Ghost House Revenge

Ghost House #2

by Clare McNally

Only nightmares and broken limbs limbs remained to remind the Van Burens and their three children of past terror. And when the physical therapist and his shy daughter arrived, the family dared hope for a return to normal life.

But somewhere within the ancient Long Island mansion, something was laughing, mocking, plotting...

They prayed it wasn't the same as before. It was not - it was much, much worse. Soon they were fighting for their lives against a shape-shifting horror of insatiable evil. A malevolence that lusted with hideous pleasure, and killed with raging delight...

Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Paranormal, Thriller, Fiction

232 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1981

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, Clare McNally, grabs the reader from the first chapter then takes the reader on a journey into the creepy zone!

The second book to the Van Buren saga of ghosts in the house continues with another bad entity roaming the halls. This entity is more terrifying then the previous one that the Van Burens encountered in the first book.

The Van Burens thought their nightmare was over and the house finally felt like a "home". But they were very wrong as an evil ghost named "Janice" has come to take revenge on them. When things start happening in the house, they try to lay aside their fears and they just think that the house is settling or they try to make excuses for what is happening around them. Little do they know that "Janice" is there causing havoc and she would like nothing better than to see the whole family dead. As the terror escalates, the family tries to figure out why the ghost means them harm, and when they finally figure out what the ghost wants, the family has to come together to keep their sanity and to protect each other.

The book moves at a fast pace and I couldn't hardly put it down. It takes off in the first chapter and keeps rolling along to the last chapter! I stayed up one night reading it till near 2:00 a.m. Very atmospheric and has creepy tones throughout the whole book! I would finish one chapter and wanted to keep reading the next chapter to see what happens next!

Though it is not a "leave the light on" kind of book, it did draw me into the book and kept me intrigued all the way to the end. Four stars for this one.

[Sue Gerhardt Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️s

SpookTober read 2024 - #12


Love me a good ghost story! 👻


An excellent sequel to Ghost House.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look there is nothing wrong with a good Ghost story occasionally and even though I do not really read thrillers much I used to, in my teen years. This is a book I read awhile after my teen years. Perhaps I'd have liked it better if I read it when I was younger.

I just did not enjoy it. I felt so sorry for the main character (whose name I have forgot) who is endlessly tormented. Felt bad for his girl friend too.

I found the whole book rather unpleasant and not in a good way. I did finish it and was glad when it was over.

These kind of books can often be cheesy. The thing is..this book is indeed creepy. Bu t it isn't enjoyable creepy. Wasn't for me anyway and I am glad to say I finished it.

[Debbie Heaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

In McNally’s horror novel, the Van Buren family continues to reside in the beautiful mansion now that it’s free of the ancient ghost that pined for Melanie’s love. But the Van Buren’s now face a modern-day spirit more evil and intimidating than the original ghost and it will take Melanie and Gary working together to keep their children out of harm’s way.

Imaginative and nerve racking!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in high school. I loved it then enough that it stayed in my library, but not as much as the original "Ghost House" that was just good creepy reading!

[Rennie Frank · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is awful. It was written in 1981 and it didn't age well. I have placed this book on my "too bad to finish" shelf.

[Genny Clary tice]

just as good as the first one. Ghost House and Ghost House Revenge would be great made for tv movies.

[Joe Xtarr · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was somehow so much worse than the first book.

[Francisco · Rating 3 out of 5]

A direct followup to Ghost House, Clare McNally's first novel which was a mix of romance novel, haunted house horror and a bunch of really silly characters acting in ridiculous yet entertaining ways, this book with the appealing title of Ghost House Revenge picks up on the same characters a few months after the first book ended.

Right at the start we get the first ridiculous decision which is that the family decided to stay in this horrific house after loads of people died there some months ago and which was haunted by really murderous ghosts in the off-chance that "surely it can't happen again". Guess what? It does happen again. 

Reading like a cross between a daytime soap opera and a horny ghost novel with some pretty horrific scenes stuck in there for good measure, this book is an entertaining mess. It's exactly the kind of trash I like, you will laugh from mediocre writing, non-sequitur replies from characters and just stupid decisions being taken by characters all the time. Unfortunately none of these laughs reveal authorial intention, but I still loved reading it. Something wrong with me, I know. The characterisation is also often offensive and superficial which just makes it all better, as an example Liza is good because she is very thin and a ballet dancer who works out while Alicen (that's not a typo) is an evil child because she is fat and ugly. Honestly I would say that no-one should give McNally any money for this book, but as I got it for 1€ second hand, I'm chuffed. It's not like you can get it new anyway.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book and the first one are actually a little bit scary. And I don't scare easy when it comes to books. This book had a lot of cliches though. But then again its only a story. So of course it's unbelievable.
But unbelievably good.I would of loved it when I was a teen.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent follow up novel to the fantastic Ghost House. Not as good as the original I feel (very few sequels are) but it's not far off...

You will need to read the first as this is a sequel which refers heavily to the original and continues directly on.

[Peggy Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sequel to Ghost House, this book contains all of the jump scares you would want from a haunted house story. Though written more than four decades ago, the story still seems modern. And it delivers a heart-pounding conclusion. A great read!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about a ghost who terrorizes a family in an old house. An enjoyable , simple read.

[Brad Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as GREAT as the first!

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

As terribly written as the first Ghost House, but no where near as bonkers.

[C. Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Ghost House a lot. I thought Ghost House 2 was just as good, with new and interesting characters joining the cast. Love this series.

[Alain Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I haven't read the first book, I enjoyed this one. It's pretty typical for an eighties ghost story paperback, but it never outstays its welcome.

[Biz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to Ghost House, this book is not as good, but still a good read. I often re-read this one as well after a re-read of Ghost House.

Again Used Book store fodder.

[Rachel Concklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

also creepy and good

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these when I was like 11 or 12. Would I still give them five stars? Probably not but I loved them then.

[Mell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have not re-read these books as an adult but loved them as a teen- they creeped me out.

[Jeanine]

Good creepy sequel.

[Emily McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book! So thrilling and scary!