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The Haunting of Jezebeth: A Short Story
The twisting Lantz Gorge, the Jezebeth Hills, and the power of witchcraft. Deborah goes home to her family farm house by the Dunwich River and confronts the ghostly powers of the past who demand her surrender.
This short story was originally published by Twilight Times.
This short story was originally published by Twilight Times.
- GenresShort Stories
16 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2013
About the author
Paula Cappa
18 books517 followersFor her three novels, Paula Cappa is the recipient of the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Gold Medal and the Silver Medal from Global Book Awards, the Bronze Medal from Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, and a Chanticleer Book Award. She is named a Best Book Award Finalist by American Book Fest and achieved the Gothic Readers Book Club Award in Outstanding Fiction.
She is the author of Greylock, The Dazzling Darkness, and Night Sea Journey—print editions published by Crispin Books, Milwaukee WI. Night Sea Journey was featured as an on-air reading at Riverwest Radio, Fearless Reader Radio in Wisconsin.
Cappa’s short fiction has appeared in ParABnormal Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell Literary Journal, Unfading Daydream, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Whistling Shade Literary Journal, SmokeLong Quarterly, Sirens Call Ezine, Every Day Fiction, Fiction365, Twilight Times Ezine, and in anthologies Journals of Horror: Found Fiction, Mystery Time, and Human Writes Literary Journal.
Paula Cappa is a freelance copy editor and writes a short story blog, Reading Fiction, at paulacappa.wordpress.com. She is Co-Chair of the Pound Ridge Authors Society in Pound Ridge, NY.
Follow her Reading Fiction Blog at her website:
https://paulacappa.wordpress.com/
Follow her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/paula.cappa.94
Follow her on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulaCappa1
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Paula-Cappa/e/...
She is the author of Greylock, The Dazzling Darkness, and Night Sea Journey—print editions published by Crispin Books, Milwaukee WI. Night Sea Journey was featured as an on-air reading at Riverwest Radio, Fearless Reader Radio in Wisconsin.
Cappa’s short fiction has appeared in ParABnormal Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell Literary Journal, Unfading Daydream, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Whistling Shade Literary Journal, SmokeLong Quarterly, Sirens Call Ezine, Every Day Fiction, Fiction365, Twilight Times Ezine, and in anthologies Journals of Horror: Found Fiction, Mystery Time, and Human Writes Literary Journal.
Paula Cappa is a freelance copy editor and writes a short story blog, Reading Fiction, at paulacappa.wordpress.com. She is Co-Chair of the Pound Ridge Authors Society in Pound Ridge, NY.
Follow her Reading Fiction Blog at her website:
https://paulacappa.wordpress.com/
Follow her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/paula.cappa.94
Follow her on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/PaulaCappa1
Amazon Author Page:
https://www.amazon.com/Paula-Cappa/e/...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 20, 2023
Entertaining witchcraft listening 🎶🔰
This was a free novella on Amazon.
Deborah is cursed with the burden of women in her family. I would highly recommend this novella and others by this author to 👍 readers of fantasy haunting adventure novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
This was a free novella on Amazon.
Deborah is cursed with the burden of women in her family. I would highly recommend this novella and others by this author to 👍 readers of fantasy haunting adventure novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡
November 25, 2015
This is another of the author's very short stories, definitely a quick read. I'd picked it up some time ago when it was temporarily offered for free, and got around to reading it only tonight; but I read it in a single sitting. The Goodreads description actually states the premise of the tale quite well.
Like some of the author's other other work, this story can have a slightly surreal quality, partly from the fact that the setting in time and space isn't explicitly identified (though the reference to the Dunwich River conjures, for readers familiar with Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror," images of rural western Massachusetts, in the northern Appalachians and their foothills). But it also stems from the often dream-like nature of viewpoint character Deborah's perceptions (which, indeed, sometimes actually are recollecting dreams), her fanciful attribution of conscious thought and action to the Jezebeth Hills themselves, her penchant for unusual word choices, and the way that she's seen things that, in the normal course of things, she couldn't have. All of the details of Deborah's dark family background aren't supplied; they're simply sketched by the use of telling details. Usually, this isn't a type of storytelling I like; but here it works. This is also a very atmospheric story, and despite its short length it has a brooding quality to it.
Both Deborah and another Cappa protagonist, Kip in Night Sea Journey, bear the burden of a distinctive and supernatural family heritage. But Deborah's, unlike Kip's, is one of a distinctly sinister character, a legacy of darkness rather than light. We can also say that in its own way, this story is thematically akin to The House of the Seven Gables by another explorer of New England's haunted psyche, Nathaniel Hawthorne (a writer whose work Cappa is familiar with). As is the case with many short stories, though, it's difficult to say much about it without resorting to spoilers.
If I have one quibble, it would be a relatively minor one. Deborah is a young woman in more or less the author's present (the story was published in 2013), as indicated by a reference to Kuwait. She is, however, only the fifth generation of her family to live in the house and grounds here, since the family founder who built the place in the late 1700s. The math doesn't strictly add up; in real life, I'd guess we'd be more likely looking at seven or eight generations, at least. But this was a minor point that didn't much impact my enjoyment of the story.
Like some of the author's other other work, this story can have a slightly surreal quality, partly from the fact that the setting in time and space isn't explicitly identified (though the reference to the Dunwich River conjures, for readers familiar with Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror," images of rural western Massachusetts, in the northern Appalachians and their foothills). But it also stems from the often dream-like nature of viewpoint character Deborah's perceptions (which, indeed, sometimes actually are recollecting dreams), her fanciful attribution of conscious thought and action to the Jezebeth Hills themselves, her penchant for unusual word choices, and the way that she's seen things that, in the normal course of things, she couldn't have. All of the details of Deborah's dark family background aren't supplied; they're simply sketched by the use of telling details. Usually, this isn't a type of storytelling I like; but here it works. This is also a very atmospheric story, and despite its short length it has a brooding quality to it.
Both Deborah and another Cappa protagonist, Kip in Night Sea Journey, bear the burden of a distinctive and supernatural family heritage. But Deborah's, unlike Kip's, is one of a distinctly sinister character, a legacy of darkness rather than light. We can also say that in its own way, this story is thematically akin to The House of the Seven Gables by another explorer of New England's haunted psyche, Nathaniel Hawthorne (a writer whose work Cappa is familiar with). As is the case with many short stories, though, it's difficult to say much about it without resorting to spoilers.
If I have one quibble, it would be a relatively minor one. Deborah is a young woman in more or less the author's present (the story was published in 2013), as indicated by a reference to Kuwait. She is, however, only the fifth generation of her family to live in the house and grounds here, since the family founder who built the place in the late 1700s. The math doesn't strictly add up; in real life, I'd guess we'd be more likely looking at seven or eight generations, at least. But this was a minor point that didn't much impact my enjoyment of the story.
March 9, 2018
It was pretty short, but I did enjoy this little novella quite a bit. It flowed very well and had a good story behind it.
July 26, 2015
When I read the word Dunwich, I think of that classic tale of horror by H. P. Lovecraft. Perhaps "The Haunting of Jezebeth" could be mentally twisted and turned to fit that classic mythos. Perhaps not. However, it does have its own horror story to tell.
Since time immemorial, women have been the silent strength in the world. They protect their families and influence men in the world around them. Despite this power, there is a force over which they have no control. A woman may try to create her own destiny only to find herself caught up in a net from which there is no escape.
As I read more of Paula Cappa's writing, both short and long, I find myself wanting to read more. Mastery of the short story is something that all writers cannot achieve. This short piece is proof positive of her command of the form. I recommend that you read "The Haunting of Jezebeth" and be transported by her superb use of language.
I was gifted a copy of this story by the author for the purpose of writing a review.
Since time immemorial, women have been the silent strength in the world. They protect their families and influence men in the world around them. Despite this power, there is a force over which they have no control. A woman may try to create her own destiny only to find herself caught up in a net from which there is no escape.
As I read more of Paula Cappa's writing, both short and long, I find myself wanting to read more. Mastery of the short story is something that all writers cannot achieve. This short piece is proof positive of her command of the form. I recommend that you read "The Haunting of Jezebeth" and be transported by her superb use of language.
I was gifted a copy of this story by the author for the purpose of writing a review.
September 27, 2013
Short story but contained everything necessary to keep my eyes peeled to my kindle. Mystery, family secrets, and spooky. About a young girl who grows up with a more than odd family. Like all young women she wants a life for herself and is a bit of a rebel where her family is concerned but I don't want to give away the story. It was a fantastic read.
February 25, 2016
For Deborah the number 61 isn't the most lucky and headed to the home she inherited isn't the best of things easy. This is a quick read that like the authors other short stories has very descriptive writing style that sweeps the reader into the pages. Short but good!
February 14, 2015
Beautiful Tale
The author did an excellent job of reeling me in with her elegant style of imagery and beautiful descriptions in this spooky short story.
The author did an excellent job of reeling me in with her elegant style of imagery and beautiful descriptions in this spooky short story.
December 2, 2022
Not really a full story. This title seems more like a few steps in the life of one Lantz woman, perhaps the last. Potentially the first was wronged by a man. She then pushed an anti-man philosophy upon her daughter. Who, in turn, pushed it upon hers, etc. The original issue was lost in history. The final action in this writing might or might not have been the final resolution of that issue.
Entertaining. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Entertaining. Haunting. Scary. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
March 9, 2018
Spooky and witchy short story. It’s actually a very short story but it packs a wallop. So great that I’m planning to read more by this author.
June 12, 2018
Can a curse be stopped?
This was a nice little story not what i thought when I got it, but still I'm happy I read this short story.
This was a nice little story not what i thought when I got it, but still I'm happy I read this short story.
June 13, 2024
The Haunting of Jezebeth: A Short Story by Paula Cappa was dramatic and so twisty! I loved the emotionally-charged ending. I was intriuged by the generations of women who had (very) strong feelings about their roles in the world. With more than a hint of dark magic, unexplained misandry and ancestral folklore, I was invested in it.
Although the ending was abrupt, it is a short story and I was totally entertained and devoured this in one sitting.
Although the ending was abrupt, it is a short story and I was totally entertained and devoured this in one sitting.
March 22, 2017
Loved It
My thumbs are to uncoordinated to write a lengthy review on my Kindle, so I'll keep this short. Beautiful short story here. Smooth. Very well-written, and avoids the 'monster-under-the-bed' cliche. I want to read more of Cappa's work.
My thumbs are to uncoordinated to write a lengthy review on my Kindle, so I'll keep this short. Beautiful short story here. Smooth. Very well-written, and avoids the 'monster-under-the-bed' cliche. I want to read more of Cappa's work.
March 1, 2016
Interesting short story about a young woman who must choose between following in her ancestors path or making one of her own.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews