Four Months of Terror: Living in a Haunted House : A True Haunting and Ghost Story

by Rebecca Patrick-Howard, Amy Quire (Editor)

Newly re-edited for 2018, including new photos of the house today and an entirely new chapter of a story that's never been shared before! In 1990 a single mother and her 10-year-old daughter moved into an old house in a quiet, central Kentucky town. Their excitement of living in a piece of history fades, however, as they slowly became convinced of something malevolent in the walls of their rental property. From the ghostly footsteps at night to the splatters of blood they woke to on their sheets each morning, it was evident that they weren't in the house alone... Although they only lived in the house for four months, for a child it was a time of chilling terror that she would never forget. In this short tale, Rebecca calls upon her child's memory to recollect the experiences of her time in the haunted house that still trouble her today. **One of the top true ghost stories and hauntings in the Occult and Ghosts & Haunted Houses categories, FOUR MONTHS OF TERROR was updated in 2018 to include new anecdotal evidence of the house, as communicated by another former resident.

Genres: Horror, Ghosts, Paranormal, Memoir, Nonfiction

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2014

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

True account from a 10 year old's perspective on their haunted house. Half the book was spent on setting the scene ie: how excited she was to.live downtown, to live in a big old house and what the house looked like etc.

I felt there was not enough time spent on the haunting itself and the mysterious illnesses really didn't seem mysterious to me considering she was suffering from night terrors.

Well written but needs more meat in the story.

[Reuxbot · Rating 2 out of 5]

A haunting told from the perspective of a 10 year old. It was in need of editing and half of the book (kindle version) was promotional material for other books but it wasn't bad it just needed more meat. The story was lacking in perspectives from other people (what happened to her mother?), and I think since their being poor was brought up so frequently it might have been worth touching on that in a more direct way. But the story was interesting nonetheless.

[Will Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Months of Terror, by Rebecca Patrick-Howard, is actually a very entertaining and well written book. As first hand accounts of ghost stories go, it's really not a bad little tale at all.

Unfortunately however, only four months does not, a particularly terrifying and event filled ghost story usually make. In fact, although the author does an excellent job of relating her personal account of having survived life in a spooky old antebellum house in Kentucky, the average reader may be left wondering (to use an 1980s metaphor - since the story does take place in the VHS tape and Wendy's TV ad haunted 80s), "Where's the beef?"

I really love short books though, and this is one of the better ones that I've read, to be quite honest. The only real problem for me, besides the fact that Ms. Patrick-Howard didn't even personally witness many of the paranormal manifestations that occurred in that spooky old house herself, is maybe that... ebook pricing is often not so much frightening as it is just plain bizarre.

For example, you can get absolutely everything that legendary writers like H.P. Lovecraft and Charles Dickens ever got published in their entire lifetimes in one massive volume for only $1.99 US, but... a tiny little book of scary ghost stories (that isn't really all that scary) costs you almost twice that!

Now that IS scary. Nah! Just kidding. Four Months of Terror, despite being far too brief, is a pretty decent book, and the author really has done a great job of relating what she personally endured as a child, living in a big, scary haunted house. Good stuff indeed.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted House

I lived in a house as a kid that I swear to this day was haunted. Nothing physical happened, it was just negative feelings you had when you entered. I felt the same even in the back yard. This story reminded me of that house. I hated that house.

[Sherry Bledsoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky

I can't imagine being a child and having to endure hunger due to poverty and also being moved into a haunted house. This book spooked me on several levels. Glad for the updates on the house at the end.

[Karen Myer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok

pretty short book told from the memories of a child, I think if more stories from the other occupants of the house would have made it better.

[Terralyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was this even meant to be a complete story??

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe in ghosts, but this sounds like more like an old, run-down house with black mold or some other environmental toxins, probably hidden in the layers of peeling wallpaper. There wasn't really anything that couldn't be explained (even the blood could easily have been from biting insects), and the lack of historical context was a bummer no matter how many times the author made excuses. It wasn't a bad book, it was well written, but nothing really noteworthy happened. Hopefully the next of the series will have more spooks.

I am glad I read it, if only to give more context to the Taryn's Camera series. Taryn really is a self-insert of sorts, a solitary history-buff, in love with old houses and remiss to see them fall apart or be homogenized.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty creepy for a true haunting! Didn't take me long to read this book. Lasting four months in the house was very hard for this family as they had to endure major paranormal activity. The author pulls you into the story and gives you a goosebump, chilly ride to the end of the book. This was definitely a five star read for just being a "spook"tacular book!

[Angela C Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy true haunting stories and Rebecca tells them well. I have also read other books by this author and have enjoyed them all. The stories are recounted from actual events and the author does a wonderful weaving a story of fright and mystery. If you're not sure you believe in ghosts, her books will bring you a little closer to believing.

[Ericka Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Rebecca Patrick-Howard’s books and have read quite a few of them. This was told from a child’s perspective but there were some unanswered questions although she did include a prologue. There was also some extra part of the story that included a cousin and her son that just seemed to not really fit.

[Harley Fones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still good years later

I remember reading this YEARS ago, and was browsing in my kindle history. Figured “why not?” And read it again. While there are a few typos, this story is just plain creepy and such a good retelling of memories. If you like true ghost stories I highly recommend it!

[Jenny Gifford stoecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

Well-written and entertaining! The author seems very down-to-earth and believable. I've read a lot of first-person accounts of hauntings, and I highly recommend this book!

[Thomas Ballein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good ghost story

I loved that the book included some old southern folklore my grandma would tell me story about ghost and old wives tales the author tells an interesting and gripping story that grabs you in the first few pages and don't let go until the Last page.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very scary, but an entertaining quick read. I really would have enjoyed it more if the author would have included her mother's experiences. I did like her writing style and plan to try some of her other books.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting!

I love true hauntings and this book was very good. I've always believed in ghosts and had a few experiences myself. Mostly family members and with cherished cats who've crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

[Melissa Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was very intriguing and kept me wanting to read more. The writer was so visual that I could see the house and what it looked like through the words on the pages!

[Fabiola De La Torre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Quick easy read. Good story not sure about the true part but quickly got through it like a short story n

[Ellen Frizell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

A very good story and scary. I will read more of her books and those in the series. I hope she continues write and will write about her own haunted house.

[Máire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Proofreading is important

The story was promising and had a decent start, but I just could not get over the misspellings and errors. It definitely needed a better editor.

[Marilene Yoakim · Rating 5 out of 5]

frightening but entertaining

I enjoyed this book, thanks for sharing your memories of a haunting. Easy to read and interesting. I will read more

[Susan R Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but long winded

This book might have been enjoyable but for many editing mistakes. So numerous I could not get through even 15% of the book.

[Harley Fones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this years ago and enjoying it, so when I saw it again in my kindle history I dig why not! So deeply chilling and well told, I highly recommend it!

[Haley Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading it at times but I’ll say… by the time I got to the end of it I really felt like it didn’t need to be written at all lol. It was spooky (and I’m sure even spookier experiencing it first hand) but not spooky enough to charge people to hear your ghost story. There was also a LOT of typos which was incredibly distracting.

I’d say skip this one

[Lisa Shackelford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a good ghost story? I know I do; especially when the story is true! The author tells her story calmly, however you can feel the fear and tensions that she and her mother felt. The author is very descriptive of the house and experiences of those involved... She really conveys the excitement she felt as a child that quickly turns to terror. I really liked how the story was told through the eyes and voice of a ten year old girl... Her initial excitement and curiosity of living in a very old and pretty cool house, followed by wonder and the appreciation of the spirit world, more curiosity, apprehension and then fear. This is a very well told story and I highly recommend it to my fellow paranormal investigators and lovers of ghost stories!

[Malin Näfstadius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think most of us fantasised about living in a haunted house when we were kids, but to actually find yourself in a situation like that would probably be just like this. Creepy, but without proof to support your irrational behaviour when the turning of the screw is tightened so slowly.
I think it's a nice depiction of a mother-daughter relationship, they look out and care for each other. Tho for a parent it would be agony to know that their 10-year old felt so unsafe in their home.
This is a novella, perfect length for sticking in your pocket and consuming during a few hours on a bus or train.

[kozettekaysmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Truly Good Ghost Story

I chose five stars because I love a good give you goosebumps type of story. I thought this was so well told and knowing it was a true experience made it even more exciting. The only thing that was disappointing was it was a short story. You can actually feel yourself in the room with the Mother and daughter and feel their terror. If you like a good scary story I recommend this one.
kozetteksmith

[Julie Pfleuger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terror not conveyed

While I'm sure that being in the situation and in the moment was frightening for an eleven year old. I don't feel that the events were described very well as they were more accounts of an internal dialogue. As if the reader is supposed to already know the terror they were experiencing. The cover art is what pulled me in. In which, once again the old adage is still correct.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and terrifying

I'm glad I'm not that young girl or her mother, I struggled just reading about it, had to listen to some Band Perry to keep me sane ;-)
I'm glad I decided to go back to the beginning after reading Two Weeks, and I'm planning on reading a lot more, I like Rebecca's story telling style, friendly, comfortable, but when necessary she pulls no punches. Read alone at night at your own risk!

[Ruby Blaylock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, spooky, and definitely not one to read before bedtime! I've always been a little skeptical about "true" hauntings, but after having experienced a few unexplained phenomenon myself, now read stories like this with more of an open mind. The author's style is friendly and engaging, and the story sent chills down my spine! Great rainy day read, but just leave the lights on!