Growing up in a brand new late 1960s era ranch with zero personal history or back story made me a lifetime aficionado of old houses. My favorite stories as a child often involved children moving into very old houses with mysterious passageways and loot in the attic from a bygone era. A haunted house story was such a treat I even fanned Scooby Doo on the sugar and TV drenched Saturday mornings of childhood. I am still on the constant lookout for a haunted house tale...fictional or otherwise!It is my feeling that all homes are "haunted" by the lives of Previous Owners, whether you can actually intuit the details or not. They leave behind little messages...a marble or matchbox car behind the baseboard of a room, idly lost one rainy afternoon and waiting decades to be found again. Other owners leave behind stray letters or financial accounts in the dark recesses of closets or storage areas. In real life most of these artifacts are benign and leave nothing but a fleeting impression of a hum drum life. Occasionally, even in real life, the house harbors much darker secrets.The Dwelling on Belisle St. is a lovingly restored receptacle for the pain, violence and disappointments of previous lives. The house speaks to only certain buyers over the years...people who need such a place. New owners rarely last long and meet the tragic ends they are fated. The house is patient and waits expectantly for just the right people.This was an enjoyable haunted house story. I found it a bit claustrophobic to read -- not actually a detriment to the atmosphere in the story. In a few areas I feel the author could have done a bit more with the story. One character, in particular, stands out as someone who was briefly introduced in the first third of the book and then never heard from again. Her long term connection to the street, and thus the proximity of The House, may have made an interesting side story.I found the mention of the very small township that bordered my own remote home town to be an enjoyably creepy coincidence... an aperitif on the very last pages of the epilogue!
Much like real estate marketing techniques, the sales technique for this book requires some translations. In real estate, "cozy" means "small." Here, "an array of well-drawn characters"(a phrase from an endorsement on the back of the book) means "occasionally plodding development of action." Also, "a refreshingly original take on the traditional ghost story" means "takes a while for it to get going."All this sounds far more negative than is strictly warranted. The book is indeed well written, a fine interweaving of four separate ghost stories which, were each on its own, would probably not be sufficient to support a single novel. This is not a book for readers looking for a sharp, swiftly-paced jump-out-at-you horror novel. It's a languid, atmospheric tale more on the line of the Anne Rivers Siddons novel The House Next Door, itself a fine novel yet one that seems more about its sleepy Deep South feeling than about the horror that, ultimately, it brings forth.Let it not be said, however, that I'm not a least a little generous. I'm passing the book on to my sister, who is a real estate agent, like the lead character of this book. That might be a little mean of me, but what are little brothers for?
What do You think about The Dwelling (2003)?
Aiming for spine-tingling but reaching mind-numbing instead, this failed to live up to the promises of the cover.A haunted house story told through that of each new buyer (after the preceding one comes to a premature end), it focused way too much on the internal problems of each occupant (whom I really couldn't have cared less about) than on the spooky stuff, only ramping things up as it rushed towards the end of each hastily climaxed story strand, every one of which felt slightly forced.Tedious and decidedly un-chilling, this one's going in the unwanted book box.
—Lisa
One of my favorite books is "Comes the Blind Fury" by John Saul. His ghost stories are filed with beautiful old houses by the sea and characters who, while they seem quite "normal" to their neighbors, often have secrets-upon-secrets and hidden agendas. John Saul's books kept me awake many nights, yet I can't stop myself. Much like revisiting old friends, I re-read his books on a regular basis.This is what Susie Moloney has brought to the literary table. "The Dwelling" isn't a gore-filled, terrifying white-knuckle ride. It's worse. It's fabulously spooky! A true ghost story. The kind of tale you'd tell around the campfire. That's what I loved this book and why I've already re-read it at least four times.While you go into the story knowing the basic premise (haunted house, people move in but they may never move out) the intricate web she weaves is pure magic. Don't be shy. Take a peek inside "The Dwelling". Oh, and you don't need to knock, it's been waiting for you.
—K.S. Thompson
This book has been a favorite of mine since I came across a copy at a used bookstore several years ago. I misplaced my original copy but had a craving so picked up another. I love the twist on the classic haunted house novel. It's definitely creepy but weirdly touching as well. I like how Glenn's story is woven throughout the inhabitants' story. I would have honestly read even more about the history of the house and the various elements that lead to its haunting. I love Ms. Moloney's writing, and as others have said, it's very reminiscent of Stephen King.
—Julie Levenhagen
