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Suspension of Disbelief
Auberon Manor follows a rich paranormal skeptic who is drawn into the mystery of Auberon Manor, an estate with a long, dark reputation, where he discovers something more frightening than a ghost. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Many people will tell you they do not subscribe to the notion that ghosts or other supernatural entities are real. If you were to drop one of these non-believers into an old, isolated, creepy house, I’m willing to wager they’d feel some level of anxiety. Introduce a few odd, not easily explained noises, and even the fiercest skeptic might be tested. What interested me the most in writing this book was the characters’ reaction to discovering a supernatural entity. That’s hardly an everyday occurrence, and I’m sure it would test most people to their limit. I created a group of characters and threw them into that frightening scenario to see what they would do. I admit, I would have fled on day one. Thankfully, my characters are far braver than I would have been. Suspension of disbelief.
Your novel features some very interesting characters with flaws, but who are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
My preference is for strong, capable characters. The kind of people you can count on when the going gets tough, who run towards a problem instead of away from it. Having said that, not every person is skilled, capable of courage when called upon, nor are they dependable when you’re forced to rely on them. I’m fascinated by human behaviour in all of its forms. Too often, a protagonist has to go out of his or her way to navigate around another person’s shortcomings to reach a goal. That’s life. That’s real. No story proceeds in a flawless straight line. Humans are sometimes bumps in the road that need to be navigated. I want the reader to share that frustration.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
This genre has no limits. If you can imagine it, you can put it on the page and not be criticized for breaking the rules of physics or angering a reader for forcing them to suspend their disbelief. They want to suspend their belief for a story like this. The author and the readers are all on the same page.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
In addition to writing in this genre, I also write action-adventure, legal thrillers, and tech thrillers. My next book is titled ‘Legacy of a Silent Man.’ This is an action book. Work is underway, and the publication is expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Author Website
For the curious and adventurous, the stories read on the website inspire them to make the journey to Pennsylvania and see the manor for themselves. Over time, the stories about the house grow darker with reports of visitors suffering injuries. When an amateur group of investigators conducts a scientific examination of the house, disaster strikes. Members of the investigative team suffer broken arms, a broken rib, and a near-fatal concussion. This compels the owner to prohibit any further visits.
When the story of the Auberon haunting reaches a bored and wealthy young man named Dane Ledger, he’s encouraged by a friend to take a ghost-hunting road trip. To Dane, who doesn’t believe in ghosts, it presents an opportunity to debunk the ridiculous notion that this house, or any house, is haunted. He and his friend arrive at the manor to discover recently erected fencing and a guard who refuses them entry. All of this security makes Dane and his friend even more curious about the house. They approach the homeowner for permission to inspect the property, but are firmly denied. After money is exchanged and Dane agrees to assemble a team of professional paranormal investigators to inspect, identify, and exterminate the entity from the manor, permission is finally granted.
With the team assembled, they enter Auberon Manor and discover its frightening occupant. Terrified by what they’ve discovered, and too frightened to go back into the house, they struggle to find a way forward. Letting the entity remain in the home is not an acceptable option, as it would imperil every future visitor. They don’t know what they’re battling, but it’s not a ghost. It’s something much worse.
Auberon Manor
Paul Chandler’s Auberon Manor is a supernatural thriller that pulls you in slowly, like fog curling over the edges of a graveyard. It begins with Edison Elsher, a weary paranormal investigator whose skepticism is tested when he’s drawn into the mystery of Auberon Manor, a mansion with a long, dark reputation. Alongside Dane Ledger, a rich skeptic seeking proof that ghosts don’t exist, and a small team of experts, Edison steps into a place where logic falters and fear takes root. Chandler builds the dread steadily, layer by layer, and by the time the team realizes they’re in over their heads, it’s far too late to turn back.
I’ll admit, the writing surprised me. It’s clean, deliberate, and full of old-fashioned storytelling confidence. Chandler doesn’t rush. He lets the tension breathe. Some chapters read like a slow drip of unease, and others explode with sharp, unsettling energy. The characters feel grounded, flawed, and real. Edison’s weariness hits hard, and Dane’s arrogance cracks just when it should. The dialogue feels lived-in. People talk the way real people talk when they’re scared but trying not to show it. There’s a sense of decay throughout the book, not just in the manor itself, but in the people who come near it. That touch of melancholy made the story more than just a haunted house tale, it felt like a story about pride, guilt, and the limits of reason.
There are moments where I wanted the fear to bite sooner. But when it comes, it’s worth the wait. The haunting isn’t about gore, it’s about what you can’t quite name but can’t shake either. The book also has a throwback charm. It feels like something between The Haunting of Hill House and Poltergeist, but written with modern restraint. Chandler clearly loves the genre, and it shows in the care he takes to make the supernatural believable.
When I closed Auberon Manor, I sat for a bit, thinking about how fear works, not just in old houses, but in us. I’d recommend this one to readers who like their horror slow and thoughtful, more spine-tingling than stomach-turning. If you enjoy haunted stories that respect your intelligence and still manage to give you chills, this is your kind of book.
Pages: 231 | ASIN : B0FSYL9B2P
LITERARY TITAN 