The House on Rectory Lane

by Stuart James

[zooloo1983]

Everyone knows I am a huge fan of Mr James so of course, I am going to read his books! I really can not recommend his highly enough…and maybe keep an eye out for him featuring on the blog this year. This one reminded me of Turn the Other Way with the dark ones, small community, a threatening presence. What more could you want!

However, reading this all I kept thinking was Sugar Honey Iced Tea (read the bold letter) with lots of iced tea! Madness this journey, madness!

Jake and Kate move into a new house on Rectory Lane faster than you can blow your nose! A quick move into what seems in my head a beautiful mansion, gated parking, and a lot of privacy….or is that isolation? Definitely, isolation when things go to hell! I mean the lights dropping out, the ominous warnings all happen rather quickly in the story, the next thing you know you are getting whiplash from the speed and intensity of this story!

I know I am never moving to a quaint little village ever, don’t care how cheap and amazing the house is! The closed community might be nice on the outside but you never know what is going to happen on the inside!

I really can’t talk too much about the plot, because some of the reviews I have seen alluded to something and for me, I wasn’t shocked and had been waiting for it, so I lost my edge but that is not to say the book is not shocking because it is! The book was still awesome despite something slightly being slipped in a review. (My fault for reading it not the writing of the author!) it was a rooky mistake, yet when I got to said point I was spooked, to say the least!

Stuart knows how the frick to write a book that will get under your skin, he knows how to make the panic rise in you, how to make you fear for everyone. It’s the little things he writes not the ones in your face. It’s the normal things you wouldn’t think twice about that add to the creepiness. The isolation of the property is pretty terrifying especially when the lights go out or when you see shadows at the windows. I think that is what is more terrifying is the isolation, it amplifies every little sound and creaks! That’s the worse thing, your imagination will take you places you don’t necessarily want to be visiting!!

I liked Jake from the get-go, he is not your stereotypical hero. Yes he does what he needs to protect his family, and ok a couple of crazy things he probably shouldn’t have done but the way he acts is more than likely the way we would act. You are made to care for Jake and his family, you are scared with them, you are terrified with them and most of you just want to escape with them. I think I have repeated myself enough now! James is a go-to author for me in all things brutal, horrifying and terrifying.

All I will say about this story is it does not let you go even when you have turned the last page. You will be left looking over your shoulder, rechecking your doors, looking for shadows when they aren’t there…..so thanks Mr James….I freaking love it!