“Nyctophobia”…the dictionary defines it as an abnormal fear of the dark. Callie...who has moved into the grand old house in Spain with her husband... defines it as sheer terror. I’ve spent some quality time with this book that was recommended to me by one of my former Shelfari friends, and current Goodreads friend, Jan. It’s a book that can’t be hurried and may even seem to drag in places but the story is like golden nectar to the ghost story enthusiast. I read a lot of these type of stories and I don’t scare easily…but I turned on some extra lights as I got further into this one. A spooky old house that has divisions of light and dark…a book with a title that you don’t run into everyday… and one that can not only make me turn up the light but one that keeps me guessing right up to the end… is one that will get 5 stars from me any day. ( )

No one writes creepy horror quite like Christopher Fowler. The book is set primarily in a remote part of Spain. The reader follows the first year of a pair of newlyweds a British ex-pat and a native Spaniard in a decidedly strange house.
The ambiance of the house causes the lady of the house to start researching it, as a trained architect she is drawn in to its hidden secrets. The title of the book comes from the woman's teenage fear of the dark and that plays a key role in her developing an obsession with the house.
Not a gore horror, Fowler really delivers in terms of unsettling creepiness and psychological horror. ( )

Are you Afraid of the Dark??... 3.5 stars

Nyctophobia - defined as the "extreme or irrational fear of the night or of darkness"

Nyctophobia is a haunted house/ghost story. It's about a newly married family that moves into Hyperion House, a new house they just bought in Southern Spain.

"There are two things you need to know about haunted houses. One, there's never been an actual authenticated haunted house. Two, it's not the house that's haunted, but the person."

The first three quarters of this book was fantastic! Fowler really nails the creepy, gothic atmosphere, the secluded old house on a cliff and the quirky and sinister characters.

Then we get to the end...It was not only pretty hooky but it was also left open for the readers to figure out. Since I absolutely despise open, ambiguous endings, that just kind of ruined the story for me. Tsk tsk tsk Authors, I really don't want to try to figure out for the next three weeks what happened and I don't want to make up my own ending. I look at it like, that's your job. I just want to read it! I do realize some people like open endings so I think we need like a caution sticker on the front of books! Buyer Beware: If you are prone to increased blood pressure and violent tendencies caused by open endings then do not read this book! Yes I think that is definitely what I need. : )

Now if you are the type that doesn't mind an ambiguous ending, then I would definitely recommend this book for you because other then that, it really was a fantastic haunted house story.


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Nyctophobia is a fear of the dark (or darkness) and is the perfect title for a novel, don't you think? Paired with an appropriately dark and spooky cover, Nyctophobia by Christopher Fowler ticks the box in a number of genres, including: science fiction, urban fantasy, supernatural and mystery of the highest order.

I'm still reeling from this book. I adored it, it was a five star read..... right up until the ending. This book had me in its grip, but it ended one sentence too soon, argh!!

I haven't stopped thinking about it, and the premise was brilliant. The new owner of Hyperion House in Spain moves in with her husband and agrees to keep on the old housekeeper and gardner. The housekeeper tells her the servants quarters of the grand house never see sunshine and are always locked, refusing to give her the keys.

Callie won't let it go and wants to know more. Having suffered from nyctophobia as a child, Callie's old fears threaten to resurface when she finally learns what - or who - is occupying the servants quarters.

I won't say anything more, you really need to experience this book for yourself. I wanted a particular ending and my reading experience was scarred when I didn't get it, but Nyctophobia will be up there as one of my favourite reads of the year, I'm sure of it. ( )

A very gripping, exciting and well written tale of a haunted house in Spain. With lots of twists and interesting history to keep the most discerning reader happy, this is a great read. Recommended for those who like ghosts, suspense, intrigue and drama. ( )