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Skeptic Detective #1
One Night in Drake Mansion
Six Missing, Five Dead, and One Night to Unravel the Mystery
Eighty years ago, a wealthy family returned home from a magic show, after which neither they nor the magician, Malvern Kamrar, were ever heard from again. When several bystanders died in their mansion, the house was sealed. After nearly a century of rumors and haunted stories, the mansion will be opened for a live TV event, allowing five contestants to spend one night and win their share of a million dollars.
The contestants: a psychic, a high-tech ghost hunter, a Hollywood scream queen, a local woman, and a paranormal skeptic named Harlan Holt fuel excitement as each tries to solve the mystery. Upon entering the journal of the family patriarch, Vinton Drake is discovered, illuminating the puzzle, rooted all the way back to Vinton’s service as a medic in WWI when he first met the magician.
Departing from the familiar haunted house tale, this story explores the very nature of belief in the supernatural with consequences more frightening than any ghost story. Intensity soars when the contestants discover their lives, and thousands more, are in genuine peril. Is the mansion haunted? What fate befell Malvern and the Drake family? And will the contestants uncover the truth in time to save themselves…
One Night in Drake Mansion is the first book in Whitaker's Skeptic Detective Series.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
689 people are currently reading
1043 people want to read
About the author
Channing Whitaker
7 books65 followersChanning Whitaker is a novelist, screenwriter, and filmmaker originally hailing from Centerville, Iowa. An alum of Indian Hills Community College, Channing went on to study cinema, screenwriting, literature, and mathematics at the University of Iowa. His college years were also spent tending bar and in bar security, which he considers a valuable study of humanity, and an indispensable supplement to his formal education.
Post graduation, Channing began his career in the production of television news, independent films, and commercial videos, as well as writing for websites, corporate media, and advertising. His career has taken Channing from Iowa to Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and to California where he currently resides.
Channing is a fan of many media forms and genres. He considers himself a storyteller foremost and works in multiple media and genres himself. Channing’s artistic influences include Trevanian, Gene Roddenberry, Kurt Vonnegut, Jim Jarmusch, and Robert Altman, though he credits his late father, a psychology professor, with profoundly impacting his approach to the deep, conflicted, and multifaceted characters which drive his stories.
In his home life, Channing is a father of two, a sports lover, and a real-life space exploration enthusiast.
Channing is among a small subset of writers who are also dyslexic. He considers learning to overcome the challenges of this diagnosis to have aided him in persevering amid the rejection-filled, uncertain, and competitive fields of writing and screenwriting.
Post graduation, Channing began his career in the production of television news, independent films, and commercial videos, as well as writing for websites, corporate media, and advertising. His career has taken Channing from Iowa to Texas, Alaska, Oklahoma, and to California where he currently resides.
Channing is a fan of many media forms and genres. He considers himself a storyteller foremost and works in multiple media and genres himself. Channing’s artistic influences include Trevanian, Gene Roddenberry, Kurt Vonnegut, Jim Jarmusch, and Robert Altman, though he credits his late father, a psychology professor, with profoundly impacting his approach to the deep, conflicted, and multifaceted characters which drive his stories.
In his home life, Channing is a father of two, a sports lover, and a real-life space exploration enthusiast.
Channing is among a small subset of writers who are also dyslexic. He considers learning to overcome the challenges of this diagnosis to have aided him in persevering amid the rejection-filled, uncertain, and competitive fields of writing and screenwriting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
April 8, 2020
Not Your Typical Haunted House Story!
Channing Whitaker has taken a different approach to a story about a supposedly haunted house and it worked!
Five reknown individuals in their own field of work have been selected to be contestants in a new reality program where they will win a million dollars among themselves if they can survive the entire night by staying inside the infamous Drake Mansion from dusk until dawn. The mansion has been sealed up for over 80 years due to many inexplicable accidents and deaths that had remained unsolved. The Vinton Drake family of five had mysteriously vanished as well as the famous magician Malvern Kamrar who was last seen at the Drake home on the the night of all the disappearances. Police and investigators had searched every inch of the property for evidence and clues but the mystery remained unsolved. Over the years there have been claims of figures being seen in the attic window around sunrise and many have heard a deep growl or rumbling sound emanating from the old home. The reality program as well as the contestants are hoping to uncover some or all of the mysteries that have lead to the Drake Mansion being considered a haunted house. Will there be any answers to some of the queries over the years? Is the Drake home haunted? Why was the famous magician of that time at the Drake home? How did 6 people disappear without a trace and not have left any clue to their whereabouts or their demise?
Hopefully, many clues will be uncovered with some modern technology and some money seeking contestants. Unfortunately, for many though, this journey may not have a happy ending since this is not your average haunted house!
This was a terrific story and a lot of fun. There was a great mystery involved and some fun ghosthunting. The interaction among all the characters is very well-done with many snide and cryptic remarks and a a few arguments and some inappropriate behavior which really enhanced the story. If any reader enjoys ghost hunting shows or is interested in haunted houses, please, don't hesitate to give this book a try. i enjoyed this book immensely and loved the twists Mr. Whitaker inserted within this story.
I want to thank the publisher Booksgosocial and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this well-written story!
I highly recommend this book and given a rating of 4 Haunting **** Stars!!
Channing Whitaker has taken a different approach to a story about a supposedly haunted house and it worked!
Five reknown individuals in their own field of work have been selected to be contestants in a new reality program where they will win a million dollars among themselves if they can survive the entire night by staying inside the infamous Drake Mansion from dusk until dawn. The mansion has been sealed up for over 80 years due to many inexplicable accidents and deaths that had remained unsolved. The Vinton Drake family of five had mysteriously vanished as well as the famous magician Malvern Kamrar who was last seen at the Drake home on the the night of all the disappearances. Police and investigators had searched every inch of the property for evidence and clues but the mystery remained unsolved. Over the years there have been claims of figures being seen in the attic window around sunrise and many have heard a deep growl or rumbling sound emanating from the old home. The reality program as well as the contestants are hoping to uncover some or all of the mysteries that have lead to the Drake Mansion being considered a haunted house. Will there be any answers to some of the queries over the years? Is the Drake home haunted? Why was the famous magician of that time at the Drake home? How did 6 people disappear without a trace and not have left any clue to their whereabouts or their demise?
Hopefully, many clues will be uncovered with some modern technology and some money seeking contestants. Unfortunately, for many though, this journey may not have a happy ending since this is not your average haunted house!
This was a terrific story and a lot of fun. There was a great mystery involved and some fun ghosthunting. The interaction among all the characters is very well-done with many snide and cryptic remarks and a a few arguments and some inappropriate behavior which really enhanced the story. If any reader enjoys ghost hunting shows or is interested in haunted houses, please, don't hesitate to give this book a try. i enjoyed this book immensely and loved the twists Mr. Whitaker inserted within this story.
I want to thank the publisher Booksgosocial and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this well-written story!
I highly recommend this book and given a rating of 4 Haunting **** Stars!!
August 18, 2019
The story it was interesting and it is well written, but I couldn't connect to any of the characters. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
August 23, 2019
If you were offered money to stay in a haunted mansion overnight, would you do it?
Step into Drake Mansion where a group of people are playing to win a chance at a million dollars - which will be split if they all stay in the house, or one winner taking the entire thing as the night goes on. As they work through trying to figure out the secrets that the house holds, there is more at play than just a couple of ghosts, and what they uncover, with the help of an old journal goes farther than just sitting around waiting...
Oh my, I was not sure as I started the book whether I was going to like it or not, but when it started to pick up, man did it pick up! This went from a 3 star to a 5 star read really fast! I was blown away with how the story managed to turn and reveal much more than I anticipated! Great for a rainy weekend read!
Step into Drake Mansion where a group of people are playing to win a chance at a million dollars - which will be split if they all stay in the house, or one winner taking the entire thing as the night goes on. As they work through trying to figure out the secrets that the house holds, there is more at play than just a couple of ghosts, and what they uncover, with the help of an old journal goes farther than just sitting around waiting...
Oh my, I was not sure as I started the book whether I was going to like it or not, but when it started to pick up, man did it pick up! This went from a 3 star to a 5 star read really fast! I was blown away with how the story managed to turn and reveal much more than I anticipated! Great for a rainy weekend read!
March 26, 2021
Interesting Plot
The story was pretty good, but it really dragged for about the first half of the book. But I liked it.
The story was pretty good, but it really dragged for about the first half of the book. But I liked it.
July 9, 2019
I really, really don’t normally go in for paranormal investigation sort of books. But this one went and mentioned a magician in its description and of course I just had to read it. There are just certain subjects (magicians, circuses, cults) that hold an absolutely irresistible appeal for me. And what do you know, this one actually turned out to be a pretty good book. To be fair, I did read Whitaker’s novella before, so I sort of had an idea of the quality to expect and the quality here was certainly delivered. What might have been a fairly trite story turned out to be an exciting intriguing adventure. The basic premise is a fairly familiar one…5 contestants have to spend the night in a haunted mansion, those who make it get to split a very respectable million dollar prize. The 5 are a telegenic appropriately diverse bunch and the mansion is pretty severely haunted. It promises to be an unforgettable night of television…if they survive it. Pretty standard fare so far, right? Well, the best is yet to come and when it does, it’s in a form of a pretty awesome backstory, explaining the spookiness and the man behind it all and his friendship with a famous magician who specialized in death defying acts back in the day. The modern day contestants might be (more or less) led by the eponymous skeptic detective, but Vinton Drake, the man behind the mansion) was a believer. And his dark beliefs commingling with his dark nature set up this story for some really eerie thrills of both natural and supernatural variety. And yeah, I’m biased, because of the thing with magicians, but seriously, all magic connected aspects here were definitely the best aspect of this story, straight down to a really delicious twist in the end. So yeah, what started off as a fairly familiar set up, turned out to be a much more layered and interesting story. A lot of it is dedicated to debunking the supernatural and magic, because…obviously, the detective is a skeptic, but whatever side of that fence you’re on, it’s still a pretty good read. One I enjoyed very much. There are scares, suspense, action, mystery and plenty of surprises. It utilizes tricks from a variety of genres and is sure to please a variety of genre fans. Franky, as much as I don’t care for sequels or series, I probably wouldn’t be opposed to checking out the skeptic detective’s next adventure. Very nice find. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
October 6, 2019
First in the Skeptic Detective Series, our protagonist is Ph.D. candidate Harlan Holt, a member of Science, Magicians, Skeptics Foundation and anthropology graduate student. Harlan is an endearing and personable young man with a scientific frame of mind. Together with a young woman about to enter medical school, an aspiring actress, a paranormal investigator and a medium, he spends one night in a mansion abandoned for 80 years after the disappearances of all five of the family plus a well-known magician.
Between spooky occurrences and the unfolding of a historical megalomania, the reader is kept engrossed. Perhaps best is the ongoing balance between Science, as represented by skeptic Harlan, and paranormal believers, in the psychic medium and the paranormal investigator. The denouement is stunning.
Between spooky occurrences and the unfolding of a historical megalomania, the reader is kept engrossed. Perhaps best is the ongoing balance between Science, as represented by skeptic Harlan, and paranormal believers, in the psychic medium and the paranormal investigator. The denouement is stunning.
October 7, 2019
Needs an editor
I don't usually give bad reviews but I will make an exception in this case. Premise is good but requires a good editor, someone who understands plot,dialogue and scene setting. I decided to get this based on reviews and have decided that the previous readers had a different story. AlI I can say is just don't bother.
I don't usually give bad reviews but I will make an exception in this case. Premise is good but requires a good editor, someone who understands plot,dialogue and scene setting. I decided to get this based on reviews and have decided that the previous readers had a different story. AlI I can say is just don't bother.
November 23, 2018
Just seems to drag on.. It's not keeping me interested.. The writing is very good.
September 3, 2023
It was a decent read for free
A house with a dark past & a family that disappeared leaving a suspected haunted house for 80+ years. Five contestants with different backgrounds & tolerances for the supernatural all agree to spend the night in the house.
I found the book mildly engaging with a good story premise. Definitely not a book I'd re-read. I do plan on reading the 2nd book at some point.
A house with a dark past & a family that disappeared leaving a suspected haunted house for 80+ years. Five contestants with different backgrounds & tolerances for the supernatural all agree to spend the night in the house.
I found the book mildly engaging with a good story premise. Definitely not a book I'd re-read. I do plan on reading the 2nd book at some point.
October 30, 2023
Unique and excellent.
This was a surprisingly good read.
I'm happy I stumbled upon it. It is a well written and fast paced book with a very good story and believable characters.
This was a surprisingly good read.
I'm happy I stumbled upon it. It is a well written and fast paced book with a very good story and believable characters.
June 24, 2019
This is one of those stories where a group of people agrees to spend the night in a supposedly haunted house for money. The whole thing is sponsored by a reality-type webcast show. The prize is a million dollars, to be shared equally among the five contestants if all of them survive until morning without leaving the house. Must be a really popular webcast.
Anyway, the whole experience is to be filmed by many television cameras. All the contestants wear helmets with small lights and cameras mounted on them. Additionally, there are five or six remotely controlled robot camera pillars stationed throughout the house with them to film whatever goes on.
The stated purposes are to solve the mysterious disappearances of the members of the family some eighty years before and to capture evidence of the spirits who are suspected of haunting the house.
It’s not the typical night in a haunted house story where either ghosts or the other contestants kill off nearly everybody before the night is over. But a lot happens during this night, and the webcast’s viewers definitely get their money’s worth – even if they are actually paying to watch.
Early in the evening, a couple of the contestants find the journal of the head of the house, which eventually leads them to figure out what happened. It’s not clear if they actually read the journal aloud for the viewers, although that might have been something the viewers would have appreciated. Probably not as much as they appreciated the part where, on the advice of the producers of the show, the actress seduced the guy who was running the ghostly-phenomena-monitoring equipment during the dead uneventful part of the night.
The true story of the house is even weirder than ghosts or spirits.
Thanks to the author for a free review copy of this book.
Anyway, the whole experience is to be filmed by many television cameras. All the contestants wear helmets with small lights and cameras mounted on them. Additionally, there are five or six remotely controlled robot camera pillars stationed throughout the house with them to film whatever goes on.
The stated purposes are to solve the mysterious disappearances of the members of the family some eighty years before and to capture evidence of the spirits who are suspected of haunting the house.
It’s not the typical night in a haunted house story where either ghosts or the other contestants kill off nearly everybody before the night is over. But a lot happens during this night, and the webcast’s viewers definitely get their money’s worth – even if they are actually paying to watch.
Early in the evening, a couple of the contestants find the journal of the head of the house, which eventually leads them to figure out what happened. It’s not clear if they actually read the journal aloud for the viewers, although that might have been something the viewers would have appreciated. Probably not as much as they appreciated the part where, on the advice of the producers of the show, the actress seduced the guy who was running the ghostly-phenomena-monitoring equipment during the dead uneventful part of the night.
The true story of the house is even weirder than ghosts or spirits.
Thanks to the author for a free review copy of this book.
July 27, 2019
4 stars
One day the entire Drake family and the magician with whose show they attended disappeared into the pages of history. Then several workmen are killed at the site of their home.
Now eighty years later the house has been opened again to a reality program who is offering five contestants a share of one million dollars if they manage to spend one night in the mansion. They contestants are a melange of odd-types, but are willing to give it a go. They are accompanied by a horde of camera and sound people into the old house.
Things begin to go wrong from the very start of the contestants' quest.
This is the unusual story of an obsessed man, who is perhaps more than a little off kilter. It begins with our intrepid hodge podge of people who want to get rich or just get camera time for camera time's sake. The cast of characters is pretty formulaic and their behavior is predictable to a fault. But the twist in this story is when Drake's journal is found. As Harlan and Vieve read it, it reveals a whole new universe of wacky and sinister behavior. Thus the story weaves back and forth between the present and eighty years in the past.
All in all, this is a very good book. Once the reader is able to put aside the formula characters, the plot line is fresh and original. I am not certain what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised at the turn the book took into the bizarre. From the predictable to a philosophical discussion of the supernatural and human nature, this book takes the reader on a ride for sure. This is my first Channing Whitaker novel, and I immediately went to Amazon to look for other books by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this most entertaining book for me to read, enjoy and review.
One day the entire Drake family and the magician with whose show they attended disappeared into the pages of history. Then several workmen are killed at the site of their home.
Now eighty years later the house has been opened again to a reality program who is offering five contestants a share of one million dollars if they manage to spend one night in the mansion. They contestants are a melange of odd-types, but are willing to give it a go. They are accompanied by a horde of camera and sound people into the old house.
Things begin to go wrong from the very start of the contestants' quest.
This is the unusual story of an obsessed man, who is perhaps more than a little off kilter. It begins with our intrepid hodge podge of people who want to get rich or just get camera time for camera time's sake. The cast of characters is pretty formulaic and their behavior is predictable to a fault. But the twist in this story is when Drake's journal is found. As Harlan and Vieve read it, it reveals a whole new universe of wacky and sinister behavior. Thus the story weaves back and forth between the present and eighty years in the past.
All in all, this is a very good book. Once the reader is able to put aside the formula characters, the plot line is fresh and original. I am not certain what I expected, but I was pleasantly surprised at the turn the book took into the bizarre. From the predictable to a philosophical discussion of the supernatural and human nature, this book takes the reader on a ride for sure. This is my first Channing Whitaker novel, and I immediately went to Amazon to look for other books by this author.
I want to thank NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for forwarding to me a copy of this most entertaining book for me to read, enjoy and review.
May 26, 2016
Would you spend the night in a rumored haunted house for the chance to win one million dollars? For five people in Until the Sun Rises, the proposition is one that they can't resist. Each member of the group has his or her own motivations - be it money or curiosity, a desire to find the truth, or a way to prove a point. Whatever brought them to the Drake mansion, what they uncover during the night will challenge them all.
The mystery of Drake mansion is nearly a century old. An entire family and a magician growing in notoriety all vanish in the 1930's. Police officers investigating the disappearances are killed in tragic and very questionable circumstances. In order to safeguard the rest of the town, officials board up the house and pass an ordinance to keep it sealed up for 100 years. When television executives approach the town leadership with the idea of opening the mansion decades early and televising the endeavor, the financially struggling town jumped at the chance. As the evening goes on, two of t he contestants find the journal of family patriarch Vinton Drake. Journal entries slowly reveal the events of the past and the shockingly gruesome truth behind the entire mystery.
Until the Sun Rises is an intriguing read. Spooky, but not overly scary - no nightmares for us more sensitive readers! It's nearly impossible to not get pulled in to the mystery and the drama builds well as events unfold. There are times when the dialogue and descriptions feel somewhat rough or clunky, but the strong plot camouflages those bumps. The perfect story for a cool evening with a cup of tea and a cozy spot.
The mystery of Drake mansion is nearly a century old. An entire family and a magician growing in notoriety all vanish in the 1930's. Police officers investigating the disappearances are killed in tragic and very questionable circumstances. In order to safeguard the rest of the town, officials board up the house and pass an ordinance to keep it sealed up for 100 years. When television executives approach the town leadership with the idea of opening the mansion decades early and televising the endeavor, the financially struggling town jumped at the chance. As the evening goes on, two of t he contestants find the journal of family patriarch Vinton Drake. Journal entries slowly reveal the events of the past and the shockingly gruesome truth behind the entire mystery.
Until the Sun Rises is an intriguing read. Spooky, but not overly scary - no nightmares for us more sensitive readers! It's nearly impossible to not get pulled in to the mystery and the drama builds well as events unfold. There are times when the dialogue and descriptions feel somewhat rough or clunky, but the strong plot camouflages those bumps. The perfect story for a cool evening with a cup of tea and a cozy spot.
October 22, 2019
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
a million dollar prize for staying one night in a haunted mansion
out of the ones chosen who will remain and claim the prize
a haunting story but was bogged down with scientific facts i just wanted a proper ghost story...but the interaction with the characters was interesting if not predictable...
though the ending was good
a million dollar prize for staying one night in a haunted mansion
out of the ones chosen who will remain and claim the prize
a haunting story but was bogged down with scientific facts i just wanted a proper ghost story...but the interaction with the characters was interesting if not predictable...
though the ending was good
June 22, 2015
I have to say at first I wasn't sure if I was going to be into this book, but that changed pretty quickly. Very suspenseful story and keeps you wanting more. I loved Harlan from the very beginning and he remained my favorite throughout the entire book. Can't wait for Channing to put out another. I will definitely be reading it as well.
September 12, 2018
This is the first Channing Whitaker story I have read. I can assure you it will not be the last. This was just a totally engrossing read. It hit the table only once after I started reading it. Not a type genre for me, but I shall be visiting his interpretation of it over and over again.
Well done Mr. Whitaker, well done indeed. And with many thanks
Well done Mr. Whitaker, well done indeed. And with many thanks
August 20, 2018
Amazed!!!
When l started this journey of mind bending, amazing storytelling, being a speed reader, l didn't expect what l had in my hands! I had to slow down and treasure each & every word that l read. This book was captivating beyond any story that l have encountered before!
When l started this journey of mind bending, amazing storytelling, being a speed reader, l didn't expect what l had in my hands! I had to slow down and treasure each & every word that l read. This book was captivating beyond any story that l have encountered before!
May 22, 2019
This was sent to me to review by author . This is my honest opinion.
I was disappointed in this book. It took forever for something to happen and when it did it was not what I expected. I did not find this a horror story as I like. I liked "Anna Dressed In Blood" .
I was disappointed in this book. It took forever for something to happen and when it did it was not what I expected. I did not find this a horror story as I like. I liked "Anna Dressed In Blood" .
December 4, 2015
Well written, I wish there was more to the story.
February 20, 2019
Good story. It took me a little bit to get into the story, but once I was invested, it was enjoyable.
November 28, 2019
This was a horrible, horrible book. I read it from front to back with alot of skimming. Glad it only took a day to read.
July 28, 2020
First, before I get into the review of the story, I want to say that my particular e-book copy had quite a few grammatical errors and spelling errors. One of the more noticeable ones was the use of 'isle' (twice in a row) when 'aisle' was the correct word. Another was 'decedent' instead of 'descendant' - however, that one could very well have been due to the person using the word and/or the person recollecting events in a journal. There was another one a little later on in the book, but I honestly don't remember what it was. The grammar and spelling errors are more of an editor miss, but I wanted to address them briefly.
Now - onto the story itself. I won't summarize the plot or the book - you need to read it. I did like the premise of a reality TV competition with the only challenge being to spend one night, from sundown to sunup, in an allegedly haunted mansion. The competitors themselves had a little bit of range, but mostly it was three believers, one possible believer but more of a truth seeker, and then one skeptic - Harlan Holt, the main character of the Skeptic Detective series.
Dr. Holt was one of the more strong characters and I truly appreciated the scientific and logical explanations he provided for all of the anomalies in the abandoned mansion. Ax was a little less of a strong character, but I thought his personality was well put together. He explained his paranormal findings and when countered by Holt, either tried to explain against the logic/science or did, as what I imagine most people would do, nothing to counter Holt, got angry and sullen (even if briefly) and stormed off.
Audrey was a weak character to me and perhaps that was the entire point? She's an actress and one who is trying to make her way in the world of Hollywood, but she fell into the cliched role of "big tits, blonde hair, sleep-your-way-to-the-top" far too easily. I wish I could have seen a little more substance with her instead of blindly following La Claire's and Ax's cues.
Speaking of La Claire, wow, what an unforgettable character. She spent a good chunk of the book not even with the other characters. After her reading, which was generic and bland - which was the point and I can appreciate that, she kind of didn't really offer much. I suppose that was the point, too.
And Genevieve, or Vieve. I'm not entirely sure what her point was except to be a neutral party between everyone with a little bit of "Girl Friday" to Holt's Cary Grant-esque role. She was the only local and knew the history and mythology of the Drake mansion, so she was able to provide a little bit of insight to the place for the others, but not a whole lot more. Especially since Holt had done lots of research prior to arriving for the show.
With all that said about the characters, I actually really enjoyed how the story turned out. I would have appreciated a paranormal reasoning behind everything, but with a name like 'Skeptic Detective' it wasn't likely to be a ghost story. POVs switched a bit between the five contestants in a way that took me a half of a second to catch that now we've gone from Holt's train of thought to Ax's in a third-person omniscient style of writing.
Then there was a switch to the past POV which I enjoyed, though it was a little slow going at first. I love reading as people descend into a madness that they will never be able to escape and this descent was glorious. It took one suggestion to turn someone who appeared to be well-intentioned and concerned for the down-on-their-luck masses after witnessing something horrendous. That one suggestion wasn't even straight out said, which makes it even better. It was a covetous, prideful nature that was brought forth at the mere idea that this fantastical 'prize' could be obtained.
All you had to do was essentially sell your soul. I praise Mr. Whitaker for that subtlety - it was very well done.
Now - onto the story itself. I won't summarize the plot or the book - you need to read it. I did like the premise of a reality TV competition with the only challenge being to spend one night, from sundown to sunup, in an allegedly haunted mansion. The competitors themselves had a little bit of range, but mostly it was three believers, one possible believer but more of a truth seeker, and then one skeptic - Harlan Holt, the main character of the Skeptic Detective series.
Dr. Holt was one of the more strong characters and I truly appreciated the scientific and logical explanations he provided for all of the anomalies in the abandoned mansion. Ax was a little less of a strong character, but I thought his personality was well put together. He explained his paranormal findings and when countered by Holt, either tried to explain against the logic/science or did, as what I imagine most people would do, nothing to counter Holt, got angry and sullen (even if briefly) and stormed off.
Audrey was a weak character to me and perhaps that was the entire point? She's an actress and one who is trying to make her way in the world of Hollywood, but she fell into the cliched role of "big tits, blonde hair, sleep-your-way-to-the-top" far too easily. I wish I could have seen a little more substance with her instead of blindly following La Claire's and Ax's cues.
Speaking of La Claire, wow, what an unforgettable character. She spent a good chunk of the book not even with the other characters. After her reading, which was generic and bland - which was the point and I can appreciate that, she kind of didn't really offer much. I suppose that was the point, too.
And Genevieve, or Vieve. I'm not entirely sure what her point was except to be a neutral party between everyone with a little bit of "Girl Friday" to Holt's Cary Grant-esque role. She was the only local and knew the history and mythology of the Drake mansion, so she was able to provide a little bit of insight to the place for the others, but not a whole lot more. Especially since Holt had done lots of research prior to arriving for the show.
With all that said about the characters, I actually really enjoyed how the story turned out. I would have appreciated a paranormal reasoning behind everything, but with a name like 'Skeptic Detective' it wasn't likely to be a ghost story. POVs switched a bit between the five contestants in a way that took me a half of a second to catch that now we've gone from Holt's train of thought to Ax's in a third-person omniscient style of writing.
Then there was a switch to the past POV which I enjoyed, though it was a little slow going at first. I love reading as people descend into a madness that they will never be able to escape and this descent was glorious. It took one suggestion to turn someone who appeared to be well-intentioned and concerned for the down-on-their-luck masses after witnessing something horrendous. That one suggestion wasn't even straight out said, which makes it even better. It was a covetous, prideful nature that was brought forth at the mere idea that this fantastical 'prize' could be obtained.
All you had to do was essentially sell your soul. I praise Mr. Whitaker for that subtlety - it was very well done.
August 4, 2020
We've all done the ghost mysteries in the old, abandoned, and haunted mansion. But not like this. This one comes complete with lights, camera, action! The "skeptic detective" is protagonist Ph.D. candidate Harlan Holt. He is all about science. He is closely acquainted with Genevieve (Vieve), an aspiring medical student.
The premise is not just about spending the night in a haunted house. It's a reality TV show with crews, trucks, equipment, lights, and sound following every nuance of the five contestants all hoping to win at least a portion of the promised million dollars. There is also an actress, a paranormal investigator, and a medium.
The Vinton Drake family of five and their guest Malvern Kamrar, a renowned magician all disappear one evening without a trace. Over the eighty years since, there have been unexplained activities at the site including sounds and sightings of apparitions.
It rings so true of those old movies where the assembled gather in candlelight to provide their own field of expertise and exchange intel. The support characters are more two-dimensional but provide an acerbic wit and depth to the gathering offering theories based on their experiences.
POV switches from Holt to the TV crew manager and Drake's journal. It's a reality TV show first. Second--can they figure out whether there are reasonable explanations for the manifestations? Explain the disappearances? Complex, tension-filled, is it really haunted?
The author is quite the storyteller and the well-plotted narrative complicated, multi-layered. You'll never guess in a million years the conclusion. But I did have a quibble or two--the protagonist, while better developed--could not engage with either him or Vieve and must admit to having my attention flag a few times.
So completely unique and the first in a series that I can imagine is quite compelling. If you enjoy ghost stories, paranormal mysteries, you'll likely enjoy this one. We received from Amazon with no expectation of a review and this is my honest opinion. Recommended. 3.5/5 stars
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
The premise is not just about spending the night in a haunted house. It's a reality TV show with crews, trucks, equipment, lights, and sound following every nuance of the five contestants all hoping to win at least a portion of the promised million dollars. There is also an actress, a paranormal investigator, and a medium.
The Vinton Drake family of five and their guest Malvern Kamrar, a renowned magician all disappear one evening without a trace. Over the eighty years since, there have been unexplained activities at the site including sounds and sightings of apparitions.
It rings so true of those old movies where the assembled gather in candlelight to provide their own field of expertise and exchange intel. The support characters are more two-dimensional but provide an acerbic wit and depth to the gathering offering theories based on their experiences.
POV switches from Holt to the TV crew manager and Drake's journal. It's a reality TV show first. Second--can they figure out whether there are reasonable explanations for the manifestations? Explain the disappearances? Complex, tension-filled, is it really haunted?
The author is quite the storyteller and the well-plotted narrative complicated, multi-layered. You'll never guess in a million years the conclusion. But I did have a quibble or two--the protagonist, while better developed--could not engage with either him or Vieve and must admit to having my attention flag a few times.
So completely unique and the first in a series that I can imagine is quite compelling. If you enjoy ghost stories, paranormal mysteries, you'll likely enjoy this one. We received from Amazon with no expectation of a review and this is my honest opinion. Recommended. 3.5/5 stars
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
October 2, 2020
There were some things that were good about this book, some things that were...not so good.
I thought the general premise of a skeptic investigating a haunted house and trying to explain the haunting logically was interesting. I enjoy explanations of the paranormal and when paranormal believers and skeptics investigate together, which doesn't happen a lot because people who like paranormal things don't often like skeptics. All the parts that were focused on exploring the house or on the main character, Harlan, interacting with the psychic or the ghost hunter, I thought were entertaining.
The problem is, that only makes up a portion of the book. Most of the book is the previous home owner, Vinton's, journal. These sections are very long and very boring. I almost DNF'd at several points during these sections, but I forced my way through them. These sections also don't really feel like journal entries to me. There's another section of journal entries in the second half of the book that are a lot better, so I'm not sure why these first entries weren't like this.
I also thought most of the characters weren't very good. I liked the psychic and the ghost hunter well enough because I got where they were coming from, but I didn't really understand the other two female characters. They seemed like they were mainly there just to be love interests for the two male characters. They set them up originally as being sort of opposites to each other, but then as it goes on, they behave pretty similarly.
It also does this thing that I don't like in books where whenever it introduces a female character it immediately mentions their breasts or their butt or both. That's just a minor annoyance though.
I also don't know that I really understood Harlan's character. I went into this sort of expecting him to be a bit of a know-it-all jerk, since that's how skeptics are usually portrayed. He was to a certain extent, but it seemed like the book didn't mean to treat him that way and we were supposed to like him. One of the parts that annoyed me about him was his refusal to call the psychic by her stage name. It's a small thing, but it's just sort of needlessly rude that he kept calling her by a name she didn't want to be called by. There's also a section where he pretends to be doing his own psychic reading and uses that as a pretense to grope one of the female characters. Everybody else there pretty much laughs it off, but it really rubbed me the wrong way.
There were parts of the story I didn't mind and I could have looked past the stuff that I did, but the super boring journal sections made it hard to get through.
I thought the general premise of a skeptic investigating a haunted house and trying to explain the haunting logically was interesting. I enjoy explanations of the paranormal and when paranormal believers and skeptics investigate together, which doesn't happen a lot because people who like paranormal things don't often like skeptics. All the parts that were focused on exploring the house or on the main character, Harlan, interacting with the psychic or the ghost hunter, I thought were entertaining.
The problem is, that only makes up a portion of the book. Most of the book is the previous home owner, Vinton's, journal. These sections are very long and very boring. I almost DNF'd at several points during these sections, but I forced my way through them. These sections also don't really feel like journal entries to me. There's another section of journal entries in the second half of the book that are a lot better, so I'm not sure why these first entries weren't like this.
I also thought most of the characters weren't very good. I liked the psychic and the ghost hunter well enough because I got where they were coming from, but I didn't really understand the other two female characters. They seemed like they were mainly there just to be love interests for the two male characters. They set them up originally as being sort of opposites to each other, but then as it goes on, they behave pretty similarly.
It also does this thing that I don't like in books where whenever it introduces a female character it immediately mentions their breasts or their butt or both. That's just a minor annoyance though.
I also don't know that I really understood Harlan's character. I went into this sort of expecting him to be a bit of a know-it-all jerk, since that's how skeptics are usually portrayed. He was to a certain extent, but it seemed like the book didn't mean to treat him that way and we were supposed to like him. One of the parts that annoyed me about him was his refusal to call the psychic by her stage name. It's a small thing, but it's just sort of needlessly rude that he kept calling her by a name she didn't want to be called by. There's also a section where he pretends to be doing his own psychic reading and uses that as a pretense to grope one of the female characters. Everybody else there pretty much laughs it off, but it really rubbed me the wrong way.
There were parts of the story I didn't mind and I could have looked past the stuff that I did, but the super boring journal sections made it hard to get through.
January 14, 2020
I'm giving One Night in Drake Mansion five stars as it kept me turning the pages; a good aspect of any story. I must admit I didn't understand all the techno parts of the story, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.
I really liked the way the narrative seemed to be separated into three parts. The first was the experience of the five competitors who must spend the night in the house to win one million dollars. The second is the reaction of the people outside; the broadcasting crew and the public who came in their thousands to support the competitors. And thirdly, the harrowing experience of Vinton Drake who died eighty years ago and seemed to be the catalyst of all the tragic events in the house
Of the five people who stepped through the door of the house that night, Harlan is no doubt the hero with his companion, Genevieve, the heroine. But I did enjoy the way the personalities of each of the five characters interacted; from the physic who had 'feelings' about the tragedies, to Ax who believed himself to be a scientific observer of phenomena with all his equipment. Martha, an actress and Genevieve, a local girl. Completing the ensemble was Harlan, a sceptic who doubted accepted opinion and believed the phenomenon was either natural or man-made.
I grew to like Harlan and Genevieve as the story progressed.
A cleverly written book that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to readers who love paranormal stories.
I really liked the way the narrative seemed to be separated into three parts. The first was the experience of the five competitors who must spend the night in the house to win one million dollars. The second is the reaction of the people outside; the broadcasting crew and the public who came in their thousands to support the competitors. And thirdly, the harrowing experience of Vinton Drake who died eighty years ago and seemed to be the catalyst of all the tragic events in the house
Of the five people who stepped through the door of the house that night, Harlan is no doubt the hero with his companion, Genevieve, the heroine. But I did enjoy the way the personalities of each of the five characters interacted; from the physic who had 'feelings' about the tragedies, to Ax who believed himself to be a scientific observer of phenomena with all his equipment. Martha, an actress and Genevieve, a local girl. Completing the ensemble was Harlan, a sceptic who doubted accepted opinion and believed the phenomenon was either natural or man-made.
I grew to like Harlan and Genevieve as the story progressed.
A cleverly written book that I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to readers who love paranormal stories.
August 23, 2020
Here’s a book that feels a lot like Shirley Jackson’s classic The Haunting of Hill House with a modern twist. A reality TV show has offered a reward of one million dollars to be split between five people if they manage to stay in a famous haunted house (the Drake Mansion) from dusk until dawn. One’s an actress, one’s a medium, one’s a ghost hunter, one’s a medical student, and one’s a supernatural debunker. Everyone is very excited when they enter the house and start to explore, wondering why a whole family disappeared here eighty years before and why so many people who have entered the house since have died.
Then, as you might imagine, strange things start to happen—things the paranormal enthusiasts instantly claim are signs of ghosts while the skeptic offers completely plausible non-supernatural explanations. To add tension to the story, the group comes across the journal of Drake, the former owner of the mansion, and we begin to relive the experiences of him and his family just before they disappeared, raising the very real probability that the mansion really is haunted.
I’m not going to give away the ending. It’s extremely well crafted and will have you playing with both supernatural and mundane explanations for what is happening in the mansion. I will say, it’s exciting to the end and a totally satisfying resolution to the mystery.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
Then, as you might imagine, strange things start to happen—things the paranormal enthusiasts instantly claim are signs of ghosts while the skeptic offers completely plausible non-supernatural explanations. To add tension to the story, the group comes across the journal of Drake, the former owner of the mansion, and we begin to relive the experiences of him and his family just before they disappeared, raising the very real probability that the mansion really is haunted.
I’m not going to give away the ending. It’s extremely well crafted and will have you playing with both supernatural and mundane explanations for what is happening in the mansion. I will say, it’s exciting to the end and a totally satisfying resolution to the mystery.
If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.
July 7, 2020
One Night in Drake Mansion is a thriller set in a local haunted house. 80 years ago, a wealthy family goes to a magic show, inviting the magician back to their house afterwards. None of them are ever seen again and the house is shut up for decades. That doesn't stop the creepy noises and unexplained ghostly lights that the locals keep seeing though. Five people are offered a share of a million dollars to spend the night at Drake Mansion while on live television: a psychic, a skeptic, a ghost-hunter, an actress, and a local. Mysterious happening occurs throughout the night and millions are tuning in. The question remains whether they can solve the mystery or if supernatural forces will keep them away.
This was a fabulous mystery thriller! The whole book the reader goes back and forth between getting a perfectly logical explanation for each strange circumstance or being just as convinced that the ghosts are real. It made for a real page turner as I waited to see what happened next. I wasn't sure about this book at first because the beginning felt rushed and was difficult to read as you're introduced to over half a dozen characters all at once, but it got better quickly and I'm glad I stuck with it.
This was a fabulous mystery thriller! The whole book the reader goes back and forth between getting a perfectly logical explanation for each strange circumstance or being just as convinced that the ghosts are real. It made for a real page turner as I waited to see what happened next. I wasn't sure about this book at first because the beginning felt rushed and was difficult to read as you're introduced to over half a dozen characters all at once, but it got better quickly and I'm glad I stuck with it.
June 2, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
I love spooky books. This book was spooky. However, it was a bit too long. On the other hand, there was a lot to explain, and Channing explained it well. I loved the characters. The main characters as well as the minor. I loved the twists in the story and the opposing theories. I say Well Done, Mr. Whitaker.
A prominent figure in the tale is found in a journal. The journal is crucial to the events of the one Night in Drake Mansion where 5 contestants must stay from sunset to sunrise to compete for $1,000.000. What’s the problem with staying all night? People have died or disappeared in the house. Lots of people. With the incentive of money; a Psychic, an Actress, a scientific enthusiast, a committed non-believer, and a local personality join the fray. Their interaction is fun to watch.
The journal becomes the focal point as the group begins to understand what happened to the homeowner and his family. The ghost of Drake Mansion sets to work frightening the little group. Or is it something or someone else? Come find out!
I love spooky books. This book was spooky. However, it was a bit too long. On the other hand, there was a lot to explain, and Channing explained it well. I loved the characters. The main characters as well as the minor. I loved the twists in the story and the opposing theories. I say Well Done, Mr. Whitaker.
A prominent figure in the tale is found in a journal. The journal is crucial to the events of the one Night in Drake Mansion where 5 contestants must stay from sunset to sunrise to compete for $1,000.000. What’s the problem with staying all night? People have died or disappeared in the house. Lots of people. With the incentive of money; a Psychic, an Actress, a scientific enthusiast, a committed non-believer, and a local personality join the fray. Their interaction is fun to watch.
The journal becomes the focal point as the group begins to understand what happened to the homeowner and his family. The ghost of Drake Mansion sets to work frightening the little group. Or is it something or someone else? Come find out!
April 30, 2021
80 years ago, Vinton Drake and his family disappeared without a trace, along with a magician. After their disappearance, several tragedies occur at the Drake mansion. As a result, the town of Shadow Bend, Iowa boarded up the house and prohibited anyone from being there.
Until a TV producer offers $1 million to a group of five people if they can stay inside the mansion from dusk until dawn. Madame La Claire (a medium), Audrey (a horror film actress looking for a bigger break), Ax (a ghost hunter), Harlan (an anthropologist), a Vieve (a local student) enter the house at dusk. Will they stay until dawn? What will they discover? Will they solve the mysterious disappearances?
The author plays the characters against each other, making the reality TV aspect of the story believable.
Unfortunately I read the sequel first, so some of the relationships were not surprising. Just like the sequel, the author gives the reader enough clues to solve the mysteries (always appreciated!). An enjoyable read that keeps your interest peaked. It will be of interest to paranormal lovers, as well as those who think it is all a bunch of hooey.
Until a TV producer offers $1 million to a group of five people if they can stay inside the mansion from dusk until dawn. Madame La Claire (a medium), Audrey (a horror film actress looking for a bigger break), Ax (a ghost hunter), Harlan (an anthropologist), a Vieve (a local student) enter the house at dusk. Will they stay until dawn? What will they discover? Will they solve the mysterious disappearances?
The author plays the characters against each other, making the reality TV aspect of the story believable.
Unfortunately I read the sequel first, so some of the relationships were not surprising. Just like the sequel, the author gives the reader enough clues to solve the mysteries (always appreciated!). An enjoyable read that keeps your interest peaked. It will be of interest to paranormal lovers, as well as those who think it is all a bunch of hooey.
August 17, 2020
That was a resounding "meh." The book went several different directions at once, and I felt like it never really committed to any of them. I liked the two main characters, although the others seemed somewhat flat. The plot balanced between, "There's nothing supernatural here, it's all a hoax," and "Maybe there is something going on here," and ended with no true answer. I'm sure the ambiguity was intentional, but it left me reading the whole thing waiting for the action to shift one way or the other. The whole thing also felt rushed, so that the action never really "hit" right; a slower pace to allow for more suspense and more detail would have made it a lot better.
It was an interesting read and I went through it quickly, trying to figure out what was happening, but it fell somewhat flat for me. If I happen upon other books in the series I will probably read them, but I won't go through any special effort to find them.
It was an interesting read and I went through it quickly, trying to figure out what was happening, but it fell somewhat flat for me. If I happen upon other books in the series I will probably read them, but I won't go through any special effort to find them.
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