I received this book for free from the author as a free story in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the author as a free story
"Good Girls Go to Heaven"
by
Seanan McGuire
urban fantasy in eBook edition that was published by the author and has 17 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses, One Salt Sea, Discount Armageddon, Home Improvement: Undead Edition, “Never Shines the Sun”, Chimes at Midnight, "In Sea-Salt Tears", Indexing, The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination, Half-Off Ragnarok, Midway Relics and Dying Breeds, Games Creatures Play, The Winter Long, Sparrow Hill Road, The InCryptid Prequels, Pocket Apocalypse, Black as Blood, Blocked, White as a Raven's Wing, The Ghosts of Bourbon Street, IM, A Red Rose Chain, "Full of Briars", Reflections, Once Broken Faith, "Dreams and Slumbers", Shadowed Souls, Chaos Choreography, Magic For Nothing, Indigo, Every Heart a Doorway, Down Among the Sticks and Bones, The Brightest Fell, "Of Things Unknown", Beneath the Sugar Sky, Night and Silence, "Suffer a Sea-change", The Girl in the Green Silk Gown, "The Recitation of the Most Holy and Harrowing Pilgrimage of Mindy and Also Mork", Tricks for Free, That Ain't Witchcraft, "The Measure of a Monster", The Unkindest Tide, "Hope is Swift", Come Tumbling Down, Imaginary Numbers, "Follow the Lady", In an Absent Dream, "The Fixed Stars", "Forbid the Sea", "No Sooner Met", Across the Green Grass Fields, A Killing Frost, "Shine in Pearl", When Sorrows Come, "And with Reveling", "Singing the Comic-Con Blues”, "Candles and Starlight", "Such Dangerous Seas", Sleep No More
A short story, 0.9, in the Ghost Stories urban fantasy series about a road ghost named Rose Marshall.
My Take
The Ghost Stories are so sad. The promise of a life to be lived snuffed out. That warm, cozy chat in a darkened cab as Rose exchanges life stories with the person who doesn’t realize that he or she is fated to die.
It’s a sweet way to go, if one must. Something to give hope to his or her survivors, that the going was easy.
And it’s a way for Rose to collect more versions of her own story. Something to cheer her when she loses that jacket.
The Story
A knight of the road who sees a cold and hungry young hitchhiker in trouble. That’s how all the stories start. When she’s lucky it’s a hot and juicy hamburger with onions and fries. Maybe a finish with a side of hot apple pie.
After’s when the conversation begins until that moment comes to pass.
The Characters
Rose Marshall has been a road ghost for over 60 years, guiding truckers
to the right roads.
Larry is a trucker in this story, his faithful truck hoping it’s not true.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a black-and-white close-up of a diner meal. A juicy-looking hamburger on a soft bun with onion slices and lettuce edges poking out. A used bottle of Heinz Tomato Ketchup behind the platter and a crisp pile of french fries in front.
I can only think the title is what Rose hopes, that “Good Girls Go to Heaven”, if she ever feels brave enough to go past the Last Dance Diner.
