i really enjoyed reading this book, i felt it was a great horror novel with interesting characters and a great plot. Overall I enjoyed Mr. McKissen's writing style and look forward to more from the author.

I would not say that this book was a horror. This book is more heartbreaking and is more of a psychological drama. I really don't want to give much away but if you feel you could read something that will really grasp at your emotions with well written characters and a book that reads at a good pace I would highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publishing house for allowing me an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
So this story focuses on Jimmy. When he was a high school/college kid and as an adult married with 2 children. His parents were abusive drug addicts and alcoholics. The children were abused. Especially Jimmy. His father committed suicide in an extreme manor while Jimmy was young. He felt it was his job to protect his younger sister however he went away to college and could not take her with him. We learn early in the book that she is no longer alive. As an adult Jimmy struggles with his past and seems to believe he might be possessed. He believes that his father was might have been possessed and that was what made him so mean and kill himself the way he did. Seemingly supernatural things are happening around Jimmy as an adult and it brings him to the edge of sanity. Thank God he has the perfectly understanding and comforting wife.
For this being only 153 pages, it told a great story with depth and feelings. The touch of supernatural was perfect.

This is a case of mistaken identity...I thought this book was a horror story, which it is not. It is about childhood trauma and its impact on mental health. It is a sad story but not one that gripped me in any profound way. There was something lacking in the writing, and as a result, I never really connected to the characters or plot. I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. As they say, to each their own, and this one just didn’t work for me.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

*First and foremost, allow me to apologize for the delay in my review. I so appreciate the opportunity to read The Poor and The Haunted before its publication; it was not my intention to seemingly "bail" on writing a review.

When my personal life went off the rails, immersing myself in this book not only kept my mind delightfully distracted, but it also served as a gentle reminder that "it could always be worse." If you're looking for a unique tale, then this is the book for you. Being a born and raised Mainer, most of my exposure to horror is / was the works of Stephen King. Don't get me wrong, I'm a King fan, but I am beginning to find most of the notions to be repetitive. Therefore, I've been seeking works outside of King, and in doing so, I have found some winners. The Poor and The Haunted is unique not only because of its haunting properties but their coupling with reality. Working in the police field myself, I know just how haunted and scarred some children truly are as they are left to navigate a world that is scary, especially when its behind the doors of what should be their safe haven. The Poor and The Haunted is realistically fictional, and I will certainly be seeking other writings by McKissen.

I really enjoyed this read, it was a great ghost story. I liked that the flashbacks were not confusing which I have found in some books they are. The characters were likable and the story was read at a good pace.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Jimmy has lived a life full of trauma. His mom's abuse.... his dad's suicide... the poverty. It's a life none of us want and wouldn't wish upon anyone.
The book is labeled as horror, but I'm not sure I agree with that label. It was heartwrenching... depressing... and powerful.

If this book doesn't effect you are, you may be emotionless.

Due to me breaking my shoulder yesterday, this will be a short review - but one I put much effort in, since the book deserves that.

Horror has many faces. Addicted parents an a traumatic childhood definately belong there. It was not my first idea of what a horror book would be like, but let's say 'The Poor and The Haunted' changed my view.

Books like this one, that give insight in the psychological horrors of it's characters, are amongst my favourites. This book definately is on that favourite-list.

Great ghost story. The flashbacks weren't confusing. Characters were likable. Story was steady paced. At 153 pages it is a great quick read for a bit of spookiness.

A disturbing journey into the mind of a man who believes he may be possessed by a demon, and a story about a childhood full of negligence, but devoid of love.

Jimmy and Kelly grew up in a family where their parents spend their days being stoned or drunk or both. One day, their father commits suicide, but in such an unusual and brutal way that makes Jimmy believe he wanted to escape something evil inside of him. As an adult with a family of his own, Jimmy starts to believe that now he is the haunted one - or is he going crazy?

The story is told in alternating chapters of Jimmy's past and present, the first leading towards the tragic outcome of the second. On several occasions, I was confused by the sudden change of events, feeling I missed out on something that went on in-between, which gave the book a rough, unpolished quality. The ending was very sweet, making me gasp with a feeling of 'that was really close'.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for sending this book for an honest review.
This was a really good book. I found it difficult to get into but after about 20% in I was hooked. It has a unique ending, something I didn't expect given it is under "Horror". I would say it's more if a psychological thriller. Solid 4 stars. Definately recommend.

The Poor and the Haunted by Dustin McKissen was received direct from the publisher and I chose to review it. Firstly, this author is new to me but as soon as I started reading, I liked his style, which kept me interested in his story. The book Is not a horror story and some people may get emotional reading it. As always, I will not rehash the plot, plenty of other reviewers have or will do that for you. Having been born and raised in deplorable territory, aka flyover country or “the Midwest” in the 1960’s, much of this book had familiar concepts and situations. That was life as we knew it and no one felt sorry for themselves, they just persevered. If you or someone you buy gifts for had a less than perfect childhood prior to the Internet age, give this book a read.

4 stars

This story was unfortunately very misleading from the synopsis. I walked into this book thinking it was going to be a haunting ghost story. It was a "haunting" story in a sense, but in a sad way that was not what I was expecting. I'm not going to rate this book as bad, because it wasn't, but I will drop the rating since I was mislead on what I walking into. 3/5 stars

Not sure where I should begin, with this book but to say, what an emotional page turner that delves deep into the past and the present and the thin line between the two. McKissen’s novel has a strong core with so much substance that the genre where it tries to fit doesn’t really do it justice.

Starting out as a haunting, we are given a back story that switches between the past and the present whilst unreveling the story of brother and sister Jimmy and Kelly. This heart breaking tale has so much emotional depth that the reader can not help but be fully invested in their tale. The adult Jimmy is a successful man both in business and personal. His being a perfect father shows the growth and strength of a person who is able to over come the obstacle put in his way due to what life has dealt him.

This review is very difficult to write as it would be unfair for me to reveal plot points that could spoil the excellence of this novel but I will persevere to be as vague as possible and stick to the brilliance of this novel.

Firstly, the characters are strong, They have such depth and complicated relationships and through this you have a strong emotional connection to them. Jimmy and Kelly causes your heart to break and soar in equal measures and as for their parents, that is something for the reader to experience in their own way. Let’s just say that they will make you appreciate your own parents like never before. The character of Carlisle is very interesting and though it is very explanative to be a professional and caught within the system of being able to fully get involved, the author has done a realistic and thought provoking way of keeping him involved. It is to the author’s credit that he has done his homework and was able to keep this aspect very real.

On a side note, McKissan has done an excellent job with keeping things real. I work in psychiatry and have dealt with family issues of the court and can tell you that the story portrayed within is all too real and the outcome tends to be the same especially when dealing with drug addiction and their children. Very sorry state of affairs and maybe someday in our lifetime, there would be some serious discussion on how this should be dealt with outside of children belong with their parents scenarios. This is discussion for another time.

The plot is fantastic and I felt my heart break in so many ways. I was totally invested and was able to read this book in one sitting as I could not get away from the core of the story. Not sure what genre this book will fit into but it expands further than horror and general fiction. McKissan has done an amazing job keeping it grounded in the real world and he has not over egged the pudding, as it would have been easily done. Using the strong emotional core as its base and building on this, makes this a true winner.

Overall, this is a fantastic read and I would love to shout about this from the rooftops. Spring boarding from a moment of truth and given us a deeply feeling and connected novel, we are treated to a book that will ensure the emotional impact is felt long after the final words resonant off the page. This is simply a book that needs to be read and experienced and shared. I would also go as far to say that this book yearns to be the topic of any book club and discussed in detail as it deals with the human triumph through pain and laughter. The human spirit that one can lift themselves up against the world they are born into and strive for a better life and how siblings are what matter with everything is lost. A great way to start 2020.

Wow. I do not know how to feel after reading this book. Not sure if it was a thriller, but it was a good read and it had me feeling a certain type of way once I finished it. If you want a book that will tug at your heart, this is the book. Very engrossing read and held my attention throughout. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my review.

THE POOR AND THE HAUNTED is about how our past haunts us, both literally and figuratively. Jimmy is a grown man, successful, married to a nice woman and has two great kids. But his upbringing in an abusive home with drug-addled parents is never far from his thoughts. Jimmy's father's violent suicide makes Jimmy wonder if it was suicide at all, or whether his father was possessed by a demon. So when Jimmy begins to sense a presence around him, a presence only he can feel, he worries that perhaps the family demon is after him as well. While I think this book could have benefited from another draft, I enjoyed it and will look for McKissen's next book.

https://janinesghoststories.wordpress.com/2019/12/30/book-review-the-poor-and-the-haunted-by-dustin-mckissen

Whilst I enjoyed it, and there were a couple of creepy moments, I wouldn’t put it in the horror genre. I’m not really sure what I would describe it as, it isn’t a mystery or a thriller.

But that aside, it is a really good story and I liked the characters. I enjoyed the double time line set between the 90’s and now, and there is a nice supernatural element to it.

There might not be too many big twists, but the writing style is good and I found it an easy read, it is the sort of book that would be great on a Kindle for a morning commute.

I would definitely read more supernatural themed books by McKissen.

I'd been hearing about this book and how amazing it was, so when Netgalley approved my request to read it I immediately started on it. It was everything I'd heard about it. It was beautifully written. It was suspenseful and dramatic. It was heartbreaking.
It is not your average ghost story. There are somewhat supernatural elements that help set the mood, but this is a book that is more about hauntings of the mind. (It's hard to not give it all away.)
It was a lovely book with references to Stephen King and some smaller things that reminded me of my own childhood.
I finished it in a day and immediately added McKissen's other book to my TBR. I really enjoy his writing style.

There are a few trigger warnings. There's child abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse, suicide, alcohol abuse, self harm, and mention of animal torture. Like I said, it's a pretty heavy book. 4/5 stars.

*I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review.

The Poor and The Haunted is a fantastic emotional creepy book. This book is well written and the characters are well developed. A must read.

Though this is Mr. McKissen's first foray into the world of horror writing, you wouldn't know it. The tale is creepy and truly spine-tingling in its premise, and as such, you end up racing through it even while you want to slow down and savor it. Keep the lights on and enjoy this haunting story!

*Thanks to both the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book free of charge, in exchange only for an honest review."