House Infernal [Mass Market Paperback]

Edward Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2007 | Series: Infernal (Book 3)

The old priory is a house built for the Church, but designed by Satan. In the house, nuns are drained of blood by things far worse than vampires, and a virginal student is seduced by the perverse and haunted by things more terrifying than ghosts. When Venetia Barlow began work at St. John’s Priory, she expected a quiet summer of drudgery and boredom. But almost immediately she is haunted by lurid desires and visions of a city filled with monsters—monsters who know her name. Is the house really a place of meditation, or is it a temple of abominations? Venetia learns the truth when a long-dead priest gives her an unspeakable message direct from the howling, blood-drenched streets of Hell.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The diabolical adventure never ended-it's only just begun. Finally, Part III of Edward Lee's notorious, internationally published City Infernal Saga is here. Lee dares you to take another tour through the nightmarish City of the Abyss, and to walk with him though a house of horror, a house of graves...a house infernal.

From the Back Cover

A CITY, BUILT WITH BLOOD AND BONES...

Three things are about to join a crypt in Hell with a house on Earth... Nuns molested and drained of blood. A virginal student seduced by the perverse and taunted by things worse than ghosts. And six Angels, imprisoned in Hell and made pregnant by God knows what...

A HOUSE, BUILT FOR THE CHURCH, BUT DESIGNED BY SATAN...

When Venetia Barlow begins work at St. John's Prior House, she expects a quiet summer of drudgery and boredom. But soon she's haunted by lurid desires and visions of a city full of monsters...and the monsters know her name. Is the house really a place of meditation and worship, or is it a temple of abomination and the most evil secrets? Venetia will only find out, when the voice of a long-dead priest comes into her head and gives her a an unspeakable message from the howling, blood-drenched streets of Hell...

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 369 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (October 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843958065
• ISBN-13: 978-0843958065
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence. He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Bibliography

Nightbait (1982) written under the pseudonym Philip Straker
Nightlust (1982) written under the pseudonym Philip Straker
Ghouls (1988)
Coven (1991)
Incubi (1991)
Succubi (1992)
The Chosen (1993)
Creekers (1994)
Sacrifice (1995) written under the pseudonym Richard Kinion
Header (1995)
Goon (1996) with John Pelan
The Bighead (1997)
Shifters (1998) with John Pelan
Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman (1998) with Elizabeth Steffen
Splatterspunk: The Micah Hays Stories (1998) with John Pelan
"Masks" (1999)
"Operator B" (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 450-copy limited hardcover.
"Dahmer's Not Dead" with Elizabeth Steffen (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
"The Stickmen" (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
"The Deaths of the Cold War Kings: The Assassinations of Diem & JFK" with Bradley O'Leary (2000): Cemetery Dance Publications.
"City Infernal" (2001): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
(April 2002): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Mr. Torso" (2002): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.
"Sex, Drugs and Power Tools" (2002)
"Family Tradition" (2002) with John Pelan
"Monstrosity" (2002): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Ever Nat" (2003): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.
"The Baby" (2003): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.
"Teratologist" (2003) with Wrath James White
"Incubi" (2003): Necro Publications.
"Infernal Angel" (2003): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover.
(January 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Messenger" (August 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"The Backwoods" (October 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
(December 2005): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover.
"Monster Lake" (2005). Necro Publications. First book for young readers.
"Flesh Gothic" (February 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Slither" (2006: Necro Publications.)
"Gast" (2007)
(October 2009): Leisure Books. Revised, retitled "Black Train", and published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"House Infernal" (October 2007): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
(February 2008): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
"Minotauress" (December 2008): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.
"Brides of the Impaler" (September 2008): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
(May 2011): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as Hardcover Limited Edition of 1000 signed copies bound in full cloth and Smyth sewn and Traycased Hardcover Lettered Edition of 52 signed and lettered copies bound in leather with a satin ribbon page marker.
"Golemesque" (March 2009): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.
(April 2009): Leisure Books. Published as "Golem" as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Trolley No. 1852" (May 2009): Bloodletting Press. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.(October 2010) Deadite Press, Trade Paperback.
"Haunter of the Threshold" (Summer 2009) Bloodletting Press. Exclusive limited-edition. (December 2010) Deadite Press, Trade Paperback.
"City of Sixes" (2009) Necro Publications. Exclusive limited-edition chapbook included with copies of "Infernally Yours".
"You are My Everything" (January 2010) Necro Publications.
"Going Monstering" (January 2010) Bloodletting Press. Exclusive limited-edition.
"Header 2" (June 2010) Camelot Books. Exclusive limited-edition.
"The Innswich Horror" (Summer 2010) Cemetery Dance. Exclusive limited-edition (Club Members Only), (July 2010), Deadite Press Trade paperback.
"Lucifers Lottery" (October 2010) Leisure Books. Currently eBook only, possible release date of July 2011 for physical book.
"Pages Torn From a Travel Journal" (January 31, 2011) Bloodletting Press.
"Vampire Lodge" (January, 2011) Necro Publications. E-Book only (second book for young readers)
"Witch Water" (Spring 2011) Bloodletting Press. Limited edition hardcover
"The Dunwich Romance" (tbd)
"Header 3" (Heads) (tbd) Bloodletting Press. Limited edition

Collections
The Ushers (1999)
Of Pigs and Spiders (1999) with John Pelan, Brett Alexander Savory and David Niall Wilson
Partners in Chyme (2001) with Ryan Harding
Sleep Disorder (2003) with Jack Ketchum
Haunted House (2007)
Brain Cheese Buffet (2010) Deadite Press
Bullet Through Your Face (2010) Deadite Press
Carnal Surgery (April 2011) Deadite Press

Anthologies
Infernally Yours (2009) 'The Senery' by Edward Lee Necro Publications, a limited-edition hardcover.
Dark Seductions: Tales of Erotic Horror (1993) 'Private Pleasures' by Edward Lee
Bizarre Sex and Other Crimes of Passion (1994) 'I'd Give Anything for You' by Edward Lee & Jack Ketchum
Deadly After Dark: The Hot Blood Series (1994) 'Mr. Torso' by Edward Lee
Seeds of Fear: The Hot Blood Series (1995) 'Grub Girl' by Edward Lee
Stranger By Night: The Hot Blood Series (1995) 'Dead Girls in Love' by Edward Lee & Gary Bowen
Darkside: Horror for the Next Millennium (1996) 'The Stick Woman' by Edward Lee
Fear the Fever: The Hot Blood Series (1996) 'Love Letters from the Rain Forest' by Jack Ketchum & Edward Lee
White House Horrors (1996) 'Night of the Vegetables' by Edward Lee
The UFO Files (1997) 'Secret Service' by Edward Lee
Inside The Works (1997) 'The Pig' by Edward Lee
Whitley Strieber's Aliens (1998) 'Scripture Girl' by Edward Lee
999 (1999) 'ICU' by Edward Lee
Graven Images (2000) 'Masks' by Jack Ketchum & Edward Lee
Triage (2001) 'In the Year of Our Lord 2202' by Edward Lee
Excitable Boys (2002) 'The McCrath Model SS40-C, Series S' by Edward Lee
Damned: An Anthology of the Lost (2004) 'Angel' by Edward Lee
Small Bites (2004) 'The Room' by Edward Lee

Movies
Edward Lee's story "Header" has been made into the film Header. Edward Lee and Jack Ketchum are featured in cameo roles in the movie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Are you ready to go back to Hell, November 28, 2007

By 

Dennis Duncan (Greenfield, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: House Infernal (Mass Market Paperback)

Welcome to Memphistopolis the great city of Hell built by Satan. The stretches endlessly, and it is were the souls of the Damned spend their eternity. In a pitch black sky hangs a red sickle moon that's shines over this evil city were nothing but suffering exist. Clock towers have no hands because time doesn't exist in this hideous city. Demons prowl streets made of Rot looking for damned to torture. Monstrous creatures live in the depths of seas made of blood looking for flesh to devour. Golems stand watch in smoking alleys, while gargoyles prowl the ledges of mile-high skyscrapers made of crushed bone. Anyone who is condemned to the place lives a eternity of torment and despair. Abandon all hope upon entering here.

Venetia Barlow is about to begin working at St. John's Prior House in hopes of one day becoming a nun. She expects nothing but hard work and boredom over the summer. but soon she's haunted by dark visions of a city full of monsters that know her name. She will soon find out that the prior house isn't a place of meditation and worship. Its a temple of evil with a very dark history and the dark forces that inhabit this place has something in store for her that will change her life forever.

House Infernal is the third installment in Lee's Infernal series. I loved his previous installments so my hopes were high when I started reading House. Lee has never disappointed me and House Infernal was no exception. The story takes off with a bang and and never lets up. I found myself staying up to the crack of dawn on a couple occasions consumed in this story. I could not put this book down.

House Infernal has loads of action and gore along with very memorable characters. Lee introduces us to lots of new characters, but he also brings some back from his earlier works. Fans of Bighead, Slither, and the Infernal series cant miss this one. A lot of old storylines get tied together in House Infernal. Lee is the King of Hardcore Horror and House Infernal is one of his best to date. I cant wait for his next installment in this series. I could go on and on but I will end by saying that if you are a Lee fan you owe it to yourself to go grab a copy. You will not be disappointed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but somethings missing, November 22, 2007

By 

A. Wilson "desertbears" (albuqerque NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: House Infernal (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a big fan of the infernal series, and of Ed Lee, so I was counting down the days until I could get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, when I was done reading this one I was only so-so about it.

My biggest gripe about this book was the grammatical errors. I'm not an english major, but when I'm reading a book published by a house the size of Leisure, I expect to not see more than a dozen mistakes in writing. The right words were used and spelled correctly, but they were the wrong word for the sentence i.e. the word "do" when it was clearly meant to be the word "if". Those kind of mistakes are distracting from the flow of the book because I stopped reading to say "what do heck?" (distracting isn't it?).

The story, I thought, was a step up for Lee in that he really told a story that moved along and had me wondering what would happen next. Although for most of the book, I found myself wanting to spend more time following Ruth and Alexander through hell than with Venetia in "this world".

If there was something missing, aside from a good proofreader at Liesure, it would be the shock value. Lee has cut out a niche (no pun intended) for himself with slap-you-in-the-face horror, and I didn't really see it this time. Perhaps it's because I've gotten use to the scenes in hell that I've been desensitized to it, but I can't really think of a time when it was "Oh my God, that was sick!".

So in the end, the plot flowed well, minus the grammar, and it seems Lee is "maturing" in his story telling abilities, but this book did not pack the punch of the first two. If you want to see Lee at his best, take a look at Flesh Gothic, or the first two books of this series, my personal favorite being the second book Infernal Angel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but different than the others, August 14, 2008

By 

Cambion "X" (Chaos) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: House Infernal (Mass Market Paperback)

Although House Infernal once again is a tale revolving around Edward Lee's vision of Hell, it is a different sort of book than the first two installments. Rather than being disappointed by this, I actually found it kept Lee from simply rehashing the same ideas, which was refreshing. I also found this book to be more directly in the horror vein than the first two.

In my opinion, House Infernal is undoubtedly better than Infernal Angel, though it did not have quite the qualities that endeared me to City Infernal. Lee finally succeeds fully in creating scenarios where the heroes do not get out the easy way. Terrible things really do happen to the main characters, and some of them will even be killed. Lee convinced me that they were truly in danger in this book, and that the evil truly was insideously, deeply evil, rather than "just kind of weird and gross." For that alone, this book deserves praise.

However, there were a few things that keep me from giving it full stars. First was that much like in Infernal Angel, Lee continues to contradict himself. For example, in Infernal Angel, we are told that all angels of the Caliginauts cut off their own wings as a sacrifice. In House Infernal, the Caliginauts that have been trapped in Hell have wings - the only one without wings has cut her own off for a reason that is a plot point I won't divulge. Why does Lee have such a tendency to contradict his own points from book to book?

One other thing I found disappointing was that neither of the human damned characters were very sympathetic or endearing, and I found the Hell-based chapters difficult to read unless they revolved around Boniface because of this. It was just hard to wish them well when both of their personalities were so grating. To make up for it, I felt that the earthly characters were developed uniquely and well, and that the villians were also quite original and convincing. My only disappointment with the villians is that it seemed somewhat anticlimactic for Lucifer to be absent after his being the primary antagonist of the second book. This is only a minor complaint, however. Boniface and Willermoz are plenty evil.

The ending of the book reveals a twist that I did not expect at all, but loved. However, this ending did illuminate one last disappointment that I have had throughout the series. If Lucifer is the master of temptation that mythology paints him to be, why are none of Lee's characters ever truly tempted to join his side? Even if a character appears to be choosing evil due to ignorance, as in the case of Walter in Infernal Angel, as soon as something is clearly Satanic in nature, all characters regardless of their background or personality reject it without a second thought. This seemed rather one dimensional to me, and at the end of House Infernal it seems even more clearly so - not for even a moment does Venetia consider taking up the Satanic offer, despite what is revealed at the end.

Despite these issues, I still whole heartedly recommend this book to fans of Lee's previous Infernal books, and also to any fans of Lee who felt that City Infernal and Infernal Angel were not quite horrific enough compared to Lee's usual style. If you felt disappointed by Infernal Angel, give House Infernal a chance. And if you've never read any of the previous books, don't be afraid to pick this one up, as it is a tale almost entirely independent of its predecessors.