The House of Nodens

by Sam Gafford

In 1975, young Bill Simmons is the new kid in New Milford. Bullied and struggling for acceptance, he meets four other boys who form the ‘the Cemetery League’, a group devoted to the weird, exotic and bizarre in movies, comics and television. Each boy carries their own secrets which combine to come to a violent and fiery conclusion in a lonely Connecticut forest. Now, nearly forty years later, the events of that night come back to haunt Bill Simmons as, one by one, the members of the Cemetery League are targeted by an unknown force that may have unnatural links to their past. Has something, or someone, come to exact a bloody vengeance? And how is it linked to a serial killer’s twenty year spree throughout the Nutmeg State? To answer these questions, Bill Simmons will have to face his greatest fears and the failure that destroyed his life and left him a hopeless alcoholic. But will it be enough?

Genres: Horror, Lovecraftian

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2017

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the eeriest mystery and horror thrillers I read for quite a long time. The action is split between 1975 and the here and now. A group of losers forms a group called the Cemetery League. They build a small club cabin in the wood and from now on things turn worse and worse. Mike, their self proclaimed leader, finds a new god, Nodens, they worship. At first they only burn precious things like comics. Later on they sacrifice animals and more. In the here and now FBI and police desperately try to find a serial killer who kills woman for over 40 years. Is there a connection to the Cemetery League? Bill Simmons, one of the former members of this youth group, tries to end his life for many years. What has he witnessed in the cabin in the wood? Is Nodens only a myth or did it somehow become real? This was a nailbiting read that kept you hanging on the edge of the seat. Also the twist at the end was remarkable. If you want to read an utmost uncanny, hair raising novel this is it. Page turning, compelling (high voltage), serial killings, a mysterious god (reference to Lovecraft of yourse). Great novel and highly recommended!

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: HOUSE OF NODENS by

I raced through this novel in one session; I simply couldn't stop. HOUSE OF NODENS is now one of ny very favourite coming-of-age horror stories, well-nuanced and intricately balanced. The plot is both horrifying and twisty, with terror coming at readers from otherworldly realms and via the terrifying monsters deep in the human soul. Riveting and absorbing, HOUSE OF NODENS is a finely-tuned, unforgettable, horror masterpiece.

[Tony Gragg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A coming of age story, boys hang out in an old shed, then the rites, and ceremonies begin. This bounces back and forth between now, and 1975. Fairly straightforward plot, doesn't get confusing. This is a horror/ mystery mashup, but it is an excellent read. The main characters are written well, especially the main guy. Loved the ending! This is Mr. Gafford's debut novel, so I'm hoping he gets something else published soon! Awesome book!

[Rachel Boni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a shocker! Great read you won’t be disappointed. I really thought I knew where it was going but surprise! I like the bounce between two different eras and the mess it makes of your mind.

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Nodens by Sam Gafford is an excellent addition to the Lovecraftian cannon. It is borne of a successful mixture of coming-of-age novel, mystery, and Lovecraftian cosmic horror. It is one of the most enjoyable novels I’ve read in the last few months.

The novel centers around Bill, flipping back and forth between his childhood experiences with his friends in the 1970s and the present. Due to the tragic events of his childhood, Bill grows to become completely broken, an impoverished alcoholic disowned by his family. He remembers the events only dimly and drinks in part to forget what’s left. Something happens which forces him to come to terms with his childhood. Slowly but surely, we unravel the mystery of “what really happened that night”.

This was the first work I’ve read by Sam Gafford, but it will not be my last. I loved the mystery element of the story. The ending was excellent too. It left me with a wonderful sense of dread and foreboding. I’d love to read a sequel or a novel which takes place in some sort of adjacent story line.

[Claus Appel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a supernatural detective mystery. Such stories usually end in a tame anticlimax where the supernatural threat is abated and the world turns back into a dull treadmill where people are shitty. So I was steeling myself for disappointment as I reached the last few chapters. Holy fuck, I was wrong. The ending is awesome! Dark, misanthropic and satisfying. :D

The story seems very strongly inspired by the TV series "True Detective". I didn't like the TV show for various reasons (I hate Matthew McConnaughey and Woody Harrelson, and the ending was garbage). I like this story better.

There are hints of cosmic horror, but it is not set in the Cthulhu Mythos. The titular Nodens is more like classical horror demon than a Lovecraftian god.

The story can be wearying and depressive at times with its depiction of bullying, child abuse, police brutality and other real-world horrors. But the story is engaging. Worth reading.

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a reason why Bill spends his days alone and lonely in an alcoholic haze. It's his way of coping with a traumatic past. There was a time, when as a child, Bill thought he had made some genuine friends. Boys of a like mind who loved horror movies and super hero comics. Boys who would stick by each other no matter what. Friends that would help each other through any situation, be it bullies or abusive families or just plain loneliness. Slowly at first, that friendship began to change, as something dark and evil was awakened in the woods where the boys would meet. Bill was able to escape it's clutches once, but now it wants him back.

This was my first time reading anything by Sam Gafford. I will be on the look out for more. It was this gorgeous and creepy cover that first caught my eye along with a chance to win a free copy. Imagine my shock when I, who never wins anything was randomly selected as one of the lucky winners. Thank you Dark Regions Press!

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heck of a read, and unexpectedly so. A dark mystery, with It-style time jumps? Really well-done, and highly recommended. This is not going to be uplifting, but the most dreadful reads rarely are, and this was pretty great.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the first season of True Detective has actual supernatural phenomena going on, it would have been this. This was not your typical coming-of-age or serial killer, folk or cosmic horror story. From start to finish is went in strange, twisted and unexpected direction, and crossed several genres. I really enjoyed this one.

[Jerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and flows well. It alternates between past and present. I didn't lose interest at any point which is unusual since I often find myself skimming too lengthy descriptions and general padding. Usually to enjoy a book, I have to like at least one character. I can't say I really liked any in this book and yet it worked for me. I would definitely recommend The House of Nodens.

[Brian Sammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern updating of Lovecraftian horror mixed with a nostalgia coming of age story, with a shot of creepy serial killer fun in the vein of True Detective. I loved this book, one of the best I read in 2017, and I highly recommend it.

[Chuck Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moley is this a fabulous book! Let me start by saying that I truly love stories where the bad guys win. They are relatively rare. Moviewise, The Wicker Man is one; David Wellington's vampire novels, Barker's Hellbound Heart, and Sam Gafford's The House Of Nodens are books that must be included.
Sam Gafford died 9 days ago. I am deeply saddened by this because I was hoping for a follow up story. I have downloaded the rest of his works to immerse myself in his head. But for now, let's you and I delve into The House of Nodens.
This coming of age tale tells the story of Bill Simmons, a below average sized, bespectacled young boy who has just moved to a new town. He joins a group of boys called the Cemetery League, fellow horror/comic book nerds. Let's just say that things get better and then horrifyingly much worse, a fate that follows him through forty plus years of horror and guilt, until his past catches up to him. Similar to Stephen King's it, though not as sprawling, The House of Nodens rotates between 1975 and "now."
The subplot is the investigation into a serial killer named "The Deer Hunter."
Add in a dash of brutal scenes of child rape, Old evil God worship, mayhem, murder and mystery and you have The House Of Nodens. Part Lovecraft, part Clive Barker, part folk horror but all incredibly well written and wonderfully original, The House of Nodens is a fabulous debut novel from a man whose voice was silenced far too soon.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Gafford. May you ever hunt with Nodens!

[The Smoog · Rating 5 out of 5]

The House of Nodens is going to draw some inevitable comparisons to Stephen King's It (which is no bad thing) but make no mistake, it is very much its own book. The story, told in part in flashbacks, involves a group of children who encountered an ancient evil during their childhood, one which profoundly affects the survivors into their adulthood. However, where the theme in It was about friendship and togetherness, here it is very much about betrayal, on pretty much every level.

I’d recommend this book to any fan of horror, and it’s such a shame that Sam Gafford has passed- while I’ve enjoyed his work in the past, I feel that this one reached a new height, and he could have been something very special.

One last thing, this book has some extremely graphic parts, and can be absolutely brutal in sections. There are passages which I think will stay with me for a very long time, and so I wouldn’t recommend it to the faint of heart or squeamish.

[Taliesin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall good prose and an intriguing concept -- the "band of losers" a la Stephen King's IT, flipped on its head by the book's climax. Unfortunately I didn't really feel one way or another about the book as a whole; I couldn't quite parse any emotional connection to the characters, but that being said, Gafford sets up a well-structured mystery and builds good horrific tension. The last few scenes were thoroughly enjoyable and intense. I'm definitely interested in reading some of the author's short-form work.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty Good

Interesting story. Plot is good, wish there was a bit more backstory though. 5 kids get involved with something , and are haunted for life, literally. Book takes place in both 1975 and " Now" . Characters are interesting but needed a bit more fleshing out. People who like Stephan King but think his books are too long will love this.

[Sam Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrible things happen in this book. A serial killer on the prowl for decades. A monster in the woods. An extreme loss of innocence and the endless trauma that comes after it.

There were points where I had to put this book down. It's a hard, well-written story.

[Paul McNamee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Gafford has been writing and publishing short stories for a while. It is great to read a full novel from him in this debut. HOUSE OF NODENS is grisly, horrific, and compelling. The suspense was layered well. If you are a horror fan, this a a good, moody read.

[Dallas Kitchens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a fast paced page turner. It had me at page 1. My very first sam gafford, and it wont be my last.

[Robin Fuchs Brumfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is ok. It has suspense, horror, and the supernatural all rolled into one. I did find it a bit predictable but the ending was good.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

Enjoyed this book. Couple of twists that I didn't see coming. Liked the gore that was in it. Would recommend.

[Lauren Fitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a coming-of-age horror story, so I really enjoyed it. I think it would have gotten 5 stars from me personally, if it had focused a bit more on the boys and less on the detectives.

[S.L. Yarbrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I could see this as a movie or tv show.

[Stéphane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cosmic horror/coming of age story with a very enjoyable "True Detective" vibe! A real page turner! Bonus: Gorgeous cover!
Really recommended!