What do you think?
Rate this book
The Boylan House
For nearly three and a half centuries, the Boylan House has stood at the end of Meeting House Road. And something in that house has been killing boys for centuries.
The town of Monson is a quaint and quiet New England town. Yet the house is terrifying and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Adults put the thing out of mind and ignore the fears of their children, admonishing them to stay away.
Too many boys have vanished into the swamps behind the house. Bodies never recovered. Nothing ever recovered. The families are left with their memories and the disturbing thought that the Boylan House had something to do with it.
Mason Philips knows better than that.
He knows that there’s something in the house. Something evil. Something hunting children from time to time.
And Mason has decided that it’s time for the killing to stop.
The town of Monson is a quaint and quiet New England town. Yet the house is terrifying and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Adults put the thing out of mind and ignore the fears of their children, admonishing them to stay away.
Too many boys have vanished into the swamps behind the house. Bodies never recovered. Nothing ever recovered. The families are left with their memories and the disturbing thought that the Boylan House had something to do with it.
Mason Philips knows better than that.
He knows that there’s something in the house. Something evil. Something hunting children from time to time.
And Mason has decided that it’s time for the killing to stop.
69 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2015
About the author
Ron Ripley
253 books523 followersRon Ripley is a husband and father surviving in New England, a place which seems to be getting colder every day. He grew up across from a disturbingly large cemetery where he managed to scare himself every night before going to bed. Mostly because of the red lights that people put in front of the headstones. Those things are just plain creepy to a kid.
Ron enjoys writing horror, military history and driving through the small towns of New England with his family, collecting books and giving impromptu lectures on military history to his family, who enjoy ignoring him during those dreadful times.
Ron enjoys writing horror, military history and driving through the small towns of New England with his family, collecting books and giving impromptu lectures on military history to his family, who enjoy ignoring him during those dreadful times.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 28, 2020
This story was good & creepy. A good haunted house selection for Halloween.
September 29, 2015
Holy crap that was creepy!
I am a tough one to creep out, but this story accomplished it!
Mason witnessed his friend unwillingly disappear into the darkness of Boylan House when he was just 7 years old. No one believed his story, and told him he 'remembered it wrong'. Now he's in his 40's, and is back to get answers. As he researches the history of the house, built in the 17th century, he knows there is a darkness involved that is to not be underestimated. Many have disappeared over the centuries, and not only does no one know why, they write it off as 'they got lost in and disappeared in the swamp'. It's only around Halloween, and only young boys/are taken.
Impressively done. I really look forward to the rest of the set, but could happily stop here and hope I don't have nightmares! A feat not easily accomplished. I've never said this before, but if I had heard this story around a campfire when I was growing up, I would never want to go camping again!
I am a tough one to creep out, but this story accomplished it!
Mason witnessed his friend unwillingly disappear into the darkness of Boylan House when he was just 7 years old. No one believed his story, and told him he 'remembered it wrong'. Now he's in his 40's, and is back to get answers. As he researches the history of the house, built in the 17th century, he knows there is a darkness involved that is to not be underestimated. Many have disappeared over the centuries, and not only does no one know why, they write it off as 'they got lost in and disappeared in the swamp'. It's only around Halloween, and only young boys/are taken.
Impressively done. I really look forward to the rest of the set, but could happily stop here and hope I don't have nightmares! A feat not easily accomplished. I've never said this before, but if I had heard this story around a campfire when I was growing up, I would never want to go camping again!
August 14, 2018
This short story I'm rating a 3 star. It was a really great beginning to a story. I was very disappointed however to find that it stops without warning in the middle of the story with a continue with book 2, kind of ending. My e-book had "extras" at the end which was kind of like a .5 novella prequel to the book and a spin-off side story from the main character's relative. This I also enjoyed reading. The thing is...if I want to continue the story I have to pay $3.99 for the entire trilogy and I'm not interested in that. I downloaded this first "book" back in 2016 and didn't realize that it wasn't a whole story, which is kind of a bummer.
The Boylan House is a haunted house story. We have Mason Philips, a previous resident of Monson the town, that the Boylan House resides in. When he was just 7 years old, Mason witnessed something/someone snatch a kid he was trick or treating with. He told his parents, the police, anyone who would listen that the house took the boy. Of course the adults didn't believe him. Or did they? The entire town has hard or witnessed their own "snatchings". They continue to live in denial and say the missing boys were lost to the swamp.
At present day and at the age of 42, Mason NEEDS to get to the bottom of the legend and find out the truth of what happened all those years ago. He decides to head back to Monson and investigate. Will he like what he finds out?
The book was just getting interesting when it said "thanks for reading". I was so bummed I had to stop, at the same time, I'm too cheap to buy the rest of the trilogy. I'll keep an eye out for it to go on sale or end up free. Here's to hoping.
The Boylan House is a haunted house story. We have Mason Philips, a previous resident of Monson the town, that the Boylan House resides in. When he was just 7 years old, Mason witnessed something/someone snatch a kid he was trick or treating with. He told his parents, the police, anyone who would listen that the house took the boy. Of course the adults didn't believe him. Or did they? The entire town has hard or witnessed their own "snatchings". They continue to live in denial and say the missing boys were lost to the swamp.
At present day and at the age of 42, Mason NEEDS to get to the bottom of the legend and find out the truth of what happened all those years ago. He decides to head back to Monson and investigate. Will he like what he finds out?
The book was just getting interesting when it said "thanks for reading". I was so bummed I had to stop, at the same time, I'm too cheap to buy the rest of the trilogy. I'll keep an eye out for it to go on sale or end up free. Here's to hoping.
October 16, 2015
I have to say so far this has been the best short story I have read so far and it left me hanging. I didn't realize it was a triology! Mason has been a little bit obsessed with the Boylan House ever since he was seven and him and another kid went up to the scary house and the other boy was taken by something in the house.
Nobody would believe what he said about what happened and it has haunted him ever since. Now he is in his forties and he has to find out what is in the house and how to stop it. To many boys have been taken by that house and people just chalk it up to some deranged murder or getting lost in the woods.
He goes the the library in town and looks up the history of the Boylan House and finds out some pretty horrific stuff that the owner Liam Boylan. He also finds that here have been boys going missing around Halloween for a very long time.
This story was very creepy especially for only being 41 pages and it will leave you hanging. This is a great read for Halloween if your looking for something short, but now I need the next book! :)
Nobody would believe what he said about what happened and it has haunted him ever since. Now he is in his forties and he has to find out what is in the house and how to stop it. To many boys have been taken by that house and people just chalk it up to some deranged murder or getting lost in the woods.
He goes the the library in town and looks up the history of the Boylan House and finds out some pretty horrific stuff that the owner Liam Boylan. He also finds that here have been boys going missing around Halloween for a very long time.
This story was very creepy especially for only being 41 pages and it will leave you hanging. This is a great read for Halloween if your looking for something short, but now I need the next book! :)
October 29, 2015
It left off at such a built up cliff hanger. I had to stop reading this book and come back to it because it had so much history that you needed to know before getting to the "ever present danger", and just as it finally did it was the end of this book.
July 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Great premise, great writing. It had some twist and turns that I was not expecting. I will say, I was not surprised by some parts, but I am pretty much a ‘Harriet the Spy’ type of person, but I really enjoyed this book.
June 28, 2018
SUCKED. IN. I need to get the rest of the books, STAT!
August 28, 2017
The Boylan house sat there quietly and unused for hundreds of years. Nobody had lived there since the original owner Liam Boylan had built it and was murdered inside it in the late 17th century. But every once in awhile a light would appear in the windows upstairs enticing young boys to approach the house, and when they did, they were never seen again.
It's 1980, Halloween night, a group of young boys stare at the house. The local bully dares them to approach the house. A young boy, of 7 years, agrees. The two approach the house, but only one returns.
35 years later, the survivor still haunted by that house decides it's time to conquer those fears and find out the truth. Can he get to the bottom of The Boylan House before it takes another victim?
This books is a interesting book. It's stated that it is a prequel novella, but it also appears to be the first book of the trilogy. Anyway, about half way through the book, the first books ends and it seems to start the second book of the trilogy. Then maybe three-quarters of the way through, the second book preview ends, and some bonus chapters start that go into detail of a previous happening.
Overall I thought the writing was quite good. Through the entire thing I think I caught one, maybe two mistakes. The writing kept me entertained and wanting more. The characters were realistic and believable and slowly were being fleshed out. Now I really want to buy the other books to find out what happens.
It's 1980, Halloween night, a group of young boys stare at the house. The local bully dares them to approach the house. A young boy, of 7 years, agrees. The two approach the house, but only one returns.
35 years later, the survivor still haunted by that house decides it's time to conquer those fears and find out the truth. Can he get to the bottom of The Boylan House before it takes another victim?
This books is a interesting book. It's stated that it is a prequel novella, but it also appears to be the first book of the trilogy. Anyway, about half way through the book, the first books ends and it seems to start the second book of the trilogy. Then maybe three-quarters of the way through, the second book preview ends, and some bonus chapters start that go into detail of a previous happening.
Overall I thought the writing was quite good. Through the entire thing I think I caught one, maybe two mistakes. The writing kept me entertained and wanting more. The characters were realistic and believable and slowly were being fleshed out. Now I really want to buy the other books to find out what happens.
April 19, 2016
I love scary, creepy stories. I found this on Amazon for free and decided to give it a shot. This book reminded me of a "fixer upper". It had a lot of potential, but needed work. The plot was decent, missing little boys and an old haunted house. The characters just never developed for me, the obvious falling for the librarian plot, the endless cups of coffee and stilted conversations. I never got to know any of them, and the story just ended. I know I am supposed to go on to the next in the series, but I'll pass.
July 5, 2017
I think I downloaded this probably 2 years ago but didn't get around to it until early this morning when I couldn't sleep. While I think the subject of the urban myth is interesting, the delivery fell very flat for me. Sadly, this was a novella so that just when something interesting was about to happen, the book ended. I'm tempted, but not too tempted, to buy the other two books if only to see the resolution. However, I just don't think the writing is sophisticated enough to really make me care. It is kind of like a high school senior wrote it for a composition class. Spooky, but disjointed.
June 19, 2019
Loved this book! I like how Ron Ripley interconnects the stories and characters of the story. It is often interesting to read when the characters have those "Aha" moments and realize they have similar or connected stories or experiences with others.
Good character development. Very good plot! Just when you think this story is like others in the horror genre, the author slips something in there to make you go "Oh WOW" or OOoohhhhh, so that's how that happened!
Good character development. Very good plot! Just when you think this story is like others in the horror genre, the author slips something in there to make you go "Oh WOW" or OOoohhhhh, so that's how that happened!
May 25, 2020
The storyline is well described and intentioned with creepy ghosts. You have interestingly creepy characters to drive you throught to the end of this book. You will not want to put this book down as it will keep you on the edge of your seat. You have the evil in the Boylan House haunting Mason from childhood. They are going to try to exercise the Boylan Housr. This is a must read. I recommend this book.
January 7, 2017
Weird & Scary, Too!
I chose this rating because this book kept me intrigued from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down for long. It took me several hours, but I finished it on the same day that I started it.
This would be an interesting book for anyone interested in strange occurrences with a historical background added.
I chose this rating because this book kept me intrigued from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down for long. It took me several hours, but I finished it on the same day that I started it.
This would be an interesting book for anyone interested in strange occurrences with a historical background added.
February 11, 2019
Read in a day
My biggest regret is that I didn't realize that this book was only book number one of three! And just as the book was getting really good it was over.... now I have to buy the second one or not know what happens! 🤨
My biggest regret is that I didn't realize that this book was only book number one of three! And just as the book was getting really good it was over.... now I have to buy the second one or not know what happens! 🤨
February 20, 2023
I enjoy Novellas because they get into the meat of a story right away. This was a good fast paced read. The story line was original and the pace of the story kept me hooked. Yes it was a simple read, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.
January 20, 2024
This story went in a direction I was not expecting, in a good way. I listened to the audiobook and thumbs up to Thom Bowers for the excellent job on narration. The story is well written and there are wonderful characters. Would recommend.
October 3, 2025
Get ready for a book that is going to leave you gasping!
A house where people go missing, years of unanswered questions. Nightmares. Death.
This book was such a treat! There is not much that can scare me anymore, but this made me shiver a few times. What a remarkable twist of terror!
A house where people go missing, years of unanswered questions. Nightmares. Death.
This book was such a treat! There is not much that can scare me anymore, but this made me shiver a few times. What a remarkable twist of terror!
March 8, 2018
Scary good !
This short will get you hooked .ron ripley is the best storyteller keeps you holding your breath on every page. Enjoy the unpleasant surprises !
This short will get you hooked .ron ripley is the best storyteller keeps you holding your breath on every page. Enjoy the unpleasant surprises !
April 14, 2018
Loved it.
Another great read with an original story line, interesting characters, and plenty of suspense. Ron Ripley is now considered one of my favorite authors. 👍
Another great read with an original story line, interesting characters, and plenty of suspense. Ron Ripley is now considered one of my favorite authors. 👍
March 23, 2019
It was just ok.
September 10, 2018
Ended too quick
It was one of those stories that you dont want to end. Freaked me out, but I read it to the end . Stories are too short.
It was one of those stories that you dont want to end. Freaked me out, but I read it to the end . Stories are too short.
September 29, 2018
Awesome read
Great book I loved reading it what a scary story I recommend this book to read it was awesome good luck not being scared
Great book I loved reading it what a scary story I recommend this book to read it was awesome good luck not being scared
June 6, 2019
Loved this short scary story! Now I have to get the rest in this series. Too good to stop now!
May 3, 2020
Not too bad.
It's a good read if you are into spooky stories. There's a good shock toward the end of the book.
It's a good read if you are into spooky stories. There's a good shock toward the end of the book.
December 1, 2020
Good read
Liked this book and looking forward to reading the next in the trilogy. Kept me wanting more. Good job Mr. Ripley
Liked this book and looking forward to reading the next in the trilogy. Kept me wanting more. Good job Mr. Ripley
March 26, 2021
What good is half a story?
Book one was great and left you hanging but book 2,3 or the entire trilogy is not available. Totally frustrating.
Book one was great and left you hanging but book 2,3 or the entire trilogy is not available. Totally frustrating.
May 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this scary novella.
January 1, 2025
Just finished Boylan House 😱😱😱
Should probably come with a TW with little boys. Nothing graphic but mentions of things....
Otherwise was a pretty good 'haunted house' story!
Should probably come with a TW with little boys. Nothing graphic but mentions of things....
Otherwise was a pretty good 'haunted house' story!
February 11, 2016
Review of "The Boylan House" by Ron Ripley
In "The Boylan House," I was very excited to receive the free copy for my honest review, and from the description of the book this was right up my alley. It seemed as if it was going to be a creepy haunted house novel with many twists and turns. I saw it was a trilogy and I LOVE novels that I can continue reading into another and another if it hooks me right. This fell way short of my expectations.
The book starts off as all do with an urban myth and disappearances at a house during Halloween after an event happened years ago. Without giving any spoilers away, I had a very hard time distinguishing between Mason (his main character) and the author himself. There was so much changing from first to third to first to third to I am not sure where we went that it made the book difficult to read for me. As I am an avid reader, I decided to buckle down and white knuckle it to the end.
The setting of the book is very difficult to keep up with. I completely see where the author was going with this book, but in one chapter you are being told it is Hallowwen and Mason is ready to confront the house, and the very next chapter, the date is 3 days before Halloween again. I am not sure if he forgot he had already moved the book along to the "final showdown" as they say or if he was just so grateful to get all of his thoughts for his story on to paper and send it to the editor/ printing.
What I thought would be a creepy and suspenseful haunted house story turned into me trying to rush the words through my brain as there were many times when the author just started to use uncalled for profanity. Believe me as a RN in an Emergency Room, you can not say a curse word that I have not heard and rarely they offend me, however I think the over use trying to make his main character sound "tough," really ended up hurting the tale he was trying to tell. (And that was ignoring the the misspellings and the choppy editing where things quit and picked up and nothing made sense.)
Overall, I think if the author changed the tone and depth of his characters and gave them a personality, someone to root on and someone you just want to go away, he could do well with his idea for this story. I personally try not to prejudge someone so I would probably give him another try, however it would not be one that I recommended to my friends. Friends don't let friends watch train wrecks because the fell asleep trying to finish it.
From me he gets 2 parachutes out of 5 as I hope he revises and resubmits this idea. He could be on to something with a little love, care, adding depth, don't drink beer and edit the book, and maybe a few less swear words in awkward places. Thank you for the opportunity to review your book, "The Boyland House."
***AGAIN, I WAS GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW***
In "The Boylan House," I was very excited to receive the free copy for my honest review, and from the description of the book this was right up my alley. It seemed as if it was going to be a creepy haunted house novel with many twists and turns. I saw it was a trilogy and I LOVE novels that I can continue reading into another and another if it hooks me right. This fell way short of my expectations.
The book starts off as all do with an urban myth and disappearances at a house during Halloween after an event happened years ago. Without giving any spoilers away, I had a very hard time distinguishing between Mason (his main character) and the author himself. There was so much changing from first to third to first to third to I am not sure where we went that it made the book difficult to read for me. As I am an avid reader, I decided to buckle down and white knuckle it to the end.
The setting of the book is very difficult to keep up with. I completely see where the author was going with this book, but in one chapter you are being told it is Hallowwen and Mason is ready to confront the house, and the very next chapter, the date is 3 days before Halloween again. I am not sure if he forgot he had already moved the book along to the "final showdown" as they say or if he was just so grateful to get all of his thoughts for his story on to paper and send it to the editor/ printing.
What I thought would be a creepy and suspenseful haunted house story turned into me trying to rush the words through my brain as there were many times when the author just started to use uncalled for profanity. Believe me as a RN in an Emergency Room, you can not say a curse word that I have not heard and rarely they offend me, however I think the over use trying to make his main character sound "tough," really ended up hurting the tale he was trying to tell. (And that was ignoring the the misspellings and the choppy editing where things quit and picked up and nothing made sense.)
Overall, I think if the author changed the tone and depth of his characters and gave them a personality, someone to root on and someone you just want to go away, he could do well with his idea for this story. I personally try not to prejudge someone so I would probably give him another try, however it would not be one that I recommended to my friends. Friends don't let friends watch train wrecks because the fell asleep trying to finish it.
From me he gets 2 parachutes out of 5 as I hope he revises and resubmits this idea. He could be on to something with a little love, care, adding depth, don't drink beer and edit the book, and maybe a few less swear words in awkward places. Thank you for the opportunity to review your book, "The Boyland House."
***AGAIN, I WAS GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW***
July 15, 2016
Ron Ripley had done it again, writing a story that chills the reader to the bone—causing the hairs on their arms to raise with fear. However, with pulse racing and heart thundering in their chest, the writer compels the reader to turn page after page to see what happens next.
On Halloween night in 1980 Mason Phillips, at the time seven-years-old, would experience something so horrifying it would haunt him for the rest of his life. That night changed his life, the night when Kevin Peacock was yanked by an eerie hand into the creepy Boylan House by his hair, never to be heard from again. Mason went back to Boylan house on a couple of different occasions throughout the years; each time revealed something that turned his blood cold. In his forties, Mason would find out more about the history of the house as he digs into the history of the home. He has a strong, overpowering sense he had to stop the evil in the ancient house. The evil he believes to be Liam Boylan the first owner and only owner of the home. As he dubs deep into the archives, he finds more than he is expecting to find, even about his ancestry.
On Halloween night in 1980 Mason Phillips, at the time seven-years-old, would experience something so horrifying it would haunt him for the rest of his life. That night changed his life, the night when Kevin Peacock was yanked by an eerie hand into the creepy Boylan House by his hair, never to be heard from again. Mason went back to Boylan house on a couple of different occasions throughout the years; each time revealed something that turned his blood cold. In his forties, Mason would find out more about the history of the house as he digs into the history of the home. He has a strong, overpowering sense he had to stop the evil in the ancient house. The evil he believes to be Liam Boylan the first owner and only owner of the home. As he dubs deep into the archives, he finds more than he is expecting to find, even about his ancestry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews