Addictive and un-put-downable; A top-notch gothic-horror.
A young family finds themselves thrust into danger in Kummer’s exhilarating series kicker in the House on the Hill series. The rural town of New Haven is usually a quiet place to live, with life happening in a predictable way. Benjamin “Cliff” Woods’ family has lived here for generations, and though he married an outsider, the town has accepted the indomitable Naomi as one of their own. When a local store burns to the ground with two bodies inside, Sheriff Wheeler immediately sets his eyes on the Dawes, the new addition to the town. When Kaia Woods’ married friend goes missing with her new husband, all hell breaks loose. With their own family thrust into danger, Cliff and Naomi know they must find answers before the time runs out. Kummer deftly captures the vibe of the small-town culture of intolerance and bigotry. Told from various characters’ perspectives, the paranormal-infused story moves at a lightning-fast pace. The supernatural elements are thoroughly developed and convincing, and Kummer creates scenes of psychological and graphic horror that feel truly consequential. Along with Kaia and Nathaniel, the reader is also kept in the dark about the looming evil. Though Cliff and Naomi seem to know the origin of the lurking darkness (do they really?), the explanations (for the reader) are deliciously, frighteningly ambiguous. Readers hoping for a tidy ending putting matters into clearer focus will have to wait for the next installment in the series. A taut, tension-fraught horror story that leaves readers pleasantly chilled to the bone.
The Misery House: The House on the Hill #1
David Kummer
Pub date July 7, 2023
ISBN 978-1087918785
Price $24.99 (USD) Hardcover, $12.99 Paperback, $3.99 Kindle edition
