This is the first book by this author that does not bear the name of the primary human character as its title. After reading it, perhaps you’ll understand why it had to be called “The House”.
Saturday mornings at the Riker house are times for a quick glass of juice and a review of the yard sale listings in the classified section . George and Katey go out nearly every Saturday, weather permitting, to see what ‘good thing’ might be for sale.
One Saturday in early spring, they found a small white sign taped to a rock wall that said nothing more than “sale”. Didn’t say yard sale; just sale. George and Katey followed the signs and came to an old, beautiful, well-kept house high in the San Gabriel foothills. It appears to be vacant though the lawn and plantings have been recently tended. There was no information at the house regarding a sale of any kind and Katey eventually checked with the County Assessor to find who owned the property.
The tax bills are paid by a local bank for an owner who lives in the Czech Republic. Katey writes to him in care of the bank, asking the letter be forwarded. It takes several weeks for a reply.
The house seems to have mysterious properties. The yard is always freshly mowed but there is no sign anyone has driven up the small mountain trail in recent times. The roses are always trimmed. There are unusual plants in the back of the yard that frighten Katey. She is at great dis-ease when near them. While vacant, the house beckons to her and she loses track of time while there. Each time she leaves the property, a mist seems to rise up from the ground obscuring the house. Finally George suggests she shouldn’t visit the house alone.
Meanwhile, the Rikers attend many yard sales and end up with some spectacular buys; items that their insurance man insist they have appraised. In the end, many of these items tie back to the owner of the house.
George and Katey decide to take their vacation later in the year, for economic reasons mainly a $1500 discount offered, and end up on a river cruise that happens to end in Prague. They are able to visit the owner of the house and learn more of its history. He comes to the United States the next spring and the mystery of the house is finally explained.

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