There Comes a Moment...: A Haunting in Highland

Name: There Comes a Moment...: A Haunting in Highland
Price: 28.95 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781440142697

✍️ Andrew Carmitchel

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$28.95

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A suburban nightmare unfolds when a headless corpse appears in Highland, Illinois.

Carmitchel writes about Jonathon Parker and his neighbors in Highland, Illinois. Their peaceful life ends when a scream reveals a dead body on their lawn. The victim is an eyeless, hairless head. This discovery marks the start of a nightmare for the Devonshire cul-de-sac residents. They face a ruthless killer who seeks vengeance. The story tracks the days and nights that follow this initial shock. No one in the neighborhood is ready for what comes next. The narrative explores how ordinary people react when their world turns into a horror story. It focuses on the loss of safety and the inability to explain the violence.

Key Themes

Suburban horror Ruthless vengeance Highland Illinois

Literary Context

Published in 2009 by iUniverse, this novel sits within the tradition of American suburban gothic fiction. It uses the setting of a quiet cul-de-sac to explore fears of sudden violence and the fragility of domestic peace. The story draws on supernatural tropes where the unknown invades familiar spaces.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen King · Shirley Jackson · Peter Straub · Dean Koontz

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 iUniverse 📅 2009 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9781440142697

📝 Description: There Comes a Moment...: A Haunting in Highland

Andrew Carmitchel presents a narrative centered on Jonathon Parker, who lives in Highland, Illinois. The story begins during a summer morning in July when Parker is awakened by a scream. He finds his neighbor standing over a dead body on their suburban lawn. This event shatters the long-standing harmony of their cul-de-sac. The corpse discovered is described as an eyeless, hairless head, a sight that plunges the residents into a nightmare. The plot follows the Devonshire cul-de-sac residents as they face a ruthless killer seeking vengeance. What starts with one dead body escalates into a series of horrific events over the following days and nights. The narrative focuses on how these decent people, who believed they were prepared for any eventuality, are forced to confront a threat they cannot explain or stop. The story examines the collapse of safety in a quiet American neighborhood. This book suits readers interested in suburban horror and tales of sudden violence disrupting domestic life. It draws on traditions of supernatural fiction where the unknown invades the familiar. The work is organized around the chronological progression of terror within this specific community. It does not suit those seeking complex political thrillers or historical epics, as the scope remains tightly focused on the immediate psychological and physical impact on these neighbors.

💎 Our verdict on There Comes a Moment...: A Haunting in Highland

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Carmitchel effectively utilizes the shock of a headless corpse to destabilize the reader’s sense of security alongside the characters. The narrative excels in portraying the erosion of trust within a close-knit neighborhood, making the horror feel intimate and plausible. By focusing on the immediate reaction to violence rather than its origin, the story maintains a claustrophobic atmosphere suitable for fans of psychological suspense. It suits readers who prefer their horror grounded in realistic settings before descending into nightmare. The lack of complex exposition allows the terror to remain raw and unmediated. This approach ensures that the focus remains entirely on the human response to the inexplicable, delivering a potent dose of dread.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy the subversion of suburban safety will find this narrative compelling. It appeals to those fascinated by the psychological collapse of ordinary people when faced with sudden, unexplainable violence. Fans of tight, localized horror that focuses on community dynamics rather than global stakes will appreciate the focused scope. The book offers a chilling exploration of how quickly domestic harmony can dissolve into paranoia and fear. It is ideal for audiences who prefer immediate, visceral threats over complex political intrigue or historical depth. The chronological progression of terror provides a steady, escalating rhythm that maintains tension without requiring extensive background knowledge of broader horror lore.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Carmitchel effectively utilizes the shock of a headless corpse to destabilize the reader’s sense of security alongside the characters. The narrative excels in portraying the erosion of trust within a close-knit neighborhood, making the horror feel intimate and plausible. By focusing on the immediate reaction to violence rather than its origin, the story maintains a claustrophobic atmosphere suitable for fans of psychological suspense. It suits readers who prefer their horror grounded in realistic settings before descending into nightmare. The lack of complex exposition allows the terror to remain raw and unmediated. This approach ensures that the focus remains entirely on the human response to the inexplicable, delivering a potent dose of dread.