The Haunting of Wellsley Manor
William Martens always dreamed of leaving Syracuse,
Book Summary →
The Haunting of Wellsley Manor
“For fans of bone-chilling, spine-tingling gothic haunted houses.”
Lori Handeland, New York Times bestselling author of The Nightcreature Novels.
5 stars “The Haunting of Wellsley Manor is a captivating paranormal story. The suspense and foreboding make it feel like watching a horror movie through the pages of a book,” Cheryl Steele, “Cheryl Reviews.
5 stars “The tension and dark atmosphere of impending dread evoke the same experience as watching a dark, horror, or supernatural film,” Mary Anderson, MJ Reviews.”
WINNER GOLD AWARD IN THE LITERARY TITAN BOOK AWARD (JUNE 2025)
WINNER SECOND PLACE FOR FICTION/HORROR (GHOSTS, PARANORMAL) IN THE 2025 BOOKFEST AWARDS!
William Martens always dreamed of leaving Syracuse, the blue-collar town where he was born and raised. When his widowed grandfather, Isaiah, invites him to live in his mansion and attend nearby Cornell University in Ithaca, William eagerly accepts the opportunity.
However, strange events begin to unfold in his grandfather’s mansion. During his first visit, William notices a young boy appearing in an upstairs window, but he dismisses it as a trick of his imagination. This is just the beginning, as he soon experiences multiple sightings of ghostly children who whisper warnings, faucets that run with blood, and a mysterious mirror that seems to harbor an evil spirit. These occurrences eventually drive William away.
Years later, he inherits the mansion and returns with his family, but the ghosts have not vanished. They bear a striking resemblance to William’s own family. He uncovers a horrifying truth as he investigates clues about the mansion’s previous inhabitants. As William becomes increasingly entranced by the dark forces within the house, he must confront whether he can break the curse before history repeats itself.
What readers say about the book🧐
The author masterfully crafts a setting that feels both grand and claustrophobic, trapping readers in a world where history refuses to stay buried. The imagery is vivid and unsettling, The novel also excels in its psychological depth. While the hauntings provide plenty of terrifying moments, the true horror lies in the mansion’s ability to manipulate its inhabitants. readers are left questioning whether the true danger comes from external forces or the shadows lurking in one’s mind.With its slow-burning tension, compelling protagonist, and spine-chilling atmosphere, The Haunting of Wellsley Manor is a must-read for horror enthusiasts. Fans of gothic horror and supernatural thrillers will find themselves captivated—and haunted—long after turning the final page. I also did not expect the ending to be so emotional, something one does not typically anticipate in a horror novel. The weaving of the family story within the ghostly narrative brings real-life emotions to the experience of reading the novel, making it not just a chilling tale but also a profoundly moving one.
Rick Evans
About the Author →
Len Handeland
Len Handeland has always been drawn to the creative. When he was a model in Manhattan during the early 1980s, he decided to study fashion illustration at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology.) Later on, he made the transition to the hair industry. With 27 years of experience in the field, Len had a successful career as a hair stylist, hair colorist, and salon owner. Over the years, Len has owned several hair salons, including one in San Francisco’s Union Square for nine years and two in Sonoma (Wine Country) for eight years. In 2021, he retired from the hair industry to become a full-time writer.
Len is a renowned author of fictional books and has won numerous awards for his work. His writing primarily focuses on vampires, the paranormal, murder, crime, drama novels, and psychological thrillers. He has been passionate about writing since middle school and has taken several creative writing classes to improve his craft. Len was inspired to write his first book, “The Darkest Gift,” after attending the San Francisco International Writer’s Conference in 2017. The book became a finalist in the American BookFest contest in the fall of 2021 and received 5-star reviews from readers and professional book reviewers.
In 2022, Len’s novel “The Darkest Gift” won first place in the Bookfest 2022 awards in the category of Fiction/Horror, and his book and author interview were featured in the fall literature issue of “DeMode” magazine, where it was named one of the ten must-read books of 2021. Len’s second novel, “Requiem for Miriam,” won the 2022 Literary Titan Award for fiction/horror, and his third book, “Tales from the Chair,” won the Firebird award in 2022 in the beauty category. His fourth novel, “Transplanted Evil,” was released in November 2023 and has been well-received. Len finished writing his fifth novel, the sequel to his first called “The Darkest Passages.” It was released in May of 2024. Len finished his sixth novel, titled “The Haunting of Wellsley Manor” which has already received two five star reviews from professional reviewers, and a glowing review from a New York Times bestselling author. It was recently released in January of 2024. Len recently received the editor’s choice award from the International Impact Awards and an author interview in the prestigious “Readers’ Magazine” based in London.
The author lives in Palm Springs with his husband, Byron Hancock, and their two cats, Felix and Felicia (siblings). When he’s not writing, Len enjoys outdoor activities, including hikes in Joshua Tree, and the many hiking paths in Palm Springs, biking, walking, playing billiards, and vegetarian cooking. He has retired from his former profession of being a hairstylist and salon owner and is enjoying living in beautiful Palm Springs. Additionally, Len’s first novel, “The Darkest Gift,” is currently being considered for adaptation into either a mini-series or motion picture with one of the live-streaming networks, including HBO, Paramount-Plus, Sony, Warner Brothers, the CW network, and Netflix.