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Hollow House
No one in Willow Street pays it any notice, not the disgruntled Campbell family next door, not Alice Cowley and her suicidal daughter, or Mr. and Mrs. Markham down the road. Not even Darryl, the loner at number seventy, who is abnormal himself, thinks much about it. It is just the old Kemper House, forgotten and abandoned.
Until it makes itself known.
When the stench of death wafts from Kemper House through Willow Street, and comes to the attention of recent resident and newspaper reporter, Ben Traynor, it starts a chain of horrors that brings Kemper House's curse into their own homes and leads others direct to its door. Kemper House not only haunts its neighbours, it infects them with an evil that traverses time and reality itself.
Until it makes itself known.
When the stench of death wafts from Kemper House through Willow Street, and comes to the attention of recent resident and newspaper reporter, Ben Traynor, it starts a chain of horrors that brings Kemper House's curse into their own homes and leads others direct to its door. Kemper House not only haunts its neighbours, it infects them with an evil that traverses time and reality itself.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2016
37 people are currently reading
865 people want to read
About the author
Greg Chapman
102 books108 followersAustralian Shadows Award-winner***, two-time Bram Stoker Award nominee** and Ditmar Awards nominee*, Greg Chapman is a horror author and artist based in Queensland Australia.
Greg is the author of the novels Hollow House, The Noctuary: Pandemonium and Netherkind and the collections, Vaudeville and Other Nightmares, This Sublime Darkness and Other Dark Stories, Bleak Precision, Midnight Masquerade and Black Days and Bloody Nights. His short fiction has also appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His artistic endeavours include designing book covers for various publishers in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He has been creating book covers and artwork for IFWG Publishing since 2013. The first graphic novel he illustrated, Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times, written by Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton, won the Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel category at the Bram Stoker Awards® in 2013.
Greg was also the President of the Australasian Horror Writers Association from 2017-2020.
*** Best Collected Work, for Midnight Masquerade 2023 Australian Shadows Awards
** Superior Achievement in a First Novel for Hollow House (2016) and
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction, for “The Book of Last Words” (2019)
* Best Artwork (internal illustrations in “Polyphemus”) 2024
Greg is the author of the novels Hollow House, The Noctuary: Pandemonium and Netherkind and the collections, Vaudeville and Other Nightmares, This Sublime Darkness and Other Dark Stories, Bleak Precision, Midnight Masquerade and Black Days and Bloody Nights. His short fiction has also appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His artistic endeavours include designing book covers for various publishers in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He has been creating book covers and artwork for IFWG Publishing since 2013. The first graphic novel he illustrated, Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times, written by Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton, won the Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel category at the Bram Stoker Awards® in 2013.
Greg was also the President of the Australasian Horror Writers Association from 2017-2020.
*** Best Collected Work, for Midnight Masquerade 2023 Australian Shadows Awards
** Superior Achievement in a First Novel for Hollow House (2016) and
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction, for “The Book of Last Words” (2019)
* Best Artwork (internal illustrations in “Polyphemus”) 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 19, 2021
There is an extreme stench coming from the derelict house next door, the Kemper house, like something or someone decaying. Police finds a corpse. Was it murder or suicide? What about the missing boy, Zach, in the neighborhood. When a reporter named Ben Traynor is starting to get his investigations more and more nightmares are turning up. He and his wife Megan are drawn into the story like moths to the flame. This is an extremely uncanny horror novel about a haunted house and a very strange cult. Couldn't put the put down and absolutely devoured it. Great storytelling, uncanny, fast paced, interesting characters, no slowing down in suspense and something really evil coming to the surface after laying dormant for years. Highly recommended modern horror novel!
November 3, 2016
This is the first time I have read this author & happy to say it wont be my last, I wasn't expecting much of this book but boy wasn't it GOOD!! I like his writing style in this genre its unique & his storytelling keeps you interested right from the start, the tension builds each chapter & you are left wondering what was going to happen next.
WHAT EVIL LIES IN THE KEMPER HOUSE IT WILL DEVOUR ALL WHO ENTERS!!
Carol, Max, Zac & Matthew Campbell live next door to the Kemper house not knowing what the stench is coming from inside, boys being boys Zac dares Matthew to go take a look but Matthew is to scared so Zac goes to have a look, BUT NEVER RETURNS!! hi father is not a very nice man always hitting Matthew he asks where Zac is but he doesn't know?
Soon somebody Calls the police to investigate What the Detectives find is a dead corpse badly decomposed & with horrible injuries so an investigation starts until a reporter hears about it from his boos Ben Traynor is keen to investigate he is told by the Detectives to leave well enough alone.
Being a good reporter Ben doesn't listen he is determined to find out the Evil of what the Kemper house holds even to the point of putting his marriage in the background, while he is talking to his boss Mitchell Cross comes to see him about the article he wrote about the house he tells him to stay away AS THE HOUSE IS EVIL!! we find out his wife & son were murdered in that house Ben listens but he wants to find out more what he finds is an unimaginable evil that could destroy him forever.
The ending was totally creepy & a total shock for me.
WHAT EVIL LIES IN THE KEMPER HOUSE IT WILL DEVOUR ALL WHO ENTERS!!
Carol, Max, Zac & Matthew Campbell live next door to the Kemper house not knowing what the stench is coming from inside, boys being boys Zac dares Matthew to go take a look but Matthew is to scared so Zac goes to have a look, BUT NEVER RETURNS!! hi father is not a very nice man always hitting Matthew he asks where Zac is but he doesn't know?
Soon somebody Calls the police to investigate What the Detectives find is a dead corpse badly decomposed & with horrible injuries so an investigation starts until a reporter hears about it from his boos Ben Traynor is keen to investigate he is told by the Detectives to leave well enough alone.
Being a good reporter Ben doesn't listen he is determined to find out the Evil of what the Kemper house holds even to the point of putting his marriage in the background, while he is talking to his boss Mitchell Cross comes to see him about the article he wrote about the house he tells him to stay away AS THE HOUSE IS EVIL!! we find out his wife & son were murdered in that house Ben listens but he wants to find out more what he finds is an unimaginable evil that could destroy him forever.
The ending was totally creepy & a total shock for me.
February 3, 2023
Major Disappointment!
Very small backstory:
The house next door called the Kemper House has been abandoned for a long time until one morning the neighbors wake up with a death stench wafting around in their neighborhood. When police are called to investigate the neighbors find out there was a dead body inside but with the house abandoned no one is quite sure how a dead body ended up being there to begin with as they never saw any activity next door.
Thoughts:
I have read lots of haunted house stories during my life and I don't even know how this story could be considered a "haunted house" story as the more I read of the book the more I was trying to figure out what was going on and where were the spooks?! There is something that happens near the beginning of the book that is weird spooky but for most of the story it is just everyone trying to figure out why there was a dead body in the house.
I struggled through most of the book trying to figure out what was going on and it seems from looking at reviews on here I am in the minority on this one. Normally if a book is not capturing my interest by at least the 50% mark or I am not wrapped up within the story by then this book will hit the dnf shelf early but I just stayed with it as I kept thinking something was going to happen. I was not impressed with this story at all. I also moved back my star rating as well as I did not like the book so dropping it down to one star. Giving this book one "Where Are The Ghosts?" stars!
Very small backstory:
The house next door called the Kemper House has been abandoned for a long time until one morning the neighbors wake up with a death stench wafting around in their neighborhood. When police are called to investigate the neighbors find out there was a dead body inside but with the house abandoned no one is quite sure how a dead body ended up being there to begin with as they never saw any activity next door.
Thoughts:
I have read lots of haunted house stories during my life and I don't even know how this story could be considered a "haunted house" story as the more I read of the book the more I was trying to figure out what was going on and where were the spooks?! There is something that happens near the beginning of the book that is weird spooky but for most of the story it is just everyone trying to figure out why there was a dead body in the house.
I struggled through most of the book trying to figure out what was going on and it seems from looking at reviews on here I am in the minority on this one. Normally if a book is not capturing my interest by at least the 50% mark or I am not wrapped up within the story by then this book will hit the dnf shelf early but I just stayed with it as I kept thinking something was going to happen. I was not impressed with this story at all. I also moved back my star rating as well as I did not like the book so dropping it down to one star. Giving this book one "Where Are The Ghosts?" stars!
Want to read
March 9, 2018Thunderstorm Books Black Voltage Series Book #83
This signed edition hardcover is numbered 14 of 52 copies and is signed by Greg Chapman.
Contents:
009 - "Hollow House" (2016)
185 - "Torment" (2011)
Cover Art by Ben Baldwin
This signed edition hardcover is numbered 14 of 52 copies and is signed by Greg Chapman.
Contents:
009 - "Hollow House" (2016)
185 - "Torment" (2011)
Cover Art by Ben Baldwin
April 25, 2018
HOLLOW HOUSE, by Greg Chapman is the first novel I've read by this author, but it won't be the last! He has managed to bring a new take on one of my favorite sub-genres--that of the haunted house. I was hooked from the very first page, and quite pleased when the story continued to prove unpredictable, all throughout.
". . . To its neighbors, the Kemper House had died a long time ago and been left an empty vessel. They were wrong."
In an upper middle class neighborhood, number 72 Willow Street (otherwise known as "the Kemper House", after its architect), was somehow completely unnoticed--despite its outdated style and dilapidated state that would ordinarily have people complaining about the "eyesore". At least, it went unnoticed until the third day a decaying body lay in it--the putrid smell finally penetrating beyond all boundaries and invading the homes in its vicinity.
Greg Chapman's writing perfectly conveys the essence of humanity, and how we isolate ourselves in our own little worlds--with only a brief smile or nod to those that do not actively participate in our intimate lives.
". . . People became strangers because detachment always gave them the impression of safety . . . "
As we are introduced to each family near the Kemper House, we are privy to all of their private lives and struggles that even their closest neighbors could never have guessed. The beaten, the abused, the suicidal, the predator, and even the "newer" family to the neighborhood have secrets of their own.
. . . They were all strangers, complete strangers. Was it fear that kept neighbors apart, or apathy?"
Then we have the enigmatic Kemper House, itself. Somehow, something there is now spreading, reaching out to all those around it. The type of haunting here is quite unique--a great feat in a notch that has seen just about everything. For there are other places like Kemper House--and they too, are searching. . . .
". . . The only difference between 1201 Mayne Avenue and 72 Willow Street was the absence of the smell of putrefaction . . . "
The story unfolds, moving from one upheaval to the next, never letting up. Even when you think there's a "lull" in the intensity of the story-line, Chapman twists it and throws another curve your way. HOLLOW HOUSE brings us both a graphic and introspective look at a unique kind of haunting.
Highly recommended!
". . . To its neighbors, the Kemper House had died a long time ago and been left an empty vessel. They were wrong."
In an upper middle class neighborhood, number 72 Willow Street (otherwise known as "the Kemper House", after its architect), was somehow completely unnoticed--despite its outdated style and dilapidated state that would ordinarily have people complaining about the "eyesore". At least, it went unnoticed until the third day a decaying body lay in it--the putrid smell finally penetrating beyond all boundaries and invading the homes in its vicinity.
Greg Chapman's writing perfectly conveys the essence of humanity, and how we isolate ourselves in our own little worlds--with only a brief smile or nod to those that do not actively participate in our intimate lives.
". . . People became strangers because detachment always gave them the impression of safety . . . "
As we are introduced to each family near the Kemper House, we are privy to all of their private lives and struggles that even their closest neighbors could never have guessed. The beaten, the abused, the suicidal, the predator, and even the "newer" family to the neighborhood have secrets of their own.
. . . They were all strangers, complete strangers. Was it fear that kept neighbors apart, or apathy?"
Then we have the enigmatic Kemper House, itself. Somehow, something there is now spreading, reaching out to all those around it. The type of haunting here is quite unique--a great feat in a notch that has seen just about everything. For there are other places like Kemper House--and they too, are searching. . . .
". . . The only difference between 1201 Mayne Avenue and 72 Willow Street was the absence of the smell of putrefaction . . . "
The story unfolds, moving from one upheaval to the next, never letting up. Even when you think there's a "lull" in the intensity of the story-line, Chapman twists it and throws another curve your way. HOLLOW HOUSE brings us both a graphic and introspective look at a unique kind of haunting.
Highly recommended!
August 5, 2016
Hollow House is my second read from Greg Chapman and I would just like to say that this man writes exactly what I like to read. I was hooked from page one, and that hasn't happened with too many books for me; I'm typically a little slow to warm up to a new story.
The moment I saw "haunted house" I knew I had to have this and I can honestly say that this is one of the top haunted house stories I have ever read. I won't say that it's classic or that it's typical because it's not. The Kemper house is an entity entirely of its own making and the overwhelming smell of death that it emits is only the beginning of what the house has in store for the residents of Willow Street. Hollow House will change the way you look at that empty house in your neighborhood, the one you maybe forget to notice, the one that may be noticing you...
I cannot give this a higher recommendation. I will definitely be re-reading this sometime soon and suggest that you get your own copy as soon as possible. My hope for this book is movie rights (this would make a wicked scary movie) and a nice signed/limited edition for my bookshelf (hint, hint: Greg). Otherwise, what are you waiting for? :)
I received an e-ARC of this book from Omnium Gatherum in exchange for an honest review.
The moment I saw "haunted house" I knew I had to have this and I can honestly say that this is one of the top haunted house stories I have ever read. I won't say that it's classic or that it's typical because it's not. The Kemper house is an entity entirely of its own making and the overwhelming smell of death that it emits is only the beginning of what the house has in store for the residents of Willow Street. Hollow House will change the way you look at that empty house in your neighborhood, the one you maybe forget to notice, the one that may be noticing you...
I cannot give this a higher recommendation. I will definitely be re-reading this sometime soon and suggest that you get your own copy as soon as possible. My hope for this book is movie rights (this would make a wicked scary movie) and a nice signed/limited edition for my bookshelf (hint, hint: Greg). Otherwise, what are you waiting for? :)
I received an e-ARC of this book from Omnium Gatherum in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2021
It’s starts as a murder mystery and gradually deepens into a cosmic horror tale. It grabs the reader and hauls them across a dark and frightening abyss. One has the feeling, amidst rapidly page-turning, they are not so much making the choice to read, but rather being taken by the author’s ability to weave a compelling and terrifying narrative. It’s like not being able to close your eyes to a train wreck. Just as unsettling as the house, are the troubled inter-relations between characters. A theme of verbal/physical abuse in families and relationships occurs often. Such disorder in the character's lives is what enlivens their vulnerability to the evil that inhabits the Kemper House on Willow Street. If you really, really like haunted house stories you will love this one.
August 3, 2016
Review copy
Here's how to set the tone for your book. One of the best opening lines I've read this year...
The stench of putrefaction leaked from the Kemper House into the air over Willow Street for three days before any of the neighbours noticed it.
Hollow House is much more than a simple haunted house story. What lurks inside 27 Willow Street affects everyone in the area in one way or another.
This is a dark and gruesome tale, with an ever-increasing creep factor as we learn more about The Kemper House and other buildings designed and built by architect, Eric Kemper.
Ben Traynor is a star reporter for the local rag and happens to live right across the street from The Kemper House. He's the one that uncovers its history and his relentless investigation just might cost him his life.
In telling his story, Chapman manages to capture teenage angst to a T. Sibling rivalry, parent/child relationships, they're all here and they all ring true.
With Hollow House, the author has taken a tired trope and breathed new life into the haunted house story form, leaving the reader with a captivating and enjoyable read.
Certainly recommended.
Hollow House is published by Omnium Gatherum Media and is available as a paperback and for the Kindle. if you subscrible to Kindle Unlimited you may read it at no additional charge and if you're an Amazon Prime member you can read Hollow House for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Greg Chapman is a horror author and artist from Australia and in the last 5 years he's had 5 novellas published as well as a short story collection. Hollow House is his long awaited first novel. It's about time, Greg.
Here's how to set the tone for your book. One of the best opening lines I've read this year...
The stench of putrefaction leaked from the Kemper House into the air over Willow Street for three days before any of the neighbours noticed it.
Hollow House is much more than a simple haunted house story. What lurks inside 27 Willow Street affects everyone in the area in one way or another.
This is a dark and gruesome tale, with an ever-increasing creep factor as we learn more about The Kemper House and other buildings designed and built by architect, Eric Kemper.
Ben Traynor is a star reporter for the local rag and happens to live right across the street from The Kemper House. He's the one that uncovers its history and his relentless investigation just might cost him his life.
In telling his story, Chapman manages to capture teenage angst to a T. Sibling rivalry, parent/child relationships, they're all here and they all ring true.
With Hollow House, the author has taken a tired trope and breathed new life into the haunted house story form, leaving the reader with a captivating and enjoyable read.
Certainly recommended.
Hollow House is published by Omnium Gatherum Media and is available as a paperback and for the Kindle. if you subscrible to Kindle Unlimited you may read it at no additional charge and if you're an Amazon Prime member you can read Hollow House for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Greg Chapman is a horror author and artist from Australia and in the last 5 years he's had 5 novellas published as well as a short story collection. Hollow House is his long awaited first novel. It's about time, Greg.
April 26, 2018
**Re-read was of the Thunderstorm Black Voltage Series edition, which included the novella, TORMENT. ** April 2018
HOLLOW HOUSE, by Greg Chapman is the first novel I've read by this author, but it won't be the last! He has managed to bring a new take on one of my favorite sub-genres--that of the haunted house. I was hooked from the very first page, and quite pleased when the story continued to prove unpredictable, all throughout.
". . . To its neighbors, the Kemper House had died a long time ago and been left an empty vessel. They were wrong."
In an upper middle class neighborhood, number 72 Willow Street (otherwise known as "the Kemper House", after its architect), was somehow completely unnoticed--despite its outdated style and dilapidated state that would ordinarily have people complaining about the "eyesore". At least, it went unnoticed until the third day a decaying body lay in it--the putrid smell finally penetrating beyond all boundaries and invading the homes in its vicinity.
Greg Chapman's writing perfectly conveys the essence of humanity, and how we isolate ourselves in our own little worlds--with only a brief smile or nod to those that do not actively participate in our intimate lives.
". . . People became strangers because detachment always gave them the impression of safety . . . "
As we are introduced to each family near the Kemper House, we are privy to all of their private lives and struggles that even their closest neighbors could never have guessed. The beaten, the abused, the suicidal, the predator, and even the "newer" family to the neighborhood have secrets of their own.
". . . They were all strangers, complete strangers. Was it fear that kept neighbors apart, or apathy?"
Then we have the enigmatic Kemper House, itself. Somehow, something there is now spreading, reaching out to all those around it. The type of haunting here is quite unique--a great feat in a notch that has seen just about everything. For there are other places like Kemper House--and they too, are searching. . . .
". . . The only difference between 1201 Mayne Avenue and 72 Willow Street was the absence of the smell of putrefaction . . . "
The story unfolds, moving from one upheaval to the next, never letting up. Even when you think there's a "lull" in the intensity of the story-line, Chapman twists it and throws another curve your way. HOLLOW HOUSE brings us both a graphic and introspective look at a unique kind of haunting.
Highly recommended!
HOLLOW HOUSE, by Greg Chapman is the first novel I've read by this author, but it won't be the last! He has managed to bring a new take on one of my favorite sub-genres--that of the haunted house. I was hooked from the very first page, and quite pleased when the story continued to prove unpredictable, all throughout.
". . . To its neighbors, the Kemper House had died a long time ago and been left an empty vessel. They were wrong."
In an upper middle class neighborhood, number 72 Willow Street (otherwise known as "the Kemper House", after its architect), was somehow completely unnoticed--despite its outdated style and dilapidated state that would ordinarily have people complaining about the "eyesore". At least, it went unnoticed until the third day a decaying body lay in it--the putrid smell finally penetrating beyond all boundaries and invading the homes in its vicinity.
Greg Chapman's writing perfectly conveys the essence of humanity, and how we isolate ourselves in our own little worlds--with only a brief smile or nod to those that do not actively participate in our intimate lives.
". . . People became strangers because detachment always gave them the impression of safety . . . "
As we are introduced to each family near the Kemper House, we are privy to all of their private lives and struggles that even their closest neighbors could never have guessed. The beaten, the abused, the suicidal, the predator, and even the "newer" family to the neighborhood have secrets of their own.
". . . They were all strangers, complete strangers. Was it fear that kept neighbors apart, or apathy?"
Then we have the enigmatic Kemper House, itself. Somehow, something there is now spreading, reaching out to all those around it. The type of haunting here is quite unique--a great feat in a notch that has seen just about everything. For there are other places like Kemper House--and they too, are searching. . . .
". . . The only difference between 1201 Mayne Avenue and 72 Willow Street was the absence of the smell of putrefaction . . . "
The story unfolds, moving from one upheaval to the next, never letting up. Even when you think there's a "lull" in the intensity of the story-line, Chapman twists it and throws another curve your way. HOLLOW HOUSE brings us both a graphic and introspective look at a unique kind of haunting.
Highly recommended!
December 29, 2017
When the stench of death begins pouring from the abandoned house no one on the street pays attention to, all Hell breaks loose as Greg Chapman takes the haunted house trope through it's paces in this vastly creepy tale of teenage isolation, the loss of community, hauntings, insanity, malignant architecture, resurrection and the concept of eternal evil.
A bone-chiller from an author to watch.
Highly recommended.
A bone-chiller from an author to watch.
Highly recommended.
March 14, 2018
Finally, a genuinely well done scary story. It’s been so long. Thanks Greg Chapman, an author completely new to me, but obviously very talented. Haunted places are nothing new to the genre, but what Chapman does to the premise certainly is. Welcome to Willow St., meet the neighbors before their souls get consumed by a dark entity down the street. And to think it used to be such a nice quiet place to live. Sure, the families on the street were for the most part as per Tolstoy’s maxim unhappy in their own way, but privately so. Now the creepy abandoned building is emitting a noxious smell and no one is safe as something ancient and dark awakens within its walls. Kudos to Chapman for developing every single individual character and not resorting to stereotypes, for creating a terrifyingly claustrophobic atmosphere, for crafting such a disturbingly far reaching evil that holds on to its precious soul possessions, for such terrific pacing and for exercising a superlative content managing skills in telling so much of a story within such a reasonably brief page count. If you’re in a mood for something to go Boo in the night, this book is great to spend an evening with. There’s enough gore and guts here for a seasoned genre aficionado, but the real scares and thrills are psychological, which is just how it should be. Read it if you dare.
December 21, 2021
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Over the last few years, I’ve read five or six of Greg Chapman’s releases and have become a huge fan of his work. Greg is also a highly prolific cover designer/artist, so I’m always in awe of seeing what he creates both visually and for my reading enjoyment.
Oddly, throughout this time, I never got around to reading his debut novel, ‘Hollow House’ which was nominated for an HWA Bram Stoker Award for Debut Novel. It’s been working its way up my TBR and when it arrived, I was so excited to dive in.
What I liked: ‘Hollow House’ begins with a horrible stench emanating from the Kemper House. A house that nobody was believed to be living in and one that people can’t recall much of a history.
From that basis, Chapman takes us on a roller coaster where we see secrets unraveled, cell phones compromised and characters get pushed around.
I really loved seeing how many different tentacles this story had that snaked out and pulled back in. We get some truly dark and creepy moments, one such early moment was when a neighboring teen crawls under the front porch. These moments occur frequently and each time they are vivid and claustrophobic.
What I didn’t like: I wasn’t a fan of a number of characters, with some of them feeling a bit shallow or lowly developed. A father uses the term ‘boy’ each and every time he speaks to his son and it was small things like that that kept me disconnecting with a few of them over the course of the novel.
I think having read this one after his newer, more fleshed out releases was the wrong way to go. This has seeds of a stunning novel, but it didn’t pan out like I know a Chapman novel would now.
Why you should buy this: I think this would be a great place to start with Chapman’s work. For those looking for a new, unique take on the house next door that isn’t what anyone thinks it is, look no further. Chapman is a great writer and this one will creep you out.
Over the last few years, I’ve read five or six of Greg Chapman’s releases and have become a huge fan of his work. Greg is also a highly prolific cover designer/artist, so I’m always in awe of seeing what he creates both visually and for my reading enjoyment.
Oddly, throughout this time, I never got around to reading his debut novel, ‘Hollow House’ which was nominated for an HWA Bram Stoker Award for Debut Novel. It’s been working its way up my TBR and when it arrived, I was so excited to dive in.
What I liked: ‘Hollow House’ begins with a horrible stench emanating from the Kemper House. A house that nobody was believed to be living in and one that people can’t recall much of a history.
From that basis, Chapman takes us on a roller coaster where we see secrets unraveled, cell phones compromised and characters get pushed around.
I really loved seeing how many different tentacles this story had that snaked out and pulled back in. We get some truly dark and creepy moments, one such early moment was when a neighboring teen crawls under the front porch. These moments occur frequently and each time they are vivid and claustrophobic.
What I didn’t like: I wasn’t a fan of a number of characters, with some of them feeling a bit shallow or lowly developed. A father uses the term ‘boy’ each and every time he speaks to his son and it was small things like that that kept me disconnecting with a few of them over the course of the novel.
I think having read this one after his newer, more fleshed out releases was the wrong way to go. This has seeds of a stunning novel, but it didn’t pan out like I know a Chapman novel would now.
Why you should buy this: I think this would be a great place to start with Chapman’s work. For those looking for a new, unique take on the house next door that isn’t what anyone thinks it is, look no further. Chapman is a great writer and this one will creep you out.
September 12, 2016
Getting woken up yet the hideous stench of death must be one of the most unpleasant ways to greet the day. In Hollow House, this was how the residents of Willow Street started their day. Unfortunately that was only the start.
As a body is discovered in the long abandoned Kemper House, starting an unsettling police investigation. The police aren’t the only people drawn to the Kemper House. In fact, before the police arrive teenager Zac Campell finds himself drawn to the house, on the premise of seeing a dead body. So begins the start of a disturbing chain of events.
As a reporter, Ben Traynor cannot believe his good luck to be handed such a juicy story. However, Ben’s investigation becomes more about the Kemper House than the body found inside it. Little does Ben know about what this gift of a story will cost him.
I generally like haunted house type stories, especially upon finding that they have an unusual twist. Hollow House does have its own unique spin on the haunted house story. But maybe because of the way the book is written, it just doesn’t come off as well as I’d hoped.
Whilst reading Hollow House, it felt like the author was taking, for a relatively short book, what felt like an inordinately long time to get to the final set piece of action at the house. I found it most frustrating that it then is all over in what seems like two pages. Hollow House was for me extremely anticlimactic.
For the most part the book was well written. But for some reason there was very little wow factor, and most importantly, there was very little in the way of scares. It wasn’t like there was much fun to be had either. Unfortunately Hollow House Is only sitting as a 2 star read for me.
****Disclaimer – I purchased this book. This is my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own***
As a body is discovered in the long abandoned Kemper House, starting an unsettling police investigation. The police aren’t the only people drawn to the Kemper House. In fact, before the police arrive teenager Zac Campell finds himself drawn to the house, on the premise of seeing a dead body. So begins the start of a disturbing chain of events.
As a reporter, Ben Traynor cannot believe his good luck to be handed such a juicy story. However, Ben’s investigation becomes more about the Kemper House than the body found inside it. Little does Ben know about what this gift of a story will cost him.
I generally like haunted house type stories, especially upon finding that they have an unusual twist. Hollow House does have its own unique spin on the haunted house story. But maybe because of the way the book is written, it just doesn’t come off as well as I’d hoped.
Whilst reading Hollow House, it felt like the author was taking, for a relatively short book, what felt like an inordinately long time to get to the final set piece of action at the house. I found it most frustrating that it then is all over in what seems like two pages. Hollow House was for me extremely anticlimactic.
For the most part the book was well written. But for some reason there was very little wow factor, and most importantly, there was very little in the way of scares. It wasn’t like there was much fun to be had either. Unfortunately Hollow House Is only sitting as a 2 star read for me.
****Disclaimer – I purchased this book. This is my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own***
September 20, 2025
Well, it's disappointing. Most of the book was pleasant. It wasn't particularly good or bad. Then came the twist ... and the whole thing collapsed.
The moment we were expecting to be scary is probably the worst-written part of the book. That alone ruined all the fun of the climax and I read through it without being engaged. Too little investment.
Then the book stopped. The end. Okay.....
2.5 stars rounded up
The moment we were expecting to be scary is probably the worst-written part of the book. That alone ruined all the fun of the climax and I read through it without being engaged. Too little investment.
Then the book stopped. The end. Okay.....
2.5 stars rounded up
January 12, 2018
Death Occult.
House Haunted.
Mysteries Unsolved.
The story is about an old edifice which is worn out with age. There is something about the house which gives creeps to everyone living on the Willow Street. They do not anticipate the evil lurking inside the house, dormant and ready to strike when the time is ripe. But their lives are soon filled with misery and Terror before they even begin to understand the dreadful occurrences.
Decrepit through The Ages, dormant and cold it still lies here.
Awoken it has again, to fill your dreams with fear
Snatch away it will, to you what is dear.
Standing upon your corpse, it will devour your soul with a leer.
Haunt you it will, if you survive with strength which is mere.
Affliction will be life, terror, pain and bloody tears.
This is how It is in short.
House Haunted.
Mysteries Unsolved.
The story is about an old edifice which is worn out with age. There is something about the house which gives creeps to everyone living on the Willow Street. They do not anticipate the evil lurking inside the house, dormant and ready to strike when the time is ripe. But their lives are soon filled with misery and Terror before they even begin to understand the dreadful occurrences.
Decrepit through The Ages, dormant and cold it still lies here.
Awoken it has again, to fill your dreams with fear
Snatch away it will, to you what is dear.
Standing upon your corpse, it will devour your soul with a leer.
Haunt you it will, if you survive with strength which is mere.
Affliction will be life, terror, pain and bloody tears.
This is how It is in short.
October 16, 2022
A neighborhood becomes the blueprint of death under an architect’s gruesome curse and his house of horrors. Powerful character development, horrifying and evil. Hollow House is an infectious page turner, with a foundation of dread and atrocities violent by design.
Recommended for Haunted House fanatics!
Recommended for Haunted House fanatics!
January 10, 2017
I’m always excited when new horror fiction talent arrives on the scene. If Hollow House is any indication of future novels by Greg Chapman then us horror fiction fans have a lot to look forward to.
Hollow House is an original take on the haunted house story. The old house is in the middle of a modern American suburb. It seems to go unnoticed until a foul stench starts emanating from it. Then the neighbors do take notice. As the police remove a dead body from the old house one of the neighboring kids decides to go snooping around it and gets absorbed into the house’s dark void.
The kid becomes the house’s puppet and terrorizes other households in the neighborhood. All of them already have deep wounds existing and the house knows just where to pour the salt.
Greg Chapman’s prose are stylish in the way many British writers are (Chapman’s actually Australian), yet efficient in his character development and storytelling. Hollow House is pure horror much in the way Pet Semetary is pure horror. And this horror is playing to win.
Four Stars ****
Hollow House is an original take on the haunted house story. The old house is in the middle of a modern American suburb. It seems to go unnoticed until a foul stench starts emanating from it. Then the neighbors do take notice. As the police remove a dead body from the old house one of the neighboring kids decides to go snooping around it and gets absorbed into the house’s dark void.
The kid becomes the house’s puppet and terrorizes other households in the neighborhood. All of them already have deep wounds existing and the house knows just where to pour the salt.
Greg Chapman’s prose are stylish in the way many British writers are (Chapman’s actually Australian), yet efficient in his character development and storytelling. Hollow House is pure horror much in the way Pet Semetary is pure horror. And this horror is playing to win.
Four Stars ****
June 8, 2022
Some reviews of my novel...
http://michaelrcollings.blogspot.com....
https://reviewcornerblog.wordpress.co...
http://frankmichaelserrington.blogspo...
http://www.glamadelaide.com.au/main/b...
http://www.tabula-rasa.info/AusHorror...
https://horrornovelreviews.com/2016/0...
https://robinleehorrorbookreviews.com...
http://lindawatkins.biz/horror-storie...
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/12/bo...
http://thehorrorfictionreview.blogspo...
http://differentmasks.blogspot.com.au...
http://michaelrcollings.blogspot.com....
https://reviewcornerblog.wordpress.co...
http://frankmichaelserrington.blogspo...
http://www.glamadelaide.com.au/main/b...
http://www.tabula-rasa.info/AusHorror...
https://horrornovelreviews.com/2016/0...
https://robinleehorrorbookreviews.com...
http://lindawatkins.biz/horror-storie...
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/12/bo...
http://thehorrorfictionreview.blogspo...
http://differentmasks.blogspot.com.au...
February 26, 2018
I'm teetering on the edge between 2 and 3 stars, but I think I have to knock it back to 2. I ran through the book in day and while I feel like it started strong, it ended rather flat.
July 27, 2016
It’s no secret that Greg Chapman is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I’ve written many reviews of his work, and everything that comes out of his head is fantastic. From his writing to his artwork, he doesn’t let up. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – there’s a reason he is a Bram Stoker Award winner.
So obviously when I heard he finally finished his debut novel, I couldn’t wait to read it. While I was presented with an ARC, I didn’t get a chance to read it until after the book’s release – and still bought a hard copy.
What can I say about Hollow House without making it seem like Annie Wilkes is writing this?
On the surface – after reading the “back cover” description - Hollow House seems like the typical haunted house story. There are thousands of them out there. In fact, I wrote one in 7th grade that won 1st prize and a copy of The Red Pony. The haunted house story seems to be the mainstay of every budding horror writer; it’s easy. Take The Haunting of Hill House, for example. This book is on every “must-read” list (although I found it to be tedious, pedantic, and boring). Because of this, many people may overlook, or avoid, haunted house books.
That being said, this one is not to be missed.
Greg weaves a haunted house tale, with the house actually being a bit player. The real gem of the book is the way Greg tells the stories of the neighbors living around the Kemper House. They are real, and believable; as you read their stories, you can see them as your own neighbors. Then Greg breaks it down even further by making us realize that we never really know our neighbors. Sure, we say hi to them while getting the mail, or we may even have them over for a BBQ, but we really don’t know what goes on behind their doors and windows.
To use a much overused cliché, Hollow House is a page-turner. Simply because Greg masters the art of providing just enough to build your curiosity about one character, only to pull back and start in with another character. You push on reading for the need to know what happens to [insert name here].
Now, no review would be a true review with only positives, and I am nothing if not honest. The only downside to Hollow House is that I felt it ended too early and too quickly. While I enjoyed the ending, I felt it to be a little ambiguous, which, while not necessarily being a bad thing, didn’t seem like the right fit for such a tight and well written story.
Don’t let the fact that this is a “haunted house” story dissuade you from giving it a shot. Just like The Shining wasn’t a story about a haunted hotel, Hollow House really isn’t a story about a haunted house.
But let me warn you, after reading this, you may just walk on the other side of the street when passing that abandoned house on your block – or worse, move.
So obviously when I heard he finally finished his debut novel, I couldn’t wait to read it. While I was presented with an ARC, I didn’t get a chance to read it until after the book’s release – and still bought a hard copy.
What can I say about Hollow House without making it seem like Annie Wilkes is writing this?
On the surface – after reading the “back cover” description - Hollow House seems like the typical haunted house story. There are thousands of them out there. In fact, I wrote one in 7th grade that won 1st prize and a copy of The Red Pony. The haunted house story seems to be the mainstay of every budding horror writer; it’s easy. Take The Haunting of Hill House, for example. This book is on every “must-read” list (although I found it to be tedious, pedantic, and boring). Because of this, many people may overlook, or avoid, haunted house books.
That being said, this one is not to be missed.
Greg weaves a haunted house tale, with the house actually being a bit player. The real gem of the book is the way Greg tells the stories of the neighbors living around the Kemper House. They are real, and believable; as you read their stories, you can see them as your own neighbors. Then Greg breaks it down even further by making us realize that we never really know our neighbors. Sure, we say hi to them while getting the mail, or we may even have them over for a BBQ, but we really don’t know what goes on behind their doors and windows.
To use a much overused cliché, Hollow House is a page-turner. Simply because Greg masters the art of providing just enough to build your curiosity about one character, only to pull back and start in with another character. You push on reading for the need to know what happens to [insert name here].
Now, no review would be a true review with only positives, and I am nothing if not honest. The only downside to Hollow House is that I felt it ended too early and too quickly. While I enjoyed the ending, I felt it to be a little ambiguous, which, while not necessarily being a bad thing, didn’t seem like the right fit for such a tight and well written story.
Don’t let the fact that this is a “haunted house” story dissuade you from giving it a shot. Just like The Shining wasn’t a story about a haunted hotel, Hollow House really isn’t a story about a haunted house.
But let me warn you, after reading this, you may just walk on the other side of the street when passing that abandoned house on your block – or worse, move.
September 10, 2016
Willow Street was a place where nothing interesting ever happened. People went about their everyday lives and didn’t pay attention to the abandoned house at the end of the street. That was until the stench of a dead body came from the old Kemper home. Suddenly the lives of everyone living on Willow Street are forever changed.
News reporter Ben Traynor starts to investigate the death in the Kemper House and finds out there is much more here than meets the eye. The strong smell starts off a series of life altering events on Willow Street. Not only is the house cursed but so is the town and no one is safe from its influence.
Hollow House by Greg Chapman is a haunted house story on steroids. This is the first story I’ve read where the house haunts the whole neighborhood and it was this concept that made the story original. I’ve read a lot from Greg Chapman and was really looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint. What makes the story interesting is that it gets into the heads of everyone living near the house and they all react differently to the evil infecting the Kemper house and how they are on the surface is different then how they really feel.
One of my favorite characters in this book is a girl named Amy who is getting over a suicide attempt and trying to get her life back together. Though as she is contemplating why she prefers virtual friends over real friends she starts getting plagued by a spirit who wants to make her suffer. I felt Amy was a character that most teenage girls can relate to and was really rooting for her to find the happiness that she couldn’t find online. Another good character was news reporter Ben Traynor who comes across as a callous self-serving jerk early in the book. Later on, when faced with death we see a different side to him and despite his flaws, you learn to like him. The characters in this story seemed so real and that was what kept me reading Hollow House.
Though I generally liked the book I did find the story to be confusing in places and I didn’t understand the ending. The characters in the book were so strong though that I never lost interest. I really enjoyed how complex all the characters were, they act differently in public than they do in their homes and when confronted with the supernatural they show what they are really like. This book is like a case study on what secrets can lie hidden in a small picturesque town. Greg Chapman knows how to create great characters and scare his readers. I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
News reporter Ben Traynor starts to investigate the death in the Kemper House and finds out there is much more here than meets the eye. The strong smell starts off a series of life altering events on Willow Street. Not only is the house cursed but so is the town and no one is safe from its influence.
Hollow House by Greg Chapman is a haunted house story on steroids. This is the first story I’ve read where the house haunts the whole neighborhood and it was this concept that made the story original. I’ve read a lot from Greg Chapman and was really looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint. What makes the story interesting is that it gets into the heads of everyone living near the house and they all react differently to the evil infecting the Kemper house and how they are on the surface is different then how they really feel.
One of my favorite characters in this book is a girl named Amy who is getting over a suicide attempt and trying to get her life back together. Though as she is contemplating why she prefers virtual friends over real friends she starts getting plagued by a spirit who wants to make her suffer. I felt Amy was a character that most teenage girls can relate to and was really rooting for her to find the happiness that she couldn’t find online. Another good character was news reporter Ben Traynor who comes across as a callous self-serving jerk early in the book. Later on, when faced with death we see a different side to him and despite his flaws, you learn to like him. The characters in this story seemed so real and that was what kept me reading Hollow House.
Though I generally liked the book I did find the story to be confusing in places and I didn’t understand the ending. The characters in the book were so strong though that I never lost interest. I really enjoyed how complex all the characters were, they act differently in public than they do in their homes and when confronted with the supernatural they show what they are really like. This book is like a case study on what secrets can lie hidden in a small picturesque town. Greg Chapman knows how to create great characters and scare his readers. I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
April 9, 2019
A brutal, unrelenting, briskly-paced jaunt through a neighborhood nightmare. Taut, uncompromising, and aimed at the gut, with a few across the chin for good measure. If I had a complaint, I supposed it'd be the shallowness of the character development. But hey, I don't actually have a complaint. I loved the book. The characters serve their purpose, as dark and merciless as that purpose may be.
I really dig a horror writer who is unafraid to be horrible, but still talented enough to weave an engaging tale amidst the depravity. Chapman succeeds in spades. Served me up everything exactly as I wanted it. well, okay, in fairness I don't begrudge a bit more smut in my horror reads, but I can live without it if the work is quality. And this is quality.
Extra shoutout to Paul at Thunderstorm Books, who put out the gorgeous, elegant packaging that this little nastygram was wrapped in. He always does great work and, as importantly, picks great authors!
I really dig a horror writer who is unafraid to be horrible, but still talented enough to weave an engaging tale amidst the depravity. Chapman succeeds in spades. Served me up everything exactly as I wanted it. well, okay, in fairness I don't begrudge a bit more smut in my horror reads, but I can live without it if the work is quality. And this is quality.
Extra shoutout to Paul at Thunderstorm Books, who put out the gorgeous, elegant packaging that this little nastygram was wrapped in. He always does great work and, as importantly, picks great authors!
September 28, 2016
HOLLOW HOUSE BY GREG CHAPMAN rates a ten on my weird & scary meter! This book is so intense I forgot to breath while reading it! From page one till the very odd ending I was hooked! Set in a anywhere USA town, Hollow House takes the reader on a fast paced, scary & bizarre ride!
Characters that are as real as your neighbors & an ending that will surprise you & scare you to death.
This is the first book I have read by Mr. Chapman and it wont be the last. Perfect for the coming Halloween season. I love Halloween because books like HOLLOW HOUSE make themselves known.
Who was E.Kemper? What is the dark thing living in the house next door? Do you really want to find out? Read HOLLOW HOUSE & find out!
Characters that are as real as your neighbors & an ending that will surprise you & scare you to death.
This is the first book I have read by Mr. Chapman and it wont be the last. Perfect for the coming Halloween season. I love Halloween because books like HOLLOW HOUSE make themselves known.
Who was E.Kemper? What is the dark thing living in the house next door? Do you really want to find out? Read HOLLOW HOUSE & find out!
July 10, 2016
Chapman puts his spin on the haunted house genre in this dark and entertaining debut. A real page turner, packed full of powerful horror imagery it kicks off with a bang and never let's go until its gripping conclusion.
The story is told through the eyes of a myriad of characters - some of which feel a little underdone - each with their own secrets and sins to be exploited and punished.
But it's a cracking read and one story that delivers in keeping you hooked for the ride. A perfect bedside read for the cold winter nights.
The story is told through the eyes of a myriad of characters - some of which feel a little underdone - each with their own secrets and sins to be exploited and punished.
But it's a cracking read and one story that delivers in keeping you hooked for the ride. A perfect bedside read for the cold winter nights.
October 25, 2016
Hollow House is not an ordinary haunted house type of novel. Though, the book starts off a bit slow, at times I found it a rather unnerving read.
The reason I didn't give it a full five stars is mostly because I couldn't connect with the characters, but the descriptions are fantastic (setting the dark mood quite well), the plot keeps you glued to your seat, and I loved getting the shivers every now and then.
Definitely look into getting your hands on this one if you want a chilling read to keep you warm on Halloween.
The reason I didn't give it a full five stars is mostly because I couldn't connect with the characters, but the descriptions are fantastic (setting the dark mood quite well), the plot keeps you glued to your seat, and I loved getting the shivers every now and then.
Definitely look into getting your hands on this one if you want a chilling read to keep you warm on Halloween.
August 8, 2016
Do not read this book if you have a creepy old house in your street. Or if you are home alone. Or at night. Talk about a fright fest. This book sent chills down my spine and stayed with me long after I finished the last page. If you want to scare yourself silly then Hollow House is the book for you. Loved it!
November 18, 2017
Easy to see why this book was a Stoker Awards nominee...the author conveys the creepiness of a malignant house quite well, and weaves his characters into the labyrinth within. Without spoiling the book for those considering it, the ending will be a surprise, one that I suspect Rod Serling would have appreciated.
May 6, 2017
A solid debut novel from Chapman, this is a clever horror story managing a wide cast of characters with aplomb. Worth a read.
June 2, 2022
Creepy good!
Fast paced, exciting, dreadful horror lurking in the neighborhood! I loved this sinister yarn! No spoilers here.. just a suggestion if you like horror.. you'll love HOLLOW HOUSE! Greg Chapman is good!!!
Fast paced, exciting, dreadful horror lurking in the neighborhood! I loved this sinister yarn! No spoilers here.. just a suggestion if you like horror.. you'll love HOLLOW HOUSE! Greg Chapman is good!!!
December 12, 2016
The author under the spotlight here needs no introduction. Mr. Chapman has worked for years now to shed light on the many mediums of horror, both through his own work (novellas, illustrations, and design), and the work of others; being a vocal mouthpiece for the literary achievements of friends and colleagues and helping to establish horror as a serious genre both in his native Australia and abroad. Earlier this year, Omnium Gatherum saw fit to publish Greg’s first stab at a novel length work. Already, Hollow House has picked up some favourable appraisals.
Without delving too deeply into plot territory here (the bare bones of this can found across the board, both in the novel’s description and the many assessments floating around), let’s examine instead both the positives and pitfalls of what the author is trying to accomplish. In Hollow House, the scene is set with an archetypal haunted house at the centre of the maelstrom: Kemper House on Willow Street. Surrounding the house, numerous players - the immediate neighbours - are drawn into a spiralling web of death, possession, and desires made manifest. In effect, Greg is taking the inhuman aspect (the house), and using it as a springboard to see how his characters behave and interact with each other. If I could compare this formula to other’s down the passage of years, we can see the same method explored in novels such as Richard Bachman’s The Regulators, and the darker fantasy of both Bloch and Bradbury.
The positive aspects of this novel derive from the human element; Greg has sketched out numerous damaged characters that are a real-life echo of what one would find on any suburban street: angst ridden teenagers, a retired Army vet, and the conventional large family. Witnessing how they cope with a house of horrors is an entertaining testament to Greg’s bourgeoning storytelling prowess. However, there are pitfalls, and that is often the generic make-up of certain gambits on show. For example, opening up proceedings with something as arbitrary as a dead body. In addition to this, having a reporter on the prowl to uncoil layers of information has its DNA firmly entrenched in dozens of horror films.
Small drawbacks aside, this is a novel showcasing genuine heart with some adequate turns of phrase. Above all, it’s a competent signpost of what to expect in the future. With Hollow House, Greg Chapman is merely laying down the load-bearing foundations of a universe of horror to come.
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