Synopses & Reviews
Arlen Wagner has seen it in men before--a trace of smoke in their eyes that promises imminent death. He is never wrong.
So when he awakens on a train one hot Florida night and sees death's telltale sign in the eyes of his fellow passengers, he abandons the train with nineteen-year-old Paul Brickhill. Soon the two men are stranded at the Cypress House--directly in the path of a hurricane. But there are much deadlier threats than the storm in this place, and Arlen's eerie gift warns that they'll never leave. From its chilling beginning to terrifying end, The Cypress House is a story of relentless suspense from the novelist Michael Connelly calls "one of the best of the best."
Review
"Gripping suspense. . . . In this taut and atmospheric story, Koryta keeps readers guessing right up to the end."--Mary Foster, Associated Press
Review
"A deliciously dark tale. Koryta is a fantastic storyteller."--Scott Smith, author of A Simple Plan and The Ruins
Review
"The Cypress House builds to a seriously tense and twisted final act."--Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly
Review
"Michael Koryta is mining Stephen King territory and carving out a spot all his own."--Sarah Weinman, Women's World
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"Powerful storytelling. . . . An enthralling novel."--Oline H. Cogdill, Kansas City Star
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"Michael Koryta's command of story, character, and language put him in an elite group of writers at work today: Elmore Leonard, Michael Connelly, and Lee Child, to name a few. Koryta is one of the very best writers out there."--Ridley Pearson, author of In Harm's Way
Review
"The Cypress House begins with pulse-racing promise [and] sprints to a filmic, white-knuckled finish."--Andrea Simakis, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Synopsis
A journey to Florida's coast becomes an inescapable nightmare in this supernatural thriller from international bestselling author Michael Koryta. Arlen Wagner has seen it in men before: a trace of smoke in their eyes that promises imminent death. He is never wrong.
When Arlen awakens on a train one hot Florida night and sees death's telltale sign in the eyes of his fellow passengers, he tries to warn them. Only 19-year-old Paul Brickhill believes him, and the two abandon the train, hoping to escape certain death. They continue south, but soon are stranded at the Cypress House -- an isolated Gulf Coast boarding house run by the beautiful Rebecca Cady -- directly in the path of an approaching hurricane.
The storm isn't the only approaching danger, though. A much deadlier force controls the county and everyone living in it, and Arlen wants out -- fast. But Paul refuses to abandon Rebecca to face the threats alone, even though Arlen's eerie gift warns that if they stay too long they may never leave. From its chilling beginning to terrifying end, The Cypress House is a story of relentless suspense from one of the best of the best (Michael Connelly).
About the Author
Michael Koryta (pronounced ko-ree-ta) is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, most recently THE PROPHET. His last three novels, THE RIDGE, THE CYPRESS HOUSE, and SO COLD THE RIVER were all New York Times notable books and nominated for several national and international awards. In addition to winning the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, his novel ENVY THE NIGHT was selected as a Reader's Digest condensed book. Koryta's work has been translated into more than twenty languages. A former private investigator and newspaper reporter, Koryta graduated from Indiana University with a degree in criminal justice. He currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Bloomington, Indiana.