Craig DiLouie’s Episode 13 is Ghost Hunters meets found footage as recorded in book form. Three paranormal researchers, one cameraperson, and one scientist explore a haunted house to determine the existence of ghosts. When it comes to the thirteenth episode, their ghost chasing series hits the jackpot—a place called the Foundation House. Foundation House is a secluded mansion where scientists and their subjects disappeared in 1972.
The researchers are made up of its leader and director (Matt) who actively believes in ghosts and wants to find out what’s on the other side. Claire, Matt’s wife, is a scientist who often debunks what the team finds. A budding researcher, Jessica is also an actress who isn’t sure she believes in the paranormal. The last two are Kevin, the technician, and Jake, their cameraman.
The first day is mostly uneventful as they set up and try to find a ghost. This assignment looks like a bust. On day two, however, they discover objects in a sealed room have moved around on their own. The house explodes with its secrets that night.
Telling any more of the plot is a spoiler. The book is written in epistolary style through journal entries, transcripts of video, daily shooting sheets, etc. This choice of style is what makes Episode 13 unique. The book’s other novelty is the direction it veers off into. In particular, when the science-only Claire encounters the supernatural before her eyes. She reacts in a startling way that leads the novel down an odd path.
Episode 13 isn’t as scary as it could be given the nature of how it’s written. First, the reader knows it happens in the past. And other than the journal entries, it’s hard to get to know the characters. It has some creative ideas which I find lacking in many horror novels. The novel succeeds in thrilling if not chilling.
The book’s pacing is its strength. I read nearly all of it in one sitting. It isn’t as long as it appears as some pages are less prose and more text messages and transcripts. The atmosphere at the beginning is spooky, and I enjoyed the characters, especially Matt and Claire.
Many of the reviews say this book turned into science fiction in the middle. I don’t agree. Since one of them is a scientist and lead character, the reader is treated to many scientific theories. The ending, however, is ambiguous enough to be interpreted in multiple ways.
Two elements of this story did it a disservice. When the ghosts started to reveal themselves, I was worried the team would “keep it under wraps.” This would make no sense to me in a television show that didn’t want to keep anything secret. But yes, this is what happened. The journal writing is another matter. At the start of the novel, having everyone on the show journal was a great idea. But near the end, as the situation grows more dire, people take a break to write down their thoughts. And the last journal entries (who writes them and why they write them) really stretches one’s suspension of disbelief. The author had to employ the mechanism to explain what happens at the conclusion, but it’s a painfully obvious device at that juncture.
Overall, Episode 13 is a solid novel for horror fans who don’t mind a bit of sci-fi jargon. Clever, maybe too much so, but worth a read.