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In the House of In Between
The Backlund House is haunted, but no one knows why. No violence has taken place there, no one has died within its walls. Over the course of a century, no one has determined what—or who—haunts the storied property.
Even Phoebe Backlund, who built her family’s dream home, has no explanation for the events that take place there. She invites curious thrill seekers and notorious skeptics alike in the golden age of spiritualism to experience the house’s clockwork poltergeists. Knocks, slamming doors, screams, and looming specters delight and terrify her guests, but answers are as elusive as the phantoms.
The inexplicable and supernatural beckons Noah Benjamin and his crew to investigate the mystery. Using tomorrow’s state-of-the-art technology, Noah aims to reveal what is happening, and why, to finally provide an answer to the enigma.
IN THE HOUSE OF IN BETWEEN is horror with a dash of sci-fi spanning the paranormal history of the Backlund House, and tells the story of the lives within and their experiences with whatever is inside.
Even Phoebe Backlund, who built her family’s dream home, has no explanation for the events that take place there. She invites curious thrill seekers and notorious skeptics alike in the golden age of spiritualism to experience the house’s clockwork poltergeists. Knocks, slamming doors, screams, and looming specters delight and terrify her guests, but answers are as elusive as the phantoms.
The inexplicable and supernatural beckons Noah Benjamin and his crew to investigate the mystery. Using tomorrow’s state-of-the-art technology, Noah aims to reveal what is happening, and why, to finally provide an answer to the enigma.
IN THE HOUSE OF IN BETWEEN is horror with a dash of sci-fi spanning the paranormal history of the Backlund House, and tells the story of the lives within and their experiences with whatever is inside.
382 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2018
21 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Buffington
16 books19 followersJ.D. Buffington lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife, daughter, a capricious cat and two devious dogs. He seamlessly weaves vivid nightmares and haunting anxiety together to immerse readers into a state of fright and wonder.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 24, 2022
Huge thanks to J.D. for sending me a digital review copy of his novel!
I was really intrigued to see what I’d find in Buffington’s haunted house tale. As we all know, the haunted house story has been around for pretty much as long as people resided in dwellings and shared stories. I personally really love reading haunted house books. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s an inherited home, a purchased home, or a derelict/abandoned house that is explored, if there’s the potential for spooks and scares, sign me up! What I really want to see is what can the writer do with that opening? Will it be exciting and exhilarating OR will it be more of the same and a let down.
I’m happy to report that Buffington will keep you on the edge of your seat!
What I liked: ‘In the House of In Between’ is an ambitious undertaking. It essentially follows 3.5 sub plots to tell the story of this crazy house.
You might be wondering about the 3.5. Well, 1.5 is from the past, where we see two people start off with separate storylines, but they soon converge. The house was built by Patricia Backlund, but unfortunately, before the house is even completed, strange sounds and odd occurrences begin.
From there, she ends up connecting with Harry Houdini, who is himself skeptical of what is happening, and begins his own investigation.
Meanwhile, we also get two nearer to present day storylines. This one is from a few years back. The first is a husband and wife who move into the house. Of course, they’re new to town and are given an amazing deal to move in. The second is from present present day, where we follow a paranormal investigator and a local news crew examining the house.
Now, I know this may sound confusing and jumbled, rest assured, Buffington handles it really well and the chapters flow and bounce around seamlessly. It was great to get this back and forth and to learn more about the history, as well as why it is currently empty for the news crew.
I really enjoyed the mix of characters here, and while Noah seemed a bit wishy-washy at first, he does come around and is really a solid aspect to that particular storyline.
I will also add, that having that many different aspects, it allows the book to have numerous creepy and genuinely unnerving moments. Buffington uses that to his advantage and packs this full of building dread and jump scares a plenty.
What I didn’t like: I actually don’t know if I liked the inclusion of Houdini. It was odd, because his chapters and storyline are exciting and there are a number of phenomenal moments with him, but it almost took me out of the story whenever his chapters arrived because of his name. It became a case of borderline “is this non-fiction in a fiction book?” if that makes sense.
Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of the haunted house novel, this one will give you reason to stay up late to finish it and immediately regret that decision. You won’t be sleeping after!
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, well plotted book filled with great moments and characters that you’ll want to follow along, look no further. This was a fun one.
I was really intrigued to see what I’d find in Buffington’s haunted house tale. As we all know, the haunted house story has been around for pretty much as long as people resided in dwellings and shared stories. I personally really love reading haunted house books. It doesn’t matter to me if it’s an inherited home, a purchased home, or a derelict/abandoned house that is explored, if there’s the potential for spooks and scares, sign me up! What I really want to see is what can the writer do with that opening? Will it be exciting and exhilarating OR will it be more of the same and a let down.
I’m happy to report that Buffington will keep you on the edge of your seat!
What I liked: ‘In the House of In Between’ is an ambitious undertaking. It essentially follows 3.5 sub plots to tell the story of this crazy house.
You might be wondering about the 3.5. Well, 1.5 is from the past, where we see two people start off with separate storylines, but they soon converge. The house was built by Patricia Backlund, but unfortunately, before the house is even completed, strange sounds and odd occurrences begin.
From there, she ends up connecting with Harry Houdini, who is himself skeptical of what is happening, and begins his own investigation.
Meanwhile, we also get two nearer to present day storylines. This one is from a few years back. The first is a husband and wife who move into the house. Of course, they’re new to town and are given an amazing deal to move in. The second is from present present day, where we follow a paranormal investigator and a local news crew examining the house.
Now, I know this may sound confusing and jumbled, rest assured, Buffington handles it really well and the chapters flow and bounce around seamlessly. It was great to get this back and forth and to learn more about the history, as well as why it is currently empty for the news crew.
I really enjoyed the mix of characters here, and while Noah seemed a bit wishy-washy at first, he does come around and is really a solid aspect to that particular storyline.
I will also add, that having that many different aspects, it allows the book to have numerous creepy and genuinely unnerving moments. Buffington uses that to his advantage and packs this full of building dread and jump scares a plenty.
What I didn’t like: I actually don’t know if I liked the inclusion of Houdini. It was odd, because his chapters and storyline are exciting and there are a number of phenomenal moments with him, but it almost took me out of the story whenever his chapters arrived because of his name. It became a case of borderline “is this non-fiction in a fiction book?” if that makes sense.
Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of the haunted house novel, this one will give you reason to stay up late to finish it and immediately regret that decision. You won’t be sleeping after!
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, well plotted book filled with great moments and characters that you’ll want to follow along, look no further. This was a fun one.
May 15, 2025
Is this a ghost story? A science fiction novel? A treatise on a compelling theory of the nature of hauntings?
I can probably answer 'yes' to all three of these questions. More importantly, it's an intensely gripping, engaging book. With multiple narratives pulling you one way and the other from the past, present and future, everything is centred on this house where something lurks.
As well as the ongoing mystery of what exactly is happening in the Backlund house, we get to peek into the lives of different generations of the house's owners, and see the effect the strange goings on have on them, but also the effect they have on the house in turn.
Told in a wide view third person style, this feels very filmic, and I can see this making for a great adaptation.
A book that will scare you in places, hurt you emotionally in others and always, always make you think. Strongly recommended.
I can probably answer 'yes' to all three of these questions. More importantly, it's an intensely gripping, engaging book. With multiple narratives pulling you one way and the other from the past, present and future, everything is centred on this house where something lurks.
As well as the ongoing mystery of what exactly is happening in the Backlund house, we get to peek into the lives of different generations of the house's owners, and see the effect the strange goings on have on them, but also the effect they have on the house in turn.
Told in a wide view third person style, this feels very filmic, and I can see this making for a great adaptation.
A book that will scare you in places, hurt you emotionally in others and always, always make you think. Strongly recommended.
June 10, 2020
One of my favorite things to do on vacation is visit the haunted places and go on haunted tours of the area I am in. Being a part of the experience makes you want to believe, even if there are logical explanations for what is happening around you. Reading In the House of In Between was like stepping into an immersive, historical reenactment of my favorite haunted places, like visiting The Winchester Mansion during Halloween Season. Houses have memories and things go bump in the night, but this book is not a typical haunted house story, which is what makes it more interesting. What is causing the hauntings in Backlund House? Step inside and find out, if you dare.
I received an ARC of the re-issued book, set to be released on 6/16/20.
I received an ARC of the re-issued book, set to be released on 6/16/20.
March 22, 2018
I received an ARC of this novel.
Approach this one with an open mind! You’ll need all the bandwidth you can get to wrap your brain snugly around the in-depth and info-heavy technical premise behind “In The House of In Between”. Written from a multitude of viewpoints, throughout several periods in time, the reader is constantly engaged with the happenings and feelings of not only the participants that are whisked along for the ride but of the actual house itself. In The House of In Between deftly maneuvers through specific points in time when events are happening, through to when others are experiencing them, with a razor-sharp clarity. I’ve long been a supporter of fiction that represent alternative suggestions for the cause of hauntings and this novel can proudly place itself among the more believable and well-written ones. Good job, J.D. Can’t wait for the next.
Approach this one with an open mind! You’ll need all the bandwidth you can get to wrap your brain snugly around the in-depth and info-heavy technical premise behind “In The House of In Between”. Written from a multitude of viewpoints, throughout several periods in time, the reader is constantly engaged with the happenings and feelings of not only the participants that are whisked along for the ride but of the actual house itself. In The House of In Between deftly maneuvers through specific points in time when events are happening, through to when others are experiencing them, with a razor-sharp clarity. I’ve long been a supporter of fiction that represent alternative suggestions for the cause of hauntings and this novel can proudly place itself among the more believable and well-written ones. Good job, J.D. Can’t wait for the next.
September 25, 2018
Masterfully Executed
This story is so chilling. From start to finish, the details each step of the way are masterfully plotted and executed. I am in complete awe of this storyline and the talent shown in it's creation. You would do well to seek this author and his other works out.
This story is so chilling. From start to finish, the details each step of the way are masterfully plotted and executed. I am in complete awe of this storyline and the talent shown in it's creation. You would do well to seek this author and his other works out.
November 7, 2018
This is one of the best ghost/haunting story I have ever read! I couldn’t put this down! The different time periods, and then realizing that the apparitions are the people in modern times! What happens to them has been haunting the house back through time. I know what I want to say but it’s hard to explain, so just pick this one up! Bravo JD Buffington!!
September 25, 2022
I love ghost stories. More than that, I love a haunted house story. But this book is a truly unique take on the genre, which questions what a haunting is, and what it means to be haunted. Yes, it's creepy and unsettling, but it's also moving and stunningly crafted. The story of the Backlund House unfolds over decades, jumping time between chapters and drawing you deeper into the narrative web without ever faltering. A classic!
March 22, 2018
Horror meets sci-fi in this haunted house tale that is a twist on a classic horror element.
July 29, 2021
Anyone who's attempted to study bad houses or sentient houses or haunted houses will tell you that it's a difficult undertaking, simply because blurbs and articles tend too often conflate the terms 'bad house' and 'haunted house'--and until reading this book, I'd have said that there was a firm line between 'bad houses' and 'haunted houses'... but Buffington has blurred it masterfully.
The concept at the heart of this book--which I can't give away, it would be such a spoiler--is not only original and smart, but one which makes for a fascinating read. Buffington's careful exploration of what 'the house if in between' offers and is pulls a reader into the mystery in a way that positions them with all of the characters explored here, and there soon reached a point in the book when I couldn't look away. If you're a fan of either haunted houses or bad houses, I have to recommend it.
That said, this wouldn't be a fair review if I didn't mention a few elements that make the read slightly difficult. One is structure--I think the structure is justified and worth working to understand, but because of the jumps it takes, it does make for a slower engagement. Buffington's writing is fast and smooth, though, so working to understand the structure isn't the undertaking it could be in a longer or more generally difficult work. I am sure it will throw off some reader, however, though I'd hope they'd push past it. The other thing I have to mention is, unfortunately, editing--or, rather, a lack thereof. The story is solid, but especially in the first fourth of the book, there were regular enough copy-editing mistakes that I couldn't help being distracted. In fact, I have to admit that they bothered me so much early on, I seriously considered DNFing the book and not bothering to finish. I'm glad I got past them and kept reading--and I'm honestly not sure if the mistakes came less often as I got further into the book or if I was just so wrapped up in the story that I didn't notice them so often--but this is another element that I simply have to mention since I know it makes a read all the more difficult and frustrating for some readers (including myself).
All told, though, I truly enjoyed this book, and although it was my first read from the author, it won't be the last. I look forward to seeking out more in the near future.
The concept at the heart of this book--which I can't give away, it would be such a spoiler--is not only original and smart, but one which makes for a fascinating read. Buffington's careful exploration of what 'the house if in between' offers and is pulls a reader into the mystery in a way that positions them with all of the characters explored here, and there soon reached a point in the book when I couldn't look away. If you're a fan of either haunted houses or bad houses, I have to recommend it.
That said, this wouldn't be a fair review if I didn't mention a few elements that make the read slightly difficult. One is structure--I think the structure is justified and worth working to understand, but because of the jumps it takes, it does make for a slower engagement. Buffington's writing is fast and smooth, though, so working to understand the structure isn't the undertaking it could be in a longer or more generally difficult work. I am sure it will throw off some reader, however, though I'd hope they'd push past it. The other thing I have to mention is, unfortunately, editing--or, rather, a lack thereof. The story is solid, but especially in the first fourth of the book, there were regular enough copy-editing mistakes that I couldn't help being distracted. In fact, I have to admit that they bothered me so much early on, I seriously considered DNFing the book and not bothering to finish. I'm glad I got past them and kept reading--and I'm honestly not sure if the mistakes came less often as I got further into the book or if I was just so wrapped up in the story that I didn't notice them so often--but this is another element that I simply have to mention since I know it makes a read all the more difficult and frustrating for some readers (including myself).
All told, though, I truly enjoyed this book, and although it was my first read from the author, it won't be the last. I look forward to seeking out more in the near future.
December 15, 2020
The Backlund House is a two-story Victorian in Grand Marais, Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Superior. The house has been haunted since it was built a hundred years ago. Numerous people who have lived in the house or visited it as a horror attraction attest to it being an authentic haunted house.
The story of Backlund House shifts back and forth between many different characters in different timelines, in non-linear fashion, which makes the narrative continuously challenging and surprising. Buffington even weaves Harry Houdini into the story, but he's a surprisingly bland character. The science fiction aspect of the story involves a device that modern ghost hunters have called the Temporal Resonance Activity Profiler, or TRAP. It's able to chart the flow of time and see how it affects physical space. Buffington inventively explores how such a device could actually be the causative factor for supernatural phenomena that occurred decades earlier, a fascinating premise.
Multiple characters are traumatized by war (both the Vietnam War and the Iraq War). In the same way that the Backlund House haunts and traumatizes people over multiple decades, so does America's penchant for war.
In the House of In Between is an excellent haunted house story that's innovative, clever, and well-written. It's a Midwest Gothic—how rare is that?—that veers delightfully into science fiction. It's got the creepy atmosphere I look for in a haunted house novel, and it takes the subgenre in an exciting direction. I enjoyed it a lot.
For my full review of this book and other haunted house novels, see https://bit.ly/34O7Zck.
The story of Backlund House shifts back and forth between many different characters in different timelines, in non-linear fashion, which makes the narrative continuously challenging and surprising. Buffington even weaves Harry Houdini into the story, but he's a surprisingly bland character. The science fiction aspect of the story involves a device that modern ghost hunters have called the Temporal Resonance Activity Profiler, or TRAP. It's able to chart the flow of time and see how it affects physical space. Buffington inventively explores how such a device could actually be the causative factor for supernatural phenomena that occurred decades earlier, a fascinating premise.
Multiple characters are traumatized by war (both the Vietnam War and the Iraq War). In the same way that the Backlund House haunts and traumatizes people over multiple decades, so does America's penchant for war.
In the House of In Between is an excellent haunted house story that's innovative, clever, and well-written. It's a Midwest Gothic—how rare is that?—that veers delightfully into science fiction. It's got the creepy atmosphere I look for in a haunted house novel, and it takes the subgenre in an exciting direction. I enjoyed it a lot.
For my full review of this book and other haunted house novels, see https://bit.ly/34O7Zck.
March 28, 2018
This is not an ordinary haunted house story. Told over various periods in time and through the eyes of various characters, the complexity of the concept and the sci fi elements are refreshing. There are parts that make you think deeply about your own reality and maybe look at your old cupboard with the jammed lock a little curiously. There are parts that get your heart racing with fear over not just WHAT is about to happen, but WHY! And it's not what you think!
I loved In the House Of In Between and would recommend it to both horror and sci-fi fans!
I loved In the House Of In Between and would recommend it to both horror and sci-fi fans!
September 8, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. By now, you know I love a haunted house story, but what happens when the haunting is more of a prophecy? Is it truly a haunting then?
2. There’s nothing extreme (or even gory) about this book. It’s a great option for people who aren’t into that type of horror or someone looking for a good old-fashioned unsettling story about a haunted house.
3. This book had multiple timelines – MULTIPLE. Not gonna lie, it got confusing every now and again, especially because there are 2 that have a similarity between them, and it wasn’t always immediately clear which family’s timeline we were in. I liked each of the different plotlines and characters, and I 100% see what the author was going for in having so many, but I felt it got a little discombobulated with so much going on.
4. With all the different plotlines, there are, of course, different characters. I loved how Buffington was able to write so many characters so realistically. Every single one found a way into my heart, and I got invested in their stories, which is great because that helped to separate all the many timelines.
5. There’s a twist! Who doesn’t love a good ‘WOAAHHHHHHHH’ moment amongst their horror?
*I'm not going to give you the 'what this book is about' blurb - you can read that elsewhere.
1. By now, you know I love a haunted house story, but what happens when the haunting is more of a prophecy? Is it truly a haunting then?
2. There’s nothing extreme (or even gory) about this book. It’s a great option for people who aren’t into that type of horror or someone looking for a good old-fashioned unsettling story about a haunted house.
3. This book had multiple timelines – MULTIPLE. Not gonna lie, it got confusing every now and again, especially because there are 2 that have a similarity between them, and it wasn’t always immediately clear which family’s timeline we were in. I liked each of the different plotlines and characters, and I 100% see what the author was going for in having so many, but I felt it got a little discombobulated with so much going on.
4. With all the different plotlines, there are, of course, different characters. I loved how Buffington was able to write so many characters so realistically. Every single one found a way into my heart, and I got invested in their stories, which is great because that helped to separate all the many timelines.
5. There’s a twist! Who doesn’t love a good ‘WOAAHHHHHHHH’ moment amongst their horror?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews