Review: Widow's Point: The Complete Haunting

Widow's Point: The Complete Haunting by Richard Chizmar & W.H. Chizmar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WIDOW'S POINT: THE COMPLETE HAUNTING is a dark, disturbing, haunted lighthouse found-footage thriller by Richard Chizmar and W.H. Chizmar. The perfect read leading up to Halloween... or any time you're looking for a few sleepless nights. 100% recommended.

This is a bad place. Something is wrong with it. I don’t think people are meant to live here.
-- Diary entry from WIDOW'S POINT: THE COMPLETE HAUNTING

The Widow's Point Lighthouse is set on the coast of Nova Scotia in the small, idyllic village of Harper's Cove. Idyllic, that is, for those who are smart - or lucky - enough to remain clear of the lighthouse and its surroundings. The reader first encounters the reportedly haunted lighthouse, site of many deaths and accidents, as well as a number of unexplained disappearances and horrific murders over the years, in 2017, when paranormal author Thomas Livingston arrives to spend a weekend locked inside the abandoned structure. Through a series of video and audio recordings he recounts the tragic history of the lighthouse and documents his ... disturbing ... stay.

Fast-forward to 2025 and another, larger group of investigators enters the lighthouse, planning to stay for the week leading up to Halloween. The 6-member group is led by Trent Bell , a wealthy Youtube influencer known as T-Breeze. With him are his cameraman Steph, video editor Jeff and producer Phil. Also in the group is Professor Catherine Durand, a former resident of Harper's Cove and a respected anthropologist/historian proclaimed as “the world’s leading authority on haunted houses who doesn’t believe in ghosts”, and Rob Elliott, a famous paranormal investigator/ghost hunter and Twitch streamer. They come prepared with lots of high-tech video and audio recording devices, along with a variety of specialized ghost-hunting equipment, to document their stay and any supernatural events they experience.

Richard and W.H. Chizmar know how to tell a spooky tale. Their unique, shifting perspective, found-footage approach allows the story to unfold naturally and helps the reader share the tension and fear that grows within the group as they take up residence in the lighthouse and begin to experience odd sensations and unusual events. Also shared is the group's increasing anxiety as secrets are revealed and some begin to act oddly the longer they remain under the influence of the lighthouse and its other occupants.

WIDOW'S POINT: THE COMPLETE HAUNTING has many unexpected twists and surprises, a very high "creepiness" factor, and more than a few frightening revelations. The Widow's Point Lighthouse is tall, its pull is strong and its reach is long. It's best read as far away from the coast as possible, with all the lights on, the shades drawn and in the company of a large, calm dog.

Review: Widow's Point

Widow's Point by Richard Chizmar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This review is for the WIDOW'S POINT novella, published in 2018 by Cemetery Dance Publications.

Richard Chizmar and Billy Chizmar (AKA W.H. Chizmar) really knock it out of the park with this creepy-as-hell take on an old-fashioned, haunted lighthouse story!

Thomas Livingston is a successful author of a number of non-fiction, supernatural/paranormal books and he has made his way to Harper's Cove in Nova Scotia to gather material for his next book about the Widow's Point Lighthouse, the scene of many unusual deaths since it's construction in the 1830's. After many attempts, he has finally received permission from the lighthouse's owner to spend the weekend locked inside, with the hope of being able to document supernatural activity. To avoid accusations from skeptics of tampering or forging "evidence" he is only allowed to bring in a few pieces of recording equipment, notebooks and pens, some food and water, and a lantern and flashlight.

The story unfolds through a series of audio transcripts of Livingston's observations about what he sees, his recounting of previous events at the lighthouse, and his reading of entries from a diary he found while looking through the lighthouse rooms. As his stay within the lighthouse continues, the audio recordings convey his increasing concern and eventual terror.

Richard & Billy do a fantastic job of conveying what appears to be Livingston's descent into madness as they ramp up the suspense through the unique "found footage" narration style. The story's pacing is superb and the reader can't help but feel that he/she is right there with Livingston, experiencing the frightful and inexplicable events with him.

This is a fantastic and scary read. Fans of horror and supernatural tales will enjoy it. Highly recommended.

A much longer, expanded version of this novella, Widow's Point: The Complete Haunting was published in 2025. The extra material makes it even better than this earlier version. You can find my spoiler-free review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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