The Haunted Halls

by Glenn Rolfe

The Bruton Inn, located outside of the small Maine city of Hollis Oaks, is home to something special. An icy presence has made its way from a dark past to the present day. Cold spots, shadows, and whispers permeate the halls, and guests are beginning to change.

For two front desk employees, Rhiannon and Jeff, the dark rumors are about to come to light. They call upon Lee Buhl, the urban shaman, and his connection with the spirit world to dig up the truth.

Will they be able to stand against this malevolent force? Or will they come face to face with something beyond even your most frightful dreams. Welcome to the Bruton Inn. The Ice Queen has arrived.


This story continues in Something in the Groove (2022) as a follow up.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Ghosts, Fiction, Supernatural, Ghost Stories

201 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2014

About the author

Glenn Rolfe is a singer, songwriter, and author of over eighteen books. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, toured in a minivan with his punk rock friends, played the Hard Rock Cafe in Denver, hosted a radio show at Bates College, and dreams of surfing in the Pacific Ocean one day with his future pet goat.

He loves the books of Stephen King, Brian Keene, Ronald Malfi, Jack Ketchum, and Richard Laymon, the music of Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, Pre-Reputation Taylor Swift, Kiss, and Billy Joel, and soaking in the sun and eating pier fries at Old Orchard Beach.

His kids love him despite his weirdness, so who could ask for more?
He is hard at work on many more books and songs.

Stay tuned!


He is the author of When the Night Falls, Until Summer Comes Around, August's Eyes, Blood and Rain, The Window, and more. Stay tuned for his next thrilling Maine horror novel, The Siren of Groves Peak (2026)


Richard Chizmar, New York Times and USA Today Best Selling-Author of Gwendy’s Button Box, says of Rolfe’s Blood and Rain: “A wonderful throwback to the fun and bloody days of paperback horror glory!”

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well...slap me with a wet fish and call me a merman...
I did not expect to like this book as much as I did.

'Haunted' whatever stories are not my favorite. After THE SHINING and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR in the 80's (I know there will be people screaming at me about THE HAUNTING AT HILL HOUSE, but that came to my attention later), these specific stories didn't do much for me anymore. Granted, every now and then a gem would pop up - movies, I know, but I rarely read these stories after the 80's - like GHOST SHIP or 13 GHOSTS, but they are few and far between.

So, when I read the blurb, I was thinking that this would be an inferior rehash of the Overlook Hotel. However, Glenn Rolfe came on my radar some months ago and I've been reading his work.
And, Glenn, this is the first 5 star rating I'm giving, because you entertained the hell out of me with this one.

Even though some of the inspiration most definitely came from Stephen King, this story stood on its own two feet. Much more sexual and violent, but never solely reliant on shock factor, this haunted hotel story was a tense yet enjoyable breeze to get through. I'm willing to forgive some minor niggles, because they never got in the way for me - and this was a debut.

I don't know if I would have thought less of this story if I wasn't reluctant to begin with, but I had fun. You'll have to decide for yourself.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky Ride!

Small Backstory:

The Bruton Inn hides a demonic entity called the "Ice Queen" and anyone who stays there feels her wrath. The demonic entity only has her sights set on the men as she wants to take them out of this world and she will do it anyway she can even it means leaving blood and gore trails!

That is about all I can give on a backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then you will need to read this book!

Thoughts:

This was one twisted ride through the "haunted" mind of author, Glenn Rolfe. Twists and turns abound along with murders, gore flying, and plenty of blood. This book was a non-stop blood fest! It was a good thing I had my gore suit handy as it was needed for this bloody romp!

There were quite a few characters though to keep track of but there was plenty of action when the story introduced the Ice Queen. From that point on in the story the book literally goes into overdrive and the pace becomes faster!

This was my second reread of the story and I found to like it more the second time around so I am bumping it up a star. Giving this book four "Chiller Thriller Haunting" stars!

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

In THE HAUNTED HALLS, by Glenn Rolfe, we have a malevolent spirit woken up from her restless "sleep" beneath the Brunton Inn's new swimming pool. The Inn was built on a less-than-healthy foundation, and travesty seemed to quickly follow in its wake.

The novel begins with a very "physical" entity that has managed to break free from her long absence and come back to the place of her death. This just happens to be a very tangible, very deranged, and very violent presence that demands all in her quest for a complete takeover.

"There is a magic in these haunted halls . . . she could make this place something more . . ."

The scenes fluctuate between the present and the past events, introducing us to the life Sarah once had, and the kind she is trying to re-create now. I did enjoy the alternating time lines, as everything was not just given to the reader at once. There are key parts where you have to "read between the lines", and come up with your own take on what may have led to certain situations in the past. I don't want to say what specifically, because for myself, that was part of the fun--discovering a thread and mentally tracing the possibilities.

The beginning half was my favorite. My only complaints come in the second half (where there is only the present haunting occurring). I just didn't get enough of a feeling for some of the main characters--many of them seemed to "blend together" in my mind, without enough individual characterization. One character in particular, just felt as if he were placed there for a convenient and quick resolution, of what had been a long, harrowed journey in getting to that point.

Overall, a worthwhile read with some "nice" gory moments and unexpected twists. If the ending had played out a bit differently, I would have easily given this a four-star rating.

Recommended.

[Frank Errington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review copy

It's been a while since I've read a good in-your-face horror novel. Don't get me wrong, I've read and enjoyed an abundance of excellent work in 2016, but when I compare them to The Haunted Halls, the latest from up-and-coming horror writer Glenn Rolfe, they've all been rather tame.

The story takes place in The Bruton Inn, Better Beds, Better service, Better Stay. For those unfortunate enough to be booked there, the slogan doesn't exactly live up to the promise.

On the surface The Haunted Halls may seem like a ghost story, after all the word haunted is right there in the tile. But, in reality this is much more than a few spirits hanging a round on aging hotel. The evil is dark, malevolent, and sexually charged.

The terror starts right from the very first pages...The ice queen reappeared behind the body of Edward Young. She spared no smile, only a cold glance over the shoulder of the frozen soul before her. She slipped away, back to her place beneath the inn's heated pool.

On a personal note: I really enjoyed the many music and book references in Rolfe's story, as they all added to the narrative in ways that made me smile.

With horrors coming from all directions, The Haunted Halls is a wonderfully twisted tale filled with characters to both cheer and despise.

Be advised, this is a story heavy on both sex and violence. If it were a movie, it would certainly be rated R, if not NC-17, if that's still a thing. If that's not your cup of tea, you might want to choose something else for your next read. But if you like your horror to have a bit of meat on the bone, you should consider adding this book to your personal TBR list.

The Haunted Halls, from Shadow Work Publishing, is available in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.

From the author's bio - Glenn is an author, singer, and songwriter from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the works of Stephen King and Richard Laymon.

[Stuart Keane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In fiction, the most infamous hotel is, for me, The Overlook Hotel. Synonymous with horror for many reasons, not least for it's terrifying ability to smother it's residents in soul-sucking fear, Stephen King created a truly horrific location, one we could all relate to and remember thirty years on. After all, every Premier Inn stay - and I mean every single one - has me checking the hallways for tricycles and twin girls. I don't think I'm alone in this either. However, I haven't read a hotel based horror like The Shining in some time. Motels: sure, everyone dies in them on a fictional weekly basis, but when was the last time an actual hotel was so petrifying?

The Haunted Halls, my first read of Glenn Rolfe, is a horror tale that draws from old school themes and simple scares, then ramps them up to a degree of intensity unseen in many horrors. Telling the tale of two desk clerks at The Bruton Inn, who must deal with the paranormal goings on in their workplace, the story is one that is cool and calm in execution, but vicious and brutal in technique.

The best thing about the book is the style of writing. For me, it's comfortable; the characters and scenes are written in such a style that you feel like you belong in the book. To explain, you'll turn over fifty pages before you realise you're that far in. I was immersed, putting it down for a coffee. When I returned and checked the page count, I was stunned. An author who has this style of writing is rare; one who can pull you in effortlessly and keep you entertained for hours with great story telling, characters and horror prose that hits all the right notes. Almost like Stephen King himself...

Which is where the horror comes in. Happy and hooked on the characters, Rolfe unleashes the lead villain; the hotel itself. Violent, bloody, the stuff of nightmares. Some of the scenes in THH are textbook horror. However, as the saying goes, there are no new ideas, only old ideas redone. Rolfe takes a few scenes of familiarity - and several of original brilliance - and weaves them into a dark tale that has depth, history and gravitas. Sure, we might have seen some of it before, but we haven't seen it done to such startling effect. Scared and amazed all at once, I shot along to the ending of the book in record time, not once looking away from the page. Once, the wife even tapped me on the shoulder and I jumped...I was that involved.

5* - Totally. This book is number 4 on my Top Ten for 2014...expect a blog post very soon. Horror is an art form that requires patience, passion and love for the craft...Rolfe has these in abundance, based on the effort here. Creepy, darkly humorous, and absolutely terrifying - yet smart and intelligent, not to mention character driven, there's a lot going on here that will appeal to the masses. Part Laymon, part King, complete Rolfe, this is a book that any horror fan needs to read. Essential.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A creepy and bloody haunted hotel story that is perfect for an October read (listen). Hey, it doesn’t have to be October, you can read or listen to it anytime.

I have listened to several Joe Hempel audiobooks and have enjoyed them all. I like his voice and cadence and he always paces the stories well.

This one was a little hard to follow for me because of the alternating timelines and POV’s. It didn’t help that I listened to it in my car and would occasionally get interrupted with work calls and appointments, so I’m sure that had something to do with it.

The story itself was good and violent and had several genuinely creepy moments. The Shaman thing threw me off a little bit, but ended up working out better than I thought it was going to, although I did have a bigger problem with the “spirit animals” which fell a little flat for me and seemed out of place in the story. . Recommended for those who like a less subtle and more violent ghost story. A Solid 3 Stars!

*I received a complimentary copy of this audio from the narrator in exchange for an honest review. This was it.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although The Haunted Halls is the first novel written by Glenn Rolfe, I don't think it was his first published book (although I may be wrong...I'm sure somebody can sort it out for me). I did get the sense while reading it, though, particularly during the book's latter half and into a strong climax, that this book showed a writer really coming into his own as a storyteller, building up a good head of steam, and delivering the goods with confidence.

Rolfe sets out here to tell us a good, old-fashioned, gory ghost story. The Bruton Inn reminded me a bit, in equal measure, of The Overlook Hotel and Kingdom Hospital, two haunted locales that King fans will know, although Rolfe gets decidedly more splattery and keeps the violence cranked up to the max. Fair warning - there is quite a bit of sexual violence, rape, and attempted rape throughout, and it gets fairly unsettling at times.

Horror-wise, this is a really fun trip and I definitely do not want to stay at this particular inn next time I make my way to Maine. It's a fun and enjoyable read, but also not without its problems. The first and most consequential thing comes down to the characters themselves. It's a problem (for me, anyway) that I noted in my prior review of Rolfe's Things We Fear, as this is an author who loves to toss in a lot of names without a lot of personality or development. There isn't really any reason to get attached to many of Bruton Inn's guests and staff. Character development is so thin that I spent the early part of the book getting Kurt and Ken mixed up because they both started with a K. Although the following letters were different, they had little else to really distinguish them.

On the other hand, Rhiannon and Buhl, a shaman of the get-rich-quick variety, as well as the book's evil entity, the Ice Queen, really come into their own and shine during the book's final third, as does the author himself, where we really get a sense of his capabilities and the knowledge that he can create interesting characters with depth. I just wish those abilities had been spread around a bit more evenly throughout the preceding segments. It's an issue I think a better developmental editor could have helped Rolfe fix, or at least advised him on. Despite the barrage of under-baked characters, and although this book could have used another pass by a proofreader, Rolfe does have a knack for writing horror and he's an author I want to see rise above these kind of editorial mishaps. He can turn some pretty damn good phrases, and when he's firing on all cylinders I'm fucking invested as all get out in his work. I also dug the Buhl character, and where Rolfe left him, well enough that I'd snap up a story around this shaman in a heartbeat.

If you don't mind horror with a large cast of cardboard cutouts, or can at least look past that and just want a run ride with lots of blood, guts, and sex, The Haunted Halls is certainly enjoyable, and the Ice Queen makes for a memorable force to be reckoned with. If the character's had more depth, and the editing hadn't been quite so rough or, in places, absent, this would have been an easy, easy five stars.

[Nyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So...umm...yeah.

Fascinating tale! I found the story more creepy than downright terrifying - which I consider a plus. It was also a little above my comfort level gore-wise (in some scenes) but not enough to detract from the story.

[Russell Coy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Rolfe, please come in and sit down. We need to talk.

Now, I'm holding in my hand the Kindle edition of your most recent release, THE HAUNTED HALLS. Pardon my French, but goodness gracious! This is, without doubt, the most depraved, violent, and outright unhinged work of fiction you have yet produced! Frankly, I don't feel all that comfortable being alone in the same room with you at the moment.

Now, yes, I'll concede that this is a very well-written story--in fact, the prose here flows like warm blood along a tile pool room floor--but what does that matter when you use your skills to create such a twisted menagerie of carnality and carnage? I mean, the sex alone, young man, with all of those vivid, potent images of writhing tongues and perfect breasts and--ahem!--you see what I'm getting at. And then there's the way you use graphic violence in this sordid tale--visceral, intense, delivered like a microwave to the head. Is that what you think the horror-reading public wants?

Not to mention that all this brutishness is happening to characters who are fleshed-out, authentic and empathetic--what, you couldn't do the squeamish among us the courtesy of making these people flat and unrelatable?

Well, with all that out of the way, let me get to why I've summoned you here. I have this, er, friend, who for some ungodly reason, thinks this is the best piece of work you've put out thus far, and he wanted me to ask you if you could bring Lee Buhl back in another novel? No pressure, he says.

Thank you for your time, Mr. Rolfe. Now, get out of my office.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the small quaint Maine town of Hollis Oaks, something haunts the Bruton Inn. As the various staff and guests go about their business, things quickly go from unsettling and disturbing to downright brutally horrific. For something not merely ghostly haunts the halls of the Inn, but a malevolent force thirsty for blood, and nothing can stop it. Except for a handful of hotel employees and an urban shaman named Lee, they might be enough to save those inside the fated Inn.

I've been a fan of Glenn Rolfe since his work hit the shelves, and his breadth of work to date is impressive enough, but this debut horror novel, recently reissued with a new cover, clearly displays his immense talent for such a relative newcomer. This is also one of my personal favorites by him.

Highly recommended!

[Catherine Cavendish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something evil haunts the Bruton Inn, something ancient with the power to possess, transform, torture and murder. The Haunted Halls is a compelling novel of evil. Graphic, scary and gripping to the last page. The 'Ice Queen' is as frightening a demon as any I have encountered and the story kept me turning the (electronic) pages. I'm giving nothing away, but just be careful to check the pool next time you go for a swim...

[Kaisersoze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rolfe Review #1

With thanks to Glenn Rolfe who provided his debut novel and novella in exchange for an honest review of each, this is the first of those reviews. You can find the other here.

For a first time novel, Glenn Rolfe's The Haunted Halls has a great deal going for it. A suitably nasty antagonist, murders and gore by the bucket-load, and a supernatural/possession plot that while not breaking any new ground, does manage to remain interesting throughout.

Effectively telling the story of an angry spirit returning from beyond to lay waste to people in the hotel in which she died, The Haunted Halls first third waxes back and forth between the present day haunting (and growing number of murders) and the back story detailing how said spirit came to be, well, dead in the first place. Once those details are established, Rolfe opens the door on a considerable amount of carnage as this spirit flexes her impressive powers that consistent of, but are not limited to, manipulation of objects, being able to manifest herself physically, projecting herself miles away when required, and possession of not one but several characters at a time. Up against this demon are two hotel employees and a (mostly) fraudulent urban shaman who is more interested in making a quick buck than helping people out of their spiritual jams. Rape, mutilation and murder ensue.

The Haunted Halls moves at breakneck speed. Rolfe utilises short chapters and multiple POVs to steam through his story. This sounds good in theory, but in reality turns out to the main debut novel pitfall that this one falls into. Perhaps I can best explain by likening reading The Haunted Halls to at times being like a night I had in Hamburg some six years ago. Travelling with a group of male friends, we went out to an infamous night spot known as the Reeperbahn. After making good use of my scratchy German to fend off the very friendly working girls, my friends and I chose a nightclub playing some decent music. By the time we'd grabbed some drinks and found somewhere to stand, the DJ had been through two more songs - not because the crowd at the bar was six people deep, but because he would allow each song to build to its crescendo or chorus and then abruptly cut to the next tune. We lasted long enough to finish that one drink before moving on to the next place because we all got sick of him skipping to something new just as we were getting into what we were listening to.

And so it was with The Haunted Halls. Just as you're enjoying the scene Rolfe has set, he whisks you away to other events, and then returns you several pages later to resume the scene. This practice frequently kills any building tension, and once there are five or six POVs occurring, adds to the occasional sense of confusion.

A further aspect that I found hard to palate was the lack of any realistic consequence for everything that was taking place in the hotel. Supernatural cone of silences aside, I kept wondering how any of the other guests in the hotel could fail to hear bodies being thrown through windows or mass slaughters taking place in the room next door. Not one police officer makes an appearance in this tale until all is said and done, almost as if the events that took place were occurring in some other kind of non-law-enforcement-ality. It was also never really explained why this particular spirit became all powerful ...

So, in the end, The Haunted Halls is an encouraging debut from a new author still honing his craft. There are some great moments of carnage and an interesting through-plot, but the noted issues I had with it prevented it from being great.

3 Levelling Up Spirits for The Haunted Halls.

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: THE HAUNTED HALLS by Glenn Rolfe

Indie author Glenn Rolfe continues to demonstrate his flair for unusual horror: horror tales that extend beyond the well-trodden traditional tropes. In THE HAUNTED HALLS, he explores new territory with prose that is nearly poetic in its lyrical imagery and sense appeal. I can almost hear a poetry recitation, or song lyrics.

THE HAUNTED HALLS juggles a plethora of characters, including multiple protagonists and many secondary and "extras," as well as multiple time sequences. With all the gore, violence, frights, and sensuality, I can readily visualize this as an exciting indie horror film.

I also marveled at the character of the antagonist: the main "haunt" of the Bruton Inn" of Hollis Oaks, Maine. If this young lady had dedicated her talents to more acceptable pursuits, she could be a corporate CEO, or maybe have discovered a cure for cancer. Instead, she is a juggernaut, an unstoppable force of evil, both in life, and after death.

[Robin Fuchs Brumfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice break from the reality of the world right now. It has some good shock factor going one and some nice little surprises. Don"t get to attached to anyone.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action from the start and a lot of creepy build-up. This one had me hooked early on. There are a lot of characters and I found myself having to look back occasionally to keep track but after a while I followed them easily. There were some unexpected turns and it kept me reading straight to the end.

[Kenneth McKinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bruton Inn has had its share of evil history. Mysterious deaths that were later found to be murders at the hands of Sarah, a girl that exploits everything and everyone around her for her own evil whims. Fast forward thirty years and the Bruton Inn is experiencing some strange happenings behind the locked doors with the Do Not Disturb signs on the handles.

The Haunted Halls is a hodgepodge of good ideas and some sketchy ones. The storytelling tends to be all over the boards. Flashbacks and different characters POV make it a staccato burst of telling that you have to repeatedly go back to see who this and that character is. There's lots of gore, but very little scares. Many of the characters are introduced only to be offed moments later. The character of Sarah is a real head-scratcher. You never really understand why she does the things she does or if she's a real person, a demon, or something else. The most interesting character, for me, was Lee, the "ghost hunter" who re-discovers his shaman heritage. The Haunted Halls is one of Rolfe's first stories that he ever wrote and it shows. His later work is written much tighter. There are some really good pieces in The Haunted Halls. I wish Rolfe could go back and reconstruct the story. I think he could do a much better job with it now.

2 1/2 Ice Queens out of 5


You can also follow my reviews at the following links:

https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com

http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...

[Corrina Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was recommended that I read this book before diving into Glenn Rolfes upcoming release "Something In The Groove", and I'm glad I did! This was FUN!! 🤘😍🤘

The prologue is utterly chilling, literally and figuratively, and horrific too!
The terrifying tension builds up right from the very beginning and continues to build all through the story, until the crazy, carnage filled, and blood soaked climax!
I really enjoyed all the music, book and horror references, it made me feel more connected to the story because of the feeling of familiarity.
There are a lot of great characters in this story and it's fairly easy to keep track of who they all are.
The action throughout is full throttle, with lots of creepy imagery, possession, demons, brutal deaths, nightmarish visions and full on gore!
Whatever the book equivalent of a jump scare is, this book has them, lots of them!!
I personally, got some real Nightmare On Elm Street vibes several times whilst reading this book, due mostly, I think, to the vivid dream/nightmare like scene descriptions.

This book is absolutely dripping in blood and would make a fantastic movie!

A solid 5/5 blood splatters for sure!! 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this maybe 4 or 5 days ago & still....all I can say is wow! Everyone that enjoys a ghost story or any creepy supernatural things that scare the pants off of most people -will love this book. I've ordered it from Amazon & I am sure I'll be reading it again sometime.

More to come on this book!

Read it!
It's one of those that will linger with you.

[Janine Pipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason why Glenn Rolfe is my favourite writer. Whenever I read his work, I feel like I am there with the characters, even if I wouldn't want to be! His writing is visual, descriptive, entertaining and real. I feel what his characters feel, I invest in the story. This one isn't for the faint hearted, there are some very violent scenes but it just makes it more fun! This didn't go the way I had expected, which again just added to the experience. Considering this was his first novel - dude's a genius. Another 10/10 for Glenn, I'm just off to read more now.

[Zakk Madness · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I can tell you want to scream, and believe me, there's nothing I would love to hear more. However, due to the sensitivity of our surroundings, I think your blood and tears will have to suffice."

In the small Maine town of Hollis Oaks there lies an old hotel, the Burton Inn, that housed shadows and secrets before the birth of the cold entity that calls the Burton Inn home. Those shadows remain as this Ice Queen strengthens her presence enough to trigger her endgame, rebirth.

A ragtag group of employees and a true shaman who has shunned his legacy in favor of a dishonest life of showmanship are all that stand in the way of the frigid, sordid, spirit.

"The Haunted Halls" is a quickly engaging and hyper-active read. Roaring out of the turnstile on page one, it maintains a fairly constant pace throughout. There's not a lot of downtime, not many catch-your breath moments, which keeps you from wanting to put it down.

There's an almost non-stop amount of splatter and gore, and a fair share of skin and inappropriate behavior, from an interesting cast of characters. Add solid, believable dialogue and vivid set pieces into the mix and you have the makings for a perfect dark-and-stormy-night read. And what better setting is there than and old hotel saturated with history (and blooooood, mua-ha-ha!)?

I dug this book quite a bit and I am eagerly awaiting Mr. Rolfe's next offering. I'll be there in line on day one with a charged Kindle (and perhaps a shot or two of Jack Daniels Honey), and until that time I'll gladly place "The Haunted Halls" on both the "to be re-read" pile and on the "recommend to others" list.

4.5/5 The Mouths of Madness Podcast
my link text

[Bradford Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, spine tingling horror in it's truest form. Glenn Rolfe does an excellent job of engaging the reader in this truly depraved journey into the world of a hotel possessed. Anyone who is a fan of Stephen King would enjoy The Haunted Halls. Bravo Mr Rolfe!

[Roxanne M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent excellent book!

I read a lot of books and I strive to make the most honest and sincere review possible. Having said that, and having finished this book I’m still shocked by some of the other reviews stating that the characters weren’t well defined and that some characters seem to just come into the story and then go nowhere.

I can in 100% state right here and now that I found no such characters of that kind in this book. Every character was well defined and it’s purpose and it’s final ending well written. THIS BOOK IS AN AMAZING READ!!! I LOVED this story from start to finish! This author is going to give other writers such as Ambrose Ibsen a real run for their money!!!

This story is horror on steroids! It’s right up there with Stephen Kings book Carrie. I read this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down. It did deliver that building feeling of pure dread and anticipation that’s gives you that incredible ending you’re so hoping to get! This book really delivers!!!!

So yeah I counted 3 typos in the book, big deal. At that point I was so involved in the storyline I could’ve cared less!!

Bottom line; this is one really great author who has the potential to out do Stephen King if he continues to write as great a book as this one. I’m very excited to read whatever he writes next. I’m not a huge blood and gore person but the way this author served it up it as if you expected nothing less and even enjoyed reading about it!! He has found that perfect balance with being able to describe gore and not be too graphic to be offensive , nor being to soft to be disappointing!! THATS part of what goes into this book being really great besides the story itself. I loved the story. I found it original and refreshing. It keeps the reader moving through the story at a really good pace no boring parts or over explained story lines. Just smooth but quick.

I highly recommend this book and give the author 10 stars!

[Lana Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Reviewing the audio version)

I really loved this book. The basic summation is that it's about a haunted hotel. The various characters are either staying there or working there, complete with an "urban shaman" who detects something is wrong with the hotel and is compelled to find the answer why. That's a summation. It's really hard to describe the exact roller coaster ride that it is. The author's writing style reminds me of Stephen King's in a good way as he has so many characters which are rolling along their own story, and they all come together at various points in the plot which add to the bloody climax. It was a very satisfying and bloody (this isn't for the faint of heart--yes, it is a ghost story, but it has quite a few descriptions of gore and violence which some people may find disturbing) book.

The narration is wonderful. I truly am a fan of Joe's work. His readings are always crisp and clear, and he does a great job imbuing each character with, well, character! You can instantly tell which character is speaking without needing the dialogue tags.

I mentioned before the author wrote like Stephen King, and he does! However, there's often a POV change in the middle of a chapter, sometimes a few. This is also a thing S. King does. When *reading* it, it's no problem to follow at all. There's a line divider which clearly delineates that there's a switch. While I think the story was awesome and the narration perfect, the way the book itself was written did not translate well to an audio book. More than a few times I was confused on the sudden switch as in the audio version? There's no clear indication that things switched. Once I got used to the style, it was... still a little problematic from time to time. It made for a less enjoyable listening experience. I would still heartily recommend it both for the story and for the narrator.

For the story alone, 5 stars. If you are listening to it, I would rate it slightly lower for the reason mentioned above at 4 stars.

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The Haunted Halls is evocative of the late Richard Laymon, in both style and content. However, Glenn Rolfe has invented his own spirit world mythos with his debut novel. This book is fast paced, fueled with fear from malevolent spirits, buckets of gore, and gratuitous helpings of violence and sex.

I give Rolfe credit for originality and his ability to create a fair amount of tension with very few words. If the book lacks in any department, it’s in character development. The narrative rarely slows down long enough to breathe and allow the reader insight into its vast litany of characters.

But I make it a point to not dwell on the negative. The story kept me entertained and intrigued. I read a lot of horror fiction and I look forward to what Rolfe has in store for the future.

[Angela Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Haunted Halls is a fantastically creepy ghost story. The setting of the Bruton Inn works very well. For me, od hotels always seem to have a sense of history and impersonal menace. Although the ghosts you find at the Bruton are anything but impersonal. They are straight up evil and out for blood. I really liked the characters found in this story. They are realistic and believable as people who are dealing with horrific and unexplainable events. My favorites were Rhiannon, Lee, and Christina. This story was spooky and hard to put down. I devoured it in a few hours. The Haunted Halls is currently out of print but will be re-released by Samhain Publishing in 2016. Fans of great horror should grab this fast paced and scary 4.5 star gore fest!

[Joel Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining and well written spook show. This book has realistic likable characters. I enjoyed the story it kept me interested and the mysteries of the Bruton Inn and the Ice Queen were revealed in a manner so that i felt satisfied in the end. If you like haunted house horror you should check this book out. the writing is good and the plentiful gore poetic. Rolfe slices and dies with a love for the genre and there is no shortage of victims in the Inn for his memorable and creepy cast of nasties to have their filthy and fatal way with. Evil is horny, and good may have to bite the pillow a bit. Theres a few laughs in here as well and a cool twist. Highly recommended. DO NOT MISS!

[Terry West · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bruton Inn is the scariest hotel I have read about since the Overlook...
Glenn Rolfe runs at the front of the pack with the best of today's emerging horror authors. His dialog is sharp and always purposeful, and he has the descriptive prowess of a seasoned horror master. I dig his work very much.

[Kelly Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunted hotel story told in a non linear way.

We have the story darting between the past events and the current events that are linked together. It's well done and interesting to see how the story progresses.

There are a lot of different characters and no two are the same. The author has done a brilliant job and this is a great story.

[Darren Dilnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was supernatural horror at its absolute purest and finest. Brilliantly structured tale which flowed perfectly, without any read to rush into the action scenes, of which there are many. This was a wonderful mix of spooky, and brutal, and the reader couldn't help picture The Overlook Hotel from The Shining. First but definitely not last Glenn Role book.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glenn Rolfe' s debut novel, "The Haunted Halls", is a gripping read which will draw you in and keep you hooked 'til the grand finale. Unlike most ghost stories, it's fast paced, with great characters, and I loved the music references. Ace!