The Spite House
Ratings38
Average rating3.6
chose this novel I found it on a list of "great books" in the haunted house genre. I put the e-book on hold at my public library way back during Spooky Season and it finally became available. And it was worth the wait (even if it doesn't fit as well during this "pre-Valentine" season.) The plot covers much ground and fortunately the core characters-the dad and his daughters are likeable and relatable enough to support some pretty wild plot elements. I found the titular house to be more creepy and mysterious rather than terrifying. So, those looking for scares to keep your lights on at night while reading won't really find it here. I liked how the mystery of why the family is on the run takes time to unfold - even though I found the reason (and thus the resolution of the story to be somewhat unsatisfying and confusing.) Regardless, a quick and enjoyable read - during any season.
I like the depth of the backstory and the way that was unfurled. Everyone was keeping secrets and they get revealed at a good pace. Some of the characters were well fleshed out and some were too flat for my preference. The final solution was not my favorite. I wish the deep dark cause of the horror was explored a little more. It was a good read.
DNF at 14%. Is just moving too slow for me and there are too many perspectives for me to get invested in anyone. I love a spooky house story but they haven't even made it to the house or anything spooky at 14% and I'm not interested enough in continuing. Which is upsetting to me because I was really excited for this book.
Rating: 3.75 leaves out of 5Characters: 3.5/5 Cover: 3.5/5Story: 4/5Writing: 5/5Horror: 2.75/5Genre: Horror/ThrillerType: AudiobookWorth?: YeahHated Disliked It Was Okay Liked Loved FavoritedWant to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book. Coming into this book I wasn't sure exactly what to expect and I am thankful for that. What I got was a swirl of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House mixed with Stephen King's The Shinning, but even with this Johnny made it into his own world. Where I was disappointed with Shirley's work, Johnny picked up and made better.The narrator did an amazing job, reminding me of James Earl Jones, and made a haunted house... inviting. All in all the story was good and worth the read. I say it leaned heavier on the gothic more than the horror. Was it creepy? Yes. Did it make me second guess going into the dark parts of my house? Yes. But all in all it was poetic in justice. Johnny showed how anger and hurt can fester into a generational curse.
There's nothing like a good haunted house book.
Eric is on the run with his two daughters. Money is tight and he's doing his best for his daughters but living in motels and barely having enough money to eat isn't really cutting it. When Eric spots an ad looking for someone to stay in their haunted house and record what they experience Eric believes he may have found the answer. With a small fortune as the payout once completed and a desire to see if this house could provide answers for his own supernatural experience within his family Eric and his daughters are on their way to Texas to stay in what some call the most haunted house in the state.
This is a short book yet it fits everything needed within it. It's told from multiple POV's and different timelines. I love books like this when done well and this one was done well. There's many different mysteries that keep you turning the pages and they all come together and are revealed with the perfect pace.
I don't want to reveal too much because I think going into this as blind as possible is best. But I can say that I highly recommend this book and it delivers a great haunted house story and so much. more.
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I enjoyed the story, I wanted to connect so much to the characters, but that part kept losing me. I felt as though there was an imbalance of telling vs. show and always felt somewhat at a distance from everything going down. I objectively enjoyed the twists and turns and how everything ended - but it was like looking at a photograph that got left out in the sun. The picture's intention is still on the page, but the colours are blanched and the edges are blurry.
4.5 stars, decided upon reflection to round to 4. As a parent what would risk for your children when you have little options? Eric, 18yo daughter Dess and 9yo daughter Stacy are on the run. Making their way to Texas, Eric sees an ad seeking people to live in the Masson House, a skinny house on top of a hill in Degener, Texas. The ad claims the house is a site of pronounced paranormal activity and serious candidates only, with a high six-figure payout after completion of the assignment. The house can't actually be haunted, right?
I wanted to pick this up because I really want to read Compton's 2024 release. A very strong 2023 debut IMO. It has a smidge of a slow start because of lot of family set up, but once the creepy/scary things kick off they don't stop with a lot of twists and reveals along the journey. I was worried the ending would fizzle but I was content. Great character work and I love that it's multi-POV of the family members and others too. The father reminded me of my own parents: “this next idea is going to be the one that solves all our problems.”
If you like haunted house movies/stories I 100% recommend this book. If you're looking for true horror, but don't want any gore or anything else extreme this could be for you. It might also be historical fiction because I think it lines up with the one American Civil War Texas fact I know, but there's no author's note. The book's structure reminded me of LaValle's the Changeling, as in a family story that turns horror, but an intergenerational family story with familial love nonetheless.
⭐⭐⭐.5 — A well-designed cover that provides some hints about the genre, style or themes of the book.
The Spite House by Johnny Compton is a gripping Gothic thriller that revolves around Eric Ross, who is on the run with his two daughters. In search of money and a safe place to stay, they find an ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, which is reported to be one of the most haunted places in Texas. The job requires them to stay in Spite House and document any paranormal activity. What could go wrong?!
Great narrator. Really enjoyed this one too. More to it than just a spooky ghost story. Definitely a good one for Spooktober.