. Their uneasy partnership to solve the case pulls them into a paranormal mystery involving ghosts, danger, and buried secrets, while rekindling a complicated romance between two men with decades of history. The novel blends urban fantasy, gay romance, and supernatural investigation, with vampires and other paranormal elements shaping both the stakes and the emotional tension.

Book 1 of Not Dead Yet series

Romance Supernatural Vampires Gay Male Protagonist Ghosts Suspense Detective
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11 Blackwing

Blackwing

By

Rated 4.12 out of 5 stars, based on 8,515 reviews.

Blackwing by Ed McDonald follows Captain Ryhalt Galharrow, a hardened Blackwing agent tasked with watching the border between a fragile republic and the Eastern Empire. When the raven tattoo that binds him to a distant sorcerer delivers an urgent summons, Galharrow is drawn into an investigation involving a powerful noblewoman, a long-dead mage’s dangerous legacy, and the republic’s failing magical superweapon. Set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic wasteland known as the Misery, where ghosts and warped magic linger from an old war, the novel blends dark fantasy, military conflict, and political intrigue. As armies gather and treachery spreads within the citadel, Galharrow must navigate corrupt officials, inhuman threats, and his own survival instincts to prevent the Deep Kings from returning to power.

Book 1 of Raven's Mark series

Fantasy Magic Adult Post Apocalyptic Epic Fantasy High Fantasy War Dark Fantasy Dark Survival Political Intrigue Male Protagonist Ghosts
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12 Green Rider

Green Rider

By

Rated 4.10 out of 5 stars, based on 41,198 reviews.

In Green Rider, Kristen Britain introduces Karigan G'ladheon, a young woman expelled from school for dueling who is abruptly drawn into the dangerous world of the king’s magical messenger corps. After a mortally wounded Green Rider forces a final mission on her, she must carry a warning across a kingdom already threatened by war, political intrigue, and sorcery. Pursued by human and supernatural enemies, aided by emerging magical abilities and the restless ghost of the fallen Rider, Karigan confronts both external dangers and a court reluctant to trust her. The novel blends epic and high fantasy elements with a strong female protagonist at its center, balancing adventure, dark magic, and the looming struggle for the throne.

Book 1 of Green Rider series

Fantasy Adventure Magic Adult Science Fiction Epic Fantasy High Fantasy Young Adult War Political Intrigue Female Protagonist Ghosts Strong Female Lead
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13 Revenge of the Witch

Revenge of the Witch

By ,

Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 54,505 reviews.

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney, illustrated by Patrick Arrasmith, introduces Thomas Ward, the seventh son of a seventh son, who is bound to a dangerous apprenticeship with the local Spook. Tasked with learning how to confront ghosts, restrain witches, and control boggarts, Thomas faces work that has already defeated many trainees before him. His fragile progress unravels when he is deceived into releasing Mother Malkin, a notorious witch whose return unleashes new terror across the County. This dark fantasy blends supernatural horror and coming-of-age tension as a young boy navigates responsibility, fear, and the cost of failure in a world haunted by monsters and restless spirits.

Book 1 of The Last Apprentice / Wardstone Chronicles series

Fantasy Magic Monsters Young Adult Supernatural Paranormal Horror Childrens Witches Revenge Male Protagonist Ghosts Apprenticeship
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14 First Grave on the Right

First Grave on the Right

By

Rated 4.03 out of 5 stars, based on 92,365 reviews.

First Grave on the Right introduces Charley Davidson, a sardonic private investigator who also serves as a grim reaper, able to see and talk with the dead. Her unusual clients are murder victims who push her to uncover the truth behind their deaths, pulling her into dangerous, often darkly comic investigations in a contemporary urban setting. As Charley navigates these supernatural cases, she is increasingly unsettled by vivid, sensual dreams of a mysterious presence that has shadowed her since childhood, an entity that may not be human or dead. Darynda Jones blends paranormal mystery, sharp humor, and slow-burn romance into an urban fantasy centered on a strong, irreverent female lead.

Book 1 of Charley Davidson series

Fantasy Humor Adult Romance Urban Fantasy Mystery Supernatural Paranormal Female Protagonist Ghosts Detective Strong Female Lead
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15 The Summoning

The Summoning

By

Rated 4.02 out of 5 stars, based on 176,952 reviews.

In The Summoning, Kelley Armstrong introduces Chloe Saunders, a teenager whose ordinary life unravels the day she begins seeing ghosts. After a disturbing incident at school, she is sent to a group home for troubled teens, where the residents and staff seem to be hiding more than personal problems. As Chloe navigates this confined urban setting, she uncovers secrets about the institution, her own emerging supernatural abilities, and the other teens who may also possess paranormal gifts. Blending young adult urban fantasy with elements of mystery, romance, and suspense, the novel follows a strong female protagonist confronting both dangerous magic and the fear that she might be losing her sanity.

Book 1 of Darkest Powers series

Fantasy Magic Romance Urban Fantasy Young Adult Mystery Supernatural Paranormal Werewolves Female Protagonist Ghosts Suspense Strong Female Lead
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