Story wasn't that good, my opinion. But the words and phrases he used sometimes was really well written. ( )

This book was a very satisfying read. F. G. Cottam has done an excellent job creating fully realized characters who inspire empathy in the reader. The plot was not one that I could work out beforehand; the author threw in enough foreshadowing without giving away the plot twists. As for the occult entity involved; we were shown just enough, told just enough, heard just enough, to realize it was a badass, formidable monster of some sort. Demonic origins are implied, but not set in stone to ruin the suspension of disbelief for a non christian such as myself.

Two elements of the book appealed to me for purely personal reasons; I loved the Irishness of main character Paul Seaton and the references to the hot summer of 1983, which I have fond memories of.

I will be seeking out more work from this author in the future and will recommend his work. ( )

A perfectly decent "legacy of the evil sorcerer" horror novel that unfortunately doesn't manage to rise to anything greater. The bits set in the 1920s are really pretty good, but unfortunately the plot rests on the shoulders of the modern characters, and there are a few too many convenient reveals too late in the story for it to work for me. (Which is too bad - the side characters are terrific. It's just the main ones who are a little tedious.) ( )

In the 1920s - a decade known for its incredible decadence and opulence - Klaus Fischer built himself a residence that would soon come to rival all other homes of the period. Yet, such a magnificent house can still hide its own dark secrets. And, while many were certainly charmed by the Fischer House - and awed by its mysterious occupant - they would also come to realize that some doors are just too dangerous to open...

Seventy-five years later, the Fischer House has been reawakened to claim the innocent and unsuspecting souls who dare to unlock its door. In 1995, four university students and their professor cross the threshold of the derelict Fischer House. What starts out as a simple class field study and an in-depth discussion on the nature of true evil, soon turns into a waking nightmare for the participants.

Just weeks after the four philosophy students and their professor return home, one young woman has committed suicide and the other three are slowly descending into madness. Nicholas Mason's sister Sarah was one of the participants in that impromptu lecture-study at Fischer House. Determined to find a way to save her, Nick seeks help from Paul Seaton - the only person to have visited the house and to have survived. Yet Paul is also a deeply troubled man, haunted by otherworldly visions which even now threaten his sanity.

Although Paul is fearful of ever returning to Fischer House, Nick is desperate to protect his sister. He forces Paul to go back into his past - to try and recall his own dark memories of a time that Paul would much prefer remained buried. So in order to help Nick, Paul must return to Fischer House to fulfill an unfinished duty: he must find the secret journal of the tragically beautiful photographer Pandora Gibson-Hoare. Although not much is known of the young woman's life, Pandora's journal is rumored to have been kept during a particularly dark period in her life - when she became acquainted with Klaus Fischer.

Paul learns from Pandora's personal diary that Fischer House was a mansion created for debauchery - a decadent house that catered to every hedonistic desire. She describes a secretive gathering in the 1920s which was presided over by a malevolent figure. It was during this gathering of depravity where the dark legacy of Klaus Fischer was born - as the master of the unspeakable crime and diabolical proceedings that have haunted the mansion ever since. Now Fischer House is beckoning, and some old friends have gathered to welcome Paul back...

I must say that The House of Lost Souls was exactly the type of book that I have always enjoyed reading. The pacing of the story was just perfect - there was always something happening in the plot and to me, the horror never seemed forced. I thoroughly enjoy reading books about haunted houses and in my opinion, this book was actually quite brilliant. I give this book a definite A+! ( )

Cottam's books are so well written, so beautifully atmospheric, so genuinely disquieting and often downright chilling that it's a wonder he isn't better known within the genre. The House of Lost Souls, despite a couple of bare spots that weaken the tension, is a book that begs to be read in a single sitting or as fervidly as opportunity presents itself. There are ghosts, black magic, loves lost, and redemption... and, yes, a haunted house. Extremely enjoyable. ( )