The Residence: A Novel

Written by Andrew Pyper

Narrated by Madeleine Maby

In this “chilling, profound” (Josh Malerman, New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie) horror story based on true events, the President’s late son haunts the White House, breaking the spirit of what remains of the First Family and the divided America beyond the residence’s walls.

The year is 1853. President-elect Franklin Pierce is traveling with his family to Washington, DC, when tragedy strikes. In an instant, their train runs off the rails, violently flinging passengers about the cabin. But when the great iron machine finally comes to rest, the only casualty is the President-elect’s beloved son, Bennie, which casts Franklin’s presidency in a pal of sorrow and grief.

As Franklin moves into the White House, he begins to notice that something bizarre is happening. Strange sounds coming from the walls and ceiling, creepy voices that seem to echo out of time itself, and visions of spirits crushed under the weight of American history.

But when First Lady Jane Pierce brings in the most noted Spiritualists of the day, the Fox sisters, for a séance, the barrier between this world and the next is torn asunder. Something horrible comes through and takes up residence alongside Franklin and Jane in the walls of the very mansion itself.

Only by overcoming their grief and confronting their darkest secrets can Jane and Franklin hope to rid themselves—and America—from the entity that seeks to make the White House its permanent home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797113616

Andrew Pyper

Andrew Pyper is the internationally bestselling author of ten previous novels, including The Demonologist, which won the International Thriller Writers award for Best Hardcover Novel, and The Killing Circle, which was selected a New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year. He lives in Toronto. Visit AndrewPyper.com and follow him on Twitter @AndrewPyper.

Reviews for The Residence

[zeenia shah · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For some reason the algorithms have decided that I enjoy reading about dead Presidential Sons. All because I read Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. This novel is about the son of Franklin Pierce, who died in a train accident. Pierce himself is known primarily for lacking the courage and foresight of Lincoln and not much else. Pierces wife is the main antagonist of this story. Haunted since childhood by a mysterious figure known as 'Sir' she tries to resurrect her beloved son with predictable results. The characters are likable and the author probably writes the Pierces with more kindness than they got in real life. The supernatural elements are also well done and genuinely scary. Anyone know if a novel has been written about Patrick Bouvier Kennedy yet?

[Teresa · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

To me, it was just an ok kind of story.