Tales from The Haunted Mansion Vol. 1-4 – A Disney Nerds Book Club Review
It’s Time for the Disney Nerds Book Review!
After a few months without a review, I’m coming back with a review of not one but FOUR books! Yes, four books. They are the complete series of Tales from The Haunted Mansion by Amicus Arcane and “transcribed” by John Esposito and include illustrations by Kelley Jones. These four books are considered young adult books but, in my opinion, should be on any Haunted Mansion fan’s must-read list.
Each volume consists of short stories that give you a little spooky thrill. I imagine them as books that pre-teens and teens might tell each other to get a scare. But don’t let the young adult reading level throw you off. They are still entertaining, especially to a Haunted Mansion fan.
Tales from the Haunted Mansion: Volume I: The Fearsome Foursome
The first volume revolves around four friends (Tim, Willa, Noah, and Steve). The group of friends call themselves The Fearsome Foursome and enjoy sharing scary stories with each other. The Foursome receive invitations that invite them to the abandoned mansion on the edge of their town. They reach the mansion and journey to the library where they meet the resident librarian, Amicus Arcane. Amicus Arcane offers to tell some of the most frightening stories he knows to the group. He proceeds with four stories and each of them happens to be about each member of the Foursome. Why? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
Tales from the Haunted Mansion: Volume II: Midnight at Madame Leota’s
Amicus Arcane is back in volume 2 and this time is “entertaining” a writer and skeptic, William Gaines. William Gaines is searching for Madam Leota because he has heard of her skill all over the world and wants to find out if she’s truly all that people say she is. Amicus Arcane offers to introduce William Gaines to Madame Leota if he will listen to some of his tales. William agrees and goes back to the mansion with Amicus so he can hear the tales and eventually meet Madame Leota. Does he make it to that introduction? Check out this second volume to see if he does.
Tales from the Haunted Mansion Volume III: Grim Grinning Ghosts
The third volume introduces Declan Smythe. He is fresh out of prison and he is reunited with two old associates in New Orleans Square, Marge Mulvaney, and Pasquale. Marge and Pasquale take on the odd job of moving three crates shipped to the harbor over to the haunted mansion. Declan, looking to score some cash, muscles his way into the operation. The trio arrives at the mansion to make their delivery and meet Amicus Arcane. Amicus states that payment for delivery will only be given once the articles have been unpacked. So Declan, Marge, and Pasquale take each crate to its respective place in the mansion. As they unpack them, Amicus reveals the stories behind these items: a piano, an Egyptian sarcophagus, and an ornately carved wooden door. Do they ever get there payment? Only one way to find out.
Tales from the Haunted Mansion Volume IV: Memento Mori
In the last volume, we meet Dr. Ackerman. He is a psychologist and therapist and has been called to Shepperton Sanitarium to examine Prudence Pock. Prudence is a famed horror writer and has been incarcerated at the sanitarium after a ghastly encounter along Route 13 (a spooky route we learn about in Volume 3). During her “examination” Prudence tells a strange tale for the doctor. She recounts her invitation to a writer’s symposium in the haunted mansion where she meets Amicus Arcane. Amicus is ready to retire. He has gathered the greatest ghostwriters the literary world has ever known to see who can tell the most chilling story of all. He has his eye on Prudence as the prime candidate. Dr. Ackerman takes this tale his a grain of salt. In order to prove to the doctor that Prudence’s story is true, she recounts additional tales she was told while in the mansion. Interestingly enough, they are all seen to be associated with other patients at the sanitarium. Does Dr. Ackerman ever believe Prudence Pock, be sure to read volume 4 to find out.
My thoughts
After reading all four books I have to say that I found them all entertaining. I was worried that these books with have nothing to do with the ride I know and love but there is a tie-in (I won’t tell you what though, no spoilers). All four books are also pretty short reads so they are a perfect way to get a haunted mansion fix while at home.
Let me know if you enjoyed the books as much as I did and which tale was your favorite!
