J.D. Barker's "Something I Keep Upstairs" is a gripping and atmospheric read that caught me off guard in the best way possible. Going into the book, I had no inkling it was building toward a paranormal thriller, and Barker masterfully kept me guessing through most of its pages. The slow-burn setup and clever misdirection made the eventual twists all the more satisfying.

The story unfolds mainly in New Castle, a small island in coastal New Hampshire, a setting that Barker brings to life with vivid detail. The moody, seaside backdrop perfectly complements the narrative, grounding the eerie and mysterious elements in a way that feels both authentic and immersive. It's the kind of book that reads like a movie; cinematic in its pacing, dialogue, and imagery. I could easily see tis translating into a major motion picture, with its blend of suspense, emotional depth, and supernatural intrigue.

Barker's storytelling prowess and the unforgettable setting make this a must-read for rans of thrillers with a paranormal twist. Highly recommend diving into this one without spoilers for maximum impact!

The synopsis instantly reeled me in: mystery, thriller, horror. Needless to say, I was so excited when my ARC request had been approved.

Upon beginning the book, I was immediately turned off by the narrator’s voice. Grant it, I understand that we cannot help our God-given tone of voice and I feel that he did as well as he possibly could have with what he had. It just simply did not suit me, causing me to have a difficult time taking the story seriously and focusing on the words.

On another note, I felt like the story line had great potential. However, I felt like it was haphazardly thrown together. I was confused and frustrated until the very end, which left me disappointed.

By far, the biggest downfall for me was the witchcraft, biblical references, unnecessary sexual scenes, and crude language. I would not have requested this book, if I was aware of any of these topics. I found it to be greatly offensive and disrespectful towards my, One and Only, Heavenly Father.

I truly appreciate the opportunity given to me to listen and review this read. I do wish the very best for this author. Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley!!

Thank you, RBmedia, and NetGalley for letting me review this audiobook, Something I Keep Upstairs.

This was a gripping, haunting novel that you do not want to read at night. I personally was scared at some moments in this novel; however, I am sure that this may be something the author, J.D. Barker, was hoping for.

The inherited house on an island, passes over the parents, to their child. This child, and his friends decide to spend their last summer, hanging out on the island.

One thing about this house on the island is, there are rules you must follow. Of course, they are not taken seriously and not followed by all.

This is an all lights on, gripping the edge of your seat, haunting house, nightmare.

I loved how well written this novel was, because it leaves you with questions throughout, but those questions are eventually answered, which makes you want to keep reading to find out what everything means. Even when explained, it is still otherworldly, and leaving you with your mind ruminating, and wanting to sleep with your lights on. Lights are very important in this novel.

This haunting house and island, ends with your mind blow. J.D. Barker mastered how to end a novel, with an ending you would never expect and will leave you in complete shock.

If you enjoy haunted houses/islands, shock factor, and an intense emotional factor, this is the book for you. I am still ruminating over this book, and this book will not leave my mind. It is now shelved in my brain, which may also happen for you.

Leave it to Barker to keep me on the edge of my seat! He never fails to give us a twisty and gripping book that has you saying 'what just happened' at the end. Something I Keep Upstairs is no exception! The narrator also did an absolutely fantastic job at bringing the story to life and making me feel like I was in the pages of the book!

I consider it to be both a blessing and a curse that my introduction to the writing of J.D. Barker came with The Fourth Monkey. While I now want to read almost everything that he writes, I have found that, for me, nothing I’ve read since quite measures up. The good news about Something I Keep Upstairs, a novel about a haunted house on a secluded island near New Castle, New Hampshire, is that it may have come the closest to hitting that high mark. The main character is a seventeen-year-old high school student named Billy Hasler whose friend David Spivey (‘Spivey”) inherits the house from a grandmother he didn’t know well. Spivey is a bit of a loaner until he gets the house, which becomes a party place for kids looking to get away from parents and responsibilities. The house comes with mysterious rules which, of course, have consequences if broken.

The book starts off really strong introducing the characters while slowly building the tension. When the first house rule is broken you can feel a sense of dread that something bad is about to happen. And boy things do go south quickly!

The central characters have complexities and face various moral dilemmas. I really liked Billy and found him to be easy to root for. Spivey, now suddenly rich and popular, is very relatable. You know he is going to enjoy his new status. Of course, this wouldn’t be a horror book without some bad kids and a few creepy adults, all of whom elevate the narrative.

If I were to change one thing about the book, I’d probably make it an hour shorter as there were a few places where the story dragged a bit in my opinion.

This audiobook is narrated by Michael Crouch. I’m embarrassed to say that I wasn’t familiar with his name, but I had listened to him before read Memorials by Richard Chizmar and I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. Despite the fact that he’s in his 40’s, he is perfect for books with young protagonists (as is evidenced by the three books I’m familiar with). I enjoyed listening to him immensely and will pay better attention to his work going forward.

Thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to listen to Something I Keep Upstairs. The above opinions are my own.

Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker is my favorite audiobook so far this year. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. The story was captivating from the first page. I enjoyed the mix of supernatural elements, and the setting was so intricately described I could picture it perfectly.
This is a solid 4 star audiobook and I highly recommend it.

A real horror/ghost story. Spivey, about to turn 18, has lead a troubled life. It may be about to change when a grandmother that he'd only met once, at a Thanksgiving dinner 10 years before, dies suddenly. It turns out that she's left him (and definitely not his parents) an island not too far off the coast of New Hampshire, but it's actually in Maine. When Spivey and his best friend Billy go to visit the island, they discuss the rules of the island. The rules are strange and not completely understandable. But the house is in excellent condition, and there are lots of funds to keep it up.

Only there are secrets, and horrors about to unfold. The young men learn that all is not as it appeared. The lawyer handling the estate seems to know more, but he's not really talking.

The story gets more and more intense and the book continues, with a great, earthshaking conclusion.

I listened to the audio version of the book. The narrator was great, and he has a young voice, which is appropriate for the narrator of the story. If you don't like horror, this isn't the book for you.
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Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker and narrated by Michael Crouch was a spooky scary tale and dark in some places. I loved it! I love the twist and turns within this book, especially as it keeps you on your toes. . . . . .

This book is set in a sleepy coastal town of New Castle, in New England, where a seventeen year old Billy Hasler life is about to take a terrifying turn. When, his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island. . . This seems to be a perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. Especially as there are No parents. No police. and above all, No responsibilities. What could possibly go wrong?

But, as they start to explore the area and its dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations.

What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.

Will they survive their final summer? or will it be their last?

Wow! This audiobook is excellent and the narrator Michael Crouch was excellent.

I highly recommend Something I keep upstairs, but don;t read or listen to it at night!!!!! There maybe something hidden upstairs!

OK. Where do I even begin with this one?
Horror? Supernatural forces? A Living House? All of the above? ✅


All I can say is…. I hope I get SOME sleep tonight… 🤪

Billy (Hasler) and David (Spivey) have been friends forever…. Although they are growing up quickly, they still have one more summer before they all ship off to college.

But in the blink of an eye 👁️, things completely change! David’s gram dies, locally, and she leaves pretty much everything she owns to him! Including the house she grew up in!
Weird though, the house comes with its own set of rules. Strange rules. Ones that cannot be broken…or you just might die. Wait…. What????

So, as time goes on, and things just keep getting stranger and stranger, we delve into the lives of these kids, their families, their friends… and, the house…. and the private island it sits on…

This book is not like anything I’ve ever read before! And, I read a lot…

4 big, bright, twinkly, possessed ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#SomethingIKeepUpstairs by #JDBarker and narrated nicely by #MichaelCrouch.

*** RELEASE DATE was yesterday, 5/13/25... SO LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON SHELVES NOW!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

Haunted house horror can be a gamble, often teetering between spine-chilling success and lackluster letdown. This book, while slow to ignite, ultimately delivers a gripping experience worth sticking with. The first half drags, taking its time to build momentum, but patience pays off. The second half ramps up the intensity, pulling readers into a thrilling ride that keeps you guessing.
What stands out is the atmosphere—deliciously creepy and perfectly eerie, it nails the unsettling vibe essential to haunted house tales. Though it stumbles out of the gate, the story’s payoff and chilling ambiance make it a solid pick for horror fans who don’t mind a slow burn.

J.D. Barker once again proves he's a master of psychological suspense with Something I Keep Upstairs. This chilling novella—part horror, part domestic thriller—draws readers into a deceptively ordinary household where something sinister lurks just out of sight.

Told with Barker’s trademark tension and unrelenting pace, the story revolves around a man whose seemingly normal life begins to unravel due to the disturbing presence of something (or someone) hidden away upstairs. What makes this tale especially gripping is its claustrophobic setting and the slow, calculated reveal of truths that are far more terrifying than any monster under the bed.

Barker plays with fear in a subtle way—this isn’t a story drenched in gore, but rather one that seeps into your mind with psychological dread. Readers who enjoy the creeping unease found in Stephen King’s short fiction or the domestic paranoia of Paul Tremblay will find themselves right at home—and unsettled—in these pages.

While it’s a quick read, Something I Keep Upstairs packs a serious punch. It’s the kind of story that makes you glance at your own staircase a little differently after finishing it. Highly recommended for fans of compact, mind-bending horror that leaves a lasting chill.

The island gives, and the island takes. But above all… never forget to feed Emerson!
Equal parts mystery and thriller, this novel delivers all the eerie elements I crave in a story. Set on a remote island with a haunted house, and an unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after the last page. While I was initially unsure about the teenage protagonists, it quickly became clear that their age added a compelling layer to the narrative's intensity and emotional depth.
Barker masterfully weaves together some of my favorite horror tropes…. creepy teens, witchcraft, local lore, isolated location, and an ominous house all with a seamlessness that feels fresh rather than forced. I especially enjoyed how the main character, Billy, is forced to confront multiple moral dilemmas that help deepen the storyline beyond its terrifying surface. I also really appreciated the narrator, who brought the characters to life with a haunting delivery that perfectly captured the eerie tone of the story.
I devoured this book in one sitting, completely hooked by the mystery of what was real, who could be trusted, and how far these characters would go to satisfy one terrifying demand… to please Emerson. If you're looking for a gripping, creepy read that pulls you into a dark, atmospheric world then you won't want to miss this one.


*Thank you to J.D. Barker, RBmedia | Recorded Books and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

It is usually hit or miss if I like these sort of books. I was shockingly surprised how intrigued and sucked in I was with this book! From the very beginning I wanted answers! I wanted to know what was going on and surprises came from all sides with no answers for a while then they slowly started trickling in and I was even more intrigued! I really enjoyed this book. I felt it kept a good pace and kept me hooked throughout. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star for me was I guess it could have been a little shorter. At times I felt like it sort of dragged on a bit but those times didn't last too long so i never lost interest. It has some twists and turns and surprise towards the end I wasn't expecting and I always love a book that catches me off guard!

Something I Keep Upstairs
* THIS BOOK. I finished it days ago and have been thinking about it daily. Even the author’s note is memorable.
* This book is about a group of high school friends on a mysterious island outside of their hometown that one friend suddenly inheretided. It’s a dream come true, a place to party without adult supervision. But it’s not all it seems.
* First, I want to give credit where credit is due. Michael Crouch, the narrator, does an amazing job capturing every single character. It’s a large task as the characters consist of everyone from 15 year old girls to weathered and seasoned cops. He brings such nuance to each character, I immediately know who is talking without the text having to tell me.
* To discuss the book, it really has everything. It is a touching and scary story on how childhood friendships shift and evolve when confronted with the pain of reality, adolesence, and adulthood. Not only is this book a compelling story of friendship, it also has a supernatural/thriller/horror element throughout the book that will leave you hooked until the very end. There was a moment where I started putting the pieces together and I literally had to stand there, jaw dropped, and keep listening.
* This story sucks you in and leaves you thinking about it for days to come in the best way possible. Easily going to recommend this to everyone I know.

4.5⭐ I love a good thriller / suspense, and this one had me on the edge of my seat through every single page! It was a nail biter for sure! Billy's best friend inherits a house on an island.

The house seems to breathe all on its own.

Not everything is what it seems.

What do you do when you feel like you can't trust anyone around you? Not your girlfriend, best friend, dad, chief of police... Billy is trying to figure out what is going on. He's looking for logical explanations when there are none. Events happen. Were they real? He thought so. But then the evidence of what he just experienced is gone. His reality keeps changing. Were they false memories? Were they dreamscapes? Something so unbelievable happens on the island, that Billy has trouble convincing everyone that he's not insane.

Nobody dies on that island, but it doesn't mean they don't come home.

I listened to the audiobook for this book and I thought Michael Crouch did an amazing job! He made every eerie moment more. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck rising!

Thank you JD Barker and NetGalley for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.

Thank you RB Media & JD Barker for this read.

After reading the plot to this book I just knew I had to read it. The narrator was excellent from start to finish and really took on all the emotions of our protagonist.

The plot to this was totally addictive. A haunted house style book always tends to hook me in. This book offered a unique spin on the usual haunted house tale and I loved it.

It is a slow burn and while I found it longer than I expected, the last 40% moves so fast that you can barely stop reading.

The ending gave me SHIVERS. I loved it. It was a brilliant end that made all the slow burn and questioning where this would end up worth it!

This one is definitely a book you NEED to add to your TBR this year. Go in blind and enjoy the ride!

Who wouldn’t want to be gifted a house on a private island? Sounds great right? That is until you get there and discover the rules of the place. And then weird things start to happen…

This book had great potential but it fell flat. It seemed like there were too many elements that the author was trying to bring into the story and it felt confusing. Also was a bit long winded and I wasn’t an overall fan of the narrator. To me he didn’t change up the different characters voices so it was hard to focus and remember who was who. I may try to read the book verses listening to it and see if that changes my opinion of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley, RB media and J D Barker for the audio arc of Something I Keep Upstairs.
Narrated by Michael Crouch.

I really enjoyed this atmospheric chiller that has lots of elements to it. As a duel timeline, past and now, we follow Billy, a teen and a group friends who go to a mysterious house on an island. Billy, retells the narrative as the only survivor as his friends have gone missing.

Something I keep Upstairs started out really strong with a sense of atmospheric intrigue. What could possibly go wrong with teenagers on an island ?! The plot starts out medium and builds really well. There is some supernatural elements and a few hair-raising scenes as the teens get into doing possible rituals/sceance's. For me, it then falls a little flat in the middle. I felt my attention waning for a while before it picking back up again. There is some good foreshadowing as the past is reveals while Billy re-tells what happened when he revisits the place.

I really enjoyed the MCs, Billy, Spivey, Kira and Matty as they felt real, fleshed out and full of teen adventures, sacrifices, friendships and bizarre rules..... Don't break the rules! Something upstairs will definitely play with your mind and spark your imagination.

This book was narrated by Michael Crouch. who added more spooky atmosphere with his voice.

4 stars

This one was super dark and creepy. I liked it in the beginning as we were introduced to all the various characters and the island. At some point, though, I lost interest, perhaps because I never really connected with any of the characters. Some of the descriptions were overly detailed, but I didn't mind that too much. There were some parts that seemed a little repetitive, which also might be where I got distracted for a bit. It took a dark turn I was not fully expecting and came to a very bloody crescendo, which pulled me back in for the ending. The narrator of the audio version did a fair job of voicing all the different characters.

3.5 ⭐️ | Good read with a dark & chilling atmosphere. When Billy’s friend inherits an old home, these young adults decide to check it out & make it an adventure. They soon begin to realize that there’s something sinister lurking in the background. The slow burn creates a sense of unease, which is magnified considering the setting is a “creepy old house.”

I enjoyed the narration in the audiobook, I have no limit of how long an audiobook should be, but in this case I do feel it was unnecessarily long, as some things seemed as fillers & weren’t necessary. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story and want to read more from J. D. Barker.

If you enjoy creepy houses & eerie stories with suspense, you may enjoy this one. Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for this advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.