The House of Dies Drear Audiobook By Virginia Hamilton cover art

The House of Dies Drear

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The House of Dies Drear

By: Virginia Hamilton
Narrated by: Lynne Thigpen
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.19

Buy for $17.19

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

One hundred years ago, Dies Drear and two runaway slaves hiding in his house, an important station on the Underground Railroad, were murdered. Legend has it that the ghost of Mr. Drear still haunts the lonely old house. But Thomas Small’s father, a Civil War history professor, doesn’t believe the legends and buys the house. The house is fascinating, thinks Thomas, and it is filled with hidden doorways and secret passages that he can’t wait to explore. But funny things keep happening—frightening things that no one, not even Thomas’ father, can explain. Is someone playing a prank? Or is the ghost of Dies Drear trying to warn the Smalls of danger?

From Virginia Hamilton, the author of the Newbery Medal and National Book Award winning M.C. Higgins, the Great, comes a spellbinding mystery filled with edge-of-the-seat suspense. The House of Dies Drear wraps an important history lesson into a brilliantly imaginative story for all ages.

©1968 Virginia Hamilton (P)1995 Recorded Books, LLC Historical Mystery Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Haunted Fiction
All stars
Most relevant  
While written for young people, the story, characters, dialogue and descriptive language, and the themes are so captivating and well written that they will entertain any imaginative adult. everything by this author is a joy, and the narrator is superb (with a beautiful singing voice as well!).

It's entertaining to see how the author appropriates the characteristics of traditional Gothic thrillers to create I guess what can be called an African American Gothic. I also recommend her short novel Bluish.

African American Gothic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book targets a younger audience, but I really enjoyed it myself. It's a cute story about an important time in our history, and the author does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. What really makes this audiobook is the beautiful narration. The warm, rich voice drew me in, and kept the story interesting.

Narration is perfect

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great to hear Lynne Thigpin! What a talent for how to read Hamilton, another talented artist. My students are engaged!

Excellent story & excellent narrator

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is an excellent story brought to life by a voice both engaging and soothing.

Long-standing Favorite still Favorite

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Amazing book. I was sad when it ended. Very compelling historical story. I highly recommend.

The Houae of Dies Drear

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have listened to this book twice. The first time was with my son. I love the language used by the author. It's so vivid. The narrator does an excellent job. Her voice puts you right in the midst of the story. Audible has certainly brought this book to life!

Excellent read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Awesome story and great narrator. Definitely a story to share with your family. Perfect summer reading book.

Enchantingly wonderful read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Mystery, Historical Significance, Suspense...what's not to like?!
Oh, and the reader is fantastic! She sings beautifully too!

Great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Speeding up the narration helps improve the narration performance. Historical links, literary detail, required reading.

Great teaching tool.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It was so good I was so excited to uncover the mystery of the house and mr Pluto

AWESOME!!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.