The House That Horror Built had all the elements to become a truly haunting story, but ultimately I found the major twist and ending to be a bit strange. Sure, I didn't see it coming, but thought it was just a weird twist.

The story follows single mom Harry who is obsessed with horror films and her son. She takes a job cleaning the home of famed horror director Javier Castillo, who moves to Chicago after his wife and son go missing. Harry suspects the house is haunted after weird things begin happening and she receives visions. After a dinner goes wrong, and she starts being stalked by a reporter, she and her son move in with Javier. More weird things happen.

The book certainly kept me entertained, but I wish the story took a different turn then it did. It certainly was gothic and atmospheric, but I wanted more of a creepy ghost story.

Thank you Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5/5 stars

One of my go to authors so I will read anything that they publish. This was not my favorite but still a good read. I love the idea of that house and was thinking about Guillermo del Toro the whole time. He would never lol. I will still recommend this book and look forward to more from the author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. I did also purchase a copy for my home library and will be loaning it out often.

This was a too slow burn gothic horror novel with a chaotic ending that did not leave me satisfied. Pacing on this was way off.

Harry Adams is a single mother raising a teenage boy in the post-COVID world. She's willing to do anything to provide a better world for her son and she takes whatever job she can get, currently it's cleaning houses. Being a fan of horror movies, when horror film director Javier Castillo is looking for a new cleaner, Harry goes for the job. The house is practically a museum to the genre films she has grown up with and she likes having the opportunity to clean for Javier. He has just one rule for Harry - to never enter a specific room.
When Harry hears what sounds like human voices behind the door she must never enter, she wonders what might be going on, but keeps her head down and goes on with her work. When she's sure she not only hears voices but someone actually calling for help ... she keeps her head down and continues her work. She needs to support her son, Gabe, after all, and it's best not to get involved.

But there are things here that Harry, a regular in the house, simply can't ignore forever.

Author Christina Henry has penned some of my favorite horror novels, so expectations are always high when she's got a new book out. This one, however, really fails to deliver.

The set-up is unremarkable but definitely serviceable for a horror story - an average person in a house filled with objects of horror from the most horrific films ever. But the set-up shouldn't last for 80% of the book and that's what this feels like. Harry's lack of concern for the house and constant reminding us that she's working for her very good son, grows stale quickly.

I've written before: establishing and maintaining a sense of horror for an entire novel is very difficult. We need a rise and fall in horror that builds, culminating in a terrifying climax. We don't get any of that rising horror here - just a last minute climax that doesn't quite come out of nowhere, but we were never appropriately led into it.

Looking for a good book? The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry misses the mark with a slow page-turner that doesn't provide the suspense you want in a horror novel.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a disappointment. Last year, I read "Good Girls Don't Die," and it was such an excellent book. Comparing this book to "Good Girls" and I can't help but feel utterly disappointed. I read this book in a book club and we all rated this book low.

It was the ending. It read like ChatGPT. It didn't follow Henry's writing patterns. It was because we felt like this turned into AI towards the end that we rated the book low. It is also because of this, I could not share this book on the blog. I cannot recommend books where it feels like AI was used to complete the story. It would be dishonest to my followers.

I also did not want to share what came from the book club chat, because Henry is such a wonderful author. I wasn't about to talk crap about her work publicly.

Perhaps her next title will be better. "Good Girls" was so amazing. I loved it. But this one just didn't live up to Christina Henry's previous work.

A house cleaner, Harry, forms a friendship with her employer- a reclusive horror director who lives in his home, surrounded by props and memorabilia from various horror movies. When things start to go bump in the night, Harry starts to look into the mysteries surrounding the directors past to save her family. Unfortunately, not much to say about this one. I was obsessed with the premise, loved the title, loved the cover, usually love the author- but it just didn’t leave any solid impression on me. I read this maybe a month ago and I’m already fuzzy on details. I like pieces of this, but as a cohesive whole it didn’t leave a lasting impression. It’s just fine!

My review will post on my instagram @boozehoundbookclub

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for an advanced copy of this ebook! I definitely have mixed feelings about this book.

On one hand, I love so many of the aspects and tropes that the author used. For starters, I am a sucker for a haunted house story, and this is giving all of those vibes and more. I also really appreciated the backstory of our main character Harry leaving a cult and surviving on her own - super unique and now something I will look for in other novels. And of course, with our homeowner being a reclusive horror movie director, there are so many great conversations and moments for horror movie fans.

On the other hand, this horror didn't have many "horrific" moments, which could be great for a beginner horror reader. However, I was anxiously waiting for more creepy/scary scenes, and I was left a little disappointed by the lack of them. Because of this, I felt some of the beginning drag at times. When things started to get exciting at the end when all is revealed, the story ends with such an abrupt stop I literally had to check back to see if I accidentally skipped a chapter or two. I would've loved to see what happened next after the final scene.

I will say, I am definitely intrigued by Christina Henry's writing style and creativity, and will absolutely be checking out more of her books.

THE HOUSE THAT HORROR BUILT by Christina Henry @authorchristinahenry is out today from #Berkley @berkleypub (#BerkleyPartner)! Swipe right to read the synopsis. ➡️

I had an easy enough time getting into the book and that helps a lot when you’re in a reading slump. And then around the halfway point I couldn’t put it down because the characters were so good! And the story was not what I was expecting but also it kind of was. I can’t say more because I’m afraid to spoil anything.

I loved how fast Harry, the main character, accepted supernatural occurrences and not only that but OTHERS did as well bc I didn’t want to read 300+ pages of a woman trying to convince the men in her life to believe her. There were a couple jump scares and I loved them. Def gave me the creeps once or twice.

The book took place during the pandemic years so some things in the storyline made more sense like Harry’s money problems, trouble finding a new apartment, etc. you could sense the world growing smaller around her. Terrible things kept happening where she felt she had no choice in certain circumstances where different decisions would have given her a different life. Whether or not she made the wrong decisions is something older and more experienced readers will probably differ on.

I liked the subtle comparisons between Harry as a mother and Lena. As well as their sons and how they turned out. Lots of commentary on gender, privilege, class status, etc. it just sucks the ending was kind of lacking for me.

Overall I really enjoyed the book though! It was the first book that helped distract me for a bit with all the horrible things going on in the world in Palestine and Congo.

Thank you @berkleypub for my gifted copy! Really enjoyed it.

A horror fan exploring a haunted house is a great setup for an atmospheric, gothic haunted house tale. Henry brings the atmpsphere, but the scares and suspense are too light here to make an impact and the pacing lulls. While a lot of that can be explained away by the horror savviness of the protagonist, it's without the humor or levity to help point out the trope subversion. It winds up more horror lite, a solid gateway horror read but not much more.

atmospheric, spooky, funny, sad, thrilling... this book is all the things! I really enjoyed each character, the plot was perfect, and even though I already had an idea of the twist or surprise, i still thoroughly enjoyed it.

After hearing so many rave reviews for Chrstina Henry's book, Near the Bone, I was ecstatic to read her new release, The House That Horror Built. Unfortunately, it was a letdown for me. The novel promised a blend of spine-chilling suspense and intricate family dynamics, but I struggled with the slow pacing that left me disengaged. The concept of a haunted house with a dark history that is owned by a famous horror director sounded right up my alley, but the plot twist was so predictable that I don't think you could even call it a twist. It also lacked vivid descriptions that I needed in order to feel immersed into the story, and I was super disappointed by the ending. I am hoping this is just a one off, and that I will enjoy a different book by Christina Henry. 

Thank you Netgalley, Berkley, and Christina Henry for the advanced digital copy.

The House That Horror Built is out now!

Thanks so very much to Netgalley and the publisher for kindly providing me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I do reviews on my main social media platforms and will be providing my full review there. Thanks again!

The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry is a shockingly captivating slow burn horror that gave me that gruesome goosebumps type of feeling. Christina Henry is a very talented writer & I would love to read more of their work.

There’s horror where the gruesome action startles you as it jumps out right from the start with slashing accuracy or there’s the kind that is a slower, almost quiet kind of haunting whisper that keeps you up at night….this book is the latter.

The House That Horror Built is great for fans of…
🎬 Horror Genre
🎬 Gothic Mansions
🎬 Horror Movies

This is a book that requires some patience. I was glad that I kept reading because the ending was creepy & a great conclusion to this atmospheric tale.

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

The House that Horror Built
Written by Christina Henry
Read by Lisa Flanagan
Book 119/250
Genre: Horror
Format: Audio/Digital, ARC
Pages/Time: 336/9hr 10min
Published: May 14, 2024
Rating: 9/10
Narration: 8.75/10
Horror: 👻👻👻


“Resentment is a familiar meal when you can’t afford contentment.”

Another entry in the “Stressed-out Parent” subgenre of horror, The House that Horror Built is a terrifically spooky haunting. Hauntings aren’t normally one of my favorite Horror tropes, but it is executed so perfectly by Henry, that this book is impossible not to love. The horror has the mix of supernatural and realistic that I love, and the character work is very well done. And the ending was phenomenal. I did see bits of how this book was going to end, but holy cow some of the reveals were insane!

I usually really love Christina Henry but I couldn't make sense of any of the MC's actions and I was just not invested at all. DNF at 26%

I loved the setting of Chicago since I live there. The city, the architecture of the house in the book, even the main character going to Jewell- Osco to shop felt familiar. I enjoyed the pace of what happens in the book and the dual points of view.

Another great Christina Henry book! One of the most amazing authors of our time. While Stephen King has become a bit too wordy for me, Christina Henry never wastes a single paragraph drawing me in to fast paced action, creeping chills, and intense characters you can relate to. Harry Adam’s is a devoted and sensitive mother who is doing her best from a very young age with no support to give her son the things she never had: acceptance, freedom, love, respect. But she’s having a hard time keeping a roof over his head and food on the table. As a discreet young woman and a horror movie fan, landing a job working as a house keeper for an elusive and brilliant horror movie director seems like it would be a perfect vocation, but there is something very wrong with Javier Castillo and his house. The props he so lovingly displays seem to move on their own and a disembodied voice whispers through the walls, To make matters worse, Javier, who lost his own family, has taken an extraordinary liking to Harry’s impressionable son and is pulling him closer into paranormal danger as well human danger. Thrilling from start to finish, it may not start out with a bang but it gains speed and never hits the brakes. I can’t wait for more. I’ve read every Christina Henry novel so far and I am a huge fan!

Harry finds a position working as a cleaner for famous horror movie director Javier and finds some things to be strange in his house but she just wants to keep her job. As her life slowly ends up incorporated with Javier's, the strange things become harder to ignore and soon she finds herself and her son to be in danger. Overall, a horror story that reads more like a mystery suspense and only really brings the horror in the last bit. Much of the book was spent on the difficulties Harry faced with her financial and housing situations and the ending is rather open ended.

Generally speaking this had a really great setup. MC and her son get pulled into the orbit of a horror movie director. MC has been attempting to lift herself out of poverty, but has lost her waitressing gig thanks to the pandemic. Then her apartment gets sold to developers and she's told in no uncertain terms she's got to get out, so a job she must have and the horror movie house needs cleaning.

Unfortunately there's a murder mystery afoot, and she gets dragged into it. This was probably a four star read for me most of the book, but then it ends so abruptly and gives us no closure to the MC's living status that I felt a little bummed about all of that character building at the beginning. What happens to her? What was the point?

"The House That Horror Built" by Christina Henry features a really intriguing premise: saving the life of a single mother who, upon treading into a gothic mansion belonging to a reclusive horror director, reveals horrifying secrets within the walls. Yet this novel—though atmospheric and with one of the most brilliant premises—falls sheepishly short of expectation.

Among the more superior elements of this novel is its setting, which is atmospheric, vividly describing everything down to the last detail. Henry deftly weaves a sense of portent and unease inside Javier Castillo's graystone mansion, forbidding and kitted out with chilling costumes and props from his illustrious career in horror filmmaking. Such contrasts between luxurious surroundings and sinister secrets underneath give substance to the narrative and draw it into a world where nothing is as it seems.

Moreover, Harry Adams is a very charming protagonist whose determination to feed her son makes her dive into the mystery of strange happenings that occur within Bright Horses. She comes through, then, as a type of character whom one would cheer on while she sneaks through the treacherous corridors of a mansion and explores the dark secrets that lie within.

It's not all gravy with "The House That Horror Built," however. The concept, interesting as it is, execution-wise, occasionally feels predictable and formulaic. In this regard, certain twists and revelations might easily be anticipated far enough in advance to completely blow their impact and leave the reader wishing for more surprises.

Additionally, some readers may find the pacing of the novel to be a bit uneven, varied at times with dragging and rushed parts. It is through this inconsistency in development that the reading experience as a whole could be hurt, which in turn could deviate some readers from the story at large.

Overall, "The House That Horror Built" is a delicious brew of mystery, suspense, and supernatural intrigue that fails to live up to its full potential. Although Henry's atmospheric prose and compelling protagonist draw the reader in, there could be a leave of wanting more with the incorporation of predictable plot twists and uneven pacing. Notwithstanding that, gothic horror fans may find some things to like here, but for those looking for a tighter plot and more emotionally resonant story, perhaps.