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.

45 people found this helpful

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.

29 people found this helpful

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.

57 people found this helpful

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.

53 people found this helpful

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

22 people found this helpful

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.

3 people found this helpful

Cool concept, empty characters

I have to keep in consider that this was written in another age, but pffft...
I really liked the idea (until the ending let me down as much as the characters did)
The characters were utterly two dimensional and made the story boring. It’s a bit of a cop out when a writer defines his characters purely by ‘being mesmerized/ hypnotized’
Everything was just constantly about how weird the house was. There was no real build up and I struggled to see the characters as actual people. Everything was just a repetition of what had already been said. Not enough normal things happened for there to be a shocking contrast with the weirdness and you saw the ending coming from a mile away (except for what was behind the door and that felt like a big fat cop out too)
There are better horror books than this one with more believable characters and superior writing. This was just... empty

2 people found this helpful

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 people found this helpful

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.

11 people found this helpful

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 people found this helpful