Being a horror fan, I immediately hopped at the chance to read and review this title. I have not read any of the author's books besides the Alice series, which I LOVED. THTHB is not horror, per say. It's creepy, sure and Christina Henry has a way of building tension. I loved the way we got to know Harry and her son and I emphasized with her struggles in trying to provide for him, even if it meant cleaning a horror director's mansion.

Unfortunately, the book's last quarter felt rushed and while the twist will surprise you, the ending leaves a lot to be desired. The ending was abrupt and there was no closure, leaving me dangling there on the tension the author built without a way down.

Overall, I did enjoy the journey but felt disappointed by the destination.

Huge thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
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A foreboding tale surrounding a Gothic Chicago mansion and the horror movie props living in said mansion. Harry is a single mom, working as a cleaning lady for famed horror film director Javier Castillo. He has a checkered past with the disappearance of his wife and son. She tries to just keep her head down and focused on the job but when she hears strange noises and feels like a mask is watching her strange things are most definitely happening here. This book gave some good spooky vibes!

"This house is haunted, she thought. And then she thought, I need to find a new job...Something else to add to the to-do list."

Housekeeper Harry Adams is a single Mom whose reactions to the unrelatable events in the often creepy paranormal The House That Horror Built by famed thriller author Christina Henry, are quite relatable.

As a die hard horror movie buff Harry is thrilled but nervous on her first day working for renowned horror director Javier Castillo. The reclusive Hollywood legend lives alone in a mansion filled with macabre memorabilia from his famed movies; rarely seen in public since his son and wife went missing years ago, after his son was accused of an horrendous murder.

Harry thinks it's her imagination when she hears the words "help me" seemingly coming from a room she is forbidden to enter, but when there is a mysterious death a few weeks later in the mansion, she knows it's time to start looking for a new job.

But Javier has other plans that include Harry's movie loving son,14 year old Gabe, who seems to be taking on a whole new attitude. Is it just teenage boy hormones or does something more sinister await?

The writer perfectly infuses humor and horror while telling a story of a mother's unconditional love. Giving Harry a full personality, with a hardship background and motherly strength, has the reader living this haunted house story with her, including the goosebumps and jump scares. I really enjoyed her relationship with her son. Despite the paranormal activity it's a very relatable mother son story.

Javier's house was built by the success of his horror movies but it may be demolished by the horror of his past ghosts.

I received a free copy of this book from Berkley Publishing via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The House that Horror Built is a gothic paranormal thriller. Chapter by chapter, the reader unravels the mystery surrounding the reclusive movie producer and his creepy mansion. Harry, a single mother, cleans the house horrors, full of terrifying costumes and props. As a film enthusiast, Harry sought refuge and strength in horror moves to overcome her strict upbringing. Facing eviction, she and her teenage son move into the mansion.

It's then that unexplainable happenings begin occurring - "Help me" heard in the walls, a costume comes to life to name a few. In order to save her son, Harry must dissect the threats in the house. This storyline is chilling, and a fast-paced read.

Thank you, Berkley.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author for my gifted physical copy and eARC to read and review!

I am not your typical “horror” fan, but I really ate this one up! The haunting vibes were so well done … it was perfectly creepy and had me wondering if the strange things happening were really real or just the imagination gone wild of Harry, our stressed out FMC?

I also am not a fan of anything pandemic related, but gotta say, it worked well with this story! I thought it really added to the plot by adding another level of frustration and desperation!

While the twist or reveal at the end wasn’t a complete surprise, I still found myself glued to each page! The ending was a tad bit abrupt … I would have liked an epilogue or a little more of a wrap up, but overall, this was a nice slow burn, cringy tale … perfect for people who prefer their horror a little more on the light side!

This was my first Christina Henry book and it was a blast! For me as a mom, Harry's internal struggle and dialog hit home. I enjoyed the character driven narative and the unsettling feeling that Harry (and Gabe) kept alluding to. I do wish that the ending had been spread out a bit more. I feel a tad bit let down, like the rollercoaster just came to an abrupt stop. That ending though!

For me, the most enjoyable part of The House That Horror Built is the build-up. Harry can't catch a break, her son Gabe is in that delicate tween stage, and her employer Javier (clearly a stand-in for Guillermo del Toro) is mysterious and mercurial. After a traumatic event, the story speeds up leading to a fast ending that is somehow surprising and expected at the same time.

Thank you, Berkley and Netgalley, for an advance ebook in exchange for a fair review.

This slow-burn haunted house horror story has an unusual lead character, a building sense of dread, and an interesting setting as the world is emerging from COVID lockdown. The creepiness builds throughout, and having a struggling single mother as the point of view character makes the challenges and fears feel immediate and personal. A terrific read.

If you are looking for a horror novel, this is not it. It does have some aspects of a horror story, but it would be what I call horror lite.

That aside, this was an intriguing tale. I found myself engrossed in the story and wondered what would happen next, who or what was haunting the house, and whether there was more to Javier Castillo than what was presented.

Harry (Harriet) grew up in an ultra-religious household. Her love for horror came from what she could sneak into her room or see outside her home. However, as parents are wont to be, that was short-lived, and she was not allowed anywhere without a family to chaperone her. I can understand why she chose to run away and start fresh. It isn't easy for a seventeen-year-old to be on her own, but she made it. Until she found herself pregnant, and the father wanted nothing to do with her or the baby. But that didn't stop her from doing her best to raise her son, Gabe.

Javier Castillo is a famous filmmaker. However, he has become something of a recluse due to family drama years before with his son and wife. There is more to this story, and we receive bits and pieces throughout the novel when we are given a glimpse into the past.

Harry is Javier's housecleaner. Since it is right after the pandemic, she has few options to make money to support herself and Gabe. Working for one of her idols is a dream, but she doesn't let on until after some time that she enjoys his movies. Javier is one that needs attention and accolades, so this hero worship from Harry and Gabe is just what he needs. Or is it? Is there a darker side to Javier?

I am not a horror book fan, but this story engaged me from the beginning. I could see this being made into a movie, and it provides a deeper horror factor due to the home, the props that Javier has collected over time, and a mysterious spirit wandering the home. When the truth is ultimately revealed, it might surprise you. While I suspected something, it wasn't anything like I imagined. I enjoyed the bond between Harry and Gabe. They realized that they only had each other and that Harry was doing her best to raise Gabe to be a kind and thoughtful person.

About halfway through the book, there is an addition of Daniel, one of Javier's stars in a movie. His presence helped deflect some tense moments. You could say he was something of a buffer. He is an interesting character, and I would have liked to see more about him. Perhaps he and Harry would have a romantic relationship in the future.

This was a surprise read for me, but one I had a hard time putting down.

We give this book 4 paws up.

Harry Adams can easily be described as a fan of horror movies, so when a job opportunity comes her way–cleaning the home of a successful director of horror movies–Harry jumps at the chance. Javier Castillo lives at Bright Horses, a giant mansion located in Chicago, which is full of movie props, costumes and awards. Sadly Javier has not directed a new movie in quite some time, not since a scandal and death rocked his family and his world. Due to his past Javier demands complete discretion, something that Harry has never had any difficulty with; that is until she starts to hear voices coming from behind a locked door to a room she is not allowed to enter, voices that almost seem to be asking for her help, and it is becoming more and more difficult to maintain her complete and total discretion, especially when it might have a negative affect on her son.

Sadly The House That Horror Built was extremely predictable for the most part; there was very little within this novel that surprised me. The story itself is rather fast-paced–I flew through it relatively quickly–but it honestly lacked any real horror; I expected a novel called The House That Horror Built to have a lot more actual horror than this novel contained. I think the most twisted thing about the entire narrative was Javier himself. I also felt as though the ending was rather abrupt and left a lot of unanswered questions about the events or what was in store for the characters; it was almost like Henry didn’t know how to end the novel. Overall The House That Horror Built fell a little flat for me.

What I liked:
✨Atmospheric Setting: I love the haunted house trope! This story is set in Chicago, and the house is filled with horror movie props that seem to have come to life, adding an extra layer of eeriness. Being from Chicago, I was thrilled with all the references to my hometown.
✨MC Backstories: The story unfolds in two timelines, keeping me intrigued throughout the story. While I liked both timelines, I became increasingly drawn to the past as secrets unfolded. The balance between the two timelines is well executed, providing good character development.
✨Narration: I've always enjoyed Lisa Flanagan's narrations. She perfectly captures Harry's determination to provide Gabe with a better life while conveying her dread about working at the haunted house. Flanagan’s portrayal of Gabe's tween voice is also spot on. Absolutely perfect!

The House That Horror Built is a good introduction to the horror genre, featuring a more eerie atmosphere rather than outright scares. While I liked it, I wished there was a bit more fear and gore, although it's worth noting that there's no gore in the book. Overall, it's a quick read that is perfect for the beach or pool.

Spooky house, mysterious boss, exhausted single mom doing her best to make ends meet… sign me up! I really loved Harry and her son and their relationship, and liked the rest of the characters in their specific roles - the character development and dialogue was great. I think the atmosphere was also creepy in a way but not too much. I think the storyline was unique and I enjoyed the dual timelines, but I did find that I wanted more horror out of it. This one also had a slow build up to what felt like a very rushed ending but overall I still enjoyed the book and will read more from Christina Henry. Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for my eARC. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 is available now.

This was a 3.5 for me. This was fine all things considered. I read Near the Bone about two years ago and it is one of my favorite books by this author. Unfortunately nothing else I’ve read by the author has enveloped me quite like Near the Bone. I think if you’re new to horror this could be a good…entry book? Nothing about it is very crazy or shocking or really revolutionary so if you don’t have a lot of experience in the horror genre this could still be a lot of fun. I’d maybeeee recommend for people who liked spite house? I think it would be an easy hand sell for fans of maybe Paul Tremblay as well.

Last year I fell in love with Henry’s release, Good Girls Don’t Die. I haven’t had much time to dig into her backlist, but I couldn’t resist checking out her latest the minute I could get my hands on a copy.

I mean, what horror lover doesn’t want to read a book where they get to step into the house of a mysterious, reclusive horror movie director?

The House That Horror Built serves up a Gothic vibe as we start to explore the mysterious mansion known as Bright Horses. Alongside Harry, readers start to notice something isn’t right about the house. Javier is clearly hiding some secrets, but just what they are comes towards the end of the book in a creepy and tense reveal.

While I found myself dedicated to reading this book and able to read it quite quickly, I will say that I found it repetitive at times. Harry is poor…we know this, but still it’s drilled in over and over. Javier is too intense and the world is waiting to know what happened with his family…we know this, but still it’s drilled in over and over. I would have preferred a shorter story with a faster pace, which I think could have been achieved by cutting some of the details that circle back to these points.

Overall, Henry has delivered another well written story that vividly transports readers into a tense situation filled with unease and dread.

I was completely intrigued when I first started this book, and it did hold my interest throughout the whole story. But I constantly felt there was something lacking. The premise was great! But it could have been, should have been terrifying, and it wasn't.
I am looking forward to reading something else from Christina Henry and feel some real magic from her storytelling as I know she her stories are loved by many. And I definitely got a glimpse of it.
Thanks very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review

This one has all the feels of those 80s horror movies and I can easily see it being made into one. A director of beloved horror movies as a recluse in a haunted house. I could visualize all his movie memorabilia. It hovers over the line between horror and paranormal as I tried to figure out what or who was haunting the house.

This one has a lot to build up the tension. Things that go bump in the night. Puppets that move on their own. That one locked room you can’t enter. Voices when there is no one else around. The director’s family that disappeared long ago. And while these things do bump it up and the mystery was intriguing, this really feels more about the characters to me. I picked it up for the horror aspect, but I continued reading for the characters I wanted to know more about.

I liked Harry and her son Gabriel and I felt sorry for their circumstances. I grew pretty attached to them from the start and wanted to keep learning more about them. I did not like Javier, the director, from the start. And the more I learned of him, the less I liked him.

If you pick this up solely for the horror or paranormal aspect, you might be a little disappointed as the ending did not live up to the buildup, but if you pick it up to focus on the great characters with a side of the rest, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I wouldn’t mind seeing Harry and Gabe again.

Happy Pub Day 🥳🥳🥳 3.5 stars A huge thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for my early copy of The House that Horror Built by Christina Henry. If you’re looking for a not so scary book yet dark and creepy look no further. This is the book for you!! Also, movie buffs … this one is most definitely for you!! Lots of movie chatter and spooky props. I enjoyed this one but the ending felt a little too abrupt for me … or it just left me wanting more I can’t decide! Either way Christina Henry is an auto buy author for me. That storytelling is always so riveting and keeps me intrigued to the very last page. Pick up today and get lost in another gothic supernatural story! Can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next!!

This gothic paranormal horror story was an enjoyable read. Harry Adams loves all things horror and when an opportunity arises to work for horror-movie director Javier Castillo, she takes it cleaning his house after his wife and son disappeared. Harry starts to hear voices coming from the rooms as she cleans. This tale was creepy, even though I was able to figure out the twist pretty early on.

What a fun, horror read! Creepy and dark, but not too spooky (exactly what I like). I loved the main character, Harry. She is a strong single mom who would do anything for her son, Gabe. The setting was so fun and interesting. A quick, suspenseful read!!

*Thank you partner @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

A down-on-her-luck woman gets a job as a housekeeper in the mansion of a reclusive horror movie director. Interesting premise but the slow-moving and not very scary story falls flat. Harry is not a really interesting or even sympathetic character. She comes off as dour and powerless, and overthinks things. The story does get interesting at the end, but the abrupt conclusion leaves the reader wondering about some things.