A huge thank you to Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review as a stop on this fantastic tour!
Title: House of Spines
Author: Michael J. Malone
Publisher: Orenda Books
Genre: Psychological thriller
Date of publication: September 2017
Format: eARC
Number of pages: 276
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a half
A terrifying psychological thriller cum Gothic mystery, as a young man with mental health issues inherits an isolate mansion, where all is not as it seems…
Ran McGhie’s world has been turned upside down. A young, lonely and frustrated writer, and suffering from mental-health problems, he discovers that his long-dead mother was related to one of Glasgow’s oldest merchant families. Not only that, but Ran has inherited Newton Hall, a vast mansion that belonged to his great-uncle, who it seems has been watching from afar as his estranged great-nephew has grown up. Entering his new-found home, it seems Great-Uncle Fitzpatrick has turned it into a temple to the written word – the perfect place for poet Ran. But everything is not as it seems. As he explores the Hall’s endless corridors, Ran’s grasp on reality appears to be loosening. And then he comes across an ancient lift; and in that lift a mirror. And in the mirror… the reflection of a woman… A terrifying psychological thriller with more than a hint of the Gothic, House of Spines is a love letter to the power of books, and an exploration of how lust and betrayal can be deadly…
Michael Malone. The author of my very first and all time favorite book A Suitable Lie. You weren’t nice to House of Spines! You had set the bar so high with my first encounter with your stories I was afraid both this new book and myself would fall from the 60th floor and crash on the concrete ground.
It did not happen.
Well, I fell. But House of Spines is a slow, claustrophobic, and disturbing fall I couldn’t help but enjoy with every fiber of my being. Although the story differed strongly from what I was expecting, the writing felt safe. It was actually the only thing I felt safe with the book! Beautiful, like a string of fascinating words given new a meaning when put together. Skilled, like the sharp blade of a razor. Riveting, like a obsessive puzzle with missing pieces. Once I had started, I just couldn’t stop reading.
Words without sounds.
I am extremely sensitive and prone to critics when certain tools are used in a book. Here, the very essence of the main character is tainted by mental health issues, and that is something that had my heart tighten and my head instantly create a wall of disbelief.
What he would give to be able to just do the simple things, engage in life, without the unceasing, accusing monologue going on in his head.
I would not trust Ranald. I would not take anything written for granted. But of course, when an author like Michael J. Malone plays with your mind, puts his hand on your head and pushes it into a gothic and unreliable pool of dark water in which everything is distorted, you are trapped and you have no other choice than to breathe and keep on reading!!! How I prepared myself and entered the book did not matter, I felt the urge to lose myself in Ranald’s world and let it take me wherever.
Remember the wuss in me? Well, humans scare me more than monsters with tentacles. House of Spines toyed with this fear and had me on the edge of my seat, not with sensational scenes, but by creating a creepy and unnerving picture in front of my eyes. Inheriting a house is a good thing, right? Fairy tales and news tell us to be careful, scams are around the corner. I’ll never meet the lawyer who calls me to let me know I got a house from a distant relative!!!!
Even if I had the feeling things would go very wrong very fast, I did not see It coming. House of Spines uses elements we are used to, like the inheritance, or other relatives to deal with, family histories, little community talks, big and haunting houses. Yet, the author takes the gothic theme to another level, stirring and mixing, dredging and seasoning a story with the darkest eerie ingredients. Readers, be warned, you will be utterly disturbed! I know I was. I still am! I love walking on the line between reality and imagination. Here, Michael J. Malone has both hands on each ends of the line, and he shakes it with all his strength, turning his readers into acrobats forced to grab anything at hand to stay standing up and avoid tumbling down the darkest void.
House of Spines is a masterfully written play giving “scary” his strongest and yet most natural face.
You can find the book on the Orenda Books e-store or Amazon!
I was lucky to see Michael agree to take part in the Orenda Month back in March so here are more information about him!
Michael Malone is a prize-winning poet and author who was born and brought up in the heart of Burns’ country, just a stone’s throw from the great man’s cottage in Ayr. Well, a stone thrown by a catapult. He has published over 200 poems in literary magazines throughout the UK, including New Writing Scotland, Poetry Scotland and Markings. His career as a poet has also included a (very) brief stint as the Poet-In-Residence for an adult gift shop. Blood Tears, his bestselling debut novel won the Pitlochry Prize (judge: Alex Gray) from the Scottish Association of Writers.
Other published work includes: Carnegie’s Call (a non-fiction work about successful modern-day Scots); A Taste for Malice; The Guillotine Choice; and Beyond the Rage. His poetry includes: In The Raw, Running Threads and Lip Synch. Michael is a regular reviewer for the hugely popular crime fiction website www.crimesquad.com. A former Regional Sales Manager (Faber & Faber) he has also worked as an IFA and a bookseller. A Suitable Lie will be published by Orenda Books in September 2016.
Find Michael on Twitter: @michaelJmalone1
Don’t forget to check all the fabulous stops on the tour!
I love reading your reviews, my Sweechie, especially because you make me kind of want to read so many books outside of my comfort zone a little bit; This book sounds actually SO cool, very suspenseful, and I’m very curious about the un-reliability of every single thing in this story; Great review! 🙂
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This is so sweet of you to say my Sweechie!!!!! ❤ Merci!!!!!! This book is weird and dark and crazy, it's just fab to be stuck in this world! Thank you so so much! I'm glad if my reviews make a little difference. I enjoy writing them a lot now, so it makes me very happy you like them! xx
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I really LOVE love love reading your reviews because I can feel this passion and love you have when you’re writing them 💕 💕
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Aw my Sweechie, it means so much to me! I am about to get a class on how to review, and this reminds me how I want to do it, and no teacher or person will take away my way of putting my feelings into each review ❤
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Ohhh, a class, that’s so cool !! 😀
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You wanna be told how to write a “proper review”? :p I stay open but I don’t want my personal reviews’ style to change because of what teachers think reviews should be like!
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I understand! And I would actually LOVE to hear what teachers have to say about writing “proper reviews” haha.
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Believe me, you don’t! xD
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Is it that terrible?? haha
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If I listen to their advice, I lose my reviewing voice…
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Oookay… well… seems like very, very bad advice then haha.
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😂 Exactly. You don’t tell a Donna what to do when she does it right!
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Arrrgggh! I feel all the pain about the sweet tooth, Michael! And can’t wait to sink my teeth into this book. I just love the versatility of this author.
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I was blown away by the difference between this book and A Suitable Lie, and the fact that the writing felt just as raw and powerful.
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Yes, I heard it was very different and I love the fact that Karen’s authors don’t feel they have to box themselves into the same style and story over and over again.
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Yes! Their creativity isn’t restrained and you can feel they put all they have into every story!
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Love this review! It definitely sounds like a mind-fu** kind of read 😀
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Thanks a lot! 🙂 I actually like my review too, haha! It’s a fabulous book!
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Wow!! What a fantastic review Meggy xx
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Thank you, darling Kate!!! xxx
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The title of this book and the lift dial on the cover make the blurb sound even more interesting. It certainly sounds like a page turner.
I love the descriptive words you use in your reviews.
Amanda.
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This story is excellent. That’s just it. Excellent! Thanks so much 🙂 I tried to find the right words to express what I felt and I got carried away with lots of words and stuff but decided it was the simple truth and hoped people would understand, haha!
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Lovely review! This book sounds pretty intense! 🙂
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It is a very dark, disturbing and twisted book! 🙂
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Great review for this book Meggy, and oh I’m so glad to see you loved this one. 😀 I know that feeling, about picking up a new book by an author whose first release was so incredible you wonder if anything can live up to it. I’ve been disappointed before myself so I’m really glad this wasn’t the case for you with House of Spines. 🙂
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Oh boy! After such a fantastic review I have no other option than to add this title to my wishlist. This sounds marvelous!! xx
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YES!!! xxx
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Great review!
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Thanks a lot! 🙂
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Gosh this sounds phenomenal!!
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And amazing review- ironically almost forgot to say that cos I was so bowled over!!
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Mouhahahaha, this was not necessary but always makes me squee!!! ❤
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hehehehe ❤
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It freaking is!!!! 😀
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Lovely review Twin Pea! It sounds like there were some heavier elements at play. I love how you can always turn my attention to fabulous titles I might have missed had it not been for you ❤
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I love that my reviews interest you! ❤ I value your opinion so much! This book was dark and heavy, in a light, weird, and gothic way!
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I am all about weird 😉
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Awesome, because I am :p
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You should write a book Meggy! Your review even has imagery. I liked that bit about the author holding your head and pushing you down into the dark waters and the other one about the ingredients(made me think of witches lol) and turning readers into acrobats. You are brilliant and your review is so awesome that I just have to get a copy of this book. I want to become an acrobat too 😀
The five facts about the author are pretty interesting. I like the fact that his first fact actually ends with a twist. I thought he was about to reveal just how lucky he has been with number 7. I enjoyed reading more about him.
Okay, I am now raving about your review but for real, I enjoyed reading this. Great post!
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Haha, I prefer to correct them! But that’s a fantastic compliment, thank you ❤ If you team up with Inge about this, I'm in trouble!!! I did think of witchcraft when using that line, it felt right with the gothic side of the story. I am blushing like hell, so happy no one can see me now! I leave you the acrobat role, I'd break a leg after one minute!
Thank you so much for this fabulous comment ❤
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This sounds scary all right! But I’m still a bit confused, it doesn’t have paranormal elements does it? What a great review!
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I can’t answer your question, haha! It’s not categorized as paranormal, so you shouldn’t have any issues with it. If I loved it, there are chances you will too because you know how leery I am of any paranormal stuff! THANK YOU! xxx
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Uwwww, great review 🙂 I must say, your review makes me want to read the book more than the blurb and cover… sounds mean, but you definitely sold the book to me! Great review!
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This is an amazing compliment 😀 Especially when I’m in a class supposed to teach me how to write reviews xD I should show it to the teacher!
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How tubular like awesome news!
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