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Someone at the Door
BEWARE THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
The phone and the radio were dead, but they'd already heard the news: a mass murderer was on the loose. Hannah and her younger sister Meg were miles from the nearest neighbor, trapped in a raging blizzard, home alone. Until the knock at the door. Two strangers burst into the house, wounded, bleeding and nearly frozen. Hannah couldn't just turn Lance and Jonathon away, so she made them promise to leave in the morning. But they stayed, insisting the girls needed protection. Wary of Lance's brooding good looks, Hannah was drawn to Jonathon's reassuring presence. Until the dog, and the axe, disappeared--and the girls wondered "protection from whom?"
The phone and the radio were dead, but they'd already heard the news: a mass murderer was on the loose. Hannah and her younger sister Meg were miles from the nearest neighbor, trapped in a raging blizzard, home alone. Until the knock at the door. Two strangers burst into the house, wounded, bleeding and nearly frozen. Hannah couldn't just turn Lance and Jonathon away, so she made them promise to leave in the morning. But they stayed, insisting the girls needed protection. Wary of Lance's brooding good looks, Hannah was drawn to Jonathon's reassuring presence. Until the dog, and the axe, disappeared--and the girls wondered "protection from whom?"
243 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1994
8 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Richie Tankersley Cusick
50 books798 followersRichie Tankersley Cusick is the bestselling young adult author of over 25 titles, including two adult horror titles, Scarecrow and Blood Roots. Her popularity grew at the height of the horror/YA boom in the late '80s/early '90s, particularly with books like Lifeguard , Trick or Treat and Teacher's Pet, just to name a few, allowing her to keep company on the bestseller paperback lists with the likes of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. Her fan base expanded about the time she changed publishers to Archway/Pocket Books with titles like Vampire and Someone at the Door.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 2, 2020
So many red herrings, so many shirts thrown over a chair mistaken for killers, and the eternal push and pull attraction to men who want to murder you, but at the same time are so unbearably cute.
September 22, 2020
Yes! Another bonkers thriller! I love it. The terrorizing is more subtle, a little less elaborate than usual in this one. Mostly paranoia for a good part of the book, so nothing big really happens for a while. So many suspects! Escaped mental patient murderer on the loose? Aggro ex? Mysterious but hot strangers? Maybe the bus driver is sketchy too idk? Even Hannah is showing signs of... aggression. How long were their parents gone anyway? Anyway, I think the last line was the most unsettling—and perfect ending—to the book. Entertaining. A solid 3.5 but I’ll round up for the ending.
October 2, 2021
3.5 stars
As a children’s horror book it’s a great read full of tension and misleading hints. I think for adults the ending is a bit of a let down. However it’s a very easy and fast read, ideal for all my October spooky readathons.
As a children’s horror book it’s a great read full of tension and misleading hints. I think for adults the ending is a bit of a let down. However it’s a very easy and fast read, ideal for all my October spooky readathons.
January 2, 2024
2 sisters stuck in some Snowstorm Armageddon with their parents gone, the phone line and power down, a threatening ex-boyfriend lurking around, 2 hunky wounded strangers showing up at their door needing help and OH there’s a deranged escaped mental patient on the loose.
Most of the book is just paranoia and dread and many variations of Richie Tankersley Cusick writing “a shot of terror went up her spine” or “she felt an icy chill go through her” until the end. There’s a killer on the loose, but is it one of the hurt hunks in the house, whom the girls barely know? Or is the menacing ex boyfriend with anger issues? I didn’t know til the bitter end, but all I was concerned about was that
P.S. HAHAHAHA THE COVER!! ☃️💀
Most of the book is just paranoia and dread and many variations of Richie Tankersley Cusick writing “a shot of terror went up her spine” or “she felt an icy chill go through her” until the end. There’s a killer on the loose, but is it one of the hurt hunks in the house, whom the girls barely know? Or is the menacing ex boyfriend with anger issues? I didn’t know til the bitter end, but all I was concerned about was that
P.S. HAHAHAHA THE COVER!! ☃️💀
May 13, 2021
I loved this a LOT.
Genuinely, this was such a tense read. It didn't feel too young for me to read as an adult, and I absolutely adored the pacing and Hannah as a main character and the boys and the knock at the door! It was so creepy and it definitely kept me guessing all the way through.
The ending felt like a bit of a cop-out, but the rest of the book more than made up for it.
I even enjoyed the bits of romance, tbh, even though Lance and Jonathon were rather threatening the whole way through and Lance deffo gave me rapey vibes.
I think I'd have tried to hike into town, though.
Genuinely, this was such a tense read. It didn't feel too young for me to read as an adult, and I absolutely adored the pacing and Hannah as a main character and the boys and the knock at the door! It was so creepy and it definitely kept me guessing all the way through.
The ending felt like a bit of a cop-out, but the rest of the book more than made up for it.
I even enjoyed the bits of romance, tbh, even though Lance and Jonathon were rather threatening the whole way through and Lance deffo gave me rapey vibes.
I think I'd have tried to hike into town, though.
July 1, 2019
I loved this book so much!
definitely recommend!
definitely recommend!
June 29, 2023
Eh, very drawn out. A majority of the book is just Hannah thinking about Kurt and saying, "Its gotta be Kurt!" over and over again. Cover art is nice, though.
December 21, 2024
An okay, slight, wintry YA thriller.
2 teenage girls are trapped at home by themselves during a blizzard when a couple of injured guys show up at their doorstep claiming to have been in an car wreck. With the phones down and no one else around for miles (because of course for the plot), the girls reluctantly take them in and provide shelter.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, there was previously a news bulletin (TV/radio, forget which one) announcing the escape of a incarcerated killer.
Could it be one - or both - of the hunky but mysterious dudes that showed up in need of aid?
I liked the first half or so of this. Despite some silly and cheesy moments, and obvious plot conveniences, it does have some effective tension throughout as our main characters try to figure out if the two guys are trustworthy or not. There's some weird, sinister things that happen, furthering the mystery and the question of who's responsible.
Unfortunately, the plot is stretched a bit thin and we get some needless and unconvincing romantic interests, and repetitive scenes of the characters endlessly bickering and suspecting one another of the things that happen throughout.
The final reveal was a bit different than I expected but by the end I wasn't as invested and was rather indifferent to it. It also ends on kind of a weird note.
Overall this was okay - I could only recommend it for those looking for a thematic read for the snowy season and for fans of vintage YA.
I give Someone at the Door a 2.5⭐ rounded down.
2 teenage girls are trapped at home by themselves during a blizzard when a couple of injured guys show up at their doorstep claiming to have been in an car wreck. With the phones down and no one else around for miles (because of course for the plot), the girls reluctantly take them in and provide shelter.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention, there was previously a news bulletin (TV/radio, forget which one) announcing the escape of a incarcerated killer.
Could it be one - or both - of the hunky but mysterious dudes that showed up in need of aid?
I liked the first half or so of this. Despite some silly and cheesy moments, and obvious plot conveniences, it does have some effective tension throughout as our main characters try to figure out if the two guys are trustworthy or not. There's some weird, sinister things that happen, furthering the mystery and the question of who's responsible.
Unfortunately, the plot is stretched a bit thin and we get some needless and unconvincing romantic interests, and repetitive scenes of the characters endlessly bickering and suspecting one another of the things that happen throughout.
The final reveal was a bit different than I expected but by the end I wasn't as invested and was rather indifferent to it. It also ends on kind of a weird note.
Overall this was okay - I could only recommend it for those looking for a thematic read for the snowy season and for fans of vintage YA.
I give Someone at the Door a 2.5⭐ rounded down.
May 22, 2025
I got this book for my 12th birthday in 1999. I used to love scary books. I recently found it among some of my childhood things and decided to reread it. I enjoyed it, mostly for the nostalgia.
August 5, 2016
I bought this book back in 94 when it came out. I read it then.. Almost 20 years later I picked it up again. I couldn't remember much about it really, other than 2 girls stranded in the house with strangers. And I always loved the cover art for some reason.
A story about 2 girls left stranded at home during a blizzard without their parents. After their parents call to tell them they are stranded at the airport the girls settle in for a long couple of nights. Later that night two strangers arrive.. hurt and in need of help.
For me this story kinda dragged on. There were creepy things happening here n there but no real buildup of suspense. And how stupid is that Hannah girl? I mean, her boyfriend threatens to kill her and all she can do is pine over him?! wtf... she got on my nerves.
One thing I did really like was the ending. Great ending! Was NOT expecting that. I think this would make a pretty good movie actually with an ending like that.
Would have given it 4 stars for the good/satisfying ending but it lost a star for the boring/slow pace.
A story about 2 girls left stranded at home during a blizzard without their parents. After their parents call to tell them they are stranded at the airport the girls settle in for a long couple of nights. Later that night two strangers arrive.. hurt and in need of help.
For me this story kinda dragged on. There were creepy things happening here n there but no real buildup of suspense. And how stupid is that Hannah girl? I mean, her boyfriend threatens to kill her and all she can do is pine over him?! wtf... she got on my nerves.
One thing I did really like was the ending. Great ending! Was NOT expecting that. I think this would make a pretty good movie actually with an ending like that.
Would have given it 4 stars for the good/satisfying ending but it lost a star for the boring/slow pace.
December 21, 2025
You can pull my biased rating from my cold dead hands because this was my all-time FAVORITE book in upper elementary school.
Yes, it’s cliche. Yes, it’s predictable. Yes, the main character is way too concerned with various attractive men when there are much bigger problems at hand.
But I loved and still love every second of it.
Yes, it’s cliche. Yes, it’s predictable. Yes, the main character is way too concerned with various attractive men when there are much bigger problems at hand.
But I loved and still love every second of it.
December 18, 2022
Review Based on Second Reading and Written 12/18/2022.
For the extended version with gifs/images, quotes and a little extra snark visit my blog.
Hannah Stuart is having a rough day. She finally got up the nerve to break up with her abusive boyfriend of six months and she just wants to get home and be done with the day. Unfortunately there is a blizzard rolling in and Hannah’s parents are out of town, leaving her in charge of her younger sister Meg. As the storm hits and the night wears on, Hannah’s stress levels are on the rise. Between threatening phone calls from her ex, anxiety about keeping warm should they lose power, and a news report about an escaped killer on the loose, Hannah fears it’s going to be difficult to get through. On top of this, at 2:00 AM, two injured young men appear at their door, begging for help. The girls reluctantly let them in, but as the storm stretches over the next few days, strange things begin to happen – food disappearing along with the axe from the woodpile, creepy pranks of a violent nature, and who the hell built that giant snowman in the front yard? Is it Hannah’s enraged ex boyfriend looking to terrorize her? Is it the escaped killer? Or is one or both of the injured young men the girls have allowed in their home not what they seem?
I originally read this novel approximately nineteen years ago (It’s me, hi, I’m the old fart, it’s me) and oddly felt the urge to reread it recently. It must be the winter setting that set this off, but encouragement from fellow Goodreads user and author, Nenia Campbell, pushed me to pick it up again. It’s fitting that I wound up finishing this reread of a novel about two girls isolated in a blizzard while in the middle of one myself. I remembered enjoying this story as a fourteen-year-old and hoped it held up, despite forgetting most details. For the most part, it did.
One thing I didn’t remember was what a cranky jerk Hannah is. On the one hand, I understand, I get snippy and easily irritated when I’m anxious too, and she is under a lot of stress. I get it, and I get that she’s only seventeen so her emotions aren’t going to be regulated as well as a fully developed adult’s. However, she’s quick to verbally hit Meg where it hurts and physically attempt to hit Jonathon and Lance when they say things that upset her. (Ninety-five percent of the time this leads to the guy pinning her down … maybe she just has a kink for being manhandled by attractive men. Understandable, but girl, use your words!)
Then there’s the fact that, for about eighty percent of the novel she refuses to believe her ex could be behind any of the strange goings-on. Babe, he literally threatened to kill you and could have been the only one to leave that disgusting ‘gift’ in your car. When she finds his abandoned car and gets upset that he might be injured and/or lost in the snow, I was like, “Oh, honey…” When she gets pissed that the others care more about finding the dog than making sure her piece of shit ex isn’t in danger, I wanted to smack her upside the head myself. If I had to choose between helping the family dog that loves everyone and the ex that threatened to murder me, that bastard can freeze to death, I’m choosing the innocent dog. If my ex is out there we’ll find his body in the spring.
Meg is all bleeding heart and naiveté. I do get why Hannah gets annoyed with her, the girl is a bit dramatic and trusts too easily. (Someone seriously needs to educate this girl on the fact that a man being attractive doesn’t prevent him from being a murderer before she becomes a victim of the next Ted Bundy.) She’s quick to be moved to tears or fright. However, she is also driven to help people, whether it’s letting Hannah sleep and making her dinner after a rough day, counseling her on how her ex was a worthless piece of shit anyway, breaking the house rules and letting the family dog in the house (I seriously despise people who make their dogs live outside), or aiding in taking care of the injured men they’ve taken in. She’s immature in some aspects, but she’s a good kid.
This brings us to the injured parties in question, Jonathon and Lance. They are a little off-putting right from the start, ready to break the door down if the girls didn’t provide them shelter. Their relationship with the girls varies throughout the story, with Meg innocently trusting them for the most part and Hannah being cautiously suspicious.
Jonathon is the more personable of the two – kind, good-humored despite his severe leg injury, gentle yet stubborn, almost to the point of self-sacrificing martyrdom. His fair hair and big blue eyes seem to lure Hannah in, and the two do seem to have great chemistry, even kissing a few times. They could possibly have a healthy relationship, if he doesn’t turn out to be a murderer, and she gets her anger under control and stops trying to hit people. (Although maybe that’s foreplay for them … their first kiss does happen after she takes a swing at him and he’s pinning her arms between their bodies.)
He does appear to be the more trustworthy of the duo, but doesn’t come off as entirely innocent either. He’s very shifty when it comes to personal details and does say creepy things on occasion, often reminding Hannah of just how isolated she and Meg are.
Lance is much more suspicious from the start. When the guys first arrive at the house, Hannah doesn’t have much interaction with him due to his head injury. It’s later that evening when he wakes up that they have their first encounter, where he puts her in a stranglehold from behind. Solid start to whatever relationship will occur between you two, bro. Everything about him is darker than Jonathon, from his shoulder-length hair, to his broody and intimidating demeanor, to the willingness to get physical and the weird things he says.
He takes a particular interest in the story of the escaped killer as Meg relays what she saw on the news and he’s the one that decides he and Jonathon need to stay and protect them. The fact that he does seem to take this role seriously works in his favor, especially when it comes to Meg. With Hannah, he gets sick of her shit pretty quickly, and honestly, between her attitude, the amount of times she runs off into the storm, and the amount of times she tries to hit him, I don’t entirely blame him. I don’t entirely blame her either though, because I feel like he enjoys being a bit of a jerk to her.
One thing both men have in common is the offense they take to the girls, particularly Hannah, suspecting one of them might be the escaped killer. Um, guys, they are two teenage girls, stranded in the middle of nowhere during a seemingly endless blizzard, who have heard news reports about an escaped murderer headed their way and they have no idea who either of you are.
Despite having read this book before, I couldn’t remember most of it. However, that’s not very telling as aforementioned, the first time I read this was about nineteen years ago. I didn’t remember all the weird things that our four central characters encountered or who the person behind all of these scary occurrences turned out to be. I had the pleasure of being in suspense all over again, and in that aspect, the story delivers. I didn’t remember what happened next and couldn’t wait to find out – binge reading over 100 pages in one night. Despite being more annoyed by Hannah and still unsure about both Jonathon and Lance, I did care enough about the central characters to want them to survive and hoped that neither of the boys was the one terrorizing the sisters.
Did it hold up? I think I’ll shave down my original rating slightly. It is a fun, quick and enjoyable read that wasn’t too predictable, even the second time around. It’s decent entertainment for a snowy afternoon, being both short enough and suspenseful enough to be read in one sitting. I’m glad I revisited it, and will probably do so again.
3.5/5
For the extended version with gifs/images, quotes and a little extra snark visit my blog.
Hannah Stuart is having a rough day. She finally got up the nerve to break up with her abusive boyfriend of six months and she just wants to get home and be done with the day. Unfortunately there is a blizzard rolling in and Hannah’s parents are out of town, leaving her in charge of her younger sister Meg. As the storm hits and the night wears on, Hannah’s stress levels are on the rise. Between threatening phone calls from her ex, anxiety about keeping warm should they lose power, and a news report about an escaped killer on the loose, Hannah fears it’s going to be difficult to get through. On top of this, at 2:00 AM, two injured young men appear at their door, begging for help. The girls reluctantly let them in, but as the storm stretches over the next few days, strange things begin to happen – food disappearing along with the axe from the woodpile, creepy pranks of a violent nature, and who the hell built that giant snowman in the front yard? Is it Hannah’s enraged ex boyfriend looking to terrorize her? Is it the escaped killer? Or is one or both of the injured young men the girls have allowed in their home not what they seem?
I originally read this novel approximately nineteen years ago (It’s me, hi, I’m the old fart, it’s me) and oddly felt the urge to reread it recently. It must be the winter setting that set this off, but encouragement from fellow Goodreads user and author, Nenia Campbell, pushed me to pick it up again. It’s fitting that I wound up finishing this reread of a novel about two girls isolated in a blizzard while in the middle of one myself. I remembered enjoying this story as a fourteen-year-old and hoped it held up, despite forgetting most details. For the most part, it did.
One thing I didn’t remember was what a cranky jerk Hannah is. On the one hand, I understand, I get snippy and easily irritated when I’m anxious too, and she is under a lot of stress. I get it, and I get that she’s only seventeen so her emotions aren’t going to be regulated as well as a fully developed adult’s. However, she’s quick to verbally hit Meg where it hurts and physically attempt to hit Jonathon and Lance when they say things that upset her. (Ninety-five percent of the time this leads to the guy pinning her down … maybe she just has a kink for being manhandled by attractive men. Understandable, but girl, use your words!)
Then there’s the fact that, for about eighty percent of the novel she refuses to believe her ex could be behind any of the strange goings-on. Babe, he literally threatened to kill you and could have been the only one to leave that disgusting ‘gift’ in your car. When she finds his abandoned car and gets upset that he might be injured and/or lost in the snow, I was like, “Oh, honey…” When she gets pissed that the others care more about finding the dog than making sure her piece of shit ex isn’t in danger, I wanted to smack her upside the head myself. If I had to choose between helping the family dog that loves everyone and the ex that threatened to murder me, that bastard can freeze to death, I’m choosing the innocent dog. If my ex is out there we’ll find his body in the spring.
Meg is all bleeding heart and naiveté. I do get why Hannah gets annoyed with her, the girl is a bit dramatic and trusts too easily. (Someone seriously needs to educate this girl on the fact that a man being attractive doesn’t prevent him from being a murderer before she becomes a victim of the next Ted Bundy.) She’s quick to be moved to tears or fright. However, she is also driven to help people, whether it’s letting Hannah sleep and making her dinner after a rough day, counseling her on how her ex was a worthless piece of shit anyway, breaking the house rules and letting the family dog in the house (I seriously despise people who make their dogs live outside), or aiding in taking care of the injured men they’ve taken in. She’s immature in some aspects, but she’s a good kid.
This brings us to the injured parties in question, Jonathon and Lance. They are a little off-putting right from the start, ready to break the door down if the girls didn’t provide them shelter. Their relationship with the girls varies throughout the story, with Meg innocently trusting them for the most part and Hannah being cautiously suspicious.
Jonathon is the more personable of the two – kind, good-humored despite his severe leg injury, gentle yet stubborn, almost to the point of self-sacrificing martyrdom. His fair hair and big blue eyes seem to lure Hannah in, and the two do seem to have great chemistry, even kissing a few times. They could possibly have a healthy relationship, if he doesn’t turn out to be a murderer, and she gets her anger under control and stops trying to hit people. (Although maybe that’s foreplay for them … their first kiss does happen after she takes a swing at him and he’s pinning her arms between their bodies.)
He does appear to be the more trustworthy of the duo, but doesn’t come off as entirely innocent either. He’s very shifty when it comes to personal details and does say creepy things on occasion, often reminding Hannah of just how isolated she and Meg are.
Lance is much more suspicious from the start. When the guys first arrive at the house, Hannah doesn’t have much interaction with him due to his head injury. It’s later that evening when he wakes up that they have their first encounter, where he puts her in a stranglehold from behind. Solid start to whatever relationship will occur between you two, bro. Everything about him is darker than Jonathon, from his shoulder-length hair, to his broody and intimidating demeanor, to the willingness to get physical and the weird things he says.
He takes a particular interest in the story of the escaped killer as Meg relays what she saw on the news and he’s the one that decides he and Jonathon need to stay and protect them. The fact that he does seem to take this role seriously works in his favor, especially when it comes to Meg. With Hannah, he gets sick of her shit pretty quickly, and honestly, between her attitude, the amount of times she runs off into the storm, and the amount of times she tries to hit him, I don’t entirely blame him. I don’t entirely blame her either though, because I feel like he enjoys being a bit of a jerk to her.
One thing both men have in common is the offense they take to the girls, particularly Hannah, suspecting one of them might be the escaped killer. Um, guys, they are two teenage girls, stranded in the middle of nowhere during a seemingly endless blizzard, who have heard news reports about an escaped murderer headed their way and they have no idea who either of you are.
Despite having read this book before, I couldn’t remember most of it. However, that’s not very telling as aforementioned, the first time I read this was about nineteen years ago. I didn’t remember all the weird things that our four central characters encountered or who the person behind all of these scary occurrences turned out to be. I had the pleasure of being in suspense all over again, and in that aspect, the story delivers. I didn’t remember what happened next and couldn’t wait to find out – binge reading over 100 pages in one night. Despite being more annoyed by Hannah and still unsure about both Jonathon and Lance, I did care enough about the central characters to want them to survive and hoped that neither of the boys was the one terrorizing the sisters.
Did it hold up? I think I’ll shave down my original rating slightly. It is a fun, quick and enjoyable read that wasn’t too predictable, even the second time around. It’s decent entertainment for a snowy afternoon, being both short enough and suspenseful enough to be read in one sitting. I’m glad I revisited it, and will probably do so again.
3.5/5
December 12, 2025
Buen ambiente de aislamiento y de sospecha, pero los personajes dejan bastante que desear ya que su comportamiento es estúpido y la mayoría de las veces no se sostiene. Si hubiesen adaptado el libro, seguramente habrían elegido el formato de película para la tv, un thriller barato con un solo escenario y con pocos personajes para recurrir a ese agobio constante que apuesta más por el ataque psicológico y menos por el gore. La autora trata de mantener la tensión de principio a fin, pero para ello repite siempre los mismos pensamientos, las mismas acusaciones, los mismos silencios incómodos que eluden preguntas directas y así, suma y sigue, la trama avanza sin avanzar, es decir que nadie toma una decisión drástica y siguen esperando a que les suceda algo.
Otro de los apaños baratos que demuestra la falta de creatividad de la novela es usar la vieja premisa del loco que se ha escapado de un manicomio y que puede estar merodeando cerca de la casa. Por último, aunque la ilustración de la cubierta del libro me parece estupenda, creo que es demasiado reveladora y que puede chafar una de las pocas sorpresas que hay en el libro. No es malo, pero espero dar con mejores opciones este invierno para disfrutar como se merece de una buena novela de terror navideño.
ENGLISH
The atmosphere of isolation and suspicion is well-developed, but the characters leave much to be desired, as their behavior is stupid and often untenable. If they had adapted the book, they would surely have opted for a TV movie format, a cheap thriller with a single setting and few characters, relying on constant tension that prioritizes psychological warfare over gore. The author tries to maintain tension from beginning to end, but to do so, she constantly repeats the same thoughts, the same accusations, the same awkward silences that avoid direct questions, and so on and so forth. The plot moves forward without actually progressing; no one makes a drastic decision, and they all just keep waiting for something to happen.
Another cheap trick that demonstrates the novel's lack of creativity is the use of the tired trope of the madman who has escaped from an asylum and might be lurking near the house. Finally, while I think the book's cover illustration is fantastic, I believe it's too revealing and could spoil one of the few surprises in the book. It's not bad, but I hope to find better options this winter to properly enjoy a good Christmas horror novel.
Otro de los apaños baratos que demuestra la falta de creatividad de la novela es usar la vieja premisa del loco que se ha escapado de un manicomio y que puede estar merodeando cerca de la casa. Por último, aunque la ilustración de la cubierta del libro me parece estupenda, creo que es demasiado reveladora y que puede chafar una de las pocas sorpresas que hay en el libro. No es malo, pero espero dar con mejores opciones este invierno para disfrutar como se merece de una buena novela de terror navideño.
ENGLISH
The atmosphere of isolation and suspicion is well-developed, but the characters leave much to be desired, as their behavior is stupid and often untenable. If they had adapted the book, they would surely have opted for a TV movie format, a cheap thriller with a single setting and few characters, relying on constant tension that prioritizes psychological warfare over gore. The author tries to maintain tension from beginning to end, but to do so, she constantly repeats the same thoughts, the same accusations, the same awkward silences that avoid direct questions, and so on and so forth. The plot moves forward without actually progressing; no one makes a drastic decision, and they all just keep waiting for something to happen.
Another cheap trick that demonstrates the novel's lack of creativity is the use of the tired trope of the madman who has escaped from an asylum and might be lurking near the house. Finally, while I think the book's cover illustration is fantastic, I believe it's too revealing and could spoil one of the few surprises in the book. It's not bad, but I hope to find better options this winter to properly enjoy a good Christmas horror novel.
September 20, 2020
Was it a masterpiece? No. But it was fun! I really got annoyed with the two sisters at first but I think that’s kind of how sisters actually are. Though I think the writer kind of didn’t know how to write women/teens. Meg seemed way young for her age. It was a good first experience for me with that writer.
November 1, 2025
Hannah is a total b****. Meg is a whiny toddler even though she's 14-15. This book was full of snow and running around. Repetitive situations. Nothing was going on until the last 3 pages. *face palm*
March 16, 2024
#mijnkortemening
Zaten wel spannende dingen in maar te veel van het zelfde en langdradig soms.
Iedereen deed geheimzinnig en mysterieus waardoor er veel wantrouwen was.
3.5 ⭐️
Zaten wel spannende dingen in maar te veel van het zelfde en langdradig soms.
Iedereen deed geheimzinnig en mysterieus waardoor er veel wantrouwen was.
3.5 ⭐️
January 14, 2020
Highly disappointed...
Considering Cusick’s Fatal Secrets is one of my favourite books ever, I was thrilled to find this book at the thrift store months ago and I’ve been dying to read it since adding it to my TBR pile. Not only is the story extremely repetitive and sometimes dull, it’s full of plot holes. Don’t even get me started on that ending, what a load... I couldn’t imagine a more half assed ending even if I tried. But I will give credit to where it’s due, it did leave me guessing and I was trying to figure out who the culprit was the entire time. It’s very suspenseful I will say. Though I’m highly disappointed I couldn’t possibly rank this lower than a 3. I liked the suspenseful moments and I guess that was enough to give it an average rating. But that’s all the book really is in my opinion, average. Dare I say forgettable...
Considering Cusick’s Fatal Secrets is one of my favourite books ever, I was thrilled to find this book at the thrift store months ago and I’ve been dying to read it since adding it to my TBR pile. Not only is the story extremely repetitive and sometimes dull, it’s full of plot holes. Don’t even get me started on that ending, what a load... I couldn’t imagine a more half assed ending even if I tried. But I will give credit to where it’s due, it did leave me guessing and I was trying to figure out who the culprit was the entire time. It’s very suspenseful I will say. Though I’m highly disappointed I couldn’t possibly rank this lower than a 3. I liked the suspenseful moments and I guess that was enough to give it an average rating. But that’s all the book really is in my opinion, average. Dare I say forgettable...
June 7, 2024
Probably closer to 3.5 stars, I mostly really enjoyed this one, despite the main character being incredibly annoying all the way through. It kept me guessing, and I actually liked the denoument, so I was pretty disappointed with that cheap cliffhanger of a final ending. There's nothing like leaving everything up in the air to make me feel like I wasted my time reading a book in the first place. These trashy 90s teen thrillers have a special place in my heart, but this one left me feeling a bit flat.
Also, much as I love that cover, it did mean that I spent the whole book waiting for them to find a dead body inside a snowman, which took away a fair amount of the suspense!
Also, much as I love that cover, it did mean that I spent the whole book waiting for them to find a dead body inside a snowman, which took away a fair amount of the suspense!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2010
I have no idea how I missed this book as a kid. It's right up my alley, or at least mine when I was younger. Kids are stranded in their home that's miles away from neighbors and civilization. There's a murderer on the loose, a crazy ex-boyfriend lurking, and two guys appear at the door in the dead of night.
Hijinks do not ensue, but a body count certainly does.
Points off for slacking off in the back story of the actual killer, and the ending will either be perfect for you, or perfectly annoying.
Hijinks do not ensue, but a body count certainly does.
Points off for slacking off in the back story of the actual killer, and the ending will either be perfect for you, or perfectly annoying.
August 2, 2018
This was only my second RTC book, and I was not disappointed! It definitely had me guessing until the very end. I kept thinking it was one person, then another, then another. However, I didn't like the way it ended :-/ I wish there were a part 2. Oh, well. I found it on Open Library and was able to read it for free! Sometimes these older books are hard to find ANYWHERE!!! I can't wait to find another awesomely 90's YA horror novel!!
July 9, 2017
This book wasn't bad it was just a bit slow. Things happen throughout but it is really little things that do not impact the story much. Of course there is the usual paranoid female who someone is after and you have to figure out who wants to hurt her.
December 26, 2020
Enjoyed this a lot. Loved the description of the snow, cold, and isolated house. It was very suspenseful. Tons of red herrings but fun. Thankfully the dog was saved but I think the author had killed him in her first draft before the editor said nope.
December 1, 2022
It's a very centered story taking place in an isolated, snow covered setting.
It's not bad because I mean it could be worse but it's not the most amazing of RTC's work.
Hannah Stuart and her younger sister Meg are home alone. Their parents went out of town for the birth of their first grandchild and the girls had school. Hannah might have wished she could be anywhere but here after breaking up with her boyfriend of six months, Kurt.
Been in town eight months and then they started dating and he was controlling. Meg didn't like him, Hannah's parents don't like him but there are plenty of other girls who would be thrilled to have him.
Their bus driver, Ernie, says more snow is in the forecast and Hannah's supposed to go pick her parents up from the airport. Things just go from bad to the worst.
Her mom calls and says they are snowed in at the airport and the TV earlier said that a mental patient escaped...a murderer. Also Kurt called, not happy about the break-up, convinced Hannah is cheating on him. He says he'll kill her before anyone else has her.
The snow gets worse and then the phone line is dead...no signal on the TV.
Two teenage girls alone in the middle of a winter storm miles from any neighbors with only their large and old Newfoundland named Bruce for protection from a psycho ex-boyfriend and an escaped, deranged killer.
At two in the morning...comes the knock on the door.
Heading downstairs quietly, Hannah and Meg try to make them think no one is home and get Bruce to barking. But a voice begs for help, says they're hurt and Meg can't turn anyone away bless her heart so she opens the door.
One young man passes out on to the floor, his black hair covered in snow with his pallor blue and a cut on his forehead. The other young man is fair, his clothes soaking wet and his leg injured and bleeding. The blond boy says his name is Jonathon and that they were in a car accident at the bridge the only bridge two miles back toward town. Jonathon saved the other boy, named Lance, and kept them both from drowning.
Jonathon promises they'll leave in the morning but the next day Meg let's it slip about the man who escaped from the institute. Hannah is not happy about that and then Lance says that they should probably stay for protection. The girls give in but it's also clear that Jonathon can't make it far on his injured leg and all they can do is wait for the roads to be clear.
The isolation, Kurt's threatening call, an escaped and troubled killer on the loose, two strange young men in the house alone with her and her sister...Hannah can't keep her mind from wandering and being paranoid. Then the wood chopping axe goes missing...and so does Bruce.
Meg is a wreck about her dog going missing and Hannah has four suspects. Are they trapped inside with another twisted mind or is the danger still...outside their door?
Since the cover depicts something that actually happens in the book I rounded my stars up to three.
Other than that, I think that there are too many red herrings. In the end when we get to the reveal at the climax, I think it was more of the easy way out. The ending itself makes up for a little of the disappointment. Why?
I can't really say...major spoiler.
If you haven't read Someone at the Door, it is a decent thriller and I can recommend it if you are a big RTC fan.
It's not bad because I mean it could be worse but it's not the most amazing of RTC's work.
Hannah Stuart and her younger sister Meg are home alone. Their parents went out of town for the birth of their first grandchild and the girls had school. Hannah might have wished she could be anywhere but here after breaking up with her boyfriend of six months, Kurt.
Been in town eight months and then they started dating and he was controlling. Meg didn't like him, Hannah's parents don't like him but there are plenty of other girls who would be thrilled to have him.
Their bus driver, Ernie, says more snow is in the forecast and Hannah's supposed to go pick her parents up from the airport. Things just go from bad to the worst.
Her mom calls and says they are snowed in at the airport and the TV earlier said that a mental patient escaped...a murderer. Also Kurt called, not happy about the break-up, convinced Hannah is cheating on him. He says he'll kill her before anyone else has her.
The snow gets worse and then the phone line is dead...no signal on the TV.
Two teenage girls alone in the middle of a winter storm miles from any neighbors with only their large and old Newfoundland named Bruce for protection from a psycho ex-boyfriend and an escaped, deranged killer.
At two in the morning...comes the knock on the door.
Heading downstairs quietly, Hannah and Meg try to make them think no one is home and get Bruce to barking. But a voice begs for help, says they're hurt and Meg can't turn anyone away bless her heart so she opens the door.
One young man passes out on to the floor, his black hair covered in snow with his pallor blue and a cut on his forehead. The other young man is fair, his clothes soaking wet and his leg injured and bleeding. The blond boy says his name is Jonathon and that they were in a car accident at the bridge the only bridge two miles back toward town. Jonathon saved the other boy, named Lance, and kept them both from drowning.
Jonathon promises they'll leave in the morning but the next day Meg let's it slip about the man who escaped from the institute. Hannah is not happy about that and then Lance says that they should probably stay for protection. The girls give in but it's also clear that Jonathon can't make it far on his injured leg and all they can do is wait for the roads to be clear.
The isolation, Kurt's threatening call, an escaped and troubled killer on the loose, two strange young men in the house alone with her and her sister...Hannah can't keep her mind from wandering and being paranoid. Then the wood chopping axe goes missing...and so does Bruce.
Meg is a wreck about her dog going missing and Hannah has four suspects. Are they trapped inside with another twisted mind or is the danger still...outside their door?
Since the cover depicts something that actually happens in the book I rounded my stars up to three.
Other than that, I think that there are too many red herrings. In the end when we get to the reveal at the climax, I think it was more of the easy way out. The ending itself makes up for a little of the disappointment. Why?
I can't really say...major spoiler.
If you haven't read Someone at the Door, it is a decent thriller and I can recommend it if you are a big RTC fan.
December 19, 2024
SO good. I absolutely loved this. I didn't read that much RTC as a kid but recently read Lifeguard, Trick or Treat and fell in love! So when I could I also read all the PH RTC I'd missed as a child, then looked for her other titles as I loved the PH ones. This one I absolutely loved. I;ve read it as we are running up to Crimbo, and I loved the snowy cold setting (for obvs reasons). Fatal Secrets is also a great read just before crimbo for the same reason
This one is one of my new faves along with Fatal Secrets and Abril Fools. And funnily enough there the ones I never read as a child!!
Hannah is a bit brusque but in the end she wasn't unlikeable. In the beggining I didn't like her, especially as she was harsh with MEg, who was so adorable. But then as the book went on I grew not to mind her and she was just that stern type and was protective if not loving or affectionate towards the dog and her sis. I liked the two boys even though Lance was a bit stand offish and offputting at times. But I really liked Lance's protectiveness towards Jonathan (a bromance?) and Meg.
SPOILERS:
.
I didn't guess the twist and actually thought the killer was Jonathan at the end. I knew the two boys couldn't have been the escaped killer cos of their ages (too young), but at the end I started to think that Jonathan was gonna turn out to be a separate killer.
Not sure about the deptiction of mental illness, typical 90's insensitivity. Which unfortunately still carries on to the 2020's (e.g. a Lifetime movie I saw recently with someone's cousin who turned out to be the killer because he is a "crazy" schizophrenic. How awful is that?! I actually wrote in to the network to complain, I couldn't believe the prejudice and scorn towards schizophrenia still in 2023) . But I liked the way the ending linked to a clue I'd totally missed given to us in the niddle of the book!
Ending was a bit frustrating; the last few paragraphs/sentences. That;s the kind of thing R.L. Stine does . I guess it's ambiguous? But it didn't bother me enough to spoil the book, as I can just assume it was happy safe ending and whoever was at the door was friendly.
This one is one of my new faves along with Fatal Secrets and Abril Fools. And funnily enough there the ones I never read as a child!!
Hannah is a bit brusque but in the end she wasn't unlikeable. In the beggining I didn't like her, especially as she was harsh with MEg, who was so adorable. But then as the book went on I grew not to mind her and she was just that stern type and was protective if not loving or affectionate towards the dog and her sis. I liked the two boys even though Lance was a bit stand offish and offputting at times. But I really liked Lance's protectiveness towards Jonathan (a bromance?) and Meg.
SPOILERS:
.
I didn't guess the twist and actually thought the killer was Jonathan at the end. I knew the two boys couldn't have been the escaped killer cos of their ages (too young), but at the end I started to think that Jonathan was gonna turn out to be a separate killer.
Not sure about the deptiction of mental illness, typical 90's insensitivity. Which unfortunately still carries on to the 2020's (e.g. a Lifetime movie I saw recently with someone's cousin who turned out to be the killer because he is a "crazy" schizophrenic. How awful is that?! I actually wrote in to the network to complain, I couldn't believe the prejudice and scorn towards schizophrenia still in 2023) . But I liked the way the ending linked to a clue I'd totally missed given to us in the niddle of the book!
Ending was a bit frustrating; the last few paragraphs/sentences. That;s the kind of thing R.L. Stine does . I guess it's ambiguous? But it didn't bother me enough to spoil the book, as I can just assume it was happy safe ending and whoever was at the door was friendly.
December 9, 2022
Hannah and her younger sister Meg are stranded in their isolated home during a vicious snowstorm. They hear on the radio that a killer has just escaped from the mental institution. Then two mysterious men show up at the door, injured. Hannah and Meg reluctantly let them stay. (Though they are handsome, though.) However, weird things start happening. It appears someone is trying to scare them. Is it one of the young men? The escaped maniac? Or perhaps Hannah's ex-boyfriend, Kurt, who threatened to kill her when she broke up with him?
This is a fun trapped-in-a-snowstorm-with-a-psycho-killer story, really well executed. It would have been even more fun if it weren't for our main character, Hannah, who was just immensely unlikeable. She's horrid to her sister, doesn't really care much for her dog, Bruce, a gorgeous old Newfoundland, and acts histrionically and belligerently from start to bloody finish. I really detested her. Then again, Cusick has form for giving us insipid dipshits for main characters. It's full of her usual tropes, in particular, male protagonists who are hot and brooding, but also full to the brim with toxic masculinity.
Actually, none of the characters here were much fun to be around! But Hannah sure did take the cake! It was only the dog, Bruce, who I really cared about! What an adorable doggo.
Otherwise, this kept me entertained. Cusick manages to drum up oodles of atmosphere, capturing the spooky feel of being caught in a snowstorm, without going overboard in her descriptions. There is plenty of suspense as the situation slowly but surely escalates, and culminates in a really fun final stretch If the characters, especially Hannah (ugh, she really rankled me), had been more likeable, this could have nudged itself up to four stars. Simple, solid thriller horror story.
This is a fun trapped-in-a-snowstorm-with-a-psycho-killer story, really well executed. It would have been even more fun if it weren't for our main character, Hannah, who was just immensely unlikeable. She's horrid to her sister, doesn't really care much for her dog, Bruce, a gorgeous old Newfoundland, and acts histrionically and belligerently from start to bloody finish. I really detested her. Then again, Cusick has form for giving us insipid dipshits for main characters. It's full of her usual tropes, in particular, male protagonists who are hot and brooding, but also full to the brim with toxic masculinity.
Actually, none of the characters here were much fun to be around! But Hannah sure did take the cake! It was only the dog, Bruce, who I really cared about! What an adorable doggo.
Otherwise, this kept me entertained. Cusick manages to drum up oodles of atmosphere, capturing the spooky feel of being caught in a snowstorm, without going overboard in her descriptions. There is plenty of suspense as the situation slowly but surely escalates, and culminates in a really fun final stretch If the characters, especially Hannah (ugh, she really rankled me), had been more likeable, this could have nudged itself up to four stars. Simple, solid thriller horror story.
December 23, 2020
I'm floundering on a score of 3 or a 4 stars. On one hand, I pretty much got what I expected. On the other, Hannah is so ridiculously annoying I want to jump in the book and smack her. It might not be her fault, every time she has an independent thought another character tells her to stop being hysterical.
What I loved: isolated setting, an escaped inmate from the insane asylum loose in the area, a maniac ex-boyfriend and no utilities. Also, no parents (delayed home because of blizzard).
What was meh: two injured young (and hot, I guess?) boys show up on the first night and immediately begin bossing both girls around (despite the fact the girls saved them and are feeding them.) Both males are very shady about giving personal information. Both males are interested in making out with Hannah whenever they get into a room alone with her. How attractive can she be if she is hysterical all of the time?
The rest I'm hiding. I think it is best to go in not knowing anything ahead of time in this story. Watch for small details that get dropped.
What I loved: isolated setting, an escaped inmate from the insane asylum loose in the area, a maniac ex-boyfriend and no utilities. Also, no parents (delayed home because of blizzard).
What was meh: two injured young (and hot, I guess?) boys show up on the first night and immediately begin bossing both girls around (despite the fact the girls saved them and are feeding them.) Both males are very shady about giving personal information. Both males are interested in making out with Hannah whenever they get into a room alone with her. How attractive can she be if she is hysterical all of the time?
The rest I'm hiding. I think it is best to go in not knowing anything ahead of time in this story. Watch for small details that get dropped.
October 9, 2024
3.5 stars
February 7, 2018
3.5 rating
Hannah and Meg are stranded home alone during a snowstorm. There is a knock on the door and two mysterious injured men are at the door. When strange things start to happen are these two men to blame, Hannah's ex boyfriend Kurt, the escaped lunatic or are one of the girls doing it?
The story was exactly what I wanted. It felt like a horror movie that you could enjoy but didn't need to think about too much.
Hannah and Meg are stranded home alone during a snowstorm. There is a knock on the door and two mysterious injured men are at the door. When strange things start to happen are these two men to blame, Hannah's ex boyfriend Kurt, the escaped lunatic or are one of the girls doing it?
The story was exactly what I wanted. It felt like a horror movie that you could enjoy but didn't need to think about too much.
January 22, 2020
This was my all time favorite book as a kid. I look for it everytime I'm at a thrift/used bookstore. I finally saw it at audible and had to get it. The narrator is a little annoying but that happens. Everything that happened to them in the book had me on edge. I love it. It's a story that has always stayed with me.
July 10, 2020
I was actually going to give this a 3 star rating because I kind of liked the dumb '90s teen slasher vibe (and because it was MUCH better than Cusick's "The Mall", not that that's saying much)... but then she dropped that ending on me. Um, no. Sorry.
Now it's more of a 1,5 stars thing, with me feeling generous.
Now it's more of a 1,5 stars thing, with me feeling generous.
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