Book Review of The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts (Jan. 2023) With Bonus Interview
It’s time for my first book review of 2023, and it’s a good one! I was fortunate to win an audiobook copy of The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts. I’ve had this one in my sights for awhile, but its been buried in my To Be Read pile. However, the surefire way to get a shortcut in my TBR pile is to throw me an audiobook since I spent a lot of time walking, working out, housework, driving, and spending other time out-and-about where audiobooks are key. So here is an unbiased review with NO SPOILERS (some spoiler-ish comments, not nothing that will ruin anything!) for this book review of The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts and Crystal Lake Publishing. As always, I may make a commission on any links that you click on to buy (Amazon Disclosure), but when you do that you are supporting me, so please, go ahead!
As for all my book reviews, I am giving the first impression, the good, the so-so, and the verdict, as well as a bonus interview from Nick Roberts in this one! What a great opportunity and a real class-act of an author. Super humble, super talented. Thanks for him taking the time to give this interview, and thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing for dishing out some audiobook codes. As always, please take the time to follow Nick Roberts on social media, where I prefer to use Twitter, and his handle is @nroberts9859. Also check out Crystal Lake Publishing on Twitter, and their handle is @crystallakepub.
For first, let’s start with the introductions.
Who is Crystal Lake Publishing?
If you are still asking yourself who Crystal Lake Publishing is, you just might be stuck on the big-5. But anyone who is anyone in horror (even just readers!) knows that Crystal Lake Publishing is the preeminent “indie” publisher, although they are really as mainstream as sliced bread at this point.
Founded in 2012, Crystal Lake Publishing is one of the pioneers and leaders in dark fiction and horror. They are willing to give a new and up-and-coming author (including first novels) an equal and powerful footing just as much as a well-known horror author, which is what makes them a unique and influential voice in the horror genre. And it’s worked for them, as they have many Bram Stroker Award wins and nominations from their authors.
When it comes to horror, Crystal Lake Publishing can nearly go toe-to-toe with some of the largest publishers out there, with a reputation in the horror industry that often usurps most other publishers — including the big-5. Despite this success, the team of Crystal Lake Publishing has continued to keep their heads down and work harder towards refining their process.
Who is Nick Roberts?
Now for the main star, author Nick Roberts. First off, he’s one of the most humble and down-to-earth authors out there who is walking around with some big hits — including The Exorcist’s House, which is why we are here now. My interactions with him on social media have been great, and I’ve only “known” him online for a few months, and really only started speaking about a month ago.
Next, some information about Nick Roberts: he is a native West Virginian and a graduate of Marshall University. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild. His short works have been published in The Blue Mountain Review, Stonecrop Magazine, The Fiction Pool, Haunted MTL, The Indiana Horror Review, and anthologies by publishers, such as J. Ellington Ashton Press, Dead Seas Press, and Sinister Smile Press. His novel, Anathema, won Debut Novel of the Year at the 2020-2021 Horror Authors Guild Awards. His second novel, The Exorcist’s House, was released in 2022 by Crystal Lake Publishing and has since become an Amazon best-seller. Film rights for both of his novels have been acquired. Follow him at nickrobertsauthor.com, facebook.com/spookywv, twitter.com/nroberts9859, tiktok.com/@spookywv, and instagram.com/spookywv.
To learn more about Nick Roberts, check out his website bio available here.
EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Nick Roberts
I had the opportunity to ask Nick Roberts some questions about his love of horror and his brilliant start to his career. He gave a great interview, and here are some of the exciting answers from him:
NAB: 1) When did you first start reading horror? Are we talking Goosebumps, Pet Sematary, or more recent?
Nick Roberts: I’ve always loved being scared. Being an October baby instilled a Halloween connection as a birthright [[NAB: woohoo, I’m also an October baby too and it turns out we are just six days a part!]]. I first started reading horror in the children’s section of the library. Any picture book that had a spooky ghost sticker on the spine was for me. From there, it escalated to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Goosebumps, Fear Street, and then all-things Stephen King. It’s a been a lifelong journey down the dark rabbit hole ever since.
2) What made you first start writing horror, and when was that?
My dark side came out creatively in drawings first. I would fill up sketchbooks with every monster my imagination could muster. It dawned on me that I could write stories about these creatures, and that’s what I did as early as first grade. (My mom got a few phone calls home.) As I got older, I got more into horror films, so I would write and shoot my own no-budget movies with my friends. Screenplays and short stories were the forms with which I mostly bonded. It wasn’t until I graduated college that I began writing novels.
3) Who are your favorite horror authors right now?
My favorite horror authors are Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Clive Barker, Jack Ketchum, Bret Easton Ellis (when he dips into horror), William Peter Blatty, and Dan Simmons. I also enjoy Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, and Dathan Auerbach.
4) All time favorite horror book?
My all-time favorite horror book is a three-way tie (sorry, it’s impossible to pick one of these): The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis, and Pet Sematary by Stephen King.
5) What are you working on now?
I’ve got a few projects in the works right now. Most importantly is my third novel, Mean Spirited. I’m trying to wrap it up, but the story keeps revealing more to me. In 2023, I’ll have my first comic book story published in a secret anthology, and my short story, “Red All Over,” will be featured in a Giallo-themed anthology by Editora Aube. I’m also working hard on developing film adaptations of Anathema and The Exorcist’s House, but I can’t say much about that.
6) What is the best advice that you would give someone looking to follow in your footsteps as a horror writer–perhaps someone working on their first book, or someone looking for their first book to “stick” and get them moving in the right direction?
I write a minimum of 1,000 words per day, and that routine has worked well with my hectic life. My advice to a new writer is to have the most polished manuscript you can. Query agents and publishing houses that accept unsolicited manuscripts. If you want to self-publish, find a great editor, formatter, and cover artist, and promote the hell out of it without being annoying. Get the book in the hands of people who are going to talk about it. Join Facebook and Goodreads horror groups and connect with other authors. Most importantly, build a following. Do this by providing engaging social media content across all platforms. Create a website and a mailing list and have eager fans awaiting your next work.
Thank you for your time and fantastic advice in this interview. We are excited to continue to see more from the creatively horrifying world of Nick Roberts in the future!
Now for the Main Show: Book Review of The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts and Published by Crystal Lake Publishing
This is an unsolicited book review of the audiobook version. I’m keeping with my normal format for all of my reviews, including the first impressions, the good, the so so, and the verdict. Overall, I loved this book and it really started 2023 very strong!
Let’s start with the book blurb from Amazon:
“This psychological thriller follows a family to their Appalachian farmhouse, where they encounter an unimaginable horror.
In the summer of 1994, psychologist Daniel Hill buys a rustic farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia.
Along with his wife and teenage daughter, the family uproots their lives in Ohio and moves south. They are initially seduced by the natural beauty of the country setting. That soon changes when they discover a hidden room in the basement with a well, boarded shut and adorned with crucifixes.
Local legends about the previous owner being an exorcist come to light, but by then, all Hell has broken loose.
This 1990s horror novel is perfect for fans of family thriller books, stories of demonic possession, exorcism fiction, the occult, or thrillers like The Exorcist, A Head Full of Ghosts, and The Amityville Horror.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.”
First Impressions
Let’s start basic, the cover. Solid artwork with a creepy aura. Some say don’t judge a book by its cover, and that’s true, but I also say that authors and publishers that don’t care about their covers might not care about their story or editing either. Here, that’s not the case. Great cover!
Starting out in the book, it begins with a definition that I didn’t get, at first. It was eerie and sets the stage. It was only after I finished the book and replayed the first chapter (you’ll want to do that too, I promise), that it ALL MADE SENSE. Brilliant. Loved it more the second time when I understood it.
As the first chapter unfolds, you don’t have to wait long for action. Things get dark, fast. And creepy. There’s some foreshadowing here, but there is also just some blunt-force horror. It’s good, and you’ll find yourself hooked from the get-go.
The next part of the book starts like many horror stories, with a family moving for a fresh start to a home. The difference here is that there is a little more development between the powerful start of the book and when the family makes their move. That difference is what really helps set up the horror and how it is focused later on — think of it as some sinister blueprints. Oh, it gets dark.
The Story Itself
Great story. There are some common horror tropes that are used, but they are Frankenstein’ed together and they all flow well. Although that is on a macro level. On the fine tuning scale, Nick Roberts creates freaky vibes in pretty unique ways. There are some little moments of tongue-in-check humor (i’m specifically thinking of what happens when Daniel goes into the basement and comes back up, missing Nora’s purse on the counter — cheeky twist!). There are some other freaky points, later in the book (which I can’t really reference without issuing a spoiler).
I also think the premise is completely unique. They move into, as the title suggests, an exorcist’s house. There’s no hiding that. But the unique horrors that this house contains is what makes this book a real page-turner. In fact, the story really shines once the first few chapters are set up. I’d say about 20% through to 80%, the book will fly. There are so many great turns and twists, all leaving you wanting more more more. I’d say that my favorite part of the book is this middle section. It really will grip you for a ride, and the labyrinth created by Roberts is so infectious that the only cure is to read faster.
As the story approaches the end, the climax is less-wicked than a lot of the book — especially the horrifying parts leading up. I also saw the second ending, the very ending, coming — just not in that fashion. But here Nick Roberts shines with this part from the dread and suspense that he creates. You see it coming, but you want to know HOW. You NEED to know how. You won’t guess it, though. And it really creates a million new scenarios about what to do next.
The Good
The best part of the book is the middle sections. Nick Roberts expertly tapers action with rest sequences, which usually are just setting up the next trap or vicious attack. There isn’t an overly perfuse or obnoxious use of language or verbiage, but when it comes time for descriptions, he does a fantastic job with some really vivid and powerful depictions (I’m specifically thinking of that fish in syrup).
But looking beyond this, where Roberts excels is his innovative points of action. When he decides it is time to rock — and that’s quite often — things get horrifying fast. Something that might be innocuous or a set up moment in the book, really can turn on its head (a head, someone’s head) and get grim and action-packed quickly — a No-Doz shot right to the scare-bone. He uses some innovative and powerful scenes with some great imagery, wielding them as a well-honed axe to cleve into your skull. And when you think things get dark, like at Luke’s house, they just keep getting darker when we go back again. And you know that’s going to happen, because of what happens BEFORE that, but you just won’t know what the heck is going to happen. The empathy that you feel for the characters is there, but maybe not as much as some other books (think Meg from The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum), and what emotions Nick Roberts really triggers is dread and mystery, wrapped in a nail-sown blanket of horrors. It’s an enjoyable read (mostly because we aren’t in the book).
When it comes to horror stories, Nick Roberts delivers in this one. You’ll become afraid of routine and everyday exchanges in ways that only a crafty author can manufacturer in his factory of fear, and Roberts is emerging to be a skilled originator of dark fiction. The best part of The Exorcist’s House is that it plays on reality in ways that make you question everything — and nothing — at the same time. Sometimes it is those moments that cause the horror (think Autopsy of Jane Doe — how many times did you think she was going to setup, twist, bite, scream, or SOMETHING? Roberts can great that atmosphere here). That’s how you know things are dangerous, and it’s a world that, once you realize you’re in it, it’s already too late.
I imagine that’s what the Hills thought when the moved into TEH too. And they were also trapped, and maybe still are, once they realized it. Which is what makes this book so uneasy from the very start, to the finish, and… beyond the finish. The uncertainly sowed into this book on page one will haunted you when it’s finished, I promise.
The So-So
I always include the so-so with every book, because I think that there’s nothing perfect out there (i’ll even remark about Stephen King’s books with so-so). It just needs to be there, and some books have more than others.
But here, not too much really to complain about. It’s an enjoyable ride that is set up in the beginning well, and that middle gap is what sucks you in. Where, if anywhere, The Exorcist’s House is “so-so” is the climax. The solution is a little pedestrian considering the absolute hell that we were dragged through — both literally, and explicitly, as Roberts doesn’t sugar coat his scythe, he laces it with thermite instead. For going to war through the majority of the very dark story, i’d say the outcome is standard for many possession/demon stories. That doesn’t make it bad, as by no means is it bad. And there is definitely a little twist in there at the end of the climax when you think its over, but something pulses back for one more… fling.
That’s my only real critique. It’s a wild ride. I expected the solution to be outlandish and unique like the rest of the story. It was good, but what happens in the middle is just markedly more screwed up, messed up, frighteningly delightful — I’d say it “perfectly splendid” in it’s own sick, manner (Bly Manor anyone?).
Verdict on The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts [BOOK REVIEW]
The Exorcist’s House has everything you want from a haunted house and demon possession story. Violence, empathy, dread, unpredictability, and a mix of something else you haven’t been spooked by before. Not only does Roberts craft a convincing and entertaining tale, he also weaves references into other lore — including the name of the exorcist which brilliantly channels the all-time creates horror novel out there. This charm is unique and well done, something I hope is a quirky hallmark of Robert’s books — which I will be reading more of.
In the end, it will be one of the top reads you’ll have in the year. It truly is a fantastic story that has everything you ever need to get haunted. The audiobook performance, by Spencer Dillehay (and I believe produced by HellBound Books Publishing, LLC), is also a demonic home run. When I write my first novella/novel which is slated to become an audiobook, Spencer: it’s a date — warm up those pipes, as my first novella is as enchanting as it is mystically-appropriate for strong vocals (think, sirens… the ones that eat people, and stuff). Therefore, I mark The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts as a MUST BUY.
When it comes to reviews, I have three categories of ratings which is commensurate with the writer and the publisher. Ghosts are my level for new authors and publishers. Werewolves are for mid-level authors and publishers (think Hailey Piper and S. A. Barnes). Whereas Demons are for the big-4 or well-known (household or practically household) authors and publishers (think Stephen King and Clive Barker). The purpose is to keep the level of scrutiny fair, as a perfect score for a Ghosts might be a 4 for a Werewolf or a 2.5 for Demons. Crystal Lake Publishing is big, and this is Robert’s second book, after his first one a debut award and both have film rights optioned, so I feel comfortable with a Werewolves rating level.
Therefore, upon my due deliberation, I rate The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts with a rating of 5 OUT OF 5 WEREWOLVES!
I really enjoy this book and binged it quickly. My recommendation would be to get the audiobook, as the performance is fantastic. This was an unbiased, unsolicited, and uncompensated book review. I do not always give all books a high rating, but usually find myself more compelled to write reviews on books I have enjoyed or those that are popular in mainstream horror.
Are you looking for your book to be reviewed? Contact me! I am still working on building a portfolio, but I will eventually be charging for these reviews. Audiobooks are best, but hardcopy books are good too (I prefer these over digital). But even if I am asked to do a review, that does not guarantee a good score (you cannot buy a good rating from me). Thus, if I read/listen to your book and I am going to rate a book 3.5 or lower, I will contact you, the author, and ask if you want me to do the review or not. If they do not want me to do the review, I put it in the “graveyard.” Right now, I have: three books that I was asked to review and I was going to give a rating of 3.5 or less in the graveyard (authors requested me to not rate it or do a review).
My hope by doing reviews if two fold. The first part is to help the writing community and other writers, with the hope that someday, when I have my own books I need to promote, I’ll get some good karma in return and some support from fellow authors. We can all succeed as authors, it’s not zero sum, and the more the merrier. The second part is that it forces me to learn about other authors through analyzing their work, and enjoying their experiences along the way — such as this awesome interview from Nick Roberts.
I hope you have enjoyed this book review. If you are looking to support me, please feel free to buy a copy of the book through my affiliate link (I receive a commission) available here: The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts. And hey, can I also ask you for one more favor? If you’ve enjoyed this review, share my pinned Tweet about Blue Pumpkins on Halloween. It’s about more than just what it sounds, but actually its about a near-and-dear cause for me and my family. Take a read to find out, and sharing it for me is just as good as throwing me some coin (although that works too!).
Stay haunted folks.