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The Haunting of Kinnawe House
THE HAUNTING OF KINNAWE HOUSE is a ghost story that spans two eras in American history. As the novel opens, 27-year-old Matthew Rollins, an aspiring pop singer, is watching his dreams rapidly swirling down the drain. His girlfriend has dumped him, and he’s suffering with terrible insomnia that is affecting his brain and his eyesight.
Then comes the email from a real-estate agent at York Village Realtors, offering information about Kinnawe House. This former preacher’s house, built in 1746, is now available for rent for the first time in its history. The offer is too good to refuse, so Matthew sublets his Hell’s Kitchen apartment and heads north to Agamenticus, Maine, where he expects to exorcise his demons, write songs, and get some much-needed sleep.
Matthew does not know of the connection between Kinnawe House and the Reverend Jonathan Edwards, who terrified the American colonies with his 1741 sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” For years, Edwards’ former lover, has threatened to reveal her child, Parthalán, as Edwards’ illegitimate son. When four hardy men from the reverend’s Northampton, Massachusetts, community ask Edwards to sponsor a new congregation on the rugged Maine frontier, Edwards sees the opportunity to rid his house of his blackmailer and the child who is a living reminder of his hypocrisy.
Edwards has reason to believe that Parthalán has chosen to study the dark arts, but he does not suspect Parthalán’s plan to build Cape Agamenticus, Maine, into a prosperous oceanside town that Reverend Edwards, and all God-fearing people of the colonies, would consider an abomination.
The narrative alternates chapters between the present, as Matthew struggles with failing health and increasingly violent delusions and hallucinations, and the past, as Parthalán populates his town, and his church, with a community willing to sell their souls for hearty meals and comfortable homes—until a mysterious family arrives to foment rebellion from within. Past and present come together as Matthew learns, little by little, of his family’s ties to Cape Agamenticus and Kinnawe House—and why Parthalán will not rest until the house has driven Matthew to take his own life.
Part contemporary horror story and part historical novel, THE HAUNTING OF KINNAWE HOUSE traces the destruction wrought by one man over hundreds of years and multiple generations. It also tells the story of a haunted young man who learns that, at his weakest, he is also at his strongest. It will appeal to those who love classic haunted-house stories such as Richard Matheson’s HELL HOUSE, Stephen King’s THE SHINING, Sarah Waters’ THE LITTLE STRANGER, and Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE.
Then comes the email from a real-estate agent at York Village Realtors, offering information about Kinnawe House. This former preacher’s house, built in 1746, is now available for rent for the first time in its history. The offer is too good to refuse, so Matthew sublets his Hell’s Kitchen apartment and heads north to Agamenticus, Maine, where he expects to exorcise his demons, write songs, and get some much-needed sleep.
Matthew does not know of the connection between Kinnawe House and the Reverend Jonathan Edwards, who terrified the American colonies with his 1741 sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” For years, Edwards’ former lover, has threatened to reveal her child, Parthalán, as Edwards’ illegitimate son. When four hardy men from the reverend’s Northampton, Massachusetts, community ask Edwards to sponsor a new congregation on the rugged Maine frontier, Edwards sees the opportunity to rid his house of his blackmailer and the child who is a living reminder of his hypocrisy.
Edwards has reason to believe that Parthalán has chosen to study the dark arts, but he does not suspect Parthalán’s plan to build Cape Agamenticus, Maine, into a prosperous oceanside town that Reverend Edwards, and all God-fearing people of the colonies, would consider an abomination.
The narrative alternates chapters between the present, as Matthew struggles with failing health and increasingly violent delusions and hallucinations, and the past, as Parthalán populates his town, and his church, with a community willing to sell their souls for hearty meals and comfortable homes—until a mysterious family arrives to foment rebellion from within. Past and present come together as Matthew learns, little by little, of his family’s ties to Cape Agamenticus and Kinnawe House—and why Parthalán will not rest until the house has driven Matthew to take his own life.
Part contemporary horror story and part historical novel, THE HAUNTING OF KINNAWE HOUSE traces the destruction wrought by one man over hundreds of years and multiple generations. It also tells the story of a haunted young man who learns that, at his weakest, he is also at his strongest. It will appeal to those who love classic haunted-house stories such as Richard Matheson’s HELL HOUSE, Stephen King’s THE SHINING, Sarah Waters’ THE LITTLE STRANGER, and Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE.
- GenresHorrorFictionParanormal
375 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2022
138 people are currently reading
2690 people want to read
About the author
Steven Rigolosi
11 books40 followersSteve Rigolosi lives in Manhattan and is the author of the Tales from the Back Page series of mystery novels. The third book in the series, Androgynous Murder House Party, was released in June 2009. The premise of this series: Have you ever wondered about the stories behind the advertisements in your local newspaper—-those ads for fetish parties, transvestite boutiques, discount psychotherapy, wicca conventions, Gothic/Punk events, and lonely-hearts seeking to re-establish contact with a ship that passed in the night? Each book in the TALES FROM THE BACK PAGE series looks closely at an advertisement placed on the “Bulletin Board” of The Clarion, a community newspaper published on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 8, 2022
A ghost story that spans two eras! That got my attention! I love a good ghost story and I was intrigued. I enjoyed The Haunting of Hill Houseand The Shining so I fell for the blurb that said this book was for those who enjoyed those book. Alas, this was not even in the ballpark of those two books.
I was intrigued with the two timelines, and I enjoyed the one set in the 1740's more - initially. It started strong and had me wanting to know more. Around the 50% mark that part began to wane for me. There were parts where the writing was just cringe worthy "...You're broken. Your seed is rotten." Who says that especially in modern times? I would have gone with it if it was said in the 1740's of this book. It would also have been a correct statement, but who in modern times even thinks that way?
Again, this book had me from the beginning then it slowly began to lose me. I did enjoy the good vs. evil aspect of the book. Matthew suffers with insomnia and hallucinates. Plus, he has scars that open and close on his body (what??). Recently dumped, he looks forward to getting away. Once he gets to Kinnawe house, he begins to learn more about his family tree, and his connection to the past. In the past, there is an evil leader who demands a cult like following and rules with fear and intimidation.
There were some good elements of the book, and I held on until the end to see how it was going to end. Mainly because I enjoyed the beginning so much. Most reviewers are enjoying this more than I did, so please check out their reviews.
There are quite a few triggers in this book - abuse, rape, infant death, murder, torture etc.
Thank you to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
I was intrigued with the two timelines, and I enjoyed the one set in the 1740's more - initially. It started strong and had me wanting to know more. Around the 50% mark that part began to wane for me. There were parts where the writing was just cringe worthy "...You're broken. Your seed is rotten." Who says that especially in modern times? I would have gone with it if it was said in the 1740's of this book. It would also have been a correct statement, but who in modern times even thinks that way?
Again, this book had me from the beginning then it slowly began to lose me. I did enjoy the good vs. evil aspect of the book. Matthew suffers with insomnia and hallucinates. Plus, he has scars that open and close on his body (what??). Recently dumped, he looks forward to getting away. Once he gets to Kinnawe house, he begins to learn more about his family tree, and his connection to the past. In the past, there is an evil leader who demands a cult like following and rules with fear and intimidation.
There were some good elements of the book, and I held on until the end to see how it was going to end. Mainly because I enjoyed the beginning so much. Most reviewers are enjoying this more than I did, so please check out their reviews.
There are quite a few triggers in this book - abuse, rape, infant death, murder, torture etc.
Thank you to Black Rose Writing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
April 20, 2022
I feel like I should have known with a synopsis this long (probably longer than my review) that this would be a convoluted story.
Matthew is a struggling musician who can't seem to catch a break. His mother is mentally ill, his girlfriend has dumped him, and his insomnia is so bad that he sometimes can not tell hallucination from reality. As if that isn't enough to deal with he has scars all over that mysteriously rip open and bleed profusely under certain circumstances.
When he is offered a stay in a beautiful secluded home on the peaceful coast of Maine if he will consent to be the caretaker it seems like a too good to be true opportunity where he can rest and relax and write some new music.
What he doesn't know is the horrific evil that has been present since the house was built, is still there, and waiting for him.
Told on two timelines that switch between the present day of Matthew and the 1700s when the house and non existent town were built we slowly learn the reason that Matthew never knew his father and the reason his mother went insane.
Because of the dual timelines there are a lot of characters to keep track of, some of whom were part of a devil worshiping cult, and others who hoped to thwart their leader's evil plans.
It was a bit confusing at times because some of the characters also changed names to Americanized versions, and several characters from the 1700s are still with us in the present day, some wanting to protect Matthew while others want to drive him to suicide.
I do enjoy a good historical fiction and when you combine it with horror I enjoy it all the more. I would have preferred not to have the name changes. There are some genuinely creepy and well written occurrences that happen to Matthew but their connection to the 1700s was at times confusing.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I received an advance copy.
Matthew is a struggling musician who can't seem to catch a break. His mother is mentally ill, his girlfriend has dumped him, and his insomnia is so bad that he sometimes can not tell hallucination from reality. As if that isn't enough to deal with he has scars all over that mysteriously rip open and bleed profusely under certain circumstances.
When he is offered a stay in a beautiful secluded home on the peaceful coast of Maine if he will consent to be the caretaker it seems like a too good to be true opportunity where he can rest and relax and write some new music.
What he doesn't know is the horrific evil that has been present since the house was built, is still there, and waiting for him.
Told on two timelines that switch between the present day of Matthew and the 1700s when the house and non existent town were built we slowly learn the reason that Matthew never knew his father and the reason his mother went insane.
Because of the dual timelines there are a lot of characters to keep track of, some of whom were part of a devil worshiping cult, and others who hoped to thwart their leader's evil plans.
It was a bit confusing at times because some of the characters also changed names to Americanized versions, and several characters from the 1700s are still with us in the present day, some wanting to protect Matthew while others want to drive him to suicide.
I do enjoy a good historical fiction and when you combine it with horror I enjoy it all the more. I would have preferred not to have the name changes. There are some genuinely creepy and well written occurrences that happen to Matthew but their connection to the 1700s was at times confusing.
3.5 out of 5 stars
I received an advance copy.
June 17, 2023
In 1746, famed fundamentalist preacher Jonathon Edwards is feeling the heat of his own sermons as he enters another year of keeping his private sins quiet while publicly chastising other sinners from the pulpit. To ease some of his guilt, he sends his servant Bebhinn and their illegitimate son, Parthalan, to help set up a new township on a strip of land along the coast of Maine. What Reverend Edwards does not know is that Parthalan is more than just a surly young man, and he has no use for Reverend Edwards's Heavenly Father, as he has his own darker and more demanding deity to worship. Parthalan takes over everything in the new town of Agamenticus: the plans, the people, the buildings, the church. Before long, he'll have convinced hundreds of people to abandon God and turn to his own dark master. Two and half centuries have passed when musician, Matthew Rollins, needs a place to get away from it all, a place to spend time rediscovering his passion and hopefully writing a few new songs. A mysterious invitation to spend the winter at the beautiful Kinnawe house in Agamenticus, Maine, arrives...truly an offer too good to refuse. Matthew then starts out on a journey that will have him questioning his sanity, questioning reality, and questioning his own lineage. The chapters alternate between past and present as we travel along with Matthew. He discovers the dark and terrible secrets of Kinnawe House as well as those of the now nearly non-existent town of Agamenticus...and comes to face with his own shadowy past. The book has ghosts, devil worshipers, human sacrifices, and a sleep-deprived spiral into hallucinations and madness. Matthew is a mystery story all by himself, complete with a body covered with scars, a mother in the madhouse and no father to speak of and old "friends" who seem to be anything but friendly. Parthalàn is an outstanding villain without not a speck of good in him. He's vicious and cruel and cunning and will stop at nothing to get what he wants even if he has to take it by trickery or by force. Another wonderful character in the story is Helen Crowe, who lives down the road from Kinnawe House and fully embraces her role as the archetypal sage and caregiver. She's a woman who knows the answers to all Matthew's questions but is smart enough to let him figure most of them out himself. She gives him hints along the way such as: always leave one window in the house cracked open; stay away from the cliffs after dark; whatever you do, don't go in the old, abandoned church down the road. Eventually, past and present will collide as Matthew and Helen come face to face with the evil that dwells...some of it willingly and some of it not...in Kinnawe House as well as the village. Those that love ghost stories and haunted houses will really like this one.
June 7, 2023
THE HAUNTING OF KINNAWE HOUSE is an immensely convoluted and engrossing tale of the eternal battles of good vs. evil, of the Judeo-Christian God and the Adversary, Satan. Weaving seamlessly two disparate eras, that of the famous pastor Jonathan Edwards in New England in the mid-18th Century, and of a contemporary New York City musician who plays a much greater role than he could possibly understand.
Caution: this novel includes graphic Horror including murder and torture, and depictions of worship of Satan and demonic manifestations. Sensitive readers, exercise caution and heed these content warnings.
Caution: this novel includes graphic Horror including murder and torture, and depictions of worship of Satan and demonic manifestations. Sensitive readers, exercise caution and heed these content warnings.
August 18, 2022
“Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.”
Matthew Rollins, an aspiring singer/songwriter, takes a job as caretaker of Kinnawe House in Agamenticus, Maine. The haunting begins immediately upon Matthew's arrival, when the ghost of his mother appears. Threatening, ghostly strangers stalk the property. The cellar is filled with mysterious, foul-smelling casks. And with each day, Matthew's insomnia gets worse. The story alternates between the present, as Matthew struggles with failing health and increasingly violent hallucinations, and the 1740s, as a dark preacher populates his town with a community willing to sell their souls for a comfortable life. Past and present come together as Matthew learns, little by little, of his family's ties to Kinnawe House—and why the house will not rest until Matthew has taken his own life.
I wanted to love this more than I did. It was such a slow burner and so atmospheric and I was really getting invested into the characters and the plot; I also loved the dual timeline from the past and present and how they were informing and developing the storyline as the plot progressed.
However, this is a prime example of how an ‘over-the-top’ ending can actually take away from the overall story.
For me, as it was such a slow burn and the traumatic events and scares were divulged so gradually that I actually found the end a tad melodramatic and annoying because it just blew the whole concept of the story way out of proportion in relation to the rest of the plot, leaving me kind of like… ‘seriously? That’s how you chose to end it?’ Which was frustrating as the rest of the book was such a great slow burn to build up and develop that I felt cheated out of a great ending.
Matthew Rollins, an aspiring singer/songwriter, takes a job as caretaker of Kinnawe House in Agamenticus, Maine. The haunting begins immediately upon Matthew's arrival, when the ghost of his mother appears. Threatening, ghostly strangers stalk the property. The cellar is filled with mysterious, foul-smelling casks. And with each day, Matthew's insomnia gets worse. The story alternates between the present, as Matthew struggles with failing health and increasingly violent hallucinations, and the 1740s, as a dark preacher populates his town with a community willing to sell their souls for a comfortable life. Past and present come together as Matthew learns, little by little, of his family's ties to Kinnawe House—and why the house will not rest until Matthew has taken his own life.
I wanted to love this more than I did. It was such a slow burner and so atmospheric and I was really getting invested into the characters and the plot; I also loved the dual timeline from the past and present and how they were informing and developing the storyline as the plot progressed.
However, this is a prime example of how an ‘over-the-top’ ending can actually take away from the overall story.
For me, as it was such a slow burn and the traumatic events and scares were divulged so gradually that I actually found the end a tad melodramatic and annoying because it just blew the whole concept of the story way out of proportion in relation to the rest of the plot, leaving me kind of like… ‘seriously? That’s how you chose to end it?’ Which was frustrating as the rest of the book was such a great slow burn to build up and develop that I felt cheated out of a great ending.
April 7, 2022
I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with the ARC for The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi.
Please check trigger warnings for this one. If none are available, please know there is SA, and death (both child and adult).
This story follows two timelines surrounding the eerie Kinnawe House.
Present Day- Matthew, a semi successful musician from New York, who struggles with his social and family relationships and finds himself a caretaker at Kinnawe.
1740’s- Parthalan, who I think posses all the qualities of a cult leader to brainwash his followers into heinous acts with the promise of community success and prosperity. Obviously, this comes at a significant cost.
I found this book most engaging after the 50% mark, where I was able to find interest with three female characters who became more of a presence within the story. I primarily consider myself a character driven reader, and I wish this story allowed more time for the development of the characters. I found myself wanting to sit with the character(s) after a particularly scary and traumatizing event so I could connect with them better. Or even with the antagonist, because even though he was awful, I wanted to know what made him tick. However, if you are a reader who enjoys a fast moving plot line, then this may be your jam!
Other Pros:
Writing style
Alternating timelines
Hill House vibes
Please check trigger warnings for this one. If none are available, please know there is SA, and death (both child and adult).
This story follows two timelines surrounding the eerie Kinnawe House.
Present Day- Matthew, a semi successful musician from New York, who struggles with his social and family relationships and finds himself a caretaker at Kinnawe.
1740’s- Parthalan, who I think posses all the qualities of a cult leader to brainwash his followers into heinous acts with the promise of community success and prosperity. Obviously, this comes at a significant cost.
I found this book most engaging after the 50% mark, where I was able to find interest with three female characters who became more of a presence within the story. I primarily consider myself a character driven reader, and I wish this story allowed more time for the development of the characters. I found myself wanting to sit with the character(s) after a particularly scary and traumatizing event so I could connect with them better. Or even with the antagonist, because even though he was awful, I wanted to know what made him tick. However, if you are a reader who enjoys a fast moving plot line, then this may be your jam!
Other Pros:
Writing style
Alternating timelines
Hill House vibes
December 11, 2025
Set in Maine, The Haunting of Kinnawe House was a good read for fans of ghost stories and horror. It has the feel of a historical fiction mystery with ties to the present. I had a hard time getting into it at first, but I enjoyed it quite a bit in the end.
Matthew Rollins is an aspiring musician. He’s had a moderate hit but is trying to find inspiration. When his girlfriend, Kellyce, announces she’s pregnant but tells him she’s going to have an abortion, Matthew is devastated. He doesn’t understand why. She tells him that “his seed is rotten.” That’s not something that the average millennial thinks he’ll hear from his girlfriend. Devastated, he takes a house-sitting job in Maine for the winter.
The house he’s going to be staying at, Kinnawe House, was built in 1749 and has a storied past. The story switches between Matthew in the present and the early days of the town of Cape Agamenticus, Maine. The town was founded by missionaries from a church in Northampton, Massachusetts. However, they were led astray with promises of a life of wealth and ease. Parthalán was the illegitimate son of a fiery preacher who turned to the darkness and dragged the congregation along with him.
The story switches back and forth between the events in the 1700s and modern times. Matthew is a bit of an enigma. The reader gets some of his background, but most comes out in dribs and drabs throughout the story. He was raised by a single mother who was quite insane at times and never told him anything about his father. He has numerous scars on his body that break open and bleed regularly. Matthew seems to take these occurrences with ease, which seems strange early on. Later, it’s revealed how he got them, and the story makes much more sense. It’s details like this that made it hard for me to get sucked in right away.
To read my complete review, please go to The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi – The Devil Goes Up to Maine
Matthew Rollins is an aspiring musician. He’s had a moderate hit but is trying to find inspiration. When his girlfriend, Kellyce, announces she’s pregnant but tells him she’s going to have an abortion, Matthew is devastated. He doesn’t understand why. She tells him that “his seed is rotten.” That’s not something that the average millennial thinks he’ll hear from his girlfriend. Devastated, he takes a house-sitting job in Maine for the winter.
The house he’s going to be staying at, Kinnawe House, was built in 1749 and has a storied past. The story switches between Matthew in the present and the early days of the town of Cape Agamenticus, Maine. The town was founded by missionaries from a church in Northampton, Massachusetts. However, they were led astray with promises of a life of wealth and ease. Parthalán was the illegitimate son of a fiery preacher who turned to the darkness and dragged the congregation along with him.
The story switches back and forth between the events in the 1700s and modern times. Matthew is a bit of an enigma. The reader gets some of his background, but most comes out in dribs and drabs throughout the story. He was raised by a single mother who was quite insane at times and never told him anything about his father. He has numerous scars on his body that break open and bleed regularly. Matthew seems to take these occurrences with ease, which seems strange early on. Later, it’s revealed how he got them, and the story makes much more sense. It’s details like this that made it hard for me to get sucked in right away.
To read my complete review, please go to The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi – The Devil Goes Up to Maine
April 28, 2022
The Haunting of Kinnawe House is an old-school-horror-lover's dream. I am a firm believer that the best horror stories are wrapped around a mystery that needs solving, and this book checks that box and then some.
In 1746, famed fundamentalist preacher Jonathon Edwards is feeling the heat of his own sermons as he enters another year of keeping his private sins quiet while publicly chastising other sinners from the pulpit. To ease some of his guilt, he sends his servant Bèbhinn and their illegitimate son, Parthalàn, to help set up a new township on a strip of land along the coast of Maine.
What Reverend Edwards does not know is that Parthalàn is more than just a surly young man, and he has no use for Rev. Edwards's Heavenly Father, as he has his own darker and more demanding deity to worship. Parthalàn takes over everything in the the new town of Agamenticus: the plans, the people, the buildings, the church. Before long, he'll have convinced hundreds of people to abandon God and turn to his own dark master.
Two and half centuries later, musician Matthew Rollins needs a place to get away from it all for a while, a place to spend some time rediscovering his passion and hopefully writing a few new songs. A mysterious invitation to spend the winter at the beautiful Kinnawe house in Agamenticus, Maine arrives in his email, truly an offer too good to refuse. Thus Matthew starts out on a journey that will have him questioning his sanity, questioning reality, and questioning his own lineage.
With chapters that alternate between past and present, we travel along with Matthew as he discovers the dark and awful secrets of Kinnawe House, of the now nearly non-existent town of Agamenticus, and of his own shadowy past.
This book has ghosts, devil worship, human sacrifice, and Matthew's sleep-deprived spiral into hallucinations and madness. Matthew himself is a mystery to be solved, with a body full of scars that bleed and itch, a mother in the madhouse and no father to speak of, and old friends who seem to be anything but friendly. Parthalàn is a glorious villain: there's not a speck of good inside him. He's vicious and cruel and cunning and will stop at nothing to get what he wants even if he has to take it by trickery or by force.
Another wonderful character in the story is that of Helen Crowe, who lives down the road from Kinnawe House and fully embraces her role as the archetypal sage/caregiver, a woman who knows the answers to all Matthew's questions but is smart enough to let him figure most of them out himself. She gives him tips and hints along the way: always leave one window in the house cracked open; stay away from the cliffs after dark; whatever you do, don't go in the old abandoned church down the road.
In the end, past and present will collide as Matthew and Helen come face to face with the evil spirits which dwell--some willingly and some not--in Kinnawe House and the village of Agamenticus, and Matthew will learn just how important he is in this battle between good and evil.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House drew me in so much and so quickly that I read the entire 370 page book in one day. Fans of old school ghost stories and haunted mysteries will love Steven Rigolosi's newest work.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi is published by Black Rose Writing and releases on April 28, 2022.
In 1746, famed fundamentalist preacher Jonathon Edwards is feeling the heat of his own sermons as he enters another year of keeping his private sins quiet while publicly chastising other sinners from the pulpit. To ease some of his guilt, he sends his servant Bèbhinn and their illegitimate son, Parthalàn, to help set up a new township on a strip of land along the coast of Maine.
What Reverend Edwards does not know is that Parthalàn is more than just a surly young man, and he has no use for Rev. Edwards's Heavenly Father, as he has his own darker and more demanding deity to worship. Parthalàn takes over everything in the the new town of Agamenticus: the plans, the people, the buildings, the church. Before long, he'll have convinced hundreds of people to abandon God and turn to his own dark master.
Two and half centuries later, musician Matthew Rollins needs a place to get away from it all for a while, a place to spend some time rediscovering his passion and hopefully writing a few new songs. A mysterious invitation to spend the winter at the beautiful Kinnawe house in Agamenticus, Maine arrives in his email, truly an offer too good to refuse. Thus Matthew starts out on a journey that will have him questioning his sanity, questioning reality, and questioning his own lineage.
With chapters that alternate between past and present, we travel along with Matthew as he discovers the dark and awful secrets of Kinnawe House, of the now nearly non-existent town of Agamenticus, and of his own shadowy past.
This book has ghosts, devil worship, human sacrifice, and Matthew's sleep-deprived spiral into hallucinations and madness. Matthew himself is a mystery to be solved, with a body full of scars that bleed and itch, a mother in the madhouse and no father to speak of, and old friends who seem to be anything but friendly. Parthalàn is a glorious villain: there's not a speck of good inside him. He's vicious and cruel and cunning and will stop at nothing to get what he wants even if he has to take it by trickery or by force.
Another wonderful character in the story is that of Helen Crowe, who lives down the road from Kinnawe House and fully embraces her role as the archetypal sage/caregiver, a woman who knows the answers to all Matthew's questions but is smart enough to let him figure most of them out himself. She gives him tips and hints along the way: always leave one window in the house cracked open; stay away from the cliffs after dark; whatever you do, don't go in the old abandoned church down the road.
In the end, past and present will collide as Matthew and Helen come face to face with the evil spirits which dwell--some willingly and some not--in Kinnawe House and the village of Agamenticus, and Matthew will learn just how important he is in this battle between good and evil.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House drew me in so much and so quickly that I read the entire 370 page book in one day. Fans of old school ghost stories and haunted mysteries will love Steven Rigolosi's newest work.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi is published by Black Rose Writing and releases on April 28, 2022.
May 28, 2022
THE HAUNTING OF KINNAWE HOUSE, by Steven Rigolosi, is a novel that takes place on two timelines: the present (main character, Matthew), and the 1700's. I was initially drawn into this by the past events. While horrible, it was easy to see how this could happen in that day.
Then we have Matthew, present day. He's an insomniac, hallucinates, was just dumped by his girlfriend (with a phrase that would have fit into the past timeline, but felt completely out of context here), and has sores that randomly open and close...
When past and present collide, I have to admit that I lost track of some of the characters/names. While well thought out, it became too convoluted around halfway, and my attention just wasn't focused enough. I thought it was a great idea, but could have been streamlined a little better--or had some characters cut out completely.
Many readers loved this novel more, so check out some of their reviews.
*I received a free copy of the novel from NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own.*
Then we have Matthew, present day. He's an insomniac, hallucinates, was just dumped by his girlfriend (with a phrase that would have fit into the past timeline, but felt completely out of context here), and has sores that randomly open and close...
When past and present collide, I have to admit that I lost track of some of the characters/names. While well thought out, it became too convoluted around halfway, and my attention just wasn't focused enough. I thought it was a great idea, but could have been streamlined a little better--or had some characters cut out completely.
Many readers loved this novel more, so check out some of their reviews.
*I received a free copy of the novel from NetGalley. All opinions are completely my own.*
April 15, 2022
What a read!
TW: SA, child/infant death, murder, torture, abuse
This book is extremely engrossing and has just the right amount of occult/satanic panic. The writing style is a little different, and it jumps around timelines a lot but it’s not hard to keep up with.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline, but a few key points didn’t make sense: one being when one of the women is pregnant already (at 4 months!) and then is impregnated again? And they’ll be born at the same time?
There are several other discrepancies but overall I really enjoyed it. The ending was a little lackluster, but wasn’t terrible.
TW: SA, child/infant death, murder, torture, abuse
This book is extremely engrossing and has just the right amount of occult/satanic panic. The writing style is a little different, and it jumps around timelines a lot but it’s not hard to keep up with.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline, but a few key points didn’t make sense: one being when one of the women is pregnant already (at 4 months!) and then is impregnated again? And they’ll be born at the same time?
There are several other discrepancies but overall I really enjoyed it. The ending was a little lackluster, but wasn’t terrible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2022
Steven Rigolosi’s The Haunting of Kinnawe House is a devilish masterpiece of spinetingling horror, rivalling the best in his genre.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House is a page-turning story that will hook you from the first page and refuse to let you go until the last shocking sentence. A surprise offer arrives and rock musician Matthew Rollins, in need of peace and quiet, takes up residence at Kinnawe House on the rugged coast of Maine. The ancient house holds dark secrets and offers not solace but madness. Soon after his arrival, hallucinations and lack of sleep drive Matthew to the brink of destruction even as the past crawls ever closer. As Rigolosi reveals the house’s past, we realize we are in the midst of a centuries-old battle of good versus evil.
This well-written tale will keep you awake at night with its tightly woven story. The dual timeline flows seamlessly as the story of Kinnawe House and its inhabitants unfolds. Full of creepy twists, a cast of sinister characters, historical detail, and surprising heroes, I found myself fully engrossed in this riveting tale. As a lover of historical fiction, I appreciated the attention to detail that fleshed out the setting, 1740s New England.
Lovers of horror, paranormal suspense and historical fiction will fall under the spell of this story! I highly recommend.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House is a page-turning story that will hook you from the first page and refuse to let you go until the last shocking sentence. A surprise offer arrives and rock musician Matthew Rollins, in need of peace and quiet, takes up residence at Kinnawe House on the rugged coast of Maine. The ancient house holds dark secrets and offers not solace but madness. Soon after his arrival, hallucinations and lack of sleep drive Matthew to the brink of destruction even as the past crawls ever closer. As Rigolosi reveals the house’s past, we realize we are in the midst of a centuries-old battle of good versus evil.
This well-written tale will keep you awake at night with its tightly woven story. The dual timeline flows seamlessly as the story of Kinnawe House and its inhabitants unfolds. Full of creepy twists, a cast of sinister characters, historical detail, and surprising heroes, I found myself fully engrossed in this riveting tale. As a lover of historical fiction, I appreciated the attention to detail that fleshed out the setting, 1740s New England.
Lovers of horror, paranormal suspense and historical fiction will fall under the spell of this story! I highly recommend.
April 21, 2022
The past and the present collide in this book about a house in Maine. Matthew is a 28 year old pop singer in New York who can not sleep. He's long suffered from insomnia and his scars don't help. He receives an email that's more of an invitation to spend a few months in Maine taking care of Kinnawe House.
In an earlier timeline, Paster Jonathan Edwards, in an effort to hide his infidelity, moves a portion of his congregation to Maine to build a new colony. What happens there starts the wheels in motion that lead us to Matthew in the current timeline.
This is a true battle of good versus evil. Steven Rigolosi is a talented writer and this is an excellent introduction to his talent.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
In an earlier timeline, Paster Jonathan Edwards, in an effort to hide his infidelity, moves a portion of his congregation to Maine to build a new colony. What happens there starts the wheels in motion that lead us to Matthew in the current timeline.
This is a true battle of good versus evil. Steven Rigolosi is a talented writer and this is an excellent introduction to his talent.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review.
January 30, 2024
⭐⭐ 2 stars (it was ok)
RATING: R (Violence, Gore, Sexual themes)
Trigger Warnings:
I'll be blunt: The characters don't have any emotional investment in what's going on, so it's hard for me to. It was also hard to keep the 1700's characters distinct in my mind when they are never described and have no real personalities. Like if a Shakespeare play had no dialogue in it and you couldn't see the actors. So we have these empty names (that became forgettable and interchangeable in my mind) experiencing gruesome, graphic, paranormal, supernatural, and to their eyes surely Satanic occurrences/rituals/desecrations happening in front of them, and scarcely a word is said about an emotional reaction! A long-dead character materializes in a chair opposite a living character who was alone just prior, speaks to the character, and they just respond, it's like it didn't even register. That's not really what I hoped horror would be (somewhat new to the genre).
Then, this kind of narration, with hardly any reactions or responses from anyone, would be interrupted by immersion-breaking phrasing like "the ass-end of the restaurant" in the narration. That's right -- it wouldn't be said or thought by a character. Such as:
The ass-end!
The following whole paragraph is symptomatic:
Plot devices are parenthetically explained the first time they're introduced--removing the meaning from them--instead of SHOWING us and leading us through the past events as part of the story that made them meaningful in the present. For example, we just find out 'oh yeah one time this item was cursed, by a witch character you've never heard of and that's why his daughter cried when she handed it to him'...", etc.
At times I remarked on the seemingly emotionless characters. No time is spent on reactions or emotional responses: "Oh, a strange man just handed me a On with the story! No need to dwell on it. If the characters aren't afraid then how can I be?!"
Not a whole lot is left as a surprise... And doesn't let any of the horror elements linger at all. They're always just over and done with in a flash. And plot elements with a TON of potential (like when ) are just dropped on the reader's plate like an overambitious Sloppy Joe with no lead-up, no foreplay, no suspense, no lead-up.
About 20% of the way through the book, and then the author lets that be a big reveal in the finale... maybe he forgot he said it before?
I also noticed that no real motivations or psychic connections are made, and the characters are a little one-dimensional. Also, there's no sense of progression, and other such shocking occurrences happen at a steady clip all throughout. Doesn't feel like a story as much like a series of episodic scenes from someone's demoniac imagination.
I don't think I was the target audience for this book, but I was grateful halfway through as things started to be told to the reader. A lot of open threads with no real connection to anything kept happening and it would register no reaction. A good example is half a dozen instances where Matthew (mmc) hears gunshots and still behaves as if he didn't hear them.
Gunshots? This is introduced just like this. What gunshots are these? Is this nothing strange? Couldn't the characters say something (e.g. "hey um I just came to visit you and I'm sleeping over, were those gunshots?") There just wasn't enough context for this. Eventually I figured out it must have been hunters? Potentially
All in all it hasn't turned me off the horror genre altogether. In the end, it really wasn't what the front cover and title evoke. Not at all a typical ghost-haunts-house story.
And this book really couldn't ever survive a screen adaptation-- . So I guess it ends here for me Mr. Rigolosi! All the best to you. If a horror reader YouTuber I like brings another of yours up, I'll add it to the list (a little ways down).
I won this book on LibraryThing as an Early Reviewer. It took me several years to get through it all and put this to paper; I hope it means I can now win more books to review.
RATING: R (Violence, Gore, Sexual themes)
Trigger Warnings:
I'll be blunt: The characters don't have any emotional investment in what's going on, so it's hard for me to. It was also hard to keep the 1700's characters distinct in my mind when they are never described and have no real personalities. Like if a Shakespeare play had no dialogue in it and you couldn't see the actors. So we have these empty names (that became forgettable and interchangeable in my mind) experiencing gruesome, graphic, paranormal, supernatural, and to their eyes surely Satanic occurrences/rituals/desecrations happening in front of them, and scarcely a word is said about an emotional reaction! A long-dead character materializes in a chair opposite a living character who was alone just prior, speaks to the character, and they just respond, it's like it didn't even register. That's not really what I hoped horror would be (somewhat new to the genre).
Then, this kind of narration, with hardly any reactions or responses from anyone, would be interrupted by immersion-breaking phrasing like "the ass-end of the restaurant" in the narration. That's right -- it wouldn't be said or thought by a character. Such as:
Matthew walked along a narrow hallway into the ass-end of the restaurant, where a makeshift dining room jutted into the parking lot at a 90-degree angle from the bar.
The ass-end!
The following whole paragraph is symptomatic:
Though Priscilla wasn’t fond of cops (small dicks, and everyone knew it), she wasn’t being evasive. She wasn’t sure that the events of the previous evening had happened. One minute she was fleeing that creepy house on the coast, and the next she was running up the staircase to her room. The cops were already acting like she was a bit of a flake, giving her the look that cops give edgy young women who might be lesbians.
Plot devices are parenthetically explained the first time they're introduced--removing the meaning from them--instead of SHOWING us and leading us through the past events as part of the story that made them meaningful in the present. For example, we just find out 'oh yeah one time this item was cursed, by a witch character you've never heard of and that's why his daughter cried when she handed it to him'...", etc.
At times I remarked on the seemingly emotionless characters. No time is spent on reactions or emotional responses: "Oh, a strange man just handed me a On with the story! No need to dwell on it. If the characters aren't afraid then how can I be?!"
Not a whole lot is left as a surprise... And doesn't let any of the horror elements linger at all. They're always just over and done with in a flash. And plot elements with a TON of potential (like when ) are just dropped on the reader's plate like an overambitious Sloppy Joe with no lead-up, no foreplay, no suspense, no lead-up.
About 20% of the way through the book, and then the author lets that be a big reveal in the finale... maybe he forgot he said it before?
I also noticed that no real motivations or psychic connections are made, and the characters are a little one-dimensional. Also, there's no sense of progression, and other such shocking occurrences happen at a steady clip all throughout. Doesn't feel like a story as much like a series of episodic scenes from someone's demoniac imagination.
I don't think I was the target audience for this book, but I was grateful halfway through as things started to be told to the reader. A lot of open threads with no real connection to anything kept happening and it would register no reaction. A good example is half a dozen instances where Matthew (mmc) hears gunshots and still behaves as if he didn't hear them.
“No, stay here. Please.”
[Female character] nodded and Matthew went to retrieve [her] tote from the rented Ford Focus, hurrying back inside when he heard gunshots. [She] had found the guest bedroom. The door was closed. After tapping on the door and leaving the overnight bag in the corridor, Matthew went into the master bedroom, sat on the bed, and stared at the moonlit ocean.
Gunshots? This is introduced just like this. What gunshots are these? Is this nothing strange? Couldn't the characters say something (e.g. "hey um I just came to visit you and I'm sleeping over, were those gunshots?") There just wasn't enough context for this. Eventually I figured out it must have been hunters? Potentially
All in all it hasn't turned me off the horror genre altogether. In the end, it really wasn't what the front cover and title evoke. Not at all a typical ghost-haunts-house story.
And this book really couldn't ever survive a screen adaptation-- . So I guess it ends here for me Mr. Rigolosi! All the best to you. If a horror reader YouTuber I like brings another of yours up, I'll add it to the list (a little ways down).
I won this book on LibraryThing as an Early Reviewer. It took me several years to get through it all and put this to paper; I hope it means I can now win more books to review.
May 2, 2022
great haunting book but it not just like your typical regular haunted house story this book has sooo many different things going on, so many layers so many elements
its set in 2 different time periods, both about the mystery and events with the house
the chapters bring both together as they alternate between past and present
the end is fantastic and how the past and present come together
good vs evil, what an ending a great book
I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book and I am giving my voluntary honest review
its set in 2 different time periods, both about the mystery and events with the house
the chapters bring both together as they alternate between past and present
the end is fantastic and how the past and present come together
good vs evil, what an ending a great book
I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book and I am giving my voluntary honest review
April 18, 2022
More atmospheric than scary. Took a while to really get into it. The story is well written.
Matthew is taking a break from the city and house-sitting a house that cannot be found on a map. As his stay turns into a battle against suicide, we discover the secret history of Kinnawe House and the lost village that it once stood in.
Matthew is taking a break from the city and house-sitting a house that cannot be found on a map. As his stay turns into a battle against suicide, we discover the secret history of Kinnawe House and the lost village that it once stood in.
April 7, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC of The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi.
Okay, this was a hard one to get into for me because the writing style is completely different from what I usually read. That being said, I am so glad that I stuck with it. It was such an engrossing, creepy tale full of demonic presence, Satan worshipping and the perfect example of good vs. evil. I couldn't get enough of this one. For those that tend to get triggered easily, avoid this one. And for those who love a scary, chilling read that doesn't mind what that brings, this is the one for you.
Okay, this was a hard one to get into for me because the writing style is completely different from what I usually read. That being said, I am so glad that I stuck with it. It was such an engrossing, creepy tale full of demonic presence, Satan worshipping and the perfect example of good vs. evil. I couldn't get enough of this one. For those that tend to get triggered easily, avoid this one. And for those who love a scary, chilling read that doesn't mind what that brings, this is the one for you.
September 3, 2022
Wow!!!! This book was incredible!!! I loved every minute of it! I’m a musician and a orchestra teacher so I loved the musician aspect of it!! As a huge horror fan I give this 100/10!! Love this author and can’t wait to see what comes next! Definitely will be checking out his other books! Also the dual timeline did not bother me! I actually think it’s brings you even more into the book!
May 3, 2022
This book was incredibly hard to get into. Lots of hard names to memorize basically read like high fantasy to me. Way opposite of what I was expecting. I thought this would be a fun haunted house story. Instead I was thrown into lore and names I had no clue about. The writing was just not my thing so I will not be reading from this author again.
April 17, 2022
*E-ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
The Haunting of Kinnawe House is one of the most bizarre, creepy, terrifying books I have ever read. It is masterfully crafted, jumping between 1740s Maine and modern NYC/Maine, weaving two timelines seamlessly to create a cohesive and rich narrative of family, betrayal, hidden secrets, and dark entities. I devoured the entire book in two days, it was so impossible to put down. CW/TW: sexual assault, parental abuse, loss of a child, talk of suicide/mental ill-health, general gore/body horror elements.
I'm a sucker for a multiple timeline story. Especially one with such rich characters in both the 1740s timeline and the modern timeline. Matthew, a minor musician in NYC receives an invitation to become a caretaker for a house in Maine by a strange realtor. Matthew thinks he may have some connection to the house, or maybe the town, so he packs up in hopes of writing some new music and discovering more about his family history. Things go wrong very quickly. Hallucinations, scars that reopen and continue bleeding, and severe chronic insomnia become the least of Matthew's problems as we also follow a settlement of an increasingly malevolent congregation in the 1740s.
I continue to waver between a 3.5 and 4 star rating, not because the story was lacking, but for some minor details that majorly broke through my suspension of disbelief. *SPOILERS ahead*
The multiple pregnancy thing - I hated it so much. Multiple instances of women being pregnant, then being assaulted by everyone's least favorite descendant of Satan = being... doubly pregnant? Triply pregnant? While I recognize there are many fantastical elements in Kinnawe House, this took me out. It didn't detract much from my overall rating, but I may have wanted to scream a couple of times about basic biology. But alas, I still try to give the benefit of the doubt when fantastical/mystical elements are involved.
My second criticism deals with the discussion of suicide in The Haunting of Kinnawe House. Like with my criticism of the pregnancies, I understand that this book relies heavily on 18th century Judeo-Christian doctrine, with the added demonic-worshipping cult aspect. It still grates that suicide (and mental health as a wider concept, for that matter) is discussed in such a toxic way. Like Satan wants our main character to die by suicide because that is the ultimate crime against God? I guess I just wish a book published in 2022 handled mental health conversations a *little* more gracefully, especially because the discussions of suicide were mostly in the modern setting.
Overall, still on the fence somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4. Kinnawe House is gripping and compelling in a way that some modern gothic horror lacks. Like the house itself, this book sucks you in and doesn't want to let you leave.
The Haunting of Kinnawe House is one of the most bizarre, creepy, terrifying books I have ever read. It is masterfully crafted, jumping between 1740s Maine and modern NYC/Maine, weaving two timelines seamlessly to create a cohesive and rich narrative of family, betrayal, hidden secrets, and dark entities. I devoured the entire book in two days, it was so impossible to put down. CW/TW: sexual assault, parental abuse, loss of a child, talk of suicide/mental ill-health, general gore/body horror elements.
I'm a sucker for a multiple timeline story. Especially one with such rich characters in both the 1740s timeline and the modern timeline. Matthew, a minor musician in NYC receives an invitation to become a caretaker for a house in Maine by a strange realtor. Matthew thinks he may have some connection to the house, or maybe the town, so he packs up in hopes of writing some new music and discovering more about his family history. Things go wrong very quickly. Hallucinations, scars that reopen and continue bleeding, and severe chronic insomnia become the least of Matthew's problems as we also follow a settlement of an increasingly malevolent congregation in the 1740s.
I continue to waver between a 3.5 and 4 star rating, not because the story was lacking, but for some minor details that majorly broke through my suspension of disbelief. *SPOILERS ahead*
The multiple pregnancy thing - I hated it so much. Multiple instances of women being pregnant, then being assaulted by everyone's least favorite descendant of Satan = being... doubly pregnant? Triply pregnant? While I recognize there are many fantastical elements in Kinnawe House, this took me out. It didn't detract much from my overall rating, but I may have wanted to scream a couple of times about basic biology. But alas, I still try to give the benefit of the doubt when fantastical/mystical elements are involved.
My second criticism deals with the discussion of suicide in The Haunting of Kinnawe House. Like with my criticism of the pregnancies, I understand that this book relies heavily on 18th century Judeo-Christian doctrine, with the added demonic-worshipping cult aspect. It still grates that suicide (and mental health as a wider concept, for that matter) is discussed in such a toxic way. Like Satan wants our main character to die by suicide because that is the ultimate crime against God? I guess I just wish a book published in 2022 handled mental health conversations a *little* more gracefully, especially because the discussions of suicide were mostly in the modern setting.
Overall, still on the fence somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4. Kinnawe House is gripping and compelling in a way that some modern gothic horror lacks. Like the house itself, this book sucks you in and doesn't want to let you leave.
April 22, 2022
“You sold your soul to Satan. Did you believe Satan could be trusted?”
Matthew is looking to get away to work on his music. He wants someplace warm in contrast to his Manhattan home and when an invite to stay at Kinnawe House in Maine suspiciously comes to his email he decides to take the opportunity. If this were a horror movie, we’d all be yelling at the screen.
Kinnawe House is a picturesque landscape with much to offer. Something in it sparks a feeling of familiarity in Matthew even though he cannot say why.
Having never known the identity of his father Matthew fantasizes a family background involving the house. While having some success in the form of a popular hit song, Matthew still can’t afford to rent the house. The owners agree to allow him to rent the house in exchange for light caretaker duties. Again, we are all yelling at the screen. But he’s not going to listen because his mom just died, his career is tanking and he needs an escape.
The book is told in present time and back to 1746 when Massachusetts Reverend Jonathan Edwards plans to build a home and church. His bastard son ends up taking his place and literally, all hell breaks loose. Due to this switch in setting, I can see some readers struggling to keep track of characters. There are many twists and turns that I found very interesting and exciting. So much happens in a way that could be seen as confusing if you don’t pay attention. Once the twists started, I had to finish because I needed to know how everything would work out in the end.
I wouldn’t say this is the typical haunted house book I was led to believe by the title. It is the story of a small community being taken over by evil, demonic forces. Wanna know my second favorite genre after ghosts? Yup, demons.
Loved the Gaelic pronunciations at the beginning because don’t you hate when you can’t figure out how to pronounce the names in a book! I commend the author, Steve Rigolosi, for putting together a complex story that has so much going on and yet works perfectly. In his bio, he explains that he rereads The Haunting of Hill House, Hell House, The Shining and The Little Stranger at least once a year. Those are some of my favorite books and you can definitely see the influence they have had on him.
Perfect for fans of Rosemary’s Baby and The Witch. NetGalley sent me a copy and I voluntarily read and wrote this review!
Matthew is looking to get away to work on his music. He wants someplace warm in contrast to his Manhattan home and when an invite to stay at Kinnawe House in Maine suspiciously comes to his email he decides to take the opportunity. If this were a horror movie, we’d all be yelling at the screen.
Kinnawe House is a picturesque landscape with much to offer. Something in it sparks a feeling of familiarity in Matthew even though he cannot say why.
Having never known the identity of his father Matthew fantasizes a family background involving the house. While having some success in the form of a popular hit song, Matthew still can’t afford to rent the house. The owners agree to allow him to rent the house in exchange for light caretaker duties. Again, we are all yelling at the screen. But he’s not going to listen because his mom just died, his career is tanking and he needs an escape.
The book is told in present time and back to 1746 when Massachusetts Reverend Jonathan Edwards plans to build a home and church. His bastard son ends up taking his place and literally, all hell breaks loose. Due to this switch in setting, I can see some readers struggling to keep track of characters. There are many twists and turns that I found very interesting and exciting. So much happens in a way that could be seen as confusing if you don’t pay attention. Once the twists started, I had to finish because I needed to know how everything would work out in the end.
I wouldn’t say this is the typical haunted house book I was led to believe by the title. It is the story of a small community being taken over by evil, demonic forces. Wanna know my second favorite genre after ghosts? Yup, demons.
Loved the Gaelic pronunciations at the beginning because don’t you hate when you can’t figure out how to pronounce the names in a book! I commend the author, Steve Rigolosi, for putting together a complex story that has so much going on and yet works perfectly. In his bio, he explains that he rereads The Haunting of Hill House, Hell House, The Shining and The Little Stranger at least once a year. Those are some of my favorite books and you can definitely see the influence they have had on him.
Perfect for fans of Rosemary’s Baby and The Witch. NetGalley sent me a copy and I voluntarily read and wrote this review!
April 19, 2022
This book hit me in waves. It takes a little while to really pick up and when it does I devoured it, but it was ultimately just okay for me.
I both liked and disliked the different timelines. While it provided an interesting story arc, there were just so many people to keep track of.
I was looking forward to this one as it takes place fictionally in Maine, the state I live in. I will always read a book if it takes place in Maine. And this book includes so many different things I enjoy, like religious horror, unreliable narrators, a story with strings you must connect together throughout the reading process. Unfortunately, the execution was slightly lackluster, considering I could see where this was going to end at about halfway through.
I did like this one, don’t get me wrong. The writing is solid and the array of characters are explained in depth.
I both liked and disliked the different timelines. While it provided an interesting story arc, there were just so many people to keep track of.
I was looking forward to this one as it takes place fictionally in Maine, the state I live in. I will always read a book if it takes place in Maine. And this book includes so many different things I enjoy, like religious horror, unreliable narrators, a story with strings you must connect together throughout the reading process. Unfortunately, the execution was slightly lackluster, considering I could see where this was going to end at about halfway through.
I did like this one, don’t get me wrong. The writing is solid and the array of characters are explained in depth.
February 26, 2022
The Gothic dread of Shirley Jackson's House on Haunted Hill meets punk ghost story à la Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts in The Haunting of Kinnawe House. Two stories set 250 years apart converge terrifyingly in this unsettling horror story about a present-day musician seeking a creative retreat in a stony old manor off the coast of Maine. Within these cursed walls lurk ghosts, demons, and other horrors from Kinnawe House's dark history. Behind one door: a hanging corpse. Behind another: a snake slithering down a drainpipe. And this is just the tame stuff. Unflinching, bareknuckled, and definitely not for the faint of heart, The Haunting of Kinnawe House announces a powerful new voice in the horror genre.
April 28, 2022
Happy Publication Day to Steven Rigolosi and The Haunting of Kinnawe House.
A gothic ghost story that spans two eras in American history and so much more. A story of good and evil and who will eventually triumph. Kinnawe House is situated in a town that is not on any map why? A beautiful house set by the sea and steeped in bloody history and something diabolical lives in the crypt of the local church. Satanism, horrific murders and missing children. You are invited to hell!!!! I loved this book and finished it in one sitting. A gothic haunting tale which transported me back to the 17th century where it all began. Beautifully written, wonderful characters and fantastic storytelling.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
A gothic ghost story that spans two eras in American history and so much more. A story of good and evil and who will eventually triumph. Kinnawe House is situated in a town that is not on any map why? A beautiful house set by the sea and steeped in bloody history and something diabolical lives in the crypt of the local church. Satanism, horrific murders and missing children. You are invited to hell!!!! I loved this book and finished it in one sitting. A gothic haunting tale which transported me back to the 17th century where it all began. Beautifully written, wonderful characters and fantastic storytelling.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 2, 2022
The Haunting of Kinnawe House is fantastically chilly, leaving shivers down the spine at all the right moments and thinking twice every time you hear the windows creak. Set in a quiet Maine town riddled with dark secrets, Rigolosi seamlessly maneuvers the cold, dark 1700s in the era of the rigid Jonathan Edwards into a modern day journey of a relatable protagonist tracking the haunting parallels of one property's struggle to clarify its past from its present. It's a rich story with plenty of depth and layers, engaging characters, and terrifying images. His balance of description and atmospheric prose kept me engaged beginning to end.
February 14, 2022
The Haunting of Kinnawe House begins in 1746 when belief in the greater power was an important part of colonial life. The clash between those who believe in God and those who follow Satan will lead to battles between good and evil like you've never seen before. The story, steeped in fear, loyalty, submission and death takes place over the course of a couple of centuries in northern New England and easily floats between colonial and modern day. This story raises the bar and is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a great ghost story!
April 26, 2022
This book was exactly up my street, it was dark, spooky and had me hooked from the first chapter. With elements of devil worship, spirits and past life, it was everything I could have hoped for and more.
I particularly loved the way the story flicked between the past and the present and cleverly intertwined. Although it took concentration to remember each timeline, it was definitely worth it and didn't feel like hard work at any time.
It was cleverly written with a good strong plot, the only potential negative that I could see with it was in some places it was unrealistic and imagination was needed. For me personally, this as fine as I enjoy a few unrealistic aspects and it fitted in with the theme well but I can see how this could affect the story for some.
I loved this book and is set to become one of my favorites.
I particularly loved the way the story flicked between the past and the present and cleverly intertwined. Although it took concentration to remember each timeline, it was definitely worth it and didn't feel like hard work at any time.
It was cleverly written with a good strong plot, the only potential negative that I could see with it was in some places it was unrealistic and imagination was needed. For me personally, this as fine as I enjoy a few unrealistic aspects and it fitted in with the theme well but I can see how this could affect the story for some.
I loved this book and is set to become one of my favorites.
May 10, 2022
In "The Haunting of Kinnawe House" by Steven Rigolosi, as readers are taken through this wonderful tale of fiction. We get to learn about Mathew as well as other characters and this was great in opinion, although, it was confusing at first. I am grateful that I was able to get a copy but my copy the page numbers were off, therfore, it just made tracking where I was a little difficult. Overall, I was very happy I was able to read this.
July 18, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Black Rose Writing for providing me with an eARC for my honest review.
This is my first read for Steven Rigolosi.
This novel takes place during two timelines; present day follows Matthew and the 1700s. There are moments where it felt like it was hard to keep up and then there were times when the past and present collided. At that point, things seemed to get a little confusing and hard to follow. My interest waned and I only finished because I felt I had to finish.
This is my first read for Steven Rigolosi.
This novel takes place during two timelines; present day follows Matthew and the 1700s. There are moments where it felt like it was hard to keep up and then there were times when the past and present collided. At that point, things seemed to get a little confusing and hard to follow. My interest waned and I only finished because I felt I had to finish.
June 24, 2023
Definitely Worth the Effort
There were so many threads to keep track of that it became confusing. It took almost half way through the book before I was comfortable with all the different characters and the constant switching between the past and the present. However, all of these threads are woven into a phenomenal climax that makes the previous confusion worth slogging through. It's definitely worth taking the time to read.
There were so many threads to keep track of that it became confusing. It took almost half way through the book before I was comfortable with all the different characters and the constant switching between the past and the present. However, all of these threads are woven into a phenomenal climax that makes the previous confusion worth slogging through. It's definitely worth taking the time to read.
April 28, 2022
A house rented for the summer reveals it’s history. Twins born generation after generation reveal their truths. Steven takes you on a page turning adventure between present day and the 1700s where good and evil become a tricky choice for those that must make it. Through it all the Kinnawe house stands tall.
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