Thank you to Berkeley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of This Cursed House by Del Sandeen in exchange for an honest review.

It's 1962. Jemma Barker's life has fallen apart. After a nasty breakup, the death of her father, a failed suicide attempt, and a lifetime of seeing ghosts, she needs to get out of Chicago. So she doesn't really think twice when she receives a mysterious job offer from a wealthy family in Louisiana. She's a teacher by trade, so she assumes that she'll be acting as a private tutor.

Upon arrival, she quickly recognizes her mistake. After finally making her way to the grand, old home of her new employers, she is informed that she is not, in fact, a tutor because there are no children in the house. She's been hired because the family believe for Reasons, that she is the only one who can break a curse that has been laid upon them. It is very hard to give any further details on the plot without spoilers.

This Cursed House has endless layers and details;. Every other page seems to have another startling reveal, another twist. Jemma is a flawed, human character but fierce and determined. The psychology of her character, while frustrating at times, makes perfect sense within the greater themes of the story.

In short, it's a creepy, twisted, wild ride that dives deep into the issues of pride, vanity, family, emotional connections of all sorts. Into history, racism, and tradition. Into guilt, blame, and generational trauma. It's not just haunting because it's weird and startling; it's thought-provoking in the best of ways. It's an impressive debut,

Recommended for readers who want to be kept guessing and want new developments often., and for readers who want a story that they can mull over for a long time to come.

Historical fiction is not my jam at all but this was so well done. I devoured this book! It’s the right amount of spooky! I loved the different levels of family drama, and twists. The colorism within the family was so interesting

This was a great premise and I loved that it was set in my favorite city, New Orleans. For a debut, it was good. However, I felt like there was a lot of telling and not enough showing. The writing felt too in my face with what was happening and didn't leave much up to the reader to discover. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

I flew through this atmospheric southern gothic. Set in 1960s New Orleans, it follows a young woman escaping her troubled past, who takes a job at a decaying family estate. What she thought was a tutoring position turns out to be much more sinister, as she discovers the house is cursed. The curse claims a life every seven years—on her birthday—and she might be the only one who can stop it.
The protagonist is well-developed and easy to root for, with perfectly written tension between the other characters. The social commentary, centered around slavery, is powerful, delving deep into the weight of generational trauma.
Overall, this is a perfect read for spooky season and I’d recommend it to anyone who likes a slow burn horror.

THIS CURSED HOUSE, by Del Sandeen, is a 1960s Southern gothic horror debut about a young Black woman, Jemma Barker, leaves Chicago and the spirits she’s always seen for a new start in New Orleans. Hired by the mysterious Duchon family, she soon learns they’re under a curse and believe she can break it. Light-skinned enough to pass as white, the Duchon family looks down on Jemma for her darker skin. As she unravels their dark secrets, she discovers she’s deeply connected to their century-old curse.

THIS CURSED HOUSE is a historical fiction ghost story, dealing with family and generational secrets, but mainly touches on colorism and racism. Twigger warning now for those who may want to read this book. Jemma is an amazing protagonist and one that I absolutely loved getting to know. She has a full personality and is so easy to root for. The suspense is skillfully woven throughout the story, though the pacing occasionally lags. This book was very slow moving, and I almost gave it 3 stars, but the ending was spectacular, so I decided to compromise and give it a 4.

First, I have to talk about the feeling I felt hearing about NOLA, canal street, Meterie, and the famous Beignets! It 💯 made me miss being in a place that I love! Also, our FMC moved to New Orleans from my home city, Chicago, so this one immediately caught my attention because of the geographic locations. Aside from those things, I loved this gothic, paranormal, found family, family secret, spooky book!

Reading how Jemma’s family treated her because of her darker skin had me rolling my eyes for sure! It was a bit of a shock to Jemma as well as she travels to this strange atmospheric place with the shock of the new area, and the strange welcoming she received. I loved how the author seamlessly wrote this one which I’ll say here that it is perfect for this season. I can hardly believe it was a debut! Looking at the cover, you’re in for exactly what the cover depicts. I highly recommend reading this one to find out the secrets of the Duchon family! I must also mention t that the audiobook was also perfect to listen to. You can’t go wrong with picking this one up In any format!

This book is full of secrets, spirits, and good ole Southern Gothic charm. And a touch of voodoo. This is the perfect book for glocktober 🎃

Many thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for this eARC of This Cursed House by Del Sandeen. A debut novel, this has some predictable elements, but is absolutely enthralling and I found myself thinking about Jemma and the plot when I was not reading. I will definitely recommend this to my library patrons who enjoy gothic horror, ghost stories, and/or suspense novels.

I love a Southern Gothic, and this one hits all the right notes while still managing to spin a new variation on a familiar tune. My two favorite things about this book are that each time you think you have a handle on the story, a new secret comes to light that takes you another layer deeper, and the exploration of colorism within the black community as another facet of racism. Too many twists and turns in a story can be exhausting, but in this case, I was always excited to see another layer unveiled because I didn't want the book to be over yet.

It’s 1962, and Jemma is a young Black woman living in Chicago. Due to some recent upsets in her life, she doesn’t have much tying her to the city. So when she receives a mysterious invitation to work for the Duchon family in New Orleans – one that comes with a hefty salary – she jumps at the chance for a new beginning. But when she arrives at the family’s plantation, she is greeted with hostility and derision. The Duchons are Black, but their skin is light enough to pass as white, and they look down on Jemma for her darker skin tone. Jemma soon realizes that she was lured to their home for much more sinister purposes than the tutoring job she expected: The Duchons are cursed, and they think Jemma can break that curse.

Steeped in Southern Gothic atmosphere, This Cursed House is slow-burning historical horror with commentary on racism, colorism, and the South’s grim history of enslavement. The book is set in the 1960s, a period of racial unrest in the South, and Del Sandeen ties this back to the time of slavery a century earlier. All of this social commentary is explored in a narrative that is at turns chilling and emotional and features dark family secrets and complicated family history, generational curses, restless ghosts, and a claustrophobic and unsettling atmosphere. These are heavy themes, but they're handled with a deft touch – especially considering this is a debut novel.

The are moments where the pacing lags, but in those moments the strength of Jemma as a protagonist carries the narrative. She has a big personality, and I enjoyed following her growth as the novel progressed. The Duchons are well-developed characters as well – much less likeable, but still intriguing and thoughtfully-rendered, with interesting character arcs.

For many horror readers I imagine This Cursed House will come across as a bit tame; even for social horror, it doesn’t venture too far into the graphic or macabre. But it works as a Gothic ghost story, intertwined with the South’s complicated, dark past, and is an impressive first novel from Del Sandeen. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary reading opportunity.

Historial Fiction • Family Trauma • Paranormal
Pub Date • 8 October 2024

Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free finished copy and audiobook!

As the title suggests, this southern gothic takes place in a cursed house with a cursed family in New Orleans. That’s where Jemma Barker finds herself employed, fleeing Chicago after losing her job and leaving her cheating partner.

Unless Gemma can break the curse, they’re all trapped inside the property, where someone will die every 7 years to the day, as has happened for the last 30 years.

Although classified as horror, this is light on classical horror elements. Yes, there be spooky spirits and other paranormal elements. But the true scary parts are found in the racism and colorism that has persisted through many generations, including in the Duchon family, who have been white-passing for a century or more, one of the first free “colored” families.

I enjoyed this read, in large part due to my buddy read friends, as we discovered one more oddity, one more twist, another not-quite-right thing happening within the confines of This Cursed House.

If you like a gothic southern with some paranormal elements, and beaucoup family trauma, give this one a try!

Del Sandeen's This Cursed House has everything I want in a spooky season (or honestly anytime) read. It's a little bit spooky, there's wrongs of the past that must be corrected, and there's a whole lot of dysfunctional family dynamics happening. The vivid way that both the setting and the characters are described, I was able to put myself right into that southern mansion, and almost picture myself sitting down to dinner with the Duchon family. This is one of the strongest debuts I've read this year, and I will be anxiously awaiting Del Sandeen's next book.

4.5⭐️ Twenty-seven year old Jemma Barker is looking to escape her life in Chicago, and the spirits that haunt her. But when a nannying job leads her to a family with their own unique curse, Jemma uncovers how much more there is to the story than meets the eye.

What a debut! From the go, I was completely transported to The Duchon’s house in 1962 New Orleans. On its surface, this book is indeed a southern gothic horror novel, with the corresponding themes, making it perfect for spooky season. And yet it goes so much deeper, exploring themes of generational trauma, racism and passing. And I think it’s this combo that sets it so far apart from others in the genre.

The audiobook, narrated so brilliantly by Chante’ McCormick, is spectacular. Not only does she do an exceptional job breathing life into our FMC, who I found to be one of the most dynamic and interesting characters I’ve read of late, but the audio manages to amp up the dark, gritty, and creepy atmosphere to another level. Immersive reading (pairing the physical or ebook with the audiobook) is the best way to go with this new release.

Read if you like;
▪️Southern gothic horror
▪️paranormal elements
▪️historical fiction
▪️strong MCs
▪️New Orleans setting
▪️atmospheric reads
▪️heavier themes of racism and “passing”

Thank you Berkley Pub for the gifted copy.

She's traveled from Chicago to New Orleans, her visions have accompanied her every step of the way. The escape she planned is not to be, in fact, our MC has joined a family unable to leave their home, she's their hope to break the curse that holds them hostage. THIS CURSED HOUSE has the feel of a gothic with a family so desperate for release, they will call a truce of sorts. But this house is not ready to give up it's hold. Del Sandeen has joined the long list of writers able to hold their readers spellbound.

Jemma Barker is desperate to escape Chicago when her man cheats on her so she takes a job as a tutor for a Duchon family in 1962 New Orleans. There she finds racial attitudes are far more rigid than in Chicago. The Duchon family is weird, they can pass for white and live in a negelected mansion but are terrified of a curse that will have a family member dying every seven years. Jemma was actually recruited to stop the curse and after a lengthy set-up we find out why she is the chosen one. A mix of racial prejudice with a nifty gothic ghost tale moves this novel along. There is some repeating of scenes that take quite some time to resolve as Jemma interacts with family members in the same way over and over again. The secret to the curse is somewhat revealing but a bit too pat as Jemma morphs from uncertain newbie to taking complete charge of the family. A flawed but solid effort.

This is the perfect book for spooktober.
I loved the southern gothic vibes and the 1960s era! The author did an amazing job transporting me to the south during a tumultuous time for black people. I loved the MCs POV, reacting to the south after arriving from Chicago.

With curses, ghosts and a family that seems not quite right, this is the perfect book for spooky season. It's not too scary, just creepy enough to give you the chills.

Ever read a book that is so good, when you finish, you want to read a book just like it - or if that’s not possible, go back in time to before you read it and read it again anew? THAT’S how I felt about this book. It’s 100 percent one of my top books of the year.

When Jemma’s life in Chicago falls apart, she’s offered a job with the Duchon family in New Orleans. Though they are also black, they “pass,” so they look down on her for her dark skin - but that’s not even the half of it. Because they’ve brought Jemma to their plantation home for a very special reason: to break a curse that they believe only she can, for a very important reason.

I don’t want to say more because it’s best to go in without much more information than that. Because whooooo, does this book take you on a ride. If you feel like your family is screwed up, let me introduce you to the Duchons. And with each new twist, my mouth just dropped open farther and farther. It was so good. I was addicted and I did not predict the wild journey at all.

There is so much emotion and so many issues dealt with in this book, it made me think about so many things; from race and class, to identity and family. Del Sandeen can weave a full and layered tale.

And even this book was such a great depiction of New Orleans, a city I love. It showed the good and the bad - something that I find important. This time period had as people struggled with the civil rights movement. It wasn’t utopia, but people found friends, a place, and moments of happiness in a unique and beautiful place. I loved seeing the shoutouts to Tremé and references to other landmarks in the city.

Just get this book. That’s all I can say.

A southern gothic horror book, with a cursed family unable to leave their house? Sign me up! This book 's overarching theme was dread, and the Duchon family trying to outlive the family curse. The Duchon family has been trapped on their property for 28 years, and each year, one of them is killed in an unthinkable way. When Jemma Barker leaves Chicago to work for the Duchon family as a tutor in New Orleans, it's a breath of fresh air for the family, and for the first time, they believe the curse can be broken. Can Jemma help cure their generational trauma and unravel the secrets keeping them at home?

I'm giving this book 4 stars, as I loved the plot and atmosphere of this book. The characters were well-written and it was a nice slow burn of a read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC!

A Southern Gothic about a young Black woman who's new job at a mysterious family is much more than she bargained for since they are all under a curse... and only she can break it. Jemma Barker is a twenty-seven-year old woman in 1060s Chicago who just found out her boyfriend cheated on her and she lost her job... so when she is invited for another job for a mysterious family that is willing to pay a lot, who is she to say no? The job is for the Duchon family in New Orleans... only when she gets there she discovers that the family is light enough to pass for white and that the Black family members look down on her for her brown skin. The members of the family are strange and soon she discovers that they are under a curse that only Jemma can break.... but will she? This was definitely more of a gothic read than a horror novel, I was hoping it would be horror but it leaned heavier on the slow gothic vibes. It's a good read if you like slow gothics but it just felt a bit too slow for my liking. It's a good book overall it just felt okay to me.

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Bravo! What a debut!

Prepare yourself to be transported into New Orleans in the 60’s. Sandeen absolutely kills the atmospheric vibes from the heat to the racial inequality.

The plot to this one is so intricate that I don’t want to risk giving anything away, so instead here are a few teasers to see if you might be interested!

This book has it all:
🍂 Curses – I mean the title says it all!
🍂 Ghosts/Hauntings – What is happening in this house?!
🍂 Generational secrets – The Duchons are full of them!
🍂 Social commentary – From slavery through the 1960’s in America
🍂 Southern Gothic vibes – Perfection!
🍂 Tension – Featured in both the plot & between characters
🍂 Layered mysteries – Just when you think you know…you don’t
🍂 Vivid imagery – Again…perfection!

My only gripe (and it’s very much a personal preference) was the pacing. I wanted the pacing to match the way the tension was making my heart beat. I was reading as fast as possible to get some answers!

I can’t wait to see what Del Sandeen comes up with next!