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  • Bones in the Basement

  • Surviving the S.K. Pierce Haunted Victorian Mansion - Edwin Gonzalez & Lillian Otero's Story
  • By: Joni Mayhan
  • Narrated by: Samuel E. Hoke
  • Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (7 ratings)

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Bones in the Basement

By: Joni Mayhan
Narrated by: Samuel E. Hoke
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Summary

From the author of the Amazon best-seller The Soul Collector comes a real life story of terror and intrigue. When Edwin Gonzalez and Lillian Otero purchased the historic S.K. Pierce Victorian Mansion in Gardner, Massachusetts, in 2009, they scoffed at the ghostly legends surrounding the house. They didn't believe in ghosts. The house soon proved them wrong. By the fall of 2011, they were forced from their house, narrowly escaping with their lives.

©2014 Joni Mayhan (P)2019 Joni Mayhan

What listeners say about Bones in the Basement

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

style of narrative is at odds with the story

It took me a little while to place the names, it was the events described that made me realise I knew some of this story thanks to various paranormal shows so it was nice to get a more indepths look at the story if this haunting.

Knowing a bit about the story I did enjoy the book but the tone of the book felt a bit off to me, it's recounting supposed real events but in such a way that it reads as fiction, like the people that it's happening to are invented characters.

The house is real, the people are real, they say that all the events of the haunting are real, so it feels very odd to hear them recounted in such a way that reads like a novel rather than a non-fixtion.

Samuel E.Hoke did a decent job with the narration but again hearing him read it, the structure of the book and presentation of facts in this structure makes it feel like a fiction novel rather than recounting of true events.

I was given this audiobook for free from audiobooks unleashed and have left this review voluntarily.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great book

I really enjoyed this book, although at times I did get slightly confused with it keep seeming to jump back and forward in time

Once I'd finished listening, I found it interesting to look up the mansion on the internet, and to actually see what it looks like

I was offered this book in exchange for an honest review

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read

This story was a little bit different to what I normally read. But I must say what a great read and also it being true life events was the cherry on top. It is one of those stories I couldn't stop reading and before I knew it, it was finished. The ending for me left me wanting more. But as I said about different type of story from my usual. Maybe I should stop reading my 'happly ever after' . Would definitely be reading more of this author.
Helen Findlay xcx


"This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I like this audio book got to give it 5 out of 5 😊 😊

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  • Mireille
  • 18-11-19
Listener received this title free

OMFL.... and this is based on true events!

could not put down my earbuds... started to listen on Friday afternoon and was done by Sunday... the narrator is spot on!

6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Spooky Mike
  • 22-11-19
Listener received this title free

Glad I don't live there

I listen and watch a lot of true ghost stories. The books can be a bit dry as they are often third hand accounts with the known information told matter of fact and are more just to get the points across. This one was told more like a fictional ghost story where the plot flows and I didn’t feel like I was listening to a documentary. It actually took me some time, and a little bit of research, to figure out that this mansion does exist and this wasn’t just a “based on true events” novel.

While I had watched some of the shows that they reference, I didn’t know it when listening. The mansion certainly has something going on and this book does a great job of explaining what people have experienced. While not as horrific, it reminded me a lot of the Amityville Horror House. My only complaint is that I wish the book described the house a bit better. I had a hard time picturing it in my head. Definitely going to rewatch the shows about this house to see what people have captured on camera.

I really enjoyed the way the story was told. Told third person, this did a good job to keep the listener engaged. I did have a hard time deciding if this was a fictional novel which I think speaks to its ability to tell the story. I assume that there is some fictional fluff added in order to tell the story, but overall I bet the events happened as described. I will say that this story is the perfect example of what not to do when you live in a haunted house.

Samuel Hoke did a good job narrating. He has a deep and comforting voice that really helps to bring the story to life.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

4 people found this helpful

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  • Rosa
  • 28-11-19
Listener received this title free

Wow. One of my favorite Joni Mayhan books brought to life.

As a huge fan of Joni’s I purchased Bones in the Basement when it was first released. I’ve read the book over and over. I like to listen to Audio books while I’m working. I was so excited to hear that Joni would be releasing audio books. This one did not disappoint. Samuel’s deep voice added so much depth to the story. I will definitely listen to this one over and over!

2 people found this helpful

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  • beckynmatt
  • 27-11-19
Listener received this title free

Honestly creeped out

The book is about one couple's experiences owning the S.K. Pierce mansion in Gardner, MA. I've seen this place many times, and although the location is terrible I have always wanted to spend a few nights in there. Now... not so much. I LOVE everything paranormal and I am not easy to scare. I also LOVE audiobooks and have them playing almost constantly. This particular book I actually had to shut off 5 or 6 times. It has taken me a couple weeks to finish it, where usually I would be done in a day. The narrator was the icing on the cake. His voice paired with this book was perfect.

2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Neona
  • 26-11-19
Listener received this title free

Fascinating Story about a Real Place

This is the first book I've ever read or listened to written by Joni Mayhan and didn't know what to expect.

The story is about one couple's life living in an old Victorian style mansion in Massachusetts. The house comes with a rich and colorful history, some of it documented and others are speculation and rumors. The book doesn't try to prove anything that can't be proven. Instead it focuses on what life for the couple living there was like. The cold rooms, noises that couldn't be explained, shadows lurking in the corners, odd behaviors that they wouldn't normally do (ie the wife gets dressed up like she is going out and then spends the day in her good clothes mucking about a dirty basement).

No mysteries are solved in the story but they leave the reader / listener pondering what the answers might possibly be.

I reached out to the author and let her know how much I was enjoying the book and she gave me the Facebook link with more information and pictures about this mansion. I'm sharing it here so anyone who wants to see the mansion they are reading about might enjoy them. https://www.facebook.com/skhauntedvictorian/

I was given this book free for an honest review from Audiobook Boom.

2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • willee
  • 22-11-19
Listener received this title free

Haunted Mansion

I remember reading this book years ago once they started saying neighbor kept seeing the little boy. Also seen couple of ghost hunter shows investigating the mansion. I did enjoy listening to the book with good narration but still find it hard to believe Edwin and Lillian could survive that long without eating or moving around and what the ghosts did to them and continue to live there. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you!

2 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Cassandra
  • 05-12-19
Listener received this title free

A little spooky

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

If this were a fiction book, it would not have interested me. The fact that this is supposedly based on real experiences, makes this creepy. Creepy in a fascinating way, wondering if something like this could be real and how I may have reacted to these same scenarios.

I've listened to a fair number of cheesy 'waste of time' haunted house books, and this is definitely not one of them.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kindle Customer
  • 28-11-19
Listener received this title free

Bone chilling

A wonderfully written story of Edwin and Lillians story of their time in the Pierce mansion. The writing is so well done i could picture each room in that mansion. And also I was there for every terrifying experience

1 person found this helpful

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  • cheryl parton
  • 27-11-19

Bones in the Basement delivers

The story was told in such a way,that it kept me intrigued to hear what was coming next.
I honestly couldn’t put it down and when I did,I found myself thinking about the experiences of Edwin & Lillian and worrying about them and their poor dogs!
I enjoyed it very much.

1 person found this helpful

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  • timarah
  • 25-11-19
Listener received this title free

I really liked this book

The narration of this book was done perfectly. As a person who is sensitive to spirits I truly hope the couple found peace.

1 person found this helpful