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Shy Grove: A Ghost Story
When Gary’s crazy aunt Ester dies, he inherits her house in the forgotten town of Shy Grove. Along with his wife and son, he moves into the house to catalogue her belongings, as well as try to work on their relationships. But from the first night, strange things happen in the house. Whispers in empty rooms, shadows in corridors, and changes in Gary’s personality hint that there is something wrong. And not just with the house...
278 pages, Paperback
Published March 8, 2018
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Scott A. Johnson
28 books49 followersScott A. Johnson is the author of ten novels, three true ghost guides, a chapbook, and a short story collection, all in the horror genre. He currently lives somewhere near Austin, Texas, with his wife, daughter, four cats, a pug, a chihuahua, and a corn snake. He is an avid martial artist, rides a motorcycle, and enjoys watching hockey.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 20, 2018
I really wanted to lean toward a four when rating Shy Grove. There was a lot to like about it. The writing was very good. The descriptions and the people were very realistically portrayed. I did have a few issues with it, however, that kept me from giving it the four it probably deserves. Most of it was regarding some plot inconsistencies. I will say this for it, though. Once Shy Grove hooked me it really hooked me.
One of the issues I had was in the characters. Not the characters themselves because they felt real. Not always likable but real, nonetheless. I think the main problem with it was we don't get enough time with Gary and Angela to really get to know them before the changes start taking hold. Angela's character I wasn't too thrilled with but other people might like her better than I did. The character of Zach I loved a lot. And it really surprised me because with the way the book started I was rolling my eyes a bit. He starts out as the stereotypical rude, internet-obsessed teen. While I admit that a lot of teens (not to mention adults) that fall into that category there are plenty who don't. His character really made the book for me.
The pacing was good. Once it picked up it never let off until the end. I do think, at the risk of slowing it down a bit, that Shy Grove is a book that could have benefited from some flashback scenes. There were quite a few unanswered questions about the cult and the motivations of Gary's aunt (mostly the question of why his aunt would leave him the house). It felt like it needed a bit more backstory. I kind of had the impression that the author wanted to get to "the good stuff" so fast that he skimped on backstory for the cult and the characters. There were a few things about Angela and Gary that get thrown in halfway through the book that seem to come out of the blue. A little more build up would have been nice. I loved the ending. I saw one part of it coming but there were quite a few things that genuinely surprised me. Zach's thoughts during it seemed very realistic.
It was a very fast and entertaining read that I did enjoy quite a lot. Scott Johnson has a way of describing scenes that make them very vivid. The idea behind the barn floor was very cool and imaginative. I would recommend it. There may be a few inconsistencies but they are there on reflection, while you're reading it they don't really stand out. I'd be very interested in reading more by Mr. Johnson.
Source: Received from the author for review consideration
One of the issues I had was in the characters. Not the characters themselves because they felt real. Not always likable but real, nonetheless. I think the main problem with it was we don't get enough time with Gary and Angela to really get to know them before the changes start taking hold. Angela's character I wasn't too thrilled with but other people might like her better than I did. The character of Zach I loved a lot. And it really surprised me because with the way the book started I was rolling my eyes a bit. He starts out as the stereotypical rude, internet-obsessed teen. While I admit that a lot of teens (not to mention adults) that fall into that category there are plenty who don't. His character really made the book for me.
The pacing was good. Once it picked up it never let off until the end. I do think, at the risk of slowing it down a bit, that Shy Grove is a book that could have benefited from some flashback scenes. There were quite a few unanswered questions about the cult and the motivations of Gary's aunt (mostly the question of why his aunt would leave him the house). It felt like it needed a bit more backstory. I kind of had the impression that the author wanted to get to "the good stuff" so fast that he skimped on backstory for the cult and the characters. There were a few things about Angela and Gary that get thrown in halfway through the book that seem to come out of the blue. A little more build up would have been nice. I loved the ending. I saw one part of it coming but there were quite a few things that genuinely surprised me. Zach's thoughts during it seemed very realistic.
It was a very fast and entertaining read that I did enjoy quite a lot. Scott Johnson has a way of describing scenes that make them very vivid. The idea behind the barn floor was very cool and imaginative. I would recommend it. There may be a few inconsistencies but they are there on reflection, while you're reading it they don't really stand out. I'd be very interested in reading more by Mr. Johnson.
Source: Received from the author for review consideration
June 29, 2018
Scott A. Johnson takes his love of ghost stories to a new level with Shy Grove. Mixing the slow burn of Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House, the depravity of Richard Matheson's Hell House, and the emotional grounding (and creepy imagery) of Stephen King's The Shining, in equal parts, Johnson grabs the reader from the first page, and leaves them begging for continued abuse well beyond the last.
Set against the backdrop of a dying Texas town, and with characters that could have been plucked from the reader's very own family, Johnson forces us to ask ourselves, "how long would we stay in their situation?" These characters aren't stupid. Sure, at some point they each do something that makes us want to scream into the book, "WHY?!" but they are justified in their actions. Johnson knows a trope when he sees one, and he turns them on their head in a form of authorial prestidigitation that forces the reader to adjust expectations on the fly.
The characters become real from the first few pages, if even a little thin. But that's the brilliance of a story like this: Johnson creates characters that are real not because they are quirky or have some blatantly original identifying trait, but instead creates comfortable vessels for his readers to climb into, shift about, and mutter, "I reckon I'll sit a spell." And that's just what I did with each and every one of his characters.
Zach, arguably the protagonist of this story (though it is told from three points of view to great effect), starts off annoying and stereotypical, but by the end of the first act you don't only know him... you ARE him, as he watches the world around him crumble all the while enjoying a teen boy's first summer crush.
For me, though, the stand-out character is Angela. She is the true stand-in for the reader, and it's through her experiences that we find the lines between reality and fantasy blur. Are they all going mad? What's wrong with Gary? What's wrong with her? And why is Zach so weirded out?
At its heart, this is a family drama and is more psychological horror than it is "arterial-spray-on-the-wall gory." Yes, there is gore, but Johnson uses with such finesse as to make it seem more like garnish than the main course. In other words, the blood is there because it has to be, to give the horror weight, and to give our young family consequences for their actions... or inactions.
This is summer reading at its finest, and it will have you sitting on your porch sipping lemonade during the day, and hiding cross-legged in the middle of your bed at night.
Set against the backdrop of a dying Texas town, and with characters that could have been plucked from the reader's very own family, Johnson forces us to ask ourselves, "how long would we stay in their situation?" These characters aren't stupid. Sure, at some point they each do something that makes us want to scream into the book, "WHY?!" but they are justified in their actions. Johnson knows a trope when he sees one, and he turns them on their head in a form of authorial prestidigitation that forces the reader to adjust expectations on the fly.
The characters become real from the first few pages, if even a little thin. But that's the brilliance of a story like this: Johnson creates characters that are real not because they are quirky or have some blatantly original identifying trait, but instead creates comfortable vessels for his readers to climb into, shift about, and mutter, "I reckon I'll sit a spell." And that's just what I did with each and every one of his characters.
Zach, arguably the protagonist of this story (though it is told from three points of view to great effect), starts off annoying and stereotypical, but by the end of the first act you don't only know him... you ARE him, as he watches the world around him crumble all the while enjoying a teen boy's first summer crush.
For me, though, the stand-out character is Angela. She is the true stand-in for the reader, and it's through her experiences that we find the lines between reality and fantasy blur. Are they all going mad? What's wrong with Gary? What's wrong with her? And why is Zach so weirded out?
At its heart, this is a family drama and is more psychological horror than it is "arterial-spray-on-the-wall gory." Yes, there is gore, but Johnson uses with such finesse as to make it seem more like garnish than the main course. In other words, the blood is there because it has to be, to give the horror weight, and to give our young family consequences for their actions... or inactions.
This is summer reading at its finest, and it will have you sitting on your porch sipping lemonade during the day, and hiding cross-legged in the middle of your bed at night.
April 2, 2018
Typically I'm not a horror genre reader (despite being a horror movie fanatic), but I know a good ghost story when I read one. "Shy Grove: A Ghost Story" has an insidious sort of scariness, that creeps up slow but doesn't stop form the first page. There may be the cliched "troubled family uses haunted old house to try to rebuild their lives" trope on the surface, but there is something unique to the terror built in this novel. The tension builds continually from the beginning and I was even taken by surprise by some of the twists toward the end. It's a nice take on the haunted house trope, with buried secrets and truly disturbing examples of how depraved a person can become while under the guise of the greater good.
March 23, 2018
Gary could never have afforded a house like the one left to him by his estranged aunt. It was large, it came with a barn, a large plot of land, and a history none of them could have ever imagined. It was summer break, so Gary took his family there to complete inventory, sell off the things worth parting with, and maybe, just maybe, repair some of their family bonds. But this house has a past, the land has a memory. Strange and eerie happenings start to occur, and surely they can only be dismissed as strange quirks of the house for so long. But Gary seems happy, like he belongs, or at least, like the person he is slowly becoming belongs. Can they realise the danger in time, what secrets did this house harbour, and why does their presence within disturb the people of the town? Find out in Scott A Johnson's Shy Grove.
I loved the initial subtly of Shy Grove: A Ghost Story, easily dismissible happening, stray thoughts, bizarre happenings. The gradual change in Gary's personality is fascinating to observe and, as a reader, you do so with both fear and dread. Scott A Johnson writes with fantastic skill to conjure great atmosphere, tension, and concern for the characters. The gradual escalation is presented masterfully and the plot has a few surprises is store. You get a great feel for the characters, who they were, who they are, and who this place is forcing them to become. This is certainly one of the best ghost stories I've read this year, once it has you in its thrall you'll find it hard to tear yourself away.
I loved the initial subtly of Shy Grove: A Ghost Story, easily dismissible happening, stray thoughts, bizarre happenings. The gradual change in Gary's personality is fascinating to observe and, as a reader, you do so with both fear and dread. Scott A Johnson writes with fantastic skill to conjure great atmosphere, tension, and concern for the characters. The gradual escalation is presented masterfully and the plot has a few surprises is store. You get a great feel for the characters, who they were, who they are, and who this place is forcing them to become. This is certainly one of the best ghost stories I've read this year, once it has you in its thrall you'll find it hard to tear yourself away.
April 6, 2018
What a ride! With relatable characters for almost any reader, Shy Grove is more than just a ghost story. Johnson's ability to weave classic horror concepts with current, raw, family-dysfunction pushes this novel to another level.
Gary is a father and husband that yearns to reconnect the broken links with both his wife and distant teenage son. Angela, hopes to see their son Zach doing more than tuning out the world around him, especially his father.
The opportunity to pull his family into the country—and away from electronic interruptions—rises from the death of the proclaimed, "Crazy Aunt Ester." With no other living relatives, Ester's expansive property is turned over to her nephew, Gary.
Gary has hopes of rekindling the family unit with an extended stay in the remote town of Shy Grove to prep the old house for an estate sale.
But the slumbering town is apprehensive of the newcomers, and the mysterious quirks within the home fail to provide the sort of sanctuary Gary thought it might. The need to mend shattered bonds grows well beyond that of just his family the longer they live in the home. A carnal urgency to awaken the sleepy town of Shy Grove creates a new man in Gary—a man opposite of the one who first arrived.
Can Angela accept her now charismatic, commanding, and assertive husband?
How will Zach's typical teenage attributes fair against iron-fisted parenting?
Author Scott A. Johnson masterfully details the consequences of losing control to the horrifying whispers of the past—where depravity morphs from a mere thought to heinous action.
Gary is a father and husband that yearns to reconnect the broken links with both his wife and distant teenage son. Angela, hopes to see their son Zach doing more than tuning out the world around him, especially his father.
The opportunity to pull his family into the country—and away from electronic interruptions—rises from the death of the proclaimed, "Crazy Aunt Ester." With no other living relatives, Ester's expansive property is turned over to her nephew, Gary.
Gary has hopes of rekindling the family unit with an extended stay in the remote town of Shy Grove to prep the old house for an estate sale.
But the slumbering town is apprehensive of the newcomers, and the mysterious quirks within the home fail to provide the sort of sanctuary Gary thought it might. The need to mend shattered bonds grows well beyond that of just his family the longer they live in the home. A carnal urgency to awaken the sleepy town of Shy Grove creates a new man in Gary—a man opposite of the one who first arrived.
Can Angela accept her now charismatic, commanding, and assertive husband?
How will Zach's typical teenage attributes fair against iron-fisted parenting?
Author Scott A. Johnson masterfully details the consequences of losing control to the horrifying whispers of the past—where depravity morphs from a mere thought to heinous action.
May 12, 2019
Shy Grove: A Ghost Story opens with Gary, his wife Angela, and their fourteen-year-old son Zac heading for the remote Texas town of Shy Grove to inspect the house they have inherited from his late Aunt Ester. Zac is none too pleased to be separated from his friends, or the joys of the internet and social media for the summer, but Gary reckons a break away from their home in San Antonio will do his family good. Upon arrival they are unsure what to do with the house, it’s in such an isolated location will prove tough to sell, so they decide to fix it up and identify any of the ancient property worth sending to auction.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
May 18, 2018
“Shy Grove” opens with Gary, his wife Angela, and their fourteen-year-old son Zac heading for the remote Texas town of Shy Grove to inspect the house they have inherited from his late Aunt Ester. Zac is none to pleased to be separated from his friends, or the joys of the internet and social media for three months, but Gary reckons a break away from their home in San Antonio will do his family good. Upon arrival they are unsure what to do with the house, it’s in such an isolated location it will prove very difficult to sell, so they decide to fix it up and identify any of the ancient belongings worth auctioning for a few bucks.
The forever grumpy teenager soon perks up when he discovers a beat-up 1951 Chevy truck in the garage and to keep a smile on his face Gary allows the boy to try and fix it up. The family quickly realise that the few shops that are open for business in Shy Grove are not exactly friendly and the suspicious locals will not tell they anything about the late (and possibly crazy) Aunt Ester who rarely left her house. We also find out early on that the house is built very close to the location of an old church which burned down years earlier.
Not long after moving into the house the family begin to hear noises and feel uncomfortable, this seems to affect Zac most severely who disliked the house from the beginning. However, soon the house has a weird influence over Gary and his personality slowly begins to change, and he acts out of character. From then onwards we head into familiar haunted house territory.
Although “Shy Grove” was an entertaining enough novel it featured little to lift it above average in a very crowded haunted house book market. When Gary, normally a mild mannered Middle School English teacher starts, out of the blue, to spout Bible verses the reader easily identifies exactly where story is heading. There is little in the way of story shrouding or unexpected twists and it was ultimately very predictable.
The novel is seen from the point of view of all three family members, none of which were particularly appealing characters or are developed with much of a back story. The teenage son Zac said “whatever” so many times it became annoying and I found this fourteen-year-old boy to be so cliché ridden it was untrue. However, when he started having a bit of a thing with local girl Cindy it did perk up slightly and his character became more likeable. Also, on the plus side, when the house began to take hold there were some good scenes between Gary and Angela as their marriage began to fracture. In the end though this was a ghost story which lacked both tension and genuine scares.
I quickly tired of being told the house was “creepy” and the overuse of the word “thump” to signify something ‘creepy’ was going on became repetitive. This was not scary in the slightest and did nothing to develop atmosphere or build tension. The best haunted house stories do not tell the reader things are creepy, we can feel that mood soaking out of the page as we soak up the words, “Shy Grove” failed to reach such heights by some distance.
Having said that the novel does feature some strong scenes, many of the best are played out through the boy’s eyes as he sees his father slowly disintegrate. The sleepwalking scenes are great, and Zac who is used to ignoring his father with his non-committal “whatever” responses is quickly pushed into a nightmare. This leads to a fast-paced climax where the family must fight to the death for survival.
If you are looking for an undemanding and very easy to read ghost story featuring a family forced to the brink of sanity, then “Shy Grove” may well be a novel worth trying. However, if you’re looking for a novel which is more layered, subtle and provides genuine twists, chills, or to scare the crap out of you, then “Shy Grove” comes up short.
The forever grumpy teenager soon perks up when he discovers a beat-up 1951 Chevy truck in the garage and to keep a smile on his face Gary allows the boy to try and fix it up. The family quickly realise that the few shops that are open for business in Shy Grove are not exactly friendly and the suspicious locals will not tell they anything about the late (and possibly crazy) Aunt Ester who rarely left her house. We also find out early on that the house is built very close to the location of an old church which burned down years earlier.
Not long after moving into the house the family begin to hear noises and feel uncomfortable, this seems to affect Zac most severely who disliked the house from the beginning. However, soon the house has a weird influence over Gary and his personality slowly begins to change, and he acts out of character. From then onwards we head into familiar haunted house territory.
Although “Shy Grove” was an entertaining enough novel it featured little to lift it above average in a very crowded haunted house book market. When Gary, normally a mild mannered Middle School English teacher starts, out of the blue, to spout Bible verses the reader easily identifies exactly where story is heading. There is little in the way of story shrouding or unexpected twists and it was ultimately very predictable.
The novel is seen from the point of view of all three family members, none of which were particularly appealing characters or are developed with much of a back story. The teenage son Zac said “whatever” so many times it became annoying and I found this fourteen-year-old boy to be so cliché ridden it was untrue. However, when he started having a bit of a thing with local girl Cindy it did perk up slightly and his character became more likeable. Also, on the plus side, when the house began to take hold there were some good scenes between Gary and Angela as their marriage began to fracture. In the end though this was a ghost story which lacked both tension and genuine scares.
I quickly tired of being told the house was “creepy” and the overuse of the word “thump” to signify something ‘creepy’ was going on became repetitive. This was not scary in the slightest and did nothing to develop atmosphere or build tension. The best haunted house stories do not tell the reader things are creepy, we can feel that mood soaking out of the page as we soak up the words, “Shy Grove” failed to reach such heights by some distance.
Having said that the novel does feature some strong scenes, many of the best are played out through the boy’s eyes as he sees his father slowly disintegrate. The sleepwalking scenes are great, and Zac who is used to ignoring his father with his non-committal “whatever” responses is quickly pushed into a nightmare. This leads to a fast-paced climax where the family must fight to the death for survival.
If you are looking for an undemanding and very easy to read ghost story featuring a family forced to the brink of sanity, then “Shy Grove” may well be a novel worth trying. However, if you’re looking for a novel which is more layered, subtle and provides genuine twists, chills, or to scare the crap out of you, then “Shy Grove” comes up short.
April 10, 2022
Shy Grove is a worthwhile read and well written. The story is an unpredictable, suspenseful, and psychological thriller–a page-turner that will leave you disturbed yet wanting more. Scott A. Johnson's novel delves deep into troubling aspects of the human psyche. One of the best stories I've read this year!
September 29, 2022
This story was like watching a horror movie. It was psychological and also had a great build up. The ending was surprising to me, and I didn’t see it coming even though I usually am able to guess.
The one scene with the clay freaked me out. I think the author did a good job at not overdoing graphic details, but it still was really bizarre.
The one scene with the clay freaked me out. I think the author did a good job at not overdoing graphic details, but it still was really bizarre.
August 8, 2020
Id actually make this a 3.5 stars, it was a good read but I was left with a lot of questions surround dear old Aunt Ester.
April 12, 2018
Thump. My timed light went on the on the nightstand. Oh, no. Read with the light on. Thump. My 19-year-old son shadows boxed in his room at 3 a.m. and scared the crap out of Mom. Not cool. Thump. Bedroom door creeps open— the same son—wants to claim dinner leftovers. “Mom, what are you doing up? It’s 4 a.m.!” SHYGROVE. That is what this Mom was doing up all night being creeped out by the sounds in her own house. So, unless you want to stay up all night long because you can’t put a book down, don’t read. But, if you want a completely immersive, engrossing, creepy, messed-up story with characters you will worry about until the very end, ShyGrove does not disappoint.
A creepy inherited house, supernatural activities, and an interesting plot what more can you ask for?
Characters. One issue I find with many horror stories, I’ve read over the past few months is my inability to connect with the characters leaving books I put down and never think about again. That is not the case with Shygrove. Author Scott A. Johnson deftly weaves a tale full of suspense, a frightening mystery, and characters that were well-rounded and believable. (Perhaps even terrifying for a Mom with a boy turning 14 next month!)
Nicely paced, with plenty of twists and horrifying surprises in store! If you are on the sitting on the shoreline uncertain on whether to try the book, jump into the pond. ShyGrove will grab you and keep you reading.
A creepy inherited house, supernatural activities, and an interesting plot what more can you ask for?
Characters. One issue I find with many horror stories, I’ve read over the past few months is my inability to connect with the characters leaving books I put down and never think about again. That is not the case with Shygrove. Author Scott A. Johnson deftly weaves a tale full of suspense, a frightening mystery, and characters that were well-rounded and believable. (Perhaps even terrifying for a Mom with a boy turning 14 next month!)
Nicely paced, with plenty of twists and horrifying surprises in store! If you are on the sitting on the shoreline uncertain on whether to try the book, jump into the pond. ShyGrove will grab you and keep you reading.
Did Not Finish
September 4, 2018I got about halfway through. The book was a servicable ghost story with somewhat amateurish writing up until that point. Then, out of nowhere, popped a sexual abuse scene that was so disgusting that I couldn’t continue with the book. I just hope I can forget about that stomach churning image.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews