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Letters from the Dead
Good reading copy. Some wear from excessive use and age.
- GenresHorror
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
16 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 21, 2016
Wow! What can I say other than that this book was killer! Haha. No pun intended. But seriously this book was a diamond in the rough especially with the not so good reviews concerning his other books which thankfully, I have to treasure. I've never read mr. Black before and he has definitely became a favorite, withstanding that his other books are just as great. So basically this book is about two women with marital problems who bring their kids along with them to a beach house in order to sort out their recent turmoil. One, more recent than the other. Great idea huh? Until, they discover the house and sinister town it resides in has a purpose of its own. The atmosphere here is very depressing at times but not in a bad way. The descriptions are just so perfect that I could feel the weight and tension the house was slowly leaking out into its inhabitants. Very creepy moments and great pacing with the plot. The ending didn't disappoint either but this was a book that I wished wouldn't end. Plus there was a Ouija board involved! I honestly cannot wait to dive into another of his books. 5 star read especially if u happen to be renting an old rickety beach house yourself.
May 4, 2017
Classic of the 80s! You really want to know what's behind the eerie sightings of the ghost. You want to know the story of the haunted cottage and how the village is involved in the going ons. Absolutely page turning suspense. Nowadays the ebook is available under his real name Campbell Armstrong.
August 2, 2023
This is what some call "A Slow Burn." This book takes it's time to give you the one, two punch. It's a good ride, none the less. There is very little blood. Some sex. Lots of tension and a feeling of claustrophobia.
Two women with one teen child apiece take a vacation on the beach in a nice big house. When they get there, the house is run down. The town, which is eight miles away is like a ghost town. Strange things start to happen to the vacationers. It really gets dark when the teens find and use a ouija board. The town has a terrible secret.
Two women with one teen child apiece take a vacation on the beach in a nice big house. When they get there, the house is run down. The town, which is eight miles away is like a ghost town. Strange things start to happen to the vacationers. It really gets dark when the teens find and use a ouija board. The town has a terrible secret.
September 10, 2023
I did not even finish this book. I tried. I did give it a chance.
It could be the writer or a whole host of other factors. The plot itself was awesome, however. If you liked this book, more power to you!
It could be the writer or a whole host of other factors. The plot itself was awesome, however. If you liked this book, more power to you!
July 3, 2014
Standard in every way. Doesn't break any new ground or expand on anything that has come before or after it. Pretty much like a really light John Saul novel (and those aren't too aggressive to begin with). Towards the end it starts to promise something much better, but then quickly dies back down. Would have been much better in the hands of another writer who's maybe a bit more versed in compiling a large cast of characters with multiple points of view. There's a small town and a conspiracy to sacrifice newcomers to a haunted beach house that needs victims but, again, this is a story that needs a large scope, and not just something with a limited range of characters.
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June 21, 2009Horror
August 15, 2016
Four really dull characters go to a really dull beach house in a really dull small town and meet really dull ghosts.
March 6, 2017
The exposition Laurel just began a class at a school she has just moved to. She is "the quiet kid", who still dresses like she did when she was in junior high. Her English instructor, assigns the class an assignment to write a letter to a dead person. Laurel picks Kurt Cobain and starts a relationship with him and the other dead people she writes to. She uses this to release her rage and struggles with her family. Laurel lives permanently with her father and every other week with her Aunt Amy, her mom's oldest sibling. Laurel's mother is out of the picture; she has divorced her father to follow her dream of acting in California, after May's passing.
The setting book is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Which is The city the author, Ava Dellaira, grew up in after moving from her birth state of California. Albuquerque is a "country surrounded" city in the middle of the desert. It is also the most population city in the state of New Mexico. With a usual climate that is sunny and dry city.
The protagonist of the story is Laurel, due to the struggles she is facing in the book. She is the main character in the story and is focused on more than any other person in the novel. Laurel is a in a situation where she must pick up the shattered pieces, of her life, and glue them back together for the sake of her own sanity.
The antagonist Laurel is her own enemy in the story. Because she is in a man vs. self situation in the story. The other antagonist is Billy, Paul's best friend (May's last boyfriend) who ends up molesting Laurel.
The conflict isShe needs to process her grief and rage of the death of May. She also must find a way to feel guilty for May's death. Also, fight the sense of being left and let down by her parents. Lastly she needs to find her own identity
The rising action At Laurel's new school, she starts making friends. While continuing to write letters to dead people.
With each letter, she opens up more and more about what happened to her family life, May's death, and what really happened the day of May's death.
The climax is Laurel helps natalie and hannah talk to jason. laurel Gets closer with sky. laurel and her friends go to a party.
The falling action Laurel feels stressed at the party. She discusses with sky suicidal thought. She states "what if I were to fly off this roof right now."
The resolution is Memories of why she did not like May and Paul's relationship. Also why she disliked Billy at that time because he was creepy.
The document is Laurel finally open up completely about what happened the night of her sister's death. May and Paul went to watch a movie, but Laurel did not want to watch. may had her sit in the car with Billy. That was when Billy raped her. Laurel tol May and May went t the bridge. Laurel watched her fall. She was unaware if it was accidental or sucide.
The secondary characters are Paul, Billy, Aunt Amy, May, Natilee, Hannah, Jason, Sky, Kasey, Laurel's Mother, Laurel's Father, Tristan, Kristen, Carl, Mark, and Mrs.Bunker
-“I think a lot of people want to be someone, but we are scared that if we try, we won't be as good as everyone imagines we could be.”
-“You can be noble and brave and beautiful and still find yourself falling.”
The setting book is set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Which is The city the author, Ava Dellaira, grew up in after moving from her birth state of California. Albuquerque is a "country surrounded" city in the middle of the desert. It is also the most population city in the state of New Mexico. With a usual climate that is sunny and dry city.
The protagonist of the story is Laurel, due to the struggles she is facing in the book. She is the main character in the story and is focused on more than any other person in the novel. Laurel is a in a situation where she must pick up the shattered pieces, of her life, and glue them back together for the sake of her own sanity.
The antagonist Laurel is her own enemy in the story. Because she is in a man vs. self situation in the story. The other antagonist is Billy, Paul's best friend (May's last boyfriend) who ends up molesting Laurel.
The conflict isShe needs to process her grief and rage of the death of May. She also must find a way to feel guilty for May's death. Also, fight the sense of being left and let down by her parents. Lastly she needs to find her own identity
The rising action At Laurel's new school, she starts making friends. While continuing to write letters to dead people.
With each letter, she opens up more and more about what happened to her family life, May's death, and what really happened the day of May's death.
The climax is Laurel helps natalie and hannah talk to jason. laurel Gets closer with sky. laurel and her friends go to a party.
The falling action Laurel feels stressed at the party. She discusses with sky suicidal thought. She states "what if I were to fly off this roof right now."
The resolution is Memories of why she did not like May and Paul's relationship. Also why she disliked Billy at that time because he was creepy.
The document is Laurel finally open up completely about what happened the night of her sister's death. May and Paul went to watch a movie, but Laurel did not want to watch. may had her sit in the car with Billy. That was when Billy raped her. Laurel tol May and May went t the bridge. Laurel watched her fall. She was unaware if it was accidental or sucide.
The secondary characters are Paul, Billy, Aunt Amy, May, Natilee, Hannah, Jason, Sky, Kasey, Laurel's Mother, Laurel's Father, Tristan, Kristen, Carl, Mark, and Mrs.Bunker
-“I think a lot of people want to be someone, but we are scared that if we try, we won't be as good as everyone imagines we could be.”
-“You can be noble and brave and beautiful and still find yourself falling.”
August 5, 2020
I was interested in reading this book - primarily as the author taught at my alma mater, SUNY Oswego....back in the 70s.....Black has written other works, but am unlikely to delve into them...
Originally published sometime in the 80s, the story concerns the rental of a seaside property, where a murder/suicide occurred in the early years of the 20th century....a fact not communicated in the original rental ad.....
After Tommy, the child of one of the renters, begins fooling with a Ouija Board, spectral visions begin, as well as messages from the great beyond...both from Roscoe and Anna - the original owners of the house....
This story breaks no new ground, and it seems I'd be slogging theu this book forever before I reached the ending...
Originally published sometime in the 80s, the story concerns the rental of a seaside property, where a murder/suicide occurred in the early years of the 20th century....a fact not communicated in the original rental ad.....
After Tommy, the child of one of the renters, begins fooling with a Ouija Board, spectral visions begin, as well as messages from the great beyond...both from Roscoe and Anna - the original owners of the house....
This story breaks no new ground, and it seems I'd be slogging theu this book forever before I reached the ending...
October 28, 2016
really scary!!
December 5, 2016
did not like the focus on a young teen . . being seduced inappropriate
June 16, 2017
Trite. Boring. Characters were one-dimensional and plot was thin. The only real "suspense" was whether or not I could force myself to finish the damn thing.
May 17, 2020
A creepy little ghost story
August 28, 2024
Not a bad read, a bit of a slow burner but it has it's moments and builds to a good ending
3 1/2 stars maybe
3 1/2 stars maybe
January 18, 2017
Was looking for a short horror story to read on a road trip, so got this on my Kindle. Didn't realize it was written in/set in 1984 when I bought it but that was kind of a fun surprise as I was a teenager in the 80s and it felt nostalgic in parts. It does get bogged down in places as the two women talk about and think about their marriages and relationships, but then the story would pick up again. A few explicit scenes and some themes (involving children and adolescents) would offend certain readers so that probably accounts for many of the lower ratings. Overall a decent quick and creepy read.
January 7, 2017
Okay
Storyline was good, there were some scary parts but not as scary as it could have been. The first half of the book was a bit long and drawn out, I skimmed some because it felt like the author was just trying to add more words to make the book bigger. Second half of the book was better. I did like the story a lot but the author focused too much on the women's history, when the history of the house should have been the focus. Overall good story could have been a lot better though.
Storyline was good, there were some scary parts but not as scary as it could have been. The first half of the book was a bit long and drawn out, I skimmed some because it felt like the author was just trying to add more words to make the book bigger. Second half of the book was better. I did like the story a lot but the author focused too much on the women's history, when the history of the house should have been the focus. Overall good story could have been a lot better though.
October 30, 2012
Decent horror story by a writer that keeps it interesting. It's a quick and worthwhile the read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews