Book Review | The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons

The House Next Door is a horror novel by Anne Rivers Siddons.

Their lives would never be the same.

Colquitt and Walter Kennedy enjoyed a life of lazy weekends, gathering with the neighbors on their quiet, manicured street and sipping drinks on their patios. But when construction of a beautiful new home begins in the empty lot next door, their easy friendship and relaxed get-togethers are marred by strange accidents and inexplicable happenings.

Though Colquitt's rational mind balks at the idea of a "haunted" house, she cannot ignore the tragedies associated with it. It is as if the house preys on its inhabitants' weaknesses and slowly destroys the goodness in them -- ultimately driving them to disgrace, madness and even death.

I’ve had The House Next Door on my shelf seemingly forever, and each year I put off reading it. I’m so glad I finally took the time to give it a read. I loved it!

The House Next Door was not what I was expecting. Set in suburbia, it was a different take on the haunted house story.

I love what Anne Rivers Siddons did with the characters and the situations in The House Next Door. The lulls and the escalation of events in the house next door seemed so perfectly placed. She is a brilliant writer.

If you’ve been putting off reading this as well (or this is the first you are hearing about it), it’s definitely one worth checking out.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | May 12

Happy Mother's Day 🌸 The last few weeks have been so busy! Some of it good, some of it not so good. I have so much to catch up on today and this week because my blogging and involvement in the community just haven't been happening lately. My kids have two weeks left of school, and then we can say bye to the huge amounts of homework and projects for a few months!

I've decided to close for review requests through the summer, too. I'm considering a much more extended closure again. I love being able to review all of the amazing new books being released, but I have so many personal reads I just want to lose myself in. It's such a hard balance. You all know what I mean!

An exciting thing happened last week! Rue Morgue magazine did a small write up of Ladies of Horror Fiction. It was such a cool surprise and a huge honor!

StokerCon was this weekend so the Bram Stoker Awards were announced last night. The horror ladies killed it this year. I will be sure to get a post up featuring all of the nominees and winners.

Posted Last Week(s)

Book Review | The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Book Review | Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Finished Reading

2,000 to 10,000 by Rachel Aaron ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - This was fascinating! If you enjoy reading about writing, I recommend it.

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon [dnf @ 90 pages] - Sorry guys. I know several of you wanted to hear more about this one, but it wasn't for me.

Thrill Me: Essays on Fiction by Benjamin Percy ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - This was another great writing book I really enjoyed.

Shift (Silo #2) by Hugh Howey ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I loved Wool years ago, and I had trouble getting into Shift the first time I tried to read it. Thank you to Tracy for buddy reading this with me! Once I got into it, I loved it. I can't wait to read Dust. This was also a pick from my 2019 TBR jar.

Wolfhunter River (Stillhouse Lake #3) by Rachel Caine ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - You can read my review here.

The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved this! I'm so glad I finally read it. This was another pick from my 2019 TBR jar

Look at all of those stars!

Lucy has a question for you! Is anyone interested in hearing more details about the writing books I enjoy?

Currently Reading

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire - I am loving this so much!

The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon - So far this one is really creepy!

Recent Acquisitions

Five Midnights by Ann Dávila Cardinal - Many thanks to Tor Teen for sending me a copy of Five Midnights. I cannot wait to read this!!

Maria The Wanted and the Legacy of The Keepers (The Keepers Series #1) by V. Castro - This is on sale today for $0.99 so it's a great time to scoop it up!

Skyward (Skyward #1) by Brandon Sanderson - I couldn't resist grabbing the audio for this during the Audible deal. I have the print copy, but... I really couldn't resist.

Thank you guys so much for putting up with me being such a terrible blogger when life gets crazy. ❤️

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading this week or leave me some links!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Book Review | Wolfhunter River by Rachel Caine

Wolfhunter River is the third book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine.

She can’t ignore a cry for help. But in this remote hunting town, it’s open season.

Gwen Proctor escaped her serial-killer husband and saved her family. What she can’t seem to outrun is his notoriety. Or the sick internet vigilantes still seeking to avenge his crimes. For Gwen, hiding isn’t an option. Not when her only mission is to create a normal life for her kids.

But now, a threatened woman has reached out. Marlene Crockett, from the remote town of Wolfhunter, is panicked for herself and her daughter. When Gwen arrives in the small, isolated rural community, Marlene is already dead—her own daughter blamed for the murder. Except that’s not the person Marlene feared at all. And Gwen isn’t leaving until she finds out who that was.

But it may already be too late. A trap has been set. And it’s poised to snap shut on everyone Gwen loves. Her stalkers are closing in. And in a town as dark as Wolfhunter, it’s so easy for them to hide…

Have I mentioned lately that I'm obsessed with this series?

Book one (Stillhouse Lake {review}) introduced us to Gwen Proctor and her kids who were trying to escape public scrutiny (and voilent threats) after Gwen's husband was discovered to be a serial killer. (< Not a spoiler.) Book two was a bit of a departure in some ways but also a fun installment. I feel like Wolfhunter River brought us full circle back to book one which made me extra happy.

Rachel Caine knows how to keep me turning the pages. I love the characters, and I need to know what is going to happen to them next throughout the entire book.

I kind of assumed the Stillhouse Lake series was going to be a trilogy. After book one I wondered how Rachel Caine was going to manage to pull a trilogy out of this particular story/family. Let me just say that Rachel Caine is brilliant because now I see how this series has the potential to go forever. I hope someday I'll be happily sharing my review of Stillhouse Lake #14 because I'm here for it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Review copy provided by publisher

Book Review | The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz

The Dark Game is a horror novel by Jonathan Janz.

Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the darkness in their hearts. The writers think they are signing up for a chance at riches and literary prestige. But they are really entering the twisted imagination of a deranged genius, a lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity and their lives. They have entered into Roderick Wells's most brilliant and horrible creation. The Dark Game.

"Once a reader holds a book, the story belongs to her." - Jonathan Janz, The Dark Game

This is one of those moments as a reviewer where I don't have the words to adequately describe my connection with a book.

On the surface, The Dark Game is a great read. It's Jonathan Janz! The characters are over the top, the horror is fun, the reader has no idea what's coming next.

Under the surface, though, it's something much more. There is so much of a writer's heart in this one. We are given insights into a writer's process, thoughts, fears, and struggles, references to Janz's personal work, a beautiful scene featuring Jack Ketchum...

I'm currently celebrating the year of the Janz. Not only is Flame Tree Press reprinting Janz's previous releases, but we've been gifted with a brand new release with The Dark Game!

Hopefully you will connect with The Dark Game like I did. If not, it's still a wickedly fun read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Review copy provided by publisher

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | April 14

I forgot to mention last week the readalong schedule has been posted for The Winter People over at Ladies of Horror Fiction. I know a few of you were interested in reading it with us next month.

Posted Last Week

Book Review | The Last by Hanna Jameson

Finished Reading

The Last by Hanna Jameson ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - (Loved it!) You can read my review here.

Write Your Novel From the Middle by James Scott Bell ⭐⭐⭐★★ - I needed a bit of a break from fiction, and I'm in the writing book mood right now. This "midpoint" concept wasn't enough to warrant a full book, though.

The Dark Game by Jonathan Janz ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I enjoyed this book on multiple levels. Stay tuned for a review this week!

Currently Reading

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon - This is a buddy read with the LOHF team. I'm just starting it, and I'm really looking forward to this one.

2,000 to 10,000 by Rachel Aaron - This is a fascinating look into Rachel Aaron's writing process.

Recent Acquisitions

I found a few gems at 2nd and Charles this weekend:

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

I got to spend Friday night in the company of the amazing Mr. Joe Lansdale.

Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers by Joe R. Lansdale

So what about you? Let me know what you're reading this week or leave me some links!

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date's It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.