Release: May 12, 2025
Author: JD Barker
Publisher: Hampton creek press/Simon & Schuster

Rating: 4 ★ 

In the quiet town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler’s summer takes a dark turn when his best friend, David Spivey, inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island. With no parents or rules to worry about, it seems like the perfect spot for one last adventure before college. But as they start uncovering the island’s unsettling history, they accidentally stir up an ancient evil that’s been lurking for generations.

Something I Keep Upstairs is a chilling story about friendship, sacrifice, and the hidden darkness that can change everything when it’s finally unleashed.

Something I Keep Upstairs is a spooky, atmospheric story about a teenager who inherits a house on a sinister island — and everything spirals from there. Told through the perspectives of Billy, the best friend, and Chief Whaley, the local police chief, the story switches between different “cycles” or timelines, which at times made it a little tricky to follow.

From the very beginning, Barker creates an intense, creeping sense of dread. It gave me major ‘90s teen horror vibes — dark, violent, and layered in the best way. The house on Wood Island comes with strange rules (like feeding Emerson and never answering the phone), and as Spivey and his friends dive deeper into the island’s secrets, the lines between reality and horror start to blur. It’s not just a haunted house story — there’s witchcraft, survival, hidden town history, and an unsettling sense that something is very wrong.

I loved the eerie, chilling atmosphere and how the story slowly peeled back its secrets instead of dumping them all at once. The tension builds naturally, and when no one else seems to notice the danger, it feels even more real. There’s also a creative twist on reality and perception that makes even the quieter moments feel like they’re ticking toward disaster.

That said, the second half of the book dragged a little for me. There were so many plot points layered together that it started feeling a bit overwhelming, and I definitely had to push myself through the final stretch rather than flying through it like I usually do with Barker’s books. The ending got a little too wordy and complicated, which dulled some of the razor-sharp tension he built earlier on.

Still, even with a slightly messy ending, the emotional core stayed strong. The characters felt believable and flawed in a way that kept me invested, and the creepy setting of Wood Island was just so vivid. Overall, while it’s not my favorite Barker novel, it’s a creepy, creative ride that blends mystery, horror, and paranormal elements really well. If you’re into chilling, small-town thrillers with a supernatural twist, this one’s worth picking up.

Favorite Quote:
"it's not always the loudest voices your have to worry about; sometimes it's the silence that speaks the loudest."