'Wind in the Willies NOT for Children'

★★

Repetitive

I'm not really certain what to make of this book, to be frank.

​I like a good horror story, but this one was very repetitive and, quite frankly, cliché and boring. Here's to what I'm referring. 

​-First cliché (in the earlier time period represented): Over-the-top, evil, lustful men. Every single one of those doing the evil deeds had "crooked" or "twisted" index fingers, were skinny and tall, and mean beyond reason. The abused son too afraid to do more than make a half-attempt at standing up to his father; quickly repentant and frightened by his father's harsh reprimands.
​
-Fast forward to the future representation: predatory women; the mysterious, sexy female; the intelligent, but wounded male seeking/but not really seeking female companionship.

-Repetitious: In the past time, those stereotypical evil, lusty men continually rape and murder innocent girls.

-Tiresome: It took nine chapters for the main character to purchase a vineyard. One full chapter was dedicated to discussing the cost associated with such a venture (yawn). I get that the author may have experience in real estate and/or researched the process a lot; however, the reader does not need nine chapters to get the idea on property purchasing. It was if the author was relying on the twisted past setting to get the reader past the tedium of the present setting. Even after he buys the vineyard, there's still nothing worth mentioning happening, except examining and prepping the house/vineyard.

Halfway into the book, we finally get something moving along. Enter the ghosts. But of course the vineyard/house is haunted. How else are you going to spend another ridiculous number of chapters discussing the Morgan's accountings and trying to come to terms with the fact there really are ghosts. But the clincher for me? The absolute shallowness to the characters and the absurd dialogue.

-For Example (typed out precisely as it was written):
     '"As I see it, we're not married or engaged, and I still own the house which keeps it out of the hands of you and Samuel." "That's true, Jim and I certainly can't blame you for feeling the way you do about me." "So where do we go from here?" "I'd like you to make love to me Jim but that's only if you're up to it." Marta said passionately. "I love you and I'm going to do everything in my power to prove it to you." "It's against my better judgement Marta, but okay." Jim said smiled and put his arms around the beautiful, deceptive and conniving Marta Beck and kissed her passionately.'

As you can see, the author has difficulty with punctuation. Too much of it is missing. Overall, I was super disappointed in this book.