A new governess is hired to care for the two children, Flora and Miles, living at Bly. She takes up a friendship with Mrs. Grose who has been there much longer. Everything goes well with the governess and dear sweet Flora until her brother Miles comes home, expelled from school. The governess is puzzled by this, because when she lives and works with Miles he is the sweetest boy alive. Then one evening during her walk outside the governess sees a human form up in the abandoned tower. After telling Mrs. Grose the governess is convinced it is the ghost of a man who has lived in the house. When a second ghost shows, this time a woman, things get really out of hand and the children seem to know more about it and their involvement becomes apparent with every day the governess is with them.

This classic ghost story is a delight to read. Without “special effects” and unbelievable telling James has written an intriguing horrific plot that sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the last sentence. And what a last sentence it is: total shock! show spoiler

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

A totally disturbing, but hilarious story about a group of children going trick-or-treating with Halloween.

The legend goes that what sort of candy you get at the first house predict what the loot will be for the rest of the night. And it so happens Finch and his buddies get apples from the old lady who lives at the first house. Not a good omen and the granny will pay for this!

Be amazed about the plan the terrible and terrifying bunch comes up with and have fun reading how it acts out.

UPDATE (8 september 2008): I also have read volume 2 and 3 now and it only gets weirder and more disturbing. Ergo, I had a great time reading this series.

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

This is the second volume of Max “Mutt” Mason’s adventures in the crazy world he lives in. In this volume it becomes more clear of what is happening to the earth in general and the city Los Allende in particular. It looks like dark matter is taking over the visible matter the world exists of, creating the most horrible creatures and viruses making the genuine human race as prisoners — read as valuable enzymes — the creatures need to stay alive.
The question now is, can “Mutt” take on this dark matter or will he be swallowed as well?

The plot thickens and it is a good plot for that matter. Full of humor and horror the creators of this story takes the readers by their hands and pulls them deeper and deeper in this intriguing world.

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

Maxwell “Mutt” Mason, works as a private detective. His heart is in the right place but his taste for the bottle is too. So in the odd chance he gets a case he has to drag himself out of Gill’s cafe and into the office where his ‘lovely’ assistant Melissa awaits him. Well not exactly him, but his former partner Shinjo, away on leave in the loony bin and probably never to be released again. But a girl can hope, right?
The odd chance of a case has come and before him stands a beautiful dame called Livinia who wants her twin sister to be found. But what looks like a straight forward case, soon becomes a strange adventure full of crazy and murderous people and other ‘things’. Has Livinia been completely honest?

A bit too much on the gory side for my taste, but it is a good, solid story. I think I will just close my eyes for the horrific stuff and happily go on to volume 2. Somehow this “Mutt” and the crazy world he lives in intrigue me well enough.

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

Mary Katherine (‘Merricat’) Blackwood lives, together with her older sister Constance and Uncle Julian, in a castle, long ago bought by her ancestors. It is a beautiful and mighty castle, but something horrible happened eight years ago and that is why the fences and castle doors are closed for all (town) people. Mary Katherine has to go to town twice a week for groceries and has her own ritual to go around there, because otherwise she gets lost in hateful sneers and looks of the town people. The rest of the time the Blackwoods are cut of from everyday life, but they like it that way.
Until, one day cousin Charles appears at the doorsteps of the castle. His intentions are clear for Mary Katherine, but Constance is dragged into Charles’s mindset and all that has happened eight years ago is coming back to the service.

A solid story and highly enjoyable to read. The suspense built-up is good and it drags you into the story not to let go until the last word.

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

Dr. Montague is an occult scholar and he wants some solid evidence about the phenomenon called haunting. He sets his eyes on Hill House, a big mansion up in the hills, to conduct his study. The house is said to be haunted and anybody who tried living there, moved out after only three or four days (and nights). Dr. Montague is set on explaining. To do so he invites three others to live with him in Hill House, all somewhat experienced in the phenomenon. First there is Theodora, his lighthearted assistant, always in for a good scaring and laugh. Then there is Luke, the heir to be of the place. He has to be there, because of his aunt, who didn’t want anyone in the place without some family. And last but not least, there is Eleanor, an emotionally unstable girl, no stranger to the ‘unknown’. How long will they stand the haunting of Hill House?

A pleasant read. It was my first book ever in the horror genre, but I liked it. It is not gory, blood doesn’t come gashing out of people. It is more a suspense and psychological horror book. My first impression was, that the story is similar to the Hitchcock stories. Anyway, you should read this, even if you’re not a big fan of the horror genre.

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana

Finny Bleak is a normal teenage boy, but in this book normal is the new weird. His ancestors ghosts are still around and make his life more difficult than it has to be. He gets pestered at school and lives his life surrounded by undead people.
But when he meets a girl at the yearly carnaval, his life seems to brighten up. But…he isn’t a Bleak for nothing.

Very entertaining and humorous book. The animation is great. So for a (very) quick read in between your choice of serious literature I can recommend this one.

The Weblog Review Please contact leg…@theotherbookreview.com so we can take legal action immediately.
Plugin by Taragana