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iliketoast 's review for:
It Was Her House First
by Cherie Priest
medium-paced
Veronica "Ronnie" Mitchell bought a dilapidated house, sight unseen, at an auction. Still deep in grief after her brother died, she hopes to fix it up to have finally have a nice place to live. Like most houses that have been left to the elements, Ronnie is not the only inhabitant. Unlike most houses left to the elements, we're not just talking about rats and other critters. Many people have died in this house and not ALL of them have left. The original lady of the house and silent film darling, Venita Rost, and nationally renowned PI Bartholomew Sloan are among Ronnie's newest, ethereal housemates.
The story is told through the POVs of Ronnie, Sloan, and Venita, bouncing between Sloan's present day watch of the house and a century ago through Venita's diary. Venita has her own grief after the loss of her daughter and her rage and her own brand of justice towards Sloan, who she blames for her daughter's death. Is Sloan to blame? Sort of. Was it a series of unfortunate "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances? Yes. Venita's grief is gut-wrenching and understandable and I was waiting ready for her to be some mindless angry spirit. But she was poise and grace when Ronnie finally meets her.
This is a haunted house tale a la Crimson Peak, not The Conjuring. Grief and good old emotional exhaustion are the stars of the hour. The state of the house is such a perfect metaphor for the Ronnie we are introduced to at the beginning of the story. She is fixing herself up as much as she is the house by the end.
NOW, that is not to say that this wasn't still the atmospheric and creepy haunted house story you are looking for. No no! It was spooky and unnerving, a delicious slow burn that fakes you out a few times, drawing out the suspense. Ronnie goes down to the creepy basement, "Oh yeah here's the first spooky bit!!" WRONG. And the she's up in the gross attic, "Oh, now it's gotta start here, right?" NOPE! And then it happens, the first sighting. So small and quick. A figure in the cloud of dust that hangs in the air. A mirror falling to the floor for seemingly no reason. Ghosts in Ronnie's dreams!!
This was a slow burn, but it was executed so well! Cherie Priest takes her time building the tension and atmosphere of the house. And then she turns up the gas for a thrilling finale.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the chance to read this eARC!
The story is told through the POVs of Ronnie, Sloan, and Venita, bouncing between Sloan's present day watch of the house and a century ago through Venita's diary. Venita has her own grief after the loss of her daughter and her rage and her own brand of justice towards Sloan, who she blames for her daughter's death. Is Sloan to blame? Sort of. Was it a series of unfortunate "wrong place, wrong time" circumstances? Yes. Venita's grief is gut-wrenching and understandable and I was waiting ready for her to be some mindless angry spirit. But she was poise and grace when Ronnie finally meets her.
This is a haunted house tale a la Crimson Peak, not The Conjuring. Grief and good old emotional exhaustion are the stars of the hour. The state of the house is such a perfect metaphor for the Ronnie we are introduced to at the beginning of the story. She is fixing herself up as much as she is the house by the end.
NOW, that is not to say that this wasn't still the atmospheric and creepy haunted house story you are looking for. No no! It was spooky and unnerving, a delicious slow burn that fakes you out a few times, drawing out the suspense. Ronnie goes down to the creepy basement, "Oh yeah here's the first spooky bit!!" WRONG. And the she's up in the gross attic, "Oh, now it's gotta start here, right?" NOPE! And then it happens, the first sighting. So small and quick. A figure in the cloud of dust that hangs in the air. A mirror falling to the floor for seemingly no reason. Ghosts in Ronnie's dreams!!
This was a slow burn, but it was executed so well! Cherie Priest takes her time building the tension and atmosphere of the house. And then she turns up the gas for a thrilling finale.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the chance to read this eARC!