When you cross the threshold of the home you either feel the warmth of the love that’s gone into making a home or the coldness of how little love there is present. Alex didn’t care for whatever feelings went into the Jackson Manor, he just wanted to be able to explore it.
After years of being locked up, he and his team of paranormal investigators finally have a chance to prove the Manor is nothing more than an empty spooky underground mansion with a sordid history, and Alex’s dream is about to come true.
The house, and its restless occupants, has other plans.
Born in South Africa, in the heart of Johannesburg, Sian Claven grew up with a vivid imagination. When she wasn't immersing herself in books, she was actively creating her own stories.
At 29 years old, left to her own devices after her sister immigrated, Sian, wrote her first horror book Ensnared and dared to publish it under the guidance of indie authors Toni Cox and Ashleigh Giannaccaro.
Now she has released more than ten books including a thriller and sci-fi fantasy.
In 2019, Sian took up the challenge of publishing 11 books in 11 months.
Sian came second place in the First Annual Indie Awards for Favourite African Author.
Sian's book, Sylvana, the final book in her Butcher series, made the Amazon top 100 best sellers list in several categories across three countries.
In her spare time, Sian is an avid Harry Potter fan, pop collector and Bingo addict. She resides in Johannesburg with her 2 best friends, their daughter, their 6 dogs and 2 cats.
Buried by Sian Claven was my first dive into the world and mind of Sian’s writing. I was very pleased that she pro-offered her novel Buried for my horror novel challenge 2021 for my “go in blind read”. Therefore, I went into this book not knowing what to expect, what it was about, and was really surprised.
Buried is a unique type of horror story. Much like old school horror, but with a new touch of Claven’s own creativity. When Alex and his crew get the chance of a lifetime, and their manager Cindy books their ghost hunting show (or debunking) to search the old Jackson Mansion they are beyond happy. However, when Cindy tells Alex that Jade will cohost he is pretty let down. He brushes it off though for a once in a lifetime chance to uncover, and debunk the Haunted Jackson Mansion.
As the crew arrives the property is an underground house. The mansion is so vast that they try to be very careful to tie themselves to pillars so they do not get lost. Nonetheless, Alex and his crew may be in over their heads. Firm believers there are no such things as ghosts due to debunking so many haunted locations they are skeptical. When they run into critters, creatures, and things going bump in the dark corridors they think nothing of it. However, will they come to find entities to exist? Will they make it through the night? Or will it simply be another bust?
Buried was a very fun and quick read! I really enjoyed it, and passed it off to my wife to read as soon as she can. This is the type of book right up her alley. I absolutely adored Claven’s creativity in weaving in names of famous “Jacksons” into the narrative. I really felt what made the novel so engaging was intertwining the present narrative with the history of the Jackson Mansion. Sian pulled this off in a way that was fun, and not distracting.
Overall, I give Buried by Sian Claven four stars out of five stars. For the most part I didn’t have anything pinned down. However, there was a major aspect I figured out rather quickly. Hence the deduction in my rating. Nevertheless, the ending threw me for a loop, and had me reevaluate my rating prior to publishing my review. I suggest this book to anyone who wants a really good ghost story, loves haunted houses, and great writing. Thank you Sian for the opportunity and experience to read Buried. It was an honor. Until next time, my friends.
I have been devouring my collection of Claven's books and this one was next on the list. The cover, as usual with her books, is stunning and scary. I couldn't wait to dive into the story. The first chapter demonstrated writing that was fabulously clear and on point, as well as set up a plot that drew me right into the thick of things, or should I say "underground." As the story moved along, things got creepier and darker, until I felt the breathless fear of being in a nightmare where you just can't move fast enough to get away. The events definitely had my adrenaline pumping away. The ending chapters presented a twist I hadn't seen coming and had me racing to get to the conclusion. The final scene was shocking perfection and went right along with the terror that was Buried. Brilliantly done!
Omg. I picked this book up at the right time. I needed something different and something that was gonna grab my attention. Well horror is kinda different for me and wow did this book suck me in. I started and basically didn’t put my kindle down until I’d finished reading it all.
Alex is a paranormal investigator. He craves his big story and believes the story of The Jackson Mansion is the story he’s been looking for. Along with his team he gets permission to investigate the mansion and nothing will be the same again.
My first and certainly not my last read by this author as this was a great read.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for feedback and an honest review.
Please note: 1. Feedback has been provided directly to the author and I will not be posting it. 2. I will read the book again when it releases and update my review accordingly.
Jackson Mansion. Once you enter, you can never leave. Or can you?
In Buried we meet a team of ghost hunters. Alex, the head of this little troupe has been dying to investigate the infamous mansion in a quest to debunk it being haunted. There are a shit-ton of ghost hunters up in this, but they're all unique in their own ways.
That being said, this story is built on the foundation of something that can be great. It held my attention so that's a plus. Gruesome moments happen that made me smile and that's also a plus.
There were also a couple of twists and turns that made for a fun read.
I look forward to giving this another go with any updates that made be added to the story.
Wow wow wow!! I can't for the life of me express how much I enjoy reading this story. It had all kinds of so horrific and twisted moments that like I say I don't know how to put it in words to describe this haunting horror twisted tale. The think I can say that it was the most spooky read I have had so far in this year.
This book is a real horror book. It a story about the Jackson Mansion which is built entirely underground and has a reputation for being haunted. The Jackson family history is filled with various members known for killing people. Alex and his paranormal group visit the mansion to film for their show which debunks ghosts and anything "haunted". Before they stepped into this mansion, they had never seen a ghost and were always able to prove places weren't haunted. That all changed with the Jackson Mansion.
This was a creepy, dark, and twisted horror story. I enjoyed the stories Alex told about the "family history" and some of the worse killers in that family. Talk about a sadistic and twisted family. Although I found most of the crew with Alex and even Alex himself to be a little stupid in their choices, it made for entertaining reading. Really, how many times do you have to see or hear something before you accept it could be haunted?
If you like a good horror story that is really dark and twisted, give this one a try.
Claven has become one of my all time favorite horror authors! She doesn’t pull any punches and writes some of the scariest and most disturbing stuff I’ve ever read! Buried is just such an example. While not quite as perverted as her Asylum books, it’s still explicit and frightening! It reminds me a lot of Grace Encounters, which if you have not seen, you should watch. A TV crew goes into a haunted mansion looking for a great story and some freaky shots, but what they find is not what they expected! I was engrossed; I couldn’t put it down! Once again, if you don’t like even the tiniest bit of horror, then you will not like this book. But if you want something obviously scary and thrilling, then pick up this book!
If you want a brutal haunted house with ghosts that actually seem savage, look no further. Was immediately pulled in by the 'ghost adventure' found footage style and it worked perfectly for the various ghosts and situations the characters get themselves into. Went in blind, so I didn't expect how intense the scenes were going to get...things get grotesque and wild!
This is a review for the audiobook, which I received free.
I acknowledge this is subjective, but after listening to about 15 minutes of the book, I had to actually slow down the narrator because he spoke so fast, which surprised me because at first he has a gravely voice like molasses, drawling the words, wonderful to listen to and well suited for this horror.
Because of the narrator's speed, scene changes could also feel choppy. I haven't seen the original text, so I don't entirely know if that's a deliberate effect or if the text had ellipses and such to better delineate progression. However, I suspect the latter.
Still, as we hit Claire's story as the first peek into this horror showcase, I forgot those annoyances, spellbound by the horrid decadence of the rich family that provides the tale's murderous legacy.
While there are a few points I guessed, much of the climax and ending still took me by surprise. I will say that sexual assault is a recurring motif of this story, so anyone who is sensitive to that in fiction should proceed cautiously.
This is Horror not for the faint of heart. It will take you deep into the forbidden recesses of your mind and bring you back raw. I LOVED IT! It was what horror was and should be again making you question all that can happen in the night and under the light of day.
Sian Claven takes you deep into the darkness of the human soul and drags you back looking over your shoulder.
"Where is everyone else?" "In the water." "Why are they so quiet?" "Because they're dead."
Holy Crap Y'all!! This book was downright Ah-may-zing!! I love a horror book that keeps you on the edge the whole time, and this one delivered!!
Not only is it tense, pretty much from page one, but it delivers the gore as well. Double WIN!! And I loved that we got a little history on the house and its "former" occupants. Well, maybe not so much former occupants, as former alive occupants.
So we have a group of ghost-hunters that have been dying (pun intended) to investigate the Jackson Mansion, which is actually underground. All their other investigations have debunked the existence of ghosts, but the house has a history that is sure to bring in the ratings. They have no idea what they're in for, and it's not good.
This is hands down my favorite haunted house read to date!! This is only my second book from this author but after this one, I am definitely adding more to my list!!
Real old school in your face horror. This reminded me a little of the shining where the characters are controlled and tormented by trapped spirits. I liked the plot and some of the scenes in the book were graphic but in a really good way. A nice twist at the end as well. I’m going to look at this authors back catalogue for sure
Sian Claven's horror story harkens back to the best haunted house movies I've seen, and further back still with its tribute to Shirley Jackson, author of The Haunting of Hill House.
A film crew, intent on debunking more myths surrounding the ghostly activities and eerie murders that take place in the Jackson mansion, embark on a mission that will have dangerous - an oftentimes deadly - consequences for each person. If you go in, you don't come out. The secrets and spirits of the mansion, as well as the living family members who hold onto a legacy of bloodlust and horror, live on.
I liked the formula of the story. It was familiar enough to draw me in, and filled with enough intrigue and eerie intonation to keep me hooked. I finished listening to this in two sittings. It's a compelling listening, and I congratulate the author on achieving an excellent work.
I enjoyed the narrator's performance for the most part. His tone certainly went well with the material he was working with. He did have a habit of breaking sentences off in odd places, which affected the rhythm in odd ways and I didn't feel that it was necessary to announce the title of the book at the beginning of every chapter.
That’s the one phrase that kept popping into my head as I read this book.
For someone like me, growing up in the 80s and 90s, this book is absolute horror nostalgia! Dracula and the Exorcist, this is not. It’s also no Stephen King, with his super-complex characters and social dynamics. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing; it depends on what you want out of your horror.
This is the horror where someone’s walking along, minding his own business, and you blink and suddenly he’s running around screaming, clutching the stump where his finger was, and all you can do is sit back and go, “What just happened?”
It’s fast-paced, it’s gory, it’s sexually perverted… it’s just perfect for its length and genre. And man, is it creepy? Real, old-school creep. Especially Alexandra — wow.
The ending was also satisfying, and I wish I could tell you why, but I can’t do that without spoiling it. All I’ll say is, I can almost guarantee you it won’t be what you expect.
Click here to find out where you can buy the ebook: https://books2read.com/u/4NQlJG (Note: that’s an affiliate link, so if you buy anything, I might earn comission)
Since I started reading the authors books I have been lost in words for hours and hours. She write with such amazing imagination. You thing the story will turn one way and she taking away another path that just flows so perfectly with the story. Once you have read the whole book you then remember all the little hints and tips throughout that all marry together..... what next? Can’t wait for more omg you can’t serious moments. So glad I have found this author. The bit with baby heads shark teeth and scorpions bodies was brilliant
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Okay, I didn't read the blurb or anything. Picked this one up on a friend's recommendation alone. I am pleased to say this book was filled to the brim with small stories within the Jackson family, each more depraved than the next. Just when you think there's light at the end of the tunnel, you're blindsided with another dark secret flooding you in complete darkness! I gobbled this up. A suspenseful, gritty tale of family tradition. A eerie mansion. And horror filled tales that keep you on the edge of your seat!
What a unique story. To be Buried but not in the traditional sense. The gruesome events that happen at the Jackson Mansion are going to give you the all mother of nightmares. The scandles and debauchary acts that made the mansion so famous are both horrific and sensual. Buried has made it to my number 1 favourite from Sian. The Culling is now number 2. Sian has really found her niche in the writing world and I just can’t wait for her next book.
If you enjoy horror and unhappy endings, then you will love this book. Sian is very descriptive in her story and it really sets the scene for all the horrors that follow.
Just when you think someone may be making in out of the mansion, she twists the story. I don't usually read horror, but this book was a good 'first horror' book.
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com ~~~~ This review will appear on my site on January 24, 2022. ~~~~ 4.5 stars ~~~~ This is my first full length novella from Claven and WHOA!!! Until this one, I have only read two of her short stories, and I cannot wait to read more from her! I have had Buried on my kindle for a while, but was kindly sent an audiobook version from the author to listen to.
Claven can truly write horror! Buried take the ‘haunted house’ trope and amplifies it by 1000! I did not know what was going to happen next as I listened to this novella or anticipated how it would end. I recall my mouth dropping a few times as I listened, and had to make an effort to concentrate on driving as I listened and was fully involved in the story. I had recently been involved in an accident where deer were involved and the car that hit me ran, so I didn’t need a repeat accident in my new-to-me car! (Please note that all 4 deer and myself were fine, my poor little Saab was not so lucky).
Please note that Claven will not be for everyone. Her writing is very dark, twisted, depraved, and also unique! There were a couple of erotica parts in Buried which I could have done without, which gives my rating of 4.5 stars. I would say this novel would be for 18+ due to the contents involved.
As previously mentioned, I was sent the audiobook version from Claven. Honestly, it took a little while for me to get used to the narrator’s voice. At first, I did not really like his voice as for me his voice had a bit too much of a ‘southern twang’ to it, but after a while I was able get past that and ended up enjoying the narration as Slone really performed!
Please note that Claven is from South Africa so some vernacular in the novel is from her country. I have read books from other authors in South Africa, so this did not stick out for me.
Reader discretion is advised before you pick up Buried. If you can handle it, you will be in for a wild ride of not knowing what to expect! Buried is far from your typical haunted house novel and those out to discredit ghosts!
First off, I enjoy the set up of a paranormal investigation group checking out supposedly haunted digs. I always look forward to learning about the group members and relish how they usually perish in horrible ways, this is my favorite type of horror to sit back and read.
This time we find a group is investigating the Jackson mansion that has been built entirely underground. Supposedly the Jackson family is cursed to breed a serial killer once a generation and now that the estate has passed along to a sole heir, well... this group now has a chance to film in a place that's been impossible to breach until now! What could go wrong?
I guess this is considered a novella - I actually wanted to hear more stories of this wretched place and wished it was longer. I really enjoyed the set up of events happening while being introduced to the history of the estate.
I think they only thing I was a little confused about was the title. Being called Buried I thought there might be more of a claustrophobic sense of being trapped, but it wasn't so much as that. The estate is underground and yes, it makes it that much harder to escape but I kind of wonder what other ideas the author might have had for a title?
Buried, my first read from author Sian B. Claven. Reminiscent of Joe Hill's Locke & Key series. Extremely well-written, the characters, even the minor ones, are well developed with a creepy, attention-grabbing storyline. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why do they do the things they do. The things that make the reader get invested in the characters and thereby the story. I’ll be reading more from this author, I look forward to her next book no matter the main character. “I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Christopher Shelby Slone's narration fits the book perfectly! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
I enjoyed this creepy, crazy thriller so much, I listened to it two times! "Once you enter, (this mansion) you can never leave." Meet the Jackson family and their mansion. Cursed? Ghosts? Haunted? A film crew enters to document, debunk the haunted house theory. Do any make it out alive??? I loved the narrator. He tells this story with just the right amount of expression. He reads it rapidly, but very distinctly. Well done. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Story Origin.
This is the first book I’ve read by Sian Claven, and I have to say it won’t be the last. I really enjoyed the take on the book, the history, the characters, the story in present times. It flowed well and it has the right mix of dark and gore that it wasn’t over the top. Definitely a good book for any horror fan.
This was a disturbing horror story. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it but it has a very dark plot. A reporter takes a team into an underground mansion to investigate a haunted house that he didn't believe was real. As they started investigating the strange occurrences started. As the story progressed it peaked my attention even more. There is a lot of sexual content in this one, but you will understand in the end when the full plot is revealed.
So dark and disturbing. I was hooked from the first word. Although i didnt like the references to satan it was gripping; horribly so. I am not a horror fan but it was great. The narration was great and absolutely fitting with the other sound effects as well.
Buried was an exceptional book. As I read it, I felt like I was in the book. It draws you in and keeps you reading. One line sums up the whole book,” Once you come in, you cannot leave.” After reading this book, I am now a believer of ghosts and spirits.