The Dead House by Billy O'Callaghan

Book Title: The Dead House
Author: Billy O'Callaghan
Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Ghost Story, Thriller
Goodreads

This best-selling debut by an award-winning writer is both an eerie contemporary ghost story and a dread-inducing psychological thriller. Maggie is a successful young artist who has had bad luck with men. Her last put her in the hospital and, after she’s healed physically, left her needing to get out of London to heal mentally and find a place of quiet that will restore her creative spirit. On the rugged west coast of Ireland, perched on a wild cliff side, she spies the shell of a cottage that dates back to Great Famine and decides to buy it. When work on the house is done, she invites her dealer to come for the weekend to celebrate along with a couple of women friends, one of whom will become his wife. On the boozy last night, the other friend pulls out an Ouija board. What sinister thing they summon, once invited, will never go.

Ireland is a country haunted by its past. In Billy O'Callaghan's hands, its terrible beauty becomes a force of inescapable horror that reaches far back in time, before the Famine, before Christianity, to a pagan place where nature and superstition are bound in an endless knot.

My Thoughts

Rating: 4/5 stars

Plot: The plot was a lovely combination of the modern world meeting very Gothic and historical elements. This novel brings us a ghost story with origins in the history of Ireland.

Characters: This novel is written in first person from the perspective of Micheal Simmons who is very likeable. He is a good friend that is always there to take care of Maggie through bad relationships and sticky situations. He is also somewhat a romantic as he pursues his future wife Alison. Maggie is an artist who seeks solitude after a string of bad relationships. The characters were all well fleshed out and interesting.

Setting: The setting is the number 1 most liked element for this novel. Billy O'Callaghan expertly describes the shores of western Ireland. This was a great setting for a ghost story with its rocky shores, and foggy weather. The way he described the isolation and gloominess of the old historical home was top notch.

The Writing: Billy O'Callaghan's writing was very beautiful and atmospheric. It flowed well all throughout the book.

What I didn't like: There is not much I can say I didn't like about this gorgeously written novel. It would have benefited from some more first hand spooky occurrences. Several of the haunting aspects were heard about through others so the lost some of the creep factor. However, the first hand experiences were well crafted.

Find out more about the author: Billy O'Callaghan

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