The Friday 56 #73 ~ The Haunting Of Gillespie House

Posted: August 14, 2015 in horror, reviews, Supernatural, The Friday 56
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Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

 

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from

 The Haunting Of Gillespie House

by Darcy Coates

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My 56

Almost without deciding to, I found myself climbing the stairs to the third floor. It had been dim the last time I’d been up there, thanks to the lack of electric lighting, but now, with the storm blocking out almost all natural light, it was nearly impossible to see.

When I read this scene, I couldn’t help but think, “It was a dark and stormy night…” LOL

Lots of atmosphere!

~~~~~

My Review

I do enjoy a good haunted house story.

Elle needs to get away from things for a bit. She grabs the opportunity to house sit for a month at the Gillespie’s house. It’s more of an estate with the large forests and somewhat neglected mansion.

First things first, Elle explores the house, finding rooms filled with beautiful antiques.  Then she walks the grounds, surrounded by heavy brush and trees, stumbling onto a graveyard filled with crumbling tombstones. Something peculiar catches her eye. All of these people died on the same date.

Not one to pass up a good mystery, Elle explores deeper into the house, looking for some history.

It’s not long before doors start slamming, ghostly footsteps prowl the floors, and scratches from the walls interrupt her sleep.

Someone or something is in the house.

This had all the makings for a creepy haunted tale and the sense of foreboding grew throughout the book.

The run down mansion with it’s dark corners and hidden secrets.

A previous owner that dabbled in the occult.

The strange tombstones in the cemetery.

Haunting noises and terror filled dreams.

Elle was a curious character. At first I couldn’t believe she’d stay in a haunted house. You’ve seen the movies. Don’t go in the basement. Don’t go see what made that noise. Elle did all of those things. I had to keep reminding myself, if she didn’t there wouldn’t be much of  a story.

And I remembered something. As a teenager, I was home alone and heard a loud crash in the basement. I did go down to see what it was. Granted, I was scared to go down those steps. But I was more scared not to. It turned out to be a cat that got in through an open window, jumping on a table and breaking something.

It’s not that simple for Elle.

There’s an Author’s Note after the end where Darcy Coates explains the origins of The Haunting Of Gillespie House. It stared out to be a short story but grew.

She includes the free short story, Crawlspace, that started it all.

If you like tales that give you the heebie jeebies, have you looking over shoulder, and make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, you’ll enjoy this book.

4 Stars

~~~~~

Synopsis

Elle can’t believe her luck; she’s spending a month house-sitting the beautiful Gillespie property. Hidden near the edge of the woods and an hour’s drive from the nearest town, its dark rooms and rich furniture entice her to explore its secrets. There’s even a graveyard hidden behind the house, filled with tombstones that bear an identical year of death.

If only the scratching in the walls would be quiet…

The house’s dark and deadly history quickly becomes tangled with Elle’s life. At the centre of it is Jonathan Gillespie, the tyrannical cult leader and original owner of the house. As Elle soon learns – just because he’s dead, doesn’t mean he’s gone.

~~~~~

For more about Darcy Coates, her books, and where to find her, head on over to GOODREADS.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

Comments
  1. Sounds like an interesting one and I too love haunted house stories. 🙂

    Stormi
    Friday Memes

  2. Kathy Martin says:

    This sounds nicely creepy and has an excellent cover. This week I am spotlighting Dragonseye by Anne McCaffrey which has been living on TBR mountain forever. Happy reading!

  3. EEK, heebie jeebies. I’ll take a dose of that. LOL
    sherry @ fundinmental

  4. ljennison says:

    Sounds good. I love a good haunted house story.

    • fuonlyknew says:

      Me too. Especially ones like this. You know somethings going to happen and you tense up, waiting for it.

  5. Dagny says:

    Sounds creepily good! Not only a haunted house, but the heroine is investigating/exploring alone, even better.

    • fuonlyknew says:

      That’s why I mentioned what I did in the review. You do things you don’t think you would. Guess I’d die in a horror movie. LOL

  6. Breana M. says:

    I haven’t read many books that specifically dealt with haunting’s but this one does seem interesting. I hope you enjoy the book.

  7. Emma says:

    I love tales that give me the heebie jeebies. I’m curious to read about how this story got started.

  8. Love the atmosphere that quote gives off! Thank you for stopping by on my Friday 56!

  9. LadyD Piano says:

    Great review! I can hear the spooky music in the background while reading, ‘If only the scratching in the walls would be quiet…’

  10. Foofy * Not Foofy says:

    I have chills just from your snippet and review! The right season for this book is just around the corner but I’m not sure that I’m brave enough to read it. I’m a scaredy cat and darn proud of it. LOL

    Thanks for stopping by my Friday 56 stop: http://www.foofynotfoofy.com/foofynotfoofy/2015/8/14/the-friday-56-the-opposite-of-loneliness-by-marina-keegan

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I love Halloween and have a whole bunch of books I’ll be reviewing. My favorite holiday. Can’t wait for all those scary movies too.

      • Foofy * Not Foofy says:

        Oddly enough, I really love Halloween – just the more kid-friendly aspects of it. 🙂

  11. Sounds too scary for me. Haha. I can’t handle horror stories.

  12. I like a good haunted house story as well, though it might drive me a little crazy to see the protagonist do so many things you wouldn’t do. Have a great weekend!

  13. Sherrie says:

    Hi!
    Sounds so mysterious. Thanks for stopping by my place. Have a great day!

  14. Nicole says:

    While the writing is nice I am too much of a coward to read scary books. Happy Friday!

  15. Oh I LOVE haunted houses and ghost stories! When I was in high school the inn I worked at as a chamber maid was haunted and it was awesome 🙂

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I think I’d be thrilled when I was younger to be in a haunted place. Now, I’ve read too many books and seen too many movies. Would be scared stiff. LOL

  16. Yvonne says:

    I love haunted house stories! I’m going to add this to my wishlist.

  17. Promises to be scary! Right up my alley!
    Happy weekend!
    Freda’s Voice

  18. Clare says:

    That sounds like a great book – I only wish I wasn’t such a wimp when it came to scary books!

  19. It’s much to early to be reading creepy stuff … 😉

    • fuonlyknew says:

      What, it’s not Halloween yet? LOL I read this stuff year round. Always have. I couldn’t wait to go see my first R rated horror movie!

  20. This is definitely going on my TBR! I love ghost stories and there’s not much that will capture my imagination than a creepy abandoned house filled with antiques. This sounds like a lights on not home alone kind of read though!

  21. Yes, definitely a spooky and atmospheric tale. Thanks for sharing and enjoy. Thanks for visiting my blog.

  22. Too creepy for me! But I’m glad you liked it.

  23. I know I wouldn’t read this one on a dark and stormy night, lol.

  24. Sam Frost says:

    Sorry it took me so long to find my way over here (thanks for stopping by my blog, by the way). This sounds like a really awesome book! I think I might check it out.

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