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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Felicia Bates

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was really excited to give The Misery House a try based solo on the synopsis as I had never heard of this author before. This was one of those stories that had me absolutely hooked from the very first sentence and captivated to the very end. I liked that the chapters varied in perspective, really allowing the reader the “big picture”. This novel left me craving more by the end and gave me a new author to keep an eye on!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Amanda Swindle

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Misery House is the first book in the House on the Hill series, and told from multiple POV. The book takes place is the quaint little town of New Haven, where everyone knows everyone, and nothing interesting ever happens. Growing up in a town just like this one, I immediately felt comfortable and familiar with the setting. That is, until things start happening. A local grocery store burns down, and two bodies are found inside. Then, someone goes missing. Are they connected? And if so, who, or what, is to blame? Could it be the new family in town? It soon becomes apparent that the creepy old house on the hill at the edge of town might be the connection. The locals call the house The Misery House, and nothing good is said about it. From multiple perspectives, you learn that everyone mutually fears the house, possibly for good reason. How is the house connected or involved? Where did it all start, and why? The Misery House reels you in and keeps you guessing and wondering. Unfortunately not ALL the questions are answered, as the book ends on a cliffhanger. I do like how the book kept me engaged enough to want to pick up the next one and see where this will end up, and the story itself was interesting and immersive. Job well done to the author for skillfully bringing all the perspectives full circle, and I will be happy to read more from him.

Reviewed by @zoltrixes
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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Jess Engel

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an entertaining and spooky read! This is not my typical genre, but I enjoyed the story overall. The author introduced and told the story from multiple points of view which helped me engage with the story. I did find myself wanting a little more out of the character development, however, I did enjoy plot, setting, and development of the story. It gives you all the spooky feels of a haunted house story with an underlying mystery at hand! For reasons which will become obvious upon reading I can’t wait to see the rest unfold in a future installment!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Nicole DeSantis

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In “The Misery House,” skillfully crafted by David Kummer, a gripping and chilling tale unfolds as part of “The House on the Hill” series, with this volume just beginning an exciting journey. As a devoted fan of David Kummer’s work, I eagerly anticipate whatever captivating stories this imaginative author has in store for the future.
Set in the quaint rural town of New Haven, the narrative unravels with disturbing events centered around the ominous Misery House. This foreboding structure conceals more than mere secrets within its haunting walls. Amidst the unsettling atmosphere, the Woods family and their dwelling on the hill become central figures, entangled in the web of danger that lurks at every turn.
From the outset, the book enthralls readers with its spine-chilling allure, leaving them unable to resist its gripping pull. Death looms around each corner, infusing the story with an eerie intensity. The journey that unfolds is nothing short of exceptional, capturing attention from start to finish.
“The Misery House” is a masterful blend of thrill and intrigue, keeping readers on the edge until the final page. You are left with unanswered questions since it is part of a series. As much as I dislike this, I look forward to the next book! Its unpredictability makes it the best story, captivating readers with every twist and turn. Once immersed in its pages, it becomes nearly impossible to put the book down.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Kerry Baker

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a well written thriller. Told from multiple POV, it builds the suspense as you are going through and it keeps the page turning. There are so many elements to the story, all of which point to the Misery House. I couldn’t wait to see how things would play out.
This is an author I am newly familiar with and this book has certainly piqued my interest enough to read more. I really enjoyed getting pulled into this story and I will be the first in line to read the next book.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Darla Yocom

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book number one of this thrilling series and it does not disappoint.

The small town atmosphere created within this story is quaint, close knit and felt safe enough to leave their doors unlocked at night. Very unassuming and typical of an old fashioned lifestyle that is the appeal of living in such conditions.

The small town was shaken at the core after a suspicious fire took the lives of two individuals, one of which is a child. To make matters worse, a newlywed couple has gone missing. For a community so used to being supportive and open with each other, they find themselves questioning the latest events, and the possibility of not feeling safe again.

The community struggles to make sense of things, the lack of clues and the thought of hidden secrets belonging to an individual or group of folks who are less than upstanding and downright dangerous.

This thriller has all of the makings of a great introduction into The House On The Hill series. In true great horror story fashion, it brings to mind that the plot could be easily adapted into a stirring movie or series.

I cannot wait to see what happens next after the electrifying cliff hanger.

I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Lucy Machard

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book sucked me in right from the start. I typically don’t read soft horror or paranormal psychological thrillers, but I could not put this damn book down! It’s so good! It’s told from the perspective of the Woods family in split POVs, with a couple third person chapters thrown in there too. I’ve never read anything by this author before, but he’s definitely one of my new go-tos. The only thing about this book that upset me was the ending, since it ends in a cliffhanger because it’s part of a trilogy. However, the writing style is immaculate. It’s a very quick and easy read: Under 300 pages. Y’all, do not wait on this book. It’s absolutely fantastic and 100% worth the read. And for the author, thank you. And hurry up with book 2!!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Kerry Carr

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book one in The House on the Hill series and what a start. The author does a great job of creating the atmosphere, keeping the reader guessing and describing scenes in a way that makes it feel like you are actually there. The only downside for me was the story didn’t flow as smoothly as I would have liked. Telling the story from different points of view was interesting as you got to read different people’s perspectives and their fears but parts felt a bit stilted which made parts hard for me to read. However overall i enjoyed the story and I can’t wait to see where we are taken next.

This story is about a small town called New Haven. It’s a quiet little place, nothing really happens so when strange things start to happen it causes people in the town to worry. Are the strange happening because of a house that is abandoned on the hill? Is something evil lurking within its walls?
And when the evidance starts to point to a local family the Woods can they solve the mystery and prove their innocence or is the evil that’s lurking going to be aiming towards them? Can they protect each other and the town?
I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and find out what happens

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Daryian Lucas

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5/5 stars
This was a fast read for me because it was so good. It drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Crystal Brehant

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! This story immediately pulls you in and keeps you hooked! This is a book that keeps you in suspense through out the entire story. There are different points of view from different characters, but it flows smoothly. The author paints vivid pictures and I cannot wait to read more in this series.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Kirsten Berkebile

I am still reading this thriller. It doesn’t keep my attention as I was hoping it would, however it is still a good book. It makes me wonder about the haunted house near me. While I do like the book, I feel like there is something missing that makes it more intriguing to readers. Although, the character’s names are very interesting. You don’t really come across a first name of Smith but to each its own. I find it odd that only the family that the sheriff has his eyes on is the new family in town. I will have to do an update once I finish the entire book.

The Misery House: A gripping psychological thriller that will hook you on the series (The House on the Hill)The Misery House: A gripping psychological thriller that will hook you on the series by David Kummer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am still reading this thriller. It doesn’t keep my attention as I was hoping it would, however it is still a good book. It makes me wonder about the haunted house near me. While I do like the book, I feel like there is something missing that makes it more intriguing to readers. Although, the character’s names are very interesting. You don’t really come across a first name of Smith but to each its own. I find it odd that only the family that the sheriff has his eyes on is the new family in town. I will have to do an update once I finish the entire book.

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The Misery House (The house on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Jessie Hopkins

Within a small town where “outsiders” are quickly noticed and slowly accepted, the new people are obviously the first suspects when anything changes.But it’s not just the new people that seem off here, it’s also an entire area around an abandoned house. However people seem much more drawn to finding out about the every house than the new members of town.
Even married to a local man, Naomi knows what it’s like to be a “newcomer” and with her kids being born and raised there, they are often still seen as “different”. Torn between siding with his friends and supporting his wife, Cliff must make a decision. Naomi will not stand for people being treated he way she was and wants everyone to stay away from the abandoned house.
This book is un-put-down-able and I am eagerly waiting for the rest of the series.

The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Julie Johnson

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good mystery/thriller/horror story and this one did not disappoint!

The Woods family lives in New Haven, a small family oriented town. The kind of town where everyone knows everyone and everything that happens there. Lots of farmland, historic homes, and nothing for teenagers to do except find trouble at the closest watering hole. I grew up in a place like this!

There’s this house on a hill that is just plain weird. No one wants to go near it except for the kids taking stupid dares on a weekend night in the middle of a thunderstorm.

One day, a fire breaks out and two bodies are found. Then a girl goes missing. What else could go wrong? Oh, yes, there’s a new family in town and anytime someone new moves in, they are automatically labeled as “suspicious”.

This book ends in a cliffhanger, so if you don’t like that kind of stuff, well….you’re missing out. There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and a few mysterious characters that I must learn more about. The next book can’t be dropped soon enough!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Brandy Vaughn

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love stories that are around creepy abandoned houses. Is the house haunted? What secrets do the old walls hold? The setting of New Haven is beautiful orchestrated and brings the reader onto the suffocating life a small town can bring. The setting brought the story to life in my reader’s mind and kept me turning the pages until the end! Thoroughly enjoyed this story!!!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Brandy Rymer

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

David Kummer’s book The Misery House was hauntingly wonderful! This book had me guessing throughout the entire book, from one twist to another turn trying to figure everything out! I love the excellent characters that are developed so fully in this book, you never know what is going to happen to the Wood family next, but boy are you rooting for their safety. The abandoned house is downright eerie, it’ll have you checking all the rooms in your house at night to ensure nothing is going to jump out at you in the night! This story is very frightening and twisted, it’s my kind of story! I love that I had no idea what would happen next and that I was scared out of my mind. I cannot wait for the next book in this series, it is up there with some of my favorite thrillers for sure. If you like a good psychological thriller, this is a must-read that will have you on the edge of your seat, jumping at every little noise you hear.
@Brandy Rymer
07/2023

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Jamie Truex

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I’ve read by David Kummer. It is written in multiple POVs. Sometimes I don’t like that but it worked in this book. It helped build the suspense. It also shows the common fear of the creepy house on the hill. Every town has that one scary house that kids dare each other to go in. But what if there’s really something bad in there? This book leaves a killer cliffhanger and I can’t wait for book two!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Shea Gilkerson 7/11/23

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Woods family have been members of the New Haven community forever, but when tragedies start occurring in their small town that point directly to them, will they be able to prove themselves to their neighbors?

Between a local store burning down with 2 bodies inside, and a newlywed couple going missing and their disappearance seeming to do with the haunted house on the hill, will the family be able to protect themselves and each other? Will they be able to continue to be members of the New Haven community?
A small town like this can be both very loving and warm, as well as very secretive and cold – depending on their feelings about you. Which will it be for the Woods’?

This book heaps on the suspense drop by drop, leaving lots of little hints and clues that you discover to be just that later on. I couldn’t put it down, feeling constantly like I’d miss or forget an important clue hidden in its pages. This story is written from multiple POVS to fill in the timeline, which was an interesting way to approach it. It kept me riveted, jumping into books 2 and 3 ASAP!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Shannen Kern

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I hadn’t read anything by this author before, and what a way to introduce themselves! The Misery House is definitely a psychological thriller you won’t want to put down. It twists and turns, making you change what you think the outcome will be (which you’ll never see coming anyway!) I love the flow, the characters, and the fact that it is told from multiple points of view. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was that there wasn’t more to read! But that just means I get to continue the adventure when the next book comes out, and you better believe I’m keeping an eye out for that one. I need to know what happens next!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Trisha Cargile

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The suspense and imagery in David Kummer’s The Misery House was as intense and satisfying as you can imagine this type of booking being. It left you with the tension and awareness of the layers he was creating as an author. The storyline was compelling and leaves the reader eager for the next chapter. If you like to read suspense and thriller novels, this novel is right up your alley. It portrays the creepy effect, the relatability factor, and the ‘this could happen to anyone’ factor which definitely makes for an enthralling book!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book #1) by David Kummer – Review by Angela Hayes

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

3 Stars

 

The Misery House is the first book in The House on the Hill series by David Duane Kummer. This book marks the start of a three-book series that promises lots of chills. This story had me intrigued from the moment I saw the cover and I didn’t have to know anything else before I snapped up a copy and dove right in to discover what happens. This has all the ingredients that I love to find in an engrossing story…
-psychological thriller
-peaceful small town
-small-minded townsfolk
-prejudices
-a creepy old house
-urban legends
-fear
-tension
-horror
-high stakes
-investigation
-sinister feel
-intensity
-mystery
-suspense
The only thing that I felt would have made this even better was I would have liked the story to have had a bit better flow, as it did seem to get bogged down at times which gave it a choppy feel. But this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger that will lead us into the next book- so I am intrigued to continue the story in Book #2.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, David Duane Kummer!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Toni Sellers

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amazing psychological thriller. Grabbed me right from the beginning and kept me turning pages and wanting more, I didn’t want to put it down. Great suspense and good plot twists to keep you guessing. Characters are very well written. Remember this is the book one in a series, so definitely a cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Tonya Merritt

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, David Kummer has made it on my favorite authors list for sure with this book. I can not wait to read the other books in the series! A psychological thriller full of suspense and twists. I could not tell what the secrets were until they were revealed. Just can not brag enough about this story and how well David told it.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the House on the Hill series. The concept of this book appealed to me, put psychological thriller and haunted house in the same blurb and I’m in.

The writing was descriptive, painting a vivid picture of both the scenery and the characters. The tension built throughout as more and more occurs to unsettle the residents and us as readers. I felt this was done very well, especially with the twists in place, throwing you and what you thought you knew.

I thought telling the story through differing points of view was interesting, it’s not something I’ve come across too often in this genre, but it’s not a bad thing. I think it worked well for this story.

This book ends on a cliffhanger which is frustrating, but only because I am now desperately waiting for the next book to be released to find out what happens and I’m very impatient!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Christine Baranek

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Misery House
By: David Kummer

This is a psychological thriller that is absolutely that is filled with so many twists ands turns. This is the first of a three part series and I absolutely cannot wait to read the rest of the books! It takes place in such a quiet small town that is hiding so many secrets! This is a multiple POV book that does this type of story telling very well. The story telling is what is what makes the story what it is. This story is absolutely amazing an it definitely sucks you in with all the creepiness. I cannot recommend this enough. I also am waiting anxiously for the rest of the series. I loved the authors storytelling abilities and want to read even more about this small town and the house on the hill!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Jennifer Gordon

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was gripped by this psychological thriller from start to finish. Set in the small rural town of New Haven and told from different characters points of view, this unsettling story was one which I could not put down. The Woods family have lived in the town forever and are as shocked as everyone else when a string of tragedies occur. First the local store burns down with two bodies inside and then a newlywed couple go missing, and there does not appear to be any leads, leaving the townsfolk worried. When the close knit Woods family’s own children and their friends are put in danger they are willing to risk everything to find out what is going on.
Throughout the story the abandoned, creepy and known to be haunted house sits on the hill, this seems to be where the secrets of the town might be discovered. However, it may be too late for the Woods family and the town. The likeable and relatable Woods family had me captivated from page one, whilst the claustrophobic feel of the setting along with the chilling haunted house were brought vividly to life through the descriptive narrative. I felt completely immersed in this novel, the suspense and terror really built chapter by chapter, and the plot twists and turns kept me guessing as to the outcome of the story. This was a real page turner and as it ends with a cliffhanger, I am now impatiently waiting for book two in this trilogy.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Misery House is the first book in the epic three-book series The House on the Hill by David Kummer.
We have a quiet and peaceful small-town setting with small-town mindedness where it can be unwelcoming at times and loving at others.
The story is told from several POV’s building the tension and drama fuelled by fears.
It is a thought-provoking read. It is the lives and the people in this town and the creepiness that surrounds them all that draws you in. Having said that though sometimes the story didn’t flow easily and is a bit stilted surrounding the vivid picture narrative of the characters.
It’s just a House on the Hill. An empty House on the Hill. An eerie house. A place where horrors are brought alive by stories. A place where something maybe lurking in the shadows.
I still enjoyed the story that holds promise for future books. It does end on a cliff hanger ready for the next book. If you hate cliffie’s you are out of luck but if you like psychological thrillers, then give it a go.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Misery House is Book One in The House on the Hill Series. It is a sinister psychological thriller that will grab your attention and keep you reading until the end. The author does a superb job of keeping the reader’s attention throughout the story as the suspense and tension builds. He then takes us on a series of twists and turns that keep you riveted until the final pages.

The story is set in a small town and is told from different points of view of the Woods family. It starts off innocently enough as we are introduced to Cliff who is attending his son, Nate’s baseball game. Then comes a mysterious fire that takes place where two dead bodies are discovered. As strange things begin to occur, the townsfolk have noticed that strangers have arrived in town, which in itself is odd because no outsiders generally choose to live there. Cliff’s daughter Kaia’s best friend had just gotten married when her and her husband mysteriously disappeared. Then there is the creepy old house on the hill that must somehow be involved because of its reputation as being haunted.

This book grabbed my attention and kept me reading until the end. I loved the spine-tingling vibes that gave me goosebumps a few times. The characters were well written, and the small-town setting was done superbly. The townsfolk, being so unwelcoming and weary of strangers was dark, mysterious, and creepy in its own respect. If you were not born there, it would be almost impossible to be accepted, which was weird and odd. Any newcomers were viewed as suspicious, and the townsfolk were standoffish in their behavior towards them. Throw in a haunted house and I was seriously hooked! I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Jo Wright

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I want more!! I am in great need of knowing what is going on with this terrifying house. The suspense all the way through to the end has me wanting the next book so bad. The family dynamics in this book are so heartwarming and the very serious protectiveness of the mom makes me feel right at home. The unforeseen fire in the local’s shop is more and more disturbing by the time you hit the end of the book. Just who did it? I can’t believe how quickly this book sucked me in. I am looking forward to the next book by Kummer in this trilogy for sure!

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@jowright

The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Bobbi Wagner

The Misery House: A gripping psychological thriller that will hook you on the series (The House on the Hill)The Misery House: A gripping psychological thriller that will hook you on the series by David Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed reading. This is a suspenseful story about a close family who has found themselves in a situation where they must put it all on the line to keep safe. What happens if time runs out for them? This is a story where the twists and turns will keep you guessing to the end. I found this book to be well written, hard to put down and engaging. The characters and the plot have great growth throughout the story which makes it easy to read. This is a fast paced story that is full of suspense and one you don’t want to miss. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it.

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Review by @bjwagner

The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Rayne East

The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gripping
This psychological thriller had me hooked. The author cleverly delivered a story that kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning. The pacing, imagery and interwoven plot was on point. An opening has been left for more to come – and I can’t wait! Highly recommend.

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