The Secret In The Old House

What seems a harmless enough trip to the family's ancestral home on a Maine island turns into something much more dangerous for thirteen-year-old Kim.

“Unnerving.” —People “Unsettling...unlocks its mysteries slowly.” —The New York Times Book Review “A dark, twisty, and richly atmospheric exploration of the power of imagination” —Ruth Ware, author of The Woman in Cabin 10 “Beautifully written and told with a watchmaker’s precision” (Stephen King), Mirrorland is a thrilling psychological suspense novel about twin sisters, the man they both love, the house that has always haunted them, and the childhood stories they can’t leave behind. Cat lives in Los Angeles, far from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As kids, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs, full of pirates, witches, and clowns. These days, Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband, Ross. But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which hasn’t changed in twenty years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Because someone—El?—has left Cat clues: a treasure hunt that leads them back to Mirrorland, where the truth lies waiting... A brilliantly crafted story that “feels like the love child of Gillian Flynn and Stephen King” (Greer Hendricks, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Mirrorland is a propulsive, page-turning debut about love, betrayal, revenge—and the price of freedom.

Sensitively written, this story of the discovery by a family that their old farm house once was used as a station along the Underground Railroad paints its tale with a warm understanding of the day-to-day dangers and the unappreciated heroics of both escaping slaves and the Underground Railroad stationmasters. Set in contemporary Indiana, the book delightfully allows the young people in the story to take possession of the tale even as their grandmother, Nanny, slowly unwinds her story. A great read for young people and parents alike. Nick Schenkel, Library Director, MSLS

When Beth and her mother inherit an old farmhouse in the Idaho woods, they decide to renovate and take in boarders unaware that two different people are determined not to let them occupy the house.

THIS OLD HOUSE A Lily Blooms in the Jaws of Hell BOOK 1 VICTORIAN MYSTERY SERIES I walked out of my grandmother's home on Stockbridge Street in Eagle Lake, Texas, late on a Sunday night, and stared across the street. Against the night sky, all I could see was the crumbling walls that were nothing more than a ghostly silhouette of some previous grand existence. The evening summer breeze whistled through the trees bringing with it the laughter of children who once lived there and the caring call of a mother letting them know dinner was ready. This novel has been in the works since its beginning in 2005 when a century and half old colonial style home was restored by the author and his wife, Barbara. For over twelve months, the house did an amazing transformation, the third time since its original construction in 1845. The first time it was restored was 1861. The second time in 1932 and the last time in 2005. Although a work of fiction, the story was inspired by actual events that will raise the hair on the back of the reader's neck. What happened to the woman who disappeared overnight? Stand and watch a paint lid as the name "Annie" is written in cursive in the wet paint right before your eyes. Or, listen to the heavy footsteps of a construction worker on the roof in the middle of the night? Smell cherry tobacco smoke in the hallways when no one is around? What lies under the white limestone rock in the rose garden, other than dirt? We don't wish to spoil the suspense by telling what all the events were that inspired James into writing this story, but we will tell you a bit about the story. In THIS OLD HOUSE, James creates a historical mystery set in the small town of Eagle Lake, Texas, only an hour drive to the southwest of Houston in the late 18th century. Visiting the old house or what was called the Smithson's Inn named after Wm. T. M. Smithson, who moved there from Weimar Texas in 1854. Visiting the well known Inn are a number of Americans, French aristocrats, and a couple who earlier in the day married in Stafford's Point near Rosenburg, Texas, Mister Johnathan Thompson, and the former Miss Rebecca Davison. When they arrived, they insisted on staying on the first floor and were given an old room that was once a parlor converted into a bedroom. Annie Smithson, the proprietor of the Inn and daughter of Wm. Smithson, became involved when there was a murder, but the body disappeared and was nowhere to be found until sixteen years later. The story evolves into one of hidden passages, murder, deception, and general chicanery ensues. Although most of the old homes built in the mid-1800s in this small community have been destroyed, this home still stands, and the part of the house removed from it still stands on the adjacent lot next door, which by the way was the kitchen at one time. Again, this is a story of fiction for entertainment purposes. But, haunting events did occur in this home that inspired the author to write this story! Happy Reading!

Author M. L. Adams wrote “The Secret House Adventure” for 8+ years old who are just entering the world of fiction for children, moving beyond the single words of “Cat in the Hat”, but not quite ready for “Harry Potter”. Four spunky best friends in Small Town, U.S.A. are compelled to enter a forbidden old mansion at the edge of town. Penny, “Mac”, “Toad” and Jeannie are transported into a time warp they are unable to explain, far beyond the ordinary life they know. Along the way, they learn the history of the house and the people who had occupied it, but the mystery of their experience does not seem to have an easy answer. Go on this exciting ride with them, as they try to figure out how an ordinary abandoned house keeps bringing these curious 10 year old back to its door over and over again.

This is a story written by an eighty-eight-year-old writer who loved the old farm where her grandfather lived and where she spent many happy days as a child while growing up. It is a fiction story about people that the writer put on the farm in her imagination and has no relation to anyone or anything that has ever happened on the farm or anywhere else in the writers life. In the story, Eve goes back to the farm to find that things there have drastically changed. And so she returns to find love, adventure, and danger. It is a story about childhood adventures, growing up on the farm, and life after leaving and returning to find strange and unexplained things that are going on at the farm. She runs into hidden danger and makes plans to find out what happened to her Uncle Ben and to protect her Aunt Edna from the danger she senses is there on the farm. The writer wrote the story while she spent several days alone recovering from an illness. This story came to her while she was thinking about the old farm and those who lived there many years ago. The farm was so important to her, but the older family members have all passed away and most of the farm has been broken up and sold off to others. The only family members left are grandchildren and their families. Today, the old home has been partially torn down, but the farm is a real place and a small part is still there. The writers children are growing old and have no interest in the farm, so everything will soon pass away. The drawings, as well as all of the writing, were done by the author. She hopes others will enjoy an imaginary trip back to the old farm while reading this book and have a little excitement and adventure while being there. You will probably love seeing Eves old homestead cottage and attending a Christmas wedding while reading this book.