The House on Cold Hill

Cold Hill Ghost Stories Series, Book 1

By: Peter James

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Ollie and Caro Harcourt are moving house with their 12-year-old daughter Jade. Ollie is desperate to leave the city. Caro is less sure. Then they view Cold Hill House, a dilapidated rural mansion, and fall instantly in love. It's expensive, but with its space, seclusion, and huge grounds, it seems like a brilliant idea.

That is, until they arrive.

It soon becomes apparent that they are not alone. A spectral woman appears on screens and walks the corridors, vanishing before she can be challenged. Strange occurrences become ever more common. Then Caro starts seeing faces, always looking out of the same upstairs window.

The room behind it could hold the key to the disturbing secret behind the house's mysterious past. Except for the fact that the room doesn't seem to exist....

©2015 Really Scary Books/Peter James (P)2021 Tantor

Great story.

I loved every bit of this classic style ghost story. Great writing. Great characters.
The only downside is that the husband Ollie is stupid. Lol
Otherwise this was an amazing story.

So Good!!!!!!!!!

Great story with just the right amount of twists and turns! This was a fantastic listen from start to finish, would definitely recommend.

spooky and well done

well read. good story. I enjoyed listening. I recommend giving this book a try. I will try some more books read by this narrator.

Decently written; clumsily executed

This story had many of the hallmarks of a reasonable haunted house story, which is a genre I’m quite a fan of. I was slightly concerned with the abrupt trope of a hook in the beginning, but assumed that the nature of it would perhaps be explained later in the story.

Unfortunately this was a bit of a pattern throughout the book. Discoveries, incidents, and paranormal events that held no real substance beyond being an occasionally creative twist on an already established trope.

The problem is that the creativity came with the implication of a reason. A reason for the time loops, a reason for the digital involvement, and the quite modern-feeling vitriolic language involved. a reason for the protagonist family being so significant fly more fortunate than the family introduced in the beginning, a reason for the mobility of the phantom in question, a reason for the ex vicar to be notably and specifically angry at the phantom, rather than afraid, a reason for the specifically referenced age of death targeted at a family patriarch’s imminent 40th birthday…

None of these were reasonably qualified with a purpose of a tangible role in the story other than to simply manufacture mystery. It felt very much like the “Lost” approach to writing - keep the mysteries coming, and worry about how you’re going to explain them later.

It can all of course be explained away by the mysteries of the unknown, particularly at the point of the climax, but… it’s simply lazy writing. I don’t blame he author for it, because you’ve got to make a living, but as a reader, it does make me a feel ever so slightly exploited.

Still, though, because I am a sucker for a modern haunted house tale, I did find myself enjoying it nonetheless, even if both the climax and the lead up felt quite overdone - I was okay with it,, because the characters still felt real enough to me, which is a testament to a good author.

Fantastic traditional haunted house

Love the story line so far. traditional family moves into haunted house with a haunted past, looking forward to book 2. Narrator was awesome

Spine-tingling with a welcome creep factor

What an audictively spooky listen! Paranormal is not my usual genre, however, from the beginning, author Peter James had me hooked. Narrator Nicholas Boulton is phenomenal! I can’t imagine another voice, hence the reason I won’t be getting Book #2 (lesson learned: listen to the complete audio sample. A poor narrator can indeed ruin a great book. Following a happy family as they make an attempt to renovate an old country house. Mystical events, past history is revealed. Time slips and slides, introducing us to a devious, charming and kind townsfolk, among others, as they try to help (or hinder?). Ross tells a story as he leads us on a paranormal investigation to find out why. Exceedingly well-done and subplots flow along at a prefect pace, fully keeping my attention. Never dull or a lull. Quite an unexpected and jaw-dropping ending. I am looking forward to more in this series featuring the accomplished vocals of Boulton. Highly worth a treasured credit. However, I chose this from Audible Plus catalogue at no cast. Lately, I’ve found sone hidden gems in Audible Plus; take advantage now! Epic, I say! EPIC! EPIC! EPIC!

👏✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍️

It has potential…

It was kinda all over the place at first but once the author pinned down the direction he wanted to go in I was sold. But the ending… no.

a most excellent haunted house horror!

I really enjoyed this story. the writing was beautiful, the performance outstanding. I usually avoid haunted house novels, since I've come across so many that are just not up to standard. this one was excellent, I will have to take another look at the genre.

creepy!

This was a really good book! It was authentic the kind of story I like. The narrator did a great job.

Excellent story

I like the way the author had put the together I couldn’t quit reading it. It was a wonderful read, very enjoyable. Thank you.