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A Winter Haunting

Seasons of Horror, Book 2

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A Winter Haunting

By: Dan Simmons
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
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“A mix of Henry Jamesian and Stephen King style scariness . . . Surely the first psychological/horror masterpiece of the 21st century.”—The Denver Post

A once-respected college professor and novelist, Dale Stewart has sabotaged his career and his marriage—and now darkness is closing in on him. In the last hours of Halloween he has returned to the dying town of Elm Haven, his boyhood home, where he hopes to find peace in isolation. But moving into a long-deserted farmhouse on the far outskirts of town—the one-time residence of a strange and brilliant friend who lost his young life in a grisly “accident” back in the terrible summer of 1960—is only the latest in his long succession of recent mistakes. Because Dale is not alone here. He has been followed to this house of shadows by private demons who are now twisting his reality into horrifying new forms. And a thick, blanketing early snow is starting to fall . . .

©2002 by Dan Simmons. (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. and used by arrangement. Ghosts Horror Supernatural Suspense Thriller & Suspense
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Continue the series
Children of the Night cover art
Children of the Night By: Dan Simmons

Critic reviews

“[A] highly effective supernatural shocker.”—Publishers Weekly

“Simmons works toward a seriously well-written nonhorror novel, until we grow suspicious that we are into a deceptive tale much like the flicks The Sixth Sense and The Others, with a Jamesian ghost story overlay, wherein the everyday has an otherworldly reverse side.”—Kirkus Reviews

“One of the scariest and most unnerving ghost stories to come along in quite some time.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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Simmons writes the tale of a follow up to Summer of Night in a different tone. No Stephen King here: it’s the Scandi Noir version. The innocence of childhood has gone, just a gloomy author at the end of several unrewarding avenues in his life, who returns, un-remembering to the same place 42 years later. If SoN was a tale of American confidence at the height of the American century, then this is post industrial America, it’s values and self confidence hollowed our, the town a ghost of its former vibrancy.
Simmons riffs throughout on the story by James that plays out across the pages: is the alter ego demonic, mad and unconscionable or is the “hero” of the story just a loser for having none of these qualities?

As you can gather it’s a much lower tone book than SoN, so if you do read, you know what to expect. Having said that, I enjoyed it immensely, and will give the next one a go.

The performance is strong throughout, matching the mood of the book very well.

Gloomier, darker than the first one

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As noted above this was the sequel, and I would recommend you read/listen to it first as there are a lot of references to it here.

This book was like discovering an old photo album and re-uniting with friends you hadn't seen since childhood. Reliving the incidents of the kids' summer was great and reminded me of old school holidays when you were pretty much left to yourself all day.

Dale has grown up now and returns to the house of one of his friends to write about that summer. We are re-introduced to background characters who now play pivotal roles in the town and Dale is never quite sure who to trust. Enjoy it, I did!

Sequel to "Summer of Night" - Read it First!

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I found this story truly gripping and literally couldn’t stop listening. Bronson Pinchot had my total attention, his narration was perfect, bringing clarity to each character, he was a pleasure to listen to.

Gripping story

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I was told this is boring don't bother. But I am so glad I did. This book completes and defines Summer of Night and to read that without going on to Winter Haunting would be a real loss.

Completes Summer of Night

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Interesting, if not particularly scary story, well paced with an excellent perfomance by Bronson Pinchot.

Good low key follow-up to Summer of Night.

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