Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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So for my first ever Jo Nesbo - I am pretty pumped, because I enjoyed this horror! I felt that it was perfect for spooky season! Isn’t this cover amazing?!
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The Night House has some major 80’s vibes and takes off right from the start and very rarely loses any momentum. This story is written into three parts. The first part revolves around Richards childhood era, where children go missing in some pretty sketch ways. The second is 15 years later, where Richard is attending a reunion. Part three, throws in a nice twist, which I cant say much else in order to avoid any spoilers. Throughout the entire book, Richard is so unreliable you never know what is actually true or not.
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I love the twist that Nesbo put into this one, I like the way that it ended. I found this story to be addicting and and a super fast paced read. Just be aware, you’re going to be a tad confused at some points, but in the end it will all make sense. Also it can be a bit choppy at some points, Nesbo kind of jumps from one thought to the next, but again, it all makes sense in the end. It can be grotesque at points - not over done, but still giving that horror feel.
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Definitely recommending this one as a spooky season read for all my horror fans. I found this one to be a fun one. The Night House was just released on 10/3, be sure to grab it!! Huge thank you to Netgalley, Jo Nesbo, Knofp books, Pantheon Books and Vintage and anchor books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first Jo Nesbo book I’ve read. It had an early Stephen King feel to it. There were some areas that felt underdeveloped and I wonder if some of it is translation. While nothing was terribly surprising, the mood was creepy enough and the story was paced well. Interested in seeing other books by the author.

The Night House is an eerie story where the action starts right away with classic
campy horror vibes. The atmosphere is thick with suspense and never lets up. Readers are drawn in to the dark secrets of Ballantine. The protagonist, Richard Elauved, is a complex character whose troubled past and outsider status make him puzzling. Despite his past, I didn’t have much sympathy for him because of his cruelty.

Richard witnesses a classmate get sucked into a phone in a telephone booth at the edge of a forest and it only gets more wild from there. He teams up with another outcast, Karen, in pursuit of the truth. Nesbø kept me guessing and questioning the reliability of the narrator and the true natures that unfold.

I think it is better to go into this book not knowing much so I won’t give more detail in this review. The narrative twists and turns and the tension never fades.

This book is available now, released October 3rd! If you like a different take on horror, I would recommend The Night House. It is a quick read and one that will keep you guessing until the end.

This story is told in three parts in first person by Richard. Each part changes the perspective of the story in some way, sometimes by age and others by setting, but they all have commonalities and connections casting doubt upon the reader’s perception of what is true and what is not. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new part would begin, and everything would turn on its head. 😂

I think I loved the culmination of the whole even more after I finished reading. I honestly don’t want to go into it too much because I don’t want to give anything away. If you enjoy haunted houses, horrific consequences and hallucinations that will make you scream, “Wait! What?!?” then I recommend this horror novel by one of my favorite Nordic Noir writers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for a copy provided for an honest review.

The Night House tells the story of Richard as he grows up in a new town after his parents death. I won't say more because this book is best approached blind and willing to suspend disbelief.

I absolutely adored this story from beginning to end. The nods to classic horror fiction were amazing and I just loved how it all played out. The pacing and writing style were done in a way that it was impossible to get impatient or bored with the story. The characters were dense and made you root for the heroes. I loved how this one was so unpredictable and kept you on your toes. The ending is amazing and is done in a way that you are thankful and hopeful for Richard. I just loved this book and it is a must read for Halloween. It isn't scary in the conventional sense but it is eye opening, hopeful, and daring.

There are times when our mind can play tricks on us—like when we see or hear things that don’t seem to be there. It throws us off-balance and makes us feel just a little out of sorts. But the teenager in Jo Nesbo’s The Night House knows what he saw—though no one will believe him.

Review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

Horror from the first word! Felt like a Stephen King more than a Nesbo. Good story and characters - perfect for a scary night story.

I was hooked from the very beginning! It was so creepy, mind-altering, and just plain fun to read. I haven't read a great horror story like this in a while, I was impressed with the author's ability to create such a real situation and turn it on its head with the paranormal and spooky. I clung to Richard in each part of the book. It was fascinating, sad, weird, and eerie all wrapped up in a cute like bow. I didn't know what was real or what was a delusion, but I loved it that way. I'm still thinking of it days later and that is fantastic.

I enjoyed, in varying degrees, the Harry Hole series #1-10. After that, it dwindles in excitement for me. And while I know these are very different genres, for an author I once adored, this reads terribly. I had hoped for horror. Part 1 was mostly that, and it was fine. I disliked Part 2. I hated Part 3. Is this actually a horror? Is it even a crime? I'd be hard pressed to label it at this point, but suffice to say, I did not enjoy myself. Very glad I didn't drive to Pasadena for the launch.

This book was like a throwback to 90's books by RL Stine. There was a level of spookiness while not being too scary. This book was a perfect introduction into horror for young adults. I would have liked it to have been a tad bit scarier but overall really well done.

Easily one of my favorite covers of the year! I knew had to take this book to my favorite Halloween house for photos, even though set up was still in process! This guy goes all out every year and I love it🎃

Nesbø has created a unique tale of horror that will surprise you and leave you scratching your head. It is broken down into three parts, starting with the most traditional horror section. The whole book is narrated by the main character, Richard. In the first section, which gives ‘80s horror vibes, he is a young teen who moves in with his aunt and uncle in a new town and struggles to make friends. Then, he witnesses the strange disappearance of some of his peers (one gets eaten by a telephone😱) and no one will believe his story. The last two sections are from Richard’s point of view as an adult and this is where things get very twisty and bizarre!

This book is full of body horror and some psychological horror as well. I love being surprised when reading and this book definitely threw me for a loop! I’ve not read any of his other books, but I do have The Snowman on my shelf waiting for me. Check this one out if you enjoy vintage horror and are looking for something unique and unpredictable!

Tis felt like a kind of light-ish horror novel - but that doesn't mean that it isn't good. It was surprising, funny in parts, and oddly cozy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a big favorite, Jo Nesbo - 4.5 stars!

Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents die in a house fire. Richard is an outcast and begins bullying others at school. A classmate, Tom, goes missing and Richard is the last to see him. His story of Tom's disappearance is so unbelievable that no one does. Then another classmate goes missing. His only friend is Karen, who believes him and helps him to investigate. Their investigation takes them to an abandoned house in the Black Mirror Wood. .

This is a definite departure from Nesbo's Harry Hole series, veering to the horror genre and maybe even YA. But I still loved it! It's told in three parts, and my head was spinning at the twists in each part. It's a short, quick read and perfect for October!

This was my first Jo Nesbo and I’m sad to report that . . . . eesh. I understand that horror is not his typical bag and mad props to him for venturing into a new genre, but oooooooof was this not great.

The story here is about Richard, a boy who has come to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents’ deaths. He’s unliked by most of his classmates and a bully to boot. Everyone aside from Tom, that is, another unfortunate member of the same caste of students Richard belongs to. When Tom goes missing, it is Richard who is blamed – especially given the fantastical story of Tom being eaten by a public payphone. And when another student Jack never arrives at home Richard is once again the last to have known his whereabouts leaving the police with no choice but to send him to lockdown.

So that’s all I’m going to give as far as synopsis go. Just know for me the first 2/3 of this book read VERY young adult (aside from the foul language). Part 2 attempts to explain the reasoning why, but it was waaaaaaay too late after slogging through such horrible writing and then Part 3 takes another turn. Hopefully others will like this more than I did, but eesh it’s a 1 Star for me.

Advanced copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In all honesty I have never been the biggest fan of Jo Nesbo's books, not that they are bad, they just are not a genre I normally enjoy. I was very excited to see this standalone horror novel by him though, and it does not disappoint. This is such a great horror novel and perfect for any 90s horror fan!

A short novella that definitely gives me old school early 90s horror movie vibes .

Thank you NetGalley for the arc

I'm a big fan of Nesbo's Harry Hole series. Big fan. So I was excited to dive into this standalone horror novel. Nesbo nails the teenage boy bravado and angst. Richard is a fourteen year old, a self-professed bully, with the mouth and actions of his age. I think it's taking place in the 80s or 90s, but it's a classic Stand By Me small town world with a side of cheese. The action begins immediately as one of Richard's classmates goes missing and he finds himself at the center of the investigation.

There as an homage to Night of the Living Dead, Richard's favorite movie. There are creepy stories about creepy boogeyman type characters from the small town. There's a library with a kindly librarian, an asylum and a creepy house. Not really knowing what's going on and just going along for the ride that just barely holds together is the best way to enjoy The Night House. You'll be rewarded.

My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the ARC.

The Night House by Jo Nesbo reminds me of 90s horror which I love! This is my first Jo Nesbo but my friends and family have raved about this author. I absolutely fell in love with the main character, this story gave me classic 90s horror vibes and I was there for it.

I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

👻 Out Today!

The Night House by Jo Nesbo
🖐 Takeaways

Richard has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle. He’s starting at a new school in a new town, and it’s not proving to be a bright new beginning. When a classmate disappears, Richard falls under suspicion. When a second classmate disappears, Richard’s story takes a turn.

👻This starts so quickly. I’m used to a few false starts in horror, but Nesbo jumps right in.

🧛‍♀️ Were you a Goosebumps reader as a kid? You can relive those spooky middle grade vibes with this story. (But it’s still written for adults!)

🎃 There’s a bit of a surprise turn in the novel. I wasn’t sure about it at first but then really liked it.

🐈‍⬛ The story is quite captivating. It easily propels you forward—you need to know what happens next. (It’s easy to picture this as a movie.)

🕯️If you’re looking for a fun, supernatural slasher, this is for you. I don’t think it’s overly sophisticated, but it’s an enjoyable read when you go in ready for that nostalgic Goosebumps vibe.

3.5/5!

Potential Spoilers Ahead: This book is very hard to talk about without including some spoilers, so reader beware when reading my review!

I’ve long been a fan of Jo Nesbø’s crime fiction writing and was thrilled to see that he was going to take a dive into the horror genre with The Night House.

From the start Nesbø throws the reader into a fast-paced series of mysterious and horrific events that all seem centered around our main character, Richard. I thought these events were very unique and Nesbø did a fantastic job of writing them so vividly that I could easily imagine them for myself. While I loved this part, I didn’t love Richard. I think Nesbø wrote him this way on purpose, but he’s extremely unlikeable. There’s a lot of cringey opinions that come from him regarding other people that were a turn-off for me.

The book unfolds in three parts and each one takes the story on a twisty path that I didn’t initially see coming. I loved the idea of a story within a story within a story. The Night House gave me very Black Mirror vibes with the way things unfolded (ironic considering the Black Mirror Woods are a major setting for the book). The pacing of the story is overall quite quick with a few parts that slow down here and there to catch the reader up on Richard’s revelations.

If you’re looking for a book that feels like a classic horror movie from the 1980’s, I think Nesbø’s The Night House hits this mark and would make a great TBR addition!

A huge thank you to Knopf for my gifted copy!