Library Journal gave American Ghost a very nice review, and a star. Here’s what they said:
“Nordhaus follows her successful The Beekeeper’s Lament with the astonishing story of her great-great-grandmother Julia Schuster Staab, who traveled from Germany in 1866 to New Mexico and eventually into the stuff of legend as the troubled ghost that haunts the La Posada Hotel of Santa Fe. Julia is New Mexico’s most famous apparition and, were it not for those stories, Nordhaus would probably never have written this book. The author’s multifaceted work brings Julia back to life and explores the journey it took to rediscover her narrative. The book’s many elements could appeal to a variety of readers, as there are mentions of discovering genealogical origins, insight into Jewish immigration to the United States, the life of a pioneer woman in the Wild West, and finally how someone’s ghost becomes a legend. Every aspect of the account is enlightening, well written, and entertaining, from the sojourn to Germany to trace her roots to talking to psychics about the ghostly Julia, and finally Julia herself, who ended up changing and inspiring the author.
VERDICT This touching and uplifting work is highly recommended and will appeal to a variety of readers.”