Stirrings in the Black House

By: Ambrose Ibsen

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Fear is a place.

When struggling concert pianist Emil inherits a house from his late uncle, he thinks all of his problems are solved. Absconding to the mysterious Weatherby House in the suburbs of Portland where his famous uncle composed many classical masterpieces, Emil finds the place completely empty, save for one thing: his uncle's grand piano.

But Weatherby House is not the ideal getaway it appears at first glance. It has a dark past and is shunned by the locals. As the days pass, strange things occur on the property, leaving Emil to wonder if he isn't losing his mind.

Unplaceable footsteps resound in the upstairs; dark figures peer into the windows at night despite the empty acreage that surrounds the old house, and that blasted piano can't seem to keep quiet, loosing music at turns beautiful and terrifying even as no one sits before it.

In time, Emil discovers that there's something else living in Weatherby House.

And it refuses to let him leave.

©2017 Ambrose Ibsen (P)2017 Ambrose Ibsen

Could Have Been Better

This is ok. It's a really good story, which is the main thing it has going for it. But it is really boring most of the time. I kept wanting to know what happened, so I kept listening, even though it SHOULD have been a lot scarier and creepier than it was along the way.

I don't; know if it was the writing or the narration. It just fell flat. Being alone in a spooky house should have been a LOT scarier. The main character was sympathetic, but not really interesting until the very end. The girl in the story is completely uninteresting.

I probably wouldn't recommend.

Great ghost story!

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I will start by saying that I jumped on this book because of Joe Hempel. He's become one of my favorite narrators after listening to him on a few other books. I love horror stories and ghosts and I was not disappointed. I thought this was a well told and creepy story with interesting characters. The combination of Ambrose Ibsen's writing and Joe Hempel's narration is excellent. I will definitely look for more from this duo.

Haunted house or craziness?

Emil is a concert pianist struggling with an addition to opiates. When his Uncle Gustav dies and leaves him a house across the country, Emil is shocked but decides that he needs a change in his life in order to try to salvage his career.

When he arrives at the Weatherby house, he is shocked to see how huge it is and by the fact that there are no furnishings or light bulbs in it. Everything is covered with a thick layer of dust and Emil wonders if his Uncle ever lived in the house.

When he meets a young woman named Kelly, Emil learns that the house was the setting for some horrific murders at the hands of a cult. Of course, Emil starts to hear things and see things in the house and begins to wonder if he is going crazy.

There is really nothing new or surprising in this book, but if you enjoy a good haunted house/cult/ghost story, you will enjoy this one. There is a bit of a cheesy 1980's slasher movie to this book and I found myself wanting to scream at the characters several times. But, that is part of the charm of a haunted house story, isn't it? The ending was pretty predictable, but it didn't take away from the chills I felt at parts of the book. Ambrose Ibsen is a good writer and you can really feel the terror as Emil narrates.

Joe Hempel continues to be one of my favorite narrators and this book is no exception. He is perfect in his reading and telling of the tale.

I was gifted a copy of this Audible book by the narrator/author/publisher and chose to review it.

Absolutely Gripping!!

I've read/listened to almost all of Ambrose Ibsen and he never fails to perform stories that will just take you to the brink of hysteria! Very well written and polished to perfection brings this horror experience to the edge of your seat! Excellent narration by Joe Hempel rounds out the small, yet powerful cast of characters!

Good Fun!

Any additional comments?

"Stirrings in the Black House" was a totally satisfying listen. Ibsen always writes a good paranormal horror story, but I thought that this one was particularly well crafted and interesting. I also appreciated how few characters there were in this book; it gave the writer an opportunity to really bring them to life. I can't and won't say more to avoid spoilers but I will say that anyone who enjoys a good ghost story will very much enjoy this tale!! Joe Hempel does a fantastic job, as always, of narration. I would recommend anything by Ambrose Ibsen and/or Joe Hempel! 10/10 I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

The Occult, Torture, and Opiates...!!

If you could sum up Stirrings in the Black House in three words, what would they be?

I guess I would use the same words as in my headline...LOL...The Occult, Torture, and Opiates-- What's not to love? ;0)

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the portrayal of the Occult members to be so truly evil that in the end, the person would actually beg for death. I could see where that could happen if the torture was as horrific as the things they did.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved all of the torture scenarios.

If you could rename Stirrings in the Black House, what would you call it?

Skinned "Tones"

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Kitty

This is a goodbok,we'll worth listening to . didny like the way it ended either. Unless there's going to be a part 2

Horrifying

In my opinion this book is down right terrifying it gave me the absolute creeps. The plot is well written, spine tingling and phenomenal. The characters are likeable and believable. I highly recommend this book if you like horror with a twist of suspense. I received this book at my request and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review here of my own volition.

a vulnerable young man, isolated from his family,

Stirrings in the Black House was a fun haunted house story. When I say fun about a haunted house book, I mean thrilling, scary, nerve racking and had it been a movie there would have been several jump scenes. I enjoyed listening to it.

Emil is a washed up concert pianist. At twenty-three, he is living with his parents and being supported by them. His career as a pianist came to a screeching halt due to his addiction to Percocet. He is now clean but in the way of all addicts, still just one misstep from using again.

Everything changes for Emil when his uncle Gustav dies. Gustav was a world class concert pianist of the caliber to play with the London Symphony Orchestra. He was a composer too. Gustav had come once to see Emil play and then dismissed him as having no talent. Emil had not seen or heard from his uncle since. Why would Gustav leave him a house? A house that is across the country from where he and his parents live? Looking for a fresh start, Emil drives his beat up car with his meager possessions to Newberg, Oregon. To Weatherby House.

The story is told in the first person. It allows the listener to share the emotions and thoughts of Emil as he arrives and finds a large two story house empty except for a massive black Steinway Grand Piano. No other furniture. No light bulbs in any light fixtures and no electricity. With his limited funds, Emil sets up electrical service and buys a few light bulbs and basic foodstuffs and settles in.

The fresh start is going as well as can be expected for Emil when he meets Kelly, a local girl. Kelly, upon hearing he lives in Weatherby House, tells him of its sordid history. The house was constructed by a cult who believed they could possess the bodies of victims they tortured to give them eternal life. When one victim escaped, the cult leaders were caught and jailed. They all died before going to trial.

At this point, I cannot discuss the plot any further with spoilers. So to recap, we have a vulnerable young man, isolated from his family, in recovery from addiction. We have a town that openly shuns Weatherby House and refuses to acknowledge it. We have a house with a bloody and occult history. Even an optimist can see this is going to end badly.

Joe Hempel does a great job narrating. He conveys the tension and fear in Emil’s voice and thoughts very well. He also does a great job on Kelly and other characters. I really enjoyed his narration. I will be seeking out more of his work as well as that of the author, Ambrose Ibsen.

Stop by Weatherby House for a few hours. Just not with all the lights off.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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An Excellently Written and Performed Horror Story

I loved Stirrings in the Black House. It was a perfect horror story. It was edge of your seat and I couldn't stop listening. It was a creepy scary; not a scare me out of my wits scary. I listened to this audiobook after revisiting the Manson murders and learning that QT is making a new film about them. This book was amazing and I love Ambrose Ibsen's writing. He's my new favorite spooky story author. It's 01:45 and it's so good that I can't turn it off.

The people that lived in the Weatherby House before uncle Gustav were a cult group named the Endless Circle. This story like the house had a spooky good backstory as well as Emil being his uncle's protege as a pianist and inheriting not only the house but his Steinway.

Joe Hempel's performance was top notch. His voice was perfect for Emil. I also loved the character of Kelli. He had awesome voice inflections and put this book over the top excellent. Highly recommended.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.