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Somebody Come and Play
For thirty years there had been peace beside the waters of Lake Solaria... except in the rambling mansion where Myrtle Hollenbeck paced up and down like a mad woman, waiting for the return of her children.
But Myrtle's waiting is soon over: one night she is found hanging from her daughter's skipping rope. Everyone believes Myrtle's death to be a case of routine suicide; everyone, that is, apart from Cassie Larchmont, the ten-year-old child who witnessed Myrtle's death, and Robert Landers, an investigating police officer who hears from Cassie how a dark shadow stood by Myrtle's side that fearful night.
At the same time, Nicole Morgan comes into Cassie's life. Dark-haired, malevolent, dressed in quaint old-fashioned clothes popular decades before, Nicole seems bent on luring the other children into Myrtle's haunted mansion. The fabulous playroom they discover conceals untold horrors, while outside the terror that has lain quietly on the lake bed for thirty years rises slowly towards them. Only Landers can save them before that evil kills them all...
But Myrtle's waiting is soon over: one night she is found hanging from her daughter's skipping rope. Everyone believes Myrtle's death to be a case of routine suicide; everyone, that is, apart from Cassie Larchmont, the ten-year-old child who witnessed Myrtle's death, and Robert Landers, an investigating police officer who hears from Cassie how a dark shadow stood by Myrtle's side that fearful night.
At the same time, Nicole Morgan comes into Cassie's life. Dark-haired, malevolent, dressed in quaint old-fashioned clothes popular decades before, Nicole seems bent on luring the other children into Myrtle's haunted mansion. The fabulous playroom they discover conceals untold horrors, while outside the terror that has lain quietly on the lake bed for thirty years rises slowly towards them. Only Landers can save them before that evil kills them all...
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 17, 2017
When her dog snatches her science project and runs away with it ten-year-old Cassie Larchmont follows her dog to an old Victorian mansion near the lake (Hollenbeck House). Her mother has told her to stay away from that house. (It is said that a crazy old woman, Myrtle, lives there and murdered her two children long ago and no one ever found their bodies.) When Cassie catches up with her dog an old lady (Myrtle) comes out of the mansion and mistakes Cassie for someone called Ellen and starts coming after her. Frightened, Cassie runs away and trips, falls, and hits her head. She then hears a childish voice telling her to not be afraid and that they will help her. She is then helped to her feet. When Cassie turns to thank her rescuer she sees no one there. Cassie then goes home.
That night Cassie wakes up from a dream, looks out of her bedroom window toward Hollenbeck House, and sees Myrtle, dead and hanging from a tree. Cassie wonders if she saw someone else in the dark, near the tree by Myrtle’s body.
Some of Cassie’s friends (Diane and Lisa) come to Lake Solaria (where Cassie lives) during the summer with their families. Cassie loves spending time with her friends. One day she meets a mysterious new girl named Nicole who is dressed in very old clothes who wants to be Cassie’s friend. Cassie introduces Nicole to Diane and Lisa. One day the girls get together and go over to the old Hollenbeck mansion. Nicole says she knows how to get inside and she says there is something wonderful in the house. When they enter the house it is old, decayed, and dirty but Nicole leads them to a special, secret room filled with so many toys and dolls…a dream room. The girls love it and play with the toys, but since Myrtle just died here and their parents don’t want them going to the house the girls make it their secret club/room and plan to go to the room in the house often.
As time goes by the girls start to wonder why Nicole shows up out of the blue and leaves suddenly. They never get to meet her family or see where she lives. And why does she wear the same strange old clothes all the time? Then bad accidents and deaths start happening around Lake Solaria/Hollenbeck House. A police detective is on the scene trying to find out who is responsible for all this. But the more he looks into the evidence and Hollenbeck House, the more he begins to think that this may be something more frightening and beyond their control.
This was a really great, spooky read. Nicole was a totally creepy little kid. I liked the cast of characters, some were good, some were bad. I couldn’t wait to finish the book to find out what was going to happen. The setting on the lake and Hollenbeck House was eerie.
A captivating and compelling read from the 1980’s.
That night Cassie wakes up from a dream, looks out of her bedroom window toward Hollenbeck House, and sees Myrtle, dead and hanging from a tree. Cassie wonders if she saw someone else in the dark, near the tree by Myrtle’s body.
Some of Cassie’s friends (Diane and Lisa) come to Lake Solaria (where Cassie lives) during the summer with their families. Cassie loves spending time with her friends. One day she meets a mysterious new girl named Nicole who is dressed in very old clothes who wants to be Cassie’s friend. Cassie introduces Nicole to Diane and Lisa. One day the girls get together and go over to the old Hollenbeck mansion. Nicole says she knows how to get inside and she says there is something wonderful in the house. When they enter the house it is old, decayed, and dirty but Nicole leads them to a special, secret room filled with so many toys and dolls…a dream room. The girls love it and play with the toys, but since Myrtle just died here and their parents don’t want them going to the house the girls make it their secret club/room and plan to go to the room in the house often.
As time goes by the girls start to wonder why Nicole shows up out of the blue and leaves suddenly. They never get to meet her family or see where she lives. And why does she wear the same strange old clothes all the time? Then bad accidents and deaths start happening around Lake Solaria/Hollenbeck House. A police detective is on the scene trying to find out who is responsible for all this. But the more he looks into the evidence and Hollenbeck House, the more he begins to think that this may be something more frightening and beyond their control.
This was a really great, spooky read. Nicole was a totally creepy little kid. I liked the cast of characters, some were good, some were bad. I couldn’t wait to finish the book to find out what was going to happen. The setting on the lake and Hollenbeck House was eerie.
A captivating and compelling read from the 1980’s.
June 23, 2019
Ten-year old Cassie and her summer friends, Diane and Lisa, meet a new girl called Nicole. She convinces them to go to the creepy old Hollenbeck house, despite Cassie's mother's warnings. Myrtle Hollenbeck recently killed herself after years of mourning her two children who disappeared. Strange events occur in this quiet lakeside town and Richard, a local detective, is convinced there is something supernatural going on but who is going to believe him?
This was a good read, and while it didn't blow me away there was certainly something about it that hooked me in and made me want to keep reading. I did find it a bit silly and cheesy in parts but it was an enjoyable read overall. If you like creepy kid stories then I'd recommend this one!
This was a good read, and while it didn't blow me away there was certainly something about it that hooked me in and made me want to keep reading. I did find it a bit silly and cheesy in parts but it was an enjoyable read overall. If you like creepy kid stories then I'd recommend this one!
November 9, 2008
All I can say is that the author does know how to build the story, and dang it... it has some spooky parts, it was hard for me to put the book down! haha.
February 10, 2019
Cassie Larchmont's summer is just beginning, and when her friends finally arrive at Lake Solaria to begin their vacation, everything seems perfect. They've even made a new friend: Nicole Morgan, a girl that's eager to share a secret. There's a hidden toy-room in an old house, one that has dolls, paints and puzzles; everything to keep little girls busy. But it's not what it seems, and Nicole isn't too happy about sharing Cassie's friendship with Diane and Lisa.
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I picked this up at the secondhand bookstore last year, and it just so happened to fit in with the Ladies of Horror Fiction readathon for Women in Horror Month (#WiHM). I didn't find it a bad ghost story, and even though some elements irked me throughout, I was able to appreciate the engaging plot that often focused on the drama of young friendship and the stress of parenthood. There were moments I was right back as a child squabbling over the silliest of things, much like Cassie and her circle. Of course, my group of buddies didn't include an evil spirit hellbent on killing, but that certainly would have made it much more interesting. Nicole Morgan definitely kept my attention, and as far as creepy children went, she was high up in the I'm never having kids department. However, whilst I found her decent as the antagonist, her story was entirely predictable. There was nothing groundbreaking in this title, not by a long shot, but it was entertaining.
The dialogue had to be the most awkward aspect for me personally, and I'm unsure if it was merely a by-product of the 80's style. The plethora of exclamation marks came across as cheesy and overly theatrical, as if each character were performing on a stage. It didn't feel natural, and that honestly can ruin the experience of any book. I had to force myself to get past it at times - to register that they weren't actually shouting at each other constantly - but I'm glad I didn't altogether allow it to destroy my enjoyment. Other than that, they also suffered from a case of talking to themselves out loud, which bothered me a little. Not everyone does it; I, for one, keep my thoughts locked in my head, so it strikes me as unrealistic when everyone is having a verbal conversation with thin air.
I can say there were some unexpected turns that caught me off guard. When it's a horror involving children, I always get the sense the author will be tame in regards to the content, but that didn't deter McNally from throwing in shocking events. I'd probably suggest avoiding the synopsis (Goodreads and elsewhere), as they tend to give almost all of it away. For me, it was best to go in blind, without knowing the specifics.
In conclusion: Somebody Come and Play surprised me, and even though I'd say its age is showing, it gave me some hours of amusement with the ghostly happenings of the Hollenbeck house. Sure, I have my complaints, as I do with everything, but I found the old-school style quite charming. I think I'll be on the look out for more of that 80's horror.
Notable Quote:
This thing lying on the metal table before her could be a gnarled piece of charred wood dug up after a forest fire. It was better to think that than to think it was human.
Wordpress ~ Twitter
(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)
I picked this up at the secondhand bookstore last year, and it just so happened to fit in with the Ladies of Horror Fiction readathon for Women in Horror Month (#WiHM). I didn't find it a bad ghost story, and even though some elements irked me throughout, I was able to appreciate the engaging plot that often focused on the drama of young friendship and the stress of parenthood. There were moments I was right back as a child squabbling over the silliest of things, much like Cassie and her circle. Of course, my group of buddies didn't include an evil spirit hellbent on killing, but that certainly would have made it much more interesting. Nicole Morgan definitely kept my attention, and as far as creepy children went, she was high up in the I'm never having kids department. However, whilst I found her decent as the antagonist, her story was entirely predictable. There was nothing groundbreaking in this title, not by a long shot, but it was entertaining.
The dialogue had to be the most awkward aspect for me personally, and I'm unsure if it was merely a by-product of the 80's style. The plethora of exclamation marks came across as cheesy and overly theatrical, as if each character were performing on a stage. It didn't feel natural, and that honestly can ruin the experience of any book. I had to force myself to get past it at times - to register that they weren't actually shouting at each other constantly - but I'm glad I didn't altogether allow it to destroy my enjoyment. Other than that, they also suffered from a case of talking to themselves out loud, which bothered me a little. Not everyone does it; I, for one, keep my thoughts locked in my head, so it strikes me as unrealistic when everyone is having a verbal conversation with thin air.
I can say there were some unexpected turns that caught me off guard. When it's a horror involving children, I always get the sense the author will be tame in regards to the content, but that didn't deter McNally from throwing in shocking events. I'd probably suggest avoiding the synopsis (Goodreads and elsewhere), as they tend to give almost all of it away. For me, it was best to go in blind, without knowing the specifics.
In conclusion: Somebody Come and Play surprised me, and even though I'd say its age is showing, it gave me some hours of amusement with the ghostly happenings of the Hollenbeck house. Sure, I have my complaints, as I do with everything, but I found the old-school style quite charming. I think I'll be on the look out for more of that 80's horror.
Notable Quote:
This thing lying on the metal table before her could be a gnarled piece of charred wood dug up after a forest fire. It was better to think that than to think it was human.
Wordpress ~ Twitter
December 29, 2016
This was marvelously weird as good horror novels are. It's mainly about 10-year-old Cassie, her mother Carolyn, and the detective Robert. Carolyn has prohibited Cassie from going across the lake to this old mansion whose owner has hung herself. She says the house is evil and should be torn down. Cassie and her friends, however, meet a strange girl named Nicole and visit the house where there's a room full of toys. And that's only the beginning.
June 15, 2013
Creepy child ghost, eerie story, quick read. Very good story.
May 27, 2017
I read this when I was 12, my mother had a tendency to pick these horror fiction books up at the grocery store. If you're into 80's horror-fiction, this is a nice find. It was so creepy in fact, that I never forgot it. It's right up there with the V.C. Andrews type of style absent the anthology. If you're a young girl who enjoys thriller or horror novels, this is great because it's written in the style and vernacular that a teen can understand. Very basic, but very spooky! One of my faves as a kid.
September 29, 2011
My best friend I had in elementary school reread this book so many times that my mother took it away from us. Back then we found the book terrifying, but upon rereading it I can't imagine why. I suppose many little girls would be frightened of friends turning on them and a room full of so many amazing toys being evil!
December 10, 2011
A pretty decent ghost story. It was written in the eighties and there are a few pop culture refrences that date the story line a bit. I also had a few questions about the dialogue that was being used. The main characters are 10 year old children but they often "sound" like adults in their speech patterns. Also a bit of an information dump/ hurried ending.
May 30, 2008
Do not read this book at night. I have tried and it creeps me out!
January 29, 2010
This book is definitely a page turner the only thing I didn't like about it was the ending it all came to a close a little to quick but it was a very creepy concept!!
February 24, 2014
Creepy. Scary. Tense.
December 19, 2014
this is a chiller!!! I think the fact that it's children makes it all the more suspenseful!!!
October 14, 2023
Very good scary book!
August 23, 2025
a spooky young adult read!
April 27, 2012
creepy and grate what a good read
September 6, 2012
Read this quite some years ago now.
A decent ghost story although probably showing its age now. Easy read that would probably appeal more to people in their teens.
A decent ghost story although probably showing its age now. Easy read that would probably appeal more to people in their teens.
August 12, 2016
This just popped into my head today. I used to have this book and read it many many many times as a pre-teen.
From what I remember it was scary and mysterious that kept me at the edge of my seat.
From what I remember it was scary and mysterious that kept me at the edge of my seat.
September 15, 2015
I have literally had this book on my shelf since at least 1989 and finally got around to reading it. Always a lot of action an mayhem in her books. Does read a bit dated though.
September 3, 2014
One of my favorites. Genuinely scary and it taught me about orphan trains.
June 7, 2021
Good, fast paced story. This novel packed a lot into it's 300 pages, and was a very good ghost story!
November 4, 2019
Minor spoilers
‘There’s a mystery in that house, for sure. And I don’t want to go back and find out what it is.’
The summer resort community is Lake Solaria, and the mystery the consequential suicide of one of its extended residents; Myrtle Hollenbeck. The citizens and tourists, with the exception of a local investigator, conclude that the woman was depressed and old, low spirited after years of never finding out what really happened to her. missing children. Then the strange (and fun for the readers!) stuff starts to happen-distorted and cackling voices are heard over normal phone conversions, shadowy figures, with half-human, half-animal screams materialize, and vacuum cleaners morph into dead bodies.
The old Hollenbeck mansion is a story to write about in itself. It has, after all, the tree in the front yard where Myrtle hung herself. Evil is thrust upon the entire town, but McNally took this setting to a whole other level, which is something that can’t be spoiled. I should mention that at certain moments, the author somehow takes this chilling environment for the local children, and turns it into a playpen. The overall feel of these passages isn’t reflected through some sort of coming-of-age experience, but rather kids who are actually frightened of the terrifying experiences they encounter. McNally does an excellent job with conveying these feelings, and is able to properly characterize the parents and their children, a somewhat rare trait for the late 80s in fiction.
SOMEBODY COME AND PLAY was the vintage read that I needed to satisfy my Halloween cravings.
‘There’s a mystery in that house, for sure. And I don’t want to go back and find out what it is.’
The summer resort community is Lake Solaria, and the mystery the consequential suicide of one of its extended residents; Myrtle Hollenbeck. The citizens and tourists, with the exception of a local investigator, conclude that the woman was depressed and old, low spirited after years of never finding out what really happened to her. missing children. Then the strange (and fun for the readers!) stuff starts to happen-distorted and cackling voices are heard over normal phone conversions, shadowy figures, with half-human, half-animal screams materialize, and vacuum cleaners morph into dead bodies.
The old Hollenbeck mansion is a story to write about in itself. It has, after all, the tree in the front yard where Myrtle hung herself. Evil is thrust upon the entire town, but McNally took this setting to a whole other level, which is something that can’t be spoiled. I should mention that at certain moments, the author somehow takes this chilling environment for the local children, and turns it into a playpen. The overall feel of these passages isn’t reflected through some sort of coming-of-age experience, but rather kids who are actually frightened of the terrifying experiences they encounter. McNally does an excellent job with conveying these feelings, and is able to properly characterize the parents and their children, a somewhat rare trait for the late 80s in fiction.
SOMEBODY COME AND PLAY was the vintage read that I needed to satisfy my Halloween cravings.
September 7, 2025
For thirty years there had been peace beside the waters of Lake Solaria... except in the rambling mansion where Myrtle Hollenbeck paced up and down like a mad woman, waiting for the return of her children. But Myrtle's waiting is soon over: one night she is found hanging from her daughter's skipping rope. Dark-haired, malevolent, dressed in quaint old-fashioned clothes popular decades before, Nicole seems bent on luring other children into the haunted mansion...
This was a super easy read but not in a good way. The writing was quite basic. It reminded me more of a teenage Point Horror book than a creepy, tense adult read. The tension wasn't built as well as it could have been and the ending was a little unrealistic... it raised more questions than it answered. One to swerve, in my opinion.
This was a super easy read but not in a good way. The writing was quite basic. It reminded me more of a teenage Point Horror book than a creepy, tense adult read. The tension wasn't built as well as it could have been and the ending was a little unrealistic... it raised more questions than it answered. One to swerve, in my opinion.
May 14, 2023
Better than I expected, but the children's dialogue was cheesy at times and felt unrealistic. The book was written somewhat simplistically too. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the opposite of that is pretentious, and this book never tries to be anything more than a horror story about a scary house, a creepy child, and multiple murders. It's a fast read and doesn't have an unnecessary subplots to drag the story down. I'm not sure if this was marketed for a teen/YA audience at the time, but I think it would fit with that age group.
May 20, 2019
So simple and unpretentious that it’s actually refreshing to just sit back and enjoy a book that doesn’t aspire to be anything more than what it is; the simple story of a ghost girl who spends a lazy summer seeing how many over-privileged children she can lure to their doom. Really, it’s fun stuff. McNally’s books, though far from having any substance or greater meaning, are often a much needed break from the usual heavy-handedness of most published works.
March 24, 2021
This was a great story. I felt bad for all characters even Nicole. Nicole had such a had life and died a very painful death, her ghost was angry and looking for her sister. Cassie, Diane, and Lisa and their families went through so much pain and lost it was so sad. But over all I liked how the writer pulled the story together. If you like suspense thriller with a little bit of horror, you must read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2023
God I honestly didn't think this book was going to end. It just seemed to drag on and on with this little girl ghost killing people right and left. It isn't until the end that we find out what happened to the ghost but even then it didn't really answer why she was so evil. I was disappointed with this one.
June 30, 2019
I did not have high expectations, and hence I am not disappointed. The novel is set in a small lake town in Northern Ohio and the main characters are young girls, their parents, and a cop. This is really a haunted house story with a twist. Decently written. 2.5 stars
February 24, 2025
I almost gave up on this book after an awful example of ‘tell don’t show’ in the prologue but decided to stick with it. There is an interesting story here but it is severely marred by a bad opening and a rushed ending which leaves more questions than answers.
January 21, 2020
I read this when I was a young girl ..truly one of my all time favorites
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews