In this “chilling, profound” (Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie) horror story based on true events, the President’s late son haunts the White House, breaking the spirit of what remains of the First Family and the divided America beyond the residence’s walls. The year is 1853. President-elect Franklin Pierce is traveling with his family to Washington, DC, … traveling with his family to Washington, DC, when tragedy strikes. In an instant, their train runs off the rails, violently flinging passengers about the cabin. But when the great iron machine finally comes to rest, the only casualty is the President-elect’s beloved son, Bennie, which casts Franklin’s presidency in a pal of sorrow and grief.
As Franklin moves into the White House, he begins to notice that something bizarre is happening. Strange sounds coming from the walls and ceiling, creepy voices that seem to echo out of time itself, and visions of spirits crushed under the weight of American history.
But when First Lady Jane Pierce brings in the most noted Spiritualists of the day, the Fox sisters, for a séance, the barrier between this world and the next is torn asunder. Something horrible comes through and takes up residence alongside Franklin and Jane in the walls of the very mansion itself.
Only by overcoming their grief and confronting their darkest secrets can Jane and Franklin hope to rid themselves–and America–from the entity that seeks to make the White House its permanent home.
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The Residence is a haunted house story taken to the next level. The story is set in the White House during Franklin Pierce’s presidency.
PROS:
I don’t particularly gravitate toward historical fiction, but the 1853 setting is well researched and populated with events and people of the day. I found the history material rather interesting, and I got sucked into the era.
Elements of feminism, slavery, American Indians, politics, and the psyche of grief find their way into the book, enriching the plot. It’s more than a simple haunted house story.
Pyper’s prose hides in the background, doing its job without calling attention to itself. I never got the sense that the author tries too hard to be either poetic or highbrow. And yet when I stopped to examine a passage, I discovered fresh word choices and clever metaphors.
Usually the third person omniscient point-of-view is my least favorite because it gets confusing. But in The Residence, Pyper makes the point of view easy to follow so you don’t lose track of which person is thinking/acting/speaking.
You know how characters always make those stupid decisions in horror stories? Pyper takes care of that, so it makes sense why the characters proceed as they do.
The scary parts don’t just include things the characters see. There are smells and especially sounds that make everything creepier. Glad I read the book with the lights on!
CONS:
Places in the book read as slow-burn and character-driven, which I enjoy, so I didn’t take any stars off, but readers who like a more action-packed book may get restless during those passages.
OVERALL:
Overall, I loved this sophisticated, historical, haunted house story. Five stars.
“My dear Clara, it seems that the White House is haunted.”
– Major Archie Butt, summer 1911.
The only written record of ‘the Thing’ that haunts the White House has always fascinated me. Growing up, my Grandma Hankins always had copies of the Weekly World News sitting around her house, and I remember one such story vividly – the ghost in the White House. Is it Lincoln’s son who died while he was in office? Is it Pierce’s son who died in a train accident prior to his presidency?
No matter what it is, Pyper has latched onto an amazing moment in US paranormal history and created a stunning dread-filled story.
It’s no secret I’m a Pyper fan. His writing voice is second to none and his novels have a way of immediately capturing your attention and then keeping you engrossed. One such trait Pyper has, that many “high profile” authors lack, is his willingness to go there. The darker areas. The seedier spots of horror. A perfect example is the ending to his last novel ‘The Homecoming,’ or the horrors that he wrapped his readers in with ‘The Demonologist.’ Pyper is willing to make his readers squirm and with ‘The Residence’ boy does he ever.
What I liked: While I was reading this, I tweeted out how this book read like Pyper’s writing in 2020 with the dread he infused in ‘Lost Girls.’ When I read ‘Lost Girls’ I knew something bad had happened, something I didn’t want to know. But Andrew pulled me along and when it came together you felt heart broken and despondent. Much like Andrew Cull’s recent release ‘Remains,’ ‘The Residence’ at its core is a story about grief and how it affects those impacted by it. Both physically and psychologically. There are essentially four main characters playing out here; President Pierce, his wife Jane, The White House itself and the presidency. You see, as things continue to spiral and Jane grows more and more withdrawn, Pierce constantly has to decide what can and can’t be made public and how the perceptions of the people to his decisions will look. Pierce had a presidency marked with highs and lows within the slavery era, and while Pyper touches on that, he does so with delicacy.
The story arc of Jane was really well done, and while you may argue that the main character was Pierce, I’d suggest that the true character to follow was her and her struggles, her acceptance and her resolve.
The secondary characters here were also fantastic. Pyper used them as fantastic set pieces, coming and going as needed and aiding when asked. You could see that they had a singular devotion – to the house and the presidency.
Lastly – ‘the Thing.’ The synopsis tells us upfront that after losing their son Bennie and then moving into the White House, Franklin and Jane begin to experience things. That synopsis does not prepare you in the least for what is to come. Pyper has once again crafted some amazingly frightening moments, parts in this book will stay with you for many, many years to come. To say I was riveted really doesn’t do it justice. Outstanding frights.
What I didn’t like: I loved this book, but there was two small parts that I found wishing for more. The first was Jane’s relative. Because Jane is unwilling to participate in public events, Pierce recruits a stand-in for her. They do develop some feelings towards each other; Franklin struggling with seemingly having lost his son to death and his wife to grief, but then for a period, the relative disappears and we don’t hear much from her.
The second part that I wished for more was hearing about the sisters who rose to prominence in paranormal circles. Pyper does have them both for a period featured and then one of the sisters returns near the end, but the paranormal fan in me was hoping they’d play a bigger role.
Neither of these things worked as a detriment to the overall story, and truthfully – this is more me splitting hairs to show that I can look at and read a Pyper book fairly!
Why you should buy it: This one ticks off a number of boxes for horror/thriller/ghost fans. This has moments that made me feel like it had been influenced by The Shining as well as Books of Blood period Barker. The descriptions are lush yet pointed, creating a claustrophobic setting in a house that is expansive and a mansion.
Pyper, to me at least, is the most confident writer I’ve ever read who is unfailing in his approach to delivering. From the beginning, to the middle and then the ending, everything has a place, a purpose. Just look at the toy mentioned throughout – The General. If you have any plastic army men kicking around, you’ll never look at them the same way after one particular scene.
I know I frequently sing my praises for Pyper – but rightfully so. After delivering a stunning novel in ‘The Homecoming’ to return in such short time with an absolute gem of historical fiction with this shows he’s really found a groove and there seems to be no slowing down.
Recently it was announced that this book had been picked up for production to become a historical fiction/non-fiction series. Now having finished this book, that couldn’t be a more perfect fit.
For new fans or fans of old, Pyper has given us another gift and easily one of his best books. I’m so thankful to have been allowed to give this one an early read and it didn’t disappoint.
Thank you to Skybound Books, Simon & Schuster, Simon & Schuster Canada and Andrew Pyper for the copy for review. Thank you to Michael Patrick Hicks for giving me the heads up that this was available on Edelweiss and thank you to Edelweiss for the approval. I already have the Hardcover and the Kindle copies pre-ordered!
Inspired by true events concerning U.S. President Franklin Pierce and First Lady Jane Pierce, Andrew Pyper’s, The Residence, is an exquisitely drawn portrait of unfathomable heartbreak that will chill your blood while exploring an epic moral battle between darkness and the power of love.
The Residence is a haunted house story that takes place in the White House during Franklin Pierce’s presidency.
PROS:
I don’t particularly gravitate toward historical fiction, but the mid 1800s setting is well researched and populated with events and people of the day. I found the history material rather interesting, and I got sucked into the era.
Elements of feminism, slavery, American Indians, politics, and the psyche of grief find their way into the story, enriching the plot. It’s more than a simple haunted house story.
Pyper’s prose hides in the background, doing its job without calling attention to itself. I never got the sense that the author tries too hard to be either poetic or highbrow. And yet when I stopped to examine a passage, I discovered fresh word choices and clever metaphors.
Usually the third person omniscient point-of-view is my least favorite because it gets confusing. But in The Residence, Pyper makes the point of view easy to follow so you don’t lose track of which person is thinking/acting/speaking.
You know how characters always make those stupid decisions in horror stories? Pyper takes care of that, so it makes sense why the characters proceed as they do.
The scary parts don’t just include things the characters see. There are smells and especially sounds that make everything creepier. Glad I read the book with the lights on!
CONS:
Places in the book read as slow-burn and character-driven, which I enjoy, so I didn’t take any stars off, but readers who like a more action-packed book may get restless during those passages.
OVERALL:
Overall, I loved this sophisticated, historical, haunted house story. Five stars.
Fascinating!
I can honestly say I didn’t know anything about Franklin and Jane Pierce, and this story was a fascinating way to blend history with a classic spooky ghost story! I loved the historical elements – Pyper did a marvelous job working in all of the pathos of the time, highlighting the pre-Civil War conflict on multiple levels that played beautifully into the story.
Jane and Franklin were well-crafted characters, complex and wholly human. The supporting cast (ghost and human) was also very well developed, and really enriched the story with a multiplicity of perspectives and personality types.
The plot was intriguing and took the haunted house concept in a new and wholly engaging direction that I found very entertaining. The writing is solid and the pacing excellent – there is just the right amount of give-and-take between the creepy supernatural elements and the more mundane horrors of the Pierces’ lives. The blend made the story very resonant kept me furiously flipping pages from the opening salvo.
This is the second book of Pyper’s that I’ve read – I have thoroughly enjoyed both and will definitely be on the lookout for more!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Eerie, intense, and sinister!
In this latest novel by Pyper, The Residence, we are transported to the White House during 1852 and into the life of the newly-elected President Franklin Pierce has he struggles with the recent loss of his 11-year-old son, a wife enveloped by sorrow, a nation fractured and heading towards war, and one special room where grief is in abundance and terror seems to like to come and play.
The prose is dark and ominous. The characters are tormented, desperate, and troubled. And the plot is a horrifying, gripping tale interwoven and steeped in the supernatural that’s full of familial drama, heartache, tension, obsession, secrets, death, hopelessness, and violence.
Overall, The Residence is a unique, dark, spooky tale that captivates from the very first page and ultimately leaves you mystified, chilled, and creepily entertained.
The Residence is gothic book about the hauntings in after the untimely death of President Franklin Pierce’s son Bennie.
His wife Jane has a past unlike many others, she scared me. There is a fine line between insanity and grief; or is there?
I loved how the author took historical facts and figures , such as The Fox sisters and included them in this eerie creepy story.
The ending, well things pick up quickly and you will just have to read it for yourself. Be prepared.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for letting me read this book that will haunt me for quite awhile.