Obviously T. Kingfisher is an author I love. I read everything of hers and even if they don't land on my fave list, they still end up playing on a reel in my head.

A House with Good Bones is no different. I finished this in one day as soon as the awesome folks at Macmillan Audio gifted me an audio copy. I purposely waited until the physical arrived because that cover is just gorgeous and needs to be shared.

Samantha is an archaeoentomologist (say that five times fast) who is reluctantly heading home to her childhood stomping grounds. With a major archaeological dig on hold, finances in a bind and a mother who does not seem to be doing well, she's already prepared for her version of the worst. Little does she realize how hauntingly bad things really are.

I love when an author has a witty MC. I found myself laughing more times than not and as the crazy increases I could not help but sit there and think "same" to her reactions. In general, the characters are always so unique in Kingfisher's writing and this lot is no different. Quirky neighbors, family tree crazies, adorable love interests and cute little puking vultures. The icing on the cake is the plot. What you think is a classic haunting is so far from the truth. The twists, revelations and overall 'holy fudges' that she manages to create keep you on your toes and ready for more.

I fully listened to this book. The narration is done by Mary Robinette Kowal. When I say she effortlessly brought Southern charm to this little horror, well believe me because she totally did. There are some high emotion horror moments and the personality Kingfisher crafted for these characters was vocalized so well in the narration. If I had any voice qualms it would've been for Phil but he ended up growing on me.

This novel does have childhood abuse, fat shaming and a few other content warnings that readers may want to look into. I cannot wait to see what she does next. Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. For my horror lovers, you need to add this to your tbr if you like charmingly creepy Southern gothic horror!

I think this just goes in the category of it wasn’t for me. I see many loving this one. But i couldn’t get into it and i didn’t love the main character. Not much happened and it seemed repetitive also.

The narrator did a good job tho

Samantha Montgomery has moved back to her family home in North Carolina. The archaeological dig which she expected to be spending the next six month working on, was abruptly halted. Having sublet her own apartment and being that archaeo-entomologist (people who study bug fossils and such at archeological digs) are not know for rolling in cash, this was the only real option she had.

Upon her return, she found the house had changed from the way her mother normally kept it. Much of her grandmother's things had been returned to the house - artwork and old photos hung on the wall. Ones that she knew her mother hated, Her mother was acting oddly as well. She insisted on saying prayers before each meal and other habits that much like her own mother. And what is up with the vultures hanging out just watching the house? Her mother's friend and neighbor would not reveal what was going on, but only spoke about the beloved vultures.

Other odd things were happening, like having a swarm on ladybugs come into the house or the jar of teeth found under the rose bushes. Has Sam's mom just lost it, or is there something otherworldly controlling these events?

I have not read any other books by T. Kingfisher ( a pen=name for Ursula Vernon), but I know she has a following, While I found the character of Sam sarcastic and funny, the book was terribly slow. That is until it wasn't, but then it felt rushed. At no time did it feel suspenseful to me, I guess I just did not connect with material. This would not keep me from reading anotherKingfisher novel, but I don't think it will be topping my reading list.

The narrator did a fine job with the souther accent, but was not really able to pull off any of the male voices.
2.5 stars

My thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy of this book.

This was my first read from T. Kingfisher but it certainly won't be my last. This was twisty in the best possible ways and so unexpected all the way through. Kingfisher paints a vivid image and keeps the sense of dread high. Between the impeccable writing and Mary Robinette Kowal's wonderful narration, I didn't want it to end.

Thank you, @TorBooks & @Libro.FM for the gifted copy of A House with Good Bones

Genre: Horror
Trope: Southern Gothic
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆
Pub Date: 3.28.20023
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆

"Strange, the powers you find sometimes in a garden at the end of the road."

A House with Good Bones is my first from T. Kingfisher, and I was so impressed with the author's way of working. I was hooked on this book from the start and found myself quickly mesmerized by Kingfisher's talent for mixing horror and humor. The addition of humor to the horror genre is new for me, but it fits as it helped keep the story from becoming too grotesque.

I listened to A House with Good Bones on audio as I received an ALC of the book from Libro. FM. Mary Robinette Kowal did a marvelous job with all the different voices except one. For some reason, the voice used for one of the characters, Phil, had me cringing. I couldn't get past it. Otherwise, it was a great audiobook narration!

😳 Humor meets horror
👌🏼 Author's writing style
💯 The MC, Sam
💨 Ended too quickly

I recommend reading A House with Good Bones if you enjoyed reading The Change or Mexican Gothic.

T. Kingfisher is quickly becoming one of my favorites, read whatever she writes, tell everyone, author.
A House with Good Bones was simply wonderful. I listened to the audiobook of this title and I have to give kudos to the narrator, Mary Robinette Kowal, for bringing all of the characters to life, and making me care about each of them.
I originally thought this was a haunted house novel, then I thought just a ghost story, then I realized it was both of these with a slight touch of Lovecraft thrown in.
A true Southern Gothic novel full of suspense and enough humor to make you laugh out loud.
A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family. Sam quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.

To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.
Highly recommended and on sale now.
Thanks to @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I don't read a lot of horror fiction, and that might have influenced my enjoyment of this book. There was quite a buildup of the story and character development in the first 3/4 of the book, and I was entertained even though I sometimes felt the protagonist's quirky humor was a bit forced. I felt the climax was a little lazy and unsatisfactory - but I loved the image of a ghost made of roses!

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

When Sam’s grandmother passes her brother informs her that their mother has been acting strangely and asks that she checks on her. When Sam gets to her mother’s house, the one she shared with her grandmother, she realizes some odd things, such as the color of the walls being changed and paintings being hung up her mother hates, but her grandmother loved. Whenever Sam tries to speak with her mother about this or says anything remotely negative about her grandmother her mother vehemently denies these things. As the days go on Sam notices even more odd things like notes her mother left for herself, pictures falling off the walls, and the vultures surrounding the house. With the help of a neighbor Sam investigates what is happening to her mother and the house only to find out, sometimes the dead don’t stay that way. The books takes its time adding creepy elements, but as they add up the reader will feel more and more unsettled. Listening to the audiobook I was cringing at the description of some elements and shivering in disgust. The ending was so gross and unsettling in the best possible way.

I really enjoyed this creepy yet funny novel from T. Kingfisher. I liked the entomologist angle, as well as the vultures! It was certainly in the gothic horror, and the house itself was creepy. Great writing, quick to read but very enjoyable.

I am a huge fan of T. Kingfisher and her creepy quirky stories. She develops unique storylines and knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. A House With Good Bones is, by far, the most disturbing story I have read by Kingfisher. I couldn't wait to figure out what was happening in that house.
I look forward to seeing what Kingfisher comes up with next.

I really liked this audiobook! I really enjoy this type of horror/thriller. The world feels like our own- the atmosphere is not over the top dark or gothic. It was really relatable and real. And then things start to feel off and you think... something isn't right here. But you are experiencing the same self doubt that the main character is experiencing. Is something bad really happening here if the world feels normal?

I loved the vultures! And I lived the personality of the main character. She is funny, smart, and confident. She was quirky but not in a ridiculous way.

I thought the narration was good until we met Phil. Her voice for him was terrible. I thought he was a decrepit old man but he was actually a young guy.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC of this audiobook!

Totally creepy - I LOVED it! Sam returns to her mother’s big southern home after her brother said that Mom was acting off. The house is creepy, Mom really is acting weird (haunted, stalked?), and there are vultures circling around the house!! Sam unearths a bottle of teeth under the perfect garden… twisty and very southern gothic. Suspenseful and Sam was a great main character!

The narration was perfectly on target.

Many thanks to my friends at @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio

Southern gothic horror but make it equal parts creepy and laugh-out-loud funny.

This is my third read by Kingfisher, and it’s safe to say that where ever she leads I will follow.

Apparently, that now includes a house haunted by ancestral secrets and guarded by vultures. Open up the boxed wine. I’m in.

“Mom seems off.” On furlough, Sam returns to her childhood home and realizes her brother wasn’t exaggerating. But her mom isn’t the only thing that’s worrisome. Among the variety of noticeably unsettling household modifications, there’s now a vulture perched on the mailbox.

Ever the scientist, Sam tries to make sense of what’s going on. But as she unearths long-held family secrets, dark magic, and generational curses, it becomes obvious that logic won’t get to the bottom of this.

Disturbing yet highly entertaining, I found myself completely engaged in this bizarre storyline, and by the end I started to ponder the benefits of a vulture for a pet. If that isn’t an endorsement for a southern gothic horror story, I don’t know what is.

Sam won me over from the beginning. Between her penchant for old British detective shows and her love of bugs (she’s an archaeoentomologist), she felt both relatable and oddly loveable. She’s my favorite kind of heroine: smart, witty, fierce. And her droll inner dialogue made for a compelling narration.

But… it was Gail, the eccentric (witchy?) vulture owning neighbor that I constantly wanted more of! She was elusive and unconventional, and I know there’s a wealth of secrets within her walls. A potential spin-off novella??? One can wish.

I don’t typically think of southern gothic humor as being comical. And yet, Kingfisher has created a read that is both intense and laugh-out-loud funny at times. With hilarity deftly woven throughout and playing such a key role, I found this to be a much more accessible horror-lite read.

🎧 Never wanting to set my book aside, I utilized the audiobook while on-the-go. And while I enjoyed the narrator’s depiction for most characters, I found the execution for Phil to be a bit cringy and almost comical. If you’re on the go, definitely utilize the audiobook. But if you’re able, I’d recommend the print version.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, T Kingfisher, and NetGalley for providing this ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

From the first page, I was completely drawn into the world Kingfisher created within this book. The story follows Sam Montgomery as she visits her mother's house in North Carolina, only to find that something is seriously off. Her mom is acting strange, the house is sterile and cold, and there are vultures circling overhead. Like, is mom just getting older and more conservative and weird or is something seriously wrong here??? But when Sam discovers a jar of teeth hidden beneath the rose bushes, she realizes there's something much darker lurking beneath the surface of her family's seemingly perfect home.

What I loved most about this book was Kingfisher's ability to create a truly unsettling atmosphere. I found myself on edge, wondering what was going to happen next. And Sam is such a relatable and likable character that you can't help but root for her as she uncovers and reacts to some super creepy things.

As someone who's read Kingfisher's previous book "What Moves The Dead," I was blown away by the difference in tone between the two. It's a true testament to Kingfisher's talent as a writer that she can seamlessly switch between genres and still maintain her signature style.

If you're a fan of books like "Love in the Time of Serial Killers" and "Tell me I'm Worthless," then "A House With Good Bones" is a must-read for you. I knew this one would be a hit for me and I'm so glad to have been right.

I had not previously read a T. Kingfisher book, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up. I'm glad I did though. This book was just the right mix of Southern gothic horror vibes with a splash of humor. There were so many great elements that came together to create a quirky, fun, and mildly creepy read.

First of all, I loved the characterization in this. Our MC is so relatable and I loved her ability to laugh at herself. I also really appreciated how logical she was in regard to the majority of the horror. She didn't panic or immediately jump to a haunting and that felt so much more realistic. And all of the supporting characters felt like real people as well. Even characters that only appeared briefly felt thoroughly fleshed out.

I also really enjoyed the quirky elements like the pet vultures and the bug factoids. It made the book feel a bit more unique and less cookie cutter.

The humor in this was a surprise for me, but a welcome one. I loved that this book didn't take itself too seriously. It made the book feel light even with some of the darker subject matter.

All in all, this was a good first experience with Kingfisher and I will definitely read more of their books in the future.

I did receive an egalley of the audiobook on netgalley and I really enjoyed the narration of this. It was smooth and I felt that the narrator's voice really fit with the story,

*Receipt of an egalley in no way influences the content of my review.

A funny yet scary #horrornovel about generational trauma and family dysfunction.

Sam, moves back in with her mom for a while, when her job at an archeological dig gets put on hold. Sam is surprised by changes in her loving, modern feisty mom, as she seems to be acting more like her own bitter, racist stuffy mother, Sam’s Grandmae.

Weird things begin to happen in her childhood home, nightmares, sleep paralysis and a ladybug horde. Her mother is downright fearful of the dark presence in the house.

This is my second read by T Kingfisher. The Hollow Places also has a funny, imperfect and endearing MC in Kara. Both Sam and Kara are realistic and likeable and both novels are fast-paced and darkly scary examples of modern southern gothic horror.

I discovered T. Kingfisher last year with Nettle & Bone (Fairytale Horror) and What Moves The Dead (Edgar Allan Poe retelling). I loved both books. Here, T. Kingfisher explores southern gothic horror with a fair amount of humor infused.

What I really enjoyed:
✨Sam (our MC & POV) - her internal monologue is quirky, sarcastic, and hilarious. Her scientific brain logically explains the horrors happening in this haunted house. And boy, does she love bugs!
✨Side Characters - Gail, the rumored witch with a one-winged vulture as a pet; Phil, the kinda cute handyman whose paranoid father lives across the street; and Sam’s mother, who loves boxed wine, TV detective stories, and is suddenly scared the house is “listening.”
✨Narration - I loved the voices for the women, but the male’s voice took me a bit to get used to.

Why not a “love” for this one? I wish it were a bit scarier. But if you are just starting to dabble in the horror genre, A House With Good Bones is a great place to start. Not too scary and laced with a lot of humor makes this one an entertaining read!

After Sam’s brother indicates that something weird is going on with their Mother and the archaeological work she was doing is paused, she decides to visit with her Mother in North Carolina. Sam starts to notices weird things going on and how their Mother has changed. With each day that goes by things start to escalate.

I am becoming a fan of T. Kingfisher’s work and look forward to reading more. This audiobook was eerie, spooky and a slow burn. I would definitely recommend!

I want to thank NetGalley, T. Kingfisher and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are honest, my own and left voluntarily.

A slow beginning but the creepiness was on point in A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher. A huge thank you to NetGalley., the publisher and the author for this advance audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This was not a favorite of mine by this author but I still enjoyed this story none the less. The narration gave me the chills at times so yayyyy for that!! The author truly captured the Southern Gothic Vibes and let me tell you I listened to that through the night!! Yes, I read past my bedtime and with this author’s writing style I didn’t mine that I was beyond tired the next day. Definitely worth losing sleep for! Again, not my favorite by the author but it’s still a good time!! I highly recommend!!

I am a fan of T. Kingfisher's horror novels, and I am a fan of Mary Robinette Kowal's sci-fi novels. I didn't realize until I started listening to this one on audio that I'd be getting to enjoy both author's talents. I didn't know Mary Robinette Kowal HAD narrating talents, but that she does!

Haunted House stories are among my favorites. I love dark, dank Victorian manors crawling with history and atmosphere. This is... not that. I was crazy intrigued to find out how Kingfisher planned to arrange for the haunting of a 20-year-old cookie cutter house in a subdivision.

Turns out, when your great-grandfather is a mad sorcerer, you can wind up with haunts that follow the family no matter where they wind up. What's lost with the dusty chandeliers and 150-year-old foundations is made up for here with creepy racist paintings, memories of sadistic grandmothers, and a neighborhood watch composed entirely of vultures. Total success on the creepiness front.

And as always, Kingfisher's characters are top notch. Our protagonist Sam, a (self-described) fat woman with excellent self-esteem and a nerdy sense of humor, is an archaeological entomologist on break from a dig. If her tendency to forget where she is every time she falls asleep seems a little strange, I'm willing to chalk that up to the haunting. She is surrounded by troubled family members, quirky neighbors, and - dare I say it? - totally endearing vultures. The potential romantic interest is charming (though my one complaint against the narration is that Kowal gives him a voice that sounds SO country-bumpkin, it was a little hard for me to shake off that impression of him even as the actual story painted him differently).

While it's fairly easy to guess the basic nature of the haunting early on ("WHY is mom acting so strangely and why would she totally redecorate the house the way her crazy old mother liked it, complete with racist paintings??") once the haunts start manifesting, what you guessed is only the start of the full, creepy climax Kingfisher has in store. I give her all the gold stars for not leaving a single dangling end.

An excellent read for fans of the spooky, creepy, and atmospheric horror.