The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel

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Pub Date Sep 12 2024 | Archive Date Sep 26 2024
RDS Publishing | Raw Dog Screaming Press

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Description

There’s something off about the house…as if it’s hiding a dark secret. That’s why artist, Emily Lawrence thinks it’s the perfect subject for a cover commissioned by a famous horror author. But that’s her little secret. Her husband, Miles, can only assume the house she is constantly sketching is her dream home. So, when Emily is sidelined by an unexpected, high-risk pregnancy, he buys it thinking it’ll be perfect for their growing family. 

Immediately, Emily begins to hear voices and senses a child’s presence. Is the house haunted or is it stress getting to Emily? Her husband certainly thinks it’s all in her head. A traumatic delivery leaves Emily convinced something is terribly wrong. Miles must navigate his wife’s delicate state, and care for their newborn son, while returning to work. It’s a tenuous situation—then the baby disappears.

There’s something off about the house…as if it’s hiding a dark secret. That’s why artist, Emily Lawrence thinks it’s the perfect subject for a cover commissioned by a famous horror author. But that’s...


Advance Praise

"…an intense, trippy, wholly immersive ghost story. Knight’s characters get in your head and under your skin. It’ll creep you out in the best possible way. — Andy Davidson, author of The Hollow Kind 

"A harrowing journey into the dark spaces within, trimmed by rotting lace and the specter of misogyny." —KP Kulski author of Fairest Flesh and House of Pungsu

“…insidious and harrowing, full of twists and terror. It’s a brilliant piece of Gothic horror.” —Scott A. Johnson, author of Through the Witches Stone

“A brilliant premise, masterfully plotted, Knight weaves a story that reads like a fever dream born of anxiety.” —Bram Stoker Award-winning author Sarah Read

"…captures the modern anxiety of homeownership, coupled with the tense unease of new motherhood. Highly recommended..." —Alex Hofelich, PseudoPod

"…an intense, trippy, wholly immersive ghost story. Knight’s characters get in your head and under your skin. It’ll creep you out in the best possible way. — Andy Davidson, author of The Hollow Kind 

...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781947879744
PRICE $19.95 (USD)
PAGES 210

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
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Average rating from 128 members


Featured Reviews

The Nobel Leeds House is just what Emily Lawrence is looking for. She to illustrate the cover of a horror novel when see first sees the dilapidated Victorian located on the edge of a swamp. Its mysterious aura intrigues her. What she hasn’t yet realized is that Emily Lawrence is just what the Nobel Leeds house has been looking for.

What follows is near confusion, lack of communication, suspicion, terror and tragedy. Mistaking his wife’s sketches for an interest in the house, her husband Miles buys the house as a surprise. She’s newly pregnant with a much wanted baby and finds the house terrifying (as she should.) Neither Miles nor his twin sister, Emily’s best friend Monica, understand Emily’s fears. They don’t see the rolling toys, hear the voices singing, or see the doors slamming shut. After the traumatic premature birth of their son Rhett nearly kills both Emily and the baby, Miles and Monica try to provide all the help they can to her. They believe postnatal depression is causing her hallucinations and visions. It isn’t, but by the time the evil in the Leeds House shows itself and causes a media circus, so much will be lost.

All good horror stories have to be based in reality. Ev Knight so vividly describes Leeds House that you can see it, imagine the wraparound staircases, the zinnia covered wallpaper and the creepy toys. By the time you realize that Emily and the house are horribly linked, you won’t be able to stop reading. And when you finish The House on the Cover of a Horror Novel, don’t look behind you. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, RDS Publishing and EV Knight for this ARC.

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This is a creepy atmospheric novel about a haunted house and motherhood set in Savannah Georgia.

A woman has been contacted by a very successful popular horror author to give him inspiration for a new novel. There's a huge payday in store if she can capture and paint something which leads to his next novel.

She finds a perfect house for sale with a dubious past. But before she can enter the home with a realtor, she experiences blinding pain and starts bleeding. At the hospital her and her husband find out she's pregnant and it's a complicated and possibly dangerous pregnancy.

She has not told her husband about her deal with the author and he assumes she wants to purchase this home and proceeds to do so behind her back.

She doesn't want the home but the deal is done and they move in. It doesn't take long for the house to reveal itself in truly troubling and terrifying ways!

This novel goes deeper into the aspects of motherhood and, of course, no matter what happens, her husband has a good physical reason for it. Their relationship turns contentious as whatever lives in the walls makes her doubt her sanity.

With some twists and turns along the way, we'll witness the terror she endures and the panic when she realises whatever it is wants her baby for it's own.

This is a really good gothic haunted house book with some great supernatural vibes and psychological horror. I recommend it.

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his novel is a gripping blend of psychological suspense and supernatural mystery. Emily Lawrence, an artist, is drawn to a mysterious house she believes hides a dark secret, perfect for a horror novel cover. When her husband Miles unexpectedly buys it, Emily's eerie experiences intensify, leading to a chilling exploration of fear and the unknown.

Knight skillfully blurs the lines between reality and paranoia as Emily battles with her sanity amidst haunting occurrences. Miles' struggle to support his wife adds a poignant layer to the narrative. The story's tension escalates dramatically culminating in a thrilling, unforgettable read.

For fans of atmospheric horror and psychological thrillers, 'The House on the Cover' is a must-read, showcasing Knight's talent for crafting deeply unsettling tales that linger in the mind long after the final page

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Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for an eARC of this book!

I had seen this pop up in a suggested ad for me and was immediately interested. I was so excited to get to get the ARC. It did not disappoint!! This book had me hooked from beginning to end. It reminded me of a 80’s-90’s Stephen King movie. I could see everything in my head so vividly as I read. I truly don’t remember if there were trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, but if there isn’t there should be as there’s child abuse and death of an infant.

Such a spooky and haunting book without gore or anything over the top! Truly chilling!

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A husband and wife with a baby on the way move into a "dream home"—but is it really a dream? Was it ever? This novel captures the essence of every parent's deepest fears. As a parent of a 2-year-old, I can honestly say that EV Knight has tapped into the darkest corners of my mind, pulling out the very nightmares that haunt every mother—the ones we keep locked away in the depths of our souls.

From the very first page, this novel had me completely hooked. I found myself stealing every spare moment to read—whether I was making lunch, on work breaks, walking somewhere, or even in the shower—I had to know what would happen next. It’s been a long time since a book has pulled me in like this one did. By the end, I was left picking my jaw up off the floor, staring into the abyss as I reflected on what I had just read.

Having experienced postpartum depression, I deeply appreciated how EV Knight weaved that aspect into a haunted house horror story. It was done tastefully, without being over the top, making it all too easy to step into the protagonist’s shoes. This novel will stick with me for a long time creeping in from the corner of my mind to remind me to check on my son, or give him a hug… or maybe avoid Alexa?!

Trigger warning: This can be a tough read if you have little ones or struggle with horror involving children. But I made it through—and I might just hold my son a little tighter and longer for the next while.

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I absolutely loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. It is the perfect haunted house novel. I was drawn into the story right away and needed to know what was going to happen next. The author did a great job creating the eerie haunted house atmosphere. I was not a fan of the husband. I felt like he was such an oblivious doofus. And the famous author “Coop” seemed completely just self centered and concerned solely with getting his cover/story, nevermind what Emily was going through to get it for him. The end was so sad/tragic but it is a horror book, not a fluffy rom com

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