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Devil House (2022)

by John Darnielle

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
6782234,270 (3.4)28
"Gage Chandler is descended from kings. That's what his mother always told him when he was a child. Years later, he is a true crime writer, with one grisly success--and a movie adaptation--to his name, along with a series of subsequent less notable efforts. But now he is being offered the chance for the big break: to move into the house where a pair of briefly notorious murders occurred, apparently the work of disaffected teens during the Satanic Panic of the 1980s. Chandler finds himself in Milpitas, California, a small town whose name rings a bell--his closest childhood friend lived there, once upon a time. He begins his research into the murders with diligence and enthusiasm, but soon the story leads him into a puzzle he never expected--back into his own work and what it means, back to the very core of what he does and who he is"--Dust jacket flap.… (more)
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» See also 28 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
John never misses. For me, the best of his novels thus far (All of which I've loved). ( )
  Amateria66 | May 24, 2024 |
Read this one as it is a nominee for this year’s Edgar award.

The structure is really interesting.all but one of the seven sections are broke into 7 chapters,
In keeping with the mention of devils and witches (7 being a lucky or sacred number)
It is basically a story about a true crime writer and two crimes that he writes about.
It can be a bit jarring as the author leaps from one to the other, including a full section in sort of medieval style language.

The author creates sympathy for the murderers and, to a lesser extent, the victims.
I think he is indicting the true crime genre, feeding ,as it does, off misery.

Anyway, an interesting if sometimes challenging read,
Likely, I think, to disappoint those attracted by the hunted at supernatural elements
( )
  cspiwak | Mar 6, 2024 |
I wanted to like this so much, I was so looking forward to it…but it was so disjointed and confusing. Maybe it’s me, but I just didn’t like this. ( )
  Danielle.Desrochers | Oct 10, 2023 |
But can we talk about that medieval interlude for a sec... ( )
  cbwalsh | Sep 13, 2023 |
My first Abandoned book of the year. I think it is definitely a case of "it's me, not you," though. My brain doesn't create mental images and this book relies heavily on descriptive passages (not unnecessary ones, though!) and I am also getting older and have trouble with unusual writing styles. I really kinda like the way he's structured this and they way he writes, but it tires me to try and follow it. Didn't think it was fair to give it my usual one-or-two star for DNF books, so I went with a neutral 3. ( )
  Kim.Sasso | Aug 27, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 22 (next | show all)
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Mom called yesterday to ask if I was ready to come home yet; I went directly to San Francisco from college, and I've been in Milpitas for five years now, but she holds fast to her theory that eventually I'm coming back to San Luis Obispo.
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"Gage Chandler is descended from kings. That's what his mother always told him when he was a child. Years later, he is a true crime writer, with one grisly success--and a movie adaptation--to his name, along with a series of subsequent less notable efforts. But now he is being offered the chance for the big break: to move into the house where a pair of briefly notorious murders occurred, apparently the work of disaffected teens during the Satanic Panic of the 1980s. Chandler finds himself in Milpitas, California, a small town whose name rings a bell--his closest childhood friend lived there, once upon a time. He begins his research into the murders with diligence and enthusiasm, but soon the story leads him into a puzzle he never expected--back into his own work and what it means, back to the very core of what he does and who he is"--Dust jacket flap.

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