Helpful Score: 4
Truly creepy! On par with Stephen King. I read the entire book in one night.
Helpful Score: 3
This is a great little creepy, languid, southern gothic horror tale. There's no explicit blood and gore here - everything is left to your imagination and that's what makes it work so good as a horror story.
Helpful Score: 1
McDowell didn't write as many scary books as some more famous authors, but his outshine most of the works by more well-known writers. I think this is his scariest book (Cold Moon Over Babylon comes close behind). Those into subtle horror (not slasher gore) will get a thrill out of this tale.
From the back cover-
"On a spit of land cut off by the Gulf, three Victorian summer houses stand against the encroaching sand. Two of the houses at Beldame are still used. The third house, filling with sand, is empty...except for the vicious horror which is shaping nightmares from the nothingness that hangs in the dank, fetid air.
The McCrays and Savages, two fine Mobile families allied by marriage, have been coming to Beldame for years. This summer, with a terrible funeral behind them and a messy divorce coming up, even Luker McCray and little India down from New York are looking foreard to being alone at Beldame.
But they won't be alone. For something there, something they don't like to think about, is thinking about them...and about all the ways to make them die."
"On a spit of land cut off by the Gulf, three Victorian summer houses stand against the encroaching sand. Two of the houses at Beldame are still used. The third house, filling with sand, is empty...except for the vicious horror which is shaping nightmares from the nothingness that hangs in the dank, fetid air.
The McCrays and Savages, two fine Mobile families allied by marriage, have been coming to Beldame for years. This summer, with a terrible funeral behind them and a messy divorce coming up, even Luker McCray and little India down from New York are looking foreard to being alone at Beldame.
But they won't be alone. For something there, something they don't like to think about, is thinking about them...and about all the ways to make them die."
Another set in the south spooky mystery from McDowell that sets up an old family in three sea side houses. One of which has not been lived in for a LONNNg time due to its wierd nature. Many spooky things start to happen when they visit after the matriarcs death. What is it about that house??
This one was truly creepy. It doesn't have anything jumping out and scaring you but it slowly creeps around you, giving you a truly unsettling feeling.
For years the families of the McCrays and the Savages have met at their place called Beldame. This place consists of 3 houses sitting on a patch of sand near the Gulf of Mexico. One house is the McCrays and one is the Savages. The third house is not occupied and is slowly sinking into the sand. After an intense funeral of a family member, they decide on a getaway to Beldame. Once there they are slowly reminded of why no one goes in or near the vacant home. They also find that it is not really vacant at all.
This book has a wonderful southern gothic feel to it. It is a slow burn through the first three quarters then at the end it ignites the whole book on fire. The characters are wonderfully drawn out even if I had issues with the father/daughter relationship between Lukar & India. Looking forward to reading more McDowell books!
For years the families of the McCrays and the Savages have met at their place called Beldame. This place consists of 3 houses sitting on a patch of sand near the Gulf of Mexico. One house is the McCrays and one is the Savages. The third house is not occupied and is slowly sinking into the sand. After an intense funeral of a family member, they decide on a getaway to Beldame. Once there they are slowly reminded of why no one goes in or near the vacant home. They also find that it is not really vacant at all.
This book has a wonderful southern gothic feel to it. It is a slow burn through the first three quarters then at the end it ignites the whole book on fire. The characters are wonderfully drawn out even if I had issues with the father/daughter relationship between Lukar & India. Looking forward to reading more McDowell books!
