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Amityville: The Evil Escapes
When the Lutz's abandoned possessions are auctioned off, the unlucky purchasers discover that the evil spirits that haunted that Amityville home are now after them
420 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 25, 2021
I have rated this higher than most on here. This is part of the John Jones Amityville series. After the Amityville 2 his books took a dive in terms of "authenticity" and plot. I didn't expect anything great and I actually expected what I got out of it. Silly stories about items sold from an Amityville auction that are cursed and are haunting the new owners of the objects lol. Stupid, not scary but still entertaining.
For a while I read everything Amityville. Non fiction accounts on the defeo murders , "true events" on the Lutzes haunting and Jones sequels and Holzer ghost hunting books. The Jones sequels are money grabbers. However, This one was entertaining for me. There was a couple of movies that took this type of approach with haunted objects from the Amityville lot so I immediately was drawn to the premise.
UPDATE 10/25/21
I am keeping the 4 stars here. Now, this isnt a great entry in this series, or any series for that matter, it is very entertaining. its basically 6 short stories, one of them more a novella, in size and loosely tied into The main Amityville storyline through character relationships and items from the auction of 112 Ocean Ave.
Window Into Hell- this is about a painting purchased from the Auction and the only story here that we see the item being purchased at the amityville auction. Cheesy and nothing really happens here.
Lord of The Northern Sea-This was a little better than the first story. This is a power drill purchased from the auction that wreaks supernatural havoc on a family and patriach of the family
The Haunted Cycle- this is about George Lutz's motorcycle returned to the mechanic that helped him build it. This was an Ok story.
The Truth or Not the Truth-this is my second favorite one in the book. its about a famous Debunker of Hauntings that attempts to go into the Amityville Horror House and prove to herself, her critics and others that this is a hoax.
Betty D's New Toy- Very silly story and at one point there is a demonic talking baby. Possessed stuff floating animal.
The Obsession- this was my favorite entry in the book. This is more the size of a novella and deals with a main charater with psychic abilities and his group of paranormal psychic friends. it dives into the native american lore as well.
For a while I read everything Amityville. Non fiction accounts on the defeo murders , "true events" on the Lutzes haunting and Jones sequels and Holzer ghost hunting books. The Jones sequels are money grabbers. However, This one was entertaining for me. There was a couple of movies that took this type of approach with haunted objects from the Amityville lot so I immediately was drawn to the premise.
UPDATE 10/25/21
I am keeping the 4 stars here. Now, this isnt a great entry in this series, or any series for that matter, it is very entertaining. its basically 6 short stories, one of them more a novella, in size and loosely tied into The main Amityville storyline through character relationships and items from the auction of 112 Ocean Ave.
Window Into Hell- this is about a painting purchased from the Auction and the only story here that we see the item being purchased at the amityville auction. Cheesy and nothing really happens here.
Lord of The Northern Sea-This was a little better than the first story. This is a power drill purchased from the auction that wreaks supernatural havoc on a family and patriach of the family
The Haunted Cycle- this is about George Lutz's motorcycle returned to the mechanic that helped him build it. This was an Ok story.
The Truth or Not the Truth-this is my second favorite one in the book. its about a famous Debunker of Hauntings that attempts to go into the Amityville Horror House and prove to herself, her critics and others that this is a hoax.
Betty D's New Toy- Very silly story and at one point there is a demonic talking baby. Possessed stuff floating animal.
The Obsession- this was my favorite entry in the book. This is more the size of a novella and deals with a main charater with psychic abilities and his group of paranormal psychic friends. it dives into the native american lore as well.
January 18, 2010
After the disappointing Amityville Horror II, I was hoping I'd endured the worst of the series. I was very wrong.
The Evil Escapes is presented as a collection of short stories about people with tenuous connections to the infamous house. Of the six stories included, only one (the fourth, to be exact) is at all worthwhile. The rest are terrible, unscary, and poorly-written dreck.
I suppose I should've been alerted by two warning signs. Firstly, there is a typo on the back cover. Secondly, the book is dedicated by its author to "Tony... the real writer of the family."
The Evil Escapes is presented as a collection of short stories about people with tenuous connections to the infamous house. Of the six stories included, only one (the fourth, to be exact) is at all worthwhile. The rest are terrible, unscary, and poorly-written dreck.
I suppose I should've been alerted by two warning signs. Firstly, there is a typo on the back cover. Secondly, the book is dedicated by its author to "Tony... the real writer of the family."
February 13, 2020
The back of the book describes itself as an anthology of stories based around items sold off from the Amityville house and the hauntings that result from it. That is not at all representative of the book you get. Rather, this is a novella about a rabbi who was ALSO helping the Lutzes, one story about a paranormal debunker, and a handful of short stories about said haunted items. It's not at all consistent.
This very much feels like a rush job for money. A very cheap one at that. The book is riddled with grammatical errors and typos, and call me crazy, but the writing style changes so drastically between stories that I swear it was ghost written by at least one other person. So, yeah, it's trash. Sadly, it's not even really entertaining trash in a "Paperbacks from Hell" gonzo kinda way.
Sure there are moments of insanity, a talking baby, exploding garages, demon sex...but these are the rare tiny marshmallow floating in a mug of crappy instant hot coa coa.
This very much feels like a rush job for money. A very cheap one at that. The book is riddled with grammatical errors and typos, and call me crazy, but the writing style changes so drastically between stories that I swear it was ghost written by at least one other person. So, yeah, it's trash. Sadly, it's not even really entertaining trash in a "Paperbacks from Hell" gonzo kinda way.
Sure there are moments of insanity, a talking baby, exploding garages, demon sex...but these are the rare tiny marshmallow floating in a mug of crappy instant hot coa coa.
June 22, 2023
In this first sequel to the original “Amityville Horror” trilogy that started with Jay Anson’s terrifying bestseller, and on through “Part II” and “The Final Chapter” by John G. Jones, we’re presented an anthology of tales centering on the evil ripple-effect 112 Ocean Avenue has had on the surrounding community via various objects and obsessions.
“Window into Hell” finds a woman procuring a painting from an auction of the Lutz’s belongings and it wreaks havoc on her health the minute she gets it home. “Lord of the Northern Sea”, the book’s weakest tale, finds a loving husband and father possessed by a ruthless Scandinavian general whose staff was forged into the power drill his wife bought him, the bike shop owned by two brothers descends into chaos when George Lutz’s motorcycle is stashed there in “The Haunted Cycle”, “The Truth or Not the Truth” finds a skeptic confronting true hell when she investigates the abandoned house, a young couple’s infant forms a dangerous bond with a possessed stuffed animal in “Betty-D’s New Toy”, and finally, a headstrong, young Jewish psychic repeatedly ignores warnings not to exorcise 112 Ocean avenue, and pays a terrible price.
An easy, but uneven read, "Amityville: The Evil Escapes", the fourth in the series of books (ninth on the subject overall) finds small threads from the house to its victims (and sometimes each other) with varying levels of fright. “Window” and “Truth” feel the truest to the Amityville “vibe”, while the others are passable demon yarns. Ironically, though the title of the book was used for the 4th “Amityville” film (and its theme of haunted objects permeated a good half of the series), not one of the six stories was directly adapted into film.
Die-hards will want to check it out, but only a couple of tales generate any real chills.
“Window into Hell” finds a woman procuring a painting from an auction of the Lutz’s belongings and it wreaks havoc on her health the minute she gets it home. “Lord of the Northern Sea”, the book’s weakest tale, finds a loving husband and father possessed by a ruthless Scandinavian general whose staff was forged into the power drill his wife bought him, the bike shop owned by two brothers descends into chaos when George Lutz’s motorcycle is stashed there in “The Haunted Cycle”, “The Truth or Not the Truth” finds a skeptic confronting true hell when she investigates the abandoned house, a young couple’s infant forms a dangerous bond with a possessed stuffed animal in “Betty-D’s New Toy”, and finally, a headstrong, young Jewish psychic repeatedly ignores warnings not to exorcise 112 Ocean avenue, and pays a terrible price.
An easy, but uneven read, "Amityville: The Evil Escapes", the fourth in the series of books (ninth on the subject overall) finds small threads from the house to its victims (and sometimes each other) with varying levels of fright. “Window” and “Truth” feel the truest to the Amityville “vibe”, while the others are passable demon yarns. Ironically, though the title of the book was used for the 4th “Amityville” film (and its theme of haunted objects permeated a good half of the series), not one of the six stories was directly adapted into film.
Die-hards will want to check it out, but only a couple of tales generate any real chills.
May 18, 2024
Dammit.
Terrible generic scary stories slapped with the brand Amityville on it for selling points. Trashhhhhh.
I should've known the second the foreword stated "This is the fourth book" of a series that should have never happened and one I didn't even know existed (and I LOVED the original as a teen).
Stick to the original book folks.
Terrible generic scary stories slapped with the brand Amityville on it for selling points. Trashhhhhh.
I should've known the second the foreword stated "This is the fourth book" of a series that should have never happened and one I didn't even know existed (and I LOVED the original as a teen).
Stick to the original book folks.
October 27, 2025
Was excited to read this anthology, but that quickly died after reading the first story. I didn't even finish the last story, The Obsession. I really just didn't want to read anymore of this boring crap.
October 26, 2021
A CHILLING, HEART POUNDING ANTHOLOGY FOR THE SEASON OF SAMHAIN!🎃👻
October 5, 2022
Very interesting book it takes you beyond the house and visits the others infected by the Amityville curse.
February 3, 2016
I CANNOT put this book down ! I bought this just to complete the Amityville series of stories (Although I am aware this is not meant to be as "factual" as the other books) I don't care though, its a great story true or not....split into several sections after the main couple of chapters explain who bought what from the house sale....its written in quite short chapters, and keeps you reading and wanting to know what happens next. Brililant stuff !
Ok......I finished this book yesterday and despite the brilliant review I gave it I did not enjoy the last section at all ! It went on far too long very over the top and I power read through it ! The rest of the book was great but just not the last "Tale"
Ok......I finished this book yesterday and despite the brilliant review I gave it I did not enjoy the last section at all ! It went on far too long very over the top and I power read through it ! The rest of the book was great but just not the last "Tale"
March 18, 2019
Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews