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mxsallybend's review
4.0
Sometimes we forget that the oldest, most classic horror stories are still the most effective. Put a stake in the vampires, take a shotgun to the zombies, and put the werewolves in a cage - haunted houses and restless ghosts never get old.
Donald Allen Kirch is an author who has previously demonstrated his love for the classics, but I'm not sure he's ever done so as strongly as he does in Through A Glass Darkly. This is a book that reaches far and wide for its inspiration, from the classic days of Poe and Lovecraft, through the cinematic days of The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist, and into the era of found footage and reality TV. It's a fun read, best suited for a dark and stormy night, but that's where the clichés end.
I'll be honest, I enjoyed the first half of this book the most. It's here that Kirch delves deepest into ghost stories and haunted house, especially when he exposes the lives (and gruesome deaths) of those who dared inhabit Manchester House before. These are chilling stories, offered up quickly, without the need to embellish, justify, or explain away the phenomena - and boy do they work! The journey through the forest just to get to the house is fantastic on its own, and details inside the house like the plastic tarps, dripping water, and dead rats in the kitchen really set the tone. The Other is most effective, for me, when she's experienced as a lonely, malicious sort of spirit, but I will give Kirch credit for coming up with an effective backstory for the house and its terrifying evil.
As much as the first half of the book is very much an homage to Poe, the second half owes most of its inspiration to Lovecraft. Here we move beyond the classic simplicity of a ghost or poltergeist spirit, delve deep into an impossible basement, and encounter the ectoplasmic tentacles of the monster that lies at the heart of Manchester House. It's a crazy, bloody battle against ancient forces of evil and supernatural god-like monsters, complete with a heroic shaman whose backstory is almost as powerful as his faith. I'll admit it, I tend to lose interest somewhat when these stories become all about the monsters, but the portrayal of Indrid Night kept me intrigued. I liked that Kirch just didn't make him some sort of renegade priest, but a self-made holy man who isn't above acquiring tools, weapons, and beliefs from multiple faiths.
Through A Glass Darkly is pure, straight-up, classic horror that completely delivers on its promise. It has just enough detail to make it smartly contemporary, but never strays far from the timeless horror of ghosts, haunted houses, and the damnation beyond.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Donald Allen Kirch is an author who has previously demonstrated his love for the classics, but I'm not sure he's ever done so as strongly as he does in Through A Glass Darkly. This is a book that reaches far and wide for its inspiration, from the classic days of Poe and Lovecraft, through the cinematic days of The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist, and into the era of found footage and reality TV. It's a fun read, best suited for a dark and stormy night, but that's where the clichés end.
I'll be honest, I enjoyed the first half of this book the most. It's here that Kirch delves deepest into ghost stories and haunted house, especially when he exposes the lives (and gruesome deaths) of those who dared inhabit Manchester House before. These are chilling stories, offered up quickly, without the need to embellish, justify, or explain away the phenomena - and boy do they work! The journey through the forest just to get to the house is fantastic on its own, and details inside the house like the plastic tarps, dripping water, and dead rats in the kitchen really set the tone. The Other is most effective, for me, when she's experienced as a lonely, malicious sort of spirit, but I will give Kirch credit for coming up with an effective backstory for the house and its terrifying evil.
As much as the first half of the book is very much an homage to Poe, the second half owes most of its inspiration to Lovecraft. Here we move beyond the classic simplicity of a ghost or poltergeist spirit, delve deep into an impossible basement, and encounter the ectoplasmic tentacles of the monster that lies at the heart of Manchester House. It's a crazy, bloody battle against ancient forces of evil and supernatural god-like monsters, complete with a heroic shaman whose backstory is almost as powerful as his faith. I'll admit it, I tend to lose interest somewhat when these stories become all about the monsters, but the portrayal of Indrid Night kept me intrigued. I liked that Kirch just didn't make him some sort of renegade priest, but a self-made holy man who isn't above acquiring tools, weapons, and beliefs from multiple faiths.
Through A Glass Darkly is pure, straight-up, classic horror that completely delivers on its promise. It has just enough detail to make it smartly contemporary, but never strays far from the timeless horror of ghosts, haunted houses, and the damnation beyond.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
nannyf's review
4.0
Actual rating 4.5 Stars
I was expecting a simple story of a haunted house with this book, and as I like those kind of stories I was really looking forward to reading it. What I actually got was far more than my expectations, and I was blown away by it.
The story starts out with an extremely intriguing prologue chapter, which introduces us to a young lady and which sets the basis of the story throughout. However the extent of the involvement of that character with the house in the present day could not have been predicted.
What starts as a possible haunted house becomes so much more, and the web of storylines grows steadily and rapidly before reaching a conclusion which you won't believe.
The characters were all believable, well written, and the story flowed extremely well. The author gives us chapters of non stop action, but then gives us a little breather before continuing with the ongoing fight within the house.
My favourite character has to be Indrid Night. He reminds me a little of the neverending bag belonging to Mary Poppins! He seems to constantly know what needs done, how to do, and he always has the props at the ready in order to achieve what he wants. Mind you, his sidekick Lars is another brilliantly written character. The relationship between Indrid and Lars is one I was very intrigued by and which was so well written throughout.
All in all a brilliant book which had me desperate to keep reading, trying to decipher exactly what was going on. It kept me guessing all the way and that is a sign of a really good book.
Highly recommended to fans of haunted houses, mystery, ghosts etc.
I was expecting a simple story of a haunted house with this book, and as I like those kind of stories I was really looking forward to reading it. What I actually got was far more than my expectations, and I was blown away by it.
The story starts out with an extremely intriguing prologue chapter, which introduces us to a young lady and which sets the basis of the story throughout. However the extent of the involvement of that character with the house in the present day could not have been predicted.
What starts as a possible haunted house becomes so much more, and the web of storylines grows steadily and rapidly before reaching a conclusion which you won't believe.
The characters were all believable, well written, and the story flowed extremely well. The author gives us chapters of non stop action, but then gives us a little breather before continuing with the ongoing fight within the house.
My favourite character has to be Indrid Night. He reminds me a little of the neverending bag belonging to Mary Poppins! He seems to constantly know what needs done, how to do, and he always has the props at the ready in order to achieve what he wants. Mind you, his sidekick Lars is another brilliantly written character. The relationship between Indrid and Lars is one I was very intrigued by and which was so well written throughout.
All in all a brilliant book which had me desperate to keep reading, trying to decipher exactly what was going on. It kept me guessing all the way and that is a sign of a really good book.
Highly recommended to fans of haunted houses, mystery, ghosts etc.
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
The site of the all the action in this book is Manchester House. Built in the small town of Atchison, it's known by the townfolk as a place to be avoided and it's even known by the local police force as the place they often have to go to recover dead bodies. In other words, everyone knows not to go in there.
So of course, here comes Dr. Holzer and his team. I'm tempted to call them paranormal investigators, but they're really not. We have one skeptic, one archaeologist, one psychic, and Professor Holzer. Later in their investigation, Indrid Night appears with his deaf and mute assistant, Lars. Night was easily the most interesting character in the entire story-even more so than the ghosts and spirits that were present in the house. A professional expert in dealing with hauntings of all kinds, I would have happily read an entire book about him alone.
Where the story lost its grip on me was when the explanation for the haunting was revealed. (This is almost always where haunted house stories fall apart for me.) Also, the dialogue between the characters never quite came together in the right way for me to believe it. It was kind of stilted and unnatural. Lastly, perhaps it's too many of these types of shows on TV now, but I kept picturing this as an episode of ghost hunters. This book deserved better than that, but I couldn't help my mind from seeing it in that manner. I hope this makes sense.
Overall, the imagination and creativity here were top notch, even if the execution was slightly clunky. I would still recommend this to fans of shows like the Ghost Hunters, and also to fans of haunted house stories!
*I was provided a free PDF of this story in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
So of course, here comes Dr. Holzer and his team. I'm tempted to call them paranormal investigators, but they're really not. We have one skeptic, one archaeologist, one psychic, and Professor Holzer. Later in their investigation, Indrid Night appears with his deaf and mute assistant, Lars. Night was easily the most interesting character in the entire story-even more so than the ghosts and spirits that were present in the house. A professional expert in dealing with hauntings of all kinds, I would have happily read an entire book about him alone.
Where the story lost its grip on me was when the explanation for the haunting was revealed. (This is almost always where haunted house stories fall apart for me.) Also, the dialogue between the characters never quite came together in the right way for me to believe it. It was kind of stilted and unnatural. Lastly, perhaps it's too many of these types of shows on TV now, but I kept picturing this as an episode of ghost hunters. This book deserved better than that, but I couldn't help my mind from seeing it in that manner. I hope this makes sense.
Overall, the imagination and creativity here were top notch, even if the execution was slightly clunky. I would still recommend this to fans of shows like the Ghost Hunters, and also to fans of haunted house stories!
*I was provided a free PDF of this story in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
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