Three excommunicated nuns, Nora, Agnes, and Celeste, join a paranormal unit sanctioned by the Catholic Church, in the hopes for redemption in God's eyes. As empaths, their jobs are to verify reports of demonic possession, and when their boss, Father MacLeod, is persuaded to investigate a house in a small New Hampshire town, the three women are chosen to assess these claims. Goffstown police files detail numerous extraordinary occurrences at the Moore house, including seven gruesome, unsolved killings. For this reason, the three empaths are instructed to not enter the dwelling, but to employ their abilities while circling outside the house. Nora, Agnes, and Celeste proclaim it free of supernatural forces, but they are wrong...dead wrong.
The three women discover their presence is part of a larger plan. The Moore House is not only possessed, but it soon possesses them, forcing them to relive the sins that had resulted in their excommunications. Their belief in God and redemption dissolving, they become pawns in a demonic scheme, a means to an end, in which Father MacLeod is their only hope. But Father MacLeod has made his own deal with devil, and the devil is ready to collect.
Nothing is worse than a demon possessed house with a thirst for revenge. The demon has been playing the long game to ensnare Father MacLeod. Unfortunately, three ex-nuns who are working with the Church to weed out fake possessions are caught in its clutches. Solid possession book, but I felt it was lacking. The ending was unfinished and left a reader hanging.
When I read Tony Tremblay's THE SEEDS OF NIGHTMARES, I knew that I had discovered a very special author. THE MOORE HOUSE only serves to prove that I was right!
In Goffstown, New Hampshire there stands a house-a house with a history. After a particularly gruesome occurrence there, Father MacLeod and his team of 3 excommunicated nuns, (specialists in identifying demonic possessions), are called in to evaluate the home. They came, did their thing, and it looked like the house was fine. But after Father MacLeod left, the door of the Moore House opened on its own and soon? What the house really is becomes clear to them all. Will they escape the machinations of the house? Will they survive at all? You'll have to read this to find out!
This story has a distinct New England feel to it that I recognized instantly. I don't know how to explain it unless you live here. It's the perfect setting for stories like this and Mr. Tremblay takes full advantage of the location. (The fact that many character names used are actually those of New England dark fiction writers also contributed to that feel.)
The characters here are all very real. You might think because 3 of the main characters are nuns, (albeit excommunicated nuns), they would all be boring or perfect. That is not the case. Each and every character here, priest included, are altogether human-with all the faults and foibles that go along with that. This fact lent the story a credible feel, which made all of the demonic things even more easy to believe. Not every author can pull this off, but Mr. Tremblay does- and he does it with style.
The only problem I had with this tale, and it's a slight one, was the overuse of the phrase "pawnshop owner", or some variation thereof. That's it!
The story surprised me in the fact that it's not your typical haunted house tale. It's a story of demonic possession, more than one in fact, which I thought was unique. The level of tension fairly hummed throughout and I had a hard time putting it down. With short chapters and lots of action, this book flew by and I was sorry when it was over.
THE MOORE HOUSE is definitely worth your time. To recap: we have demons, we have layered characters that are realistic, we have a cool house with a history and we have the age old fight against evil. What more can you ask for from an excellent dark fiction writer? Nothing!
Highly recommended for fans of haunted house tales and/or demonic possession stories!
*I was sent an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it. Further, I consider Tony Tremblay to be a friend in real life, but this did not affect the honesty or content of my review.*
A Troma-esque haunted house/exorcism story with tons of crazy shit. A solid debut where the author really subjects his characters to a bunch of messed up crap before he lets you in on more messed up crap from their previous lives. I appreciated the back stories and it helped me accept their motivations for doing what they did and putting up with what they put up with, if I dealt with half the stuff they did in the house I would be walking away like, nope, done, I'm out! There were just the right amounts of twists and turns that kept this from being a straight forward THE POWER OF CHRIST COMPELS YOU/"get out of this house" exorcism story, which kept things fresh, and by the end no one survives unscathed. A fun read with cool characters and a pretty original take on an otherwise done before premise.
I can't think of a better way to describe Tony Tremblay's debut novel, The Moore House, than with the author's own words of warning from one character to another in the actual story...
"Think of all the scary stories you've read about demonic possession. Remember all the horrible scenes you've seen in horror movies, this will be worse."
From the very first page, I was drawn into the story of this house said to have a black soul and the tale of three former Nuns, empaths, employed by the Church to determine if there is any evidence of possession.
The Moore House itself may be evil, but as a book it's good, it's more than good, it's great and it's terribly effective in what it sets out to accomplish. Tony Tremblay continues to grow as an author and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As a matter of fact, about half-way through, I got the feeling I was reading a break-out book by an author I've been reading since the very beginning. As a reader and reviewer, that's pretty damn exciting. Simply stated, The Moore House is one of the best possession stories I've read since The Exorcist.
I fully recommend adding this novel to your Summer TBR pile.
The Moore House is available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book formats from Haverhill House Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Tony Tremblay is the writer of numerous short stories that have been published in various horror anthologies, horror magazines, and webzines and has also worked as a reviewer of horror fiction for Cemetery Dance Magazine and Horror World. In 2016 Tony released his first collection of short stories, The Seeds of Nightmares. The author lives in New Hampshire.
Review: THE MOORE HOUSE by Tony Tremblay (Release July 2018)
I adored this horror novel, in every sense. Author Tony Tremblay vivifies the New England small-town scene and its environs, so much that it seemed I walked there, observing. He also knows his characters from the inside, delineating each to the core. Additionally, he knows how to terrorize his characters and his readers. I read this over two evenings/nights, which was really brave of me, since THE MOORE HOUSE is super scary. I won't be forgetting this novel for quite a long time. Nor will I be forgetting a few of the characters whom I came (with good reasons) to despise. I especially won't forget the explosively terrifying opening scenes involving a homeless, feckless, drifter--and THE MOORE HOUSE.
I don't know if the author has considered a sequel; but I fervently hope he will. THE MOORE HOUSE rocks!!
I got this because it was supposed to be scary. It wasn't - it was kind of boring. The most interesting character was the Pawnbroker. It's a combo haunted house/exorcist story and I didn't think it did either well. As usual with some of these stories there is a lot of gratuitous sex - I have no problems with sex in stories- but this was perfunctory and nothing new.
Normally the reviews I post are of books that are recently published or are about to be published. Today I have a quick review for a book that I have been meaning to read for years.
A team of excommunicated nuns are sent to confirm or rule out a demonic presence in an old house with a dark past. The Moore house has been the scene of multiple deaths. It stands alone and abandoned but perhaps not empty. From the opening scene, I knew this was going to be a terrifying tale. Religion and redemption play a huge part in the back story of this team of women and the priest who sent them. The characters are complex and not always likable, but just like real life, they have their good and bad points.
There were a few minor things that irked me, one of which was a paragraph where a character was called by the wrong name enough times to momentarily confuse me, which pulled me out of the story. Overall this was a good novel and If you like religious horror this is for you. It's a clever tale of revenge not only from beyond the grave but beyond the gates of hell. Visit the Moore house for a deadly, demonic good time.
I've been reading horror, in its many forms, for a very long time. There is supernatural horror and psychological horror, but what about religious horror? Is there such a thing? Looking back, I am asking myself now if THE EXORCIST was supernatural horror or religious horror. Either way, it was disturbing. Actually, there is more horror in the teachings of the Catholic church than I've ever found in anything else I've read. Be it Stephen King, or Jack Ketchum or Bram Stoker, the whole burning in hell thing seems so much worse than mere vampires, werewolves or ghosts. I have long believed that religion, in general, is responsible for more earthly atrocities than any other institution.
It would seem that the Catholic church is in sync with Newton's Third Law: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In other words, if there is God there has to be Satan; if there is a heaven, there must be a hell. One of the reasons I have been drawn to the horror genre is to escape the real-world horrors that surround us on a daily basis. No matter how gruesome, written fictional depictions of evil are only as bad as the picture I can paint in my mind's eye.
It is difficult to review a book so antithetical to my own belief that we must live our lives here on earth for the good of our fellow man and not for the demands of some mythical god or demon. That being said, the writing is, for the most part, excellent. If I am not a god follower, I am a follower of good writing. There are some genuinely horrific scenes that will make your toes curl. Tony Tremblay has gotten the point across that although we are meant to see this as a tale of the supernatural, it is also a story of corruption of the agencies on which we must depend for our safety. How do you tell local law enforcement that it is a demon at work and not a serial killer? It is also an account of personal weakness so despised by religion. The conflict between reality and the Catholic church is tangible.
I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of Tony Tremblay's upcoming haunted house novel, "The Moore House". While the haunted house theme is a well used one, Tony puts his own spin on it, which made for a very enjoyable read. The book was very easy to get into; the pacing was brisk and the characters all had points for me to relate to, thus ensuring my butt planted in chair. Everyday annoyances like work and home responsibilities precluded me from devouring this in one sitting. Which I would have done with no problem. And no regrets. Tony has created flawed, believable, human characters. And I was intrigued to see how they dealt with being thrust in an inhuman situation. There were enough turns and surprises to distinguish this tale from its forebears of the subgenre. I especially enjoyed the refreshing take on demonology. This is, by all accounts, a thoroughly entertaining and thoughtful horror novel. I look forward to more work from Tony Tremblay.
This book was so great! I couldn’t put it down! Fun, gory, scary...best exorcism book I’ve read in ages. I loved the characters and really wanted to be friends with some of them. This book will have you up reading past your bedtime to see what fresh horror the next page will bring. Tony Tremblay is a fantastic writer and I can’t wait for more novels from him.
After having read some of Tony's short stories I was very hesitant to pick this up, fearing it would be over the top dark and gruesome. I shouldn't have waited. This book was so entertaining, I didn't want to put it down. Sure, this was still grisly and sacrilegious ... a true horror story. And I really enjoyed reading it.
As for Goffstown having such dark secrets, it's all fiction, right? I've lived here for 20+ years and for the first time I may be scared to go out at night.
A solid possession novel with a few clever twists.
THE MOORE HOUSE by Tony Tremblay is set up much like a haunted house story. There's an old house that locals avoid, lots of deaths within its walls, and a mystery surrounding why. But instead of ghosts, we have a demon, and a Catholic priest with a team of "empaths" are brought in to first investigate, then exorcise the house.
The action in this novel comes in quick and sudden bursts throughout. One minute the characters are standing around talking, the next there's a ferocious attack. These jarring scenes actually work really well in the context of the book, acting less like 'jump scares' and more like an in-your-face way of letting you know never to get too comfortable here. Bad things are happening, and worse beings are behind it. Tremblay doesn't let you forget it, either.
The pacing was solid from start to finish. This isn't a slow burn story, but it's staged similarly to one, the main difference being the ferocious acts of violence that reach out and snatch you by the throat when you least expect it. For this reason, THE MOORE HOUSE moves along at a brisk clip, building the tension as the mystery unfolds before us.
Speaking of mysteries, I was also struck at how this novel also moved much like a detective novel from the 40s. Replace Sam Spade with Fr. McCloud, throw in some disgraced nuns with psychic abilities, and you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about. I really enjoyed this procedural aspect to the book, the search for clues and to just exactly what the name of the demon within is so that the rites of exorcism can be utilized at their fullest strength.
And that's where things really go left.
The climax of this story was very satisfying, throwing in some twists I didn't see coming and I doubt you will either. Tremblay keeps you on your toes as to what the motivations of the various characters are, especially towards the end, and it all served to elevate the suspense and keeping me on the edge of my seat. It's quite a gripping finale, replete with hand-wringing action and suspense.
The prose is good, the dialogue serving the story well, especially in that 'mystery novel' aspect, as they way the people converse reminded me of some older Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammet books from many decades past. But none of it rings untrue to the characters and works rather well here, though the setting is modern.
Not your typical 'haunted house' story, THE MOORE HOUSE ups the ante by introducing ravenous demons (and some interesting mythos surrounding their creation) in place of disembodied souls, giving the novel a set of teeth far sharper and tearing than it might have otherwise. The characters are flawed but believable, and though some are clearly hypocrites, you end up rooting for them anyway. Why? Because they're human.
4/5 stars to THE MOORE HOUSE. A story of possession of both person and home, a mystery/detective story cloaked in a cape of horror from the supernatural. If you like stories like this, you'll be right at home. And both gore lovers and haters alike can be assured, this one is up your alley all at once. The gore is minimal, but when it happens it is striking and horrifying. Not too much, but enough syrup to keep the pancakes tasty.
Don't miss this one. It's easy to see why it was nominated for the Bram Stoker award.
Three Words That Describe This Book: flawed protagonists, violent, intense
Another promising haunted house debut is THE MOORE HOUSE by horror reviewer and Con organizer Tony Tremblay, but this one is more violent and intense than Sorensen’s and comes with a side of seriously flawed protagonists and a healthy portion of terrifying demons. After something gruesome happens in a New Hampshire home a priest and three excommunicated nuns are asked to come and cleanse the building, but it is only after they give it the all clear that the demons truly begin to unleash their wrath and power. Tremblay deftly works his realistic characters, a well framed, super creepy New England setting, and a terrifyingly compelling backstory to keep readers up all night, unwilling to stop turning the pages, both to find out what happens and because they are too frightened to turn out the lights.
First--I love hardbacks without a dust jacket and this hardback has a beautiful hardcover with the design/book cover formed right on the hardback part of the novel. Next--I loved the length of this book. It's 258 pages and includes a bonus story at the end that you'll only get in the print edition. Finally, what a great tale! If you aren't hooked by the first 7 pages of the Prologue, then I don't know what in the world could ever hook you. Scared by haunted houses? How about strong demonic forces? This story has all that and more! It's a quick rollercoaster read with ups and downs of fallible religious characters who try to do right despite expectations of others and perceptions of a community who fail to see who they are deep inside. Feeling brave? When the door opens, step across the threshold if you dare. The Moore House is waiting for you and it's hungry----
Three nuns and a priest walk into a haunted house… What secrets could a demon find in their past? This book grabs you right from the grisly opening. After that, it was hard to put down. You get characters with depth and some surprising twists that give you a great ending. And even with that ending, I’m sure Hollywood would find a way to make a sequel. You won’t be disappointed if you pick up this book.
I’ve read a respectable number of haunted house novels recently (probably too many) and so I was slightly jaundiced when I got around to Tony Tremblay’s “The Moore House” a further addition to this rather crowded sub-genre. I had never read Tremblay before so started the novel with as much enthusiasm as I could possibly muster and quickly found myself to be pleasantly surprised and pulled into the book. This very enjoyable horror novel had absolutely no problem in holding my attention from beginning to end and is well worth having a look into should exorcisms, demons and haunted houses be your idea of fun.
Let’s get this out of the way right at the start: “The Moore House” will remind you of many other books and films, the most obvious points of reference being “The Exorcist” and I suppose “The Amityville Horror”, and perhaps even “The Evil Dead”. However, don’t let that put you off, Tremblay has his own refreshing take on very familiar material and does more than enough to have created a novel which through very strong and convincing characterisation stands on its own two feet.
“The Moore House” of the title is a terrific location and dominates the majority of the book. In other haunted house novels I’ve reviewed recently I’ve quickly become tired of the author reiterating that the house is “creepy”. This is not scary in the slightest and does nothing to develop atmosphere or build tension. The best haunted house stories do not tell the reader creepy things are afoot, the reader feels that mood soaking out of the page through the words. The crackling and foreboding atmosphere which surrounds Moore House, both before and after the characters enter the building, which is created by Tremblay is considerable more effective than being told something is “creepy”, instead it just naturally is.
Father MacLeod leads a paranormal unit of three excommunicated nuns who are empaths, the novel is seen from all four points of view, all of which also have their own issues. The nuns use these strong empathic feelings to verify reports of demonic possession, and if necessary MacLeod performs exorcisms. More often than not though they are not necessary and the group root out other issues such as child abuse. Early in the novel a rich church benefactor strong arms MacLeod to investigate Moore House, where his drug addict granddaughter was last sighted before she disappeared. Initially the women proclaim the house to be free of supernatural forces, but they are soon proven to be horribly wrong, and the house is very powerful.
Right from the outset Tremblay lays his cards on the table in the prologue: “the Moore House has a black soul” and all the locals avoid it. However, it has a weird pull on those who stray too close to it, and in the opening pages some poor sucker gets trapped in the window and a huge talking dog eats his face off whilst he is still alive, and keeps munching until all that remains is the bottom half of his torso stuck outside the exterior of the window. Yes, indeed, this is one nasty house and it reminded me a tad of the Marsden House in Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot”.
I particularly enjoyed Tremblay’s riff on demonology. We naturally think that demons are thousands of years old, but what if the Devil created or recruited new demons, those who were Nazi torturers or modern-day serial killers such as Harold Shipman? So, if someone is a recently deceased ‘new’ demon then perhaps an ancient exorcism rite might not have any cold over them? This is all cleverly explored, as we slowly realise that Father MacLeod really is not quite what he seems and may be out of his depth.
Most of the action is set over a very short period and has an insightful take on the workings of the Catholic Church, exorcisms and demon possession. Combined with the back-stories and secrets of the three nuns Celese, Nora, Agnes, which is exploited by the most powerful demon, there really is quite a lot going on in the novel. Along the way, a terrific support character is introduced, a pawn shop owner who is an expert in religious artefacts and demonology.
There are lots of haunted house novels around, but in the end of the day they remain one of the key corner stones of the genre, and “The Moore House” is one of the stronger efforts I have read recently. Great characters, nasty demons, impressive action and a very unpleasant location. If you’ve been jaded by reading just one too many haunted house novels then this effort may well rekindle your enthusiasm for something we all love.
And remember, whatever you do, never say the name of the demon out loud, always spell that bad boy, nobody wants that kind of unwanted attention B-E-L-P-H-E-G-O-R
Three excommunicated nuns – Nora, Agnes, and Celeste – join a sanctioned paranormal unit within the Catholic Church, led by Father MacLeod. Tasked with verifying reports of demonic possession, the trio is called to assist at the infamous Moore house in New Hampshire, a site entangled with a history of murder. Despite explicit instructions to stay outside the house, relying on their empathic abilities, Nora, Agnes, and Celeste declare it free of supernatural forces. However, the unexpected twists in this chilling narrative reveal that they may have underestimated the true nature of the Moore house.
Immersing myself in The Moore House was a thrilling journey, especially after completing The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts. As a devoted fan of haunted house books, this one popped up on my radar through Goodreads recommendations, and it did not disappoint.
The book has an infusion of Catholic elements, with nuns, priests, and saints at its core, adding a profound layer to the narrative. Furthermore, the narrative also frequently references God and religion. An example is Celeste's heartfelt expression of gratitude, "she silently thanked her God for His love," which resonated deeply with my fondness for the genre. I also like the appeal of Catholic horror because it is rooted in the traditions of exorcism, featuring crucifixes, prayers, and the iconic garb of priests. The reason is possibly due to the influence of Hollywood films such as The Exorcist or The Conjuring.
The book contains an unapologetic portrayal of graphic scenes that create an intense and immersive atmosphere. Besides. the narrative skillfully navigated through the realms of creepiness and discomfort. Both points kept me on the edge of my seat and provided the uncanny feeling I craved. The inclusion of police involvement added a layer of realism to the story, especially considering the numerous murder cases entwined within the Moore house. Lastly, the narrative flowed seamlessly, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted reading experience, which allowed me to savour every chilling moment without any hiccups.
While I thoroughly enjoyed The Moore House for its spine-chilling atmosphere and compelling horror elements, I must acknowledge certain aspects that didn't resonate with me. The chemistry between Celeste and the other two nuns felt somewhat weak. Additionally, I found the inclusion of explicit sexual behaviour involving Nora, Agnes, and Father MacLeod to be a departure from Catholic norms, which, for me, didn't necessarily enhance the overall narrative. In reality, nuns and priests often undergo confession before performing exorcisms to ensure the efficacy of the ritual, as the demon may exploit their sins. Tremblay's deviation from this practice left me annoyed.
That said, for fellow horror enthusiasts, I still truly recommend The Moore House. Its spooky ambience and intense graphic scenes make it a riveting read, offering a visceral experience for those seeking a compelling and unsettling journey into the world of horror fiction.
On Thursday (May 24) it was with great delight and gratitude that I received an advance copy of The Moore House by Tony Tremblay for review. For those of you that don't know Tony, he is a gifted author with stories published in multiple anthologies and his own short story collection titled The Seeds of Nightmares, has been a reviewer for Cemetery Dance Publications and www.horrorworld.org (under the pseudonym T.T.Zuma), is a loving husband, father and grandfather, an avid gardener, a constant social media presence, and one of the nicest guys you would have the pleasure of meeting. I have known Tony for a couple of years now, having first met him in the Fall of 2016 at the Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival in Haverhill MA. That being said I promised an honest review. When I first heard of his forthcoming novel, I assumed the subject matter would relate to the Moore House murders (the unsolved Villisca, IA axe murders, 1912) or the reported haunted house of the same name in York County, VA. Like every forthcoming title that interests me I avoided all contact with anything that might even hint at a spoiler, so the read (apart from my initial thoughts) was untainted. Of course those assumptions were proven incorrect in the first couple of pages. Typically it takes me roughly a week to finish a novel these days, but this treasure was devoured within two days. Not because it's an easy read, but rather the almost seamless and unpretentious style in which Tony writes. Several times I thought I had the conclusion nailed, just to have Tony up the ante and throw a twist in. There were times I sensed the influence of other great authors such as Chris Golden, James Moore, Bracken MacLeod. Really not surprising considering the tight circle that the New England authors have and enjoy. For a brief moment I thought it was going in a similar direction as A Headful of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, but again that thought was quickly dashed by Tony's skillful redirection. The Moore House is an unrelenting tale of possession, distantly echoing themes of The Amityville Horror, The Exorcist and Poltergeist. From the opening page the reader is pulled into the fictional hell of Tony's mind, and it doesn't stop until the final pages. There is no fat on this book - it is lean and muscled, at times brutally graphic. Those with a familiarity of writers in New England will likely recognize some of the characters within the pages, and to be quite frank the roles that were written them made for quite a surreal read. Fans of the horror genre will enjoy this book as much as I did. The Moore House is set for release in July - copies will be available via Haverhill House Publishing, at Tony's table at NECON, and likely Amazon. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy!
Take a cup of Matheson’s The Legend of Hell House, a cup of Blatty’s The Exorcist, and a heaping tablespoon or two of the movie Poltergeist, and you have the basic recipe for Tony Tremblay’s The Moore House. Only the basic recipe, however. Tremblay, like any great chef, knows how to add his own tasty ingredients to make the novel his own. And a satisfying, delicious meal it is!
The novel starts with a gruesome scene involving a homeless man, and the horror and suspense are unrelenting from there. But I think the book works best because of the interplay and complicated relationships of the main characters (three nuns who are empaths and a priest experienced in exorcisms). All of them are flawed characters—perhaps the priest, Father MacLeod, most of all. Tremblay skillfully manipulates the reader by putting us in the minds of the three empaths (a nice trick there). Father MacLeod, on the other hand, comes off as self-serving and despicable, a character impossible to like. But, in the context of the story, wholly believable.
The pacing of the novel is perfect—I found it to be a fast and enjoyable read. The characters, despite the bizarre plot, are realistic. The story is horrifying. If you love horror fiction, this book definitely belongs on your bookshelf. I can’t wait to see what Tony writes next—maybe a sequel to this??
One last note: If you’re a character in a Tremblay novel, you probably don’t want to be a police officer. Just sayin’ ...
Think of all the scary stories you've read about demonic possession. Remember all the horrible scenes you seen in horror movies. This will be worse ~ If any of you are looking for a read that will engulf you into a few terrifying hours - you've came upon it. Tony Tremblay's debut novel The Moore House will deliver Hell upon your bottom door step.
All across the land in small towns, there is always one house that is purported to be haunted. A house which folks would say it needs to be torn down before someone gets hurt. Or, it needs to be blessed by a legit priest, so the town folk could relax and feel not threatened by its presence. Described as Ghost Story meets The Exorcist, here is a novel that will surpass them.
One of the many great things about this read folks, is each character are intertwined with each other and as the story continues, the twine is seamlessly sewn together to a most excellent freakin' ending. This is not only good writing, but, exceptional.
Talk about twining and exceptional writing, Tony has an innate ability with his writing to take the reader on a very clear perception of making the reader realize how close his fiction writing is to your everyday reality. The words he chose and how he incorporated them made the atmosphere of the read very tangible and very real. And talk about tone, the over all tone only heightened the atmosphere. I have to have that in my reads if I want me to be in the element for a few hours.
Combining an exorcism novel with a haunted house could be a horrible idea in the wrong writer's hands. While the two would seem to go hand-in-hand, mixing the pair could create a bulky, overzealous project. Fortunately, Tony Tremblay proves, handily, he's not only up to the challenge but can also craft a gripping, frightening, realistic novel which places the reader in the center of a religious showdown with not a single character carrying heavy baggage. Tremblay's writing is smooth and he moves from character to character easily, painting portraits of three ex-nuns and a priest - primarily - that may be on the right side of God, but are anything but godly themselves. For horror fans, one of the cooler parts of Tremblay's debut novel - which was recently named as a Bram Stoker award shortlist nominee - is his winks and nods to other writers in the genre. Do yourself a favour and unlock the front door to THE MOORE HOUSE.
As a fan of Tony Tremblay’s THE SEEDS OF NIGHTMARES I expected great things from his first novel-length outing. I was not disappointed. Tremblay creates a colorful cast of characters: excommunicated nuns with empathic abilities, a priest with sins of his own, a mysterious pawnshop dealer, and a character I can’t describe for fear of spoilers. Tremblay demonstrates a deft hand keeping plot threads together and characters cohesive. This extremely enjoyable novel provides twists and turns galore. The story moves at a brisk pace and provides one shock after another. You won’t soon forget THE MOORE HOUSE. Could a sequel be in the works? I certainly hope so. Read and enjoy.
What do you get when you combine a haunted house, demonic possession, and small-town Americana?
You get one heck of a novel!
This novel is lightening-paced. You aren't given much respite as the author throws you from horrifying situation to horrifying situation. You can easily find yourself completing this book in a single afternoon. It hooks you right from page one and doesn't let up. One reason for that? The characters. Flawed, broken, and most of all, interesting, each person you meet in this story could easily have a book of their own.
If you're a fan of supernatural horror/spooky stuff, do yourself a favor and take a visit to The Moore House.