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House of Echoes: A Novel
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House of Echoes: A Novel
Unavailable
House of Echoes: A Novel
Audiobook11 hours

House of Echoes: A Novel

Written by Brendan Duffy

Narrated by George Newbern and Allyson Ryan

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

In this enthralling and atmospheric thriller, one young family's dream of a better life is about to become a nightmare.

Ben and Caroline Tierney and their two young boys are hoping to start over. Ben has hit a dead end with his new novel, Caroline has lost her banking job, and eight-year-old Charlie is being bullied at his Manhattan school.

When Ben inherits land in the village of Swannhaven, in a remote corner of upstate New York, the Tierneys believe it's just the break they need, and they leave behind all they know to restore a sprawling estate. But as Ben uncovers Swannhaven's chilling secrets and Charlie ventures deeper into the surrounding forest, strange things begin to happen. The Tierneys realize that their new home isn't the fresh start they needed . . . and that the village's haunting saga is far from over.

House of Echoes is a novel that shows how sometimes the ties that bind us are the only things that can keep us whole.

Praise for House of Echoes

"Warning: Brendan Duffy's debut novel is not for scaredy-cats. If you live for heart-racing chills, this thriller-about a young family that packs up their life in Manhattan for a spot in upstate New York (that turns out to be haunted, of course)-is already calling out your name."-Refinery29

"Already drawing comparisons to Stephen King's The Shining, Brendan Duffy's debut novel offers chills without sacrificing character development. But be warned: you might want to leave the lights on for this one."-Paste

"Shades of The Shining are spattered through Brendan Duffy's debut novel-a large isolated house, a young family, nutty and somewhat supernatural goings-on-but House of Echoes grounds itself in different ways for an enjoyable read."-USA Today

"An exquisite novel . . . expertly plotted, beautifully written . . . It's complex, deft and, once you dive in, you want to stay in this often-scary world. . . . This is a book that deserves to be savored."-The Star-Ledger

"Duffy's debut is a riveting blend of horror and family drama. The remote location, creepy townspeople and the village's savage history produce a harrowing tale that keeps readers quickly turning the pages. As this complex family struggles with mental illness and their child's isolation, their redemption comes in the revelation that they can survive anything together."-RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)
 
"House of Echoes is one of those stories where you know something bad is going to happen, but you hope it won't. It's one you'll remember long after reading the last page."-New York Journal of Books
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 14, 2015
ISBN9781101913741
Unavailable
House of Echoes: A Novel

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Reviews for House of Echoes

Rating: 3.8333332779874216 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    House of Echoes is Brendan Duffy’s debut novel, but it doesn’t read like a first novel. Instead, it reads like a book from an old favorite author who is on your automatic preorder list. An author whose work is so mesmerizing, so complex and full of interesting, well-developed characters that you can’t put it down and a story stays with you for a long time.House of Echoes is a delicious blend of a family looking for a fresh start with bone-chilling terror. Nothing is as it seems. Swannhaven seems like the perfect place to settle, a cozy little village. But looks can be deceiving. Secrets, danger, unexplainable events. Brilliantly crafted, in a setting so full of scary atmosphere you’ll have to read with all the lights on. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy. I enjoyed it so much I purchased a hardcover as soon as I finished reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I think House of Echoes is best summed up by one of its lines:
    "Ben had wanted a house with a story, but this one had too many of them."

    Have you ever walked up to a building, and just felt a sense of unease? A little needle of fear and discomfort that eases its way into your brain, even when you try to push it away as nonsense? Books like this remind me to pay attention to that feeling. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Very little is as shiny as it seems on the surface.

    Brendan Duffy has delivered a solid, and rather addictive read in House of Echoes. From the first page, I was hooked into the lives of Ben and his family. Attempting to flee their old lives that were falling apart, they seize the opportunity to overhaul a huge, rambling homestead as an inn. Oh, and wouldn't you know it, they got it for a steal! We all know that never ends well. I was so anxious to see how things panned out.

    As it turns out, this book is a beautiful slow burn of a read. It eases you in, building atmosphere and tension, until you just know things are coming to a breaking point. I think I was expecting a bit more action when I started but, truth be told, I liked this much better. Duffy is excellent at building dread. He started dropping little clues as to what was coming, and I didn't even notice. I almost want to go back and read this again just to pick on on the nuances I missed. This is a gorgeous psychological, suspense thriller. Just gorgeous.

    Apologies for the vague review, but trust me when I say that you don't want spoilers! This is something to be savored. To be read on a hazy evening, snuggled under a blanket, preferably by a crackling fire. While the ending wasn't quite what I wanted, it still wrapped things up nicely. House of Echoes is a solid read. I'd absolutely recommend you give it a place on your reading list.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    OK, is this a first book?Too long, too boring, too many animals killed.Get to the point, son.Horrible, unlikable characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This isn't really a thriller, no matter how it's marketed - it's a slow-burn folk horror novel, dedicated to building up the most realistic world possible so it has the most impact when it all comes tumbling down. (Let's put it this way: fifty pages in, I was thinking, "If this doesn't end in cannibalism I'm going to be *very* disappointed." I was not.) It could have done a better job building tension in the first three hundred pages, before shit starts to get real in the last hundred, but overall I'm very impressed. I didn't think you could do effective folk horror in America without getting at least a little bit of gross racism all over everything, but this did a terrific job.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ben and Caroline are starting over with an old house in upstate New York. The plan is to restore this house and have an Inn for travelers. This old estate holds more secrets and mysteries than they plan on. This is unique and twisted tale. The history of the area, the history of the house, Charlie's adventures, all of this envelopes the reader and takes hold. Are you reading a ghost story, a history story or a horror story. The author spectacularly weaves a tale full of anxiety and tension. I literally had to pause several times to take a breath. I had no idea where this story was headed. The anticipation built throughout the novel is brilliant. I enjoyed the setting of the house and grounds. I wanted so badly to see a picture of the house just to see if it matched what I envisioned. The characters are, I hate to use the word unique again, but they are...unique. The only reason I am not giving this a 5 star rating is the son, Charlie. His dialogue and interactions are not consistent. One minute he almost acts too adult and the next too childish. I am looking forward to more from this author. If you need a thriller to keep you up at night.....THIS IS IT!!I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There is no way that House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy can be a debut book! I had to get that out of the way from the gate! This book is so well-written and is bursting with a dark & creepy, tension-filled vibe that causes the reader to assume that the author has been writing forever.

    The setting for this book is right out of a Gothic horror story. It has all the elements that you can expect will scare the crap out of you! When I first read the summary about the troubled family with the dilapidated old mansion in the middle of nowhere I immediately said "Sign me up!!" This book is exactly what a reader like me searches for!

    Mr Duffy knows exactly what it takes to keep us reading. He has that powerful skill of building the suspense and keeping the reader on the edge of our seat. The characters are so realistic that I almost felt like I was spying on an unsuspecting neighbor as I was reading! This is a truly unsettling story and I think any person who loves a good thriller will devour this one!

    I would like to thank the author for this incredible book, and also NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review it. I have actually bought 2 copies of this book since reviewing it and have given them as gifts. And as any fellow reader knows, this is the biggest compliment you can give to an author. Grab House of Echoes today. It is a perfect read for a a cold and gloomy Autumn day!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Early Reviewer Edition...I am a sucker for a good thriller, especially if it a spooky one. This books starts out with a bang. A mysterious letter gives peeks of what is to come, and I was hooked. While most of the story is keeps you wondering what exactly is gong on, the end sort of fizzles. Not what I was hoping for, but still enjoyable.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this book as part of the LT early reviewer program and found myself drawn in from the first pages. This chilling thriller is part family drama and part dark suspense. I found myself making guesses throughout it's entirety and only had the right aha moment at the very end. While at times I found the authors shift in perspective a little forced, for the most part I loved it. The pace was great and the character interactions, particularly between the protagonist and his troubled 8 year old son were spot on. I got a little annoyed with how the author approached the protagonist's wife, but all in all really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It’s not at all what you expect, yet this first novel is beautifully done. The ending may be frustrating to some, but I think it’s a perfect tone to the story that had been built. An introspection of what life is compared to what you want it to be. All in the midst of the suspense and dread that’s built within the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The book is well worth listening to and is beautifully written. The only problem is that the author took too long setting the scene. Narration was great.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This Gothic novel was well written with fleshed out characters. The setting followed the tradition of cold, dark, and forbidding places such as the Bronte sisters wrote about in the early Gothic novels. The setting is what brings this story life. As an Australian, I know this setting would never work in my country. It belongs in the religious roots of American culture. The characters who are the antagonists are also alien to non Americans. The first sniff of religious 'Bible bashing' would send an Aussie protagonist running!
    However, the novel was entertaining and engrossing. Nothing like the classic "The Shining" but a well constructed text.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is basically a folk horror. Well written and engaging. I did not, however like the misinformed portrayal of Bipolar disorder
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A very solid, enjoyable horror thriller with a great cast of characters, and a steady storyline that kept me interested thru to the end.
    It’s narrators of the audiobook were George Newbern and Allyson Ryan. They were also very good.
    Recommended to anyone interested, and I give this novel 3.5 stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I enjoyed it even thought I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. This book has been tagged as horror and I haven't read that many horror books. This book kept me interested from the start.This is the story about Ben and Caroline Tierney and their 2 boys. They are from New York and have moved to a small town, Swannhaven. Charlie their oldest boy was being bullied in the Manhattan school he attended. Caroline has been diagnosed with Bipolar. Ben is hoping that the change will be good for them all.The are accepted by the townspeople right away. They all want to teach him about the history of the Swanns and the house they bought known as the Crofts. There plan is to make it an Inn. There is also a history of events that have happened at the Crofts. There is a reason for all those events.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    First - I received this free ARC e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my review. It is not far into this book, that the reader understands something is not quite right about the huge estate called the Crofts in upstate NY that the Tierney family has relocated to from the city. The sudden slamming of doors in the wide hallways, the unknown ticking sounds, the feelings that there is someone watching in the property forest, and on and on the story goes. It is very well-written, believable and carries the reader licketty-split right from the first sentence to the end. I won't reveal the ending, but to let you know the story is a great one, right up there with The Shining, and other tales of haunted houses. Great job, Brendan Duffy!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5 it has been awhile since I have read a horror novel, not because I don't like them but because I haven't found many that don't include vampires or zombies. This one fit the bill nicely. Has a flavor and tome that reminded me of Salem's lot or, Children of the corn, though the children in this book are not the villains.Moving into a huge old place, The Croft, in Ben's grandmother's old village, he and his family hope to make a new start. Caroline has plans to renovate the place and make it into an inn. Charlie, in the beginning loves the woods, and spends much time there. Things don't turn out as they planned, as they find many things wrong, though it takes a while. What is in those woods and what is going on with the village?ARC from libraryrhingI think the key to liking this, novel, is liking the family. I didn't at first, though they slowly grew on me as revelations were made that explained some of the behavior that bothered me. But, a good solid horror move, well written, spooky enough not to, read at night, or so I thought. There is part near the end that furthered the plot but didn't make much sense. You will have to read the book to find out which part it is.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Until recently, Ben and Caroline Tierney have enjoyed professional and financial success in New York City for the extent of their married lives. In fairly quick order, Caroline loses her prestigious banking job, Ben hits a dead end on the novel he is currently writing, and then their 8 year old has a serious and frightening experience with bullying at the private school he attends. In the midst of all this, Caroline is diagnosed with some emotional disorders, but medicine seems to control obsessive compulsive tendencies and some unsettling manic behavior.The timing is coincidental, but Ben and his brother are heirs to their grandmother's home in a remote area of upstate New York. Ben begins to think that it may be time to abandon the city and start fresh in Swannhaven, the little village near his grandmother's childhood home. The property is small and uninhabitable, not having been lived in for years, but Ben is told by one of the villagers of another estate originally built by town founders that is currently on the market.Originally built in the 1700's and then added onto over and over through the years, the huge vacant house inspires the Tierneys to make an offer, envisioning the appealing inn they could turn it into with hard work and the remains of their savings. Their offer is quickly accepted by the bank and they move in after some initial upgrades to the rooms they will use while updating the remainder of the facility.Their older son, eight year old Charlie, is quickly mesmerized by the forest on the estate and begins to spend an inordinate amount of time out there. He is not lonely because he senses that someone is watching him from somewhere just beyond his line of sight. Ben has also seen ominous sights near the woods, including dead and mutilated animals, but doesn't mention it to Caroline or Charlie because it would be too upsetting.The villagers are cool but civil to the family, and a relationship slowly builds, particularly between Ben and some of the village leaders. Winter is approaching and the villagers' conversations often turn to how much they have depended on one another over the generations.Tension remains between Ben and Caroline as he tries to avoid upsetting her. She intends to be the chef when the inn opens so in addition to preparing elaborate meals every day, she is painting walls, refinishing, cleaning; in short, working virtually non-stop. As the stay-at-home dad back in the city, Ben is used to the demands of child care and she leaves it up to him. She continues to monitor their income and expenses.His decision to abandon the book he has been working on in order to start another based on their new surroundings creates unspoken anxiety for her because they have already spent so much. They need the infusion of cash. The old house retains much of the character of its inhabitants over the years. Mysterious sounds seem to come from inside the walls, slamming doors interrupt the quiet, suggesting the presence of...what? Ghosts? Or is it just the rattles of an old house? But whatever is causing the noises in the house, it is certainly not ghosts killing the mutilated animals that Ben continues to see around the property.The horror, the enormity of what might be out there builds slowly, as Ben begins to learn more about the history of the village, the macabre history of the house they have bought and the part his own ancestors may have played.A chilling story and a great fast-paced read, this book should be a movie before you know it!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A family leaves the city to start a new life on a rambling estate in the Adirondack Mountains. They hope to restore the mansion and turn it into a bed and breakfast, but trouble begins to brew. The son is the first to sense something out of the ordinary, someone watching in the woods. The wife, who has struggled with mental illness, is having difficulty coping. And the husband abandons the book he is writing to start a new one, based on the history of the property, which soon becomes his obsession.I'm struggling with the review for this ER book. Lots of folks seem to love it, but as for me, not so much. The characters feel too much like stereotypes. It's the family who lost it all in the economic downturn, making a fresh start: the mentally ill wife, the son who was bullied, the writer obsessed with his new project, all clashing; also the selfish alcoholic mother, portrayed from a distance; the kindly priest; the insular villagers; the lovable dog; and the helpless baby. My initial impulse is to write "characters who are caricatures wrapped in a plot that is a cliche." But that doesn't really do the book justice. Duffy can write. He did a good job of setting the scene and creating atmosphere. But I could sense where it was headed -- it was, at it's core, much too similar to a horror classic that I read not that long ago (and didn't particularly like), though Duffy put his own spin on the situation. The book wasn't a waste of time, but it's not one I'm likely to re-read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The suspense builds slowly in this novel that is reminiscent of books written by Stephen King. Nothing is as it initially seemed, and the ending is the perfect conclusion. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy the unexpected in suspense novels.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For some reason this book took me sometime to finish. But, it was definetly not the booms fault. Every time I picked it up to read I questioned myself why I hadn't done so sooner. It is a fantastic debut novel full of suspense, riveting, and just down right creepy if not scary at some points. There is so much description that you feel the cold, darkness and dread that the story contains. Highly recommend. It covers a lot of ground and time and outside of the reasons I didn't finish it sooner it's a quick read with page after page of wanting to know what's going to happen next. Mix in a little of The Shining and a bit of John Eldridge and you've got one heck of a story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was very excited to read this book, since I enjoy a spooky story every so often. The book starts of a bit slowly, but continues to build it's suspense. It is the story of a family who makes a drastic decision to leave their troubled life in NYC and buy a 65 room dilapidated mansion in the middle of a unfriendly, remote town in upstate New York. Yeah, it is a bit far-fetched, but entertaining reading. Then creepy things start happening that have to do with the woods and dad begins to learn a bit more about the original families in this town and a tragic event known as the Winter siege in the 1800s.I kept waiting for a twist or feasible explanation to tie the book together. However, the book just ended in a clumsy sort of unfinished way. I was left raising my eyebrows by the reasoning behind the sinister behavior. Anyway, it was a good, creepy read but then it just wrapped up in a quick, slightly unsatisfying way for me. Hence, only 3 stars.I received a complimentary copy via Librarything Early Reviewers in exchange for a review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this debut thriller. It delivers a solid story line with some interesting twists. It starts out with a couple escaping the big city and returning to the husbands families roots. Spooky things begin to happen to the family. They also become more engaged with the community and realize just how dependent the residents are in each other. Along with these happenings, the author intertwines current day historical letters from the family. The story is solid although some elements are a bit predictable for a gothic horror novel. Reader received a complimentary copy from library thing early reviewers.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A young family moves into a rambling, isolated house with the intentions of fixing it up as an inn but immediately encounter all kinds of weirdnesses. Duffy basically stuffs every possible element of gothic horror into this one. Ramshackle old house with a history -- check. Creepy woods hiding someone (or something?) who watches -- check. Small village filled with ornery, suspicious villagers -- check. Old chapel with angel statue AND morbid art -- check. Naive family in over their heads -- check. Winter storm -- check. Catholic priest -- check. Despite that, this story grabbed me and kept me reading. A fun potboiler, good for a vacation read, just don't take it too seriously.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Ben and Caroline move their two sons into an old estate in upstate New York, escaping the stresses of the city which had negative effects on both Caroline and their oldest son Charlie. The villagers are mostly supportive and the forest around the estate becomes escapist entertainment for Charlie, a quiet and somewhat strange boy. But the stress in Caroline and Ben's relationship does not improve much with the change of scenery and dead animals appearing on the property don't help. A domestic horror story with eerie tension ratcheting up ever so slowly as subtle secrets about the history of Ben's family estate, and the village, are revealed and a troubled family wondering if they have the strength to survive.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An author and his dysfunctional family heading off to the countryside to eventually open an old Inn.......hmmm. Can we say shades of "The Shining"? That was my original thought as I got into this book. I was really waiting for it to just be a ripoff of that story. And while many of the incidents that happen, coupled with the attempt at creepiness, are kind of similar, I have to admit that in the end it was a different story. I did find some of the characters' actions a bit unbelievable, and I won't say what they were because I don't want this to be a spoiler. Let's just say that Ben Tierney and his family do go through some trying times, and attempt to come out of it in the end. This book started out kind of strong, and lost some steam somewhere in the middle. I started feeling the story dragging, and felt that some of the prose could have been left out. But the ending did come as a surprise, and I felt that the author tied things up neatly. Since this is a debut book, I guess I'd have to say well done. I'm sure Mr. Duffy will learn from this writing, and produce even better stuff in the future. I received this book through the LT Early Reviewers Club.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I love old-fashioned, scary stories. No vampires or zombies. No gratuitous gore. Just a realistic story that makes me shiver with dread. With that in mind, I was looking forward to this book. In some ways, I got what I hoped for. In other ways, the book fell short.First, Brendan Duffy excels at creating atmosphere. I was in that small town, looking at the huge home on the hill with awe. I stepped inside and felt that glimmer of hope mixed with the tremble of fear. Those surrounding woods felt both ominous and peaceful. I heard the sounds and smelled the air. Throughout the book, I was in that space with the characters.The plot itself has a stutter. We meander, then we surge. The pace lacks consistency and often shifts gear right at the point where we're losing our breath and completely falling into the story. One word of caution: This book contains a lot of animal-related violence. These actions do pertain to the story, although the scenes are quite graphic and might bother many animal lovers. My major issue with this aspect is Charlie's reaction - or lack thereof. He is a young boy from a stable home, yet he seems completely unaffected by what he sees. I was at a loss to understand how complacent both Charlie and Ben were about this issue.I felt the characters were underdeveloped. We get to know them on a surface level, allowing them to lead us through the story. But, for the most part, I felt they lacked depth. Some of their actions didn't ring true, mostly due to lack of normal response. A final, minor issue comes with the ending. We suddenly shift gears, from a third person narrative with a traditional feel, to a second person narrative with a literary feel. While I respect the author's approach here, the switch feels out of place and jarring.In the end, this book falls short of the promise it holds. Still, the writing can captivate and the story is worth reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have never read Jennifer McMahon's The Winter People but I have read Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box. Which I really enjoyed. It was creepy and I could not stop reading the book. Mr. Duffy's book may not have lived up to the same level as Mr. Box's book but it sure had great potential. The only reason I could not give this book a five star rating is because while the scare factor is there it was just middle of the road scary. It was not scary enough to keep me up at night or to give me nightmares. Yes, when I read a scary or horror book I want to feel goose bumps on my arms, experience the feeling of someone watching me or keep my interest so high that I can't stop reading the book. I found the things that Ben was experiencing along with the journey entries the creepiest. With the rest of the family it was not as scary. In fact, I kind of found these sections of the story to be quiet. Kind of like Amityville Horror but not so in your face. However still a quick read with a good ending.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy is a very highly recommended, delightfully chilling, creepy, and atmospheric novel with Gothic overtones that will hold your attention from the beginning to the end.

    Ben and Caroline Tierney have bought the Crofts, an old stone mansion built in the 1700s near the village of Swannhaven in the mountains of remote upstate New York. They plan to turn it into a destination inn. They needed to leave the city and believe that fixing up and remodeling the old house will provide their family with the stability they all need. Ben is a novelist, so he's used to working from home. Caroline recently lost her banking job and has been going through depression and bi-polar disorder after the birth of their youngest son. The older son is 8 year old Charlie, who was being bullied in his school. After a horrific incident that had Charlie missing, Ben knows his family needs to get out of the city.

    At first it seemed like the move was a good idea. Caroline seems to be feeling better and the renovations are moving swiftly along. Charlie is enjoying living in the country and exploring the woods surrounding the large estate. But there are also secrets being kept. Ben isn't talking about the dead animals he's finding - or the deer head left on a door step. Charlie isn't telling his parents about the "Watcher" he's interacting with in a strange game of tag in the woods. Caroline is hiding the fact that she is going off her medication and paranoia is starting to visit more frequently. Soon there is a palatable tension between family members.

    As the family starts to interact with townspeople, Ben begins to explore the history of the Crofts, the town, and the Swann family. Interspersed between chapters are letters from the early settlers. You know that the Croft is not going to be the safe haven the Tierney's are seeking. The opening letter is dated December 23, 1777 and in it the young women writing to her sister says, "There are demons in us, Kathy. I see that now. Our blood is cursed, and doom haunts us always. It is too late for us, but I pray it is not too late for you."

    Duffy moves the story along with excellent writing and character development in this well paced story. There is no huge, horrific incident, but plenty of mysterious incidents, dead animals, and unexplained noises to help slowly ratchet up the tension. The uncomfortable feeling that something awful is about to happen sneaks up on you gradually in this novel and is just as insidious and all-encompassing as the wind that howls outside and through the cracks in the windows. You know something bad is going to happen, but you just don't know what form it is going to take. Is it going to be the weather, the weird villagers, a ghost, or something dark from the woods?

    An excellent debut novel! Although I will admit to thinking about the Eddie Murphy skit on haunted houses, where he asked what was wrong with white people? Black people would just leave the house (especially once the head of a deer shows up on your front door step).

    Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Random House for review purposes.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this book from the goodreads giveaway program. This book was creepy and suspenseful and I couldn't put it down. The characters were real and interesting, the setting was bleak with plenty of small town weirdness, and these things combined made this a really gripping tale. The ending went a different way than what I was expecting, and it is always a pleasure to be surprised. All in all, it was a great book and I highly recommend it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Fantastic book!