In a Dark Place (Ed & Lorraine Warren Book 4)

Horrifying story, and ultimately very, very sad.

I just hate it when parents don't believe their kids. I don't like it either when people deny other people's reality because it hasn't happened to them, although that runs rampant in our world (as well as in the distant past: "The world is flat and you shall die for suggesting it's round!") Anyhoo, this was a terrifying story. Highly recommended.

This book was awful not because of the writer but the reactions of the characters. Barley was able to read this junk. But this book made "The loveliest dead" by the same author so much more enjoyable.

SO disappointed! This is my favorite genre of writing (supernatural thrillers), and I have seen and enjoyed the movie that was made from this book, but the book itself is a yawnfest. I made it to page 155 before I gave up. It's just page after page of the kids seeing and hearing things, then telling the parents who just get angry and refuse to believe them. Then the PARENTS start seeing and hearing things and they even DENY THEIR OWN SENSES. Ok, these people are idiots! Who experiences this stuff and just denies it? Ohhhhh, that's right -- they're CATHOLICS. So they believe that the bread and wine turns into Jesus' flesh and blood, but they don't believe when they see and hear entities in their own home. Smh.

I had really high expectations from this book, which is what probably led to me being as disappointed with it as I was. I thought that the first half of the book was building up to a good ghost story, but it seemed that once the Warrens appeared in the book everything sort of fell apart. The story lost a lot of the ambiance that the first half contained.
Good for one read, but I don't think I would read it again.

(The reviewer was compensated for posting this review. However, the opinion stated in the review is that of the reviewer and the reviewer alone. Further, the reviewer independently selected this product to review and has no affiliation with the product maker/distributor, the store or the review requester.)

The hardest challenge was separating what I knew about the Snedeker Case from the movie, The Conjuring and several docudramas and documentaries. The book is written Carmen reed & Al Snedeker with Ray Garton. It is well-constructed but does move slowly during the first 100 pages. The last 60% are stellar because we get answers and resolution. The Warrens (Ed & Lorraine) do not appear on the scene until the last 30% of the novelized story. they are alluded to but their presence is almost negligible in many respects. That aside, this is a good accounting with flair provided by veteran horror novel writer, Ray Garton. Yes, he may have taken some literary license and there are graphic descriptions and foul language that essential to the story. Give this book a shot, you will become riveted.

I won this book through Goodreads, and I'll admit that there were moments when I wished I hadn't! This story scared the everloving crap out of me. I had to steal the night light from the kitchen and put in in my bedroom. Ghosts don't scare me overly much, as I've lived in a few haunted houses. Demons? Yeah, those s.o.b.s. scare me senseless! I usually avoid books like that. Did I believe the happenings in this story? No, not much. Some? Sure. But, a lot of it was way too outlandish. Still, it managed to make me jump at every little noise! Yep, I'd recommend this book.

The story is interesting, however, readers should be aware that Ray Garton was interviewed in March 2009. He says in regards to this book, that Ed Warren told him, "All the people who come to us are crazy, that's why they come to us. Just use what you can and make the rest up. You write scary books, right? Well, make it up and make it scary. That's why we hired you." Do a search and you should come across the interview. Make up your own mind.

I purchased this book on my iPhone through the iBooks app. I've been a fan of both Ed and Lorraine Warren for a long time so I knew I'd be interested in this reading material. I like the book however, the author tends to go on and on, creating more pages than necessary. Maybe it was early on in his writing career but in this book, he's the type of author that won't just tell you, "That is a crayon box." He will write and write about, "That is a crayon box. You've got your red crayon. You've got a green crayon. You've got a blue crayon, etc..." Other than that, frightening book!

What disturbs me about this book is that it appears to be true. Having met and spent several months working with Allen Snedeker, I had a chance to discuss with him some of the happenings detailed in the book, and some of the things that continued to happen to him and his family afterwards. Allen told me about the book, which I then special-ordered after our discussions. He was reluctant to discuss some of the things, but graciously talked at length with me about his feelings on what happened, etc. One thing he wanted to stress was that the Snedeker family tried very hard to keep any record of the haunting as factual as possible. Having said that, he also stated that they had turned down offers of a movie several times, knowing it would be blown way out of proportion and not be factual at all. He also mentioned that the book is close to truth, but still embellishes slightly in some ways. A very, very scary book, simply because I know it must be true. "Stephen. Come down here Stephen. You've got to see this....."

Please watch the documentaries based on the real true story. This author twisted a lot of events. Made horrible lies about the family as well as Ed and Lorraine. No one had editorial rights to this book besides the author. And strangely enough he declined to be interviewed or put in the documentaries.

Please watch the documentaries based on the real true story. This author twisted a lot of events. Made horrible lies about the family as well as Ed and Lorraine. No one had editorial rights to this book besides the author. And strangely enough he declined to be interviewed or put in the documentaries.

There is no question that this was a wonderfully-written and powerful book. And I truly believe that the house that the Snedikers lived in was haunted, but I find it hard to believe EVERYTHING in the book. I think a lot of it was exaguratted. I find it hard to believe everything that supossedly happened to these people; but if it did all happen, God bless the pour souls that lived through it. I COULDN'T imagine. This is a truly horrifying book and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in a good scare.

In this book, derived from the experiences of Ed and Lorraine Warren (who are well respected, self-proclaimed Demonologists), with regard to the Snedeker family, the reader is brought into the realm of the unknown and seemingly impossible, world of demonic possession. Through this compelling saga, one is tranported into the horrific lore of the Snedeker's reality. A family of seven persecuted maliciously by a group of apparitions that catapult the family into an incubus of acopocolyptic proportions. The demons manage to invade the very core of the Snedeker's family, trying desperately to destroy their familial bonds. The devilements of these omnipotent, devilish demons increases more and more as they gain control over the Snedeker family. Not one member of the family is left untouched by these oppressive entities. This book leaves the reader in awe of the potential danger of the unknown realm of spiritualism and demonic possession. Whether you "believe" or not, it is a truly compelling story worth putting some effort into reading.

It's kind of irrelevant whether, as the author claims, this is a true story. But even read as fiction, this is one of the scariest books I've ever read, and I've read a lot on this theme. Makes the "Amityville Horror" school of "true haunting" books look like children's fairy tales by comparison. A truly frightening book about a young family who unknowingly move into a converted Funeral Home, and despite their terror are unable to afford to move out. I've read it multiple times and it gives me chills every single time.

I cannot believe all the great reviews of this book, and how many people claim that it is terrifying. Really? I got it from the library after a few months of waiting, and I was severely unimpressed. The writing was mediocre at best and fell into every bad horror cliche there is. The dialogue was laughable. Every direction it went in was completely predictable to anyone who has a passing knowledge of the exorcism/haunted house genre, from the parents who refuse to believe the children to the invisible rape scenes (which, frankly, just got old).

The book couldn't seem to figure out what it wanted to do; it started out following Stephen, Carmen, and some of the other immediate family members, and finished by following the demonologists and some other random characters who appeared over halfway through. I'm sorry, but that's not good writing. It's a general rule that you don't just switch the focus to characters you've introduced in the second to last act. By the end, I was fed up with the whole thing, especially the way the parents assumed that a teenager who wanted to listen to rock music must be EVIL! Please. Fair warning to other atheists out there, this book will probably bug the crap out of you. My advice? Stick to the movie. At least that had some entertainment value, was fairly original in the direction of the plot, and provided characters that you can actually give a crap about. That or pick up a Stephen King book.

This was such a chilling story that I could barely put it down! It was very well written and I can't believe that it is actually a true story! Carmen, if you ever read this, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank God you got out of their alive...while you could. The book was so good that I had to read it twice. The scenes that are forever in my mind are when the ghosts are in the basement and they look at the boys and say "toys", and when one of the scientist guys is going to the bathroom and when he comes out, sees the ghost coming up the stairs towards him. That must have been the most terrifying thing in his life!!!

I think some of the more critical reviews are missing the point. In every haunted house/possession book or movie, one of the by-products is apathy on the part of other family members. They are under the spell of the demon as well. This leads to the isolation of the member who is being actively pursued and further fracturing the family unit. All of these types of stories display that when they leave the house for a period of time, they come to their senses and realize belatedly what has been happening around them.
I read this book years ago and can still recall passages of the book and am chilled by the concept. It is an excellent book that has stood the test of time.

I love a good ghost story and personally have seen things that I consider unexplained. I remember seeing the TV special from the then to become series "A Haunting" that featured this story. I was interested in the book as a result. More details than the TV special, nothing particularly special for this style of writing. I'm not a fan of the Warrens and I hate frauds. Being a lover of true stories, I think it's important to note that the author himself has been upset over the writing and publishing of this books for years. Now with the recent movie made (not based on this book as the producer explained) people are interested again in the story and it's basis in fact. Well, I'm finally convinced any who believe in this true tale are being fooled. You can read interviews by the author on the topic Here:

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What's EXTREMELY funny is that the mother, Carmen Snedeker, now Carmen Reed, has become a self proclaimed Spiritual advisor. What a crock. Here's her website for those interested:

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Someone should try to find Stephen Snedeker or any of the other children now all grown up for their comments on this story. (You ever notice children are never around years later to back up old haunting/exorcism tales?) But I'm sure they will keep their mouths shut so long as the family is cashing in. WOW.

I was stuck staying up all night until I finished this book, that's how good I found this book to read. Truly freaks you what what this family went through. This book brand new was not even over $15.00 when I bought it. The price they are asking for here I find is extremely outrageous and very much a rip off..

Very scary but great book! Very well written and would suggest this book to anyone looking to for a story of ghosts and hauntings! Best scary story I have heard and/or seen! If you are spooked easily i would not recommend this book, unless reading it in the light!! Great, great scary story!

Execrable, badly written, derivative, cheesy, In a Dark Place is as scary as a smeared gum on the sidewalk. Follows the standard template nice-family-moves-into-house-with-evil-spirits-that-threaten-children-threating-spookiness-ensues-nice-spiritualists-provide-guidance-Catholic-clergy-saves-the-day. Why do evil spirits always require Catholic exorcisms? No Protestant exorcists need apply, I suppose.

The book does serve as a good example of how low to which the horror genre can sink.

The only evil spirits here are the publishers.

You have been warned.

Somewhat enjoyable read with phantasmic beasts that pine to commit sodomy on witless victims. Really, in all honesty, the one star rating mirrors the tremendously ill, high cost the sellers are asking for imbibing this made up horror. A curse and a byword on those greedy beast sellers!!!! Be not the next fool to pay such a high price. Hearken to the stingy voice within.