Scan barcode
A review by kcummings
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What if the ghosts in Poltergeist were generational trauma?
This book is a deep dive into grief, trauma, anthropomorphizing, family dynamics, and what it means to be haunted- literally and figuratively. The haunted house here is an apt metaphor for dealing with the sudden loss of loved ones. The house IS haunted, not just by the supernatural but by the almost crushing weight of a lifetime of memories- good and bad. The outrageous parts involving taxidermied squirrels coming to life and attacking are punctuated by very grounded scenes such as Louise coming across a half finished sandwich in the fridge and realizing that her deceased father intended to come back to it and now he never will.
This book was incredibly compelling, though I admit for the first 40% I was hoping to reach a point where I'd stop wanting to throttle Mark (I did! He actually gets better!). The layers of the mystery are peeled back at such an enticing pace and with shocking twists thrown in that I just had to keep reading to find out where it was all going- and I was not disappointed when it got there.
This book is a deep dive into grief, trauma, anthropomorphizing, family dynamics, and what it means to be haunted- literally and figuratively. The haunted house here is an apt metaphor for dealing with the sudden loss of loved ones. The house IS haunted, not just by the supernatural but by the almost crushing weight of a lifetime of memories- good and bad. The outrageous parts involving taxidermied squirrels coming to life and attacking are punctuated by very grounded scenes such as Louise coming across a half finished sandwich in the fridge and realizing that her deceased father intended to come back to it and now he never will.
This book was incredibly compelling, though I admit for the first 40% I was hoping to reach a point where I'd stop wanting to throttle Mark (I did! He actually gets better!). The layers of the mystery are peeled back at such an enticing pace and with shocking twists thrown in that I just had to keep reading to find out where it was all going- and I was not disappointed when it got there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident and Child death