My Five Word TL:DR Review: Could It Be More Haunted?

I could literally reread this book right now.  I loved it.  It’s creepy and dark but also manages to inject humour and love into a story that is an absolute roller coaster, full of twists with a tense finale and, quite possibly, one of the most unique ghost stories I’ve read.

Now, firstly, if you’re thinking, ‘ohh, this might be too scary for me’, you’re possibly right, but, I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to scary stories and horror and so although this is very much a haunting, I wouldn’t say it’s terrifying.  It’s one of those stories that hooks you instantly and you read it with a sense of wonder and awe, like its, well, fascinating.  I couldn’t put it down to be fair but let’s backtrack a little.

This is the story of a couple who buy their dream house.  The thing is, this beautiful old house, packed with distinctive features is being sold far below the expected market value – we have a saying ‘if something is too good to be true then it usually is’ (too good to be true that is).  This house, it comes with an unsavoury history but Margaret and her husband Hal are so enamoured with it’s beauty and so desperate to finally have a home to call their own that they rush in to the purchase without a care in the world.  Of course, when they move in they soon discover that this house will not be denied.  There are ghosts aplenty and lots of strange occurences, creaky floorboards don’t even cover it – we’re talking blood dripping down the walls.  I mean, frankly, that would have to be one fine house to keep my scaredy pants living there, but Margaret is nothing if not determined.  No ghosts are going to drive her out of this dreamboat.  Hal, well he’s made of weaker stuff and after four years he’s had enough.  This is when the fun and games begin.  Margaret and Hal’s daughter, Katherine, has never been to visit – they’ve always made excuses up to keep her away, but now, with her father missing and no answers forthcoming from Margaret as to his whereabouts you better believe that Katherine is coming to visit – and it’s September – the month when the strange and wacky gets cranked up to full volume.

I mean, I don’t really want to elaborate about the plot – it’s good, imo, that’s all you need to know.

What I loved about this.

The writing, first and foremost.  I enjoyed reading this so much.  It’s such an easy book to engage with and I liked Margaret.

There’s this totally OTT feel to it – it’s like Margaret and Hal have moved into the Adam’s Family house.  Things are just odd.  For example there are no shortage of ghosts, but one of them is quite helpful, makes pots of tea and helps changing the beds and cleaning – I mean, I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind an extra pair of helping hands – although it depends on whether you can cope with the very apparent injuries on display!

There is much more to the story than really meets the eye.  Margaret’s behaviour for example, why she is so dogmatically determined to stay in the house.  Margaret’s own story interweaves really well and you slowly begin to understand that things were maybe not always quite so cosy in her marriage.  Lets just say she’s learnt to follow the rules and so she applies the same logic to surviving the house – for example, don’t go too close to the boy with the sharp teeth – he bites, definitely stay well away from the basement, etc.

Anyway, everything goes very wrong once Katherine comes to stay and the ending is dramatic to say the least.

To conclude, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this.  It was so good.  I loved it.

I bought a copy.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 of 5 stars