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Crooked House
HAUNTED HOUSE NOVEL FROM BRAM STOKER AWARD WINNING AUTHOR JOE MCKINNEYIn this republican country, amid the fluctuating waves of our social life, somebody is always at the drowning point.Those words were true when Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote them in 1851, and they were true in 1933, when a fire burned half of Crook House to the ground, taking James Crook’s wife and two sons with it. A disgraced bootlegger and former pro baseball player, James Crook returned from prison to find his house, and his life, a pile of cinders. Broken and insane, he rebuilt Crook House, putting his pain and loneliness into every timber.But Hawthorne’s words are still true today, and nobody knows that better than Dr. Robert Bell, who has just moved into Crook House as part of his hiring package from a small Texas college. He soon discovers that Crook House is more than just a new beginning for himself and Sarah and their daughter Angela. For the Bell family, Crook House is a place where the past still lives, and its horrors waiting for the next drowning man."A rising star on the horror scene." - FEAR NET
156 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
15 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Joe McKinney
112 books666 followersJoe McKinney has been a patrol officer for the San Antonio Police Department, a homicide detective, a disaster mitigation specialist, a patrol commander, and a successful novelist. His books include the four part Dead World series, Quarantined and Dodging Bullets. His short fiction has been collected in The Red Empire and Other Stories and Dating in Dead World and Other Stories. For more information go to http://joemckinney.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 3, 2017
This is my second Joe Mckinney book, having read Dead City which I enjoyed enough to buy the rest of his Dead World series and another zombie book to add to my shelves. When I saw this in a Kindle Daily deal I snapped it up. How would McKinney's haunted house compare with his zombie tales? How would it compare with other haunted house stories I have just read (The Silence of Ghosts and Nightmare House)
It started well at a good pace. Interesting characters and the haunted house's vastness and creepiness really came across. The story revealed the house's past as it slowly took over the lives of the characters, infecting and frighting them with it's evil.
There was a major twist revealed and then the book finished. It did have an ending but left a couple of plot points unresolved. I enjoy books which don't answer all the questions (Valley of Lights) and this ending left me pondering what was going to happen next. I would have rather seen the story continue with the ramifications of the twist. I felt like I missed out on the final confrontation.
So.....not quite as good as Dead City but on a par with my haunted house readings. Will stick to McKinney's undead books for now.
It started well at a good pace. Interesting characters and the haunted house's vastness and creepiness really came across. The story revealed the house's past as it slowly took over the lives of the characters, infecting and frighting them with it's evil.
There was a major twist revealed and then the book finished. It did have an ending but left a couple of plot points unresolved. I enjoy books which don't answer all the questions (Valley of Lights) and this ending left me pondering what was going to happen next. I would have rather seen the story continue with the ramifications of the twist. I felt like I missed out on the final confrontation.
So.....not quite as good as Dead City but on a par with my haunted house readings. Will stick to McKinney's undead books for now.
May 21, 2018
This reminded me a little of The Shining. Just goes to show that big spooky houses can always drive a perfectly sane person whacko! You know that old saying 'If it's too good to be true, then it probably is?' So next time someone tries to hands you something on a silver platter, run the other way!
Good story for a late evening read
Good story for a late evening read
February 21, 2014
4.5 Stars Review Copy
Robert Bell needs a break and it's come in the form of a job opportunity from his friend, Thom Horner, who is now the head of the English Department at the prestigious Lightner University in San Antonio.
After his sudden departure from the University of Florida where he had a meltdown of sorts when some administrator with no classroom experience whatsoever wanted to tell him how to teach his class, the prospects were not looking good.
On top of that, being out of work had led to money problems and put a strain on his home life. So when the offer for a position at Lightner came, it was a Godsend . And on top of that he was offered living arrangements at the Gertrude Miller Estate for the token payment of $100 per month, utilities included.
Robert's response...
"'This is totally a haunted house, isn't it?'
'Excuse me/'
'You see that right? Tell me you do. It's a big crazy looking house that I couldn't possibly afford, but it's getting handed to me at a song. I mean come on. I've read my Henry James, my Shirley Jackson. Christ, I even read The Shining. This place is crawling with ghosts, isn't it"'"
Little did Robert know what was to be in store for himself and his little family. Not since jack Torrance in Stephen King's The Shining have I seen a better slow descent into madness from a protagonist. Kudos to Joe McKinney for doing such a great job with that. And the climatic sequence is one of the best I've read in a long time.
Crooked House is available now as a signed limited edition from Darkfuse publishers, and also in paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon.com.
Truly an enjoyable read and highly recommended.
Robert Bell needs a break and it's come in the form of a job opportunity from his friend, Thom Horner, who is now the head of the English Department at the prestigious Lightner University in San Antonio.
After his sudden departure from the University of Florida where he had a meltdown of sorts when some administrator with no classroom experience whatsoever wanted to tell him how to teach his class, the prospects were not looking good.
On top of that, being out of work had led to money problems and put a strain on his home life. So when the offer for a position at Lightner came, it was a Godsend . And on top of that he was offered living arrangements at the Gertrude Miller Estate for the token payment of $100 per month, utilities included.
Robert's response...
"'This is totally a haunted house, isn't it?'
'Excuse me/'
'You see that right? Tell me you do. It's a big crazy looking house that I couldn't possibly afford, but it's getting handed to me at a song. I mean come on. I've read my Henry James, my Shirley Jackson. Christ, I even read The Shining. This place is crawling with ghosts, isn't it"'"
Little did Robert know what was to be in store for himself and his little family. Not since jack Torrance in Stephen King's The Shining have I seen a better slow descent into madness from a protagonist. Kudos to Joe McKinney for doing such a great job with that. And the climatic sequence is one of the best I've read in a long time.
Crooked House is available now as a signed limited edition from Darkfuse publishers, and also in paperback and Kindle formats from Amazon.com.
Truly an enjoyable read and highly recommended.
September 10, 2014
Richard and his wife Sarah are offered a place to live, for free, at a time when they are struggling to stay afloat. Bills are piling up and this opportunity seems to be just the thing that can help them get back on their feet.
Upon arriving at their new home, Sarah, Richard, and their daughter, Angela, begin to have mixed feelings. Strange things keep happening, but Richard seems to accept and overlook them. He can't understand why his family doesn't get the predicament they are in.
Will Crooked House be the family's saving grace or will it bring about their downfall?
This read fell short for me on multiple fronts. The characters were flat and uncaring. Richard, at one point, debated whether he really cared for his family at all. The wife seemed oblivious to how bad they had things. And the daughter seemed like she was just a prop.
The plot what somewhat flimsy for a haunted house story. I also felt some ploys were conveniently set up to keep the story moving.
Not enough substance. A simple campfire tale at best.
www.HorrorAfterDark.com
Upon arriving at their new home, Sarah, Richard, and their daughter, Angela, begin to have mixed feelings. Strange things keep happening, but Richard seems to accept and overlook them. He can't understand why his family doesn't get the predicament they are in.
Will Crooked House be the family's saving grace or will it bring about their downfall?
This read fell short for me on multiple fronts. The characters were flat and uncaring. Richard, at one point, debated whether he really cared for his family at all. The wife seemed oblivious to how bad they had things. And the daughter seemed like she was just a prop.
The plot what somewhat flimsy for a haunted house story. I also felt some ploys were conveniently set up to keep the story moving.
Not enough substance. A simple campfire tale at best.
www.HorrorAfterDark.com
July 4, 2015
I just don't get the ending unfortunately. Good read but feels a little unfinished at the end.
January 24, 2013
Having just finished CROOKED HOUSE, all I can say to Joe McKinney is…you are a freakin’ genius man. Joe has taken us into what can only be described as the Amityville House on crack! We are aware that most authors provide us with stories created in 95.9% of their brains. We get fantastic stories from these folks that keep us in suspense carry on three story lines at a time and that provides sleep under the sheets shivers with an ending that leaves the reader fulfilled yet a little apprehensive. Then there are writers like Joe McKinney, he opens the little door in the dark recesses of his brain where the hinges are a little loose, rusted around the hinges, hanging loosely in the frame, covered with cobwebs with a giant creaky gothic door knocker. Outside, just a bit askew is a moldy “Do Not Enter Under Penalty of DEATH” sign. He lets you in with a tip of the hat and how do you do, and then proceeds to tell you a story previously reserved for campfires and s'mores.
That my friends, is what Joe McKinney has done with his most recent entry into the horror franchise with CROOKED HOUSE. Joe introduces us to the Bell family, Robert, Sarah and Angela, who by circumstances out of their control have entered the near poverty group. But then a change of fate brings Robert to Texas, which to this reader would be a dream come true, where a new job comes with a mansion with quite a history and a rent that is unbelievable which offers the Bell family a chance to climb from under the debt ceiling and make a comfortable living. However, things start happening around the family that makes them a tad uneasy and then outright terrifying. Add to that a little occurrence of an ex-husband who won’t take no for an answer and you have the recipe for a soul shaking story.
Joe has shown he is more than capable of writing tales of terror such as the DEAD CITY series, his recent tale of the supernatural INHERITANCE and a myriad of short stories that have sent a cold shiver or two through my body on more than one occasion. He is an author extraordinaire that never disappoints. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed in this story. It is a hard to put down, read in one night story that provides an excellent journey through Joe’s mind. If you are like me, you will start clamoring for more of Mr. McKinney’s work as soon and you close this beautiful edition that comes in a signed leather-bound deluxe lettered hardcover with slipcase as well as a signed limited hardcover brought to you DARK REGIONS PRESS. Take my word for it or just see for yourself that Joe McKinney continues to flourish as a writer and this work is one of his best!
That my friends, is what Joe McKinney has done with his most recent entry into the horror franchise with CROOKED HOUSE. Joe introduces us to the Bell family, Robert, Sarah and Angela, who by circumstances out of their control have entered the near poverty group. But then a change of fate brings Robert to Texas, which to this reader would be a dream come true, where a new job comes with a mansion with quite a history and a rent that is unbelievable which offers the Bell family a chance to climb from under the debt ceiling and make a comfortable living. However, things start happening around the family that makes them a tad uneasy and then outright terrifying. Add to that a little occurrence of an ex-husband who won’t take no for an answer and you have the recipe for a soul shaking story.
Joe has shown he is more than capable of writing tales of terror such as the DEAD CITY series, his recent tale of the supernatural INHERITANCE and a myriad of short stories that have sent a cold shiver or two through my body on more than one occasion. He is an author extraordinaire that never disappoints. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed in this story. It is a hard to put down, read in one night story that provides an excellent journey through Joe’s mind. If you are like me, you will start clamoring for more of Mr. McKinney’s work as soon and you close this beautiful edition that comes in a signed leather-bound deluxe lettered hardcover with slipcase as well as a signed limited hardcover brought to you DARK REGIONS PRESS. Take my word for it or just see for yourself that Joe McKinney continues to flourish as a writer and this work is one of his best!
June 28, 2015
For the most part, I've enjoyed McKinney's zombie novels and related short stories. I've read pretty much all of them. I know the last one was a bit hit or miss, but generally speaking, his work with the genre has always been pretty solid and, while maybe not the absolute best in that field, they've been entertaining at least.
However, I've found that it's the unrelated novellas that tend to showcase some of McKinney's weaker ideas and storytelling, and "Crooked House" seems to be the worst of the bunch.
I think the first problem is with this whole haunted thing. It's been done before. Way too many times to count. And not only that, but there are far better (and much older) examples of this. Kings "The Shining" and Mattheson's "Hell House" and (though I didn't really like it) the perennial classic of Shirley Jackson: "The Haunting of Hill House". Plus, add in a bunch of B grade horror films and you're looking at a market already saturated with campy plots and ideas.
So, yeah, "Crooked House" seems to come off as a bit of a shameless rip off of pretty much every other book and movie before it. I could get past that as there's hardly and new ideas in the publishing industry (and Hollywood for that matter), but I can't get past the utter failure This novella was. Im talking failure as in failure to deliver any discernible story line or conclusion of what this book is even trying to be. Is it a haunted house story? And story of revenge? A tale of an antagonist and protagonist who somehow end up in a creepy old house? There's a little bit of all those element here, but I can't figure out which one is real plot line. McKinney attempts to explain it (I think) in the last paragraph, but even then, I had to stop and ask myself "what the hell did I just read?" I'm not opposed to a book that makes its readers ask questions, though not such dumb ones that the author could have easily explained and wrapped up.
I waited for something like 2 years to read this book and jumped on the chance when I discovered it was offered through kindle unlimited. Talk about a total let down and anticlimactic conclusion to those 2 years. "Crooked House" was a huge disappointment and it solidifies my original observation that McKinney Should just stick to the undead.
However, I've found that it's the unrelated novellas that tend to showcase some of McKinney's weaker ideas and storytelling, and "Crooked House" seems to be the worst of the bunch.
I think the first problem is with this whole haunted thing. It's been done before. Way too many times to count. And not only that, but there are far better (and much older) examples of this. Kings "The Shining" and Mattheson's "Hell House" and (though I didn't really like it) the perennial classic of Shirley Jackson: "The Haunting of Hill House". Plus, add in a bunch of B grade horror films and you're looking at a market already saturated with campy plots and ideas.
So, yeah, "Crooked House" seems to come off as a bit of a shameless rip off of pretty much every other book and movie before it. I could get past that as there's hardly and new ideas in the publishing industry (and Hollywood for that matter), but I can't get past the utter failure This novella was. Im talking failure as in failure to deliver any discernible story line or conclusion of what this book is even trying to be. Is it a haunted house story? And story of revenge? A tale of an antagonist and protagonist who somehow end up in a creepy old house? There's a little bit of all those element here, but I can't figure out which one is real plot line. McKinney attempts to explain it (I think) in the last paragraph, but even then, I had to stop and ask myself "what the hell did I just read?" I'm not opposed to a book that makes its readers ask questions, though not such dumb ones that the author could have easily explained and wrapped up.
I waited for something like 2 years to read this book and jumped on the chance when I discovered it was offered through kindle unlimited. Talk about a total let down and anticlimactic conclusion to those 2 years. "Crooked House" was a huge disappointment and it solidifies my original observation that McKinney Should just stick to the undead.
July 8, 2014
I'm A Sucker For A Good haunted house story, always have been. I like to thin the herd and try and separate The Weak From The Strong. The Thing About Ghost Stories Is That They All Have The Same concept, and it's up to the writer to provide a solid base or at the very least something creepy. A decent ghost story needs to have a decent hook to keep you interested in the story. Classic horror always relied on human emotion to captivate a reader.
Crooked House is an homage to The Shining which at first seems like a bad idea but as the novella progresses the only thing they have in common are the male lead characters who become infected with the evil that inhabits the house. Their weakness makes them the perfect target and the women of course help the shift into madness possible. The most important character in Mckinney's novella is the house itself. Without a decent haunted house the book becomes just another haunted house tale that falls flat.
Crooked House is very detailed for being as short as it is and McKinney gives us the back story of the house without it the novella would lack serious momentum. The story is creepy and unsettling because we know the history of Crooked House and we see the hold the house has on Robert. This could easily have been a predictable story but the shocking ending is what makes this book so damn good. While Crooked House appears to be just another story about a haunted house about man's slow decent into madness and yes, even possession become something much more involved and sinister.
I received Crooked House in exchange for an honest review and it has become one of my favorite horror novels. If you like stories with well drawn characters and a quick moving plot you have to check this out. It has that classic horror feel that relies on the characters to move the story along and not the action. We feel for Sarah and sympathize with her as the house begins to destroy her family and turn her husband into a stranger. That damn house is a monster and there is nothing wrong with that.
Crooked House is an homage to The Shining which at first seems like a bad idea but as the novella progresses the only thing they have in common are the male lead characters who become infected with the evil that inhabits the house. Their weakness makes them the perfect target and the women of course help the shift into madness possible. The most important character in Mckinney's novella is the house itself. Without a decent haunted house the book becomes just another haunted house tale that falls flat.
Crooked House is very detailed for being as short as it is and McKinney gives us the back story of the house without it the novella would lack serious momentum. The story is creepy and unsettling because we know the history of Crooked House and we see the hold the house has on Robert. This could easily have been a predictable story but the shocking ending is what makes this book so damn good. While Crooked House appears to be just another story about a haunted house about man's slow decent into madness and yes, even possession become something much more involved and sinister.
I received Crooked House in exchange for an honest review and it has become one of my favorite horror novels. If you like stories with well drawn characters and a quick moving plot you have to check this out. It has that classic horror feel that relies on the characters to move the story along and not the action. We feel for Sarah and sympathize with her as the house begins to destroy her family and turn her husband into a stranger. That damn house is a monster and there is nothing wrong with that.
November 16, 2013
Robert Bell has a meltdown and walks off his job in the middle of the semester at the University of Florida. The bills are piling up and Robert can not support his family. Thom Horner a friend of Roberts from way back, tell him that there is a teaching position available for him at the school. Robert tells Thom about his financial problems. Thom thinks that he can help Robert get back on his feet.
Thom shows Robert the Crook house which is owned by the school. Robert says to Thom, I cannot afford this place. Thom says can you afford a hundred dollars a month? Yes but I could not afford the utilities and the grounds up keep. Thom tell Robert that the school takes care of that. This house is a mansion and has more rooms than they ever could use. There are a few things that Thom forgot to mention about the house. Robert and his family move into the Crook house. That is when strange things start to happen. Robert has no patience with Sarah,everything she does is wrong. He was never like this until they moved into this place. Robert is attracted to the study that once belong to the owner James Crook. Robert spend more and more time up there and isolates himself from his family. It turns out that James Crook hung himself in that study after losing his wife and two sons.Can Robert and his family escape from this curse from the dead. This is another excellent book by Joe Mckinney.
Thom shows Robert the Crook house which is owned by the school. Robert says to Thom, I cannot afford this place. Thom says can you afford a hundred dollars a month? Yes but I could not afford the utilities and the grounds up keep. Thom tell Robert that the school takes care of that. This house is a mansion and has more rooms than they ever could use. There are a few things that Thom forgot to mention about the house. Robert and his family move into the Crook house. That is when strange things start to happen. Robert has no patience with Sarah,everything she does is wrong. He was never like this until they moved into this place. Robert is attracted to the study that once belong to the owner James Crook. Robert spend more and more time up there and isolates himself from his family. It turns out that James Crook hung himself in that study after losing his wife and two sons.Can Robert and his family escape from this curse from the dead. This is another excellent book by Joe Mckinney.
October 23, 2014
My first McKinney book and I know that this is light fare considering that he has written some pretty deep and hard hitting stuff. I have those on my Kindle and will get to them but I wasn’t in the mood for anything deep or hard hitting. I was in the mood for a straight ahead B movie style haunted house story and this was a good one. I got exactly what I wanted.
It was also quite a bit of fun to read a story based in San Antonio, Texas—especially with Trinity University (my wife’s alma mater) figuring into the plot line. Yeah, I know, McKinney calls it Lightner (which by the way is the name of one of the dorms at Trinity) but the editor actually missed a few references and “Trinity” slipped in. Oops…
If you want a traditional haunted house story that is fun and a quick read then this will do quite nicely.
It was also quite a bit of fun to read a story based in San Antonio, Texas—especially with Trinity University (my wife’s alma mater) figuring into the plot line. Yeah, I know, McKinney calls it Lightner (which by the way is the name of one of the dorms at Trinity) but the editor actually missed a few references and “Trinity” slipped in. Oops…
If you want a traditional haunted house story that is fun and a quick read then this will do quite nicely.
April 24, 2014
First off, I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review
I loved this title! Never read anything from the author before, so I didn't know how it would be, but it sounded like it'd be good. I was worried it would be too similar to other haunted house type books, like Stephen King's The Shining, but that was not the case for me. I could see some influences from that book, but this definitely was original for me. While parts of it weren't a complete surprise to me, it was also not completely predictable. I will most assuredly be checking out more titles from this author, as this book has made me a fan of him already!
I loved this title! Never read anything from the author before, so I didn't know how it would be, but it sounded like it'd be good. I was worried it would be too similar to other haunted house type books, like Stephen King's The Shining, but that was not the case for me. I could see some influences from that book, but this definitely was original for me. While parts of it weren't a complete surprise to me, it was also not completely predictable. I will most assuredly be checking out more titles from this author, as this book has made me a fan of him already!
Want to read
January 28, 2015This signed numbered hardcover copy of Crooked House is limited to 150 copies.
March 22, 2021
This is my first book by this author. Ill admit I read it as an in between book while waiting for my book club to start its next story.
I wasn't to impressed with this story. It felt like the author searched up the most basic way to build a haunted house plot and then didn't spend enough time building any of it up. Felt rushed as if trying to keep it as short as possible. The ending followed the same build. Basic and left to the imagination. I gave this book 2 stars because it still felt like horror and it felt like the story was there no matter how short.
I wasn't to impressed with this story. It felt like the author searched up the most basic way to build a haunted house plot and then didn't spend enough time building any of it up. Felt rushed as if trying to keep it as short as possible. The ending followed the same build. Basic and left to the imagination. I gave this book 2 stars because it still felt like horror and it felt like the story was there no matter how short.
May 26, 2018
When someone says you can stay in a palatial home that SOMETIMES seems to change & you start seeing creepy things, don't take them up on the offer! It WILL make you crazy!
January 20, 2019
Head trip
Man, Joe McKinney never disappoints. Great characters and plot. Maybe too good. Definitely messed with my head in a few parts.
Man, Joe McKinney never disappoints. Great characters and plot. Maybe too good. Definitely messed with my head in a few parts.
January 26, 2019
Horrible book. Boring. Will not read this author again. Thank goodness it was a short book.
January 28, 2013
I recently read Crooked House by Joe McKinney. I received it as part of the Halloween Grab Bag promotion that guaranteed a copy of this book. This book is more of a novella coming in at just around 150 pages. The hardback I received was very well put together.
This story follows Dr. Robert Bell and his transition to a new teaching position at a southern private college. The novel takes place over a few short days with each chapter representing one day in the book. Robert is on the edge of financial ruin after suddenly leaving a tenure track position at a big university in Florida. He gets a surprising offer from a former mentor to teach at a private school in Texas. What appears to be a god send that will relieve Robert and his family's financial burdens turns out to be something quite different. One of the perks of the new teaching position is university housing located in Crook house, a mansion once owned by a socialite from the thirties who among other activities was a onetime professional baseball player. Crook house or more accurately crooked house has its own secretes and tragedies that somehow mirror Robert and his families own as the book moves along towards its climatic ending. The story moves surprisingly quickly as past events in Robert's life come to light that are just enough, along with the dark power of the house, to push Robert over the edge.
In the end I was left wanting more, as if Robert's story wasn't finished. The novella seemed stuck between an overly long short story and a full length novel. The author leaves it up to the reader to speculate what becomes of Robert and his family. All in all a good read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys shocking horrific revelations and a good story.
This story follows Dr. Robert Bell and his transition to a new teaching position at a southern private college. The novel takes place over a few short days with each chapter representing one day in the book. Robert is on the edge of financial ruin after suddenly leaving a tenure track position at a big university in Florida. He gets a surprising offer from a former mentor to teach at a private school in Texas. What appears to be a god send that will relieve Robert and his family's financial burdens turns out to be something quite different. One of the perks of the new teaching position is university housing located in Crook house, a mansion once owned by a socialite from the thirties who among other activities was a onetime professional baseball player. Crook house or more accurately crooked house has its own secretes and tragedies that somehow mirror Robert and his families own as the book moves along towards its climatic ending. The story moves surprisingly quickly as past events in Robert's life come to light that are just enough, along with the dark power of the house, to push Robert over the edge.
In the end I was left wanting more, as if Robert's story wasn't finished. The novella seemed stuck between an overly long short story and a full length novel. The author leaves it up to the reader to speculate what becomes of Robert and his family. All in all a good read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys shocking horrific revelations and a good story.
October 18, 2015
If you're looking for a quick, satisfyingly creepy story to read this Halloween, this one should fit the bill quite nicely. The story follows the Bell family (husband Robert, wife Sarah, and daughter Angela) as they move into a new home to try and get a fresh start after things went downhill in their old one. Rather unsurprisingly, the palatial home known as Crook House that they are allowed to move into for a ridiculously low amount of money turns out to have some problems of the supernatural variety. The house manages to use the issues that already existed in their marriage to start working Robert and Sarah against each other, while ghostly apparitions, and the dark history of the structure quickly ramp up the tension. Being more of a novella than a full book, it doesn't leave much time for the usual haunted house story problems like the question of why the people don't just leave, before things really turn for the worst. That being said, the short length doesn't allow too much time for the suspense to really build to a peak either, which is a shame as there are some really creepy themes here. Still, the characters are well drawn, there are a couple of surprising twists, and at least a couple frightening setpieces that contribute to a pleasantly chilling little read.
May 26, 2014
Disclaimer: I received the book from the publisher for review.
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect from the book, would it be hybrid of Hellhouse and the Shining? I wondered. However, I was hooked from the first page, the dilemma that brought them to Texas and to the Crook house is one that I think most people could empathize with, regardless of their profession. A broke family being offered a break and a chance to get out from debt. I would love an opportunity like this and it is an offer that the McKinney does an excellent job at crafting as well as the subplots in regards to Sarah.
Regarding the mechanics, it was easy to read, the text flowed. The exposition and dialogue was in a nice balance.
My only whine, and it is reflect the bias of the reader, is that I wanted more at the ending. I like ending which come to a nice end, and this ending, while awesome for the book, left me wanting to read what happens to his "friend" when he arrives.
If you enjoy horror novels, definitely give this book a read. You won't be disappointed.
At first, I wasn't sure what to expect from the book, would it be hybrid of Hellhouse and the Shining? I wondered. However, I was hooked from the first page, the dilemma that brought them to Texas and to the Crook house is one that I think most people could empathize with, regardless of their profession. A broke family being offered a break and a chance to get out from debt. I would love an opportunity like this and it is an offer that the McKinney does an excellent job at crafting as well as the subplots in regards to Sarah.
Regarding the mechanics, it was easy to read, the text flowed. The exposition and dialogue was in a nice balance.
My only whine, and it is reflect the bias of the reader, is that I wanted more at the ending. I like ending which come to a nice end, and this ending, while awesome for the book, left me wanting to read what happens to his "friend" when he arrives.
If you enjoy horror novels, definitely give this book a read. You won't be disappointed.
March 4, 2014
"Crooked House" is a brisk, fun read with a few solid scares and eerie imagery. It's well written, not overly challenging but not dull by any means. Another 100 pages or so added in to flesh out some characters and scenarios and this could have been a great read. As it stands, it is a good read. The framework is built for a soild and potentially exciting final act but as events begin to boil over an as I am getting totally engrossed... fin, thanks for reading.
There are a few typos in the text of the ebook, extra letters in words and words lacking spaces between them, nothing major but enough to take me out of the story. I dug it enough to check out some more of Joe McKinney's work.
The Mouths of Madness Podcast
my link text
There are a few typos in the text of the ebook, extra letters in words and words lacking spaces between them, nothing major but enough to take me out of the story. I dug it enough to check out some more of Joe McKinney's work.
The Mouths of Madness Podcast
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August 31, 2015
I couldn't figure out why anyone would attempt to re-write The Shining! That was a great story written by one of the best horror story tellers ever. I kept waiting for it to deviate but it never did. A guy's got a lot on his shoulders with the pressure of supporting a family... his life is starting to crumble and he gets a second chance that includes a huge house to live in. Dead people haunt the house and start to possess the depressed guy and he starts feeling angry all the time. Soon he treats his family badly and they start to fear him. How is this different from The Shining? First, it all takes place within a week... not very subtle or believable. Second the book ends abruptly and is left unfinished... horribly frustrating.
July 13, 2015
Your classic haunted house story, with a twist you don't see coming.
Joe weaves an interesting story about mental breakdown and family issues. I did, however, feel at times like I was rereading The Shining. The similarities were too hard not to notice - family of three (with a female child instead of a male), haunted house (instead of a hotel), and a malevolent entity that you're not sure what it's end game is.
That's not to say you shouldn't read Crooked House. By all means, you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't. It was creepy and dark - and you really don't get the whole story until the very end.
Joe weaves an interesting story about mental breakdown and family issues. I did, however, feel at times like I was rereading The Shining. The similarities were too hard not to notice - family of three (with a female child instead of a male), haunted house (instead of a hotel), and a malevolent entity that you're not sure what it's end game is.
That's not to say you shouldn't read Crooked House. By all means, you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't. It was creepy and dark - and you really don't get the whole story until the very end.
February 23, 2017
I was surprised - but not negative - by the slow pace the author used to develop his version of a haunted house story. Slowly, the creepy feeling intensifies and more than once I thought why the hell don't you pack your stuff and get out of here, before it's too late?
About the ending I still have mixed feelings, as I am both disappointed about its open cliffhanger quality and at the same time pleased that the author did not fall back on some cliche like bleeding walls or bloodthirsty ghost manifestations.
About the ending I still have mixed feelings, as I am both disappointed about its open cliffhanger quality and at the same time pleased that the author did not fall back on some cliche like bleeding walls or bloodthirsty ghost manifestations.
July 23, 2016
A quick read from Joe McKinney. Honestly, there was not a whole lot going on in this one and it did not really gel for me. Nothing really stood out to make it overly engaging or original. I usually don't need my stories tied up tight in a nice little bow, but there were a few hanging plot lines here that just bugged me. Bummer.
April 1, 2014
I got Crooked house as part of DRP Amazon reviewers program.
A Man having money troubles, takes a job that includes moving his family into the Crook house. What seems at first to be an unbelievable opportunity turns into craziness.
This story seems to me to have a heavy Stephen King The Shinning influence to it, with out being a copy of it.
I enjoyed this book very much.
A Man having money troubles, takes a job that includes moving his family into the Crook house. What seems at first to be an unbelievable opportunity turns into craziness.
This story seems to me to have a heavy Stephen King The Shinning influence to it, with out being a copy of it.
I enjoyed this book very much.
February 21, 2014
Initially this novel felt like a cheap rip-off of The Shining - haunted house takes over its occupants' minds and drives them mad.
But as it progressed it turned into a clever horror thriller with the central characters fighting against the house's evil intentions.
By the end, my only complaint was that it ended too soon. Well worth a read.
But as it progressed it turned into a clever horror thriller with the central characters fighting against the house's evil intentions.
By the end, my only complaint was that it ended too soon. Well worth a read.
November 11, 2014
So I've been in a haunted house kind of mood and that's why I decided to read this story. Honestly the writing and the setting was great, I just lost some of my enjoyment in the personal issues of some of the characters and that's why I took a little away from it. But definitely an entertaining read.
July 27, 2015
Decently written, for the most part, though a few facts and scenarios were a bit jumbly. The plot was nothing new, more of a stitching together of highlights from various classics. The only thing that was new was so highly predictable that the revelation that was supposed to be oh-so-climactic was more of a fizzle.
July 25, 2015
Great Read...
The beginning was a little slow - but then it seemed to take off. I couldn't put it down. It made you feel like you were actually in the room watching it all happen. A great horror story.
The beginning was a little slow - but then it seemed to take off. I couldn't put it down. It made you feel like you were actually in the room watching it all happen. A great horror story.
May 3, 2013
Excellent haunted house story and well developed characters. Creepy as Hell. Highly recommended.
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