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The Haunting of Towneley Manor
Something terrible happened at Towneley Manor…
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. A whole month of her childhood is just blank, and nobody will tell her what caused it. Shortly after, her parents sent her to boarding school without any explanation and she thought she would never go back again.
A decade on, Tamara can’t sleep. She has nightmares about the house and the brooding woods. She sees a dark place in her dreams, a place she knows she mustn’t go. Something is waiting in the woods of Towneley Manor, and the only thing Tamara can remember is the symbol she sees in her dreams.
An eye surround by a black sun. Watching her. Never letting her go.
The Towneley family keep dark secrets, and the manor holds the worst of them. Children dying in the walls, servants disappearing. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
When her memory unfolds and she finds out what haunts the halls of Towneley Manor, she soon wishes she had never gone back…
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. A whole month of her childhood is just blank, and nobody will tell her what caused it. Shortly after, her parents sent her to boarding school without any explanation and she thought she would never go back again.
A decade on, Tamara can’t sleep. She has nightmares about the house and the brooding woods. She sees a dark place in her dreams, a place she knows she mustn’t go. Something is waiting in the woods of Towneley Manor, and the only thing Tamara can remember is the symbol she sees in her dreams.
An eye surround by a black sun. Watching her. Never letting her go.
The Towneley family keep dark secrets, and the manor holds the worst of them. Children dying in the walls, servants disappearing. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
When her memory unfolds and she finds out what haunts the halls of Towneley Manor, she soon wishes she had never gone back…
178 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2016
398 people are currently reading
467 people want to read
About the author
Jack Lewis
18 books98 followersI'm from Lancashire in the North of England, a bleak place that influenced Winterfell in Game of Thrones. I love a good story, afternoons in the sun with my wife, zombies, watching Game of Thrones, stroking dogs and medium-rare steak.
Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:
Fear the Dead
An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…
Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp
The Dying & the Dead
A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.
The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol
Check out my book series if you're a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic fiction:
Fear the Dead
An apocalypse series set in the North of England 15 years after the event, where we see how normal people survive the end of the world. Or sometimes, how they don’t survive…
Fear the Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2flF3yQ
Fear the Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2eRGO6h
Fear the Dead 3 - http://amzn.to/2eN3rp1
Fear the Dead 4 - http://amzn.to/2fM7Xqp
The Dying & the Dead
A post-apocalyptic series set in a world where a regime called The Capita has taken control of the mainland. The air is laced with infection, and people must wear masks to survive. Some survivors are born with immunity to the virus, and this lets them breathe the air unfiltered. The Capita hunts these people down in an attempt to make a vaccine for themselves.
The Dying & The Dead 1 - http://amzn.to/2eN5GJ0
The Dying & The Dead 2 - http://amzn.to/2fKXNZd
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
It has been ten years since Tamara walked the dark halls of her family home. Something bad happened to her in the manor when she was fourteen, but she can’t remember any of it. As Tamara unwinds the secrets of her family, she starts to discover what happened to her all those years ago.
The Haunting of Towneley Manor - http://amzn.to/2fKXMol
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
March 5, 2017
Something missing
Not one of the best ghost stories I have read. Something was missing. The characters lacked empathy and the plot seemed rushed towards the end, as though the author was keen to wrap it up.
Not one of the best ghost stories I have read. Something was missing. The characters lacked empathy and the plot seemed rushed towards the end, as though the author was keen to wrap it up.
January 9, 2020
Started out strong...
It had great potential initially but it was anticlimactic. We didn’t get to the climax until three quarters of the way through, then it was only a page with no real antagonist or defining moment. Then it was done.
It had great potential initially but it was anticlimactic. We didn’t get to the climax until three quarters of the way through, then it was only a page with no real antagonist or defining moment. Then it was done.
February 22, 2021
Meh. This one didn't really work for me. I wanted to punch our main character and her husband in the face a little too often. Light on scares, a little too predictable and unlikeable characters.
November 12, 2018
I enjoyed this story, it was creepy, albeit frustrating. I liked the setting and the weird things that kept happening in Towneley Manor. What frustrated me is the reluctance of Tamara, the main character, to talk to her husband about anything. I would have been a lot more outspoken. Also frustrating is some of the loose strings left untied at the end. We're all dying to know what's behind the door, what's in the envelope, but she's like, "nah, don't go there" and we don't. Bummer.
Other than all the weird loose ends that are never adequately explained, the story kept me interested through the end. If I'm ever in a horror novel, I'll talk a lot more and look behind more doors.
Other than all the weird loose ends that are never adequately explained, the story kept me interested through the end. If I'm ever in a horror novel, I'll talk a lot more and look behind more doors.
March 15, 2017
Great book!
Very mysterious and a great read for a dark and stormy night. One of the best short reads! I highly recommend it.
Very mysterious and a great read for a dark and stormy night. One of the best short reads! I highly recommend it.
May 8, 2020
I disliked each and every character, but what was worse is that they didn’t like each other. I understand that was part of the story but I didn’t like it. I finished the book but skimmed 95% of it.
October 25, 2018
Very confusing!
I am torn as to what my feelings are. First I found it depressing that she could be married to a man for so many years and keep so many secrets from him. Second there were so many ups and downs about the haunting itself I was at the point I wanted to strangle her myself. Very glad it had a decent ending but I still think Billy should grow some spine.
I am torn as to what my feelings are. First I found it depressing that she could be married to a man for so many years and keep so many secrets from him. Second there were so many ups and downs about the haunting itself I was at the point I wanted to strangle her myself. Very glad it had a decent ending but I still think Billy should grow some spine.
February 6, 2017
DNF @ 30% (not normal for me) ... I really just couldn't get into this book. I disliked the characters, the setting was flat and hard to imagine and the story wasn't developing. There is a lot of repetition. I think the hardest part for me was that I actively disliked the main character and her attitude towards everyone, which made it difficult to care about her situation. Therefore, it was easy to walk away from the book when I wasn't enjoying it.
February 1, 2017
Meh
The author kept building suspense then going no where with it. Even the end was anti-climatic and abrupt. And then the characters went on with their lives as if nothing much had happened. The author could have done so much more with the story. He didn't bother and neither should you.
The author kept building suspense then going no where with it. Even the end was anti-climatic and abrupt. And then the characters went on with their lives as if nothing much had happened. The author could have done so much more with the story. He didn't bother and neither should you.
October 15, 2016
Pretty darn good book.. Creepy house, weird stuff going on.
March 23, 2019
After my intense love/hate interaction with Sickness Behind Young Eyes, I hurried to read the other Jack Lewis book I had on my Kindle. I was hoping the “incredible book spoiled by ridiculous ending” problem was a one-off, but unfortunately, the trend carried over.
Another piece of atmospheric horror, with a narrator who may or may not be reliable, and whose own perception of reality shifts and changes throughout the book as more of her memories surface. If your narrator doesn’t trust herself, do you? More importantly, should you?
And then, once again, there is bullet train of an ending that suddenly derails. One action that should have been part of the end becomes the entire resolution, still with the underingly problem never really solved. But all the loose ends get forced into a pretty bow, whether they really tied together or not, and we’re left with a pseudo-happy ending completely out of keeping with the rest of the story, and with the horror genre in general. I have no problem with subverting expectations, but there has to be a reason behind it. Here, I felt like there was some kind of word count limit, and the author hit it early and had to quickly end the book whether it was time or not. I remain extremely disappointed.
Another piece of atmospheric horror, with a narrator who may or may not be reliable, and whose own perception of reality shifts and changes throughout the book as more of her memories surface. If your narrator doesn’t trust herself, do you? More importantly, should you?
And then, once again, there is bullet train of an ending that suddenly derails. One action that should have been part of the end becomes the entire resolution, still with the underingly problem never really solved. But all the loose ends get forced into a pretty bow, whether they really tied together or not, and we’re left with a pseudo-happy ending completely out of keeping with the rest of the story, and with the horror genre in general. I have no problem with subverting expectations, but there has to be a reason behind it. Here, I felt like there was some kind of word count limit, and the author hit it early and had to quickly end the book whether it was time or not. I remain extremely disappointed.
April 18, 2021
I was generous with the 4 stars. This story started out really well - I read at night by the light of my Kindle and I was so spooked I felt like things were behind me in the dark.. I couldn't wait to get back to it - I even talked to my (not really interested) daughter about how spooky it was.
Then - what happened?? The ending was so anticlimactic - the questions I had were unanswered! I wanted to know what the deepest personal secrets were in the Towneley ancestors - what made them do the things they did.. So disappointing. Also, the characters were not likeable in any way, to get the best experience out of a read - I have to feel for the main character and actually care what happens to them - I didn't care whether any of them survived or not.
With that said, I just started his 2nd book - spooky - but the main character is unlikeable.. I have my fingers crossed!
Then - what happened?? The ending was so anticlimactic - the questions I had were unanswered! I wanted to know what the deepest personal secrets were in the Towneley ancestors - what made them do the things they did.. So disappointing. Also, the characters were not likeable in any way, to get the best experience out of a read - I have to feel for the main character and actually care what happens to them - I didn't care whether any of them survived or not.
With that said, I just started his 2nd book - spooky - but the main character is unlikeable.. I have my fingers crossed!
April 15, 2020
I gave this horror novel 4 Stars because it offers some really terrifying Scares; in fact, in terms of Frights, this novel "keeps on keeping on." I enjoyed it, but I didn't give 5 because something in the story progression just felt a little "uneven " to me. For example, early on the protagonist tells her unwanted psychiatrist what a "good " man is protagonist 's husband; but the story doesn't bear that out, even before the character devolution later on. And why is she seeing a psychiatrist she considers of no use (she constantly harps on "thirty pounds a session!") both at the beginning and for one final roundup after the conclusion. That didn't ring true for me. ["Thirty pounds a session!" paid by a protagonist without employment?]
October 28, 2019
More like 1.5 stars. Ghost stories are hard to write without them coming across as incredibly cheesy so I always try to go into them with lower expectations than normal but this still didn't cut it for me. There were some seriously creepy scenes in this book but the rest was mediocre at best. The writing wasn't great, the ending was pretty abrupt, and the story itself was pretty lackluster. I think this could have been a really great ghost story but there were a lot of errors and it lacked too many things to list.
May 26, 2020
Entretenido
Una historia que te mantiene atrapada, más que nada porque quieres saber qué es lo que la protagonista ha olvidado en su niñez.
Cuando tiene que volver a la vieja casona donde se crió, las cosas comienzan a ponerse extrañas. Poco a poco, los horrores del lugar comienzan a desvelarse, hasta que por fin, todo el misterio es resuelto.
La razón por la que le doy 3 Estrellas, es porque algunas actitudes de la protagonista son increíbles, y porque el final se me hizo abrupto, como si la historia fuera cortada por falta de tiempo, lo que me dejó un sabor a poco.
Una historia que te mantiene atrapada, más que nada porque quieres saber qué es lo que la protagonista ha olvidado en su niñez.
Cuando tiene que volver a la vieja casona donde se crió, las cosas comienzan a ponerse extrañas. Poco a poco, los horrores del lugar comienzan a desvelarse, hasta que por fin, todo el misterio es resuelto.
La razón por la que le doy 3 Estrellas, es porque algunas actitudes de la protagonista son increíbles, y porque el final se me hizo abrupto, como si la historia fuera cortada por falta de tiempo, lo que me dejó un sabor a poco.
October 27, 2018
A 'so-so' read.
Not the most terrifying of novels I have ever read. Poor usage of the English language. Lots of little holes in story. Amazed at how a tape recorder, unused for some 10 years is capable of playing an old recording.... Must have had the longest-life batteries that, for some reason, did not corrode. Meh, book. Doubt if I will read any other of this author's works.
Not the most terrifying of novels I have ever read. Poor usage of the English language. Lots of little holes in story. Amazed at how a tape recorder, unused for some 10 years is capable of playing an old recording.... Must have had the longest-life batteries that, for some reason, did not corrode. Meh, book. Doubt if I will read any other of this author's works.
June 5, 2019
A Lancashireman tries to marry Shirley Jackson to Nathaniel Hawthorne at the Winchester house. Things get...dicey from there.
"The Haunting..." lacks the sexual love of tension and disdain for the audience to be a truly gothic novel. Despite that, there are a few truly creepy bits that had me glaring at shadows for a while.
The biggest problem is one that is common to many horror novels: Unbelievably Stupid Protagonist Syndrome. Tamara is constantly shoving her face into the Gom Jabbar that is the titular manor and her childhood trauma, but each time comes away having learned and absorbed from the experience. So as the evil and weird shit start to pile up, each time she comes across it, she's baffled as though tons of weird shit hasn't already happened.
"The Haunting..." lacks the sexual love of tension and disdain for the audience to be a truly gothic novel. Despite that, there are a few truly creepy bits that had me glaring at shadows for a while.
The biggest problem is one that is common to many horror novels: Unbelievably Stupid Protagonist Syndrome. Tamara is constantly shoving her face into the Gom Jabbar that is the titular manor and her childhood trauma, but each time comes away having learned and absorbed from the experience. So as the evil and weird shit start to pile up, each time she comes across it, she's baffled as though tons of weird shit hasn't already happened.
May 19, 2021
Nothing like a good haunted house...
Or even a bad one! Tamara Towneley's family seems to have one, and it's as bad as it can get. Murder & the occult , crazy ancestors...no wonder she's in therapy. When she & her husband Billy go there to visit her mum, lots of strange things happen!
I only gave 4 stars because I was a little confused about the layout of the mansion. Possibly a little graphic in the beginning might be helpful.
Or even a bad one! Tamara Towneley's family seems to have one, and it's as bad as it can get. Murder & the occult , crazy ancestors...no wonder she's in therapy. When she & her husband Billy go there to visit her mum, lots of strange things happen!
I only gave 4 stars because I was a little confused about the layout of the mansion. Possibly a little graphic in the beginning might be helpful.
October 22, 2018
Good storyline
The storyline is good but needs editing. The inconsistencies really bothered me - she had to walk down the hall to go to the bathroom but later went to bathroom adjoining her bedroom, the house had no electricity but they were able to charge their cell phones, the house phone was disconnected but when she lost her cell phone she made calls on the house phone...
The storyline is good but needs editing. The inconsistencies really bothered me - she had to walk down the hall to go to the bathroom but later went to bathroom adjoining her bedroom, the house had no electricity but they were able to charge their cell phones, the house phone was disconnected but when she lost her cell phone she made calls on the house phone...
March 11, 2020
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
This is one of the most terrifying books I've ever read & believe me, I've read some scary books! This one pulls you in slowly then it takes off but in so many twists & turns that you haven't a clue who is good or bad, same or crazy much less how it will end!! Amazing job! I give you 10☆s!
This is one of the most terrifying books I've ever read & believe me, I've read some scary books! This one pulls you in slowly then it takes off but in so many twists & turns that you haven't a clue who is good or bad, same or crazy much less how it will end!! Amazing job! I give you 10☆s!
October 12, 2018
The Haunting of Towneley Manor
I love good haunted house stories and I enjoyed this book very much. The characters all were interesting and I didn't want to put the book down until finished it. Great ending. I recommend this story.
I love good haunted house stories and I enjoyed this book very much. The characters all were interesting and I didn't want to put the book down until finished it. Great ending. I recommend this story.
October 24, 2018
Not a book I would read again.
I was not thrilled with having to read through so much filler to get to the point. I also didn't like the idea of just selling the old house rather than it burning or something to clear the property. This just left it to be someone else's problem.
I was not thrilled with having to read through so much filler to get to the point. I also didn't like the idea of just selling the old house rather than it burning or something to clear the property. This just left it to be someone else's problem.
November 28, 2018
A good read with some chilling moments
I thought the book had the right amount of suspense and spine tingling moments throughout. I like haunted stories and this one kept me reading until the end.
I thought the book had the right amount of suspense and spine tingling moments throughout. I like haunted stories and this one kept me reading until the end.
December 17, 2018
Meh. It was alright
I had a hard time getting into this book. It drug on forever and the ending was nothing...it never filled in the details. I believe it was a free book...at least i hope it was.
I had a hard time getting into this book. It drug on forever and the ending was nothing...it never filled in the details. I believe it was a free book...at least i hope it was.
February 11, 2019
The suspense is excellent, Mr Lewis does an amazing job at creating a creepy atmosphere for the book. The biggest disappointment came from the fact that nothing happens. There isn't a coherent plot, no real explanation or resolution for what is going on.
September 8, 2019
The perfect book for when you want something just a little scary.
Good characters, good plot, mildly pulse pounding situations. Just the right amount of scary for when you're home alone. Recommend
Good characters, good plot, mildly pulse pounding situations. Just the right amount of scary for when you're home alone. Recommend
May 2, 2020
Well, it kept my interest mostly, but I felt like it just wrapped things up all of a sudden after so much slow build. Some things got a bit repetitive, and I wanted the main character to dig up more backstory than she did.
February 20, 2021
A total waste of time
I can't find a single good word to say about this book. The writing was juvenile, it wasn't scary, and when I finally reached what should have been the payoff it fell completely flat. I do not recommend this book.
I can't find a single good word to say about this book. The writing was juvenile, it wasn't scary, and when I finally reached what should have been the payoff it fell completely flat. I do not recommend this book.
September 7, 2021
Good ghost story but…
Really good read, lots of twists, scares, horror. Just getting really involved when it ended somewhat abruptly. Felt as though the page limit had been reached or something. Unsatisfying.
Really good read, lots of twists, scares, horror. Just getting really involved when it ended somewhat abruptly. Felt as though the page limit had been reached or something. Unsatisfying.
November 27, 2021
not great
The writing In this was okay and the story itself wasn’t too bad but the ending is one of the worst I’ve read so far the conclusion to the entire story was over in a couple of paragraphs. If the story itself would have been longer this book could have been good.
The writing In this was okay and the story itself wasn’t too bad but the ending is one of the worst I’ve read so far the conclusion to the entire story was over in a couple of paragraphs. If the story itself would have been longer this book could have been good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews