Haggard House - by Elisabeth Rhoads (Paperback)

About the Book

At the far edge of town stands a dwelling the villagers call Haggard House-a place as decayed and strange as the family inside.

Book Synopsis

A FOREWORD REVIEWS EDITOR'S PICK

At the far edge of town stands a dwelling the villagers call Haggard House-a place as decayed and strange as the family inside.

1859. The village of Nomaton, Michigan. After a reclusive childhood within the dank walls of Haggard House, Adam Bolton, at the age of eleven, is finally allowed to attend the village school, providing he obeys his mother, Sarai's, injunction. Against all outward influence, he must: "Keep to the straight and narrow." An easy bidding, until Adam meets Penny, his bright-eyed, bright-spirited classmate. Frightened of the consequences their friendship threatens, Adam builds another Haggard House-only this one in his mind-and keeps Penny there, safe from his zealot mother; safe from himself.

Only, secrets, Adam ought to know, belong to God. Restless and heartsore, Adam's narrow path suddenly widens. Now a young man, he finds himself traveling West, meeting the world for the first time, a difficult place to keep promises.

Burning with the flame of free will, Adam can no longer restrain himself from the woman he loves. But as he returns to Nomaton, so does Sarai's dark influence, and Adam is forced to face the decaying house within-a house ready to collapse at any moment.

Review Quotes

"Haggard House is brilliant. Compulsively involving, and richly satisfying on every level. Don't miss it." -Richard Bausch, PEN/Malamud & REA Award-winning author of Playhouse and The Fate of Others

"Full of wonderful twists and turns, this riveting story brings the reader back nearly two centuries to a magical place in Michigan where secrets and forbidden love abound." -Suzanne Redfearn, #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant

"Haggard House is a dark and dazzling novel about young love, hypocritical religion, and the long-term damage that trauma inflicts on individuals and the communities they create." -Foreword Reviews

"Part historical fiction, part suspense with a tinge of horror-all good storytelling." -Mary Vensel White, award-winning author of Things to See in Arizona and Bellflower

"Beautiful and alive and compelling and haunting." -Candi Sary, Eric Hoffer Award-winning author of Magdalena

"As reluctant as I am to use cliché, I found Rhoads' engaging style kept me turning pages as fast as I could devour them." -Victor Volkman, Marquette Monthly