“A fascinating and frightening book” (Los Angeles Times)—the bestselling true story about a house possessed by evil spirits, haunted by psychic phenomena almost too terrible to describe.
In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the … in the house, but the property—complete with boathouse and swimming pool—and the price had been too good to pass up.
Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.
This is the spellbinding, shocking true story that gripped the nation about an American dream that turned into a nightmare beyond imagining—“this book will scare the hell out of you” (Kansas City Star).
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In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their dream home, the same home where Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers and sisters just one year earlier. The psychic phenomena that followed created the most terrifying experience the Lutz family had ever encountered, forcing them to flee the house in 28 days, convinced that it was possessed by evil spirits. Ignore the overshadowing debate about whether or not it actually happened, and you’re left with a very finely crafted haunted house story. Plotwise, I found the story to be engaging enough that I did, admittedly, devour it. This is the story of a haunting come to fruition. A swarm of black flies, green slime, a devilish pig and a bed ridden priest suffering from long distance stigmata. The disturbances increase in both intensity and frequency until they have no choice but to flee. The matter of fact, journalistic tone used to describe horrific events expertly aided the ‘realism’ facade and it made for great storytelling. Towards the end the pacing went off and turned into kitchen sink horror (just throw everything out there!) but it still worked. The ending ‘Afterward’ was genius and is likely why this classic endures and continues to inspire a whole subgenre of horror.
If you’ve seen one of the zillion Amityville movies but haven’t read the book, then you’re missing out. It’s a different and wholly enjoyable experience.
I read this book years ago, and for this book the original film stands out to me especially the screen with the black goo
Okay, I enjoy older books more than new ones, it seems, however this one is extreemly creepy. Good books never get old.
When this first came out, I read the whole thing in one sitting. It really bothered me that a house would be able to possess someone. Too bad, later, it was all made up.
Do not read this book if you live alone, are staying the night in an unfamiliar place, have had your own paranormal experiences/hauntings, or scare easily! I am a huge fan of this genre, especially when the story is based on what are purported to be actual encounters, but this book scared the daylights out of me. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it…I was up all night reading it (big mistake)…I was alone in my very old and creaky apartment in an even older city with a violent past (Richmond,VA)…This was far from the ideal situation when my brain was full of every detail in this book. I had trouble sleeping for a very long time after reading this and still inadvertently get the same images I conjured up while reading it from time to time when I’m trying to fall asleep. The movies don’t do the book justice. This book will DEFINITELY stay with you long after you finish it. If you’re actually able to get through it, that is. Not for the faint of heart, but I can’t say I regret reading it!