A chilling supernatural tale with indelible characters.
In this third installment of a thriller series, an orthopedic surgery resident inherits a haunted hotel with potentially lethal family secrets.
Dr. Benjamin Oris is now the proud owner of The Abigael Inn, courtesy of a great aunt he didn’t know he had. He immediately thinks of selling it, as the Massachusetts hotel is five hours away from the Philadelphia hospital where he works. But rather than speak to a realtor, he decides to inspect the inn, currently closed for the winter. Before Ben leaves, his comatose mother, who transmits sometimes-cryptic telepathic thoughts, tells her son: “I need you to finish it.” Everything seems OK in Massachusetts; a capable head housekeeper runs the hotel, and Ben reunites with his maternal grandparents, whom he’s seen only once. But rumors of a haunted Abigael Inn swirl, and unexplained sights and noises unsettle Ben, all alone at the vacant hotel. His fear only mounts when his girlfriend, Laurette, joins him, as they determine ghosts abound, including a particularly nasty one. They dig deeper into the inn’s history as well as Ben’s mysterious family on his mother’s side and turn up someone’s horrifying plot involving murder and a paranormal ceremony. Rubin offers readers an effective change of pace in this installment. While the previous volumes were medical thrillers with supernatural touches, this novel spotlights the paranormal. Early scenes at the haunted hotel showcase genre conventions, from a ghostly conversation via a Ouija board to a scribbled message on a steamy mirror. But the story slowly amps up frights as an evil presence emerges and threatens multiple people. As in the preceding books, the supporting cast nearly outshines the protagonist. For example, Sophia Diaz (who has a son with Ben) and Laurette, both series staples, prove vital in fighting sinister forces. The author’s pithy writing keeps the story popping all the way to the rousing final act.
A chilling supernatural tale with indelible characters.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 293
Publisher: Indigo Dot Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
It's almost enough to make a person believe in ghosts.
A disturbing household secret has far-reaching consequences in this dark, unusual ghost story.
Mallory Quinn, fresh out of rehab and recovering from a recent tragedy, has taken a job as a nanny for an affluent couple living in the upscale suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey, when a series of strange events start to make her (and her employers) question her own sanity. Teddy, the precocious and shy 5-year-old boy she's charged with watching, seems to be haunted by a ghost who channels his body to draw pictures that are far too complex and well formed for such a young child. At first, these drawings are rather typical: rabbits, hot air balloons, trees. But then the illustrations take a dark turn, showcasing the details of a gruesome murder; the inclusion of the drawings, which start out as stick figures and grow increasingly more disturbing and sophisticated, brings the reader right into the story. With the help of an attractive young gardener and a psychic neighbor and using only the drawings as clues, Mallory must solve the mystery of the house's grizzly past before it's too late. Rekulak does a great job with character development: Mallory, who narrates in the first person, has an engaging voice; the Maxwells' slightly overbearing parenting style and passive-aggressive quips feel very familiar; and Teddy is so three-dimensional that he sometimes feels like a real child.
It's almost enough to make a person believe in ghosts.Pub Date: May 10, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-250-81934-5
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A frighteningly good debut.
Mysterious guests overstay their welcome in this fresh take on the haunted house trope.
Eve Palmer makes the biggest mistake of her life when there’s a knock on the door from a man who says he grew up in her house. Against her better instincts she invites him and his family inside, but a 15-minute look around turns into a world of trouble when she can’t get them to leave. First the Faust family’s young daughter disappears in the basement; then a storm hits and the roads are blocked, giving them no choice but to spend the night. Soon rooms appear altered, strange odors waft through the house, and a toy chimp from Eve’s childhood seems to be sending her a warning: "Once they’re in, they never leave." Kliewer’s original and extremely scary story gathers elements inspired by authors like Shirley Jackson and classic horror films including Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He’s created a can’t-look-away imaginary world in which people and places aren’t what they appear. Readers will be as shaken as Eve, who fears she’s suffering from delusions when an apparition warns her that the Fausts—and even her partner, Charlie—aren’t who they say they are. Inserted between the book’s chapters are "documents" that lay out evidence collected by conspiracy theorists who believe what’s happening to Eve has nothing to do with delusions. This alternate storyline, written in the style of Reddit—Kliewer’s novel grew out of a novella he posted there—feels jarring at times, as we’re reluctantly pulled away from Eve’s gripping tale. The conspiracy theorists’ creepy posts aren’t quite as hypnotic, but they solidify the plot’s premise and neatly tie up Eve’s predicament. Fans of the surging horror genre will think twice about opening the door when somebody knocks.
A frighteningly good debut.Pub Date: June 18, 2024
ISBN: 9781982198787
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Emily Bestler/Atria
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2024
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
