🩸 Horror Fiction

Ghastly

✍️ Douglas Strait
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$9.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Five graduates find hidden cash and unleash a macabre nightmare in an abandoned mansion.

The story begins with a group of five young adults planning one last camping trip together. The leader organizes the event but hides his real purpose, which involves locating wealth left by a relative. Their quest for money leads them to a desolate estate they believe to be empty. Instead, they encounter residents who transform their visit into a scene of chaotic fear. Strait uses this setup to explore themes of betrayal and sudden danger. The narrative does not offer safe havens or easy escapes. It focuses on the immediate horror of being trapped in a hostile environment. The characters must face the consequences of their intrusion without any guarantee of safety.

Key Themes
hidden cash abandoned mansion macabre terror
Literary Context

Ghastly fits within the tradition of supernatural fiction and gothic horror. It draws on the trope of the isolated group facing unknown threats in a secluded location. The setting of an abandoned mansion evokes classic haunted house narratives. Strait publishes this work directly, maintaining control over its presentation as a modern take on traditional horror elements.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Richard Matheson · Stephen King · H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Douglas Strait 📅 2026 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798896722953

📝 Description: Ghastly

Douglas Strait presents Ghastly, a narrative centered on five recent high school graduates starting a final camping expedition. The group is led by an organizer whose true intent diverges sharply from camaraderie. He seeks a substantial cache of money concealed nearby by a distant relative. Their search leads them to what appears to be an abandoned mansion. This structure becomes the stage for a night defined by macabre and madcap terror as its unexpected occupants turn the intrusion into a nightmare. Strait, the author and publisher of this work, crafts a story that blends youthful adventure with sudden horror. The plot relies on the tension between the group's initial goals and the violent reality they encounter. The narrative structure follows their discovery of the property and the subsequent shift from exploration to survival. The book suits readers who enjoy supernatural fiction where human greed triggers supernatural consequences. It may not appeal to those seeking gentle gothic atmospheres or resolved endings, as the terror remains intense and unresolved within the scope of this account.

💎 Our verdict on Ghastly

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Douglas Strait delivers a potent narrative that effectively blends youthful adventure with sudden, violent horror. The story excels in establishing immediate dread, shifting rapidly from exploration to survival as the protagonists face unexpected occupants in an abandoned mansion. The tension between the group's initial camaraderie and their subsequent betrayal creates a compelling psychological undercurrent amidst the supernatural chaos. Strait avoids gentle gothic atmospheres, opting instead for a hostile environment where safety is illusory. This approach suits readers who prefer intense, unresolved terror over traditional resolution. The work stands as a strong entry for fans of supernatural fiction triggered by human vice.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who thrive on intense, unresolved tension and the visceral thrill of sudden danger will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those fascinated by the intersection of human greed and supernatural retribution, offering a raw exploration of betrayal among peers. The book is ideal for audiences seeking immediate horror without the comfort of safe havens or easy escapes. By focusing on the consequences of intrusion, it provides a stark, unflinching look at vulnerability. Those who enjoy stories where youthful adventure quickly devolves into macabre terror will appreciate the relentless pace and the lack of guaranteed safety for its characters.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Douglas Strait delivers a potent narrative that effectively blends youthful adventure with sudden, violent horror. The story excels in establishing immediate dread, shifting rapidly from exploration to survival as the protagonists face unexpected occupants in an abandoned mansion. The tension between the group's initial camaraderie and their subsequent betrayal creates a compelling psychological undercurrent amidst the supernatural chaos. Strait avoids gentle gothic atmospheres, opting instead for a hostile environment where safety is illusory. This approach suits readers who prefer intense, unresolved terror over traditional resolution. The work stands as a strong entry for fans of supernatural fiction triggered by human vice.

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