Return To Hell House

By: Nancy A. Collins

Narrated by: Jamie du Pont MacKenzie

An authorized prequel to the classic ghost story Hell House

In 1927 the infamous millionaire occultist Emeric Belasco disappeared without a trace, leaving behind dozens of dead bodies in the rambling, isolated mansion known as Hell House. In 1931 a team of parapsychologists entered Hell House in order to solve the riddle of Belasco's fate, only to meet with horror, insanity and death.

Now, 9 years later, in 1940, another team of psychic and scientific experts, including the 15 year-old "Ghost Boy" Benjamin Franklin Fischer - the most gifted physical medium in modern history - return to investigate the most haunted house in the world, only to find Hell House eagerly awaiting its newest guests.

Warning: Contains Graphic Sexual Content

©2009 Nancy A. Collins (P)2025 Nancy A. Collins

A great prequel.

This was a great prequel. As a fan of the the book and movie Hell House, this was a real treat. The narrator of this audio book sounds a lot like Rodney McDowell , the star of the movie.

Great prequel

I loved hearing a possible description of what happened in Hell House during the first psychic exploration. It was also interesting to get some insight into Belasco and his previous wife and son.

Not the original

I was skeptical when I first saw how short this prequel was compared to Matthesons' original Hell House. (but to be fair there stay was shorter). Then I worried about reading the prequel, because sometimes it's scarier to not know. But the allure was too Great!
As a stand alone, this is a good short story, but compared to its pregenator it falls flat. None of the characters are as deep or complex. In fact the physical appearance of the house gets more detail than the characters and their lives. This is especially true for Bilasco, the demonic ghost. The subtlety and intelligence of the house is lacking. The other major aspect that was missing was what I would call, "background detail." We get a minimal description of the doctors scientific theory of ghosts but that's it! No idea why these particular people were chosen for the expedition. Little idea of their motives for going. Little understanding of their methods and experiments. . They do not even do a full tour of the house in three days. (Never going to the basement garage). And little understanding of what they intend to do with the psychic energy of Hell House.
Finally, and I may be knitt picking, but I don't think return to Hell House matches with Hell House itself. For example Ben Fisher indicates his original group had trouble with both the keys and the generator, which they don't in this story. I don't even think the layout of the house is the same.

nice

Short, dark & twisted. Obviously, not much could live up to the work of Matheson... but this is good. There were a couple subtle little nods Stephen King's work included as well, which is a nice touch in light of King being a part of the "He is Legend" tribute Anthology.

"You can only judge a man's character by his perversions since virtue can be so easily faked."
Return to Hell House by Nancy A. Collins

HELL HOUSE

What did you love best about Return To Hell House?

collins cont. to keep the story graphic, disgusting and scary

What other book might you compare Return To Hell House to and why?

HELL HOUSE

What about Jamie du Pont MacKenzie’s performance did you like?

just right, wherever they find these professional narrators they are great

Any additional comments?

good prequel, short,
fit the mood to listen to something gross and scary