Rumor has it that the abandoned house by the abandoned cemetery in the old overgrown forest preserve is haunted by the ghost of a witch. Rumor has it that Satanic rituals are still performed by the light of the moon atop the moldering graves nearby, despite the police's attempts to chain the area in and keep people out. Rumor has it that the ghost of a seductive drowned woman leaves the lake and hitchhikes down the turnpike on certain nights... leaving the drivers without their sight.
But when Mike Kostner gets a job offer to fix up that abandoned old house near the abandoned old Bachelor's Grove Cemetery so that it can serve as a haunted house attraction, he ignores those rumors. Mike's spent more time with the bottle than with a hammer of late, so he agrees to take the paycheck and starts shoring up the rotted floors and walls. Along the way he picks up two helpers, Katie and Emery, who he discovers sneaking about the place, anticipating its reopening as a haunted house. He quickly gets a crush on Katie, but is a bit creeped out by Emery, who rarely speaks.
Together, they finish the initial work on the house, so that the set designers, Argento and Lucio, and the makeup artists, Jeanie and June, can start really making the old house look haunted.
But fresh wood and nails won't keep decades of rumors down. There are noises in the house that shouldn't be there. Dead animals in the basement with fresh blood spilled on the floor. And hidden rooms that hold the hints of something far more sinister than the rumors suggest. Because at the end of the day, this house didn't need any help to be haunted. Behind the decades of rumors is a real ghost who will do whatever it takes to make sure Mike Kostner and Argento and June and the rest finish their job. She needs people to fill her house on Halloween. She has a ritual in mind that requires their blood. A dark, horrible ritual. Because the witch is dead...but she doesn't want to stay that way.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Industry Reviews
"The House by the Cemetery involves everything that a horror aficionado could ever want-an undead witch, comic relief, a haunted house dedicated to obscure and not-so obscure horror films, and lots and lots of gore...Indeed, The House by the Cemetery could easily be transcribed into an action-packed screenplay" -- The New York Journal of Books
"The House by the Cemetery is a thoroughly enjoyable read, quickly paced with great writing, an interesting plot, some obscure references that were a lot of fun, a completely unforgettable climax, and good story resolution." -- Don Gillette
"This is a book that is hard to put down. I devoured this book in two sittings, furiously turning pages towards the blood-soaked conclusion." -- John DeNardo for Kirkus Reviews
"When the blood does hit the fan, the scenes are descriptive and dynamic - with almost film like quality...that ending is just to die for." -- SF Book Reviews
"John Everson has created one of my top ten books of all time. The House By The Cemetery is a cauldron filled with devilry and witchery - all my favorite things. It's a love story at its core, but on the surface, it's a blood-curdling tale of utter mayhem and savagery. I loved every minute of this book. 2018 has seen several great books, but this one is a definite must read for all fans of horror" -- Cedar Hollow Books
"More fun than any haunted attraction I've ever been to, just in time for my favorite holiday. If you only read one Halloween story this year, be sure to make this the one. As a footnote to any movie producers who might see this, The House by the Cemetery would make one helluva film" -- Cemetery Dance
"Overall, this is a winner of a book and a fantastic ode to the genre fans with rich characters, fantastic plotting and an accessible writing style that yearns the reader to want more." -- The Literary Licence Podcast
"Atmosphere, character development, dialogue, interesting storyline, an homage to the genre that I know and love, and suspension of disbelief" -- Into the Macabre
"What could possibly go wrong renovating an old house located next to a cemetery for the purposes of turning it into a haunted house amusement attraction? Well, just about the worst things that can go wrong. Mike Kostner needs cash, so when his friend throws him this renovation job, he jumps at the chance. As Mike comes to learn, the house seems to have a life and dark history all its own. As readers will come to learn, this is a book that is hard to put down. I devoured this book in two sittings, furiously turning pages towards the blood-soaked conclusion" -- Kirkus Reviews
"I got many American Horror Story feels from this book; I could picture it in my mind, the different cast members of AHS and which parts they would be perfect for. It really felt like a story that Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk had come up with during the creative process for their next series. It's a shame really that they have already done the haunted house theme (series 1). I can live in hope though right?" -- The Ginger Nuts of Horror
"a very fun and very fast read. It has all the elements of a great Halloween story. It talks of horror movies and is about the building of a Halloween haunted house. Very fun stuff. The last twenty percent of the book is pure hell and I loved every second" -- Cat After Dark
"The House by the Cemetery is gruesome, bloody, gory and very creepy, I was giggling with glee as the gore built up and the shocking and vivid images were created in my head...The suspense and tension that John has created is brilliant, I was on the edge of my seat throughout and I loved every second of it. The creepy factor in the book is off the scales, absolutely brilliant. The gore is gruesome and won't be for everyone but as I love gory books I was in my element" -- Katies Book Cave
"a fun read full of proper slasher chainsaw witchy gory haunted horror fun. It's a must read for horror fans especially this time of year" -- Not Another Book Blogger
"The plot was great and I loved the suspense the author created. I was on tenterhooks for most of the book and felt jumpy more than once - a perfect book for this time of the year and it is written in the style of a slasher-type movie so it is very easy to read too" -- Donnas Book Blog
"Entertaining and gory, this is a great read for the Halloween season" -- Where the Reader Grows
"The House By The Cemetery is "...laced with Ready Player One-style references to cult filmmakers like Jean Rollin and Jess Franco...the pacing is brisk, and this could make for a diverting beach or airport read..." -- Booklist
"Just in time for Halloween we have a new release ideally suited for reading durint the dark autumnal evenings. John Everson's The House by the Cemetery brings a great mix of chills, witches, ritualistic kills and at the heart of it all a house reputed to be haunted... chills aplenty" -- Grab this Book
"...a simple sounding premise but one that has twists and turns (literally - it's a haunted house!) and scary, strange and weird all at the same time! I have to say right here that Everson is best known for his 'B-Movie-esque' books with plenty blood and gore, and this book doesn't disappoint" -- What Emma Read Next
"a great book for the start of October on the run up to Halloween... B movie horror fun for Halloween" -- Once Upon the Wytching Hour
"This book has all of the necessary components for a good spooky read: witches, murder, haunting, psychics, mystery... So it's a good Halloween pick. I actually got scared a couple times while reading in the dark, so maybe leave the lights on if you want to sleep at night!" -- Jess Combs Review
"I am truly amazed at the depths of this book. Personally I really enjoyed this novel, it was a true work of art. I was captivated from beginning to end, just trying to find out what was going to happen next." -- Writers Authority
"It's a fast, gory one with tons of nods to the genre, perfect for reading in the spooky season." -- Undivine Intentions
