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Nightingale House
For fans of Stephen King, Mark Edwards and The Haunting of Hill House comes a dark tale of a mysterious house haunted by tragedy.
The Nightingale House is a new beginning for widower Daniel Price and his young daughter Caitlyn. After months of grief, this will be the place where they start their life as a family of two.
But something is wrong—Daniel can’t settle. There’s an odd, cold feeling in the master bedroom, and a mysterious dripping noise that seems to move from room to room. Whispers of I can’t sleep echo through the corridors, long into the night.
And then Daniel uncovers the chilling story of the family who lived in the house years before, of betrayal, tragedy, and murder. Could the Nightingale House be not the home Daniel dreamed of for his daughter—but a place that will bring their worst nightmares to life?
The Nightingale House is a new beginning for widower Daniel Price and his young daughter Caitlyn. After months of grief, this will be the place where they start their life as a family of two.
But something is wrong—Daniel can’t settle. There’s an odd, cold feeling in the master bedroom, and a mysterious dripping noise that seems to move from room to room. Whispers of I can’t sleep echo through the corridors, long into the night.
And then Daniel uncovers the chilling story of the family who lived in the house years before, of betrayal, tragedy, and murder. Could the Nightingale House be not the home Daniel dreamed of for his daughter—but a place that will bring their worst nightmares to life?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
701 people are currently reading
4531 people want to read
About the author
Steve Frech
14 books316 followersSteve Frech lives in Los Angeles. His best-selling thrillers, DARK HOLLOWS, NIGHTINGALE HOUSE, and DEADLY GAMES, are available in all e-book formats and paperback from HQ Stories & Harper Collins.
SECRETS TO THE GRAVE (Book 1 in the Detective Meredith Somerset series) is now available.
In addition to writing, he is the co-creator of 'Sports? with Jessimae Peluso' for Comedy Central.
He is phenomenal at bar trivia, enjoys cooking, and is a frustrated Chicago Bears fan.
SECRETS TO THE GRAVE (Book 1 in the Detective Meredith Somerset series) is now available.
In addition to writing, he is the co-creator of 'Sports? with Jessimae Peluso' for Comedy Central.
He is phenomenal at bar trivia, enjoys cooking, and is a frustrated Chicago Bears fan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
August 8, 2020
One hundred and twenty year old Nightingale House was once the summer home of a wealthy couple. Now it's the new home of widower Daniel Price and his eight year old daughter Caitlyn. Daniel and his wife Nicole had bought this house before the family was in a car accident that killed Nicole, eight months earlier. It is only now that Daniel and Caitlyn have moved into the house. Both of them are still grieving although Daniel seems to be handling Nicole's death worse than Caitlyn.
Caitlyn has always had a vivid imagination which made some of her stories, about imaginary friends or stories about other people, verge on lies. She's been taught to tone things down, that there is a limit to how far she should take her story telling. When Caitlyn claims she is talking to a little girl who lives in the house and when Caitlyn attributes some things to the little girl, Daniel is willing to let it go at first, because he knows Caitlyn is still mourning her mother and that they have just made this big move. But Daniel is hearing things too, voices, water dripping, thumps, and he's also having vivid, disturbing dreams that seem to mesh with real life.
For all the things that take place in this house, in the present and in the 1900 timeline, the story has a very benign quality to it. The violence is not graphic, the horrors almost have a nightmarish, distancing quality to them. Daniel's overwhelming sense of grief and his extreme sleep deprivation, due to nightmares and other things, seem to overshadow everything in the story. This is not a bad thing, it just gave the story a different feeling than I had expected when I started reading this book.
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for this ARC.
Caitlyn has always had a vivid imagination which made some of her stories, about imaginary friends or stories about other people, verge on lies. She's been taught to tone things down, that there is a limit to how far she should take her story telling. When Caitlyn claims she is talking to a little girl who lives in the house and when Caitlyn attributes some things to the little girl, Daniel is willing to let it go at first, because he knows Caitlyn is still mourning her mother and that they have just made this big move. But Daniel is hearing things too, voices, water dripping, thumps, and he's also having vivid, disturbing dreams that seem to mesh with real life.
For all the things that take place in this house, in the present and in the 1900 timeline, the story has a very benign quality to it. The violence is not graphic, the horrors almost have a nightmarish, distancing quality to them. Daniel's overwhelming sense of grief and his extreme sleep deprivation, due to nightmares and other things, seem to overshadow everything in the story. This is not a bad thing, it just gave the story a different feeling than I had expected when I started reading this book.
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for this ARC.
June 20, 2020
I love reading books set in old houses or hotels, so of course I had to read this one. Daniel Price, along with his daughter Caitlyn move to Nightingale House in Maine after the death of his wife in a car accident. Soon after strange things start happening. Daniel keeps hearing a dripping sound, but can't find the source of it while Caitlyn finds an imaginary friend that only she can see. Then the whispers start, "I can't sleep" and Daniel starts to have terrifying, and incredibly realistic nightmares...
Deliciously creepy, Nightingale House will keep you up until all hours. It is quick and easy to read, and it's one of those books where you just have to read one more chapter. I recommend this book to all lovers of mysteries and things that go bump in the night.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Deliciously creepy, Nightingale House will keep you up until all hours. It is quick and easy to read, and it's one of those books where you just have to read one more chapter. I recommend this book to all lovers of mysteries and things that go bump in the night.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2020
I enjoyed this story BUT...I did not find it to be very atmospheric or scary.
Despite the THUMPS
the DRIPS
the WHISPERS of “I can’t sleep!”
When I read the premise, I was concerned that it might be too similar to “The Whisper Man” by Alex North.
Both feature a grieving widower, moving into a “haunted house” with their young child after the untimely death of their wife.
But, it wasn’t.
This tale reveals the secrets of Nightingale House through a journal written in the 1900’s, as the ghosts from the past and present intersect.
The strength of this story is a husband’s grief, a father’s fear, and a glimpse into the writing process of an author.
I enjoyed the characters although sometimes Caitlyn, seemed older than 8 years old to me.
Though I expected more “chills”, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up the author’s next book!
Thank You to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for a candid review!
Available Now!
Despite the THUMPS
the DRIPS
the WHISPERS of “I can’t sleep!”
When I read the premise, I was concerned that it might be too similar to “The Whisper Man” by Alex North.
Both feature a grieving widower, moving into a “haunted house” with their young child after the untimely death of their wife.
But, it wasn’t.
This tale reveals the secrets of Nightingale House through a journal written in the 1900’s, as the ghosts from the past and present intersect.
The strength of this story is a husband’s grief, a father’s fear, and a glimpse into the writing process of an author.
I enjoyed the characters although sometimes Caitlyn, seemed older than 8 years old to me.
Though I expected more “chills”, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up the author’s next book!
Thank You to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC in exchange for a candid review!
Available Now!
July 23, 2020
NIGHTINGALE HOUSE has all of the ingredients for a classic horror story, but ends up coming out a bit undercooked.
Daniel and his young daughter, Caitlyn, move into Nightingale House, a place he bought with his wife before she died in a tragic car accident. He’s optimistic that this will be a new start for him and Caitlyn, and that he can get started on writing his second novel. After hearing strange dripping noises (amongst other things), and after Caitlyn starts talking more and more about her friend that only she can see, Daniel starts to research the house’s history and finds that it might turn out to be his biggest nightmare.
Sounds solid, right? This is not a bad book. I found it engaging enough, and it’s a quick read. I think my issue is the writing. Except for a couple scenes, this feels like a children’s ghost story, or maybe YA. It’s not scary, atmospheric, or very chilling at all. The dialogue is so cheesy that I felt like I was reading a script for an ABC Family movie. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not my cup of cappuccino. The first 5 chapters or so has a lot of moments where Daniel is thinking internally, and his thoughts keep being cut off mid-word by some sort of interruption. The repetitiveness of the interruptions were distracting, and I’m glad the author finally stopped it. The best parts of the book are the chapters that read as a diary from 1900. I found those scenes interesting, and was eager to know how it would tie to the present.
Seeing as how I received an ARC for another book by author Steve Frech, I will be giving him another try at some point. Many people enjoyed this more than I did, so I may very well just be the wrong reader. To me, it was just a bit bland when I was expecting a lot more. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to HQ Digital, Steve Frech, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Daniel and his young daughter, Caitlyn, move into Nightingale House, a place he bought with his wife before she died in a tragic car accident. He’s optimistic that this will be a new start for him and Caitlyn, and that he can get started on writing his second novel. After hearing strange dripping noises (amongst other things), and after Caitlyn starts talking more and more about her friend that only she can see, Daniel starts to research the house’s history and finds that it might turn out to be his biggest nightmare.
Sounds solid, right? This is not a bad book. I found it engaging enough, and it’s a quick read. I think my issue is the writing. Except for a couple scenes, this feels like a children’s ghost story, or maybe YA. It’s not scary, atmospheric, or very chilling at all. The dialogue is so cheesy that I felt like I was reading a script for an ABC Family movie. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not my cup of cappuccino. The first 5 chapters or so has a lot of moments where Daniel is thinking internally, and his thoughts keep being cut off mid-word by some sort of interruption. The repetitiveness of the interruptions were distracting, and I’m glad the author finally stopped it. The best parts of the book are the chapters that read as a diary from 1900. I found those scenes interesting, and was eager to know how it would tie to the present.
Seeing as how I received an ARC for another book by author Steve Frech, I will be giving him another try at some point. Many people enjoyed this more than I did, so I may very well just be the wrong reader. To me, it was just a bit bland when I was expecting a lot more. 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to HQ Digital, Steve Frech, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 19 June 2020
This is definitely a page turner. I love this thrilling story - I couldn’t put it down! It will definitely give you chills and make you listen a little more closely to those bumps in the night. The author pulls you in from page one and never lets you go. You feel such a great affection for the main characters and their emotions feel so raw and real. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
June 5, 2020
Nightingale House by Steve Frech is a light horror story about a recently widowed writer, Daniel Price, and his young daughter, Caitlyn, who move to a beautiful historic house by a lake in the hope of starting a new life. Soon after their arrival, strange and terrifying things start happening to Daniel. It's obvious to him that something sinister is going on at Nightingale House, but what?
This was a thoroughly creepy and addictive read. It is told from the perspectives of Daniel and a young woman named Rebecca, with Daniel's story being in the present and Rebecca's story set in 1900. The writing flowed effortlessly, and I thought the author did a fantastic job of creating a foreboding atmosphere and keeping the reader on their toes. I loved the characters of Daniel and Caitlyn and their father/daughter relationship was very heartwarming. This story left me feeling unsettled at times, but I wouldn't necessarily say that it was scary. More than anything, it's a story about coping with grief and trying to heal after a loved one's death. Overall, I thought Nightingale House was a classic ghost story, and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading more by Steve Frech.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a thoroughly creepy and addictive read. It is told from the perspectives of Daniel and a young woman named Rebecca, with Daniel's story being in the present and Rebecca's story set in 1900. The writing flowed effortlessly, and I thought the author did a fantastic job of creating a foreboding atmosphere and keeping the reader on their toes. I loved the characters of Daniel and Caitlyn and their father/daughter relationship was very heartwarming. This story left me feeling unsettled at times, but I wouldn't necessarily say that it was scary. More than anything, it's a story about coping with grief and trying to heal after a loved one's death. Overall, I thought Nightingale House was a classic ghost story, and I highly recommend it. I will definitely be reading more by Steve Frech.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2020
This is such an excellent haunted house/ghost story. It follows the usual rules, conventions and tropes of the haunted house story but is just executed in such a lovely way and has some really unique details. It’s a very vivid and deeply felt story about a father dealing with guilt over the loss of his wife. I am somewhat particular about my ghost stories - the Haunting of Hill House and its ilk are my favorites - and this author lives up to my high expectations by honoring the traditional ghost story in a modern setting with writing and atmosphere worthy of the masters. I enjoyed every minute of this page turner, which was beautiful, engrossing and scary. Frech just nailed the emotional and allegorical aspects of the ghost story, which to me are really just as important as the scares (which he also nailed!). Thankful to NetGalley for turning me onto Steve Frech, as I will definitely read his other books. 4.5 stars rounded up for this enjoyable read.
Thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley and Steve Frech for those ghost story perfect for quarantine, in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to HQ Digital, NetGalley and Steve Frech for those ghost story perfect for quarantine, in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2020
Nightingale House by Steve Frech is a horror mystery novel featuring, wait-for-it, a haunted house. A novelist widower and his daughter come to live in a century-old house after the death of his wife. As they are trying to make a fresh start, the history of the house comes back to haunt them.
The plot is spread across two timelines - the present and the past. It follows the run-of-the-mill haunted house stories, but the execution is perfect. The plot turns creepy and scary at just the right places.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: Recommended.
The plot is spread across two timelines - the present and the past. It follows the run-of-the-mill haunted house stories, but the execution is perfect. The plot turns creepy and scary at just the right places.
Thanks to the author and the publisher for the ARC.
Verdict: Recommended.
June 19, 2020
Nightingale House is supernatural horror/thriller writer Steve Frech’s latest novel and after reading and enjoying his debut, Dark Hollows, all the way back in December, 2019, and realising just how few and far between decent, non-cliched books in this genre are, I decided to take the plunge again. Daniel and Nicole Price, whilst searching for a new home to make a fresh start and move on from past struggles, fall head over heels in love with the beautifully designed Nightingale House on the shores of Willow Lake, Kingsbrook, Maine; they see it as the perfect place off the beaten track to raise their eight-year-old daughter, Caitlyn. But their nightmare is just beginning and before they get the chance to move into the home of their dreams Nicole is killed in an horrendous car accident leaving Daniel to raise Caitlyn alone. When they start noticing strange and chilling events happening in the house they become terrified of what exactly is present within their four walls.
This is a good old fashioned ghost story with an increasing sense that the protagonist is rapidly losing his grip on reality and young Caitlyn now has an unhealthy obsession with an imaginary friend as she attempts to deal with the emotions surrounding her mother's tragic death. It certainly makes a welcome and refreshing change to my usual thriller fodder and the way it was constructed meant there were many terrifying moments and you could feel Daniel’s pain and anguish coming through on every page. It's a fun, relatively light horror story with an emotional undertone to it and Daniel’s hobby turned obsession in finding out what ”curse” the house holds creates a deep sense of mystery which gripped me and kept me reading. A great escapist read for these challenging times. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC.
This is a good old fashioned ghost story with an increasing sense that the protagonist is rapidly losing his grip on reality and young Caitlyn now has an unhealthy obsession with an imaginary friend as she attempts to deal with the emotions surrounding her mother's tragic death. It certainly makes a welcome and refreshing change to my usual thriller fodder and the way it was constructed meant there were many terrifying moments and you could feel Daniel’s pain and anguish coming through on every page. It's a fun, relatively light horror story with an emotional undertone to it and Daniel’s hobby turned obsession in finding out what ”curse” the house holds creates a deep sense of mystery which gripped me and kept me reading. A great escapist read for these challenging times. Highly recommended. Many thanks to HQ Digital for an ARC.
March 14, 2023
DNF 54%
Well, this is it. Can't take the story any more. The blurb intrigued me. However, to be honest, I felt right away that this book was not for me. But I thought I would read on and see if the story would grow on me. It didn't. Both storylines in the book are boring and it's laughable to call this book horror. On to the next book, hopefully, a better one...
Well, this is it. Can't take the story any more. The blurb intrigued me. However, to be honest, I felt right away that this book was not for me. But I thought I would read on and see if the story would grow on me. It didn't. Both storylines in the book are boring and it's laughable to call this book horror. On to the next book, hopefully, a better one...
June 20, 2020
Nightingale house by Steve Frech is your classical suspenseful horror story. If the shining and the woman in black had a baby it would be this novel. Daniel Price has freshly become a best selling novelist. To compensate for many years of leaving in a small apartment with Nicole, his lifelong partner, and their daughter Caitlyn, he's decided to buy a bigger and nicer house. On the outskirts of Kingsbrook, and grazing the shore of Willow Lake, was located their dream house: the nightingale house. Upon their first visit, they were bewitched by the beauty of the Queen-Anne styled Mini mansion. And they've instantly decided to make the buy. Life seemed to smile to them, until later that same night a fatal traffic collision, where they've lost Nicole, had shifted their cheerful existence to the dark side. After their recovery, Daniel took his child and carried out with moving. Now they have to adjust not only to Nicole's death but to their new house, which now does not seem as welcoming as before. Soon Caitlyn is talking to an imaginary friend and Daniel is having the most vivid nightmares and seeing unexplainable shadows. The novel has a sharply constructed storyline, written primarily from the point of view of Daniel, with extract of a journal. (Rebecca's) The descriptions were brilliantly striking, explicit but never boring. Everything about the house, the surrounding nature, and the town were almost rigorously illustrated. It certainly gives a catalyst to your imagination to fully visualize the horror scenes. Frech has also a great talent for outlining emotions as well. I was submerged into Daniel's suffering and the constant doubting of his new situation as a single parent. His gradual descent into madness was an epic development, especially the swimming in the Lake part. I was fascinated by that scene, I kept rereading it. Truly brilliant writing. I'm a sucker for well-built descriptions, that's one of my favorite things about this novel. I just wanted to read the whole thing in one day. But I also wanted to enjoy every chapter. I'm really happy I've stumbled upon Steve Frech, I'm definitely adding Dark Hollows to my TBR list. Many thanks to Netgalley, HQ Digital and the author for my ARC
June 20, 2020
Many thanks to Net Galley, HQ digital and Steve Frech for a chance to read and review this book.
#NightingaleHouse #NetGalley
A widower, a young child of 8, shifting to new home, grief and loneliness, desperation and adjustment, the story begins in similar line to The Whisper Man by Alex North but that’s exactly where the similarities end. The Nightingale House is one of the cherished historical houses in Kingsbrook and one glance at it, leaves Daniel and his wife Nicole in love. But the anticipated move becomes marred by sadness and as Daniel and his daughter Caitlyn tries to adjust to the new circumstances and their loss and grief, things begin to go bump in the night.
Interwoven thru the story is the journal account of the young Rebecca in 1900’s whose infatuation with Thomas Carrington of the Nightingale House causes unforeseen aftermath.
The author has a written a creepy and scary story of the ghostly Nightingale House and its occupants. The drip-drip, the thump-thump, the image of a man, an imaginary friend only seen by Caitlyn, the nightmarish dreams, it is no wonder that Daniel is unable to sleep peacefully in the night and keeps returning to the couch in the living room.
The Nightingale House is a terrific thriller with necessary chills that is perfect for the readers of this genre. It was such a fast-paced read that turning the pages for one last chapter late into the night became the whole book. The reasons of the ghostly presence can be guessed at but it was exciting to see how Daniel uses his will-power and fights to save his daughter.
Excellent!
P.S. I loved that creepy cover image.
#NightingaleHouse #NetGalley
A widower, a young child of 8, shifting to new home, grief and loneliness, desperation and adjustment, the story begins in similar line to The Whisper Man by Alex North but that’s exactly where the similarities end. The Nightingale House is one of the cherished historical houses in Kingsbrook and one glance at it, leaves Daniel and his wife Nicole in love. But the anticipated move becomes marred by sadness and as Daniel and his daughter Caitlyn tries to adjust to the new circumstances and their loss and grief, things begin to go bump in the night.
Interwoven thru the story is the journal account of the young Rebecca in 1900’s whose infatuation with Thomas Carrington of the Nightingale House causes unforeseen aftermath.
The author has a written a creepy and scary story of the ghostly Nightingale House and its occupants. The drip-drip, the thump-thump, the image of a man, an imaginary friend only seen by Caitlyn, the nightmarish dreams, it is no wonder that Daniel is unable to sleep peacefully in the night and keeps returning to the couch in the living room.
The Nightingale House is a terrific thriller with necessary chills that is perfect for the readers of this genre. It was such a fast-paced read that turning the pages for one last chapter late into the night became the whole book. The reasons of the ghostly presence can be guessed at but it was exciting to see how Daniel uses his will-power and fights to save his daughter.
Excellent!
P.S. I loved that creepy cover image.
August 18, 2020
I enjoyed this book over all. I found it hard to get into. Wasn't holding my interest and then the past story came into it. I read these dual time lines for the past stories. Always.
I thought the present day story was ok. There was a slight relationship here that didn't seem to make any sense. It didn't add to the story. I kept expecting it to resurface, especially at a specific moment in the book but it didn't happen.
The past story had interest but it was light and I'd have liked to know what happened to Rebecca. I guess I'm saying, there were unfinished story lines.
The outcome was quite simple in a way.
However, from half way through, the story kept me reading and I had to know how it was going to end. So all in all I think it deserves three stars.
I thought the present day story was ok. There was a slight relationship here that didn't seem to make any sense. It didn't add to the story. I kept expecting it to resurface, especially at a specific moment in the book but it didn't happen.
The past story had interest but it was light and I'd have liked to know what happened to Rebecca. I guess I'm saying, there were unfinished story lines.
The outcome was quite simple in a way.
However, from half way through, the story kept me reading and I had to know how it was going to end. So all in all I think it deserves three stars.
June 1, 2020
The Nightingale House is a a fast-paced light horror story about a widower and his young daughter who move into a beautiful historic home. Shortly after moving in strange and terrifying things begin to happen. The master bedroom seems cold and uninvited, there are strange dripping noises and whispers in the night. Something is lurking in this house but what or who is it?
Nightingale house quickly draws you in and doesnt let go. The combination of the easily flowing storyline, characters that are developed phenomenally and a tense and foreboding atmosphere meld together to create one satisfying ghost story.
More than your average ghost story, Nightingale House is a story about the struggles of loss, coping with your grief and finding the strength and courage to move on.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Nightingale house quickly draws you in and doesnt let go. The combination of the easily flowing storyline, characters that are developed phenomenally and a tense and foreboding atmosphere meld together to create one satisfying ghost story.
More than your average ghost story, Nightingale House is a story about the struggles of loss, coping with your grief and finding the strength and courage to move on.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 24, 2022
Weduwnaar Daniel Price verhuist met zijn achtjarige dochter naar het prachtige Nightingale House. Hij hoopt dat deze nieuwe omgeving hun beiden goed zal doen. Zijn vrouw is een paar maanden eerder overleden en hij wil nu de periode van intens verdriet afsluiten en aan een nieuw hoofdstuk van hun leven beginnen.
Eenmaal in het huis voelt Daniel dat er iets raars aan de hand is. Hij krijgt soms een vreemd gevoel in zijn slaapkamer en hoort op verschillende plekken een mysterieus druppend geluid. Bovendien hoort hij een fluisterende stem door de gangen dat klinkt als: 'Ik kan niet slapen...'
Langzaam ontdekt Daniel het huiveringwekkende verhaal van de familie die een eeuw eerder in het huis woonde. Het blijkt een geschiedenis te zijn vol verraad, tragedie en moord. Daniel dacht in Nightingale House een droomhuis gevonden te hebben, maar het blijkt een plek die zijn ergste nachtmerries tot leven zal brengen.
Wat keek ik uit naar dit boek! Het vorige boek van Steve Frech vond ik erg goed en toen ik deze cover met interessante flaptekst zag, was ik enorm blij! Toch vond ik het heel moeilijk om dit boek te beoordelen. Tijdens het lezen veranderde ik namelijk steeds van rating...
Er zijn twee verhaallijnen: die in het heden en eentje die bestaat uit dagboekfragmenten uit 1900. In het heden maak je kennis met Daniel, zijn vrouw en hun dochtertje. Al gauw wordt duidelijk dat zijn vrouw is overleden en dat hij alleen met zijn dochtertje overblijft en in het nieuwe huis er het beste van probeert te maken. Ik hoopte op een erg spannend, creepy en spooky verhaal, maar ik voelde het niet.
Er gebeuren wat 'spooky' dingen, maar de échte spanning kwam voor mij niet. De fragmenten uit 1900 vond ik wel erg interessant, omdat hierdoor langzaam duidelijk wordt welke tragedie plaatsgevonden heeft.
Wel moet ik zeggen dat Steve Frech een ontzettend fijne schrijfstijl heeft. Er zitten zeker wel goede stukken in dit verhaal, maar ik denk dat mijn verwachtingen te hoog waren. Omdat ik nog steeds niet goed weet wat ik er van moet vinden, schommel ik dus met mijn beoordeling.Toch kijk ik zeker weer uit naar een nieuw verhaal van deze auteur.
Beoordeling: 3,0/3,5 ⭐️
Eenmaal in het huis voelt Daniel dat er iets raars aan de hand is. Hij krijgt soms een vreemd gevoel in zijn slaapkamer en hoort op verschillende plekken een mysterieus druppend geluid. Bovendien hoort hij een fluisterende stem door de gangen dat klinkt als: 'Ik kan niet slapen...'
Langzaam ontdekt Daniel het huiveringwekkende verhaal van de familie die een eeuw eerder in het huis woonde. Het blijkt een geschiedenis te zijn vol verraad, tragedie en moord. Daniel dacht in Nightingale House een droomhuis gevonden te hebben, maar het blijkt een plek die zijn ergste nachtmerries tot leven zal brengen.
Wat keek ik uit naar dit boek! Het vorige boek van Steve Frech vond ik erg goed en toen ik deze cover met interessante flaptekst zag, was ik enorm blij! Toch vond ik het heel moeilijk om dit boek te beoordelen. Tijdens het lezen veranderde ik namelijk steeds van rating...
Er zijn twee verhaallijnen: die in het heden en eentje die bestaat uit dagboekfragmenten uit 1900. In het heden maak je kennis met Daniel, zijn vrouw en hun dochtertje. Al gauw wordt duidelijk dat zijn vrouw is overleden en dat hij alleen met zijn dochtertje overblijft en in het nieuwe huis er het beste van probeert te maken. Ik hoopte op een erg spannend, creepy en spooky verhaal, maar ik voelde het niet.
Er gebeuren wat 'spooky' dingen, maar de échte spanning kwam voor mij niet. De fragmenten uit 1900 vond ik wel erg interessant, omdat hierdoor langzaam duidelijk wordt welke tragedie plaatsgevonden heeft.
Wel moet ik zeggen dat Steve Frech een ontzettend fijne schrijfstijl heeft. Er zitten zeker wel goede stukken in dit verhaal, maar ik denk dat mijn verwachtingen te hoog waren. Omdat ik nog steeds niet goed weet wat ik er van moet vinden, schommel ik dus met mijn beoordeling.Toch kijk ik zeker weer uit naar een nieuw verhaal van deze auteur.
Beoordeling: 3,0/3,5 ⭐️
July 1, 2020
This was a predictable story and very disappointing. I thought that this book would be creepy and make me have goosebumps...not!!!!! I have read books like this before and they have scared me, this one was nit one of them. It was quite a short book and although I enjoyed reading about the father/daughter relationship it still left me cold. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 21, 2021
4/5 stars
This is blurbed for fans of Haunting of Hill House and that is spot on if you ask me. A solid haunted house story. I decided to read this on a whim and I'm so glad I did.
This follows Daniel and Caitlyn, a father and daughter, who move into an old (and super haunted) house after the death of Caitlyn's mother in a tragic car accident. Daniel's POV alternates with journal entries from the 1900s written by a teenage girl who knew the original family who lived in the house.
I loved this. All the spooky season feels. Also really loved the journal chapters, the historic aspect was the cherry on top for me. Highly reccommend if you're looking for something a little ghosty to read.
This is blurbed for fans of Haunting of Hill House and that is spot on if you ask me. A solid haunted house story. I decided to read this on a whim and I'm so glad I did.
This follows Daniel and Caitlyn, a father and daughter, who move into an old (and super haunted) house after the death of Caitlyn's mother in a tragic car accident. Daniel's POV alternates with journal entries from the 1900s written by a teenage girl who knew the original family who lived in the house.
I loved this. All the spooky season feels. Also really loved the journal chapters, the historic aspect was the cherry on top for me. Highly reccommend if you're looking for something a little ghosty to read.
March 13, 2021
Omg this was such crap. I'm 90% through and I cannot listen to another second. Terrible. Repetitive. Uninteresting. Pointless. No suspense. Nothing.
July 17, 2022
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I was definitely interested when I saw this book on Netgalley, a haunted house? OH sign me up. I am always on the look out for new and spooky haunted house books to read. And this one, oh man was just so spooky that at times (it was night) I wanted to just turn on all the lights (but with a hubby next to me, asleep, one cannot do that).
Yes, I read this book when I couldn’t sleep. Maybe not the best time to read a very scary book, but it was definitely worth it in the end because this book was GOOD. It is about a family, a father and his daughter, who are about to live in a brand-new home, which they picked out with their wife/mom.. who died very soon after they bought the house. The father especially has a hard time with being in the home. It was a needed move, but I could very much imagine that living in the home your spouse was so enthusiastic about isn’t going to be easy. And it gets tougher when your wife is there as a ghost and you see her. Sometimes when she is still beautiful and whole… other times when she is broken and bloody. And then I didn’t even name all the other things that haunt this house and make it a house were one just cannot take a break. There is always something happening. A drip here, a voice there, thunking in the library, your kid talking to something that you don’t see, your kid staring at a corner of your home, seeing things in reflections, and more. I felt sorry for the guy that in the end he just slept on the couch as that was apparently a safer option over the bed upstairs.
Along with spooky going-ons we read the story about the house, or more specifically the people who lived there and the girl from the village who is very much interested in the man of the house (and he in her). I loved that the diary parts were added. It gave a bit of a reprieve from all the scary stuff. Plus, gave a fun insight in what may have happened here. I loved Rebecca, though I did think she was very naive. Plus, again, I am not a fan of people who cheat or who date men/women who are in relationship. I loved seeing how the man she loved turned out to be quite a violent, psychotic man and how we saw bits and pieces here and there of it already but nearing the end it was all there.
I did think it was a bit weird that the family who lived before our father daughter didn’t seem to have any bother with it? I guess maybe because they didn’t bring a ghost along with them, nor a kid who was apparently able to see dead people.
The book got more and more creepy and spooky as the story continued and in the end I was just snuggling in my way too warm bed. Especially near the end when our MC decides that enough is enough and goes full out to fix what is wrong. Oh man, that part where the bad ghost is standing in front of him.. with dead eyes. NOPE.
I can imagine that in the end they picked to do that. It is a big change again, but definitely needed for both of them.
All in all, a book that will keep you up, a book that won’t let you go, and hey what is that behind you? Recommended to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I was definitely interested when I saw this book on Netgalley, a haunted house? OH sign me up. I am always on the look out for new and spooky haunted house books to read. And this one, oh man was just so spooky that at times (it was night) I wanted to just turn on all the lights (but with a hubby next to me, asleep, one cannot do that).
Yes, I read this book when I couldn’t sleep. Maybe not the best time to read a very scary book, but it was definitely worth it in the end because this book was GOOD. It is about a family, a father and his daughter, who are about to live in a brand-new home, which they picked out with their wife/mom.. who died very soon after they bought the house. The father especially has a hard time with being in the home. It was a needed move, but I could very much imagine that living in the home your spouse was so enthusiastic about isn’t going to be easy. And it gets tougher when your wife is there as a ghost and you see her. Sometimes when she is still beautiful and whole… other times when she is broken and bloody. And then I didn’t even name all the other things that haunt this house and make it a house were one just cannot take a break. There is always something happening. A drip here, a voice there, thunking in the library, your kid talking to something that you don’t see, your kid staring at a corner of your home, seeing things in reflections, and more. I felt sorry for the guy that in the end he just slept on the couch as that was apparently a safer option over the bed upstairs.
Along with spooky going-ons we read the story about the house, or more specifically the people who lived there and the girl from the village who is very much interested in the man of the house (and he in her). I loved that the diary parts were added. It gave a bit of a reprieve from all the scary stuff. Plus, gave a fun insight in what may have happened here. I loved Rebecca, though I did think she was very naive. Plus, again, I am not a fan of people who cheat or who date men/women who are in relationship. I loved seeing how the man she loved turned out to be quite a violent, psychotic man and how we saw bits and pieces here and there of it already but nearing the end it was all there.
I did think it was a bit weird that the family who lived before our father daughter didn’t seem to have any bother with it? I guess maybe because they didn’t bring a ghost along with them, nor a kid who was apparently able to see dead people.
The book got more and more creepy and spooky as the story continued and in the end I was just snuggling in my way too warm bed. Especially near the end when our MC decides that enough is enough and goes full out to fix what is wrong. Oh man, that part where the bad ghost is standing in front of him.. with dead eyes. NOPE.
I can imagine that in the end they picked to do that. It is a big change again, but definitely needed for both of them.
All in all, a book that will keep you up, a book that won’t let you go, and hey what is that behind you? Recommended to all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 29, 2024
This is great thriller/suspense book about a family that move into an old house at the end of a lane. The house is perfect in every way. The husband, wife and daughter will love it here but, as soon as the couple decide to buy the house after viewing it, things start to change for this happy family. I really enjoyed reading this book and I think you will too❤️
August 25, 2020
I am sucker for a good haunted house book and this one did not disappoint! The story centers on Daniel and his 8-yr-old daughter Caitlyn, who move into historic Nightingale house after Daniel's wife Nicole passes away- the 3 of them decided to build the house together and both are having trouble coming to terms with Nicole's sudden death. Almost as soon as they get there, weird things start to happen- Daniel hears sounds he can't explain, has crazy visions and dreams, and hears Caitlyn talking to people that he cannot see. There are some alternating chapters from a journal written by Rebecca 100+ years ago, which ties the story together and explains what is going on with the house.
This book was creepy the entire way through- I literally read it in one sitting. The characters are well developed, and even the bit characters are likable and believable. The author did a great job of tying together all the loose ends so everything made sense. I did think that Daniel was a little slow on the uptake when all was revealed, but then again it's probably hard to get your arms around the idea that ghosts are trying to harm you.
If you like to read about haunted houses, you will not be disappointed- this book is creepy the whole way through and downright scary at parts. I'm a fan of Frech in general and think this one hit the mark!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was creepy the entire way through- I literally read it in one sitting. The characters are well developed, and even the bit characters are likable and believable. The author did a great job of tying together all the loose ends so everything made sense. I did think that Daniel was a little slow on the uptake when all was revealed, but then again it's probably hard to get your arms around the idea that ghosts are trying to harm you.
If you like to read about haunted houses, you will not be disappointed- this book is creepy the whole way through and downright scary at parts. I'm a fan of Frech in general and think this one hit the mark!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2020
This was a great book to read on Halloween day/night, a perfect ghost story for the time. After the death of his wife, Daniel and 8 year old daughter move into Nightingale house. Caitlyn starts immediately with ‘imaginary friends’ and even Daniel sense something is off about the house. The suspense builds quite quickly. I think the whole story takes place over just a few weeks so there’s no messing about with wordy exposition. We get explanations of what might be occurring through the diary of a teenage girl in 1900 which adds to the drama as it’s not evident until later just how she links to the house.
I really liked it. It was quite a quick read but the words are used to great effect. It gripped me from the start and I couldn’t put it down.
I really liked it. It was quite a quick read but the words are used to great effect. It gripped me from the start and I couldn’t put it down.
May 27, 2020
I love a good haunted house story. This does include a haunted house but it is about much more than that. It is about grief and loss. Recently widowed author Daniel and his daughter Caitlyn move to a new home. Amongst other things he is haunted by the loss of his wife. There is a mystery from the past tied in with journal entries from more than 100 years ago. It does has some creepy elements but I certainly wouldn’t categorize it as horror.
Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Frech, and HQ Digital for the arc.
Thank you to NetGalley, Steve Frech, and HQ Digital for the arc.
June 24, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5
Nightingale House was well-written with fully-developed characters. It was easy to read and kept my interest. However, for a haunting house story, there needs to be more spookiness. All in all, not a bad read.
Thank you to Netgalley, HQ Digital and Steve Frech for a copy of "Nightingale House" in exchange of an honest review.
Nightingale House was well-written with fully-developed characters. It was easy to read and kept my interest. However, for a haunting house story, there needs to be more spookiness. All in all, not a bad read.
Thank you to Netgalley, HQ Digital and Steve Frech for a copy of "Nightingale House" in exchange of an honest review.
May 25, 2020
I was given the opportunity to read and review The Nightingale House in exchange for an honest review. This book is bone-chillingly good (think The Whisper Man mixed with a sweet father/daughter relationship). The story begins when thriller writer Daniel Price reaches the peak of success with his first novel. His wife Nicole and daughter Caitlin decide it’s time to invest in a new home and find the charming and historical Nightingale House. After a quick spin through the house, they know THIS is their house. The excitement is short lived when all three are struck by a drunk driver on the way home and Nicole is killed. Fast-forward to months later and Daniel and Caitlin begin life without Nicole and make the move to Nightingale House. It isn’t long before Daniel begins having hallucinations in the house and Caitlin develops a relationship with an imaginary friend. Daniel begins to think there’s more to this house than meets the eye and a trip to the historical society in town yields even more clues. Woven into this story are excerpts from a 1900’s era journal written by Rebecca, the local pharmacist’s daughter. Rebecca has been making regular visits to Nightingale House and has her own story to tell. This book was enthralling and just what I needed for a Saturday afternoon. The relationship between the father and daughter is absolutely charming and I also loved the historical elements. I’m not typically a fan of supernatural stories, but this was really well done in a fashion similar to The Broken Girls, Sundown Motel. This book will be released on June 19th. Grab your copy!!
September 5, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Nightingale house is a chilling horror stroke thriller which kept me up late at night!
Daniel and Caitlyn move in to The Nightingale House after a tragedy occurs and start a new life there but the house holds a dark past thats about to step into their new beginning.
Caitlyn suddenly has an imaginary friend and Daniel is having nighmares and vivid images when awake but thats just the beginning...
I loved how the journal was incorporated into the story and found the book ended well too.
Nightingale house is a chilling horror stroke thriller which kept me up late at night!
Daniel and Caitlyn move in to The Nightingale House after a tragedy occurs and start a new life there but the house holds a dark past thats about to step into their new beginning.
Caitlyn suddenly has an imaginary friend and Daniel is having nighmares and vivid images when awake but thats just the beginning...
I loved how the journal was incorporated into the story and found the book ended well too.
June 23, 2020
THE NIGHTINGALE HOUSE is the second novel by Steve Frech, a page-turner of Horror which riveted this reader, providing characters with whom I empathize, plus a horrendous villain who deserves comeuppance. The author juggles a number of issues and does so seamlessly.
August 12, 2020
A nice, well-written haunted house tale that was a fast and smooth read. Interludes with journal entries help explain the history while the protagonist tries to puzzle out the strange happenings and his daughter's imaginary friend.
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