The House on Dogwood Court

by Robert Lass

Something, or someone, is tormenting the Puller family.

Fleeing their shameful past, the Puller family has just moved into a new home in a cozy little subdivision. Their neighbors are friendly, the house is beautiful, but their new home harbors a deadly secret.

Soon after they move in, a child suffers a debilitating injury. Night time brings terrifying events with no logical explanation. As the strange activity surrounding the house ramps up, the weight of the Puller’s past threatens to tear the family apart.

Why did their house cost so much less than all the other houses in the subdivision? Who is the mysterious figure lurking in the woods beyond the Puller’s back yard? Who or what is stalking the family?

The Pullers need to find the answers to their questions fast because the family is fracturing, and an unknown evil lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to spill innocent blood.

Genres: Horror

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2024

Reviews

[B.K. Smith]

Lass does it again

This is the second book I’ve read by Lass. Just like the first one, the book is well-written. The characters are likeable and fleshed-out, the plot is interesting and there’s a lot of comfortable moments. The only thing is that, like the first book, there are remnants of changes that weren’t committed to. You’ll notice the date reverts in at least one case, a Ford Explorer is described as a minivan, and some minor spelling issues. It will not ruin the book for you and just shows that Lass doesn’t use AI like many authors do today.

The plot is somewhat predictable as it is nothing new but the book, as a whole, is still a great read and you end up caring about the characters.

I highly recommend this book for horror fans.

[NANCY WILSON]

Thumbs up!

It was a good story and I read it in two sittings. The only thing is it needs a good proof reader. Missing and wrong text a plenty!

[Sam R]

The House on Dogwood Court sucked me in from the first page, but damn Jackson annoyed the shit out of me. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed and anticlimactic.

[Jenna A.]

This novel is about a young family that moves into a new home, and unbeknownst to them, they aren't the only ones living there. Can they uncover the mystery of the little boy haunting their home, or will his murderer take another victim?

It's rare for me to get goosebumps from a novel, but this one was able to do it! I think creepy kid ghosts will always be a weakness of mine. The seance scene will stick with me for a bit, I could picture it so vividly.

Keep an eye out for the sequel later this year!

[Sarah Hanna]

I loved the story. The family dynamic was so tangible too. I gave this a 3/5 stars though because there were a lot of errors littered throughout the writing. There were sentences with words missing, names mixed up and typos. Whoever edited this book before publishing it was not thorough. With that being said, I really did enjoy the storyline and characters.

[Vickie]

A bit of a slow start but really took off. Characters were all very lively and the author made each feel relatable. A couple of scenes needed better editing, instead of going back and adding details later, but overall a good book. Edited to add: the author is a USMC veteran, so I thank him for his service to our country.

[Cynthia]

Best Haunted House Book in Forever

I completely enjoyed this book.

The development of the story and characters was well done and I felt IN the house.

It has been a LONG time since a book made me scared to read at night but this one delivered.

I HIGHLY recommend this book!!!

[Eunice Anne]

I’m a total sucker for ghost thrillers—anything horror, suspense, or paranormal—and this book definitely scratched that itch.
The plot itself follows a familiar setup you’d expect from the genre, but honestly, that didn’t bother me at all. What really pulled me in—and kept me turning the pages—was the storytelling. It felt like I was sitting around a bonfire listening to someone tell a creepy story, like those old-school vibes from Are You Afraid of the Dark?. You know, where you’re just hooked, a little on edge, and completely into it. That’s exactly how this felt. I was the eager listener, fully invested, probably with snacks in hand.
I also loved that it was set in the ’90s—arguably the best era. There’s just something about that time period that adds an extra layer of nostalgia and charm, even in a horror story.
Side note: I know this book is meant to be a fun, entertaining read—not something deeply philosophical—but it actually gave me a bit of a realization. Sometimes, the real horror isn’t the supernatural—it’s how people deal with fear. In the story, the characters experience disturbing things, yet they hesitate to talk about them. It’s like they’d rather be seen as “normal” or strong than admit what’s really happening. And honestly, that feels even crazier. Everyone is experiencing the same thing, yet they choose to ignore it instead of facing it. That hit me more than I expected.
Another side note—poor Jason not being allowed to watch Scream! I had to laugh at that. I was around 9 when that movie came out, and I remember watching it with my cousins. Looking back now, yeah, definitely not for kids—but that’s kind of how it was in the ’90s. We were exposed to that stuff early, but in a weirdly more innocent way. These days, it feels different… a bit darker somehow.
One of the creepiest parts for me was the sound of a child giggling. That seriously stuck with me. It reminded me of a paranormal video I once saw, and I couldn’t shake that feeling while reading. That kind of detail is what really makes a horror story linger in your mind.
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. It’s a great pick if you’re looking for something spooky, engaging, and perfect for a night of reading—especially if you’re trying to get out of a reading slump.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Sarah O'Brien]

First read of 2026 and boy was it a good one. This book sucked me in right away. It is rare that I can get away with finding the time to finish a book in a day but with this one, I made it happen.

I thought the
pacing was great. Some of the parts where the adults got together or Jason got together with his friends were a little boring, but overall, I enjoyed the speed at which the author unraveled important details. It definitely left me hungry for more information. I was very eager to see where this all went.

I thought the likability of some of the characters was mixed. I really enjoyed the Puller children, especially Jason. I particularly enjoyed his interactions with Joey. Carrie was a little annoying in the beginning but as the events unfolded, I grew to really respect her character. I enjoyed her interactions with the PIC.

I wasn't a big fan of either of the Puller adults. I think Jackson definitely had some better interactions with his children than Ana did, but I wanted to slap him upside the head for his stubborn and selfish insistence of living in denial. I also really didn't care at all about most of the neighbors, with the exception of Bob. I enjoyed his character. At one point, I had a bit of negative speculation about him but I am glad I was wrong.

I will say that I do think this book could have used a proofreader. It wasn't super distracting but I did notice quite a few errors in words as well as a couple of sentences I had to reread a few times in order for them to make sense. With this being said, the author is very talented and I look forward to reading more content from him in the future.

[Courtney]

⭐️: 4.5/5

Anyone who knows me, knows I love a good ghost or haunted house story. This one did not disappoint and had me hooked from beginning to end!
———————————————————————


Jackson and Ana Puller just made a big move with their two children to a new state. Something happened that caused the family to abruptly move out of state for a fresh start.
They luck out and find a large, cozy house in a wonderful neighborhood, for a hard to believe price.
The family is settling in nicely; Jackson and Ana both found jobs, the neighbors are welcoming, and the kids have each found a group of friends. But then they start hearing stories that their home may be haunted.
Then unexplainable things start happening around the house. The odd events occurring don’t seem to be innocent behavior that they can ignore.
Ana can’t sleep and Jackson refuses to believe a ghost could be haunting their home. Plus, all of their money has gone into that house, they can’t just move.
They learn from a neighbor that no family has lasted longer than a year living there. How much can the Puller family be able to take? Will they move or be able to look past the haunting? Or will it tear the family apart?


The way the ending gave closure was perfect! 🤌🏻 I loved the original idea and it definitely made for a good ghost story.

Thank you so much, @robertlassbooks, for my gifted and signed copy.
I really appreciated the Thank You card included. I loved reading the little backstory. I love old ghost stories based on our childhood neighborhoods. I’d like to think we all have one!

[AGilden]

This novel is made especially appealing because it centres on kids. Otherwise it would have been a fairly normal ghost story. But with a kid ghost, a boy in danger both from the ghost and from someone real, and a teenage girl who turned out to be bit of a hero, the kids ran this book in a major way. There were also big problems in the family that moved into the haunted house, which added some depth. So, good ghost story which I enjoyed a lot.

[Allie]

This is a fun, spooky read for October! It was enough to keep me intrigued, but good grief, Jackson pissed me off.
I also was hoping for a different ending, to be honest!! Still a good read if you want a paranormal story before Halloween!

[Troy]

Great book

Great book a little slow to start but i thoroughly enjoyed great writing. Good ending and explanation of characters. Loved how it took the dad forever to believe the mother and daughter.

[donna stocker]

A creepy good book

I really enjoyed this book. First time reading this author’s book. I love a good ghost story without a bunch of gore. They’re hard to find. This one was perfect.

[Cynthia Moore]

The House on Dog wood Court

Awesome! Couldn't put it down. Great storyline, strong characters, I got very involved. Wished for a different ending but great book all the same!

[Heather Harsch]

This was a fun haunted house book! I look forward to reading the second one in the series.

[Soonie]

Great book!

Scary!!!! Really enjoyed this book. Kept me interested throughout the whole read. Love the ending too. Enjoyed the characters also.

[Amy Leigh]

Read the trigger warnings!

[Laura Honeysett]

I really like the plot here, but, like, did anyone proof read or edit either of these books? I keep almost putting the second book down because it’s becoming nearly unreadable.

[Tomi Sieber]

I find myself desensitized to being creeped out, being a horror genre fan since my youth, but this book seriously creeped me out and had me running to the bathroom in the night in case anything was watching me. Fantastic story and I grew to love the characters almost instantly. Smooth writing and great build up without it being “too much”! I recommend it to anyone and everyone who asked me what their next read should be!

[PhD in demonology]

Dnf 86%