Spooky and haunting.

A small backstory:

Elle gets the opportunity to house-sit the Gillespie property, but as wonderful as the outside and inside seems to be, Elle is eager to learn why some rooms in the mansion are closed off. The owners are going to be gone for a whole month and Elle has the chance to explore the mansion. If needed, Elle has been provided a phone number to reach them just in case.

As Elle starts to settle into the place she starts hearing scratching within the walls along with whispers. The more she explores the more she is curious of why one door is locked up tight. When she decides on her own to break into the room is when things start getting strange. The house wakes up and sometimes the past wants to intrude on the present as Elle soon realizes that the cult leader, Jonathan Gillespie might be haunting the mansion and he is coming for her!

Thoughts:

This was a creepy and atmospheric haunting as I made my way through the storyline. This could have been a five star read except though it had lots of atmosphere and had some creepy vibes, I was never totally spooked out of my skin like some of the ghost books I have read by Darcy Coates.

I didn't have no breath hitching that I have had in the past when reading her books. This is still a great ghost story and it has lots of spook moments but nothing that kept me awake all night reading afraid to go to sleep. Giving this book four "Creepy and Crazy Cult Leader" stars!

For more thoughts on this review, please see my blog:
https://booknookretreat.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-haunting-of-gillespie-house-by.... ( )

I so enjoyed Haunting of Gillespie House! Elle can't wait to explore the secluded Gothic style house she is watching for a month.

At first there is scratching in the walls and a door that slams throughout the night. Rooms full of abandoned furniture on the third floor. The owner explains these things as rats and loose hinges. But what's really going on?

My favorite part is Elle's adventurous spirit. She does everything you are silently screaming for her not to do. Repeatedly. She makes the most ridiculous choices for someone an hour away from anyone. At one point she explores a noise she heard in the house by a single candle - including searching all of the creepy basement! She has no qualms checking out an abandoned graveyard and mausoleum. I found her wonderfully maddening.

I was slightly disappointed by the ending but I read thrillers for the experience of suspense and confusion, not necessarily the story. A wonderful quick read! ( )

Great ghost story. I will absolutely be picking up more Darcy Coates in the future. This was a very quick, spooky read. Creepy dark mansion, backyard cemetery, and a crazy cult leader. Perfect for Halloween season. I also enjoyed the 3 short stories included, very creepy. I was already afraid of haunted mansions. Thanks to those 3 additional treats I now also fear bed and breakfasts, crawl spaces and mannequins. ( )

Eh, predictable and rushed ( )

(I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
I really enjoyed this novella and I recommend it to mystery, horror and suspense fans because, although being a short book it has all the ingredients to make you keep reading. If you want to know and experience what it's like being in a haunted house, then this is the right read!
Loved the story development and the ending was terrifying! The only thing I would have liked to know a bit more about is the main character, Elle. Even though she makes decisions I would never make she proves to be a very brave person and I felt like I was going along with her as she uncovered the mystery of the Gillespie House.
4 stars also to the short story 'Crawlspace'. It made me (even more) scared of old houses and things that bump in the night. ;)
Thank you so much, Darcy Coates, for the chance to read this novella. :) ( )