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The Girl in the Basement
A terrifying tale from a Bram Stoker Award–nominated author who “has consistently created some of the best horror ever set to print” (Cemetery Dance).
Foster care is like Russian roulette, says fifteen-year-old Ryan Kettering, who’s spent most of his young life in largely abusive homes. Sometimes the hammer clicks and you’re fine. Sometimes it’s a bullet to the brain. This time it seems the hammer has clicked. Living with the Prestons in a rambling two-story house in Shasta County, the chores are split between Ryan and five other foster kids. Not counting nine-year-old Maddy. Not much is expected of her. She stays in the basement.
The other children don’t know much about Maddy. But what they do know, they don’t like. She’s just not right. She speaks in a strange, gravelly adult voice. Maybe Ryan can make a difference. Spend time with her. Get acquainted. He understands what it means to be lonely. That’s when he decides to do what no other child in the house dares: Ryan’s going down to the basement.
From the author of Live Girls and The Loveliest Dead, a recipient of the World Horror Convention’s Grand Master Award, this is a chilling story of supernatural terror.
Foster care is like Russian roulette, says fifteen-year-old Ryan Kettering, who’s spent most of his young life in largely abusive homes. Sometimes the hammer clicks and you’re fine. Sometimes it’s a bullet to the brain. This time it seems the hammer has clicked. Living with the Prestons in a rambling two-story house in Shasta County, the chores are split between Ryan and five other foster kids. Not counting nine-year-old Maddy. Not much is expected of her. She stays in the basement.
The other children don’t know much about Maddy. But what they do know, they don’t like. She’s just not right. She speaks in a strange, gravelly adult voice. Maybe Ryan can make a difference. Spend time with her. Get acquainted. He understands what it means to be lonely. That’s when he decides to do what no other child in the house dares: Ryan’s going down to the basement.
From the author of Live Girls and The Loveliest Dead, a recipient of the World Horror Convention’s Grand Master Award, this is a chilling story of supernatural terror.
110 pages, ebook
First published November 18, 2010
53 people are currently reading
1217 people want to read
About the author
Ray Garton
180 books564 followersRay Garton is the author of several books, including horror novels such as LIVE GIRLS (which has a movie in the works), CRUCIFAX, E4 AUTUMN, and THE FOLKS; thrillers like TRADE SECRETS and SHACKLED; and numerous short stories and novellas. He's also written a number of movie and television tie-ins for young readers. He lives with his wife, Dawn, in California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 25, 2018
This was a very good novella from Mr. Garton.
July 29, 2016
Did a 12 year old write this? No, but is sure seems like it. For a short book, this took forever for me to finish due to the horrible writing.
This story had a lot of potential, yet it is filled with completely implausible situations. Ryan, a young.. teen??, honestly don't remember, I couldn't care less, takes it upon himself to find help for a young "retarded" yes, that is the word used to describe her, girl that seems to be possessed. The adults in this book seem to be the children, as young Ryan demands that he be present when the priest sees the girl. His foster mom is written as a feeble woman who has no backbone, ("I don't want to get in trouble, they told me to keep her away from the other children, but yes Ryan, you are right, you should be present when we have the priest over.") REALLY!?!
I may have enjoyed this book if I were 15 again. I have read a lot of books recently, and a lot have disappointed me, but this takes the cake!
This story had a lot of potential, yet it is filled with completely implausible situations. Ryan, a young.. teen??, honestly don't remember, I couldn't care less, takes it upon himself to find help for a young "retarded" yes, that is the word used to describe her, girl that seems to be possessed. The adults in this book seem to be the children, as young Ryan demands that he be present when the priest sees the girl. His foster mom is written as a feeble woman who has no backbone, ("I don't want to get in trouble, they told me to keep her away from the other children, but yes Ryan, you are right, you should be present when we have the priest over.") REALLY!?!
I may have enjoyed this book if I were 15 again. I have read a lot of books recently, and a lot have disappointed me, but this takes the cake!
October 27, 2018
Ryan is a foster child and has finally found a good home, with good people, and kids he gets along with. Everything is perfect, that is until he meets the little girl who lives in the basement. His life is turned upside-down and spun out of control with no way to stop it.
The story is a roller-coaster of emotion. When you believe you know what will happen next, a twist is hurled at you throwing you for a loop. I was, unknowingly, holding my breath a couple of times during this story. Now, that is something that a lesser writer cannot do.
The Girl in the Basement is an excellent tale by a talented author.
The story is a roller-coaster of emotion. When you believe you know what will happen next, a twist is hurled at you throwing you for a loop. I was, unknowingly, holding my breath a couple of times during this story. Now, that is something that a lesser writer cannot do.
The Girl in the Basement is an excellent tale by a talented author.
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February 1, 2022Short but unnerving. Possession always gets under my skin, especially when it deals with children, so the chance of me walking away without being a little creeped out was low.
February 9, 2025
TIL if you meet a family that keeps one of their random kids locked in the basement, just trust that they have a good reason for it and don't go sticking your nose into things. Some kids were meant to be locked in basements.
May 20, 2018
Fairly quick read that can easily be read in one sitting. This is the second book I've read by Mr. Garton and wasn't really sure what to expect as his other book that I read, The New Neighbor, was really graphic. The Girl in the Basement is an interesting take on possession but doesn't really dig deep enough. Really wish this was a lot longer. I almost feel cheated by how short this was. It really had the potential to be much more than it was.
June 13, 2018
A compelling and enjoyable read, highly recommend.
December 30, 2018
Creepy story, creepy kid.
November 2, 2017
I remember liking Ray Garton's books. A lot. This would be back in the 1990s, when I was still branching out into the larger world of horror, reading writers other than Stephen King, long after the horror boom had gone bust. I also remember liking Marilyn Manson's music a lot back then, too, but I've outgrown it.
To be fair, Garton does a good job with his characterization and his pacing. Once you get started on one of his stories, it's easy to get caught up in it and not put it down until you're finished. That was the case with Meds, read last year, and that's also the case with The Girl in the Basement. Unfortunately, both of these books also have characters who don't do sensible things; instead, they do what's necessary to keep the plot moving along.
The plot of The Girl in the Basement involves (spoiler!) a girl who lives in the basement. She's part of a foster home, and our main character is a new resident at said foster home. The girl in the basement isn't seen, and what the other kids in the home know about her is through hearsay. What makes her special -- and how that involves the other kids -- is the core of the story.
Garton doesn't approach this story with much subtlety. He makes things too clear and explains too much. It's like he doesn't trust his readers to make the connections on their own, since he doesn't allow them to draw their own conclusions. He also puts a thinly-veiled version of himself into the story, as a horror author who lives next door. In Meds, Garton pierced the veil to share his opinions about prescription medications, and in The Girl in the Basement, he pierces it again to reveal himself as a bitter horror author, jealous of Stephen King's success and disappointed with how the general public perceives him. The style feels immature, which is odd, since Garton has been writing professionally since the early 1980s.
The story here is entertaining, but it doesn't hold up well under scrutiny. It's not so bad that I wouldn't read more of his work (it doesn't have the rampant sexism of Richard Laymon, nor the pointless cruelty of Bentley Little), but it does give me pause. At the very least, Garton is a good storyteller, and for him to have been working for over 30 years, that counts for something.
To be fair, Garton does a good job with his characterization and his pacing. Once you get started on one of his stories, it's easy to get caught up in it and not put it down until you're finished. That was the case with Meds, read last year, and that's also the case with The Girl in the Basement. Unfortunately, both of these books also have characters who don't do sensible things; instead, they do what's necessary to keep the plot moving along.
The plot of The Girl in the Basement involves (spoiler!) a girl who lives in the basement. She's part of a foster home, and our main character is a new resident at said foster home. The girl in the basement isn't seen, and what the other kids in the home know about her is through hearsay. What makes her special -- and how that involves the other kids -- is the core of the story.
Garton doesn't approach this story with much subtlety. He makes things too clear and explains too much. It's like he doesn't trust his readers to make the connections on their own, since he doesn't allow them to draw their own conclusions. He also puts a thinly-veiled version of himself into the story, as a horror author who lives next door. In Meds, Garton pierced the veil to share his opinions about prescription medications, and in The Girl in the Basement, he pierces it again to reveal himself as a bitter horror author, jealous of Stephen King's success and disappointed with how the general public perceives him. The style feels immature, which is odd, since Garton has been writing professionally since the early 1980s.
The story here is entertaining, but it doesn't hold up well under scrutiny. It's not so bad that I wouldn't read more of his work (it doesn't have the rampant sexism of Richard Laymon, nor the pointless cruelty of Bentley Little), but it does give me pause. At the very least, Garton is a good storyteller, and for him to have been working for over 30 years, that counts for something.
January 23, 2022
This book cannot be real.. It reads like a high schooler’s creative writing essay. Just think up the most basic horror plot with the most one dimensional, stereotypical characters, and you have this book. I can’t believe I wasted an Audible token on this..
January 30, 2016
Not as good as touted.
September 28, 2019
I FOUND A NEW HORROR AUTHOR !☺☺
I discovered this Author, will browsing on Amazon. I absolutely enjoyed reading this, and will be reading more of his work
I discovered this Author, will browsing on Amazon. I absolutely enjoyed reading this, and will be reading more of his work
April 10, 2021
I was a tad hesitant to start this book strictly based on its title. The title is similar to Jack Ketchum's THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and I wasn't sure that I wanted something that intense. After reading just a little of the book though, I knew it was going to be nothing like it. This time the girl held a different secret.
The story follows 15-year-old Ryan Kettering who has just moved to a new foster home. He gets along with all the other kids except for 9-year-old Maddy who is left alone by all the kids. That is until Ryan goes to talk with her and uncovers her secret inside. Maddy knows things she shouldn't know and can make people do things they don't want to do. And now Ryan must figure out what to do.
This book shows a different side of Garton's writing that I'm not sure I've seen before. Usually his books are extreme and involve a lot of sex and violence. This time the actions are much more subdued and subtle. The story follows the basic trope of its genre but at the same time, it throws a few twists into it. Some threats and controls which are more impactful due to being subdued but deadly. I also didn't see the ending coming; it left me both hopeful and depressed. The book was a quick read that I found very entertaining.
The story follows 15-year-old Ryan Kettering who has just moved to a new foster home. He gets along with all the other kids except for 9-year-old Maddy who is left alone by all the kids. That is until Ryan goes to talk with her and uncovers her secret inside. Maddy knows things she shouldn't know and can make people do things they don't want to do. And now Ryan must figure out what to do.
This book shows a different side of Garton's writing that I'm not sure I've seen before. Usually his books are extreme and involve a lot of sex and violence. This time the actions are much more subdued and subtle. The story follows the basic trope of its genre but at the same time, it throws a few twists into it. Some threats and controls which are more impactful due to being subdued but deadly. I also didn't see the ending coming; it left me both hopeful and depressed. The book was a quick read that I found very entertaining.
January 30, 2022
Very well written novella and had me captivated right to the end. Ryan has had a rough life and has finally found what he thinks is the perfect foster home until curiosity gets the better of him and he talks to Maddie, the mysterious 9 year old disabled girl who stays in the basement away from the rest of the foster home residents.
This starts off a chain of events that Ryan will come to regret for the rest of his life.
Ryan is a character you can easily empathise with, especially after learning of his upbringing which makes the events that happen to him hit home harder.
The story itself is well told and interesting and manages to avoid a lot of the tropes of possession books/movies with its unique setting and characters.
This starts off a chain of events that Ryan will come to regret for the rest of his life.
Ryan is a character you can easily empathise with, especially after learning of his upbringing which makes the events that happen to him hit home harder.
The story itself is well told and interesting and manages to avoid a lot of the tropes of possession books/movies with its unique setting and characters.
November 16, 2022
I binged my way through this creepy novella. A suspenseful possession story which I haven't read in quite some time. Possession is one of my favourite tropes. Ryan is living in a foster home with three girls and three boys plus one mentally challenged nine-year-old girl who lives in a room at the end of the hallway. The others do not visit her unless helping with her care. The girl stays in her room all the time except for when the foster mother takes her out in the evening to walk around the backyard. When the men in black come to visit the girl Ryan has to know what's going on. I loved the fast pace which kept me reading into the night. All the characters were interesting and fun to follow. The ending was disturbing and satisfying.
July 5, 2025
This is one of the first psychological horror books I've read and its made me want to read more! I came across this book randomly one night on Libby and decided to give it a try and I don't regret that decision! The story line is easy to follow: A 15 year old foster kid is in a seemingly great foster house where all the kids are fed, have jobs, and have nice amenities. The only weird thing is that they keep a girl in the basement that nobody but the foster parents are allowed to talk to. I thought it would be a cut and dry child abuse story, but it is not! It subverts what you will probably assume very early on and takes you in a whole new direction. I really enjoyed this book, and if you like weird stuff, it's worth the read!
February 14, 2023
2 stars, maybe 2.5 at a stretch. I think I would have liked the story to have been fleshed out a bit more than its novella form and think with a bit more elaboration and a bit more patience in the revelations this could have been a bit more enjoyable. I don’t think there was anything particularly unique in the story, but it does the job of giving the reader their horror fix if nothing else.
This one had a strong start but failed to carry the eery tension into the second half, and whilst the dialogue with the girl in the basement had a good tinge of creepiness to it everything else around it felt a bit too cliche or immature to stand out as something I’d recommend.
This one had a strong start but failed to carry the eery tension into the second half, and whilst the dialogue with the girl in the basement had a good tinge of creepiness to it everything else around it felt a bit too cliche or immature to stand out as something I’d recommend.
December 22, 2019
Wow!
The scary starts right in the beginning. The characters are believable and you find yourself being terrified along with them. Or sad for Ryan and his mom. One big twist comes that I really did not ever expect. The story made me think about what people will do to get more and more material goods. Really a sad thing. But if you want a tHrilling, creepy read, then this is a good one!
The scary starts right in the beginning. The characters are believable and you find yourself being terrified along with them. Or sad for Ryan and his mom. One big twist comes that I really did not ever expect. The story made me think about what people will do to get more and more material goods. Really a sad thing. But if you want a tHrilling, creepy read, then this is a good one!
September 13, 2021
This was a short book but I am a bit disappointed. The writing seemed juvenile. I understand most of it was written from a kid's perspective but it didn't work for me. The story was way too simplistic for the subject but I'm actually glad it wasn't longer or I probably wouldn't have finished it. Despite the flaws, it was short enough that I can call it "enjoyable".
October 31, 2017
Every new Ray Garton book I pick up, about fifteen pages in, I think to myself 'Okay... THIS one is my new favorite'...
'the Girl in the Basement' was no exception... Except, I think it's going to stay my favorite for a while...
At least, until I start 'Ravenous', at least
'the Girl in the Basement' was no exception... Except, I think it's going to stay my favorite for a while...
At least, until I start 'Ravenous', at least
June 10, 2018
Scary!
Ray Garton has done it again! This is one of the most scariest books l have ever read! And I’ve read several books by Mr. Garton, but I held my breath the whole time l was reading this one.
Ray Garton has done it again! This is one of the most scariest books l have ever read! And I’ve read several books by Mr. Garton, but I held my breath the whole time l was reading this one.
September 5, 2018
Creepy as hell
This story was great. No spoilers, but this book throws in the exorcist, teenagers, and the federal government. Wow, it's a ride. I really cared about the main character, and his girl....and the ending blew me away.
This story was great. No spoilers, but this book throws in the exorcist, teenagers, and the federal government. Wow, it's a ride. I really cared about the main character, and his girl....and the ending blew me away.
February 1, 2021
I read this novella based on the recommendation of Mr. Stephen King. Although in many ways it’s a pretty formulaic “possession” story, but there are a couple of what I can only call “jump scares” that are truly brilliant.
April 23, 2021
An entertaining read, short and quick. The writing does seem a bit juvenile/adolescent, but the story is a great idea. Could have gone further with different dimensions of the plot, but overall entertaining and a good distracting read.
November 4, 2021
This was short, but really horrifying. I can't remember the last time I read something that gave me the creeps as much as this did. From the outset, I knew something really bad was going to happen, but I had no idea what or how much.
February 18, 2022
I really like the plot and premise of this short novella, but the dialogue was pretty bad. I really liked the "bad guy." Ending was unexpected and I enjoyed it, but could see how it could disappoint others.
May 5, 2022
Who Was in the Girl in the Basement.
I was enjoying this short book and then it felt like someone said , “OK, you’ve run out of time so wrap it up.” I was highjacked out of answers to all the questions. I felt like the storyline was ripped off the book’s pages.
I was enjoying this short book and then it felt like someone said , “OK, you’ve run out of time so wrap it up.” I was highjacked out of answers to all the questions. I felt like the storyline was ripped off the book’s pages.
May 14, 2025
Scary as hell!
In a foster care group home, there is one child kept separate, in fact, she never leaves the basement. Why? That's the overriding question answered in this story that will make your skin crawl.
In a foster care group home, there is one child kept separate, in fact, she never leaves the basement. Why? That's the overriding question answered in this story that will make your skin crawl.
September 18, 2025
Honestly, it's the best book I've read in months. It's captivating, fast-paced, and well written. If you seen "Storm of the Century" by Stephen King and like the devil character, you'll love this book. I'll definitely pick up more of this authors works.
March 9, 2019
Weird
Very very weird book and no true eason it had to be that bizarre. Was it based on a true story somewhere
Very very weird book and no true eason it had to be that bizarre. Was it based on a true story somewhere
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews