The Showing

by Will Macmillan Jones

His visit to the house has awoken that which was sleeping.

How many will be taken before it is laid to rest?

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Fiction

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2013

About the author

I'm a just sixty (honest) poet, novelist and oral storyteller working in the shadow of The Black Mountain, in the mist and myth haunted land of Wales. When not writing I'm usually lost (with the help of a GPS) on top of a mountain, looking for dragons. I haven't found one yet, but it's only a matter of time...

I'm a speculative fiction writer, with emphasis on horror, fantasy and now sci fi. I've also some pedigree in Flash Fiction, which is both challenging and tremendous fun to write - and maybe to read.

Reviews

[Kath Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, on the surface, the story of a haunted house. As one of the characters points out, though, there is a difference between haunting and possession. Once we find out that people who enter the house can just disappear, there’s more than just a cold draught and a spooky feeling haunting the house on Craddock Road. Mr Jones’ grandfather had the house built and as a child, Jones was afraid of being there. He looks around when it comes on the market and the agent accompanying him is not seen again. He becomes involved with a group of people trying to rescue those who disappeared as the family connection makes him feel a responsibility.

The author describes the approach to the house in his prologue which beautifully sets the scene for the creepy atmosphere which pervades the house and the story. The characters are well created. I really felt for the police officers who had the unenviable duty of standing watch over the building which terrified them, especially after dark. Eventually, there’s a climactic stand-off between the entity and the ‘good guys’ which includes a young policeman who has taken a shine to one of the missing women. Nice bit of love interest here. It’s very creepy and an exciting read. Recommended (unless you’re too scared!)

[Rob Twinem · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was terrible, the style of writing not to my taste, characters with no depth and instantly forgettable, and a storyline that did nothing to enhance or promote Haunted House horror. Just look at this sadly written rubbish!..."Great! She was a looker, and if you'll pardon the phrase as a policeman, you copped off with her?" "She was nice,yes. We went out, had a meal and I took her back to her car. She later sent me a text saying she planned to visit the house at night, to see if it really was haunted." If you really want to see how a haunted house book should be written I recommend the brilliant Floating Staircase by Ronald Malfi....a stunning work compared to this poor offering.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The climax could have been more dramatic and I didn't see the point of the epilogue but this was a quick and enjoyable Kindle read with a very definite air of menace created by the writer. I always think a book deserves a 4 star if I feel compelled to read it in one sitting even if it means staying up ridiculously late - so 4 stars it is!

[Michael Brookes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Showing is an excellent variation on the haunted house. It has some spooky moments and builds to the climax well. The writing is clean and accessible and a joy to read. Highly recommended.

[carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story with very mixed depths, and I found Mr Macmillan Jones extremely good at tension building, which is what you need for a good horror or occult story, and in my opinion this is.

It begins with the disappearance of the female estate agent, apparently from the house where she was showing Mr Jones around...he leaves, she disappears. In come the police, and here it was almost Laurel and Hardyesque, and I don't mean that as an insult. The police go through the motions of an investigation, traditional procedures, last person to see missing person has to be the murderer type of police investigation, keep to procedure and wear the suspect down, and they've convinced themselves for much of the book they are right, and it's here that I visualised the over confidence of Inspector Peake and Sergeant Wilson disappear, and them standing there scratching their heads, as Stan Laurel would have done.
One PC Ian Evans, however, finds conflict between common sense policing and experiences he has whilst on duty at this house...will he believe Mr Jones denial of knowledge? Whilst this day to day routine police investigation is going on, another disappears...and I was expecting a murder enquiry to follow...and so tension and occult references build and build until the climactic evil theories being propounded by Mediums and past experiences unravel to become events that would make even an occult sceptic refuse to enter said house.
Not the ending to be in a house on one's own.
I considered this for both 4 and 5 star and find this for me is borderline hence the 5 stars. This is very different to the slightly zany Goon's humour of The Banned Underground series of books Mr Macmillan Jones has written, but scarily enjoyable.

[Lex Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written novella, The Showing, is classic supernatural horror with one exception, the house isn't haunted, it's possessed. Mr Jones does an excellent job in building his characters, even those that made only brief appearances. The main protagonist, Mr. Jones, in particular, was an extremely likable and sympathetic young man; as was the lead detective trying to figure out a sensible, make that believable, answer to the strange disappearances of several estate agents.

The plot moves along well, but really picks up speed and suspense when a medium is consulted. She quickly realizes that she's in over her head, and sends Jones and a policeman (Evans), who's new love interest is among the missing, to another medium. This gentleman knows his stuff and leads Jones and Evans into a showdown with the entity that's causing all the trouble.

[mountainmama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possessed by a demon, the house built by Mr. Jones’ grandfather has claimed several victims over the years, including the real estate agent who showed the house to Mr. Jones when it recently came back on the market. When he becomes a suspect in the disappearance, he becomes embroiled in the search for the victims and the quest to rid the house of the evil entity.

Very well written and edited, this story is reminiscent of the classic haunted house horror tales of the past. The characters are believable and well fleshed-out. Mr. Jones sets the scenes very well and easily puts you in the picture. Creepy, spooky, and chilling, it will keep your interest to the last page.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mister Jones knows the house. He knows the evil that resides in it as well from his childhood visits. It was his Grandparents house and everyone in his family knew that evil lurked within it's halls. When the house goes up for sale, Mister Jones can't resist the urge to take another look; but will his curiosity be his downfall?

The author, Mr. Jones, has crafted a chilling classic haunted house tale that oozes a steady stream of dread. I love stories of hauntings and "The Showing" meets all the requirements I look for in a good haunted house story:

A house worth haunting- Mister Jones Grandparents house is the perfect example of a good haunted house. Spooky interior and exterior that the author described well.

A worthwhile protagonist- Mister Jones makes a good, albeit unwilling, protagonist. He knows that something is off with the house;he has experienced it and wants nothing to do with it, but once people go missing and the police get involved, he feels that it is up to him to take responsibility and stop the haunting.

A worthy antagonist- The spirit haunting the family house is down right evil. Snatching women who are left alone in the house and freaking everyone out with it's other-worldliness.

It took a few chapters for me to get a grip on some of the dialog and settings(it's based in England), but I soon acclimated myself and everything went smoothly until the epilogue.

I may have over looked something, but the epilogue confused me and after reading it twice I'm still left scratching my head. I feel, without the epilogue 'The Showing' would have had a stronger ending.

Overall, it is a worthy read if you are into haunted house stories.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I really like how I first started reading this story, and almost dreaded that this was going to be a typical haunted house story, and was preparing to be disappointed – and found out that I was completely wrong! The author did a great job tricking me. It starts out as your typical house that appears to be haunted, gives everyone the usual super creeps when they walk in, and people start disappearing. You see where this appears to be going…but it wasn’t!

I did enjoy finding out where this novella ended up going, and although there were some things I thought I knew were coming, there were definitely some things I did not see coming. I was happy with the unpredictability of the ending.

The only reason I did not give this story 5 stars was because I didn’t feel like I connected with the individual characters as much as I would like to, and to me, the story felt like it had a slow start. That being said, these are personal preferences, so a different reader may very easily enjoy this book differently than I did. I would certainly recommend reading it to find out, and to find the secrets this house holds!
This Review is copyrighted. Please do not share without giving Paranormal Reads/Erin full credit.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read any supernatural horror, and Macmillan Jones has written a suitably creepy tale that ushered me back into the genre with spine-tingling flair.

The story draws you in at a measured pace, letting the eerie feel build, the tension of unseen malevolence mount, without ever letting the pace become turgid.

The horror, or perhaps more accurately the fear, arises out of skillful under-statement; it's what's left unsaid that really brings the shadows, the chills, and the goosebumps to life.

All told, if this was a movie, I'd have been watching from behind the sofa.

[♕ ❤ ♕ Princess pink diamonds posh bird LINZY.x.♕ ❤ ♕ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.
Very scary but funny in parts I laughed out loud at grown men being scared of entering the house.
This book is about a possessed house.whatever was inside was living in there preying on young estate agent women.
Once they entered the house they didn't come out.what was happening to these women and why?
I would recommend you to read this book and find out.
A gripping read from this author!
I look forward to reading more of Will macmillans books.

[✿Claire✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suitably spooky and intriguing, definitely not the sort of book to read late at night when you're by yourself. And definitely not one to read before a house viewing!!

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, spooky house story. I'll be looking for more from this author.

[Larissa Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mister Jones's ancestral home is for sale again, but he cannot afford it. However, that does not prevent him from meeting up with a Real Estate agent to recapture childhood nostalgia. Once he enters the massive home, Mister Jones knows exactly where to go--which room to escape to and how long he should remain in the said room until the danger has passed. Then, he exits the house, but the Real Estate agent does not.

Officers search the house. There is no blood. There is no body, and the last person to see the agent is Mister Jones, but he has NEVER killed anyone. He welcomes you to check his home, take his fingerprints, and detain him for an interview. And when another agent disappears, Mister Jones will
even return to the house to help search, but when he tells you to enter a particular room and pull the curtain, you had better not hesitate. Listening to Mister Jones will save your life. But Mister Jones is not as transparent as he appears. There's something about him that causes suspicion. He cannot be as clean as he portrays. Or is he?

Will Macmillan Jones does not prevaricate; instead, he immediately captures readers' attention and swiftly moves them through the story. However, please know that there are a few editing errors, but they do not detract from the story. After reading book 1, it will not be long before you have transitioned into another horror mystery that Mr. Jones has difficulty escaping.

[Dominick Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a spine-tingling ghostly mystery that had me hooked from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the constant undercurrent of suspense that runs throughout. The author does a great job keeping the 'how' and 'why' shrouded in mystery until the very end, with one character seemingly knowing something but hesitating to share his experiences, perhaps because he fears being labeled as mad, or maybe because he doesn't fully believe them himself.

However, I have to say that once the big reveal finally happened, some of the eerie vibes started to wane. It's that tricky balance between craving answers and the spine-tingling thrill of the unknown. Once the house's secrets were revealed, some of that lingering unease dissipated.

That being said, the build-up to the story's climax was flawlessly executed. It's clear that the author knows how to ratchet up the tension. It's a solid, engaging read that had me finishing the book in just a couple of sessions

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked this book since the case built against Mr. Jones was quite interestingly narrated. However, I would have loved more elaborate characters of the medium. I would have preferred more dialogue and discussion regarding the evil entity possessing the house. I wont certainly agree with the ending also. It was too abrupt and did not do justice to the horror atmosphere created earlier in the story about the house and the demon. I kinda felt as if the writer has lost interest and wanted to end the story rather too quickly.

Minus the ending, I liked the book and the atmosphere created.

[Chris The Story Reading Ape · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellently tense story starting with a missing estate agent. She was not the first, or last, person to disappear inside that particular house.
Why did it always feel like there was a chilled breeze inside it.
A delightfully tense, spooky tale.

See my review also at:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Showing-Mist...

[Nancy J Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

The book was really good couldn't put it down I picked it up every chance I could just to find out what would happen next it will keep your interested

[Claudette Bigby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short

I enjoyed the book so much I was sad when it ended even though the ending had a goid turnout. I wish there had been more if a battle from the demon.

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Haunted. Possessed.

The story here is perfectly fine as possessed houses stories go, and there are some very nice atmospheric touches that carry the reader over the bumps and gaps in the plot. But what I really liked about the book was the odd point of view of the narration, and the rather detached and bemused commentary of Mr. Jones.

As you can tell from the blurbs, the house is making female estate agents, (realtors), disappear. Since the last person to see the various missing persons before they go missing always seems to be Mr. Jones he is obviously a person of great interest to the police. Here's where it gets interesting. First off, we get a lot of chapters written from Mr. Jones' perspective, in the first person. But then we get alternating chapters written by an omniscient narrator, (who sounds just like Mr. Jones), which set out the police procedural aspect of the story.

This creates a very odd feeling that underlies the general sense of unease created by the possessed house. Who is this Mr. Jones? He professes to know nothing about the "IT" that haunts the house, but he actually seems to know everything about everything that is going on. And he remains unnaturally calm throughout the whole affair. The result is an entertaining deadpan narrative whereby Mr. Jones seems more put-upon than terrified, and merely inconvenienced rather than endangered. He just seems passive and resigned to the entire "possession" thing, which gives the entire book an odd and unsettling, and unique, feel. I got a kick out of that and enjoyed this unusual approach.

Of course, that might all get old but for the fact that our author has generously provided us with a number of interesting supporting characters. We have the frustrated investigating police, the poor saps who are assigned to guard the creepy house, a mellow psychic, and a rather engaging demon hunter. Each adds something a little different to the mix and so the cast is both appealing and unpredictable. This means we don't have a lot of room left for an interesting demon, but they're often the least interesting characters in books like this.

So, well written and intriguing, with a nice bit of thrill and atmosphere and an oddly appealing style. I was happy with this. (Please note that I found this book a while ago while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

[Tim Roux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will's 'The Showing' is one of a spate of horror books being published by Taylor Street, thanks to the writerly preoccupations of Kathleen McKenna Hewtson ('The Wedding Gift', 'The Comeback', 'Family Matters' etc.) who runs the company.

Will's book is set in Wales, in a relatively modern house - post-war - and yet there is something very threatening about the presence that lurks there, a presence Mister Jones remembers from his childhood.

When Mister Jones decides to visit the house again, he meets an estate agent who promptly disappears, as have several others before her, as it turns out.

... which gets the cops decidedly interested in what Mister Jones knows, and perhaps more importantly, what he has been up to.

And Wales is a great setting for a ghost story. Look out for Richard Rhys Jones' (yes, they are all called 'Jones') upcoming 'A House in Wales'.

I put my nose into the book to have a look, and couldn't stop reading it.

[Tricia Drammeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Mr. Jones' grandfather's house is put on the market with a real estate agent, he decides to schedule a showing so he can visit the home that often terrified him as a child. A disappearance prompts the police to get involved and Mr. Jones is forced to enlist help to unravel his family's secrets. The mysteries surrounding the house are unveiled bit by bit and I couldn't stop reading once I hit the halfway mark.

This was a wonderful tale that gave me goose bumps on more than one occasion. The author relies on carefully crafted suspense rather than gore to create a sense of horror that won't go away until you read that last page. This book was a nice departure from the typical paranormal reads I've come across. Though the idea of a haunted house isn't really anything new, the author put a unique spin on the story that makes it worth picking up. I very much enjoyed reading it.

[Paul Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Showing is a chilling story about a man revisiting his past. Mr Jones goes to visit his grandfather's house which has appeared on the market. For no other reason, at least on the surface, than curiousity he sets up a viewing with the local estate agent. Things start to go wrong when he takes his leave of the agent. The woman disappears, leaving Jones as the last person to see her alive, making him the main suspect. From then on the weirdness begins to unfold. The tension is superbly built by the author (I would say Jones, but I don't want to confuse with the MC) as the history of the house, and the strange experiences suffered by Jones and his family unfold. Without giving away the plot, the story becomes more and more chilling as we are given a glimpse of the evil presence in the house, all the while the police pursue their investigation and try to build a case against Jones.

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written mix of horror and the occult, there is a constant sense of unease throughout as the tension rises, coming to a crescendo when the protagonists come face to face with the menacing entity at the heart of the mystery. The story has a Gothic feel to it, and the author does a good job of creating a spooky atmosphere that felt like a blend of Dennis Wheatley and Shirley Jackson. The prose flows well, layering the supernatural foundations of this haunted house type novella.

[David Staniforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not really a fan of the horror genre, so this is not my usual kind of read. And found the first half a little slow going, but this was not helped by my having read small amounts with big intervals, and the ending more than made up for it. Reminded me of the hammer house of horror films I watched as a youngster.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A kind of old-fashioned ghosty story but none the worse for that! Excellent build-up of tension to keep the reader on tenterhooks with good descriptive passages and believable characters. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Ch'kara SilverWolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly scary story, definitely don’t read at night. A story of evil and the consequences of dabbling in the dark arts.

The wonderful writing had me hiding under the covers as I read the description of the house and the presence it exuded.

Definitely recommend this book.

[M.T. McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Frances does horror. I didn't get scared by the scary bits but they were really exciting and there were some nice bits of dialogue.

[Arkrayder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written. ☹️

[Rodney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will keep this short....a bit too run of the mill. The storyline was plain, the characters were boring etc etc. No surprises here. Read something else.....