‎Whispers of the Dead

Great classic ghost story ideas but I felt the execution was a little wanting. Inaba has always been able to see spirits but has always tried to suppress his ability. His life is a bit tragic which doesn't help with his mental health.
The book starts with Inaba at his aunt and uncle's cremation ceremony where he's confronted with yakuza looking for money. He had no idea the couple who raised him was in debt as he's been living a seperate life in Tokyo. Despite the debts, his aunt leaves him with an abandoned cabin in the middle of the forest which he thinks he can clean and sell to make up for the cash. Turns out not only is the cabin haunted but the woods around it as well. He continues to try and pretend that he can't see them though they seem to be acting strange in comparison to most of the spirits he's encountered before. He hires a cleaning company and the owner comes out with him to the cabin for the inspection and quote. A freak storm hits and they're stuck there, where Inaba finds out this mysterious cleaning company owner is also one who dabbles in paranormal arts.
A few twists and turns and of course a bit of Stockholm Syndrome and a big bang (pun intended) of an ending.
For me, it was a bit too cliche. The setting of Japan doesn't add too much to it - it could have been set in New England or even Norway, anywhere with dense forests, and it wouldn't have been that different of a story, so I would have liked more of a cultural emphasis. The romance was also an insta-love kind of thing. One night stuck in snow and you're already cuddling? Hmm. But I'm a sucker for anything ghosts so it was worth the read.