Ghost hunters become the prey.

A little freaky, a little unsettling and a little dirty. But very good story, Dam, but this book had me until the last sentence. I’m yelling at the people, "don’t do it, don’t don’t go in there!!” A group of TV ghost hunters are invited to a underground mansion, to prove that ghosts aren’t real. And after a cave-in its a fight to get out alive.

1 person found this helpful

Buried

what the heck!! okay, this is my 1st real horror story and man was it so good. talk about keeping you on the edge of your seat. it's even creepier and scarier than the movie the haunting. I would actually pay to go see this in a movie. the narrator did a really good job too.

The haunted house draws you in and shuts the door

A paranormal investigator TV-show crew visits a haunted house, and meets ghosts who are not done with their stories or, soon, the investigators. Genuinely scary, weird, gross, sexy, and loads of fun. I look forward to more from Claven! The whole "haunted house with ghosts from different times" is hard to pull off, but Claven did a great job with it.

Christopher Shelby Slone had a great voice for the tone of the story - authoritative but intimate, like a friend telling you a scary story and doing a great job at it.

Intense

This was a great thriller. Within the first chapter you are so into it and disgusted at the same time but wanting more. If you like a mystery of a house that has so many killers this is the book for you. I read it early in the morning with it still being dark outside. My house became creepy.

Received this Arc in exchange for an honest reveiw.

Once you come in....

I acknowledge this is subjective, but after listening to about 15 minutes of the book, I had to actually slow down the narrator because he spoke so fast, which surprised me because at first he has a gravely voice like molasses, drawling the words, wonderful to listen to and well suited for this horror.

Because of the narrator's speed, scene changes could also feel choppy. I haven't seen the original text, so I don't entirely know if that's a deliberate effect or if the text had ellipses and such to better delineate progression. However, I suspect the latter.

Still, as we hit Claire's story as the first peek into this horror showcase, I forgot those annoyances, spellbound by the horrid decadence of the rich family that provides the tale's murderous legacy.

While there are a few points I guessed, much of the climax and ending still took me by surprise. Quite good, but often very graphic. I will say that sexual assault is a recurring motif of this story, so anyone who is sensitive to that in fiction should proceed cautiously.

4.5 Haunting Stars!

This is my first full length novella from Claven and WHOA!!! Until this one, I have only read two of her short stories, and I cannot wait to read more from her! I have had Buried on my kindle for a while, but was kindly sent an audiobook version from the author to listen to.

Claven can truly write horror! Buried take the ‘haunted house’ trope and amplifies it by 1000! I did not know what was going to happen next as I listened to this novella or anticipated how it would end. I recall my mouth dropping a few times as I listened, and had to make an effort to concentrate on driving as I listened and was fully involved in the story. I had recently been involved in an accident where deer were involved and the car that hit me ran, so I didn’t need a repeat accident in my new-to-me car! (Please note that all 4 deer and myself were fine, my poor little Saab was not so lucky).

Please note that Claven will not be for everyone. Her writing is very dark, twisted, depraved, and also unique! There were a couple of erotica parts in Buried which I could have done without, which gives my rating of 4.5 stars. I would say this novel would be for 18+ due to the contents involved.

As previously mentioned, I was sent the audiobook version from Claven. Honestly, it took a little while for me to get used to the narrator’s voice. At first, I did not really like his voice as for me his voice had a bit too much of a ‘southern twang’ to it, but after a while I was able get past that and ended up enjoying the narration as Slone really performed!

Please note that Claven is from South Africa so some vernacular in the novel is from her country. I have read books from other authors in South Africa, so this did not stick out for me.

Reader discretion is advised before you pick up Buried. If you can handle it, you will be in for a wild ride of not knowing what to expect! Buried is far from your typical haunted house novel and those out to discredit ghosts!

Buried is recommended!

Creepy

This was a disturbing horror story. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it but it has a very dark plot. A reporter takes a team into an underground mansion to investigate a haunted house that he didn't believe was real. As they started investigating the strange occurrences started. As the story progressed it peaked my attention even more. There is a lot of sexual content in this one, but you will understand in the end when the full plot is revealed.

Pretty freaky

This was a pretty freaky book, lots of ghost banging. I thought it was decent, not my usually listen. The writer had me almost untl the end, but there was ghost gang rape, which ruined it for me. The last scene/ ending was clever. I've never listened to a book with suspense sound effects. Most of the time they added to it, a few spots it was a bit too loud for the simultaneous narration. the narrators voice was easy to listen too.

Baskerville Book Reviews

This review primarily covers the audiobook version.

This book starts up with the author talking it up something fierce. Two thoughts crossed my mind. Either this is going to be the best damn horror book I’ve listened to in a while. Or I’m going to have a field day tearing it apart.

As much as I love to shit all over things people hold dear; Bravo. This story is something else. It really did live up to the hype. It’s one of the best short stories/horror stories I’ve listened to/read.

The characters use words like “smelt it” (smelled it) and torch (flashlight). This led to much confusion on my part. The inconsistency of the narrator confused the hell out of me. The narrator would occasionally do a European accent. If he can do a European accent, then why doesn’t he narrate the book in that accent. If he can’t, then why wasn’t a European narrator chosen?

Adding to my annoyance with the narrator, he says “19o2”. O isn’t a number. It’s 1902. Adding to my overall annoyance, the audiobook is plagued with this obnoxious background music.

Maybe it’s time I get to that praise I hinted at, at the start of this review. This story is twisty, twisted, and exciting. It continually keeps you engrossed with stories and history of the mansion and the family that owns it, followed by the predicament the characters are in after an untimely cave-in.

There were a couple of character names “Andrew Jackson” and Michael Jackson” which I found amusing. I don’t know if those were intentional or just a coincidence, but my personal stance is; If it’s amusing, it’s canon.

The story made me wonder. Some of the best stories I’ve listened to since I started reviewing have been short stories. 3 of them have been horror. Tempting Fate, Santa of the Dead, and this one. Are they good because they don’t stick around long enough to lose their thunder or is it something else. I really can’t praise this story enough. It’s brilliant.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.

A well-written story from a very good author

Buried, my first read from author Sian B. Claven. Reminiscent of Joe Hill's Locke & Key series. Extremely well-written, the characters, even the minor ones, are well developed with a creepy, attention-grabbing storyline. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why do they do the things they do. The things that make the reader get invested in the characters and thereby the story. I’ll be reading more from this author, I look forward to her next book no matter the main character. “I received a free Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Christopher Shelby Slone's narration fits the book perfectly! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).