Just too many puppets! Louise has always felt as if her younger slacker brother Mark got rewarded for his ongoing bad behavior from their enabling parents. She has worked hard and built a life across the country in California with her young daughter Poppy. She returns home to South Carolina for some holidays, but mostly she prefers to keep her distance. Then she gets a call that her parents have died so she returns home to attend the funeral and sort out their estate. Her father has assured her that she will inherit everything, trusting Louise to provide Mark his share in a way that ensures he won't be broke again in a year. But not all plans turn out to be foolproof . . .

One thing the siblings agree on is that the family home should be sold. As they are clearing it out, they become creeped out by the many puppets their mother made as part of her "Christian puppet ministry." The strange puppets and dolls are everywhere, and the siblings have an inexplicably difficult time getting rid of them. Their mother's favorite, Pupkin, holds an especially large place in the family history. Many odd noises and occurrences happen as Louise tries to come to terms with her new reality and to get the house ready to sell. Their real estate agent Mercy, who also happens to be their cousin, informs them that they will have a hard time selling the house until it's cleansed, what with it being haunted and all. Luckily, Mercy's mother has had a lot of experience clearing out demons and spirits from haunted houses, so there should be no problem there.

The story just seems to drag on and on. There is, of course, a lot of family history to be unraveled to explain how things got to this point and why Louise and Mark don't get along. Then there is the long, drawn-out, and extremely tedious portion of the book where Mark reveals why he became the apparent loser he is. Lots of struggles with the entities ensue (which might be interesting on film but are very boring to read) that also slow the book down. There are some funny bits, but overall, the story is just too slow-paced and puppet-laden to really keep the reader's interest.

Grady Hendrix certainly knows how to spin a yarn, and How to Sell a Haunted House does not disappoint.. Louise is living in California with her young daughter when she gets devastating news from her brother Mark in Charleston that begins a series of events and mysteries from the past that must be dealt with. Add to that a cast of unforgettable cousins and assorted family members full of love and Southern sass, and let the games begin. The haunting of the house is of a most unique kind, and the resolve to the problem is a bit drawn out, but, then again, this is no ordinary haunting.

Grady Hendrix shows that the truly terrifying isn't necessarily slasher blood and guts. It's the little things, like secrets, guilt, and misunderstanding that create actual horror.

Grady Hendrix writes one heck of a horror story and How To Sell a Haunted House does not disappoint.

Louis and Mark have survived the pandemic but their parents did not. However, their bank accounts did not and the only thing that they have of value is this house - this haunted house.

Full of chills and thrills, the book also explores the ideas of both familial and physical ties.

Here are two things I love. Hendrix’s books and haunted house stories. Here I something I am legit afraid of: creepy dolls. Now, in my case, my love of the first two overrode my abject horror of the latter, HOWEVER, HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE legitimately freaked me out such that the next time I accidentally come face to face with an antique doll or a puppet of any sort, I will undoubtedly run screaming. This novel did for me what Joe Hill’s NOS4ATU did: which is give my adult ass a new phobia (in that case it was covered bridges. Oh, and pinwheels which some old neighbors of ours LOVED) and, in this case is a couple of things I already found distasteful and now want to burn in hellfire. Also, the next time I have to sleep in my best friend’s mother’s sewing room, I won’t. Sleep, that is. Even though she’s a quilter and there was nary a puppet in sight. So, thanks for that, Grady.

There is a kiddo involved in the plot which can be hard for some people. The good news is (spoiler) as in many of Hendrix’s books, the currently living kid is alright at the end so go in knowing all will be well on that front, however, there is discussion of childhood trauma and a child dying in the past. Keep away if that’s going to push too many of your buttons.

Well plotted, great beats. Maybe a TITCH too long but that’s my main complaint even about most of the books I five star these days and it may very well be me and my long Covid attention span.

I think FINAL GIRLS SUPPORT GROUP remains my favorite followed by SOUTHERN BOOK CLUB’S GUIDE but HOW TO SELL is definitely up there with MY BEST FRIEND’S EXORCISM. And THESE FISTS BREAK BRICKS.

I felt a little misled about the title - and it's such a great title, I have to give credit there - but this was a whole different kind of story than I was looking for. This isn't about a haunted "house" so much as about haunted "things" ...but I will leave it at that and just admit that I don't have a lot of complaints otherwise. Overall, this is a super-fast read, and in spite of not being really into this type of "ghost" story I have to admit it's still everything you'd expect from Grady Hendrix: Southern-fried horror with a dose of humor and a bit of commentary about the strengths (and weaknesses) of motherhood. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for review.

I was afraid the title was misleading, but stay with it. About a third of the way through, the story takes a turn, and yes, we are haunted all the way. Another good Hendrix read, with more horror tropes than you can shake a stick at. Horror lovers should be pleased,

Louise Joyner has barely seen her brother, Mark, since she left home for college and never came back, so when she learns of her parents’ accidental death, it pains her to leave the comfort of her home and her young daughter in San Francisco to have to visit her family home and sort out their burial arrangements with her lazy, entitled brother. Even still, Louise, ever the realist, is prepared for the worst – or so she thinks. Because Louise is sure this whole ordeal will be cut-and-dry: get to Charleston; organize the funeral; avoid her brother; deal with her parents’ assets; and be back home in two weeks. But even best laid plans can’t contend with the skeletons in the Joyner family closet, and when strange sights and sounds begin to disturb their childhood home, Louise is quick to learn that her version of reality isn’t at all what it seemed.

As my first novel from this author, How to Sell a Haunted House did not disappoint. I never could have imagined a story beginning with a petty sibling squabble over inheritance would turn into such a complex narrative examining the psychological depth of guilt and loss through multiple generations. Hendrix teases the reader with one-dimensionality only to ultimately provide a masterclass on multifaceted storytelling that keeps you on your toes.

This is a novel fixed around the unravelling of juicy family secrets, and the way in which each revelation is delivered is so satisfying and methodical that you’re at the edge of your seat at the first hint of a new one about to be told. I loved the way the author told this story and embedded twists at just the right time. Hendrix does an outstanding job of making you think you know his characters to the point you’re sure whose sides you are and aren’t on, only for your perspective to be turned upside down in the next instant.

This novel checks all my boxes for what a horror novel should be to keep the genre fresh and evolving. Between emotional and creepy, paced and urgent, How to Sell A Haunted House never fails to hit the sweet spot that keeps you turning page after page. If Hendrix’ other titles have only a fraction of the suspense and depth of this one, they’d be well worth the read.

Thanks to Berkley, NetGalley, and the author for this incredible read.

Grady Hendrix will forever be an author that I pick up a book from without question. With a title like “How to Sell a Haunted House” how could you not be interested? But ai wouldn’t get your hopes up. I wanted to love this book but the overall plot and premise fell short compared to what I know Hendrix is capable of. The characters were hard to like and connect to, and the book felt 10 chapters too long. I still recommend everyone give it a try, as puppets (no spoilers) will always send a chill up a spine, but you’ll ultimately end this book with a big sigh, and toss it aside.

Goosebumps rated R.

This was a bit slow to start but once it got going whoo boy it got going. Louise and Mark are estranged adult siblings who (sort of) come together to deal with the sudden death of their parents. Tensions rise when the will is read and they learn who is left with what and who will decide what to do with the house.

I was not expecting a creepy murderous puppet but it worked. With a few notable exceptions like Stephen King, horror in written form doesn’t always land with me--which I take full responsibility for, as I feel like I don’t have the imagination to understand what the heck is even going on. But the fast-paced chaos and reveals of long-buried family secrets made for a very wild ride.

This was a story as much about grief and complicated family dynamics as anything. The aforementioned slow start really pertained to Louise and Mark’s incessant bickering over literally everything when they just needed some sense knocked into them. Well…that happened, but at what cost?

Grady Hendrix writes women characters so well that I didn't realize he was a man until I'd read at least 2 of his books. But with this book that has mother-daughter relationships at its heart, I felt like something was missing in the dynamic between Louise and her mother. Parts of their history came to light through Mark (the art insults, especially) and it sort of felt like Louise needed to reckon with that to break the cycle of generational trauma.

I loved Grady's singular body horror that creeps up on you and makes you physically react in pain. The NEEDLE!! Big nope. But the puppets didn't feel very spooky after coming to life (literally and metaphorically)--and I'm usually too scared to sleep after finishing a Grady Hendrix book. I felt like I knew where Pupkin's ~second act would begin very early on and that took me out of the suspense and slowed my momentum.

Overall, I'm just not as taken by books that are both horror and heart!

I love Grady Hendrix's writing style, but for some reason, I think I was expecting something different. The book was a little more possessed demon puppet than traditional haunted house, at least until the end. I didn't love the characters.... Mark was just TERRIBLE. All in all, it was a fun read, exciting and well-written, but I would say go into it with no expectations- it'll be a lot more enjoyable that way.

Horror is usually not my genre but I tend to like everything by Grady Hendrix. I have mixed feelings about how many stars to give his latest. The writing and character development were phenomenal as I’ve come to expect. The premise and puppets were a little harder to swallow. 4 1/2 *

One of Hendrix's great strengths in writing is his ability to both horrify and entertain. While reading this book I was on the edge of my seat, afraid to turn the page; all the while chuckling here and there at his whip-smart talent for dialogue. The characters are thoughtfully written, and their development over the course of the novel is organic and raw. Family secrets have a way of eroding as they drip down. Can these two siblings put aside their differences and rebuild the trust that was lost, before it's too late?

Louise returns to her hometown after her parents die. She had forgotten about her mom's creepy doll and puppet collection. She does not get along with her younger brother Mark and they argue about selling the house and their inheritance. We learn about the terrible events that drove them apart. Soon they will be fighting for their lives in their childhood home when an evil presence makes itself known. This book has many creepy scenes and how the author turns an unbelievable toy into a terrifying villain is impressive. This is one of my favorite horror stories and I'll not soon forget Pupkin!

This book didn't end up being what I expected at all, but because Grady is such a thoughtful writer and reverent horror fan, it was still a fun, campy nailbiter. I really appreciated how wildly Mark swung in my esteem over the course of the book, and I think the family dynamics were as interesting as the scary stuff.

And I'm just gonna say it: Grady writes women better than any man writing horror, full stop. It's not like he deserves a cookie for portraying women as people or anything, but I do think it's worth highlighting that I'm never stressed that something misogynistic is gonna happen, or that the story will hinge on gendered violence. It's one element he doesn't borrow from 80's pulp horror, for which I am grateful.

To me, this book spiritually has more in common with My Best Friend's Exorcism and, to a lesser extent, Grady's other earlier books. Fans of Southern Book Club or Final Girl Support Group are, I think, going to find some of the absurdist mega-80s aspects of this book a little silly. But that's kind of what I love about it.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. This is my honest review:

How do you cope with grief? With incomprehensible loss? When a tragic accident takes the lives of her parents, Louise returns to South Carolina to deal with the fallout- the funeral, their wills, and inevitably, the selling of the house she grew up in. Complicating matters is her rocky relationship with her slacker of a younger brother, Mark, who insists on doing things his way. All Louise wants is to go home to her young daughter and forget this tragic nightmare. But as she sifts through the things left behind in her parents’ house, ghosts of the past come to the surface, threatening the life she has so carefully built and endangering everything she holds dear.

Horror is an outlet- taking our fears and amplifying them. When done well, it evokes an emotional response beyond simple terror- it holds a mirror to humanity. It can provide commentary. It can resonate with us. It can cause us to reflect. And yes—for many of us horror fans, it can provide that delightfully creepy and addictive hit of dopamine that causes us to linger just a little longer before turning the lights out.
Grady Hendrix has been steadily making a name for himself over the last decade. I have read every book he has put his name on, and while I wasn’t the biggest fan of the last few he wrote, this book felt like coming home. Hendrix so masterfully blends horror and humanity in his work- from themes of friendship to motherhood to trauma- and now, grief. In How to Sell a Haunted House, the scares are plentiful, but the heart of the story is about the acceptance of loss and the importance of confronting the past. And yes—there is a terrifying possessed puppet to boot.

Like all of Grady Hendrix’s books, there is an intrinsic fun campiness that is outshined only by his brilliant wit, storytelling, and the compassion he makes you feel for the characters. This is Hendrix at his best. The first time I’ve ever shed tears over a horror novel. This author is tearing down the genre’s walls and showing us that horror is so much more than jump scares and evil clowns. Grady Hendrix is a national treasure, and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. Don’t miss this book!

This was great-everything I like about Grady Hendrix’s storytelling! I hate puppets and dolls, so I found the whole premise to be completely creepy. I thought the dynamics between family were well thought out and I liked the entire roller coaster of the story. I never really know what I’m going to get with a Grady Hendrix tale, but I always love the humor, horror, and insanity that it inevitably contains. 4.5 stars

An adult brother and sister who can't stand each other want to sell their deceased parents' house. There's just one problem: the house is either haunted by a malevolent entity or someone or something connected to the house is possessed by a demon.

With his signature wit and his delight in the supernatural, Hendrix offers a frightening, yet entertaining novel for horror fans. Without giving away too much, here are three things to remember: Trilogy of Terror is one of the scariest movies ever, sometimes you have to take extraordinary measures when dealing with the supernatural, and puppets are creepy as hell.

Now this was an interesting ride.

I hadn’t been interested in an Grady Hendrix Novel for a bit, but this one feels like a Grady Hendrix at his horror loving best.

This book had all the things about Grady Hendrix is writing that I love: his ability to do real character development, his ability to tell the story of a family on several levels, and make you feel like you know the family dynamics that exist. His ability to make you understand a town and it’s dynamics is here in spades.

The other thing I really like about Grady Hendrix writing is that he is really not afraid to go there as a horror writer. There are jump scares and freak out moments and full on “I didn’t need to hear that or think that or see that ever again” moments.

This book however is much heavier on the different ways that siblings from the same parent said can I have a completely different perspectives in memories on their childhood. The relationship between Mark and Louise was totally interesting to me,

This book however is much heavier on the themes of families and the secrets that families keep, but also, most interestingly, in the different ways that siblings from the same parent said can I have completely different perspectives and memories on their childhood‘s. The relationship between Mark and Louise was totally interesting to me, from the beginning to the end.

This book is blessedly free of any issues of uncomfortable issues of race that we and white saviorism that we found in his previous blockbuster hit. I’m happy to say this is just a horror-filled romp with a ton of heart.

Now, let me say that this definitely is not for everyone. It is a scary book, and it had several things in it that had me staying up at night and literally wanting to put my Kindle into into the freezer. But it was a very very fast read and I enjoyed it all the way through.

It is very curious to me why this wasn’t released in early October instead of when it is apparently now going to be released in the third week of January 2023. Something must have gone wrong in the supply chain to make that happen because this is just the perfect book for fall reading.

I would highly recommend placing a pre-order with your in the bookstore and I would highly recommend once you receive it, tucking it away until October of next year. You will be in for the fright of your life.