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Fright House
Fright House, an insane asylum turned Halloween attraction, is the last place Penny Winters should be. She has awakened its long-dormant ghosts, giving it unimaginable power. Now it wants to possess her, absorb her psychic energy, and keep its ghosts forever alive. Only Tory Jackson and his Paranormal Scene Investigations team can save her. Time, however, is running out. On Halloween night, Penny has to die and become one with the ghosts. To that end, Fright House is willing to kill everyone.
- GenresHorror
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
About the author
Fred Wiehe
25 books25 followersFred Wiehe is a Writing Instructor for both children and adults, as well as a professional writer. He’s a member of the Horror Writers Association, yet his novels and stories crossover many genres. He's the author of the bestsellers Aleric: Monster Hunter, Fright House, Holiday Madness: 13 Dark Tales for Halloween, Christmas & All Occasions, and Creative Writing: Get Started Writing Fiction. His newest book is The Collected Nightmares--a collection of 2 novellas, 12 short stories, and 17 dark poems. His other novels include Starkville, Night Songs, The Burning, and Strange Days. His short stories are included in anthologies such as Slices of Flesh, Read Us or Die!, Horror USA: California, and What Monsters Do for Love. He's currently working on the sci-fi thriller Bloodshot and a contemporary fantasy, Days of Fire & Ash.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 16, 2022
FRIGHT HOUSE is straight-up YA Horror, rocketing at the speed of a bullet train, and starring my absolute lifelong favorite of Horror Tropes: The Haunted Asylum.
The jump Scares here will make your breath catch and your heart drop, and the twin foils of a 17-year-old runaway who is genuinely psychic and prescient, and a Paranormal investigation group led by a young man who believes but has never experienced Paranormal activity, playing out against the backdrop of an actual abandoned Asylum more than a century old, in which the medical staff was far more evil and experimental than the patients who were among the criminally insane.
The jump Scares here will make your breath catch and your heart drop, and the twin foils of a 17-year-old runaway who is genuinely psychic and prescient, and a Paranormal investigation group led by a young man who believes but has never experienced Paranormal activity, playing out against the backdrop of an actual abandoned Asylum more than a century old, in which the medical staff was far more evil and experimental than the patients who were among the criminally insane.
January 24, 2022
Fear is an instinct, a primal one that has kept us alive for thousands of years. It is the one that has made us evolve to be the man we are today, the fear of darkness gave life to light, fear of enemies gave the birth of weaponry. Fear is one of the main reasons that life keeps going on. But the real thing to be afraid of is when the fear is realised. Because fear in itself can never harm you, the only thing to be afraid of is when the same deadly thought materialises into reality. In this book, we shall realise more than one of the primal fear that has been pushing mankind. The paranormal may not always be the thing to be feared, yet even crossing the threshold of this fated place The Fright House made its presence felt.
Young Penny had gotten a calling that said this is not a place for her to be. She had realised even before entering the death's snare that things aren't just bad there inside the dilapidated Hospital turned into a Fear Attraction, there was something more crouching in the shadows. Waiting, waiting to be released in this world so that it can ravage. Penny the new manager, has her mysterious story, a story that cannot be revealed to the world which is why she seeks to earn herself out of the wretched city she is in. To start everything new, but for that to happen she would have to keep up at her job inside the deathly mist of the Fright House for the season. On the other hand, we have the PSI experts under the guidance of Tory, moving about the city, brandishing their equipment in front of presumably haunted homes to either help the victims or reveal the hoax.
Will the victim of the Fright house ever cross her way with Tory and his crew, will there be any saving that comes to the life of Penny. Will the darkness be damned that extends its spiny fingers across worlds to claim the life of its victim, Penny? The author sure has created a whole environment of darkness, the likes of which I haven't have read in a long time coming from authors that are not from the shelves of my go-to horror genre. If you want to hold out your heart in your hands.
Young Penny had gotten a calling that said this is not a place for her to be. She had realised even before entering the death's snare that things aren't just bad there inside the dilapidated Hospital turned into a Fear Attraction, there was something more crouching in the shadows. Waiting, waiting to be released in this world so that it can ravage. Penny the new manager, has her mysterious story, a story that cannot be revealed to the world which is why she seeks to earn herself out of the wretched city she is in. To start everything new, but for that to happen she would have to keep up at her job inside the deathly mist of the Fright House for the season. On the other hand, we have the PSI experts under the guidance of Tory, moving about the city, brandishing their equipment in front of presumably haunted homes to either help the victims or reveal the hoax.
Will the victim of the Fright house ever cross her way with Tory and his crew, will there be any saving that comes to the life of Penny. Will the darkness be damned that extends its spiny fingers across worlds to claim the life of its victim, Penny? The author sure has created a whole environment of darkness, the likes of which I haven't have read in a long time coming from authors that are not from the shelves of my go-to horror genre. If you want to hold out your heart in your hands.
May 8, 2022
Fright House by Fred Wiehe
Thanks to Henry Roi Books for getting this YA horror read into my hands.
Synopsis: Fright House is waiting to be unlocked. And she is the key. Penny Winters can see ghosts. Or she’s insane. Desperate and on the run, she lucks into a job at Fright House. But a one time insane asylum turned Halloween attraction is the last place she should be. Workers start disappearing. The walls move. And Penny's past comes back to haunt her as Fright House's tormented spirits awaken. Tory Jackson is obsessed with hunting ghosts. So when he and his ragtag team of Paranormal Scene Investigators are brought in to cleanse the old asylum of evil, it may finally be his chance to prove ghosts exist. But the evil within Fright House has plans of its own, and as the night devolves into chaos and terror, Penny and Tory will learn that the line between the living and the dead is one slice of a scalpel.
What I enjoyed and what made this story good:
Haunted house attraction in an abandoned asylum provides a perfect scene for fast pace scares. Multiple mental backstories tie together the guilt, shame and trouble of our various characters and our spirits. Quick stomach punches of violence are shocking, but not so drawn out that you need to stop reading. Ghost hunters, mediums, a creepy little girl, possessions and just the right amount of humor.
It gets going right from the start with the weird (which I appreciate) although I would have loved a bit more detail on the aftermath. Overall a good straightforward horror. Would love to read what happens if the author ever did a sequel and brought Penny back to Fright House in the future.
For transparency I had 2 peeves while reading. 1) a few minor formatting issues reading on my phone/kindle. Pretty sure this comes with the territory of sometimes reading electronically. 2) The Authors use of the line from the cover “the last place she should be” several times early on and I was like okay i get it, explain why already. Lol. To be fair he did eventually.
Thanks to Henry Roi Books for getting this YA horror read into my hands.
Synopsis: Fright House is waiting to be unlocked. And she is the key. Penny Winters can see ghosts. Or she’s insane. Desperate and on the run, she lucks into a job at Fright House. But a one time insane asylum turned Halloween attraction is the last place she should be. Workers start disappearing. The walls move. And Penny's past comes back to haunt her as Fright House's tormented spirits awaken. Tory Jackson is obsessed with hunting ghosts. So when he and his ragtag team of Paranormal Scene Investigators are brought in to cleanse the old asylum of evil, it may finally be his chance to prove ghosts exist. But the evil within Fright House has plans of its own, and as the night devolves into chaos and terror, Penny and Tory will learn that the line between the living and the dead is one slice of a scalpel.
What I enjoyed and what made this story good:
Haunted house attraction in an abandoned asylum provides a perfect scene for fast pace scares. Multiple mental backstories tie together the guilt, shame and trouble of our various characters and our spirits. Quick stomach punches of violence are shocking, but not so drawn out that you need to stop reading. Ghost hunters, mediums, a creepy little girl, possessions and just the right amount of humor.
It gets going right from the start with the weird (which I appreciate) although I would have loved a bit more detail on the aftermath. Overall a good straightforward horror. Would love to read what happens if the author ever did a sequel and brought Penny back to Fright House in the future.
For transparency I had 2 peeves while reading. 1) a few minor formatting issues reading on my phone/kindle. Pretty sure this comes with the territory of sometimes reading electronically. 2) The Authors use of the line from the cover “the last place she should be” several times early on and I was like okay i get it, explain why already. Lol. To be fair he did eventually.
April 27, 2022
Received for a honest review.
This book was basically a group of paranormal investigators going to an old insane asylum turned halloween attraction. Not an original idea but still it was a good read. It wasn't scary but it had its moments.
I felt a little more backstory on the asylum itself may have helped make it a bit scarier than it was, we were just told tiny bits. Who was the girl with the pigtails? Why was she there? There were too many unanswered questions that could have made this book a great horror master piece.
The character of Penny could have been expanded more, why did fright house want her? What was the evil living in fright house? Again unanswered.
This was mainly about a group of investigators been killed. The ending in many ways was a big let down, I was expecting some grand evil vs good but nothing.
All in all this was a good little horror story, it could have been darker but not sure what age group it was aimed at.
This book was basically a group of paranormal investigators going to an old insane asylum turned halloween attraction. Not an original idea but still it was a good read. It wasn't scary but it had its moments.
I felt a little more backstory on the asylum itself may have helped make it a bit scarier than it was, we were just told tiny bits. Who was the girl with the pigtails? Why was she there? There were too many unanswered questions that could have made this book a great horror master piece.
The character of Penny could have been expanded more, why did fright house want her? What was the evil living in fright house? Again unanswered.
This was mainly about a group of investigators been killed. The ending in many ways was a big let down, I was expecting some grand evil vs good but nothing.
All in all this was a good little horror story, it could have been darker but not sure what age group it was aimed at.
June 15, 2022
A frightening adventure into a pit of evil.
A delightful, fast paced read for readers who love evil hauntings. The characters and the story are well written, exciting, and fun. The setting is atmospheric with plenty of hallucination infused scenes. Chills seep from the pages, pulling the reader into a state of dread.
A delightful, fast paced read for readers who love evil hauntings. The characters and the story are well written, exciting, and fun. The setting is atmospheric with plenty of hallucination infused scenes. Chills seep from the pages, pulling the reader into a state of dread.
May 25, 2015
4 1/2 stars actually.
Unsettling, Fright House made me look over my shoulder as I read this alone at night. Fred Wiehe wrote a horror novel in league with” Poltergeist,” “Insidious,” and Shirley Jackson’s "The Haunting of Hill House" (this last one even scared me in the daytime, in a room full of people years ago!). You may not look at that next haunted house attraction in a real insane asylum or prison the same way again after reading this book. Just when you thought it was safe to get scared, Fright House does it to you.
Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2015/05/bo...
Unsettling, Fright House made me look over my shoulder as I read this alone at night. Fred Wiehe wrote a horror novel in league with” Poltergeist,” “Insidious,” and Shirley Jackson’s "The Haunting of Hill House" (this last one even scared me in the daytime, in a room full of people years ago!). You may not look at that next haunted house attraction in a real insane asylum or prison the same way again after reading this book. Just when you thought it was safe to get scared, Fright House does it to you.
Read the rest of the review at http://www.ismellsheep.com/2015/05/bo...
April 13, 2022
17-year-old Penny is on the run from something — herself. Suffering from ghoulish nightmares, and perhaps waking nightmares / hallucinations, she agrees to a temporary job managing a Fright House in California during the Halloween season.
Tory Jackson is the director of Paranormal Scene Investigations. He has some things in common with Penny, but evil forces are determined to use him to destroy her.
This disturbing YA horror novel has a punchy, narrative voice and short, thrilling chapters, matching the pace of the story. It begins with a nightmare (the surreality of it draws the reader in, but there are just enough realistic details to make it indistinguishable from real life at first, with good use of foreshadowing.)
The author did a lot of research into what equipment and methods are used during modern-day ghost-hunting, and it was fascinating to read about the concept of “Dead Time.” There were also good historical details concerning olden-day insane asylums peppered throughout. The humorous banter between the members of Tory’s psychic investigations team was funny and made the characters likeable. I would have liked to hang out more with the Paranormal Scene Investigations team.
The inclusion of different songs referencing Penny’s name, some of which exist in real life (Bing Crosby’s “Pennies from Heaven” for example) added an extra conviction to the story.
The description of the little performances put on by horror actors in Fright House’s basement added plenty of grisly detail… but the acting was a little too good. We are invited to ask the question: “Are the actors merely actors? What is real and what is unreal?”
The book also addressed themes of mental illness / differences in perception and of bullying.
It would have been interesting to read more scenes concerning Morgan’s past and what happened with his brother Shaun, rather than it only being mentioned as having happened in the past.
There were some small discrepancies. Towards the start of the book, Morgan’s brother Shaun was said to have Down Syndrome. Towards the end of the book, he was said to be autistic. Gabriel was somehow able to sprinkle holy water during the cleansing ceremonies, when earlier he dropped the bottle and spilled it on the floor during a supernatural event.
Some of the words were hyphenated oddly, e.g. “glass-es” or “de-spair.”
Dialogue from different characters was sometimes typed on the same line, e.g. at the start of chapter seven, which sometimes made it unclear as to who was saying what. Sometimes, new paragraphs began in the middle of a sentence.
Other than some small contradictions and formatting issues, this is an excellent horror novel with diverse, relatable characters, and a gripping storyline.
Tory Jackson is the director of Paranormal Scene Investigations. He has some things in common with Penny, but evil forces are determined to use him to destroy her.
This disturbing YA horror novel has a punchy, narrative voice and short, thrilling chapters, matching the pace of the story. It begins with a nightmare (the surreality of it draws the reader in, but there are just enough realistic details to make it indistinguishable from real life at first, with good use of foreshadowing.)
The author did a lot of research into what equipment and methods are used during modern-day ghost-hunting, and it was fascinating to read about the concept of “Dead Time.” There were also good historical details concerning olden-day insane asylums peppered throughout. The humorous banter between the members of Tory’s psychic investigations team was funny and made the characters likeable. I would have liked to hang out more with the Paranormal Scene Investigations team.
The inclusion of different songs referencing Penny’s name, some of which exist in real life (Bing Crosby’s “Pennies from Heaven” for example) added an extra conviction to the story.
The description of the little performances put on by horror actors in Fright House’s basement added plenty of grisly detail… but the acting was a little too good. We are invited to ask the question: “Are the actors merely actors? What is real and what is unreal?”
The book also addressed themes of mental illness / differences in perception and of bullying.
It would have been interesting to read more scenes concerning Morgan’s past and what happened with his brother Shaun, rather than it only being mentioned as having happened in the past.
There were some small discrepancies. Towards the start of the book, Morgan’s brother Shaun was said to have Down Syndrome. Towards the end of the book, he was said to be autistic. Gabriel was somehow able to sprinkle holy water during the cleansing ceremonies, when earlier he dropped the bottle and spilled it on the floor during a supernatural event.
Some of the words were hyphenated oddly, e.g. “glass-es” or “de-spair.”
Dialogue from different characters was sometimes typed on the same line, e.g. at the start of chapter seven, which sometimes made it unclear as to who was saying what. Sometimes, new paragraphs began in the middle of a sentence.
Other than some small contradictions and formatting issues, this is an excellent horror novel with diverse, relatable characters, and a gripping storyline.
May 4, 2022
Fright House, by Fred Wiehe, is an excellent manifestation of modern YA horror. Wiehe blends characters, settings, and suspenseful elements, stereotypically expected of the horror genre, into a delightfully disturbed foray into the macabre. This fast-paced book keeps the reader anxiously turning pages right until the very end.
In a desperate bid to stay open through Halloween, the owner of a popular Halloween attraction brings in a team of paranormal investigators, under the supervision of a teenage site manager, to quell the rumours of disappearing staff members, but it doesn’t take long for the group to realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
Wiehe brings together a classic group of characters in a vivid and unsettling former asylum, creating ambiguity around reality. His combination of Halloween attraction, insane asylum, and paranormal investigation successfully rejuvenates these well-worn tropes into something more intriguing. Wiehe weaves immersive imagery for the reader to navigate, artfully balancing humorous and quiet moments with violent depravity and shocking gore. Although he plays on some of the most well-used horror elements, Wiehe’s main characters are interesting and dynamic, sucking the reader into their struggles.
The few complaints I have are, in all fairness, nit-picky. The digital edition of the book I was provided for review purposes had some relatively minor, but consistent formatting errors throughout; I always find these distracting. There were also numerous places where words, phrases, or images were repeated for effect, but came across feeling redundant instead. Perhaps, if used less frequently, they may have built the suspense intended. Neither of these weaknesses ruined my overall enjoyment of the story though.
Despite not typically favouring this style of horror, I thoroughly enjoyed Fright House. If you love watching paranormal investigation shows, or creepy, haunted lunatic asylums, I highly recommend checking this book out!
In a desperate bid to stay open through Halloween, the owner of a popular Halloween attraction brings in a team of paranormal investigators, under the supervision of a teenage site manager, to quell the rumours of disappearing staff members, but it doesn’t take long for the group to realize they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
Wiehe brings together a classic group of characters in a vivid and unsettling former asylum, creating ambiguity around reality. His combination of Halloween attraction, insane asylum, and paranormal investigation successfully rejuvenates these well-worn tropes into something more intriguing. Wiehe weaves immersive imagery for the reader to navigate, artfully balancing humorous and quiet moments with violent depravity and shocking gore. Although he plays on some of the most well-used horror elements, Wiehe’s main characters are interesting and dynamic, sucking the reader into their struggles.
The few complaints I have are, in all fairness, nit-picky. The digital edition of the book I was provided for review purposes had some relatively minor, but consistent formatting errors throughout; I always find these distracting. There were also numerous places where words, phrases, or images were repeated for effect, but came across feeling redundant instead. Perhaps, if used less frequently, they may have built the suspense intended. Neither of these weaknesses ruined my overall enjoyment of the story though.
Despite not typically favouring this style of horror, I thoroughly enjoyed Fright House. If you love watching paranormal investigation shows, or creepy, haunted lunatic asylums, I highly recommend checking this book out!
January 25, 2022
•It gets difficult for us when we begin to perceive something that others do not. Finally, we are unsure if our brain networks are properly linked or not, but life demonstrates it by throwing certain events our way. No one knows the world better; the more individuals observe, the more they understand. Let us take you on a journey across this perception gap by introducing FRIGHT HOUSE by FRED WIEHE. The cover page very well authenticates the title and the content; the red background adds to the haunting.
•Penny Winters is the protagonist, and she has a unique personality. She's not sure if what she's seeing in the real world is correct or if she's going insane? Penny obtained a job at a Halloween show to get away from her competency to see ghosts. But things got out of hand when she realized this house had a history of its own. On the other hand, Tory Jackson confronts spirits to establish their existence. Penny and Tory became trapped in the same fright home, and as the night progressed, they witnessed the true pursuit, where life and death are only a matter of seconds.
•The author establishes the narrative pretty perfectly. The plot is enjoyable, and the author's setting up of the backdrop is intriguing. The more you read, the deeper you will dig into that fictitious world. We, too, are haunted as we read about the characters' experiences. Readers of paranormal thrillers will like it. The language is simple, yet the plot is captivating.
•Penny Winters is the protagonist, and she has a unique personality. She's not sure if what she's seeing in the real world is correct or if she's going insane? Penny obtained a job at a Halloween show to get away from her competency to see ghosts. But things got out of hand when she realized this house had a history of its own. On the other hand, Tory Jackson confronts spirits to establish their existence. Penny and Tory became trapped in the same fright home, and as the night progressed, they witnessed the true pursuit, where life and death are only a matter of seconds.
•The author establishes the narrative pretty perfectly. The plot is enjoyable, and the author's setting up of the backdrop is intriguing. The more you read, the deeper you will dig into that fictitious world. We, too, are haunted as we read about the characters' experiences. Readers of paranormal thrillers will like it. The language is simple, yet the plot is captivating.
May 1, 2022
Wow!!! I would like to say the only reason I didn’t get any sleep was because I was reading and finishing this book but no, I was kinda scared to be honest.
This is a fast paced no holds barred page turner. The world building of the asylum is so phenomenal that I really got creeped out. The story is descriptively written, and the “people” were downright terrifying. It has some twisty turns that kept me reading it all in one sitting. I really felt connected to the main character Penny Winters, and the other characters are great also.
All in all, a frightening but deliciously fun read. A masterpiece of thrills, suspense, and horror.
Fred Wiehe is now my go to author if I want to have the cr@p scared out of me. I will definitely look up his other books to read and you should too. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Amazing job Mr. Wiehe.
It was my pleasure to receive a free copy of this book but that does not in any way affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.
This is a fast paced no holds barred page turner. The world building of the asylum is so phenomenal that I really got creeped out. The story is descriptively written, and the “people” were downright terrifying. It has some twisty turns that kept me reading it all in one sitting. I really felt connected to the main character Penny Winters, and the other characters are great also.
All in all, a frightening but deliciously fun read. A masterpiece of thrills, suspense, and horror.
Fred Wiehe is now my go to author if I want to have the cr@p scared out of me. I will definitely look up his other books to read and you should too. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Amazing job Mr. Wiehe.
It was my pleasure to receive a free copy of this book but that does not in any way affect my opinions in this review of this entertaining story.
April 17, 2022
Once I started reading Fright House, I didn’t want to stop! The main characters were an interesting rag-tag bunch that were each endearing in their own way. The plot moved quickly, keeping me guessing and wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. There’s plenty of gore and frights in this one. I’ll be looking to read more of the author’s work!
October 15, 2025
Loved the creepy atmosphere, characters, and story. It had everything you could want in a haunted attraction story and then some. The book had some awesome gory scenes and tons of chaos.
August 2, 2022
This was more of a YA novel than I was expecting, so my feelings about it are probably slanted, but to me there was never a resolution. There were a TON of opportunities, but none of them ever seems to lead anywhere. Not bad, but not great.
March 5, 2016
If you get scared easily, I would not recommend reading this book. The imagery was intense and dark and gory and made me not want to turn off the lights in my room.
As for the characters, I was intrigued by Penny's past, and I wanted to know more about her. My only complaint is that we didn't get a good back story on Penny and Tory, but that might have been intentional. I'm a fan of long back stories, so I wanted to know a little more about Penny and Tory's pasts.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the premise. The deaths (I won't mention whose) were fantastic! Thanks Fred Wiehe for a terrifying read :)
As for the characters, I was intrigued by Penny's past, and I wanted to know more about her. My only complaint is that we didn't get a good back story on Penny and Tory, but that might have been intentional. I'm a fan of long back stories, so I wanted to know a little more about Penny and Tory's pasts.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the premise. The deaths (I won't mention whose) were fantastic! Thanks Fred Wiehe for a terrifying read :)
June 23, 2016
It started out a little slow, but it was fantastic! It defied my expectations in the best way.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews