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Nightmare House,
Douglas Clegg
Our selection for October 20, 2004.
In 1926, Ethan Gravesend inherits the estate from his eccentric paternal grandfather, who built the mansion on supposedly cursed land.
Almost immediately, he witnesses eerie apparitions that emanate from Harrow's shadowy halls and gloomy grounds.
In the company of housekeeper and love interest Maggie Barrow, Ethan stumbles upon a boarded-up room and a proverbial skeleton in the family closet that serves as lodestone for the formidable supernatural forces that pulse through the dwelling.
Clegg milks each of the gothic set pieces premature burial, mesmerism, exorcism, as well as the inevitable specters for maximum spooky effect, but ultimately depends on a lengthy digression by the well-informed local constable to put them all together for Ethan's benefit.
While he offers no ideas here that haven't already been explored by the weird fiction masters cited in his acknowledgments, Clegg's modern sensibility brings out the luster in some of the genre's well-used furniture and shows that tales in the classic horror tradition can still entertain.
--Publisher's Weekly
I'm not familiar with this author, but thought that a creepy novel might be very appropriate for our last meeting before Halloween. Based on reviews, this book promises some of the chills that make this season so much fun, even for adults.
As of October 6th, this book is available at the following locations: Borders and Books-A-Million, however, supply is limited. If you would like to order your book, contact Knoxbookclub@yahoo.com for arrangements.
--Chris |
