The Perfect House by R.P. Bolton
- Diana Kathryn
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
I love thrillers, and when mixed with a story of a haunted house, it's even more fun. The bit of magic realism that converts a lifeless thing to something that breathes of mystery, betrayal, and eases one closer to questioning their own sanity is, to me, a fantastic combination for stories... Although I choose not to read them at night, just to maintain my own sanity. 😉
When the synopsis of this book described a spooky story revolving around a couple with a new baby, and the house they thought was perfect for them to start their new family, I was intrigued. The risk of mixing hauntings and children or pets is one that requires a good deal of courage to write. Walking that line between taking care that the child or pet comes to no harm, while also building the tension of spooky dealings inside and out, is a tough balance. I've seen it done well, so I was optimistic this book would offer a creepy story that didn't put the child in peril. After reading the reviews, I had high expectations.
Unfortunately, although the story was good, I wasn't as pleased with it as I wanted to be. The story had moments of tension, and there were indeed scenes that raised the hairs on the back of my neck a bit, but overall, it missed the mark for me.
The recurring missing car keys, and the strange feeling of being watched were tropes well-executed, but for me, it wasn't super-creepy, and after the second time through, these elements became redundant and didn't heighten the tension toward the climax I wanted. Part of this was that the ending seemed a let down. I suppose I was hoping for a "gotacha!" at the end, and that never came. However, the ending was a full stop, rather than a cliffhanger, much to Ms. Bolton's credit. Still, it felt anticlimactic to me.
Mr. Bolton wrote a good story, with some terrifically creepy elements that are perfect for the unseasoned thriller or horror reader; but this one didn't have the growing fear-factor I expected for a haunted house with secrets buried in the past coming to light.
I will give Ms. Bolton's other books a chance. This one was enjoyable enough that I'm interested in what else she might create.
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