The Dead House: ... the past holds constant sway ...

by Billy O'Callaghan

Attempting to rebuild her life after a violent relationship, Maggie Turner, a successful young artist, moves from London to Allihies and buys an ancient abandoned cottage. Keen to concentrate on her art, she is captivated by the wild beauty of her surroundings.

After renovations, she hosts a house-warming weekend for friends. A drunken game with a Ouija board briefly descends into something more sinister, as Maggie apparently channels a spirit who refers to himself simply as 'The Master'. The others are visibly shaken, but the day after the whole thing is easily dismissed as the combination of suggestion and alcohol.

Maggie immerses herself in her painting, but the work devolves, day by day, until her style is no longer recognisable. She glimpses things, hears voices, finds herself drawn to certain areas: a stone circle in the nearby hills, the reefs at the west end of the beach behind her home ... A compelling modern ghost story from a supremely talented writer.

From the Costa Short Story Award Finalist, Billy O'Callaghan.

‘a welcome voice to the pantheon of new Irish writing’ - Edna O’Brien

• ISBN10: 1847178871
• ISBN13: 9781847178879
• Publish Date: 1 May 2017
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 17 September 2023
• Publish Country: IE
• Publisher: O'Brien Press Ltd
• Imprint: Brandon
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 224
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

First I must confess, Ouija Boards scare the shite out of me. You don't mess with the supernatural and oh lordy did O'Callaghan share an atmospheric tale that sent a shiver down my spine without delivering gore as we skated on the edge of the supernatural realm.

The story is told from the pov of Michael Simmons as he relates events that occurred nine years previously. Michael is an art dealer, who is now married and has a little girl. He shares a time that still haunts him and his wife. It all revolves around one of his clients, Maggie and the small cottage she purchased on the rugged west coast of Ireland.

O'Callaghan's prose and beautiful imagery pulled me in as much as Michael's sharing of events that occurred. While I cannot say I was particularly fond of any of the characters, it is the events, landscape and supernatural elements that held me captive into the wee hours. The author builds suspense by sharing the history of this quiet little seaside area Maggie has settled in. Through the character's unease, witness accounts and hints of something in the corner of your eye this tale will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

The Dead House is a relatively short tale at just around two hundred and twenty-five pages and the ending is classic thriller 101. I certainly look forward to reading more from this author.

I have been vague on the details, as I feel details are best left for the reader to discover. The Dead House was an atmospheric debut, delivering a gripping psychological thriller that will stay with you long after you've closed the book. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer