Buy Now, Pay Later
As low as
$1
/ mo
Learn more
- – 4-month term
- – No impact on credit to apply
- – Instant approval decision
- – Secure and straightforward checkout
Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.
Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Free shipping on this product
30-day returns
Learn more
This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt
To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
Availability:
Only 1 left in stock, order soon!
Arrives
Aug 26 – Aug 28
Recently Viewed
Description
Evil comes in frightening and familiar forms in this terrifying novel from 1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz. Once there was a girl who ran away and joined a traveling carnival. She married a man she grew to hate—and gave birth to a child she could never love. A child so monstrous that she killed it with her own hands... Twenty-five years later, Ellen Harper has a new life, a new husband, and two normal children—Joey loves monster movies and Amy is about to graduate from high school. But their mother drowns her secret guilt in alcohol and prayer. The time has come for Amy and Joey to pay for her sins, because the carnival is coming back to town... Read more
Publisher : Berkley Books
Publication date : March 5, 2013
Edition : Reprint
Language : English
Print length : 321 pages
ISBN-10 : 0425250644
ISBN-13 : 48
Item Weight : 7.4 ounces
Dimensions : 4.25 x 0.87 x 7.36 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #235,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2,042 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #2,089 in Supernatural Thrillers (Books) #3,304 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Aug 26 – Aug 28
Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.
View our full returns policy here.
- Klarna Financing
- Affirm Pay in 4
- Affirm Financing
- Afterpay Financing
- Zip Pay in 4
- Financing through Apple Pay
- Financing through Google Pay
Learn more about financing & leasing here.
Similar Products
Top Amazon Reviews
I first read this at age 13 as my first horror novel and was creeped out by it. Sadly that book was damaged with mold and water damage so I had to throw it away but I never really stopped thinking about the story. I reread it in my 20s when I saw it in the public library and was like I remember that was a good book. So now this was my third time reading it now in my 40s. I never read a book a second time let alone a third time so that's how good this story is.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2024 by Cassie
Format: Mass Market Paperback
I almost didn't buy this to read because of all of the less flattering reviews of it, but then I had to remember all of the critical reviews of 77 Shadow Street, which, to me, wasn't as bad as everyone said it was. People were downright trashing it and, granted, there were some hard to understand aspects to the book, but I still think it was an entertaining read. And I say the same for this one. After having read The Funhouse myself and reading all of the negative reviews, I think people are being hard on Mr. Koontz. Again, as I've said in other reviews, I defend a person's right to have an opinion, negative or positive, but people are forgetting that this was the novelization of a screenplay. If the plot seemed undeveloped, it's only because the movie itself was. It couldn't have been easy for him to create a backstory for the characters. I heard some people saying that he never explained why Gunther was the way he was and that's something I would have liked to know as well. But was an explanation really necessary? I didn't think so. I mean, how do you explain how someone sires a demonic (or whatever he was) offspring not once, but twice? Conrad worshipped Satan - what other explanation was needed? In the end, the people giving this book bad reviews was taking this story too serious. This book was meant to be fun and entertaining like an 80's slasher flick. You're glad to see the potheads and slutty friend get what's coming to them and the innocent, God-fearing kids escape. It won't win any Pulitzer Prizes, but so what! If you want a memoir, go read one. If you want a good read without all of the rhetoric and fancy word play, well - here you go.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013 by Kindle Customer
I really like this book. I read it once when I was about 16 and then again 13 years later. I didn't remember much of it from back then- only that I liked it. Reading it again I realize why I liked it so much. The story itself is ok (kind of predictable), but what I really liked was the well developed complexity of the charactors. You have an insight into each of the main charactors minds and thus, the reason for their actions. It's funny, when I read it for the first time I identified with the daughter because of her problems with her mother(although much more extreme than mine), and reading it the second time around I can't help but identify with the mother and actually feel empathy for her. All in all, a good book. More so for the actual story-telling aspect than the shock value. Who knows, I might pick it up again in another 10 years. And I personally think that if you still want to re-read and re-purcahse the same book more than once, that really means something. It must be good.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2011 by Jandy
This is a horror story, which was based on a screenplay written by and ther writer. As Mr. Koontz explains a screenplay had been written and a movie planned. Mr. Koontz was authorized to compose a corresponding novel. This process is known as "novelization". As such, the storyline is not completely the product of Mr. Koontz's intellectual process. Apparently the movie did not do well, at least at first and neither did the novel. As a novelization apparently the fate of the novel is linked to the movie to some extent. I do not intend to write in a way that spoils the story. The story is set in the early 1980s in America. In that this a horror story, there are some very gruesome situations that occur between human beings. As a retired police detective, I felt there was no way I would have failed to "connect some of the dots" and therefore have had an ensuing avenue of investigation. In that context, I found the storyline a bit weak. Generally I have read relatively few modern horror stories. I seldom go to such movies. Therefore I am not in a position to compare this novel to other modern horror novels. The writing is OK. Obviously there is much dark content. As a parent, I was dismayed about some very dark exchanges between parents and their children. Perhaps this is common in modern horror stories. I did not like this aspect of the novel. According to some research I did, Mr. Koontz may have been the victim of emotional abuse by a parent. Obviously he may have a base of knowledge that makes his writing realistic. I would not want my children to read this book until adulthood. I do not intend to recommend this novel to them. Although a horror story, there is a "morality tale" aspect tomthis story. I did like that. Mr. Koontz is originally from Pennsylvania, as am I. I enjoy reading authors from Pennsylvania. I wish to study his work further and have already purchased another novel, "Whispers". I wish to read a novel by Mr. Koontz that is fully his own intellectual product. I will not read it immediately. I sort of need a break.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2017 by Frank Donnelly
I read this book for the first time many years ago and really liked it. I have re-read it many times over the years because it is always good for a scare! The movie they made from it really fell flat though and didn't capture the story very well. I really enjoyed the audio book version. Putting a voice to the characters really made this story come alive. I liked that although it centered mostly around Amy the author let you get to know Gina, Joey and Liz. Their stories all came together well and the backstory that led up to what happened to Amy was well developed. The only thing I would have liked better is if there was a little more at the end. It ended with Liz killing Gunther and Conrad but I would have liked to see Amy confront her mother Gina about the true story behind the funhouse.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2015 by Kindle Customer
Format: Hardcover
Dean Koontz writing the novelization to a pulpy 80's horror movie is something I find pretty compelling. I am an avid fan of horror stories, and also a big Koontz fan, and anyone who is knows that Koontz doesn't write straight-up horror novels very often at all (though a good number of his books contain creepy/supernatural elements), so this was a book that I felt was perfect for a spooky October read. Certainly everything isn't explained in thorough detail, which works for the pace of the story. However, the one gripe I have with this book is that Koontz really builds the story, setting the stage for an epic final confrontation. Let's just say the book finished more than a bit disappointing. Even though I rate The Funhouse four stars, I'm aware that it's not a great book, but it's a book I definitely in the mood for with Halloween upcoming . I was excited when I turned the first pages and for the most part The Funhouse did exactly what it was supposed to do; it thrilled me, chilled me, grossed me out a little, but kept me highly entertained. Despite it being a little thin on plot (like most 80's horror movies are of course) and a little bit formulaic, Koontz did a fine job making this novel worth the time.
...
show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2015 by KB
This book was crazy!! But it is a Dean Koontz book so I should have known what to expect. Still it was crazy and there was so much that left me with my jaw drop. Dean Koontz does an amazing job of transporting your to another world.
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2025 by Dulce Keels
I flew through this. A good book! The reason I only gave it 4 stars is because the ending was meh, and left me with many unanswered questions.
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2025 by Kindle Customer