🕯️ Supernatural

The House of Susan Lulham: A Merrily Watkins Novella

✍️ Phil Rickman
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$19.95
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A diocesan exorcist investigates a haunted modernist house built in the 1960s.

Zoe moves into a sleek 1960s home with her husband Jonathan. The low price hints at a dark past involving Susan Lulham, who died violently there. Jonathan hides this truth from Zoe. She soon claims Susan’s spirit remains active in the house. Merrily Watkins, an exorcist for Hereford, is called to assess the situation. Neighbors dismiss her concerns as paranoia. The tension escalates when blood appears on the pristine walls. This violence forces the hidden history of the New House into the open. Rickman uses this novella format to deliver a concentrated dose of supernatural dread.

Key Themes
haunted modernist house diocesan exorcism secret suicide history
Literary Context

The narrative is set in Hereford, England, within the context of the Church of England's diocesan structure. It draws on 1960s architectural trends and mid-century social dynamics to frame a contemporary supernatural conflict involving ecclesiastical authority.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
M.R. James · Thomas Ligotti · Daphne du Maurier
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Corvus 📅 2016 📖 192 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781782397557

📝 Description: The House of Susan Lulham: A Merrily Watkins Novella

Phil Rickman, known for his diocesan exorcist series, presents a novella centered on Zoe and her husband Jonathan. They have purchased a house built in the 1960s to resemble an ultra-modern structure with glass walls and sharp angles. The property was inexpensive, likely due to the bloody suicide of its previous owner, Susan Lulham. Jonathan remains silent about this history while Zoe begins to suspect that Susan still inhabits the space. Merrily Watkins, the diocesan exorcist for Hereford, must determine if these claims hold weight. Skeptical neighbors offer no assistance as fresh blood decorates the white walls of the New House. The narrative reveals a secret past that eventually leaks out through violence and supernatural presence. This story appeals to readers who enjoy gothic fiction involving haunted domestic spaces and ecclesiastical investigations. It suits those interested in the intersection of mid-century architecture and occult horror. The book does not cater to audiences seeking lighthearted comfort or historical romance. It is a concise work focusing on isolation and hidden sins within a modernist setting. Rickman utilizes his established character, Merrily Watkins, to explore themes of guilt and spiritual intrusion in a contemporary context.

💎 Our verdict on The House of Susan Lulham: A Merrily Watkins Novella

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Rickman effectively utilizes the novella format to deliver a potent narrative of spiritual intrusion within a modernist setting. The story excels in building tension through the contrast of sleek, glass-walled architecture and violent supernatural occurrences, forcing hidden histories into the open. Merrily Watkins serves as a grounded anchor for the ecclesiastical investigation, lending credibility to the unfolding dread. The work is best suited for readers who appreciate gothic fiction involving haunted domestic spaces and psychological horror. It offers a concise, isolated atmosphere that highlights guilt and spiritual conflict. However, those seeking lighthearted comfort or extensive historical romance will find little appeal here. The narrative remains tightly focused on the intersection of occult horror and architectural setting, delivering a chilling exploration of hidden sins without unnecessary digression.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a concentrated dose of supernatural horror will find this novella compelling due to its focused narrative structure and atmospheric tension. It appeals to those who enjoy the intersection of gothic fiction and contemporary settings, particularly where mid-century architecture serves as a canvas for occult horror. The story offers a unique exploration of isolation and hidden sins within a sleek, modernist environment. Fans of diocesan exorcist narratives will appreciate the ecclesiastical investigation aspect, while those interested in psychological dread and spiritual intrusion will find the themes resonant. It is ideal for audiences who prefer concise works that deliver intense horror without the bloat of longer novels, providing a sharp, unsettling experience centered on the clash between rational modernism and supernatural intrusion.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Rickman effectively utilizes the novella format to deliver a potent narrative of spiritual intrusion within a modernist setting. The story excels in building tension through the contrast of sleek, glass-walled architecture and violent supernatural occurrences, forcing hidden histories into the open. Merrily Watkins serves as a grounded anchor for the ecclesiastical investigation, lending credibility to the unfolding dread. The work is best suited for readers who appreciate gothic fiction involving haunted domestic spaces and psychological horror. It offers a concise, isolated atmosphere that highlights guilt and spiritual conflict. However, those seeking lighthearted comfort or extensive historical romance will find little appeal here. The narrative remains tightly focused on the intersection of occult horror and architectural setting, delivering a chilling exploration of hidden sins without unnecessary digression.

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