Frank E. Peretti

Ted Dekker

In rural Alabama, two couples find themselves in a fight for survival. Running from a maniac bent on killing them, they flee to an old house that's been empty for years, or so they think.

House

Carlie katt

The Only Way Out Is In

Mary Horton

Huh. That was rather different.

How does one describe House? Weird? Creepy? Intriguing? Mind-bending? Unnerving?

It's all those things, really. I don't think there's any way to define a Dekker book. (Because yes, this read MUCH more like a Dekker book than a Peretti one, in my opinion.)

Annnnd that's probably why my thoughts are as jumbled as trail mix right now. 

Okay, so the creepy factor? VERY HIGH. Don't do what I did and read this while pulling an all-nighter, folks. It will freak you out to see your clock correspond with the time in the book, trust me. It's obvious that both authors have a lot of experience writing thrillers because wowwwww. This was a wild ride! And a (possibly) little-known fact about me: I like getting scared by books. IT'S ACTUALLY FUN?? So I was pleased by how terrified this book made me. ;)

Now. The characters. They're rather interesting because the deal is that they have to kill someone in order to live. That's one of the House rules. So throughout the course of the night, they...um...go crazy basically? The House messes with their minds, and they start to turn on each other and everything. SO YEAH. They aren't likable characters for the most part. Buuuut this book does present a really clear picture of human nature which was, for lack of a better word, unnerving. This was well-done, fascinating, but also kind of disturbing. After all, watching people succumb to the evil in their hearts and think about murdering each other is not exactly easy to read. :P I have very mixed feelings about the characters. The development was great, and I really do think that the authors are masterful storytellers, but it was really disturbing to see the things they thought/did.

And of course, there's the allegory. Ah yes. Dekker-style allegory. XD I'm...not really a fan of it? Again, mixed feelings here. On the one hand: WOW THIS IS BRILLIANT. I would have never thought of spinning an allegory like this. But on the other hand: I AM REALLY DISTURBED. Which basically sums up my entire relationship with Dekker books currently. 

CONTENT:
Tons of violence. Characters shoot/stab/punch/kick/etc. Lots of murderous rage/thoughts by the characters. Disturbing scenes involving one character who has a *cough* thing for the female characters. There isn't any cursing, but the h-word is used a lot to describe the place. I wouldn't recommend anybody sensitive to violence or darkness in books to read this. Definitely at least 16+.

Overall? I'd say this book held me spellbound in disturbed fascination. It was creepy, it gave me chills, and it did make me think. And that's more than I can say about some thrillers. I just don't think Dekker's books and I mix very well so far.

3 stars