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A Ghost Arrives
Every house is haunted in one way or another, and every ghost has its reason.
After moving back into his elderly father’s house (until he can find another job, at least) 33-year-old Wallace Harper discovers that something else has taken up residence in his childhood home…
Something that only shows its face after the sun goes down.
When Rachel, Wallace’s sister, begins experiencing her own frightening phenomena, what starts as an eerie game of phantom footsteps and voices in the dark soon turns sinister as both Wallace and Rachel find themselves ensnared in a violent plot of family secrets and deep wounds that never healed.
What readers have to say about Abe Moss and his horror
"The story is skillfully told and I was caught up in the story from the very beginning. Keep on writing, Abe Moss. I will keep reading. Thank you for your work." ★★★★★
"I would recommend this book to all fans of horror novels . A very fast paced entertaining story! I plan on reading more by this author." ★★★★★
"Great story with unique thoughtful characters. So Disturbing. Great imagery. It doesn't lead anywhere you would expect but so worth it. Loved it." ★★★★★
"Do yourself a favor & read every book by Abe Moss that you can get your hands on. You won't be sorry." ★★★★★
"Old school horror at its best, and I mean that as a compliment. Great book!!!" ★★★★★
"If you're on the hunt for a solid horror novel with realistic, drawing characters...look no further!!!" ★★★★★
"This book grabbed me from the beginning, and never let go! I read it with only one break, and that was to sleep for six hours. This is horror at it's finest, and I can't recommend it enough. I intend to read more from Abe Moss!" ★★★★★
"I could not put this down! The more I read, the more intense it became. This should be a movie! The stuff beyond nightmares!" ★★★★★
"This was one of the best books I've read in a long time! Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it." ★★★★★
"Abe Moss is such an awesome writer of horror. His books scare the you-know-what out of me but I love this type of scare. This book definitely did not disappoint!" ★★★★★
After moving back into his elderly father’s house (until he can find another job, at least) 33-year-old Wallace Harper discovers that something else has taken up residence in his childhood home…
Something that only shows its face after the sun goes down.
When Rachel, Wallace’s sister, begins experiencing her own frightening phenomena, what starts as an eerie game of phantom footsteps and voices in the dark soon turns sinister as both Wallace and Rachel find themselves ensnared in a violent plot of family secrets and deep wounds that never healed.
What readers have to say about Abe Moss and his horror
"The story is skillfully told and I was caught up in the story from the very beginning. Keep on writing, Abe Moss. I will keep reading. Thank you for your work." ★★★★★
"I would recommend this book to all fans of horror novels . A very fast paced entertaining story! I plan on reading more by this author." ★★★★★
"Great story with unique thoughtful characters. So Disturbing. Great imagery. It doesn't lead anywhere you would expect but so worth it. Loved it." ★★★★★
"Do yourself a favor & read every book by Abe Moss that you can get your hands on. You won't be sorry." ★★★★★
"Old school horror at its best, and I mean that as a compliment. Great book!!!" ★★★★★
"If you're on the hunt for a solid horror novel with realistic, drawing characters...look no further!!!" ★★★★★
"This book grabbed me from the beginning, and never let go! I read it with only one break, and that was to sleep for six hours. This is horror at it's finest, and I can't recommend it enough. I intend to read more from Abe Moss!" ★★★★★
"I could not put this down! The more I read, the more intense it became. This should be a movie! The stuff beyond nightmares!" ★★★★★
"This was one of the best books I've read in a long time! Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it." ★★★★★
"Abe Moss is such an awesome writer of horror. His books scare the you-know-what out of me but I love this type of scare. This book definitely did not disappoint!" ★★★★★
394 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2020
998 people are currently reading
1245 people want to read
About the author
Abe Moss
24 books431 followersAbe Moss has been writing horror stories for as long as he can remember, and hopes to never stop. He loves creature-features, psychological horror, supernatural horror, cosmic horror, you name it. With each book he writes, he hopes to try something a little different. The possibilities are endless and that's what he really loves about storytelling. He hopes you'll enjoy his stories, too!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
September 12, 2024
Came for the bird (after the algorithms kept showing it to me for a while) stayed for the story.
I like stories that question the nature of ghosts so this one was a pretty solid pick for me.
The story moved at a steady clip from the start, but we do get enough about the characters for them to feel fleshed out.
I like stories that question the nature of ghosts so this one was a pretty solid pick for me.
The story moved at a steady clip from the start, but we do get enough about the characters for them to feel fleshed out.
January 1, 2021
Very much enjoyed!
I'll be honest, I picked up this one because of the cockatiel on the cover and was curious if the bird was in the book. Yes, I have several birds (certified crazy bird lady), including a tiel. It was really good, and I finished it in less than 24 hours. It wasn't what I expected, but that's a good thing. Too many books are too predictable. Will definitely be looking into his other books! And yes the bird is in the book.
I'll be honest, I picked up this one because of the cockatiel on the cover and was curious if the bird was in the book. Yes, I have several birds (certified crazy bird lady), including a tiel. It was really good, and I finished it in less than 24 hours. It wasn't what I expected, but that's a good thing. Too many books are too predictable. Will definitely be looking into his other books! And yes the bird is in the book.
September 22, 2020
I love a good bump in the night ghost story and this one had some interesting twists. What would you do if you thought your house was haunted because you saw things in the shadows, heard unusual noises and found doors open after you locked them? This isn't your average ghost story. It has some twists to it. Good characters, story line and the ending didn't leave you wondering what happened. One of the twists I predicted, but there were others I didn't see coming. Will this story make you afraid of the dark? No, but it might make you wonder how far someone will go in being unable to let go of the deceased. Another good book by Abe Moss. I couldn't put it down last night until I finished it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 7, 2020
A Ghost Arrives by Abe Moss
Before this book, I’ve read Gills by Abe Moss and while disturbing, it didn’t keep me from sleeping; so I didn’t think anything about reading this one before bed. Bad idea on my part! After reading almost halfway, I wasn’t able to sleep until after dawn! This is exactly the type of story for me that has my brain saying, ‘nothing like this could ever happen’, while the rest of my body is like ‘uh-huh, sure’, as I turn on every light in the house and check the closets and under the bed.
This is a full-length, stand-alone, horror novel at 356 pages. I read it at my usual speed so it is a moderate read. There is no sex but it does contain swearing with about three dozen f-words, scenes with black or dark magic, and some imagery that could be disturbing to some but was mostly just scary to me. It is well-edited with only a couple of typos.
So this is basically a ghost story that is really intense as the plot twists and turns its way to the end. At times I was expecting all sorts of things to jump out of the story at me, but then it would head in a different direction. The characterizations were good but the sister could have been a bit better. At first she seemed like a frumpy housewife type, but then you find out that she is an artist. It was the one thing in the story that didn’t seem to go together for me. I liked the level of atmosphere in the scenes, anymore and I would probably have had nightmares. You can expect ghostly happenings, suspense, death, a magic ritual, a crotchety father, family secrets, a ghost, a cute cockatiel, and a bittersweet ending.
The book is really good and was an intense read that kept me awake to read it and awake long after I finished it. I give it an A- (five stars).
I received an ARC of this book in the hopes that I would voluntarily leave an honest review.
Before this book, I’ve read Gills by Abe Moss and while disturbing, it didn’t keep me from sleeping; so I didn’t think anything about reading this one before bed. Bad idea on my part! After reading almost halfway, I wasn’t able to sleep until after dawn! This is exactly the type of story for me that has my brain saying, ‘nothing like this could ever happen’, while the rest of my body is like ‘uh-huh, sure’, as I turn on every light in the house and check the closets and under the bed.
This is a full-length, stand-alone, horror novel at 356 pages. I read it at my usual speed so it is a moderate read. There is no sex but it does contain swearing with about three dozen f-words, scenes with black or dark magic, and some imagery that could be disturbing to some but was mostly just scary to me. It is well-edited with only a couple of typos.
So this is basically a ghost story that is really intense as the plot twists and turns its way to the end. At times I was expecting all sorts of things to jump out of the story at me, but then it would head in a different direction. The characterizations were good but the sister could have been a bit better. At first she seemed like a frumpy housewife type, but then you find out that she is an artist. It was the one thing in the story that didn’t seem to go together for me. I liked the level of atmosphere in the scenes, anymore and I would probably have had nightmares. You can expect ghostly happenings, suspense, death, a magic ritual, a crotchety father, family secrets, a ghost, a cute cockatiel, and a bittersweet ending.
The book is really good and was an intense read that kept me awake to read it and awake long after I finished it. I give it an A- (five stars).
I received an ARC of this book in the hopes that I would voluntarily leave an honest review.
September 26, 2020
Bravo! Another great book by a new favorite author of mine. I have read all of Abe's books to date and have enjoyed them all! I rave about him all the time. I don't understand how his name isn't everywhere in the horror book community. He deserves to be up there with the greats after this many good books. I hope he continues to write for a very long time.
December 11, 2020
As a cockatiel owner and horror fan I was looking forward to this novel which was drawn to my attention by a lovely Goodreads friend. This book was fairly enjoyable although I found the last third a little slow going and repetitive. Admittedly I don't usually like supernatural horror so perhaps it was never entirely going to be my cup of tea. In terms of the characters, I had a fondness for Rachel and thought she was rather sweet. The brother annoyed me and needed a good kick up the backside. The final chapter was superb, seeing the world through the eyes of the 'tiel! Credit must go to the author for his depiction of Darcy. He really got the mannerisms and cheekiness of our antipodean feathered friends spot on!
May 15, 2021
I love a good ghost story and this one had some good answers for what was happening and why. Loved the cockatiel Darcy and that he was such a true character in the story. It kept my interest completely, and the supernatural elements were a fun addition. I liked that we started with one main character, things changed, and we followed another more closely after a while. A twisty and interesting read!
February 1, 2024
Scary parts warning
This had some scary spots for sure. I felt the ending was a little bit of a let down but I can't put my finger on a reason why. There is so much going on in this book that you really have to pay attention. The ghost scenes were haunting to me. You could feel the evil at times. It just grabbed me and never let go. I couldn't put the book down.
This had some scary spots for sure. I felt the ending was a little bit of a let down but I can't put my finger on a reason why. There is so much going on in this book that you really have to pay attention. The ghost scenes were haunting to me. You could feel the evil at times. It just grabbed me and never let go. I couldn't put the book down.
October 1, 2020
Ghost Story
This was a slow a burn ghost story. This was a unique twist on a classic tale in that it was not made to spook, but rather, to pull at emotions. The twists were predictable but the character arc was profound: how long will someone hold on to the past and the loved one they lost. A good Halloween read for those who aren't into the scary stuff.
This was a slow a burn ghost story. This was a unique twist on a classic tale in that it was not made to spook, but rather, to pull at emotions. The twists were predictable but the character arc was profound: how long will someone hold on to the past and the loved one they lost. A good Halloween read for those who aren't into the scary stuff.
April 12, 2021
If you’re looking for a ghost story with all the paranormal bells and whistles, this book is for you. It was a little too broad for me. Other worlds and curses, and spells- over the top. One of the choices would have been more than sufficient.
January 8, 2022
spoilers ahead
There's one thing I'd like to say about The Ghost Arrives before I really get into the millet of it: Darcy the cockatiel is my favourite literary Darcy (granted, he has exactly zero competition since I never could bear that other chap).
I know we shouldn't judge books by their covers but I think it works out on occasion, as it definitely did here. Drawn in as I was by the tiel on the front (I used to have a normal grey tiel too, so, bonus points), I wound up really enjoying this book in its own right. While I was slow to get going (most likely my fault), by the time I could hardly put the book down and found myself cursing every instance that pulled me away.
I'm glad I judged A Ghost Arrives by its cover because I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had me nostalgic for a lot of the kind of horror I loved growing up, and still love now.
And, just to bring home the point: Best. Darcy. Ever.
There's one thing I'd like to say about The Ghost Arrives before I really get into the millet of it: Darcy the cockatiel is my favourite literary Darcy (granted, he has exactly zero competition since I never could bear that other chap).
I know we shouldn't judge books by their covers but I think it works out on occasion, as it definitely did here. Drawn in as I was by the tiel on the front (I used to have a normal grey tiel too, so, bonus points), I wound up really enjoying this book in its own right. While I was slow to get going (most likely my fault), by the time I could hardly put the book down and found myself cursing every instance that pulled me away.
I'm glad I judged A Ghost Arrives by its cover because I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had me nostalgic for a lot of the kind of horror I loved growing up, and still love now.
And, just to bring home the point: Best. Darcy. Ever.
May 4, 2021
A different kind of ghost story!
Well, I wasn't expecting that and I'm still trying to decide just how to classify this story. Haunted house (sort of), astral projection (again, sort of), dark magic (yes), revenge from beyond the grave (yes), inter dimensional travel (yes). Throw in something from the Egyptian "Book of the Dead" and that about sums up the plot. A confusing story, to say the least but, very enjoyable nonetheless.
Well, I wasn't expecting that and I'm still trying to decide just how to classify this story. Haunted house (sort of), astral projection (again, sort of), dark magic (yes), revenge from beyond the grave (yes), inter dimensional travel (yes). Throw in something from the Egyptian "Book of the Dead" and that about sums up the plot. A confusing story, to say the least but, very enjoyable nonetheless.
March 7, 2021
I ordered this book because it was a. supernatural horror and b. it had a cockatiel on the cover. I enjoyed the novel overall even though the writing felt flat at times (mostly how the villains and secondary characters were written). I will check out more from this writer.
February 26, 2021
Ghost stories tend to move a bit slow for my taste. I did enjoy this though. It was well written and Moss introduced a few concepts that I found intriguing. I will probably try more by him.
July 8, 2025
It's starts like a good, but not great ghost story, only to falter out in the last third of the book which is very slow and repetitive.
August 3, 2025
Good fast read
Read in 2 days, its a fast paced little story, with all elements fom horror to santeria type. Not one character was wasted and i can easily see this as a movie. First book by this author but not the last.
Read in 2 days, its a fast paced little story, with all elements fom horror to santeria type. Not one character was wasted and i can easily see this as a movie. First book by this author but not the last.
September 19, 2024
What a great spine-chilling horror/ghost story! This is my first book by Abe Moss, but I will definitely be checking out his other works. I could not put it down and can only imagine it would be even creepier if done in movie form. And, Darcy, the bird, rocks! Glad the author gave us the caveat of him not being harmed. I do hate when authors kill off the animals. Wallace has been out of work for months, lost his girlfriend, and his dad is starting down a path where he needs care. So, he moves back home and starts to reform a relationship with his sister, Rachel, when weird things start happening to both of them. And, it just spirals down from there into a twisted climax which had me biting my nails, holding my breath and scrolling through pages as fast I could.
October 24, 2020
So good!
I love this man’s writing style. This is the third book of his that I’ve read and each one has been impressive. He’s not pretentious, and writes such well developed characters that you get sucked into the books as they go places you weren’t expecting. What started out as a simple sounding haunting turned into so much more. I don’t want to give too much away, but I ended up liking Wallace, the supposedly useless son, quite a bit. Darcy as well, makes me want to own another cockatiel.
I love this man’s writing style. This is the third book of his that I’ve read and each one has been impressive. He’s not pretentious, and writes such well developed characters that you get sucked into the books as they go places you weren’t expecting. What started out as a simple sounding haunting turned into so much more. I don’t want to give too much away, but I ended up liking Wallace, the supposedly useless son, quite a bit. Darcy as well, makes me want to own another cockatiel.
October 3, 2020
A good story
A creepy story that kept me reading. A son returns home to live int his fathers house. Something is going on there, a strange voice calls his name. At night things begin to happen.
Although I really like this author this story felt a bit rushed. When the information finally came, to solve the story, it felt like it a bunch of random things tossed together. Maybe it was just me, but it didn’t have that satisfying feel as most books leave you with
A creepy story that kept me reading. A son returns home to live int his fathers house. Something is going on there, a strange voice calls his name. At night things begin to happen.
Although I really like this author this story felt a bit rushed. When the information finally came, to solve the story, it felt like it a bunch of random things tossed together. Maybe it was just me, but it didn’t have that satisfying feel as most books leave you with
November 4, 2020
A New Spin on an Classic Concept
As always, Abe Moss offers up a familiar concept, written in a way that only Abe could muster.
Though this novel was kind of a slow burn, I found myself unable to put it down.
You can't go wrong with an Abe Moss novel. Keep up the excellent work, good sir!
As always, Abe Moss offers up a familiar concept, written in a way that only Abe could muster.
Though this novel was kind of a slow burn, I found myself unable to put it down.
You can't go wrong with an Abe Moss novel. Keep up the excellent work, good sir!
January 11, 2021
Excellent
Outstanding. Do not start reading this in the evening unless you're a fast reader because you won't be able to stop reading until you have finished the book. There are surprises throughout, and parts you will definitely be sad about, but you're going to be glad you read it.
Outstanding. Do not start reading this in the evening unless you're a fast reader because you won't be able to stop reading until you have finished the book. There are surprises throughout, and parts you will definitely be sad about, but you're going to be glad you read it.
April 25, 2021
It was a dud for me
I didn't like who's point of view the final chapter was written from. There were so many unanswered questions also. Too many innuendos. Too many things mentioned then never explained. The main subject matter isn't the issue. It's like a puzzle that was thrown on the floor then haphazardly put back together. A long book with no satisfaction at having read it.
I didn't like who's point of view the final chapter was written from. There were so many unanswered questions also. Too many innuendos. Too many things mentioned then never explained. The main subject matter isn't the issue. It's like a puzzle that was thrown on the floor then haphazardly put back together. A long book with no satisfaction at having read it.
June 10, 2025
I've been a horror fan since elementary school...Abe Moss has the light touch jump scares that make horror such fun. Gothic/ghost/mysteries are paramount for me. This was the second Abe Moss book I read, first was My Mother in the Lake (so good, also). The Ghost Arrives was unpredictable, Darcy the cockatiel made you root for him as the savior! Good work, Abe!
July 23, 2025
Wow! I loved this book! I read every night before I go to bed and this is the first book in awhile that had me propping my eyelids up so I didn’t have to stop. Excellent character development. The sneaky details about how Rachel’s mom died. *chefs kiss* Who knew a bird would become my new favorite character. Abe Moss is rapidly becoming my new favorite author.
September 30, 2020
Cockatiel
I was not expecting anything like what I just read. I am beyond pleased, though the ending left me sad. I loved the I loved the cockatiel especially.
I was not expecting anything like what I just read. I am beyond pleased, though the ending left me sad. I loved the I loved the cockatiel especially.
November 17, 2020
Well written story with a twist I wasn't prepared for.
August 6, 2024
“Your father ruined me.”
A haunting ghost story filled with betrayals between man and and wife, man and mistress, and a mother to her child as the pain will run deeper with every turn. Wallace Harper is down on his luck, between jobs and watching the love of his life Ashley walk away as she simply cannot handle it anymore. Faced with an eviction notice after months of slipped rent, he returns to his childhood home to stay with his father Paul and his fading memories. His sister Rachael has been shouldering caring for their father, working a full time job and holding a secret of her own. Paid to go on dates and spend evenings with men, her first and only client Brent Garrison is falling for her and desperately wants more than this. As weird occurrences begin happening around their fathers house, both siblings are seeing an apparition of a woman and seeing the hair rush moving. First around their fathers house before appearing in Rachel's apartment. Scared of what he's seeing, Wallace follows to the basement where he would make the most terrifying discovery; a deceased woman who's body was shoved in a red trunk.
Not right in the eyes. Not right at all.
Captivated by the body, Wallace doesn't notice the vengeful spirit before it locks him in the basement alone with the corpse. With his soul ripped from his body and casted into a world between worlds, he's powerless to help his family as he's traveling through someone else's memories. Meanwhile, their father is being visited for walks and nightly health juices like a local girl Jessica who seems a little too nice. Forming a close relationship with Paul, she's keeping the secret of her mother Kimberly and his affair close to heart as she tries to understand what made her mother fall so quickly and become so obsessed with one man. Married when the two met, he cheated on his wife Sarah for this white hot romance with Kimberly leaving her eventually single and with a daughter. After her mother succumbed to cancer, she knew these rituals would be the only chance to bring her mother back to them. Bur what better way than to kill everyone carrying the Harper name?
They won’t hear or see me. I’m not real to them.
Troubled by her brothers disappearance, Rachel confided her pain to Brent and Ashley and begin working with a psychic to understand exactly what happened. When Jessica finally decided the night would be the nightz she would take Rachel's phone and summon Ashley and Brent over before tying them to chairs. Sprinkling the ground with odd colored powder, she watches her friends shrivel and die, their bodies becoming blackened husks. Fearing for her family, she tries to escape but it'll be Wallace who used all the energy in the room to stop Jessica and allow his sister to weld the knife into jer chest. Confronted with the death of her daughter, Kimberly's ghost is forced to let go to try and find where her own daughter vanished to after death. Unfortunately, the trauma would be too much on his heart and he would perish from a heart attack. Bringing back Rosaline the psychic once again, she would cleanse the house of those still trapped there and offer the siblings the first stages of healing.
It was full of rage, whatever it was. Rage and malice. It hadn’t eyes, nor a face for that matter, but Wallace knew at once that it loathed him. Its loathing was thunderous. A sound of thunder so quiet that it wasn’t altogether noticed, but it was undoubtedly there. Roaring. Seething. Something bled into the air. Was it an odor? Something burnt.
A haunting ghost story filled with betrayals between man and and wife, man and mistress, and a mother to her child as the pain will run deeper with every turn. Wallace Harper is down on his luck, between jobs and watching the love of his life Ashley walk away as she simply cannot handle it anymore. Faced with an eviction notice after months of slipped rent, he returns to his childhood home to stay with his father Paul and his fading memories. His sister Rachael has been shouldering caring for their father, working a full time job and holding a secret of her own. Paid to go on dates and spend evenings with men, her first and only client Brent Garrison is falling for her and desperately wants more than this. As weird occurrences begin happening around their fathers house, both siblings are seeing an apparition of a woman and seeing the hair rush moving. First around their fathers house before appearing in Rachel's apartment. Scared of what he's seeing, Wallace follows to the basement where he would make the most terrifying discovery; a deceased woman who's body was shoved in a red trunk.
Not right in the eyes. Not right at all.
Captivated by the body, Wallace doesn't notice the vengeful spirit before it locks him in the basement alone with the corpse. With his soul ripped from his body and casted into a world between worlds, he's powerless to help his family as he's traveling through someone else's memories. Meanwhile, their father is being visited for walks and nightly health juices like a local girl Jessica who seems a little too nice. Forming a close relationship with Paul, she's keeping the secret of her mother Kimberly and his affair close to heart as she tries to understand what made her mother fall so quickly and become so obsessed with one man. Married when the two met, he cheated on his wife Sarah for this white hot romance with Kimberly leaving her eventually single and with a daughter. After her mother succumbed to cancer, she knew these rituals would be the only chance to bring her mother back to them. Bur what better way than to kill everyone carrying the Harper name?
They won’t hear or see me. I’m not real to them.
Troubled by her brothers disappearance, Rachel confided her pain to Brent and Ashley and begin working with a psychic to understand exactly what happened. When Jessica finally decided the night would be the nightz she would take Rachel's phone and summon Ashley and Brent over before tying them to chairs. Sprinkling the ground with odd colored powder, she watches her friends shrivel and die, their bodies becoming blackened husks. Fearing for her family, she tries to escape but it'll be Wallace who used all the energy in the room to stop Jessica and allow his sister to weld the knife into jer chest. Confronted with the death of her daughter, Kimberly's ghost is forced to let go to try and find where her own daughter vanished to after death. Unfortunately, the trauma would be too much on his heart and he would perish from a heart attack. Bringing back Rosaline the psychic once again, she would cleanse the house of those still trapped there and offer the siblings the first stages of healing.
It was full of rage, whatever it was. Rage and malice. It hadn’t eyes, nor a face for that matter, but Wallace knew at once that it loathed him. Its loathing was thunderous. A sound of thunder so quiet that it wasn’t altogether noticed, but it was undoubtedly there. Roaring. Seething. Something bled into the air. Was it an odor? Something burnt.
May 29, 2021
This is the first book I've read by Abe Moss, but it sure won't be the last! I love a good ghost story, not so much bloody gore, but creepy spooky are more my speed. This one had elements and twists that gave it a different feel and interesting premise. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down.
Wallace Harper seems to have no ambition, lost his job and his girlfriend and is forced to move in with his father. Rachel, his sister, has been keeping an eye on their father, while Wallace has been no help whatsoever.
Rachel has her own apartment, a job, and an interesting relationship with an older man. Elder Mr. Harper meets a young woman, Jessica, while taking a walk, and she becomes an important, intrusive character in the story.
Things start happening and disappearing in the Harper childhood home. There are voices, shadows, doors that open on their own and overall, both Wallace and Rachel begin seeing and hearing things that can't be happening. Then Wallace disappears..he's there, but he's not there! Rachel seeks the help of Wallace's ex, and her friend, who suggests a psychic.
Definitely a neat book to read, especially if you like to read about things that go bump in the night and a story that has a cool plot.
Wallace Harper seems to have no ambition, lost his job and his girlfriend and is forced to move in with his father. Rachel, his sister, has been keeping an eye on their father, while Wallace has been no help whatsoever.
Rachel has her own apartment, a job, and an interesting relationship with an older man. Elder Mr. Harper meets a young woman, Jessica, while taking a walk, and she becomes an important, intrusive character in the story.
Things start happening and disappearing in the Harper childhood home. There are voices, shadows, doors that open on their own and overall, both Wallace and Rachel begin seeing and hearing things that can't be happening. Then Wallace disappears..he's there, but he's not there! Rachel seeks the help of Wallace's ex, and her friend, who suggests a psychic.
Definitely a neat book to read, especially if you like to read about things that go bump in the night and a story that has a cool plot.
December 14, 2020
Spooky & Engaging
I love a good ghost story, but gratuitous gore does nothing for me (okay, sometimes it's good for a laugh), so I'm glad I gave Abe Moss a try. While he can bring on the gore at the right moment, his work relies on a subtler, spookier atmosphere that's ultimately much more satisfying than the cheap jump-scares and slaughterhouse hijinks employed by too many authors.
Moss' writing is good overall, and some of his passages are very, very good. His protagonists are just complex enough for the fast pace of the novel, revealing their depths bit by bit as the pages turn. They don't always do what I would do in a given situation, but their actions are believable in the context of their personalities. Meanwhile, Moss' conception of the parallel reality of the haunting is original and engaging.
And, of course, as other reviewers have noted, Darcy the cockatiel turns out to be both a well-realized character and an important part of the story.
Overall, a spooky, fast, and engaging read. I'm looking forward to exploring more of Moss' work.
I love a good ghost story, but gratuitous gore does nothing for me (okay, sometimes it's good for a laugh), so I'm glad I gave Abe Moss a try. While he can bring on the gore at the right moment, his work relies on a subtler, spookier atmosphere that's ultimately much more satisfying than the cheap jump-scares and slaughterhouse hijinks employed by too many authors.
Moss' writing is good overall, and some of his passages are very, very good. His protagonists are just complex enough for the fast pace of the novel, revealing their depths bit by bit as the pages turn. They don't always do what I would do in a given situation, but their actions are believable in the context of their personalities. Meanwhile, Moss' conception of the parallel reality of the haunting is original and engaging.
And, of course, as other reviewers have noted, Darcy the cockatiel turns out to be both a well-realized character and an important part of the story.
Overall, a spooky, fast, and engaging read. I'm looking forward to exploring more of Moss' work.
November 9, 2021
4/5 stars
"There was a figure in the dark, barely visible, sitting atop the boxes. He was sure of it. A person, or the shape of one, fussing with itself, unaware of him. Unconcerned of him. Its head was bent. Its arms moved over itself, the same gesture again and again, each movement accompanied by the same sound. A whisper of friction."
I picked up this book in a Kindle sale for two reasons--one, it's a ghost story, and two, there's a bird on the cover. I love ghost stories and birds, so I was sold. I'm really glad I decided to try this one! Parts of the plot and backstory were a bit predictable for me, but overall the horror elements were very creative. Moss did a really good job at crafting a creepy atmosphere, and there were some parts that really shocked me. I also loved that a bird was such a big part of the story; it was a unique use of an animal in horror. I would definitely recommend this for fans of ghost stories/haunted houses who are looking for something different!
"There was a figure in the dark, barely visible, sitting atop the boxes. He was sure of it. A person, or the shape of one, fussing with itself, unaware of him. Unconcerned of him. Its head was bent. Its arms moved over itself, the same gesture again and again, each movement accompanied by the same sound. A whisper of friction."
I picked up this book in a Kindle sale for two reasons--one, it's a ghost story, and two, there's a bird on the cover. I love ghost stories and birds, so I was sold. I'm really glad I decided to try this one! Parts of the plot and backstory were a bit predictable for me, but overall the horror elements were very creative. Moss did a really good job at crafting a creepy atmosphere, and there were some parts that really shocked me. I also loved that a bird was such a big part of the story; it was a unique use of an animal in horror. I would definitely recommend this for fans of ghost stories/haunted houses who are looking for something different!
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