Elsewhere

William Peter Blatty, author of "The Exorcist", returns to the horror genre with a story that is more subtle than that classic novel, but by no means less powerful. This is a story in the vein of Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting" or Richard Matheson's "Hell House" in that the horror and atmosphere build slowly as psychological stress builds upon the inhabitants. Joan Freeboard is a well-to-do New York City real estate agent who lives a lavish lifestyle. Her friends are the respected socialite types: artists, writers, etc... Joan has recently found a mansion named Elsewhere that can earn her a killing in commission if she can sell the place. The only problem is the house, located out on an island off Manhattan, is rumored to be haunted. Joan hatches a plot to get the house sold. She brings in a respected paranormal investigator, Gabriel Case, and a renowned psychic, Anna Trawley, to investigate the house and hopefully clear its reputation. She also enlists the aid of her close friend, writer Terrence Dare, to be her witness and document the events, and put to rest anyone's doubts about the mansion. All arrive at the island and begin their investigation. It's not long before the house grabs a hold of each visitor in its own unique way, preying on each of their insecurities. Soon the phones and television go dead and then Joan is shaken to her core to find she can no longer see Manhattan from the island, as if it had completely disappeared. It's a classic haunted house mood with strange sounds and apparitions. Blatty is so skillful at working his spell upon the characters that you are not sure whether they are really seeing and hearing ghosts, or if their sanity is breaking down. The characters are fresh and witty and their banter is often hilarious, dripping with sarcasm, especially as Joan and Terrence trade barbs at each other. The novel seems even shorter than its two hundred plus pages as Blatty keeps the pace up tempo throughout. Blatty throws numerous curveballs at the reader and saves his best pitch for the book's shocking climax that every good horror book should have. A quick read but one that is perfect for a dark and stormy night...or a bright sunny day, whichever you prefer!

There are ghost stories and ghost stories... but this one is THE GHOST story. Very very original.

Elsewhere is the first William Peter Blatty novel that I've read since the Exorcist, which I read after seeing the movie. Though not a long book at just over 200 pages, Elsewhere's story will make you feel it's much longer.....but in a good way. Okay, there are a few clichés used in delivering up the story, but don't let that keep you from enjoying the story. I mean, if you've read enough of these stories, every device an author uses can seem like a cliché. Elsewhere is a house and it has a problem. On the real estate market for an extended period the house is hard to move because it has a reputation of being haunted. Enter Joan Freeboard, a realtor who decides to prove the house is free of spirits. She recruits a psychic, a parapsychologist, and an author to spend some time in the house and deliver the verdict that all is okay with the manor. And all does go well, for a time. I believe that Elsewhere is more a psychological thriller than a mere ghost story, but it does pretty well on the latter. Elsewhere is well written but I had a hard time really getting to know the characters. There are a number of twists in the story, not so many as to make the story seem phony or contrived, but enough to make the read rewarding and interesting. William Peter Blatty certainly isn't a stranger to well written stories. "Exorcist" on anyone's resume speaks loud and clear. Is Elsewhere that good? Read it and see for yourself. Peace always.

The old mansion Elsewhere in Craven's Cove up the Hudson from NYC has a haunting reputation that makes it difficult to sell. Thus thirtyish Manhattan realtor Joan Freeboard hits on a unique idea to try to find a buyer for what has become a mausoleum. She persuades British psychic Anna Trawley, NYU parapsychologist Dr. Gabriel Case and renowned but currently wordless author Terrence Dare to accompany her inside of Elsewhere to prove there are no ghosts. As the quartet settle inside of Elsewhere, a nasty storm strands them there. Meanwhile, each member of the team feels isolated from the others yet shares in common a growing sense of belonging to the mansion. As they learn the secret of the house, their personal secrets are exposed; each visitor has protected their egos with customized realisms. In many ways this excellent haunted house tale is a psychological suspense thriller as much of the story line (except for the climax) follows the quartet as the house coaxes them to reveal their secrets. Illustrations by Alex McVey add depth to the atmosphere of pending doom. Fans of Peter Blatty will welcome his fresh approach of psychological paranormal paradigm twist to the haunted house horror sub-genre. Harriet Klausner