A review by maxgardner
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I've heard mixed things on some Grady Hendrix books, but this is my second one after My Best Friend's Exorcism, and I really liked both of them. Puppets and taxidermy already are creepy (to me, anyways), so the vibes were there off the bat, but Hendrix definitely elevates that and really maximizes the horror factor. There were scenes in this that had me on the edge of my seat, wincing, wide-eyed—great pacing, solid action writing, and good tension. I was and am truly terrified of Pupkin. I also like that he explores the impact of unresolved family trauma and secrets, and that we get two central characters that ultimately end up being likable and fallible in unexpected ways. I do think the writing sags a bit in the third act—there are a lot of repetitive phrases and thoughts going through Louise's head and it got on my nerves a bit, but I think the ending is strong and works well. Hendrix's writing style appeals so much to me—he blends this wry humor into these moments of solid, wacky horror, and he's got some really wild, strange metaphors at times that just for some reason work. I look forward to reading more from him.