Horror Annotation

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Author: David Mitchell

 Title: Slade House

Genre: Horror, Supernatural Horror, Ghost Stories

Publication Date: October 27, 2015

Number of Pages: 238

Geographical Setting: England

Time Period: Contemporary, Recent Past (1979, 1988, 1997, 2006, 2015)  

Series: The Bone Clocks
Plot Summary: A series of mysterious disappearances, separated by nine-year intervals, all associated with Slade House…What is the secret of Slade House? Who or what is responsible for these vanishings? A tween boy and his mother, a police officer of questionable character, some college students, a reporter and an academic are all drawn to the mysterious house, but for what purpose? The residents, mysterious twins, target the vulnerable and lure people in by assuming various guises…but by the time the visitors realize all is not as it appears, it is too late…Though this title is actually a prequel of sorts to Mitchell’s The Bone Clocks, it works as a stand- alone creepy read, sure to appeal to fans of haunted houses and ghost stories. 
Subject Headings: Horror> Supernatural Horror, Paranormal Fiction, Ghost Stories, Haunted Houses, Immortal Beings> Brothers and Sisters> Fiction, Dwellings>Great Britain>Fiction
Appeal:
Frame = Haunted Houses
Tone-Mood = Lurking Menace
Pacing = Slowly Mounting Fear
3 terms that best describe this book: Creepy, mysterious haunted houses, spooky


Similar Authors and Works 3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors







Spirits Out of Time: True Family Ghost Stories and Weird Paranormal Experiences 


by Annie Wilder. Wilder draws on family lore, in this collection of purported true ghost stories. Wilder is a true believer in ghosts and spirits, and claims to live in a haunted house.





A Haunted Love Story: The Ghosts of Allen House – Mark Spencer




Spencer tells the story behind Allen House, an Arkansas home long believed to be haunted. Spencer claims to have witnessed paranormal events and documented hauntings. He also explores the history of those who are purported to haunt the house, and discovers the sad history behind its most famous ghost, Ladell Allen, whose secret romance is revealed when Spencer discovers hidden love letters, concealed for decades in the attic.



Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife – Mary Roach





Mary Roach, author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, explores the afterlife and the science on the question as to whether souls survive death. She humorously and skeptically asks questions about the existence of ghosts and the possibility of life after death.




Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory – Stacy Horn







A journalistic exploration of scientific investigations into the paranormal by the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory. This book focuses more on the efforts of Duke scientists to use the scientific method to understand paranormal phenomenon, but it also discusses the "phenomenon" it studied.




3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors


The Little Stranger – Sarah Waters



Waters' The Little Stranger is a bonafide creepy read. What exactly is taking place at Hundreds Hall isn't clear, but it isn't good. The ancient mansion is in steep decline, just like the aristocratic family that's owned it for over two hundred years. Dr. Faraday, the son of the family's former maid, is powerfully drawn to the family and the house as a series of disturbing and increasingly sinister events take place. Class resentment and a quickly shifting paradigm of society in England intertwine with the sinister and atmospheric events that engulf all those who enter the Hundreds. Historical fiction with paranormal and supernatural elements make for a creepy and frightening read that will haunt readers long after they've finished the book.

The Dwelling – Susie Moloney



A home with a history that can't quite stay off the market, no matter how cozy and charming, enchants real estate agent Glenn. Is it waiting for the right owner in Glenn, the realtor? The house changes hands with quick turnover, but why? Described by readers as clever and spooky, with quiet creeping horror.



The House of Lost Souls – F.G. Cottam





Fischer House, now derelict, once the scene of terrible tragedy and horrific crimes, continues to endanger all those who enter it. When college students who explore the haunted house descend into madness, with one taking their own life, the brother of one must unravel the house's secrets, with the help of a survivor still haunted by his long ago escape. The House of Lost Souls is a supernatural thriller with cameos by real world occult figures.

Comments

  1. Shawn BFebruary 17, 2018 at 2:23 PM

    Well, the saying is "you learn something new everyday," and that is certainly true for me today! I have read "Slade House" but had no idea that it was prequel to another of Mitchell's books. I'll have to look into the "The Bone Clocks."

    Your read-alikes are great. I love how there is so much non-fiction related to horror. My annotation this week was for romance and for some reason, I had trouble finding non-fiction romance stories. I know they are out there! Most of the true-romance stories I could think of didn't have the happy endings that the romance story requires.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ricketikiFebruary 19, 2018 at 9:14 AM

      You are absolutely right about true romance rarely having the happy ending. As I was reading your comment about non- fiction romance read-alikes, a book I read ten years ago popped into my head, "Charlotte and Leopold" (?), the story of the heir to George IV's happy marriage to Leopold, which ended with her death in childbirth. Whomp whomp. Or Victoria and Albert, whomp whomp whomp, dead. That is indeed a challenge!

      Delete
  2. Erin CataldiFebruary 19, 2018 at 7:28 AM

    Full points! Excellent annotation!

    ReplyDelete

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