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Dead Voices
After her daughter is struck and killed on a desolate highway, Elizabeth begins hearing her child's voice calling out to her from the grave.
- GenresHorror
406 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1990
2 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Rick Hautala
137 books125 followersAKA A.J. Matthews
Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.
A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.
A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a Master of Art in English Literature (Renaissance and Medieval Literature), Hautala lives in southern Maine with author Holly Newstein. His three sons have all grown up and (mostly) moved out of the house. He served terms as Vice President and Trustee for the Horror Writers Association.
Sadly, Rick died on March 21, 2013.
Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.
A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.
A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a Master of Art in English Literature (Renaissance and Medieval Literature), Hautala lives in southern Maine with author Holly Newstein. His three sons have all grown up and (mostly) moved out of the house. He served terms as Vice President and Trustee for the Horror Writers Association.
Sadly, Rick died on March 21, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 31, 2024
This was a reread. Enjoyed it even more, mostly because I much prefer slower burns nowadays, and DEAD VOICES certainly fitted the bill. Interesting story and characters, some spooky atmosphere, and a satisfying conclusion that overshadows the sometimes predictable turns. Overall a stronger effort by an author who always deserves the attention. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ well-deserved stars out of 5.
June 11, 2017
I got this in the strangest of ways! It was in a pack of 3 book's I loved the book cover really. More than anything, as I'd never heard of the book before! It has that typical 80s Horror cover I absolutely love! The plot its self was spot on. The main Protagonist Elizabeth has gone through a really hard time, Her daughter die's a tragic car crash and grieving is playing a part to blame her from her husband. So she tries to escape to her family farm.It is there a series of horrific event's pull her and the whole of her old home town into terror.
There isn't very much review's of the book on goodread's which is a shame, As the plot is really good! Toward's the end it got a bit predictable. But though the plot your left with a sense if it could have been anyone!? The book say's it was published in the 1990s, but the cover looks older than that?!
All in all a really good read with a flawless plot and horror ,suspense that will leave you thinking for a while.
There isn't very much review's of the book on goodread's which is a shame, As the plot is really good! Toward's the end it got a bit predictable. But though the plot your left with a sense if it could have been anyone!? The book say's it was published in the 1990s, but the cover looks older than that?!
All in all a really good read with a flawless plot and horror ,suspense that will leave you thinking for a while.
February 6, 2014
Loved this book. I haven't read it for 20 years. I should pick it back up.
September 30, 2020
I believe this was Hautala's first book with Warner after publishing several with Zebra, but it still has a great cover nonetheless! I first read this years ago, but I have been on a little Hautala kick lately and gave this a go once more and I am glad I did. Hautala typically builds novels around characters foremost, and then gradually weaves in the 'disbelieving bits' that make horror novels, well, horror novels. DV starts with a bang, however, even if it only a dream.
Our main protagonist, Elizabeth, has just returned to her parents house after leaving her husband before the divorce is finalized. As we gradually learn, about 16 months prior to her return, she, her husband and their child Caroline were involved in a nasty car wreck and Caroline died. Elizabeth basically went to pieces, seeing therapists, taking pills, and even tried to kill herself. Finally, with her husband (we never learn much about him, but he does come off as a major asshole) blaming her for Caroline's death being the last straw, she splits for her parent's place in Maine.
Elizabeth is tormented by horrible dreams captured quite vividly by Hautala's prose, but she seems happy to be back, having missed her two aunts in town, along with her parents, and in dire need of some support. Her ex-boyfriend from high school is still in town as well, now working as a cop; Frank, still unattached, carries a major torch for Elizabeth and becomes a second POV in the story. (It seems most of Hautala's novels involve a small town cop in some shape or form).
Strange things start to happen in town however shortly after Elizabeth arrives, however, beginning with her uncle's grave being desecrated and his hand stolen; the cops are clueless, however. Frank, though, has a hunch that someone is gunning to hurt Elizabeth, and while not a detective, tries to find out what is going on. Elizabeth finds a new therapist, but he seems rather direct and distinctly odd and things start going downhill from there...
This was a fun read, but I found Elizabeth's character a bit too overblown-- she seems to be constantly struggling for breath, frozen in terror like something from a Gothic romance/horror novel. You want to sympathize with her given her tragic background, but she is a hard one to really like. In a similar manner, Frank the ex-boyfriend and cop is somewhat of a cardboard character, with his 'hunches' and dogged obsession over Elizabeth's safety. DV does have a nice twisty plot, however, and Hatuala throws a number of surprises at us to good effect.
Hautala also pulls out several well worn horror tropes in DV to good effect-- including a "Hand of Glory," demonic rites and various means of communicating with the dead-- giving them a good new spin. Is Caroline really trying to contact her mommy? If so, for what purpose-- for revenge or to help her? I like Hautala's writing style, although some readers may scream for more editing (he can be a bit verbose). A very solid 3.5 stars, rounded down due to Elizabeth's character.
Our main protagonist, Elizabeth, has just returned to her parents house after leaving her husband before the divorce is finalized. As we gradually learn, about 16 months prior to her return, she, her husband and their child Caroline were involved in a nasty car wreck and Caroline died. Elizabeth basically went to pieces, seeing therapists, taking pills, and even tried to kill herself. Finally, with her husband (we never learn much about him, but he does come off as a major asshole) blaming her for Caroline's death being the last straw, she splits for her parent's place in Maine.
Elizabeth is tormented by horrible dreams captured quite vividly by Hautala's prose, but she seems happy to be back, having missed her two aunts in town, along with her parents, and in dire need of some support. Her ex-boyfriend from high school is still in town as well, now working as a cop; Frank, still unattached, carries a major torch for Elizabeth and becomes a second POV in the story. (It seems most of Hautala's novels involve a small town cop in some shape or form).
Strange things start to happen in town however shortly after Elizabeth arrives, however, beginning with her uncle's grave being desecrated and his hand stolen; the cops are clueless, however. Frank, though, has a hunch that someone is gunning to hurt Elizabeth, and while not a detective, tries to find out what is going on. Elizabeth finds a new therapist, but he seems rather direct and distinctly odd and things start going downhill from there...
This was a fun read, but I found Elizabeth's character a bit too overblown-- she seems to be constantly struggling for breath, frozen in terror like something from a Gothic romance/horror novel. You want to sympathize with her given her tragic background, but she is a hard one to really like. In a similar manner, Frank the ex-boyfriend and cop is somewhat of a cardboard character, with his 'hunches' and dogged obsession over Elizabeth's safety. DV does have a nice twisty plot, however, and Hatuala throws a number of surprises at us to good effect.
Hautala also pulls out several well worn horror tropes in DV to good effect-- including a "Hand of Glory," demonic rites and various means of communicating with the dead-- giving them a good new spin. Is Caroline really trying to contact her mommy? If so, for what purpose-- for revenge or to help her? I like Hautala's writing style, although some readers may scream for more editing (he can be a bit verbose). A very solid 3.5 stars, rounded down due to Elizabeth's character.
April 10, 2016
I read this when I was a kid and it scared the bleep out of me.
November 7, 2008
One of the scariest books I've ever read. Almost too scary!
September 28, 2022
I can see why this guy wasn't the next Stephen King.
March 2, 2013
Read this book shortly after high school. Scared me worse than amityville horror! I just found out he is living across from my parents (my childhood home)! Small world!
October 2, 2024
I found this one pretty challenging for various reasons. Largely because it was pretty turgid with wildly unlikeable characters who seemed to spend most of the story hating, resenting, disliking and snarling at each other in an insipid kind of way. I also have a bit of an issue with stories that feature lengthy recounting of characters' dreams - it's just one remove from reality too far. The dialogue was pretty naff - lurching into the outright absurd at times. The last few chapters did manage to be quite impressively horrific, despite a glaring narrative inconsistency and the excessive shrieking lunacy of the bug eyed villain.
On the plus side, the author did manage to coax a few genuine chills out of the flimsy plot, and demonstrated a real flair for conveying a sense of place - I felt it was on the human element that the whole thing wore thinnest. Probably not one I'd reread nor recommend - but I wouldn't try too hard to dissuade anyone else who wanted to give it a go.
On the plus side, the author did manage to coax a few genuine chills out of the flimsy plot, and demonstrated a real flair for conveying a sense of place - I felt it was on the human element that the whole thing wore thinnest. Probably not one I'd reread nor recommend - but I wouldn't try too hard to dissuade anyone else who wanted to give it a go.
December 19, 2020
Excellent book! Excellent read! Rick Hautala brings his very best with Dead Voices. A mother still hears her daughter calling out to her, even though she passed away. She still gets the strange feeling that she's still around. Has she become something evil, or has she come back for another reason. Or is it just in mommys head? Hautala keeps thing interesting and keeps you guessing as well, with multiple characters, and you don't know who is friend or foe in the living or dead world here. Superbly written, I absolutely loved The Hand Of Glory scene ( you'll have to read it to find out what that is, no fair looking it up online.) And the explosively energized climax is sure to get your adrenaline pumping, not to mention catch you off guard with a few surprises that the author kept up his sleeve. This book is a must read for horror fans and fans of Rick Hautala in general.
August 4, 2023
Elizabeth has returned home after the death of her daughter, separation with her husband, and suicide attempt. Trying to rebuild her life she struggles with anxiety, regret, and panic. Wishing she could speak with her daughter one last time, she pursues a series of approaches to contacting the dead, with increasingly successful results.
Genuinely scary. One of Hautala's best
Genuinely scary. One of Hautala's best
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September 14, 2025I saw another review describing this author as "verbose" and I couldn't agree more. The excessive, floury prose pulled me out of the story and I couldn't stand the idea of Doug accusing Elizabeth of killing their daughter. He crashed the car in the first place! I honestly just had a frustrating reading experience with this. This style just wasn't for me.
October 5, 2017
DNF - Awful
March 13, 2022
I thought this was a good story. It probably could’ve been shortened by about 100 pages because the main character explained a few things over and over. Pretty good story over all.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews