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The Amityville Horror
The Amityville Horror by Anson, Jay. Published by Pocket Star,2005, Mass Market Paperback
Paperback
Published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Jay Anson
10 books268 followersJay Anson (November 4, 1921 – March 12, 1980) was an American author whose most famous work was The Amityville Horror. After the runaway success of that novel, he wrote 666, which also dealt with a haunted house.
He began as a copy boy on the New York Evening Journal in 1937 and later worked in advertising and publicity. With more than 500 documentary scripts for television to his credit, he was associated with Professional Films, Inc. He died in 1980.
His work, The Amityville Horror, was sold as "a true story," and it was based on the reported experiences of George Lutz and Kathleen Lutz at 112 Ocean Avenue in December 1975. The Lutzes had sold the rights to the book to Anson, who had added to and adapted some of the Lutz's original claims. A film was later made of the book, which exemplified these additions.
He began as a copy boy on the New York Evening Journal in 1937 and later worked in advertising and publicity. With more than 500 documentary scripts for television to his credit, he was associated with Professional Films, Inc. He died in 1980.
His work, The Amityville Horror, was sold as "a true story," and it was based on the reported experiences of George Lutz and Kathleen Lutz at 112 Ocean Avenue in December 1975. The Lutzes had sold the rights to the book to Anson, who had added to and adapted some of the Lutz's original claims. A film was later made of the book, which exemplified these additions.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 4, 2025
Hard to believe this is non-fiction, freaky af!!! The movie did a good job of retelling it. I used to love that movie as a kid.
August 14, 2025
A “TRUE STORY”? THIS IS THE BOOK THAT BEGAN THE HORROR FRANCHISE
The Preface to this 1977 book by Reverend John J. Nicola (born 1929; he was Assistant director of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., a technical advisor to ‘The Exorcist' film, and the author of ‘Diabolical Possession and Exorcism’) states, “In our modern Western world, there are three main stances which… individuals assume toward reports of siege by mysterious powers. The first [is] the SCIENTIFIC… [The second] may be characterized as SUPERSTITIOUS. The third stance contains something of each of the other two… it broadens the vistas of positive science, incorporating spiritual dimensions of reality … This we may call the RELIGIOUS stance. One certainty is that the phenomena reported in this book do happen… Unfortunately, this complex web of ignorance, bias, and fear causes a great deal of suffering for the unsuspecting family suddenly tossed into an upsetting and frightening situation. It is just such a case to which Jay Anson addresses himself… It is… a documentary told by the family and the priest who actually experienced what is reported… Those of us who have been involved in psychic investigations can verify the fact that the case is not atypical.”
The Prologue explains, “On February 5, 1976, the Ten O’Clock News on New York’s Channel Five … was doing a series on people who claimed to have extraordinary powers… reporter Steve Bauman … said that on November 13, 1974, a large colonial house … had been the scene of a mass murder. Twenty-four-year-old Ronald DeFeo had taken a high-powered rifle and methodically shot to death his parents, two brothers, and two sisters. DeFeo had subsequently been sentenced to life imprisonment… the house was sold… to a couple named George and Kathleen Lutz. The Lutzes had been aware of the killings, but not being superstitious, they had felt the house would be perfect for themselves and their three children. They moved in on December 18. Shortly thereafter, Bauman said, they had become aware that the place was inhabited by some psychic force and that they feared for their lives… Four weeks after they moved in, the Lutzes abandoned the house, taking only a few changes of clothes… But before they left… They had consulted the police and a local priest as well as a psychic research group… George Lutz stated to reporters that he would not spend another night in the house, but he was not planning to sell [the house] just then… At that point in time, the Lutzes cut off all communication with the media, feeling that too much was being overstated and exaggerated. It is only now that their whole story is being told.”
Anson wrote, “For the seventh night in a row, George awoke at exactly 3:15… [his wife] Kathy woke up… ‘She was shot in the head!’ Kathy yelled… Detective Gionfriddo had written [in his report] that Louise, the mother of the [DeFeo] family, had been shot in the head while sleeping on her stomach… This information had… never been released to the news media. In fact, this detail had never come out, even at Ronnie DeFeo’s trial.” (Pg. 59-60) Kathy said, “Things are getting worse. I’m really scared something can happen to the kids.” …. [George said], “‘I also want to talk to Eric at my office. He says his girlfriend’s got a lot of experience investigating haunted houses…’ ‘Haunted houses?’ Kathy interrupted. ‘Do you think this house is haunted? By what? … I just had a thought, George. Do you think our TM [Transcendental Meditation] had anything to do with all this?’ George shook his head. ‘Nah. Nothing at all. But … we’ve got to get help somewhere…’” (Pg. 147)
Anson recounts that a group of Catholic priests discussed the matter, one of whom explained, “let me reassure you that first of all, PLACES and THINGS are never possessed. Only people…” Another said, “Investigating cases of possible diabolical interference… we must consider the following: One, fraud and deception. Two, natural scientific causes. Three, parapsychological causes. Four, diabolical influences. And five, miracles. In this case, fraud and trickery don’t seem plausible.” Still another suggested, “Have [the Lutzes] contact some investigative organization like Dr. Rhine’s to come in and look at the house. They’ll do extensive testing and I’m sure they can come to some conclusion short of diabolical influence.” Father Mancuso [who had been working with the Lutzes] was told, “You are not to return to that house. You can call the Lutzes and tell them what we suggested. But under no circumstances are you ever to go there again.” (Pg. 161-163)
Father Mancuso told George Lutz over the phone, “You’re involved in something dangerous! I don’t know what is going on in your house, but you’d better get out!” He added, “there’s just one more thing… I seem to recall that you and Kathy were into Transcendental Meditation at one time… Do you still practice that?” “No---yes. Well, we haven’t really kept it up since we’ve moved here,” George answered. “Why?” Father Mancuso replied, “I’m glad you’re not doing it now. It might have been making you susceptible.” (Pg. 174-175)
Anson wrote, “Kathy sat bolt upright and looked at George’s side of the bed… She saw her image reflected in the mirrors that covered the wall from ceiling to floor, and she had the urge to get the crucifix out of the closet again… Kathy was halfway out of bed when she … stared into the mirrors. Her image seemed to take on a life of its own, and she could hear it saying: ‘Don’t do it! You’ll destroy everyone!’ When George came up… he found Kathy asleep… [He] returned to his chair in the living room, opened the Bible and began at … the Book of Genesis… George shivered. The serpent is the Devil, he thought. Then he felt a hot blast… The flames of the fireplace were reaching out for him!... Gripping the Bible tightly, George raced up the steps toward his bedroom… George ran to Missy’s bedroom… The windows were wide open, the below-freezing air pouring in… Kathy woke up. ‘Warm her up!’ George yelled. ‘She’s freezing to death!’… Kathy covered the little girls with her own body… The windows in Danny and Chris’ bedroom, George found, were also wide open… All five Lutzes were in one bed… It took almost a half hour before the children’s body temperatures seemed back to normal. Only then did George realize he was still holding onto the Bible. Knowing he had been more than warned, he flung it to the floor.” (Pg. 197-199)
Anson concludes, “George followed his wife. At the head of the staircase they both stopped and recoiled in horror. Coming UP the steps toward them was a snake-like line of greenish-black slime! George knew that he had not been dreaming. It was all real. Whatever he had thought that had left forever at 112 Ocean Avenue was following them---wherever the Lutzes fled.” (Pg. 253)
I’m personally quite skeptical about this being a ‘True Story.’ (The Internet has lots of material on it, pro and con.) If you read it as a fictional horror story, though, it’s not bad.
The Preface to this 1977 book by Reverend John J. Nicola (born 1929; he was Assistant director of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., a technical advisor to ‘The Exorcist' film, and the author of ‘Diabolical Possession and Exorcism’) states, “In our modern Western world, there are three main stances which… individuals assume toward reports of siege by mysterious powers. The first [is] the SCIENTIFIC… [The second] may be characterized as SUPERSTITIOUS. The third stance contains something of each of the other two… it broadens the vistas of positive science, incorporating spiritual dimensions of reality … This we may call the RELIGIOUS stance. One certainty is that the phenomena reported in this book do happen… Unfortunately, this complex web of ignorance, bias, and fear causes a great deal of suffering for the unsuspecting family suddenly tossed into an upsetting and frightening situation. It is just such a case to which Jay Anson addresses himself… It is… a documentary told by the family and the priest who actually experienced what is reported… Those of us who have been involved in psychic investigations can verify the fact that the case is not atypical.”
The Prologue explains, “On February 5, 1976, the Ten O’Clock News on New York’s Channel Five … was doing a series on people who claimed to have extraordinary powers… reporter Steve Bauman … said that on November 13, 1974, a large colonial house … had been the scene of a mass murder. Twenty-four-year-old Ronald DeFeo had taken a high-powered rifle and methodically shot to death his parents, two brothers, and two sisters. DeFeo had subsequently been sentenced to life imprisonment… the house was sold… to a couple named George and Kathleen Lutz. The Lutzes had been aware of the killings, but not being superstitious, they had felt the house would be perfect for themselves and their three children. They moved in on December 18. Shortly thereafter, Bauman said, they had become aware that the place was inhabited by some psychic force and that they feared for their lives… Four weeks after they moved in, the Lutzes abandoned the house, taking only a few changes of clothes… But before they left… They had consulted the police and a local priest as well as a psychic research group… George Lutz stated to reporters that he would not spend another night in the house, but he was not planning to sell [the house] just then… At that point in time, the Lutzes cut off all communication with the media, feeling that too much was being overstated and exaggerated. It is only now that their whole story is being told.”
Anson wrote, “For the seventh night in a row, George awoke at exactly 3:15… [his wife] Kathy woke up… ‘She was shot in the head!’ Kathy yelled… Detective Gionfriddo had written [in his report] that Louise, the mother of the [DeFeo] family, had been shot in the head while sleeping on her stomach… This information had… never been released to the news media. In fact, this detail had never come out, even at Ronnie DeFeo’s trial.” (Pg. 59-60) Kathy said, “Things are getting worse. I’m really scared something can happen to the kids.” …. [George said], “‘I also want to talk to Eric at my office. He says his girlfriend’s got a lot of experience investigating haunted houses…’ ‘Haunted houses?’ Kathy interrupted. ‘Do you think this house is haunted? By what? … I just had a thought, George. Do you think our TM [Transcendental Meditation] had anything to do with all this?’ George shook his head. ‘Nah. Nothing at all. But … we’ve got to get help somewhere…’” (Pg. 147)
Anson recounts that a group of Catholic priests discussed the matter, one of whom explained, “let me reassure you that first of all, PLACES and THINGS are never possessed. Only people…” Another said, “Investigating cases of possible diabolical interference… we must consider the following: One, fraud and deception. Two, natural scientific causes. Three, parapsychological causes. Four, diabolical influences. And five, miracles. In this case, fraud and trickery don’t seem plausible.” Still another suggested, “Have [the Lutzes] contact some investigative organization like Dr. Rhine’s to come in and look at the house. They’ll do extensive testing and I’m sure they can come to some conclusion short of diabolical influence.” Father Mancuso [who had been working with the Lutzes] was told, “You are not to return to that house. You can call the Lutzes and tell them what we suggested. But under no circumstances are you ever to go there again.” (Pg. 161-163)
Father Mancuso told George Lutz over the phone, “You’re involved in something dangerous! I don’t know what is going on in your house, but you’d better get out!” He added, “there’s just one more thing… I seem to recall that you and Kathy were into Transcendental Meditation at one time… Do you still practice that?” “No---yes. Well, we haven’t really kept it up since we’ve moved here,” George answered. “Why?” Father Mancuso replied, “I’m glad you’re not doing it now. It might have been making you susceptible.” (Pg. 174-175)
Anson wrote, “Kathy sat bolt upright and looked at George’s side of the bed… She saw her image reflected in the mirrors that covered the wall from ceiling to floor, and she had the urge to get the crucifix out of the closet again… Kathy was halfway out of bed when she … stared into the mirrors. Her image seemed to take on a life of its own, and she could hear it saying: ‘Don’t do it! You’ll destroy everyone!’ When George came up… he found Kathy asleep… [He] returned to his chair in the living room, opened the Bible and began at … the Book of Genesis… George shivered. The serpent is the Devil, he thought. Then he felt a hot blast… The flames of the fireplace were reaching out for him!... Gripping the Bible tightly, George raced up the steps toward his bedroom… George ran to Missy’s bedroom… The windows were wide open, the below-freezing air pouring in… Kathy woke up. ‘Warm her up!’ George yelled. ‘She’s freezing to death!’… Kathy covered the little girls with her own body… The windows in Danny and Chris’ bedroom, George found, were also wide open… All five Lutzes were in one bed… It took almost a half hour before the children’s body temperatures seemed back to normal. Only then did George realize he was still holding onto the Bible. Knowing he had been more than warned, he flung it to the floor.” (Pg. 197-199)
Anson concludes, “George followed his wife. At the head of the staircase they both stopped and recoiled in horror. Coming UP the steps toward them was a snake-like line of greenish-black slime! George knew that he had not been dreaming. It was all real. Whatever he had thought that had left forever at 112 Ocean Avenue was following them---wherever the Lutzes fled.” (Pg. 253)
I’m personally quite skeptical about this being a ‘True Story.’ (The Internet has lots of material on it, pro and con.) If you read it as a fictional horror story, though, it’s not bad.
October 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
creepy for sure! i wonder what the property is like today
creepy for sure! i wonder what the property is like today
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