The Caretaker: A Novel

Follow the Rites...

Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake.

From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:
Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.

Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she's not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.

Besides, it’s only three days’ work…

Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.

What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.

Follow the Rites...

Follow the Rites...

Follow the Rites...

..--- / ..... / ---..

BUY THE BOOK

Published Apr 21, 2026

320 pages

Average rating: 4

1 RATING

|

Join a book club that is reading The Caretaker: A Novel!

The Thriller Crush 📚 🔪❤️ Book Club

JOIN US 👻 OR WE'LL COME FOR YOU 🪓 For women who ♡ creepy books. Please bring your ideas & anything you wld like to share w/our family.

Thrillers by the Bookclub Philly

Calling all thriller lovers in the Philadelphia region! We exclusively read thrillers, mysteries, and whodunnit’s. Welcome to all, can’t wait to meet

Community Reviews

juli1357
Apr 14, 2026
4/10 stars
"A supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater-and more dangerous-than she ever could have imagined." I was excited to read "The Caretaker," because it had an interesting promise and | love horror novels set in the Pacific Northwest. I was disappointed. With the exception of a short first chapter, the story is told from Macy's POV. Considering that this is a 320 page novel, her character is not well developed. Macy is whiny and incompetent. The rites" seem arbitrary and confusing. There's not much tension. The book is not well paced, and the ending was too open ended/ambiguous. “The Caretaker" would have worked better as a Novella. Personally, I did not find this book unsettling, disturbing, or scary. I don't think most people who read Horror will either. My ARC was provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.