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Caveat Emptor
Do you believe a house can have a soul? If you had asked that question to David Holmes back in 1985, it might have given him pause. The next three decades of his career as a Dorset estate agent, provided a very definite answer. Meoria Grange is an impressive manor, built around the time of the English Civil War. It stands sentinel atop the Wessex Ridgeway, occupying a site of historical importance dating back into the mists of British antiquity. When a family move in to renovate after a tragic fire, horrific outcomes draw David ever closer to their disturbing source. Similar repetitions unfold each time he instigates another sale, until a very personal impact causes him to seek out some answers once and for all. How can pure love and abject horror exist together with such inexplicable harmony?
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
182 people are currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Devon De'Ath
12 books42 followersDevon De’Ath was born in the county of Kent, ‘The Garden of England.’ Raised a Roman Catholic in a small, ancient country market community famously documented as ‘the most haunted TOWN in England,’ he grew up in an atmosphere replete with spiritual, psychic, and supernatural energy. Hauntings were commonplace and you couldn’t swing a cat without hitting three spectres, to the extent that he never needed question the validity of such manifestations. As to the explanations behind them?
At the age of twenty, his earnest search for spiritual truth led the young man to leave Catholicism and become heavily involved in Charismatic Evangelicalism. After serving as a part-time youth pastor while working in the corporate world, he eventually took voluntary redundancy to study at a Bible College in the USA. Missions in the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa followed, but a growing dissatisfaction with aspects of the theology and ministerial abuse by church leadership eventually caused him to break with organised religion and pursue a Post-Evangelical existence. One open to all manner of spiritual and human experiences his ‘holy’ life would never have allowed.
After church life, De’Ath served fifteen years with the police, lectured at colleges and universities, and acted as a consultant to public safety agencies both foreign and domestic.
A writer since he first learned the alphabet, Devon De’Ath has authored works in many genres under various names, from Children’s literature to self-help books, through screenplays for video production and all manner of articles.
At the age of twenty, his earnest search for spiritual truth led the young man to leave Catholicism and become heavily involved in Charismatic Evangelicalism. After serving as a part-time youth pastor while working in the corporate world, he eventually took voluntary redundancy to study at a Bible College in the USA. Missions in the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa followed, but a growing dissatisfaction with aspects of the theology and ministerial abuse by church leadership eventually caused him to break with organised religion and pursue a Post-Evangelical existence. One open to all manner of spiritual and human experiences his ‘holy’ life would never have allowed.
After church life, De’Ath served fifteen years with the police, lectured at colleges and universities, and acted as a consultant to public safety agencies both foreign and domestic.
A writer since he first learned the alphabet, Devon De’Ath has authored works in many genres under various names, from Children’s literature to self-help books, through screenplays for video production and all manner of articles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 28, 2025
"Let the buyer beware" !
Never a truer phrase could be uttered about Meoria Grange, a beautiful manor house situated in rural Dorset. David, a local estate agent, sells the property several times to wealthy clients but, each sale ends in tragedy for the new owners. Just what is the strange connection David has to the property and why does it appear to be calling to him? This is a captivating tale of a house that haunts its various owners. The main characters are well drawn and slot effortlessly into the tale's 30-year timeline. The story is an exploration of various characters and their pursuit of happiness - material wealth vs. moral contentment. And, who or what is the mysterious Marina? This was a very dark and spooky tale, probably the best ghost story I have ever read. Highly recommended!
Never a truer phrase could be uttered about Meoria Grange, a beautiful manor house situated in rural Dorset. David, a local estate agent, sells the property several times to wealthy clients but, each sale ends in tragedy for the new owners. Just what is the strange connection David has to the property and why does it appear to be calling to him? This is a captivating tale of a house that haunts its various owners. The main characters are well drawn and slot effortlessly into the tale's 30-year timeline. The story is an exploration of various characters and their pursuit of happiness - material wealth vs. moral contentment. And, who or what is the mysterious Marina? This was a very dark and spooky tale, probably the best ghost story I have ever read. Highly recommended!
March 21, 2021
David, a real estate manager, sells Meoria Grange for several times to wealthy customers. Every sale ends in tragedy (murder and death). What is behind that spooky house? What is hidden in its cellars? Where is the connection between David and the house? Who is this mysterious Marina George? You follow the well drawn main character through the decades and see him dealing with the latest party interested in the house. What an outstanding book! The characters soon are very familiar to you, you feel for David and his annoying relationship to Kate. A brilliant coming of age story starting in the 70s (I also had a Ford XR3i in the early 90s) ending up in the 21st century. This is a very unusual haunted house story with one of the most unusual "monsters" I ever came across. Horror, tragedy, shot of romance, finiteness of life, eternity, pursuit of happiness (good difference between go getters and real happiness) everything embedded in a compelling and spooky story. Highly recommended. This is a great horror house novel!
December 4, 2023
Gripping, captivating, haunting.
A gothic horror that centers on David and Meoria Grange, a house and its intriguing stance in history and throughout time. Mostly, this book is about David's unique connection to Meoria Grange.
This was original and so Interesting. Excellent read.
A gothic horror that centers on David and Meoria Grange, a house and its intriguing stance in history and throughout time. Mostly, this book is about David's unique connection to Meoria Grange.
This was original and so Interesting. Excellent read.
April 23, 2019
It’s an interesting idea: a house that is sentient and rights itself back to its original state and murders its tenants.
It was a generally enjoyable read, albeit terribly sad as you awaited the inevitable end of each new tenant and definitely creepy when the house’s sentience manifested. The last third of the story was ... weird.
One thing that bothered me was the leaps in time that were not announced- only evidenced by a house being on the market or children aging. I would have liked some descriptor at the beginning of those sections.
This was a Goodreads Kindle win.
It was a generally enjoyable read, albeit terribly sad as you awaited the inevitable end of each new tenant and definitely creepy when the house’s sentience manifested. The last third of the story was ... weird.
One thing that bothered me was the leaps in time that were not announced- only evidenced by a house being on the market or children aging. I would have liked some descriptor at the beginning of those sections.
This was a Goodreads Kindle win.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2023
Title: Caveat Emptor
Author: Devon De’Ath
Genre: Horror
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:
This book was both what I expected and also… not. I enjoyed the book. When I saw in the description that it was a “Haunted House” style book, about a house with a soul, I was excited to read. But saying that the house has a soul isn’t quite how I would describe it. I can’t even say that its a haunted house book either. Its definitely horror. And it is an engaging read. I wanted to know what happened. But I have to admit that at times, it was a bit of a chore to get through. The main character, David, is a likeable guy, and relatable for most of us. The people who move through Meoria Grange are all different, and their deaths are all both horrible and also creative (can you say that about a horror novel?) But I will say the last person to die in the book, well, I was really hoping the house would get her. For real.
In the end, this was a hard review to write, mostly because I just couldn’t decide how I felt about the book. I wanted more detail about the hows and whys of what happened. There were some details that seemed to contradict each other, once I’d read the entire book. I also struggled at times with the leaps in time, as they happened without warning, and at times it took a moment to realize that we’d moved forward by years.
If you enjoy horror novels, especially the haunted house trope, then I would definitely give this a try.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!
Author: Devon De’Ath
Genre: Horror
Rating: 3.5 stars
Review:
This book was both what I expected and also… not. I enjoyed the book. When I saw in the description that it was a “Haunted House” style book, about a house with a soul, I was excited to read. But saying that the house has a soul isn’t quite how I would describe it. I can’t even say that its a haunted house book either. Its definitely horror. And it is an engaging read. I wanted to know what happened. But I have to admit that at times, it was a bit of a chore to get through. The main character, David, is a likeable guy, and relatable for most of us. The people who move through Meoria Grange are all different, and their deaths are all both horrible and also creative (can you say that about a horror novel?) But I will say the last person to die in the book, well, I was really hoping the house would get her. For real.
In the end, this was a hard review to write, mostly because I just couldn’t decide how I felt about the book. I wanted more detail about the hows and whys of what happened. There were some details that seemed to contradict each other, once I’d read the entire book. I also struggled at times with the leaps in time, as they happened without warning, and at times it took a moment to realize that we’d moved forward by years.
If you enjoy horror novels, especially the haunted house trope, then I would definitely give this a try.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!
August 26, 2020
Caveat emptor
I liked this book. The characters were entertaining. The plot was great a lot of surprises and twists. Not to scary
I liked this book. The characters were entertaining. The plot was great a lot of surprises and twists. Not to scary
April 20, 2019
Goodreads Kindle Copy Win
A house built around the Civil War and a real estate agent.
Time passes and throughout it has many owners. As a new owner moves in a devastating fire occurs as renovations takes place. But soon the real estate agent notices a trend as he finds prospective buyers that are just a fire. He begins to doubt that is just a coincidence as he investigates.
What secrets does this house really hold and why does it tend to burn? An intriguing house of secrets.
A house built around the Civil War and a real estate agent.
Time passes and throughout it has many owners. As a new owner moves in a devastating fire occurs as renovations takes place. But soon the real estate agent notices a trend as he finds prospective buyers that are just a fire. He begins to doubt that is just a coincidence as he investigates.
What secrets does this house really hold and why does it tend to burn? An intriguing house of secrets.
June 11, 2020
Kindle Unlimited selection and a little gem.
I love books about old homes, legends, history and the paranormal. This book delivers all of these things and more. Loved how author used historic happenings to emphasize the passing of time. A delightful read.
I love books about old homes, legends, history and the paranormal. This book delivers all of these things and more. Loved how author used historic happenings to emphasize the passing of time. A delightful read.
June 16, 2020
Excellent spooky house story.
February 20, 2024
The book was such an enigma. It wasn't purely horror, it had multiple glimpses of different genres. Although the main focus was the creepy haunted house, it wasn't a constant stream of terrifying occurrences.
.
The parts with the families who occupied the house through the duration of the book were absolutely gripping. They all had horrific endings, but you couldn't say they were all the same. For instance, the author's attention to social norms and generational differences in speak and fashion was fantastic. Each family had their interests and plans for decorating the manor, but apart from the couple who were allowed to fix the problems of the old building, the manor didn't allow any changes in the original decor.
.
Another part that truly fascinated me was the characters. I haven't read such consistent and rich characters like the ones in this book before. It felt like the author wrote characters from his own life, he had the finesse of writing characters who were consistent in nature but also evolving with time. He portrayed the day-to-day life from the 80's to the early 2000's spectacularly. I literally stopped reading several times to absorb the writing and pure talent.
.
The sequence was done well in general, but I would've loved if the parts of David's relationship with Kate were a bit shorter. They lasted longer than needed and kind of cut the flow of the storyline.
.
I had to say the founders of the agency David worked in and David's colleagues were my favorite characters. I would go as far as saying I loved Charlie more than David. Their friendship was just beautiful.
.
I did find the backstory of the manor and its connection to David flimsy and underwhelming, it didn't explain how it started and what kept it going. Also, why David specifically. It didn't give me any closure.
However, after all was said and done, I really enjoyed it. 100% recommend.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
.
The parts with the families who occupied the house through the duration of the book were absolutely gripping. They all had horrific endings, but you couldn't say they were all the same. For instance, the author's attention to social norms and generational differences in speak and fashion was fantastic. Each family had their interests and plans for decorating the manor, but apart from the couple who were allowed to fix the problems of the old building, the manor didn't allow any changes in the original decor.
.
Another part that truly fascinated me was the characters. I haven't read such consistent and rich characters like the ones in this book before. It felt like the author wrote characters from his own life, he had the finesse of writing characters who were consistent in nature but also evolving with time. He portrayed the day-to-day life from the 80's to the early 2000's spectacularly. I literally stopped reading several times to absorb the writing and pure talent.
.
The sequence was done well in general, but I would've loved if the parts of David's relationship with Kate were a bit shorter. They lasted longer than needed and kind of cut the flow of the storyline.
.
I had to say the founders of the agency David worked in and David's colleagues were my favorite characters. I would go as far as saying I loved Charlie more than David. Their friendship was just beautiful.
.
I did find the backstory of the manor and its connection to David flimsy and underwhelming, it didn't explain how it started and what kept it going. Also, why David specifically. It didn't give me any closure.
However, after all was said and done, I really enjoyed it. 100% recommend.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
January 13, 2024
Caveat Emptor” by the marvelously imaginatively named Devon De’ath is a hoot novel to be savored. Imaginative, well paced and scary as , well, the Devil. No, he-it- is not in the house, but something surely is, and it kills.
David Holmes is a new hire at a real estate agency in Dorset, England. On of the properties on the company’s listings is Meoria Manor , a 300 year old manor house, has been for sale for a number of years. A grand house with a great view, the house has a certain appeal to a wealthy buyer with pretensions of grandeur. When David finds a buyer, it is a coup, and marks him as a go- getter with the firm.
But as the new buyers soon learn, Meroria Manor is not very welcoming. There is already a tenant, and that tenant does not approve of the new owners’ renovations. When they spend a day tearing off some dark paneling in the bathroom, they awake the next morning to find it back in place. A spectral voice warns them “ to leave the house now!” By the next day, both are dead.
Over the following years every buyer of the house suffers the same fate. Every time David Holmes, finds a buyer, their stay at the house is fatal. Yet, David Holmes’ strange attraction to Meoria Manor continues, until it dominates his life. Something in the house calls to him. And if he answers, will, it destroy him, too? Get the book read it , feel the chill of the other, and enjoy the chill of a very good horror thriller.
I really enjoyed the book. I do not usually read much horror fiction. Steven King leaves me cold. But “ Caveat Emptor” captured my imagination and locked me in the darkly menacing pages. Highly recommended.
Cautions: violent death. Some sexuality .
Easily earns the full 5⭐️ rating..
David Holmes is a new hire at a real estate agency in Dorset, England. On of the properties on the company’s listings is Meoria Manor , a 300 year old manor house, has been for sale for a number of years. A grand house with a great view, the house has a certain appeal to a wealthy buyer with pretensions of grandeur. When David finds a buyer, it is a coup, and marks him as a go- getter with the firm.
But as the new buyers soon learn, Meroria Manor is not very welcoming. There is already a tenant, and that tenant does not approve of the new owners’ renovations. When they spend a day tearing off some dark paneling in the bathroom, they awake the next morning to find it back in place. A spectral voice warns them “ to leave the house now!” By the next day, both are dead.
Over the following years every buyer of the house suffers the same fate. Every time David Holmes, finds a buyer, their stay at the house is fatal. Yet, David Holmes’ strange attraction to Meoria Manor continues, until it dominates his life. Something in the house calls to him. And if he answers, will, it destroy him, too? Get the book read it , feel the chill of the other, and enjoy the chill of a very good horror thriller.
I really enjoyed the book. I do not usually read much horror fiction. Steven King leaves me cold. But “ Caveat Emptor” captured my imagination and locked me in the darkly menacing pages. Highly recommended.
Cautions: violent death. Some sexuality .
Easily earns the full 5⭐️ rating..
November 10, 2023
This unique novel has a split personality. Because it starts as a haunted house book, and by the end you realise it's actually a love story of a most twisted sort.
The house in question leaves a gruesome path of death and destruction whenever someone moves in. Murder/suicide, bloody horrific "accidents", and those who survive are never the same mentally ever again.
David is our protagonist and he's with a real estate firm at the tender young age of twenty two when we first meet him. He is tasked with the showings for this house and it often sits for years without selling because of it's morbid reputation.
But this book covers decades and, eventually, there's always a family willing to purchase the place. We'll read about them and their horrific endings as the book progresses. But David and the house seem to be connected somehow. He hates going in the cellar (and this cellar is extraordinarily frightening) but he's more concerned in talking people out of buying it for their own well being. He has an affinity for the place but no idea why.
At the beginning of this book, it asks a question. Can a house have a soul? That's the crux of this story.
This is an excellent book that takes a familiar trope and disassembles it before putting it back together in a completely different form. It's twisty and bloody at times but also terrifying as the house devours those who enter and don't belong.
The ending is also bittersweet and really changes your opinion of what this book is about. I loved the ending personally and thought it was as unique as the rest of the novel.
I highly recommend this one.
The house in question leaves a gruesome path of death and destruction whenever someone moves in. Murder/suicide, bloody horrific "accidents", and those who survive are never the same mentally ever again.
David is our protagonist and he's with a real estate firm at the tender young age of twenty two when we first meet him. He is tasked with the showings for this house and it often sits for years without selling because of it's morbid reputation.
But this book covers decades and, eventually, there's always a family willing to purchase the place. We'll read about them and their horrific endings as the book progresses. But David and the house seem to be connected somehow. He hates going in the cellar (and this cellar is extraordinarily frightening) but he's more concerned in talking people out of buying it for their own well being. He has an affinity for the place but no idea why.
At the beginning of this book, it asks a question. Can a house have a soul? That's the crux of this story.
This is an excellent book that takes a familiar trope and disassembles it before putting it back together in a completely different form. It's twisty and bloody at times but also terrifying as the house devours those who enter and don't belong.
The ending is also bittersweet and really changes your opinion of what this book is about. I loved the ending personally and thought it was as unique as the rest of the novel.
I highly recommend this one.
February 24, 2021
“I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.”
I really enjoyed this book! I didn't have many expectations going in because I haven't read the authors other titles but I found myself drawn back to the book after I put it down - much like David was drawn back to the house time and time again. I'm a bit sad to be moving onto another book.
The book dives in with enough of a back story to make you vested in the characters but doesn't bog you down. I appreciate the change of point of view from character to character so you can really feel the individual's fear while inside the house, rather than relying on David to "tell" you about what happened once the horror occurred. I also think this keeps the reader engaged (at least it did for me) and not bored with just one storyline. The plot moved quickly and kept you guessing as to what the house would do next. I would appreciate a bit more description of the horrors within the house but I'm a bit of a fan of gore. The character development was like the book, quick and to the point and again, it didn't bog you down.
I'm serious when I ask, when is the movie coming out? I could see this book being written into a fabulous horror film and I would definitely pay to see it! It has the creep factor, resolution to the story but ending with somewhat of a cliff hanger, a bit of romance and the horror that leaves us all on the edge of our seat.
If you're looking for a quick, thriller read, this is your book! I enjoyed it throughly!
I really enjoyed this book! I didn't have many expectations going in because I haven't read the authors other titles but I found myself drawn back to the book after I put it down - much like David was drawn back to the house time and time again. I'm a bit sad to be moving onto another book.
The book dives in with enough of a back story to make you vested in the characters but doesn't bog you down. I appreciate the change of point of view from character to character so you can really feel the individual's fear while inside the house, rather than relying on David to "tell" you about what happened once the horror occurred. I also think this keeps the reader engaged (at least it did for me) and not bored with just one storyline. The plot moved quickly and kept you guessing as to what the house would do next. I would appreciate a bit more description of the horrors within the house but I'm a bit of a fan of gore. The character development was like the book, quick and to the point and again, it didn't bog you down.
I'm serious when I ask, when is the movie coming out? I could see this book being written into a fabulous horror film and I would definitely pay to see it! It has the creep factor, resolution to the story but ending with somewhat of a cliff hanger, a bit of romance and the horror that leaves us all on the edge of our seat.
If you're looking for a quick, thriller read, this is your book! I enjoyed it throughly!
June 21, 2025
My first thoughts when writing this review were just, "Wow, wow, wow!" This was a phenomenal story with a little mix of everything and the author doesn't hold back, so if you're looking for a tame ghost story, this isn't it. I'm no longer afraid of the dark - haven't been for decades - but this made me a little nervous about turning out the lights and trying to sleep. I'm just glad I don't live in an old restored home.
This book is really well done... and I love the way things "wrap up" and "come together to make a freaky sort of sense" at the end. In addition to being a rollercoaster ride of emotions, reading this book made me stop and really think about what I believe or don't believe.
This was a horror story with lots of horror, and with a little bit of historical fiction thrown in, a lot of quiet drama and moving along with the main character as the decades roll by. I was born about five years after the main character, so it was fun and nostalgic (not always happy, of course) to "relive" my history. It's amazing how many things have changed between the 1970s and present day, and the changes just keep on coming. It's authors like this who remind us of the way things used to be. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it's also a love story.
I suppose in the end, it comes down to the reader's perspective on what they're reading, but for me, I'm making room for both the sadness, the horror, and the overwhelming sense of love and peace... all at the same time. Heck, if you love horror stories, just read it. I'd give it 10 stars if I could! It's that good
This book is really well done... and I love the way things "wrap up" and "come together to make a freaky sort of sense" at the end. In addition to being a rollercoaster ride of emotions, reading this book made me stop and really think about what I believe or don't believe.
This was a horror story with lots of horror, and with a little bit of historical fiction thrown in, a lot of quiet drama and moving along with the main character as the decades roll by. I was born about five years after the main character, so it was fun and nostalgic (not always happy, of course) to "relive" my history. It's amazing how many things have changed between the 1970s and present day, and the changes just keep on coming. It's authors like this who remind us of the way things used to be. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it's also a love story.
I suppose in the end, it comes down to the reader's perspective on what they're reading, but for me, I'm making room for both the sadness, the horror, and the overwhelming sense of love and peace... all at the same time. Heck, if you love horror stories, just read it. I'd give it 10 stars if I could! It's that good
October 4, 2025
caveat emptor- devon de’ath🏚️👻
we follow an estate agent called david, who time and time again, ends up attempting to sell the property ‘meoria grange’. whilst some sales do go through and the new owners take up residency, they don’t always leave alive… and if they do… well let’s just say they’re not always the person they originally were upon entering the property…👀
do you believe a house can have a soul?… if the answer is ‘no’, after reading this, you might find yourself questioning this again later on…
each time a new resident enters the property, you find yourself saying ‘no, no, no…’ many times throughout. you never know what will happen next in order for the newest occupants to leave, whether it be willingly or with reluctance to do so… you WILL be leaving one way or another.
i for one would not like to stay in the property.. maybe a cheeky haunted house tour? but even then there are certain places within the house i’d avoid for sure😳😅
the ongoings within the property are disturbing and thrilling but there is a deeper meaning hidden beneath all the gore and trauma.. which i’m confused as to whether i find it sweet, when i really deep it or whether it’s just actually insane?🫠😂
‘let the buyer beware!’ and such a fitting phrase for meoria grange… if this book has been on your tbr for a while as it has with mine, i 100% recommend bumping it up, especially for spooky szn👻
•★ ★ ★ ★
•🌶️
•available on ku: ☑️
we follow an estate agent called david, who time and time again, ends up attempting to sell the property ‘meoria grange’. whilst some sales do go through and the new owners take up residency, they don’t always leave alive… and if they do… well let’s just say they’re not always the person they originally were upon entering the property…👀
do you believe a house can have a soul?… if the answer is ‘no’, after reading this, you might find yourself questioning this again later on…
each time a new resident enters the property, you find yourself saying ‘no, no, no…’ many times throughout. you never know what will happen next in order for the newest occupants to leave, whether it be willingly or with reluctance to do so… you WILL be leaving one way or another.
i for one would not like to stay in the property.. maybe a cheeky haunted house tour? but even then there are certain places within the house i’d avoid for sure😳😅
the ongoings within the property are disturbing and thrilling but there is a deeper meaning hidden beneath all the gore and trauma.. which i’m confused as to whether i find it sweet, when i really deep it or whether it’s just actually insane?🫠😂
‘let the buyer beware!’ and such a fitting phrase for meoria grange… if this book has been on your tbr for a while as it has with mine, i 100% recommend bumping it up, especially for spooky szn👻
•★ ★ ★ ★
•🌶️
•available on ku: ☑️
November 21, 2023
This book was a little out of my usual bailiwick - I enjoy Stephen King but am not really a horror fiction fan. But the blurb appealed and I thought I'd give it a go - and was so pleased I did! Its a really scary book, gripping the reader from the outset.
We first meet David Holmes as a young estate agent, starting out with a family firm. And visiting a rather dilapidated old house - Meoria Grange - after a tragic fire. We follow David's life, his manipulation into marriage and the various owners of Meoria who each suffer tragedy. It was an interesting use of historic events like the coming down of the Berlin Wall and 9/11 to show the passage of time in David's life. The tension builds as David begins to realise the importance this house has to his life and career... and his own role in the life of the house. I think the character I felt sorriest for was the psychic, Sable, who seemed to get a very rough deal.
I found the ending a bit strange and stretching credulity a little far, but somehow it did work. So pleased I read it, it is certainly entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We first meet David Holmes as a young estate agent, starting out with a family firm. And visiting a rather dilapidated old house - Meoria Grange - after a tragic fire. We follow David's life, his manipulation into marriage and the various owners of Meoria who each suffer tragedy. It was an interesting use of historic events like the coming down of the Berlin Wall and 9/11 to show the passage of time in David's life. The tension builds as David begins to realise the importance this house has to his life and career... and his own role in the life of the house. I think the character I felt sorriest for was the psychic, Sable, who seemed to get a very rough deal.
I found the ending a bit strange and stretching credulity a little far, but somehow it did work. So pleased I read it, it is certainly entertaining.
Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2024
I feel like this book evolved as I read it. I wanted a good meaty haunted house novel to read and was excited to sink my teeth into this one. It started creepily enough. The short first chapter snagged me right away and I happily settled down for a weekend of reading.
But the book was so much more than a horror/haunted house novel. The author drew the plot out over decades - even longer if you count the dreams David was having. We meet David as a young single man and follow his life through to his death. Along the way, historic real-life events are added...Live Aid (which I loved hearing about since I was there!), 9/11, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. It just added a touch of history to the overall story. It's also a simple tale of the human condition. When Kate comes into the picture, we see immediately what sort of person she is and we have an idea of how (or how we hope) it will end.
And then finally in the end, it turned into a tender love story of sorts, with me rooting for the bad guy (the evil forces driving the house to do what it does). Very unexpected, but thoroughly enjoyed.
But the book was so much more than a horror/haunted house novel. The author drew the plot out over decades - even longer if you count the dreams David was having. We meet David as a young single man and follow his life through to his death. Along the way, historic real-life events are added...Live Aid (which I loved hearing about since I was there!), 9/11, the tearing down of the Berlin Wall. It just added a touch of history to the overall story. It's also a simple tale of the human condition. When Kate comes into the picture, we see immediately what sort of person she is and we have an idea of how (or how we hope) it will end.
And then finally in the end, it turned into a tender love story of sorts, with me rooting for the bad guy (the evil forces driving the house to do what it does). Very unexpected, but thoroughly enjoyed.
October 23, 2025
Reckon a house can have a soul? An entity? Well its possible that Meoria Grange does 💀
The main character David is a likeable character, very down to earth, appreciates the simple things in life and it carries on through the telling of his life in this story. David Holmes is a successful estate agent who loves his job, and in his life long career at the firm Meoria Grange comes on the market more than a few times due to the strange occurnaces that happens in the manor.
Whom ever purchases Meoria Grange has a strange feeling that the house isn't really theirs, and doesn't feel like a home. The house doesn't like its residents to change the interior and those who try, wake the next day to a sight that wasn't there the night before.
Kate (David's wife) is horrible, id love to say that her character grows on you but It doesnt. She sucks the life out of David more than any paranormal spirit could.
This book was a nice read, predictable in some instances but it was still a pleasant read. It has a refreshing ending that see David Holmes finally get the warm and respected love he deserves even if it does come in a way that others would see at strange.
The main character David is a likeable character, very down to earth, appreciates the simple things in life and it carries on through the telling of his life in this story. David Holmes is a successful estate agent who loves his job, and in his life long career at the firm Meoria Grange comes on the market more than a few times due to the strange occurnaces that happens in the manor.
Whom ever purchases Meoria Grange has a strange feeling that the house isn't really theirs, and doesn't feel like a home. The house doesn't like its residents to change the interior and those who try, wake the next day to a sight that wasn't there the night before.
Kate (David's wife) is horrible, id love to say that her character grows on you but It doesnt. She sucks the life out of David more than any paranormal spirit could.
This book was a nice read, predictable in some instances but it was still a pleasant read. It has a refreshing ending that see David Holmes finally get the warm and respected love he deserves even if it does come in a way that others would see at strange.
December 2, 2023
Every neighborhood has a house, a place that everyone whispers about. a place where terrible things happen and no one knows why. but could there be a reason more simple than we'd suspect? can a house have sentience? can a house possess a soul?
Caveat Emptor by Devon De'Ath is a classic British haunted house tale, however, there aren't any ghosts in Caveat Emptor. something much much worse haunts these halls. something more twisted and older than you could imagine. Devon De'Ath has woven a delightful story that i enjoyed very much. it takes quite a master to move from one extreme to the next as De'Ath does without descending into camp or abject silliness. by the time i read the last word, all the loose ends were neatly tied together in a way i hadn't considered.
can a house have a soul? i now know the answer to that question and wonder no more.
highly recommended.
5 stars out of 5.
Caveat Emptor by Devon De'Ath is a classic British haunted house tale, however, there aren't any ghosts in Caveat Emptor. something much much worse haunts these halls. something more twisted and older than you could imagine. Devon De'Ath has woven a delightful story that i enjoyed very much. it takes quite a master to move from one extreme to the next as De'Ath does without descending into camp or abject silliness. by the time i read the last word, all the loose ends were neatly tied together in a way i hadn't considered.
can a house have a soul? i now know the answer to that question and wonder no more.
highly recommended.
5 stars out of 5.
February 28, 2024
Sharing this hidden gem of a book which was just amazing!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Caveat Emptor by Devon De’ath checked all the boxes for me!
Haunted houses, ghosts, karma! Wow…it started off with a bang with the first set of home owners of the house called Meoria Grange. The story starts in 1985 but it does progress further through the years and we find out what happens each time that home has new owners.
Throughout the book we follow the life of the real estate agent named David who ends up being responsible for selling the house each time it goes up for sale.
What I loved about this book is that it started off with the horror from the beginning. The ending really got to me and I cried which is normally not a feeling i get when reading a horror book. I 100% recommend this book! Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this great book. All opinions are my own. This book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
Haunted houses, ghosts, karma! Wow…it started off with a bang with the first set of home owners of the house called Meoria Grange. The story starts in 1985 but it does progress further through the years and we find out what happens each time that home has new owners.
Throughout the book we follow the life of the real estate agent named David who ends up being responsible for selling the house each time it goes up for sale.
What I loved about this book is that it started off with the horror from the beginning. The ending really got to me and I cried which is normally not a feeling i get when reading a horror book. I 100% recommend this book! Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this great book. All opinions are my own. This book is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
September 27, 2025
When I received this book, I had many books to read and quite literally forgot about it. I was looking through emails and found this book. I immediately decided to rectify my mistake and began to read this book. I had clearly missed out by not reading this book when I first received it. This book fit my favorite sub-genre of horror; a haunted house. And was this house haunted. From strange cellars to downright threats from an unknown voice this house was terrifying. Some people thought they could outwit the house and others got away from the house when told to by an incredibly angry voice. Many terrible things happened in the house. One such act brought tremendous pain to the agent that showed the house to others. He was completely unaware of his connection to the house until it was almost too late. The final chapters were really emotional but fitting for this totally enjoyable book that one must not just read but experience.
January 24, 2024
A good wine does not need a bush, so I will be brief about this book: fantastically written, with a delightful sense of humour, deliciously British, with a strong nod to novels such as The Haunting of Hill House.
A seemingly simple story about a house that has a soul and a preference for its inhabitants - and when it gets fed up with them, it sends them scurrying off in its own way…..
Everything about this story is great: the main characters, the insane way in which some of the 'owners' clear the way for the new inhabitants…
Rarely have I been so entertained by a book, and I am incredibly sad that the story has now come to an end.
Judging from the cover, I was expecting a different story, but how the author has handled this- truly phenomenal. A gem.
A seemingly simple story about a house that has a soul and a preference for its inhabitants - and when it gets fed up with them, it sends them scurrying off in its own way…..
Everything about this story is great: the main characters, the insane way in which some of the 'owners' clear the way for the new inhabitants…
Rarely have I been so entertained by a book, and I am incredibly sad that the story has now come to an end.
Judging from the cover, I was expecting a different story, but how the author has handled this- truly phenomenal. A gem.
February 28, 2024
What an amazing horror book. It checked all the boxes for me! Haunted houses, ghosts, karma! Wow…it started off with a bang with the first set of home owners of the house called Meoria Grange. The story starts in 1985 but it does progress further through the years and we find out what happens each time that home has new owners. Throughout the book we follow the life of the real estate agent named David who ends up being responsible for selling the house each time it goes up for sale.
What I loved about this book is that it started off with the horror from the beginning. The ending really got to me and I cried which is normally not a feeling i get when reading a horror book. I 100% recommend this book! Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this great book. All opinions are my own.
What I loved about this book is that it started off with the horror from the beginning. The ending really got to me and I cried which is normally not a feeling i get when reading a horror book. I 100% recommend this book! Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for this great book. All opinions are my own.
November 17, 2023
The horror genre is saturated with sapless, vanilla volumes from bland writers who churn out boring title after boring title - leaving the reader with another notch in their belt, but completely dissatisfied.
This is not that sort of book.
This is a true horror novel.
It’s not often that even a book’s afternoon sunshine scenes carry a lingering sense of the dread lying in wait. De’Ath masterfully scared the absolute piss out of me…again and again.
This is the book that will make you fan of horror. This is the book that will immediately make you join a writer’s mailing list.
This is the book that will ensure you never enter your basement without a flashlight…ever again.
This is not that sort of book.
This is a true horror novel.
It’s not often that even a book’s afternoon sunshine scenes carry a lingering sense of the dread lying in wait. De’Ath masterfully scared the absolute piss out of me…again and again.
This is the book that will make you fan of horror. This is the book that will immediately make you join a writer’s mailing list.
This is the book that will ensure you never enter your basement without a flashlight…ever again.
October 22, 2020
A Vey Satisfying Read
From the moment I began reading, I was caught up and could not put this book down. In fact, I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. I loved the English setting and the characters were people you could either love or despise. I also enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane, from the 1980's to 2019. I found zero mistakes in the writing (refreshing!) and found myself creeped out, wondering what forces/entities resided in this old manor house. Loved the premise of this title and will definitely read more of this author's work.
From the moment I began reading, I was caught up and could not put this book down. In fact, I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. I loved the English setting and the characters were people you could either love or despise. I also enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane, from the 1980's to 2019. I found zero mistakes in the writing (refreshing!) and found myself creeped out, wondering what forces/entities resided in this old manor house. Loved the premise of this title and will definitely read more of this author's work.
December 16, 2023
This was a good ghostly story. I felt the author made very good use of the house as a sinister setting, and creating an eerie atmosphere. It was very spooky, and difficult to stop turning the pages once I started. I'd say that this is light enough to read in one sitting, depending on the kind of reader you are. If you find it as spooky as I did, you might not be able to put it down.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
December 22, 2023
Superb! An outstanding horror / supernatural thriller revolving around an estate agent, David, and a manor house. This isn't so much a haunted house but rather a house possessed. Possessed by what ... you'll have to read it to find out! The story is creepy, scary, gruesome (some scenes are quite descriptive) and, at the same time, just follows David's life as he goes about his business trying to sell this house. Really good!
December 22, 2023
Superb! An outstanding horror / supernatural thriller revolving around an estate agent, David, and a manor house. This isn't so much a haunted house but rather a house possessed. Possessed by what ... you'll have to read it to find out! The story is creepy, scary, gruesome (some scenes are quite descriptive) and, at the same time, just follows David's life as he goes about his business trying to sell this house. Really good!
August 17, 2024
not your average weird house
David starts out as the new guy in town, selling houses and making his mark as a realtor. One house in particular is a challenge, but he closes the sale on this very large historic manor. Unfortunately, it has a penchant for killing its owners. Follow David as he marries, has a daughter, divorces, and finally comes to the realization that the house can only be his. I really liked his best pal, Charles, everyone should have one just like that.
David starts out as the new guy in town, selling houses and making his mark as a realtor. One house in particular is a challenge, but he closes the sale on this very large historic manor. Unfortunately, it has a penchant for killing its owners. Follow David as he marries, has a daughter, divorces, and finally comes to the realization that the house can only be his. I really liked his best pal, Charles, everyone should have one just like that.
October 5, 2020
The most spine tingling, horror filled, haunted house stories, I’ve ever had the pleasure to read.
This story spans and expands. It sucks you in and doesn’t let you just walk away. It’s brilliantly crafted. A very ingenious thriller. There are deep friendships, heart wrenching betrayals, and many wicked deaths.
Well done!
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
This story spans and expands. It sucks you in and doesn’t let you just walk away. It’s brilliantly crafted. A very ingenious thriller. There are deep friendships, heart wrenching betrayals, and many wicked deaths.
Well done!
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️
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