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The House That Jack Built
After Craig Bellman, a successful young New York lawyer, is horribly injured in a street mugging, he and his wife, Effie, retreat to the Hudson Valley to restore his health and save their relationship. When they discover a derelict old mansion, Valhalla, Craig becomes fascinated by it. He ignores Effie's misgivings and starts to make inquiries about buying it, undeterred by the expense and its history: it was built by legendary gambler and womanizer Jack Belias - and every owner since Belias has come to a tragic end. Even today, Valhalla echoes with its terrible past. Out of loyalty to her husband Effie tries to overcome her fears, but recruits a local spiritualist in an attempt to rid the house of its threatening vibrations. But death and destruction return to Valhalla, and Craig, obsessed by the house, becomes more of a stranger to Effie every day. It would appear that the spirit of Jack Belias is still with them...
385 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Graham Masterton
352 books1,773 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 24, 2022
The House That Jack Built goes beyond the haunted house horror trope, sure its pages are seeped in the blood of horror staples (ghost-like figures, sex, violence, cults, the supernatural) but it's the plot on the peripheral which gives this novel it's meaty feel, coupled with characters which are both deep and interesting.
The House That Jack Built captures the readers attention and maintains it in a vice-like grip through to the murderous end. The long abandoned, secluded and notorious mansion that is Valhalla is as much as a character as Craig and Effie Bellman, the two unfortunate souls caught in Valhalla's curse. Its carpeted halls, hidden rooms, and shadowy figures glimpsed from the corners of eyes instill an omnipresent sense of dread which kept the hair raised on the back of my neck and the goosebumps on my arms standing at attention.
My rating: 5/5 stars. Tailor-made for haunted house readers who like their horror gory and loaded with interesting characters and equally interesting backstories.
The House That Jack Built captures the readers attention and maintains it in a vice-like grip through to the murderous end. The long abandoned, secluded and notorious mansion that is Valhalla is as much as a character as Craig and Effie Bellman, the two unfortunate souls caught in Valhalla's curse. Its carpeted halls, hidden rooms, and shadowy figures glimpsed from the corners of eyes instill an omnipresent sense of dread which kept the hair raised on the back of my neck and the goosebumps on my arms standing at attention.
My rating: 5/5 stars. Tailor-made for haunted house readers who like their horror gory and loaded with interesting characters and equally interesting backstories.
October 16, 2015
Another great book by one of my favorite Paranormal-horror Authors, Graham Masterton. I decided I wanted to read this for spook season because I love to read some creepy books this time of year. I knew that I would not be disappointed by this one at all.
In this book you have Craig Bellerman who stumbled across an old 1930's house named Vallhalla and he was determined to make it his, claiming the house was him. His wife Effie was discovering some pretty odd things going on in this house and she did not get good vibes from it at all, but after seeing how it gave her husband confidence she agreed to look at it and later make plans to buy it. Effie knew they were getting much more than they bargained for.
I loved the plot of this story so much. So unique and different. Something I really enjoyed about this book was that there was no random stuff just added to it. Everything had it's place and everything was backed up to make a very rich story full of creepiness and some edge of seat action. This book was also very fluid and easy to follow, with lots of great plot twists and an ending I never saw coming. It was also very interesting with it's great historical elements.
I liked how the characters evolved in this story. They were developed so very well and were very realistic and believable. I think I probably liked Effie the most of all of them. She was such a strong character and she told it how it was. I found Craig had a very unique character and I don't really want to go into why since it would spoil the story a bit, but I liked how the author wrote him, it made readers pay attention.
I recommend this to anyone who likes horror, historical or Graham Masterton stories. It is sure to soothe any lovers of these genres. Graham Masterton is a great talent.
In this book you have Craig Bellerman who stumbled across an old 1930's house named Vallhalla and he was determined to make it his, claiming the house was him. His wife Effie was discovering some pretty odd things going on in this house and she did not get good vibes from it at all, but after seeing how it gave her husband confidence she agreed to look at it and later make plans to buy it. Effie knew they were getting much more than they bargained for.
I loved the plot of this story so much. So unique and different. Something I really enjoyed about this book was that there was no random stuff just added to it. Everything had it's place and everything was backed up to make a very rich story full of creepiness and some edge of seat action. This book was also very fluid and easy to follow, with lots of great plot twists and an ending I never saw coming. It was also very interesting with it's great historical elements.
I liked how the characters evolved in this story. They were developed so very well and were very realistic and believable. I think I probably liked Effie the most of all of them. She was such a strong character and she told it how it was. I found Craig had a very unique character and I don't really want to go into why since it would spoil the story a bit, but I liked how the author wrote him, it made readers pay attention.
I recommend this to anyone who likes horror, historical or Graham Masterton stories. It is sure to soothe any lovers of these genres. Graham Masterton is a great talent.
May 9, 2022
This is a pretty good haunted-house variation, with the Masterton characteristic bits of violence and sex mixed in. It all goes on just a bit too long, perhaps, and the solution isn't really overwhelming, but the characterization is quite good, and the setting is suitably creepy and mysterious, both spatially and temporally, as the story fades back and forth. The beginning is particularly violent as a lawyer suffers a brutal attack, but then throttles back as we see the victim's wife willing to suffer escalating abuse as she hopes to help her husband recover from his attack and then in an effort to save the marriage. The novel appeared in 1996, and I don't think some of the abuse she endures would be tolerated a quarter-century later. (The timing is interesting: the lawyer's office is located in the World Trade Center, and here's a line of dialog from page 45: "Donald Trump can make errors of judgement, just like anybody else.") It's a good, creepy horror book overall, but with some very uncomfortable bits; it's not for the overly squeamish. One fun thing to do with a Graham Masterton novel is to look for the very British tags that are attributed to the American story. It's not really mean-spirited, it's like looking for the Hitchcock or Stan Lee cameos in movies or finding the references to seagulls in Ron Goulart novels. In The House that Jack Built, I noted those round rubber things on the bottom of cars spelled a couple of times with a "y," the storage compartment at the rear of the car called a "boot," and noted a few unusually phrased lines of dialog, such as "You must have done!" on page 81, but nothing really over the top.
January 27, 2016
Graham Masterton wined, dined, and romanced me with his gory, viscerally rich ‘The Devil in Grey.’ Here he makes the past cross the lines with the modern again, this time, as before, dealing with devilish spirits up to no good.
The plot is traditional type of ghost story, with possession, unexplained deaths, haunted houses, and mysterious ‘drawings’ to places and people of the characters. Sure, there’s nothing really new here, but it’s fun anyway.
Pacing doesn’t hurt the book, either. Spooks and chills are delivered without haste, action is tight and well delivered, violence is sudden, shocking, strong, and the ending is one that lasts in the readers mind even when the book is read, closed, and locked away on the shelf.
Characters are gripping and emotionally driven, particularly the wife Ellie. Since Craig is the one going through all the ghostly drama, I suppose Masterton chose to show so much through the wife’s eyes as she is a spectator and informant of sort for the reader to get the overall picture. Well done!
When violence strikes, it’s bloody, traditional Masterton style. The book isn’t creepy, but it is intriguing. The beginning starts off with action that’s not directly related to the plot but nail-grinding nonetheless, giving adequate back story to why Craig comes to Valhalla to begin with. The middle keeps flourishing and branching out, growing stronger as each scene feeds the next, wrapping up with an ending that left me pleased, content, but also a bit sad and ‘stumped.’
I’m a sucker for haunted houses, or even just old mansions/run down places that have such strong mysterious atmosphere a picture of Sherlock Holmes may as well be hanging on the walls. This one didn’t let me down in the least, going over inch by inch of the place, using the dark corners and demented rooms to its advantage.
Even though I hold minor qualms with how the ending turned out (not bad writing, just personal grimaces), I rate this book highly. Masterton’s writing style is crafty and addictive, his approach solid and strong, creating an end product that’s both memorable and enjoyable.
Find it, buy it, let your mind soak it up. One can never have too many haunted house stories, especially when the story surrounds manipulative, cruel ghosts who come back from the grave for reasons one would never originally expect.
The plot is traditional type of ghost story, with possession, unexplained deaths, haunted houses, and mysterious ‘drawings’ to places and people of the characters. Sure, there’s nothing really new here, but it’s fun anyway.
Pacing doesn’t hurt the book, either. Spooks and chills are delivered without haste, action is tight and well delivered, violence is sudden, shocking, strong, and the ending is one that lasts in the readers mind even when the book is read, closed, and locked away on the shelf.
Characters are gripping and emotionally driven, particularly the wife Ellie. Since Craig is the one going through all the ghostly drama, I suppose Masterton chose to show so much through the wife’s eyes as she is a spectator and informant of sort for the reader to get the overall picture. Well done!
When violence strikes, it’s bloody, traditional Masterton style. The book isn’t creepy, but it is intriguing. The beginning starts off with action that’s not directly related to the plot but nail-grinding nonetheless, giving adequate back story to why Craig comes to Valhalla to begin with. The middle keeps flourishing and branching out, growing stronger as each scene feeds the next, wrapping up with an ending that left me pleased, content, but also a bit sad and ‘stumped.’
I’m a sucker for haunted houses, or even just old mansions/run down places that have such strong mysterious atmosphere a picture of Sherlock Holmes may as well be hanging on the walls. This one didn’t let me down in the least, going over inch by inch of the place, using the dark corners and demented rooms to its advantage.
Even though I hold minor qualms with how the ending turned out (not bad writing, just personal grimaces), I rate this book highly. Masterton’s writing style is crafty and addictive, his approach solid and strong, creating an end product that’s both memorable and enjoyable.
Find it, buy it, let your mind soak it up. One can never have too many haunted house stories, especially when the story surrounds manipulative, cruel ghosts who come back from the grave for reasons one would never originally expect.
February 12, 2008
One of my favorite horror stories ever.
Now here's a book that truly merits the title horror story. I stayed on this pretty much until I finished it because I just had to find out what happened. The scare goes on page after page and doesn't let the reader down.
The story begins with Craig Bellman is hurrying off to join his partner at a restaurant where he & his law partner, along with a very important client, are celebrating a million dollar deal. He is in a taxi, and the the streets are gridlocked. He gets in an argument with the taxi driver and gets thrown out of the cab & has to walk in the pouring rain. As he's walking a woman cries out to him for help because she says her friend was taken by two men and was being raped in an abandoned store. He goes into help and is attacked himself.
He and his wife, Effie, decide he needs some rest & relax time after the attack, so they travel to a small little b&b. One day they are out driving and pass by a huge house called Valhalla and Craig is somehow drawn to it. Things happen and Craig decides he wants to buy the house. After going to look at it Craig starts becoming weird in his behavior. Effie does not like the house because strange things happen in there.
And that's all I'm going to say so as not to wreck it for the next reader. Suffice it to say that this book is creepy and worth reading. I would definitely recommend it for those who are into haunted houses...this is one of the good ones.
Oh, and by the way...just so you know...this was NOT intended to be a piece of literature, so don't judge it too harshly. I tend to rate horror stories on their ability to keep my interest and effect some physical tension.
Now here's a book that truly merits the title horror story. I stayed on this pretty much until I finished it because I just had to find out what happened. The scare goes on page after page and doesn't let the reader down.
The story begins with Craig Bellman is hurrying off to join his partner at a restaurant where he & his law partner, along with a very important client, are celebrating a million dollar deal. He is in a taxi, and the the streets are gridlocked. He gets in an argument with the taxi driver and gets thrown out of the cab & has to walk in the pouring rain. As he's walking a woman cries out to him for help because she says her friend was taken by two men and was being raped in an abandoned store. He goes into help and is attacked himself.
He and his wife, Effie, decide he needs some rest & relax time after the attack, so they travel to a small little b&b. One day they are out driving and pass by a huge house called Valhalla and Craig is somehow drawn to it. Things happen and Craig decides he wants to buy the house. After going to look at it Craig starts becoming weird in his behavior. Effie does not like the house because strange things happen in there.
And that's all I'm going to say so as not to wreck it for the next reader. Suffice it to say that this book is creepy and worth reading. I would definitely recommend it for those who are into haunted houses...this is one of the good ones.
Oh, and by the way...just so you know...this was NOT intended to be a piece of literature, so don't judge it too harshly. I tend to rate horror stories on their ability to keep my interest and effect some physical tension.
December 26, 2021
Interesting twist on a haunted house story by Masterton and also a fun and fast read. This starts off with a bang-- a hot-shot lawyer on the way to a business dinner gets mugged and one of his testicles crushed with a hammer. Some months later, the lawyer (Craig) and the main protagonist, his wife Effie, head out of NYC to the Hudson Valley to get away and try to restore their marriage.
Craig, once proud and basically arrogant, now feels like less of a man, his confidence shattered. Effie keeps trying to cheer him up to almost no avail until they stumble across the dilapidated mansion called Valhalla. Valhalla was built in the 1920s by a rich, legendary gambler and womanizer, but the owner, one Jack Belias, disappeared in 1937 and the house has been largely vacant and abandoned since. It is a beauty and a few people/companies have had a go over the years restoring it, but something always came up to and now it is has been vacant for 30 years or so. Craig immediately falls in love with the place and is dead set on buying and restoring it. Effie on the other hand hates it immediately but goes along as this is the first time since the mugging that Craig seems to be back to his old self...
I will not go more on the plot as that is half the fun, but it is a unique twist on a rather tired trope. I might have rated this higher if not for some slap-dash inconsistencies in the prose. One scene, for example, has a woman walking out of her house in a tee shirt and moments later she is taking off her blouse. I mean, what are editors for? Some decent gore and prickly situations, but rather tame for Masterton as a whole. 3.5 eerie stars, rounding down.
Craig, once proud and basically arrogant, now feels like less of a man, his confidence shattered. Effie keeps trying to cheer him up to almost no avail until they stumble across the dilapidated mansion called Valhalla. Valhalla was built in the 1920s by a rich, legendary gambler and womanizer, but the owner, one Jack Belias, disappeared in 1937 and the house has been largely vacant and abandoned since. It is a beauty and a few people/companies have had a go over the years restoring it, but something always came up to and now it is has been vacant for 30 years or so. Craig immediately falls in love with the place and is dead set on buying and restoring it. Effie on the other hand hates it immediately but goes along as this is the first time since the mugging that Craig seems to be back to his old self...
I will not go more on the plot as that is half the fun, but it is a unique twist on a rather tired trope. I might have rated this higher if not for some slap-dash inconsistencies in the prose. One scene, for example, has a woman walking out of her house in a tee shirt and moments later she is taking off her blouse. I mean, what are editors for? Some decent gore and prickly situations, but rather tame for Masterton as a whole. 3.5 eerie stars, rounding down.
November 6, 2015
Let me start off by saying how much I love Graham Masterton's writing style. It is his prose that kept me reading it even after I became disgusted with the material. Some of the passages are so well-written that I re-read them a few times just for the pleasure of it. I may give one of his other books another try.
The reason I'm giving this such a low rating is how degrading to women that it was. I could have stood it if it was just the man Craig's thoughts as he's supposed to be possessed by the ultimate evil man who hates women, but it wasn't just him, it was everywhere in the novel. I think the one that got me the most was this: "Why do women stay with the men that beat them? It's because being beaten makes them feel wanted." Maybe it's my own private feelings that made me so disgusted with this but the fact is that it did. And it's not even said by the a**hole of the book. It's by an ordinary man.
Then there is the main character Effie, Craig's wife. All through the book she gets ecited about degrading herself for her husband and after seeing pictures of a woman shackled to a bed with cockroaches crawling in her nose and out of her mouth she thinks to herself that it is strangely exciting. Gag.
If you have personal issues with women being abused and degraded I would urge you away from this book.
The reason I'm giving this such a low rating is how degrading to women that it was. I could have stood it if it was just the man Craig's thoughts as he's supposed to be possessed by the ultimate evil man who hates women, but it wasn't just him, it was everywhere in the novel. I think the one that got me the most was this: "Why do women stay with the men that beat them? It's because being beaten makes them feel wanted." Maybe it's my own private feelings that made me so disgusted with this but the fact is that it did. And it's not even said by the a**hole of the book. It's by an ordinary man.
Then there is the main character Effie, Craig's wife. All through the book she gets ecited about degrading herself for her husband and after seeing pictures of a woman shackled to a bed with cockroaches crawling in her nose and out of her mouth she thinks to herself that it is strangely exciting. Gag.
If you have personal issues with women being abused and degraded I would urge you away from this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2024
„Walhallą” Graham Masterton ostatecznie udowodnił mi, że w ostatnim czasie to właśnie jego książki robią na mnie prawdziwe wrażenie. Stephen King natomiast zszedł na drugie miejsce, a może nawet trzecie, bo poszedł ostatnio w innym kierunku. A jego książki chociaż warsztatowo niedoścignione, szybko idą w zapomnienie. Przynajmniej tak jest w moim wypadku.
Wracając do „Walhalli” – to wyborna groza. Może nie do końca doskonała (w „Walhalli” pozostało kilka białych plam),ale taka, która przynosi moc frajdy przy lekturze i sprawia, że nie sposób jej przerwać. Posiadłość Walhalli przyciągnęła mnie do siebie, myślałam o niej i jej mieszkańcach cały dzień, o tajemnicach, jakie Masterton poukrywał między murami. Niektóre sceny mroziły krew w żyłach – taniec na rozbitych kryształowych kieliszkach jest nie do zapomnienia, tym bardziej, że poprzedzony wyznaniem chorobliwej miłości. Niektóre natomiast wzbudziły uśmiech, śmiech bywa bowiem rozładowaniem napięcia i strachu. Zachwycił mnie jeszcze sam koncept, w którym wychodzimy z założenia, że duchy nie istnieją, to działa nieco inaczej. I wreszcie: zakończenie! Epilog to wisienka na torcie i prawdziwe złoto. Czy ktoś wie, czy „Walhalla” doczekała się kontynuacji?
Dobrze, że mnie na tego Mastertona namówiliście te kilka lat temu i całe szczęście, że dałam mu drugą szansę. Teraz nie wyobrażam sobie horroru bez jego dzieła i wcale nie dziwię się, że dla wielu z Was to właśnie on jest królem horroru. Bo dla mnie już chyba też.
Wracając do „Walhalli” – to wyborna groza. Może nie do końca doskonała (w „Walhalli” pozostało kilka białych plam),ale taka, która przynosi moc frajdy przy lekturze i sprawia, że nie sposób jej przerwać. Posiadłość Walhalli przyciągnęła mnie do siebie, myślałam o niej i jej mieszkańcach cały dzień, o tajemnicach, jakie Masterton poukrywał między murami. Niektóre sceny mroziły krew w żyłach – taniec na rozbitych kryształowych kieliszkach jest nie do zapomnienia, tym bardziej, że poprzedzony wyznaniem chorobliwej miłości. Niektóre natomiast wzbudziły uśmiech, śmiech bywa bowiem rozładowaniem napięcia i strachu. Zachwycił mnie jeszcze sam koncept, w którym wychodzimy z założenia, że duchy nie istnieją, to działa nieco inaczej. I wreszcie: zakończenie! Epilog to wisienka na torcie i prawdziwe złoto. Czy ktoś wie, czy „Walhalla” doczekała się kontynuacji?
Dobrze, że mnie na tego Mastertona namówiliście te kilka lat temu i całe szczęście, że dałam mu drugą szansę. Teraz nie wyobrażam sobie horroru bez jego dzieła i wcale nie dziwię się, że dla wielu z Was to właśnie on jest królem horroru. Bo dla mnie już chyba też.
June 19, 2023
3.5 Started out fun. Got a little ridiculous. But I'm not one for much supernatural stuff. Maybe you'll dig it.
May 3, 2008
Of the Graham Masterton books I have read, this one drew me in and held my attention from beginning to end better than any of them. I love a good haunted house story, big creepy houses hold so many possibilities. The book starts out strong, we have a jerk named Craig who is a pretentious lawyer type who manages to get himself into some fairly gory trouble. Flash forward to his loving wife taking him on a trip to help him "sort himself out." There they stumble across Valhalla, the monstrous home built by Jack Belias, a rampant gambler and all around bad man. Mr. Belias was kind enough to "disappear" off of the face of the earth prior to their arrival so the mansion is falling apart. The locals think it's haunted, it's full of scary rooms, and suddenly Craig becomes obsessed with owning the house, much to his wife's chagrin. Bad things start to happen (don't they always at this point?) so Effy the lovely wife enlists the town's local hippy/herbalist to help her understand what is going on. Sounds promising! Especially when you add to it a string of murders!
"The House that Jack Built" is very well written, fairly gory, filled with sex (note to other female horror fans - parts of this book are very degrading to women, but if you can make it past that, the ending makes up for it) and violence. Unlike the other Masterton books, the ending on this one did not feel like a "rush job" it was well thought out and a fairly satisfying completion of the tale. What many of the other reviewers are saying is true, there are many "needless" deaths in the book, though I believe some of them are there to show some characterization by how the deaths are reacted to.
There are two things that kept this from being a 5 star book. The first is that it wasn't scary... sure it was bloody, and you cringe at some of what you are reading, but you won't have any problem turning out the lights at night. The second (and some may consider this a spoiler, but its brought up fairly early in the book so I don't really consider it one) is the long and repetitive bashing over the head the reader gets about the theories on time, and time travel, and possession. I would have been happier had this just been a simple ghost rather than sit through a metaphysical diatribe on "Psychic Vibrations" and "time being a book." Honestly the idea of it all really detracted from my reading, especially since it kept being brought up over and over again. Still, you can skim those parts once they show up and really enjoy the book. I thought this was an excellent read... perhaps it didn't entirely capitalize on it's potential, but it was still a fun time.
"The House that Jack Built" is very well written, fairly gory, filled with sex (note to other female horror fans - parts of this book are very degrading to women, but if you can make it past that, the ending makes up for it) and violence. Unlike the other Masterton books, the ending on this one did not feel like a "rush job" it was well thought out and a fairly satisfying completion of the tale. What many of the other reviewers are saying is true, there are many "needless" deaths in the book, though I believe some of them are there to show some characterization by how the deaths are reacted to.
There are two things that kept this from being a 5 star book. The first is that it wasn't scary... sure it was bloody, and you cringe at some of what you are reading, but you won't have any problem turning out the lights at night. The second (and some may consider this a spoiler, but its brought up fairly early in the book so I don't really consider it one) is the long and repetitive bashing over the head the reader gets about the theories on time, and time travel, and possession. I would have been happier had this just been a simple ghost rather than sit through a metaphysical diatribe on "Psychic Vibrations" and "time being a book." Honestly the idea of it all really detracted from my reading, especially since it kept being brought up over and over again. Still, you can skim those parts once they show up and really enjoy the book. I thought this was an excellent read... perhaps it didn't entirely capitalize on it's potential, but it was still a fun time.
July 24, 2013
Great story, really creepy but by the end of this story I didn't like any characters. Couldn't stand the people. The husband was a cheating jerk and got what he deserved in the first part of the book and later. The wife was tstl, she would set women back a long way with how she thought. Yikes.
The 4 stars are for the excellent writing and the creepy factor. Characters sucked, in more ways than one.;-)
I do recommend this book for people who love a good horror read. Just don't expect to feel attached to any of the characters. They are basically all disposable.
The 4 stars are for the excellent writing and the creepy factor. Characters sucked, in more ways than one.;-)
I do recommend this book for people who love a good horror read. Just don't expect to feel attached to any of the characters. They are basically all disposable.
June 17, 2016
This is the 3rd Graham Masterton novel I've read and I've yet to 5-star the guy.
Hopefully this is because I haven't read the best of him yet. Although a 2-star rating looks bleak, it does translate to It Was OK, and that's how I felt about it.
The story had a great start to it, with a couple of gleefully horrific occurrences, and I thought I was in for a real treat here.
It was an okay story, and a cool concept. My problem was character engagement. I really couldn't care less for any of them. Very sparce development here and if that doesn't bother you, you can go ahead and step into The House. I need more depth to characters, so two stars summarizes this brief review.
I am officially in a reader's slump...
Hopefully this is because I haven't read the best of him yet. Although a 2-star rating looks bleak, it does translate to It Was OK, and that's how I felt about it.
The story had a great start to it, with a couple of gleefully horrific occurrences, and I thought I was in for a real treat here.
It was an okay story, and a cool concept. My problem was character engagement. I really couldn't care less for any of them. Very sparce development here and if that doesn't bother you, you can go ahead and step into The House. I need more depth to characters, so two stars summarizes this brief review.
I am officially in a reader's slump...
July 24, 2014
This is one of the first books I ever read...I was about 15 years old when I read it & I was completely blown away...years later, it still one of my all time favourite books! brilliant brilliant brilliant! ive read it about 6 times since & I enjoy it every time. just keeps you hooked on every page!! Love a good horror - Dont find many that are this easy to get into without being too dragged out & twisted. LOVED this one! Need to find a copy of this golden oldy!
March 7, 2013
I loved this book. Oftentimes a horror book will creep me out a little, and then weeks later, I'll forget all about it.
This one was very different. I actually read it months ago but just forgot to add it to my list of books here. It had some very interesting theories about haunting and time that were very intriguing and had an almost sci-fi tone to it, which I love.
Definitely a new favorite book.
This one was very different. I actually read it months ago but just forgot to add it to my list of books here. It had some very interesting theories about haunting and time that were very intriguing and had an almost sci-fi tone to it, which I love.
Definitely a new favorite book.
October 15, 2010
This is the first time I've read anything by Graham Masterton, and I honestly wish it wasn't.
The first half of the book was amazing. I loved it. The atmosphere was creepy, extremely creepy from start to finish, he captured the haunted house feel perfectly. At one point I had to put the book down, as it made me cringe that badly, and made me feel sick in the stomach. The bad part was, that I ended up with rather high expectations for the rest of the book, and was greatly disappointed. Why? Because it was no where near as good. Once I got to the middle of the book, it was a real effort to continue reading.
I'm not saying that it was a bad book, because I did enjoy reading it, it did improve again towards the end, but the big reveal was a bit of a let down. I enjoyed the ending though. It surprised me a little bit, as I predicted a few of the things that were going to happen, but Graham managed to slightly alter what I'd expected to happen.
The first half of the book was amazing. I loved it. The atmosphere was creepy, extremely creepy from start to finish, he captured the haunted house feel perfectly. At one point I had to put the book down, as it made me cringe that badly, and made me feel sick in the stomach. The bad part was, that I ended up with rather high expectations for the rest of the book, and was greatly disappointed. Why? Because it was no where near as good. Once I got to the middle of the book, it was a real effort to continue reading.
I'm not saying that it was a bad book, because I did enjoy reading it, it did improve again towards the end, but the big reveal was a bit of a let down. I enjoyed the ending though. It surprised me a little bit, as I predicted a few of the things that were going to happen, but Graham managed to slightly alter what I'd expected to happen.
December 25, 2009
This author is one of the most orginal and scary storytellers of our time - he can scare the pants off me!
Back Cover Blurb:
After Craig Bellman is horrifically attacked, he and his wife Effie leave New York for the peace of the country, hoping to rebuild their damaged relationship. However, when Craig insists on buying a derelict mansion on a mountainside - despite Effie's serious reservations - their problems are only just beginning.
The house echoes with a terrible agonised sobbing, and Effie, trying to overcome her fears, recruits a spiritualist to deal with its threatening vibrations. But when a gruesome death occurs she starts to fear that the spirit of the past, and of the previous owner, notorious gambler Jack Belias, is back to haunt them for good.....
Back Cover Blurb:
After Craig Bellman is horrifically attacked, he and his wife Effie leave New York for the peace of the country, hoping to rebuild their damaged relationship. However, when Craig insists on buying a derelict mansion on a mountainside - despite Effie's serious reservations - their problems are only just beginning.
The house echoes with a terrible agonised sobbing, and Effie, trying to overcome her fears, recruits a spiritualist to deal with its threatening vibrations. But when a gruesome death occurs she starts to fear that the spirit of the past, and of the previous owner, notorious gambler Jack Belias, is back to haunt them for good.....
March 16, 2021
4 stars.
I really enjoyed this. Old style horrors are definitely a favourite genre for me and this one reminded me of The Shining. Different stories yes, but the vibes I got were similar. If you liked Stephen King's The Shinning, you will like this. In my opinion.
One part of the story held such a good surprise. The whole deal with the library floor and why it was built the way it was - absolutely fantastic when the truth came out about it. Those who have read this will understand.
While this wasn't scary for me, as I don't get scared reading horrors unfortunately, the storyline was addictive. It was really well told. It's my first from this author and I hope to get my hands on more of his.
I really enjoyed this. Old style horrors are definitely a favourite genre for me and this one reminded me of The Shining. Different stories yes, but the vibes I got were similar. If you liked Stephen King's The Shinning, you will like this. In my opinion.
One part of the story held such a good surprise. The whole deal with the library floor and why it was built the way it was - absolutely fantastic when the truth came out about it. Those who have read this will understand.
While this wasn't scary for me, as I don't get scared reading horrors unfortunately, the storyline was addictive. It was really well told. It's my first from this author and I hope to get my hands on more of his.
September 17, 2012
A dilapidated NY estate becomes the obsession of a NY attorney after he has a life-changing "accident". In pretty quick order, the builder of the estate, who disappeared in 1937 under mysterious circumstances, begins to possess the attorney, and his sadism, gambling and dark behavior follows.
I thought the book was well written but was annoyed by a couple of scenes late in the book. An appraiser turns up with a fairly valuable piece of information that seemed odd to be in his possession. There was also a scene with a cat with a bow on its tail that was a bit strange as well. Still though, not a bad read.
3 STARS
I thought the book was well written but was annoyed by a couple of scenes late in the book. An appraiser turns up with a fairly valuable piece of information that seemed odd to be in his possession. There was also a scene with a cat with a bow on its tail that was a bit strange as well. Still though, not a bad read.
3 STARS
August 17, 2012
Ive read this book 6 times and i love it!!! its one of them books which is easy to read, and realllly easy to let the mind flow with the story line. i LOVED it. im normally a richard Laymon fan but Graham masterton has wrote an amazing book here. creepy in places, sexual in others but gripping all the way through. Loved it.
August 31, 2017
Though this book was captivating. I was disturbed by how the womens were treated in this book. The MC Effie was such a doormat women. I hate such womens. Other than that the book was nice. I like the concept. I was hooked.
February 2, 2010
After the Harrow books by Douglas Clegg and this, The House That Jack Built by Graham Masterton, remind me never to invest in real estate near the Hudson river. Jeez.
Yes, it's haunted house time again on my recent run of Leisure published haunted howlers. The last one I read was The Reckoning, by Sarah Pinborough. Whereas that haunted abode was a modest house in an English village, Jack's House is on a much grander scale. But do bigger houses produce bigger scares? Read on.
Spot the lyric time? Obvious? Yeah, thought so...
Is that the moon
Or just a light that lights this dead end street?
Is that you there
Or just another demon that I meet?
Craig Bellman, high-flying-affair-dabbling-taxi-driver-goading NY lawyer has a less then perfect night when he is mugged and suffers...well, quite a personal injury (executed in trademark Masterton nastiness. I won't spoil the fun!). To recuperate, him and his wife Effie (Effie? Seriously? What is she? a poodle? NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE NAMED EFFIE IN REAL LIFE: POODLE OR OTHERWISE)stay in a hotel in the countryside by the apparently most haunted region in the world.
They come across a house, or more accurately, a sprawling manor, called Valhalla, which was built by the infamous gambler and all round complete bastard, Jack Belias. Craig becomes obsessed with the house, and sees its refurbishment as his own healing over the heinous crime that rocked him emotionally as well as physically.
But this being near the Hudson (shiver!), things aren't going to go smoothly. Accidents happen. People begin to change. What the hell is the deal with Jack Belias?
There's a lot of competition with these haunted house novels. How does Masterton's compare?
The first half is a great read. The scare scenes are suitably drawn out and Masterton hits the atmosphere on the nose every time. This had a definite The Haunting feel about it, with long, creepy corridors, distant crying and fleeting glimpses or figures slipping into rooms. Great stuff! The death scenes, this is Masterton after all, are nice and squeamish. A particular cellar death was my favourite.
About halfway through...hmm. Problems, dear reader. The ghostly occurrences seem to dry up, and the book concentrates on how the characters are changing. Shame the reader should have worked this out about a hundred pages ago.
The second half is also preoccupied with the explanation of how this haunting has come about. I don't like to provide spoilers so won't reveal this. Should you read the book, you may understand how I find the explanation a little bit silly. My irk was also intensified by the character of Pepper (or magic info dump lady) who constantly reminds the reader that the concept of ghosts as long dead spirits is completely ludicrous.
Yes, Pepper, but a lot less ludicrous then what it actually turns out to be.
Things pick up for the finale though which made the book an okay read.
Oh, there was a subplot about Jack Belias' son. Did I forget about that? I know the book did. At least there's a tacked on chapter at the very end to explain it (pah!). Plus, we all knew who the son was as there's only a handful of characters in this novel. It doesn't matter anyway. It didn't make a smidgen of difference to the plot.
This was no where near as good as the delightfully sickening Ritual, also by Masterton, and I also hear great things about Walkers, which is also on the shelf. As for Jack's House, which he did indeed build, you might be able to buy the album which features the song for the same price. I think that offers more repeat performances.
Just don't get it on Napster, or you might find a high-flying-affair-dabbling-taxi-driver-goading NY lawyer knocking on your door.
Yes, it's haunted house time again on my recent run of Leisure published haunted howlers. The last one I read was The Reckoning, by Sarah Pinborough. Whereas that haunted abode was a modest house in an English village, Jack's House is on a much grander scale. But do bigger houses produce bigger scares? Read on.
Spot the lyric time? Obvious? Yeah, thought so...
Is that the moon
Or just a light that lights this dead end street?
Is that you there
Or just another demon that I meet?
Craig Bellman, high-flying-affair-dabbling-taxi-driver-goading NY lawyer has a less then perfect night when he is mugged and suffers...well, quite a personal injury (executed in trademark Masterton nastiness. I won't spoil the fun!). To recuperate, him and his wife Effie (Effie? Seriously? What is she? a poodle? NO OFFENCE TO ANYONE NAMED EFFIE IN REAL LIFE: POODLE OR OTHERWISE)stay in a hotel in the countryside by the apparently most haunted region in the world.
They come across a house, or more accurately, a sprawling manor, called Valhalla, which was built by the infamous gambler and all round complete bastard, Jack Belias. Craig becomes obsessed with the house, and sees its refurbishment as his own healing over the heinous crime that rocked him emotionally as well as physically.
But this being near the Hudson (shiver!), things aren't going to go smoothly. Accidents happen. People begin to change. What the hell is the deal with Jack Belias?
There's a lot of competition with these haunted house novels. How does Masterton's compare?
The first half is a great read. The scare scenes are suitably drawn out and Masterton hits the atmosphere on the nose every time. This had a definite The Haunting feel about it, with long, creepy corridors, distant crying and fleeting glimpses or figures slipping into rooms. Great stuff! The death scenes, this is Masterton after all, are nice and squeamish. A particular cellar death was my favourite.
About halfway through...hmm. Problems, dear reader. The ghostly occurrences seem to dry up, and the book concentrates on how the characters are changing. Shame the reader should have worked this out about a hundred pages ago.
The second half is also preoccupied with the explanation of how this haunting has come about. I don't like to provide spoilers so won't reveal this. Should you read the book, you may understand how I find the explanation a little bit silly. My irk was also intensified by the character of Pepper (or magic info dump lady) who constantly reminds the reader that the concept of ghosts as long dead spirits is completely ludicrous.
Yes, Pepper, but a lot less ludicrous then what it actually turns out to be.
Things pick up for the finale though which made the book an okay read.
Oh, there was a subplot about Jack Belias' son. Did I forget about that? I know the book did. At least there's a tacked on chapter at the very end to explain it (pah!). Plus, we all knew who the son was as there's only a handful of characters in this novel. It doesn't matter anyway. It didn't make a smidgen of difference to the plot.
This was no where near as good as the delightfully sickening Ritual, also by Masterton, and I also hear great things about Walkers, which is also on the shelf. As for Jack's House, which he did indeed build, you might be able to buy the album which features the song for the same price. I think that offers more repeat performances.
Just don't get it on Napster, or you might find a high-flying-affair-dabbling-taxi-driver-goading NY lawyer knocking on your door.
October 31, 2015
This is not your run-of-the-mill haunted house tale, I promise.
When Effie and Craig visit a derelict mansion called Valhalla, Craig is immediately and irresistibly drawn to it. Effie has misgivings--the house is falling apart, quite literally, and it would cost millions to restore--but since Craig's emotional and mental health has been so precarious, Effie grudgingly agrees. Once they begin the restoration, though, changes are evident in Craig's physical and personal traits. His former quiet, downcast demeanor fades, but is replaced by a most unwelcome (though undeniably exciting) harshness. Craig begins dominating Effie in a way he never had before, and despite herself, part of her enjoys it. At first, she thinks he's just finding himself, but once the dominating turns into abuse, Effie begins to panic. The subtle but clear changes in Craig's physical appearance are even more worrying. Craig is gradually becoming more and more like Valhalla's original owner--a notorious gambler who treated his women like dogs and wasn't much nicer to men. Eventually, the restoration project becomes perilous for the couple, as well as anyone else involved with Valhalla. Effie must figure out a way to bring Craig back from wherever it is his soul has retreated to, and keep the house from finishing her off at the same time.
Apart from the novel concept, which I love, the book is genuinely creepy. It does get a bit excessive though, particularly when describing Craig's sexual domination of Effie, among other things, but it sticks pretty consistently to the main point: this house is creepy, and horrible, and it can cause more damage than either of them could ever have imagined. Rather than using the hackneyed tortured spirit premise, the book takes the trope and transforms it by using "psychic vibrations", which basically means that time is elastic and events are not necessarily sequential. In other words, Craig and Effie are going through their personal trials but are also being burdened with pain and suffering that occurred in the "past". Valhalla's mysterious influence is so powerful that it takes a herculean effort from a number of people to break free. It's definitely worth the read, though it's not exactly a stunning portrait of human nature. Still, it's an entertaining read, which is the point, I think.
When Effie and Craig visit a derelict mansion called Valhalla, Craig is immediately and irresistibly drawn to it. Effie has misgivings--the house is falling apart, quite literally, and it would cost millions to restore--but since Craig's emotional and mental health has been so precarious, Effie grudgingly agrees. Once they begin the restoration, though, changes are evident in Craig's physical and personal traits. His former quiet, downcast demeanor fades, but is replaced by a most unwelcome (though undeniably exciting) harshness. Craig begins dominating Effie in a way he never had before, and despite herself, part of her enjoys it. At first, she thinks he's just finding himself, but once the dominating turns into abuse, Effie begins to panic. The subtle but clear changes in Craig's physical appearance are even more worrying. Craig is gradually becoming more and more like Valhalla's original owner--a notorious gambler who treated his women like dogs and wasn't much nicer to men. Eventually, the restoration project becomes perilous for the couple, as well as anyone else involved with Valhalla. Effie must figure out a way to bring Craig back from wherever it is his soul has retreated to, and keep the house from finishing her off at the same time.
Apart from the novel concept, which I love, the book is genuinely creepy. It does get a bit excessive though, particularly when describing Craig's sexual domination of Effie, among other things, but it sticks pretty consistently to the main point: this house is creepy, and horrible, and it can cause more damage than either of them could ever have imagined. Rather than using the hackneyed tortured spirit premise, the book takes the trope and transforms it by using "psychic vibrations", which basically means that time is elastic and events are not necessarily sequential. In other words, Craig and Effie are going through their personal trials but are also being burdened with pain and suffering that occurred in the "past". Valhalla's mysterious influence is so powerful that it takes a herculean effort from a number of people to break free. It's definitely worth the read, though it's not exactly a stunning portrait of human nature. Still, it's an entertaining read, which is the point, I think.
April 21, 2013
A vicious mugging proves difficult for successful lawyer Craig Bellman to recover from until he discovers an abandoned mansion while on holiday with his wife. Valhalla was built by a notorious playboy gambler who disappeared in the 1930s. Bellman is entranced by the old house, but of course there is more to it than meets the eye.
Masterton is an accomplished writer in a number of genres, which in my opinion makes him a better horror writer as his novels are good stories with a horror theme rather than being pulpy horror. Not that there is anything wronmg with pulpy horror, I love it! Masterton is no Stephen King, and doesn't want or try to be, but he has a style and imagination that blends horror with a good story perfectly.
The House That Jack Built is another winner from one of my favourite authors. It's a good twist on the haunted house story, set against the Bellman's struggle to come to terms with what happened to Craig. As is the norm for Masterton, it's well written and easy to read.
Masterton is an accomplished writer in a number of genres, which in my opinion makes him a better horror writer as his novels are good stories with a horror theme rather than being pulpy horror. Not that there is anything wronmg with pulpy horror, I love it! Masterton is no Stephen King, and doesn't want or try to be, but he has a style and imagination that blends horror with a good story perfectly.
The House That Jack Built is another winner from one of my favourite authors. It's a good twist on the haunted house story, set against the Bellman's struggle to come to terms with what happened to Craig. As is the norm for Masterton, it's well written and easy to read.
July 18, 2021
This one had been on my bookshelf for a long time and I continued to skip it. Finally this month I decided to get through another Masterton (one of my favourite authors of the horror genre) and I wish I had read it long ago.
If you are familiar with classic Masterton horror then this book will not surprise too much. If you like his old horror tales, it will most likely greatly entertain you and give you what you want. It has his style of familiar graphic violent scenes early on, before the tale jumps ahead a few months. The lead couple visit a mysterious old grand house and soon death surrounds them.
Masterton always has some inventive, unique twist element in his books making them stand apart from the crowd and with this tale there was a nice surprise element which carried the tale through to the end. It helped with this being one of the larger Masterton books though I still feel the story could have been explored further. I may have expected more from the ending and some parts may not have entirely satisfied but overall another really entertaining and thrilling Masterton tale.
If you are familiar with classic Masterton horror then this book will not surprise too much. If you like his old horror tales, it will most likely greatly entertain you and give you what you want. It has his style of familiar graphic violent scenes early on, before the tale jumps ahead a few months. The lead couple visit a mysterious old grand house and soon death surrounds them.
Masterton always has some inventive, unique twist element in his books making them stand apart from the crowd and with this tale there was a nice surprise element which carried the tale through to the end. It helped with this being one of the larger Masterton books though I still feel the story could have been explored further. I may have expected more from the ending and some parts may not have entirely satisfied but overall another really entertaining and thrilling Masterton tale.
March 1, 2024
Massive thanks to @literary_lee for recommending me this one for my 12 book recommendations challenge. I’m a fan of Graham Mastertons work so was chuffed to see this one recommended and boy this didn’t disappoint! A unique story of a haunted house with an evil history of events, and that dark twisted spirit is about to latch on to anyone they can! Craig was immediately drawn into this creepy run down mansion called Valhalla, his wife Effie definitely was not and tried her very best to make craig see sense, in the end she agrees to restore the mansion but that’s when things go from bad to worse! This gave me the shining vibes mixed with September house! Loved it!
July 30, 2015
The House That Jack Built tells the story of Craig and Effie Bellman who after Craig's mugging stumble upon the infamous house, Valhalla. Craig becomes drawn to the house in an unnatural way, and Effie becomes concerned about where this house begins to lead them. Meanwhile, typical creepy haunted house activity gives way into a visceral narrative of sex, sadism, misogyny, and supernatural intrigue.
From the opening chapter, Masterton had my attention. Craig was still an unlikable character, but in reality this turned out to be Effie's story of how she deals with her marriage falling apart. And though jumping POVs, it reminded me a bit of The Shining, but with sex and gore, and female empowerment. That said, this isn't for the faint of heart in terms of sex and violence, and I was often disgusted at the misogyny (and to the story's detriment makes Jack Belias more of a mua-ha-ha villain than a complex antagonist). The supernatural explanation worked well, and was a unique twist on the usual ghostly phenomenon in a haunted house makes this a memorable entry in the genre. Finally, I enjoyed the way the book built the tension and kept me turning the pages.
Overall, The House That Jack Built was a memorable and entertaining novel for fans of a good, old ghost and haunted house story.
From the opening chapter, Masterton had my attention. Craig was still an unlikable character, but in reality this turned out to be Effie's story of how she deals with her marriage falling apart. And though jumping POVs, it reminded me a bit of The Shining, but with sex and gore, and female empowerment. That said, this isn't for the faint of heart in terms of sex and violence, and I was often disgusted at the misogyny (and to the story's detriment makes Jack Belias more of a mua-ha-ha villain than a complex antagonist). The supernatural explanation worked well, and was a unique twist on the usual ghostly phenomenon in a haunted house makes this a memorable entry in the genre. Finally, I enjoyed the way the book built the tension and kept me turning the pages.
Overall, The House That Jack Built was a memorable and entertaining novel for fans of a good, old ghost and haunted house story.
September 14, 2012
This book wasn't good as it was made out to be, I absolutely love Graham Masterton books but this one seemed a bit poor compared to his others. I borrowed this book off my boyfriends father, as he's a big fan as well. I put it down for a couple of weeks, and finally picked it up when I was on holidays. It was okay, but the characters and story line wasn't all that good.
June 2, 2014
I went on a Graham Masterton Jag and read several of his books. This one was my favorite. Plus, anytime an author uses the word "vulva" in a book, it has to be worth reading, right?! It was a scary story, not "Keep me awake" scary, but I am scarred from too much horror (novels and Netflix), but it was a good read.
November 23, 2011
This is one of the all time best haunted house novels ever written! Take a house with a past + a couple with marriage problems and what do you get? Terror! But there is oh, so much more to this book!
June 25, 2021
Actually DNF around 10 pages from the end as I didn’t care for the story and it was so predictable. Another male author attempting to write from a woman’s perspective and getting it all wrong. I despised how Effie was ‘aroused’ by Craig/ Jack legit raping her! Just an awful book. Do not recommend.
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