Dark Homecoming

by William Patterson

William Patterson weaves a chilling novel of gothic suspense about the terror lurking within a beautiful mansion—and the consequences for a newcomer who dares to call it home…

Liz Huntington met her husband David, scion of one of Palm Beach’s wealthiest families, just weeks ago. Their honeymoon was idyllic and Liz is blissfully happy—at first. But she feels increasingly uneasy in her lavish new home. Huntington House and its staff still seem to be in the thrall of David’s first wife. In fact, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hoffman, has made it clear that Liz can never measure up to the stunning, sophisticated, deceased, Dominique.

Though Dominique drowned in a yachting accident, Liz still senses her spirit in the house. She hears unexplained noises…sees shadowy figures vanishing down the long corridors. The scent of Dominique’s favorite flowers fills the air. But Liz’s fears are more than insecurity. Two young women connected to Huntington House have already met terrible deaths. More will die—and soon. Because behind the house’s polished façade is an unimaginable secret and a love turned to twisted, unnatural obsession…

Praise for William Patterson’s The Inn

"The Conjuring meets The Shining in William Patterson's deliciously creepy thriller.  Fast-paced, horror-filled, clever and impossible-to-predict, this heart-pounding tale will leave you breathless." --Kevin O’Brien, New York Times bestselling author

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Gothic

480 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 26, 2016

Reviews

[Susie James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I agree; some teasers promoting William Patterson's "Dark Homecoming" made me think of du Maurier's classic "Rebecca". I took off reading in a gallop, after receiving post-haste the advance uncorrected proof won via Goodreads! H'mmn. I have to say I found this novel made me think of an amalgamation of "The Fall of the House of Usher" injected with du Maurier, a bit, along with any number of women's self-concept exploratory treatises; some steady "Jane Eyre"; oh, well, maybe some sensations from "Hill House". I found myself chuckling at times, remembering "Dracula". I don't think they would ever put "Huntingdon House" back together again; nor, "Tara" by the way, to bring into this review a taste of the Old South via Ireland cum Florida! How about that, Humpty Dumpty...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz, has just married David Huntington, a Palm Beach businessman, after knowing him only briefly. David's first wife Dominique was killed in a yachting accident, but her body was never found. Liz moves into the Palm Beach estate that David calls home but, she is warned by servants that there is evil in the house. Many tell her that Dominique still haunts the house. What will happen to Liz? Is Dominique's ghost still around? Read along and find out what happens as Liz tries to make a new home in a sinister place with an dark atmosphere.

Although I don't usually read “horror” books or things about ghosts and voodoo, I found this book interesting and entertaining. The author did a good job keeping my full attention until the end. The story was full of suspense that kept building with each new chapter. Surprisingly, I found that I really wanted to know how it would all turn out for Liz and David.

Thanks to Goodreads giveaway and Kensington Books for allowing me to read this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Homecoming by William Patterson
3 Stars
From The Book:
A beautiful mansion—and the consequences for a newcomer who dares to call it home. Liz Huntington met her husband David, scion of one of Palm Beach’s wealthiest families, just weeks ago. Their honeymoon was idyllic and Liz is blissfully happy—at first. But she feels increasingly uneasy in her lavish new home. Huntington House and its staff still seem to be in the thrall of David’s first wife. In fact, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hoffman, has made it clear that Liz can never measure up to the stunning, sophisticated, deceased, Dominique.

Though Dominique drowned in a yachting accident, Liz still senses her spirit in the house. She hears unexplained noises…sees shadowy figures vanishing down the long corridors. The scent of Dominique’s favorite flowers fills the air. But Liz’s fears are more than insecurity. Two young women connected to Huntington House have already met terrible deaths. More will die—and soon. Because behind the house’s polished facade is an unimaginable secret and a love turned to twisted, unnatural obsession.

My Views:
Not what I was expecting from the synopsis. The idea was great but the actual story didn't really support it. About midway through the book the plot turns away and the more than one time reader of this genre knows what is going to happen. The book had nearly 500 pages so I spent a long time hoping that the plot would go back to what the book had promised in the beginning.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading anything by William Patterson so I really have nothing more of his work to compare this book with.

The idea of the book was fantastic. I read the back and thought it would be something I would really love. And to be honest there were parts of the book I enjoyed very much. The witchcraft/Vodou was great and definitely added to the book, but I felt it did fall a little more flat than I had hoped.

The characters were not as well thought out as I had hoped. They lacked something. Character, I guess.

[Genschronicles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 4 stars, If you like paranormal suspenseful books I highly recommend. Liz marries a very wealthy man (David) with only 2 weeks of knowing him as they progress in their short time of being married he convinces her to move into his estate and she does. Liz learns about his late wife (Dominqiue) who allegedly drowned on a yachting accident. Although she's dead, Liz still feels her presence around the house. A lot of revelation are made none that aren't that predictable, It's compared to The Conjuring as well as The Shining, although it's not nearly as scary I found myself shocked at some points in the book! Overall I enjoyed this one a lot!

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t get into it. Main character was immature and needy. Did not finish.

[marylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost didn't read this book when I saw the reviews but I loved it! It really kept my interest.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca, only Re-betta....

[Lisa Demarest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! The way horror novels should be written! I will be looking for more of his books!!

[Elaine Crockett · Rating 1 out of 5]

Rebecca Re-dux. I hate it when authors rip off other authors' ideas. Mr. Patterson, do you really need the money?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't and didn't want to put this book down. It grabbed me and kept me reading all the way to the end, it was an amazing read and I cant wait to read more from this author.

[laurel jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

not to be read at night.

[Tammy Mallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great for your mind

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mansion with secrets and what happens when someone new moves in.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting enough to finish, but I figured out enough to stop sooner. A little scooby doo meets the social elite meets dark magic.

[Katherine Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

===== 2.5 stars =====

Within the first few pages, I began to wonder whether DARK HOMECOMING was set in the past ... long enough ago that 20-somethings did not have 24/7 Internet access, yet recent enough that Disney and cosmetic surgery were available. Around the 30-page mark, I found myself adding the following update:

"Huntington family scion David has access to a private jet and makes his home in a mansion staffed by a cadre of servants, yet new bride Liz’s first visual of the previous wife is the latter’s larger-than-life portrait at Huntington House, and her first knowledge of a recent unpleasant occurrence at the house is from a warning issued by one of the servants. Do these people not have Internet? Liz should have taken a moment between dance numbers on the cruise ship where she met David to at least Google her suitor before accepting his proposal. Surely she would have discovered a number of online articles (with pics!) about the first Mrs. Huntington, as well mention of the incident at the house."

While I did continue turning the pages until the end, with each plot development DARK HOMECOMING reminded me more and more of a Lifetime mystery movie broadcast during the mid to late 1980's ... recent enough for liposuction and the Magic Kingdom, yet long enough ago that "Netflix and chill" wasn't yet a thing.

My favorite aspect of DARK HOMECOMING was that one of the villains had been given the name Variola, which is the Latin term for smallpox.

Disclaimer: ARC received for free via Goodreads "First Reads" giveaways (thank you, Kensington Books/Pinnacle Fiction!)

[Jennifer N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I won this book through Goodreads giveaways and had no idea what to think. I had liked the synopsis and thought it was going to be a thriller. I was shocked to find out that there was voodoo and witchcraft involved. Although it was a thick book it was a surprisingly easy read. I was really interested in all of the characters and really liked the main character Liz. I wondered if it was going to be Skeleton Keyesque and it was in some ways but very different in others. Although the witchcraft and voodoo was pretty out there many people do believe in this and the author made it seem pretty realistic right until the end. The brother twist was interesting as well because through the novel I wondered who was the good and who was the evil brother.

Like another reviewer I was left wondering what time period this took place in? Many aspects seem timeless but the fact that this young bride met her husband on a cruise ship, married him and never Googled him... She would have found out that his wife had died suspiciously and that he was a suspect. I have to believe that it is a pre-internet time period because nothing else about her leads me to believe that she is an idiot.

I would definitely try another book by this author.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was glad to finish this book. It turned out nothing like what I was expecting. It started out good, however I question marrying somebody after only knowing them for two weeks. I could even handle the ghost aspect of it but when it turned into witches and voodoo (or voduo as the book calls it) and pagan worshiping, I lost interest. Strange depictions of paintings and sculptures (angels with black wings and cow heads) added to the weirdness of this book. Just not my type of book. Great descriptive writing.

[Peggy]

I did not read this book.

[Yvonne]

My sis read this book. She likes scary psychological thrillers like "Dark Homecoming." She liked it so much that she is looking for more by William Patterson. This is her favorite kind of book. I'm too chicken to read this genre, with its spooky paranormal nuances; but if you like spooky psychological thrillers, then this book is for you.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Good Reads Giveaway. First book I ever read by William Patterson. It was a very creepy and twisted story, not what I was expecting at all, but I LOVED it!! I can't wait to get my hands on more books by this author

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story wasn't as creepy as I was expecting it to be. The death of Ms. Hoffman and the unmasking of her plastic face should have been more important in the end. The story focused so much on her face every time her character was in involved.

[Nicole Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this book! Creepy story just kept me wanting more. Even though it was not proof read well and there are some words mixed around it still kept me captivated to the point I could not put it down. Ending was craxy!

[Karren321 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sucked. The characters had absolutely no "character" to them, its like they were all made of cardboard.

Boring, terribly boring.

[Cristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a light mystery. I enjoyed it and wasn't sure where the Characters were taking me. A bit far fetched at times, but a good book.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy! I did have a bit of it figured out before the end but the ending itself was such a twist.