Berkley Street

Berkley Street Series, Book 1

By: Ron Ripley

Narrated by: Thom Bowers

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Shane Ryan returns to Nashua and the childhood memories that drove him to join the Marines. After a prolonged legal battle with his aunt and uncle, Shane has possession of the family home where his parents disappeared over 20 years ago. The house, a monstrous castle filled with ghosts and secrets, is more alive than its inhabitants.

When his aunt and uncle come to town, then vanish, Shane's life takes a turn for the worse. Detective Marie Lafontaine immediately labels Shane as the prime suspect. And in a race against time, Shane desperately searches for clues about his parents.

But there's something lurking beyond the walls and beneath the surface. Something sinister that has haunted him ever since he saw its face in the pond behind the house. And it isn't happy that Shane is back.

It isn't happy at all.

©2016 Ron Ripley (P)2022 ScareStreet.com

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT 125 BERKLEY STREET

THE HOUSE MAKES MORE DOORS
I did not find this scary or gory. I did like the book and did find it interesting. It is more BEETLEJUICE than Horror. This is about a house which adds floors, rooms and doors and takes them away. It is about a boy who sees the ghosts in the house and talks to them. I enjoyed it and listened to all of it. It is not good enough for me to continue the series though.

HE WONDERED WHAT THE DEAD WOULD DO NEXT

Ron Ripley’s Ghosts

I LOVE anything supernatural. I love how Ron Ripley writes with the ghosts and this book is no exception which I did not want to end. I read the kindle version in Nov but enjoyed listening to it so much better. This book is about Shane returning to his childhood home to find his family. Loved the all the characters especially Roberto, Carl, Jerry, and Herman but hated Vivian. My only complaint, too short and want the rest of the series on audiobook. Highly recommend to anyone who loves ghosts, also recommend the Moving in series. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by Scare Street. THANK YOU!

Not a house I want to visit!!!

Oh god, this book gave me chills!! I couldn't read it at night as the very first night I did, I ended up with vivid dreams and was jumping at every noise!!

Shane has finally moved back into the house of his childhood, not that he wanted to but necessity to find his parents made him. You see, the house is haunted and Shane had never intended on coming back, but the house didn't want him to stay away and so made his parents disappear! Can he find the answers before it's too late, or will the house swallow him whole too?

Poor Shane. What a childhood he had!! The story is told in flashbacks to his youth and to the present, so we see the whole picture slowly unravel! I have to say that when I was a kid, I wouldn't have been so brave as Shane and would have run screaming and crying and never return to that hell hole!!

Character wise, I loved Shane. He is resigned to the fact that he will have to explore the house in order to get answers, but worst of all is that he will have to enter the dreaded cellar, where the darkest spirits lay!! Despite him being so scared, I admired his willingness to do what was needed to get the answers.

I also loved the detective who comes to investigate Shane in the disappearance of his aunt and uncle. She saw some weird stuff but wanted to help Shane solve the mystery. I also loved seeing their friendship grow!! (Hopefully becoming more ;))

Anyway, this book was incredibly creepy but totally captivating! It gave me chills, had me hiding behind my pillow and checking every noise I heard in my house! It would make a brilliant TV episode! This narrator definitely knows how to scare his readers and I can't wait to read more from him!

Thom Bowers was impressive in this. He knew when to amp up the tension and when to bring the story to the next gear. My heart was racing at times listening to it!! Thoroughly enjoyed his narration and this story. Can't wait for the next.

*I received this as a gift but voluntarily reviewed it. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.*

Highly entertaining!!

This is a very good horror story. I enjoyed it immensely and will be listening to it again as soon as I submit this review. I loved the plot, the characters were wonderful and unexpected and the narrator did a fabulous job! If you like ghost stories, you'll love this, I highly recommend it.

Great Scary Story

This was an enjoyable book. The action starts in the first moments of the opening and continue throughout the book. The suspense and scariness are constant. In many mysteries/supernatural the protagonist has a haunted personal history that presents a conflict in the story. This story is Shane’s, the protagonist story. This one plot line makes this a fast reading.

The story is told in different time periods in Shane’s life to give you the history of his past life in the house and the present. This is a house with a well-known haunted history when Shayne’s family moves into the home. It is a very good ghost story that had me scared at some points.

Shane has returned home 20 years after his parents disappeared to find out what happen to them. After a protracted count battle with his relatives his family home is now his. Now Shane must go home to find the answers he wants.

The family court battle presents a scenario where the police become involved in the story and Shane becomes the prime suspect in his relatives’ deaths. This is a thread that is an opening for police involvement by dropped by the author.

There is information about previous residents and the ghosts of the house. Roberto, Carl, Jerry, Herman and Vivian are the main ghosts in the story. The bonus information presents information about their relationship with the house. A few questions, how did the house become so evil, why would people stay in a haunted home, and Shane acquiring alopecia are not sufficiently answered or answered at all. In spite, of that, it is a very good read.

Menacing Haunted House

If you could sum up Berkley Street in three words, what would they be?

Sinister, creepy and nightmarish.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I did not expect what was happening next. The plot is original. The way the story went back in time helpped me understand the main character. The story stayed with me days after I had finished reading and listening to this book

What does Thom Bowers bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator had a clear creepy voice and the tone would change subtelty with each character. The narrator made you believe he had lived this story.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Come visit the House on Berkley Street but don't go in.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoy reading and listening to stories that match the narrator and the book so expertly.

Worth it .

I really liked the story. I use to read ghost stories like this when I was young. This was actually not scary for me but I believe for some it maybe. If Vincent Price could have read it it would have been perfect.

Soul of a Home

What did you love best about Berkley Street?

I loved that Berkley Street was not predictable. Just when I thought I possible had it figured out I was thrown for another loop hole. Great keep you on your feet listen

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes was always something unexpected and making you wonder who what where and why.
The back story on the house and how it came to be was gripping.

If you could take any character from Berkley Street out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Shane hes been through hell and still manages to keep moving

Absolute most stupid, inexplicable ghost story

Any additional comments?

Family moves into scary house. Family STAYS in scary house, even after multiple, life threatening incidents, including finding a skeleton in a hidden passage. WHAT THE HELL. I kept waiting for there to be an explanation for why they stayed for so long, and there was none. Even the local librarian knew that house was basically a giant predator. Any rational human being would have just burned the place down.
Unbelievable and not terribly well written.

I can't finish it...

Im not sure why but this story is not holding my attention at all, Im not even remotely creeped out and have no investment in the main character. This is one I my try again at a later date because I can't pinpoint why I don't like it.

A very scary listening experience.

Where does Berkley Street rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was my first audio book so can not rank or compare with another one.

Which character – as performed by Thom Bowers – was your favourite?

The girl in the pond.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but had to spread it over three sittings.

Any additional comments?

Very good first audio book for me. Took me a while to get into the story but once in it kept me gripped to the end. Can't wait to listen to the next book in the series.

Captivating

Really enjoyed this .listened to it over course of three nights . Looking forward to listening to the collection.

Brilliant

I did not want to put it down. I will be buying the next one.

thoroughly enjoyed

I enjoyed this book enough to look for the next. If you are looking for a ghost story that keeps you listening, this works. It is well read and you get a real feel for the characters as you meet them.

Enjoyable, but not a page turner

I found the story confusing at first and couldn't keep up with some of the characters but I persevered. The short chapters made it easy to listen to; just as well because sometimes I had to go back a chapter to recap on who some of the characters were and what they were doing. American ghost stories are not really my scene, and I did not find it particularly frightening, but I enjoyed it just enough to decide to give the author another chance.

Genuinely chilling

I like horror, but I'm so rarely impressed by it any more. I listen to audio books as I fall asleep, and at one point, this was scary enough that I had to switch to something else to settle down with :P That's high praise - I can't remember the last time anything affected me in this way. Great listen, and I'm now enjoying the rest of the series as well.

sent shivers down my spine...

absolutely loved this book listened while walking dog in country park next to me sent Chills down my spine..... brilliant can't wait to start book 2

american horror.

seemed a little overlong, I felt relieved when I finished it. but, overall a good novel.

loved it

A must listen for any ghost fans. well written, well narrated, brilliant story line from start to finish.

Brilliant

One of the best stories I’ve listened to in a very long time 5* no problem