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Mount Herod Legends #1
Beneath Claire's House
From debut author Corey J. Popp comes a young adult, supernatural thriller that will keep readers guessing until its shocking conclusion.
Sixteen-year-old Claire Young is tormented by a recurring, prophetic nightmare and visitations from gruesome, mutilated ghosts. She's convinced the apparitions intend to harm her widowed father, but there's little she can do locked away in Saint Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. Her situation is hopeless until a mysterious priest delivers the name of a man who may be the only one willing to help. Claire launches a daring scheme that leads her and her best friend to a former paranormal investigator.
But the matter is complicated by Claire's own father. Convinced his daughter is schizophrenic, he'll send Claire back to Saint Thomas permanently if he discovers she’s still clinging to her delusions. Claire and her friends must tread lightly to complete the investigation, but amid bizarre twists and chilling encounters, she’ll discover her home's basement is hiding something far more sinister than just ghosts.
Sixteen-year-old Claire Young is tormented by a recurring, prophetic nightmare and visitations from gruesome, mutilated ghosts. She's convinced the apparitions intend to harm her widowed father, but there's little she can do locked away in Saint Thomas Psychiatric Hospital. Her situation is hopeless until a mysterious priest delivers the name of a man who may be the only one willing to help. Claire launches a daring scheme that leads her and her best friend to a former paranormal investigator.
But the matter is complicated by Claire's own father. Convinced his daughter is schizophrenic, he'll send Claire back to Saint Thomas permanently if he discovers she’s still clinging to her delusions. Claire and her friends must tread lightly to complete the investigation, but amid bizarre twists and chilling encounters, she’ll discover her home's basement is hiding something far more sinister than just ghosts.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2015
77 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Corey J. Popp
5 books10 followersCorey J. Popp began as a freelance writer for a major national media holding company before transitioning to fiction and publishing Beneath Claire's House in 2015. That same year, Corey was selected as one of the “Top 5 Authors Discovered in 2015” by Sci-Fi & Scary Book Reviews. Corey has since gone on to publish the Mount Herod Legends book series.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 26, 2019
Hands down, this is my favorite scary read of the Halloween season! I feel so lucky that I stumbled upon this book following a suggestion from Amazon after finishing CRAVEN MANOR. I was hesitant to download the book since it is a YA novel, but it's a read that will appeal to both teenagers and adults alike despite the young characters. The protagonist, Claire, is 16 and does seem young, but the trauma that she's dealing with after years of encountering menacing ghosts in her home, undergoing a tragic loss in her family, and receiving a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia is a far cry from typical teenage drama.
I flew through this book. BENEATH CLAIRE'S HOUSE is a true page turner, and the pacing never lags. The plot is twisty and unpredictable for the most part, and the main characters are enjoyable to spend time with. I even found their banter endearing. And what I loved maybe the most about Claire is the fact that she is an unreliable narrator in the truest sense. Readers are constantly asking themselves if Claire's ghosts are real or if they truly are just manifestations of Claire's disorder. The book leaves you guessing about that, even up until the very end.
This is a series, so I'm definitely planning on reading the next book. Fingers crossed that it will be as gripping as BENEATH CLAIRE'S HOUSE was. All I can say is do yourself a favor and read this book now! I don't think it will disappoint, and it's a great way to ring in the spooky Halloween season!
I flew through this book. BENEATH CLAIRE'S HOUSE is a true page turner, and the pacing never lags. The plot is twisty and unpredictable for the most part, and the main characters are enjoyable to spend time with. I even found their banter endearing. And what I loved maybe the most about Claire is the fact that she is an unreliable narrator in the truest sense. Readers are constantly asking themselves if Claire's ghosts are real or if they truly are just manifestations of Claire's disorder. The book leaves you guessing about that, even up until the very end.
This is a series, so I'm definitely planning on reading the next book. Fingers crossed that it will be as gripping as BENEATH CLAIRE'S HOUSE was. All I can say is do yourself a favor and read this book now! I don't think it will disappoint, and it's a great way to ring in the spooky Halloween season!
April 17, 2018
Very well done book. Couldn't put it down,
July 12, 2017
I absolutely adored this book. Well, maybe "adored" isn't such a great word to use when talking about a creepy, suspense-filled horror story... with ghosts and murderers and mentally ill patients from an institution. But perhaps because I belong in such location just as those patients, I can safely say that I adored it. A well-executed horror story with an amazing cast of characters, chilling moments, and a surprise ending. Loved it!
July 30, 2018
Great story!
I really liked this book. I thought I had it figured out a few times, but no...I was wrong! Who has killed all the women that Clair is seeing as ghosts? Why are they visible only to her and what do they want with her? You'll have to read this book for the answers.
I really liked this book. I thought I had it figured out a few times, but no...I was wrong! Who has killed all the women that Clair is seeing as ghosts? Why are they visible only to her and what do they want with her? You'll have to read this book for the answers.
November 23, 2017
Good ghost story, was Claire nuts
July 22, 2018
Excellent Mystery About a Haunting
I enjoyed this YA mystery about Claire’s haunted basement and a place even worse. Claire has terrible nightmares, sees blood-covered ghosts, runs into ice walls, hears strange noises, and then the basement door opens by itself.
Her father, an ER doctor, takes Claire to a mental hospital where she is diagnosed as schizophrenic and given mind-dulling drugs. After 8 weeks, she still has terrifying nightmares. A visiting priest, Father Delevan, listens to her story and gives her advice, which she intends to follow even if she has to break out of the hospital.
She returns to her haunted house with her BFF Emma and two ghost-hunting geeks (one geek is going to Caltech). She learns she’s haunted by spirits unable to go to the light, because they have unfinished business. The only way to rid herself of nightmares and spirit hauntings is by learning 1) why the dead cannot move on, and 2) what’s in the basement that’s attracting the spirits.
After Claire leaves the hospital, there are disappearances and deaths in her small town. Then BFF Emma vanishes. There are some good twists in this story, one of which I guessed, but I kept on reading to the end. This is a good YA ghost story, but nowhere as scary as Stephen King or Clive Barker. I read this book on a windy night with lights off and my blackout curtains closed. If this had been King or Barker, I’d have kept a light on and donned ballistic ear muffs.
4 stars for an interesting and enjoyable book.
I enjoyed this YA mystery about Claire’s haunted basement and a place even worse. Claire has terrible nightmares, sees blood-covered ghosts, runs into ice walls, hears strange noises, and then the basement door opens by itself.
Her father, an ER doctor, takes Claire to a mental hospital where she is diagnosed as schizophrenic and given mind-dulling drugs. After 8 weeks, she still has terrifying nightmares. A visiting priest, Father Delevan, listens to her story and gives her advice, which she intends to follow even if she has to break out of the hospital.
She returns to her haunted house with her BFF Emma and two ghost-hunting geeks (one geek is going to Caltech). She learns she’s haunted by spirits unable to go to the light, because they have unfinished business. The only way to rid herself of nightmares and spirit hauntings is by learning 1) why the dead cannot move on, and 2) what’s in the basement that’s attracting the spirits.
After Claire leaves the hospital, there are disappearances and deaths in her small town. Then BFF Emma vanishes. There are some good twists in this story, one of which I guessed, but I kept on reading to the end. This is a good YA ghost story, but nowhere as scary as Stephen King or Clive Barker. I read this book on a windy night with lights off and my blackout curtains closed. If this had been King or Barker, I’d have kept a light on and donned ballistic ear muffs.
4 stars for an interesting and enjoyable book.
September 5, 2018
Intriguing YA supernatural thriller
A very engaging narrator, Claire, is confined to a mental hospital at the beginning of this book, diagnosed with schizophrenia because she insists that she is plagued and threatened by ghosts. She manages to get released after being attacked by a fellow patient, going home under the watchful eye of her father, a widower who is a respected ER physician in the local hospital. The ghosts are more insistent than ever, though. With the help of her best friend and some paranormal investigators, Claire is able to figure out what the ghosts (spirits,actually) are trying to convey to her. Very exciting, entertaining thriller that kept me turning (virtual) pages all the way through.
A very engaging narrator, Claire, is confined to a mental hospital at the beginning of this book, diagnosed with schizophrenia because she insists that she is plagued and threatened by ghosts. She manages to get released after being attacked by a fellow patient, going home under the watchful eye of her father, a widower who is a respected ER physician in the local hospital. The ghosts are more insistent than ever, though. With the help of her best friend and some paranormal investigators, Claire is able to figure out what the ghosts (spirits,actually) are trying to convey to her. Very exciting, entertaining thriller that kept me turning (virtual) pages all the way through.
January 10, 2026
3.75 stars.
Claire was a well written, sympathetic character. I enjoyed questioning alongside her what the reality of the situation was. How much of what she was experiencing was real? How much was psychosis? Was she an innocent, or was her mind shielding her from her own actions?
I would've rated this 4 stars right up until the last 10%. The ending was not awful, but it felt a bit of a let down after the rest of the book.
Claire was a well written, sympathetic character. I enjoyed questioning alongside her what the reality of the situation was. How much of what she was experiencing was real? How much was psychosis? Was she an innocent, or was her mind shielding her from her own actions?
I would've rated this 4 stars right up until the last 10%. The ending was not awful, but it felt a bit of a let down after the rest of the book.
December 16, 2019
Very compelling
This is a well written, well plotted supernatural mystery thriller. The subjects of madness, ghosts and memory are well utilized for a very enthralling tale.
This is a well written, well plotted supernatural mystery thriller. The subjects of madness, ghosts and memory are well utilized for a very enthralling tale.
May 17, 2020
Damn good read
Loved this book easy and and fast couldn't put it down.the story and characters were believable and well written .if you like spooky story's this book I for you.
Loved this book easy and and fast couldn't put it down.the story and characters were believable and well written .if you like spooky story's this book I for you.
December 13, 2016
Twists
This book was just full of twists and turns. It was thrilling and scary at times. I enjoyed reading it.
This book was just full of twists and turns. It was thrilling and scary at times. I enjoyed reading it.
March 18, 2017
Interesting
This is a very well written book. The characters are very believable. Good story and it gives you something to think about.
This is a very well written book. The characters are very believable. Good story and it gives you something to think about.
March 14, 2017
Cool Y.A. Ghost
August 29, 2016
Claire has been through more than most of us could ever imagine....and she's only sixteen years old. After the death of her mother, she began being terrorized by ghosts....the scary kind of ghosts that would make anyone experiencing them question their sanity. She's convinced that they are trying to harm her father, but vocalizing that to him lands her in a psychiatric hospital. How in the world is she going to be able to save her dad when she's locked away?!?!?!? That in itself would have made an awesome plot, but believe me when I say that the twists and turns in this book are unlike anything you've read before.
Beneath Claire's House definitely didn't lack in the suspense department. It's the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the very end. I must admit that I did quite a bit of speculation as to what Claire's ghosts wanted from her, but boy was I way off!
Corey J. Popp is a very talented writer and has left me wanting to read more of his work.
You can read this review, and many others, on the CommonBookSense blog: http://commonbooksense.blogspot.com
Beneath Claire's House definitely didn't lack in the suspense department. It's the kind of book that keeps you on the edge of your seat up until the very end. I must admit that I did quite a bit of speculation as to what Claire's ghosts wanted from her, but boy was I way off!
Corey J. Popp is a very talented writer and has left me wanting to read more of his work.
You can read this review, and many others, on the CommonBookSense blog: http://commonbooksense.blogspot.com
May 9, 2016
An Excellent Supernatural Thriller.
The author gives chills aplenty in this novel. Claire, the main character , is strong,smart and resourceful and it's finally nice to have a female protagonist who isn't in love with another YA character. The story builds up nicely with many creepy moments until the final shocking revelation.
The author gives chills aplenty in this novel. Claire, the main character , is strong,smart and resourceful and it's finally nice to have a female protagonist who isn't in love with another YA character. The story builds up nicely with many creepy moments until the final shocking revelation.
June 21, 2016
Loved it
Kept me gripped from start to finish and I read it in one sitting. I would advise anyone who's thinking of reading this to do so and will be recommending this to my friends too.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Kept me gripped from start to finish and I read it in one sitting. I would advise anyone who's thinking of reading this to do so and will be recommending this to my friends too.
Looking forward to reading more by this author.
May 9, 2016
It was a good book. Teenagers,ghosts, ghost hunters, etc.
Was a little spooky read, and the ending was
not what I expected. But good.
Was a little spooky read, and the ending was
not what I expected. But good.
June 24, 2016
Review
Very good book. U can't put it down! U kind of know what's gonna happen but u don't know for sure until the end.
Very good book. U can't put it down! U kind of know what's gonna happen but u don't know for sure until the end.
November 2, 2016
Want to be scared?? This is a real thriller with a real twist. Nuf said.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews