Review: A great, psychological horror!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 27, 2014
There are some things that scare each and every one of us. Things that would scare anyone - mainly because we can all relate to that one thing that terrifies us. I think it's safe to say that being attacked/haunted in your own home would be near the top of the list. Regardless of your stance, stature, bravado or common sense, if you came home and something wasn't right in your house...you'd fear for your life. Throw into that a family, two children and a doting wife...and you have A House In The Country.Matt Shaw's latest novella - for it's very short, I read it in just over an hour - is simple in premise. A family move into their dream home in the country. However, on their arrival, the spare bedroom has a weird smell. On further investigation, over a period of a week, all isn't as it seems and it's only a matter of time until the parents realise something isn't quite right here. Then they discuss the house's past...and the death that occurred some time before. Cheap houses come with a price, ironically.Now, we've seen this countless times. Remarkably, Shaw keeps it original and trim, focusing on the four family members (dad, mum, two daughters) as they traverse the weird activities taking place in their home. From a subtle door moving, to noises in the night and strange figures in the windows. The standard haunted house tropes are there but they are effectively creepy, providing a taut, if fairly quick read that showcases Shaw's talent to spook as well as disgust. He may be well known for his extreme horror but Shaw proves here that he can also do subtle, with alarming ease.But it's so much fun. When was the last time a door moving was so creepy? The fear and terror is heightened because this family haven't done a thing wrong. Anyone with kids will relate to the fear of a family threatening situation. No one wants their loved ones to come to harm and Shaw capitalizes on this perfectly. He builds a basic, subtle story of horror and delivers. When the tension starts to rise and the family realise it isn't just the imaginations of their children, it's at that point where AHITC shifts into fourth gear and provides and ending all too...real. It gave me goose bumps.5* - An excellent horror tale, and no, it's not just because I feature in this story (courtesy of a previous review). It was thoroughly enjoyable reading myself in a horror book. This aside, this book was a fast, tense, subtle and horrifying read. The gore is on hold in this one whilst Shaw uses his box of tricks to provide chills that most home owners will find scary. If you moved home recently, you might want to give this a miss. If you do though, you're missing out. A fantastic novella!