In this novel, we can see a complicated relationship between siblings. Louise and Mark never saw eye to eye, and their relationship grew more distant over the years. Now they will have to work together because their parents just died in a car crash, and they have to meet and figure out what to do with the estate and all personal belongings. Louise wants to put their past behind them and work together like civil people, but when her parents’ testimony was read and she found out the whole house is going to belong ONLY to Mark, she kinda lost her sh… Oh yes, I forgot to add that Louise got something. The entire collection of puppets that their mother loved like her own children. She loved them, cared for them. Just literally had an obsession with them( Louise is not having it ). After some more family drama, Mark wants to share the money from the house sale, but only if Louise helps him prepare the house.
She agrees. But is it a good idea? What hides in these four walls? What secrets will come out? What kind of skeletons are hidden in the wardrobe? What happened in the past between the siblings? Can they make it out alive and rebuild their bond?
There are a lot of questions, and I promise you will find all the answers throughout the book. So far, this is the second book I have read by Grady Hendrix, and it was quite good. If you are looking for a haunted house, hard relationships, and family secrets, this book will check all your boxes.
Happy reading!
- Atmosphere and tension: This is the backbone of horror- how well the book builds a creepy, unsettling vibe. Does the setting (dark woods, haunted house, possessed people) pull you in? Does the book keep you on edge, dreading what’s next? A great horror book makes the air feel thick with unease. 1
- Characters and Relatability: Are the protagonists fleshed out enough to care about? Do their fears or flaws resonate? Weak characters can tank a story- nobody roots for a cardboard cutout. The best horrors make you feel their terror as if it’s your own. 1
- Plot Coherence and Pacing: Does the story hold together logically, even in its madness? Are twists earned, not just cheap shocks? Pacing matters too- too slow, and it drags: too fast, and the fear does not sink in. A tight, well-structured plot keeps the horror gripping. 0.5
- Fear factor and Impact: How much does it actually scare you? This varies by reader—some want visceral gore, others subtle dread—but the book should leave a mark, whether it is nightmares or lingering chills. It’s about emotional punch, not just jump-scares on paper. 0.5
- Writing Quality and Styles: Clunky prose or overdone cliches can kill the mood. Does the language flow, painting vivid images without bogging down? The best horror writers wield words like weapons, sharp and deliberate, ampifying the story’s power. 1
4/5