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The First Church (Moving In Series) Paperback – June 7, 2016

by Ron Ripley (Author), Scare Street (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 195 ratings
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Brian Roy is a ghost hunter extraordinaire. His latest adventure involves headless Japanese soldiers wreaking havoc in a New Hampshire church. The stats are grisly. Two boys blinded. Another boy shot. Cops killed. The bodies keep piling up and the ghosts’ thirst for vengeance is as insatiable as their thirst for saké!

The phantom soldiers cut a swath of murder through the congregation until all that’s left of Brian’s local allies are Jim Bogue and his grandfather, Luke Allen, who is a blind Marine vet. They are all that stand between the dreadful ghosts and the helpless locals. Even as a second threat lurks in the shadows, just as deadly as the gruesome specters, the ghostbusters race against time to save the town.

While trying to protect the living, Brian and his crew are thrust into the unforgiving world of the undead. When the last battle finally begins, Brian wonders if he’s met his own personal Hiroshima...
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Previous page
  1. Book 4 of 6
    Moving In Series
  2. Print length
    216 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    June 7, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.49 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1533055033
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1533055033
  8. See all details
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All the Little Raindrops: A Novel
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Author Ron Ripley deserves a wide audience and more acclaim, for truly his imagination never ceases. [Japanese soldier ghosts, in life practitioners of Shinto, housed in a New England Congregationalist Church!?! Strictly surreal!] This novella is fourth in the MOVING IN series, a series I hope never ends" - Mallory Heart Reviews

"A WONDERFUL, MOVING SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY you will truly enjoy. I RECOMMEND!" - Reader

"Horrifying wonderful! Each book in this series just keeps getting better!! Compelling characters that stay true throughout the series. Great writing. Love!" - Diane D.

"Creepy and very scary!" - Reader

"An Excellent And Unique Ghost Story! What transpires in the pages ahead is a very suspenseful ghost story. The chain of events are scary, spooky, tense and violent!" - Paul C.

"A gripping story about ghosts and the people who have to deal with them." - Sue

"Love, love this series. Read these books. You won't be disappointed." - Holly G.

"Great story.love this series. Can't wait for the next one." - Tammy B.

"Scary interesting." - Reader

"On a scale of one to five this entire series deserves a six because it's just that good!" - Brenda C.

From the Inside Flap

Chapter 1: Doubting Thomases
"Are you sure you heard him say 'ghost'?" Matt asked.

Carlton nodded. "I know I heard him say ghost."

They stood in the alley to the left of Sam's Smoke Shop. The two boys, in spite of only being fourteen, had managed to get Matt's sister to sell them a six pack of Budweiser, but the plan to drink it had been put on hold.

Reverend Joe, it turned out, had to leave the office earlier than usual.

Mrs. Staples, who was supposed to clean the Church, had gotten an emergency call from her pet sitter. One of her cats was stuck in a wall again.

The Church would be empty.

"How did you hear him?" Matt asked, keeping an eye on the Church office. The Reverend's car idled in its parking spot. Their religious leader would leave at any moment.

"It was last night," Carlton said. "I was helping my mom clean up after youth group. She was pretty upset about something and was talking to Dan's mom. When I passed by the Rev's office, I heard him on the phone."

"What did he say exactly?" Matt asked, looking away from the Church, for a moment, and at his friend.

Carlton brushed a stray lock of blonde hair out of his eyes and said, "The Rev said, 'I've got a headless ghost running around the Church.'"

"Who was he talking to?" Matt said, glancing back at the car. It remained where it was. Exhaust slipped out steadily from the tailpipe and into the cold afternoon March air.

"Don't know," Carlton answered. "He said 'thank you' and I had to make like I was texting when he came out. He went right over to talk to my mom and Dave's mom. It was weird. All of them were acting strange."

"Hell," Matt said, "if I'd seen a headless ghost, I'd be pumped up."

"Right," Carlton said with a grin.

"Reminds me of the movie Sleepy Hollow, you know, the one with Johnny Depp," Matt said. He smiled. "Maybe he's looking for his head."

Carlton laughed. "Think he'll try to take ours?"

Matt scoffed and shook his head. "Nah, ghosts can't hurt anybody."

"True," Carlton said.

"Oh snap, the Rev's leaving," Matt said. He and Carlton turned their attention to the man's little black Prius. They watched it back out of the parking space, go in reverse, and head down Main Street.

"So," Carlton said, looking at his friend. "You still have the key?"

Matt grinned. "Yes, I do. Mrs. Staples still thinks Jim lost it after he fixed the broken window in the kitchen for her."

Carlton rolled his eyes. "Kid annoys me."

"Kid annoys everyone," Matt replied. He slapped his friend's thick shoulder. "Come on, we'll cut around behind the Hurlington House."

The two teenage boys moved quickly out of the alley. Matt broke out the beer from his back pack, took a pair and passed one to Carlton. As soon as they crossed the street and made it to the safety of the old, run down Hurlington building, they paused so they could open them.

Each of them winced at the first few gulps, but then, excited smiles all over their faces, they made their way to the back of the Church.

With quick steps, they slipped into the Old Burial Ground, settled down behind the Hanover monument and carefully watched the Church's back door. They waited until they were finished, quickly drank another pair and then left the empty cans in the dirt.

No one came out of the office. The lights remained off.

Matt fished the key out of his pocket and nodded to Carlton.

Together, they stood and walked leisurely to the exit. One last glance around showed they were unobserved. Matt unlocked the door. They slipped inside and locked out the rest of Rye, New Hampshire.

The air smelled heavily of the Rev's spiced tea, and the cleaning supplies Mrs. Staples constantly scoured the whole Church with. There was enough light from the afternoon sun to fill the office.

Matt looked around. "So, do you think we'll be able to see a ghost, even though it's daytime?"

"Don't know," Carlton said, shrugging. "Maybe we'll have to wait?"

"Maybe," Matt said. He went and sat in the Rev's seat and put his feet up on the desk. "Carlton, we should totally drink the last ones in here."

Carlton laughed and shook his head. "Nah. I'm pretty sure Mrs. Staples would figure it out, she'd smell the beer and then she'd hang us from the rafters."

"True," Matt said, grinning. "Anyway, did the Rev say where he saw the ghost?"

"No," Carlton answered. "I mean, maybe he did, but it would have been before I heard him."

"It's just weird," Matt said after a minute. "No one's ever talked about seeing any ghosts before."

"I thought the same thing," Carlton said, leaning up against a filing cabinet. "You figure someone would have talked about it."

"Yeah, exactly," Matt said.

A creak sounded outside the door which led into the hallway.

Carlton and Matt looked at one another, their eyes wide.

The doorknob twisted to the left and then to the right.

Carlton glanced at the back door, wondered briefly if they had enough time to make it, and then froze in place as the noise stopped.

He risked a glance back and saw he and Carlton were still safe.

A form slipped through the wall and stood on the old rug in front of the desk.

It was short, even without its head. A man's body clad in a uniform of some sort. The hands opened and closed, and a question was asked in a language neither of the boys understood.

Both Carlton and Matt, however, took their phones out, pressed the camcorder icon, and recorded the ghost.

Another question was asked, again the words completely foreign, but louder.

"Dude," Matt said, laughing, "this is crazy!"

"I know!" Carlton said. His own laughter joined his friend's, and he stepped back as the ghost advanced towards him. "Man, this is just like Call of Duty! Only, he's headless, and not a zombie!"

"Right," Matt said with a laugh. "This is like the best special effects ever!"

"I am so putting this up on YouTube when we're done," Carlton said. "This thing is definitely going to go viral. We'll be famous! Maybe we can even get our own show on the Travel Channel."

"Careful," Matt said, grinning, "I think he likes you."

Carlton couldn't answer. He tried not to laugh too hard so he could keep the camera focused.

The ghost lunged at him, and its hands found Carlton's head. He dropped the phone as the dead thing's thumbs found his eyes and plunged into his sockets.

Carlton screamed and collapsed to his knees.

Matt realized he wasn't able to run. His legs wouldn't respond, even though he wanted them to move, to get him away. But he remained where he was, watching, as he kept the hideous image of his friend being blinded centered in the lens.

The headless ghost let go of Carlton, and then turned toward Matt and raced at him.

Matt's screams soon joined his friend's.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 7, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1533055033
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1533055033
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.49 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 195 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Ron Ripley

    Ron Ripley

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    Ron Ripley is a husband and father surviving in New England, a place which seems to be getting colder every day. He grew up across from a disturbingly large cemetery where he managed to scare himself every night before going to bed. Mostly because of the red lights that people put in front of the headstones. Those things are just plain creepy to a kid.

    Ron enjoys writing horror, military history and driving through the small towns of New England with his family, collecting books and giving impromptu lectures on military history to his family, who enjoy ignoring him during those dreadful times.

    List of Ron's books:

    MOVING IN SERIES (Completed series)

    Moving In Series Books 1 - 6

    Moving In (Book 1)

    The Dunewalkers (Book 2)

    Middlebury Sanitarium (Book 3)

    The First Church (Book 4)

    The Paupers' Crypt (Book 5)

    The Academy (Book 6)

    BERKLEY STREET SERIES (Completed series)

    Berkley Street Series Books 1 - 9

    Berkley Street (Book 1)

    The Lighthouse (Book 2)

    The Town of Griswold (Book 3)

    Sanford Hospital (Book 4)

    Kurkow Prison (Book 5)

    Lake Nutaq (Book 6)

    Slater Mill (Book 7)

    Borgin Keep (Book 8)

    Amherst Burial Ground (Book 9)

    HAUNTED COLLECTION SERIES (Completed series)

    Haunted Collection Series Books 1 - 3

    Haunted Collection Series Books 4 - 6

    Haunted Collection Series Books 7 - 9

    Collecting Death (Book 1)

    Walter’s Rifle (Book 2)

    Blood in the Mirror (Book 3)

    Hank’s Radio (Book 4)

    The Burning Girl (Book 5)

    Knife in the Dark (Book 6)

    Last Breath (Book 7)

    Ticket to Death (Book 8)

    Death Rattle (Book 9)

    HAUNTED VILLAGE SERIES (Completed Series)

    Haunted Village Series Books 1 - 3

    Haunted Village Series Books 4 - 6

    Haunted Village Series Books 7 - 9

    Worthe’s Village (Book 1)

    Hell’s Hammer (Book 2)

    Butcher's Hands (Book 3)

    Soul Harvest (Book 4)

    Poisonous Whispers (Book 5)

    Brutal Lessons (Book 6)

    Christopher's Blade (Book 7)

    Silent Death (Book 8)

    Deranged Souls (Book 9)

    TORMENTED SOULS SERIES (Completed Series)

    Tormented Souls Series Books 1 - 3

    Tormented Souls Series Books 4 - 6

    Coffin Cemetery (Book 1)

    Anger and Death (Book 2)

    Feast of Fear (Book 3)

    Bloody Anger (Book 4)

    Streets of Anger (Book 5)

    Anger's Ruin (Book 6)

    DEATH HUNTER SERIES (Completed Series)

    City of Ghosts (Book 1)

    Moran and Moran (Book 2)

    Thorne's Tome (Book 3)

    Mistress of Death (Book 4)

    Sin's Judgment (Book 5)

    Shadows' End (Book 6)

    STANDALONES

    Sherman’s Collection

    Boylan House

    Blood Contract

    Enfield Horror

    Hungry Ghosts

    SHORT STORY COLLECTION

    Ghost Stories

    Scary Stories

    BUNDLES / COMPILATIONS

    Ghost Stories from Hell

    MULTI-AUTHOR COLLABORATIONS

    Cult of the Endless Night (Completed series)

    House of the Dead (Book 1)

    Shadows of Deceit (Book 2)

    Night's End (Book 3)

    Echoes in the Night (Book 4)

    Death Dealer (Book 5)

    The Endless Night (Book 6)

    Hell's Vengeance (Completed series)

    Hell's Highway (Book 1)

    Hell's City (Book 2)

    Hell's Vengeance (Book 3)

    Soldier of Death Series (Completed Series)

    Soldier of Death (Book 1)

    Mask of Death (Book 2)

    Shadows of Death (Book 3)

    Soul Collector Series

    Soul Collector (Book 1)

    Soul Destroyer (Book 2)

    Soul Master (Book 3)

    Soul Tormentor (Book 4)

    Soul Bound (Book 5)

    Soul Redemption (Book 6)

    Shadow King Series (Completed Series)

    Duel of the Damned (Book 1)

    Death's Cathedral (Book 2)

    The Shadow King (Book 3)

    Horror Stories (Short Story Collection)

    Tavern of Terror Volume 4

    Tavern of Terror Volume 5

    Tavern of Terror Volume 6

    Tavern of Terror Volume 7

    Tavern of Terror Volume 8

    Tavern of Terror Volume 11

    Tavern of Terror Volume 12

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 1 (Short Story Collection)

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 2

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 3

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 4

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 5

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 6

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 7

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 8

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 9

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 10

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 11

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 12

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 13

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 14

    Terror in the Shadows Volume 15

    Monster Collection

    Short Horror Stories Volume 1

    Short Horror Stories Volume 2

    Short Horror Stories Volume 3

    Short Horror Stories Volume 4

    Short Horror Stories Volume 5

    Short Horror Stories Volume 6

    Short Horror Stories Volume 7

    Short Horror Stories Volume 8

    Short Horror Stories Volume 9

    Short Horror Stories Volume 10

    Short Horror Stories Volume 11

    Short Horror Stories Volume 12

    Short Horror Stories Volume 13

    Short Horror Stories Volume 14

    Short Horror Stories Volume 15

    Short Horror Stories Volume 16

    Short Horror Stories Volume 17

    Short Horror Stories Volume 19

    Short Horror Stories Volume 20

    Short Horror Stories Volume 21

    Short Horror Stories Volume 22

    Short Horror Stories Volume 23

    Short Horror Stories Volume 24

    Short Horror Stories Volume 25

    Short Horror Stories Volume 26

    Short Horror Stories Volume 27

    Night Terrors Volume 1

    Night Terrors Volume 2

    Night Terrors Volume 3

    Night Terrors Volume 4

    Night Terrors Volume 5

    Night Terrors Volume 6

    Night Terrors Volume 7

    Night Terrors Volume 8

    Night Terrors Volume 9

    Night Terrors Volume 10

    Night Terrors Volume 11

    Night Terrors Volume 12

    Night Terrors Volume 13

    Night Terrors Volume 14

    Night Terrors Volume 15

    Night Terrors Volume 16

    Night Terrors Volume 17

    Night Terrors Volume 18

    Night Terrors Volume 19

    Night Terrors Volume 20

    Night Terrors Volume 21

    Night Terrors Volume 22

    Night Terrors Volume 23

    Night Terrors Volume 24

    Night Terrors Volume 25

    Night Terrors Volume 26

    See more on the author's page
  2. Scare Street

    Scare Street

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Visit us on www.ScareStreet.com for our FREE horror short stories and a free full-length horror novel when you sign up for our mailing list!

    Like us on www.facebook.com/ScareStreet

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
195 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

annie
5.0 out of 5 stars OMG
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2022
Verified Purchase
I love this book so much! I think I actually read it twice just to remember what was going on. I've had these series of books for quite a while and I've gotten busy. And I have come back to them time and time again. So I had to catch up again and reread this book so I knew where I was at. They're quite enjoyable books to reread over and over again, so I was happy to be able to do that with this particular book. So I recommend all of Ron Ripley's books to everybody who is into scary ghost stories and haunted and supernatural. I've always been fascinated with them so I truly love his books and I'm going to finish this series hopefully soon
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Wallie Dingwall
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book and series
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
OK. I'm catching up here. This is book four in the series. I have not reviewed any of them so far so I going to comment on the series in general. The author has developed a great concept and is writing it well. Great characters, living and dead and he does a great job of setting a mood. Unlike a lot of series, it starts off in full stride. No clumsy settling in period. Highly recommend.
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Haunted Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss Horror--What a Series!
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2016
Verified Purchase
Review: THE FIRST CHURCH by Ron Ripley
[MOVING IN Book 4]

Author Ron Ripley deserves a wide audience and more acclaim, for truly his imagination never ceases. [Japanese soldier ghosts, in life practitioners of Shinto, housed in a New England Congregationalist Church!?! Strictly surreal!] This novella is fourth in the MOVING IN series, a series I hope never ends. Poor Brian Roy, the accidental ghost hunter, is called in on what turns out to be a seriously nasty, violent, and dangerous case (the "lucky" victims only suffer heart attacks--which is a real threat for Brian because of his cardiac history). These soldiers are mean!! Just because they've been deceased seventy years doesn't mean they're not both really, really sadistic, and terribly violent. So yes, a fair amount of blood and grisly and "not for the faint of heart" moments; but to be fair, some of the scenes, in other hands, would have been a whole lot more splatter-y. So I won't call this "extreme." However [rare event] the ending made me tearful (twice).
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Series
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
What I like about these is the different ghost especially Leo. He makes me laugh. But it has violence, adventure and none stop action. But i won't give spoilers but just to say if you love a good ghost story then pick this series up. 5 headless Japanese ghost out of 5
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B. Alexander
3.0 out of 5 stars Not his best
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
Some fun original ideas, but a snoozer.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The First Church (Moving In Series Book 4)
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
This Thrilling Scary Ghost Story is a tale of men and 1 boy , Jim , who brave the threat of their own deaths to capture EVIL, DEAD.. SIX SOLDIER GHOSTS , SEEKING VENGEANCE. Not against the people who killed them, but against anyone unlucky enough to cross their paths.. This story is as much about the growing to manhood of Jim, as he faces the possible loss of his beloved grandfather. A WONDERFUL, MOVING SUPERNATURAL MYSTERY you will truly enjoy. I RECOMMEND!
3 people found this helpful
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Carolyn Stock
4.0 out of 5 stars I've enjoyed all of his books thus far
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2017
Verified Purchase
Very suspenseful, I've enjoyed all of his books thus far!
One person found this helpful
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Wen H
5.0 out of 5 stars ... become a huge Ron Ripley fan and I highly recommend this book to anyone reading his "Moving In" series ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
I have become a huge Ron Ripley fan and I highly recommend this book to anyone reading his "Moving In" series or any of his other entertaining ghost series/collections. The characters as usual are well developed and thw storyline is quite enjoyable. I look forward to more books by Mr. Ripley in the future!
2 people found this helpful
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