Don Lark is a master craftsman who is trying to live out the rest of his life hiding in his work. He rebuilds homes and restores them to their former glory, bringing the past back to life while hiding from his own past and his own life. When he starts renovating the Bellamy house he finds that bringing the past back to life might not be in everybody's best interest. Between the odd ramblings of the weird sisters next door, and the mysterious squatter residing at the house, Don has a hard time focusing on the job at hand... and maybe that's the idea.

This was a great "halloween" time story. One of the things that I LOVE about OSC novels is the depth he gives to his characters. He doesn't just tell about a hero who wears a white hat, and always seeks out truth and justice. Card makes you know the hero or villain with all their faults, and all their saving graces. Great story!

Judging by this writing, I don't think Card has ever had a healthy relationship with a woman or regarded them as human beings.

Okay so not at ALL how I ever would’ve expected this book to go. It was different but I also enjoyed it? I know my dad always told me Just Like Heaven was very very loosely based on this and like yeah I can 100% see how but that was so different idk how we got that amazing movie but I’m not complaining. Overall I enjoyed the book, it was a quick listen/read and I wouldn’t mind reading it again.

Card es Card, con sus vicios y sus virtudes... con lo cual quiero decir que, no siendo ésta una de sus mejoras novelas, al menos resulta de tan amena lectura como el resto. El tema de la casa encantada, de por sí interesante, está tratado de forma bastante original dentro del estilo habitual del subgénero, pero quizá hay un exceso de intimismo en el planteamiento, con esa historia de amor que resulta un tanto excesiva en su concepción súbita y fulminante.

Diría que se trata de una obra menor del autor, más centrada en lo psicológico que en lo sobrenatural, aunque con algunos buenos momentos, especialmente cuando la cosa se pone más oscura. Un tres redondo.

This book was very different than his other books I have read. What really impresses me about OSC is that he does SO much extensive research on every book he writes, and you can tell throughout each of them. He has written books on Bible history, Science Fiction, Russian History, Home repair, and you can tell he knows his stuff. What bothers me about many authors is about how their predictable books always seem to be about a "jaded writer of journalist". He takes on new subjects he probably isn't 100% comfortable with at first.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I enjoyed all the detail he went into - all the background information on the characters, etc. I enjoyed how everything evolved and it did have a few surprises in it in my opinion. My only complaint with this book was that I think he had too many ideas and some didn't pan out, they ended up fizzling with no explanation or point.

It is an easy read and I highly reccommend it!

pretty goofy but not a total waste of time. (Prob what my Tinder dates say about me)

This book is a great one for reading this time of the year because it's a ghost story about a house that captures the souls of people who have shame and grief dominating their lives. Don Lark has lost his ex-wife and daughter in a car accident which has left him without purpose in his life. He is a builder who gives life to old houses. The house he is working on is home to a young woman who squats there. Don doesn't want her to stay but doesn't have the heart to throw her out since she has no place to go. He simply demands that she stay out of his way, which she is reluctant to do. Two old women next door want him to tear the house down because they believe it is evil but Don has no intention of doing that because he has sunk all of his money into the house and intends to sell it when he is done with the renovation. The more he works on the house, the more he can feel its power.

Like a lot of fiction, this book could have been trimmed down a ton and still felt like a complete story. Card's writing is so clean though that despite the unnecessary-feeling parts of the story (much of the whole Cindy arc and that drama, honestly), pacing didn't feel bogged down.

Although it is a ghost story, it really doesn't feel that way until the end, so if you want only those kinds of thrills and you'd be bored reading about house construction and tearing down old lath and plaster, this might not be the book for you. If you really like houses though, this book is excellent. If you're a nerd about nice woodwork and owner history, this book is a really fun read. Quick and easy and leaves you feeling satisfied at the end.

Just awful. Cliched, two dimensional and uninteresting characters, plot "twists" that were utterly predictable, and a very non scary supernatural element. Don't bother.

Very creative and a joy to read...

I sure
enjoyed this wonderful book. I have done home remodeling and DIY work all my life. I sure enjoyed how the author incorporated these themes into this story. I hope he write more stories similar to this one
Enjoy an wonderful read!

I love this author, his characters, and his completely unique plots and unforgettable stories. This is a book for anyone who loves remodeling old houses will love

This book was crazy!