The Fantastic Phantasmic Detective Agency by D.L. Dugger is a thrilling paranormal novel about a young girl named Abby. When she and her friends, Billy and Toby, are frog hunting, she finds a stone that allows them to see ghosts. The friends soon meet a ghost named Mary, who needs help finding her necklace. They decide to form a ghost detective agency. Their next job is trying to find a banished ghost named Robert. To find him, they meet a medium named Mr. Monsento, who agrees to try to summon the ghost for them. Soon they learn that the Otherworld is being ruled by an evil demon named Belial and it's up to them to help save the Otherworld. But Otherworld workers are after them. Is the Fantastic Phantasmic Detective Agency in too deep?

This book is amazing. I never wanted to put it down. It had a lot of funny parts as well as scary and exciting parts. It was fast-paced and exciting and I was hooked by the first page. The book is well-written and has many relatable and likeable characters. The Fantastic Phantasmic Detective Agency will take you on an adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat with excitement. The book was very well developed. I can't wait to read further books in the series. I would recommend this to readers of all ages.

The Fantastic Phantasmic Detective Agency by D.L. Dugger is a young adult, paranormal story that begins when twelve-year-old Abby, Billy, and Toby find a rock, a deserted cabin, and then a ghost in the forest surrounding a lake. The ghost is looking for a lost locket and she enlists the aid of the three youngsters to help find it. The FPDA is launched and the children find themselves in the company of a grumpy medium, a realm walker, and an assortment of ghosts from the OtherWorld and UnderWorld in a whimsical tale of intrigue, suspense, and fun.

D.L. Dugger has written an exceptional young adult story that stays true to the genre while indirectly weaving moral and family values into the mix. As far as I can discover, this is Dugger’s first novel, and she has hit the ground running with a strong story concept, great characters, and a solid base for continuing what I believe could be a long-term series. Without unnecessary and often lengthy narrative to describe her characters, the author develops each actor through their dialogue and action. The story includes several unexpected twists that kept me guessing, and interesting character dialogue exchanges that were humorous and true to the ages and situations of the characters.

A rare skill among first time novelists, Dugger writes with a simple, direct style that is heavy on show, soft on tell, giving the story vivid imagery and a steady pace. I seldom read young adult books, but The Fantastic Phantasmic Detective Agency was an absolute pleasure and I’ll be looking for more from D.L. Dugger and her cast of ghost detectives.