Horror Book Review: Within These Haunted Walls by Kit Lewis

 

Not all horror stories are scary, but every book does need a good editor.

WITHIN THESE HAUNTED WALLS is proof of that. Written by Kit Lewis, this horror novel was published in December 2024.

It currently holds a bestseller's rank in the Occult Horror and Horror Fiction Classics.

The book has received mixed reviews but is widely appreciated for its eerie story.

WITHIN THESE HAUNTED WALLS is about the Harper family making a fresh start in a new house deep in the Apalachian Mountains.

But strange sounds and unexplained events hint to a frightening presence that will pull them all deeper into the darkness.

The book opens in the 1950s with a mother putting out food on the steps outside for the spirits that roam in the forest. The mother forbids her daughter from whistling after dark.

According to a legend, a man called Father, whose name was actually Harold, was a benevolent man who lived in a town in the 1800s. After a devastating fire consumes most of the town, except for Harold's Estate, it is believed that he is responsible for the arson.

One night, he is dragged out and killed while the townsfolk whistled. Before he died, Harold cursed the town.

And so now we meet the Harpers- John and Mary and their kids Emma and Ben.

John is an ex-Marine who works as a low-paid teacher. Mary works part-time at a boutique. The bickering couple finds it hard to make ends meet and eventually decide to sell off their condo for a million and move to the...you guessed it right, the town in the Apalachain Mountains.

They see photos of the house and buy it, but only when they move there do they find it in need of repairs.

The family settled in, not caring about the history of the house.

At dinner, Ben remarks about the lack of animals, and his parents suggest he call out to them.

And so, right after sunset, in the dark, Ben whistles to call for the animals.

The author may have an interesting story to tell, but it is severely marred by detached writing and stereotypical characters.

The writing does not flow well, and plot points are repetitive.

Haunted House stories have always been a weakness of mine. I would pick a book knowing that the story might not offer anything new. After all, it is hard being creative with a haunted house.

Yet, Kit Lewis's WITHIN THESE HAUNTED WALLS was an uninteresting read despite the eerie plot.

The author is in desperate need of a good editor to make sure the story flows well and shines through.

To Read or Not to Read

I did find the concept of not whistling after dark ominous. The story has potential, but I had to make an effort to keep on reading.

The characters are dull, and the excerpt did not evoke a sense of excitement to keep reading.

The book needs to be revised thoroughly and needs a better opening.

Perhaps the author may rewrite the story someday. But for now, I would give this book a pass.

However, you can check out this book yourself and form your own opinion

WITHIN THESE HAUNTED WALLS by Kit Lewis