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Burnt Offerings
- Valancourt 20th Century Classics
- Narrated by: R.C. Bray
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Release date: 25-03-16
- Language: English
- Publisher: Blue Heron Audio
- Whispersync for Voice-ready
Regular price: £18.79
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Four seekers have come to the ugly, abandoned old mansion: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of the psychic phenomenon called haunting; Theodora, his lovely and lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a lonely, homeless girl well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the adventurous future heir of Hill House.
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Blackwater is the saga of a small town, Perdido, Alabama, and Elinor Dammert, the stranger who arrives there under mysterious circumstances on Easter Sunday, 1919. On the surface, Elinor is gracious, charming, anxious to belong in Perdido, and eager to marry Oscar Caskey, the eldest son of Perdido's first family. But her beautiful exterior hides a shocking secret. Beneath the waters of the Perdido River, she turns into something terrifying, a creature whispered about in stories that have chilled the residents of Perdido for generations.
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outstanding a true classic in the making
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Cold Moon over Babylon
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 32
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Welcome to Babylon, a typical sleepy Alabama small town, where years earlier the Larkin family suffered a terrible tragedy. Now they are about to endure another: 14-year-old Margaret Larkin will be robbed of her innocence and her life by a killer who is beyond the reach of the law. But something strange is happening in Babylon: traffic lights flash an eerie blue, a ghostly hand slithers from the drain of a kitchen sink, graves erupt from the local cemetery in an implacable march of terror.
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Remy is a tour guide for Carrow House, a notoriously haunted building. When she's asked to host seven guests for a week-long stay to research Carrow's phenomena, she hopes to finally experience some of the sightings that made the house famous. At first, it's everything they hoped for. Then a storm moves in, cutting off their contact with the outside world, and things quickly become twisted. Doors open on their own. Seances go disastrously wrong. Red liquid seeps from behind the wallpaper.
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Keeps you guessing!
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Summary
Ben and Marian Rolfe are desperate to escape a stifling summer in their tiny Brooklyn apartment, so when they get the chance to rent a mansion in upstate New York for the entire summer for only $900, it's an offer that's too good to refuse. There's only one catch: behind a strange and intricately carved door in a distant wing of the house lives elderly Mrs. Allardyce, and the Rolfes will be responsible for preparing her meals.
But Mrs. Allardyce never seems to emerge from her room, and it soon becomes clear that something weird and terrifying is happening in the house. As the suspense builds toward a revelation of what really lies behind that locked door, the Rolfes will discover that their cheap vacation rental comes at a terrible cost....
The basis for a classic 1976 film adaptation and an acknowledged influence on Stephen King's The Shining, Burnt Offerings is one of the most original and scariest haunted house novels ever written. This edition, the first in decades, features a new introduction by award-winning author Stephen Graham Jones.
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Overall
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4 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars18
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- dc
- 30-10-17
Read t book, watched t movie, enjoyed t audio
Bought this as it is an old favourite. Knew I would enjoy the story and the only question was the narration. It was good. I enjoyed every minute of it. A good reason why this is a simple classic. It is not a classic per say - corset ramble - I think it takes place in the 60s - 70s and has stood the test of time because you can't go wrong with it.
You should buy it if you like a bit of spook.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kim
- 18-08-16
Burn it out
Fantastic and original story. You can see how it's influenced The Shining. The only drawback for me was some of the overzealous voice acting from 'Brother' when first encountered - it leant more of a comical tone rather than creepy. And there are some uncomfortable sexual encounters. Brilliant otherwise.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- NB
- 07-08-18
Excellent character driven, slow-burn horror.
While the overall concept is a bit of a cliché at this stage this is one of, if not the, originator of this particular horror sub genre and does it very well. This isn't a bump-in-the-night type scare-horror, but more of a slowly rising existential dread type horror. Excellent narration also.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Mr Patel
- 09-08-17
Not a great book - just didn't gain momentum
The story started off slow, gained a bit of momentum and then just didn't take off for me. It dragged on and there wasn't any point where I was hooked such that I world look forward to the next time I listened to it. RC Bray was great with his narration, as usual, but this book just didn't work. Not the worst book I've read/listened to but not one I would recommend.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Luigi Clemente
- 19-06-17
Lost opportunities
Good idea, poor development. Nice, eerie atmosphere but the story has too much padding and feels a bit pointless and dragged, despite the writing skills of the author.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- L
- 08-06-17
Great story
I really enjoyed this book. It has an interesting storyline and is well written. I also enjoyed the narration. R,C. Bray has a clear, pleasant voice that is nice to listen to. The only downside was that I was expecting it to be at least a little scary but it wasn't at all. In fact it wasn't even creepy. Otherwise this was very enjoyable and I would happily try another title by this author or with this narrator.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Calliope
- 03-05-17
Haunted house story more creepy than horrific
This is really a psychological thriller than a horror novel - more creep than scare, and think that's terrific, because that makes for a better book. It's quite clear that there are elements that inspired Stephen King when he wrote The Shining, though the writing style is obviously different. Even though this takes place in the Hamptons, it shares a lot of elements with Southern Gothic stories, including an isolated house with a tragic past, aged owners who've fallen from their prime years of wealth and health, and a sick old relative up in the attic.
It's like a slow burn rather than a raging fire.
42 of 45 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- P6PTX
- 11-03-17
Burnt?More like charred..
I've heard about this story for years and was quite excited to hear what partially inspired authors like Stephen King.The narration was excellent in emoting the family's urban cage,its problems and eccentrics and the anticipation of getting away from it all.Even the odd couple at the getaway was enthralling to hear,the reverence held for the longtime home.Even after the oppressive influence of the true nature of the place begins to emerge,the struggle seems to wear out the suspense.It becomes monotonous,and im convinced that in the 70s,suspense was set at a low bar.Im glad to be to cross this off my list.Im even checking into other books by the author,but i dont see what all the fuss is over.BUT I will still refer this to others,i really was entertained and submerged in the story thanks to R.C. Bray.
26 of 28 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kim Venatries
- 30-03-16
As Scary As I Remember
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, if they like horror stories that do not rely on blood and guts to terrify.
What about R.C. Bray’s performance did you like?
RC Bray is an excellent performer however, he would not have been my first voice for this book. It could be I'm used to listening to him doing action thrillers. I think a female performer may have been a better choice.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
This book was made into a film with the same title. It's very well done and one of my all time favorite movies. If you haven't seen it you really should. The movie is actually better than the book thanks in part to Karen Black and Betty Davis.
Any additional comments?
This book was released in the 1970s so sure it's a little dated but still delivers chills.
56 of 63 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mel
- 21-10-16
Happy Nightmares!
I love a scary book in October, and ESPECIALLY one that features an *old* maybe creepy couple! (No offense, by the definition in most books, I'm one of them!) Damn, if those *old* people don't continually throw down the scary with evil finesse that beats any long black wet-haired child crawling out of a well, reaching out through the TV. Sure, those are great jumper scares -- but put in a pair of seemingly sweet elderly people and you know you're dealing with some serious, well-seasoned soul suckers. Think of the sweet little old Minnie and Roman Castevet...from Rosemary's Baby. (Ruth Gordon, indisputable queen of the sweet old doddering minions of Satan.) Add an over the top Gothic mansion full of extravagant antiquities, tarnished, blanketed with cobwebs; a dilapidated greenhouse with rows of dead and twisted exotic plants; a swimming pool choked with dark muck; and a wing of the house occupied by an unseen old invalid...Yahoo! Let the wild ruckus start!
I can't even offer any review of the writing itself, or the narration...I was just enjoying myself too much listening to how this unfolded. You probably can figure out the plot, but you'll still be oblivious to forming any criticisms, busy instead yelling, "No! Stay out of the pool, out of the greenhouse; don't open that sitting room door, get your gray hair touched-up!" This is pure fun. Creepy, spooky, and I really did notice it is written well. Diserving of the caption: *Valancourt 20th Century Classics.* If you are a reader that needs at least a seasonal spooky-fix, reach back in time for this absolute classic. I thought I had exhausted all of the horror novels available in my youth; I'm glad I left this one to be discovered now -- like finding one more piece of candy in an exhausted trick-or-treat bag full of wrappers.
50 of 57 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christina
- 01-05-16
As chilling as the movie
I can understand younger readers finding this book slow or not scary but it is a psychological horror story.
Ever since I was a child and saw this movie with my brother on Chiller (without my moms permission) I have had nightmares about the chauffeur and the mere sound of an idling car outside my window in the middle of the night terrified me...til this day I never put the bed facing the door.
If you had read the Ametyville Horror or The Shining you would understand...the movies for all 3 were scarier but that is because they brought to the forefront the creepiness one felt while reading this book.
But again if you grew up with more "in your face" horror stories you may not feel as afraid. If needed watch the movie first and then read the story so you "get it" better.
Arí St Marie
20 of 24 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Almira
- 29-09-16
Gothic and spooky slow burn
I loved this older book (1973?) that I'd never heard of before and finished it in about a day.
I enjoy a 'haunted house' book and appreciate the understated slow burn type of writing used here. Reminded me a little of early Stephen King. I liked all the detail and that some of it was left ambiguous, so that the reader could make up their own mind.
If you are looking for blood, terror and a galloping plot of thrills, this might not be the book for you.
That said, I entirely enjoyed it. Glad it's in my collection.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Daniel
- 02-12-17
Scary Fun
Is it the best horror you hear? No! Is it the best book you will hear? No! Will you have a good time listening to the book? Yes! I love the horror genre and this may have just creeped (see what I did there) into my top 10 in the genre. It does a haunted house in a way that I could only wish other writers could do. Even King said that this book inspired the shining. I would say that this is better than Kings work. If you don't mind being creeped out a bit this is a must get.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Jeramy D. Walton
- 02-03-17
Plodding and little payoff
What did you like best about Burnt Offerings? What did you like least?
I am a sucker for haunted house stories. I read them all. Some are fantastic. Some are not so stellar. I would say this falls in between. It has an great (if not somewhat cliche) premise.
What could Robert Marasco have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?
I'm all for slow burn, but it just spends so much time plodding along that is never really gets to the punch. I figured out the general premise and what I thought would be the conclusion fairly early on (roughly when they met the tenants of the house) and just waited for everyone else to catch up.
For all it's plodding. It doesn't fully flesh out some of the characters and I feel slightly robbed for that.
The conclusion, while not entirely what I expected, was incredibly rushed and anticlimactic. This is mainly due to there being zero resolution. What was becomes what is. There is no retribution or arc, the characters just play out what has always happened and it's quite a downer.
Could you see Burnt Offerings being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
Honestly, if it was modified with a quicker pace and the ending was altered and expounded on then sure.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Jim "The Impatient"
- 27-04-16
YANKEE DOODLE
NO SECRETS, NO DARK THOUGHTS, THAT'S FOR MUSHROOMS
This came close to five stars for it's literary merits. It's an entertaining story, even though it is predictable and fairly cliché. I do not feel I wasted my credit. This is one of the very few times in which I disagree with my fellow reviewer Kim, as this was not scary. The last twenty minutes were a little scary, but you got to listen to 7 hours and 25 minutes to get there. I was also not satisfied with the ending, of which the whole book is a lead up to.
Bray
I can't bray loud enough the talents of R.C.
58 of 78 people found this review helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Deedra
- 24-07-17
Burnt Offerings
This book is great!The Roth family in mid seventies NY want to get out of the city for the summer.They think they can't afford it.When one comes up that they are perfect for it causes rifts from the beginning.The eccentric siblings that live in the house leave their mother behind.She only needs to be fed.The house is dead and this family will bring life back to it, in a very sinister way.IR.C. Bray was the perfect narrator. was provided this book by the author,narrator or publisher.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful