The Elementals by Michael McDowell

"The Elementals" is a Southern Gothic horror novel that delves into the eerie and mysterious world of two old, aristocratic families, the McCrays and the Savages, who share a haunting past intertwined with two secluded Victorian houses on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The story unfolds as the families gather for a funeral, only to be drawn into a chilling confrontation with malevolent forces that reside in the third, abandoned house—known as the third house—where the elementals, sinister entities that are not quite ghosts, lurk. As the oppressive summer heat intensifies, so does the terror, revealing dark family secrets and testing the bonds of kinship as the characters struggle to contend with the supernatural threat.

The 6566th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 63

Since this book was first published in 1981, there is a penalty of 11.2%. The age adjusted score is 55.94.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.