Horror Book Review: The Haunted by Bentley Little
This week’s Horror Book of the Week is The Haunted by Bentley Little.
If you enjoy haunted house stories, you may just enjoy this titillating tale about family, curses, and eerie occurrences.
The book was released in April 2012 and has been on the bestseller list for Ghost and Horror Suspense. Readers have found this book to be well-written, scary at times, and were appreciative of the character development.
There are negatives regarding the book’s sudden twist into provocative with many calling it vulgar. The readers did think that certain situations were unnecessary and did nothing for a book whose general theme is about a haunted house.
Quick Book Review of The Haunted by Bentley Little
The book begins with a young boy called James noticing that the neighbor’s kids are skateboarding in their driveway. He calls out to his father Julian, who decides to give them a piece of his mind. Megan, James’ sister, makes fun of her brother for being too terrified to confront the kids to which Julian gives her a scolding.
This scene establishes the family dynamics as well as the family’s motivation to move to a hassle-free neighborhood.
And so, the family moves to a new house.
Before they can even complete the move, James begins to have nightmares in which he is beckoned to the house basement. As he descends the stairs, he finds the grim figure of a grimy man grinning at him.
Long after they move in, James still finds it unnerving to be all alone at home, and wonders if someone has been leaving the basement door open on purpose.
And then there is Claire who keeps wondering if she has become forgetful because she keeps finding household items all around even though she is certain she has stowed them away.
Megan receives odd texts and one that particularly creeps her out. The text is about someone coming to see her tonight.
The book establishes a creepy tone through the story but it isn’t quick enough to hook my attention. I found it difficult to continue reading after a couple of pages but went on only because the book was recommended on a Facebook Horror book group.
I connected with the book only after James has his first nightmare. The story then picks up momentum after the parents experience a strange incident as well.
Based on the reviews, the story is going to take a much more bizarre turn. So should I keep reading?
To Read or Not to Read?
I am curious about where the story is headed and haunted house stories have always been a weakness of mine. I like well-crafted stories with unique and proper character development.
There is no doubt that the author Bentley Little writes well but I did feel the story lacked a strong pace or that one pure, unnerving scene that grasps you and fills you with terror as you keep turning the pages to find out the mysteries of the haunted house.
Something is amiss in this haunted house story which is why I may just skip reading this book.
Comments
Post a Comment