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The House on Abigail Lane

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From the outside, it looks like an ordinary American home, but since its construction in 1956, people have vanished as soon as they go upstairs, the only clues the things they leave a wedding ring, a phone...an eye.In its sixty-year history, a record number of strange events have been attributed to the house, from the neighbors waking up to find themselves standing in the yard outside, to the grieving man who vanished before a police officer's eyes. The animals gathering in the yard as if summoned. The people who speak in reverse. The lights and sounds. The music. The grass dying overnight...and the ten-foot clown on the second floor.And as long as there are mysteries, people will be compelled to solve them.Here, then, is the most comprehensive account of the Abigail House phenomenon, the result of sixty years of eyewitness accounts, news reports, scientific research, and parapsychological investigations, all in an attempt to decode the enduring mystery that is......THE HOUSE ON ABIGAIL LANE.

99 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2020

78 people are currently reading
3136 people want to read

About the author

Kealan Patrick Burke

194 books2,329 followers
Hailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.

Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.

A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.

As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.

More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for producer Joel B. Michaels.

He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.

His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.

Kealan is represented by Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.

He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.

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5 stars
467 (27%)
4 stars
688 (39%)
3 stars
432 (25%)
2 stars
113 (6%)
1 star
24 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
Profile Image for destiny ♡ howling libraries.
2,002 reviews6,201 followers
October 19, 2021
ALL HAIL THE SUNFLOWER GOD.

The author note at the end of this book says it's already been optioned for a film, and HOLY SHIT I AM SCREAMING because this would make SUCH a good film!

Now, if that wasn't enough to convince you to pick up this absolutely delightful little novella, let me go on. The House on Abigail Lane follows the story of the titular house and all of its assorted hauntings and tragedies over a 60-year span, presented as nonfiction — which immediately sold me, as I love any sort of horror presentation that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Kealan pulled this off magnificently and I was wholly sucked in from cover to cover.

Houses are empty shells of wood and brick and plaster, devoid of souls, or intent. It's us, the creatures that are installed within them, that ultimately define their character.

Throughout the story, we catch glimpses of life for different victims of the house, and it's so intriguing to watch it all come together, while I constantly wondered how they would connect in the end. The finale wasn't anything I could have predicted, but it fit perfectly. I absolutely loved how bizarre of a story it all boiled down to be in the end.

One last thing: as a strong believer in the idea that fiction can and often should offer perspective on real life issues, I loved the brief but effective message on racism and how cases of missing Black people don't receive the same attention and investigative power as those of missing white people do. It's a harsh and unhappy truth that we need to face more often, especially in the horror and thriller genres, I think.

All in all, The House on Abigail Lane was such a fun, twisted little story and I absolutely hope the adaptation comes to pass, because I think it's going to make for one hell of a film!

Buddy read with Bex!
Profile Image for Rachel (TheShadesofOrange).
2,895 reviews4,809 followers
October 29, 2020
3.5 Stars
As someone who has earned a reputation for my dislike of haunted house stories, I am always excited to report when I actually find one I like! This novella reads like a factual account of a particular haunted house, which made the story feel possibly true. I found the disappearances made a very compelling premise, which kept me turning the pages.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
1,942 reviews2 followers
August 18, 2020
THE HOUSE ON ABIGAIL LANE by Kealan Patrick Burke is a unique novella that details events of a haunted house of an altogether different nature. Instead of one story, it's composed of individual events brought together so that you get the "full" understanding of this mystery.

". . . Greed is a great motivator, and the real estate market is loaded with house of ill repute and unscrupulous realtors . . . "

The details of what happens in and around 56 Abigail Lane I'll leave for you to read and find out yourself, but they are unlike any single tale of haunting I've read before. I've never been disappointed in anything I've read by this author, and this book is no exception!

"And the house comes back to life."

Recommended.
Profile Image for Janie.
1,172 reviews
August 1, 2020
An effective and creepy little chiller about an otherworldly house with lives of its own. Dream a little dream.
Profile Image for Ginger.
993 reviews579 followers
October 4, 2020
This was a great and unique look at a haunted house!
It also felt like I was reading an episode of The Twilight Zone. I really loved the unknown feel of this book and the questions of, "What the hell is this place?!"

The House of Abigail Lane is a short novella that's wrote in a historical way about a house located on Abigail Lane. Obviously. Hahaha!

Kealan Patrick Burke uses references and historical evidence to show how the house became haunted, along with all of the unknown questions about the place that people are asking.

How do people that enter the house just suddenly disappear?
I liked how he wrote this and the different spin he uses on a typical "haunted house" plot.

If you are looking for something well written, unique and quick to read, pick this one up!
Profile Image for Scott  Neumann.
95 reviews177 followers
December 1, 2020
What a unique take on the haunted house story, and I loved every page of it. This novella reads as if it were a college masters thesis, but without all of the dryness to pad it out. The history of the house from when the foundation was laid and the first family moved in. Until current day and all of the inexplicable things have happened.

Kealan Patrick Burke hits it out of the park with this story, it's still just the same haunted house tropes, but it is in the original way he tells it that makes it special. 5 stars all the way.
Profile Image for Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!).
717 reviews331 followers
May 17, 2025
October is the time for short horror tales that can easily be finished in one sitting and this fits the bill at 67 pages. 🎃
It is unique as the writer (Burke) takes us through the history of, and the mystery surrounding, Number 56, Abigail Lane. Not quite your average "haunted house" story, it is presented to the reader as non-fictional and consists of different accounts through the years of experiences had at the house.

A part which stuck out to me was the way the subject of race was handled (briefly but effectively), highlighting how cases of missing black people aren't given the same attention as white people, and how unjust this truly is.

The ending isn't something you will see coming, I do love unpredictability, but overall it just makes sense and makes it so unique.

"From what I can see, it's just a house, no different on the outside than all the others around it. It certainly doesn't radiate evil, but then, the devil is clever, and where better to catch the innocent sleeping but at home in their beds?"
Profile Image for Rachelle.
384 reviews94 followers
June 8, 2022
All Hail The Sunflower God!

Told in a journalistic format, this one follows a peculiar house with a penchant for swallowing people up!
Profile Image for Milica.
199 reviews33 followers
July 5, 2021
Like I said on my bookstagram story, a fuckin masterpiece. (excuse my french)
Profile Image for Richard.
1,062 reviews475 followers
October 13, 2020
There is something terribly wrong at 56 Abigail Lane.

The seemingly unremarkable house is now infamous due to a large number of unexplainable events that have occurred there and this novella details its mysterious history; yet another attempt to unlock its secrets. Much of this book's effect comes from its cold, academic tone, as if we were reading an impersonal thesis paper researching the subject and its 60-year history. It adds to the creepy factor because it presents these hair-raising events without emotion and it feels almost like watching a documentary.
I was home, in the dark, but not alone. The living room was a conspiracy of shadows and among them I could hear a man speaking backwards in a low voice.
I love how subtle much of the horror feels. Instead of floating ghosts or monsters chasing characters down the stairs, we get small occurrences, like mysterious disappearances, weird sounds, and creepy figures staring out of windows. It's enough to definitely raise some goosebumps. It's also impressive the way that Burke weaves American history in with the house's legacy, and the horror moves right along with it, giving us different lenses through which to study the house in each era, from the 1960's to present day.

Another home run by a consistent author and a great way to kick off Halloween season!
We stepped over the threshold of an ordinary house in an ordinary neighborhood and over the threshold of modern knowledge. It is not a place steeped in old evil. It's a calamity of physics. There's a fissure, a gaping cosmic wound, a door to places we can't begin to fathom.
Profile Image for Richard Bankey.
470 reviews35 followers
August 8, 2022
A haunted house novella with a cosmic twist. Great if you're looking for a fast read of something unique. 3.75 🌟
Profile Image for Ashley Daviau.
2,263 reviews1,061 followers
March 10, 2021
It’s been days since I finished this little novella and I’m still thinking about it. It was absolutely BLOODY brilliant! I’m always a sucker for a good haunted house story and this one is just next level. Though it has horror in abundance and gave me shivers all down my back at certain points and made me want to sleep with the lights on or just not sleep period, it’s also a lot more than that. The way it’s presented is brilliant too, it really added something to the story for me and made me enjoy it that much more. Burke really packs a lot into this one and I couldn’t have loved it more. I could go on and on incessantly about how brilliant this story is but just do yourself a favour and go out and buy it and fall in love with it like I did!
Profile Image for Terry.
470 reviews115 followers
October 3, 2020
I’m going with 4/5 stars. I would say this is not your normal run-of-the-mill Haunted house story - if you could even classify it as that... Fun read, and the same easy-to-read quality as Mr. Burke’s other book that I’ve read. Looking forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Marie Helene.
74 reviews18 followers
November 15, 2020
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars
This was a very enjoyable read.
Even if I never want to meet a , I can't wait for the Grand Opening of the Mall on Abigail Lane ... Meet you there in June 2026!
Profile Image for Carol.
3,765 reviews137 followers
August 1, 2025
From the outside, it looks like an ordinary American home, but since its construction in 1956, people have vanished as soon as they go upstairs, the only clues the things they leave behind: a wedding ring, a phone...an eye. In its sixty-year history, a record number of strange events have been attributed to the house, from the neighbors waking up to find themselves standing in the yard outside, to the grieving man who vanished before a police officer's eyes. The animals gathering in the yard as if summoned. The people who speak in reverse. The lights and sounds. The music. The grass dying overnight...and the ten-foot clown on the second floor. And as long as there are mysteries, people will be compelled to solve them. Here, then, is the most comprehensive account of the Abigail House phenomenon, the result of sixty years of eyewitness accounts, news reports, scientific research, and parapsychological investigations, all in an attempt to decode the enduring mystery that is...THE HOUSE ON ABIGAIL LANE.

56 Abigail Lane is a place where people disappear. They can go upstairs but never come down. The account and the 60-year history of the house is so well documented that I had to check to see if I was reading a fictional story or a real-life documented account. The book has a very factual tone that, at times, will make you consider if these accounts had actually happened. That just adds to the eeriness of the house...as if it needed any more eeriness.

The accounts of what happened in Abigail house scared me...something that very few ghostly, eerie, nightmarish books are capable of. If you love horror, you need to read this book. If haunted house stories are your thing, you need to read this book. If you just feed on intriguing stories, you need to read this book. If you just like good solid writing you need to read everything Kealan Patrick Burke has written. To say this is a compelling read would be a gross understatement. Be sure to remember to keep your lights on and your doors locked.

I loved this from the book cover: Remember:"There is something very wrong about the house on Abrigail Lane. From what I can see, it's just a house, no different on the outside than all the others around it. It certainly doesn't radiate evil, but then, the devil is clever, and where better to catch the innocent sleeping but at home in their beds?"
December 15, 2024
When I decided to read more short stories in December to meet my Goodreads reading challenge, I wasn't yet aware that I'd find my all-time favorite short novel king. To emphasize this: I actually don't like short stories. Even when it's good, you spend too little time with them and need to search for another one again.

This author, though, has hacked the system. The stories are short, yes. But when you end reading them, they tend to linger. I fully believe he packs in there one or two tomes that other authors would write.

I have a soft spot for haunted houses, but the more you read them, the less you can be surprised. So, more often than not, the pleasure comes from prose, dialogues, wittiness.

"Abigail Lane" is different. It feels like YOU are reading some report and getting to know these weird details on the house that pile in to each other.

What's more, the story has an ending and an explanation. It is not strictly defined, but this is way more than other authors do. I think a lot of writers share the belief that the more you define something horrific, the less it horrifies you, aka the fear lays in the unknown. Which is true, but how delicious are the exceptions when you find them!!!

Also, I'm sorry for all my friends, you will be notified that I am reading yet another Burke story for quite some time lol.
Profile Image for Tracy.
515 reviews153 followers
June 27, 2020
“Houses are simply shells of wood and brick and plaster, devoid of souls, or intent. It’s us, the creatures that are installed within them, that ultimately define their character.”

I haven’t yet read a book from this author that I didn’t enjoy. Burke takes the evil house premise, adds unique details, and weaves a tale that is both entertaining and creepy.

I think the thing I love the most about the writing is while the utmost attention is paid to the story as a whole, every line is crafted with that same razor focus. In this one, there’s one particular PIECE of a sentence (mannequins, you’ll see) that is a horror story in its own right. This happens over and over again. I think readers will also dig the reporting style that relays the plot.

This story, first appearing in his collection, We Live Inside Your Eyes, is a great one to pick up this summer. I’ll continue to read everything Burke puts out there.



Profile Image for Roxie Voorhees.
Author 20 books127 followers
August 29, 2020

"After all, it’s much easier to believe in Hell if you can already feel the flames."

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

With all the grace and tact of Erik Larson, Kealan Patrick Burke has created a novelization of non-fiction so accurately you will often wonder if the Abigail House isn't real. Located just south of Columbus Ohio, Number 56 Abigail Lane didn't wait to be finished to start its mysterious abductions. In June 1956, while working on the construction crew, Elmore Washington disappears starting the 60 year span of crazy events.

Probably the most satisfying thing about reading KPB is his character development. I feel like he sits in public areas and just observes, capturing all the nuances of each individual human.  Subtle singularly, together making the story the most authentic possible. 

At just 95 pages, Burke's forte is maximizing impact with the fewest amount of words.  I appreciate this as I began my 39 KPB books before I turn 39 read-a-thon last weekend.  With five finished and 30 days left, I have some reading to do. 

ALL HAIL THE SUNFLOWER GOD



Profile Image for Nakia's Hideaway.
153 reviews384 followers
April 18, 2021
4.5 out of 5 stars!

This little novella was a pleasant surprise for me!

The House on Abigail Lane was my first experience with Kealan Patrick Burke and I really enjoyed his writing style.

This novella was written as if it's a non-fiction short horror story collection and I really enjoyed that.
Each chapter tells about a different person who experienced things in or near house Number 56 (as it's referred to in the book) and could be read as standalone stories.
A couple of the stories intertwine, but most can be read (and re-read) in any order.

And for me, The House on Abigail Lane had some of the creepiest things I have read to date.
No spoilers here but if you have a thing about clowns or roaches beware! This aspect of the book really got me... in a good way. I hate roaches so I love when they're in horror.
Also, there was a little twist at the end which was another pleasant surprise!

The only reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is because of the story that involved a mermaid. I wasn't really into that story and the book slowed down a little for me there. But it picked back up shortly after and kept me hooked until the end.

Can't wait to read my next Kealan Patrick Burke novella!
Profile Image for Heather Horror Hellion .
223 reviews67 followers
July 4, 2020
There are two things in this book that really stood out to me. The first is the way the author described PTSD, it was very accurate and you could just feel for the character. As someone with a degree in counseling the way disorders are shown are really important to me. The author did great even showing the stigma people with disorders feel (the character who is bipolar.)
The second thing that stood out to me was the black man. How the situation was handled in regards to race was correct, and its true still to this day (sadly.)
Profile Image for Horror Sickness .
883 reviews363 followers
February 20, 2021
3,5*

This was the perfect short exploration of haunted houses. Inspired on the Amityville and Winchester, this book offers you the story of the strange house on Abigail Lane where people have been vanishing for years and no one seems to notice.


Told in a similar way of a true crime story, you will start wanting to know more about this house and the people it took. Even though I absolutely enjoyed this book I felt it was too short for the amount of vanishings and stories it tried to describe so it felt too rushed for me.
Profile Image for Emma.
2,677 reviews1,084 followers
October 1, 2020
This was the only book by this author that I have read and I feel pretty underwhelmed. A lot of reviewers rate this more highly than me and I feel like I’ve missed the ‘winning’ element.
Profile Image for Radoslav.
28 reviews
October 18, 2021
A true gem of a story. I was in the mood for something like this and enjoyed every word of it.
Profile Image for Missy (myweereads).
763 reviews30 followers
October 18, 2020
“All hail the sunflower god!”

The House On Abigail Lane by Kealan Patrick Burke is about a typically American looking home which was constructed in 1956 and since been the site of people going missing. They have gone unnoticed for several years. Now we have a thoroughly investigated account of who these people were and the circumstance leading up to them disappearing in The House On Abigail Lane.

Every time I buy a book by this author I know I will not be disappointed. Once again this has been proven with this novella. Just the idea that there is a home which has gone unnoticed by many as being the focal point of the disappearances brought that chilling feeling of needing to know more about the history of this home. In that this takes shape of a documentary-style story where accounts are investigated, evidence and backstories explored in order to understand the mystery behind this house.

I enjoy a good haunted house story and this novella embodied more than just that, it felt like I was reading about a real haunted house and at one point thought hang on, is this true? that buzz of watching a true crime story unfold and reaching a conclusion was what I felt whilst reading this. The author always writes this surreal type of horror in such a way that it sticks with you long after you finish the story. That is what happened here too.

This one delivers a unique perspective on the traditional haunted house story and brings more than just a chilling atmosphere. I can’t recommend this novella enough.
Profile Image for Helene M.
58 reviews42 followers
July 28, 2020
RIVETING!


This is the first book that I have read by Burke And I could assure you it won’t be my last .

Burke is a great visionary . His unique and engaging writing style is brilliant. Twisted in a great way .Fantastic flow that kept you totally in the zone .

Highly recommended
You won’t be disappointed . You will be creeped out. And isn’t that the point !




This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Taylor (Taylor Talks Tales).
310 reviews
April 5, 2021
The House on Abigail Lane is perfect for readers who love it when fiction pretends to be reality, whether it's the Blair Witch Project, a spooky story on the Internet, a faux documentary etc. This novella drew me in from beginning to end and I really enjoyed it!

The House on Abigail Lane chronicles the mysterious disappearances of people who had been inside the house from 1956 to present. It's written in a documentary style where you could imagine it in an article or book chronicles unsolved mysteries. I flew through this novella because as the story continues, it paints a bigger and bigger picture and it ended up being really neat! I won't say more because the less you know about this book the better.

Also, as someone whose favorite flower is the sunflower, I loved the cover and how it ties into the story. I also think this would be adapted well into a film or short miniseries too.

Anyway, go check this one out! Even if you aren't a big haunted house fan, this one is different enough that you'll probably like it.
Profile Image for Stu Corner.
206 reviews43 followers
November 27, 2021
A short story told in the form of a case study covering the reports of strange occurrences at a house on Abigail Lane. There were a few very imaginative scenes that had me intrigued, other than that I found it quite a slog to get through. It took me a week and it's only 70 pages or so. Coming from -Kin- this is more like his first attempt at writing. I was hoping for much more really.

I'm having a hard time with books at the moment, after finding so many good ones in such a short amount of time. After; Kin, Night Film, The Ruins, All's Well, Come Closer, It's very hard to get invested in anything that isn't going in the direction of at least 4-5 stars.

3 Stars. Cosmicy Horror. Not bad.
Profile Image for AFrolicInTheTomesXx.
253 reviews44 followers
October 20, 2022
This is my third novella by this author and I still absolutely love his writing and well…. His mind in general lol. His ideas are just so great and always right up my alley in the paranormal/cosmic sense.

It’s written in a really unique way as it’s written as if it’s a nonfiction (it is fiction) account of weird and paranormal happenings in one specific house. I did like this approach when actually hearing about the different things that happened, but I do think when talking about the characters it could at times feel kinda info dumpy which made me want to skim, and sometimes it was a bit repetitive. But This wasn’t a huge issue for me and it did maintain my interest still!

Aside from that it was fascinating! We see a mantis clown, fish people who talk backwards, a few different potentially alien like worlds, and people just disappearing among lots of other things. It was a fun time and I’m glad I read it!

I didn’t love it as much as blanky and sour candy, but I think it’s well worth the read just as much as they are!
Profile Image for Nancy.
273 reviews
January 25, 2021
Absolutely brilliant! An unsettling haunted house novella you will not forget. “All Hail The Sunflower God” 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻
Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews

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