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The Siren and the Specter

Jonathan Janz (Goodreads Author)

3.95 · Rating details · 686 ratings · 255 reviews

When David Caine, a celebrated skeptic of the supernatural, is invited by an old friend to spend a month in “the most haunted house in Virginia,” he believes the case will be like any other. But the Alexander House is different. Built by a 1700s land baron to contain the madness and depravity of his eldest son, the house is plagued by shadows of the past and the lingering ...more

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Hardcover, 295 pages

Published September 6th 2018 by Flame Tree Press

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The Sea Was a Fair Master by Calvin Demmer

The Siren and the Specter by Jonathan Janz

All Hail the House Gods by Andrew J. Stone

2018 Indie Horror Book Releases

96 books — 34 voters

Bram Stoker Award™ 2018 Reading List

192 books — 103 voters

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· 686 ratings · 255 reviews

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Aug 21, 2018 destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries] rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copies, the-best-of-the-best, horror, owned-physical

I’ve loved the horror genre for a very long time, and one constant in that love has been my relentless affection for haunted house stories. More than any other horror theme in the industry, I think, I am a sucker for a spooky, old farmhouse with bumps in the night, ghosts in the attic, and handprints on the window panes. I was immediately intrigued when I first came across the synopsis for this book, and I am pleased to report that it did not disappoint in any way.

Most dwellings are as

...more

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Aug 29, 2018 Char rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dark-fiction, haunted-houses, psychological-horror, net-galley, ghost-stories, flame-tree-press

3.5/5*

Alexander House is the most haunted house in the state of Virginia. David Caine is perhaps the most well known debunk-er in the United States and as such, he is called in to stay at the house and write a book about it. The current owners are hoping that David will be persuaded into believing that the haunting is real, and that the resulting book about the matter will draw visitors/tourism to the home. Is David finally persuaded that ghosts and hauntings do exist? You'll have to read this 3.5/5*

Alexander House is the most haunted house in the state of Virginia. David Caine is perhaps the most well known debunk-er in the United States and as such, he is called in to stay at the house and write a book about it. The current owners are hoping that David will be persuaded into believing that the haunting is real, and that the resulting book about the matter will draw visitors/tourism to the home. Is David finally persuaded that ghosts and hauntings do exist? You'll have to read this to find out!

My brief synopsis above doesn't do this story justice. Unfortunately, that's part of the problem I had with this book. There's a LOT going on-and to be honest? I thought it was too much. I loved the portions about the history of the house, the area where it's situated, and its former inhabitants-specifically Judson Alexander. I would have been happy with a book about him alone.

I understand that this story has several layers and I respect what Jonathan Janz tried to do. However, I think the focus of this tale became too wide, what with tons of information about David's old girlfriend, his old friend Chris and Chris' new wife Katherine, the CRAZY neighbors down the way, the local sheriff, and I haven't even mentioned the siren yet! I was fine with all of it through about 2/3 of the novel, but by the last third it just got too busy for me. Yes, there were thrills aplenty and lots of surprises, but I felt like the denouement went on a bit too long, and tried to cover too much material.

The writing itself though, was excellent, as I've come to expect from Mr. Janz. He created a tense and dense atmosphere-at times I felt I would surely suffocate from it. I also felt the characters were mostly realistic and while David Caine wasn't perfect by any means, I did come to care for him and I wanted him to pull through. This tale was imaginative and to restate, my only problem was that I wished it had been more focused.

I seem to be almost the only one who isn't all-out raving about this story, so it's definitely possible that I read it wrong. Even with my complaint, I still enjoyed the heck out of THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER. You probably will too. Jonathan Janz is always worthy of your consideration and if you decide to give this one a go, feel free to come and share your thoughts with me when you're done. You can tell me how wrong I am!

Recommended!

*I received an e-ARC of this book from FLAME TREE PRESS via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.* ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Sadie Hartmann Mother Horror rated it it was amazing

Shelves: scream-mag

Originally printed in the NOV/DEC 2018 issue of SCREAM MAG

Do you ever read such an amazing book, you’ve wondered why you only just discovered the author ‘now’? That happened twice for me this year. In January with Robert McCammon and then later this year with Jonathan Janz. Interestingly enough, both authors write in the same, compelling, character-driven storytelling style.
In the book world, specifically the horror genre, people have been celebrating the work of Jonathan Janz for awhile--I just Originally printed in the NOV/DEC 2018 issue of SCREAM MAG

Do you ever read such an amazing book, you’ve wondered why you only just discovered the author ‘now’? That happened twice for me this year. In January with Robert McCammon and then later this year with Jonathan Janz. Interestingly enough, both authors write in the same, compelling, character-driven storytelling style.
In the book world, specifically the horror genre, people have been celebrating the work of Jonathan Janz for awhile--I just wasn’t aware of it until 2018. I didn’t even know about his books until one day, I saw the cover for the novel, Children of the Dark and knew I needed it. I got copies for my horror reading & review group, The Night Worms. We all loved that book and as a result, I became an instant Janz fan. I needed more. I read Exorcist Falls next and it’s probably one of the darkest horror novels I’ve read. Between the coming-of-age narrative of Children of the Dark and the relentless, soul-crushing evil of Exorcist Falls, I got a very well rounded taste of Janz’s versatility within the genre in just two books.
This newest book, The Siren and the Specter rests in the sweet spot of horror. It expertly blends together a few sub-genres within the horror umbrella.
As the title suggests, there are two entities in this tale, the Siren which represents the author’s incredible ability to develop dimensional characters the reader can invest in, emotionally. Our protagonist, David Caine, a famous critic of the paranormal, is invited to stay at a legendary haunted house called, The Alexander House. Before he even steps into the house, it’s clear that Caine is already haunted by tragedy. Immediately, I formed a connection to David Caine which always generates risk and I love that--it really ups the ante when the horror arrives on the scene.
The Specter represents Jonathan’s other wheelhouse: The brutal, violent and depraved side of horror that fans show up for--the teeth of the story. This book is the perfect example that Janz understands his fanbase. As the horror book industry grows in popularity, the stereotypes are going to be put to death. There’s this weird assumption that the majority of people who read scary books are males who just want blood, guts, sex and gore.
The reality is that horror has earned its way on the list of best selling genres in the last few years and it’s already well known that women make up the highest percentage of fiction readers in the US. So with that in mind-it’s a fact that women are reading and LOVING horror.
Speaking for myself, I can tell you that Jonathan Janz’s storytelling hits on everything I’m looking for in a favorite horror read. I want to be impressed by the writing and Janz makes me feel at home with his accessible, fluid narrative. I want the story to engage me and surprise me--horror is full of familiar plot tropes but Janz always brings something original to the table. The story must deliver-I read horror to be scared, to feel my heart race and to get that thrill, if a book presents itself as a horror story but it lacks teeth when it bites, what’s the point? This book checks all the boxes. It’s everything fans want which proves that Janz is writing in full stride at this point. I’m excited to go back through the rest of his previous releases which will all be re-released through Flame Tree Press. I couldn’t be more excited about this. Trust me when I urge you to join the party, consider this review your invitation to be a fan of one of the best voices in horror for our generation. Your introduction to his work can be, The Siren and the Specter. For those of you who are already longtime fans, this book is going to be a new favorite! 5 out of 5 skulls. Sadie Hartmann/Mother Horror ...more

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Jan 20, 2019 Debra rated it liked it

David Crane, an author and skeptic of the supernatural, has been invited by an old friend to spend a month in the Alexander House. A famous "haunted" house that he and his wife recently purchased. The house has a dark and sinister history and David has been hired to determine if the house is in fact haunted and at the same time, he is going to write a book about his experiences there.

David doesn't believe in haunted houses. He has made his career debunking them. He believes the month in the ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Ivy H rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-thriller-mystery, supernatural-horror

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 4.25 stars.

“Homes have personalities, don’t they? Some are sullen, some are cheerful. This one—” he nodded, “—is less predictable. There’ll be days when you feel like she’s your best friend, like she’s smiling at you and wishing she could give you the world. But then she’ll turn brooding. Enigmatic.”

This quote refers to a majestic 18th century mansion, called Alexander House, that serves as a secondary protagonist in this novel.

Set against the backdrop of the Rappahannock River in Virginia, ...more

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Aug 23, 2018 Kimberly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, netgalley, atmospheric, death, ghost, psychological-horror, gore, legends, mystery, emotional

THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER, by Jonathan Janz, is one of his most complex and "layered" novels to date. In any book, your focus is on either the supernatural OR the human element during certain points. However, in this one, Janz has blended these two components together so well that they are nearly inseparable from each other.

"You can't reason away the unreasonable . . ."

We begin with David Caine, a man known for his books ultimately debunking believed supernatural phenomenon. His old college ...more

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Aug 28, 2018 Mindi rated it it was amazing

This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After 3 books, it's official. I will automatically read every book that Janz publishes. He is the real deal. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking, "he's been the real deal", but I didn't discover his work until this year, and I missed out on all those titles published by Samhain. But alas! All of those titles are going to be released again by Flame Tree Press, and I'm so excited for them. Not to mention whatever new work This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

After 3 books, it's official. I will automatically read every book that Janz publishes. He is the real deal. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking, "he's been the real deal", but I didn't discover his work until this year, and I missed out on all those titles published by Samhain. But alas! All of those titles are going to be released again by Flame Tree Press, and I'm so excited for them. Not to mention whatever new work Janz has coming up. I'm a fan, and I can't wait for more.

This book! I say that a lot in reviews. But I like to think of my reviews as a conversation with other readers, and if you were sitting across from me at a coffee shop and we were talking about books I would say, OMGosh! This book! And then I would go on for 30 minutes about how much I loved it.

I think I've mentioned in previous reviews that haunted house stories are some of my favorite horror. The Siren and the Specter is literally bursting at the seams with everything I love about horror. And let me say now, I read this book in less than 24 hours. I never do that. Usually I have things going on during the day, so I do most of my reading at night. I started this one Monday night, and pretty much did nothing but read it all day yesterday. I was immediately hooked. I was also a little bit creeped out! That rarely happens as well. The last book that gave me some serious chills was also a haunted house story, so there's clearly a reason why I love them so much. But I digress. I do that when I get excited. And I'm so excited about sharing my love of this book!

David Caine is a writer and a skeptic. He writes books that debunk famous haunted places, but at the request of an old friend he agrees to spend a month in "the most haunted house in Virginia". Alexander House was built in the 1700s and is basically another character in the novel. It's grand and imposing, but Caine isn't worried. He feels confident that staying at the house will be uneventful and give him an opportunity to write his next book. But the very first day that he arrives David already feels compelled to avoid the second floor. And when he finally does explore the upper level of the house, some seriously intense things happen.

The first week of his stay David also meets his neighbors. Those neighbors are all important to the story, but I'll let you discover them on your own. Some of them are definitely more troubled than others. Or just downright cringeworthy. All of them are well fleshed out though, and add to David's eventful stay at Alexander House. For the first time in his life David is in a paranormal situation that asks him to question his skepticism, and the things he sees and experiences in the house are impossible to ignore or explain away. By the end of the book, everything that David believes will be tested.

The Siren and the Specter will be released on September 6th, and I absolutely recommend buying it. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Michael Hicks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: advanced-review-copy, horror

I've been anticipating the launch of Flame Tree Press for a good while now, not least of which because it meant brand new books from Jonathan Janz and Hunter Shea. Both authors launched their careers at the now-ancient history Samhain Publishing, and while both have found publishers elsewhere since that publisher's collapse in 2016, it feels good to have them reunited beneath a common imprint and the guiding hand of editor Don D'Auria. I've been waiting for a new Janz novel ever since finishing I've been anticipating the launch of Flame Tree Press for a good while now, not least of which because it meant brand new books from Jonathan Janz and Hunter Shea. Both authors launched their careers at the now-ancient history Samhain Publishing, and while both have found publishers elsewhere since that publisher's collapse in 2016, it feels good to have them reunited beneath a common imprint and the guiding hand of editor Don D'Auria. I've been waiting for a new Janz novel ever since finishing Exorcist Falls early last year, so turning toward The Siren and The Specter as my inaugural read of Flame Tree Press was a no-brainer.

As expected, Janz delivers a fun, gruesome, and highly compelling read that happily kept me up past my bed-time on a few occasions because I absolutely had to know what would happen next. This is a good and true "just one more chapter!" kind of read.

Noted skeptic and supernatural debunker David Caine is invited by an old college buddy to stay for a time in the Alexander House, the most haunted house in all of Virginia. Built in the 1700s, its owner, Judson Alexander, was the worst sort of man, one who held the village around the Rappahannock River in an iron fist, raping and killing at a whim. His house was a source of bloodshed and torture for a number of those villagers, the land tainted forever. David rightfully expects the urban legends surrounding the Alexander House to be rubbish, but even he can't deny the quiet ache of his own personal losses that being back by the Rappahannock causes. As events unfold, David's skepticism is put to the test and soon enough the Rappahannock will run red with blood.

The Siren and The Specter has a lot going for it. As the title indicates, you get not one, but two - two! - supernatural entities to torment our lead protagonist. You also get a fair amount of carnage, a host of depraved sex acts, and a number of ghostly encounters that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. One of the best parts, though, was the sense of history Janz imbues the Alexander House and its surrounding region with, a history that is deeply personal to David and the peninsula where this book is set. The country is young, but the land is old, and the pre-colonial mythology surrounding the titular siren was a welcome counterpoint to the horrors inflicted by Alexander upon his neighbors. What struck me most, though, was the historical interplay between the siren and the specter themselves. Although these are two distinct entities in the mythology of the Rappahannock, both are fueled at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of both their gender and their bloodlust, one a victim and the other a victimizer. Janz slowly reveals the stories of each in highly compelling ways, using the dual spirits to illustrate mankind's proclivity toward wrath, cruelty, and the possession of others.

I'll confess that on first blush, I wasn't entirely sold on the siren's involvement in terms of this book's plot. Initially, it felt like a bit of unnecessary overreach, even a minor element that could have been cut without any detriment to the work. After some consideration, though, I find myself appreciating the thematic importance of the siren more and more, and the things she represents for David as he is forced to reconsider his skepticism toward the supernatural. There's a strong sense of duality at play in this book, and as a figure herself the siren is emblematic of several things in terms of both plot and character. The Siren and the Specter is very firmly rooted in the Gothic tradition, which demands readers to use their imagination, suspend their disbelief, and accept that there are more mysteries in this world than we can possibly understand. Judson Alexander is the most in-your-face mystery that both David and the reader must confront, but Janz asks us to accept just a little bit more than that as we carry along, challenging us to confront our own skepticism alongside David and accept some additional horrors and wonders beyond Alexander. Both are integral to David and his personal evolution during his stay on the peninsula. And after all, if we can accept the specter, why not the siren?

While there are plenty of Gothic traditions on display here - the fallen hero, death and romance, loss and terror, an emphasis on sexuality, dashes of political violence, an atmosphere of dread, a focus on the architecture of the Alexander House - in the end, it's this broadening of imagination that proves most fascinating and compelling. In fact, there's a lot about The Siren and The Specter that fascinates, from the character dynamics and their relationships to Alexander, the perversions of the Shelby family, David's struggles to be a better man and the appreciable easiness of those around him to call him out on his foolishness, and, of course, Janz's flair for violence. Janz is not the type of author who gets squeamish writing about blood and guts, and he clearly enjoys splashing around in gore with all the delight of a mad sadist. This is a big win for horror fans, and even when you know certain macabre acts are just a page away, he still manages to pull off a few surprises in each of the big reveals.

It's clear why Flame Tree Press chose The Siren and The Specter as one of their launch titles, and it's a delicious springboard into this new imprint. I suspect this book will also (rightfully) earn Janz a legion of new and devoted readers, readers who will enjoy sinking their teeth into the author's considerable back-list, which will be republished by Flame Tree Press over the remainder of 2018 and well into 2019. Introducing an imprint, and even to a certain degree reintroducing an already established author, with a work of Gothic horror like The Siren and The Specter is a smart move, and one that instills a lot of confidence in this new brand. Get ready to expand your imagination.

[Note: I received an advance reader copy of The Siren and The Specter from Flame Tree Press.] ...more

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Sep 27, 2018 Bri | bribooks rated it it was ok · review of another edition

It has been a while since I struggled this much with writing a review. I thought about leaving a rating and calling it good, but I am a tiny bit obsessive compulsive — I feel I must write reviews for everything I read.

First off, this hardcover is absolutely gorgeous. Flame Tree Press is doing amazing work. This sucker looks like it could have been published by S&S, or Knopf.

As for the story . . . oh, what a mixed bag. And that hurts to say, because I was hooked for the first seventy pages, ...more

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Sep 12, 2018 Shaina marked it as no-just-not-interested-nope · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018, dnf, really-gross-like-nauseatingly-eyew, ebook, eerie-spooky-gothic-weird-creepy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 04, 2018 Latasha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, horror

The Siren and the Specter- a variety of monsters. What I thought would be a haunted house story turned out to be so much more and more horrific. There is some great creepy, scary as hell scenes in here and some of the worst humanity has put forth. The story was written very well and kept me engaged.

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Aug 16, 2018 Jon Recluse rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ghost-stories, horror, netgalley

Jonathan Janz has penned a Laymonesque haunted house tale.....no, that isn't right. What we have here is a purely Janzian ghost story, because no one writes like Jonathan Janz. At turns both bone chilling and gut wrenching, where the sins of the past return to taint the present, while leaving one guessing as to whose sins they are....and whose pasts.
An excellent addition to the subgenre, tautly written, that will leave the reader guessing.....and sleeping with the lights on.

Highly recommended.

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May 16, 2019 Jamie Stewart rated it it was amazing

Okay, this is my second novel that I've read by Jonathan Janz. I would like to say that I enjoyed this one as much as the last one, which was The Dark Game, but I didn't and that shouldn't be surprising when you consider that book to be the best horror novel I've read in years. In a world filled with work, family life, commitments and the temptation's of TV and social media all I wanted to do was find a quiet place and read it in peace. I was obsessed with the characters within it and their ...more

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Aug 17, 2018 Lisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: net-galley

This book, for me had a major willie factor! I'd started reading this 2 or 3 times, and just couldn't get into it. This morning, around 2:00 a.m., I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, so I figured I should probably read something boring. Hence, this review! This story wasn't boring. This dang story kept me awake, in the dark, to the measly light of my kindle. I wasn't going to sleep! What spectres might bedevil me if I fell asleep? Nope, I'll just read until the sun comes up! I can't say ...more

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Sep 24, 2018 Kenneth McKinley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-kindle, horror

There's atmosphere a plenty in Jonathan Janz's latest, THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER. Creepiness and dread oozes from each subsequent page after page. David is a cynic. He has to be. It's his job. Debunking hauntings has paved the way for a decent living. Now David's college pal invites him to Virginia to write about the place he and his wife just bought, the notorious Alexander House. Chris and Katherine hand over the keys and David plans on staying in the house for a month. Their motive for having There's atmosphere a plenty in Jonathan Janz's latest, THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER. Creepiness and dread oozes from each subsequent page after page. David is a cynic. He has to be. It's his job. Debunking hauntings has paved the way for a decent living. Now David's college pal invites him to Virginia to write about the place he and his wife just bought, the notorious Alexander House. Chris and Katherine hand over the keys and David plans on staying in the house for a month. Their motive for having David write about the house is clear. Publicity. David is a best-selling author and they want him to write about his experience to drum up publicity as they plan to make the house a tourist attraction. David doesn't mind. He's disproved more haunted houses than he can count. In fact, he's yet to find any credible evidence to support hauntings and his skepticism has sold a ton of books. Why should the Alexander House be any different? Well, guess what? This house isn't like all the rest and it's due to Judson Alexander, the man who built the house back in the 1700s. He was one nasty S.O.B.and he's not ready to vacate the premises anytime soon.

SIREN has a lot going for it. Janz creates interesting characters and David is the one that's fleshed out the most. So much so, that his character has created some nice discussions when we read this as a group. To some, he's an egotistical shit head that deserves all the nastiness that comes his way. For others, myself included, I found that his college past seemed to lead to an unfortunate turn of events, but not one that he should be solely blamed for. Characters with this much layered depth stick with you, rattling around in your psyche, long after the story has been put back on the shelf. That's a good thing. Emotions run deep in SIREN. You have characters you feel for, some you relate to, and others that you absolutely loathe. There's a lot there. Sometimes too much. And thats the only negative that I have. Specters make up the mother load of story. Ahh...but it's called The SIREN and the Specter and I felt the siren is a little out of place in the tale. I simply think that it didn't add anything and really wasn't necessary. Others may think otherwise. Have yourself a go at it and decide for yourself.

3 1/2 Skeletons in the Closet out of 5

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https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5... ...more

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Aug 17, 2018 Juli rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-review-copies-2018

David Caine is a well known author who debunks legendary haunted houses. After publishing nine books on the subject, he isn't too concerned about the 10th project, The Alexander House. At the request of an old college friend who owns the house, David agrees to live in it for a month. Area residents and his friend's wife think the property is really haunted, but David knows that isn't possible. He firmly believes that supernatural things do not exist. Or does he? He isn't inside the house for a ...more

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Oct 11, 2018 Bill rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have been a fan of Jonathan Janz for quite a while. The dude has talent and I have enjoyed everything that I have read from him. “The Siren and the Specter” is no exception.

I am not even going to attempt to summarize this one. There is all kinds of crazy, creepy going on here. Probably even too much.

I’m giving this one 3+ Stars. I enjoyed it. It was written very well, as I expected, but was a bit scattered the last or so (for me) and I got a bit confused with the goings-on.

As always, I look ...more

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Sep 20, 2018 Marie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-hauntings, horror-books, horror-jonathan-janz, best-horror-i-recommend

David Caine, a renowned debunker of paranormal activity, is invited to come to the Alexander House on the request of his friend, Chris. The Alexander House has laid claims to being the most haunted house in Virginia. David decides that he will stay in the house for a month to see if he can capture any kind footage of a haunting.

David delves deep into the history of the house and finds that the Alexander house is named after Judson Alexander who did unspeakable things in the house. David has ...more

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Aug 14, 2018 Emily rated it liked it

3.5

I am really torn between 3 and 4 stars for this book. I loved some parts, and didn't care for others, so my feelings are pretty mixed. From the start, The Siren & the Specter builds atmosphere very well. Jonathan Janz's writing is descriptive, and it's easy to picture the house and surrounding area. The beginning of the book is a bit slow, but it helps you to get settled into the story.

I feel like there may have been too many storylines going on. It wasn't difficult to keep track of 3.5⭐

I am really torn between 3 and 4 stars for this book. I loved some parts, and didn't care for others, so my feelings are pretty mixed. From the start, The Siren & the Specter builds atmosphere very well. Jonathan Janz's writing is descriptive, and it's easy to picture the house and surrounding area. The beginning of the book is a bit slow, but it helps you to get settled into the story.

I feel like there may have been too many storylines going on. It wasn't difficult to keep track of everything, but I wish there would have been more focus. There's a haunted house, drama with the main characrer's past, info about the house's past, drama with the townspeople, a love story, etc. There was just much packed into a short book, and not everything was as fleshed out as it could have been. A lot of attention was given to relationships, and I had my hopes set on a spooky haunted house story. Unfortunately, the spooks were lacking for me in this book. There were a few good creepy scenes, but not enough to hold me over through the rest of the book.

There were some things in the book that were kind of hard to believe because some characters were written to be so over-the-top. You have to suspend your disbelief at times & just roll with it. Just know going in that there are some super graphic (and unsettling) sex scenes, and mention of sexual abuse of a child.

If you enjoyed The Winter People, this book has some similar aspects. There's an old house, some sort of haunting, and an old journal / book from a previous time. The two books are still very different, and they don't really have anything in common past that. Another book with some similar aspects is Hell House - if you enjoyed the haunted house skeptic aspect of that book, pick up this one.

I think overall, I wanted more depth for the horror parts of the book. It was very promising, and the setup of this book was amazing. The atmosphere was perfect, but I feel like the rest of the story didn't deliver. Things felt disjointed, and I was left with questions. However, this is still a good read, and there are things to enjoy within the story. Thank you so much to FlameTree for sending me an early copy to review! This one will be out on 9/6. ...more

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Sep 17, 2018 Levi Walls rated it really liked it

4.5 stars. This is in my top three most disturbing reads of the year so far!

I gotta say I may be a little biased, because I LUUURVE Jonathan Janz's work. I've collected most of his back catalog of books through Samhain Publishing, and I'm as proud of that collection as I am of my Stephen King collection. All that after reading only two of his books! Now, this is my third read of his, and the Janz man is in top form. Ok, enough Stanning, on to the review.

This is the craziest, most disturbing ...more

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Aug 26, 2018 Reading Divergence rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018_4-seasons_ha, 2018_bout-of-books_23, 2018_net-galley_reads, 2018_new-weird, a1-i-own-books, 2018_august_onceuponathon_19-26, 2018_let-s-read-indie_challenge, 2018_reads, a1-netgalley, 2018_lovecraft-and-mythos

Review: THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER by Jonathan Janz

If you're desiring a Haunted House tale that will electrify, terrify, and provoke deeper levels of thinking, don't look away. THE SIREN AND THE SPECTER enthralls, intrigues, and frightens, even the most jaded or uninterested. While you're gleefully shaking and shivering along with the various characters, you'll also be appalled at certain other characters, pondering deeply on the nature of good and evil, and considering how it is that "good" ...more

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Oct 07, 2019 Kristy rated it liked it

Shelves: book-clubs-or-group-reads

3.5 stars

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Feb 20, 2019 Josh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own, read_2019, horror, audio_books, favorites

What seems like the stereotypical haunted house novel is anything but. Delve beneath the misty and atmospheric fog, and you'll soon see horrors with deep roots spawning all shapes and forms.

The Siren and the Spectre is a great book. Simple and plain. The customary bumps in the night and horrors of the shock and awe variety are spread throughout the narrative but it's the characters and their stories which make this book so enjoyable.

The Alexander House is a fabled place of lore. Within its ...more

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Sep 07, 2018 Tracy Robinson rated it really liked it

Janz really knows how to spin a tale that leaves you guessing. I enjoyed this book, partly because of the haunting, partly because of the author's skill with description and dialogue. Honestly, I enjoyed the action and the villains more than the MC - I just couldn't connect all the way. I wanted more information surrounding the town's history with the Specter and the darkness that surrounds it. That being said, I highly recommend this scary, haunting tale

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Jul 23, 2018 Karl marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2018-07-books-bought, flame_tree-own

This Is an advanced reading copy uncorrected proof of the book and is signed by Jonathan Janz.

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Sep 14, 2018 Audra (ouija.doodle.reads) rated it liked it

Shelves: horror, haunted-house

Real hauntings, metaphorical hauntings, skeptics, murder, conspiracy theories, sex maniacs, backstabbing, creepy kids—this book has it all.

A haunted house story is just about my favorite thing. I can't get enough of them—I think it's probably the most interesting setting for a book. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

Janz ups the ante in this book because not only are we dealing with a (potentially) haunted house, but main character David is also haunted by his past.

David is a sort of haunting debunker who Real hauntings, metaphorical hauntings, skeptics, murder, conspiracy theories, sex maniacs, backstabbing, creepy kids—this book has it all.

A haunted house story is just about my favorite thing. I can't get enough of them—I think it's probably the most interesting setting for a book. ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

Janz ups the ante in this book because not only are we dealing with a (potentially) haunted house, but main character David is also haunted by his past.

David is a sort of haunting debunker who writes books about his (lack of) experiences in supposedly haunted places. When his buddy Chris asks him to come check out the notorious Alexander House, he accepts, but the Virginian peninsula the house sits on holds more than a chilling past, it also holds bad memories for David, as it is where he last spent time with his girlfriend Anna before he broke her heart. Soon after she killed herself and he's always blamed himself for her death.

That is really just scratching the surface of everything that's going on in this book—you have to read it to get the full effect!

This is one of those books I found myself thinking about when I wasn't reading it. I wanted to know what was going to happen next and I was definitely trying to figure out the twists and turns, which is always fun.

Sometimes the book has too much going on. Between multiple ghosts, a side plot of crazy neighbors next door (that does end up tying in satisfyingly), a potential love interest, having to explain the backstory and historical parts, run-ins with the cops, and everyone seeming to turn on David, I felt there were places that the plot could have been streamlined for easier reading. There was one scene with an entity toward the end (sorry to be vague—trying to be spoiler-free!) that felt especially unnecessary and I really didn't see the point of; it felt like filler at the end of a story that had already concluded.

The chaos doesn't detract that much from the book; somehow Janz is able to keep most of the plates spinning throughout this wild story. He is great with dialogue (minus some cheese that felt unrealistic in the flirting scenes). The suspense and tension built throughout the scenes in the creepy house are really fantastic and gave me that creeping sense of dread I really love. Janz also knows how to break up the tension with moments of comedy, even absurdity.

There are also really horrific scenes of multiple types. The horror of what people do to each other and those they are supposed to care for and about, as well as supernatural horror and gore. I enjoyed it all.

A great horror read, and it should definitely be on the list for haunted house enthusiasts. This is my second book of Janz's and I am definitely on board for whatever else comes next.

My thanks to Flame Tree Press for sending an advance copy of this one to read and review. ...more

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Aug 10, 2018 Lilyn G. | Sci-Fi & Scary | "Empathy" - Look it up. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: horror

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration.

I have been in a pretty fierce book slump since reading Mary Robinette Kowal's The Calculating Stars. It was just so good that nothing I picked up afterwards seemed nearly as interesting. I started multiple books trying to find something that would catch my attention. I even tried re-reading one of my favorite books. Still nothing. So, when I started Jonathan Janz's The Siren and the Specter, I was almost ...more

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Aug 31, 2018 Bob rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, hauntings

Darker and more disturbing that you can possibly imagine, The Siren and The Specter is not just the best haunted house novel I have read in years, but one of the better horror novels I have read. Jonathan Janz hooked me from the start, dragging me into the halls of The Alexander House alongside David Caine, where he made me feel the same mixture of visceral fear, self-conscious paranoia, and guilty anxiety. There is so much atmosphere to the house, and there is no better way to capture it than Darker and more disturbing that you can possibly imagine, The Siren and The Specter is not just the best haunted house novel I have read in years, but one of the better horror novels I have read. Jonathan Janz hooked me from the start, dragging me into the halls of The Alexander House alongside David Caine, where he made me feel the same mixture of visceral fear, self-conscious paranoia, and guilty anxiety. There is so much atmosphere to the house, and there is no better way to capture it than through the eyes of a determined skeptic.

It's not just the House that makes the story, though, it's everything that surrounds it. It's the history, the geography, the character backstories, and the overarching mystery. It's the way Janz refuses to allow us to become comfortable with the story, shocking us with the perversions of the Shelby family down the lane; challenging our empathy with the full details of the suicide that so haunts David; disgusting us with the dark history of Judson Alexander; and betraying us with the revelations about the true motives of character we love, as well as those we hate. It's a story of layers, and the deeper we dwell, the heavier they weigh upon us.

The supernatural aspects here are top-notch, but I loved the way Janz played with our disbelief, first forcing us to confront what seems to be irrefutable proof of ghosts, and then giving us legitimate cause to suspect an all-too-human set-up. While I initially found David's subconscious taunting of his own fears to be annoying, it really does serve to set the stage, making us wonder as much about the House as we do him. Neither doubt nor belief come easily, but that is what makes the story so compelling, especially as questions arise and it becomes increasingly more difficult to deny the evidence piling up against David's skepticism. There are a few too many coincidences necessary to bring the story together, convenient connections between characters and locations, but there are really two climaxes to the book, one each for The Siren and The Specter, and that is ultimately what allowed me to accept and embrace those connections.

That small complaint aside, the story is solid, the writing extraordinarily polished, and the narrative extremely powerful. It's been a long time since I've felt so drawn to a story, so desperate to find out what happens next, to discover the answers, and even longer since I didn't come away disappointed by an ending. Highly recommended!

http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/2... ...more

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Sep 10, 2018 Glenn Rolfe rated it really liked it

THE SIREN & THE SPECTER is a ghost story in the Southern Gothic-vein. As with his previous novels, THE NIGHTMARE GIRL and THE SORROWS, Jonathan Janz proves well-versed in the ways of man’s battles with demons and ghosts. Gripping and wrapped up in mystery, THE SIREN & THE SPECTER is among his best.

While I never found myself able to like the main character, David (a bit of a self-centered coward through much of the story), Janz does a great job by surrounding him with a wonderful cast of THE SIREN & THE SPECTER is a ghost story in the Southern Gothic-vein. As with his previous novels, THE NIGHTMARE GIRL and THE SORROWS, Jonathan Janz proves well-versed in the ways of man’s battles with demons and ghosts. Gripping and wrapped up in mystery, THE SIREN & THE SPECTER is among his best.

While I never found myself able to like the main character, David (a bit of a self-centered coward through much of the story), Janz does a great job by surrounding him with a wonderful cast of characters. Sheriff Harkless and Jessica Greene bring all the likability you could ever ask for. The Shelby's offer a disturbing mix of depravity and horror, while Janz's work through the journal of Weir and Hartenstein's book of Weir's death, add depth to the nightmares of Alexander House.

There's also a number of scenes in "The long bedroom" that managed to give me goosebumps. You'll know which ones when you read them.

Janz also nails it with his atmosphere and setting in this one. I've traveled the back roads of Virginia and it is a country unto itself. One that evokes a sense of magic and history. Janz does a wonderful job bringing that magic into this novel.

My only issues were with the "Siren" who I feel could have been cut from the book entirely and not had it take anything away from the story. And also the character, Alicia. She sets off the chain of events at the end of the book, but I wish that either her character would have been in the book more or that Janz would have used one of the already established characters we were more invested in to really create more impact at that moment.

Again, those are small gripes with an otherwise fantastic story. I'm not surprised to find this the best novel of the Flame Tree Press launch and certainly one of my top ten reads of 2018.

Overall, THE SIREN & THE SPECTER is a ghost story that bears such influences as Edward Lee, Bryan Smith, Micheal McDowell, Richard Matheson, and perfectly swirls them with some classic Janz.

I give THE SIREN & THE SPECTER 4 stars! ...more

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Oct 31, 2018 Gemma ♕ Books_McCoy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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The Reading For P...: October 2019 Terror Tribe Buddy Read: The Siren and the Spectre by Jonathan Janz	11	19	Nov 03, 2019 10:04AM
Horror Aficionados : September 2018 Group Read with Guest Author, Jonathan Janz	272	201	Nov 04, 2018 01:21PM
Play Book Tag: The Siren and the Specter by Jonathan Janz / 5 stars	7	16	Oct 16, 2018 01:29PM

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About Jonathan Janz

Jonathan Janz

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Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene; he has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel ...more