By: Brendan Duffy
ISBN: 9780804178112
Publisher: Random House/Ballentine
Publication Date: 4/14/2015
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 4 Stars
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.
My Review
A special thank you to Random House, Ballentine, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Brendan Duffy’s HOUSE OF ECHOES is a suspense psychological thriller of one family’s journey, leaving you page-turning into the wee hours of the morning. A family in trouble, the Tierneys need to get away for a fresh start. When Ben inherits some land overlooking the village of Swannhaven, from his grandmother, in a remote area of upstate New York, they decide to leave Manhattan behind. Ben is a writer and his second novel is not going so well, his wife, Carolyn, a banker, with bipolar disorder, has lost her job. Their eight year old son, Charlie was being bullied at school; so a good time to pick up and move with two month old Bub, for a fresh new start. They buy an old estate nearby and make plans for renovation. They move into the 1700s original home, called The Crofts of the Swann family, and have dreams of turning it into an inn. The house is located on a plateau called The Drop between two mountains. While preparing for renovations and their new home/business, they begin researching the history of the home and the town, as well as establishing relationships in town. At first things seem to be going as planned, and the renovations are moving along. Charlie is busy exploring in the woods and Ben has an idea for his novel, Carolyn busy with the renovation plans. However, things begin to change, with dark haunting secrets and evil lurking, with strange chilling things happening through the forest. Swannshaven has some history going back to the Revolution. Everyone seems strange as winter approaches, and they begin uncovering secrets and Charlie becomes withdrawn venturing deep into the woods. Carolyn, who is always walking a fine line with depression, is not happy and the baby is crying more. The family is coming apart, and their well laid plans are falling apart. What happened in this town, now haunted by echoes in the forest? A mix of horror, mystery, gothic, suspense, humor, and supernatural thriller. King fans will be reminded of The Shinning. Duffy keeps the intensity and suspense high, with some nice writing and storytelling. Look forward to more to come. Being in the hotel business and working with investors to purchase mixed use properties, renovating them for B&B inns, historic, and boutique hotels, I have come across some scary ghost properties, especially in some older remote towns. I have actually worked as an innkeeper for some haunted inns and stayed in a few. Fun, fun!
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