Horror Book Preview: Widow’s Point by Richard Chizmar and W.H. Chizmar
There have been enough stories about haunted houses, so why not try one about a haunted lighthouse?
I came across WIDOW’S POINT on a Facebook group for horror books and writers and saw that it was highly recommended by a lot of readers.
My first impression of it was not entirely favorable. A found footage story in novel form? I barely watch found footage movies, although admittedly, when I do get around to watching them, they are pretty decent. But as a preference, I wouldn’t pick them from a lot.
I took a look at the book on Amazon and then went through the sample and closed it. Not impressed.
But the book returned on the recommendations list once again in the group, and I decided to give it another try. I am glad I did.
Widow’s Point Book Plot
Residents of Harpers Cove believe that the Widow’s Point Lighthouse is haunted.
Originally built in 1838, the infamous lighthouse is linked to a series of unexplained deaths, murders, and suicides.
Eventually, it was shuttered in 1988 and reopened in 2017 for an investigation report.
Told across two harrowing incidents from 2017 to 2025, anyone who enters the lighthouse is immediately cut off from the outside world. And they are not alone.
Horror Book Preview and My Take
The book begins with a series of exchanged emails about trying to get a hold on the tapes that clearly have a supernatural element about them. It’s basically a trade-off: the hard drive for 10K. After the trade is made, the hard drive is sent to Jezebel Faust, who works on the found footage but then mysteriously stops communicating.
Off we go back to 2017, where, in true found footage style, we get descriptions of nondescript items as the cameraman tests his camera. He then goes to see the lighthouse, and we get details of the area around the lighthouse before he finally reaches his destination.
The entire description is very much like what you would expect a found footage movie to be. The writing is crisp and flows well so that you can see the scene unfold before you.
We finally meet Thomas Livingston, who is a bestseller of non-fiction supernatural works. He is also someone who isn’t that great with the camera and manages to drop it while taking a shot.
He meets with Mr. Parker, the current owner of the lighthouse who is old and frail, yet commanding enough to get Thomas to put away his camera.
Later, Thomas sets up his recording and explains the brief history of the bizarre and violent deaths of anyone who walked into the lighthouse. He then enters the lighthouse on Friday, July 7, 2017, at 6:12 PM. He is allowed to carry enough food and water, and a knapsack of supplies he could need, including a Sony Voice Recorder.
Mr Parker tells him he will return on Monday morning and gives Thomas one more chance to change his mind. He doesn’t of course, and steps into the lighthouse.
And just like that, his camera goes out, and he must rely on his video recorder for notes and be as descriptive as possible. I suppose the voice recorder also works as a helpful device in the story, considering it is a novel and not a movie, where visuals captured by a camera would take the story ahead.
And so Thomas spends his first night in the lighthouse. There are eerie sounds, footsteps, and his own mutterings in the middle of the night.
But clearly that’s not even the cusp of what he has actually gotten himself into.
Read or Skip?
READ. Of course. The story is mysterious, captivating, and the style is innovative. It does help that the writing is fluid and immersive, and gets to the horror bits quickly.
The story hints at a lot of terrifying moments, and any horror fan, especially me, would love to continue reading this.
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