Imajin Books, $0.99, ISBN 978-1-927792-72-8
Horror, 2014
Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s Dream House is a short story that was originally published in the anthology Shadow Masters, which I haven’t read. I have to say, though, that this story hopefully isn’t representative of the stories in that anthology, because the best way I can describe this story is that it’s yet another haunted house story. Be it Sinister, which came out around the time this story first made its appearance, or any other story of this sort—this particular story will feel very familiar to fans of the genre.
Yay, Christine and Ray Kingston along with their twin sons are moving into the house Christine has always wanted. Then comes the weird happenings, the emergence of the dark past of the house, blah blah blah… seriously, the author could have at least have the husband be the one wailing about weird happening to break the stereotype for once. No, it’s Christine going ooh and aah all the way to the abrupt denouement that just shows up like some kind of demon from my screen popping up to pull down the stage curtains that say “That’s all, folks!”.
Despite just how much this story feels like some watered down replica of the haunted house thing that was such the rage in the early 2010s, Dream House is still a well-written story with a first person narration that feels genuine and natural.
However, one thing sticks out like a cold sore on a hot guy’s lips. My god, Ray is such a jerk. It is one thing to be a skeptical twat, but this guy comes off as patronizing, condescending, and arrogant to such a degree that I am actively hoping for him to get a violent death. Alas, that doesn’t happen, how irksome. Seriously, at least let Christine dig out his eyeballs with a kitchen knife or something. It’s not like I’m asking a lot, like him sawing his own head off with a piano string or something. Make me happy, make him dead.
Anyway, I’m giving this one three oogies because it’s a pretty acceptable, if somewhat predictable and forgettable, read. I just wish it has been a little more out of the ordinary.
