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The Patience of a Dead Man #1
The Patience of a Dead Man
He just spent everything on a house in disrepair, but he didn’t know someone was waiting inside.
Tim Russell just put his last dollar on a handyman’s dream; a quaint but dilapidated farmhouse in New Hampshire. Newly single after a messy divorce, his plan is to live in the house as he restores it for resale. To his horror, as soon as the papers are signed and his work starts, ghosts begin to appear. A bone-white little boy. A woman covered in flies. Tim can’t afford to leave and lose it all, so he turns to his real estate agent Holly Burns to help him decide whether he has any shot at solving his haunted problem. Can they solve the mystery before he loses his investment…or maybe his life?
This book is out of print but WILL RETURN as "The Legend of Mildred Wells."
Tim Russell just put his last dollar on a handyman’s dream; a quaint but dilapidated farmhouse in New Hampshire. Newly single after a messy divorce, his plan is to live in the house as he restores it for resale. To his horror, as soon as the papers are signed and his work starts, ghosts begin to appear. A bone-white little boy. A woman covered in flies. Tim can’t afford to leave and lose it all, so he turns to his real estate agent Holly Burns to help him decide whether he has any shot at solving his haunted problem. Can they solve the mystery before he loses his investment…or maybe his life?
This book is out of print but WILL RETURN as "The Legend of Mildred Wells."
346 pages, ebook
First published April 15, 2019
160 people are currently reading
1742 people want to read
About the author
Michael Clark
6 books200 followersMichael Clark is an author of horror fiction, having written the books Hell on High and The Legend of Mildred Wells.
He is also the author of "The Patience of a Dead Man" trilogy (including "The Patience of a Dead Man, "Dead Woman Scorned," "Anger is an Acid," and "The Patience of a Dead Man: COMPLETE"), which are out of print to make room for "The Legend of Mildred Wells," a retelling of TPOADM optimized as a standalone novel.
You can find him here:
sleek.bio/michaelclarkbooks
He is also the author of "The Patience of a Dead Man" trilogy (including "The Patience of a Dead Man, "Dead Woman Scorned," "Anger is an Acid," and "The Patience of a Dead Man: COMPLETE"), which are out of print to make room for "The Legend of Mildred Wells," a retelling of TPOADM optimized as a standalone novel.
You can find him here:
sleek.bio/michaelclarkbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
May 21, 2019
As I write this, I live in fear of the woman that roams the property; I do not know her name yet, but be careful. She has not harmed me but my intuition . . . and experience . . . tells me to stay clear!
After an acrimonious divorce, Tim sinks everything he has left into a rundown New Hampshire horse farm. His plan is to refurbish the place, then flip it for a tidy profit. He didn't count on some former residents still lingering around the premises: a young boy, an invisible, guiding presence, and a wraithlike woman who may be something more terrifying and vengeful than a ghost.
This was a fine haunted house chiller, with a likable protagonist, plenty of suspense, and things that go thump in the night.
After an acrimonious divorce, Tim sinks everything he has left into a rundown New Hampshire horse farm. His plan is to refurbish the place, then flip it for a tidy profit. He didn't count on some former residents still lingering around the premises: a young boy, an invisible, guiding presence, and a wraithlike woman who may be something more terrifying and vengeful than a ghost.
This was a fine haunted house chiller, with a likable protagonist, plenty of suspense, and things that go thump in the night.
August 13, 2020
Review originally published in SCREAM Mag July/Aug 2020
These days, it’s increasingly difficult to make a big splash in the indie horror market. There is a lot of noise. Horror fiction is experiencing a Golden Age as more and more horror books and movies see big box office gains and award nominations.
Michael Clark believed in his book THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN and marketed it to reviewers and influencers with panache. Reviewers received an impressive “review kit” complete with Books 1 and 2, a coffee mug, business card, and a personalized, custom bookmark.
But does the book live up to its hype?
Tim Russell buys a farmhouse fixer-upper in New Hampshire. The plan is to fix it up so he can sell it and salvage his savings after a complicated divorce. He winds up befriending his real estate agent, Holly. On their first “business meeting” they discover that the house is haunted. Holly and Tim decide to dive into the mystery behind the paranormal activity and get romantically involved as a result. What they discover is an eerie drama about the previous residents.
It took me a fair amount of time to settle into this story. There is a lot of telling and not enough showing. I was drowning in the details. I love a good fixer-upper tale with scenes of cleaning, repairing, and restoring but this was overkill. I was growing restless waiting for the story to turn over and get that engine purring.
Quite suddenly, a new narrative from a new character begins to evolve and then later, another narrative from the 1800s emerges with the introduction of some journals. It was difficult to determine the differences in time periods, especially between the narrative from the 1960s and the one from the 1800s--not enough changes in mood, setting, language in order for the reader to feel immersed in those stories. My feeling is that the author relied on those narratives to provide some backstory instead of clunky info-dumps but the characters just pop in and out of the main story with no way for the reader to feel connected or invested in them. They remain as story vehicles, unfortunately.
However, in terms of this being a haunted house/ghost story I did feel like Michael Clark knows how to write some seriously creepy scenes. The way the ghosts materialize and act out scenes from the past is unsettling. I enjoyed the scenes of Holly and Tim working together to solve the mysteries of the past. There are some unanswered questions here and maybe a bit of an awkward, cliffhanger at the end but I am excited that I have book 2 right here on my shelf, it’s called DEAD WOMAN SCORNED and it promises to provide all the backstory on Mildred that readers are sure to want! I have high expectations for Book 2.
These days, it’s increasingly difficult to make a big splash in the indie horror market. There is a lot of noise. Horror fiction is experiencing a Golden Age as more and more horror books and movies see big box office gains and award nominations.
Michael Clark believed in his book THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN and marketed it to reviewers and influencers with panache. Reviewers received an impressive “review kit” complete with Books 1 and 2, a coffee mug, business card, and a personalized, custom bookmark.
But does the book live up to its hype?
Tim Russell buys a farmhouse fixer-upper in New Hampshire. The plan is to fix it up so he can sell it and salvage his savings after a complicated divorce. He winds up befriending his real estate agent, Holly. On their first “business meeting” they discover that the house is haunted. Holly and Tim decide to dive into the mystery behind the paranormal activity and get romantically involved as a result. What they discover is an eerie drama about the previous residents.
It took me a fair amount of time to settle into this story. There is a lot of telling and not enough showing. I was drowning in the details. I love a good fixer-upper tale with scenes of cleaning, repairing, and restoring but this was overkill. I was growing restless waiting for the story to turn over and get that engine purring.
Quite suddenly, a new narrative from a new character begins to evolve and then later, another narrative from the 1800s emerges with the introduction of some journals. It was difficult to determine the differences in time periods, especially between the narrative from the 1960s and the one from the 1800s--not enough changes in mood, setting, language in order for the reader to feel immersed in those stories. My feeling is that the author relied on those narratives to provide some backstory instead of clunky info-dumps but the characters just pop in and out of the main story with no way for the reader to feel connected or invested in them. They remain as story vehicles, unfortunately.
However, in terms of this being a haunted house/ghost story I did feel like Michael Clark knows how to write some seriously creepy scenes. The way the ghosts materialize and act out scenes from the past is unsettling. I enjoyed the scenes of Holly and Tim working together to solve the mysteries of the past. There are some unanswered questions here and maybe a bit of an awkward, cliffhanger at the end but I am excited that I have book 2 right here on my shelf, it’s called DEAD WOMAN SCORNED and it promises to provide all the backstory on Mildred that readers are sure to want! I have high expectations for Book 2.
April 29, 2020
WHOA 😱...amazing! Loved every bit of it!
This book hit all the right notes of a superb and riddling ghost story. It is highly readable and hard to put down!
Over the years I have read a book or two and I am always looking out for hidden gems like this one. What intrigued me first about this novel was the cover and it’s a head-turner btw, so when this book came down the line for a blog tour and review, I knew immediately that I wanted to jump on it.
Here are a few key elements that did me in right away:
ATMOSPHERE
An old New Hampshire farm, dilapidated and haunted with a mystery to be solved one owner at the time? YES, PLEASE !
CHILLS
A ghost story that spans over decades told through a diary dared to be read. CHECK.
THE PROTAGONIST
The good guy, down on his luck, who is about to dig his own grave trying to restart his life. YEP.
The novel begins with an event on the New Hampshire horse farm in 1965 while introducing the setting for the story with vivid detail and a little taste of what is to come. The owners at that time, Henry and Annette Smith, shared a love for horses and enjoyed life on their piece of property maintaining the grounds with a pond in the open field and the woods all around. One evening in November, after Thanksgiving, Henry sets out with his hatchet to pick this year's Christmas tree for the upcoming holiday season by the abandoned tree farm grove adjacent to the woods and he ends up dead, leaving Annette a widow and key figure for future events.
1971, Tim Russell owns a construction company and is going through a nasty divorce. Everything he has built up from the ground financially for his wife and kids is going down the drain when he has to sell the vacation lake house, the one his wife never liked anyway as she proceeds to drain him financially. So, Tim just needs to get out of there, begin fresh, make some money and take his mind off of things. He decides to look at some fixer-upper houses by the Lakes Region in Sanborn, New Hampshire.
Holly Burns is the real estate agent who shows him the farm of Annette and Henry Smith with its picturesque setting. By now the buildings are run down and semi dilapidated and in need of some serious renovations. So, Tim ends up buying the property and makes a new friend in the process with Holly over the coming weeks and begins his renovations.
The plan at this point is to make money; renovate, restore, and resell. It doesn't take long for him to find an old diary left on a bookcase eluding to some strange things about the place. Without giving it much thought at first, Tim continues his reno but slowly, creepy little things start happening around the house and the property - eerie, scary little things! Footsteps, smells, taps, ghosts....
Tim and Holly try to understand what is going on and together start investigating the actual history of the home. This would not be possible without the diary they found giving them clues and predictable ideas about the days ahead. It all turns into a full-blown investigation of sorts and almost deadly for them in the process.
When Tim's weekend is up to have his daughters over, the situation is really revving up the gears of fright. The ghostly boy who walks the fields and the creepy strange lady that haunts the premises are only just the beginning of their terrors.
What ensues is an amazing mystery that provides some chills and riddles that make this novel unputdownable!
Will Tim and Holly be able to renovate this farm? MAYBE.
Will they get out unscathed. MAYBE.
Can they rid this property of the ghosts? MAYBE.
Will this book be amazing to read? YES, YES, AND YES.
I REALLY enjoyed this novel from start to finish. It is so highly readable and cleverly constructed tying in elements of horror, classic ghost tales, some history, and a little romance too. I loved the characters in the novel and though I feared it would be all predictable about Tim's and Holly's relationship, I am so glad it took its time to develop. The pacing of the story was on par and the atmosphere uncanny. I did not want to leave this place! Nothing in this book was overdone or kitsch, the story remained unpredictable throughout, and the effects were perfectly cerebral.
This is a debut novel, the first of a trilogy and it is one of the best novels of the year for me. In general, I am not a reader of horror but it was so well done. A perfect mix of mystery and heart in your throat moments, it can easily be read and enjoyed by frighty cats and horror connoisseurs alike.
The atmosphere is what makes this novel tick so much. Really incredible.
Kudos to an amazing book.
I highly recommend this one!
I received a digital copy of this novel for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you! This novel was so amazing, I ended up purchasing a physical copy of the novel as well.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
This book hit all the right notes of a superb and riddling ghost story. It is highly readable and hard to put down!
Over the years I have read a book or two and I am always looking out for hidden gems like this one. What intrigued me first about this novel was the cover and it’s a head-turner btw, so when this book came down the line for a blog tour and review, I knew immediately that I wanted to jump on it.
Here are a few key elements that did me in right away:
ATMOSPHERE
An old New Hampshire farm, dilapidated and haunted with a mystery to be solved one owner at the time? YES, PLEASE !
CHILLS
A ghost story that spans over decades told through a diary dared to be read. CHECK.
THE PROTAGONIST
The good guy, down on his luck, who is about to dig his own grave trying to restart his life. YEP.
The novel begins with an event on the New Hampshire horse farm in 1965 while introducing the setting for the story with vivid detail and a little taste of what is to come. The owners at that time, Henry and Annette Smith, shared a love for horses and enjoyed life on their piece of property maintaining the grounds with a pond in the open field and the woods all around. One evening in November, after Thanksgiving, Henry sets out with his hatchet to pick this year's Christmas tree for the upcoming holiday season by the abandoned tree farm grove adjacent to the woods and he ends up dead, leaving Annette a widow and key figure for future events.
1971, Tim Russell owns a construction company and is going through a nasty divorce. Everything he has built up from the ground financially for his wife and kids is going down the drain when he has to sell the vacation lake house, the one his wife never liked anyway as she proceeds to drain him financially. So, Tim just needs to get out of there, begin fresh, make some money and take his mind off of things. He decides to look at some fixer-upper houses by the Lakes Region in Sanborn, New Hampshire.
Holly Burns is the real estate agent who shows him the farm of Annette and Henry Smith with its picturesque setting. By now the buildings are run down and semi dilapidated and in need of some serious renovations. So, Tim ends up buying the property and makes a new friend in the process with Holly over the coming weeks and begins his renovations.
The plan at this point is to make money; renovate, restore, and resell. It doesn't take long for him to find an old diary left on a bookcase eluding to some strange things about the place. Without giving it much thought at first, Tim continues his reno but slowly, creepy little things start happening around the house and the property - eerie, scary little things! Footsteps, smells, taps, ghosts....
Tim and Holly try to understand what is going on and together start investigating the actual history of the home. This would not be possible without the diary they found giving them clues and predictable ideas about the days ahead. It all turns into a full-blown investigation of sorts and almost deadly for them in the process.
When Tim's weekend is up to have his daughters over, the situation is really revving up the gears of fright. The ghostly boy who walks the fields and the creepy strange lady that haunts the premises are only just the beginning of their terrors.
What ensues is an amazing mystery that provides some chills and riddles that make this novel unputdownable!
Will Tim and Holly be able to renovate this farm? MAYBE.
Will they get out unscathed. MAYBE.
Can they rid this property of the ghosts? MAYBE.
Will this book be amazing to read? YES, YES, AND YES.
I REALLY enjoyed this novel from start to finish. It is so highly readable and cleverly constructed tying in elements of horror, classic ghost tales, some history, and a little romance too. I loved the characters in the novel and though I feared it would be all predictable about Tim's and Holly's relationship, I am so glad it took its time to develop. The pacing of the story was on par and the atmosphere uncanny. I did not want to leave this place! Nothing in this book was overdone or kitsch, the story remained unpredictable throughout, and the effects were perfectly cerebral.
This is a debut novel, the first of a trilogy and it is one of the best novels of the year for me. In general, I am not a reader of horror but it was so well done. A perfect mix of mystery and heart in your throat moments, it can easily be read and enjoyed by frighty cats and horror connoisseurs alike.
The atmosphere is what makes this novel tick so much. Really incredible.
Kudos to an amazing book.
I highly recommend this one!
I received a digital copy of this novel for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you! This novel was so amazing, I ended up purchasing a physical copy of the novel as well.
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
March 7, 2022
Ethereal, spooky, and a fast read. Loved that this book was set in real towns, locales, all over New Hampshire and Massachusetts. I'm personally a fan of horror set in and around New England and want to read more of it.
March 31, 2022
Ghost stories and haunted houses are two of my absolute favorite tropes in horror fiction, and I started this one very eagerly, hoping to be spooked out of my mind. The story starts off very strong - the end of the first chapter left me wanting more! Unfortunately, the next 200 pages or so were difficult for me to get through, and this resulted in me feeling pretty mixed about my reading experience overall despite enjoying the last 60ish pages of the book.
I loved the setting of this one, and always appreciate the detail that goes into really fleshing a place out in the 'mind's eye' of the reader. A sprawling estate with its own grounds complete with a little forest and a pond - how quaint! Having lush descriptions is always a plus for me, but here, I didn't feel that the descriptions were given so much as forced on me to the detriment of the story, unfortunately. Rather than allowing me to come to my own conclusions or build a mental idea of things from the writing, I'm told point-blank about things, giving my imagination absolutely no room to breathe within the story.
In addition to being told everything rather than shown, the book is littered with diagrams and maps, making me feel as if it were almost assumed that my mental acuity might not be up to the task of understanding the story without them (it is, I promise). When I read a book, I like to be given the benefit of the doubt that I can keep up without being spoon fed, and that just wasn't how it felt in this one for me.
I also had a lot of trouble with some of the characters. Tim was about as interesting as bland bowl of plain oatmeal, and I found myself getting annoyed time and time again at how lackluster his effort was in doing anything other than making poor decisions, or getting his friends to figure things out for him so he didn't have to. There are these journals in the book, and they're absolutely instrumental to the story, but for some reason our Tim just "doesn't read", and can't bother to get through them to discover what the hell is going on until his real estate agent digs in -- what? Apologies, but if I'm feeling physically threatened by a dead woman, I'm sure as heck gonna read whatever I can get my hands on to get to the bottom of it. I just didn't find the characters I was meant to be rooting for relatable or believable - in fact, I started looking forward to the chapters about the past & the journal much more than the ones about good ol' Tim.
I do feel like this should have gone through a few more rounds of edits, as it feels a little bloated in terms of content. I think this would make for an incredible novella - maybe even something slightly longer. I just don't feel like there was enough happening here to justify almost 400 pages.
THAT ALL SAID, I do want to be very clear that I didn't dislike the book overall. I had some issues, and I always try to be honest about those in my reviews, but not everyone will feel the way I did.
I found the main 'bad guy', Mildred, to be absolutely compelling. I LOVED reading about her, I loved the snippets of backstory we got about her, and I was so intrigued by her past and the role it plays in our story. I've heard that Book 2, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED, goes a lot more into the history, and I will definitely be reading that 'cause I need to know where this goes!
Michael Clark definitely has some storytelling chops, and I'm looking forward to starting the sequel soon!
I loved the setting of this one, and always appreciate the detail that goes into really fleshing a place out in the 'mind's eye' of the reader. A sprawling estate with its own grounds complete with a little forest and a pond - how quaint! Having lush descriptions is always a plus for me, but here, I didn't feel that the descriptions were given so much as forced on me to the detriment of the story, unfortunately. Rather than allowing me to come to my own conclusions or build a mental idea of things from the writing, I'm told point-blank about things, giving my imagination absolutely no room to breathe within the story.
In addition to being told everything rather than shown, the book is littered with diagrams and maps, making me feel as if it were almost assumed that my mental acuity might not be up to the task of understanding the story without them (it is, I promise). When I read a book, I like to be given the benefit of the doubt that I can keep up without being spoon fed, and that just wasn't how it felt in this one for me.
I also had a lot of trouble with some of the characters. Tim was about as interesting as bland bowl of plain oatmeal, and I found myself getting annoyed time and time again at how lackluster his effort was in doing anything other than making poor decisions, or getting his friends to figure things out for him so he didn't have to. There are these journals in the book, and they're absolutely instrumental to the story, but for some reason our Tim just "doesn't read", and can't bother to get through them to discover what the hell is going on until his real estate agent digs in -- what? Apologies, but if I'm feeling physically threatened by a dead woman, I'm sure as heck gonna read whatever I can get my hands on to get to the bottom of it. I just didn't find the characters I was meant to be rooting for relatable or believable - in fact, I started looking forward to the chapters about the past & the journal much more than the ones about good ol' Tim.
I do feel like this should have gone through a few more rounds of edits, as it feels a little bloated in terms of content. I think this would make for an incredible novella - maybe even something slightly longer. I just don't feel like there was enough happening here to justify almost 400 pages.
THAT ALL SAID, I do want to be very clear that I didn't dislike the book overall. I had some issues, and I always try to be honest about those in my reviews, but not everyone will feel the way I did.
I found the main 'bad guy', Mildred, to be absolutely compelling. I LOVED reading about her, I loved the snippets of backstory we got about her, and I was so intrigued by her past and the role it plays in our story. I've heard that Book 2, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED, goes a lot more into the history, and I will definitely be reading that 'cause I need to know where this goes!
Michael Clark definitely has some storytelling chops, and I'm looking forward to starting the sequel soon!
April 14, 2020
Thank you so much to the author for my free copy. And thank you Night Worms for another great #NightWormsBookParty
THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is a chilling, gothic suspense novel that I couldn’t put down. Clark is a talented storyteller with a proclivity for the supernatural.
Tim Russell is recently divorced and looking for a project to keep himself occupied. He is a contractor by trade so he purchases a quaint, old dilapidated farmhouse to renovate and flip in order to turn a decent profit. It’s the perfect setting: an eerily beautiful horse property in the middle of the New Hampshire woods. But what Tim doesn’t realize is some of the previous occupants never left. The place wreaks of putridity and Tim starts to figure out the ghostly sights and sounds are not just in his head. The mystery unravels as things take a turn in a terrifying direction.
Everything from the story to the book’s format is unique. The cover, the illustrations, the journal entries, the rich setting, the backstory, and well-written characters make this creepy story so much fun to read. There are a lot of specific details to remember and refer to which can interrupt the pacing a bit so keep that in mind. It’s difficult to come up with something new when it comes to a popular trope like a haunted house story, but Clark manages to do a good job with it. I’m really anxious to see what happens next so luckily I already have the second book, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED, in my possession. If you enjoy a story with walking corpses and a mystery to solve then be sure to pick up THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN. ★★★½
THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is a chilling, gothic suspense novel that I couldn’t put down. Clark is a talented storyteller with a proclivity for the supernatural.
Tim Russell is recently divorced and looking for a project to keep himself occupied. He is a contractor by trade so he purchases a quaint, old dilapidated farmhouse to renovate and flip in order to turn a decent profit. It’s the perfect setting: an eerily beautiful horse property in the middle of the New Hampshire woods. But what Tim doesn’t realize is some of the previous occupants never left. The place wreaks of putridity and Tim starts to figure out the ghostly sights and sounds are not just in his head. The mystery unravels as things take a turn in a terrifying direction.
Everything from the story to the book’s format is unique. The cover, the illustrations, the journal entries, the rich setting, the backstory, and well-written characters make this creepy story so much fun to read. There are a lot of specific details to remember and refer to which can interrupt the pacing a bit so keep that in mind. It’s difficult to come up with something new when it comes to a popular trope like a haunted house story, but Clark manages to do a good job with it. I’m really anxious to see what happens next so luckily I already have the second book, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED, in my possession. If you enjoy a story with walking corpses and a mystery to solve then be sure to pick up THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN. ★★★½
April 14, 2020
Michael Clark is a new presence in the horror genre, and his marketing game is pitch perfect. I first noticed his books on Twitter when a friend of mine posted the books and coffee mug that Clark sent him in exchange for a review. When I remarked on them, Clark, who has a fantastic presence on social media, quickly offered to send them to me, and the books and mug showed up very soon after. Everything in the package is slick and stylish and makes you want to read his books, from his elegant business card and bookmarks, to the stylish design of his books that look better than many books that are published through major publishers.
Clark's marketing game is dead on, but what about his writing? I have to admit, I wondered if Clark could pull off the full package. Could he have his marketing on point AND be a good writer with a story that grabs you from the very beginning? I'm happy to report that Clark is the real deal.
One of my favorite horror sub genres is ghosts or hauntings. Some of my favorite books of all time are about a haunted person, place, etc... so I'm always really eager to read anything new I can find that claims to be a ghost story. The first book in Clark's trilogy, THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN has a fairly straightforward premise. Newly divorced Tim Russell buys a dilapidated farmhouse in New Hampshire. He knows that the previous owner died in the house, but he doesn't know the full extent of the hauntings that happen on his new property, or how much danger he is putting himself in to repair the farmhouse and sell it for a profit. As the days go by and things get weirder he confides in the real estate agent who sold him the house, and together they learn that there is much more to the eerie occurrences at the house than a mere haunting.
I was immediately pulled into the story in the very first chapter. Clark builds tension as the mysteries that surround the house continue to mount, and then once he reveals the full truth, it's a race against the clock for the characters to do what they need to banish the hauntings for good. But are they really ending the haunting? Or are they just incurring the wrath of a being that will stop at nothing to have revenge?
This first book sets up the trilogy so well that I've already finished book 2 and now eagerly await the final book in the story. The first two books end on major cliff hangers, so it was a no brainer for me to immediately pick up book 2 to find out where Clark takes the story.
Tense and atmospheric, THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN, had me sitting on the edge of my seat during the final chapters. The ghosts are truly creepy, and the actions of one in particular are deeply disturbing. Clark holds nothing back, and in doing so creates a unique character so bent on revenge that all traces of humanity have disappeared. Fans of creepy, haunted farmhouses will thoroughly enjoy this slow burning start of a trilogy. I know I couldn't put it down.
Clark's marketing game is dead on, but what about his writing? I have to admit, I wondered if Clark could pull off the full package. Could he have his marketing on point AND be a good writer with a story that grabs you from the very beginning? I'm happy to report that Clark is the real deal.
One of my favorite horror sub genres is ghosts or hauntings. Some of my favorite books of all time are about a haunted person, place, etc... so I'm always really eager to read anything new I can find that claims to be a ghost story. The first book in Clark's trilogy, THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN has a fairly straightforward premise. Newly divorced Tim Russell buys a dilapidated farmhouse in New Hampshire. He knows that the previous owner died in the house, but he doesn't know the full extent of the hauntings that happen on his new property, or how much danger he is putting himself in to repair the farmhouse and sell it for a profit. As the days go by and things get weirder he confides in the real estate agent who sold him the house, and together they learn that there is much more to the eerie occurrences at the house than a mere haunting.
I was immediately pulled into the story in the very first chapter. Clark builds tension as the mysteries that surround the house continue to mount, and then once he reveals the full truth, it's a race against the clock for the characters to do what they need to banish the hauntings for good. But are they really ending the haunting? Or are they just incurring the wrath of a being that will stop at nothing to have revenge?
This first book sets up the trilogy so well that I've already finished book 2 and now eagerly await the final book in the story. The first two books end on major cliff hangers, so it was a no brainer for me to immediately pick up book 2 to find out where Clark takes the story.
Tense and atmospheric, THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN, had me sitting on the edge of my seat during the final chapters. The ghosts are truly creepy, and the actions of one in particular are deeply disturbing. Clark holds nothing back, and in doing so creates a unique character so bent on revenge that all traces of humanity have disappeared. Fans of creepy, haunted farmhouses will thoroughly enjoy this slow burning start of a trilogy. I know I couldn't put it down.
May 12, 2021
If you're like me, a person suffering from an addiction to ghost stories and paranormal mysteries, The Patience of a Dead Man is your fix! A real page turner from start to end, you just may keep that night light on when you go to sleep.
February 13, 2020
Not your typical haunted house story. Part mystery, part haunted house tale. Clark is a fantastic writer. The main characters are The damaged, flawed kind of protagonists I love, the kind that don’t have all the answers and find themselves guessing and bungling their way through the mysteries presented and some truly creepy situations. Great supporting characters, and the jumps backward and forward in time, that take place throughout the story, never slow things down. This backstory that slowly builds and comes to light over the course of the book is just as fascinating as the main narrative. The setting, a Victorian home standing in the middle of the New Hampshire woods, is a magnificent place to stir the imagination and help raise the hackles on the back of your neck once the ghosts start showing up, and there are no shortage of restless spirits in this book. Plenty of suspense, romance, and hair raising moments to keep those pages turning, and be sure to say “hi” to Mildred for me. You never know when she’s going to pop up. 😳🪓
April 15, 2020
Tim Russell just went through a textbook messy divorce. After his now ex-wife takes a large portion of his successful contracting business in the settlement, Tim finds himself struggling to start over emotionally and financially as he tries to keep what is left of the business afloat. He finds the perfect investment property in Sanborn, New Hampshire, and dives headfirst into what he hopes will make him a large enough profit to provide for his financial future. Simple enough, right? No, there is always a catch. Several of the former occupants have never really left. Now you are left with the perfect set up for a fun and twisty supernatural story.
The Patience of a Dead Man is a multi-layered haunted house story that commands your attention. The story is a slow-burn mystery that lacks the cheap thrills that are not hard to come by in its subgenre. Sure, there are phantom footsteps and objects mysteriously being moved about the home however, we know exactly who/what is responsible, and it is just as, if not more, creepy. Clark does a wonderful job creating the atmosphere in this story. The house on Lancaster Hill Road is a character in and of itself. With an abnormal layout and incredible features on the property, the author has gone to great lengths to bring this parcel of land to life. Although, some of the descriptions of the house teetered on the edge of convolution, I fell in love with this property! A secluded farmhouse with a turret, acres of forest and your own private Christmas tree grove? Yes, please.
It does not take long for Tim to begin seeing some of the former owners of his new property. What made this story so much fun to read is that with these encounters, there are no moments that would equate to a jump scare in a movie. We very clearly know what the protagonist is looking at and/or dealing with and we get brief moments to study these subjects. Their appearances, their mannerisms, we witness them carry out specific, measured tasks. It was really unlike any ghost story I have ever read. When we start to learn more about what Tim is up against, bits and pieces of the history of his property are revealed to the reader in the form or journal entries and recollections from people in the community. The speculation with this one is extremely satisfying! I am so excited that I already have the next book in the series because The Patience of a Dead Man ends on a note that will make you want to dive right back in.
The Patience of a Dead Man is a multi-layered haunted house story that commands your attention. The story is a slow-burn mystery that lacks the cheap thrills that are not hard to come by in its subgenre. Sure, there are phantom footsteps and objects mysteriously being moved about the home however, we know exactly who/what is responsible, and it is just as, if not more, creepy. Clark does a wonderful job creating the atmosphere in this story. The house on Lancaster Hill Road is a character in and of itself. With an abnormal layout and incredible features on the property, the author has gone to great lengths to bring this parcel of land to life. Although, some of the descriptions of the house teetered on the edge of convolution, I fell in love with this property! A secluded farmhouse with a turret, acres of forest and your own private Christmas tree grove? Yes, please.
It does not take long for Tim to begin seeing some of the former owners of his new property. What made this story so much fun to read is that with these encounters, there are no moments that would equate to a jump scare in a movie. We very clearly know what the protagonist is looking at and/or dealing with and we get brief moments to study these subjects. Their appearances, their mannerisms, we witness them carry out specific, measured tasks. It was really unlike any ghost story I have ever read. When we start to learn more about what Tim is up against, bits and pieces of the history of his property are revealed to the reader in the form or journal entries and recollections from people in the community. The speculation with this one is extremely satisfying! I am so excited that I already have the next book in the series because The Patience of a Dead Man ends on a note that will make you want to dive right back in.
April 14, 2020
Tim Russell is divorced and struggling. In an attempt to turn it all around, he buys an old, run-down house that's sat vacant for years. Tim gets a good deal and plans on flipping the old farmhouse for a profit. As he settles in to begin his renovations, he quickly discovers that he's not alone. This house and land have a history of tragedy. As Tim, his realtor turned girlfriend Holly, and others attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding the property, they discover that the sins of the past may not wholly stay in the past.
One of my favorites, if not my actual favorite, subgenres of horror, is the haunted house. That being said, you know that I was already primed to like this book. After all, it's about a haunted house. But, let me tell you, I devoured this book. I simply could not stop reading. I found so many things to love about this story. Some of those things I cannot tell you about because discovering them yourself will make them sweeter, but what I can tell you is that I loved that the history of the house is explored through found journal entries. I loved the relationship that the characters had with each other and that we got to watch that blossom under slightly tricky circumstances. I loved that the mystery unfolds piece by piece until the truth starts clicking into place. The pace of the book is slow, but I was so invested in the mystery and the characters that I didn't care about the initial slow pace. There are still unanswered questions, yes, but I have faith that Michael Clark has a plan and that seeming loose ends and plot holes will be tied up in the following two books. I am eager to continue this story. I give this one a full five stars and a big enthusiastic recommendation.
One of my favorites, if not my actual favorite, subgenres of horror, is the haunted house. That being said, you know that I was already primed to like this book. After all, it's about a haunted house. But, let me tell you, I devoured this book. I simply could not stop reading. I found so many things to love about this story. Some of those things I cannot tell you about because discovering them yourself will make them sweeter, but what I can tell you is that I loved that the history of the house is explored through found journal entries. I loved the relationship that the characters had with each other and that we got to watch that blossom under slightly tricky circumstances. I loved that the mystery unfolds piece by piece until the truth starts clicking into place. The pace of the book is slow, but I was so invested in the mystery and the characters that I didn't care about the initial slow pace. There are still unanswered questions, yes, but I have faith that Michael Clark has a plan and that seeming loose ends and plot holes will be tied up in the following two books. I am eager to continue this story. I give this one a full five stars and a big enthusiastic recommendation.
January 18, 2020
Tim is recently divorced and close to bankrupt after his ex wife took most of their assets and tied up the sale of their home for 5 years. Losing the biggest part of his business but unable to fathom no longer being his own boss he takes what money he has left and sinks it into a dilapidated farmhouse hoping to fix it up and turn a big enough profit to get back on his feet. From the moment he takes possession of the house there are spooky happenings and strange sounds that simply should not be, There also seems to be the ghost of a child and the foul stench of death and decay emanate from a fly covered corpse that roams the house and grounds at will. Discovery of a journal kept by the previous owner who has documented her own experiences in the home proves to Tim that this haunting is not a figment of his stressed out imagination. He confides in Holly the real estate agent who sold him the house and together they try to solve the mystery of who these spirits were in life and why they have remained after death. Rather than the typical use of flashbacks to reveal the back story of the farm house the author relies more on vivid dreams and the journal to uncover the past. Some readers may take issue with this, but it worked for me, making me feel as if I were in on the investigation.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
October 26, 2023
okie dokie... so many little errors in this story I wouldn't know where to begin but how about no one in the 1800s would use the title Ms. in addressing a young woman, and the years shown for certain actions don't make sense. And the writing was amateurish at best.
Yep, it was bad. So why the 3 stars... well, I was moderately entertained. That's about it.
I have the book with all three stories in one volume but I honestly don't know when or if I'll read the rest of it.
Yep, it was bad. So why the 3 stars... well, I was moderately entertained. That's about it.
I have the book with all three stories in one volume but I honestly don't know when or if I'll read the rest of it.
October 17, 2020
When I look for a horror story, this is EXACTLY the kind of story that I'm looking for - a gripping supernatural tale that scares the stuffing out of you, yet you just can't put it down for the need to see what happens next - even if it keeps you up at night.
Something that always lend an air of authenticity and of mystery to me when reading a horror story is a little nugget of truth. In this case, the author Michael Clark was raised in New Hampshire and LIVED in the house that this chilling debut novel is based on.
The story is about a fellow named Tim Russell who has recently come out on the losing end of a nasty divorce. Tim has his own construction business that has just barely survived the expensive divorce and as a last ditch effort to get some capital, he decides to purchase an old farmhouse to flip for a quick profit.
He discovers right away that he is not the only occupant of the farmhouse - in fact, he is only one of SEVERAL. So begins the fascinating events of the old farmhouse where Tim is attempting to unravel the mystery of the who and why of the events taking place....at the insistence and help of one particular unseen roommate. Tim is aided by his cute real estate agent, Holly, with whom a budding romance springs up in the midst of the rein of chilling visitations and violent happenings in and around the old home.
The closer Tim and Holly get to the truth of what took place on the property, the more danger they face from the occupant(s). What is it exactly that the invisible entity want from them? Clues are left quite mysteriously, but no real guide on what needs to be done. Tim is faced with the realization that in order to keep himself alive, he may need to abandon his investment, file bankruptcy and suffer losing everything.
Then again, will these things even LET Tim go?
You will have to read and see - but be forewarned - be prepared to question every noise, to almost stop breathing in order to determine if you're really alone....the silence so profound that it's deafening, or wait? Is that a fly buzzing?
Something that always lend an air of authenticity and of mystery to me when reading a horror story is a little nugget of truth. In this case, the author Michael Clark was raised in New Hampshire and LIVED in the house that this chilling debut novel is based on.
The story is about a fellow named Tim Russell who has recently come out on the losing end of a nasty divorce. Tim has his own construction business that has just barely survived the expensive divorce and as a last ditch effort to get some capital, he decides to purchase an old farmhouse to flip for a quick profit.
He discovers right away that he is not the only occupant of the farmhouse - in fact, he is only one of SEVERAL. So begins the fascinating events of the old farmhouse where Tim is attempting to unravel the mystery of the who and why of the events taking place....at the insistence and help of one particular unseen roommate. Tim is aided by his cute real estate agent, Holly, with whom a budding romance springs up in the midst of the rein of chilling visitations and violent happenings in and around the old home.
The closer Tim and Holly get to the truth of what took place on the property, the more danger they face from the occupant(s). What is it exactly that the invisible entity want from them? Clues are left quite mysteriously, but no real guide on what needs to be done. Tim is faced with the realization that in order to keep himself alive, he may need to abandon his investment, file bankruptcy and suffer losing everything.
Then again, will these things even LET Tim go?
You will have to read and see - but be forewarned - be prepared to question every noise, to almost stop breathing in order to determine if you're really alone....the silence so profound that it's deafening, or wait? Is that a fly buzzing?
April 15, 2020
Recently finished The Patience of a Dead Man for a #nightwormsbookparty where we all read and review the same book. It was fun to discuss this with the worms because this was a ghost story with a lot going on!
Thanks for setting the scene with the great package @michaelclarkbooks & for hosting the reading @night_worms
Tim is a recently divorced and down on his luck contractor who buys an old house with the intent to fix and flip it only to find out he bought a haunted house. He's got more pressing things to worry about now, like surviving a night!
I loved the setting of the story; I grew up in rural New Hampshire in old houses and Michael Clark spends time on his descriptions, really painting a picture where I felt right at home. Then the pace picks up and suddenly things get a whole lot creepier than just a fly-covered lady with a hatchet. Unlike typical haunted house stories this one is explained in the end (mostly! I need to read book 2 now) and there's lots of drawings to help the reader understand what's happening.
It got a little confusing towards the end with lots of point of view changes, flashbacks to the 1800s that weren't cohesive with the rest of the story, and some dialogue issues, but in all I enjoyed the journey and will be picking up the sequel to find out what happens next.
3.5 stars
Thanks for setting the scene with the great package @michaelclarkbooks & for hosting the reading @night_worms
Tim is a recently divorced and down on his luck contractor who buys an old house with the intent to fix and flip it only to find out he bought a haunted house. He's got more pressing things to worry about now, like surviving a night!
I loved the setting of the story; I grew up in rural New Hampshire in old houses and Michael Clark spends time on his descriptions, really painting a picture where I felt right at home. Then the pace picks up and suddenly things get a whole lot creepier than just a fly-covered lady with a hatchet. Unlike typical haunted house stories this one is explained in the end (mostly! I need to read book 2 now) and there's lots of drawings to help the reader understand what's happening.
It got a little confusing towards the end with lots of point of view changes, flashbacks to the 1800s that weren't cohesive with the rest of the story, and some dialogue issues, but in all I enjoyed the journey and will be picking up the sequel to find out what happens next.
3.5 stars
January 4, 2020
A good ghost story!
I love a ghost story I do! Knowing now there is a second book answers some questions. Tim, newly divorced, decides to start anew and renovate an old farm house for a flip except he isn’t alone. A 100 year old family tragedy comes back to life in front of his eyes and is even a threat to his own life. Terrified and determined, him and Holly need to solve the clues and rid the place of its ghosts before it’s to late. No spoilers, most of the action here is in journals they obtain that spells out why things are happening, seemingly in a supernatural loop but the main spook, Mildred isn’t just any ghost, she’s capable of murdering the living for her own gain. I found some of the story had to much repetition and too much time spent in research by the main characters. I felt one of the ghosts had to much liberty to influence the living towards finding the answers to the point where you ask yourself, really? But all in all it was a fun read, good action and bright characters that kept the story moving. Most of the creepy left for the ending. I will read book 2 because I gotta know what’s it going to take to get this maniacal ghost thing out of this realm. Enjoy!!
I love a ghost story I do! Knowing now there is a second book answers some questions. Tim, newly divorced, decides to start anew and renovate an old farm house for a flip except he isn’t alone. A 100 year old family tragedy comes back to life in front of his eyes and is even a threat to his own life. Terrified and determined, him and Holly need to solve the clues and rid the place of its ghosts before it’s to late. No spoilers, most of the action here is in journals they obtain that spells out why things are happening, seemingly in a supernatural loop but the main spook, Mildred isn’t just any ghost, she’s capable of murdering the living for her own gain. I found some of the story had to much repetition and too much time spent in research by the main characters. I felt one of the ghosts had to much liberty to influence the living towards finding the answers to the point where you ask yourself, really? But all in all it was a fun read, good action and bright characters that kept the story moving. Most of the creepy left for the ending. I will read book 2 because I gotta know what’s it going to take to get this maniacal ghost thing out of this realm. Enjoy!!
February 5, 2021
Full review to come when I have read the trilogy.
Highly recommend this story crept over into my dreams, and I haven't had a book do that to me in years.
Absolutely brilliantly written,with a story in which I find i dont want to end.
Straight on to book two.
Highly recommend this story crept over into my dreams, and I haven't had a book do that to me in years.
Absolutely brilliantly written,with a story in which I find i dont want to end.
Straight on to book two.
November 24, 2020
I’ve watched a few of those ghost hunting shows but I was never much of a fan. It just didn’t capture the creepy vibes enough for me. If you put a paranormal investigation into a book where you can jump into character thoughts and emotions, it definitely cranks it up to another level.
Tim recently losing almost everything through a nasty divorce has to find a way to still be his own boss in the construction world. He thinks of the great plan of flipping a cheap house in the country but he doesn’t know it has a ghost infestation. He’s into deep now and must find a way to make this work or get dead in the process.
“𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱. 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱.”
Starting with the mood setting, creepy old house where your neighbors are literally miles away. I’m already set on edge because where is the help when you need it. It’s not like you can scream, the neighbors won’t even hear you. The structure of the house is pretty complicated when reading but thankfully we are provided a picture layout! Yay, score! Next Character depth/connection, I actually didn’t think I was that connected with the characters until the very end. I was way more interested in the hauntings. Oh hello there crazy ghost .. please do more crazy stuff. The pacing was pretty good and kept my interest the whole time. The visual aids definitely helped to not get hung up on the details. I think the part that really stood out to me the most was the twisted ending. It left me wanting to dive straight into the next book in the series. This one really hung around a 4 star for me until that ending and it had me audibly shouting NOOO!!! Lol so I’m giving it 5 stars ⭐️.
Tim recently losing almost everything through a nasty divorce has to find a way to still be his own boss in the construction world. He thinks of the great plan of flipping a cheap house in the country but he doesn’t know it has a ghost infestation. He’s into deep now and must find a way to make this work or get dead in the process.
“𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱. 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱.”
Starting with the mood setting, creepy old house where your neighbors are literally miles away. I’m already set on edge because where is the help when you need it. It’s not like you can scream, the neighbors won’t even hear you. The structure of the house is pretty complicated when reading but thankfully we are provided a picture layout! Yay, score! Next Character depth/connection, I actually didn’t think I was that connected with the characters until the very end. I was way more interested in the hauntings. Oh hello there crazy ghost .. please do more crazy stuff. The pacing was pretty good and kept my interest the whole time. The visual aids definitely helped to not get hung up on the details. I think the part that really stood out to me the most was the twisted ending. It left me wanting to dive straight into the next book in the series. This one really hung around a 4 star for me until that ending and it had me audibly shouting NOOO!!! Lol so I’m giving it 5 stars ⭐️.
April 14, 2020
If you love creepy houses and ghost stories then this is the book for you! Author Michael Clark puts his spin on a Southern Gothic spooky thriller with The Patience of a Dead Man and really weaves together an intricate story spanning the past and, well, also the past (the "current" setting for the book is the '70s and the history/flashbacks occur before).
This book follows Tim Russell fresh off a divorce and looking for a new start. He decides to renovate and flip an old farmhouse in a quaint New Hampshire town. It doesn't take long for the ghosts to start making themselves known and for the author to start pumping in the fear and paranoia for the reader. What begins as a "Did you know this house had murdered people and is haunted?" question to his realtor quickly unfolds into a race against the calendar to stay alive.
Clark offers so much in these pages. Our semi-damaged protagonist Tim's thoughts really light up the pages as we explore his ambition for this house remodel, his budding romance, the love he has for his kids, and the passion to solve this haunting problem.
The book is formatted in a way that we know the date and time of each chapter (and sometimes it goes back a few year to the prior owners). We get to read journal entries from the previous owner - and I am SUCH a sucker for journal entries! I see them as a way for authors to allow a character to really get the point across without getting muddled down in unnecessary or confusing conversations, exposition, etc. It's super helpful and Clark does a great job with them here! And the beginning of the book has map/blueprint drawing of the house and property which definitely comes in handy since the farmhouse and its property are so massive!
This book gets 5 stars from me - I love its Southern Gothic charm and the wit and passion of the characters involved. I loved the budding relationship and the way they both had each other (I am being vague because I want you to enjoy it just as it unfolds as I did). I can't wait to sink my teeth into Clark's sequel, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED.
A huge thanks to the author for taking a chance with the Night Worms for our book party!
This book follows Tim Russell fresh off a divorce and looking for a new start. He decides to renovate and flip an old farmhouse in a quaint New Hampshire town. It doesn't take long for the ghosts to start making themselves known and for the author to start pumping in the fear and paranoia for the reader. What begins as a "Did you know this house had murdered people and is haunted?" question to his realtor quickly unfolds into a race against the calendar to stay alive.
Clark offers so much in these pages. Our semi-damaged protagonist Tim's thoughts really light up the pages as we explore his ambition for this house remodel, his budding romance, the love he has for his kids, and the passion to solve this haunting problem.
The book is formatted in a way that we know the date and time of each chapter (and sometimes it goes back a few year to the prior owners). We get to read journal entries from the previous owner - and I am SUCH a sucker for journal entries! I see them as a way for authors to allow a character to really get the point across without getting muddled down in unnecessary or confusing conversations, exposition, etc. It's super helpful and Clark does a great job with them here! And the beginning of the book has map/blueprint drawing of the house and property which definitely comes in handy since the farmhouse and its property are so massive!
This book gets 5 stars from me - I love its Southern Gothic charm and the wit and passion of the characters involved. I loved the budding relationship and the way they both had each other (I am being vague because I want you to enjoy it just as it unfolds as I did). I can't wait to sink my teeth into Clark's sequel, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED.
A huge thanks to the author for taking a chance with the Night Worms for our book party!
March 6, 2020
Recently divorced, a man purchases an old farmhouse in New Hampshire that he intends to flip. The man (Tim) decides to live there during its restoration. He soon discovers the home is haunted as ghosts appear—a pale faced young boy and a woman who’s covered in flies, accompanied by a strong rotten stench.
Faced with a choice to make, Tim realizes he’s in too much of a financial bind to jump ship. (Or run like a bat out of hell.)
With the help of his real estate agent, they work together to find a way to rid these ghosts from the property in order to save his investment...and their lives.
This book was so darn good. The setting was everything I could wish for. I could fully immerse myself in the story because of it. It felt like I was there, walking through the house myself...it was probably the best thing about the book. *chefs kiss*
(The home is actually based on Michael’s childhood home in New Hampshire, which is probably why there’s such good details in the setting. So cool nonetheless!)
Mildred will haunt my thoughts forever. Such a memorable character in this unique ghost story—I was drawn to her. Spellbinding. I want to know more. Good thing Michael sent me book two: DEAD WOMAN SCORNED. I’d have bought it immediately had he not. So excited to read on.
Another great thing about this story is the abundance of information we get from different angles, sources, and characters—and across numerous timelines. It definitely keeps you on your toes.
When most people would run when faced with a ghost, Tim stays. We get to experience—through Tim—what it’s like to not be running scared. Michael doesn’t give us a choice in Patience of a Dead Man. Be ready to face your fears head on in this one, folks!!
Faced with a choice to make, Tim realizes he’s in too much of a financial bind to jump ship. (Or run like a bat out of hell.)
With the help of his real estate agent, they work together to find a way to rid these ghosts from the property in order to save his investment...and their lives.
This book was so darn good. The setting was everything I could wish for. I could fully immerse myself in the story because of it. It felt like I was there, walking through the house myself...it was probably the best thing about the book. *chefs kiss*
(The home is actually based on Michael’s childhood home in New Hampshire, which is probably why there’s such good details in the setting. So cool nonetheless!)
Mildred will haunt my thoughts forever. Such a memorable character in this unique ghost story—I was drawn to her. Spellbinding. I want to know more. Good thing Michael sent me book two: DEAD WOMAN SCORNED. I’d have bought it immediately had he not. So excited to read on.
Another great thing about this story is the abundance of information we get from different angles, sources, and characters—and across numerous timelines. It definitely keeps you on your toes.
When most people would run when faced with a ghost, Tim stays. We get to experience—through Tim—what it’s like to not be running scared. Michael doesn’t give us a choice in Patience of a Dead Man. Be ready to face your fears head on in this one, folks!!
October 17, 2020
It is 1971 and Tim Russell has gone through a messy divorce. Anxious to make some money, he buys a run down property to renovate for profit. However, as soon as he moves in, he is confronted by a family of ghosts...
Tim calls on the estate agent to help him to investigate the history of the farmhouse and they discover that the previous owners had been haunted as well. They piece together the evidence of the past to understand why the ghosts cannot rest in peace. But Tim and Holly are in danger from one ghost in particular...
The Patience of a Dead Man is seriously spooky and I would advise reading in daylight! I went to bed last night convinced that Mildred would be waiting for me... The ghosts are creepy throughout the whole book, with moments of downright terror that made my heart thud with fear.
Tim is an instantly likeable character and our sympathy with his personal and financial situation gives us an investment in his story. We are also invited to empathise with the father and son ghosts as we see scenes reenacted through journal recounts or as seen by Tim.
Mildred is the main ghost and author Michael Clark has constructed her character in a really interesting way. There is no doubt she is scary, and she murders a character right at the beginning as she feels threatened. Her evil seems to fluctuate in response to the actions of the owners and her timeline of reenactments. But there are also hints about an unhappy childhood which make explain but not excuse her behaviour.
The Patience of a Dead Man was an excellent read. It has enough of a conclusion to satisfy readers but is the first in a trilogy so there is an open ending. I can't wait to read the next books!
Tim calls on the estate agent to help him to investigate the history of the farmhouse and they discover that the previous owners had been haunted as well. They piece together the evidence of the past to understand why the ghosts cannot rest in peace. But Tim and Holly are in danger from one ghost in particular...
The Patience of a Dead Man is seriously spooky and I would advise reading in daylight! I went to bed last night convinced that Mildred would be waiting for me... The ghosts are creepy throughout the whole book, with moments of downright terror that made my heart thud with fear.
Tim is an instantly likeable character and our sympathy with his personal and financial situation gives us an investment in his story. We are also invited to empathise with the father and son ghosts as we see scenes reenacted through journal recounts or as seen by Tim.
Mildred is the main ghost and author Michael Clark has constructed her character in a really interesting way. There is no doubt she is scary, and she murders a character right at the beginning as she feels threatened. Her evil seems to fluctuate in response to the actions of the owners and her timeline of reenactments. But there are also hints about an unhappy childhood which make explain but not excuse her behaviour.
The Patience of a Dead Man was an excellent read. It has enough of a conclusion to satisfy readers but is the first in a trilogy so there is an open ending. I can't wait to read the next books!
June 3, 2022
What an EPIC DEBUT novel by Michael Clark
Poor Tim, recently divorced, relatively broke and down on his luck buys an old farmhouse with the intent to restore it and sell it. It sounds ideal, on acres and acres of land with a forest and a pond. BUT... this house has some dark history. He and the realtor, Holly start to investigate and very quickly many dark things start to happen.
I am not really sure how to label this... it's a mystery, it's a thriller, it's a horror...there is a little romance... The writing is succinct, yet descriptive... every chapter leaves you hanging on for more. It is believable, and I could relate to all the characters. I felt myself being part of the story.
There are twists and turns, and a few clues along the way, but I assure you this ride is intense and I applaud you if you don't drop the book at the end with "I didn't see that coming". Can't wait to continue on with the second book Dead Woman Scorned.
Poor Tim, recently divorced, relatively broke and down on his luck buys an old farmhouse with the intent to restore it and sell it. It sounds ideal, on acres and acres of land with a forest and a pond. BUT... this house has some dark history. He and the realtor, Holly start to investigate and very quickly many dark things start to happen.
I am not really sure how to label this... it's a mystery, it's a thriller, it's a horror...there is a little romance... The writing is succinct, yet descriptive... every chapter leaves you hanging on for more. It is believable, and I could relate to all the characters. I felt myself being part of the story.
There are twists and turns, and a few clues along the way, but I assure you this ride is intense and I applaud you if you don't drop the book at the end with "I didn't see that coming". Can't wait to continue on with the second book Dead Woman Scorned.
April 23, 2020
This is a fantastic read.
Tim Russell has just gone through a divorce. He’s bought a run down farmhouse that he intends to restore. He doesn’t realise until the paperwork is signed that the farmhouse is haunted. This was a creepy disturbing kinda read and I couldn’t read it fast enough.
To say I loved it is an understatement.. it’s a brilliant read and I need to read book two ASAP.
I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to read this. It was so so good.
Tim Russell has just gone through a divorce. He’s bought a run down farmhouse that he intends to restore. He doesn’t realise until the paperwork is signed that the farmhouse is haunted. This was a creepy disturbing kinda read and I couldn’t read it fast enough.
To say I loved it is an understatement.. it’s a brilliant read and I need to read book two ASAP.
I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to read this. It was so so good.
October 8, 2020
I had a hard time putting this down, it was creepy and fascinating. I loved the atmosphere, characters and pacing! I am really looking forward to the rest of the series and delving further into the story.
October 17, 2020
I loved this book! It's captivating and suspenseful. The descriptive passages hit the mark giving me the creeps! Everything you want in one of those spooky books you read during a thunder storm!
August 29, 2020
Updated - Review now on STORGY
There are some books that come across your path as a writer that you’ll keep returning to time-and-time again, these books are your inspiration, your teaching texts, books that you feel are written in such a way that to emulate how they are written to learn from them in some way will aid your own creativity and writing, making you better for spending more time in their presence. That can be said for Michael Clark’s The Patience of a Dead Man.
This will be a book that I return to many times in the future due to the mastery that Clark puts across in creating not only a deftly crafted haunting tale, but one that is beautifully paced (there are moments of stillness, then clarity, then gut bursting tension and creeping anxiety), it’s as if Clark were conducting a piece of unforgettable music such is the lyricism and beguiling prose on offer. The scares in this book are masterfully woven into the very fabric of this story and you can’t help but be moved by the horrors appearing on the page. The character work is phenomenal as we have many protagonists who never feel lost in the unraveling story, each one is fully rounded (warts and all) and each adds distinct layers to this unforgettable horror yarn that is playing out right before your very eyes.
But for me, the story is one that is so deep and wonderfully crafted, it’s like forbidden fruit, you don’t want to fall in love with it because it’s horrific, but Clark makes you fall deeply and head-over-heels into the stories terrifying and cold embrace. Not once do the reigns of this story leave Clark’s hands, there is not one slip or bump in its telling. If anything Clark is flogging this story to within an inch of its sorry life – driving it on until you, the reader, collapse exhausted (in a good way) under the trampling feet of this rampaging beast of a book!
He bet it all on a house in disrepair…
…but what he didn’t know was it was never really empty.
Tim Russell can’t simply leave… If he does he loses everything; not only his investment but his way of life. Reselling is not an option; the house spent three years on the market.
A recently divorced father, Tim knows it’s dangerous to stay, but not being able to support his daughters would be an entirely different nightmare.
Alone, he calls on the only person he can think of that might be able to help; real estate agent Holly Burns. Together they must confront the problem and decide Tim’s future:
Stay or go?
Clark creates a story with such depth that you can’t help but buy into the unravelling carnage that is happening before our very eyes. The Patience of a Dead Man of course dips its toes into the whole haunted house genre and comparisons will, and should be undoubtedly made to Jay Anson and ‘The Amityville Horror‘ and Wilkie Collins’ ‘The Woman in White‘. But The Patience of a Dead Man is a very different type of unsettling terror and Clark (it would appear effortlessly) gives us a whole new breed of horror; and in doing so changes the very playing field for these types of tales in the future. I think any haunted house story I read from now on will, and should be compared to this stunning offering – this for me was one of the best horror books (dealing with the supernatural and haunted house conventions) that I’ve read in a long long time.
The horrors in this book are stunningly rendered and this is coupled with the tension that seems to flow from Clark’s pen like water from a failing dam, as it sweeps in and washes the reader away as they struggle to hold onto something safe and secure, but inevitably however strong their resolve they have no choice but to succumb and be pulled kicking and screaming in the vicious current that Clark has whipped up.
There were actually two points in this book that made me jump, I know, I literally jumped reading the prose, something that has not happened to me before. A jump scare in a book? Crazy right? But that was due to the tightrope that the reader walks, the tension that is built gradually by Clark and the horrors that he reveals in such gripping and horrific detail. The horrors in this book are astonishing brutal and I for one was scared shitless.
To quote The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins…
‘In one moment, every drop of blood in my body was brought to a stop… There, as if it had that moment sprung out of the earth, stood the figure of a solitary Woman, dressed from head to foot in white’
And that is what it was like for me reading The Patience of a Dead Man, every time the ghostly apparition of Mildred appeared it seemed to bring all the blood in my body to a halt, I started to feel the growing unease and then I’d fall under Clark’s spell again. He’d wind that tension up so much that I would fear it would snap, give away my position as an onlooker and then THEY , SHE would notice me watching and come for me too!
It’s the character work in The Patience of a Dead Man that make this book so enjoyable and that’s the ghostly and not so ghostly characters. Henry and Annette, although not in it much give the story some ballast and a driving force in the ongoing narrative. Then Tim (our main protagonist) and his ex-wife Sheila and their children lend a familial dysfunctional element to the plot. Then we have Johnny the loyal friend and co-worker of Tim and finally Holly the love interest – these characters for me help to ground the story, with each one being fully realised and I found myself wanting to know more about each one (which I hope will be the case with the subsequent books in the series). I did have some question marks over the speed in which Holly and Tim struck up their relationship, how so quickly they became entwined in each others lives – but I was able to park that and enjoy the story for what it was… a gripping, dark and scary ghost story.
The ghostly aspect of The Patience of a Dead Man was again brilliantly addressed and deftly brought to life by Clark. I enjoyed the creativity shown by Clark in having these ghost continually interacting with the house and the surrounding areas, as if they were stuck in some yearly loop, unable or unwilling to move on, it was a fabulous touch that also helps give some direction to the story and also most probably lays some foundations for the future outings. Also, Mildred Wells is one of the scariest ghosts I’ve ever read, her whole presence in the book brings with it unease and a fear to turn the page and continue this breathtaking story. This is in part due to Clark’s attention to detail of Mildred that is both haunting and horrific – and for weeks after reading this book I kept on discovering houseflies (bluebottles) in my own home, almost as if Clark had hexed me by reading his work. But I am sure that every time I see one from now on I will always think of The Patience of a Dead Man – now that’s some serious skill!
The Patience of a Dead Man is a book that haunted me and continues to haunt me to this day. It’s scary, tension filled, graphic, disturbing and one hell of a thrill ride, and it’s only book one! This book could end up being referred to as a classic… pick it up, dive in and start this unforgettable journey.
There are some books that come across your path as a writer that you’ll keep returning to time-and-time again, these books are your inspiration, your teaching texts, books that you feel are written in such a way that to emulate how they are written to learn from them in some way will aid your own creativity and writing, making you better for spending more time in their presence. That can be said for Michael Clark’s The Patience of a Dead Man.
This will be a book that I return to many times in the future due to the mastery that Clark puts across in creating not only a deftly crafted haunting tale, but one that is beautifully paced (there are moments of stillness, then clarity, then gut bursting tension and creeping anxiety), it’s as if Clark were conducting a piece of unforgettable music such is the lyricism and beguiling prose on offer. The scares in this book are masterfully woven into the very fabric of this story and you can’t help but be moved by the horrors appearing on the page. The character work is phenomenal as we have many protagonists who never feel lost in the unraveling story, each one is fully rounded (warts and all) and each adds distinct layers to this unforgettable horror yarn that is playing out right before your very eyes.
But for me, the story is one that is so deep and wonderfully crafted, it’s like forbidden fruit, you don’t want to fall in love with it because it’s horrific, but Clark makes you fall deeply and head-over-heels into the stories terrifying and cold embrace. Not once do the reigns of this story leave Clark’s hands, there is not one slip or bump in its telling. If anything Clark is flogging this story to within an inch of its sorry life – driving it on until you, the reader, collapse exhausted (in a good way) under the trampling feet of this rampaging beast of a book!
He bet it all on a house in disrepair…
…but what he didn’t know was it was never really empty.
Tim Russell can’t simply leave… If he does he loses everything; not only his investment but his way of life. Reselling is not an option; the house spent three years on the market.
A recently divorced father, Tim knows it’s dangerous to stay, but not being able to support his daughters would be an entirely different nightmare.
Alone, he calls on the only person he can think of that might be able to help; real estate agent Holly Burns. Together they must confront the problem and decide Tim’s future:
Stay or go?
Clark creates a story with such depth that you can’t help but buy into the unravelling carnage that is happening before our very eyes. The Patience of a Dead Man of course dips its toes into the whole haunted house genre and comparisons will, and should be undoubtedly made to Jay Anson and ‘The Amityville Horror‘ and Wilkie Collins’ ‘The Woman in White‘. But The Patience of a Dead Man is a very different type of unsettling terror and Clark (it would appear effortlessly) gives us a whole new breed of horror; and in doing so changes the very playing field for these types of tales in the future. I think any haunted house story I read from now on will, and should be compared to this stunning offering – this for me was one of the best horror books (dealing with the supernatural and haunted house conventions) that I’ve read in a long long time.
The horrors in this book are stunningly rendered and this is coupled with the tension that seems to flow from Clark’s pen like water from a failing dam, as it sweeps in and washes the reader away as they struggle to hold onto something safe and secure, but inevitably however strong their resolve they have no choice but to succumb and be pulled kicking and screaming in the vicious current that Clark has whipped up.
There were actually two points in this book that made me jump, I know, I literally jumped reading the prose, something that has not happened to me before. A jump scare in a book? Crazy right? But that was due to the tightrope that the reader walks, the tension that is built gradually by Clark and the horrors that he reveals in such gripping and horrific detail. The horrors in this book are astonishing brutal and I for one was scared shitless.
To quote The Woman In White by Wilkie Collins…
‘In one moment, every drop of blood in my body was brought to a stop… There, as if it had that moment sprung out of the earth, stood the figure of a solitary Woman, dressed from head to foot in white’
And that is what it was like for me reading The Patience of a Dead Man, every time the ghostly apparition of Mildred appeared it seemed to bring all the blood in my body to a halt, I started to feel the growing unease and then I’d fall under Clark’s spell again. He’d wind that tension up so much that I would fear it would snap, give away my position as an onlooker and then THEY , SHE would notice me watching and come for me too!
It’s the character work in The Patience of a Dead Man that make this book so enjoyable and that’s the ghostly and not so ghostly characters. Henry and Annette, although not in it much give the story some ballast and a driving force in the ongoing narrative. Then Tim (our main protagonist) and his ex-wife Sheila and their children lend a familial dysfunctional element to the plot. Then we have Johnny the loyal friend and co-worker of Tim and finally Holly the love interest – these characters for me help to ground the story, with each one being fully realised and I found myself wanting to know more about each one (which I hope will be the case with the subsequent books in the series). I did have some question marks over the speed in which Holly and Tim struck up their relationship, how so quickly they became entwined in each others lives – but I was able to park that and enjoy the story for what it was… a gripping, dark and scary ghost story.
The ghostly aspect of The Patience of a Dead Man was again brilliantly addressed and deftly brought to life by Clark. I enjoyed the creativity shown by Clark in having these ghost continually interacting with the house and the surrounding areas, as if they were stuck in some yearly loop, unable or unwilling to move on, it was a fabulous touch that also helps give some direction to the story and also most probably lays some foundations for the future outings. Also, Mildred Wells is one of the scariest ghosts I’ve ever read, her whole presence in the book brings with it unease and a fear to turn the page and continue this breathtaking story. This is in part due to Clark’s attention to detail of Mildred that is both haunting and horrific – and for weeks after reading this book I kept on discovering houseflies (bluebottles) in my own home, almost as if Clark had hexed me by reading his work. But I am sure that every time I see one from now on I will always think of The Patience of a Dead Man – now that’s some serious skill!
The Patience of a Dead Man is a book that haunted me and continues to haunt me to this day. It’s scary, tension filled, graphic, disturbing and one hell of a thrill ride, and it’s only book one! This book could end up being referred to as a classic… pick it up, dive in and start this unforgettable journey.
April 8, 2022
This story doesn’t let up. Right from the beginning there is tension and it haunts you throughout the book. Malicious spirits have a home at the old secluded house in New Hampshire. Tim has sunk the last of his money into buying the property after his divorce and feels that he has to do what he can to help the spirits rest.
This book deserves all the praise and I couldn’t stop listening once I got started. It is very unnerving as one of the ghosts appear seemingly at random all over the property dripping with anger and hate and willing to take it out on whom ever path she crosses.
A straight forward haunted house book that immediately moved to the top of my favorites in that sub-genre.
This book deserves all the praise and I couldn’t stop listening once I got started. It is very unnerving as one of the ghosts appear seemingly at random all over the property dripping with anger and hate and willing to take it out on whom ever path she crosses.
A straight forward haunted house book that immediately moved to the top of my favorites in that sub-genre.
February 2, 2020
Firstly I want to mention the exquisitely terror inducing cover of this book. The color scheme along with the inclusion of buzzing flies instantly tells the potential reader this is a horror story. The shadowy figures that are slightly blurred adds to the sense of impending doom. Even the choice of font is perfect. The cover of THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is exactly the type of cover that would catch my eye and would prompt me to pick this book up in a bookstore and/or library.
When our protagonist (Tim Russell) is being shown the fixer-upper farmhouse in New Hampshire, he asks the realtor for information about the former owner who'd died in the home. However, he quickly realizes that his questions might be in poor taste and hurriedly tries to reassure his realtor, Holly Burns, that the woman's death and his interest in the details is because he finds it "morbidly fascinating." I absolutely love this phrase. I often read horror, true crime and biographies and I now have the perfect way to answer those who ask why I read books of those genres. From now on I am going to tell anyone who asks, that I read these books because they are "morbidly fascinating." A big thank you to the author for providing me with this new, and succinct phrase.
The storyline of a haunted house is not new, but I would be willing to bet money that this book is unlike any other haunted house book readers have experienced so far.
THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is wonderfully twisted and tangled and readers cannot help but be caught up in it's web.
So, Tim, the newly divorced Contractor decides to purchase the house and to live in it while he fixes and improves it. After that he will sell the property along with the upgraded house for (hopefully) a tidy profit.
There is only one flaw in the plan ... Tim had no idea that the house's original owner had never left and her antics are starting to scare him.
To find out why I say THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is unlike any other haunted house book, you need to buy a copy and find out for yourself.
With a wickedly spooky atmosphere, a dose of a secretive past, a hint of romance and enough unexpected elements to keep you intrigued, THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN needs to be on your TO READ list. If you do not pick up a copy of this book, you will truly be missing out. Who knows? You just might be reading the first book written by the next Stephen King.
Luckily, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED, which is the next book in the series is already available and I can't wait to dive into it.
I rate THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN as 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
***Thank you to Michael Clark for providing me with a free copy of this book.***
To learn more about this author and this series visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram at
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
When our protagonist (Tim Russell) is being shown the fixer-upper farmhouse in New Hampshire, he asks the realtor for information about the former owner who'd died in the home. However, he quickly realizes that his questions might be in poor taste and hurriedly tries to reassure his realtor, Holly Burns, that the woman's death and his interest in the details is because he finds it "morbidly fascinating." I absolutely love this phrase. I often read horror, true crime and biographies and I now have the perfect way to answer those who ask why I read books of those genres. From now on I am going to tell anyone who asks, that I read these books because they are "morbidly fascinating." A big thank you to the author for providing me with this new, and succinct phrase.
The storyline of a haunted house is not new, but I would be willing to bet money that this book is unlike any other haunted house book readers have experienced so far.
THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is wonderfully twisted and tangled and readers cannot help but be caught up in it's web.
So, Tim, the newly divorced Contractor decides to purchase the house and to live in it while he fixes and improves it. After that he will sell the property along with the upgraded house for (hopefully) a tidy profit.
There is only one flaw in the plan ... Tim had no idea that the house's original owner had never left and her antics are starting to scare him.
To find out why I say THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is unlike any other haunted house book, you need to buy a copy and find out for yourself.
With a wickedly spooky atmosphere, a dose of a secretive past, a hint of romance and enough unexpected elements to keep you intrigued, THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN needs to be on your TO READ list. If you do not pick up a copy of this book, you will truly be missing out. Who knows? You just might be reading the first book written by the next Stephen King.
Luckily, DEAD WOMAN SCORNED, which is the next book in the series is already available and I can't wait to dive into it.
I rate THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN as 5 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
***Thank you to Michael Clark for providing me with a free copy of this book.***
To learn more about this author and this series visit my blog at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com
Follow me on Instagram at
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
August 12, 2020
To say that this book met my expectations is an understatement.
I reserve 5 star reviews for what I consider books to be not only entertaining but stories that I'm invested in for a re-read someday. Michael Clark's first installment The Patience Of A Dead Man offered more than most horror books do. For one, it's part of a trilogy. I'm a big fan of trilogies but the vast majority of horror books are stand alones. I think that trilogies allow the author time to really develop the characters and tell the story. Secondly, the book contained maps, diagrams and little snippets of artwork throughout. I'm obsessed with that sort of thing in any book but, once again, you don't find that kind of detail in many horror books at all. Lastly, I'd like to point out the cover art. I hate to sound so vain, but I do put a lot of initial judgment into a book based on its cover. Patience Of A Dead Man is the total package.
Story-wise, this book is about a haunted house. Typical scenario, right?? But this is so much more than that! This is a story that entwines the past and present. The tale of a man at his wits end and a not-so-dead crazy woman from the 1800s.
The characters are likable, perfectly flawed human beings with their own distinct voices. The motivations of everyone, including the ghosts, were believable and constructed to push the narrative into a specific direction.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and honestly, I CANNOT WAIT to read books 2 and 3.
I reserve 5 star reviews for what I consider books to be not only entertaining but stories that I'm invested in for a re-read someday. Michael Clark's first installment The Patience Of A Dead Man offered more than most horror books do. For one, it's part of a trilogy. I'm a big fan of trilogies but the vast majority of horror books are stand alones. I think that trilogies allow the author time to really develop the characters and tell the story. Secondly, the book contained maps, diagrams and little snippets of artwork throughout. I'm obsessed with that sort of thing in any book but, once again, you don't find that kind of detail in many horror books at all. Lastly, I'd like to point out the cover art. I hate to sound so vain, but I do put a lot of initial judgment into a book based on its cover. Patience Of A Dead Man is the total package.
Story-wise, this book is about a haunted house. Typical scenario, right?? But this is so much more than that! This is a story that entwines the past and present. The tale of a man at his wits end and a not-so-dead crazy woman from the 1800s.
The characters are likable, perfectly flawed human beings with their own distinct voices. The motivations of everyone, including the ghosts, were believable and constructed to push the narrative into a specific direction.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and honestly, I CANNOT WAIT to read books 2 and 3.
November 29, 2020
I can't deny just how much this book gave me the creeps. I have watched & read so many raving reviews of this trilogy and Michael's work in general. I couldn't understand why I had put off picking it up for so long.
While reading The Patience of A Dead Man, in the moment I thought..."alright, this isn't so bad. This isn't to scary."
Well that was until I was in the kitchen later at night, the rest of the household was asleep, I was wrapping up the last few things before I head to bed myself. When I looked up and saw something reflecting in the kitchen window. It looked like someone standing in the door way behind me. I just about screamed at the top of my lungs, waking up the whole house. (Nice one Nichi, goes to prove me wrong, I WOULD be a "screamer" in a scary moment!). I quickly turned and realized it was simply a basket of laundry on my kitchen table waiting for me to fold it.
That was the moment I realized just how much Michael's writing effected me and from them on I found myself more and more creped out. Having to peak around doorways, flicking on the light to a dark room as quick as I could, not sure what may be waiting for me in the room.
Michael, THANK YOU for bringing this story out into the world and giving me the complete heebie geebies!
I would highly recommend this read!
You can check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/lY2oYejmgYw
While reading The Patience of A Dead Man, in the moment I thought..."alright, this isn't so bad. This isn't to scary."
Well that was until I was in the kitchen later at night, the rest of the household was asleep, I was wrapping up the last few things before I head to bed myself. When I looked up and saw something reflecting in the kitchen window. It looked like someone standing in the door way behind me. I just about screamed at the top of my lungs, waking up the whole house. (Nice one Nichi, goes to prove me wrong, I WOULD be a "screamer" in a scary moment!). I quickly turned and realized it was simply a basket of laundry on my kitchen table waiting for me to fold it.
That was the moment I realized just how much Michael's writing effected me and from them on I found myself more and more creped out. Having to peak around doorways, flicking on the light to a dark room as quick as I could, not sure what may be waiting for me in the room.
Michael, THANK YOU for bringing this story out into the world and giving me the complete heebie geebies!
I would highly recommend this read!
You can check out my video review here:
https://youtu.be/lY2oYejmgYw
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