Maynard's House

By: Herman Raucher

Narrated by: Perry Daniels

Austin Fletcher, a disturbed young Vietnam War vet, is willed a small house deep in the woods of northern Maine. He comes to own it by the generosity of a brother-in-arms - a fellow soldier and confidante, Maynard Whittier, killed in action by a wayward mortar shell. The rugged landscape of Maine is an intoxicating blend of claustrophobic interiors and endless frozen wastelands.

Little by little, the mysterious force in the house asserts itself until Austin isn't exactly sure what is in his mind and what is real. And just when our hero's had enough and is ready to quit the place, a blizzard arrives and the real haunting begins.

©1980 Herman Raucher (P)2021 Tantor

Not a new book

Just a note. This book was written in the 1970’s. Although it takes place in the early 70’s, people who are used to reading more recently written books may be uncomfortable with the way a possible relationship between a 16 year old girl and 23 year old man is handled. It definitely bothered me enough to read up on the author and publication date. Once I took that into account, it was less distracting. Would have much preferred the two characters be closer in age though. Otherwise, it was a slow but very good creepy story. Comparable with stories by Richard Matheson.

Ehhhh

Decent psychological horror. Slow burn that never really catches fire. Could have done without the lusting/obsession of an adult man over a 16 year old girl that becomes a big focus of the delusions in the story halfway through, rather than the much more compelling PTSD/grief/local mythology that drove the first half and the last third. Performance of the narrator was really good.