Elaine P. reviewed on 3/21/2007 + 27 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 13

I got into this book not being aware of all the hype back in 2002 when Stephen King produced a mini-series based on this same subject. (Yes, I do live on this planet!) Almost right from the start of the book I began to wonder if this story was non-fiction, as presented, or fiction. After all, who would sell a dust-covered, unopened diary that had been part of a nortorious estate? And what bride sits down and spends an hour writing in her diary just before her wedding - like she has nothing else to do? So I started looking around the net and found that this is, indeed, a work of fiction by author Ridley Pearson, (who coincidentally has written a book entitled The Art of Deception.) The following is a quote from thebookhaven.homestead by book reviewer Amy Coffin (how apt!):

"Rose Red is a haunted house with a disturbing past. The Seattle mansion was constructed at the turn of the 20th century. Oil magnate John Rimbauer built the house for his bride, Ellen. From the early stages of construction, the house is rocked by tragedy and scandal... Stephen King created a mini-series based on the Rimbauer domicile. Rose Red documents the work of Dr. Joyce Reardon in her attempt to unlock the secrets of the house before it's demolished. The troubled history of Rose Red and its inhabitants are the subjects of Dr. Reardon's life-long work...

NEWS FLASH: Everything described up to this point is fiction. Only the mini-series creator is real, leaving questions regarding the authorship of the book (which were answered in mid-2002.)

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is merely a physical prop of King's Rose Red mini-series. However, the book stands well on its own to a point.

The diary format gives readers a voyeuristic thrill. The entries are quite detailed, full of fear and sexual energy. Rose Red becomes more and more frightening up to the final page. After reading the book, you'll want to see the mini-series, meaning the tie-in succeeds in its intentions.

As it is, this fictitious diary, written by a fictitious author living in a fictitious house, edited by a fictitious paranormal expert makes for interesting reading...

Upon completion of The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, be prepared to view Stephen King's mini-series. No doubt Rose Red answers the many questions left by this mysterious diary and its namesake."

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