Mortal: A Ghost Story

MORTAL, an international Goth Rock band, faces personal tragedies and a crime ring infiltration, leading to the murder of their lead singer Cal Clare. The band's unofficial backers plot to kill him and replace him, but the singer is brutally murdered on stage, and several management team members are killed in mysterious circumstances. Cals sister, Raven, vanishes with a valuable statuette, and the police are baffled. The case is eventually paused and classified as unsolved, but ten years later, a journalist and her editor are killed while arranging a feature on Cal Clare, suggesting that a ghost has returned to wreak havoc on the living.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2023
Publisher: Troubador Publishing

MORTAL, a renowned international Goth Rock band, embarked on a world tour, but tragedy struck when they began to fracture amidst personal hardships. Just as their American management was infiltrated by an organized crime ring, who feared the band would split before they could recover their investment, the situation worsened. Desperate to avoid financial losses, the band's unofficial backers plotted to eliminate the singer and replace him with a tribute act, hoping to organize a tour to cover their expenses. Within a week, MORTAL's lead singer, Cal Clare, was brutally murdered on stage in Leeds, and several key members of their management team were mysteriously killed. Cals sister, Raven, vanished from their hotel with a valuable statuette, leaving the police baffled and the investigation stagnant. The case was eventually paused and classified as unsolved, allowing the band to continue their tour with two new members.

Ten years later, a journalist for ROCK SOUNDS magazine, along with her editor, were killed while arranging a feature on Cal Clare. The murders sent shockwaves through the music industry, and rumors began to circulate that a ghost had returned to wreak havoc on the living. The question on everyone's mind was: Could the ghost be the same one responsible for the previous murders, and if so, what could be done to stop it?

The investigation into the murders was reopened, and the police began to scrutinize the band's past, looking for any clues that could lead them to the culprit. They discovered that MORTAL had a history of supernatural occurrences, including strange noises in their hotel rooms and unexplained visions experienced by their members.

As the investigation progressed, the police began to suspect that the ghost was connected to Cal Clare's murder. They discovered that Cal had been researching the supernatural and had even written a book on the subject. He had also been in contact with a psychic who claimed to have been contacted by the spirit of a deceased rock star.

The police interviewed the psychic, who revealed that the ghost was angry with MORTAL for abandoning their fans and for not fulfilling their promise to bring Goth Rock to the mainstream. The psychic also claimed that the ghost had the ability to manipulate sound and energy and could use these powers to cause harm to those who crossed it.

The police began to investigate MORTAL's past, looking for any evidence that could link them to the ghost. They discovered that the band had been involved in a series of scandals, including drug abuse, sexual assault, and even murder. They also discovered that the band's manager, who had been killed along with several other members of the management team, had been involved in a drug trafficking ring.

The police began to suspect that the ghost was using MORTAL as a cover for its activities and was using the band's popularity to attract new members and further its criminal enterprise. They began to investigate the band's members, looking for any signs of supernatural activity or connections to the ghost.

One of the band's members, a guitarist named Jack, began to experience strange visions and noises that he could not explain. He began to suspect that he was being haunted by the ghost of the deceased rock star that Cal Clare had been in contact with. He confided in his bandmates, who were skeptical at first but eventually agreed to help him investigate.

Together, Jack and his bandmates began to delve deeper into the supernatural world, using their music as a means of communication with the ghost. They performed rituals and incantations that they believed would summon the ghost and force it to reveal its identity.

After several weeks of investigation, Jack and his bandmates finally discovered the identity of the ghost. It was the rock star that Cal Clare had been researching, who had been murdered by a rival drug dealer ten years earlier. The ghost was angry with MORTAL for not fulfilling its promise to bring Goth Rock to the mainstream and was using the band as a means of revenge.

The band was shocked by the revelation and knew that they had to take action to stop the ghost from causing any more harm. They decided to perform a final concert, using their music to channel the ghost's energy and force it to leave the earth.

The concert was a success, and the ghost was finally forced to leave the earth. Jack and his bandmates were hailed as heroes, and their music was celebrated as a masterpiece. The case was closed, and MORTAL was able to continue their career without any further supernatural interference.

In conclusion, MORTAL's journey was a testament to the power of music and the resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing personal tragedies and being infiltrated by an organized crime ring, the band was able to overcome these obstacles and continue to tour. However, when the ghost returned ten years later, it threatened to destroy everything they had worked for. Through their music and the help of their fans, they were able to defeat the ghost and protect their legacy.

Weight: 178g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805141563