The Haunting of Ashburn House

Got this as a gift for my bookworm wife. She reports back that she is thoroughly creeped out and enjoys this book alot!

“This is a house that hasn’t seen a new soul in a half a century. The walls are saturated with her; the floorboards are worn down from her feet; the very air continues to carry her presence after her death.”THE HAUNTING OF ASHBURN HOUSEHappy Halloween!!!I hope everyone had a safe and fun night! After a really busy month. I put the kids to bed early last night, got in bed with some tea and weighted blanket, and picked up The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coates. Her books have been on TBR for a while now, so I figured it is the perfect night to start! Adrienne is saved. After her mother passed, she was facing homelessness, but then she received a letter that she is receiving an inheritance. She didn’t know she had any more relatives when she was told she had inherited her Great-Aunt Edith’s home. Upon arrival, the home isn’t exactly encouraging. It is broken down and is in desperate need of renovations, but Adrienne can’t complain. The small village by the home is filled with people who are intrigued by the mysterious house and its previous owner. Edith was definitely eccentric, but harmless…surely. But the scratches on the walls and tables: “NO MIRRORS” and “LIGHT THE CANDLE” have to mean something. Then there is the mysterious history of the murders that occurred here. But Adrienne has nothing to worry about…right?This is a fun read, perfect for the Halloween weekend! It brought the chills and the eerie uncertainty. It has a good murder mystery, unexplained paranormal activity, and a great haunted house plot! Is there depth and uniqueness to the plot?–Eh not really, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining. I did love Adrienne’s character. She was only raised with her mother, no other close friends, and family, so she doesn’t have much knowledge pertaining to her own history, let alone the history of her long-lost family. It is actually a little heart-wrenching when she meets a new person from the village because all her hopes lie in making it tomorrow, financially and making friends. That is really all she wants and it is very moving.There are some pretty gruesome scenes, but that is to be expected. I do love how the author incorporates some Victorian themes in a contemporary story. For some reason, it just feels creepier. Anyway, if you are looking for a creepy, Halloween read…this is it! I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

What a great spooky read! Actually kinda scared me in some parts ... I think I'm afraid to look at a mirror in the dark now lol. Haunted house tropes are one of my favorites in thriller / horror and this one definitely did not disappoint. It was an actual creepy, supernatural ghost story. The entire time I was reading I could picture vivid scenes in my head , the writing was so immersive!Story follows Adrienne, a young freelance writer who is down on her luck with financial troubles. She inherits an old mansion from her estranged great aunt. Once she arrives there seem to be no mirrors hanging & there are strange messages carved into the furniture like NO MIRRORS & IS FRIDAY LIGHT THE CANDLE . Of course the house has its own infamous legend that keep many of the town’s residents far away and suspicious of anyone related to the family that owns it. Adrienne unfortunately has no where to go and no money so she decides to stay in the house… this was definitely more horror than thriller. Perfect if you’re looking for an actual ghost story!"This is a house that hasn't seen a new soul in half a century. The walls are saturated with her; the floorboards are worn down from her feet; the very air continues to carry her presence after her death." __from The Haunting of Ashburn House by Darcy Coate

Rushed, Rushed, Rushed.***PLEASE DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK. SOILERS AHEAD***Overall, this was what I call a fun read. The main character was somewhat relatable: her beauty or intelligence weren't underscored to the point of reaching laughable mythological heights. However, in attempting to create a heroine with parallels to mere human readers, the author failed to add certain dimensions to her, leaving her a bit flat; although we have a vague notion of her overall personality, depicted in her actions and reactions, we never get much of a physical description or clear snapshot of what this girl aspires to. Frankly, for someone in her mid to late thirties, I found her quite complacent and unmotivated. With a college education and background as a professional writer, she squanders her days making tea instead of asking her new friends about job opportunities in town despite fewer than $50 dollars in her bank account. For a character who has the gusto later in the novel to charge at a violent corpse, I find it quite curious that she is more concerned with unpacking her suitcase (prior to any perceptible threat) than in savoring her new found independence, after years spent caring for her mother.More perplexing is that there is no mention of any monetary inheritance. I haven't got a clue as to whether inheritance tax is a thing in Australia, but I imagine that Adrienne would have sold the house to pay taxes she would later owe on the property and to get financially situated rather than taking on the expenses that accompany the maintenance of a large estate. That said, there is also the question of her monetary inheritance. Did Edith really leave Adrienne with no inheritance beyond the four walls? Her parents had a fortune, as did her grandparents with Edith the sole beneficiary of both estates. Surely, a woman who lives off a few carrots and tea, a complete recluse sans internet to order Amazon goodies wouldn't have blown through that kind of money even if she had lived to be over a hundred?!In lieu of poking at more details that are either patently inconsistent or plainly glossed over, the most disappointing aspect of the book is its pace. The start of the novel has a very respectable tempo. The flashback to Adrienne's childhood nicely foreshadows the main character's arrival at Ashburn. Then, (I note I am disagreeing with many reviewers who thought Adrienne's exploration of the house was too lengthy) I enjoyed taking a tour of the home with Adrienne, still shy at her espousing the role of lady of the manor after years of struggling. Her timid hesitation in exploring or staying in Edith's room was not incongruous to her state of mind in this initial moment. Where the pace falls apart is after the introduction of Eleanor Ashbury, or the naked corpse bride (anyone else summon the image of a Ms. Havisham and zombie from World War Z cross?). Once Eleanor attacks Adrienne, it seems the author was overcome with the flurry of angst that her fictional heroine must be feeling and marked the remainder of the novel with the same pizzicato rhythm. I speak no ill for the action sequences, which were appropriately measured, however I took issue with the story's demelee. The explanation seems half-baked: without more detail beyond a simple missive, it's hard to believe, summed up in a few sentences that Eleanor is a reincarnated biblical character - an enchantress. Darcy Coates missed an opportunity of her own making to explore the universe of gloom that is the foundation of all things Ashburn. In a Deus Ex Machina moment, the author flicked her pen like a wand and hoped a one-page letter would suffice in tightening up all the loose ends a la Greek tragedy.Where is the rest of this missing novel, Darcy Coates?

I loved the witty tale spun in this tale of paranormal haunting. It was fun and exciting and kept you wondering throughout the read. Very enjoyable.

A very enjoyable ghost story .This one takes a bit of time to get going ,spend more time building an atmosphere than straight scares.It's really only over the last few chapters that it really starts to get going with a fun and different kind of haunting than what you expect.It may be slow to start but stick with it as it's one of the best ive read recently. Darcy is fast becoming my favourite author and im looking forward to reading more of her books. Recommended.

Until the end, you want to know what happens next and you are surprised. I was caught in the story several times wishing to know what happens next. Breathtaking. Love the end. Bravo.

Not the best but still good

When they come as an inheritance from an unknown late family member you better not come alone when visiting them.Like many stories before, this book proves that this rule is really true.Good our protagonist has brought her cat and is getting new friends every day.If you like ghost stories with family secrets, this is the book for you.

No está mal pero esperaba otra cosa. Buena fuente de vocabulario si estás estudiando inglés.