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    Within These Walls
    Within These Walls
    Within These Walls
    Audiobook13 hours

    Within These Walls

    Written by Ania Ahlborn

    Narrated by R.C. Bray

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    With his marriage on the rocks and his life in shambles, washed-up true-crime writer Lucas Graham is desperate for a comeback, one more shot at the bestselling success he once enjoyed. His chance comes when he's promised exclusive access to death row inmate Jeffrey Halcomb, the notorious cult leader and mass murderer who's ready to break his silence after thirty years, and who contacted Lucas personally from his maximum-security cell. With nothing left to lose, Lucas leaves New York to live in and work from the scene of the crime: a split-level farmhouse on a gray-sanded beach in Washington state whose foundation is steeped in the blood of Halcomb's diviners-runaways who were drawn to his message of family, unity, and unconditional love. There, Lucas sets out to capture the real story of the departed faithful. Except that he's not alone. For Jeffrey Halcomb promised his devout eternal life . . . and within these walls, they're far from dead.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateApr 21, 2015
    ISBN9781494580315
    Author

    Ania Ahlborn

    Ania Ahlborn is the bestselling author of the horror thrillers Brother, Within These Walls, The Bird Eater, The Shuddering, The Neighbors, and Seed, and the novellas The Pretty Ones and I Call Upon Thee. Born in Ciechanow, Poland, she lives in South Carolina with her husband and their dog. Visit AniaAhlborn.com or follow the author on Facebook and Twitter @AniaAhlbornAuthor.

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    Reviews for Within These Walls

    4/5

    222 ratings25 reviews

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    • 2/5
      This book had potential, but really fell short. There are a lot of unnecessary scenes, details, and character interactions. The changes in Lucas and Virginia that take place feel forced and make the storyline very predictable. By the end I was just waiting for it to be over with instead of actually looking forward to finding out what happens.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Definitely worth a listen. I finished in less than 2 days because I couldn't wait to find out what happened. RC Bray slays as a narrator as usual!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Finally a good horror novel with a different plot. Creepy

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Fun and creepy! Enjoyed it just as much as her others. (Although Brother is my fave)

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I really enjoyed the book until the end. Without giving anything away, I will say that I was really surprised and let down that it ended the way it did.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I love nothing more than a happy ending. Except, perhaps, an unhappy one.

      The story and characters are relatable and realistic. Often conflicted and confused. Frequently downright messy.

      ...And I can not get enough! Thanks for another stunner, Ania Ahlborn!!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Very well done! I didn’t want it to end. ?
    • 5/5
      I have read all of Ania alborn’s book.
      I personally think they are as good as any king book and better than some of them.

      Strong stories with real endings.

      This story is no exception.

      Read it and you will have a wow moment.
    • 5/5
      Very , very interesting ending ✊?✊?. I enjoyed the book
    • 1/5
      The book seems cool but it doesn’t play right…. Many silent gaps
    • 4/5
      Oh, well done, Ania, well done.

      I was a little concerned after the last couple of Ahlborn's books that she was getting into a rut and reusing the same tropes. But this one? Yeah, this feels like she kicked her game into high gear.

      This one's a slow burn of a novel. Don't look for jump scares and scary demons here. You won't get them.

      What you will get is a well-paced, well-told story of a Manson-like cult leader and the true-crime author following up on him thirty-odd years later.

      Really enjoyed this one.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Within These Walls by Ania Ahlborn is an absolutely mesmerizing and downright spooky novel with supernatural elements. Part mystery, part ghost story, this story is incredibly fast paced with a unique storyline that has horror/suspense/paranormal aspects that fans of psychological thrillers will love.

      Lucas Graham is a true crime author who desperately needs a best-seller that will revive his stalled career and hopefully save his failing marriage. When he receives a letter from convicted murderer and cult leader Jeffrey Halcomb offering him the exclusive story about the murder/suicides of ten of his followers, Lucas does not think twice before agreeing to Halcomb's terms. Lucas, along with his twelve year old daughter Jeanie, pack up and move across country to live in the house where the infamous deaths occurred thirty years earlier. Ghostly apparitions, unexplained sounds and eerie sightings begin immediately after their arrival and soon both Jeanie and Lucas experience extreme changes in their personality. Could there be a rational explanation for these bizarre occurrences? Or is the reason far more sinister than either Jeanie or Lucas could possibly imagine?

      Lucas is on a tight deadline for his interviews with Halcomb and he immediately immerses himself in his writing project. After he runs into a dead end, he considers packing up and returning to New York, but surprisingly, Jeanie tries to talk him into staying. When a neighbor provides him with invaluable information about Halcomb and the other cult members, Lucas decides to take the book in a new direction. His once close relationship with Jeanie soon begins to suffer when Lucas becomes obsessed with the cult leader and the deaths of his followers.

      Jeanie is also fascinated by the history of the house and her research leads to a surprising adulation of Jeffrey Halcomb. She is angry with Lucas for breaking his promises to her and her resentment over his neglect is relieved by her friendship with their new neighbor, Echo. Jeanie's avid interest in the occult takes a shocking turn after Echo confides stunning information that bolsters Jeanie's growing fixation with Halcomb. This leaves Jeanie susceptible to manipulation that could have devastating consequences.

      The events from thirty years ago are exposed through a series of flashbacks that provide vital information about Halcomb and his followers. The months leading up to the mass suicides/murders are meticulously detailed and reveal how the charismatic leader exploits the weaknesses of those living on the fringes of society. These recollections show how the cult ingratiates themselves with Audra Snow, an emotionally fragile young woman who is estranged from her family. She invites them into her home and over the course of several months, she becomes a believer of their twisted ideology. The final months and days leading up to the murder/suicides are particularly poignant and it is absolutely heartbreaking when Audra's experiences with the cult are fully revealed.

      Within These Walls is a suspense laden novel that is quite riveting. Ania Ahlborn expertly combines supernatural elements with an intriguing mystery and the resulting story is a spine tingling psychological thriller that thunders to a jaw-dropping and completely unexpected conclusion.
    • 4/5
      Lucas Graham, true crime writer, hasn't had a successful book in years. So when Jeffrey Holcomb, infamous cult leader and murderer, who has never told his story to a soul, reaches out, Graham can't believe his luck. All he has to do is move into the house where Holcomb spilled so much blood. But Holcomb has a plan that Graham and his teenage daughter can't begin to comprehend, one that reaches into realms Graham can't yet fathom.A book that promises cults, a true crime writer, and supernatural/paranormal horror is one that I'm going to have to read. Ahlborn does a great job of dropping in other true crimes and true crime books, and weaving the story of this fictional cult into the narrative. The use of flashbacks building to the cult's terrifying and cumulative event creates an eerie and gripping suspense.The horror aspect is one that is truly creepy. It builds and builds to the point where you absolutely cannot put the book down.I had a little trouble with the main characters of the father, daughter, and mother. I had trouble finding a lot of redeeming qualities in them, and just wanted to shake them as events began to pile up. I understand that a lot of their story was influenced by Holcomb, but I still struggled with them.This was a really interesting, gripping story, with a lot of unique twists and turns. While I sometimes struggled with the main characters, I really appreciated and enjoyed how this book kept me guessing and never went where I expected it to.
    • 3/5
      I picked this up fully expecting a good old-fashioned ghost story. What I got was something much darker. I ultimately enjoyed it and was surprised by the ending. I do wish certain aspects of the story were clarified and explained better.
    • 4/5
      I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

      Another strong release from horror author Ania Ahlborn. She's very adept at capturing human emotions caught up in whirlwind events, and most of the time, it's not pretty.

      This was a cross between an Amityville Horror, a cult/kidnapping, and a story about a final attempt to get the golden ticket. There's some clichés, especially with the haunted house part, but overall, it was a good read with a high level of tense creepiness.

      Looking forward to her next one!
    • 4/5
      Well-crafted, nicely-done horror/thriller which merges cult murders with an element of the supernatural.

      I'd heard good things about Ania Ahlborn, so picked this up when I had the opportunity, and it did not disappoint.

      A true crime writer, Lucas Graham, gets an offer that he can't refuse: Jeffrey Halcomb, a notorious, Charles-Manson-esque killer who's never once spoken to the press since he was jailed, years ago, says he'll give Graham an exclusive. The resulting book will be the best-selling hit that puts his faltering career back on track and brings his family back together, Graham is sure.

      Of course, there's one catch: Halcomb has made it a condition of the interview that Graham move into the murder house; the scene of his crimes. In order to comply, the writer finds himself being less than honest with both his wife and his young daughter, desperately clinging to the hope that he can make it all come right.

      The book alternates between Lucas' story, and that of Audra Snow, the young woman who was at the center of the group murder that took place back in the 80s. Gradually, as Lucas tries to uncover the grisly details of what happened and why, we see how the vulnerable Audra was drawn into the spell of a charismatic and eerily charming leader who was ready to promise Audra everything she'd always wanted most.

      I loved that Lucas & his wife were ex- (or semi-ex-) goths dealing with having an emo kid.

      The supernatural elements were woven in really well with the 'real-life' horror of the 'true-crime'-type story. And I very much liked that the author didn't shy away from the ending that the book needed. Very satisfying.
    • 3/5
      The author definitely gains points with the scary factor. She incorporates many aspects popular in the ghost genre with great effect: shadowy figures, voices, poltergeist activity, eerie feelings, and things seen out of the corner of one’s eye. I got chills up my spine and hid my eyes (which while reading a book shows how effective this book was with my imagination!) more than once. His gift with description shows itself vividly here as I could picture each supernatural encounter with spooky accuracy.The story itself and characters, though didn’t work quite as well. Not to say they were BAD per se, but I saw room for definite improvement.Reading like a classic horror movie, the book’s overall story was intriguing enough. Cults, mass suicide, murder, supernatural powers, and a father/daughter relationship on the brink all made for a good story. I liked how the author presented the story half in modern times and half in the early ‘80s with Audra’s story, interspersed with police reports, newspaper articles, and paranormal investigative reports. That multi-layering of storyline and plot helped this book a lot, giving it added depth and liveliness.Yet, as the book got further along, the story started to get predictable and stale. Reading like a classic horror movie got to be less of an asset and more of a millstone around the book’s metaphorical neck. I could predict what was going to happen, who was going to die, and how the ending would roll out long before events actually happened. Not a good thing in a horror novel.Characters, too, got more and more predictable and irritating as time went on. Jeanie and Lucas started out fresh, two individuals trying to find themselves again after economic hardship and a family life in freefall. Lucas’ grasping at what seemed like a grand opportunity to rebuild his and his family’s life caught my heart and got me into the book.But once poop started hitting the fan and life started to get weird, both he and Jeanie fell into ruts of behavior. They would react to each supernatural encounter with the same methods and thought patterns, not even c hanging as the ghost stuff escalated in the latter half of the book. They started to fall into the patterns of characters in horror movies; those people that do stupid things when faced with horrific elements and keep on doing it. It’s no wonder that what happened to them in the end did…The horror ghost elements were done right. They made me jump and gasp in all the right places, enough to give me chills down my spine. The overall plot was good, intricate and detailed. However, as it wore on, it got predictable and stale. The characters fell into that same mold, started out intriguing but never changed throughout the book. The ending I saw coming a mile away, not a good feature for a horror novel. Would I recommend this one to horror fans? Probably not the diehard ones; they’d probably be disappointment. But for the casual horror fan who doesn’t read it often, this might be a good diversion, if only for the ghost elements.
    • 3/5
      liked it but got a bit scared in the beginning as i usually dont read scary books , but it was interesting and had me hooked so i had to finish , i was disappointed that the book didnt end up the way i thought it would , but i really liked it anyway , very good recollection of the past .
    • 5/5
      This book’s creepy cover drew me in, but it was the author’s engaging writing style that had me hooked. Right away, I felt like I knew these characters and was invested in their story. WITHIN THESE WALLS had the right amount of spooky that had me looking over my shoulder a few times. There were a few gory details, but nothing too over the top.Something that worked very well for this book was the dual-time period element. In the present, we have Lucas Graham, a down-on-his-luck true crime writer who’s been given the chance to revamp his career by being granted an interview with convicted killer Jeffrey Halcomb. Jeffrey’s story, along with his deranged “family,” is told 30 years in the past. I enjoyed seeing how the two parts came together, and the ending really surprised me.I listened to a big chunk of this book on audio (thanks, library!). R. C. Bray was fantastic as the narrator. He made a convincing desperate crime writer. He did well with the other characters’ voices too.Final Thoughts: Loved it! Nice mix of my favorite elements — suspense, ghosts, family drama, complex characters. Will definitely read more from Ania Ahlborn.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      3.5 starsAnia Ahlborn's Within These Walls is a fun take on the haunted house tale. Unfortunately, it has two major flaws which prevent me from recommending it without reservation.The first is all of the parallels between Ahlborn's fictional cult leader Jeffrey Halcomb and real-life serial killer Charles Manson. Ahlborn openly acknowledges Halcomb's similarity to Manson, perhaps intending to forestall criticism on the ground of lack of originality, but the similarities kept pulling me out of her story; as each detail of Halcomb's "Family" was revealed, I had to forcibly restrain myself from grabbing my copy of Helter Skelter to see if that detail had been drawn from the Manson Family.The second is all of the loose ends left unresolved at the end of the book. Some of those threads were relatively minor, but others went to the very heart of the plot. Although I liked the book's ending, I just didn't understand how Ahlborn had gotten me there.I received a free copy of Within These Walls through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Review copyIt all starts with a letter to True Crime writer Lucas Graham. What's important is who the letter is from and what it offers, a chance to interview convicted mass murderer, Jeffrey Halcomb, who has never told his story of the heinous crime for which he was convicted more than 30 years ago.It's an opportunity that would jump-start Lou's flagging career, but there's a catch. Jeffrey want's Lou to live in the house in Pier Pointe, Washington, the scene of the crime. It's a deal breaker, no interview unless Lou complies.If Lou were a single man, this wouldn't be a big deal, but as a family man, trying to keep his marriage from falling apart, this becomes a very difficult decision.Ahlborn does a nice job in bringing out the stress involved in making his decision, but ultimately, the offer of the interview is too good to pass up. Lou and his twelve-year-old daughter, Victoria, make the move from New York to Washington, while his wife, Caroline stays behind with her career and boyfriend.I started out thinking the story was about the interview with Halcomb, but as time went by, I realized it was all about the house. Like any good ghost story, there is a slow build. Little things, which taken by themselves, don't mean a lot, but as they add up, lead to a frightening environment.The book is written with parallel stories. There's Lou and his daughter moving into the house and Lou's attempts to get his interview and then there's the year leading up to the mass murder that took place in the house some thirty years before.The two story-lines converge with the climatic scenes where all hell breaks loose.I found The Walls Within to be an exceptionally well-crafted supernatural horror story. Seeing other reviews, not everyone agrees with me, but I can only relate my personal experience.The Walls Within will be published on April 21st, 2015, by Gallery Books, a division of Simon and Schuster and will be available in a variety of formats.Recommended.
    • 4/5
      A special thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Nice Cover. WITHIN THESE WALLS by Ania Ahlborn, a haunting mix of horror, mystery, evil, supernatural, psycho, and a crime thriller; reminiscent of Stephen King – so lock all the doors, turn out the lights with your e-reader, grab a cup of tea or coffee . . . . and settle in for a chilling read.Lucas is a crime writer and he needs a bestseller. His marriage is not in a much better position than his career. At the end of his rope, he receives a letter which may be his opportunity for a second chance. The letter of course is so seductive and charming, making the recipient appear as a lover of literature, and complimenting Lucas, as special and “chosen” to tell this story. Jeffrey Halcomb is an inmate at a maximum security prison, Lambert Correctional Facility, Rainier Unit, in Lambert, Washington, a death row cult leader. With an opportunity to tell his story, Lucas jumps at the chance. Lucas wants to be the one with the exclusive story –he knows this will make his career. The terms he will grant him --interviews but all communication must be in person and the next term is he has to take up residence at 101 Montlake Road in Pier Pointe, Washington –the scene of the crime. “You want my story—you live in my house”. All has to be done within four weeks of the postmark of the letter. The clock is ticking. Can he be trusted? From the eighties, Audra Snow, the daughter of Washington State congressman was found dead in her Pier Pointe Washington home (something out of a horror movie). Cult activity was strongly suspected. Ten dead, one caught. Her body was not the only victim at the scene. The bodies of eight others were found arranged in a circle with Ms. Snow at the center. Her unborn child was not spared. Police suspected suicide on the part of the eight currently unidentified victims. Thinking the acts were of satanic activity; however, this was not the first time the small community of Pier Pointe had been rocked by tragedy. The novel switches back and forth from the events leading up to the murder and suicides and the present day with Lucas and his daughter in the Halcomb home—and as cult leaders go, they are charismatic and have followers inside and outside the prison continuing their work – true to form with the main antagonist. The protagonist is a true-crime writer, and the author does a good job of incorporating the police procedures, and elements of a crime thriller tying together the past with the present.My first book by Ahlborn, - typically not a big fan of supernatural; however, enjoy suspense, crime and psycho thrillers . . . . As the storylines connect, an engaging, yet lengthy read with twists and turns. Fans of this genre, will delight. “It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but retire a little from sight and afterwards return again. Nothing is dead. People feign themselves dead, and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries, and there they stand, looking out the window, sound and well in some new disguise.–Ralph Waldo Emerson
    • 2/5
      Disclaimer: I did not finish this book. I started reading it 2 weeks ago and have read bits at a time...and made it to page 227 - about halfway. In the meantime, I've read 5 other books...and done my best to avoid this one sitting on my nightstand.The premise really drew me in - but since the villain - the mystery man who was allegedly able to drive a group of people to give up their lives for him STILL has not made any sort of appearance - there's just not much to keep me going. Even the main character, Lucas Graham, doesn't seem all that interested in the cult leader whose home he is living in - he's just there for the money and to revive his sagging career. There is no dramatic tension, nothing to hold my attention making me want to read on. I finish almost every book I start - but I finally realized that this one feels too much of a chore and I am letting it go.The two stars are because having not finished it - I don't know enough to give it a lower score - and maybe it's just me.
    • 4/5
      This is another book where I was excited to check it out. So glad that I did. The story was so much more then I could imagine. I thought the story was going to be dark and gory. Being that it was focused on a serial killer. Usually serial killer stories are dark. My cup of tea. Yet, this story took a different twist. It was spellbinding in a psychological way than a gory one. I like the way that the story took a haunting tone. It was not in my face but slowly teasing me and drawing me into what was happening to Lucas in the house. The past and present blended so nicely. I could not stop reading. The ending of this book was a high note. I look forward to checking out the next book by this author.
    • 4/5
      This book combines various genres - thriller, paranormal, suspense, horror. Most of all, it's a fascinating and realistic look at cult behavior. We see how a cult leader preys on specific types of people, how easily these otherwise intelligent and good-hearted people get caught up in the madness, and how it all slowly escalates from something basically good to something horrific. Throughout this story, we alternate between the present time with Lucas Graham and three decades past with a young woman called Audra and the cult she unwittingly allows to take over her life. Eventually, these two storylines collide in an explosive and creepy ending.Some of the content is predictable, a bit Amityville Horror-ish with a heavy Charles Manson influence. I wanted to shout at Lucas to just get out of the house. Even so, the author does a good job of showing us why Lucas is so caught up in himself and his pursuit of the story at all costs. I would have liked more of a presence from 'the bad guy'. We mostly see and experience him through the impressions of others. I wanted to get a little closer to him, to better understand him and his motivations. Cult leaders have a way of making the illogical and selfish sound altruistic, and I would have liked to see this in motion directly from him instead of the roundabout after effects. In the end, this book held my interest throughout, gave me a chill, and left me with something to think about.