The Last Ghost: An Unexpected Occurrence

The Last Ghost: An Unexpected Occurrence by D.E. Ring is an enthralling tale that follows Joshua Stewart, a gifted and ambitious young man navigating the complexities of wealth, family, and personal identity. The story follows his childhood on the Toronto Bluffs, the tragic death of his parents in Thailand, his education at prestigious schools, and his daring ventures into business and finance, where he is passionate about technology and innovation. As Joshua matures, he carefully maneuvers through a world of inheritance, trust funds, and entrepreneurial pursuits, seeking independence and a sense of purpose beyond mere wealth accumulation. He becomes remarkably wealthy for his age, but the price of his fortune might outweigh everything he has achieved, as his life begins to unravel: his family shrinks, their bonds dissolving into distant memories; friends transform into mere employees, pawns in his relentless pursuit of wealth; and his social life becomes nonexistent. Can he find a balance that restores his humanity while allowing him to pursue wealth? 

D.E. Ring has delivered a narrative that questions the cost of wealth and its characters, including the warm, philosophical Caleb Stewart, and Marianne, his pragmatic wife. Joshua himself is an intelligent, calculating, yet emotionally complex protagonist who resembles some of the successful billionaires we have known, who seem very successful but lacking the joy that comes from community, love, and family. The setting takes you to the idyllic Toronto Bluffs, the historic University of Toronto Schools, and the cosmopolitan streets of London and New York. The plot is driven by themes of inheritance, the morality of wealth, the influence of technology, and the challenge of forging one’s own path. I enjoyed how the author used strong plot points to build the conflict, including the death of Joshua’s parents and Caleb’s passing, and the economic upheavals, but also from internal struggles: Joshua’s desire for independence versus his loyalty to family, his ambition versus his conscience, and the tension between traditional values and modern innovation. Ring masterfully depicts these conflicts within a nuanced setting that underlines the tension between legacy and self-determination. The Last Ghost is an intriguing tale that features resonant themes and that asks questions that should excite every contemporary mind.