Welcome, foolish mortals, to the third chapter of our ghostly tour through the Haunted Mansion. If you thought the walls were haunted before, wait until you wonder these pages – where the spirits are not only restless, but eager to share their stories. Volume III: Grim Grinning Ghosts is more than a continuation; it’s the book where the mansion finally bares its teeth.

step into the gallery

The moment the story begins, you feel the walls of the mansion tightening around you. The infamous portrait gallery, which once seemed like a playful trick of the eyes, now takes on a far more sinister purpose. The authors finally peel back the curtain on why those portraits change – and the truth is as twisted as the faces staring back at you. Each flicker of candlelight feels like a warning, each frame a doorway to something best left hidden.

the bride in the attic awaits

Ah, but the tour would not be complete without visiting the attic. Constance Hatchaway – the bride with her bouquet in one hand and a hatchet in the other – takes centre stage here. And this time, she isn’t content to linger in the shadows. We’re given a fuller picture of her past, her motives, and her chillingly matter-of-fact approach to “wedded bliss”. It’s equal parts tragic and terrifying, and it elevates her from local legend to the beating heart (or missing heart) of the mansion’s lore.

a whisper from the seance room

If there is one sequence that truly lingers like ghostly perfume in the halls, its the séance. The chapter crackles with atmosphere – candles sputter, mediums chant, and the veil between worlds quivers until you’re not sure which side you’re standing on. It’s the perfect blend of theatrical spook and genuine unease, and it might just be the most memorable scene in the series so far.

wandering the corridors

Unlike the slower, atmospheric strolls of the first two books, Grim Grinning Ghosts quickens the pace. The story whisks you from chamber to chamber, revealing new corners of the mansion’s history and giving both the ghosts and the mortals a stronger presence. The living characters are no longer mere tourists – they make choices that alter the balance of power between the two worlds. And oh, the consequences…

the grand finale

The final chapters leave you standing at the mansion’s threshold, lantern spluttering, heart pounding, knowing that the story isn’t over. There’s no neat conclusion here – only a chilling sense that the doors have creaked open for even darker tales to come.

Final verdict

Volume III: Grim Grinning Ghosts is where the series truly comes alive (or un-alive). The ghosts sing louder, the halls feel colder, and the story weaves together threads that make the mansion feel less like a setting and more like a character.

Five flickering lanterns out of five – Step inside, if you dare… but remember: there’s always room for one more.