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The Residence: A Novel
In this “chilling, profound” (Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie) horror story based on true events, the President’s late son haunts the White House, breaking the spirit of what remains of the First Family and the divided America beyond the residence’s walls.
The year is 1853. President-elect Franklin Pierce is traveling with his family to Washington, DC, when tragedy strikes. In an instant, their train runs off the rails, violently flinging passengers about the cabin. But when the great iron machine finally comes to rest, the only casualty is the President-elect’s beloved son, Bennie, which casts Franklin’s presidency in a pal of sorrow and grief.
As Franklin moves into the White House, he begins to notice that something bizarre is happening. Strange sounds coming from the walls and ceiling, creepy voices that seem to echo out of time itself, and visions of spirits crushed under the weight of American history.
But when First Lady Jane Pierce brings in the most noted Spiritualists of the day, the Fox sisters, for a séance, the barrier between this world and the next is torn asunder. Something horrible comes through and takes up residence alongside Franklin and Jane in the walls of the very mansion itself.
Only by overcoming their grief and confronting their darkest secrets can Jane and Franklin hope to rid themselves—and America—from the entity that seeks to make the White House its permanent home.
The year is 1853. President-elect Franklin Pierce is traveling with his family to Washington, DC, when tragedy strikes. In an instant, their train runs off the rails, violently flinging passengers about the cabin. But when the great iron machine finally comes to rest, the only casualty is the President-elect’s beloved son, Bennie, which casts Franklin’s presidency in a pal of sorrow and grief.
As Franklin moves into the White House, he begins to notice that something bizarre is happening. Strange sounds coming from the walls and ceiling, creepy voices that seem to echo out of time itself, and visions of spirits crushed under the weight of American history.
But when First Lady Jane Pierce brings in the most noted Spiritualists of the day, the Fox sisters, for a séance, the barrier between this world and the next is torn asunder. Something horrible comes through and takes up residence alongside Franklin and Jane in the walls of the very mansion itself.
Only by overcoming their grief and confronting their darkest secrets can Jane and Franklin hope to rid themselves—and America—from the entity that seeks to make the White House its permanent home.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2020
53 people are currently reading
2849 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Pyper
39 books1,119 followersAndrew Pyper was a Canadian author. He published over ten fictional books, including The Demonologist, which won the International Thriller Writers Award, and Lost Girls, which was a New York Times bestseller and Notable Book of the Year.
Pyper also published under the name of Mason Coile.
Pyper also published under the name of Mason Coile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
December 5, 2020
I was up all night, sleeping with lights didn’t work! The most disturbing thing about this book is not haunted, supernatural entities’ existence lurking inside the rooms of the White House or the thin line between reality and insanity! The sadness, bleakness of parents who lost their child and who are struggling to move on, slowly losing their realities and they let themselves be dragged to the other world with its entities part: that’s what kept me awake, bending my nerves, freezing my blood!
I haven’t read so bleak, dark, sad, heart wrenching story for a long time. The characters seem like lost their battles from the beginning! Can you imagine leader of the new world and his First Lady already resigned, lost their hopes for their own future? How can you expect them to lead a country for brighter future when they have no idea how to live in the present time?
After winning the election, 14th president of the US, Franklin Pierce accompanied by his wife Jane and 11 years old son Bennie boards on train to travel to Washington D. C. But unexpected tragedy strikes and train runs off the rails. Only casualty of the accident is their beloved son Bennie.
After this accident we witness how Jane and Franklin falls apart. As Franklin pushes him hard to take the demanding responsibilities to govern, Jane withdraws , locking herself in her room, writing letters to his death son, slowly drifts away from reality.
As we read her back story we understand she was always troubled woman who are more connected with the spirits than the real people and an entity she called as “sir” has been appearing to her since she was a young girl. Now that entity gets more powerful and request her approval to bring her son back! But when he comes back, it’s not gonna bring the closure his parents needed! Or let’s ask: is the spirit appear in their son’s image their real son?
In the real life: there are articles prove both Jane Pierce and Mary Lincoln held seances in White House to connect their death sons’ spirits. And there are so many articles about ghost stories witnessed by President Truman, Queen Wilhelmina. Reading those articles and some real facts about Pierce family’s story increase the tension during your reading and make you question yourself to draw the line between the truth and fiction.
But in my opinion the scariest part of the book was: the part that the dark entity-Devil- Sir’s manipulation to the Pierces for changes about slavery, social injustice in the country! Now my mind filled with more conspiracy theories! My head hurts!
Overall: this is creepy, extremely disturbing grief, unbearable sadness of parents who lose their child story! Especially the characters’ sorrow soaking your soul! It’s more disturbing than ghost stories you read because of the heavy pessimistic atmosphere’s blending with true life stories! The writing is riveting, balance paced! It affected me more than I expected! This is one of the stories it could haunt you forever!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/ Skybound Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
I haven’t read so bleak, dark, sad, heart wrenching story for a long time. The characters seem like lost their battles from the beginning! Can you imagine leader of the new world and his First Lady already resigned, lost their hopes for their own future? How can you expect them to lead a country for brighter future when they have no idea how to live in the present time?
After winning the election, 14th president of the US, Franklin Pierce accompanied by his wife Jane and 11 years old son Bennie boards on train to travel to Washington D. C. But unexpected tragedy strikes and train runs off the rails. Only casualty of the accident is their beloved son Bennie.
After this accident we witness how Jane and Franklin falls apart. As Franklin pushes him hard to take the demanding responsibilities to govern, Jane withdraws , locking herself in her room, writing letters to his death son, slowly drifts away from reality.
As we read her back story we understand she was always troubled woman who are more connected with the spirits than the real people and an entity she called as “sir” has been appearing to her since she was a young girl. Now that entity gets more powerful and request her approval to bring her son back! But when he comes back, it’s not gonna bring the closure his parents needed! Or let’s ask: is the spirit appear in their son’s image their real son?
In the real life: there are articles prove both Jane Pierce and Mary Lincoln held seances in White House to connect their death sons’ spirits. And there are so many articles about ghost stories witnessed by President Truman, Queen Wilhelmina. Reading those articles and some real facts about Pierce family’s story increase the tension during your reading and make you question yourself to draw the line between the truth and fiction.
But in my opinion the scariest part of the book was: the part that the dark entity-Devil- Sir’s manipulation to the Pierces for changes about slavery, social injustice in the country! Now my mind filled with more conspiracy theories! My head hurts!
Overall: this is creepy, extremely disturbing grief, unbearable sadness of parents who lose their child story! Especially the characters’ sorrow soaking your soul! It’s more disturbing than ghost stories you read because of the heavy pessimistic atmosphere’s blending with true life stories! The writing is riveting, balance paced! It affected me more than I expected! This is one of the stories it could haunt you forever!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books/ Skybound Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
September 19, 2022
"You think you hold sole ownership over pain. Perhaps you believe you invented it... I have my arrogance. But this Jeannie-this is yours."
I've always felt horror is divided into two distinct parties: the gory, jump scare variety and the horror that plays upon grief and a person's worst nightmare coming true. I've always subscribed to the latter, as my worst fear is losing one or both of my children, and then having to survive that grief for the remainder of my "unnaturally" long life. Andrew Pyper has once again crafted a unique tale, and this one is grounded in factual history, while giving it a supernatural spin that, honestly, had me questioning whether the White House is in fact haunted.
"Where does it go now?" she whispered.
"Where does what go, my dear?"
"Our love for him."
For those who aren't familiar, Franklin Pierce (the 14th president of the United States) boarded a train with his wife and young son after winning the presidential election, and said train derailed and killed the couple's only remaining son (they had lost the previous two tragically due to sickness). History writes that Mrs. Pierce was never the same again, and the strained single term that her husband was in office felt the birth pangs of the nearing Civil War. Where the story departs from history (or does it?) is when Bennie, the deceased son, begins to haunt the White House, alongside many other specters. What follows is a tale steeped in themes of karma, and how evil breeds greater evil, especially in regards to slavery, misogyny, and other forms of social injustice.
I've always wondered about the stories that have been told for hundreds of years about the various hauntings reported in the White House, and the author addresses these in a post note, but perhaps the reason why this book worked so well for me is due to the fact that Pyper found a way to make the logical side of my brain which screams "Absurd!" become dominated by the creative side, likely due to how well researched the tale is and how the delicate insertions of paranormal entities make it seem so realistic. If you're the type of horror reader who prefers the bloody, stabby, graphic type of scare, this one probably won't be for you. However, if you enjoy a more subtle novel that plays on the fears that humans have surrounding loss and grief, you'll be hard pressed to find a better, albeit extremely sad, read in the genre.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
I've always felt horror is divided into two distinct parties: the gory, jump scare variety and the horror that plays upon grief and a person's worst nightmare coming true. I've always subscribed to the latter, as my worst fear is losing one or both of my children, and then having to survive that grief for the remainder of my "unnaturally" long life. Andrew Pyper has once again crafted a unique tale, and this one is grounded in factual history, while giving it a supernatural spin that, honestly, had me questioning whether the White House is in fact haunted.
"Where does it go now?" she whispered.
"Where does what go, my dear?"
"Our love for him."
For those who aren't familiar, Franklin Pierce (the 14th president of the United States) boarded a train with his wife and young son after winning the presidential election, and said train derailed and killed the couple's only remaining son (they had lost the previous two tragically due to sickness). History writes that Mrs. Pierce was never the same again, and the strained single term that her husband was in office felt the birth pangs of the nearing Civil War. Where the story departs from history (or does it?) is when Bennie, the deceased son, begins to haunt the White House, alongside many other specters. What follows is a tale steeped in themes of karma, and how evil breeds greater evil, especially in regards to slavery, misogyny, and other forms of social injustice.
I've always wondered about the stories that have been told for hundreds of years about the various hauntings reported in the White House, and the author addresses these in a post note, but perhaps the reason why this book worked so well for me is due to the fact that Pyper found a way to make the logical side of my brain which screams "Absurd!" become dominated by the creative side, likely due to how well researched the tale is and how the delicate insertions of paranormal entities make it seem so realistic. If you're the type of horror reader who prefers the bloody, stabby, graphic type of scare, this one probably won't be for you. However, if you enjoy a more subtle novel that plays on the fears that humans have surrounding loss and grief, you'll be hard pressed to find a better, albeit extremely sad, read in the genre.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 3, 2023
My thanks to Gallery/Skybound, Andrew Pyper and Netgalley. So, just about the 60% mark I realized that I was done with this. I was majorly depressed. This was not scary. Mostly just awful sad and soon depressing. Those poor children. As a wife? I too would have been unforgiving. Not haunted, but... I couldn't abide this story. I think that I've come to realize that Pyper is not for me! His scary is not mine.
October 19, 2020
The Residence by Andrew Pyper is a ghost story based on historical facts and characters. The year is 1852 and Franklin Pearce has been elected president of the U.S. On their train trip to Washington from New Hampshire to attend the inauguration, the President-elect, his wife Jane and young son Bennie are victims of a terrible crash. Bennie is the only casualty and the Pearces’ lives are changed forever. The First Lady returns to New Hampshire, refusing to attend the inauguration due to her overwhelming grief. When she finally moves to the White House, it becomes clear that the mansion is not an ordinary house. There are loud noises in the walls and ceilings and strange occurrences day and night. The couple begin to realize that their deceased child and others are haunting the residence. They will need to overcome their grief and face up to the ghosts and rid them from the people’s house. Apparently, in real life, there have been sightings of ghosts and visitors have refused to spend the night in the White House. The telling of this tale is historically interesting but I was underwhelmed by the horror portion of the book. I prefer a little fright with my horror but, all in all, it was a good yarn. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 24, 2020
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
I wish to thank NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for an advanced electronic copy of The Residence in return for an honest review. Having read Andrew Pyper's terrific Homecoming, a superior thriller with surprising twists, I was anxious to read this new book but had some doubts, thinking the premise was unworkable and preposterous. I feared that a book bringing supernatural hauntings to the White House combined with actual historical persons stretched a premise too far, but I was wrong. By making this a character-driven plot, and basing it on some strange, historic and little known reports, I thought it worked quite well.
I learned that the White House has long been rumoured to be haunted. Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, Queen Wilhelmina, staff and guests all claimed seeing ghosts, heard eerie spectral sounds or voices, and felt malevolent presences. First Ladies Mary Todd Lincoln and Jane Pierce actually held seances in the White House in attempts to communicate with their dead sons. Mrs. Pierce, while self-isolating in her room wrote numerous letters to her dead son, Benny, which are still in existence.
The story did deliver for the most part a tale of sustained hopelessness and despair. Early there was such sadness in creepy surroundings overwhelming feelings of fright or suspense. My feeling was one of unease. True terror and action ramped up towards the end.
President Franklin Pierce and his wife had lost two sons. Their surviving son, eleven-year-old Benny, was tragically killed in a train accident. The parents were both devastated. Franklin tried to endure and carry out his presidential duties but never got over the loss. Jane was devastated. She shut herself away in her room and became withdrawn from everyone, including her husband. Her behaviour became quite irrational. Today we would say she suffered from mental illness, but in the story, she is haunted by a malign spirit. Her aunt was brought in to carry out social duties that were the usual role of the First Lady.
I felt that I should be more sympathetic towards Jane, but as she became more haunted and unstable and distanced herself from her devoted, sympathetic husband, I became quite annoyed with her character's behaviour. Much of the dialogue was oblique as they spoke in riddles, not daring to utter what they were truly thinking. His concern for his wife was a distraction from his work.
The story drew me in and finally engaged my emotions. It was an exploration of how inconsolable loss and grief preys upon people in different ways and may destroy a marriage. The characters experienced prolonged fright and sadness. The finale was one of terror and became an action-packed thriller. Jane finally showed bravery and determination and fought alongside her husband in an effort to end the spooky apparitions set on destroying them. Do ghosts still dwell within the White House walls?
I wish to thank NetGalley and Simon& Schuster for an advanced electronic copy of The Residence in return for an honest review. Having read Andrew Pyper's terrific Homecoming, a superior thriller with surprising twists, I was anxious to read this new book but had some doubts, thinking the premise was unworkable and preposterous. I feared that a book bringing supernatural hauntings to the White House combined with actual historical persons stretched a premise too far, but I was wrong. By making this a character-driven plot, and basing it on some strange, historic and little known reports, I thought it worked quite well.
I learned that the White House has long been rumoured to be haunted. Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, Queen Wilhelmina, staff and guests all claimed seeing ghosts, heard eerie spectral sounds or voices, and felt malevolent presences. First Ladies Mary Todd Lincoln and Jane Pierce actually held seances in the White House in attempts to communicate with their dead sons. Mrs. Pierce, while self-isolating in her room wrote numerous letters to her dead son, Benny, which are still in existence.
The story did deliver for the most part a tale of sustained hopelessness and despair. Early there was such sadness in creepy surroundings overwhelming feelings of fright or suspense. My feeling was one of unease. True terror and action ramped up towards the end.
President Franklin Pierce and his wife had lost two sons. Their surviving son, eleven-year-old Benny, was tragically killed in a train accident. The parents were both devastated. Franklin tried to endure and carry out his presidential duties but never got over the loss. Jane was devastated. She shut herself away in her room and became withdrawn from everyone, including her husband. Her behaviour became quite irrational. Today we would say she suffered from mental illness, but in the story, she is haunted by a malign spirit. Her aunt was brought in to carry out social duties that were the usual role of the First Lady.
I felt that I should be more sympathetic towards Jane, but as she became more haunted and unstable and distanced herself from her devoted, sympathetic husband, I became quite annoyed with her character's behaviour. Much of the dialogue was oblique as they spoke in riddles, not daring to utter what they were truly thinking. His concern for his wife was a distraction from his work.
The story drew me in and finally engaged my emotions. It was an exploration of how inconsolable loss and grief preys upon people in different ways and may destroy a marriage. The characters experienced prolonged fright and sadness. The finale was one of terror and became an action-packed thriller. Jane finally showed bravery and determination and fought alongside her husband in an effort to end the spooky apparitions set on destroying them. Do ghosts still dwell within the White House walls?
August 6, 2020
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 1, 2020
Franklin Pierce, his wife, Jane and their son, Bennie are on a train bound for the White House, where Pierce is set to become the new President. A tragic accident derails the train, leaving their eleven year old son dead, leaving Franklin and Jane to set out to Washington, D.C under the huge shadow of grief. Franklin attempts to fulfil his duties while Jane struggles to set up a home without her son. Soon, both Franklin and Jane begin to hear strange knocking sounds coming from the walls and Jane is overheard speaking to a man she refers to only as “Sir”. White House guests and staff alike also report seeing the ghost of a young boy, about 11 years old, appearing and disappearing throughout the residence. Although torn apart by tragic grief, Franklin and Jane must uncover the mystery of what is haunting their new home, before the entire country pays the price.
Pyper delivers another one of his freaky, terror-fueled greats, and this time he throws in a little historical “fiction” to boot. Pierce was actually a U.S President (the 14th actually, I looked it up), and he and his wife Jane lost a young boy in a train accident before he took office. Pyper also uses the haunted history of the White House throughout this novel, which makes it all the spookier. Not only do you learn something, but you get to be entertained with Pyper’s expert level of creepiness.
This novel started off horribly sad (yet page-turning) than delved into the political and historical (information and setting building but beyond that, just mediocre as far as entertainment goes) , than ran right into the downright spine-chilling (GIVE ME MORE). If you’ve read Pyper’s “The Homecoming”, than you know he can definitely tell a haunted house story with the best of them.
Although I wanted more “Sir”, more “ghost” Bennie, more high-level scares and less politics, I definitely enjoy Pyper’s descriptive writing style. Like something right out of “The Conjuring” universe, I was able to envision the moving objects, hear the banging and tapping sounds, and feel the cold hands of Sir on my neck. And really, is that not what we all read horror novels for? Well done, Pyper!
Expected publication date: Sept. 1, 2020
Franklin Pierce, his wife, Jane and their son, Bennie are on a train bound for the White House, where Pierce is set to become the new President. A tragic accident derails the train, leaving their eleven year old son dead, leaving Franklin and Jane to set out to Washington, D.C under the huge shadow of grief. Franklin attempts to fulfil his duties while Jane struggles to set up a home without her son. Soon, both Franklin and Jane begin to hear strange knocking sounds coming from the walls and Jane is overheard speaking to a man she refers to only as “Sir”. White House guests and staff alike also report seeing the ghost of a young boy, about 11 years old, appearing and disappearing throughout the residence. Although torn apart by tragic grief, Franklin and Jane must uncover the mystery of what is haunting their new home, before the entire country pays the price.
Pyper delivers another one of his freaky, terror-fueled greats, and this time he throws in a little historical “fiction” to boot. Pierce was actually a U.S President (the 14th actually, I looked it up), and he and his wife Jane lost a young boy in a train accident before he took office. Pyper also uses the haunted history of the White House throughout this novel, which makes it all the spookier. Not only do you learn something, but you get to be entertained with Pyper’s expert level of creepiness.
This novel started off horribly sad (yet page-turning) than delved into the political and historical (information and setting building but beyond that, just mediocre as far as entertainment goes) , than ran right into the downright spine-chilling (GIVE ME MORE). If you’ve read Pyper’s “The Homecoming”, than you know he can definitely tell a haunted house story with the best of them.
Although I wanted more “Sir”, more “ghost” Bennie, more high-level scares and less politics, I definitely enjoy Pyper’s descriptive writing style. Like something right out of “The Conjuring” universe, I was able to envision the moving objects, hear the banging and tapping sounds, and feel the cold hands of Sir on my neck. And really, is that not what we all read horror novels for? Well done, Pyper!
December 19, 2020
THE RESIDENCE by ANDREW PYPER was a book that I was extremely excited to read because I thought the premise of it sounded great. It started off a little slow and it was really hard for me to get into the story and stay focused in what I was reading. I also wasn't all that sympathetic for Jane and lost interest in her. Sadly this book just wasn't for me.
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada, Andrew Pyper, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Canada, Andrew Pyper, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
September 1, 2020
Eerie, intense, and sinister!
In this latest novel by Pyper, The Residence, we are transported to the White House during 1852 and into the life of the newly-elected President Franklin Pierce has he struggles with the recent loss of his 11-year-old son, a wife enveloped by sorrow, a nation fractured and heading towards war, and one special room where grief is in abundance and terror seems to like to come and play.
The prose is dark and ominous. The characters are tormented, desperate, and troubled. And the plot is a horrifying, gripping tale interwoven and steeped in the supernatural that’s full of familial drama, heartache, tension, obsession, secrets, death, hopelessness, and violence.
Overall, The Residence is a unique, dark, spooky tale that captivates from the very first page and ultimately leaves you mystified, chilled, and creepily entertained.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this latest novel by Pyper, The Residence, we are transported to the White House during 1852 and into the life of the newly-elected President Franklin Pierce has he struggles with the recent loss of his 11-year-old son, a wife enveloped by sorrow, a nation fractured and heading towards war, and one special room where grief is in abundance and terror seems to like to come and play.
The prose is dark and ominous. The characters are tormented, desperate, and troubled. And the plot is a horrifying, gripping tale interwoven and steeped in the supernatural that’s full of familial drama, heartache, tension, obsession, secrets, death, hopelessness, and violence.
Overall, The Residence is a unique, dark, spooky tale that captivates from the very first page and ultimately leaves you mystified, chilled, and creepily entertained.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
August 22, 2020ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? I FIND OUT ABOUT THIS BOOK ON MY BIRTHDAY EVE????
December 30, 2020
This is my 1st novel by Andrew Pyper and it definitely won't be my last.
Based on actual facts this spooky ghost story is set in the White House during Franklin Pierce's administration in the 1850's. The President's recently deceased son haunts the White House, threatening all who live in it.
In the face of overwhelming grief Franklin and First Lady Jane are plagued by bizarre and disturbing events. As the horrors quickly unfold Jane and Franklin hope to work together to rid themselves of this entity at their side.
Well written and well researched the author includes a fascinating notes section at the end of the book detailing actual events and historical facts he has based this book on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Based on actual facts this spooky ghost story is set in the White House during Franklin Pierce's administration in the 1850's. The President's recently deceased son haunts the White House, threatening all who live in it.
In the face of overwhelming grief Franklin and First Lady Jane are plagued by bizarre and disturbing events. As the horrors quickly unfold Jane and Franklin hope to work together to rid themselves of this entity at their side.
Well written and well researched the author includes a fascinating notes section at the end of the book detailing actual events and historical facts he has based this book on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
August 31, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book!
this book had a lot of potential. It did a good job of laying down a good base to it storyline, but it seemed to not have evolved further. I felt like there should have been more as I read the last words of this book. would definitely read another book by the author as he does pick storylines that strike your curiosity.
this book had a lot of potential. It did a good job of laying down a good base to it storyline, but it seemed to not have evolved further. I felt like there should have been more as I read the last words of this book. would definitely read another book by the author as he does pick storylines that strike your curiosity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2020
First I would like to thank Netgalley & the publisher for a copy to review.
Previously I was limited in the Andrew Pyper novels I have read, but I loved Demonology so much as soon as I saw this title available on Netgalley I just had to request it. And in my opinion this book is even better, maybe Pyper's best yet.
The Residence is a historical biographical novel about President Franklin Pierce, or really about his wife Jane. The couple have to mourn their children's tragic deaths even as Franklin tries to lead a country heading to civil war.
PYPER really did an excellent job infusing the story with a gothic atmosphere for over half the book, and then things just get crazy.
Previously I was limited in the Andrew Pyper novels I have read, but I loved Demonology so much as soon as I saw this title available on Netgalley I just had to request it. And in my opinion this book is even better, maybe Pyper's best yet.
The Residence is a historical biographical novel about President Franklin Pierce, or really about his wife Jane. The couple have to mourn their children's tragic deaths even as Franklin tries to lead a country heading to civil war.
PYPER really did an excellent job infusing the story with a gothic atmosphere for over half the book, and then things just get crazy.
Read
June 11, 2020I'm looking forward to writing my review for Cemetery Dance. Andrew Pyper is one of my favorite authors and THE RESIDENCE is a haunting, historical fiction ghost story that should make everyone's Fall reading list. Avail Sept. 1st, 2020
October 11, 2020
The concept of an evil ghoul haunting the White House might not strike many Americans, who have been living in the dark and maddening shadows of the Trump administration for going on four years, as a wholly unique concept these days. The question, then, is whether or not Canadian author Andrew Pyper's premise can prove more horrifying than the real deal, or at least provide enough of a distraction from reality to entertain.
The short answer on both accounts, unfortunately, is no, it can't. Pyper's D.C. specter proves to be a far more quaint and old-fashioned horror when stacked against the crimes against humanity perpetuated constantly at the hands of the Trump administration, including things like I.C.E. kidnappings, children being torn apart from their families and locked in cages, women undergoing forced hysterectomies, the violent rise of white supremacy, and presidential malfeasance in the face of a viral pandemic that has left more than 200,000 dead at the time of this writing. A ghost mentally terrorizing the 14th President of the United States ends up being just a touch too twee to prove truly effective at shocking readers in this latter half of 2020. Pyper just can't compete, frankly.
The Residence concerns itself with Franklin Pierce and his sickly wife Jane, who, just prior to his inauguration, are involved in a train accident that kills their young boy. Right from the outset, Pierce's time in office is cast in the pall of this dark shadow, a tragedy that is further complicated by the being that has haunted Jane for much of her life. Now that this evil creature has been invited into the White House, it seeks to divide and destroy America from within.
The plot is certainly a grand idea, and it certainly sounds familiar given that the destruction of America by a demon operating from within has been the actual policy of the Trump administration since January 21, 2017. Unfortunately, Pyper never really goes full-hog in his premise. The entity known as Sir to Jane, and as Splitfoot to a psychic medium invited to perform a seance at the White House, never feels like the grandly horrifying threat it's presented as.
Focusing on the Pierce presidency, too, feels like an odd choice. A single-term Democrat and staunchly anti-abolitionist, Pyper opts to portray the man as a milquetoast figure caught between a rock and a hard place, at one point even describing him in terms of being anti-slavery despite the general record. It's possible that as a Canadian, Pyper may not be aware of how the two political parties gradually flipped after the Civil War and that the general views of Democrats circa the 1850s do not at all align with their modern-day beliefs. As president, Pierce is notable largely for being an entirely forgettable failure and one of the worst presidents in American history (although I suspect there's a new candidate for that particular crown...), his administration helping to pave the way for the Civil War.
Pyper leans into the drama and tragedy of Pierce's history, but his fictional accounting of the man is hardly any more memorable than the actual historicity, although he does generate some nice tension between the president and his wife in the aftermath of their son's death. Their fractured marriage and road toward reconciliation is believably presented, and not without its own share of hiccups. The horror aspects, though, are awfully lackluster and ineffective. The resolution is ultimately trite and strains credibility with its absurd simplicity.
Over the course of The Residence, Pyper attempts to reconcile his fictional haunting against the backdrop of slavery, American expansion into the west, the genocides committed against America's indigenous people, and the looming Civil War. None of these explorations ever come across as more than superficial, and are overshadowed by a knowing wink-and-a-nudge on behalf of this 21st Century author's hindsight. It's attempted messaging comes across as a bit of self-impressed stagecraft from a magician performing a flashy trick and then turning to the audience to boisterously proclaim, "Hey, see what I did there?! Pretty neat, huh?!"
Rather than feeling timely and topical, The Residence instead amounts to too little, too late. It's too gentle, too placid, too quaint, never fully committing itself to going far enough to show us a legitimate supernatural threat that feels overwhelming and suffocating. The Shining in the White House, this ain't. Maybe if this book had come out a decade earlier it might have proved more effective, but in 2020? There's too much real-life political extreme horror on a daily basis to weigh this book against, and The Residence falls much too short. Sadly, Pyper's latest was already antiquated by the time it hit the shelves.
The short answer on both accounts, unfortunately, is no, it can't. Pyper's D.C. specter proves to be a far more quaint and old-fashioned horror when stacked against the crimes against humanity perpetuated constantly at the hands of the Trump administration, including things like I.C.E. kidnappings, children being torn apart from their families and locked in cages, women undergoing forced hysterectomies, the violent rise of white supremacy, and presidential malfeasance in the face of a viral pandemic that has left more than 200,000 dead at the time of this writing. A ghost mentally terrorizing the 14th President of the United States ends up being just a touch too twee to prove truly effective at shocking readers in this latter half of 2020. Pyper just can't compete, frankly.
The Residence concerns itself with Franklin Pierce and his sickly wife Jane, who, just prior to his inauguration, are involved in a train accident that kills their young boy. Right from the outset, Pierce's time in office is cast in the pall of this dark shadow, a tragedy that is further complicated by the being that has haunted Jane for much of her life. Now that this evil creature has been invited into the White House, it seeks to divide and destroy America from within.
The plot is certainly a grand idea, and it certainly sounds familiar given that the destruction of America by a demon operating from within has been the actual policy of the Trump administration since January 21, 2017. Unfortunately, Pyper never really goes full-hog in his premise. The entity known as Sir to Jane, and as Splitfoot to a psychic medium invited to perform a seance at the White House, never feels like the grandly horrifying threat it's presented as.
Focusing on the Pierce presidency, too, feels like an odd choice. A single-term Democrat and staunchly anti-abolitionist, Pyper opts to portray the man as a milquetoast figure caught between a rock and a hard place, at one point even describing him in terms of being anti-slavery despite the general record. It's possible that as a Canadian, Pyper may not be aware of how the two political parties gradually flipped after the Civil War and that the general views of Democrats circa the 1850s do not at all align with their modern-day beliefs. As president, Pierce is notable largely for being an entirely forgettable failure and one of the worst presidents in American history (although I suspect there's a new candidate for that particular crown...), his administration helping to pave the way for the Civil War.
Pyper leans into the drama and tragedy of Pierce's history, but his fictional accounting of the man is hardly any more memorable than the actual historicity, although he does generate some nice tension between the president and his wife in the aftermath of their son's death. Their fractured marriage and road toward reconciliation is believably presented, and not without its own share of hiccups. The horror aspects, though, are awfully lackluster and ineffective. The resolution is ultimately trite and strains credibility with its absurd simplicity.
Over the course of The Residence, Pyper attempts to reconcile his fictional haunting against the backdrop of slavery, American expansion into the west, the genocides committed against America's indigenous people, and the looming Civil War. None of these explorations ever come across as more than superficial, and are overshadowed by a knowing wink-and-a-nudge on behalf of this 21st Century author's hindsight. It's attempted messaging comes across as a bit of self-impressed stagecraft from a magician performing a flashy trick and then turning to the audience to boisterously proclaim, "Hey, see what I did there?! Pretty neat, huh?!"
Rather than feeling timely and topical, The Residence instead amounts to too little, too late. It's too gentle, too placid, too quaint, never fully committing itself to going far enough to show us a legitimate supernatural threat that feels overwhelming and suffocating. The Shining in the White House, this ain't. Maybe if this book had come out a decade earlier it might have proved more effective, but in 2020? There's too much real-life political extreme horror on a daily basis to weigh this book against, and The Residence falls much too short. Sadly, Pyper's latest was already antiquated by the time it hit the shelves.
February 28, 2020
“My dear Clara, it seems that the White House is haunted.”
- Major Archie Butt, summer 1911.
The only written record of ‘the Thing’ that haunts the White House has always fascinated me. Growing up, my Grandma Hankins always had copies of the Weekly World News sitting around her house, and I remember one such story vividly – the ghost in the White House. Is it Lincoln’s son who died while he was in office? Is it Pierce’s son who died in a train accident prior to his presidency?
No matter what it is, Pyper has latched onto an amazing moment in US paranormal history and created a stunning dread-filled story.
It’s no secret I’m a Pyper fan. His writing voice is second to none and his novels have a way of immediately capturing your attention and then keeping you engrossed. One such trait Pyper has, that many “high profile” authors lack, is his willingness to go there. The darker areas. The seedier spots of horror. A perfect example is the ending to his last novel ‘The Homecoming,’ or the horrors that he wrapped his readers in with ‘The Demonologist.’ Pyper is willing to make his readers squirm and with ‘The Residence’ boy does he ever.
What I liked: While I was reading this, I tweeted out how this book read like Pyper’s writing in 2020 with the dread he infused in ‘Lost Girls.’ When I read ‘Lost Girls’ I knew something bad had happened, something I didn’t want to know. But Andrew pulled me along and when it came together you felt heart broken and despondent. Much like Andrew Cull’s recent release ‘Remains,’ ‘The Residence’ at its core is a story about grief and how it affects those impacted by it. Both physically and psychologically. There are essentially four main characters playing out here; President Pierce, his wife Jane, The White House itself and the presidency. You see, as things continue to spiral and Jane grows more and more withdrawn, Pierce constantly has to decide what can and can’t be made public and how the perceptions of the people to his decisions will look. Pierce had a presidency marked with highs and lows within the slavery era, and while Pyper touches on that, he does so with delicacy.
The story arc of Jane was really well done, and while you may argue that the main character was Pierce, I’d suggest that the true character to follow was her and her struggles, her acceptance and her resolve.
The secondary characters here were also fantastic. Pyper used them as fantastic set pieces, coming and going as needed and aiding when asked. You could see that they had a singular devotion – to the house and the presidency.
Lastly – ‘the Thing.’ The synopsis tells us upfront that after losing their son Bennie and then moving into the White House, Franklin and Jane begin to experience things. That synopsis does not prepare you in the least for what is to come. Pyper has once again crafted some amazingly frightening moments, parts in this book will stay with you for many, many years to come. To say I was riveted really doesn’t do it justice. Outstanding frights.
What I didn’t like: I loved this book, but there was two small parts that I found wishing for more. The first was Jane’s relative. Because Jane is unwilling to participate in public events, Pierce recruits a stand-in for her. They do develop some feelings towards each other; Franklin struggling with seemingly having lost his son to death and his wife to grief, but then for a period, the relative disappears and we don’t hear much from her.
The second part that I wished for more was hearing about the sisters who rose to prominence in paranormal circles. Pyper does have them both for a period featured and then one of the sisters returns near the end, but the paranormal fan in me was hoping they’d play a bigger role.
Neither of these things worked as a detriment to the overall story, and truthfully – this is more me splitting hairs to show that I can look at and read a Pyper book fairly!
Why you should buy it: This one ticks off a number of boxes for horror/thriller/ghost fans. This has moments that made me feel like it had been influenced by The Shining as well as Books of Blood period Barker. The descriptions are lush yet pointed, creating a claustrophobic setting in a house that is expansive and a mansion.
Pyper, to me at least, is the most confident writer I’ve ever read who is unfailing in his approach to delivering. From the beginning, to the middle and then the ending, everything has a place, a purpose. Just look at the toy mentioned throughout – The General. If you have any plastic army men kicking around, you’ll never look at them the same way after one particular scene.
I know I frequently sing my praises for Pyper – but rightfully so. After delivering a stunning novel in ‘The Homecoming’ to return in such short time with an absolute gem of historical fiction with this shows he’s really found a groove and there seems to be no slowing down.
Recently it was announced that this book had been picked up for production to become a historical fiction/non-fiction series. Now having finished this book, that couldn’t be a more perfect fit.
For new fans or fans of old, Pyper has given us another gift and easily one of his best books. I’m so thankful to have been allowed to give this one an early read and it didn’t disappoint.
Thank you to Skybound Books, Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Canada and Andrew Pyper for the copy for review. Thank you to Michael Patrick Hicks for giving me the heads up that this was available on Edelweiss and thank you to Edelweiss for the approval. I already have the Hardcover and the Kindle copies pre-ordered!
- Major Archie Butt, summer 1911.
The only written record of ‘the Thing’ that haunts the White House has always fascinated me. Growing up, my Grandma Hankins always had copies of the Weekly World News sitting around her house, and I remember one such story vividly – the ghost in the White House. Is it Lincoln’s son who died while he was in office? Is it Pierce’s son who died in a train accident prior to his presidency?
No matter what it is, Pyper has latched onto an amazing moment in US paranormal history and created a stunning dread-filled story.
It’s no secret I’m a Pyper fan. His writing voice is second to none and his novels have a way of immediately capturing your attention and then keeping you engrossed. One such trait Pyper has, that many “high profile” authors lack, is his willingness to go there. The darker areas. The seedier spots of horror. A perfect example is the ending to his last novel ‘The Homecoming,’ or the horrors that he wrapped his readers in with ‘The Demonologist.’ Pyper is willing to make his readers squirm and with ‘The Residence’ boy does he ever.
What I liked: While I was reading this, I tweeted out how this book read like Pyper’s writing in 2020 with the dread he infused in ‘Lost Girls.’ When I read ‘Lost Girls’ I knew something bad had happened, something I didn’t want to know. But Andrew pulled me along and when it came together you felt heart broken and despondent. Much like Andrew Cull’s recent release ‘Remains,’ ‘The Residence’ at its core is a story about grief and how it affects those impacted by it. Both physically and psychologically. There are essentially four main characters playing out here; President Pierce, his wife Jane, The White House itself and the presidency. You see, as things continue to spiral and Jane grows more and more withdrawn, Pierce constantly has to decide what can and can’t be made public and how the perceptions of the people to his decisions will look. Pierce had a presidency marked with highs and lows within the slavery era, and while Pyper touches on that, he does so with delicacy.
The story arc of Jane was really well done, and while you may argue that the main character was Pierce, I’d suggest that the true character to follow was her and her struggles, her acceptance and her resolve.
The secondary characters here were also fantastic. Pyper used them as fantastic set pieces, coming and going as needed and aiding when asked. You could see that they had a singular devotion – to the house and the presidency.
Lastly – ‘the Thing.’ The synopsis tells us upfront that after losing their son Bennie and then moving into the White House, Franklin and Jane begin to experience things. That synopsis does not prepare you in the least for what is to come. Pyper has once again crafted some amazingly frightening moments, parts in this book will stay with you for many, many years to come. To say I was riveted really doesn’t do it justice. Outstanding frights.
What I didn’t like: I loved this book, but there was two small parts that I found wishing for more. The first was Jane’s relative. Because Jane is unwilling to participate in public events, Pierce recruits a stand-in for her. They do develop some feelings towards each other; Franklin struggling with seemingly having lost his son to death and his wife to grief, but then for a period, the relative disappears and we don’t hear much from her.
The second part that I wished for more was hearing about the sisters who rose to prominence in paranormal circles. Pyper does have them both for a period featured and then one of the sisters returns near the end, but the paranormal fan in me was hoping they’d play a bigger role.
Neither of these things worked as a detriment to the overall story, and truthfully – this is more me splitting hairs to show that I can look at and read a Pyper book fairly!
Why you should buy it: This one ticks off a number of boxes for horror/thriller/ghost fans. This has moments that made me feel like it had been influenced by The Shining as well as Books of Blood period Barker. The descriptions are lush yet pointed, creating a claustrophobic setting in a house that is expansive and a mansion.
Pyper, to me at least, is the most confident writer I’ve ever read who is unfailing in his approach to delivering. From the beginning, to the middle and then the ending, everything has a place, a purpose. Just look at the toy mentioned throughout – The General. If you have any plastic army men kicking around, you’ll never look at them the same way after one particular scene.
I know I frequently sing my praises for Pyper – but rightfully so. After delivering a stunning novel in ‘The Homecoming’ to return in such short time with an absolute gem of historical fiction with this shows he’s really found a groove and there seems to be no slowing down.
Recently it was announced that this book had been picked up for production to become a historical fiction/non-fiction series. Now having finished this book, that couldn’t be a more perfect fit.
For new fans or fans of old, Pyper has given us another gift and easily one of his best books. I’m so thankful to have been allowed to give this one an early read and it didn’t disappoint.
Thank you to Skybound Books, Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Canada and Andrew Pyper for the copy for review. Thank you to Michael Patrick Hicks for giving me the heads up that this was available on Edelweiss and thank you to Edelweiss for the approval. I already have the Hardcover and the Kindle copies pre-ordered!
November 8, 2022
Franklin Pierce, a little known one term president is newly elected when there's a train accident and his son is killed. The First Lady is prostrate with grief. The White House is already haunted and in ill repair in 1853. The First Lady calls in some spiritualists. Then things really start to go wrong.
Interesting, until the hectoring starts. Doesn't have a real understanding of the politics of the time, either.
Interesting, until the hectoring starts. Doesn't have a real understanding of the politics of the time, either.
August 28, 2020
3.5 stars
The Residence by Andrew Pyper is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster Canada, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
In 1853, Franklin Pierce was headed to Washington with his family, shortly before his inauguration. On the way, his train crashed, and his son was killed. This was not the first child the Pierce family lost, and his wife Jane had suffered from depression for most of her life. Pierce was already a heavy drinker.
After so much loss, the move to The White House did not help their marriage. Jane retreated further into herself, and into the idea of bringing back her son...through any means possible. Unknown to her husband, she re-created Bennie's bedroom in the West Wing. Then she started conversing with some unknown entity, and then she hired mediums to help her.
Now they are all living under a hopeless blanket of despair.
My Opinions:
First, I don't read or like political books...but thought I would make an exception because of the author. This book is based (loosely) on the 14th President of the United States, who seemed to just go with the flow politically, and tried not to rock the boat. Unfortunately, that meant slavery was sort of up in the air. He and Jane did, indeed lose three children, and the last was Benjamin, and it did indeed happen in a train crash (although a few weeks prior to his inauguration).
Now we've all heard rumours that The White House is haunted, but the ghost part of the story did not really happen to the Pierce family (to my knowledge).
Although I wasn't really a fan of the premise, both the writing and the pace was good. I also liked the characters. I loved the mediums Jane hired, and I wish their storyline was longer. I also liked Hany.
However, I was a little disappointed in the book, because I loved Pyper's last book so much. This was good, but it really wasn't that exciting. I found it more sad than anything. A woman loses all her children, and will do anything to bring one back, but picks a demon to supply a replica. I just felt sorry for her, and for her husband. Their marriage had survived so much.
Although this one didn't hit home for me, I will continue to read this author's books. He writes really well.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information and quotations), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 29, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/09/22/...
Although I was a big fan of Andrew Pyper’s The Damned, after a less-than-stellar experience with his next two novels, I was seriously on the verge of parting ways with the author once and for all. But then all of a sudden, The Residence came along and made me glad I decided to give his work one more try. Unlike The Homecoming or The Only Child, whose stories gravitated heavily towards mystery and thriller-driven themes, I felt this one was a return to classic horror with an emphasis on atmosphere building and creating the perfect mood for a good old-fashioned haunting.
Indeed, The Residence is a ghost story, but it is also a historical novel about one of American history’s most overlooked presidents. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, held office from 1853 to 1857 during a period of growing tensions between the North and the South—tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. However, his own personal life at the time was also fraught with emotional turmoil, as just weeks before his inauguration, he and his wife Jane witnessed the violent, gruesome death of their 11-year-old son Benny in a train accident. Losing their last surviving child was a blow from which Franklin and Jane never recovered, and their move into the White House was overshadowed by a pall of grief and sorrow.
Still, it didn’t take long for the couple to notice strange things happening within the halls of their new home. And it’s not just the sound of disembodied voices echoing through the walls or the mysterious noises emanating from the ceilings. Jane was the first to see the child, a young boy so much like Benny, and wonders if the prayers in the letters she wrote to her dead son have been answered. Deeply devout and spiritual, she had also called upon the services of the Fox Sisters, the most famous mediums of their day, to help investigate this shadowy apparition and other mysterious occurrences. In doing so though, they may have inadvertently summoned an unwelcome guest.
As you can imagine, The Residence is a broody horror whose inherent eeriness is only rivaled by its constant sadness and despair. Because of its subject matter, this one presented a challenge to read at times, especially the intro detailing the horrific death of 11-year-old Benny Pierce. Few things in this world are more heartbreaking and difficult for me to read about than a mother’s pain at losing her children, and it was clear from the narrative that Jane felt the last light of her happiness leave the world with her son.
Speaking of which, I had originally expected Franklin to be at the center of this tale, thus discovering Jane’s prominent part in it came as a bit of a surprise, her role at times even overshadowing that of her husband’s. Still, I was glad we got so much of the story from her point of view. While Franklin dealt with his grief by throwing himself into the work of running the country, Jane took the route of quiet seclusion, and I thought it was brilliant the way Pyper handled both their responses. There were also flashbacks to the couple’s past, including certain disquieting moments and experiences in Jane’s childhood which were particularly revealing.
Subsequently, this set the stage for the White House hauntings, and the gloominess that had been established earlier on also helped to accentuate the horror and tensions, making what happens next feel even more dreadful and disturbing. Indeed, one aspect of the writing I enjoyed was the handling of the horror elements, which the author applied sparingly and with a light touch, giving just enough to pique the reader’s imagination.
Suffice to say, I spent most of my time reading The Residence feeling like I was on pins and needles. Arguably, the book contains minimal value as a historical novel, but as a ghost story, it sure raises the gooseflesh and sends chills up the spine. After all, there have long been tales and reports told throughout history of specters and spirits haunting the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Andrew Pyper has succeeded in writing a novel that supplements this body of mythology while offering additional insights into why these kinds of stories continue to captivate and enthrall us.
Although I was a big fan of Andrew Pyper’s The Damned, after a less-than-stellar experience with his next two novels, I was seriously on the verge of parting ways with the author once and for all. But then all of a sudden, The Residence came along and made me glad I decided to give his work one more try. Unlike The Homecoming or The Only Child, whose stories gravitated heavily towards mystery and thriller-driven themes, I felt this one was a return to classic horror with an emphasis on atmosphere building and creating the perfect mood for a good old-fashioned haunting.
Indeed, The Residence is a ghost story, but it is also a historical novel about one of American history’s most overlooked presidents. Franklin Pierce, the 14th president of the United States, held office from 1853 to 1857 during a period of growing tensions between the North and the South—tensions that would eventually lead to the Civil War. However, his own personal life at the time was also fraught with emotional turmoil, as just weeks before his inauguration, he and his wife Jane witnessed the violent, gruesome death of their 11-year-old son Benny in a train accident. Losing their last surviving child was a blow from which Franklin and Jane never recovered, and their move into the White House was overshadowed by a pall of grief and sorrow.
Still, it didn’t take long for the couple to notice strange things happening within the halls of their new home. And it’s not just the sound of disembodied voices echoing through the walls or the mysterious noises emanating from the ceilings. Jane was the first to see the child, a young boy so much like Benny, and wonders if the prayers in the letters she wrote to her dead son have been answered. Deeply devout and spiritual, she had also called upon the services of the Fox Sisters, the most famous mediums of their day, to help investigate this shadowy apparition and other mysterious occurrences. In doing so though, they may have inadvertently summoned an unwelcome guest.
As you can imagine, The Residence is a broody horror whose inherent eeriness is only rivaled by its constant sadness and despair. Because of its subject matter, this one presented a challenge to read at times, especially the intro detailing the horrific death of 11-year-old Benny Pierce. Few things in this world are more heartbreaking and difficult for me to read about than a mother’s pain at losing her children, and it was clear from the narrative that Jane felt the last light of her happiness leave the world with her son.
Speaking of which, I had originally expected Franklin to be at the center of this tale, thus discovering Jane’s prominent part in it came as a bit of a surprise, her role at times even overshadowing that of her husband’s. Still, I was glad we got so much of the story from her point of view. While Franklin dealt with his grief by throwing himself into the work of running the country, Jane took the route of quiet seclusion, and I thought it was brilliant the way Pyper handled both their responses. There were also flashbacks to the couple’s past, including certain disquieting moments and experiences in Jane’s childhood which were particularly revealing.
Subsequently, this set the stage for the White House hauntings, and the gloominess that had been established earlier on also helped to accentuate the horror and tensions, making what happens next feel even more dreadful and disturbing. Indeed, one aspect of the writing I enjoyed was the handling of the horror elements, which the author applied sparingly and with a light touch, giving just enough to pique the reader’s imagination.
Suffice to say, I spent most of my time reading The Residence feeling like I was on pins and needles. Arguably, the book contains minimal value as a historical novel, but as a ghost story, it sure raises the gooseflesh and sends chills up the spine. After all, there have long been tales and reports told throughout history of specters and spirits haunting the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Andrew Pyper has succeeded in writing a novel that supplements this body of mythology while offering additional insights into why these kinds of stories continue to captivate and enthrall us.
February 14, 2023
“..all that could have been avoided by staying the boy who loved to walk in the woods, rather than the portrait who was chosen to hand in the long hallway of white.”
Back in February of 2020, the e-ARC of Andrew Pyper’s (at that time) novel, The Residence, was made available on Edelweiss. Michael Patrick Hicks alerted me, and I requested it. I didn’t believe I was going to be approved for it, as at that time, I had fifty or so rejections on Edelweiss and essentially stopped using it completely. Netgalley was the site for me! Well, imagine my surprise when I was approved! I dove in, read it in a fever, excited to be devouring my first Andrew Pyper ARC (I could’ve requested one for ‘The Homecoming’ but was a weirdo and decided to await release date like a schmuck!) and devour it I did. I raced through it, loved it and tossed together my thoughts. A few months later – to my utter surprise – Andrew kindly mailed me a physical ARC! When it arrived, I reread the e-ARC, loving it once again.
Since then, The Residence has held an odd spot in my mind. It’s weird because I know everyone out there knows my love of his work, but I think the real world chaos that is the United States political landscape now, essentially dampened my overall love of this book. ‘A book about The White House?! Pfffttt.’ Or something like that.
So it was, that after there was a group read-along of Andrew’s stellar ‘The Guardians,’ I knew that I needed to revisit ‘The Residence.’ Having now completed the second group read-along of Andrew’s work (this is just me trying to figure out new and exciting ways to promote Andrew’s books!) I was stunned at how different I had this book in my head versus what it was I actually read.
What I liked: A Historical Horror novel, ‘The Residence’ follows Franklin and Jane Pierce as they prepare to arrive at The White House, Franklin the new President of the US. Tragedy strikes them on their way, a train derailment with only one casualty – their last living son, Bennie. With that, they go to The White House, both in a fog of grief. Franklin wants to lead the country and the people. Jane simply wants her son back.
It’s from here that Andrew masterfully weaves real-life people and events within the fictional happenings of Bennie ‘returning’ in a deliciously dark form known as Sir. This novel is BLEAK. It feels like once you open the pages the power has gone out and you’re forced to read it by candle light. Time and time again, this mansion that is supposed be the most lavish and cherished house in America feels like it is abandoned and broken down.
Andrew does a great job of filtering in the slave aspect – both with the decision before Franklin of making them free or allowing slavery to continue, but also with how the house itself was built on the backs of slaves and those souls still haunt it. It created an atmosphere where, as the reader, I didn’t want Franklin or Jane to remain in their rooms as the demonic presence stomps and clomps about, but I also didn’t want them to venture to the lower levels, knowing those that haunt the boiler room are awaiting to exact some sort of vengeance.
The ending is fantastic. We get a battle of good versus evil while also seeing how this presence remains behind after they’ve left The White House and could very well be what is known as ‘The Thing’ for years after. Andrew doesn’t hold back, showcasing just how this occurrence has driven a wedge between Franklin and Jane and how they need to work to get back to being with each other and their for each other.
What I didn’t like: Franklin is a hard character to like and to root for. It’s purposeful, especially when you consider his place in history, but it still makes for tough going as a reader when you want to see success and achievement against supernatural odds, but you kind of wouldn’t mind seeing him fail and get decapitated. Of course, in this case, you know that won’t happen – history and all – but it will challenge some readers to push through, especially when Franklin puts his Presidency over his wife at times.
Why you should buy this: I don’t see this novel enough ANYWHERE. This is a phenomenally written haunted house story where we get solid (real) characters, a presence that will chill you to your core and a pacing that will have you wanting to skip work and stay up late to finish. We started out as reading a single chapter a day, which only lasted for a short time before we bumped it to three chapters a day, and even then we still all wanted to race through it.
It showcases the Pierce’s as they try and overcome an obstacle they didn’t expect while dealing with the harshest and most horrible moment in their lives. Grief is a weight that can drown even the strongest of swimmers and in ‘The Residence,’ Andrew shows just why he is one of the only authors out there that can navigate these choppy waters and get our characters back to shore.
I’m so happy I re-read this one again. Just a stellar experience.
Back in February of 2020, the e-ARC of Andrew Pyper’s (at that time) novel, The Residence, was made available on Edelweiss. Michael Patrick Hicks alerted me, and I requested it. I didn’t believe I was going to be approved for it, as at that time, I had fifty or so rejections on Edelweiss and essentially stopped using it completely. Netgalley was the site for me! Well, imagine my surprise when I was approved! I dove in, read it in a fever, excited to be devouring my first Andrew Pyper ARC (I could’ve requested one for ‘The Homecoming’ but was a weirdo and decided to await release date like a schmuck!) and devour it I did. I raced through it, loved it and tossed together my thoughts. A few months later – to my utter surprise – Andrew kindly mailed me a physical ARC! When it arrived, I reread the e-ARC, loving it once again.
Since then, The Residence has held an odd spot in my mind. It’s weird because I know everyone out there knows my love of his work, but I think the real world chaos that is the United States political landscape now, essentially dampened my overall love of this book. ‘A book about The White House?! Pfffttt.’ Or something like that.
So it was, that after there was a group read-along of Andrew’s stellar ‘The Guardians,’ I knew that I needed to revisit ‘The Residence.’ Having now completed the second group read-along of Andrew’s work (this is just me trying to figure out new and exciting ways to promote Andrew’s books!) I was stunned at how different I had this book in my head versus what it was I actually read.
What I liked: A Historical Horror novel, ‘The Residence’ follows Franklin and Jane Pierce as they prepare to arrive at The White House, Franklin the new President of the US. Tragedy strikes them on their way, a train derailment with only one casualty – their last living son, Bennie. With that, they go to The White House, both in a fog of grief. Franklin wants to lead the country and the people. Jane simply wants her son back.
It’s from here that Andrew masterfully weaves real-life people and events within the fictional happenings of Bennie ‘returning’ in a deliciously dark form known as Sir. This novel is BLEAK. It feels like once you open the pages the power has gone out and you’re forced to read it by candle light. Time and time again, this mansion that is supposed be the most lavish and cherished house in America feels like it is abandoned and broken down.
Andrew does a great job of filtering in the slave aspect – both with the decision before Franklin of making them free or allowing slavery to continue, but also with how the house itself was built on the backs of slaves and those souls still haunt it. It created an atmosphere where, as the reader, I didn’t want Franklin or Jane to remain in their rooms as the demonic presence stomps and clomps about, but I also didn’t want them to venture to the lower levels, knowing those that haunt the boiler room are awaiting to exact some sort of vengeance.
The ending is fantastic. We get a battle of good versus evil while also seeing how this presence remains behind after they’ve left The White House and could very well be what is known as ‘The Thing’ for years after. Andrew doesn’t hold back, showcasing just how this occurrence has driven a wedge between Franklin and Jane and how they need to work to get back to being with each other and their for each other.
What I didn’t like: Franklin is a hard character to like and to root for. It’s purposeful, especially when you consider his place in history, but it still makes for tough going as a reader when you want to see success and achievement against supernatural odds, but you kind of wouldn’t mind seeing him fail and get decapitated. Of course, in this case, you know that won’t happen – history and all – but it will challenge some readers to push through, especially when Franklin puts his Presidency over his wife at times.
Why you should buy this: I don’t see this novel enough ANYWHERE. This is a phenomenally written haunted house story where we get solid (real) characters, a presence that will chill you to your core and a pacing that will have you wanting to skip work and stay up late to finish. We started out as reading a single chapter a day, which only lasted for a short time before we bumped it to three chapters a day, and even then we still all wanted to race through it.
It showcases the Pierce’s as they try and overcome an obstacle they didn’t expect while dealing with the harshest and most horrible moment in their lives. Grief is a weight that can drown even the strongest of swimmers and in ‘The Residence,’ Andrew shows just why he is one of the only authors out there that can navigate these choppy waters and get our characters back to shore.
I’m so happy I re-read this one again. Just a stellar experience.
October 9, 2023
DNF - halfway
Snore. 💤
Snore. 💤
February 13, 2023
IG Readalong February 1-14.
THE RESIDENCE is a stunning novel of Historical Fiction, seamlessly woven into the factual framework of American mid-19th century History. Although it is also a novel of the Supernatural, this element stems from Historical facts and the suspension of Disbelief is subtly contrived and becomes natural in the course of events' progression.
The character depth and development is quite extraordinary and the character arcs are readily comprehensible . The Supernatural elements are not superficial but intrinsic, terrifying not just in the present of the characters, but even more so in its prophecies for America's future.
THE RESIDENCE is a stunning novel of Historical Fiction, seamlessly woven into the factual framework of American mid-19th century History. Although it is also a novel of the Supernatural, this element stems from Historical facts and the suspension of Disbelief is subtly contrived and becomes natural in the course of events' progression.
The character depth and development is quite extraordinary and the character arcs are readily comprehensible . The Supernatural elements are not superficial but intrinsic, terrifying not just in the present of the characters, but even more so in its prophecies for America's future.
January 2, 2023
This latest by Andrew Pyper really pulled me out of my comfort zone…”Moi” reading a supernatural horror thriller really????
This ghost story based on true events tells the story of a marriage and is set at the most famous building in the world: the White House during the time of President Franklin Pierce’s tenure. Jane his wife was a charming First Ladies and Frank a leader whose inaction set the course toward civil war... a president almost forgotten by historians.
The “Residence” is the story of a couple struggling with the loss of their children especially Ben who was the sole fatality in a bizarre train accident. After the inauguration, the couple were forced to reside in a place of grief. Jane wrote letters to Bennie, pleading for the boy’s return and in the book, he did. There were séances, eccentric behavior, visions, apparitions, all kind of weird stuff the author’s describes. Jane talked to Bennie every day and the ghost of Sir appeared multiple times, a vision in Jane’s mind that started in her childhood days. At first the sightings and exchanges were civil then events became tragic….. All in the haunted house its residents are not permitted to leave…A house with that much history must have some pretty dark secrets…right? We have a truck load of strange behaviour in this novel…
Wasn’t it supposed to be a kind of ghost story to scare us? No, it is simply a bla bla bla sad and depressing story. A dread-filled kind of story or any kind of dark story has to capture your imagination and keep you captive and engrossed to the last page. I was so bored I couldn’t reach the end fast enough. Not saying it is bad it simply did nothing for me. Having read and enjoyed books from this author in the past I was simply disappointed with this one. I guess one cannot please all the time. Well Mr. Pyper you did it, a story creepy for some and for others to leave on the shelf and never open it.
I received this ARC form Simon & Schuster via NetGalleys for my thoughts
This ghost story based on true events tells the story of a marriage and is set at the most famous building in the world: the White House during the time of President Franklin Pierce’s tenure. Jane his wife was a charming First Ladies and Frank a leader whose inaction set the course toward civil war... a president almost forgotten by historians.
The “Residence” is the story of a couple struggling with the loss of their children especially Ben who was the sole fatality in a bizarre train accident. After the inauguration, the couple were forced to reside in a place of grief. Jane wrote letters to Bennie, pleading for the boy’s return and in the book, he did. There were séances, eccentric behavior, visions, apparitions, all kind of weird stuff the author’s describes. Jane talked to Bennie every day and the ghost of Sir appeared multiple times, a vision in Jane’s mind that started in her childhood days. At first the sightings and exchanges were civil then events became tragic….. All in the haunted house its residents are not permitted to leave…A house with that much history must have some pretty dark secrets…right? We have a truck load of strange behaviour in this novel…
Wasn’t it supposed to be a kind of ghost story to scare us? No, it is simply a bla bla bla sad and depressing story. A dread-filled kind of story or any kind of dark story has to capture your imagination and keep you captive and engrossed to the last page. I was so bored I couldn’t reach the end fast enough. Not saying it is bad it simply did nothing for me. Having read and enjoyed books from this author in the past I was simply disappointed with this one. I guess one cannot please all the time. Well Mr. Pyper you did it, a story creepy for some and for others to leave on the shelf and never open it.
I received this ARC form Simon & Schuster via NetGalleys for my thoughts
August 28, 2020
Andrew Pyper came on my radar last year at the consistent and strong recommendation of reviewer Steve Stred. I read The Homecoming, which was a well written masterpiece of a thriller, and added Pyper to my list of trusted authors - the ones I know I'm going to enjoy whatever they put out.
The Residence has an intriguing premise of historical horror, based on true events, and delivers on the promise of chilling and disturbing ghosts. I'd heard over the years that the White House was haunted, but it all sounded rather disappointingly innocuous. Until Andrew Pyper got hold of it.
Well researched, with a feel of instant authenticity, there were scenes in The Residence that creeped me out to the core. Innocent, everyday objects are imbued with a deep and unsetttling horror, and the supernatural experiences are as unexpected as they are terrifying. This was an excellent read, highly recommended to get you in the Halloween spirit!
The Residence has an intriguing premise of historical horror, based on true events, and delivers on the promise of chilling and disturbing ghosts. I'd heard over the years that the White House was haunted, but it all sounded rather disappointingly innocuous. Until Andrew Pyper got hold of it.
Well researched, with a feel of instant authenticity, there were scenes in The Residence that creeped me out to the core. Innocent, everyday objects are imbued with a deep and unsetttling horror, and the supernatural experiences are as unexpected as they are terrifying. This was an excellent read, highly recommended to get you in the Halloween spirit!
September 24, 2020
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: Spooky and unsettling,
The Residence
is full of subtle, chilling moments that sneak up on you.
Do you enjoy atmospheric ghost stories with a literary bent to them? Then you will not want to miss The Residence , Andrew Pyper’s latest. I have only read one of Pyper’s books— The Damned— but I loved it as well. The Residence is actually historical fiction, a fact I didn’t realize when I picked it up, and I thought the setting gave it a wonderful, Gothic sensibility. This story is not only creepy and terrifying in places, but it’s also quite sad. I loved this combination of terror and emotion, and when you add in Pyper’s lyrical writing, it adds up to an excellent reading experience.
The story takes place in 1853 and follows the 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce and his wife Jane, and their terrifying experiences in the residence of the White House. The story opens with a personal tragedy. Right before the inauguration, Franklin, Jane and their eleven-year-old son Bennie are traveling by train when the train goes off the rails and Bennie is instantly killed. Jane is utterly destroyed, having already lost two other sons to disease and complications with childbirth, and she refuses to participate in her duties as First Lady. Instead, she urges Franklin to secure a “substitute,” a woman who will fill in at official dinners and Presidential events. Bennie’s death drives a wedge between Jane and Franklin, and Jane retreats to the room across the hall, which she dubs “the Grief Room,” spending hours each day writing letters to her dead son.
Distraught, Jane decides to invite a pair of famous mediums, the Fox sisters, to the residence in order to communicate with Bennie’s spirit. But she gets much more than she bargained for when she opens the door to a demon who is hellbent on destruction—the same demon who has been haunting her since childhood.
This is a creepy story. I usually read at night, but I honestly had to put the book down a couple of times because I kept jumping at shadows. Just to give you an example, the demon who is haunting them is able to control inanimate objects, so if you’re afraid of stories where toys come to life and attack people, then this book will scare the pants off you! I mentioned before that there are Gothic elements as well. When Franklin and Jane move into the residence, it hasn’t been remodeled in years and is falling apart—peeling wallpaper, loose floorboards, etc. The furniture is old and some wings are under construction. I also loved the way Pyper used sounds to convey a sense of terror, like knocks on the walls or dragging footsteps.
The Residence is full of ghosts, which is one reason I loved it so much. There are the obvious ghosts, like Bennie, but Pyper goes deeper than the obvious by including ghosts of the past. Both Jane and Franklin see their fathers’ ghosts at different points in the story. Jane feels responsible for her father’s death because of her relationship with the demon she calls Sir, and he’s also the one who opened up the door to the occult for her, setting her life on such a strange and sad path. Franklin still feels terrible guilt over a decision he made that resulted in the death of his young son Franky, so it isn’t surprising when Franky’s ghost appears to him. There are even ghosts already haunting the White House when the couple arrives, crowding the boiler room so the household staff can’t light the furnace. This results in the house always being cold, which added to the chilling atmosphere.
Although I would call this historical fiction, the story doesn’t focus on Pierce’s presidency, except for several scenes that talk about his Democratic leanings and the country’s debate over slavery. Instead, this is a personal story about relationships, many of which are heartbreaking. Jane and Franklin struggle with their marriage in the beginning, due to the pall of Bennie’s death and the fact that Jane seems to be going crazy. I really felt for Franklin, because as President he has to run the country and put on a brave face, even though his heart is breaking. There is a pervading sadness that hangs over this story, but luckily Pyper balances it out with nail-biting suspense and terror.
For such a short book, the author packs a lot into his story. He touches on themes such as slavery, politics, marriage and infidelity, and the nature of evil and how it shapes us. He also jumps back in time and explains Jane’s relationship with her father and how he unknowingly introduced her to the world of the occult. We get to see the beginnings of Franklin’s and Jane’s courtship and how Jane was against Franklin running for President in the first place. But even with so many layers, Pyper’s story is a real page turner, and I thought all these elements meshed together perfectly.
Bottom line, if you’re in the mood for a well written, creepy ghost story, I highly recommend this book.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
Do you enjoy atmospheric ghost stories with a literary bent to them? Then you will not want to miss The Residence , Andrew Pyper’s latest. I have only read one of Pyper’s books— The Damned— but I loved it as well. The Residence is actually historical fiction, a fact I didn’t realize when I picked it up, and I thought the setting gave it a wonderful, Gothic sensibility. This story is not only creepy and terrifying in places, but it’s also quite sad. I loved this combination of terror and emotion, and when you add in Pyper’s lyrical writing, it adds up to an excellent reading experience.
The story takes place in 1853 and follows the 14th President of the United States, Franklin Pierce and his wife Jane, and their terrifying experiences in the residence of the White House. The story opens with a personal tragedy. Right before the inauguration, Franklin, Jane and their eleven-year-old son Bennie are traveling by train when the train goes off the rails and Bennie is instantly killed. Jane is utterly destroyed, having already lost two other sons to disease and complications with childbirth, and she refuses to participate in her duties as First Lady. Instead, she urges Franklin to secure a “substitute,” a woman who will fill in at official dinners and Presidential events. Bennie’s death drives a wedge between Jane and Franklin, and Jane retreats to the room across the hall, which she dubs “the Grief Room,” spending hours each day writing letters to her dead son.
Distraught, Jane decides to invite a pair of famous mediums, the Fox sisters, to the residence in order to communicate with Bennie’s spirit. But she gets much more than she bargained for when she opens the door to a demon who is hellbent on destruction—the same demon who has been haunting her since childhood.
This is a creepy story. I usually read at night, but I honestly had to put the book down a couple of times because I kept jumping at shadows. Just to give you an example, the demon who is haunting them is able to control inanimate objects, so if you’re afraid of stories where toys come to life and attack people, then this book will scare the pants off you! I mentioned before that there are Gothic elements as well. When Franklin and Jane move into the residence, it hasn’t been remodeled in years and is falling apart—peeling wallpaper, loose floorboards, etc. The furniture is old and some wings are under construction. I also loved the way Pyper used sounds to convey a sense of terror, like knocks on the walls or dragging footsteps.
The Residence is full of ghosts, which is one reason I loved it so much. There are the obvious ghosts, like Bennie, but Pyper goes deeper than the obvious by including ghosts of the past. Both Jane and Franklin see their fathers’ ghosts at different points in the story. Jane feels responsible for her father’s death because of her relationship with the demon she calls Sir, and he’s also the one who opened up the door to the occult for her, setting her life on such a strange and sad path. Franklin still feels terrible guilt over a decision he made that resulted in the death of his young son Franky, so it isn’t surprising when Franky’s ghost appears to him. There are even ghosts already haunting the White House when the couple arrives, crowding the boiler room so the household staff can’t light the furnace. This results in the house always being cold, which added to the chilling atmosphere.
Although I would call this historical fiction, the story doesn’t focus on Pierce’s presidency, except for several scenes that talk about his Democratic leanings and the country’s debate over slavery. Instead, this is a personal story about relationships, many of which are heartbreaking. Jane and Franklin struggle with their marriage in the beginning, due to the pall of Bennie’s death and the fact that Jane seems to be going crazy. I really felt for Franklin, because as President he has to run the country and put on a brave face, even though his heart is breaking. There is a pervading sadness that hangs over this story, but luckily Pyper balances it out with nail-biting suspense and terror.
For such a short book, the author packs a lot into his story. He touches on themes such as slavery, politics, marriage and infidelity, and the nature of evil and how it shapes us. He also jumps back in time and explains Jane’s relationship with her father and how he unknowingly introduced her to the world of the occult. We get to see the beginnings of Franklin’s and Jane’s courtship and how Jane was against Franklin running for President in the first place. But even with so many layers, Pyper’s story is a real page turner, and I thought all these elements meshed together perfectly.
Bottom line, if you’re in the mood for a well written, creepy ghost story, I highly recommend this book.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
September 19, 2020
One thing that great speculative historical fiction does is to fill in those gaps and answer questions that remain a mystery. In some cases, the fictional suggestions may end up being closer to the truth than readers might have ever expected. In recent years, author Dan Simmons has done this to perfection with his novels DROOD --- which explained how Charles Dickens's final novel was completed --- and THE TERROR, which provided a supernatural and horrific reason for the complete disappearance of the ill-fated Franklin expedition.
With THE RESIDENCE, award-winning author Andrew Pyper provides us with speculative fiction on a subject that you were probably not aware ever took place. President Franklin Pierce only served one term in office and the only eventful thing that really happened during his four years in the White House was his inability to quell the fires of the slavery issue that would eventually see President Abraham Lincoln's presidency consumed by it and the Civil War it brought about. Pierce's Vice President died only one month into their term and no one wanted to step into the role as successor. His cabinet, ironically, included Jefferson Davis who would play a huge part in the upcoming Civil War. Pierce was mockingly referred to as 'Little Hickory', in deference to President Andrew Jackson's nickname, 'Big Hickory'.
Those are the things we know about President Pierce and they can be found in any history book or online reference site. It is the things we don't know about his Presidency and the secrets he and his wife, First Lady Jane Pierce, took to their graves that THE RESIDENCE deals with. Grief is a terrible thing, it can divide and destroy individuals and families, eating at you from the inside out without relenting. Franklin and Jane Pierce had already been grieving the loss of their first son, Franky, lost to illness. But this would not prepare them for the most horrific tragedy of their lives. Not long after winning the Presidency, the Pierce's took a train ride from their home in New Hampshire with intentions of visiting their next residency in Washington D.C. The train they were on derailed violently causing many injuries and one fatality. Regrettably, the one fatality was eleven-year-old Bennie Pierce who was nearly decapitated in the accident.
This new shadow of grief is one that would forever haunt Franklin and Jane. It was no way to begin a Presidency and Jane became a figure of permanent gloom barely being seen without her black veil. The day of the inauguration was one of wet snow and dark skies, appropriate for the mood felt by Franklin Pierce who was without Jane at his side. In fact, Jane was not even sure she wanted to move into the White House and it took much cajoling by her husband, the new President, to get her to reconsider. As President Pierce became acquainted with the White House staff he learned from some of the veterans there about the legends of the place being haunted with tales about ghosts in the furnace room.
Jane Pierce found her own way at the new residence, seeming to float around the hallways in a state of perpetual gloom with the hair from the heads of her dead sons sticking out of the locket she wore around her neck. With Jane not wishing to participate in duties usually relegated to a First Lady, she had her cousin Abby step in and represent her with her husband. Jane would do anything to bring her son Bennie back and she learned of two famous sisters --- the Fox Sisters --- who had been touring the states performing paranormal feats such as contacting the dead. She invites them to the White House, unbeknownst to President Pierce, in order to perform a séance that would allow her to reconnect with her Bennie. Even though many considered the Fox Sisters to be charlatans, what took place during the séance was completely unexpected and drove the Fox's from the White House as quickly as they arrived.
For Jane, the meeting with the Fox Sisters did two things. First, it reawoke a sinister spirit from her youth that she merely referred to as 'Sir' --- a spirit which Kate Fox referred to during the séance as 'Splitfoot'. It also produced the physical appearance in the White House of a young spirit which she believed to be her son Bennie reborn. The spirit began its' new existence as an infant that even suckled from Jane and then, in a matter of days, had grown to an adolescent boy. This spirit would occupy the room Jane had made up for their dead son Bennie in the White House that she and Franklin referred to as The Grief Room. Believe me, there would be things far darker than mere grief happening within the walls of this eerie room.
Many sleepless nights would impact both the President and First Lady with various sounds coming from the Grief Room and surrounding hallways. President Pierce invited his lifelong friend, author Nathaniel Hawthorne who was now a world-famous author following the releases of "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House Of the Seven Gables". Hawthorne's only evening in the White House would be quite restless and he allegedly got up in the middle of the night and ended up exploring the source of his unrest --- the Grief Room. The next morning at breakfast, Hawthorne announced he would be leaving immediately. He never gave a full explanation to his friend, Pierce, just indicated that as long as he remained President he would never visit him again in the White House. The things Hawthorne saw that night in the White House he would take to his grave.
Jane Franklin was not the only one troubled by supernatural hauntings. President Pierce had a strange visitation from his late father in which he tried to warn his son about the evil in the new residence and what might happen if things did not change. Jane remained tormented by the entity calling itself Bennie --- a spirit she saw as the mind's sculpture of darkness. She made a decision to write to Kate Fox and ask if she herself would return to the White House in an attempt to cleanse the place of the darkness that had overtaken it. This followed one of the most terrifying moments in THE RESIDENCE --- and there are plenty of them --- where a meeting between President Pierce and his staff is interrupted by the young entity that resembled his late son and completely unsettled everyone in the room.
Kate Fox would return and the results played out like a cross between THE EXORCIST meets POLTERGEIST. I expected THE RESIDENCE to be a slow-burn of a ghost story with some supernatural elements making their presence known during Pierce's Presidency. I was not prepared for the non-stop terror that Andrew Pyper had penned, making for one of the most haunting and disturbing reads I have experienced in some time. What really stuck with me was reading the Author's Note at the end of the novel which pointed out some key elements of Pierce's time at the White House that were unexplained in addition to a long and storied history of future Presidents and the personal experiences they had with the unknown presences that may still exist within the corridors of the White House.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
With THE RESIDENCE, award-winning author Andrew Pyper provides us with speculative fiction on a subject that you were probably not aware ever took place. President Franklin Pierce only served one term in office and the only eventful thing that really happened during his four years in the White House was his inability to quell the fires of the slavery issue that would eventually see President Abraham Lincoln's presidency consumed by it and the Civil War it brought about. Pierce's Vice President died only one month into their term and no one wanted to step into the role as successor. His cabinet, ironically, included Jefferson Davis who would play a huge part in the upcoming Civil War. Pierce was mockingly referred to as 'Little Hickory', in deference to President Andrew Jackson's nickname, 'Big Hickory'.
Those are the things we know about President Pierce and they can be found in any history book or online reference site. It is the things we don't know about his Presidency and the secrets he and his wife, First Lady Jane Pierce, took to their graves that THE RESIDENCE deals with. Grief is a terrible thing, it can divide and destroy individuals and families, eating at you from the inside out without relenting. Franklin and Jane Pierce had already been grieving the loss of their first son, Franky, lost to illness. But this would not prepare them for the most horrific tragedy of their lives. Not long after winning the Presidency, the Pierce's took a train ride from their home in New Hampshire with intentions of visiting their next residency in Washington D.C. The train they were on derailed violently causing many injuries and one fatality. Regrettably, the one fatality was eleven-year-old Bennie Pierce who was nearly decapitated in the accident.
This new shadow of grief is one that would forever haunt Franklin and Jane. It was no way to begin a Presidency and Jane became a figure of permanent gloom barely being seen without her black veil. The day of the inauguration was one of wet snow and dark skies, appropriate for the mood felt by Franklin Pierce who was without Jane at his side. In fact, Jane was not even sure she wanted to move into the White House and it took much cajoling by her husband, the new President, to get her to reconsider. As President Pierce became acquainted with the White House staff he learned from some of the veterans there about the legends of the place being haunted with tales about ghosts in the furnace room.
Jane Pierce found her own way at the new residence, seeming to float around the hallways in a state of perpetual gloom with the hair from the heads of her dead sons sticking out of the locket she wore around her neck. With Jane not wishing to participate in duties usually relegated to a First Lady, she had her cousin Abby step in and represent her with her husband. Jane would do anything to bring her son Bennie back and she learned of two famous sisters --- the Fox Sisters --- who had been touring the states performing paranormal feats such as contacting the dead. She invites them to the White House, unbeknownst to President Pierce, in order to perform a séance that would allow her to reconnect with her Bennie. Even though many considered the Fox Sisters to be charlatans, what took place during the séance was completely unexpected and drove the Fox's from the White House as quickly as they arrived.
For Jane, the meeting with the Fox Sisters did two things. First, it reawoke a sinister spirit from her youth that she merely referred to as 'Sir' --- a spirit which Kate Fox referred to during the séance as 'Splitfoot'. It also produced the physical appearance in the White House of a young spirit which she believed to be her son Bennie reborn. The spirit began its' new existence as an infant that even suckled from Jane and then, in a matter of days, had grown to an adolescent boy. This spirit would occupy the room Jane had made up for their dead son Bennie in the White House that she and Franklin referred to as The Grief Room. Believe me, there would be things far darker than mere grief happening within the walls of this eerie room.
Many sleepless nights would impact both the President and First Lady with various sounds coming from the Grief Room and surrounding hallways. President Pierce invited his lifelong friend, author Nathaniel Hawthorne who was now a world-famous author following the releases of "The Scarlet Letter" and "The House Of the Seven Gables". Hawthorne's only evening in the White House would be quite restless and he allegedly got up in the middle of the night and ended up exploring the source of his unrest --- the Grief Room. The next morning at breakfast, Hawthorne announced he would be leaving immediately. He never gave a full explanation to his friend, Pierce, just indicated that as long as he remained President he would never visit him again in the White House. The things Hawthorne saw that night in the White House he would take to his grave.
Jane Franklin was not the only one troubled by supernatural hauntings. President Pierce had a strange visitation from his late father in which he tried to warn his son about the evil in the new residence and what might happen if things did not change. Jane remained tormented by the entity calling itself Bennie --- a spirit she saw as the mind's sculpture of darkness. She made a decision to write to Kate Fox and ask if she herself would return to the White House in an attempt to cleanse the place of the darkness that had overtaken it. This followed one of the most terrifying moments in THE RESIDENCE --- and there are plenty of them --- where a meeting between President Pierce and his staff is interrupted by the young entity that resembled his late son and completely unsettled everyone in the room.
Kate Fox would return and the results played out like a cross between THE EXORCIST meets POLTERGEIST. I expected THE RESIDENCE to be a slow-burn of a ghost story with some supernatural elements making their presence known during Pierce's Presidency. I was not prepared for the non-stop terror that Andrew Pyper had penned, making for one of the most haunting and disturbing reads I have experienced in some time. What really stuck with me was reading the Author's Note at the end of the novel which pointed out some key elements of Pierce's time at the White House that were unexplained in addition to a long and storied history of future Presidents and the personal experiences they had with the unknown presences that may still exist within the corridors of the White House.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
July 27, 2020
I have always loved a good old-fashioned spooky ghost story, so it takes a lot to get under my skin, but The Residence did just that. It’s the story of Franklin Pierce who became the President of the United States in 1853, but the start of his term was overshadowed by the tragic death of his son, Bennie, who was then said to haunt the White House, putting everyone within in danger. Right from the beginning the atmosphere was such that I felt continually creeped out and unsettled, which is exactly how a good horror story is supposed to make me react. What I love about Andrew Pyper’s writing is that there are always underlying themes and messages as well that keep my mind working throughout the story. The Residence is so much more than just a ghost story! I’m never sure whether I’m “getting it” exactly the way I’m supposed to when I read one of Pyper’s books, but I guess everyone takes away something different, and I always find his books very powerful. One of the interesting aspects of The Residence is that it is based on true stories from the history of the White House, so I even found myself Googling Pierce’s presidency to further my knowledge about that point in history.
For me, reading one of Pyper’s books is like sitting around a campfire, on the edge of my seat, listening to a friend tell a story. I can’t really say that I became attached to any of the characters honestly, but I could truly feel Franklin and Jane’s pain over the loss of their son and how adrift they felt in the aftermath. So, it wasn’t really the characters themselves that kept me entranced, but rather the mood and the setting, as well as the complex psychological trauma they both went through. Pyper is so skilled at putting words together in such a magical way, and his descriptions are done so well, that I felt like I was right there in the White House and often found myself looking around to see if there was anything in the shadows around me. It has been a long time since I have been this delightfully creeped out by a book.
What really made this book hit the mark for me were all the underlying themes. Obviously, the story clearly deals with grief and what it does to people, and how they would do pretty much anything to have one more moment with their lost loved ones, but I found that Pyper was also making a statement about the state of our world in the past and now. He made me think about how self-centred our society can be and how we need to look outside of ourselves at the horrors that are going on around us. That the power that comes from division is wrong, and that we need to come together and support everyone in the world no matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation they are. Maybe I’m totally off the mark and this is not what Pyper had in mind at all by writing this book, but it’s what I took away from it. Our world and the people in it have not improved much over the years. We are still faced with horrible prejudice and severe mistreatment of certain groups, and we still have leaders who are not necessarily fit for their positions and for having such power. The Residence looks at bravery vs. fear and the boundaries between good and evil, and it points out that like a ghost, the longer we pretend that the issues that are plaguing the world today don’t exist, the more they will demand to be seen. We seem to be forever struggling to be united as a family, a people, a nation, and a world. Basically, the ghosts of our past will keep haunting us until the necessary changes come to pass.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this early review copy. I highly recommend it!
For me, reading one of Pyper’s books is like sitting around a campfire, on the edge of my seat, listening to a friend tell a story. I can’t really say that I became attached to any of the characters honestly, but I could truly feel Franklin and Jane’s pain over the loss of their son and how adrift they felt in the aftermath. So, it wasn’t really the characters themselves that kept me entranced, but rather the mood and the setting, as well as the complex psychological trauma they both went through. Pyper is so skilled at putting words together in such a magical way, and his descriptions are done so well, that I felt like I was right there in the White House and often found myself looking around to see if there was anything in the shadows around me. It has been a long time since I have been this delightfully creeped out by a book.
What really made this book hit the mark for me were all the underlying themes. Obviously, the story clearly deals with grief and what it does to people, and how they would do pretty much anything to have one more moment with their lost loved ones, but I found that Pyper was also making a statement about the state of our world in the past and now. He made me think about how self-centred our society can be and how we need to look outside of ourselves at the horrors that are going on around us. That the power that comes from division is wrong, and that we need to come together and support everyone in the world no matter what race, religion, or sexual orientation they are. Maybe I’m totally off the mark and this is not what Pyper had in mind at all by writing this book, but it’s what I took away from it. Our world and the people in it have not improved much over the years. We are still faced with horrible prejudice and severe mistreatment of certain groups, and we still have leaders who are not necessarily fit for their positions and for having such power. The Residence looks at bravery vs. fear and the boundaries between good and evil, and it points out that like a ghost, the longer we pretend that the issues that are plaguing the world today don’t exist, the more they will demand to be seen. We seem to be forever struggling to be united as a family, a people, a nation, and a world. Basically, the ghosts of our past will keep haunting us until the necessary changes come to pass.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this early review copy. I highly recommend it!
September 8, 2020
I have a list of authors who have pulled me into one of their stories; I can’t wait to get my grabby fingers on their next new release; Andrew Pyper got on this list with The Homecoming.
I have spent months looking forward to reconnecting with Pyper’s writing, ever since I saw that The Residence was set to release. I know that I like his style, who doesn’t love an old-fashioned ghost story?
Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with Pyper’s characters this time around.
I like to figure the how and why when this happens. The last thing I want is a book that feels like a chore to finish, but I hate to abandon what I have started; this is a good author, he must be able to create that connection before the end of the story.
In the end I can only say that there was some kind of vacuum in the space-time continuum. The wrong time, the wrong place. I found The Residence lacking a connection, I just didn’t care. Perhaps with White House BS everywhere right now, I just wasn’t in the right mind for more White House; perhaps Pyper’s characters were a bit too one dimensional this time around.
There are some stories that can go dark and gloomy, without any comic relief; but others need it. The comic relief can help to build connections, make the characters more tangible, more relatable. Perhaps it was this lack of comic relief that was missing.
Pyper’s writing was solid, his plot unique and interesting; but this story failed to captivate me. I want to immerse myself in the stories I read. I wanted my Calgon moment with The Residence and it never materialized.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
I have spent months looking forward to reconnecting with Pyper’s writing, ever since I saw that The Residence was set to release. I know that I like his style, who doesn’t love an old-fashioned ghost story?
Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with Pyper’s characters this time around.
I like to figure the how and why when this happens. The last thing I want is a book that feels like a chore to finish, but I hate to abandon what I have started; this is a good author, he must be able to create that connection before the end of the story.
In the end I can only say that there was some kind of vacuum in the space-time continuum. The wrong time, the wrong place. I found The Residence lacking a connection, I just didn’t care. Perhaps with White House BS everywhere right now, I just wasn’t in the right mind for more White House; perhaps Pyper’s characters were a bit too one dimensional this time around.
There are some stories that can go dark and gloomy, without any comic relief; but others need it. The comic relief can help to build connections, make the characters more tangible, more relatable. Perhaps it was this lack of comic relief that was missing.
Pyper’s writing was solid, his plot unique and interesting; but this story failed to captivate me. I want to immerse myself in the stories I read. I wanted my Calgon moment with The Residence and it never materialized.
*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
August 13, 2020
i don't even know where to begin.
jane & franklin are absolutely awful, dumb characters & it's a bit infuriating. on one hand you have jane who summoned a demon named sir when she was younger which follows her into adulthood, she then becomes grief stricken by the loss of her & franklin's son bennie & she turns to said demon & someone named kate fox to try to bring bennie back from the dead through unorthodox measures. i just feel jane brought upon a lot of destruction onto her own life by summoning sir as a child because it was said the demon wanted her isolated from everyone & is probably the reason both of her children were sadly met with death. jane's actions & thought processes were just really annoying, mostly her care & attachment for her new demon child version of bennie knowing it wasn't bennie & being okay with that even though it caused a lot of trouble. franklin on the other hand is no better, he favoured his son bennie over his son franky & basically wanted franky to die & bennie to live, & his views on slavery were seriously messed up.
i know i sound a bit inconsiderate, but the whole horror story through grief did not translate well.
i was pretty much bored & annoyed throughout the entire book, andrew pyper's writing style is very different & it definitely isn't for everyone. i know this was supposed to be like a horror/thriller, but it was just not good.. the format was was too choppy, it's broken down into 3 parts where part 1 is the longest, most boring & annoying part because it's just a lot of unnecessary background information & it's where we get to see how horrible jane & franklin are. part 2 is where more paranormal stuff starts to happen, but it's not scary & actually pretty underwhelming. i feel like the characters brought that mess upon themselves. part 3 is the shortest & just discusses what happens to the characters after franklin's presidency.
in the end, although demon bennie is literally trying to kill franklin & jane's cousin abby the couple can't find it in them to kill the demon because it looks like their son so they decide it's appropriate to lock it up in a room in the white house.
anyway, unfortunately this book was a pretty big let down. i really didn't find anything i truly liked in this work which is disappointing.
- arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
jane & franklin are absolutely awful, dumb characters & it's a bit infuriating. on one hand you have jane who summoned a demon named sir when she was younger which follows her into adulthood, she then becomes grief stricken by the loss of her & franklin's son bennie & she turns to said demon & someone named kate fox to try to bring bennie back from the dead through unorthodox measures. i just feel jane brought upon a lot of destruction onto her own life by summoning sir as a child because it was said the demon wanted her isolated from everyone & is probably the reason both of her children were sadly met with death. jane's actions & thought processes were just really annoying, mostly her care & attachment for her new demon child version of bennie knowing it wasn't bennie & being okay with that even though it caused a lot of trouble. franklin on the other hand is no better, he favoured his son bennie over his son franky & basically wanted franky to die & bennie to live, & his views on slavery were seriously messed up.
i know i sound a bit inconsiderate, but the whole horror story through grief did not translate well.
i was pretty much bored & annoyed throughout the entire book, andrew pyper's writing style is very different & it definitely isn't for everyone. i know this was supposed to be like a horror/thriller, but it was just not good.. the format was was too choppy, it's broken down into 3 parts where part 1 is the longest, most boring & annoying part because it's just a lot of unnecessary background information & it's where we get to see how horrible jane & franklin are. part 2 is where more paranormal stuff starts to happen, but it's not scary & actually pretty underwhelming. i feel like the characters brought that mess upon themselves. part 3 is the shortest & just discusses what happens to the characters after franklin's presidency.
in the end, although demon bennie is literally trying to kill franklin & jane's cousin abby the couple can't find it in them to kill the demon because it looks like their son so they decide it's appropriate to lock it up in a room in the white house.
anyway, unfortunately this book was a pretty big let down. i really didn't find anything i truly liked in this work which is disappointing.
- arc provided via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2020
This book is absolutely magnificent, and completely unique and not at ALL what I had anticipated it was going to be! I love books that surprise me and this one fits the bill.
Andrew Pyper writes such incredible spooky content in completely new and unnerving ways. I LOVED that this was set so many decades ago and Andrew nails it with the sound and tone in this book. More than that I love that this book still felt completely contemporary and relevant to today's society. That is no easy feat and Andrew pulls it off with ease.
I also love that the premise of a ghost story like this could be so utterly terrifying while still being so incredibly compelling. I had no idea who I was rooting for in this story, I just could not set it down until I found out what happened in the end.
Devious, face paced and a joy to lose myself in for an autumn afternoon, an absolute must read for bookworms this fall!
Andrew Pyper writes such incredible spooky content in completely new and unnerving ways. I LOVED that this was set so many decades ago and Andrew nails it with the sound and tone in this book. More than that I love that this book still felt completely contemporary and relevant to today's society. That is no easy feat and Andrew pulls it off with ease.
I also love that the premise of a ghost story like this could be so utterly terrifying while still being so incredibly compelling. I had no idea who I was rooting for in this story, I just could not set it down until I found out what happened in the end.
Devious, face paced and a joy to lose myself in for an autumn afternoon, an absolute must read for bookworms this fall!
August 21, 2020
The Residence is a chilling story that surrounds President Franklin Pierce and his wife, Jane. En route to Washington for President Pierce's swearing-in, their son, Bennie, was killed in a train crash. Inconsolable, Jane sets up a bedroom for Bennie, complete with toys, at the White House. She spends countless hours in the Grief room and she may not be alone.
This is a tragic story based on history. The Pierces lost two other sons before Bennie's death. It is difficult to fathom the devastation. Jane Pierce did try to contact Bennie through clairvoyants and summonings. The Residence is immersed in sadness and is a perfect read for a dark, stormy night.
I am a fan of Andrew Pyper's books so especially appreciated winning this giveaway. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
This is a tragic story based on history. The Pierces lost two other sons before Bennie's death. It is difficult to fathom the devastation. Jane Pierce did try to contact Bennie through clairvoyants and summonings. The Residence is immersed in sadness and is a perfect read for a dark, stormy night.
I am a fan of Andrew Pyper's books so especially appreciated winning this giveaway. Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Goodreads for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
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