The House of Tongues takes you on a creepy and disturbing journey through the woods!

A great Halloween listen!

Generations cursed lead to the creation of serial killer Pee Wee Gaskins, known best for severing the heads of his prey. In 1989, after David Player and his best friend witness Pee Wee enraptured in his hideous ritual, they live in a state of icy fear. Pee Wee appears around every corner terrorizing them, disappearing and reappearing, seemingly at will, his face hidden only by a plastic shopping bag with a slit for a mouth.

Thirty years later, despite the horrors of his youth, David returns to his family home with his four children to visit his elderly parents. Pee Wee may be locked away, but Pee Wee's son arrives at their front door choking out an insidious riddle before swallowing his own tongue. Has the curse of the father been passed to the son, and if so, has David just delivered his own son to the diabolical doors of the House of Tongues?

Thanks to Net Galley for the audio advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

An horror story, Stephen King's kind of creepiness.

A serial killed.
Beheading people.
Tongues.
Curses.
Puritans.

Two friends David and Andrea witnessed a serial killer beheading his victim when they were sixteen years old, and their lives could never be the same.
Twenty eight years later the horrors of the past come back, after David return with his four kids for a vacation, his sixteen years old son found himself in the middle of the killings, and the curses..
The story is told by the old David alternating between the two time tables.

I received this audiobook from Tantor audio via Netgalley for a review. Good story from the author of Maze Runner, though this is far from that book. Good story with good characters, well paced. Malcolm Hillgartner does a good job of taking the listener along for the ride. Well worth a listen.

Creepy fever dream, this is a book of nightmares. Beautifully told, it is a love letter from fathers to their children.

Peewee Gaskins, self professed meanest man in America, was a cold hearted serial killer. This is fact. But what if Peewee wasn’t just a sociopath? What if he was a part of a decades long curse that demanded blood and sacrifice?

Pure fingers crawling up my spine creepy. I will never look at a shopping bag the same.
This is a really great story. The narrator is amazing. The emotional expression he vocalized really makes it feel like he's telling his personal story.
It really was a hard story to stop listening to. It was dramatic, non-stop suspense and lunatic in the swamp spooky.
I was walking my dog through the swamp while I was listening to this, hahaha. What a way to give a story ambiance!!!
This is a good time of year for this story. Highly recommended.
I received this audiobook ARC from #RB Media and #NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is so weird I love it.
His words make you fall in awe & that narration just feels like a cherry on the top. I loved Andrea's character & how they both bonded. It's quite fast-paced so you never get bored & often you feel that your heart is racing like a horse (it's that intense).

The only thing that confused me was the back and forth between 2 visits to the house of the tongue - defining the timelines would have helped there.
84% into the book & now the title makes sense to me & I did know from the title that it's going to be bloody fleshy and a little disgusting but it gets creepy too.

Overall he killed it & I would highly recommend it for a spooky read!

The summer of 1989 changed David's life. While walking through the woods with his best friend, Andrea, the teens stumbled upon a gruesome sight. Running from what they saw, David and Andrea had no idea they just started an avalanche of horrifying events that would destroy their youth.
Now, in 2017, David is a father and has returned to his parents farm for a visit with his children. After a strange visitor knocks on the door, David is thrown back into the memories of that traumatizing summer. He knows his family is in danger, and he will do anything to protect them.

This is not a YA novel! Please don't go into it thinking you're getting another Maze Runner type story. It is a well thought out and dark horror novel that will haunt you for a while. Dashner held nothing back with this book, and has proven he is capable of so much more then dystopia society books.
I didnt know what I was getting into. There was no synopsis on Netgalley or Goodreads. I went in blind, only knowing it was horror. My personal Synopsis above, does not even touch on the horrors of this book. Its a darkness of generations, sins of the father type story, set in rural South Carolina. So many horrible things happen, with an evil that clings to you like damp soil. Might need a hot shower after reading..
I found myself holding my breath several times during the story. Dasher's vivid descriptions leave their image burned through your retinas and into your brain. It was uncomfortable and thrilling at the same time. I was completley unprepared for this story. I really recommend listening to it. The Narrator has a raspy creepy voice that adds to the atmosphere.

*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was just saying I wish James Dashner had written a horror novel! And here it is. The beginning drew me in. I now remember why I like his books. Even if the plot or characters lack, his writing makes up for it.

The book was four stars for me until the last little bit (especially the ending). I appreciated how the kids weren't talked about as much as David. I enjoyed the focus on past David & older David. The narrator was alright. But after a while, I wished he had switched up the voices.

The plot was okay. But it started to veer into a strange territory (more below in the spoiler section). Some things made me roll my eyes. Overall, it is worth a read mostly due to Dashner's unique writing.




SPOILERS


It randomly started to talk of a curse that was so prevalent the whole time. I liked the cult-like vibe I was getting. Then it ended up being just a bunch of loonies off their pills which let me down.

David cutting out one of the bag head's tongues for Wesley was not needed for me. Seems like he was supporting the madness there for a second. Then David taking the fall for Wesley really irked me. I wanted David to be a free man and start over (which a smart person wouldn't have gone back home if that stuff was going on. Kind of felt like he was asking for it). Also, I was tired of hearing how weak young David was. He made decisions I'm convinced we're just to make himself look stupid.

David is a good dad. He loves his kids and remembers his dead wife lovingly. For thirty years David has been living his life in spite of the horrific memories from his childhood. A widower with four kids going to visit a place where they feel safe, surrounded with goodness and love from grandma and grandpa.

David’s family is a good one. His childhood memories with his parents are loving but the horror that plagues him isn’t really his family’s fault, not in his adult mind or how he remembers it. The story begins as he takes his children back to where all the horror began. David being the good dad that he is would never have returned if he only knew the events that were about to unfold. He would have never put his family in the middle of that kind of hell.

Everyone is happy to be visiting Grandma’s house where both grandparents live a down to earth life waiting with all the family joy they can offer to their grand kids and to David. They arrive and everything seems fine until a stranger shows up. This is where I just knew something bad was about to happen. It is in the synopsis, but the story absolutely parts the waters and I could feel it! What then takes place, things that are remembered and all that is revealed is a fantastical terrorizing event that horror fans love. I sure did!

A town or a neighborhood, basically in a swamp with those living there think little about alligator eyes in the water. The story builds with a creepy dark setting in the south and images came to my mind of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That sort of crazy fright is riddled in this telling while keeping some sort of wholesome style, at least in the beginning. And let me be clear, this story has horrific scenes, murder, blood and gore. There is just a certain charm from the start that gave me some sort of comfort and I settled in.

While this is absolutely an adult read, the back story is that of a young version of the main character David and his best friend Andrea. Their relationship is fun but also depicts how victims of abuse cope, be it that of a serial killer or someone they love. The story continues to break from the present day back to David’s teen years as he relives some of the most gruesome and horrific scenes I’ve ever read.

I requested to listen to the audible for The House of Tongues especially for spooky season. While I had myself prepared for some dark happenings, I have to say I was not prepared for what happened. This story has a twist, one that broke my heart and tore at me in a sickening way. Horror fans will get it, why that is a good thing.

The dialogue is witty and snarky. Although listening became frightening, at times I did feel my face smiling. Before I knew it, I was all the way in, falling in love with everyone in this family. Any back story that needed to be told was told smoothly, weaving into present day. And, it was enjoyable learning about this family. The loss, the personalities and all the little details that painted a vivid picture of these characters. And, as scared as I became I also enjoyed the build, the suspense and the thrilling details.

The voice of Malcolm Hillgartner pulled me in and mesmerized me, keeping me attuned with what was happening, the surroundings, the feelings of the characters and their state of emotion. Everything worked exactly as it should, with no unwanted static or background sounds. The reading was clear and sharp. I absolutely loved listening to Malcolm Hillgartner and the telling of this incredible story.

Once the terror started though, it was extremely chilling and there were moments I had to turn it off and just catch my breath or settle my mind a little. There were a few scenes that were absolutely shocking and not for the faint of heart. I have not been this scared, or grossed out for that matter, in several years. I loved it!

*******May Be A Spoiler*********

I felt it was very interesting how David helped Andrea deal with her own issues with her father. By the end it’s clear just how sick David’s father really was, maybe, possibly worse than Anthony. The answer would depend on which one you asked. But the level of emotional abuse that is applied to the characters expresses another kind of message. And, straight away in the beginning, when David thinks back to the night in his room and the murder of his friend. The emotional brain freakery that took place was probably much worse on a living soul rather than being killed. Dead is dead but living with those kind of thoughts has to be hell. It just feels there is so much revolving around psychological torment and how survivors of abuse, any kind of abuse is a life of success just by staying alive.

This is another case where I wish we had half star options. 3.5 for this one. It was pretty well written and performed. The timeline jump back and forth got very crazy in some sections. Everything moved pretty slowly for me though. I thought this could probably have had a greater impact with maybe half the pages. I will be recommending it to a friend who may appreciate it more than I. The family relationships were charming until they became a bit too cloying for my tastes. And some of the decisions that were made and the continuity issues that I encountered were off-putting.

I received this book on my request for my unbiased opinion.

I had to sit with this one for a day or so after finishing it. It was creepy, unsettling, and disturbing. It was a difficult read, but for me that means it was well written. If I can get through a horror novel without going “…uh, ew” then it’s not great.

I know some people don’t like dual timeline stories, but it was easy to follow and keep separate in this book. Was also integral to the storyline, which I think is why it seems so unnecessary in other books.

NetGalley provided an audiobook copy, and I really enjoyed it. Malcolm Hillgartner is an excellent narrator, and really elevated the creepy.

So! Give this one a go if you’re not easily creeped out, because the real scary stuff in this book are the people.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an audiobook copy in exchange for a fair review

If someone would of told me that the author of the Maze Runner wrote a horror story about a serial killer taking place in Sumter, SC, I’d say, no way!
But low and behold that’s exactly what he did. I had to listen to the beginning again because I just couldn’t believe it. I lived, loved and raised my children there.
This novel is told in dual timelines that will intersect with the conclusion. James Dashner writes likable, relatable characters that will face a monster of horror.
I really enjoyed the writing and loved Malcolm Hillgartner as the narrator. I chose to listen to this book on audio and it was 12 hours and 22 minutes long.
Thanks Tantor Audio via Netgalley.

You'll know Dashner's name mostly from The Maze Runner series, which I enjoyed.. but the series that is still my favorite is The Mortality Doctrine and I HIGHLY recommend this trilogy - especially for those who loved Ready Player One. Anyhoooooooooooo....

When I saw THE HOUSE OF TONGUES was available through NetGalley and is only available on audio, I was SO happy that I finally could listen to audiobooks and thrilled to see something new by Dashner and boy does he deliver!!! And the narrator, Malcolm Hillgartner is AMAZING and truly brings this story to life.

Told through David Partner's eyes only, we go back and forth from 1989 to 2017 in South Carolina where at a young age he comes eye to eye with a killer and makes a decision he has to deal with for the rest of his life. Fast forward, he's in his 40s with kids of his own. The past has come to haunt him and he will do whatever he has to to protect his own. Little does he know, there are some things you just cannot run from and some secrets you wish you never knew.

Y'all!!! I can't express how much I LOVE the way this author writes. Riddled with levity and family love - you can just feel how much he loves his children and he reminded me of my Dad with his humor and ways of showing his love. I especially love his relationship with his best friend, Andrea. AND the story behind the story... well, somehow I was NOT expecting that but I was here for it!

You just can't seem to go wrong with anything by this author. Go snag a copy ASAP!

So, this is a very strange, creepy, strange horror story. It goes back and forth between 2017, when David is a 44 year old widower with 4 children on a visit to his parent's house, and 1989, when David and his best friend Andrea are 16 and suffer horrors that David has forgotten/suppressed the memory of until now, when they once again threaten him and his family. The audio book is well done and gripping.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a perfect spooky season read. The narrator was excellent. The story alternates between past and present and keeps you guessing the whole time. Definitely an adult book, the details of the horror and gore are all there. The story is solid and definitely had my attention the whole time. Would certainly recommend to horror fans!

Well this was different and I must admit I did love it - as much as you can love a horror combined with mystery. I loved the two timelines. The narration really suited the story.

I would have loved it more if the children were a bit more developed rather than focusing on David's love for them.

Just loved Andrea she was no nonsense and so relatable.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

I enjoyed this solid dual-timeline story, mixing horror and mystery through generations.

South Carolina 2017, the story is told by David at forty-four years old. It all began in 1989, when he and his best friend Andrea were walking through the woods following an abandoned railroad track. They heard something, but with curiosity crept closer and closer and witnessed a gruesome killing. If you're wondering, this isn't a YA book. Details are there, sight, sound, and scent. 😨 The story alternates back and forth between past and present, a gripping plot that will keep you guessing.

The audio done by Malcolm Hillgartner was perfect for David. I've only listened to Hillgartner's non-fiction narration before this and he's very good with both.

Thank you Tantor Audio and NG for the audio ARC.
Available Oct 21, 2021.

The House of Tongues is the story of David and Andrea who are haunted by the aftermath of a murder they witness as teenager. Switching between the past and present as David's teenage trauma seeps into his adult life.

This is a bizarre but very compelling story. Part horror, part mystery David is an interesting and relatable character, and I loved Andrea's no-nonsense approach to literally everything. However, David's children are pretty flat and they are characterized mostly by David telling us how they are. While keeping them safe are David's main motivation for the things he does in the book, they remain pretty two-dimensional, and a number of the descriptors of them were repeated too many times.

Malcolm Hillgartner was a wonderful narrator, and I think he's the main reason I liked David so much. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC.

I must admit I only know James Dashner for his Maze Runner series, which I liked quite a bit, so when I saw he had a new release coming that was listed as a horror/thriller, I knew I wanted to check it out. In The House of Tongues, David Player recounts the horrors that befall him and his family. Jumping back and forth in time, David chronicles the trauma he endured as a teenager along with his best friend, and the trauma he again endures as an adult, this time with his four children. Dashner weaves an intriguing tale full of mystery, decapitated bodies, and creepy men wearing bags on their heads who terrorize David and the others. I enjoyed the heck out of the story, including all the twists, though I’ll admit I saw a few of them coming. Even so, Dashner’s tale kept me engaged from start to finish, my only complaint being the ending. While certainly climatic, when the story was over I still had questions that I thought should have been addressed and answered. And for that reason alone I’m knocking off a star. Still, overall it was an extremely enjoyable story and Malcolm Hillgartner did an excellent job with the narration.
I’d like to thank Tantor Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review an audio ARC of The House of Tongues.