Incidents Around the House: A Novel
"Simply put--and I do not say this lightly--Incidents Around the House is the most purely effective horror novel I have ever read."--Neil McRobert, Esquire (Best Horror Books of 2024, So Far)
A chilling horror novel about a haunting, told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls "Other Mommy," from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box "This book is the monster that lives inside your closet."--Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There's Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: "Can I go inside your heart?" When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel. But Other Mommy needs an answer. Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.
A chilling horror novel about a haunting, told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls "Other Mommy," from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box "This book is the monster that lives inside your closet."--Grady Hendrix, New York Times bestselling author of How to Sell a Haunted House To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There's Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: "Can I go inside your heart?" When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay. Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel. But Other Mommy needs an answer. Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.
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Community Reviews
INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE is the latest horror novel from Josh Malerman (Birdbox).
We follow Bela and her mom and dad as they try to figure out what kind of entity is after Bela. In that aspect, it has a very Poltergeist feel, but Malerman, as he always does, makes that old story his own. Malerman's form of storytelling is very unique to him, like a series of scratches that, page by page, work their way beneath your skin.
While this is a(n attempted) possession/haunting story of sorts, it's also the story of an imperfect couple and the secrets they keep. I thought the parents, along with the grandmother, were very well done. And "Other Monther" was creepy when she needed to be.
I would have liked the horror to have been ratcheted up a little more, but it's a good book as is. It was a really easy and fast read.
I give INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE 4 shining, poltergeisty stars!!!!
We follow Bela and her mom and dad as they try to figure out what kind of entity is after Bela. In that aspect, it has a very Poltergeist feel, but Malerman, as he always does, makes that old story his own. Malerman's form of storytelling is very unique to him, like a series of scratches that, page by page, work their way beneath your skin.
While this is a(n attempted) possession/haunting story of sorts, it's also the story of an imperfect couple and the secrets they keep. I thought the parents, along with the grandmother, were very well done. And "Other Monther" was creepy when she needed to be.
I would have liked the horror to have been ratcheted up a little more, but it's a good book as is. It was a really easy and fast read.
I give INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE 4 shining, poltergeisty stars!!!!
Binged the night I brought it home! It hooked me from the beginning, yes the lack of character description bugged me, lack of describing the intity was annoying and yes the family dynamic had some unsettling scenes but that's what makes the book unique. The parents were average people, Bela was an average girl. The author didn't boast upon the family having any prestigious roles, which I liked, I hate when the descriptions of books say “X was CEO (or some other successful position) of a Y company and had a glorious house” yuck.
The book rarely had a slow point, it keeps you entertained for sure.
One of the most unique horror books I've read in a while.
I really liked the writing from the POV of an 8-year-old girl. I also dug the use of typography—the left-justified text throughout the book to discern narrative from dialogue made for an interesting reading experience.
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