A masterclass in pacing! The House That Horror Built is the gothic paranormal story that horror fans will eat right up! With exquisite character development and absolutely insane pacing and suspense, this book quickly became a one sitting read. I couldn't take my eyes off the page until we reached the end!

I loved the premise here and I found the characters to be very engaging, but ultimately this one fell a little flat. The execution was poor, the ending rushed and I just felt there was a notable lack of horror in this horror novel. Not a recommend from this horror fan.

I don’t think I was even capable of physically putting this book down. It was the definition of unputdownable. Bravo to Henry for delivering a horror story that delivered on lovable characters, a fantastic gothic setting, lots of meta inner dialogue from the MC, mystery, and some fun spooks and thrills.

Harry is one of the best horror MCs I’ve read in awhile. She’s a scrappy single mom with a tragic backstory and a huge love of horror movies who would do anything for her 14 year old son. The struggle is even harder in the midst of the pandemic with all the jobs Harry is qualified for are next to nonexistent. Enter Javier Castillo. Legendary and award-winning horror filmmaker turned recluse after his teenage son was accused of murder and vanished into the ether with Javier’s wife, Lena. With a giant gothic home called Bright Horses filled with a plethora of horror movie props, Harry finds herself a job as his housekeeper. But there’s a locked room that Harry is forbidden to enter and there’s also a creepy costume that Harry can’t help but feel is watching her every move.

This book was fun and engaging with a main character you can root for.. My only complaint was that the way Harry came about huge information felt a bit too convenient. Harry is very self-aware of horror movies and common tropes so I was just a little surprised by the way big reveals played out. Still enjoyable though because Henry left no stone unturned and everything has an answer by the end. Speaking of the ending, I found it very abrupt but can’t deny that it certainly ended with a bang.

Highly recommend to fans of books by Grady Hendrix, Riley Sager, and Rachel Harrison. Loved the paranormal horror mixed with the gothic setting and mentions of horror films and trivi.a.

I’ve not been the biggest fan of Christina Henry and her horror novels and The House That Horror Built continues that streak with a story that feel is lacking character and actual scares in a horror book.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this fast-paced horror/suspense novel! Harry cleans a famously reclusive horror movie director’s house for a living, and of course things go awry when she hears voices and random thumps from the next room. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending but otherwise a very solid read. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I am sorry to say that I was very disappointed with this one. This book is meant to be an ode to horror movies and yet I didn't feel that at all. The details of the plot, the depth of the characters, and the so-called "twist" at the end can only be described as shallow. This book felt like the bare minimum was done and that makes me very sad to say. I am rarely too critical about a book but I felt that there was no passion in this story. Our main character, Harry, was a self-proclaimed horror movie lover and yet there were minimal references to back this up. Same for her son, Gabe.

In a book with "horror" in the title, you expect to come across scenes that at least get your heart rate up, if not keep you awake at night. There were only a handful of scenes that you might describe as spooky but honestly the whole thing read like a young adult novel -- sometimes even a junior fiction.

Maybe I had too many preconceived notions going into this one -- it could just be me and others might really enjoy it if they are looking for a touch of horror without the anxiety or dread of the scares. Unfortunately, it was not for me.

Having said all this, I would be willing to give Christina Henry another chance! The premise was fascinating. I just wish the execution had been as interesting.

The premise to this haunted house novel sounded right up my alley, but unfortunately the execution fell a bit flat for me.

Thank you Berkley for another book from Christina Henry (I loved Good Girls Don't Die). The House that Horror Built is my kind of gothic horror read... it gave me some solid Grady Hendrix and Chuck Wendig vibes while also having its own authentic style and voice. Great pacing, a sense of honoring horror tropes, and a for me a strong sense of unease (was the house haunted? was Harry hearing things? something else going on?)... this worked for me.

This is a great moody read, great for a stormy night!

A few notes related to my review: This book feels more character driven suspense/horror, not sci fi per se. I am a fan of Rachel Harrison's Black Sheep and and Carissa Orlando's September House (strong creepy reads from last Fall) and this book in ways reminded me of those books so if you liked those books, check this one out!

4.5 stars rounded down to 4!

If Grady Hendrix and Riley Sager had a gothic horror love child, it would be this gem of a book. Absolutely loved my time with this one as it seamlessly combined elements of so many stories I’ve enjoyed in the past. Huge thanks to Berkley and Christina Henry for my early review copy! Definitely recommend preordering this one for its release May 14th

Oh man. I really wanted to like this. I really EXPECTED to like this, in fact. I went in with high expectations, but I was wrong when I felt in my gut that this would be a 5 star read. Welp.

First the positives, What I like is that this book feels like a love letter to horror fans. Harry finds solace and escapism in watching films, especially horror films, relishing the fun of terror and excitement in a safe, controlled, environment. Javier, the owner of the haunted mansion, is a horror filmmaker. Yes, the book is paranormal, but this honestly is more of a thriller than horror. At least it didn’t end up being some person hiding in the walls or something. I would’ve been pissed if that is what had happened.

So, this wasn’t as scary as I had hoped. Maybe it’s because of the reviews I’ve read of Christina Henry’s other books (this is my first book of hers that I’ve read) but this wasn’t as dark as I was expecting, which isn’t a bad thing. But it also wasn’t very scary. This is penned as a haunted house book, but I realized when I was 70% in that barely any haunted occurrences had even happened. A couple, sure, but I’d have expected more by the time I’m mostly done with the book.

I hate to be critical but I really was expecting to like this more than I did 😭 I was expecting something dark and terrifying, with the reviews I’ve seen of Christina Henry’s other books, but honestly it felt like I was reading more of a contemporary than a horror novel. Maybe my expectations were too high but this wasn’t what I was expecting. The whole thing is just about the struggle of her life and providing for her son and very little of the story goes outside of that. This book kind of gave me similar vibes of that Room movie with Brie Larsen, and it’s more so a story of a parent’s struggle to give their child a better life. So, not horror. This felt more of a coming of age than horror. Coming of age is my least favorite genre. This book is barely horror until about 85% in. And even then it feels more like a thriller than horror.

My other critique is that this book glosses over how in the world would Harry have been able to afford to give birth to Gabriel in a hospital, after spending an entire half of the book describing how she has struggled from the moment she ran away from home. She says beforehand that she hopes she has enough money for a cab. The cab? If she’s worried about paying for the cab ride to the hospital, how in the world is she going to pay for the actual delivery? Assuming she has insurance, giving birth would still cost at least a couple thousand even with benefits. She literally says she refused the epidural because she’s afraid of the medical bills from it, which is the least of her worries, and afterwards, can’t afford a breast pump and can barely afford formula for her baby. Is she just thousands of dollars in debt now from giving birth and it’s just never mentioned because she’s going to pretend it doesn’t exist?

The ending was also way too abrupt. It needed another chapter to wrap things up. But even though I didn’t like this, I’d still be willing to try Christina Henry’s other books. They have rave reviews and sound like something that is right up my alley, so I’d be open to trying them. This one just didn’t meet my expectations unfortunately.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest opinion.

I am a huge fan of haunted house stories. The noises in a house, the banging in the walls, things moving and hearing voices. Is it the reader that’s going crazy or is it the character? I have to admit that I don’t scare easily and this book scared me. I ended up having a nightmare after staying up way too late reading this before bed.

This was a solid, scary read read that I enjoyed very much.

Thank you, NetGalley, Berkeley Publishing and Christina Henry for the eARC for an honest review of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Henry & Berkley Publishing for a digital ARC of The House That Horror Built in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love just this last year with Christina Henry when I read Good Girls Don't Die, so I was so excited to get to have an advance read & provide a review for The House That Horror Built.

This story had everything that I love in a horror/thriller - extremely gothic atmosphere, completely immersive and sketchy characters.

Movie Director, Javier Castillo's mansion is the stuff of nightmares for those who scare easily or a dream come true for those who love the gruesome & macabre. His mansion is completely filled with movie props & costumes from horror films he has directed & it is spooky AF!

Our MC, Harry, is Javier's housekeeper & because Javier demands discretion, she keeps to herself, doesn't ask questions & just does her job........dun dun dun.......until she starts hearing noises & cries for help from behind a locked door.

This was a quick read that will have the reader questioning what is really going on. Is there really something paranormal at play? Or is Harry just stressed to the max and everything can be explained as a psychological break? Or maybe both.

I will 100% recommend this book to my followers on IG especially since they loved my review of Good Girls Don't Die.

This was a great, spooky ready that would be great for those who love spooky, but not the blood & guts gore of some horror novels.

Solid 4 Star Read

I am disappointed. I wouldn’t classify this as horror, thriller or sci-fi. It wasn’t even eerie to me. Maybe I am desensitized to these genres, but this just felt, I don’t know, kind of blah? I would even go as far to say that this should be a YA book. Now had I gone into this thinking it was YA, my review would most definitely be very different, but it isn’t, and here we are.

Putting the genre mishap aside, and purely thinking of this as general fiction, really nothing happened with this plot. I found the “twist” to be lackluster and mediocre. The pacing was very slow, yes this was supposed to be gothic, but I was missing all the atmosphere that you normally get with a gothic book, so I don’t think that fits either.

I do want to like this author. Each time I read her books, this was my second, I see a lot of potential and she gets rave reviews. I keep thinking that next time I will like it and fall in love. Maybe I need to give up, but I will try again.

But would I recommend this book to some people? Yes. Would I buy this book for some people? Also, yes. I really think that some people are going to love this one, I'm just not one of them, and that does make me sad.

Overall, this one was sadly only 2.5 for me but I am rounding up to 3 since we can’t give half stars.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital arc.

This was the perfect balance of thriller, horror and supernatural influences. Typically supernatural books throw me for a loop because they’re so outlandish but this made a ton of sense to me and served well to advance the plot.

Enjoyable and quick read!

Christina Henry's "The House That Horror Built" invites you into a gothic mansion dripping with chills. The setting: Bright Horses, a towering Chicago monstrosity once home to reclusive horror director Javier Castillo, now fallen into eerie silence. Our protagonist, Harry Adams, a single mother and housekeeper by necessity, navigates the labyrinthine halls, facing not just dust and grime, but whispers, shadows, and a gnawing sense of something deeply wrong.

Master of Atmosphere: Henry crafts a masterpiece of atmosphere. The mansion becomes a character itself, creaking with secrets, its dusty grandeur hinting at past tragedies and unseen horrors. Every creak, every cobweb-draped corner, sends shivers down your spine, pulling you deeper into the unsettling mystery.

Unearthing Secrets: Harry becomes our intrepid guide, drawn by unsettling noises and a yearning to know the truth about Bright Horses. As she delves deeper, she uncovers layers of Javier's past, each revelation shattering the image of a reclusive recluse. Hidden rooms, cryptic messages, and chilling props from Javier's movies blur the lines between fiction and reality, keeping you guessing what's truly lurking in the shadows.

Haunted by Humanity: Though ghosts and ghouls abound, the most frightening monsters in "The House That Horror Built" are human. Javier's past relationships, fraught with ambition and manipulation, cast long shadows, their whispers echoing through the house. This exploration of the darkness within human hearts adds a chilling layer of realism to the supernatural thrills.

Twists and Turns: The narrative twists and turns like a haunted hallway, never letting you settle into predictable chills. Just when you think you've grasped the truth, another revelation throws you off kilter, leaving you breathless and desperate to unravel the next layer of the mystery.

Flickering Flame: While the pacing is generally swift, some sections feel slightly slower, the tension momentarily dimming. However, these moments are quickly overcome by the chilling revelations and unsettling encounters that follow, ensuring you'll race to the book's final, unsettling resolution.

Overall: "The House That Horror Built" is a masterclass in gothic horror, expertly blending atmospheric chills with psychological suspense. Henry's sharp writing and her talent for building tension make this a page-turner that will keep you up long after the lights are out, questioning every rustle and creak in your own home. Just be prepared to enter Bright Horses at your own risk – its secrets are sure to leave you haunted.

I recommend this book to fans of:

Gothic horror with a modern twist
Atmospheric fiction that chills to the bone
Suspenseful mysteries with unsettling revelations
Character-driven narratives that explore the darkness within
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Creaking Doors

This just made me so happy, it was a perfect book for me: thrilling, creepy, haunted. Devoured this in a day. Highly recommended, especially if you're a fan of the genre.

Harry is barely scraping by as a housekeeper to a famous director of old horror movies. She is doing all she can to keep a roof over her family’s head and feed her young son. Javier, her employer, lives in an old home surrounded in mystery. Harry begins to feel the house may be haunted.

This was an atmospheric haunted house tale with several mysteries for the reader to solve. It was fast paced and well written with many creepy, unsettling vibes throughout the book. Harry is a main character that you can really empathize with. I enjoyed most of the book but found the twist to be easy to guess and the ending left a bit to be desired. It didn’t seem like it was meant to be ambiguous but didn’t feel settled either. However, the book is a quick and entertaining read that I’d recommend to those who enjoy a good haunted house story.

Thank you to Christina Henry, Berkley, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick read for me! It had a very good, unsettling haunting, keeping me swinging between is this actually a haunting or is it stress? There was a twist I half predicted and then one I didn't see coming at all! It was spooky and quick and definitely made me jump straight back to post pandemic life. Overall I really enjoyed it. The only thing is I would have liked one more chapter or an epilogue because it ended very abruptly and I was caught off guard by the last page!

Although the title itself has horror in it, the content, while a bit eerie at times, does not. It did have plenty of drama and mystery with a chilling atmosphere and a cast of unique, interesting characters. The protagonist had a great backstory but was a little too stuck in her ways at times. The only complaints I have are that the ending felt too short and needed an epilogue. The other is that there is a seemingly malicious reporter who made an appearance, and then it was just forgotten about when there could have been a story there. I feel like if the ending was expanded on with a bit more emotion and explanation, I would have liked it that much more. That said, it was a great, interesting read with a "meh" ending, and I rate it three and a half stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC.

I loved this book. Harry was SUCH a relatable character, and I loved her, and reading about her story. The horror aspect was fantastic and I really loved the premise. I CAN NOT wait for this book to come out so I can get the physical copy.