The Elementals Audiobook By Michael McDowell cover art

The Elementals

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The Elementals

By: Michael McDowell
Narrated by: R. C. Bray
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After a bizarre and disturbing incident at the funeral of matriarch Marian Savage, the McCray and Savage families look forward to a restful and relaxing summer at Beldame, on Alabama's Gulf Coast, where three Victorian houses loom over the shimmering beach. Two of the houses are habitable, while the third is slowly and mysteriously being buried beneath an enormous dune of blindingly white sand. But though long uninhabited, the third house is not empty. Inside, something deadly lies in wait. Something that has terrified Dauphin Savage and Luker McCray since they were boys, and which still haunts their nightmares. Something horrific that may be responsible for several terrible and unexplained deaths years earlier–and is now ready to kill again....

A haunted house story unlike any other, Michael McDowell's The Elementals (1981) was one of the finest novels to come out of the horror publishing explosion of the 1970s and '80s. Though best known for his screenplays for Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and The Nightmare Before Christmas, McDowell is now being rediscovered as one of the best modern horror writers and a master of Southern Gothic literature.

©1981, 2016 Estate of Michael McDowell (P)2016 Valancourt Books LLC Classics Horror Haunted Scary Fiction Fantasy

Featured Article: The top 100 horror books of all time


This list encompasses the full spectrum of what horror can be—campfire-worthy tales, stomach-churning gore, and incisive social commentary. The classics are accounted for, but it also spotlights more recent titles, because that’s the nature of the genre—it is as perennial as it is ever-evolving, conjuring whatever frights most haunt our collective consciousness. Each title does have one thing in common: It makes for devilishly good listening. So cut the lights and press play—if you dare.

Featured Article The top 100 horror books of all time
Creepy Atmosphere • Fascinating Characters • Unexpected Twists • Southern Gothic Setting • Authentic Accents
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this recording is missing the prologue but the reader is great and this southern gothic is scary and well written.

summer southern gothic

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Really scarey with out being gorey.Nice haunted house subject inter
esting family characters with good interacting

scarrey

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This novel is truly strange and frightening—it sticks in the mind and almost makes you see things out of the corner of your eye. I found listening at 90% speed perfect. Unfortunately this edition is missing the creepy prologue, although the events of the prologue are recounted in Chapter 1.

A great listen for Spooky Season

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A fast paced and extremely well written story. Strong characters, and a great atmosphere was created. Definitely a solid 5/5, and the fact that RC Bray narrated was a cherry on top.

Great story

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I enjoyed this book for the characters and performance. They came to life for me. They were just quirky enough. Kudos to the narration! I felt like I was at the theater!

Otherwise, not scary at all. More like a twilight Zone episode.

Not actually haunting

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I’ve enjoyed Michael McDowell ever since I discovered Blackwater several years ago. This is a nice change of pace from the traditional haunted house setting, and well worth a listen. The narrator does a great job capturing different southern accents.

Great story/ narration

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As a quirky Southern drama, this was entertaining, but as a horror, it was pretty flat. There were definitely some creepy parts.

What to say

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This is one of the best books I’ve ever heard. I think I listened to the whole thing within two days i could not stop listening. This is definitely my favorite author.

The absolute BEST!!!

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Get this one! It’s creepy, but not gross. Scary but not in the slasher way. There was just the right amount of supernatural to make it interesting. You won’t be disappointed!

Creepy and so good!

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This is a favorite of mine. for reasons unknown I needed to repurchase through audible. The new version is missing the first chapter depicting the funeral of Marion Savage.

Where is the first chapter?

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