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Viral House A Novel
Librarian's note: This is an alternate cover edition of ASIN B00DCWZCZG.
For the last few years the only thing that Cheryl wanted was a normal life, away from the shadow of her drug-addicted brother Jesse. But, just as he started getting his life back together, Jesse went missing, “stepped off the face of the earth”, and Cheryl could not let that go. Even at the risk of her own life.
Paul knew a thing or two about addiction, being an alcoholic in recovery for the last year and a half. However, he didn’t know Cheryl, until their troubled paths crossed and her quest became his. But finding Jesse was only the start. For their search would take them to the “House on Orchard Street” where it all began.
The House was a legend that neighbors spoke about in hushed tones. The whispered rumors were that people went into the House, and never came out. But Paul and Cheryl would find that the truth about the House was far more insidious than some local haunted house ghost stories.
The House was a virus and it was spreading. And the only thing you can do with a virus is eradicate it
For the last few years the only thing that Cheryl wanted was a normal life, away from the shadow of her drug-addicted brother Jesse. But, just as he started getting his life back together, Jesse went missing, “stepped off the face of the earth”, and Cheryl could not let that go. Even at the risk of her own life.
Paul knew a thing or two about addiction, being an alcoholic in recovery for the last year and a half. However, he didn’t know Cheryl, until their troubled paths crossed and her quest became his. But finding Jesse was only the start. For their search would take them to the “House on Orchard Street” where it all began.
The House was a legend that neighbors spoke about in hushed tones. The whispered rumors were that people went into the House, and never came out. But Paul and Cheryl would find that the truth about the House was far more insidious than some local haunted house ghost stories.
The House was a virus and it was spreading. And the only thing you can do with a virus is eradicate it
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
40 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Joe Sharp
2 books6 followersJoe Sharp lived and raised hell in Richmond, Indiana until the age of eighteen. Then he married Penni, and they moved to Indianapolis. He is the father of Chris, and grandfather of Austan, Ethan and Corbin. He is also the great-grandfather to Kaitlyn.
He graduated from Richmond High School in 1973. That year he was published in the school literary journal “The Quill”. The writing bug was itching, but would remained unscratched for many years.
Joe’s forays took him into the Martial Arts, Acting (community theater), Music (played bass in a band) and learning American Sign Language.
After many years serving as an church interpret, he took a position as an interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing students at a local school district, where he remains today.
With the exception of a few plays (written for his church group) his writing bug went unheeded until the publishing of Viral House.
“I sure hope it doesn’t take another forty years to write the next one!”
His second novel is due out in the fall.
He graduated from Richmond High School in 1973. That year he was published in the school literary journal “The Quill”. The writing bug was itching, but would remained unscratched for many years.
Joe’s forays took him into the Martial Arts, Acting (community theater), Music (played bass in a band) and learning American Sign Language.
After many years serving as an church interpret, he took a position as an interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing students at a local school district, where he remains today.
With the exception of a few plays (written for his church group) his writing bug went unheeded until the publishing of Viral House.
“I sure hope it doesn’t take another forty years to write the next one!”
His second novel is due out in the fall.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 22, 2017
This read was a little difficult to get into. The correlation between drugs/addiction and the house/aliens was a drawback. It just wasn't subtle enough to make it effective. This also pulled the story away from the horror of the title and led us on a not-so-thrilling supernaturally charged psychological field trip.
2 1/2 Stars The author has potential.
2 1/2 Stars The author has potential.
May 9, 2025
A mixed bag
Overall it is an okay story. The idea of connected houses and metaphors for dealing with addiction are done well but the cause or reason behind the viral houses falls flat for me.
Overall it is an okay story. The idea of connected houses and metaphors for dealing with addiction are done well but the cause or reason behind the viral houses falls flat for me.
August 20, 2013
I love horror books. I thought I was in for a good "scare" when I picked this book up.... what I didn't expect was what else was in store for me. This book was not a bone chilling, out of this world, silent screams of horror kind of story; the surprise to me was the everyday kind of horror that many people live with. The horror and never ending draw of addiction was skillfully entwined throughout the book.
This book is an excellent read, I highly enjoyed it! I did find a couple of small editing issues, but I could see how they were missed with regards to the location in the story.
This book is an excellent read, I highly enjoyed it! I did find a couple of small editing issues, but I could see how they were missed with regards to the location in the story.
March 9, 2020
I wrote this book, so I am not going to text a review. I put four stars as that is the Amazon rating it holds at this time. Hope you will consider reading it and giving me your feedback.
July 25, 2013
A house not haunted, but infected with a sinister virus.....enter and you literally are eaten up by the house. This was a good book that kept me interested from page 1. Some gore, but just the right amount. The character development was good and makes you really connect with the characters. If you love suspense, mystery, engaging characters and a story with a touch of science fiction, this book is definitely one you must read.
October 16, 2020
Fantastic read
Really absorbing from start to finish. I was truly enthralled from the first page. I would recommend this book to anyone
Really absorbing from start to finish. I was truly enthralled from the first page. I would recommend this book to anyone
January 11, 2021
Page turner
This house is a place of nightmares. Past mistakes come back to haunt the inhabitants . I was hooked from the beginning.
This house is a place of nightmares. Past mistakes come back to haunt the inhabitants . I was hooked from the beginning.
May 14, 2014
Well, I couldn't ever decide if Viral House belongs in the horror genre or the sci-fi genre. There are a lot of players in this book but the main ones are Paul (a recovering alcoholic) and Cheryl (who is looking for her missing brother). They meet in a bar (go figure) and Paul tells a distraught Cheryl that he will help her find her brother. Everything leads back to a house, the House on Orchard Street. A lot of strange things have been reported to happen at that house. Kids and animals going in......and never coming out. Sounds crazy right? Well sometimes, truth is crazier than fiction.
It was a pretty good read to me. I wasn't very happy with all the language. Be forewarned on that one. Other than that, I would have liked to see the ending explained and developed a little more. Overall, it was an ok read, not the best but ok.
It was a pretty good read to me. I wasn't very happy with all the language. Be forewarned on that one. Other than that, I would have liked to see the ending explained and developed a little more. Overall, it was an ok read, not the best but ok.
April 21, 2015
Cheryl's brother is missing. He must be in the throws of addiction again but where? As she questions people in a bar she meets Paul, a recovering addict himself, who then feels the need to help her. They end up looking for a dealer named Colton, and this is where things get weird. Everything leads back to Cheryl's old childhood home, the House on Orchard Street. There is a presence there, and it's taken over the whole house and spreading!
Throughout the book you jump to a random character and how they interact with the house themselves or the "drug" Colton is giving. At first I found it confusing, but once it got into the meat of the story, I was interested in following the little side stories. Colton's story is a sad once, but I wished there was a bit more to it.
Throughout the book you jump to a random character and how they interact with the house themselves or the "drug" Colton is giving. At first I found it confusing, but once it got into the meat of the story, I was interested in following the little side stories. Colton's story is a sad once, but I wished there was a bit more to it.
March 8, 2016
Viral House was an interesting read. There are several main characters in this one including Paul, a sixteen month sober alcoholic, Cheryl who is looking for her brother Jesse and Colton who seems to be a drug lord. There is a lot going on in this book and I have to say, that I did get a little confused throughout. There didn't seem to be an entirely logical order to the book and I think that it might have done a little better with sequential events however, with that being said, I did enjoy the book and its concept and had to read to the end to find out what was going on.
Viral House was certainly more than the average ghost haunting and it was really creative in that respect.
Viral House was certainly more than the average ghost haunting and it was really creative in that respect.
May 22, 2014
This book was fantastic, and in my belief completely underrated. The linked stories of different characters by a house infected with an alien presence. The story was well written, and even though there is an amount of complexity to the story line, it's clear to follow. It also has a proper ending, one of my pet hates are books that petter out. 5 star read, and for the price as well I wish I could give it another star! Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Ps just bought the next two novels from Amazon!
Ps just bought the next two novels from Amazon!
April 25, 2016
Viral House was just bad. Usually I reserve one and two stars for books I just cant finish, but I got through this one and almost hated my self for putting me through that.
The story would have been very interesting if Sharp hadnt decided to put an alien twist to it. Sharp think super natural, and stick with it. The other major problem I had with this book was the fact that Sharp introduced characters with out connecting them to the current story.
There was a mother and child that Sharp kept coming back to and until the end you have bo idea why they are connected.
The story would have been very interesting if Sharp hadnt decided to put an alien twist to it. Sharp think super natural, and stick with it. The other major problem I had with this book was the fact that Sharp introduced characters with out connecting them to the current story.
There was a mother and child that Sharp kept coming back to and until the end you have bo idea why they are connected.
December 26, 2015
A house that eats people - what a fantastic concept.
Not haunted, but abandoned, infected with a sinister virus and it’s spreading. Cheryl enlists Paul, an ex-addict, to help her find her brother who has gone missing. Her brother is also an ex-addict and Cheryl expects the worst, but nothing can prepare her for the truth – a house that eats people.
This was a nice quick read. Some bits I didn’t quite get and I think the entity in the house and whatever 'The Iris' was could have been better explained, but I still enjoyed it
Not haunted, but abandoned, infected with a sinister virus and it’s spreading. Cheryl enlists Paul, an ex-addict, to help her find her brother who has gone missing. Her brother is also an ex-addict and Cheryl expects the worst, but nothing can prepare her for the truth – a house that eats people.
This was a nice quick read. Some bits I didn’t quite get and I think the entity in the house and whatever 'The Iris' was could have been better explained, but I still enjoyed it
November 19, 2014
VIRAL HOUSE isn't about your everyday, run-of-the-mill haunted house, as recovering alcoholic Paul soon discovers. Along with Cheryl, a woman he meets in a bar who is searching for her missing brother, Paul will go looking for a drug dealer peddling more than just street narcotics.
And it's all going to go down on Orchard Street, in a house infected with a hive mind virus that wants to assimilate all who enter.
A pretty decent book but definitely not what I was expecting.
And it's all going to go down on Orchard Street, in a house infected with a hive mind virus that wants to assimilate all who enter.
A pretty decent book but definitely not what I was expecting.
September 29, 2016
I actually did enjoy it. There were several places where the narrative jumped so far, it took a page or two to reorient me as to what was going on. I think the story would benefit from a really good editor, to help smooth out the narrative, but the characters are good, if a little too angry. Everyone in the book seemed angry, all the time. It was hard to adjust to wanting to spend time with them, when they were constantly yelling at each other.
Still, I did enjoy it.
Still, I did enjoy it.
December 15, 2013
Excellent. Good characterisations, and the "Union" - a sort of gestalt entity - was a great concept. And the idea of one character "peddling" the alien virus as a new drug was a nice bit of black comedy. Must admit I was disappointed by the ending which was rather too convenient. A highly enjoyable read, though.
August 3, 2013
Maybe I just wasn't understanding the concept of this book, but I was just so confused that I didn't even get past chapter 3. Sorry Joe, better luck with your next novel.
June 25, 2014
Well it was different from what I was expecting. Good read although a couple of typing issues, but enjoyable and would read again.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews