House of Echoes

A Novel

De: Brendan Duffy

Narrado por: George Newbern, Allyson Ryan

In this enthralling and atmospheric thriller, one young family’s dream of a better life is about to become a nightmare.

Ben and Caroline Tierney and their two young boys are hoping to start over. Ben has hit a dead end with his new novel, Caroline has lost her banking job, and eight-year-old Charlie is being bullied at his Manhattan school.

When Ben inherits land in the village of Swannhaven, in a remote corner of upstate New York, the Tierneys believe it’s just the break they need, and they leave behind all they know to restore a sprawling estate. But as Ben uncovers Swannhaven’s chilling secrets and Charlie ventures deeper into the surrounding forest, strange things begin to happen. The Tierneys realize that their new home isn’t the fresh start they needed . . . and that the village’s haunting saga is far from over.

House of Echoes is a novel that shows how sometimes the ties that bind us are the only things that can keep us whole.

Praise for House of Echoes

“Warning: Brendan Duffy’s debut novel is not for scaredy-cats. If you live for heart-racing chills, this thriller—about a young family that packs up their life in Manhattan for a spot in upstate New York (that turns out to be haunted, of course)—is already calling out your name.”—Refinery29

“Already drawing comparisons to Stephen King’s The Shining, Brendan Duffy’s debut novel offers chills without sacrificing character development. But be warned: you might want to leave the lights on for this one.”—Paste

“Shades of The Shining are spattered through Brendan Duffy’s debut novel—a large isolated house, a young family, nutty and somewhat supernatural goings-on—but House of Echoes grounds itself in different ways for an enjoyable read.”—USA Today

“An exquisite novel . . . expertly plotted, beautifully written . . . It’s complex, deft and, once you dive in, you want to stay in this often-scary world. . . . This is a book that deserves to be savored.”—The Star-Ledger

“Duffy’s debut is a riveting blend of horror and family drama. The remote location, creepy townspeople and the village’s savage history produce a harrowing tale that keeps readers quickly turning the pages. As this complex family struggles with mental illness and their child’s isolation, their redemption comes in the revelation that they can survive anything together.”—RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)

“House of Echoes is one of those stories where you know something bad is going to happen, but you hope it won’t. It’s one you’ll remember long after reading the last page.”—New York Journal of Books

Great book! Not a ghost story.

This book was long and I still very much enjoyed it. I think the pacing was delicately balanced... almost too slow but not because the author gave you a morsel often enough to create a near perfect slow build. I just wish it was a ghost story, which it's not and it's the primary reason I listened to the book, but I was not disappointed even still, which is saying something.

The male narrator was good with dialogue, bit straight narration was a bit labored. He had good inflection and everything, but he often sounded like he was teaching a history lesson rather than reading spooky fiction. He gets slightly better toward the end and he's not all that bad, but he might deter me from other books narrated by him in the future.

Scary Horror, Remarkable Characters

What made the experience of listening to House of Echoes the most enjoyable?

The way the author skillfully ramped up the creepiness until the family was emeshed in it. I often have trouble suspending disbelief while reading horror novels, but this one became real to me almost immediately.

What was one of the most memorable moments of House of Echoes?

I have never seen a better, more intense portrayal of parental fear and devotion than this author gave me. When the mother ripped into the house with her bare hands to protect her child, it was frightening and touching.

What about Allyson Ryan and George Newbern ’s performance did you like?

Newbern literally becomes this tormented father. He was remarkable. Ryan was very competent, however, she came off as a more contemporary voice than matched the 18th century female character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Did not expect to care about the family as much as I did. Conveyed the depth of parental love in a way that touched my heart.

Any additional comments?

I read and listen to many, many horror titles. I have only been moved to write a few reviews. This was one of my best finds. Beautifully drawn characters and intelligent horror. I stumbled across this book am glad I did. I hope Brendan Duffy has a title in the works.

one of the best stories I've come across.

I absolutely loved this story, and the narration was great. If you're looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing and make you question the characters motives look no further.

Slow start, but ends well

I sighed and rolled my eyes during the first part of this story and almost abandoned the book. I'm glad I didn't. The novel's beginning has all the tropes of the haunted house genre: family moves to a house near a quiet village in upstate New York looking for a better life; wife gets a little crazy, son is acting strangely, father is clueless. Then the story opens up and leaves all that behind and becomes a four-star read (or listen in my case). The narrators are *excellent* and overall I would recommend the book.

slow, slow, slow

I really wanted to like this book but 85% of the book is waiting for something to happen. When it does its pretty anti-climactic.