From the internationally best-selling author, a twisted, multi-layered spin on the classic horror novel
In the wake of his parents' tragic deaths in a house fire, fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote, insular town of Ballantyne. Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects the new, angry boy is responsible for his disappearance. No one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie. No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number that Tom prank called from the phone booth to an abandoned house in the Black Mirror Wood. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices begin to whisper in his ear . . .
You know who I am. She's going to burn. The one you love is going to burn. There's not a thing you can do about it.
When another classmate disappears, Richard must find a way to prove his innocence--and preserve his sanity--as he grapples with the dark magic that possesses Ballantyne and pursuing his destruction.
Then again, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story . . .
The Sexy Nerd's Review. . .
Fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved was your typical boy teenager getting into trouble and hanging out with his friends. He was a bully of sorts always daring the weaker kids to do things to make himself feel superior. Since his parents died, he went to live with his aunt and uncle in the town of Ballantyne. Every time his guardians turned around he was in trouble, but the biggest issue was yet to come.
One day while Richard was out with his friend Tom, they happened upon an old house up on a hill. Outside the house sat a phone booth. Richard, being the silly kid that he was, decided to goad Tom into picking up the phone and seeing what would happen. Tom wasn’t going to do it, but he decided he would show Richard he wasn’t a punk. In the phone booth was a directory. As they went down the page they saw a particular name come up. Richard dared Tom again to pick up the receiver and call the residents inside the spooky house.
Tom picks up the phone and the next thing you know, Richard is in the police precinct being questioned as to the disappearance of his classmate, Tom. Richard saw what happened to Tom and he advised his findings to the police, but they didn’t believe his story. Tom’s parents demanded answers and the townspeople were up in arms and worried they had some deranged teenager in their midst. Richard didn’t know what to do. The police advised Richard’s guardians that they believed Richard knew exactly what he did to his classmate. All seemed to get a little quiet in Ballantyne, that is until another classmate of Richard’s goes missing. Just what exactly was happening in the sleepy town of Ballantyne. Welp, Nerds, in order to find that out, you must read further.
I absolutely loved this horror novel. What I loved about it was the many levels the reader will encounter. Just when you think you understand what is going on, you quickly realize, “that isn’t it.” 😂 You read some more and you think, “ok, I’ve got it now!” And then, boom! You still haven’t quite gotten it right. When an author can scare you, make you think and keep you engaged all at the same time, why you’ve got yourself a recipe for horror. I’m so here for it. I loved this story from beginning to end. What an interesting spin!
The Sexy Nerd gives The Night House five additional classmates to bully around. If you love horror books as much as I do, get ready to sink your eyes into this quick read. When you finally figure out the levels, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The Night House goes on sale Tues., October 3, 2023, at your favorite book retailers or wherever books are sold. It’s time for spooktacular reads month and why not get started with this little shop of horrors. Until next time, Nerds, you know what to do!
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