Burnt Offerings summary

The Start of a Sinister Summer

In Burnt Offerings, we are introduced to the Rolfe family, who are looking for a summer getaway from their cramped Brooklyn apartment. They find a seemingly perfect mansion in upstate New York, offered at an unbelievably low price by the mysterious and reclusive siblings, Arnold and Roz Allardyce. The only condition is that they must take care of the Allardyce's elderly mother, who resides in the mansion's upper floor.

Despite the mansion's eerie atmosphere and the strange behavior of the Allardyces, the Rolfes decide to take the offer. As they settle into their new summer home, they begin to notice odd occurrences. The mansion seems to have a life of its own, with the house itself appearing to be rejuvenated while the Rolfes themselves start to feel drained and exhausted.

The House's Sinister Influence

As the summer progresses, the mansion's influence on the Rolfes becomes more pronounced. Ben, the patriarch, becomes increasingly obsessed with the house, spending more and more time on its maintenance. Marian, his wife, starts to exhibit strange behavior, becoming more and more attached to the mansion and its history. Their son, David, also falls under the house's spell, developing an unhealthy attachment to the pool.

Meanwhile, the Allardyces remain elusive, with their mother never seen or heard. The only interaction the Rolfes have with them is through the daily delivery of Mrs. Allardyce's meals, which are always left untouched. The mansion's sinister influence continues to grow, and the Rolfes find themselves unable to leave, despite their growing fear and unease.

The Mansion's Dark Secret

As the summer nears its end, the mansion's malevolent nature becomes impossible to ignore. Ben and Marian age rapidly, their health deteriorating at an alarming rate. David, on the other hand, remains untouched, seemingly immune to the house's influence. The family's only hope lies in uncovering the mansion's dark secret and breaking free from its grip.

They begin to investigate the Allardyces and the history of the mansion, uncovering a series of tragic events that have occurred over the years. They learn that the mansion feeds on the life force of its occupants, rejuvenating itself at the cost of their lives. The Allardyces, who are actually the house's caretakers, have been luring families to the mansion for decades, offering them the same deal they offered the Rolfes.

The Final Sacrifice

As the truth about the mansion is revealed, the Rolfes realize that they are running out of time. Marian, now completely under the mansion's control, attempts to sacrifice David to the house in a desperate bid to save herself and Ben. In a heart-stopping climax, Ben manages to break free from the mansion's influence and saves David, but at a terrible cost.

In the end, the mansion claims its final victims, with Marian willingly sacrificing herself to the house in a last-ditch effort to save her own life. Ben and David escape the mansion, but the horror of their summer at the Allardyce house will haunt them forever. Burnt Offerings leaves us with a chilling reminder that some deals are too good to be true, and some houses are best left unexplored.