Welcome to Dead House

A few years back I listened to some random podcast's interview with R.L. Stine. He came across really well and it made me appreciate him more as an author, but the main thing that stuck with me was the way he described this book. He felt that it was a bit too scary for its target audience, and mentioned an intentional choice to reign that in a bit as he began work on the rest of the Goosebumps series. Honestly? I wish he hadn't! I don't remember reading this one as a kid, but now that I have I'll say that it compares very favorably to the ones I did read. More nuanced and less gimmicky, with a creepy ending that I would've loved back in the day... and honestly quite liked today! A whole slew of Goosebumps books more like this would've been great!

The book that started it all! As I went with July to honor the original release date of this book, how else to start other than with the book itself? Read for my Goosebumps July! 
This book surprised me a bit honestly. I had of course read it as a child, but to dive back in as an adult, there's some really dark stuff in these books. I guess middle grade horror is still allowed to be ‘horror'. I know I've recently read some reviews calling it boring to reread as an adult, and of course they are meant for children, but for me they're so quick that it doesn't phase me. I'm also aligning myself with what they are accomplishing while reading, and I'm still finding them enjoyable. 
Inherited houses from uncles you've never heard or are never a good idea. 
Personally a 5/5*, the first in a long career.