The House Next Door

by Tom Coleman

Mr. Spaulding looks like an ordinary old grumpy neighbor with a penchant for growing roses, but he has a dark secret hidden deep inside of his house. A secret no one knows about. Sarah decides to find out if he is just a sweet lonely widower or a twisted man with a mysterious past. What she encounters at his house is beyond her wildest dreams, but this is a nightmare which she can’t wake up from.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks, Novella, Amazon

21 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2020

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK -- I read this quite awhile ago. then I forgot I read it so I read it again tonight!

I have been trying to find the sequel with no luck so far. This story is CREEPY as heck! You wil want to read it if you like horror.

It is very short but the thing is there are more stories in the series. I read what I thought was one of them but it had no connection. This story is really good. The plot involves an old man who everybody in the neighborhood whispers about because he's an odd duck.

The girl Sarah decides to bring him a pie. The reason that she does this is because Sarah is a sweet and good- natured girl who gives everybody the benefit of the doubt -- sometimes to her detriment.

I can't - I absolutely CAN'T -- tell you what happens next!

I think I actually enjoyed this more the second time around than the first!

CREEPY!

[Constantine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror + Short Story

This is a short story in a horror series called Horrors Next Door. It is about Mr. Spaulding, a grumpy old man obsessed with growing red roses. Sarah, the teenager next door gets very curious about this old man and decides one day to visit him bringing him a pie. Inside his house, the girl encounters something horrific! She thinks she has entered a nightmare but it is real!

This was an interesting tale. It had all the elements that I’d look for in a horror short story. The concept was fantastic and I’d like to read the follow-up to it. It has a beautiful cover too!

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deceptive read

I first thought it was a short story, no it's more like a taster for a series, like feeding a child a spoonful of ice cream then promptly taking the bowl away and leaving a note detailing were to buy the ice cream , although good ,at the end you have links to click to buy the rest of the books.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining paranormal listening 🎶🔰

Sarah is out too prove that Mr. Stallings is OK. She shows up ☝ at his front door with a pie and the fun begins. Sarah is missing along with a number of young girls 👧. Continued in the next book. I would recommend this novella series and author to 👍 readers of paranormal fantasy mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 👒😀😡🏡

I picked this author as the last name is in my wife's ancestry. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Spaulding's house was definitely tempting for any teenager. Sarah as a normal, curious teenager chooses to visit and things are not the same after that.
Short, crisp and perfect horror. Enjoyed it.

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read. It was good and entertaining. I would read more to find out what is going on and what is in the basement!

[Samantha ☾⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this one in the SYKD event and I loved it! This just might be my favorite i've gotten from that event so far. It was super short but I dont care it was GOOD! It kinda reminds me of when I was younger there was a book in a dark dark room full of short stories like the girl with the green ribbon. It was short but it had you hooked the entire time. This is one of those and I love it!

[Kira FlowerChild · Rating 3 out of 5]

At only 20 pages, this is barely a short story, and offers little to no resolution. It reads like a sample from a larger work. There are several other stories by the same author in this series, so perhaps the cumulative total adds up to at least a novella. I won't be reading the other stories. This one is a bit too simplistic and on the nose for me.

[Omaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cogí este relato porque estaba gratis en Amazon y, aunque me ha gustado, no ha sido exactamente lo que yo esperaba. Tiene unas 20 páginas, así que tampoco puedo contar gran cosa. El problema es que es un extracto de una historia a la que se le podría dedicar un libro entero.

De hecho, una vez que comencé la lectura, vi que decía que era la parte 1, cosa que no se mencionaba en la sinopsis. Aquí vemos como Sarah, una niña/adolescente, ya que tampoco se la describe mucho, cuenta que siente lástima por su vecino viudo y que le va a llevar una tarta para animarlo. Una vez allí, la visita se convierte en una auténtica pesadilla…

Al haberlo conseguido gratis, tampoco me voy a poner en modo hater, ya que si la función del relato es entretener un rato a los lectores e intrigarlos, la verdad es que creo que lo consigue. Además, lo que sucede en la visita es bastante inesperado y por eso es fácil querer terminar rápido la lectura para saber cuál será el desenlace. El tono de la narración es siniestro, pero no en exceso. Digamos que es un pequeño cuento de terror suave, aunque eso no significa que resulte infantil. El relato abarca todo lo que le ocurre a Sarah, pero quedan muchos interrogantes. Como el autor tiene varios libros de relatos, es probable que en alguno de ellos esté la continuación.

[Zoe Anne M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The frightening short story "The House Next Door" centers on a spooky Mr. Spaulding, who appears to be your average quiet neighbor whose wife recently passed away. However, Sarah discovers some extremely unsettling items concealed in his home as she looks into his past. The narrative gives you a satisfying shiver while keeping you on edge. But just as you start to get into it, the narrative ends on a cliffhanger, leaving you wondering what will happen next. It feels like you're awakened from a bad dream, and the sensation won't disappear. Three stars for the spine-tingling finale that makes you want more answers.

[Fanney Björk Guðmundsdóttir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allt gerir maður nú fyrir reading goalið sitt
*hóst* 21bls *hóst*

[Julie (Bookshelf Adventures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and creepy

Great first novella of the House Next Door story.
Sarah Turner really wants to know what ole Mr Spaulding does every morning at 5:30, but when she goes to his house to investigate she is never heard from again.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm all for short stories lately and this one was such a treat. If you have a shady neighbour it's probably best to stay as far away from them as you can rather than going in and having a snoop around. That thing in the basement was creepy as hell.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★☆☆☆½

The House Next Door by Tom Coleman starts off with promise—an intriguing premise, a touch of suspense, and just enough mystery to draw you in. But as the pages turn, it quickly becomes clear that this short story feels more like a teaser than a complete tale. It is less of a story and more of a literary bait-and-switch. It's like being handed a nicely wrapped present only to find a post-it note inside that says, “Buy the next book.” Spoiler: I’m not.

The writing is decent, and Coleman clearly knows how to build atmosphere. There’s potential here for a gripping thriller or an eerie psychological drama, but unfortunately, it never quite delivers. Just when things start to get interesting, the story ends. Not in a jaw-dropping twist kind of way—more like a “wait, that’s it?” kind of way.

It reads more like a sample chapter than a fully fleshed-out narrative, leaving too many threads hanging and characters barely explored. The lack of resolution makes it hard to feel satisfied, even for a short story. It comes off more like a marketing tactic—a literary lollypop meant to hook readers into buying the next book in the series rather than offering a complete, self-contained experience.

Overall, The House Next Door isn’t bad, but it’s frustratingly incomplete. If you’re okay with a quick, unresolved read with half-baked mysteries and cliffhangers designed purely to upsell, maybe this will do it for you and it would be more appetizer than entrée, give it a shot. Otherwise, you might want to wait for the full meal and not to be prepared to get underwhelmed.

[Arijit Bhattacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an amazing book , though this is just a free copy which left me in a deep suspense. I am definitely gonna read the complete story after reading this short part of it.
In my recommendation if you are looking for a horror story with detective plot then it is going to be a good read for you.
Happy reading

[Emmy Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I downloaded this short story, I didn't realize how short it really was. I admit, it had me engaged. Worth the 15 minute read. I enjoyed it.

[Noelle Brighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short story. It would be better as a novel or novella - I think the story line would be strong enough for something longer. I'll check out the other stories the author has presented.

[Yasmin (yazg.books) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐

I feel like I really enjoyed this and it really kept me on the edge of my seat and I was definitely very tense. However, I hate that it ended so abruptly and I need more. MORE MORE MORE!!

[Kadisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creepy not much left to say about it.

[Aishwary Mehta (The_Fugitive_Biker) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit predictive but a fun short read!

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

Thus was well written and kept you engaged the whole way. I'm definitely adding the next books to my list!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read with a compelling story

[Crimson Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but sweet

This is a short story but has allot to draw you in & I was really invested in the story & where its leading us , I feel like this was just a taste of what else is to come & I am really eager to read more

What are the Secerts being hidden by the neighbour?!
What lies have they been hiding for years?!
Where will ones curiosity lead them?!
How many more curious cats will die or something worse to something unknown?!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting!!

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review of eBook

People in town believe Mr. Spaulding’s house is haunted and that Sarah Turner’s family is crazy for living next door to the old man. But teenager Sarah thinks he’s just a lonely widower who likes to grow roses. Her friend, Jessica, wonders what the man does when he leaves the house at 5:00 am every springtime morning and returns exactly one half hour later.

Sarah decides to prove to Jessica that Mr. Spaulding is simply a harmless old man by taking him a blueberry pie. Invited into the house when she delivers the pie, Sarah sets the pie in the kitchen. But when she cannot find the old man to say she is leaving, Sarah walks through the house looking for him . . . and she vanishes.

Six weeks later, Sarah is still missing and Jessica is determined to find out what happened to her friend.

The opening of the story has a strange disconnect as Mr. Spaulding opens and closes the trunk of his pick-up truck. Umm . . . pick-up trucks have truck beds, but no trunks. Either Mr. Spaulding needs to drive a different vehicle or he needs to retrieve something from the truck bed rather than the trunk.

There’s definitely a disturbingly creepy factor in the telling of this tale and, although character development is all but nonexistent, this ultra-short horror story holds the possibility of being both captivating and intriguing. However, it stops well short of explaining exactly what happened to Sarah; instead, there’s a consummately-annoying “To be continued . . .” in the middle of the final page.

The author promises readers can find out what happens to Jessica [presumably in a continuation of this story], but the book offered to readers at the end of this short story contains only three stories. Two are unrelated to this tale; the third is the story we've just read here. [Presumably, the selection of this story was as a representation of these horror stories.] Here, however, at the end of the story, the author specifies that readers can find out what happens next by purchasing “Horrors Next Door 2” [or select a good deal that includes several volumes of "Horrors Next Door" stories]. It's nothing more than a blatant “buy my book” ploy guaranteed to be completely off-putting for readers.

Authors who believe the cliffhanger ending will increase their sales by forcing readers to buy the next book are in for a rude awakening. Readers count on authors to give them a complete story, even if it’s a short one. As they reach the denouement, they expect a satisfactory conclusion to the storyline that pulled them into the telling of the tale in the first place. Leaving the main plot point unresolved [unless the reader purchases another book] only destroys whatever credence the reader may have built up for the author.

This short story has the potential to be particularly good, but readers are forewarned that they must buy at least one more book to get the answers they seek.

[Crystal Gehris · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The House Next Door" is a haunting short story that masterfully blends suspense and horror. The plot centers around the eerie character of Mr. Spaulding, who, at first glance, seems like an ordinary, quiet neighbor mourning the recent loss of his wife. His unassuming nature and the grief he exhibits make him appear almost sympathetic, but as the story unfolds, a much darker side is revealed.

Sarah, the protagonist, becomes suspicious of Mr. Spaulding's odd behavior and decides to investigate. Her curiosity leads her to uncover a series of deeply unsettling items hidden within his home. Each discovery peels back another layer of the mystery surrounding Mr. Spaulding, adding to the story's chilling atmosphere. The detailed descriptions of these items and the secrets they hint at create a palpable sense of dread.

The narrative excels at maintaining tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The author’s skillful pacing and the gradual revelation of secrets ensure that the fear and anticipation build steadily throughout the story. Just when Sarah’s investigation seems to be reaching a climax, the story abruptly ends on a cliffhanger. This unexpected conclusion leaves readers in a state of suspended fear, akin to being jolted awake from a nightmare that lingers even after consciousness returns.

The ending, while frustrating due to its suddenness, is also one of the story’s strengths. It leaves a lasting impression, making readers ponder what might happen next and filling them with a desire for closure. This unresolved tension contributes to the overall impact of the narrative, ensuring it stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

For its spine-tingling suspense and the skillful way it keeps readers craving more, "The House Next Door" earns three stars. The story's unsettling finale is both its greatest strength and its most maddening flaw, perfectly capturing the essence of a lingering nightmare that refuses to fade.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have the upmost respect for any author that can pull off short stories. It's not easy to fit a complete tale in a couple of pages and leave the reader with a sense of a whole story, as opposed to them left feeling as if they read a couple of random pages that were ripped from an full length novel.

This started out well enough but quickly fell into latter category. It felt like that stinger scene, that opens up a horror movie. But then, nothing. Worse yet, it seems like a couple of readers have hone looking for the 2nd part of the story and with no success. I'm guessing it's buried in one of the collection sets that the author has but I'm not interested enough to be bothered with looking for it.

Had promise but wasted it.

[Casey Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Coleman knows how to catch your attention

I read this short story it's the start of the horror next door series . An old man lives across the street and awakes at 5:30 every morning with a suspicious routine as the neighbors say . Two teenagers thinks he is really creepy so one girl goes to visit him by bringing him a gift to show her other friend that he really isn't that bad . You must read to find out what's next . Very twisty and leaves you with wanting more . Now I must go and start the horror next door series to find out ..

[Frances Torres · Rating 3 out of 5]

◾Everyone in town has heard of Mr. Spaulding. People say his house is haunted, and that my family is crazy for living next door to him for the last ten years.
◾“After school, I’m going to take him one of those delicious blueberry pies from ‘Pastry Brothers & Co.’ It’s the neighborly thing to do—after all, his wife did die a few months ago.
◾I don’t know what sick game the widower’s playing, but Sarah doesn’t have a boyfriend. She doesn’t even have a crush—I’m her BFF; she would’ve told me. I know Sarah’s in that house. I feel it.🤔😶😯

[Petrina Binney · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The House Next Door, we meet Sarah. Sarah lives next door to grumbly, early-rising widower, Mr Spaulding. Every morning, Sarah watches Mr Spaulding emerge from his house and start digging around in his garden and she comes to the conclusion that he's lonely and could use a pie.

But a friendly, thoughtful visit soon turns to horror when Sarah can't find her way out, and there's a voice in the darkness. And it isn't Mr Spaulding.

I liked the story very much but the writing was a little flat in places. That said, the characters were well-drawn and I struggled to get to sleep afterwards.