title: Slade House: A Novel
author:  David Mitchell 
description: A fiendish delight . . . [David] Mitchell is something of a magician.<b><i>The Washington Post</i></b> <br /> <br />Entertainingly eerie . . . We turn to [Mitchell] for brain-tickling puzzle palaces, for character studies and for language.<b><i>Chicago Tribune</i></b><br /> <b><i></i></b><br /> A ripping yarn . . . Like Shirley Jacksons Hill House or the Overlook Hotel from Stephen Kings <i>The Shining,</i> [Slade House] is a thin sliver of hell designed to entrap the unwary. . . . As the Mitchellverse grows ever more expansive and connected, this short but powerful novel hints at still more marvels to come.<b><i>San Francisco Chronicle</i></b><br /><br />Like Stephen King in a fever . . . manically ingenious.<b><i>The Guardian </i>(U.K.)</b><br /> <b></b><br /> <i>Slade House,</i> the tricky new confection by David Mitchell, is a haunted house story that savors of Dickens, Stephen King, J. K. Rowling and H. P. Lovecraft, but possesses more psychic voltage than any of them.<b><i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</i></b><br /> <b><i></i></b><br /> Tightly crafted and suspenseful yet warmly human, <i>Slade House</i> is the ultimate spooky nursery tale for adults.<b><i>The Huffington Post</i></b><br /> <b><i></i></b><br /> The joy in <i>Slade House</i> is in the discovery. Its in seeing different people make the same mistakes over and over again. . . . Its in thinking that <i>youd</i> be smarter, of course. That <i>youd</i> see through all this B-movie schlock (like creepy portraits, sad ghosts and stairways that go nowhere), find the secret door, and escape. Only to find that youre already trapped.<b>NPR</b><br /> <b></b><br /> Diabolically entertaining . . . dark, thrilling, and fun . . . One neednt have read any of Mitchells past books to enjoy <i>Slade House</i>. Those who do crack it open will find inside a thoroughly entertaining ride full of mind games, unexpected twists, and even a few laughs.<b><i>The Daily Beast</i></b><br /> <b><i></i></b><br /> A smart, spooky thrill ride . . . If you havent yet read Mitchell, choosing this novel just might make a believer of you.<b><i>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel<br /></i></b><br />Plants died, milk curdled, and my children went slightly feral as I succumbed to the creepy magic of David Mitchells<i>Slade House</i>. Its a wildly inventive, chilling, andfor all its otherworldlinesswonderfully human haunted house story. I plan to return to its clutches quite often.<b>Gillian Flynn, #1<i>New York Times</i>bestselling author of<i>Gone Girl</i>and<i>The Grownup</i></b><br /><br />I gulped down this novel in a single evening. Intricately connected to David Mitchells previous books, this compact fantasy burns with classic Mitchellian energy. Painstakingly imagined and crackling with narrative velocity, its a <i>Dracula</i> for the new millennium, a <i>Hansel and Gretel</i> for grownups, a reminder of how much fun fiction can be.<b>Anthony Doerr, author of <i>All the Light We Cannot See, </i>winner of the Pulitzer Prize</b>
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  Forever Is Not Enough
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Book Thirty of The Forever and Ever Series
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  E. L. Todd
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  Chapter One
  
  
  Sean
  
  
  “Mr. Preston, there’s someone here to see you.” My secretary’s voice came over
  the intercom.
  
  
  I hit the button and spoke. “Gerald, it’s Sean.”
  
  
  “My apologies, sir.”
  
  
  I released an irritated sigh. “It’s Sean.”
  
  
  “Oh, my bad,” he said quickly. “Sorry, Sean. Someone is here to see you.”
  
  
  “Who is it?”
  
  
  “He says his name is Slade.”
  
  
  My nephew? “Send him in immediately.” Why would Slade come down to see me? Was
  it important? Was everything okay?
  
  
  The door opened and Slade walked inside. He carried a notebook under his arm,
  and he wore a t-shirt that showed his sleeves of tattoos. “Hey, Uncle Sean.”
  
  
  “Hey, kid.” I stood up then gave him a hug. “What brings you here?” I pulled
  away and examined his face, hoping he didn’t bring bad news.
  
  
  “I wanted to talk to you about something.” He moved into the chair facing 