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The Downwinders #4
The Blackham Mansion Haunting
"One of the most exciting new series!" Blackham Mansion was built next to a graveyard for a reason. Spiritualists who gathered there to make contact with ghosts knew the deceased were only a few feet away. Over the years, they became very successful at rousing the dead and inquiring about the afterlife. Too successful. Deem, a gifted twenty-year-old, learns that the long-abandoned mansion holds secrets she must investigate. She becomes wrapped up with the unusual house located downwind, where years ago the brunt of Nevada’s nuclear testing fallout rained down from the skies. As a result, Blackham Mansion isn’t any ordinary haunted house. The entities inside — some helpful, some monstrously hideous — are things she’s never dealt with before. Her friends Winn, Carma, and David try to help, but the forces inside the house overtake them all. Winn and Deem come face to face with a terrifying Be careful what solutions you hope for; sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. The Blackham Mansion Haunting is a fast-paced mystery with an unusual twist on the paranormal. It is the fourth book in The Downwinders series, part of The River universe. Fans of The River series will find the unpredictable ghosts and mutations of the River even more frightening and terrifying in this place where surprises lurk around every corner, and deception is the order of the day.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2015
54 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Michael Richan
55 books129 followersMichael Richan lives in Washington State. He has written horror fiction for over forty years.
He's the author of several best selling series, including "The River," 'The Downwinders," and "The Dark River." All are set within The River universe.
He's also the author of other best selling titles such as "The Haunting of Pitmon House", "The Coldwater Haunting", and "The Seances".
Visit michaelrichan.com to learn more about the series and to see a suggested reading order. Follow Michael via email and receive the free novella "Residual". You can also follow him via Twitter @michaelrichan.
He's the author of several best selling series, including "The River," 'The Downwinders," and "The Dark River." All are set within The River universe.
He's also the author of other best selling titles such as "The Haunting of Pitmon House", "The Coldwater Haunting", and "The Seances".
Visit michaelrichan.com to learn more about the series and to see a suggested reading order. Follow Michael via email and receive the free novella "Residual". You can also follow him via Twitter @michaelrichan.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 26, 2015
THE BLACKHAM MANSION HAUNTING is the fourth book in the Downwinders series, part of "The River" universe.
In this title, Deem and Winn find themselves investigating an old mansion that is haunted in a way we've never experienced before. Due to the radiation fallout, "typical ghosts" are morphed into much more sinister entities. Unfortunately for them, their newfound friend, David, is also very much involved in this case.
With the help of Carma, Lyman, and notes from a man named Lorenzo's journal, they must figure out how to solve this generations-old puzzle before more lives become entrapped.
I've been a fan of Richan's River universe from the very start. While my personal favorites are usually from the original series, The Blackham Mansion Haunting has made its way onto the top of the list! The manner of deaths, traps, and a particularly nasty mutation kept me positively glued to each page. Richan's originality continues to impress me as he consistently comes up with new creations to haunt your nightmares.
Throughout the entire novel, we learn more of Winn and Deem's individual personalities, and touch again on their strikingly different upbringings. Carma is now a constant, as Deem and David are staying in her home, under her protection. Her eccentric ways provide a nice comic relief in several scenes.
While this story is a stand-alone, basic knowledge of "the River" and the ability of "gifteds" to view it is necessary to fully understand their missions. Those that have followed the Downwinders series all along will be rewarded with occasional reverences to small events in past novels.
Overall, a fantastic novel that really brings out the strengths in Deem and Winn, and furthers the central plot by degrees, leaving readers eagerly awaiting their next adventure.
Highly recommended!
In this title, Deem and Winn find themselves investigating an old mansion that is haunted in a way we've never experienced before. Due to the radiation fallout, "typical ghosts" are morphed into much more sinister entities. Unfortunately for them, their newfound friend, David, is also very much involved in this case.
With the help of Carma, Lyman, and notes from a man named Lorenzo's journal, they must figure out how to solve this generations-old puzzle before more lives become entrapped.
I've been a fan of Richan's River universe from the very start. While my personal favorites are usually from the original series, The Blackham Mansion Haunting has made its way onto the top of the list! The manner of deaths, traps, and a particularly nasty mutation kept me positively glued to each page. Richan's originality continues to impress me as he consistently comes up with new creations to haunt your nightmares.
Throughout the entire novel, we learn more of Winn and Deem's individual personalities, and touch again on their strikingly different upbringings. Carma is now a constant, as Deem and David are staying in her home, under her protection. Her eccentric ways provide a nice comic relief in several scenes.
While this story is a stand-alone, basic knowledge of "the River" and the ability of "gifteds" to view it is necessary to fully understand their missions. Those that have followed the Downwinders series all along will be rewarded with occasional reverences to small events in past novels.
Overall, a fantastic novel that really brings out the strengths in Deem and Winn, and furthers the central plot by degrees, leaving readers eagerly awaiting their next adventure.
Highly recommended!
August 9, 2015
This is the 4th book in the Downwinder series and in my opinion it is the best one yet. Blackham Mansion was built right next to a cemetery for a reason. Spiritualists would come to the mansion to talk to the dead. Strange things began to happen! One by one, people in the group would disappear. That was a long, long time ago. The brunt of Nevada's nuclear testing took place not to far from here. Deem and Winn will find out that this is no ordinary haunted house. The entities that are trapped inside this house are some that Deem and Winn have never dealt with before. While exploring the house, Deem and Winn find a journal of one of the trap souls. It belonged to man named Lorenzo. With the help of the journal and their friends, Deem and Winn must try and set free the souls that are trapped between dimensions. This book stands alone and can be read without reading any of the others in the series. I would recommend this book!
August 3, 2015
I plan to write an expanded review very soon. I just wanted to write about first impressions while this is totally fresh.
I'm stunned by MR's imagination with all of the "River" novels. This book is no different. The twists and turns in this universe is always a complete surprise. The last few pages of this book were insane! As always, I can't wait for the next book!
I'm stunned by MR's imagination with all of the "River" novels. This book is no different. The twists and turns in this universe is always a complete surprise. The last few pages of this book were insane! As always, I can't wait for the next book!
July 28, 2015
Another Hit!
Well done M.R. a great edition to The Downwinders. I really loved the the cameo from Roy and Steven, I adore Roy. I also liked the hint of the Dark River, nice nod to all your dedicated readers.
Looking forward to the next, in whichever series.
Well done M.R. a great edition to The Downwinders. I really loved the the cameo from Roy and Steven, I adore Roy. I also liked the hint of the Dark River, nice nod to all your dedicated readers.
Looking forward to the next, in whichever series.
September 21, 2017
Scared mansions
This book was great. Can't wait to start the next one. Very exciting and filled with the unexpected. Will be reading all of his books. He really is a very good writer.
This book was great. Can't wait to start the next one. Very exciting and filled with the unexpected. Will be reading all of his books. He really is a very good writer.
July 30, 2015
It's like Richan reached in my head and pulled out a nightmare. The unique structure of house... within house... within house... stimulated almost a panic response in me because it felt so... familiar... like he hit on a forgotten memory. My mind's eye walked down every hallway, through every door, as if I did it a million times before. I don't know what was more terrifying; the nagging feeling of deja vu, or the knowledge that somewhere, someone else had the exact same nightmare and wrote a story about it, and all those rooms you were too afraid to explore on your own.
It isn't often that a written narrative can draw you in so completely that you find yourself as nervous and confused as the main characters. It was like during a movie when a character dives under water and you find yourself holding your breath... you know how tense those final seconds are when you find yourself running out of air just before they resurface?
I felt out of breath throughout the entire book. Intricate, complex, and freaking SCARY.
The Blackham Mansion Haunting is a brilliant piece of storytelling. I haven't been drawn into the head of a protagonist in such a manner in a long time, and I felt like I was along for the ride with Winn and Deem the entire way.
It isn't often that a written narrative can draw you in so completely that you find yourself as nervous and confused as the main characters. It was like during a movie when a character dives under water and you find yourself holding your breath... you know how tense those final seconds are when you find yourself running out of air just before they resurface?
I felt out of breath throughout the entire book. Intricate, complex, and freaking SCARY.
The Blackham Mansion Haunting is a brilliant piece of storytelling. I haven't been drawn into the head of a protagonist in such a manner in a long time, and I felt like I was along for the ride with Winn and Deem the entire way.
October 2, 2015
Another good book.
I like this series, the author flows great storylines. Always great editing. Read the other books previous to reading this one. More importantly, thank you Michael Richan for another great read!
I like this series, the author flows great storylines. Always great editing. Read the other books previous to reading this one. More importantly, thank you Michael Richan for another great read!
September 7, 2015
Might be my favorite to date.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews