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666
An innocent-looking but evil-filled house mysteriously appears at different times in different cities, each time waiting for the unwitting victim to rent it and then unleashing the terrifying force of the devil
283 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
About the author
Jay Anson
5 books241 followersJay Anson (November 4, 1921 – March 12, 1980) was an American author whose most famous work was The Amityville Horror. After the runaway success of that novel, he wrote 666, which also dealt with a haunted house.
He began as a copy boy on the New York Evening Journal in 1937 and later worked in advertising and publicity. With more than 500 documentary scripts for television to his credit, he was associated with Professional Films, Inc. He died in 1980.
His work, The Amityville Horror, was sold as "a true story," and it was based on the reported experiences of George Lutz and Kathleen Lutz at 112 Ocean Avenue in December 1975. The Lutzes had sold the rights to the book to Anson, who had added to and adapted some of the Lutz's original claims. A film was later made of the book, which exemplified these additions.
He began as a copy boy on the New York Evening Journal in 1937 and later worked in advertising and publicity. With more than 500 documentary scripts for television to his credit, he was associated with Professional Films, Inc. He died in 1980.
His work, The Amityville Horror, was sold as "a true story," and it was based on the reported experiences of George Lutz and Kathleen Lutz at 112 Ocean Avenue in December 1975. The Lutzes had sold the rights to the book to Anson, who had added to and adapted some of the Lutz's original claims. A film was later made of the book, which exemplified these additions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 14, 2022
Beware if a house where a double-murder took place is moved into your neighborhood! The Olsen's see a new house near their home when they come back from holiday. It was moved from Bremerton Street 666... (LOL the Iron Maiden album was released later in the 80s). What happened there? Who is mysterious Mr Coste? What is happening to Keith, his wife and the antiques dealer David Carmichael? Sinister incidents are driving them mad. So many allusions to the devil, symbols, history and satanism (e.g. the bronze sesterius, the motif in the windows or the chalice of Keith's brother Paul). The book was extremely intriguing, uncanny, a real old school gem from 1982. If you're into haunted houses (who isn't?) this is an absolute must read. I missed it back in the 80s and am glad I finished this one. Highly recommended!
November 7, 2017
Amityville Horror without the smart bits. Who even knew Amityville Horror had smart bits?
July 1, 2018
This is the second book I’ve read written by Jay Anson. I really like his writing. Engaging and creepy enough to keep you wanting more. I definitely enjoyed this book more than The Amityville Horror. Maybe, it’s because I didn’t know anything about 666 before picking it up. A solid 4 stars!!
Keith Olson is a carpenter. His wife Jennifer is an interior designer. They’ve been married for almost 2 years. Jennifer has a very attractive older friend named David Carmichael who is an antiques dealer.
After the couple come home from an extended vacation, they discover a new house across the gully from their own. It surprises them that the house has been built so quickly while they were away. Keith goes to investigates and finds an old Roman coin. A few days later David comes over for dinner and Keith asks him to look into the coin. Find out what kind of coin it is and what it’s worth.
This is when all the creepy fantastic stuff starts happening.
The book is under 300 pages so definitely can be read in one or two sittings. I really enjoyed it. It’s main theme is mans free will and their choices. I love supernatural books, especially when the are about occult’s, religion and demonic in nature. If you are that kind of reader you will definitely enjoy this book.
Keith Olson is a carpenter. His wife Jennifer is an interior designer. They’ve been married for almost 2 years. Jennifer has a very attractive older friend named David Carmichael who is an antiques dealer.
After the couple come home from an extended vacation, they discover a new house across the gully from their own. It surprises them that the house has been built so quickly while they were away. Keith goes to investigates and finds an old Roman coin. A few days later David comes over for dinner and Keith asks him to look into the coin. Find out what kind of coin it is and what it’s worth.
This is when all the creepy fantastic stuff starts happening.
The book is under 300 pages so definitely can be read in one or two sittings. I really enjoyed it. It’s main theme is mans free will and their choices. I love supernatural books, especially when the are about occult’s, religion and demonic in nature. If you are that kind of reader you will definitely enjoy this book.
September 18, 2013
Cheesy 80's horror fare. Interesting how the Amityville incident started this guy's career...
July 21, 2016
Vengo "leyendo" este libro desde el año pasado, y la verdad es que me daba un poco de cosa por haberlo abandonado de tal manera. Es breve y llevadero, pero la razón por la cual lo dejé de leer es que su letra es lastimosamente chiquita y en cada ocasión que intentaba retomar me cansaba al poco tiempo y lo tenía que dejar. Y de esa forma no dan ganas de leer un libro, sinceramente. Encontré la forma de solucionarlo temporalmente y hoy pude terminarlo.
Es el primer libro de Jay Anson que leo, y la verdad es que tenía muchas ganas de hacerlo, ya que había leído varias cosas positivas sobre sus escritos y eso me llamó la atención. Mi idea es leer pronto "Aquí vive el horror" del mismo autor, ya que hasta donde averigüé, es su obra prolífica, la más aclamada ya que retrata un caso real bastante turbio, y también muy conocido. Veo como algo positivo el no haber leído éste última primero ya que por lo visto mucha gente esperaba que tanto "666: la casa endemoniada" como "Aquí vive el horror" sean iguales, o al menos que vayan por el mismo hilo. Habiendo leído ésta primero, creo que puedo opinar de forma independiente del libro en sí, sin necesidad de hacer comparación con otro, ya que creo que es lo ideal a la hora de evaluar un libro. Y para ser precisa, el libro me gustó mucho, pero tampoco me fascinó. No sé si es una cosa que releería, pero definitivamente creo que no fue en vano comprarlo, y que es una interesante adición a mi colección. Más allá del problema de la letra, creo que el libro en sí esta muy bien. Eso sí, realmente el final me pareció muy cliché, muy típico de éste tipo de libros sobre casas embrujadas.
Es el primer libro de Jay Anson que leo, y la verdad es que tenía muchas ganas de hacerlo, ya que había leído varias cosas positivas sobre sus escritos y eso me llamó la atención. Mi idea es leer pronto "Aquí vive el horror" del mismo autor, ya que hasta donde averigüé, es su obra prolífica, la más aclamada ya que retrata un caso real bastante turbio, y también muy conocido. Veo como algo positivo el no haber leído éste última primero ya que por lo visto mucha gente esperaba que tanto "666: la casa endemoniada" como "Aquí vive el horror" sean iguales, o al menos que vayan por el mismo hilo. Habiendo leído ésta primero, creo que puedo opinar de forma independiente del libro en sí, sin necesidad de hacer comparación con otro, ya que creo que es lo ideal a la hora de evaluar un libro. Y para ser precisa, el libro me gustó mucho, pero tampoco me fascinó. No sé si es una cosa que releería, pero definitivamente creo que no fue en vano comprarlo, y que es una interesante adición a mi colección. Más allá del problema de la letra, creo que el libro en sí esta muy bien. Eso sí, realmente el final me pareció muy cliché, muy típico de éste tipo de libros sobre casas embrujadas.
April 10, 2021
mediocre
not sure i wanna keep it but i like the cover and inside art.. but its bleh story that could have gotten way more deep and good against evil but no.
just skipped ahead a bit at the end to see what happened and didnt bother finishing bc eh.
its basically "hey like Amityville? cool here's my knockoff version. oh you still want Amityville? PLEASE READ THIS ITS THE SAME THING PLEASE ITS ALL I KNOW"
update? idk if i got rid of the book or not im pretty sure its gone... it was bleh
not sure i wanna keep it but i like the cover and inside art.. but its bleh story that could have gotten way more deep and good against evil but no.
just skipped ahead a bit at the end to see what happened and didnt bother finishing bc eh.
its basically "hey like Amityville? cool here's my knockoff version. oh you still want Amityville? PLEASE READ THIS ITS THE SAME THING PLEASE ITS ALL I KNOW"
update? idk if i got rid of the book or not im pretty sure its gone... it was bleh
September 30, 2012
I read this many years ago, and a second time, also quite some time ago. Although I enjoyed Mr. Anson's "The Amityville Horror," which was somewhat scary (probably more due to the son roaming around with a shotgun than actual paranormal events), I found "666" a truly frightening book-and I put it on the same level with Anne Rivers Siddons' The House Next Door, also a book I've read several times, with the same results: scared to blazes, didn't want to sleep, kept looking over my shoulder. Both of these are winners in the classic horror category, in my opinion. I have to wonder how much more in this vein Mr. Anson might have written had he lived a longer life.
April 14, 2020
There are a lot of novels out there with 666 in the title, most of them not very good, but this was one of the first and best. It has a slick and fast feel, much more mainstream than horror genre, with minimal original characterization, but it's an interesting haunted house story. Anson became famous for writing The Amityville Horror, but I preferred this one. My paperback copy has one of those cut-out covers that were popular at the time, where you opened the top to see the illustration, the monstrous creature menacing the young couple. It's not a classic by any means, but there were some interesting shenanigans on Sunset Brook Lane forty years ago.
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February 13, 2024"...el dolor y el terror dejan huellas que la alegría, la felicidad y el amor nunca pueden borrar."
Qué sorpresa me he llevado con esta historia!
No pensé que fuera a disfrutarla tanto, pero era un gran pendiente y tenía ganas ya de saber que había detrás de esta novela.
Desde el inicio comienza a percibirse una atmósfera inquietante, de misterio y maldad que nos envolverá durante toda la lectura.
Los personajes me han parecido idóneos para la trama, tiene su construcción, pero lo que me ha fascinado es la construcción que le hace a la casa, es un personaje más que acecha desde las sombras y mantiene en alerta porque se siente su presencia en todo momento, utilizando diferentes métodos para influenciar e incidir en la vida de los personajes, desatando el caos y generando tensión tanto en ellos como en el lector, ya que logra mantener un nivel de expectación constante, en los crímenes e historia pasada, como también en lo que está tramando. Porque no es solo una casa es una entidad malévola que se defiende cuando debe y que tiene sus propios planes y necesidades.
Realmente he disfrutado de esta historia, me gustó la influencia psicológica, las escenas de tensión, la estructura de la casa, el cómo acecha, la confusión y desesperación que genera en los personajes, y la esencia clásica que guarda en cuanto a la temática de casas encantadas, con sus relaciones humanas, sutilezas y atmósferas de misterio.
Qué sorpresa me he llevado con esta historia!
No pensé que fuera a disfrutarla tanto, pero era un gran pendiente y tenía ganas ya de saber que había detrás de esta novela.
Desde el inicio comienza a percibirse una atmósfera inquietante, de misterio y maldad que nos envolverá durante toda la lectura.
Los personajes me han parecido idóneos para la trama, tiene su construcción, pero lo que me ha fascinado es la construcción que le hace a la casa, es un personaje más que acecha desde las sombras y mantiene en alerta porque se siente su presencia en todo momento, utilizando diferentes métodos para influenciar e incidir en la vida de los personajes, desatando el caos y generando tensión tanto en ellos como en el lector, ya que logra mantener un nivel de expectación constante, en los crímenes e historia pasada, como también en lo que está tramando. Porque no es solo una casa es una entidad malévola que se defiende cuando debe y que tiene sus propios planes y necesidades.
Realmente he disfrutado de esta historia, me gustó la influencia psicológica, las escenas de tensión, la estructura de la casa, el cómo acecha, la confusión y desesperación que genera en los personajes, y la esencia clásica que guarda en cuanto a la temática de casas encantadas, con sus relaciones humanas, sutilezas y atmósferas de misterio.
January 21, 2012
Keith and Jennifer Olson return home from Grand Bahama islands and discover a house has been placed on a vacant lot across from theirs...the address? 666 Sunset Brook Lane.
Keith is a carpenter who owns his own business. Curious, he visits the house hoping to meet the owner. Upon entering the home and finding it empty, his woodworking instincts kick in and he realizes the house is in dire need of repairs. He enters the bathroom and a bronze, Roman coin,(a sestertious) drops from the ceiling. As he enters a room with crimson light glowing through, etched figures in six glass panes present themselves to him: one resembles him. Keith becomes obsessed with finding out the history of such a strange house.
Jennifer is an interior decorator and becomes strangely attracted to David Carmichael, a friend whom she knows from New York City. At dinner one night, Keith hands him the sestertious and David is transported into a realm of pure torture and madness. Seeing the burning coin placed in a victims mouth, he decides to investigated the origin of it.
Keith researches the house and discovers that a double murder happened in it before it was moved from the previous address: 666 Bremerton road. Keith is hired to make all the repairs to the house by a Mr. Coste, the mysterious owner who insists on remaining invisible. The house begins to exert mystic force as Keith becomes increasingly jealous of David. David moves into the house and Jennifer begins decorating it for him. The two become increasingly attracted to each other.
We find that the forces of Evil triumph and the victims come face to face with Satan himself.
I enjoyed the suspense in this book! Jay Anson funnels both history and storyline spiraling down into a shocking ending. His creative explanation of the origin of the house through the eyes of a Satanist, is truly incredible.
Published in 1981 and also the author of Amityville Horror, Jay Anson had me glued to every page. I found no boring parts or "lagtime" in this story and I found it to be a great thriller!
Keith is a carpenter who owns his own business. Curious, he visits the house hoping to meet the owner. Upon entering the home and finding it empty, his woodworking instincts kick in and he realizes the house is in dire need of repairs. He enters the bathroom and a bronze, Roman coin,(a sestertious) drops from the ceiling. As he enters a room with crimson light glowing through, etched figures in six glass panes present themselves to him: one resembles him. Keith becomes obsessed with finding out the history of such a strange house.
Jennifer is an interior decorator and becomes strangely attracted to David Carmichael, a friend whom she knows from New York City. At dinner one night, Keith hands him the sestertious and David is transported into a realm of pure torture and madness. Seeing the burning coin placed in a victims mouth, he decides to investigated the origin of it.
Keith researches the house and discovers that a double murder happened in it before it was moved from the previous address: 666 Bremerton road. Keith is hired to make all the repairs to the house by a Mr. Coste, the mysterious owner who insists on remaining invisible. The house begins to exert mystic force as Keith becomes increasingly jealous of David. David moves into the house and Jennifer begins decorating it for him. The two become increasingly attracted to each other.
We find that the forces of Evil triumph and the victims come face to face with Satan himself.
I enjoyed the suspense in this book! Jay Anson funnels both history and storyline spiraling down into a shocking ending. His creative explanation of the origin of the house through the eyes of a Satanist, is truly incredible.
Published in 1981 and also the author of Amityville Horror, Jay Anson had me glued to every page. I found no boring parts or "lagtime" in this story and I found it to be a great thriller!
August 9, 2020
Retrospective Review
This gets a 3.3 rounded down. I read this in 2 sittings I believe-it’s a satanic thriller from the writer of The Amityville Horror. Very similar story, similar tone. Although 3.3 doesn’t seem like a particularly good rating, considering what this book is, it’s really not too bad. Anson’s writing hasn’t improved since TAH, though I wouldn’t call it terrible. This is an entertaining little story that is a quick read and has somewhat stuck with me, at least a few parts. If you’re looking for a short haunted house book with some Satan thrown in there, then look no further!
This gets a 3.3 rounded down. I read this in 2 sittings I believe-it’s a satanic thriller from the writer of The Amityville Horror. Very similar story, similar tone. Although 3.3 doesn’t seem like a particularly good rating, considering what this book is, it’s really not too bad. Anson’s writing hasn’t improved since TAH, though I wouldn’t call it terrible. This is an entertaining little story that is a quick read and has somewhat stuck with me, at least a few parts. If you’re looking for a short haunted house book with some Satan thrown in there, then look no further!
June 14, 2019
Not the best book I've ever read, but entertaining!
February 20, 2017
It's the omen of ultimate evil...the sign of the Devil...the number of the Beast...666.
That was the diabolical number on the old house that suddenly appeared on Sunset Brook Lane. Yet, such an beautifully unassuming Victorian-style house couldn't possibly hold something so evil, could it? Perhaps it could...
For stepping inside 666 Sunset Brook Lane could only bring with it eternal damnation. Inside, an infernal red light flickers from an unseen source...Inside, ghostly specters stare down mockingly from the windows in a grotesque mimicry of bloody horrors...Inside, an ancient supernatural relic waits for human hands to lift it, for human eyes to see its ghastly, demonic visions.
For this is no ordinary house. This is a house that appears and disappears, seemingly at will; inexplicably moving from time to time, place to place, to torment the lives of the innocent. This is a house where the same bloody, dreadfully gruesome, eternal crime occurs again and again, delivering its victims to the very brink of hell, straight into the hands of the Devil himself.
And for interior designer, Jennifer Olson - designing her first solo project - and her husband Keith, the house at 666 Sunset Brook Lane has just swung open its door in welcome...
I usually enjoy reading books about haunted houses, and 666 by Jay Anson was no different - I must say that I loved this book from start to finish. For a book written in 1981, I found that the horror held up strongly throughout the entire story. I also appreciated that the story held together until the very end; in my opinion it never fell apart, and the horror never became fanciful or far-fetched as I've noticed with certain horror novels. I would give 666 by Jay Anson an A+!
Actually, I owned a copy of this book in the past, but eventually I sent it to my sister who lives in Australia, for her to read. I had already read it once or twice about twenty years ago, and I hoped that she would enjoy it as much as I had. Several times during the ensuing ten or twelve years since I sent my copy of 666 to my sister, I've found myself wishing that I could read it again.
When Mareena first said that she had gotten this book for me as a 'just because' gift, of course I was delighted. However, I didn't remember reading the book before - or even realized that I had wanted an extra copy to keep for myself - until I had read a couple of pages into the story. Now, 666 by Jay Anson is a definite keeper for me.
That was the diabolical number on the old house that suddenly appeared on Sunset Brook Lane. Yet, such an beautifully unassuming Victorian-style house couldn't possibly hold something so evil, could it? Perhaps it could...
For stepping inside 666 Sunset Brook Lane could only bring with it eternal damnation. Inside, an infernal red light flickers from an unseen source...Inside, ghostly specters stare down mockingly from the windows in a grotesque mimicry of bloody horrors...Inside, an ancient supernatural relic waits for human hands to lift it, for human eyes to see its ghastly, demonic visions.
For this is no ordinary house. This is a house that appears and disappears, seemingly at will; inexplicably moving from time to time, place to place, to torment the lives of the innocent. This is a house where the same bloody, dreadfully gruesome, eternal crime occurs again and again, delivering its victims to the very brink of hell, straight into the hands of the Devil himself.
And for interior designer, Jennifer Olson - designing her first solo project - and her husband Keith, the house at 666 Sunset Brook Lane has just swung open its door in welcome...
I usually enjoy reading books about haunted houses, and 666 by Jay Anson was no different - I must say that I loved this book from start to finish. For a book written in 1981, I found that the horror held up strongly throughout the entire story. I also appreciated that the story held together until the very end; in my opinion it never fell apart, and the horror never became fanciful or far-fetched as I've noticed with certain horror novels. I would give 666 by Jay Anson an A+!
Actually, I owned a copy of this book in the past, but eventually I sent it to my sister who lives in Australia, for her to read. I had already read it once or twice about twenty years ago, and I hoped that she would enjoy it as much as I had. Several times during the ensuing ten or twelve years since I sent my copy of 666 to my sister, I've found myself wishing that I could read it again.
When Mareena first said that she had gotten this book for me as a 'just because' gift, of course I was delighted. However, I didn't remember reading the book before - or even realized that I had wanted an extra copy to keep for myself - until I had read a couple of pages into the story. Now, 666 by Jay Anson is a definite keeper for me.
August 26, 2017
One of my favorite scary books! I read this when it was originally published in 1981 and found a copy second hand recently and was excited to read it again. Although it was a re-read, it had been so long that I had forgotten some of the details so it scared me all over again.
October 30, 2021
666 La Casa Endemoniada.- Jay Anson
"Entonces oyó un ligero clic. Frente a él la puerta del frente se abrió hacia adentro, con un movimiento apenas perceptible. Es raro, pensó Keith. No había sentido brisa alguna. Pero si la puerta no estaba cerrada, tenía que haber alguien adentro después de todo."
Al volver de unas vacaciones, Keith y su esposa Jennifer se encuentran con una casa nueva en el vecindario, casa que trasladaron desde otra ubicación hasta el 666 de la calle Sunset Brook Lane. El misterioso dueño de la casa contrata a Keith para su remodelación interna y el nuevo inquilino, amigo del matrimonio, contrata a Jennifer para su decoración. Lo que el matrimonio ignora es que en esa casa se cometieron horribles crímenes que resuenan en las habitaciones de la casa del 666 hasta hoy.
666 La Casa Endemoniada es el segundo y último libro escrito por el también guionista Jay Anson (1921-1980), siendo publicado en el año 1980. Su primer libro Aquí Vive El Horror fué un éxito y se adaptó a una saga de películas que parece no terminar nunca, Amytiville.
666 La Casa Endemoniada tiene buen ritmo, la prosa de Jay es sencilla y sin muchas vueltas pero efectiva, con muchas escenas de tensión y alguna sangrienta también, aunque el mayor logro es la atmósfera de peligro y maldad constante en la que están envueltos los protagonistas.
Si no leyeron Aquí Vive El Horror, lean ese primero, si lo leyeron y quieren leer algo de una temática parecida (no igual), 666 La Casa Endemoniada puede ser una opción, sobre todo en esta época de calabazas y terror.
🤘🤘🤘
"Entonces oyó un ligero clic. Frente a él la puerta del frente se abrió hacia adentro, con un movimiento apenas perceptible. Es raro, pensó Keith. No había sentido brisa alguna. Pero si la puerta no estaba cerrada, tenía que haber alguien adentro después de todo."
Al volver de unas vacaciones, Keith y su esposa Jennifer se encuentran con una casa nueva en el vecindario, casa que trasladaron desde otra ubicación hasta el 666 de la calle Sunset Brook Lane. El misterioso dueño de la casa contrata a Keith para su remodelación interna y el nuevo inquilino, amigo del matrimonio, contrata a Jennifer para su decoración. Lo que el matrimonio ignora es que en esa casa se cometieron horribles crímenes que resuenan en las habitaciones de la casa del 666 hasta hoy.
666 La Casa Endemoniada es el segundo y último libro escrito por el también guionista Jay Anson (1921-1980), siendo publicado en el año 1980. Su primer libro Aquí Vive El Horror fué un éxito y se adaptó a una saga de películas que parece no terminar nunca, Amytiville.
666 La Casa Endemoniada tiene buen ritmo, la prosa de Jay es sencilla y sin muchas vueltas pero efectiva, con muchas escenas de tensión y alguna sangrienta también, aunque el mayor logro es la atmósfera de peligro y maldad constante en la que están envueltos los protagonistas.
Si no leyeron Aquí Vive El Horror, lean ese primero, si lo leyeron y quieren leer algo de una temática parecida (no igual), 666 La Casa Endemoniada puede ser una opción, sobre todo en esta época de calabazas y terror.
🤘🤘🤘
June 3, 2012
I just finished reading the 1981 novel “666” by Jay Anson, author of the infamous “Amityville Horror”. Despite it being part of the late 70′s devil craze, it was pretty subtle with the diabolical imagery until the gruesome climax, and really kept my attention throughout. It tells the tale of a satanic house that is made of grim artifacts from the past. It’s implied in various ways, through dream sequences and conversations that the house is a variant of Satan’s throne on Earth. Its timbers selected from a myriad of sources and their inclusion being contingent upon the fact that they were part of some previous structure or implement of suffering and pain, all of them christened by the blood of innocents.
What it seems to do is find a triangle of people to corrupt and influence so that one of the trio goes mad and ends up killing the others because of some perception of wrongdoing visited on them by the other two. The phrase “Behold, he is in thine hand, only spare his life.” from the Book of Job is brought up a couple of times, originally appearing in Latin on a trident that runs through the foundation of the house which is used as a lightening rod. The explanation being that Satan made a deal with God that he could tempt and torment men all he wanted but could not kill them outright, so he corrupts people into killing one another by using the house, which moves from town to town once it’s goal is accomplished.
There is much talk of the Roman emperor Nero (infamous for his persecution of Christians and for the burning of Rome) and a Roman coin or sestertius, which appears out of the ether and is used as payment for the victim’s journey into the Underworld.
The story mostly concerns a triangle of a young couple, Keith and Jennifer Olson, and a mature but handsome antiques dealer, David Carmichael, who is an old associate and friend of Jennifer’s whom Keith is jealous of. Upon returning from a week’s vacation, the Olson’s find a new house has appeared out of nowhere right down the road from their isolated residence in upstate New York. Keith goes to investigate and finds the front door open. There are many odd things about it, such as some unusual glass etchings in a bay window, or a strange red glow which emanates from said window at night, but the thing which I find most peculiar, and which none in the story addresses is that the house always seems to keep the number 666 regardless of what street it sets up shop on; but I digress…
Just before he leaves the house, a coin seems to materialize out of nowhere and drop into a claw-footed bathtub. Keith realizing its possible value, pockets it to have it looked at, thus sealing his fate. From that point on, the book read more like a psychological thriller with the occasional unexplained occurrence, until the end which is both graphically violent and blatantly supernatural. It builds slowly and inexorably, towards its climax and every step of the way leaves one thinking how easily these people are playing into this diabolical game which both Keith and David attain inklings of through their respective investigations into the house’s origins and past tenants, but don’t seem to see themselves succumbing to.
In fine, it wasn’t high art, but it was definitely entertaining and I am surprised it was never made into a movie back in the day on a double feature with another contemporary devil film like The Sentinel.
What it seems to do is find a triangle of people to corrupt and influence so that one of the trio goes mad and ends up killing the others because of some perception of wrongdoing visited on them by the other two. The phrase “Behold, he is in thine hand, only spare his life.” from the Book of Job is brought up a couple of times, originally appearing in Latin on a trident that runs through the foundation of the house which is used as a lightening rod. The explanation being that Satan made a deal with God that he could tempt and torment men all he wanted but could not kill them outright, so he corrupts people into killing one another by using the house, which moves from town to town once it’s goal is accomplished.
There is much talk of the Roman emperor Nero (infamous for his persecution of Christians and for the burning of Rome) and a Roman coin or sestertius, which appears out of the ether and is used as payment for the victim’s journey into the Underworld.
The story mostly concerns a triangle of a young couple, Keith and Jennifer Olson, and a mature but handsome antiques dealer, David Carmichael, who is an old associate and friend of Jennifer’s whom Keith is jealous of. Upon returning from a week’s vacation, the Olson’s find a new house has appeared out of nowhere right down the road from their isolated residence in upstate New York. Keith goes to investigate and finds the front door open. There are many odd things about it, such as some unusual glass etchings in a bay window, or a strange red glow which emanates from said window at night, but the thing which I find most peculiar, and which none in the story addresses is that the house always seems to keep the number 666 regardless of what street it sets up shop on; but I digress…
Just before he leaves the house, a coin seems to materialize out of nowhere and drop into a claw-footed bathtub. Keith realizing its possible value, pockets it to have it looked at, thus sealing his fate. From that point on, the book read more like a psychological thriller with the occasional unexplained occurrence, until the end which is both graphically violent and blatantly supernatural. It builds slowly and inexorably, towards its climax and every step of the way leaves one thinking how easily these people are playing into this diabolical game which both Keith and David attain inklings of through their respective investigations into the house’s origins and past tenants, but don’t seem to see themselves succumbing to.
In fine, it wasn’t high art, but it was definitely entertaining and I am surprised it was never made into a movie back in the day on a double feature with another contemporary devil film like The Sentinel.
May 28, 2016
Hola amigos como están, hoy les traigo un librazo de un autor que me sorprendió, yo no se por que no lo había leído, ahora me quiero con seguir el libro mas conocido de Jay Anson que es, aquí vive el horror, maldita sea si esta difícil de conseguir.
RESEÑA
Bueno esta historia esta ambientada en New Castle, es un pueblito al sur de Ossining, Estados Unidos.
Vamos a conocer a Keith, Jennifer, David, y a Paul, bueno este ultimo se va a ver muy, pero muy adelante del libro, vamos a centrarnos en los personajes principales.
Keith: es muy conocido en el pueblo por que, arregla casas muy deterioradas, hace trabajos de carpintería, mejor dicho hace de todo.
Jennifer: Ella antes de conocer a Keith era decoradora de interiores, por ese medio fue que conoció a David, pero cuando se caso con Keith dejo a un lado su trabajo.
David: mejor amigo de Jennifer, el se dedica a comprar objetos dañados los recompone, y los vende en su galería, tiene mucho dinero.
Paul: Hermano de Keith, y es el rector asistente de la iglesia episcopal.
Cuando Keith y Jennifer, vuelven de unas pequeñas vacaciones del caribe, Jennifer llama sorprendida a Keith, para que mirara por la ventana de la cocina, cuando Keith mira queda muy sorprendido, pues hay una casa vecina, lo que le párese imposible que en tan poco tiempo se haya podido construir, Keith le dio curiosidad y se va a investigar, cuando llega a ya ve que la casa tiene una arquitectura gótica, se ve algo oscura y vieja, entra y ve al fondo un cuarto pequeño, las ventanas del cuarto estaban divididas de forma exagonal, y en cada ventana hay una figura humana, viendo la ultima Keith queda muy sorprendido, asustado, aterrorizado, pues la ultima figura que ve, es el, pero se ve llorando.
Keith sigue investigando la casa, esta muy asustado, sube ala segunda planta de la casa, estaba mirando un cuarto cuando escucho un ruido en el baño, un ruido macabro, espantosos, Keith sale corriendo a mirar que
era, cuando llega a ya, dentro de una tina de bañar vieja, ve una moneda de cobre corroída, pero Keith se pregunta como llego allí esa moneda, si no hay nadie en la casa, miro al techo y no había nada que la aya echo caer.
Al otro día Keith, le da la moneda a David, para que le ayudara a averiguar de que época es y si se podía vender, cuando David recibe la moneda, comenzó a tener visiones aterradoras, que nos va dejar helados,
David duro así muchos días, no podía dormir, por que tenia unas pesadillas brutales, no comía, y perdía el conocimiento.
OPINIÓN
Bueno, en este librazo, vamos a ver infidelidad, muerte, religión, rituales con animales, y vamos a ver al mismísimo satanás.
Los personajes son excelentes, los celos, la angustia, el miedo, la rabia, te la transmiten a ti, Jay Anson juega con nuestras emociones, es un libro que no puede faltar en tu estantería es brutal, se los recomiendo muchísimo, es muy fácil de leer te va a tener atrapado en sus paginas.
Aaaa y la moneda te va a sorprender para que era.
VIDEO RESEÑA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIn7r...
RESEÑA
Bueno esta historia esta ambientada en New Castle, es un pueblito al sur de Ossining, Estados Unidos.
Vamos a conocer a Keith, Jennifer, David, y a Paul, bueno este ultimo se va a ver muy, pero muy adelante del libro, vamos a centrarnos en los personajes principales.
Keith: es muy conocido en el pueblo por que, arregla casas muy deterioradas, hace trabajos de carpintería, mejor dicho hace de todo.
Jennifer: Ella antes de conocer a Keith era decoradora de interiores, por ese medio fue que conoció a David, pero cuando se caso con Keith dejo a un lado su trabajo.
David: mejor amigo de Jennifer, el se dedica a comprar objetos dañados los recompone, y los vende en su galería, tiene mucho dinero.
Paul: Hermano de Keith, y es el rector asistente de la iglesia episcopal.
Cuando Keith y Jennifer, vuelven de unas pequeñas vacaciones del caribe, Jennifer llama sorprendida a Keith, para que mirara por la ventana de la cocina, cuando Keith mira queda muy sorprendido, pues hay una casa vecina, lo que le párese imposible que en tan poco tiempo se haya podido construir, Keith le dio curiosidad y se va a investigar, cuando llega a ya ve que la casa tiene una arquitectura gótica, se ve algo oscura y vieja, entra y ve al fondo un cuarto pequeño, las ventanas del cuarto estaban divididas de forma exagonal, y en cada ventana hay una figura humana, viendo la ultima Keith queda muy sorprendido, asustado, aterrorizado, pues la ultima figura que ve, es el, pero se ve llorando.
Keith sigue investigando la casa, esta muy asustado, sube ala segunda planta de la casa, estaba mirando un cuarto cuando escucho un ruido en el baño, un ruido macabro, espantosos, Keith sale corriendo a mirar que
era, cuando llega a ya, dentro de una tina de bañar vieja, ve una moneda de cobre corroída, pero Keith se pregunta como llego allí esa moneda, si no hay nadie en la casa, miro al techo y no había nada que la aya echo caer.
Al otro día Keith, le da la moneda a David, para que le ayudara a averiguar de que época es y si se podía vender, cuando David recibe la moneda, comenzó a tener visiones aterradoras, que nos va dejar helados,
David duro así muchos días, no podía dormir, por que tenia unas pesadillas brutales, no comía, y perdía el conocimiento.
OPINIÓN
Bueno, en este librazo, vamos a ver infidelidad, muerte, religión, rituales con animales, y vamos a ver al mismísimo satanás.
Los personajes son excelentes, los celos, la angustia, el miedo, la rabia, te la transmiten a ti, Jay Anson juega con nuestras emociones, es un libro que no puede faltar en tu estantería es brutal, se los recomiendo muchísimo, es muy fácil de leer te va a tener atrapado en sus paginas.
Aaaa y la moneda te va a sorprender para que era.
VIDEO RESEÑA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIn7r...
June 14, 2013
This book was Predictable, writing so so, and very little in the way of offering something new. But despite all this I was not dispirited by this horror yarn one iota. The story gets going pretty quick as a couple arrive back home from a vacation I think from Jamaica. Surprised to see a new home across the way, that has been transported from another site that we learn later was a scene of a slaying, and the murderer is languishing away in jail. The husband Keith explores the empty house and finds a small hexagonal room with red glass with the faces of three figures, with one not dissimilar to his own, and also discovers an ancient old coin which possesses potent imagery of hellish visions. Que bad nightmares, the rich mysterious owner of the old house that no one has laid eyes on, Keith's wife Jennifer lusting over both her husband and long term handsome friend David who later moves into that house, the tension between the 3 main characters, burglaries with no real motive, and the sites original owner who desperately sells the land to get money together quickly to operate on a tumor that then vanishes to the amazement of the doctors once the sale is completed, and a whole host of other creepy going's on that keep this story bouncing along very nicely indeed. It seems Jay Anson has lifted half of his previous novel The Amityville Horror and reused it here, or he just loves houses with evil spirits. Either way I love to read books like this every once in a while, and although what I mentioned in the beginning of the review sounds like a load of negatives, it beggars belief that it works, and works quite well to make a good solid and respectful if somewhat unspectacular story.
December 19, 2017
I remember reading "The Amityville Horror" back in the seventies when it came out & as a teenager, I was completely mesmerised by it...but that was (allegedly) a true story & this, as it is at pains to point out, is a work of fiction. While overall I liked it there were a few holes in the story to pick at.
Married couple, Keith & Jennifer find an evil house has appeared next door to them. Keith passes a coin found there to David (a friend of Jennifer's) which causes him to want to murder the couple - that's it in a nutshell!
Initially I was very dubious of the coin appearing from nowhere. However, once the history behind the coin was made clear, then within the context of the story it seemed perfectly plausible.
My main problem with the story were the things that happened outside of the house, for example the letter tearing - the evil influence extending outside the walls in this way didn't really work for me. Otherwise, in parts it was reasonably creepy & atmospheric but for me it failed to live up to the cover blurb promise of "...so frightening it brings it's victims screaming to the brink of hell itself..."
The ending seemed to take things a full circle quite nicely although it did have me envisaging a multitude of sequels - I could just see the house popping up all around the world & virtually the same scenarios being re-hashed over & over & over...
Overall a good enough read which I think it would've spooked me more had I read when much, much younger.
Married couple, Keith & Jennifer find an evil house has appeared next door to them. Keith passes a coin found there to David (a friend of Jennifer's) which causes him to want to murder the couple - that's it in a nutshell!
Initially I was very dubious of the coin appearing from nowhere. However, once the history behind the coin was made clear, then within the context of the story it seemed perfectly plausible.
My main problem with the story were the things that happened outside of the house, for example the letter tearing - the evil influence extending outside the walls in this way didn't really work for me. Otherwise, in parts it was reasonably creepy & atmospheric but for me it failed to live up to the cover blurb promise of "...so frightening it brings it's victims screaming to the brink of hell itself..."
The ending seemed to take things a full circle quite nicely although it did have me envisaging a multitude of sequels - I could just see the house popping up all around the world & virtually the same scenarios being re-hashed over & over & over...
Overall a good enough read which I think it would've spooked me more had I read when much, much younger.
June 21, 2010
In my opinion, this book contained aspects of a classic haunting. From the satanic inferences to the house somehow being alive, mainly by the 6-sided room that turns blood red during sunset. The ancient Roman coin that falls out of thin air giving one of the characters images of torture during Nero’s reign. Not to mention precognitive nightmares. Yes, it had a love triangle, but it was meant to intermingle with the mysteries of the house. The house that appeared from nowhere by an owner that is heard but never seen. I like that it focused on the main characters and did not take you off course. It had a priest in the mix but for a brief period at the end. An easy read that took me 2 days to consume. Not as gory as I like, but I do enjoy haunted houses and paranormal activity & this had it. Granted it is dated in the 70ts & you see how it has but a few Amityville Horror elements, it remains a story all it’s own.
January 29, 2016
Okay, first, this book was quite enjoyable. There were a couple of things I didn't like, but those could be me, and, believe-it-or-not, didn't detract from the book. 1) Not very scary; now this could be due to the fact that I'm older---maybe a little jaded---but I wanted that thrill. There was a moment at the end of the book, that I felt sad for the players in our drama, but that was it. 2) Lack of catharsis. One of the beautiful things I think about great horror is, unlike a more standard work of literature, you know in the end good triumphs over evil, more or less. Here though evil wins. So like in a novel that is not a horror novel, but more realistic in its depiction of events, just like in real life bad things happen for no discernable reason. Maybe that was Mr. Anson's objective. Still, it felt like there was no closure. Anyway, the book was a quick read, and I enjoyed it immensely.
June 22, 2013
This is another horror novel from the 1970's by the same man who brought you "The Amityville Horror". It's about a mysterious house and an even more mysterious owner and the strange goings-on inside of it. It's not exactly a haunted house story, but I'm not sure how else this would be classified. A husband and wife duo become entangled with the house and its occupant(s) when the new house arrives in their neighborhood. There are one or two plot-holes that I would have liked to have had fixed, but for a day's read, it's not bad. It's more than a bit dated, and ever so slightly predictable, but still enjoyable.
August 5, 2008
It is difficult for me to decide why I liked this book. I cannot say that it was overly exciting or that I couldn't put it down, but there was never a time where I felt like I had to trudge through a lot of crap to get to a good part. I was always curious to know what would happen next. Some people may have reservations about a book about the devil, but I didn't find anything that would make me feel like I shouldn't be reading it and there was nothing explicit. This is an entertaining, steady, smooth read that I enjoyed.
October 27, 2020
Just like me. Anson, known as a screenwriter, writes a best-seller, 'The Amityville Horror', and I read his subsequent horror book--this a novel, not a supposedly true story. It wasn't scary. It wasn't very good.
February 15, 2017
Meh. Kind of silly. Although it was in the same vein as The Amityville Horror, it wasn't nearly as good.
June 11, 2017
I didn't expect to enjoy this book, but I found it quite easy to read, and the story kept me entertained. Not bad if you are into haunted house fare.
July 4, 2017
Not nearly as scary or as "real" as The Amityville Horror. Clearly written in the hopes of profit, although the notion of a "devil house" is an interesting idea.
April 30, 2018
Read in the 80s
September 15, 2018
Having become inured to the repetitive jump-scare tropes of dime-a-dozen horror movies, I wanted to try a horror novel to see whether it made me shudder. And though this novel also employs those familiar genre devices of a haunted house and stupid people who somehow are not harried by the extremely bizzare events happening around them, Anson imbues this page turner with enough urgency for you to just keep reading on. The best part is that there are lesser flying furniture around and more simmering tensions among the characters to keep you hooked. You do root for the characters, at least some of them and that makes this novel good enough despite its contrived plot which does venture into the ludicrous at times.
December 10, 2019
4.5 Very well written, fun book. Keeps you interested throughout. Sure, there are points where you are like DONT GO IN THERE, as in any horror book/movie, but that is part of horror. I could really see this as a movie. Almost feels like a Vincent Price. I could really see that (maybe if he comes back from the dead mmuuhahaha). Only knock was it was a bit on the slow starting side, but then keeps you into it. Would have loved to have had more info about the house itself but you get the idea of it. WIsh Anson would have done more.
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