The opening of this book comes with soo much promise and each part of the story winds around the last to form a 3 part examination of peoples treatment of each other and themselves. We meet the main character as a troubled foster youth, caught up in a horrible tragedy. As the plot moves forward it dabbles in magic and unrequited love. Although the protagonist starts as a typical bully they resolve in the end to be the very definition of the sympathetic character. So even though its not easy to get into this books major struggle because the boy is so hateful, it’s the trick ending that leaves you sad for his plight. It’s a quick read and not the most rewarding for horror fans looking for one of those epic good and evil struggles. Comparing this to the classics could leave a reader wondering if the authors intent was to give them a good scare or just make them marvel at the move from enjoying a haunting to questioning the nature of dreams, nightmares and the therapy they can give.

I didn't really enjoy this one. It felt a bit like too many twists that just felt like twists for the sake of twists that were not actually beneficial to the story. The characters were so dislikeable it was hard to read. Overall, the twists at the end of the book made me wonder why I had spent the time reading the story

I've been curious to read anything by Norwegian author Jo Nesbø for quite some time, so when I heard about The Night House, it seemed like an easy place to start. After all, I have a love of horror, and it also prevented me from worrying about stepping into the middle of a series or anything like that. But now that I've finished, I'm not sure that I made the right call as to where to begin. The Night House starts simply enough, with a cruel-minded young boy named Richard bullying a "friend" of his into making a prank call - a prank which goes nightmarishly awry as the phone itself starts to twist and distort, devouring his friend in front of his eyes. (Unlike a lot of horror novels, The Night House doesn't make you wait long for its first scare.) That kicks off an increasingly unsettling series of events, as Richard continues to be at the center of surreal experiences, all of which seem to be linked to a strange house on the hill. That's about all I want to say about The Night House, except to say that the book isn't what you expect; there came a point where I realized we were building up to what felt like a climax, but at entirely the wrong percentage through the book, and that's when The Night House twisted underneath me into something else entirely...and then, a little later, did it again. The result is a really odd book, and I'm not sure I was entirely satisfied with the ending, which felt a little too clever for its own good and a little too familiar. There are plenty of comparisons I want to make, but they'd risk spoiling a book that's not even out yet; ultimately, though, the ending of The Night House is less interesting than the ride there, and it all feels a little too neatly tied up and a little too "look at what I did" for my taste. I didn't dislike the book, per se; I ripped through it pretty quickly, and there are some truly unsettling scares here. But I'm not sure that horror is Nesbø's genre, in the end; I think I feel like I still need to check out a different book to see what all the fuss is about. *** ½

A departure for Jo Nesbo from his typical dark Harry Hole series. While this is a horror type novel the thrills are not overly terrifying, in fact some of the thrills were comical. There may be some allegory with the nefarious roles some of the objects of terror play. There was a typical Nesbo twist but I felt some of the characters and plot points were underdeveloped Overall an entertaining read that will keep readers interested to see what will be revealed,

A bit weird and pretty strange.
The Night House is like the campy horror novels from the 80s that I loved to read as a kid.

This is my first Nesbø read and I was n0t a huge fan of it to be honest. While this was not the best book I have read, but it was not the worst, I do not feel like it was Horror. Definitely not adult horror, this reads like a teen horror.


Anyways, thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rating 2.5 rounded to 3

Dark and weird. Reminiscent of old Stephen King but lacking the mythology and connectivity throughout

My husband read this book and absolutely loved it!! He has been a huge fan of Jo Nesbo and will continue to be an automatic reader. I was so excited to be able to share this arc with him. Thank you NetGalley!

Definitely a different story than what I was expecting. It’s written in three parts, with each part changing up the direction of the story arc. The first section, as narrated by a teenager, portrayed the horror of the story in a way reminiscent of Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Events-like one of those books written for one age group but enjoyed by many. Part two follows him into adulthood, beginning on an even keel and then flipping everything upside down…much like part three. You end up with more questions and it could be this way or it could be THIS way..

Well written, an enjoyable and fast read! Thanks to Jo Nesbø and Knopf for making this advance copy available on NetGalley! A great pick for a seasonal Halloween read.

I'm not really sure how to feel about this book. I feel like it had such a good start, but landed short with a lot. And just when you think its wrapping up... BAM a twist that no one sees coming. Then AGAIN!

I'm a fan of twists, don't get me wrong- but I felt like this was a bumpy road. I loved the first half, I really did. I wish the story explained it in more detail, and if it was just that, I'd proably give it a 4 stars.

It lost a star because I felt like there was just too much going on. When you think you figured it out, the book twisted everything you knew and chucked it out the window.

It was good non the less, just may be a hit or miss for some people.

I’ve loved every one of the Harry Hole novels, though I’ve not read any of Jo Nesbo’s books. When I saw the blurb for The Night House, I thought I’d take a chance on the book, especially as it wasn’t his usual crime novel.

Richard Elauved is a fourteen year old, sent to live with relatives in the small town of Ballantine after his parents die in a fire. Right at the opening of the book, he forces a “friend” Tom (Richard is pretty much a loner) to make a prank phone call, only to find that Tom is being eaten by the phone receiver. Then another “ friend” disappears while in Richard’s company. From there, Part One of The Night House relates what happens to Richard and the events that occur at the terrible house. Then we get to Part Two, which throws a monkey wrench into the story, as does Part Three, even more so.

I must admit I have negative feelings about The Night House. At the beginning of the book, I just couldn’t stand Richard’s character, and hated the juvenile style of writing. But then, as I continued into Part Two, I found there’s a reason for all this. By that time, however, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue but I did. Then I got to Part Three, with its overarching explanation for all the prior events. It just fell flat on its face, leaving this reader very annoyed.

My disappointment in The Night House won’t keep me from reading any further novels by Mr. Nesbo. I’m glad he had the courage to branch out into horror, but, for me, his foray into the genre didn’t really work.

My thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an ARC of the novel.

Reading this book is a lot like getting pied in the face. You might get a chuckle out of it and it might tickle your sweet tooth but in the end it’s just a big mess that’ll never fully clean up. Toss in some vaguely ridiculous and reductive mental health plot points and you’ve got quite the recipe. Night House is popcorn horror at best, never quite sure what it wants to be or where it’s going but you might get a kick out of some of the set pieces.

**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Knopf and Netgalley**

The synopsis of the book sounded intriguing but just wasn’t for me, perfect for a different audience that enjoys horror books set with younger main characters. At first the book was giving me IT and Stranger Things Vibes but just wasn’t hitting what I enjoy in thriller/horror books.

This should have been a movie.

Putting aside the excessive amount of homophobia, misogyny, and fatphobia that made this book hard to read at times, the story moves too fast to really sink into the world and horror. It reads in bits like a middle grade book in it's prose and plotting (but I would not recommend it as middle grade). I would much rather see the body horror described on the screen than with descriptions on the page (I also think the twists could work better on screen)

**********Spoilers ********

Richard was the absolute worst at the start/middle of the book and made it actively difficult to read this book. In those sections his behavior towards others is deplorable, but the third section just makes the rest not work as well.

I would love to see a review of this from someone with schizophrenia/associated mental illnesses, because maybe it addresses those themes well. But for me, on first reading, those themes are so fully disguised that I spent a lot of time wondering what the "horror" in this book was actually about.

Was it a twist on bullying, where the bully becomes the victim, either by disbelief and rejection(first section ) or the vigilante actions of their victims later on(second part)?

Maybe I would change my mind rereading the book knowing the ending, but I frankly had a horrible time reading it.

This was the first book by Nesbo I’ve ever read and I really enjoyed it! I am, however, glad I had not read any of other works before reading this one. I was able to go into this book without any expectations of how it would compare to his other books.

This was a very entertaining story within a story within a story. I’m usually able to guess where a thriller/mystery book is going before it gets there, but there were 2 separate twists I didn’t see coming and that kept me on my toes. The characters remained consistent throughout the book, but each part took you deeper into them. The entire story flowed naturally into each part despite the unusual twists it took. The book was part Stephen King, 80s horror movie, creature feature, and psychological journey all in one for me.

I did wish the book had been just a little longer so some parts could have more detail, but I can see how it would’ve changed the pacing of the book. This was a quick, fast paced read that can be finished in one sitting.

This book really reminds me of the black phone! A young boy moves in with his grandparents and people start disappearing. But no one will believe him when he says they got sucked into the receiver of the phone in the phone booth… page turner and fun to read!

This book was unique in that it felt as though it was split into three different realities and at the same time building on top of one another. The story followed Richard trying to solve the mystery of his friends disappearing while at the same time trying to make the town believe it wasn't him. I liked the paranormal nature of the book that made you step outside the normal reality that we live in. The ending rounded out the story very well that gave each part great context and explained the roller coaster that Richard went on throughout the book.

Jo Nesbo steps out the box with The Night House. A ghost story that just keeps in giving. Don’t read this just before bed!

After losing his parents in a tragic fire, fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved moved in with his aunt and uncle. In Ballantyne, he became an outcast due to his bullying, thieving tendencies, and knack for troublemaking. Richard's life took a sinister turn when he convinced his friend Tom to partake in a prank phone call that turned into a horrifying incident—Tom was consumed by the phone receiver. The police got involved, thrusting Richard into a whirlwind of disbelief.

Confessing the truth to the police yielded only one believer: Karen, a classmate who joined him in pursuing the hidden truth that the authorities overlooked. Together, they traced the eerie phone number to an abandoned house in the enigmatic Mirror Forest. What they uncovered there defied logic and changed their lives forever.

With the unsettling disappearances of two more "friends," including Karen, Richard's quest to prove his innocence intensified into a race against the unknown. Yet, a lingering doubt remained: Was Richard truly a reliable narrator?

My Reaction:
This is my first book by Jo and it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the instant horror of the book and the horror spattered throughout the novel. It was creepy and the descriptions of Tom being eaten through the phone were very unsettling.

I'm very conflicted about the 15 years later section of the book - I feel like it wasn't necessary, but at the same time it hit home that Richard is an unreliable narrator.

Also, the whole town being affected by IMU didn't seem plausible to me. I know it's a novel and things aren't going to be plausible, but this seemed a little extra.

What I enjoyed:
. The random bouts of horror
. The absurdity of the situations
. Unreliable narrator

What I disliked:
. The ending
. Book was kinda boring - it needed the random bits of horror to keep me interested in reading it
. The dialogue was a tad stale

Teenager Richard Elauved is taken in by his aunt and uncle in the small town of Ballantyne following the death of his parents. His cruel attitude towards his classmates leaves him with few friends, aside from fellow outsider Karen for whom he harbors a burgeoning crush, and Tom who himself is often ridiculed for his stutter, including by Richard. One day while walking along the riverbank, Richard and Tom come upon a weirdly isolated phone booth and Richard comes up with the idea to prank call a random number in the phone book. Though initially hesitant, Tom relents and dials up the first name they land on: Imu Jonasson. After seeming to pull off the gag perfectly, things take a dark turn and the phone's receiver begins to pull the boy into itself, leaving Richard stunned and alone.

Unsurprisingly, no one believes Richard's version of events. That the name and number they dialed no longer appear in the phone book doesn't help matters. He sticks to his story however, to the consternation of his family and the authorities. When another of his classmates vanishes in his presence, it is decided to send him away to the Rorrim Correctional Facility for Young People, which harbors its own dark secrets and sheds further light on what exactly might be happening. When the book then flashes forward fifteen years to Richard attending a class reunion, things take an even more unexpected turn.

This slim book doesn't waste any time in dialing up the horror and doesn't pause much for air from there. Nesbø adapts his writing style to smartly match the age of our narrator in the different sections, while maintaining a pervasive sense of dread throughout. The threat in the novel, and perhaps even the novel itself, seems to operate outside of any hitherto understood logic, keeping readers disoriented and on the edge of their seats. Some of the later turns the story takes don't feel as successful as the earlier portions, but all in all The Night House winds up being a satisfyingly eerie thriller that questions the very nature of the truth and the fallibility of memory.