Butterfly House
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REVIEW BY WILLIAM D. GAGLIANI
Stories of ghosts and haunted houses rank among the oldest and most venerable of horror conventions. Everyone from William Shakespeare to Henry James has utilized the spine-tingling narrative devices. Building a suspense-filled story around these terrifying, tried-and-true conventions, author T.K. Sheils has created a ghostly tale sure to please fans of the horror genre. In Butterfly House, two strangers come together to purchase a "guaranteed haunted house." Each of the buyers has a motive in this creepy transaction. Jackson Rutledge wants to soak up atmosphere for writing commercial horror stories and turn his stalled journalism career around. His partner in the purchase is Sabrina Osterling, a beauty who hides her looks from the world. Sabrina, who wants desperately, obsessively, to learn about the future, is hoping to meet a ghost. The house in question—the old Hanley place—is a large, isolated structure with identical east and west wings made of fieldstone topped by a protruding off-center tower. The house is the former abode of Luther Hanley and his hateful daughters, Amanda and Clarisse, all three of whom have mysteriously disappeared. The Canadian mansion is reputedly haunted by one or more of the Hanleys, making it the perfect place for both Jackson and Sabrina, who unite to purchase the property despite their mutual dislike for each other. Getting along is only the beginning of their ordeal. While Sheils' characters are a bit thin, they go through the paces—and the sex—with gusto. The author throws some expected and unexpected frights in their path, not the least of which is a seventh-century renegade monk who claims mastery over past, present and future. Butterfly House is solid entertainment, a fun and ultimately satisfying narrative. T.K. Sheils is an author worth watching. Bill Gagliani is the author of Shadowplays, an e-book collection of dark fiction from Ebooksonthe.net.
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