I am a huge fan of D.M. Pulley and this book is arguably the best.

The home on Lee Rd. in Shaker Heights, Ohio was built by the Rollingsworths in the 1920s. It stands a magnificent shell of the original residence when Margot and Myron Spielman decide to buy it in 2018. The house is in shambles from disrepair, theft and neglect. After restoring part of the three-story estate, the Spielman’s and their son, Hunter, make it their new home. Secrets buried and the glimpses of unusual sightings make them question the wisdom of their purchase. More of their lives intertwine with those that came before, leaving everyone fighting with unseen demons.

The tension in this book will keep you on edge. Even when you are not reading, the puzzles and ideas planted throughout the story are being mulled. Each of the characters have strength and weaknesses. Some are irredeemable but most have good and bad qualities. The writing is suspenseful, intriguing and thrilling. Just as you think you have things figured out; something will happen to leave you questioning everything you know.

D. M. Pulley writes mysteries and thrillers like many other authors. However, the emotions that this book and her prior mysteries evoke are so superb that she must be considered one of the best. She has, once again, written one of my favorite books of the year.

I received an ARC from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley. That in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review.

Haunted: (of a place) frequented by a ghost. Synonyms, possessed, cursed, jinxed.
(a person) having or showing signs of mental anguish or torment.

14895 Lee Road, originally known as Rawlingswood.
Five Families: All haunted...

Rawlings : 1922-1931
Bell: 1936-1972
Klussman: 1972-1990
Martin: 1994-2016

R.I.P. Rest In Peace

The Spielman family is looking for a fresh start and the price is right, so they ignore the rumors, the disrepair and the graffiti, and spare no expense with the renovations. But some things cannot be ripped out by contractors.

Immediately creepy and atmospheric, the story opens with the Spielman family, but alternating chapters, share the troubled history of this home, through the stories of all four of the families unfortunate enough to have lived here prior. It’s not at all hard to follow. You are even provided a blueprint of the home...

When lightbulbs, turned off, keep coming back on, doors closed, open on their own, and various secrets begin revealing themselves, teenage son, Hunter becomes an easy scapegoat, for parents Myron and Margot.

But, Hunter has seen things too.
And, he is tired of being blamed.

So, with the help of his friend Caleb, from Boston, and the internet, Hunter starts sleuthing to figure out what has actually transpired in this home, before his family moved in.

But, What do the dead want??

This book was inspired by the century homes of Shaker Heights, Ohio-a real place, two real murders, and one rumor....

If you are looking for a perfect Halloween book, what could be better than that??

Available NOW!!

Thank You, to Netgalley, D. M. Pulley, and Thomas and Mercer for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for a candid review!

Quite a while ago I read the contemporary/historical novel THE DEAD KEY by D. M. Pulley, and was intensely engrossed. I'm delighted that her newest, NO ONE'S HOME, is every bit as enthralling. If you love history and pondering the ways in which it affects the present, I believe you will find this a gem, as did I. Set in Cleveland's prestigious Shaker Heights Community, the novel relates the stories of several families occupying an upscale home built in 1922. Is it haunted? Is it history? Is it family and personal dysfunction? Greed and cupidity? Will the cycle ever end? Read on and discover.

A dark, unsettling story about a mansion, rumored to be haunted, and the poor dysfunctional souls who have lived there over the years. Now Margot, Myron and their son have moved in looking for a fresh start but wind up in a nightmare. A good, spooky read.

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

Rawlingswood is a house with a history. When the Spielman family decide to buy the 'murder house' and renovate it, they are met with some (possibly supernatural) resistance, and as the family begins to disintegrate under the pressure of their individual secrets, the former residents of their home begin to emerge from the shadows.

This was an enjoyable 'haunted house' mystery, very obviously influenced by Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. As with that novel, the reader is left in some doubt as to whether the spirits of the dead are actually haunting this house, as the protagonists are 'haunted' by their own personal demons as much as by any supernatural forces. The characters were believable and the histories of the house's former residents were particularly well done (I enjoyed Benny and Ella the most). All in all, a compelling read.

A creepily decent ghost story with tension that keeps building. A large old haunted mansion harboring mysteries through the decades. Alternating chapters of family dramas from the various people that lived there over the years, from 1929 to current times. Well done.

Wow!
When I first started reading this book I thought it was a horror, scary story. ( Sometimes I read books just because I like the cover and don't look into what the book is about) But It turned out to be an amazing, page turning mystery.
This is a story about a family moving to another state and buying an abandoned mansion and getting it remodeled. The teenage son starts digging into the history of the houses past owners and finds tragedy with every owner. As the story progresses his own family starts to have many problems of there own.
This is a fast paced, page turning must read mystery. You will find yourself staying up all night just to find out what happens next.

A ghost story - sort of.... A family drama - totally.

D.M Pulley created a house full of pain, mystery and families of all kind. From the beginning, Rawlingswood has its problems. It's a house built with dirty money, on sacred ground. Each family brings their own set of problems - from bootlegging to murder to drugs to other things that I can't talk about because it spoils part of the story. No One's Home is full of mystery and twists that leave you a bit breathless and wanting more.

I've not talked about the actual story of this book - because ...it's best to be discovered on it's own. But know that besides Ella, Walter, Hunter, Myron, Ava, Benny....besides all of them...the house, Rawlingswood, is a huge part of the story as well. It's a living breathing part of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and D.M. Pulley for the opportunity to read this book.

5 out of 5

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I first found D.M. Pulley back in 2014 when I found The Dead Key on Amazon as a Amazon Unlimited offer and I was immediately impressed. The Dead Key was in my top five books of that year as it was such a different type of book. When I saw that this book was up for an advanced read I know I had to read it and I am so glad that I did! If you are looking for a good, haunted house book just in time for spooky season (which for me starts in the middle of August because I am that obsessed with Autumn and Halloween!) Then this book is for you! If I had the time to binge this book in one day I would have. As it is I did finish it in two!

There is something about Rawlingswood Manor that captivates potential buyers so much they feel that they must have it. Built in Shaker Heights in 1922 for the Rawlings family who became the first victims of the mansion. From there every family that has lived in the house has been doomed. Long held secrets come out,hidden resentments drive families apart and not every comes out of it alive. You see, Rawlingswood was built on sacred ground, a terrible miscarriage of justice took place there and the long forgotten victims are watching and waiting.

Into all of this comes the Spielman family, desperate for a fresh start Myron is sure that this will solve all of their issues. It will help Margot to finally be happy again. Their son Hunter will be happy and they will be a whole family again. Margot is not so sure. She doesn't want leave Boston and she resents her husband for forcing this to happen. She also does't like the idea of moving into a "Murder House" as the graffiti on the walls warned. She finally agrees as long as she can renovate the home. Renovations of course do not go smoothly as there are injuries and strange happenings to the point that many workers leave and never return.

Shortly after the family arrive things begin to happen. Things are being moved, food disappears and there seems to be a presence. They all seem to catch a glimpse of a blonde girl in white. There is also a strange feeling that they are being watched. As fifteen year old Hunter's parents begin to slowly fall apart he begins to look into the house's dark history.

The narrative jumps back and forth in time to the various families that have lived there and what became of them. I didn't find it to be confusing at all though because before each chapter we are informed of the year and the family that we are visiting at the moment.

Not all the characters are likable and I must stress that I really hated Myron Spielman so much! Benny and Hunter were fantastic characters and the story was so well written. I don't get scared easily this book really had an effect on me. I was pretty spooked the whole time I read this.

If you like The Haunting of Hill House then you will like this. I found myself openly crying during a few parts and I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it last night.

<b>Welcome to Hell House!</b>

<I>Dead girl!</I>

Hmmm. Not my favorite ghost read. The description of fans of Hill House show/book really hooked me, however, after the description of the house and strange things happening that’s really as far as that went for me. In fact, I might have liked it more had this not even been suggested. I found myself comparing this and that to Hill House and it just didn’t fit right.

I wasn’t a fan of the back and forth timeline. I found myself rushing ahead just to get back to the present. I understand all the different time settings were needed to piece them together in the present but again, not my favorite. Would have been a 4 possibly 5 star read if it was a little less wordy and not so many families.

Creepy, eerie, yes.. up until about the halfway point. Once <I>that</i> is known, 100% of the scare factor went out the window, which just made the last half fall a little...flat.

Would I read it again? Definitely not.
Would I recommend it? Sure. It IS a good, long read that will keep you interested enough to want to know how it ends.

*Note* this review will be posted to After the Pages book blog and Amazon.

This one can give you some crazy dreams, that is for sure. It was cool though right off the bat to read about a city so close to my home. I had no idea when requested the story took place near Cleveland!
Myron and Margot Spielman along with their teenage son Hunter are looking for a fresh start. in Shaker Heights OH after relocating from Boston. They settle on an old 1922 abandoned mansion although it needs a significant amount of work. From the moment they step into the house, it is evident it has a history, and some of it is not so pretty. Scribblings on the walls saying "dead girl" or "bad Benny" are all over several of the rooms. The most damning message being "MURDER HOUSE." Still Myron insists on buying and renovating the house despite his wife's hesitations.
From the day they move in strange things start to occur. Belongings go missing, footsteps are heard, and a mysterious light in the attic never seems to go out.
Meanwhile we being to learn about the history of the families who inhabited the house before, starting with the homes namesake, the Rawlings. The story flips between past(s) and present just about every chapter.
The house's history is full of heartbreak, love, death, murder, suicide...but the Spielman's are none the wiser to begin with. It is not really until Hunter meets Ava, one of the former residents who has been hiding out in the home for years that they begin to themselves unravel the history of the house.
Will history repeat itself with the Spielmans? Must read to find out! I will definitely be reading more of Pulley's works in the near future!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author, D M Pulley, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of No One's Home in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
All I can say is Wow.
Such an incredible story that was full of descriptive and captivating imagery. The characters are well drawn and intriguing and the storyline flowed remarkably well between timelines. Absolutely loved reading this book.
Well worth a read.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book with the lights on, and I highly suggest you do as well. What a perfectly scary book for the beginning of Spooky Season! A funny thing happened while I was reading this book. It was around 2 am and I was up reading. I work nights, so I am usually up fairly late. I thought I heard the door open.. This seemed fairly odd to me as I live alone.. Apparently my african grey parrot, Sparky thought it would be a good idea to make scary sounds for me… He wanted to add to this book. Not that he needed to, this book was scary enough!

I fell in love with Pulley’s stellar writing and plot. Everything just fit together perfectly. This is one of those books that you will think about days later.. While you are laying in bed..and you hear a bump in the night trying not to look at that weird shadow in the corner of your room.

The concept was incredible, the writing phenomenal, and the scares were enough to make you jumpy for days. Pulley will definitely make my must read list and should make yours too!

An absolutely amazing gothic horror story. Although this has been done many Times. This was one of a kind. Amazing x

Margot and Myron Spielman try to look past the rubbish and rat infested home they are buying to the handcrafted woodwork, huge rooms and old world grace lying beneath to see the beautiful home they could have after some rehab work. The price is so low, they don’t even let the unsettling rumors about the deaths and the violence surrounding the old house deter them. So what if the neighborhood refers to it as a haunted house, it’s all just silly gossip and innuendo. But as the Spielman’s and their teenage son uncover more information about the house, they begin to wonder if the stories might be actual fact, and if the house has the power to extract and magnify the darkness in its new owners. I love a good haunted house story, and Pulley delivers in this tense nail biter

This is the perfect scary read! It is creepy and unpredictable. I highly recommend it! Every time that I thought that I knew what was going to happen next, I was surprised. I liked the detailed description of the mansion, as I felt like that is what made the atmosphere of the story the most creepy and scary.

WARNING: You simply will not want to stop reading this book!

"From the outside, no one would suspect a thing." I was hooked from this first line! D.M. Pulley has done it again by crafting a suspenseful and eerie story that I simply could not put down. When I wasn't reading it, I was wondering where the plot would go next. D.M. draws you immediately into her characters' lives and they become your reality until the very last page.

Do you believe some homes have a life of their own? The one in "No One's Home" certainly does. I guarantee after reading this gripping thriller (and you must), that most readers won't drive by some properties now without wondering what lurks behind their facades. I love the way she weaves different time periods and families together. It's the house and the shocking and chilling encounters, though, that remain the centerpiece of the story.

I'm hooked on D.M. Pulley's books, although this may be my new favorite. Go ahead and start with this one, and I suspect you'll be saying the same. You may even begin wondering what secrets your own home has been keeping...

If you’re a fan of the horror or ghost/hauntings genre, this novel is not to be missed. Fraught with images of past horrors hidden in every corner, the house itself is a story untold, waiting to unfold.

Rawlingswood is nestled in what should be the safe neighborhood of Shaker Heights, outside Cleveland, Ohio. But like most so-called safe suburbs, there’s a darker history there than meets the eye. Built upon an old cult ground, the Rawlingswood home has a sinister history that appears to continue to repeat itself. The men who live there don’t seem to live long, and they meet their end in various cruel ways.

As an old Shaker woman said, the dead don’t rest easy there. And neither it seems, do the living.

Ms. Pulley describes the haunting beauty of Rawlingswood in exquisite detail, without boring her readers. If you follow her on social media, and you should, she’s been teasing us for months with photos and virtual tours of homes in the actual Shaker Heights neighborhood that inspired the home in her novel. These tours have been a wonderful way to immerse readers beforehand into the world of No One’s Home, and give them an idea of the opulence of homes such as Rawlingswood.

I recommend this novel to anyone who has read The Haunting of Hill House, as I truly believe it gives it a run for its money in 2019. Also, anyone who enjoys thrillers, ghost stories, and just a good book all-around.

OUTSTANDING!!!!! 5 Stars ++++ So excited about my upcoming Elevator Q&A with the Author, coming Sept 1. 📢 More coming; however, some quick notes. I just finished and cannot stop thinking about these characters. You "must" read this book!!!

NO ONE'S HOME is brilliantly written. 🏆 One of the "Best" haunted house suspense thrillers I have ever read! I mean EVER! D. M. Pulley's "Best" yet.💕 I do not even read horror, nor supernatural, but this is NOT that kind of book. It is so much more. Once you pick it up, you cannot put it down. Everything is very realistic which is the scary part.

It reads like a riveting multi-generational historical fiction, gripping domestic suspense, and a moving emotional family drama. You may even think shows: "Breaking Bad," "Underground Railroad," "The Haunting of Hill House," "The Great Gatsby," "This Is Us," HGTV, and a true-crime series, all rolled into one.

You may even shed a tear or two. (I did). A cross between historical and contemporary. The author juggles multiple timelines and families like a "rock star" 🙌 while keeping the tension high throughout the book. As a reader, you cannot wait to return to the next family. (I would love to see her writing space). That will be a question for the Q&A, for sure.

You will find yourself trying to determine which family story is more shattering. WOW! It is spine-chilling and would love to see a movie 🎬 based on this superb novel. It would be powerful. (A few things will remind you of "Breaking Bad"). Hunter and Benny (My two favorite characters). Both remind me of RJ Mitte (Walter "Flynn" White Jr.) and the parents also remind me of the show.

What makes this novel so spectacular is the inspiration behind the novel and the author's impeccable research. If you have read her previous books, you know she knows her way around history and architecture. She is a pro!

This brilliantly crafted story was inspired by the century homes of Shaker Heights, OH, and two real murders, and a rumor, plus a vacant home she toured in 2008. You will be Googling! The author also includes some fascinating research at the end of the book and even floor plans. Her writing is some of the BEST.

You will enjoy getting to know Rawlingswood. Talk about secrets??
Rawlings family: 1922-1931
Bell family: 1936-1972
Klussman family: 1972-1990
Martin family: 1994-2016

A house rich in history, and secrets. Four generations of haunted and tormented souls. 

No matter the generation, each family had its own set of problems. They are running from something. The author cleverly unravels each character's past at just the precise moment. Each one handles their grief in different ways. These characters will remain with you long after the book ends. I am hoping we see more of these characters in the future. Have you ever had a mystery break your heart?

If you can only read one book this year, this is one I would recommend! YES, it is that good! I was blown away. I have never read anything quite like it. Well done, DM Pulley! You knocked this out of the park. NO ONE'S HOME will be "topping" the charts. ⏫ Perfect for Halloween. 🎃

The last page was priceless. I cannot wait to hear everyone's thoughts after reading. Please keep me updated, readers. Which is your favorite family? I will have to think about it. My opinion changed many times during the novel.

For fans of Ruth Ware, Lisa Unger, Laura Lippman, Gilly Macmillan, and Randall Silvis.

Looking forward to the upcoming Q&A with DM to learn more!

Read My Reviews:
The Unclaimed Victim (2017)
The Buried Book (2016)
The Dead Key (2015)

My Top Books of 2019
#JDCMustReadBooks