Mary O’Reilly Books In Order

Publication Order of Mary O’Reilly Books

Publication Order of Tales Around the Jack O'Lantern Books

Believers or nonbelievers in the paranormal try to consider it via scientific evidence, or their own system of values and different attitudes. Contradictory views may be exposed in that respect, but one thing is certain – Mary O’Reilly paranormal series transcend the dimension of everyday happenings.

Terri Reid states that her series represents a hybrid of a genre, fusing the paranormal with romance, mystery and detective. That may be the reason why the series enjoys a cross-gender and cross-age affinity.

Looking like the girl next door, as the author advises, Mary O’Reilly, the former police officer from Chicago, is qualified in martial arts and weapons. She has, however, a special gift. Mary can see and talk to ghosts, and dedicates professionally as a private investigator to solve their cases and mysteries after moving to the small city of Freeport, Illinois, and opening her investigation agency.

Mary’s unique capacity to solve crimes is revealed in Loose Ends, and she relies on her sharp mind, intuition, and communication with spirits to solve a death case of a politician’s mistress, and a haunting ghost plus the ghosts of five young girls. A trick of the author is to transport Mary in her mind to the different time during which the victims she investigates live, like a trip between the past and the present. The suspense runs in line with the mystery in the book. The new Chief of Police steps in the investigation to help Mary, and to keep her safe as a serial killer is close and eager to silence her. The Sheriff holds a secret. Twists and turns follow, with a good balance of tension, crime and humor. The backstory of the chief adds elements to the whole intrigue. The relationship between him and Mary is thought provoking. The dialogue is witty, entertaining, and nuanced with humor; the interaction between the two main characters is challenging. All characters are well developed, and an example of another delightful heroine is Mary’s neighbor Rosie. Or Stanley, her good friend as well. Side-stories are typical of the author and suit the book line.

The content of Loose Ends was polished for months, and the cover was shaped and uploaded to Amazon by the author herself. In three years time, 200,000 copies were sold. Reid considered that her Celtic ancestry had an impact on the idea of the book as ghost stories dominate her life and experience as a freelance journalist. It was also the Chicago story of Mary who walked as a ghost close to the Resurrection Cemetery that was laid in the book’s fundament.

Good Tidings enjoys Mary’s further development as a personality and book character. She is a caring person, and follows the philosophy of doing the right thing for bringing peace to people’s minds and lives. The mystery envelops the story of Good Tidings, when Mary is dragged into it by the ghost of a young boy, six years old, who asks for her assistance to save his kidnapped brother. The opening scene of a baby kidnapped from his mother at a superstore during Christmas shopping fever goes straight to the point of investigation. Terri Reid’s style is again idiosyncratic when providing side stories to the main line. And the stories of the main characters deepen further to learn more about Mary’s Irish family, moving the book setting to Chicago, and the Sheriff’s past. The relationship between both progresses smoothly, and the intentions of the Sheriff are diligently observed by Mary’s brothers to make sure she has the best intimate option. Their strong moral sense belongs to a special system of values. The gallery of characters expands with those of a prostitute and a young soldier, and a specific transition between the cases grabs the reader’s mind.

Terri Reid’s son, sixteen years old, came up with the name of the book. As well as with Loose Ends, the author joined forums and discussed the book, asking family and friends to put the link to the book on their pages. On the market, the book was available just before Thanksgiving.

Mary O’Reilly’s accomplishments are shared among the readers via their Facebook pages and they even provide some prompts to the author. Reid has the reputation of a writer who pulls the reader into the story. She is open to good criticism and trusts in positive thinking.

God and His Plan run also as a thread throughout the series, and this is challenging for an author of paranormal stories. The Christian faith spread into the mix and the tale delivers a sense of values, like loyalty and family.

Terri Reid enjoys Top Rated status for her series, as well as Hot New Release. She considers that they drive the reader to a roller coaster experience. Some moral that Reid likes sharing with the readers lies in the assumption that they have full control of their lives, faith in themselves and others, and strength to overcome the challenges… Each book in the series, while following the main line, addresses a unique topic – abuse, stress disorder, rape alongside trust, loyalty, tolerance… In that vein, the paranormal co-exists with a sense of realism in Reid’s series.

Mary O’Reilly Paranormal Mysteries reflect also the enchantment of the author by “urban fantasy”: the tunnels underground; who dwells beneath the town; the faerie that her grandfather could see as a child… Historical books related to Ireland, sources about mythology constitute the flame of Reid’s inspiration to make a research and start writing.

Thirteen books in and the series may go on. With Mary, Bradley, Stanley, Rosie, and a bunch of ghosts and friends, Terri Reid shares one hundred year-old rancho in Northwest Illinois. Her Halloween feature in the local paper enjoyed popularity for many years. Her collection of ghost stories told by local people belongs to the historical society as a fundraising platform.

Mary O’Reilly series does not follow market trends. They are written because there is a story to be told, a life experience to be talked about. The author says, “Think of your story as the greatest thing since sliced bread.”