Customer Reviews

The Haunting of Cambria

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Richard Taylor's novel, "The Haunting of Cambria" intrigues, amuses and entertains ... then ends with a depth charge in the subconscious that stays with you long after the reading is done.

Walking a tightrope between whimsy and disturbing darkness, Taylor is a master storyteller who lets his wounded, sympathetic characters guide you into the dark places where a truly horrifying evil lurks.

Starting off in L.A., the book quickly moves to Cambria, an idyllic village on California's central coast. Theo Parker and his new bride Lily are an immensely likable couple who trade quips and repartee like 1930s urbanites. Their dialogue is one of the great joys of the book and would be enough to make it worth reading ... but that's just the beginning.

I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to reveal that Taylor kills Lily off early on. This devastates Theo who undergoes a lengthy hospitalization, then hibernates at Monroe House: a deteriorating wreck of a place that Lily and Theo had hoped to turn into a quaint bed-and-breakfast inn. Grief-stricken and wracked with guilt for causing the accident that took his beautiful Lily's life, Theo is nursed back to health by Eleanor Glacy, the no-nonsense property manager who has been appointed by the court to watch over the place.

Eleanor's fearlessness and pragmatism serve as an anchor when it becomes apparent that an unspeakably unwholesome presence is also an inhabitant of Monroe House. Is it Lily? Eleanor's repressed sexuality? The psychic remnants of a long-forgotten murder?

As Taylor reminds us, every ghost story is a mystery and "The Haunting of Cambria" is a terrific one. Loaded with character, humor, sensuality and horror, this book is one hell-of-a ride. It's a one-sitting kind of book that keeps pulling you back to read "just one more chapter".

Highly recommended.

Just finished reading my copy of Haunting Of Cambria & I have it say it is one of the best, well written stories I have read in a very long time! Its one of those books that you read & hate to have it end! Good work Mr. Taylor...very good work indeed!

Theo Parker's wife, Lily, dies on the same day they sign the escrow paper for Monroe House. Parker never even saw the SUV cross over the lines, into his lane, and hit his vehicle. His coma lasts six weeks. Parker blames himself for Lily's death. Lily's grandmother, Lillith DeMay, blames him too; and she is determined to keep Parker from getting his hands on any of Lily's assets.

Eleanor Glacy (her last name is misspelled on the dust jacket's blurb) is hired by the court-appointed conservator to manage the Monroe House property, a bed-and-breakfast. Parker and Eleanor experience odd happenings. It actually seems as though a ghost is trying to take Eleanor's virginity. Believing there to be safety in numbers, the two share a bedroom. But that does not stop whatever is in the house. Using Lily's image, it entices parker out of the room and attacks Eleanor. At times the entity can even take corporeal form to do harm.

A lawyer, a professor of the paranormal, and even a physic enter the picture in hope of figuring out what is going on. But what if the answer is too horrible to even image?

***** Be warned, readers, that there are graphic scenes within this story. But few horror stories do not contain them, right? Okay, so you are warned. I found the story to be engrossing, in some sort of twisted way. As the progresses the author slowly reveals what is really going on, how the evil can take solid form, and (most chillingly) exactly what is happening to those within the bed-and-breakfast. If you read this on a late stormy night, you are inviting some frightening dreams. (You will have to trust me on that one.) Fantastic! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Yes it is a little creepy, and yes it was the first "romance" I read authored by a guy. And yes I loved it. Oddly enough, I still call it a romance. It is not your run of the mill textbook love story though. I loved and hated the characters. They had all the qualities that made them truly human. . . All the qualities that a good author can give them.

Though I gravitate toward those manly, viking, historicals where the guy only has eyes for the heroine, I was refreshed (I guess you can call it) by this novel's hero. Very different. Admittedly male, eyes straying, thoughts straying, yet still in love with the heroine. I guess it is the only way to write a believable contemporary novel.

Mix with it a VERY unique supernatural presence, and you have a romance/horror that will unexpectedly rate highly on YOUR list too!

Written in the first person with wit and humor that can only come from a sexy, confident hero (and a fantastic author), this novel was easy to follow, and flowed well. I was reluctant to read it since it wasn't the type I usually read, but since I'm researching for my own book, I was SO happy I picked this up. Getting a view of a relationship from a man's standpoint was VERY inspiring, and I actually look forward to more titles from this author.

Have just finished "The Haunting of Cambria" Let me say that this is one of the "hauntiest" books I have ever read!! As an old "scary book" fan since I have been old enough to read, I am always looking for a good read. After picking this book up at random on a recent vacation...I almost literally couldn't put it down until 3:00 A.M. the other morning. I really hated to see it end....however...the ending really blew my mind. Extremely wonderful and bizarre!!! .....but with a great sense of humor. I loved his comments on men, women, and all the man-woman stuff that goes along with it. Terrific humor. Am so looking forward to his next work!!
Reviewed by Nancy Stratton

If you are going to be scared, it might as well be in Cambria! What a fantastic location for the setting in this book. I could not put the book down on several occasions. Great job on this first book. I look forward to reading a second!

I just finished reading "The Haunting of Cambria". It's been literally years (I'm an avid reader) that I've opened a book and read with such enthusiasm or intensity. I want to tell you that this book took me from beginning to end with vibrant page-turning! Just when I thought I had the "answer" for this so-called haunting of Lily's House...the scenario changed to become more fascinating in realms so not expected. This makes me wonder how the genius of the author is created. Amazing. The BEST book I've read since "IT", by another famous author. Keep writing....I'll keep reading.

Scary, sexy and smart! If you're bored and looking for a way to send chills up and down your spine, read this book. The terror creeps up on you, slowly but surely, and then there's no escape. The characters are intriguing and the plot sucks you in. Highly recommended.

I couldn't put this down! I'm kidding with my title. You need to read this in the daytime, with bright sunshine! You need to be able to look out and realize it's a work of fiction. This story will stay with you well into next week and next month. I found myself thinking about it weeks later, enjoying the sudden realization of another nuance and little hidden treasure. This novel is very well crafted, and despite the comparisons to Steven King, is unique unto itself. I seriously started it and went right through it, reading for about 19 hours straight over Christmas. Highly recommended!!

Richard Taylor's first novel is the literary equivalent of a tall drink of water. Cool and clean. After the first sip, you get greedy and can't help but finish as fast as you can.

Theo Parker survives a devastating car accident as a widower and inheritor of Monroe House, a brooding bed and breakfast in the seaside township of Cambria. Shattered, unsure of his future and of the young woman caretaking Monroe House, Parker steadily becomes convinced his dead wife's legacy is haunted. Psychics, scientists and even lawyers are lured into the deadly search for the secret of Monroe House. A secret that will indeed haunt you after the book has left your hands.

Taylor flawlessly intermingles humor, horror and sexuality, twining the reader in a burgeoning mystery explored by complicated, wounded characters. Love parallels horror, for Theo Parker and the others have all lost their souls. Some, slowly but surely, find them again.

Others will fall prey to what resides in Monroe House . . . and haunts Cambria.