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House of Crows #3
Circling the Drain
*Running Time => 1 hr. and 53 mins.*
Is it a hoax, or is it something unspeakably real? In this short story about evil games and spiraling secrets, whatever bargain you strike, there's a price to be paid.
Mason Brandt dropped out of seminary and found a job at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. Mason was on himself years ago - a suspect in a young girl's disappearance. When a female student is found murdered, Mason is dogged by suspicion and flees. He hopes Merle House will offer him sanctuary once again.
'CIRCLING THE DRAIN' is part of House of Crows, a four-part serial about friends with a shared history of darkness. They've spent their lives running, but they can no longer hide from the past. Each story can be read or listened to in a single haunted sitting.
©2021 by Lisa Unger. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
Is it a hoax, or is it something unspeakably real? In this short story about evil games and spiraling secrets, whatever bargain you strike, there's a price to be paid.
Mason Brandt dropped out of seminary and found a job at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. Mason was on himself years ago - a suspect in a young girl's disappearance. When a female student is found murdered, Mason is dogged by suspicion and flees. He hopes Merle House will offer him sanctuary once again.
'CIRCLING THE DRAIN' is part of House of Crows, a four-part serial about friends with a shared history of darkness. They've spent their lives running, but they can no longer hide from the past. Each story can be read or listened to in a single haunted sitting.
©2021 by Lisa Unger. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
2 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 27, 2021
1287 people are currently reading
1363 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Unger
51 books10.9k followersLisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including her upcoming release SERVED HIM RIGHT (March, 2026). With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
April 16, 2022
Circling the Drain (House of Crows #3)
by Lisa Unger, Adam Verner (Narrator), Frankie Corzo (Narrator), Susannah Jones (Narrator), James Anderson Foster (Narrator)
Mason was the odd man out in the group of four teens who spent their summers crawling over the Merle property. Abused by his father, awkward and wanting to be liked so much, he's been in trouble and knows things he's never told. Of the four friends, his inner thoughts were the most entertaining to me. But, at the same time, Mason feels the most scary, too. Bad things are happening and Merle House is pulling Mason back.
Published May 27th 2021 by Amazon Original Stories
This was a Kindle Unlimited selection
by Lisa Unger, Adam Verner (Narrator), Frankie Corzo (Narrator), Susannah Jones (Narrator), James Anderson Foster (Narrator)
Mason was the odd man out in the group of four teens who spent their summers crawling over the Merle property. Abused by his father, awkward and wanting to be liked so much, he's been in trouble and knows things he's never told. Of the four friends, his inner thoughts were the most entertaining to me. But, at the same time, Mason feels the most scary, too. Bad things are happening and Merle House is pulling Mason back.
Published May 27th 2021 by Amazon Original Stories
This was a Kindle Unlimited selection
June 16, 2021
Another enjoyable short story from the four-book serial “House of Crows”. In this one, we learn more about Mason, who was a suspect in a young girl’s disappearance years ago. Now he is offering guidance to teens at the Celebration Spiritual Center. Then things start to go wrong…
I’m really enjoying this series. They are all connected, so it’s best to read them in order. I look forward to reading the next story, which is the conclusion of the series, “Love the Way You Lie”.
I’m really enjoying this series. They are all connected, so it’s best to read them in order. I look forward to reading the next story, which is the conclusion of the series, “Love the Way You Lie”.
April 16, 2023
Third in the series and I’m ready to read more.
This novella only adds to the mystery as we follow another key player in the story. Perspectives are coming together and we get a better picture of what happened when a teenage girl went missing but was never found. I still have no idea if it was one of these teens, a family member, a stranger or some paranormal force.
I like the writing style but it wasn’t as captivating as the last novella in this series so I took off one star. Still a recommended series at this point!
This novella only adds to the mystery as we follow another key player in the story. Perspectives are coming together and we get a better picture of what happened when a teenage girl went missing but was never found. I still have no idea if it was one of these teens, a family member, a stranger or some paranormal force.
I like the writing style but it wasn’t as captivating as the last novella in this series so I took off one star. Still a recommended series at this point!
January 16, 2023
This is book three in,The House Of Crows series. Why is the Merle House calling four old friends back to it's dark past? Who is the dark man and what secrets are these people keeping? The plot thickens in this third book. We learn more about Mason and what he's running from. These books are all cliff hangers, so onto the final book to learn how this intriguing plot plays out. I am enjoying these short stories very much!
January 7, 2022
In this third book of House of Crows the story of the creepy Merle House, The Dark Man and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young girl years ago, continues.
What is your deepest desire? The thing you want more than you want anything else? Ask the Dark Man and you will be rewarded.
But surely The Dark Man doesn’t exist. It is just a story, an urban legend. Right?
What is real and what is a dream?
What is your deepest desire? The thing you want more than you want anything else? Ask the Dark Man and you will be rewarded.
But surely The Dark Man doesn’t exist. It is just a story, an urban legend. Right?
What is real and what is a dream?
August 24, 2023
So i did it again, instead of reading the first part i read the third lol, who killed that Marle girl in this novella tho?
June 24, 2025
Story 3.5 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrators
Adam Verner
Frankie Corzo
Susannah Jones
James Anderson Foster
Audio 4 stars**
Narrators
Adam Verner
Frankie Corzo
Susannah Jones
James Anderson Foster
June 13, 2024
Book 3 in the House of Crows is even darker than the first two in the series. This time, Mason is right at the center of the story. He is a man with a difficult childhood who has made some mistakes and is trying to turn his life around. Something that happens in his past seems to catch up to his present.
Another superb short story by Lisa Unger! On to the last book.
Another superb short story by Lisa Unger! On to the last book.
October 27, 2021
In Part 3, we catch up with the adult version of the fourth of the childhood friends. I still really don't know where this story is headed. On to the finale.
July 4, 2024
sorta in a love-hate relationship with this collection. the story is great, but i wish they would hurry up and tell us what happened already
June 5, 2021
CIRCLING THE DRAIN is part of House of Crows, book 3 in a four-part novella/short story serial by Lisa Unger. This serial is about friends with a shared history of darkness. They’ve spent their lives running, but they can no longer hide from the past. Each story can be read or listened to in a single haunted sitting. All four books in the series need to be read in order.
The House of Crows Series Includes:
All My Darkest Impulses (Book1)
Fog Descending (Book2)
Circling The Drain (Book3)
Love The Way You Lie (Book4)
The House of Crows Series appears to be one long story broken down into four parts. In this third part we see there is a price to be paid for the bargains you strike.
Mason Brandt dropped out of seminary and found a job at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. When Mason was sixteen, and visiting Merle Manor, a young girl disappeared and was never found. Mason became a prime suspect. Mason finds himself a suspect in a young girl's disappearance. When a female student is found murdered… Mason becomes a suspect and flees. But Mason knows he is accountable… his bargain to the Dark Man. Mason hopes Merle House will offer him sanctuary once again.
Once again this is another well-written short story only 60 pages but packed a punch. Creepy with engaging characters and lots of twists and turns ending with another cliffhanger. Now on to book 4 to complete the journey.
The House of Crows Series Includes:
All My Darkest Impulses (Book1)
Fog Descending (Book2)
Circling The Drain (Book3)
Love The Way You Lie (Book4)
The House of Crows Series appears to be one long story broken down into four parts. In this third part we see there is a price to be paid for the bargains you strike.
Mason Brandt dropped out of seminary and found a job at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. When Mason was sixteen, and visiting Merle Manor, a young girl disappeared and was never found. Mason became a prime suspect. Mason finds himself a suspect in a young girl's disappearance. When a female student is found murdered… Mason becomes a suspect and flees. But Mason knows he is accountable… his bargain to the Dark Man. Mason hopes Merle House will offer him sanctuary once again.
Once again this is another well-written short story only 60 pages but packed a punch. Creepy with engaging characters and lots of twists and turns ending with another cliffhanger. Now on to book 4 to complete the journey.
October 23, 2023
More Mystery and Myths!
Book #3 delves deeper into the four friends and myths surrounding the Dark Man and Merle House. Onto Book #4!
Book #3 delves deeper into the four friends and myths surrounding the Dark Man and Merle House. Onto Book #4!
May 28, 2021
Loosely inspired by Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, HOUSE OF CROWS is about four adult friends who all share a common dark, unexplained event in their past. They’ve moved on and away from the town where they grew up. But in many ways the experience has formed each of them. Each has chosen a career that has allowed him or her to explore in various ways things that can’t be explained. Now a psychiatrist, a ghost hunter, a spiritual counselor, and a writer respectively, Claire, Ian, Mason, and Matthew are being called back to pay debts and address some unfinished business. What they find when they arrive at Merle House will depend very much on what they bring.
Hope you love it!
P.S. Of course I gave it 5 stars! I wrote it!! ;)
Hope you love it!
P.S. Of course I gave it 5 stars! I wrote it!! ;)
September 4, 2021
3 of 4 books in this thriller/mystery serial. V good!
June 4, 2021
Circling The Drain is part of House of Crows, a four-part serial about friends with a shared history of darkness. They’ve spent their lives running, but they can no longer hide from the past. Each story can be read or listened to in a single haunted sitting.
Mason Brant is working at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. He, himself, had been a troubled teen. The summer he was 16, and visiting Merle Manor, a young girl disappeared and was never found. Mason was the prime suspect for awhile.
It seems as though history is repeating itself. A female student stops Mason as he's leaving, tells a story about being stalked by an ex-boyfriend. She's afraid to walk home so Mason drives her home and makes sure she gets inside.
That wasn't the last he saw of her, but he's not telling the police anything... even after he's show pictures of her young, tortured body.
Mason knows he's responsible .... his debt to the Dark Man is now owing.
As with the first two short stories in this series, it is well written. The secrets that have been buried for so long are starting to unravel. Bit by bit the reader learns what happened ... or did it? Looking forward to the conclusion.
Mason Brant is working at a spiritual center offering guidance to troubled teens. He, himself, had been a troubled teen. The summer he was 16, and visiting Merle Manor, a young girl disappeared and was never found. Mason was the prime suspect for awhile.
It seems as though history is repeating itself. A female student stops Mason as he's leaving, tells a story about being stalked by an ex-boyfriend. She's afraid to walk home so Mason drives her home and makes sure she gets inside.
That wasn't the last he saw of her, but he's not telling the police anything... even after he's show pictures of her young, tortured body.
Mason knows he's responsible .... his debt to the Dark Man is now owing.
As with the first two short stories in this series, it is well written. The secrets that have been buried for so long are starting to unravel. Bit by bit the reader learns what happened ... or did it? Looking forward to the conclusion.
June 1, 2021
The entire short story collection was great. I don’t know why this wasn’t just published as an Amazon original story, but maybe because it would have been too long. I liked the characters and the question of whether the Dark Man was real or not.
The ending of the book though leaves a question of whether time can heal things or not. I did have to say that the character of Samantha left me with some questions though.
Review for story 3: This one at it's core follows more of Mason. We still get the other characters, but we get to see Mason as an adult and as a teen. And we find out what if anything he had to do with a young girl who disappeared decades earlier.
The ending of the book though leaves a question of whether time can heal things or not. I did have to say that the character of Samantha left me with some questions though.
Review for story 3: This one at it's core follows more of Mason. We still get the other characters, but we get to see Mason as an adult and as a teen. And we find out what if anything he had to do with a young girl who disappeared decades earlier.
April 10, 2022
This was not the best of the three books. Okaylah.
P/s: I know it's just a subplot, but who killed Marla?
P/s: I know it's just a subplot, but who killed Marla?
December 15, 2021
4 Stars
So far, this is good series with interesting back story and premise. The family dynamics is off to me. No real crime committed or indiscretion, but the lack of trust and animosity is just ridiculous. Anyway; these stories are fairly short and entertaining.
So far, this is good series with interesting back story and premise. The family dynamics is off to me. No real crime committed or indiscretion, but the lack of trust and animosity is just ridiculous. Anyway; these stories are fairly short and entertaining.
June 13, 2021
I could not turn the pages fast enough!
Book three of the House of Crows anthology is so intense! I can’t wait to jump into book four because I need to find out all about Mason’s story. The character buildup is phenomenal in these books!
Book three of the House of Crows anthology is so intense! I can’t wait to jump into book four because I need to find out all about Mason’s story. The character buildup is phenomenal in these books!
November 19, 2025
I’m enjoying this short story series! Such quick reads and loving the mystery surrounding “the dark man”, can’t wait for all the characters of the past to connect in the fourth book
June 8, 2021
Very good!
June 18, 2021
The story is tying together. Who is the Dark Man? Is he real or an internet hoax? Why does the Dark Man keep coming back to Havenwood? What bill is due? So many questions... I hope it's all laid out in the last installment!
August 15, 2021
**Same Post for each of the four books**
❐ Overall Rating 3⭐ | Narration 😀 = Good
❐ Narrated by James Anderson Foster, Saskia Maarleveld & Frankie Corzo, Jonathan Davis, Susannah Jones & Adam Verner
❐ 4 Book Series each about an hour 2 hours long
❐ All My Darkest Impulses - Book #1 = 2⭐
❐ Fog Descending - Book #2 = 3⭐
❐ Circling the Drain - Book #3 = 2½⭐
❐ Love the Way You Lie - Book #4 = 3½⭐
For some reason, I thought this was more of a mystery thriller...but it turns out it’s more of a paranormal-ish story. I do love the graphic I made for it, though...
The first book, All My Darkest Impulses, had me feeling some Silence of the Lambs vibes, that and a boatload of dark impulsive confusion...
The second book, Fog Descending, was a little more enlightening but still, a fog descended and left me a little confused...
The third book, Circling the Drain, had me circling in even more confusion...seriously there is so many characters to keep track of…my hopes of feeling less confusion are quickly going down the drain...
The fourth and final book, Love the Way You Lie, I wanna say I loved it...but then, I’d be lying to you.
The underlying theme here is obviously confusion. Although, for the most part, I’m glad I finished because the ending was actually kind of good, and things sort of made some sense to me once I got there.
🅒🅐🅦🅟🅘🅛🅔 5.21/❿
❐ Overall Rating 3⭐ | Narration 😀 = Good
❐ Narrated by James Anderson Foster, Saskia Maarleveld & Frankie Corzo, Jonathan Davis, Susannah Jones & Adam Verner
❐ 4 Book Series each about an hour 2 hours long
❐ All My Darkest Impulses - Book #1 = 2⭐
❐ Fog Descending - Book #2 = 3⭐
❐ Circling the Drain - Book #3 = 2½⭐
❐ Love the Way You Lie - Book #4 = 3½⭐
For some reason, I thought this was more of a mystery thriller...but it turns out it’s more of a paranormal-ish story. I do love the graphic I made for it, though...
The first book, All My Darkest Impulses, had me feeling some Silence of the Lambs vibes, that and a boatload of dark impulsive confusion...
The second book, Fog Descending, was a little more enlightening but still, a fog descended and left me a little confused...
The third book, Circling the Drain, had me circling in even more confusion...seriously there is so many characters to keep track of…my hopes of feeling less confusion are quickly going down the drain...
The fourth and final book, Love the Way You Lie, I wanna say I loved it...but then, I’d be lying to you.
The underlying theme here is obviously confusion. Although, for the most part, I’m glad I finished because the ending was actually kind of good, and things sort of made some sense to me once I got there.
🅒🅐🅦🅟🅘🅛🅔 5.21/❿
June 29, 2021
These short stories are part of the House of Crows series. They can’t stand alone and need to be read in sequence. Looking forward to the final one.
December 18, 2021
3.5
Still worth continuing
Still worth continuing
November 17, 2025
This one made all of the previous parts look somewhat interesting. It is really that unoriginal. Was Amazon paying the author by the word? Because it just goes on and on without really adding much to the overall narrative.
The characters are still two-dimensional, with predictable arcs.
The characters are still two-dimensional, with predictable arcs.
December 23, 2022
This series is a wild and fun read. Scary and creepy. The author has woven a complex tale that includes the past and present of four adults and the implications of one summer spent on an estate. I'll probably re-read them. I enjoy her writing; it flows well and the surprises sneak up on you.
November 24, 2024
6.5/10
It’s hard to evaluate the 3rd part of a 4 part serial story. Kept my interest but I don’t really care for any of the characters.
It’s hard to evaluate the 3rd part of a 4 part serial story. Kept my interest but I don’t really care for any of the characters.
August 20, 2021
Mason Brandt loses his counseling gig after one of the troubled teens in his anger management group session is tortured to death. He decides to return to Havenwood for for sanctuary. Meanwhile Samantha Merle lets Esther March search the house and grounds for clues about her missing twin Emily oblivious to the fact her daughter Jewel chased the phantom from the cemetery into the woods.
The wish master theme is dark and relatable. The mood is still awkward and gloomy. There are lots of moving parts and the stream of consciousness motif for Mason can be hard to follow even if it reflex his troubled state of mind. I'm still engaged in that I want to understand what is happening. Obviously each player is haunted by the past differently. That makes sense (and reflects the inspiration--The Haunting of Hill House) but I'm frustrated at the unnecessary vagueness used to simply delay the reveal of all these mystery boxes. It is fine to wrap up some threads as you go, but nothing is closed here. There is more to the story than what debt is left to be paid or the identity of a specific username. How those come into play or break expectations can often be rewarding. Yet, here they seem to exist as things to be supplied at the end and never explored. I could be wrong, still one part to go; but I am worried.
The wish master theme is dark and relatable. The mood is still awkward and gloomy. There are lots of moving parts and the stream of consciousness motif for Mason can be hard to follow even if it reflex his troubled state of mind. I'm still engaged in that I want to understand what is happening. Obviously each player is haunted by the past differently. That makes sense (and reflects the inspiration--The Haunting of Hill House) but I'm frustrated at the unnecessary vagueness used to simply delay the reveal of all these mystery boxes. It is fine to wrap up some threads as you go, but nothing is closed here. There is more to the story than what debt is left to be paid or the identity of a specific username. How those come into play or break expectations can often be rewarding. Yet, here they seem to exist as things to be supplied at the end and never explored. I could be wrong, still one part to go; but I am worried.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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