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Nightmare Inn #4
The Attic
Tessa and her three best friends are planning a weekend of total fun. They even get a special deal at the New Arcadia Inn. But taking it is their first mistake, for this is the Nightmare Inn. And checking out the screams coming from the attic may be their last mistake.
169 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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97 people want to read
About the author
T.S. Rue
6 books18 followersT.S Rue is an American author of more than 130 young-adult and middle grade novels and novelizations, some written under the pen names Morton Rue and Todd Strasser
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 19, 2025
If you enjoy reading about extremely one dimensional characters aimlessly wandering around an inn for 130 or so pages, and hearing spooky noises coming from the attic, and daring eachother to go investigate, idk maybe you'll like this.
I'll admit, the big reveal and source of the creepy noises was a bit of a surprise, but it all happens and is then resolved within like 10 pages.
I've read that this seems to be the least well received of the short Nightmare Inn series, and, yeah... this was pretty bad. I *may* attempt one of the other books in the series at some point but can't say it's at all a priority for me.
The Attic gets a 1.5⭐
I'll admit, the big reveal and source of the creepy noises was a bit of a surprise, but it all happens and is then resolved within like 10 pages.
I've read that this seems to be the least well received of the short Nightmare Inn series, and, yeah... this was pretty bad. I *may* attempt one of the other books in the series at some point but can't say it's at all a priority for me.
The Attic gets a 1.5⭐
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June 24, 2016I read this book in middle school and my friend and I still talk about how it scared the crap out of us. My mom got rid of the book she was so annoyed with our terror.
March 8, 2024
I enjoyed the first 3 books in this series enormously; this one - not so much.
Each book accumulates characters who didn't survive the previous books, which I liked a lot. But the introduction of a giant spider isn't in keeping with the previous plots.
Also: no giant spiders. Thanks.
Each book accumulates characters who didn't survive the previous books, which I liked a lot. But the introduction of a giant spider isn't in keeping with the previous plots.
Also: no giant spiders. Thanks.
July 7, 2021
If you’ve enjoyed previous Nightmare Inn books and you’re hoping for more haunted hotel doings, please be warned this book is about a giant spider.
May 27, 2025
I think giving The Attic two stars is very generous.
As the final book in the Nightmare Inn series, it leaves so many unanswered questions about why the New Arcadia Inn is the way it is.
Even Stephen King gave us some reason why The Overlook Hotel was haunted even if some things were left vague.
The books take this from not yet open to the public, to open for the summer and then guests dwindling down because it is almost off season. So, this hotel only claims victims for about three months out of the year?
The main character in the book, Tessa Gilbert, is there with some friends for the weekend taking one of these off-season deals for a room. Allie is invited along because her mother works with Tessa's, and they had just moved to town. Sierra and Brittany have known Tessa for a while but there is some tension between them at the moment which isn't a secret from Tessa.
Sierra has been going with Brittany's boyfriend Andrew behind her back and Tessa saw them kissing. The rumor mill at school is also turning out the news so Brittany is not completely in the dark. Also, Tessa is giving Allie a chance, but Sierra and Brittany think she is very weird.
Tessa and Allie are the only two characters I like because you know by now that most of the employees of the New Arcadia Inn are literally monsters or ghosts or something since it isn't made very clear...
The four girls are guided to the Inn by handyman/caretaker Sebastian as he is out looking for his "dog" he calls Fluffy. Read too much YA horror you will figure out that "Fluffy" is anything but an ordinary pet...
Brittany ends up wanting to hook up with a guy behind Andrew's back as some sort of payback and sets her sights on bellboy Nick to Sierra's disgust. Teen activities director Martin is clearly interested in Tessa, but she can't stand his attitude within just a second of his presence.
The girls end up getting caught in the stairwell heading down to dinner when the elevator takes too long to get to the third floor. The emergency exit and all the other doors are locked, and it is becoming bitterly cold. Nick ends up rescuing them and Sebastian has an answer for everything.
The girls also have noticed a sort of scampering sound above their heads in the attic and are told to stay out by Sebastian. Nick and Martin tell the girls that there is nothing in the attic but old furniture and that the scampering is from the roof and the nocturnal animals crawling about.
Tessa ends up having a nightmare about spiders since she saw one in the bathroom earlier, so they come up with a way to pass the time. A game of truth or dare that involves catty remarks and Sierra taking a dare instead of facing the truth of a question Brittany is eager to know.
It involves going to the attic and bringing back proof because you see Allie already explored the attic and knows exactly what sort of items are stored there. All Sierra has to do is bring back a silver candleholder and the game is over.
Too bad that none of the girls are aware that the real terror...is just about to begin.
The back of the book makes no doubt that Tessa will be the only one left and that's kind of a shame really. The ending is also just so abrupt and quite a disappointing way to go out when the books were just starting to get creepier.
As the final book in the Nightmare Inn series, it leaves so many unanswered questions about why the New Arcadia Inn is the way it is.
Even Stephen King gave us some reason why The Overlook Hotel was haunted even if some things were left vague.
The books take this from not yet open to the public, to open for the summer and then guests dwindling down because it is almost off season. So, this hotel only claims victims for about three months out of the year?
The main character in the book, Tessa Gilbert, is there with some friends for the weekend taking one of these off-season deals for a room. Allie is invited along because her mother works with Tessa's, and they had just moved to town. Sierra and Brittany have known Tessa for a while but there is some tension between them at the moment which isn't a secret from Tessa.
Sierra has been going with Brittany's boyfriend Andrew behind her back and Tessa saw them kissing. The rumor mill at school is also turning out the news so Brittany is not completely in the dark. Also, Tessa is giving Allie a chance, but Sierra and Brittany think she is very weird.
Tessa and Allie are the only two characters I like because you know by now that most of the employees of the New Arcadia Inn are literally monsters or ghosts or something since it isn't made very clear...
The four girls are guided to the Inn by handyman/caretaker Sebastian as he is out looking for his "dog" he calls Fluffy. Read too much YA horror you will figure out that "Fluffy" is anything but an ordinary pet...
Brittany ends up wanting to hook up with a guy behind Andrew's back as some sort of payback and sets her sights on bellboy Nick to Sierra's disgust. Teen activities director Martin is clearly interested in Tessa, but she can't stand his attitude within just a second of his presence.
The girls end up getting caught in the stairwell heading down to dinner when the elevator takes too long to get to the third floor. The emergency exit and all the other doors are locked, and it is becoming bitterly cold. Nick ends up rescuing them and Sebastian has an answer for everything.
The girls also have noticed a sort of scampering sound above their heads in the attic and are told to stay out by Sebastian. Nick and Martin tell the girls that there is nothing in the attic but old furniture and that the scampering is from the roof and the nocturnal animals crawling about.
Tessa ends up having a nightmare about spiders since she saw one in the bathroom earlier, so they come up with a way to pass the time. A game of truth or dare that involves catty remarks and Sierra taking a dare instead of facing the truth of a question Brittany is eager to know.
It involves going to the attic and bringing back proof because you see Allie already explored the attic and knows exactly what sort of items are stored there. All Sierra has to do is bring back a silver candleholder and the game is over.
Too bad that none of the girls are aware that the real terror...is just about to begin.
The back of the book makes no doubt that Tessa will be the only one left and that's kind of a shame really. The ending is also just so abrupt and quite a disappointing way to go out when the books were just starting to get creepier.
October 26, 2019
Tessa has gone away with her friends Brittany, Allie and Sierra for the weekend to the New Arcadia but there is something spooky about it, especially the attic where they hear strange noises.
Then a game of truth or dare takes a bad turn when a dare is a trip to the creepy attic.
What is up there? What is it waiting for?
A really fun, quick read for Halloween in the style of Goosebumps.
Aimed at a teen audience I thoroughly enjoyed it as it had an inventive story with lots of shocks along the way.
Then a game of truth or dare takes a bad turn when a dare is a trip to the creepy attic.
What is up there? What is it waiting for?
A really fun, quick read for Halloween in the style of Goosebumps.
Aimed at a teen audience I thoroughly enjoyed it as it had an inventive story with lots of shocks along the way.
April 1, 2021
I originally read this in middle school and was terrified of it then. Now as an adult, pretty sure I will still have nightmares. I have a certain fear *wink wink* though.
Tessa Gilbert, her two best friends (who are at odds over a boy) Brittany & Sierra, and the new girl Allie (whose mom works with Tessa's and convinced her to invite Allie) get away on a discounted weekend trip to the New Arcadia Inn. A fun weekend away quickly turns spooky in this terrifying tale. Hope you don't have a certain fear of creatures that live in The Attic!
Tessa Gilbert, her two best friends (who are at odds over a boy) Brittany & Sierra, and the new girl Allie (whose mom works with Tessa's and convinced her to invite Allie) get away on a discounted weekend trip to the New Arcadia Inn. A fun weekend away quickly turns spooky in this terrifying tale. Hope you don't have a certain fear of creatures that live in The Attic!
April 17, 2024
These were favourites of mine as a teen, and still don't disapoint me. Easy to read if only want something quick and familiar. Brings me back to the 90s every time.
September 16, 2013
The cover onscreen looks so much better than the one on the copy that I found (at a used book store).
It was good for what it was -- an entertaining teen horror book, though it requires a lot of suspense of disbelief. Die-hard educated horror fans could pick apart this story and the series, like how could Arcadia Inn still be running with all the horrifying things happening in it? But the rules of the horror genre are that there are some dangers that evade our law and order culture.
It did scare me more than a lot of horror books but I gave it a low rating because I don't like reading about that particular subject -- I'm a bit phobic about it. I could easily place myself in that (admittedly unrealistic) situation, and, yeah, I would have been terrified out of my mind. It had a great balance of graphic vs. left to your imagination. But there are a lot of pesky unanswered questions at the end -- not clever ambiguities, but "the characters must be utter morons not to question these these issues."
It was good for what it was -- an entertaining teen horror book, though it requires a lot of suspense of disbelief. Die-hard educated horror fans could pick apart this story and the series, like how could Arcadia Inn still be running with all the horrifying things happening in it? But the rules of the horror genre are that there are some dangers that evade our law and order culture.
It did scare me more than a lot of horror books but I gave it a low rating because I don't like reading about that particular subject -- I'm a bit phobic about it. I could easily place myself in that (admittedly unrealistic) situation, and, yeah, I would have been terrified out of my mind. It had a great balance of graphic vs. left to your imagination. But there are a lot of pesky unanswered questions at the end -- not clever ambiguities, but "the characters must be utter morons not to question these these issues."
September 10, 2014
Predictable and did not carry the same ghost /supernatural theme as the others in the series.
July 26, 2021
Well written and suspenseful. It’s Todd Strasser after all. Kind of an abrupt ending. But I enjoyed the “villain.” Reminded me of a Goosebumps episode.
September 14, 2022
I don’t know why I expect the Nightmare Inn books to be anything less than completely horrific, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Full on old school shivers here, and so many SPIDERS. Ugh.
TS Rue is just ruthless with his characters, killing then off left, right and centre. And still I expect it to be tame YA horror.
I’m so sad I’ve come to the end of this series because they’re some of the few books that actually managed to creep me out in the same way as when I was a kid.
My only disappointment is that I can’t remember (apart from Sebastian) which of the other characters are from previous books. And then I think I’ve worked it out but get the names wrong. So that’s a bit confusing.
But sooo good omg.
TS Rue is just ruthless with his characters, killing then off left, right and centre. And still I expect it to be tame YA horror.
I’m so sad I’ve come to the end of this series because they’re some of the few books that actually managed to creep me out in the same way as when I was a kid.
My only disappointment is that I can’t remember (apart from Sebastian) which of the other characters are from previous books. And then I think I’ve worked it out but get the names wrong. So that’s a bit confusing.
But sooo good omg.
October 22, 2022
I first read this in 7th or 8th grade, so when i came across this copy I felt pretty nostalgic opening it up again. Overall it's an okay read. I liked the catty group dynamic the girl had, but that was about it. the thing is, I feel like this was sort of a bigger concept than the book intended. not grand by any means, just bigger than 150 pages could deliver. the giant spider was built up to nicely, but everything happens within 20 pages towards the end and it was just a super rushed conclusion. also I remember reading this at 13 and thinking Tessa could have totally survived that fall and honestly I maintain she did.
June 16, 2022
I honestly enjoyed this! It’s really dumb and simple but I love cozy 90s YA horror so it worked for me. I will say the pacing at parts was strange. The moments of the mundane lasted for chapters on end whereas moments of actual horror were seemingly rushed. Also they set up a lot of drama between the girls and expose their secrets but it never goes anywhere. I feel some added gore could have made it a bit more entertaining.
June 13, 2024
3.5 stars. Good but not great. The characters are annoying but I completely expect that in vintage YA. I had no idea this was a “creature feature” type book, the cover and synopsis totally gave me slasher vibes. I bet that throws a lot of people off when they start getting into this book. I wanted a more fleshed out ending, it just ends so suddenly. A quick and fun read overall.
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September 4, 2011This is a book I read in my early teen years and it was good when I first read it. Today's young adult books seem to be so much better than they were when I first started reading them. I won't rate this with stars because I have had two different opinions on this book.
November 4, 2013
I read this book many years ago...back when i was in junior high.. i used to read many other books as well, but this was one of the books i could not put down..it was really good!
June 11, 2015
The ending was atrocious, I completely wasted my time.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews