Waverly Hills Incursion

by Bryce Warren

“Whatever roams the hallways up on the Hill . . .it isn’t alone.”Waverly Hills Sanatorium has been converted into apartments. But only half of it is completed because of the bad economy. Ben Clausen, an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville, is moving in because the rent is so cheap. There’s a reason why. Waverly Hills is still haunted.

Genres: Horror, Ghosts, Mystery

218 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2014

Reviews

[Shainlock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Likes:
Set at Waverly! A few parts have been made into apartments, but due to how expensive repairs and restoration have become; those have been
paused in an effort to earn from tenant rent enough to get renovations slowly moving again.

Cover! That is awesomely done. It drew me in...very ominous looking.

I loved that the MC is a struggling adjunct instructor and understands what that is like. I felt bad for him!

Dislikes:
There is less about Waverly and more about the MC and his crush / insta- love type thing.

I found the book okay until Prof started to become a complete drone and do whatever Scarlett said even after it was clear what she was up to.

The misogyny and a whole lot of the book actually being placed at Malice. Yep. Strip club. I gave up on this book about the time I was trying to skip through a lengthy monologue from her boss about pieces of her powder white ass. It's all good, with someone; just wrong book and not me.

She might be the big bad evil but she hasn't done anything scary! Just odd and predictable.

Going back to earlier a tad, the author does not describe any female in the book that I read, even a suicidal one, without commenting on breasts in sweaters, etc. YAWN. A reference librarian is described as typical in every way except for her tight pink fuzzy sweater. Well, thanks, now I definitely know how to picture her. Grow up just a bit.

2-2.5

[Andrew “The Weirdling” Glos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waverly Hills Incursion is a nice creepy little book. It is well written and packs a lot into a relatively simple narrative.

Story follows a newly minted English professor at the University of Louisville on a tight budget. He moves into the inexpensive, former sanitarium now apartment complex near the university. Unknown to him, but known to everybody in town, the building is haunted by all sorts of evil spectral entities. What ensues is a mystery involving murder, multiple types of paranormal entities, romance, and witchcraft.

To be honest there is not terribly much new to this story. If you are looking for horror that bends or breaks the genre, this isn’t it. However, it’s pretty enjoyable and satisfying, even if an experienced reader of spooky tales will see where it’s all heading from a mile away.

[Horror Haus Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely an interesting read. Anything about Waverly Hills always grabs my attention. I’d say around the middle of the story things started not so much falling about but not really adding up. Especially the ending. I just felt like a lot of things were left unexplained.

[Liv Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 60%

I may try to give this one another go at some later date, but I'm too fed up with the writing at this point to continue now. This book is very spooky and for that, I liked the plot. It's main flaw to me is that it is so obviously written from the male perspective (in a way that adds nothing to the story) that I feel very alienated from what's happening, nor do I relate to the characters. I know what every female character's breasts look like... Every. Single. One. It feels gross and weird, so I'm setting this one down for now. Two stars because what I did read was scary.

[Anna Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing writer. My mom actually worked him so I few of his books signed by him

[Ed Bury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the work of Mr. Warren -- one to watch for the future.
Great story / well written.

[Tia Moshuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great ghost/horror story. The main character (Ben) is a professor at a nearby university who moves into the Hills due to the cheap rent. He soon finds out why. As the tenants start turning up dead.

[Starry Night · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a very spooky and unsettling story. I actually finished this book in two days because it grabs you and won't let go. Some of the chapters ended and started abruptly. with a couple extra blank pages in between chapters I thought i was missing a page or two of the story. The main character giving a description of every females breasts was unnecessary. Making one of the female characters wear slutty clothes and a stripper was a little unexpected. The ending is pretty intense with a chase scene down the Body Chute.



* spoiler alert *

Why Scarlet had Ben help her with stealing the money from the strip club when she could have done it alone was unclear. Especially since right after she is seen driving off with Kent and not Ben on their way to Las Vegas. Also why Ben says no to Kayla who seems to be a better person and actually cares for Ben is questionable. She even saved his cat. Why since Kayla can stay with her Mom for a night she decides to return to the Hill doesn't make sense.

[Patrick Birkholtz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waverly Hills Incursion was a book I wished I could have enjoyed more. While the overall narrative is compelling and well written, the book is just too short. I felt like all of the plot points that Warren sets up at the beginning of the novel were interesting, but there was not enough space in the book to address them all adequately. The climax of the book felt rushed and this was to wrap up all of these points. Some characters are introduced and then summarily dismissed to never be heard from for the rest of the book. I still for the most part enjoyed the book, I felt myself wanting more. I look forward to future projects from this author.

[Miranda Nading · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! What better place for ghosts and black magick than an old TB sanitarium turned apartment building!! Loved the way he set up the scenes, especially for the unfinished side of the building and room 502. Ben Clausen's bad decisions and flaws were believable and understandable, moving the story forward and opening it up for some interesting twists and a unique ending. The writing was a little tense for me, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the book.

[Carley Courts · Rating 2 out of 5]

This guy is into the big titty goth gf meme and it shows in this book. Though the spooks were very good and there was quite a bit of suspense in the novel, I found myself too distracted by how horny the main character was and how much the narrator kept describing any female characters.

[Kat Laudieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

when I read this I had to sleep with the lights on after. creepy and wonderful. I look forward to reading more of Bryce Warren's books

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before reading this book, I wanted to go on a tour of Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, KY. Now, after reading it I think I may be too scurred....

[Cheryl Lowing · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it all, but not the best

The plot of this story was ok. But there were so many errors in it. The author used one name, when clearly he meant the other character.

[Susan The Book Dragon Campton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous Freakish Friday My Fellow Fiery Fiction Feasters! This evening’s Gem is definitely freakish. See the way it shimmers when you look directly at it.. but a shadow seems to move through it just as you look away? Feel it’s warmth in your hand as you pick it up, but the way it seems to be made of ice when you hold it in your palm? And have you ever seen such a deep crimson, as though the thing were made of blood, but crystallized into a Gem state?
Our Gem Maker is Bryce Warren and his Gem is Waverly Hills Incursion. I don’t believe there is a horror fan on the planet who has not heard of Waverly Hills Sanatorium just outside Louisville, Kentucky. But in case you haven’t, here is a little background. Waverly Hills Sanatorium was originally completed in 1910 to house 40 – 50 Tuberculosis patients. It was state of the art for it’s time. TB was a dread disease in those days, as attested to by one of it’s nicknames – The White Plague. In just a few years, the Sanatorium was far over capacity at 140 patients and the expansions began. Waverly Hills sits on a hilltop in one of the prettiest parts of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Then a cure was found, and the Sanatorium shut down. Eventually it was abandoned. Ghost tours started being held there, after stories from trespassers began to get around about things like Shadow People and moans and whispers and things that go bump in the night. Ghost hunting television crews couldn’t get there fast enough. This is where Bryce Warren comes in.
Bryce gives an account of a visit he and some friends took to Waverly. I don’t do spoilers so I am not going to read and tell, but let’s just say, his account is very…interesting. Waverly Hills Incursion is the story of Ben Clausen, who has taken a post teaching English part-time at the University of Louisville. He needs cheap rent and a convenient location. Waverly Hills has been turned into economy apartments and has everything he needs. There’s a catch. The building isn’t finished. The owners ran out of cash, and have gone ahead and started renting finished units to make money.
Ben meets his neighbors. There is Kayla, shy, quiet – too quiet, she’s always coming of out nowhere and scaring him. Mort, elderly, arrogant, eccentric, third floor. Timmy, the little boy who won’t tell him where he lives, he just tells Ben he doesn’t want to live there anymore. “The Lawyer”, Ben doesn’t know if she really is, she just looks, acts and dresses like his idea of a lawyer. Then there is Scarlet, Scarlet Snow. And she looks just like her name. She and Ben hit it off immediately. Ben couldn’t be happier, I couldn’t have been warier.
Ben isn’t there long when mysterious and freakish things begin to happen. People walk by and their shadows go in the opposite directions. His cat goes missing from his locked apartment, only to show up elsewhere in the building, his neighbor is murdered. Another neighbor dies under extremely mysterious circumstances. And Scarlet? She’s always perfect, no matter what, Scarlet is always just absolutely perfect..too perfect.
I really liked this book. I have always wanted to visit Waverly Hills. I still hope to someday. I have the perfect fiend, I mean friend to go with. And we may have the opportunity this Spring. I will try to put this book out of my head when I am there. I don’t need Scarlet in my skull while I am visiting Waverly Hills. Thank you, Mr. Warren.
Waverly Hills Incursion was a lot of fun. There were a couple of jump scares, yes in a BOOK. If you like horror and ghost hunts and things that go bump in the night. Get this one, you won’t be sorry. You can get it on Amazon, B&N and other fine book sellers.
Until tomorrow I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten

[Twainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I paid for this book.

It was a little disappointing. Seriously? At least I know what every breast looks like. If you lose the cringy breast/sex descriptions it had real promise!!

I can imagine a cheap block of apartments being half built on one floor of this creepy place with an off site out of state building owner, a tropey creepy manager/sup that shows up at odd times & odd places. A place full of college students and single broke professors .. a secret the town is hesitant to share. A couple random detectives looking for a missing student. NO SEX OR ROMANCE … maybe some unrequited descriptionless lust or tension but no descriptions … fade to black for chrissakes. I wanted to be scared or creeped out due to the horror!!

There’s enough here for a great 5 star read. Maybe if I had fallen in love with a character’s story or a snarky humorous personality!

Well. It made me think so I’d try another book by this author.

On to a spooky haunted house book?

[KATHY · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this especially disappointing because it had the basis for a good story but wasn't. It started out with an inconsistency, the waitress was overworked but the waitresses had nothing to do? Ben's sexual intimacy perspectives seemed equally confused. It was questioned if the 'story' would be believed by the waitress at the end because it was sensational. It wasn't just that it wasn't plausible, but not a well developed story at all, it fell short & flat. Amateur was my 1st impression & I wouldn't usually be so critical, but I kept reading hoping it would redeem itself. What a waste of a good premise. I half wish what was good, the setting, Ben being a teacher probably, his student, the cat, even a succubus told differently, & the neighbors were salvaged, the rest totally scrapped & rewritten. But I would hesitate to take a chance on this author again. It was all so random.

[Petrina Binney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows Ben, a part-time English professor at the University of Louisville. Due to a restricted income, Ben moves in to the restored part of the former Waverly Hills Sanatorium. What used to be a tuberculosis hospital and later, a venue for paranormal tours, is now a semi-constructed apartment complex. But there are strange things going on in the darkness and, if the local legends are true, Ben is sharing his home with all manner of paranormal entities.

The story was well-constructed. The writing was economical, which made for a lot of creepy moments. I didn’t realise, until I’d finished the book, that Waverly Hills is a real place. I suspect sleep might prove elusive tonight.

A good, creepy read.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a fan of paranormal investigation shows and movies, I’ve seen a lot about Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Which is why I was so drawn to this book, as it’s set at Waverly. ❤️👻

While I enjoyed the paranormal experiences portrayed in the book, other parts felt disjointed. For example, I was confused on what the purpose was of Scarlet and Kent. I personally would have found the book more enjoyable if those characters and their storylines were left out. Ben’s relationship to those characters did not add any value to the story in my opinion. Sigh. 😕

All in all, it was a fun read. Just don’t go into it thinking it is all about the paranormal experiences people have had at Waverly! 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Sabetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge 'fan' of Waverly Hills. (the real location) This book is written as if the owners of the Sanatorium turned it into an apartment complex. The author did his research and used all of the commonly known haunts of the Waverly Hills in this book.

It does have some "writers first book" issues, such as at one point the MC remember what another character says and the author literally copied and pasted the full page of what she had said in italics? But overall it was a fun spooky read. The characters are all unique, and have personalities, and everything has a creepy vibe.

[Robert Cottreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The main character was relatable in his imperfections and insecurities, the plot built up over time, and there were several very creepy moments that were realistically portrayed. A very well-told tale about a story that felt like it could happen to anyone with enough eerie scenes to give me a chills on a number of occasions. My only complaint is that it probably could have been longer but it was a very satisfying read and an excellent book all around.

[Meriah Gutterson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a smooth read, at all

Many words are completely missing throughout the story, Several times, sentences are doubled. Character roles were inadvertently changed in one chapter, then changed back.

I intentionally sought this subject matter out, then got this to support a local to the area author.

I had to stop reading it completely.

[Samantha Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick ending

It was a decent read. I would like to know more about what happened to the characters after the ending. The ending was also a bit abrupt I wish more pieces were drawn out of explained.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get past the writing style. It's almost too simple, I wanted a little more detail to describe the setting, emotions etc.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too predictable and very tame. Not scary at all. Yawn.

[Deanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm DNFing this one at 36% because I just can't get past the writing. I keep thinking it's creepy enough to deal with the subpar writing but I just can't do it.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Undecided

I didn't like story but I kept reading. I wanted to see if something would change. Good luck to author in future book. Other people might like it . Sorry

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not what I thought it would be but it was really good. The author wound all the sightings and history into this fiction book. Very interesting. Great job!

[CanadianBookOwl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read if you enjoy paranormal, shadow figures, and odd ghosts. It was almost like entering a paranormal investigation through a book.

Very fun. I do recommend. A quick read.

[Bibi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste ur precious time