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The Mourning House

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 110 ratings · 38 reviews

Devastated by tragedy, Dr. Sam Hatch is a shadow of his former self. He travels the byroads of America, running away from a past he cannot escape. There is no salvation for him.

And then he sees the house. Like a siren, it calls to him. Yet the house is not what it appears to be. Is it a blessing, a gift...or a curse?

ebook, 182 pages

Published December 18th 2012 by Delirium Books

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Dec 31, 2012 Kascha rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Mourning House is one of the first short stories to make its way into my tablet via Kindle, and as such, it would have had to have been fantastically bad to fail me. The whole new approach to books is really addicting so, fair warning. May contain undue bias.

With that out of the way, let me say that there could have been few better welcomes to my new reading reality than this. I am a long time fan of the genre; particularly ghost stories and the afterlife. but I am accustomed to far more run...more The Mourning House is one of the first short stories to make its way into my tablet via Kindle, and as such, it would have had to have been fantastically bad to fail me. The whole new approach to books is really addicting so, fair warning. May contain undue bias.

With that out of the way, let me say that there could have been few better welcomes to my new reading reality than this. I am a long time fan of the genre; particularly ghost stories and the afterlife. but I am accustomed to far more runup to the meat of these stories and was very pleasantly surprised at how immediately this story began to create discomfort. There was just enough back story to understand the frame of mind we find the main protagonist Sam, in as we join his story, and then it's quite instantly on with "what's wrong".

Good stories with houses as leading characters fail all the time by not bringing the house sort of "around" the reader, like it has replaced current surrounds. No such issues here. The house was instantly foreboding, but not in a terror producing way. Again, just a feeling of profound unease. That eerie thing that Kubrick understood with The Shining that others miss again and again, and this understanding of how much more frightening "eerie and just not right" is can be felt all over this book.

As many other reviewers have said, things get worse and worse gradually. Harder and harder to feel comfortable about, and as Sam finds out more and more from a few of the locals in the area, what is happening slowly reveals itself. There is a tip over point; something that really sheds tons of light on what is going on and lets you know sort of how far off you are in comprehension, and once that occurs, you can almost predict what sort of direction things will take. But that doesn't detract one bit from the actual reveals. The subtle way things are connected and resolved for Sam save the hair raising until dead last each time and remind you of what it's like when being right is the worst thing that could happen.

The point of view and pace in this book are pretty much perfect. The length of these novellas can be a detriment to a story not planned for them, leading them to feel palpably abrupt and confusing at the end. This does not happen here because not only does the story and its ending lend itself to what was done, but the point of view is expertly switched to one which is not privy in real time to much immediately before that point and so the story's progression from there is perfectly natural. Another way of putting it is that due to the author's control over his plot and pacing, he graced himself with an ending that neatly writes itself with little hope of underwhelming or failing readers.

Overall, I was very impressed with this book. It is a novella done right by an author very much aware of his To Do list and the boundaries in which he must work, and I will be looking for more of his books on Kindle. Additionally, it is very apparent that he is writing at this length because he chooses to and not because he can't carry a longer novel, so I would be very interested in finding out what he could do with say, Stephen King's page limits. Recommended!(less)

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Mar 12, 2013 BarkLessWagMore rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, horror

I often find something to bitch about when reading short stories and novellas because usually something is missing or lacking or characterization gets shafted in exchange for less words. Or, perhaps the worst sin of short stories, the ending is rushed. Don’t you hate that? The Mourning House is an example of how to do the novella the right way. It has a very small cast of characters, doesn’t attempt more than it should, builds with a slow, creeping sense of dread that slowly leads up to the non-...more I often find something to bitch about when reading short stories and novellas because usually something is missing or lacking or characterization gets shafted in exchange for less words. Or, perhaps the worst sin of short stories, the ending is rushed. Don’t you hate that? The Mourning House is an example of how to do the novella the right way. It has a very small cast of characters, doesn’t attempt more than it should, builds with a slow, creeping sense of dread that slowly leads up to the non-rushed ending and the author doesn’t waste any words on unimportant filler. And best of all? Its main character is a sympathetic guy you get to know pretty intimately.

Sam Hatch was once a happily married successful doctor with a beautiful baby daughter. Now he’s an unwashed drifter who is filled with regret and guilt and has walked away from everything that reminds him of his previous life. Something compels him to stop at a creepy run-down house and beckons him to enter.

Oh Sam you should’ve kept driving!

He doesn’t. He stops. He moves in. Strange things begin to happen. He has to face down his demons and we get to watch it all unfold and it’s gloriously unsettling. The reader sees Sam’s sanity start to slip the longer he resides in the house but he can’t leave for long because he needs to go back. It’s that compulsion again. Is it real or is it in his head? I loved not knowing and held my breathe throughout most of it. This story reminded me a wee bit of The Red Tree by Caitlin Kiernan which is one of my favorite books that examines madness, grief, pain and the haunted. If you haven’t read it you really should.

As I said, I felt for the main character. In a few short paragraphs I was easily able to understand his plight, even though many details were not yet revealed. The author also has a knack for evoking a scene and an emotion with only a few well-chosen words. “When he awoke, darkness had its face pressed against the windows.” How dreadful is that?

This is one of those stories that will likely haunt me for a good long while and is definitely worth seeking out and reading. I don’t give out fives easily (I’m stingy like that) but this one is deserving of my highest rating. It’s the kind of story that makes me glad I’m a reader and gives me hope that there are still gems out there after I’ve read one too many “meh” books in a row.

* I received a copy of this novella from the Publisher via NetGalley. The FTC made me say that.
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Apr 06, 2013 Mark Matthews rated it 3 of 5 stars

It takes guts to write a haunted house story, and it takes originallity to make it stick out. This author has such guts, and the Mourning House does stick out. In the opening scene an unforgettable gypsy-type woman will reach out of the book and touch your arm. Tragedy strikes that will touch your heart, and you can feel the grief when the main character feels compelled to live in a solitary shack. Soon enough, the house comes alive, and the main character rips the floorboards of his inner psych...more

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Oct 23, 2012 Majanka rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, novella, read-2012

The Mourning House is a sad, haunting, emotional story about a man who’s lost it all. Sam lost his wife and baby daughter in a terrible accident that’s haunted him ever since. He can’t stand to live in his house anymore, an empty shell, a memory of his life long gone. He walks through empty rooms and hears his wife’s voice or his daughter’s cries. He runs away from the tragedy, and spends a year traveling from place to place, a refugee without any place to call home. Until he comes upon a creepy...more The Mourning House is a sad, haunting, emotional story about a man who’s lost it all. Sam lost his wife and baby daughter in a terrible accident that’s haunted him ever since. He can’t stand to live in his house anymore, an empty shell, a memory of his life long gone. He walks through empty rooms and hears his wife’s voice or his daughter’s cries. He runs away from the tragedy, and spends a year traveling from place to place, a refugee without any place to call home. Until he comes upon a creepy old house he instantly feels an attraction to. If it’s because the house seems just as lost as he is, or an entirely different reason, he has no clue, and quite frankly, he doesn’t care. Sam decides to buy the house and starts to renovate. But the more time he spends inside the house, the more he grows convinced he’s not the only one there. He finds his tools in other places that he left them. He hears cries coming from inside the walls. When he tears down the floor, he comes upon the same floor he used to have in his old house. The house is like a puzzle, and Sam is forced to put the pieces together and solve the mystery.

The prose in The Mourning House is sublime. The shrill contrast between the way the first chapter, when life is still happy and good, and the prose in the later chapters, when Sam is on the verge of depression, is amazing. The author did an excellent job portraying Sam’s slow descent into madness from the moment he steps into the creepy, old house. As I read through the novella, I felt the house come to life page by page. The constant question troubling me was: is the house haunted, or is just a puzzle? Is it perhaps all in Sam’s mind? Or maybe even both? I love stories that keep me guessing, and this certainly did. Sam’s thoughts are, at moments, all over the place, juggling between the past and present, and this intrigued me endlessly. I still don’t know absolutely sure what was for real, and what was a trick of Sam’s imagination, but that doesn’t bother me in the slightest.

The atmosphere of the house was well-executed as well. At first, it didn’t seem that terrifying: just a creepy old house that somehow called out to Sam. But the longer he spend in the house, the more claustrophobic it became, as if it was closing in on him, and as a reader, I could feel this as well: in the dialogue, in the narrative, in the general vibe I got from reading. By the time I finished reading, I had the feeling the walls of my bedroom were closing in on me. That’s the difference between a great author and an excellent author, and in my opinion, Ronald Malfi, definitely ranks in the latter category.

I recommend this book to all haunted house fans. It’s a must read, if not for the lyrical prose or the intriguing main character, then at least for the creepy subtleness of the horror in The Mourning House. (less)

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Nov 20, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

(This review is also on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).

When I heard about The Mourning House by Ronald Malfi, I just knew it was a book that I had to read. As I've stated plenty of times before, I am a super huge horror fan. This short story helped feed my horror appetite quite well.

Dr. Sam Hatch has it all: a beautiful wife, a beautiful new baby daughter, a nice house, plenty of money, and great friends. However, one night after a party, there's a car accident....more (This review is also on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).

When I heard about The Mourning House by Ronald Malfi, I just knew it was a book that I had to read. As I've stated plenty of times before, I am a super huge horror fan. This short story helped feed my horror appetite quite well.

Dr. Sam Hatch has it all: a beautiful wife, a beautiful new baby daughter, a nice house, plenty of money, and great friends. However, one night after a party, there's a car accident. Sam's daughter and wife are killed. Sam is left devastated so one night, he decides to just leave and go travelling across the country. He doesn't want to settle down anywhere until he comes across a dilapidated looking house. It's as if the house is calling him to stay. Sam buys the house and begins renovating it, but before long, weird things start happening. Is Sam going insane or does the house have a mind of its own?

I think the title of this book is a good fit. Sam wants to be alone so he can mourn his family. He comes across a house seemingly in the middle of nowhere. This becomes his mourning house.

I think the cover is alright. It's not brilliant, but it's not horrible either. The house doesn't really come across as being spooky on the cover though, nor is it dilapidated enough in my opinion. Having a house on the cover does tie in with the story though as this book is focused on this house.

I loved the world building and setting in this story!! A creepy house in the middle of nowhere is always a win for me. The author does a great job of making us feel like we're in the house with Sam.

I thought the pacing to The Mourning House by Ronald Malfi was perfect. As it's only a short story, this should take you only 2 or 3 hours to read. I read it in about an hour and a half. I couldn't help it. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I was constantly left on the edge of my seat.

As for the wording, I felt this book was written very well. There are a few swear words, but nothing over the top. The prose flows easily throughout this story.

There's only one main character in this story although we do get to meet a few others. Sam is a character who you actually end up feeling sorry for. You can feel his pain and want everything to get better for him. He's definitely a well written and well rounded character.

I only wish there were actual apparitions mentioned in the story. I think that would've given it an even creepier feel.

I'd recommend this book to those aged 15+ especially those that love horror and/or short stories.

(I was provided a free ecopy of this title by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review).(less)

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Nov 02, 2012 Andreea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Sam Hatch had a nice life - good friends, a successful career and a lovely family - but everything changed after a car accident. He was the one driving the car that night and, because he fell asleep at the wheel, his wife and daughter died.

Even though he feels responsible for the accident, he tries to move on with his life and to leave the past behind. But that is very hard because everything reminds him of his family. He keeps hearing his wife's voice and his baby's crying in the empty rooms of...more Sam Hatch had a nice life - good friends, a successful career and a lovely family - but everything changed after a car accident. He was the one driving the car that night and, because he fell asleep at the wheel, his wife and daughter died.

Even though he feels responsible for the accident, he tries to move on with his life and to leave the past behind. But that is very hard because everything reminds him of his family. He keeps hearing his wife's voice and his baby's crying in the empty rooms of his house, he thinks that he is not alone, that there is a presence following him, so he takes the decision to leave the house for good and to start travelling.

After a year of wandering, he arrives in a little town where he finds an old, abandoned house and, because it seems that the house is calling him, he decides to buy it. Not long after that, he realises that the house is not what it seems. There are stories about it, frightening ones and people say it's haunted. But those don't scare Sam and he decides that this is the right place for him to live in so he starts the renovation of the property. Soon, things start to move, noises are coming through the walls and little by little the house seems to transform itself into his former house, in which Sam and his family used to live. Firstly, the floor resembles the old one, he discovers a room which is identical to his little daughter's room and finally he finds the bones of his dog, the one that he left to his friends, a year before. He comes to the conclusion that the house is a puzzle and he has to solve it.

I liked the story very much. It was a creepy, short read and the atmosphere was quite frightening and claustrophobic. My only problem was with the ending. Not because it wasn't a happy one, but because I found it rushed. I still don't know whether the house was haunted or everything happened in Sam's imagination. Other than that, I don't have any other complaints about the book.

I think the author did a great job and I hope you'll also enjoy The Mourning House!
Thanks to Netgalley.com and DarkFuse for sending me this e-book.(less)

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Jan 30, 2013 Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-personal-reading-challenge, 2013_reads, january_2013_reads

Review of The Mourning House by Ronald Malfi
5 Stars

This novella is perfect, compact, and complete. A strong plot line, a couple of back stories, good characterizations, and an old abandoned house which is a character all in itself. Yes, the title does play out in the course of the story, although the working out is subtle. In general, this story is all about subtlety: no bludgeoning nor splatterpunk here. This is the work of an accomplished author (and I knew to expect that after reading Mr. Mal...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Peter Schwotzer rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to say that I am a sucker for haunted house stories. From the first moment I read the first paragraph from the "The Haunting of Hill House" I was hooked.

When I saw the title and cover art for Mr. Malfi's latest effort from DarkFuse I was terribly excited. Not only is Mr. Malfi one of my favorite authors, Darkfuse just happens to put out some of the finest fiction around.

So with all that excitement building wasn't I setting myself up for a disappointment?

Not in the least, this is an except...more

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Oct 15, 2012 Deska rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, new-adult-or-adult

what a very good dark story this is!

Full review is on http://deskynowsky.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Netgalley and DarkFuse for giving me a chance to read this story..

It was short and for me personally it's a very good bed-time story!

So basically, it was a story about a man who seemed to have a happy small family. He had a wonderful and lovely wife and a newborn baby girl. But then something bad happened and he lost the most important things in his life, his lovely wife and baby girl. Then he started...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Cynthia Eaton rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'd like to thank Laurie (Fetch Me My Fainting Couch) for bringing this book to my attention.

I kid you not, I think this novella gave me heart palpitations. The Mourning House the haunting and frightening tale of Dr. Sam Hatch. After losing his family tragically, he is left a shell of his former self. The despair, loneliness, and guilt that Sam experiences comes across loud and clear through this expertly written novella.

With many novellas I'm left feeling like the story isn't complete and lac...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Deneé rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, from-kindle, arcs-galleys

Posted at Novel Reveries

An interesting short horror/ thriller. I'm still unsure of what happened, although while reading it, I was engrossed in every detail. A house that holds seemingly innocent memories and relinquishes sickening terror; perhaps guilt inflicted, perhaps not.

"He had done some damage and had unearthed unimaginable horrors." (loc. 968)

The descriptive and elaborate elements boosted this book's story line and brought out it's eeriness. I love the "insanity" aspect, as well as the...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Brett Talley rated it 5 of 5 stars

In life, there are times when one comes upon a work of art that is so stunning, so brilliant, and so fantastic that the mind struggles to accept that it is real. So is Ronald Malfi’s “Mourning House.” For years, I have searched for a piece of storytelling, a novel, a short-story, a movie, a television show, that could chill me. That could reach down in my soul and twist it. That could make me shudder and break out in goosebumps. Something I could savor every moment of and enjoy at some deep, tra...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, read-2013

This is the first book I've read in 2013, and talk about starting the year with a bang! Sam Hatch has just suffered a serious tragedy and has found himself wandering the country. He finally stumbles upon a house in a small town and immediately buys it. He's not sure why the house speaks to him so much, but the residents of the small town all think that the it's haunted.

And maybe it is.

Because Sam begins to hear noises in it late at night, and when he goes searching for the sources, digging thro...more

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Jan 29, 2013 D. Alexander Ward rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this... what was it? A super-long short story, a novella? No matter. I really did enjoy Ronald Malfi's THE MOURNING HOUSE. It is heartbreaking stuff at times and I thought the protagonist, a grieving father and husband, was imbued with some robust characterization and the depth of his grief certainly compelled the reader to make a connection with him.
The main reason I'm only giving this one 3 stars instead of 4 is that one or two of the supernatural plot elements just didn't cli...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Naomi rated it 4 of 5 stars

God, I love me some Ronald Malfi. I have read a couple of his books and have another one waiting for me on my Nook, so when I saw Netgalley offering this novelette, I jumped on it.

It is written with his same incredibly descriptive scenery and twists which leave a reader scratching his/her head! Malfi is one of those authors who can write a mean short story or full length novel with the same level of quality which is a rare feat as they require different writing capabilities.

In The Mourning Hou...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Peter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Sam Hatch had everything, a beautiful wife, a brand new baby daughter and a good paying job. He lost all of that the night of the car crash. Sam had fallen asleep at the wheel and his wife and daughter were killed. Sam could not take the pain of living in the home that he once shared with his family. Sam runs away from the heartbreak and spends a year traveling from one city to another. Sam spotted this small white abandon house on this deserted service rd. Something drew Sam to this house b...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, horror

Another fine novella from Darkfuse.

To those who read lots of dark fiction, and ghost stories in particular, this is familiar territory. We even feel like we have been in this house before. Yes, there is the creaking floorboard and the shadow moving in the next room. Wasn't the staircase over there? Let's find the closets, because as we all know, a lot of things happen in closets and basements. Oh never mind. That doesn't matter.

While this story will definitely feel familiar, what isn't so commo...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Erin Al-Mehairi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Last weekend I read The Mourning House by Ronald Malifi (published by Delirium Books, an imprint of DarkFuse). Since then I’ve been savoring it, even kicking around the idea of re-reading it, because I know it will be even better a second time. It’s taken me a week to find the right words for my review. It’s THAT good. It’s more than good. This long fiction novella is phenomenal!!

It’s really no wonder that it made the preliminary ballot for the 2012 Bram Stoker Award (announced Jan 2013 by HWA)...more Last weekend I read The Mourning House by Ronald Malifi (published by Delirium Books, an imprint of DarkFuse). Since then I’ve been savoring it, even kicking around the idea of re-reading it, because I know it will be even better a second time. It’s taken me a week to find the right words for my review. It’s THAT good. It’s more than good. This long fiction novella is phenomenal!!

It’s really no wonder that it made the preliminary ballot for the 2012 Bram Stoker Award (announced Jan 2013 by HWA). Even though it didn’t recently make the final five voting list as a nominee, it certainly deserves to be honored for its hauntingly poetic prose. The Mourning House is literary excellence. Ronald Malfi is by far one of the best writers across most major categories.

In regards to his December 2012 release of The Mourning House, in no way did I feel that I was left wanting more or that I had even read a novella. It was so superbly structured from character development, to plot, to twists, to emotional connection, to allegory that I felt I had absorbed an entire full-length novel in one sitting. Time evaporated as I read it and I remained awake the entire night brooding over it.

His nuances within the text that came from the protagonist’s mind, or maybe it was our own mind?….or the house’s banter….I’m not sure, but it’s been playing nonsense in my head since. It’s wriggled into my brain with its lingering madness. Its subtle haunting seeps into my thoughts. Now, I’m sure I’ll read it again. And I urge you to read it, and then again.

When you read The Mourning House, and I recommend you do, think beyond just the highest plane of the story and the plot of the protagonist. Think about if there are any lessons for life Malfi is referring to. Any allegorical levels. Any emotional dance it tips taps within your head. I promise afterwards you’ll not return the same.

Malfi’s mainstream-style of dark, suspenseful, and eerie fiction will appeal to anybody whose a lover of fine fiction. With novels under his pen to boast about, such as the Gold IPPY awarded and Bram Stoker nominated Floating Staircase, this kudos adorned author is one of the best in the field and The Mourning House is no exception to a long list of must-read works. It’s horror, but to make the distinction, it’s the haunting kind reminiscent for me of eerie Twilight Zone episodes or even Alfred Hitchcock. It’s psychological writing in its best form, with an antiquated feel.

Malfi recently re-released The Fall of Never this week with Samhain Publishing/Horror and will re-release Cradle Lake with Medallion Press in June. He’s releasing December Park in March of 2014 with Medallion Press. I really can’t wait to read everything and anything I can get my hands on by Ronald Malfi.

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Feb 01, 2013 Todd Russell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, haunted-house, novellas, darkfuse-publisher, lendable-kindle

A haunted house tale with some real bite about a man who stumbles upon a creepy, rundown house (a "dump" as it's called in the story) and is compelled supernaturally to restore it. This novella is a tightly compact tale with some great chills (view spoiler). I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The fifth DarkFuse title I've read since joining their book club. Must read horror novella, especially for those who love haunted house tales!

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May 12, 2013 Kim (Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the story of Sam Hatch. One new years eve, he tragically loses his family in a car crash after a party at his best friends house. Devastated and bewildered he embarks on a two year drive across America until he is drawn to a ramshackle house. He buys it with the intention of living there and doing it up. That is until he gets the feeling he is not alone....

This is everything a good haunted house novella should be. It is tight, brooding, very descriptive and atmospheric. The lead characte...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

While I liked this story, the predictability was a bit uh, predictable, which is why it got only three stars from me. Also, this isn't truly a novel. It's a novella, and it feels a bit unfinished. The ending has sort of a 'tacked on' feel. Malfi should have done a better job explaining why the house in the title is what it is, and how it got that way. That doesn't happen. This, coupled with the questions regarding the ending leave the reader feeling like some pages got lost somewhere along the w...more

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Feb 10, 2013 David Bernstein rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Mourning House is simply amazing. I think it's as perfect as a book can get. The writing is superb. There's no other way to say it. The story is haunting. Sometimes I get lost in a book, I mean really lost, like I don't know what else is going on'; this book did that. Very atmospheric and chilling. Again, the story and writing are brilliant. Highly highly recommended.

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Feb 07, 2013 Toby Tate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cool ghost/haunted house story about a doctor who loses his wife and baby in a car accident, then just ditches his life to live on the road like a vagrant. He buys a mysterious, run down house that ends up changing into...well, I don't want to spoil it. Let's just say it's creepy. Didn't like the ending, but it was still a great story. I would read more stuff by this author.

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Jan 22, 2013 Jayme rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great scary short story. It was a great read and really eerie. The only drawback was seems like it just abruptly ends. I thought that it still had a ways to go but nope, it was over. This book is free (at least as I write this) on the Kindle Lending Library. I checked it out for free and am glad that I did. The scary parts are really scary.

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Dec 27, 2012 Aaronichi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

A classic creepy ghost story. It is not violent or depraved, but it has a chilly, fevered and claustrophobic mood that grows as the house does its thing. There is also a connection that builds with Sam throughout the book. Solid recommendation for those that want a quick moody read.

I will say, there were a few too many parentheticals for my liking (one of my pet peeves).

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Dec 15, 2012 Marilou Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a great, scary read. Would have been perfect to read on a dark, stormy day . . . It was that creepy.
I will definitely be reading more of Ronald Malfi's books.

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Dec 30, 2012 Charlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: darkfuse-titles, loanable-kindle-books

This was an excellent haunted house story.

Dr. Hatch has lost his family. Broken by the weight of his guilt, he decides to leave the family home and wander aimlessly. Until he comes upon an abandoned house. The Mourning House.

I have read a few great haunted house stories in the last few weeks. This one stands right up there with the best of them.

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Jan 08, 2013 Joe Hart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Malfi sets out to quietly scare in this one and accomplishes it. This haunted house tale will leave you thinking and pondering after it's done. Moments of chills and very real sorrow are within. Recommended.

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Mar 05, 2013 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book until the end. It had some of the thriller fun I sometimes enjoy reading but the end was disappointing as far as I am concerned. I don't care for books that make me finish it.

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Apr 30, 2013 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a great novella. I really enjoyed the writing in this story. Even without the blood and guts of a normal horror novel the author is able to make you shiver with fear. I will be reading more by this author.

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About Ronald Malfi

Ronald Malfi is an award-winning novelist and short fiction writer whose most notable works include the novels Via Dolorosa and Shamrock Alley. His short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines and collections throughout the US and abroad. Most recognized for his haunting, literary style and memorable characters, Malfi writes fiction that transcends genres to gain wider acceptance among readers...more

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The Mourning House

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