- Publication date: 28- 03-2023
- Genre: Horror; Southern Gothic
- Language: English
- Pages: 256
The title of “A House With Good Bones” is intriguing and sets the tone for a book that, despite its name, doesn’t feature actual buried bones under or inside the house. Yet, it captures the essence of the story effectively.
Samantha, the protagonist, is okay; the secondary characters are mostly fine; the antagonist is quite interesting; but Edith, Samantha’s mother, absolutely steals the show. Edith’s multidimensional character and genuine kindness, self-sacrifice, and ability to confront her fears make her a standout. Samantha, on the other hand, seems clueless for a long time. While Edith broadly understands what’s happening, Samantha spends a lot of time in denial. Despite this, I found Edith to be a much more likable character.
The underground children might not appeal to everyone, but I found them super creepy.
The novella is quite short, which means some plot elements lack development. Notably, the almost-romance that never fully materializes left me puzzled. Vernon, who is well-versed in romance beats, stops short of including the back half of the romance, making the story feel incomplete.
A new T. Kingfisher story is always a delight. Fans of “The Twisted Ones,” “The Hollow Places,” or “What Moves the Dead” will find much to love in her latest work. Kingfisher delivers a smart, quirky female lead, creepy family history, a potential love interest, laugh-out-loud moments, and terrifyingly weird scenes. If you enjoy humor and horror mixed together, this is a must-read.
Samantha Montgomery, a 32-year-old socially awkward archaeoentomologist, visits her mother in rural North Carolina after a concerning conversation with her brother Brad. He thinks something is “off” with their mother, Edie. Sam hesitantly returns to the house they once shared with their stern, religious grandmother. Upon arrival, she notices unsettling changes: Edie’s anxious demeanor, the depressing eggshell white walls, a vulture on the mailbox, a horrifying Confederate painting, and a rose garden devoid of insects.
Sam experiences vivid nightmares and sleep paralysis involving her dead grandmother. She consults Gail, a neighbor rehabilitating vultures, who admits something strange is happening. Together with Phil, a handyman, Gail, and Edie, Sam unravels the mystery surrounding her great-grandfather’s past.
This haunted house story deviates from the norm with Kingfisher’s unique twist. While it begins with typical haunted house occurrences, it evolves into something much more disturbing, involving a creepy story from Gran Mae and a subplot about witches and wizards. The rose garden with thirteen bloodthirsty rosebushes and the unsettling vultures add to the eerie atmosphere. Despite the seemingly unrelated elements, Kingfisher weaves them into a cohesive story.
Kingfisher’s characters are vivid and engaging. Sam’s first-person narrative is light and breezy, filled with humor. Her unique career studying insects at archaeological sites adds an interesting dimension. While Sam struggles to rationalize the weird happenings, she eventually accepts that not everything can be explained by science.
Gran Mae is the perfect villain, embodying the racist, unchangeable Southern white woman. Her cruel actions towards Sam as a child make her thoroughly unlikable, yet Kingfisher gives even the most heinous characters a human side.
The story takes dark, sometimes absurd turns, and while the ending felt abrupt, it was satisfying. “A House With Good Bones” is a fantastic read, especially for newcomers to T. Kingfisher’s work.
About the author
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