The Birthing House

By: Christopher Ransom

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

In this psychological thriller with supernatural overtones, a young couple, Conrad and Joanna Harrison, attempt to save their marriage by starting anew in a rural turn-of-the-century former birthing house.

One day, when Jo is away at work, the former owner bequeaths a photo album that "belongs to the house". Thumbing through these antique photos of miserable midwives and pregnant girls in their 19th-century dresses, Conrad is chilled to the bone; staring back at him with a countenance of rage is his own wife. Thus begins a story of possession, sexual obsession, and, ultimately, murder as a centuries-old crime is reenacted in the present - with devastating consequences.

©2009 Christopher Ransom (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Christopher Ransom's The Birthing House was so all-out scary that it kept me up until the wee hours in a way few novels have since Carrie went to the prom....This book is killer." (Jacquelyn Mitachard, New York Times best-selling author)

roller coaster

Started out very strange and just when I thought it was getting good the story got so convoluted that I had a hard time understanding what was going on. It ended in such a dark, dark manner that I had a nightmare the night I finished the audio book. Very, very strange. The narrator, however, was very good.

Excellent Reading, Good Bones but Desperately in Need of an Editor

First of all, Edward Herrmann's reading is superb!

However, while Mr. Ransom has some unique concepts and a promising premise, he desperately needed a good editor to guide him. For instance, well-written sections are utterly undermined by weak similes--as quiet as something that is really quiet?!? A unique premise that birth can cause a haunting as readily as death is handicapped by weak characterizations and implausible plot points. Also, there are inconsistencies that pull the listener/reader out of the story.

An opportunity missed!

The best thing about this book was the narration. In the beginning, I thought it was working into an interesting plot, however, the further I got into it the more convoluted and directionless it became. So many parts never came together or tied into the story line successfully that I became increasingly disinterested and alienated from the main character. The last hour of listening came through sheer will power, determination and the fact that I had wasted one of my credits to download it.

Good idea that ends badly

had the author taken just one more day to think through this story, the ending would have made sense and the reader (listener) would not be left scratching their head wonder just what the hell was meant by the ending that really wasn't an ending by I have to stop writing this book because I need to get it to the editor because I am at my deadline and I need the money ending.

Such a waste (rating --0)

I have never read or listened to anything else by this author so maybe those books were not as bad. I found the narration to be excellent. About a quarter of the way through the story I lost all sympathy for the main character. He lacked purpose in a story that was supposed to center around his thoughts feelings and actions. Things happened to him and around him, but he merely existed and took up space. The house was never develop as a presence in the story. The action involving the house comes across as a collection of odd events rather that creating tension and a sense of purpose. About three quarters of the way through I lost all respect for the main character. Who is reduced to indecision at a point when any person with any hint of a moral compass would have had a clue as to how to act. I am sorry I wasted my money and time on this book and will never finish it.