I've tried reading this book twice, and both times I've lost interest halfway through. The characters were not interesting and if there was any action in the book it must have been in the back end.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of episode thirteen. This was pretty cool! the horror and suspense that really wrapped it up nicely.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I love haunted house books and ghost stories. This one did not disappoint. Well written and kept me hooked.

Ghost hunters... haunted houses... Its been done a hundred times....But...not this good! This was a truly scary book. The way it was written by different characters, in different formats made it all the more real and all the more captivating. Like a modern day Legend Of Hell House, the story and the house envelope you and don't let go. You know something BAD is coming, but regardless, you race around next corner just like the characters in this book, as curious as you are terrified. No spoilers here. You need to read and experience this one for yourself. GREAT job Craig Dilouie!!!

<b>Disclosure statement: I received a review copy of this novel courtesy of Craig DiLouie and his agent. Additionally, I bought a hardcopy of the novel at my own personal expense. All of the opinions shared in this review are entirely my own and have not been influenced in any way by receipt of a review copy.</b>

<i>Episode Thirteen</i> is an epistolary horror novel that uses its epistolary format as an effort to mimic the found-footage style trope of horror film and television. While epistolary fiction isn't anything new, the style has largely fallen out of favor in modern literature in spite of its abundance in earlier eras. In my opinion, the epistolary novel's disfavorability in modern fiction is regrettable, as I still find the form to be useful narratively and for certain stylistic effect. DiLouie's use of the epistolary in <i>Episode Thirteen</i> may strain credulity with regards to the novel's overarching plot, but it is without a doubt one of the greatest highlights of the book for me. DiLouie manages to create and maintain narrative tension cleverly through the use of his variety of documentation, whether it be character journals that allude to deeper secrets, or text messages that illustrate a character's inner crisis.

But whereas the book's structure does much to differentiate it from other weird fiction stories, the novel's plot itself is a little too sprawling to feel truly cohesive. The book begins with one premise but unfolds into something much weirder, revolving a little too heavily around pseudoscience, mythology, and religion to feel like a cohesive, character-driven narrative. If there is any one major flaw to the novel, it is that the book gets too wrapped up in the overall mystery the characters are trying to solve about the existence of a spirit world than it is interested in giving us strong character writing. The two characters of the novel that feel the most fleshed out are Jake, the cameraman, and Kevin, the tech operator. Claire, Matt, and Jessica, the other three characters of the novel, don't feel like they get nearly enough attention, and Jessica feels the least impactful to the story's development, crisis, and denouement than any of the other characters.

In a way, it's a little frustrating to have such a great premise undercut by so many strange story choices. The conclusion of the book refocuses the narrative's premise almost entirely, such that the real idea being explored is the notion of "knowing" anything--can we really <i>know</i> the unknowable? Where is the boundary of human knowledge, and what does it mean to transcend beyond the material plane? The book seems content to answer the question directly through its final act, but in a way its answer makes the preceding narrative feel inconsequential.

Credit goes to DiLouie for putting together enough narrative cues and clues to the final solution of the book's mysteries all along the way, throughout his epistolary construction. The major theme is obscured at first but becomes much clearer through the conclusion of the book, which does resolve much (though not strictly all) of the dangling threads and mysteries of the first parts of the book. Still, I cannot help but feel that there is something missing from the experience, and my instincts are to reflect back on how little I feel the characters are all developed in comparison to the bizarreness of their adventure. In spite of the novel using an epistolary format, I don't feel as though the characters are anything more than a canvas upon which the mystery is painted instead of the actors through which we experience the mystery.

Regardless of the book's limitations or flaws, the epistolary format did add significantly to my enjoyment of the book. DiLouie's imagination for how to tell this particular story through the transcripts he includes is a clear demonstration of his attention to crafting the narrative. While more could be done to strengthen the characters' distinct voices, I think DiLouie leaves me hungry for more of this kind of novel.

<i>Episode Thirteen</i> dares to do what other books all too often shy away from, and the result is a book that acts as a proof-of-concept for a found-footage novel. In spite of its flaws, it is still weird, compelling, and daring, all of which makes for an entertaining literary experience.

WOW. I really enjoyed this one! Lost footage is tough to write about and I feel that Craig did a great job. I was so entertained. I enjoyed the mixed media within the book and the multiple POV's. My only reason for not giving it 5 stars is I wished it was a little more paranormal and the ending seemed to come out of nowhere. I can't wait to read the next book Craig writes

"Not all ghosts haunt houses, some try to live in your head."

4

This found-footage style horror novel shows the material left behind by the TV Crew behind the hit ghost-hunting show, Fade to Black as they went to film their 13th episode in the legendary Foundation House. The crew is led by Matt, a believer and his wife Claire, a skeptic and scientist. Their Scully/Mulder dynamic is what makes the show successful, along with the gruff ex-cop Kevin, actress Jessica, and cameraman Jake.

I love horror stories about reality tv and love the found footage format. So much, that I am willing to let go of questions like, why are people taking the time to write in journals during these tense and horrifying situations? I really enjoyed this story. I felt immersed in the action and atmosphere. Personally, I was not as immersed in the Matt and Claire relationship and was much more interested in the minor characters.

Would recommend it to fans of found footage horror, paranormal reality tv, and haunted house stories

I liked this book. It started out very strong, giving me all the chills and thrills. However it loses steam about the halfway mark. I think by that point the story lost some of creepy factor and it became more about the characters.

A strange but spooky tale that had me riveted! A fantastic storyline, such compelling characters and a few great twists and turns! I really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more!

If you're a horror fan who loves the found-footage films like "Blair Witch" or "As Above So Below", Craig DiLouie's "Episode Thirteen" is a must-read. This book is the perfect combination of chilling horror and dynamic storytelling, all presented through the lens of a reality TV ghost-hunting show.

DiLouie's use of the found-footage genre gives the story an eerie and unsettling atmosphere, making it feel like you're accessing something you shouldn't be. The horror elements are expertly crafted, with plenty of scares and gore to satisfy even the most jaded horror fans. The tension builds steadily throughout the book, making it nearly impossible to put down.

Overall, "Episode Thirteen" is a truly unforgettable reading experience. If you're a fan of horror, or just looking for a spine-chilling read, this book is not to be missed.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. It was set up like found footage (thinik Blair Witch) which was unique and interesting. There were some spooky bits, to be sure but my favorite parts were the build up of mystery

I really enjoyed the found footage aspect of this horror novel! As I wasn't able to finish the ARC in time for it's release date, I simultaneously read the ARC and followed along with the audiobook and wow! I really loved the way the audiobook was produced, with the cast of characters and the sound effects and music. I also enjoyed the characters (even though I didn't like who they all were as people) because we got to hear their thoughts, but also see them through the eyes of the other members of the team. I think where they all ended up at the end made sense, however I wasn't as big of a fan of the type of haunting. But I know that is a sub-genre of horror that a lot of people enjoy, so I think that part is just a me thing, because I'm still figuring out what works for me and what doesn't. I didn't really find it all that terrifying, which was what I kind of wanted but the shift in the type of haunting made me kind of lose a bit of interest.

Overall I still really enjoyed this and I'm excited to go back and read some of this author's previous works!

This is a found footage story told in broken pieces journals, tapes, etc. I loved the way this story was told, I think that it added a creepy element to the story. It is a bit of a slow burn, but the characters and plot kept me turning the page. A great paranormal story that's sure to give you goosebumps!

Fade to Black is a hit ghost hunting reality TV show. It consists of a husband-and-wife team: Matt is a true believer in ghosts and Claire is a true believer in science. Three other people make up their team, and together they gain access to a house where the Paranormal Research Foundation conducted secret experiments in the 1970s. As they begin filming footage here for Episode 13 of their show, they begin to have a bit of interpersonal drama. For a while, it seems that this will be the only action on the show, until the house slowly begins to reveal itself to them, causing everyone to question what they’ve always taken for the truth.

I liked how this book was set up to be a bit fragmented. Texts, emails, and interviews were incorporated throughout chapters, adding a multimedia approach. I don’t think it served this book as well as it could have, and sometimes seemed to slow it down more than anything. The characters were good overall, though they weren’t quite as engaging as I hoped they would be and felt a little bit stereotypical for a work of horror. It was also difficult to become emotionally attached to them. Similarly, the science in this book was a little lacking. The plot relied heavily on it, but it felt more like the author threw around buzzwords without really diving into their meaning or using it as a real explanation for what was happening.

This would have been a much higher rating for me, but the turn the plot took was a little underwhelming. It was still fascinating, but I read this book because I wanted to be too scared to go to sleep. While that did happen in the first half of the book, once the plot shifted the book was no longer terrifying to me, shifting from horror to more science fiction. The house and the entire work lost the atmospheric dread that I felt had been incorporated relatively well into the first portion. This was also partly due to the fact that there were several places in the book that were longer and slower than necessary – I think it could use a good trim to be a little more concise and make it more impactful.

Overall, this was a good read that really wanted to work more than it did. I wish it had stuck to having a paranormal focus rather than trying to delve into science, as this made it much less interesting in the second half and wasn’t incorporated in a meaningful way. I think the author also tried to get too deep into creating an explanation for the hauntings, which ended up being convoluted and detracting from the book. My thanks to NetGalley and Redhook Books for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

To start, this book was a very slow read. That is until about page 100 when the supernatural activity and story line amps up! From there it’s a much better and fast paced read. You want to continue to read to find out what happens to the crew of Fade to Black. It’s a little bit hard to adjust to the fact that besides journal entries from the crew, the entire book is written in a script format. Over all, this one is a 3.5 for me.

I loved the premise and perspective of this book. It's definitely creepy, and well-written. Definitely a good Halloween read.

The thirteenth episode of the TV reality series Fade to Black will undoubtedly be a network hit thanks to the choice made by the cast and crew. They have chosen to reclaim the location of the infamous Paranormal Research Society, which in the 1970s carried out sickening and torturous experiments in an effort to contact the spirit world, leaving a trail of shattered subjects, horrific hauntings, and even the researchers' disappearance.

You will have nightmares as a result of reading this dark journey into a terrifying nightmare. You'll be left reeling by the intensity and incredible depths of brutal terror. Fans of found footage ghost hunting shows, paranormal horror, and those who enjoy suspenseful, frightening horror that grows in the style of mixed media narrative should not miss this. For the immersive experience it offers, I'll be recommending the audiobook for this one.
I would want to express my gratitude to #NetGalley, #RedhookBooks, and #CraigDiLouie for providing the ARC in exchange for my frank reviews.

This is a story about mounting dread.

I wasn’t sure going in if this would work for me, because I’ve been hit or miss with found footage books…. But I really enjoyed it! The pervasive sense of mounting dread and claustrophobia was surprisingly effective given the format. It reminded me a bit of a more accessible take on a house of leaves theme. Overall totally recommend if you enjoy horror with a unique format & would definitely recommend the audio.

Thank you so much @netgalley & @redhookbooks for the eArc! & thank you to @bookishcatsavant & @thereadingowlvina for hosting this one in the #thrillerfriendsbuddyread !

I am a sucker for ghost stories and I loved that this setting was a ghost hunter tv show with the cast experiencing paranormal activity in the house that they are visiting.

The audiobook has some cheesy/creepy sound effects, I couldn't quite decide where they fell on this spectrum at times. The ending was pretty fun, definitely different than I expected.

Overall an enjoyable fun experience that I would say is not a very scary read, even though the cover looks real creepy!

3.5 stars.
Episode Thirteen by Craig Dilouie
Thank you so much to Netgalley for my ebook copy of this. But I ended up listening to the majority on audiobook.
This book starts out so good between the premise, the full cast of characters in the audio, and all the sound effects I. Was.
Hooked. Unfortunately this didn't last the whole book.
We follow a TV crew of paranormal hunters visiting a building with a eerie history. Told as if you actually are watching the TV show. This book was interesting in the sense you were "behind the scenes" of the filming of the show. Things got weird and in my opinion just not good, almost confusing and just meh.
Overall I enjoyed a strong portion of the book, loved the way the story was told, and enjoyed the full cast audio with sound effects.