HellHouse

Hell House by Richard Matheson

Let me just start off by saying that I’m a huge fan of Matheson’s work. I think that the guy was a great author and he wrote some great scripts (even adapting some of his own work for the big screen). Hell House was one of the 1st books of his that I read and I find myself going back to it every few years for another read. Enough of this lets talk about the book.

A wealthy and ill man hires a scientist to prove or disprove life after death. Since time is of the essence he purchases the legendary Belasco house, which is also known as Hell House. He then sends a scientist and some psychics to the house to conduct all sorts of research. Among them is the only survivor of the last attempt to investigate the house, a man named Fischer. Things begin to happen almost as soon as they arrive. The scientist, Barrett, ignores much of them, thinking that it is the raw power of the house being influenced by the psychics. He has a machine that he thinks can clear the house of the malignant energy that is trapped within it. All the time Fischer tries to explain that there is some intelligence to the haunting. But who is right? Bad things happen and some secrets are revealed before Hell House is done with them.

This is one of the best haunted house novels that I’ve ever read. Heck I’ll go further and say that this is hands down the best that I’ve ever read! The story is quick to get to the good stuff. The story has a couple of twists and turns before you get to the end, which itself is very satisfying. I don’t want to ruin this so I’ll keep it vague. Lets just say that I love the reveal at the end of the book. Along the way we get to see the house work all of it’s perversions on those unlucky enough to spend their nights behind it’s walls. There is some pretty twisted stuff, including one of the most unpleasant ways for a ghost to possess someone that I’ve ever seen portrayed or read in a book. Don’t let the fact that this is an older novel fool you into thinking that there isn’t some nasty stuff going on. It isn’t explicit, but it is there. As much of a fan as I am of the movie adaptation I think that the book is actually even better.

Other then the plot itself I have always loved the characters. Barrett and his wife are interesting. Matheson gives them some issues that the house gets to use against them. This leads to some pretty nasty stuff. Plus physically Barrett is the target of much of the abuse handed out by Hell House. Then again the Florence character (the other psychic) has some bad things done to her as well. So I guess it is a toss up. But the abuse that these characters take only carries any impact because as a reader I really liked them and wanted things to be okay. Can there be any better sign to the talent of an author then this?

If you haven’t had the pleasure of reading Matheson’s work you should rectify that. And there isn’t a better place to start then Hell House. Thankfully his work is easy to find and copies of this book are out there to be had. I really recommend that you give this one a read.

reviewed by John Shatzer