The House Next Door

The House Next Door  

The House Next Door is a creepy short story from author Tom Coleman that I just finished reading. I am always a fan of great short stories, and this was one that kept me on the edge of my seat. 

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About The House Next Door 

Mr. Spaulding looks like an ordinary old grumpy neighbor with a penchant for growing roses, but he has a dark secret hidden deep inside of his house. A secret no one knows about. 

Sarah decides to find out if he is just a sweet lonely widower or a twisted man with a mysterious past. What she encounters at his house is beyond her wildest dreams, but this is a nightmare which she can’t wake up from.

Thoughts on The House Next Door 

The House Next Door is a short story from author Tom Coleman, and it is one I would call interesting. It is a precursor to the Horrors Next Door collection of short stories. 

The first thing that caught my attention was the word usage. He describes Mr. Spaulding’s truck having a trunk. I grew up in a family with trucks, and I’ve never seen a truck with a trunk. Say that five times fast! But in all seriousness, a truck with a trunk is not a thing. I realize this is pretty insignificant, but it’s little things that take away from the story. 

This is a quick 20 page read, which is perfect with my morning coffee. The House Next Door is the first I’ve read from author Tom Coleman. I haven’t decided if I want to read the sequels, but let me tell you why. 

“Aww, isn’t toy having fun?” the voice asks, this time, from not far behind me. “Henrietta wants to make this fun. Henrietta wants to play hide and seek… Wanna play?” 

Tom Coleman, The House Next Door

My big complaint with The House Next Door is that it is a cliffhanger. I think every single story should be able to stand on its own, and not leave the reader hanging and forced to read the next story. But that is my opinion. Just because it is a series, doesn’t mean it should end mid-story. 

Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The House Next Door. I want to find out what happens next. But because of that, I think it could be a full novel instead of a series of short stories. The ideas and writing style are great. But a short story isn’t the appropriate format. 

I felt the same way about The Tattooist of Auschwitz. An amazing story, but a book wasn’t the right format to bring the characters to life the way they deserved to be. 

Final Thoughts on The House Next Door 

Tom Coleman has a great way of drawing the reader in. But keeping them there is where he struggles, and that is because he took a marketing approach to this story instead of just writing an amazing story. 

Stories that stand on their own without having to be a series are exactly what makes me want to read more from an author. Being forced to because the story was broken up in the middle is not impressive to me. It comes off as a marketing ploy, not because he can write a great story. 

Could The House Next Door be a great story? Absolutely! There is so much potential in Tom Coleman’s writing. But instead he just gives us a good story, and that is disappointing to me. 

The House Next Door is still a good and quick read, but there is a lot I would have done differently if this was my book. 

Discussion 

Have you read The House Next door or any other writing from author Tom Coleman? Are you a fan of short stories? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

Since I was a child I shared a great interest in riddles, mystery and the abnormal. I loved the thrill of having my mind puzzled and astonished by an enigma. This is why today I am writing books for people who share my enthusiasm for scary and mystifying cliffhangers. If you enjoy horror mystery, you will love my stories.

Purchasing The House Next Door

If you are interested in buying the Kindle version of The House Next Door, click here.

Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

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