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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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.

I didn’t know what was going on half the time.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did a good job. I’ve listened to some of J.D. Barker’s other audiobooks before, but I hadn’t tried anything paranormal from him. I enjoy a good ghost story now and then, and I liked that this one didn’t get overly bloody or demonic. At times, it gave me a bit of a 1408 or Black Phone vibe.

The premise is interesting — a high school kid named Spivey inherits his grandma’s island. Sounds pretty cool, right? But of course, things start to get weird.

The beginning had me hooked, but somewhere in the middle, I got a bit lost. I couldn’t always follow what was going on, and at one point, I looked down, thinking it had to be almost over, only to see there were still seven hours left.

Thankfully, the story pulled me back in as it approached the end, and I started to understand what was happening. I’m still not sure how I feel about the main character’s final decision, but that’s something for you to decide!

One thing I enjoyed was the author’s note about the real-life inspiration for the town and the island. It honestly sounds like a really cool place to visit.

Thank you to NetGalley and to RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early.

This was kind of a mixed bag for me. I thought some of this was really eerie and I wanted to see how everything played out. I didn't really see any of the twist(s) coming until they happened. The beginning was intriguing and the ending was satisfying. So I enjoyed all of that. This is my first JD Barker novel and I can see why people would really like his work.

But ultimately, this didn't totally work for me. For one, this was too long in my opinion. Barker seems to be a bit on the long-winded side and there was too much extraneous detail and too many scenes where the plot got lost. I stalled out on this audiobook for like a week around the 40% mark and it was a bit of a slog to get through until the 70% mark. I also didn't really care for any of the characters. I mean, plenty of them were dealing with a lot and I felt nothing for any of them. I think part of the problem for me specifically is that I was underwhelmed by the female characters. None of them were very compelling and they were all pretty one note.

I had requested this because I love horror and because I really like Michael Crouch's narration. I don't get to check him out as often as I'd like because there isn't a ton of overlap in our Venn diagram of my audiobook interests and his audiobook narrations. He did a great job capturing both the horror and the teen angst/coming of age parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC.

When Billy’s best friend Spivey inherited an island off the coast of New Hampshire, everything began to unfold. The house is full of post-it reminders, and the mystery surrounding it hooked me right away. There are these strange rules tied to the house, and soon enough, Spivey starts adding his own set of rules. The whole place gives off some serious creepy vibes, and as the story unfolds, the horror and supernatural really start to kick in. The narrator, Michael Crouch, does an amazing job bringing the characters to life. His tones and inflections are perfect, making each character stand out. This book is great for anyone who loves horror, mystery, friendship, loyalty, and paranormal elements. I also really enjoyed listening to the author’s afterword. It was fascinating to learn that some of the events in the story were actually based on real events.

J.D. Barker's Something I Keep Upstairs is a chilling blend of supernatural horror and coming-of-age drama that immerses readers in a haunting tale of friendship, sacrifice, and ancient evil.
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Set in the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, the story follows seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler and his best friend, David Spivey. When David inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island from his estranged grandmother, the duo, along with their friends, sees it as the perfect summer escape before college. However, the island harbors dark secrets, and their idyllic retreat soon spirals into a nightmare as they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations.

This was a super creepy and engaging listen. J.D. Barker really knows how to build tension, and the audiobook narrator did a great job bringing the story to life. I liked how the book mixed psychological suspense with just the right amount of supernatural creepiness.

The main character was interesting, and the pacing kept me hooked the whole way through. Some parts felt a bit familiar, but overall, it still managed to surprise me. Definitely a solid pick if you're into dark, eerie thrillers.

Suspenseful, shocking and enthralling are just a few ways to describe this story.. I was listening to this audiobook, however I feel like even if I was reading a hard copy it would still affect me the same way. I had to stop a few times to let my anxiety calm down. Actually found myself saying that’s not a good idea a few times, like when the Sheriff went to get into the car.
Was really hard not to cry while I was at work listening to the last hour or so.
Overall this story had me in all the feels… Good job J.D. Barker!