mattstem's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
lenaumi's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ronanmcd's review against another edition
5.0
I love a good ghost story. This has loads of atmosphere, nice urbane characters thrown out of their comfort zone into an ancient rural landscape. Very enjoyable
zeecorster's review
4.0
A lovely little book, chilling and tender and steeped in atmosphere and a sense of place. I had never read anything by Billy O'Callaghan before—having picked up this novel on a Kindle Deal of the Day a few months back on the strength of its blurb alone—but after researching a bit more into his body of work, I am not surprised that his previous output has been primarily short stories of the literary-fiction bent. He writes with an observational eye and a particular penchant for a poetic turn of phrase, both of which lend themselves nicely to this book.
But the title...it's just not right. The Dead House, that clumsy, thudding title, invokes an entirely different novel, one much more salacious and extreme than this quiet, lyrical, melancholy little ghost story. I think it could draw in readers expecting that former book of twisty scares and nonstop plot, and scare away—pun intended, I guess?—readers looking for the latter story, which is where O'Callaghan's talents shine.
Especially compared to [b:The Remaking|44791629|The Remaking|Clay McLeod Chapman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561579258l/44791629._SX50_.jpg|69445316], another ghost story about the past returning to haunt the present that I finished in (basically) a single sitting earlier this week, The Dead House is a much stronger achievement, despite trodding ground long since rutted. Sometimes, the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented or even...remade (yeah, that pun was definitely intended); it just needs to be polished, soaked in some Irish bog-water, and set free to roll along those well-laid ruts. Just check out the ending here: It's profoundly chilling, all the way to the bone.
But the title...it's just not right. The Dead House, that clumsy, thudding title, invokes an entirely different novel, one much more salacious and extreme than this quiet, lyrical, melancholy little ghost story. I think it could draw in readers expecting that former book of twisty scares and nonstop plot, and scare away—pun intended, I guess?—readers looking for the latter story, which is where O'Callaghan's talents shine.
Especially compared to [b:The Remaking|44791629|The Remaking|Clay McLeod Chapman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561579258l/44791629._SX50_.jpg|69445316], another ghost story about the past returning to haunt the present that I finished in (basically) a single sitting earlier this week, The Dead House is a much stronger achievement, despite trodding ground long since rutted. Sometimes, the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented or even...remade (yeah, that pun was definitely intended); it just needs to be polished, soaked in some Irish bog-water, and set free to roll along those well-laid ruts. Just check out the ending here: It's profoundly chilling, all the way to the bone.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
5.0
This was a good, solid ghost story!
Maggie is an up-and-coming artist in London. Mike is her agent/dealer. After a horrible domestic violence event that puts Maggie in the hospital, she decides she needs to get away to clear her head and get some space and get away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. On her wandering road trip across Ireland, she decides to buy an abandoned, run-down cottage in a tiny seaside town. She hires some local contractors to fix it up and install electricity and plumbing, and once it's inhabitable, she moves in.
She invites Mike and two other friends, Liz and Maggie, to her cottage for a weekend to celebrate her new abode. After spending a fun day exploring the tiny towns nearby, drinking in pubs and eating good food, they open up the whisky and someone brings out a ouija board. This is where the fun night takes a very creepy, dark turn.
The cottage is haunted by the original inhabitant. The four friends unknowingly invite an unfriendly spirit into their circle and Maggie becomes a changed person.
The book is short, and that's the only flaw. I think it could have been made longer and really drawn out the suspense. But the book is rich in creepiness. I mean it's Ireland, full of ghosts and spirits and druids and lush history. The cottage itself is creepy--out in the middle of nowhere. It all works! Great book!
Maggie is an up-and-coming artist in London. Mike is her agent/dealer. After a horrible domestic violence event that puts Maggie in the hospital, she decides she needs to get away to clear her head and get some space and get away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. On her wandering road trip across Ireland, she decides to buy an abandoned, run-down cottage in a tiny seaside town. She hires some local contractors to fix it up and install electricity and plumbing, and once it's inhabitable, she moves in.
She invites Mike and two other friends, Liz and Maggie, to her cottage for a weekend to celebrate her new abode. After spending a fun day exploring the tiny towns nearby, drinking in pubs and eating good food, they open up the whisky and someone brings out a ouija board. This is where the fun night takes a very creepy, dark turn.
The cottage is haunted by the original inhabitant. The four friends unknowingly invite an unfriendly spirit into their circle and Maggie becomes a changed person.
The book is short, and that's the only flaw. I think it could have been made longer and really drawn out the suspense. But the book is rich in creepiness. I mean it's Ireland, full of ghosts and spirits and druids and lush history. The cottage itself is creepy--out in the middle of nowhere. It all works! Great book!
whimsicalish's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Billy O'Callaghan writes drawn-out paragraphs of detail. It's throughout the entire book. While I don't mind descriptive, lengthy writing, it needs to have some sustenance. Good story, well written characters, intriguing premise, something to keep you wanting more. The Dead House had none of those going for it.
Here's some examples of tedious sentences that should have been edited out because they don't do anything for the main component. Such as, describing the realtor with a "blushed complexion that seemed to suggest early onset menopause." (What, who thinks this?) Or literally writing out everything on the MC's breakfast plate every single time. Or my personal favorite:
Here's some examples of tedious sentences that should have been edited out because they don't do anything for the main component. Such as, describing the realtor with a "blushed complexion that seemed to suggest early onset menopause." (What, who thinks this?) Or literally writing out everything on the MC's breakfast plate every single time. Or my personal favorite:
A song came on the radio, something vapid, a girl's voice slurring words only just saved from being empty as space by an annoying but catchy melody playing out over the same generic drum and bass slam that seems all you need now to make an impact in the charts. Well, that and a willingness to show off nine and a half tenths of your ass and then act outraged when someone brands you a slut or a prostitute.
Honestly, pass.
You have to dredge through about halfway through the book until SOMETHING finally happens. You get a taste of a story for it to fizzle out. The MC has zero interest to actually do something, anything to help this "dear" friend. This felt more of a romance than any ghost/haunting story.
I was struggling from insomnia and this book helped me fall asleep one night. So there's that.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
gracingyouwithbooks's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
mystic_bookwyrm's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I was hoping for more from this book. The author has a way with words and it was well written which is why I gave it 3 stars instead of 2. However, it wasn’t scary. I think if the story had actually followed Maggie, and not her friend Mike, it could have been good. I honestly didn’t really care about his life and romance. I would have rather seen the slow decent of Maggie as she’s tormented by the spirit called The Master and then maybe switched to Mike’s POV at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Sexual assault