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syrudy's review against another edition
4.0
I think there were too many characters to keep track of so I had a hard time following the stories from the past but I enjoyed reading this book so much
sare1125's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying
jimmyjamesnickels's review against another edition
3.0
House of Echoes is more or less The Shining, without the shining. Someone told the author to do his best Stephen King impersonation in a first novel and it just doesn't quite work. While there are a few interesting elements nothing is really fully fleshed out leaving a solidly mediocre read.
Meet the Tierneys! Husband and father Ben is a writer stymied by writer's block, while his wife Caroline is a newly diagnosed manic depressive who recently was laid off from her banking job and together they have two children, Charlie (your garden variety creepy solemn wise-beyond-his-years child in a horror story a'la Cole from The Sixth Sense and, of course, Danny from The Shining. Without the shining, of course) and baby Bub. Having been the primary breadwinner for the family, the loss of Caroline's income puts the Tierneys in rough financial straights. So the family sets off for Ben's ancestral home town and purchases a run down manor mansion named the Crofts, figuring they can fully remodel the historic property into a swank B&B while Ben finds inspiration to write his next novel.
Again, the parallels to The Shining pretty much beat you over the head, however the stakes of the Torrance family seems a little bit higher. The Torrances were more or less down to their last buck when they were Overlook bound, it seems slightly less sympathetic when you consider the Tierneys had the scratch to purchase a palatial estate and hundreds of acres, not to mention the serious cash flow needed for the top of the line remodel job they do. Mo' money mo' problems?
The plot can be summed up as such: Disenfranchised writer moves his dysfunctional family to a mysterious place in the sticks in hopes of conquering his writer's block and bringing them all closer together only to face spooky goings on. And maybe I sound unnecessarily cynical thus far in the review, because no I didn't hate this book. It was solidly meh, another entry in the realm of good, but not great.
There were several elements to this story which seemed fresh and interesting, but the good ideas just sort of remained ideas. There's an awful lot going on here...there's the book Ben is trying to write, there's Caroline's mental illness, there's the mysterious and weird town they've moved to, there's a mysterious and weird "Watcher" in the woods who Charlie keeps encountering. There are all these different elements, of things both supernatural in nature and painfully human, all these different threads of the interesting and weird and yet the overall tapestry of the story never quite gets woven together.
I suppose this is what bothered me. Things never really seem to mesh or come together. There are all these interesting elements, thoughtful and interesting layers of the story. I liked those elements. For example, Caroline's mental illness is addressed not only from Ben's weary and sad gaze, but taken from Caroline's perspective herself...while it comes close to being the thing that defines Caroline, it's never done in the sense that she solely exists as Ben's Crazy Wife. There is sense of numb mourning and confusion as the family ties are strained and as they struggle to find equilibrium in a strange and frightening new normal, not just in the relationships they have with themselves but in their new physical surroundings.
But even so, the story arc for each character seems lacking. The Tierneys eldest son Charlie was a constant victim of bullying at his former schools, a particularly vicious incident in their past was part of the reason for the move to the titular Echoing House, and yet the effect of this bullying (or indeed, even why Charlie was such a target) is never really addressed. It's mentioned several times that Caroline has been recently diagnosed as bipolar, and the family is attempting to learn the new normal that comes with such a diagnosis. Good ideas and developments seem to be picked up, presented and then just set aside without any forward movement or resolution.
Also, there's some Wickerman/Children of the Corn/Wendigo ~thing~ shoe horned in. Honestly, the weakest parts of the book deal with the overarching "What's going on in this spoooooky little town?!" whodunnit (whydunnit?).
House of Echoes is not a terrible book by any means. It's just not that great. It didn't boil slowly or build tension in the way of gothic horror. If anything there was a distinct RL Stine's Goosebumps vibe, where each chapter had to end on a false cliffhanger, all dramatic music swelling for a calm let down in the following pages. The book shines when the author covers new ground, it falters badly when he tries on his best Stephen King impression.
Be that as it may, it was a promising first novel.
Meet the Tierneys! Husband and father Ben is a writer stymied by writer's block, while his wife Caroline is a newly diagnosed manic depressive who recently was laid off from her banking job and together they have two children, Charlie (your garden variety creepy solemn wise-beyond-his-years child in a horror story a'la Cole from The Sixth Sense and, of course, Danny from The Shining. Without the shining, of course) and baby Bub. Having been the primary breadwinner for the family, the loss of Caroline's income puts the Tierneys in rough financial straights. So the family sets off for Ben's ancestral home town and purchases a run down manor mansion named the Crofts, figuring they can fully remodel the historic property into a swank B&B while Ben finds inspiration to write his next novel.
Again, the parallels to The Shining pretty much beat you over the head, however the stakes of the Torrance family seems a little bit higher. The Torrances were more or less down to their last buck when they were Overlook bound, it seems slightly less sympathetic when you consider the Tierneys had the scratch to purchase a palatial estate and hundreds of acres, not to mention the serious cash flow needed for the top of the line remodel job they do. Mo' money mo' problems?
The plot can be summed up as such: Disenfranchised writer moves his dysfunctional family to a mysterious place in the sticks in hopes of conquering his writer's block and bringing them all closer together only to face spooky goings on. And maybe I sound unnecessarily cynical thus far in the review, because no I didn't hate this book. It was solidly meh, another entry in the realm of good, but not great.
There were several elements to this story which seemed fresh and interesting, but the good ideas just sort of remained ideas. There's an awful lot going on here...there's the book Ben is trying to write, there's Caroline's mental illness, there's the mysterious and weird town they've moved to, there's a mysterious and weird "Watcher" in the woods who Charlie keeps encountering. There are all these different elements, of things both supernatural in nature and painfully human, all these different threads of the interesting and weird and yet the overall tapestry of the story never quite gets woven together.
I suppose this is what bothered me. Things never really seem to mesh or come together. There are all these interesting elements, thoughtful and interesting layers of the story. I liked those elements. For example, Caroline's mental illness is addressed not only from Ben's weary and sad gaze, but taken from Caroline's perspective herself...while it comes close to being the thing that defines Caroline, it's never done in the sense that she solely exists as Ben's Crazy Wife. There is sense of numb mourning and confusion as the family ties are strained and as they struggle to find equilibrium in a strange and frightening new normal, not just in the relationships they have with themselves but in their new physical surroundings.
But even so, the story arc for each character seems lacking. The Tierneys eldest son Charlie was a constant victim of bullying at his former schools, a particularly vicious incident in their past was part of the reason for the move to the titular Echoing House, and yet the effect of this bullying (or indeed, even why Charlie was such a target) is never really addressed. It's mentioned several times that Caroline has been recently diagnosed as bipolar, and the family is attempting to learn the new normal that comes with such a diagnosis. Good ideas and developments seem to be picked up, presented and then just set aside without any forward movement or resolution.
Also, there's some Wickerman/Children of the Corn/Wendigo ~thing~ shoe horned in. Honestly, the weakest parts of the book deal with the overarching "What's going on in this spoooooky little town?!" whodunnit (whydunnit?).
House of Echoes is not a terrible book by any means. It's just not that great. It didn't boil slowly or build tension in the way of gothic horror. If anything there was a distinct RL Stine's Goosebumps vibe, where each chapter had to end on a false cliffhanger, all dramatic music swelling for a calm let down in the following pages. The book shines when the author covers new ground, it falters badly when he tries on his best Stephen King impression.
Be that as it may, it was a promising first novel.
sandygx260's review against another edition
3.0
I really should rate this as two stars. There were so many plot WTF's that drove me nuts. Really, a husband thinks the best thing for his bipolar wife is to buy a 65 room decayed mansion and turn it into an inn?
Really? Especially when neither one has any hospitality experience? She's a financial person and he's a stay at home dad who is a semi-successful author?
Yeah, that's a real fantasy novel right there.
But the writing was intriguing. The mystery was also intriguing.
The action was tight and brutal.
So I'm giving the novel a little more love. It is a quick read plus I didn't see the ultimate twists coming down the pike.
Really? Especially when neither one has any hospitality experience? She's a financial person and he's a stay at home dad who is a semi-successful author?
Yeah, that's a real fantasy novel right there.
But the writing was intriguing. The mystery was also intriguing.
The action was tight and brutal.
So I'm giving the novel a little more love. It is a quick read plus I didn't see the ultimate twists coming down the pike.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
I have never read Jennifer McMahon's The Winter People but I have read Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box. Which I really enjoyed. It was creepy and I could not stop reading the book. Mr. Duffy's book may not have lived up to the same level as Mr. Box's book but it sure had great potential. The only reason I could not give this book a five star rating is because while the scare factor is there it was just middle of the road scary. It was not scary enough to keep me up at night or to give me nightmares. Yes, when I read a scary or horror book I want to feel goose bumps on my arms, experience the feeling of someone watching me or keep my interest so high that I can't stop reading the book.
I found the things that Ben was experiencing along with the journey entries the creepiest. With the rest of the family it was not as scary. In fact, I kind of found these sections of the story to be quiet. Kind of like Amityville Horror but not so in your face. However still a quick read with a good ending.
I found the things that Ben was experiencing along with the journey entries the creepiest. With the rest of the family it was not as scary. In fact, I kind of found these sections of the story to be quiet. Kind of like Amityville Horror but not so in your face. However still a quick read with a good ending.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Brendan Duffy’s HOUSE OF ECHOES is a suspense psychological thriller of one family’s journey, leaving you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning.
A family in trouble, the Tierneys need to get away for a fresh start. When Ben inherits some land overlooking the village of Swannhaven, from his grandmother, in a remote area of upstate New York, they decide to leave Manhattan behind.
Ben is a writer and his second novel is not going so well, his wife, Carolyn, a banker, with bipolar disorder, has lost her job. Their eight year old son, Charlie was being bullied at school; so a good time to pick up and move with two month old Bub, for a fresh new start.
They buy an old estate nearby and make plans for renovation. They move into the 1700s original home, called The Crofts of the Swann family, and have dreams of turning it into an inn. The house is located on a plateau called The Drop between two mountains. While preparing for renovations and their new home/business, they begin researching the history of the home and the town, as well as establishing relationships in town.
At first things seem to be going as planned, and the renovations are moving along. Charlie is busy exploring in the woods and Ben has an idea for his novel, Carolyn busy with the renovation plans.
However, things begin to change, with dark haunting secrets and evil lurking, with strange chilling things happening through the forest. Swannshaven has some history going back to the Revolution. Everyone seems strange as winter approaches, and they begin uncovering secrets and Charlie becomes withdrawn venturing deep into the woods. Carolyn, who is always walking a fine line with depression, is not happy and the baby is crying more. The family is coming apart, and their well laid plans are falling apart.
What happened in this town, now haunted by echoes in the forest? A mix of horror, mystery, gothic, suspense, humor, and supernatural thriller. King fans will be reminded of The Shinning. Duffy keeps the intensity and suspense high, with some nice writing and storytelling. Look forward to more --to come!
Being in the hotel business and working with investors to purchase mixed use properties, renovating them for B&B inns, historic, and boutique hotels, I have come across some scary ghost properties, especially in some older remote towns. I have actually worked as an innkeeper for some haunted inns and stayed in a few. Fun, fun!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Brendan Duffy’s HOUSE OF ECHOES is a suspense psychological thriller of one family’s journey, leaving you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning.
A family in trouble, the Tierneys need to get away for a fresh start. When Ben inherits some land overlooking the village of Swannhaven, from his grandmother, in a remote area of upstate New York, they decide to leave Manhattan behind.
Ben is a writer and his second novel is not going so well, his wife, Carolyn, a banker, with bipolar disorder, has lost her job. Their eight year old son, Charlie was being bullied at school; so a good time to pick up and move with two month old Bub, for a fresh new start.
They buy an old estate nearby and make plans for renovation. They move into the 1700s original home, called The Crofts of the Swann family, and have dreams of turning it into an inn. The house is located on a plateau called The Drop between two mountains. While preparing for renovations and their new home/business, they begin researching the history of the home and the town, as well as establishing relationships in town.
At first things seem to be going as planned, and the renovations are moving along. Charlie is busy exploring in the woods and Ben has an idea for his novel, Carolyn busy with the renovation plans.
However, things begin to change, with dark haunting secrets and evil lurking, with strange chilling things happening through the forest. Swannshaven has some history going back to the Revolution. Everyone seems strange as winter approaches, and they begin uncovering secrets and Charlie becomes withdrawn venturing deep into the woods. Carolyn, who is always walking a fine line with depression, is not happy and the baby is crying more. The family is coming apart, and their well laid plans are falling apart.
What happened in this town, now haunted by echoes in the forest? A mix of horror, mystery, gothic, suspense, humor, and supernatural thriller. King fans will be reminded of The Shinning. Duffy keeps the intensity and suspense high, with some nice writing and storytelling. Look forward to more --to come!
Being in the hotel business and working with investors to purchase mixed use properties, renovating them for B&B inns, historic, and boutique hotels, I have come across some scary ghost properties, especially in some older remote towns. I have actually worked as an innkeeper for some haunted inns and stayed in a few. Fun, fun!
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
mmc6661's review against another edition
3.0
After Ben and Caroline's oldest son has a traumatic experience at school and the family undergoes several financial problems they decide to move upstate to the small community where Ben's grandmother was raised. They buy a large home surrounded by mountains, called the Crofts, in hopes of a bed and breakfast. As Ben delves more into his past and the history of the Swann family he grows closer and closer to the townsfolk while Caroline starts to find more distance and strangeness there. Is there a secret hiding in the past that would explain the tragic history of the house and town or is it just that, history ? What is the connection behind Ben's family and the town ? I have to admit I never saw what was coming in the final chapters of this book ! It had a slow buildup leading up to it but I felt that knowing the end it could of been even creepier if the author would of given us a bit more insight all along. Overall a pretty good horror and suspenseful read. Will look for Brendan Duffy again !
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
All a designer really has to do to draw me to a book is put an old, crumbling house on the cover. If the book's plot summary mentions strange goings-on, hidden secrets, and/or a deep, dark forest, I'm definitely going to read it. HOUSE OF ECHOES lured me in with all of these teasers and didn't disappoint with its creepy, atmospheric setting. The characters are sympathetic and intriguing, the mystery is twisty and surprising, and the plot had me burning through the pages (although it's not as adrenaline-fueled as a lot of other thrillers I've read). While there's nothing really original about HOUSE OF ECHOES, it's a solid read that would be perfect for Halloween. My big beef is with the ending, which is abrupt and leaves a lot of questions unanswered. I did notice that Duffy has an upcoming book called LOUDER ECHOES -- I'm hoping it's a sequel that will answer all the questions the author left dangling at the end of HOUSE OF ECHOES.