Publisher: O'Brien Press
Publication Date: October 2025
Source: Borrowed From Library
Series: PSI #3
Blurb: The chill intensified, and Archer opened his eyes to see the candles extinguish one by one …
PSI – Paranormal Surveyance Ireland – are in deep water. When the operators of a luxury cruise ship ask for their help with a series of unexplainable events, Raven and the team are hopeful that this case, for once, won’t endanger their lives.
As they try to blend in with the wealthy passengers, it quickly becomes clear to Davis, Fionn and the others that there is more lurking in the shadows than they've realised. With the eerie encounters escalating and rising tensions threatening to tear the team apart, time is running out for PSI. Can they save the ship – and themselves – before it’s too late?
If you have not read the previous 2 books in the Paranormal Surveyance Ireland (PSI) trilogy - WHY NOT?! But please also be aware that, since this is the final book in the series, this review will contain spoilers for the previous two books, What Walks These Halls & Who Watches This Place, as well as for this final book. You have been warned ...
This series is up there with one of the best Irish young adult series I have ever read. The trilogy centers on a paranormal ghost hunting team set in Dublin, made up of twin siblings Archer (golden retriever) and Raven (black cat). These siblings along with their other members of their team - Fionn the tech guy, Davis the practical one and Eabha the clairvoyant - they take on requests from people who may have a little "ghost problem".
The series, there is a lesbian couple, bisexual representation, aromantic asexual representation, ME rep and hard-of-hearing' found family dynamic is so strong. I would say one of the main reasons to recommend this series is the interactions among the characters. They feel so three-dimensional, and some of their interactions would have me laughing out loud. Brilliant and vibrant characters that also allow the novel to explore other representations. In the novel there is a lesbian couple, bisexual representation, aromantic asexual representation, ME rep and hard of hearing representation. The way in which these representations are written is so wonderful that not only does it educate the reader, but it also comes across the page as very authentic and real.
Over the course of the series, I have loved the plot lines but I have to say THE CRUISE SHIP - Genius! I absolutely loved the idea of the haunted cruise ship and the interactions with all the rich guests and the ship's crew. I feel like the claustrophobic, enclosed setting forced our group of misfits to spend time with people outside their bubble and allowed us, the reader, to see more of their personalities away from the main cast of the novel. I especially loved reading about Fionn in this novel, but also felt that I would have liked to read some more from the perspective of Davis.
The supernatural plot was very interesting, I loved reading about the manifestation of the ghost, the summoning circles, the exorcisms, and all of that, but what really drove the plot forward for me was reading about all of the interpersonal relationships happening within our, core group of PSI friends. Especially reading about the relationship between Archer and Eabha. I found reading about their relationship, how it has progressed since Eabha received her diagnosis and the pressure that this has put on their relationship was so emotional. A really excellent job Amy Clarkin- you got a tear out of me!
The ending of the series left me on a hopeful note about our characters' futures as everyone was more or less left on a happy note and feeling like a real part of the PSI family unit. Even the Jack Gallagher cameo was a brilliant touch. I feel like Amy really knows how to write a multi-layered, character-driven, and diverse story that I am sure will resonate with teenage readers, who will feel seen within these pages.
I eagerly await seeing what Amy turns her pen to next!
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