In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the house, but the property—complete with boathouse and swimming pool—and the price were too good to pass up.
Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.
This is the spellbinding, bestselling true story that gripped the nation, the story of a house possessed by evil spirits, haunted by psychic phenomena almost too terrible to describe.
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"Although not the most sophisticated book of all time, I thoroughly enjoyed this when I read it. It was spooky and gripping, and a great book to read at the beach (or, if you want to be scared, at night by flashlight). I would recommend it to anyone who wants something easy and thrilling to read (though definitely not to someone who hates being scared or who only likes to read things that are realistic)."
— Margo (4 out of 5 stars)
“A fascinating and frightening book.”
— Los Angeles Times“This book will scare the hell out of you.”
— Kansas City Times“A chilling account of…four weeks of terror.”
— NPR.org“Unearthly doings in tree-lined Amityville, Long Island? Yes, and it’s not Casper the Friendly Ghost who assails the Lutz family. Could it be the disembodied forms of the DeFeos, the previous tenants of 112 Ocean Avenue, massacred in their beds?”
— Kirkus Reviews" Super scary. The blood red walls still haunt me. I will never have red walls in my house. "
— Berdeen, 2/20/2014" I got this book at a school book fair back in the 1970s. Scared me to death. The first movie (based on this book) was good and scary, but Hollywood ruined everything by throwing in more movies. "
— Ruthie, 2/1/2014" I really liked this book! Sooooo creepy! I have always been fasinated with the Amityville story and seen all of the movies so when I saw the book I was instantly interested! I liked how it was written and all the facts and studies that it ended with. "
— Marci, 1/30/2014" I learned the world "porcine" which I mispronounced for years afterward. "
— Josher71, 1/28/2014" I remember LOVING this book when I was 12. "
— Tamie, 1/26/2014" My favorite book of all time! Truely chilling and scary!! "
— Ashley, 1/24/2014" Suspenseful and scary, kept you on the edge of your seat. "
— Jennifer, 1/20/2014" Such a bad choice for a first book in english, That was it! I hate the book, but finish it, enough to know, that I must stay away from those kind. "
— Michelle, 1/18/2014" scares the crap outta me every time. seriously, who cares if it's real, get over it people. "
— Jenn, 1/11/2014" I love horror flicks and wanted to read this book because it was based on true events. The book did not disappoint. "
— Shetal, 12/31/2013" creepy book, but couldn't put it down "
— N, 12/26/2013" I devoured this one as a kid. Not sure how I'd feel about it as an adult, but as an 11-12 year old, it was a good read. "
— Dave, 12/5/2013" I read this shortly after the original movie was released.I liked the original movie but the book I couldn't put down. "
— Charles, 12/5/2013" well written, researched and put together. I just didn't find it all that great. "
— Misty, 11/25/2013" Too scary. Not my genre. "
— Mikenliza, 8/8/2013" Read this book many years ago and can still remember how terrified I was. One of the scariest books I've ever read! "
— Starla, 7/27/2012" This is another one of those I read in the 80's and loved it. I only gave it 3 stars because the 80's have been a few years ago, and I thought my memory may be faulty, and 3 was fair. "
— Celeste, 7/13/2012" i think not boaring novel because i'm very impressed this novel. "
— Brijesh, 4/5/2012" Not really scary or believable. "
— Alison, 11/27/2011" Not bad, makes for a quick read with its nonstop occurrences. If these things really happened I would move out too! "
— Gretchen, 9/28/2011" I lost a lot of sleep over this book--both because I couldn't put it down and because I was petrified--and it was well worth it. While it is by no means high literature it is thoroughly entertaining and worth a read, if you can find it. "
— Scott, 8/26/2011" The writing was horrible. However i could not sleep for days after reading this book. "
— Chelsea, 6/22/2011" Holy crap, that was scary. "
— Kendal, 5/16/2011" I read this one because we worked near there, so people would talk about it. There were real murders in that house. DeFeo killed his family. We used to deliver pizzas in that area. No one ever called from that house. I don't know if I would have went there after reading this book. "
— F., 5/14/2011" My favorite book of all time! Truely chilling and scary!! "
— Ashley, 5/7/2011" As non-fiction, it's dated and impossible to believe. As fiction pretending to be non-fiction, it's a great haunted house story. "
— Steven, 4/30/2011" Scared the crap out of me! I never want to see a fly in my house!! "
— Jerry, 4/23/2011" Rocked my world--such engagement with a book and fear I had never known. "
— Ron, 3/26/2011" Spooky read, right up my alley back in the day. <br/> <br/>The 1979 movie was so-so. "
— Debra, 3/13/2011" this is my favorite book i read it way to much ive read it 3 times this year "
— Danielle, 3/12/2011" Saw the movies first but the book is better. Scary and couldnt put it down. "
— Joanna, 3/11/2011" I thought it was a good scary movie but then I was a kid in jr. high when I read it. "
— Veronica, 3/1/2011Jay Anson (1921–1980) began as a copy boy on the New York Evening Journal in 1937 and later worked in advertising and publicity. With more than 500 documentary scripts for television to his credit, he was associated with Professional Films, Inc. He died in 1980.
Ray Porter has garnered two Audie nominations as well as several Earphones Awards and enthusiastic reviews for his sparkling narration of audiobooks. A fifteen-year veteran of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he has also appeared in numerous films and television shows.