The most interesting thing about this book is the ongoing off-page conflict between the people represented, their lawyers, and the writer. There's actually been a court case about this not-very-well-written book, as the people involved engage in bunfights regarding just how much this is based on a true story. Whether it's a hoax, or an exaggeration, or (unlikely) a bastion of journalistic integrity is up for grabs, though my feeling tends towards the first two, with a strong leaning towards hoax. It's undoubtedly true that the DeFeo family who lived in the house were murdered, horribly, and I can understand how the next family might be creeped out and convince themselves that something supernaturally dodgy was going on. Furthermore, I can really understand why an author would advertise this as a "true story" because look how many punters that claim has brought in! All the sequels, all those awful movies...

It's mildly creepy. The pig thing, I do admit, is suitably weird. And the dog doesn't die, so there's that. Otherwise, if you're looking for haunted house stories there are a lot better ones out there, that don't need to rely on claims of authenticity to be effective.