I got into this book not being aware of all the hype back in 2002 when Stephen King produced a mini-series based on this same subject. (Yes, I do live on this planet!) Almost right from the start of the book I began to wonder if this story was non-fiction, as presented, or fiction. After all, who would sell a dust-covered, unopened diary that had been part of a nortorious estate? And what bride sits down and spends an hour writing in her diary just before her wedding - like she has nothing else to do? So I started looking around the net and found that this is, indeed, a work of fiction by author Ridley Pearson, (who coincidentally has written a book entitled The Art of Deception.) The following is a quote from thebookhaven.homestead by book reviewer Amy Coffin (how apt!):

"Rose Red is a haunted house with a disturbing past. The Seattle mansion was constructed at the turn of the 20th century. Oil magnate John Rimbauer built the house for his bride, Ellen. From the early stages of construction, the house is rocked by tragedy and scandal... Stephen King created a mini-series based on the Rimbauer domicile. Rose Red documents the work of Dr. Joyce Reardon in her attempt to unlock the secrets of the house before it's demolished. The troubled history of Rose Red and its inhabitants are the subjects of Dr. Reardon's life-long work...

NEWS FLASH: Everything described up to this point is fiction. Only the mini-series creator is real, leaving questions regarding the authorship of the book (which were answered in mid-2002.)

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is merely a physical prop of King's Rose Red mini-series. However, the book stands well on its own to a point.

The diary format gives readers a voyeuristic thrill. The entries are quite detailed, full of fear and sexual energy. Rose Red becomes more and more frightening up to the final page. After reading the book, you'll want to see the mini-series, meaning the tie-in succeeds in its intentions.

As it is, this fictitious diary, written by a fictitious author living in a fictitious house, edited by a fictitious paranormal expert makes for interesting reading...

Upon completion of The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, be prepared to view Stephen King's mini-series. No doubt Rose Red answers the many questions left by this mysterious diary and its namesake."

This is a hard to put down diary. The website connected to Joyce Reardon's research is very interesting to visit. A must Summer's read. You won't beable to put it down! I read it in one long hot Sunday and planned to seek out Rose Red on my next trip to Seattle, Wash.

This is about Ellen Rimbauer's life before Rose Red, and during. This tells of how she became sick from her husband and how she met Sukeena and how the house was created, and how she wanted it to continue to be created. I must say this is actually like a real diary, excessive in detail. The only reason I post it as 4.5 is the fact that, just like a real diary, there are parts you really don't care about.

A must read for fans of Stephen King's Rose Red. I loved it!

This book is in mint condition.....

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red is a rare document, one that gives us an unusual view of daily life among the aristocracy in the early 1900s, a window into one woman's hidden emotional torment, and a record of the mysterious events at Rose Red that scandalized society at the time.

This is the best 'fiction' book I believe I ever read. Until I read all the way through and realized that there is a great sense of story telling here. I highly recommend this book to readers who are fascinated by the occult, bizarre and paranormal. Worth every minute of reading!!!!!

An odd little book if ever there was one. King went to great lengths to make this look like a true story, with his name appearing nowhere on it that I could find. It is a tribute to his talent and tenacity that there are evidently people who still believe this isn't a work of fiction.


A well written, very spooky story.

The book kept moving along well but it was not as sppoky as I would have thought. there is debate if it is a true story or not, I think that would change my perception...if it were true, it would be some creepy stuff, if not, it's more just interesting. I would be interested to watch the movie now!

I do believe this is a fictional account. It was, however a very good book. I believe there is a large mansion somewhere , I recall hearing of it on tv, but it was not "Rimbauer" or "Rose Red". The book does say fiction on the spine. Using numerous search engines, I found no missing actress by the name of Deanna Petrie. So, very obviously fictional. Good book, nevertheless.

The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red" is a rare document, one that gives us an unusual view of daily life among the aristocracy in the early 1900s, a window into one woman's hidden emotional torment, and a record of the mysterious events at Rose Red that scandalized society at the time. Edited by Joyce Reardon, Ph.D., as part of her research, the diary is being published as preparations are being made by Dr. Reardon to enter Rose Red and fully investigate it's disturbing history.

Read All Book Reviews of "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer My Life at Rose Red"

I was fascinated by this book. I really don't know if I subscribe to the theory of the house causing all the disturbances, but what I do know is something horrible and awful was happening in Ellen's life. What a tale of high-society, turn of the century life if nothing else.... but the "ghost story" was great too.

The book is much better than the movie

A Diary by Ellen Rimbauer whom resided at Rose Red. The book is edited by Joyce Reardon, Ph.D. and with an afterword by Steven Rimbauer. The book is very interesting and leaves alot to the imagination.

This was a hauntingly wonderful book.

I loved this book! Very creepy!

I really liked this story i read this book before the movie Rose Red came out really give you insight into the movie!

Great book!

Read All Book Reviews of "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer My Life at Rose Red"