Slightly different take on the haunted house tale

Most haunted house stories start slow and build suspense and atmosphere gradually. Not so with The Haunted. Collins starts the unexplained aspects of the story right away and doesn't let up for the whole novel.

Because the main characters' jeopardy was constant for virtually all of the story, it got a little predictable, and boring.

Collins does a good job of wrapping up the story at the end and there were several original elements to the story that made it good. The priest was an interesting addition. It's not a stretch for there to be a priest in a haunted house story-but he had an interesting and original character arc.

It's hard to characterize when every moment is a life or death situation, but Collins does a passable job, particularly at first.

Four stars because it kept me reading until the end, and because of the originally in the denouement. ( )

3 1/2 stars. Extra credit for great ideas.

The story line, while very similar to the film "The Others," was very good. However there were none of what I look for in a haunted house story. The creeping dread, the slow build of suspense, the point where we move from thinking things are a bit odd to knowing that forces are at work, the reveal of a history that created the haunting. The haunting in this book slammed into you right away, kept escalating, and I spent most of the book in full-on confrontation mode which left really no time to digest what I was even presented with. Here is a very scary ghost, here is an even scarier ghost, here are a dozen more, then we add the hooded figures that are supposed to be worse than the ghosts but we don't know why yet, then we have a couple pages of the history behind it (that actually left me wondering who even compiled the historical album the characters found). I never had a moment to absorb any of it. Then we were at the ending, the surprise element is unveiled (which was good, I thought) and the story is over.

So many good ideas but like rocketing thorough a gallery of nice paintings on a sled and merely catching glimpses as you fly past.

I will read more by this author though. ( )

This book is a fantastic haunted house story!

A couple is moving in to their new house. They're expecting a baby together and have finally found a home that they can afford. They are happy to be starting this new chapter in their lives.
Then all hell breaks loose!

Mr. Collings does a great job of keeping up the tension throughout the story. The characters were likeable, but mysterious. Both the husband and the wife keep mentioning "The Before" and it kept me reading, hoping to find out what that phrase meant.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this story and look forward to reading other works by this author. ( )

ABR's original The Haunted audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

This was a pretty good horror. He seemed to get a LOT into three days. It’s three days of intensity that just keeps getting worse and worse.

Sadly I listened to this on audible and he has a propensity to add in a lot of words when someone is freaking out… like “It’scomingit’scomingit’scomingit’scomingit’scomingit’scoming!” On and on and on and on. This is my second book of his and I was hoping when I heard the same type of thing in the first that it would just be in that book, but nope, it’s here too. I get it when you’re reading and the author is trying to really grind the terror into your mind but when listening to it, well, it just gets annoying.

Speaking of the narrator, Paula Slade, was amazing. She nailed the characters and all of the really intense emotions. Being in a haunted house as a pregnant woman must suck and Paula was able to bring the true horror to her acting. I loved every minute of her narration. The audio was also well done and never missed a beat, which was great because (other than a few hiccups) I didn’t ever want to stop this.

That being said, the hiccups mentioned were a few. I’m surprised it took the couple so long to try to leave. I mean, you’re pregnant, you’re in a creepy house. They are separated for a lot of this which is hilariously stupid. Maybe if you do not know you’re in a horror it doesn’t matter but once things start happening that I cannot explain, I would be calling my hubby or the ghostbusters, someone! Which leads me to my next question… is this how people actually react? I love Michaelbrent’s writings and he does have some twisted ideas but the fact that they stayed in the house for so long just kills me!

His writing style is appealing but the over and over words that he does (while listening) drives me insane. I seriously wanted to fast-forward the audio. That makes me really sad. I don’t want to miss any of the horrific events and if I fast-forward I’m definitely going to miss something!

The plot was good and horrific with a nice twist at the end though. YAY! I think the ending makes up for some of their stupid choices. But again, I’m not in this so maybe I would make some of the same choices if I were. I sure hope I wouldn’t!

My second listen of Michael’s but I hope it will not be my last!

Audiobook provided for review by the author. ( )

On top of a hill in a forest surrounded by tall trees that look like green soldiers was a beautiful old house with a dark past. A long gravel driveway leads to the house and occasionally people drove down the highway to admire the home's beautiful architecture. They didn't stay long though because the house had a sinister feel to it and the people in town were afraid of it. The house had a for sale sign in front of it for a long time but one day the sign came down and a young couple expecting a child moved in.

This is the opening to Michaelbrent Collings The Haunted. The young couple's names are Sarah and Cap. As they move in they experience strange occurences that they can't explain, such as radios turning on and off, a truck turning itsself on and objects moving on their own. On the second night an all out assault begins and the couple is attacked by a legion of homicidal ghosts who want them dead. Among the army of spirits that try to enter the house is one with a noose around its neck, one with a slashed throat, and one in a long hooded robe that seems to be the most evil of all. The couple tries to escape but there is nowhere to run; the only help they receive is from the local preacher who may be in over his head.

There are a lot of horror novels out there that can be considered a roller coaster ride but The Haunted is more like a freight train out of control. The opening reminded me of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and did an excellent job of creating a mood of spookiness and impending doom. Right from the start before anything happened I found myself hoping Sarah and Cap would leave the forest and not look back. Ounce the mood is set, The Haunted kicks into a terror filled thrill ride and never lets up, leaving the reader breathless and fearing for Cap and Sarah.

While the plot unfolds you learn more about Cap and Sarah, the author gets inside their heads and makes you feel what they're feeling. I love the way Michaelbrent Collings presents his characters. you know their fears, their weaknesses and what there thinking at all times. You fear for them because you relate to them and you know you would probably be thinking the same if you were in their situation.

The only things I didn't like about The Haunted was that the story was a little confusing and I was able to predict the ending. Despite this, The Haunted is still an excellent horror novel. This is the second book I've read by Michaelbrent Collings and in both cases I found myself thinking that this book would make a great scary movie. Michaelbrent's writing paints a horrific picture and his characters are always memorable. This book has plenty of frights, the descriptions of the ghosts are terrifying and one ghost in particular is scary enough to keep you from sleeping for a night. So if you like a good ghost story then check out the works of Michaelbrent Collings. ( )