The Night House: A novel

From the internationally best-selling author, a chilling fresh spin on the classic horror novel • When the voices call, don't answer.
“In The Night House, the horror begins immediately. And it only keeps calling from there.”—Josh Malerman, New York Times best-selling author of Bird Box and Spin a Black Yarn
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 Mirror Forest. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices begin to whisper in his ear . . .
She’s going to burn. The girl you love is going to burn. There’s nothing 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 is possessing Ballantyne and pursuing his destruction.
Then again, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story . . .
“In The Night House, the horror begins immediately. And it only keeps calling from there.”—Josh Malerman, New York Times best-selling author of Bird Box and Spin a Black Yarn
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 Mirror Forest. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices begin to whisper in his ear . . .
She’s going to burn. The girl you love is going to burn. There’s nothing 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 is possessing Ballantyne and pursuing his destruction.
Then again, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story . . .
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Community Reviews
Honestly, the first part of this book had me HOOKED. It was so interesting and I kept trying to figure out how the main character, Richard, will prove his innocence. It is extremely fast paced, almost to the point where I felt like there was no processing time in between events.
The second and third parts of the book are what lost me. I enjoyed reading each section, but I was left more confused and it seemed like the plot twists were unnecessary.
The book had great writing and made you second guess everything! The concepts are there, but it was just so fast paced. I truly did enjoy the book though, so Iâm giving it 3/5 âï¸âï¸âï¸
The second and third parts of the book are what lost me. I enjoyed reading each section, but I was left more confused and it seemed like the plot twists were unnecessary.
The book had great writing and made you second guess everything! The concepts are there, but it was just so fast paced. I truly did enjoy the book though, so Iâm giving it 3/5 âï¸âï¸âï¸
THE NIGHT HOUSE is a hard book to review. It's a story in 3 parts. I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil it for those interested in checking it out.
I enjoyed Part One immensely and feel it would have been best to end the book there. THE NIGHT HOUSE instead continues into an interesting Part Two that tries to ruin Part One. Part Three was just unneeded.
Overall, I'm going to rate the biggest part of the novel which is my favorite, and go with 4 stars.
This is my first Nesbo book, and I may try another.
I enjoyed Part One immensely and feel it would have been best to end the book there. THE NIGHT HOUSE instead continues into an interesting Part Two that tries to ruin Part One. Part Three was just unneeded.
Overall, I'm going to rate the biggest part of the novel which is my favorite, and go with 4 stars.
This is my first Nesbo book, and I may try another.
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