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October Haunt #4
A Haunting at the Gates of Hell: Part 1: The Nightmare
IN THE DARK, SOMETHING EVIL WAITS.
Seven writers meet for a weekend retreat at a remote beach house. Each of the frightened men and women share the same they have all prophesied their own death on July 24th and hope together they can avoid their fate.
Mirror House, a rambling mansion filled with an icy wind from subterranean tunnels, appears to be the perfect escape from a record-breaking heatwave as well as their untimely deaths. Townsfolks, however, whisper a malevolent being stalks the shadowy corridors of the grand manor, something predatorial, something that has escaped from the very pit of Hell itself.
PART 1: THE NIGHTMARE is the first novella in the serial "A Haunting at the Gates of Hell" by Roma Gray. There will be six novellas in the serial, one published every other month. Each part will contain elements of horror and a cliffhanger ending. The next episode will be Part 2: Halloween Party, scheduled for March 2021.
Seven writers meet for a weekend retreat at a remote beach house. Each of the frightened men and women share the same they have all prophesied their own death on July 24th and hope together they can avoid their fate.
Mirror House, a rambling mansion filled with an icy wind from subterranean tunnels, appears to be the perfect escape from a record-breaking heatwave as well as their untimely deaths. Townsfolks, however, whisper a malevolent being stalks the shadowy corridors of the grand manor, something predatorial, something that has escaped from the very pit of Hell itself.
PART 1: THE NIGHTMARE is the first novella in the serial "A Haunting at the Gates of Hell" by Roma Gray. There will be six novellas in the serial, one published every other month. Each part will contain elements of horror and a cliffhanger ending. The next episode will be Part 2: Halloween Party, scheduled for March 2021.
- GenresHorror
55 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
7 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Roma Gray
130 books94 followersRoma Gray is the author of a multitude of horror short stories, novellas, and novels.
Please check out my series of anthologies, novels, novellas and shorts in the Trick-or-Treat Thrillers series. From horror to ghosts stories to backyard monsters to tales of science fiction, you can count on a variety of topics, all with a Halloween flair.
Sign up for news on new releases and free books: Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/dcAI5P
Please check out my series of anthologies, novels, novellas and shorts in the Trick-or-Treat Thrillers series. From horror to ghosts stories to backyard monsters to tales of science fiction, you can count on a variety of topics, all with a Halloween flair.
Sign up for news on new releases and free books: Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/dcAI5P
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 6, 2022
A good surprise
First thing is I have never read this author before. I have to say that they have peaked my interest tremendously. I really like all of the characters and feel for what they have been going through. I also like the fact that this is set up as multiple novellas so as to keep the tension building until the finale.
A group of people have been dreaming for years of their death on July 24th and the year has finally arrived. While in a group therapy session led y their individual psychologists they find out that they have been being humored and not believed by their doctors. One brave woman suggests that maybe if they band together they can change their fate. So they go to an unexpected place and wait it out together.
So far not scary but definitely has me all in. The ending is the kicker and now I need to know more. 5 books to go!
First thing is I have never read this author before. I have to say that they have peaked my interest tremendously. I really like all of the characters and feel for what they have been going through. I also like the fact that this is set up as multiple novellas so as to keep the tension building until the finale.
A group of people have been dreaming for years of their death on July 24th and the year has finally arrived. While in a group therapy session led y their individual psychologists they find out that they have been being humored and not believed by their doctors. One brave woman suggests that maybe if they band together they can change their fate. So they go to an unexpected place and wait it out together.
So far not scary but definitely has me all in. The ending is the kicker and now I need to know more. 5 books to go!
January 16, 2021
Would you want to know the date of your death? What if you had been having nightmares about it for your entire life? This short story about a group of people who have been dreaming about their demise on July 24th will grab you from the first page.
When this group meets up at a group therapy session on July 21st, they quickly learn that their therapists think the whole thing is a publicity stunt for a new book. As the angry dreamers begin to talk, it is decided that they will spend their last few days on earth at the beach house owned by one of them, a man named Conrad.
Upon arrival at this house, the group is stunned to see it as the sun sets. The house is dubbed The Mirror House for a reason: the reflections of the sunset are an otherworldly experience. Some of the group call it a haunted house, and maybe it is. While the world is suffering an extreme heat wave, the interior of the house is frigid. And, is there something lurking in the basement of this unusual house?
The author has a wonderful way of writing about horrific things while at the same time making the reader care about the characters. Even in this short story, I found myself wanting to know more about this group of people. I also enjoyed the tie-ins to the mysteries of the great Agatha Christie and the Easter egg reference to another of Ms. Gray's books.
This story ended on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next in the series. It is sure to be just as entertaining as this one!
When this group meets up at a group therapy session on July 21st, they quickly learn that their therapists think the whole thing is a publicity stunt for a new book. As the angry dreamers begin to talk, it is decided that they will spend their last few days on earth at the beach house owned by one of them, a man named Conrad.
Upon arrival at this house, the group is stunned to see it as the sun sets. The house is dubbed The Mirror House for a reason: the reflections of the sunset are an otherworldly experience. Some of the group call it a haunted house, and maybe it is. While the world is suffering an extreme heat wave, the interior of the house is frigid. And, is there something lurking in the basement of this unusual house?
The author has a wonderful way of writing about horrific things while at the same time making the reader care about the characters. Even in this short story, I found myself wanting to know more about this group of people. I also enjoyed the tie-ins to the mysteries of the great Agatha Christie and the Easter egg reference to another of Ms. Gray's books.
This story ended on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to read the next in the series. It is sure to be just as entertaining as this one!
January 10, 2021
Roma Gray's --A Haunting at the Gates of Hell: Part 1: The Nightmare -- may give you nightmares. Do you want to know the date of your death? I don’t, the thought terrifies me. In this first of a series of novellas, we’re first introduced to a group of writers who believe they do know the date they will die – and it’s in just a couple of days.
One of the writers volunteers his mansion on the beach as a haven where they can shelter and either ride out their death date or die. Unfortunately, the house appears to have a malevolent personality of its own. Could this be true? Can a house be evil or is there something, or someone, in the tunnels under the house? Will the writers actually die on that date?
I enjoyed this novella; the characters were fleshed out so well I cared for several very quickly. The larger world concept was unique, but based in facts that were brought in and presented in such a way I was easily able to enter into the reality of the world outside Mirror House. Roma Gray is an exceptional writer; the pages flew by way too fast.
Recommended, especially if you’re a fan of mysteries, haunted houses, gothic horror, or Agatha Christie.
One of the writers volunteers his mansion on the beach as a haven where they can shelter and either ride out their death date or die. Unfortunately, the house appears to have a malevolent personality of its own. Could this be true? Can a house be evil or is there something, or someone, in the tunnels under the house? Will the writers actually die on that date?
I enjoyed this novella; the characters were fleshed out so well I cared for several very quickly. The larger world concept was unique, but based in facts that were brought in and presented in such a way I was easily able to enter into the reality of the world outside Mirror House. Roma Gray is an exceptional writer; the pages flew by way too fast.
Recommended, especially if you’re a fan of mysteries, haunted houses, gothic horror, or Agatha Christie.
February 3, 2021
***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *****
Part 1 seems to be laying out all the pieces and people. There was a lot of characters and I did feel slightly overwhelmed with the abundance of people and situations. I really like the premise of the story and how all the main characters met... what a horrible, seemingly plausible group meeting that must have been. Anyways, this one is just the beginning and it has set the stage for what I'm excited to a creepy and curious storyline.
The narrator, Joe Hempel is the best for creeptastic stories! Now we didn't get creepy yet but he still is just so fantastic! I love listening to him narrate. He seems to portray this confident, yet hesitant characteristics and they always fit the stories he narrates. I can't wait to see him bring this one to life!
Part 1 seems to be laying out all the pieces and people. There was a lot of characters and I did feel slightly overwhelmed with the abundance of people and situations. I really like the premise of the story and how all the main characters met... what a horrible, seemingly plausible group meeting that must have been. Anyways, this one is just the beginning and it has set the stage for what I'm excited to a creepy and curious storyline.
The narrator, Joe Hempel is the best for creeptastic stories! Now we didn't get creepy yet but he still is just so fantastic! I love listening to him narrate. He seems to portray this confident, yet hesitant characteristics and they always fit the stories he narrates. I can't wait to see him bring this one to life!
May 21, 2021
I received this e-book in a Goodreads giveaway.
What a spooky novella! This raises the question of what would you do if you think you have a limited time left on this earth? What if due to global warming hell would literally come to earth?
So many strangers have been having the same nightmare in this short story. July 24th haunts them both day and night. In the dream, this is the day they die. What's the chances of so many people having the same dream though? Is it foreshadowing what could come?
Thankfully these people have gathered together on July 21st and decide to spend what could be their last days together. One man offers up his pink beach house for them all to stay in during this time. It's large enough to be a B&B so why now?
But there's something off about this house.... and the people in it.
What a spooky novella! This raises the question of what would you do if you think you have a limited time left on this earth? What if due to global warming hell would literally come to earth?
So many strangers have been having the same nightmare in this short story. July 24th haunts them both day and night. In the dream, this is the day they die. What's the chances of so many people having the same dream though? Is it foreshadowing what could come?
Thankfully these people have gathered together on July 21st and decide to spend what could be their last days together. One man offers up his pink beach house for them all to stay in during this time. It's large enough to be a B&B so why now?
But there's something off about this house.... and the people in it.
May 6, 2023
Well, I enjoyed this novella better than I thought I would. I have never read anything from this author, but I find myself wanting to read the other novellas in this series. All of the characters having the dames dreams about death is intriguing. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and recommend it for a quick read that keeps your interest.
October 8, 2022
Haunting
This first book is a good foundation for what's ahead. I like the character build up. It will be interesting to see how the lives of the group fit with the rest of the world. The ending leads on to something unknown that will affect the group, can't wait.
This first book is a good foundation for what's ahead. I like the character build up. It will be interesting to see how the lives of the group fit with the rest of the world. The ending leads on to something unknown that will affect the group, can't wait.
May 28, 2023
Excellent start to a series of novellas! Creepy premise of the lifelong dreams of your date of death, strangers having the same dream, scary cliffhanger at the end - can't wait to read on in the nightmare!!
January 22, 2021
Like the other books written by the author or had some sort of involvement with, this was enjoyable. Now look forward to more from them.
February 9, 2021
Great start!
Good characters , building up the back stories to each of the seven. just getting into story when part 1 stops. I need part 2!!!!!
Good characters , building up the back stories to each of the seven. just getting into story when part 1 stops. I need part 2!!!!!
April 24, 2021
Part 2
I'm ready for part 2 .. I enjoy this very much .. would definitely read it again Halloween month !!
I'm ready for part 2 .. I enjoy this very much .. would definitely read it again Halloween month !!
September 8, 2021
Keep the countdown going!!
I love novellas and this is definitely intriguing!
I am excited to read more of these as they come out, def recounts!
I love novellas and this is definitely intriguing!
I am excited to read more of these as they come out, def recounts!
July 21, 2021
Seven strangers are drawn together by a recurring nightmare that seems to foretell the exact date they will all die...
Gray has her work cut out for her here. I would imagine that most writers don't have to worry about spending the early chapters of a 300-page book on introductions because the reader has already picked it up with the intention of reading it to the end. Gray, however, has divided her novel up into 6 installments. Within the 55 pages of this first installment, she has to lay the story's groundwork in such a way that readers will be eager to buy installment #2.
Fortunately for readers, she does a fantastic job. The cast of characters swells quickly, but Gray gives them such distinct personalities and appearances that I had no trouble keeping track of them. She is a master of creating a full-fledged character or setting in just a few telling details. Her writing is jaunty and fluid without being showy. She also skillfully builds atmosphere and suspense, leaving readers with a hair-raising (and aggravating!) cliffhanger.
If the remaining installments are as enjoyable, imaginative, and compulsively readable as this first, then I'll be buying and reading them in quick succession.
Thank you, Goodreads and Roma Gray, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book for free!
Gray has her work cut out for her here. I would imagine that most writers don't have to worry about spending the early chapters of a 300-page book on introductions because the reader has already picked it up with the intention of reading it to the end. Gray, however, has divided her novel up into 6 installments. Within the 55 pages of this first installment, she has to lay the story's groundwork in such a way that readers will be eager to buy installment #2.
Fortunately for readers, she does a fantastic job. The cast of characters swells quickly, but Gray gives them such distinct personalities and appearances that I had no trouble keeping track of them. She is a master of creating a full-fledged character or setting in just a few telling details. Her writing is jaunty and fluid without being showy. She also skillfully builds atmosphere and suspense, leaving readers with a hair-raising (and aggravating!) cliffhanger.
If the remaining installments are as enjoyable, imaginative, and compulsively readable as this first, then I'll be buying and reading them in quick succession.
Thank you, Goodreads and Roma Gray, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book for free!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews