Ever wondered what would happen if your dream house turned out to be a haunted nightmare? Cherie Priest's It Was Her House First takes you on that wild ride, with a grieving woman named Ronnie Mitchell who buys a rundown mansion only to discover some seriously spooky stuff happening inside.

Ronnie, hoping to find peace after a personal tragedy, unwittingly awakens the fury of a vengeful silent film star named Venita Rost, who haunts the house alongside the spirit of Inspector Bartholomew Sloan, trapped there by guilt and Venita's wrath. As Ronnie starts renovating the place, she gets caught up in a deadly game between the living and the dead.

The book's plot is centered on Ronnie's journey, as she transitions from seeking solace to fighting for her life. Her skepticism fades as she faces the supernatural head-on, showing her strength and resourcefulness. Through diary entries, we learn more about Venita Rost, a complex character whose actions are fueled by tragic loss. Inspector Sloan's chapters shed light on the house's history, though some may find his parts less captivating.

It Was Her House First tackles themes like grief, revenge, and the blurred boundaries between the living and the dead. The parallel between Ronnie's struggle with loss and Venita's experience creates a chilling echo. Priest explores the destructive consequences of unresolved grief and the dark side of seeking vengeance.

The story shifts between Ronnie, Venita, and Bartholomew's perspectives, and hops between the present and the past. This narrative style skillfully intertwines two stories that come together at the end. Priest's atmospheric writing is a strong point, painting a vivid picture of the haunted house and heightening the suspense. The language is easy to follow, and the tone mixes humor with horror to create an entertaining read.

It Was Her House First brings a spine-tingling sense of suspense, fusing classic haunted house vibes with gothic flair. As you witness Ronnie's terror and determination, along with the tragic pasts of Venita and Bartholomew, you'll experience an emotional rollercoaster. The book highlights how grief and loss can push people to unexpected actions.

The story shines with complex characters, a vivid setting, and a mix of horror and emotional depth.

One thing that could make the story even better would be to further develop the characters of Venita and Bartholomew, giving them the same depth as Ronnie. While the book has its eerie moments, amping up the scare factor in some scenes could make the story more chilling.

It Was Her House First is special because of its ability to mix traditional horror tropes with genuine emotional depth. The story speaks to the experience of grief and the search for healing, all while delivering chills and thrills. The book makes the reader think about the lasting effects of trauma and the ways the past can haunt the present.

This novel is engaging and mysterious with a haunting yet glamorous air about it. I think the writing is well done and as a whole the story is good. I fear I am not the target audience for this book so that is the reason for my 3 star review. I am not typically a fan of a haunted house type of book but every once in a while I give one a go just to see if my tastes have changed but sadly this one hasn't changed my mind. I did like the atmosphere of this book and having lived in the Seattle area for over a decade in my life, I understand the ominous feeling of this house and place but for me the story just didn't resonate very deeply. Again, I am likely not the target audience for this book so please take this review with a grain of salt.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, but think having the right mindset going into it is important. This is NOT a horror ghost story, it’s much more of a ghost mystery story. Don’t expect poltergeist vibes and jump scares - this isn’t that book. Instead, expect an original haunted house story with dark humor, complex family relationships and very well-written characters (including the ghost!). Ronnie and Kate’s relationship added so much to the book. I love books with found stories, so reading Venita’s diary also added another layer to the book. There were a few things I wish had been cleared up more at the end, but nothing major that detracted from it feeling like a true ending to the book. Overall, I had fun with this one and would recommend it!

My fav reads are haunted house stories so right off the bat, I was excited for this one. And if the house itself is a character; even better. I love a multi POV read and having one from the ghost was such a unique twist. The sense of creepiness was heavy throughout and I loved the use of mixed media. I feel like it helps move a story along when authors incorporate that into their books.

Cherie Priest’s new novel, *It Was Her House First*, follows Ronnie Mitchell after she purchases a run-down historic Seattle home, sight unseen, after her brother’s passing. She soon discovers she isn’t alone in the house since the long-dead former inhabitants are still in residence. Besides dealing with threats from the living, she’s struggling to rebuild her life after her loss while battling anxiety and grief.
This book wasn’t your typical ghost story in that these were not mindless ghosts. The author told the story from three perspectives: Ronnie’s, Venita Rost’s, and Bartholomew Sloan’s. The latter two are the former residents who stuck around after their untimely deaths. Like Ronnie, the ghosts had trauma that perhaps kept them in the house. They all had something in common: they were all mourning loss and dealing with their own ghosts, so to speak.
I wish there had been more detail about Bartholomew and the deal he made. The deal was mentioned throughout the story, there were hints here and there, but I was disappointed that it wasnt explained in more detail.
I love ghost stories and mysteries, so this book was right up my alley. It was fast-paced, and the story was intriguing. Each character had a clear voice, which helped move the plot. I couldn’t stop reading. Cherie Priest’s other books are certainly going to be my next reads!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read the eARC. All opinions are my own

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

I really enjoyed this. The mix of past and present was well done with slow reveals for readers to learn along with the main character. I also really appreciated the author’s description of clinical anxiety and the touch on OCD being more than just cleanliness-related. It reminded me in some ways of “haunt sweet home” and “just like home” (both great horror/mystery/thrillers) with endings that are happy enough for both the main character and their ghosts.

It Was Her House First by Sherry Priest, Ronnie recently bought an old Hollywood star‘s house in Seattle it is rundown her best friend Kate helps her move in and even though the second floor rains down on her blowup mattress as she sleeps she couldn’t love the house more. The house was once owned by Vanita a silent movie star who moved there when the house was new with her husband Oscar and daughter Priscilla. Many strange things happen including her sing the ghost of Bartholomew Jones, Oscar‘s best friend and someone who stayed quite frequently with the family. She also finds Venita‘s diary a ghost cat and much much more. Throughout the book we find out how the knee’s daughter died as well as Bonita herself and the famous PI Bartholomew Jones. which means a lot to Ronnie and Katie‘s new friend Cody. Bart was his uncle and he claims the only one from the family who did anything great with his life. I don’t know what else to put in this review because it’s truly was an awesome read not to mention a very funny one and oh how much did I love Ronnie she was so funny. Her dry sarcasm leaked off the page and I was loving all of it. much more than scary this book was totally entertaining I cannot think of one negative thing to say about it I loved it loved it loved it. I absolutely love that every time Bonita appeared her house was intact and the way it was in 1932IDKY but that totally thrilled me. I know this is a horrible review but OMG it was a great great read! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#SherryPriest, #ItWasHerHouseFirst,

It Was Her House First is a unique and entertaining gothic haunted house book. Ronnie buys a dilapidated century old house at auction and plans to renovate it. She moves right in, with ceilings dropping, poor water and electricity, and at least two ghosts who seem to still live there. Her friend Kate is there to help, however a sketchy young man starts imposing on their time in the house. The story is told from a few POVs, including Venita, the 1930s silent movie star who originally owned the house. If you like ghost stories you will enjoy this book! With thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC. My opinions are my own.

Don’t mess with the ghosts, especially when you enter their house and clean out their history. Living in the past and present, Ronnie’s future depends on the past events that took place in her new home.

It was a great concept, but I would have loved a little more horror. It seemed more of a meditation on the role of women, but it didn't quite pack the punch I was hoping for.

It Was Her House First is a creepy, slow-burn ghost story with a twist. The mix of perspectives—especially the ghost's—is really clever, and the atmosphere keeps you hooked. Perfect if you like eerie reads with emotional depth.

A bit cheesy. Not for me. Clearly the publisher thinks I’m inept and not capable of a review anyway.

This was a delightful haunted house story. I enjoyed how the author slowly gave me pieces of the story…..I just wanted to keep reading and I love that. The multiple viewpoints used throughout the book helped add depth to the story. I have been reading lots of books with multiple POVs and have been loving them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-Arc.

This was such a great and fun haunted house story! I love reading about ghosts trapped in a creepy & decrepit house! I read this book in one sitting and i want more

This was kind of a unique haunted house book for me because there were multiple ghosts, and they know of each other. Cherie Priest sets the scene with a tragic backstory for Ronnie, whose brother just died and now she wants to invest her money and energy in fixing up this house.
She's staying in the house by herself, even though it's insanely terrible shape, but clearly there is danger from humans and the supernatural. I really liked the ending.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher for providing an e-ARC of this title. I absolutely love this author—her storytelling never fails to pull me in. The horror in this book was masterfully done; it felt like a bug crawling just beneath my skin—unsettling, inescapable, and impossible to ignore. That creeping dread is exactly what makes her work stand out in the genre. A haunting, immersive read I won’t soon forget.

★★★★☆

Ronnie is a young woman haunted by grief and anxiety who buys a run-down house with the intention of renovating it. The house once belonged to Hollywood starlet Venita Rost, whose daughter died there, a tragedy that sparked further misfortunes casting a shadow over the house that never quite lifted.

Switching between two timelines, the present day and that once-glamorous past where everything went wrong, we gradually uncover the story of the house, which is filled with lingering presences, not all of them supernatural.

The novel flirts with several genres like thriller and horror, but I’d say it never fully embraces any of them. It never becomes truly scary, nor does it make good use of its ghosts, even if they roam freely through the pages. At first, it seems like a mystery is being set up to carry us through to the end, but that’s not quite the case. The direction of the plot becomes clear early on, and the tension loses a lot of its bite.

On top of that, several chapters focus heavily on the house renovation, to the point where it feels like watching a home makeover show. I suppose this could have been used to add to the unease, to show that even the ordinary hides something that doesn’t sit right, but in the end, it just feels rather bland.

There were enough elements here to make something truly unique, and the beginning sows enough seeds for that to happen, but everything slowly loses momentum.

I also have to say that none of the characters really stood out to me. Sometimes you get a glimpse of motivation or inner conflict that could have made them compelling, but it's never fully explored.

The story isn’t bad, and the author doesn’t do anything terribly wrong, but the novel isn’t particularly memorable either. And maybe that’s the worst thing you can say about a ghost story: that it doesn’t linger.

his was an intriguing and unique style of book compared to what I have read before. The story incorporates several different media styles, which kept it engaging and fresh! I love a good ghost story, and this one delivered. With multiple POVs, we get Ronnie's perspective as she recently bought a home and is grieving. I enjoyed Ronnie's chapters. Bart's chapters, however, were rather dull and sometimes moved at a snail's pace, although they did have some spooky moments, albeit toned down. Lastly, Sloane's chapters were the highlight. I loved getting inside the ghost's mind and that aspect was fascinating!

The beginning of the book was a bit of a struggle, but if you push through, the ending is strong and absolutely amazing! If you're looking for a different kind of ghost story that includes revenge and various intriguing aspects, then you should pick this one up. Just remember to stick with it for that ending—it makes the book! Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one. It was definitely a spooktacular experience!

This book was a great read kind of scared the shots out of me lol because ghost are scary to me it was a great read and I’m sure that it will be talked like some of the greats middle of the night or the only one left etc this will be a page turned and of course I will recommend to everyone

I love a haunted manor, but this take on the haunted house felt refreshing? It was spooky yet glamorous in an old Hollywood way, and still eerie and atmospheric, but my absolute favorite thing was getting 2 different ghosts’ povs, and them being one in ‘real time’ and the other through old diary entries, but they’re both in the past and the present, was brilliant, which I felt just added so much depth to the story, and what a story!

Everyone who has lived in this house dies. You follow the new owner, Ronnie who is coping with her own grief by trying to salvage this house with a disturbed history that once belonged to a Hollywood actress in the 1930s, whose ghost that will charm you to death, still haunts it due to the horrors that took place there and as her own way of coping with her grief, that’s tied to another ghost in residence. Both ghosts still at war with each other and themselves because of it, leaving more parties to deal alongside them with the aftermath of one’s fury, the other’s guilt, and of the horrors of it all.

The portrayals of grief and anxiety were so realistic. I found myself relating to Ronnie’s anxious train of thoughts too much. And couldn't help but feel for Venita and her grief.

I loved the parallel of both Ronnie and Venita dealing with their grief differently yet finding that sort of understanding between women, even when we haven’t lived the same experiences.

Sloan’s chapters were my favorites. Getting his perspective as a ghost and some insights on his understanding of his paranormal realm and other ghosts, was so interesting.

It was such a gripping and fun read too, yes I know it’s horror but not only was Ronnie a fun narrator, but I stayed up late two nights in a row because I was so invested. I do wish there had been less construction information and more depth into Sloan’s deal, what happened to Priscilla and some sort of final confrontation between Venita and Sloan, as well as some closure for Venita with Priscilla, whose whereabouts are left in the open, but sometimes the wondering is good. And this book was really good.

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Cherie Priest for the ARC, it was a fascinating read!