Fear
It's 4:40am when I got up to turn on my laptop to write this review. I have been awake for the last 3 hours listening to the end of this audiobook. Unable to move from my darkened room. Tossing and turning. Grimacing into the darkness. Stephen King has stated this is one of the scariest books he's ever read. I believe him.
I am not a lover of ghost stories. I find them 'old fashioned'. I like things to be more 'factual' 'believable'. I had no idea how wonderful this audiobook would be. The effect it had to pull me from daylight hours and bring me into a moody black and white atmosphere immediately upon listening. The build up of this story had me on edge from the first minute. I never knew what was really going on as was the same for the characters of this book. I was caught as a 5th member of this small group of investigators. I was a silent ear on the wall. Hiding away from the monster. Biting my nails. I was emotionally attached to these characters. Which sadly increased my terror. My dread. I don't think I've ever been so immersed in such a story. Never questioned it's validity, it's truthfulness. I was there. Committed 100% to this Hell House.
Look. This book f'd me up! I can't sleep. I'm up at 4am unable to shake the creepy horror of this book. And to add the creepy cherry to the creepy cake? The narrator was none other than Ray Porter. I knew it half way through when I felt as if my old friend was talking to me. And lo and behold, there he was. This book was first published in 1971, the year of my birth. But it could have been written yesterday. Or a year from now. I guess fear is relevant.
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