Book a stay in these atmospheric haunted-house novels

This article highlights several recent haunted house novels that are worth a read, despite the vast amount of new releases published every week. The series, called The Backlist, aims to shine a light on underrated older releases that deserve recognition.

The articles kicks off with Grady Hendrix's How To Sell A Haunted House, published in 2023. This comedy-horror story revolves around estranged siblings who must deal with a family home haunted by disturbing dolls and ghostly happenings. Hendrix is known for his unique takes on horror tropes, as seen in his popular books The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group. His work is characterized by sharp humor, biting dialogue, and unexpected shocks.

Elizabeth Hand's A Haunting On The Hill, also published in 2023, is a nod to Shirley Jackson's classic The Haunting Of Hill House. Hand's novel takes place 60 years after Eleanor's death, following Holly, a struggling playwright who stays in Hill House for a month with her girlfriend and acting troupe. The story features creepy, supernatural disturbances as the group attempts to rehearse her new play.

T. Kingfisher's A House With Good Bones, also from 2023, is a Southern Gothic tale that explores complex family bonds and literal monsters lurking in our closets. This story follows archaeoentomologist Sam, who returns home to stay with her mother after a dig is delayed. As Sam digs into her past, both literally and figuratively, she learns that some secrets should probably stay buried.

Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan's The Handyman Method, released in 2023, is a psychological thriller that revolves around home repair. The story follows a young family moving into a recently renovated house in an up-and-coming neighborhood. Dad Trent becomes obsessed with a YouTube show called Handyman Hank, which provides advice on home repairs. However, what starts as seemingly innocent home repair advice soon takes a dark and gory turn, incorporating themes of toxic masculinity and violence.

In contrast to the more traditional haunted house stories, Carissa Orlando's The September House (2023) offers a unique take on the genre. The novel begins with narrator Margaret already knowing her Victorian dream home is haunted. As her husband Hal leaves to attend to his other responsibilities, Margaret must struggle to keep the truth of the house's dark secrets hidden from her daughter Katherine when she arrives to track her father down.

Lastly, Isabel Cañas's The Hacienda (2022) is a recommended read for those who enjoyed the oppressive atmosphere and rich historical setting of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Set in 1820s Mexico after the War of Independence, Beatriz, a young woman, marries a mysterious widower following her father's execution. The hacienda, however, turns out to be more unsettling than expected, with her new husband's sister refusing to enter the house at night and the housekeeper drawing strange glyphs on the walls.

Beatriz eventually experiences voices and visions, echoing the classic tropes from Mexican Gothic and Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, but Cañas adds a thoughtful understanding of Mexican culture to her take on these classic horror tropes.