This started a little slow for me, but I sure felt Grace's frustration with her boss who's relying on AI for show ideas instead of Grace's own. But once she meets Frank? Hang on for the ride.

Haunted house stories are my kryptonite. I've read more than a few, but I've never met a character like Frank. He doesn't possess the ability to feel fear. That may not sound like a bad thing, but think about the dangerous situations you might walk into lacking those instincts and a warning voice in your head. Enter Fish Stick, the bestest boy and coolest corgi ever. Frank relies on Fish Stick's spot on judgement to know if something is safe (a paw stomp) or dangerous (bark). Since childhood, Frank's been able to see and communicate with ghosts. Grace believes the combination of that ability and Frank's home inspection business will be the next big thing in reality television. She's a skeptic, but after everything that happens - she's a confirmed believer.

This is a different spin on hauntings that I really like. Frank refers to the entities as "spectrals" because that term covers all manner of remnant energies. Houses, furniture, jewelry, etc. may contain moments and experiences from the people that owned them with varying degrees of strength. It's the stronger energies that can take shape and interact with the environment - which is when folks call Frank.

The first shoot of the reality show is a disaster, and it's clear something doesn't want the crew there. Subsequent attempts at filming grow even more dangerous resulting in injured crew members and others who refuse to come back. But the occurrences aren't confined to the condo where they're filming. Something is following Grace and leaving her threatening messages.

My hands and eyes were glued to my Kindle during the last 40%, and we're talking Gorilla Glue. Unless blood or a body were involved, I wasn't parting with this book. The ending is satisfying, but I think a door was left open for a sequel, and I'm hoping this isn't the last we'll see of Frank and Fish Stick. Highly recommended for fans of ghost hunters and haunted houses, adorable corgis, and adrenaline-inducing scenes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

House Haunters is a charming and somehow wholesome ghost story about a skeptical reality TV show producer and a misanthropic ghosthunter (and home inspector) plus his trusty sidekick, a corgi named Fish Stick.

The thing that I really love about horror is how diverse it is as a genre. Do I sometimes want to read a gore-filled and blood-soaked tale? For sure. But is it also nice to actually like the characters and get a bit of humanity mixed in with my scares? Also yes.

Ever since I picked up KC Jones’ Black Tide years ago, his ability to write authentic characters has really shone through. House Haunters is no different - each character feels like a real person whether it’s your AI-obsessed corporate jerk of a boss or the curmudgeonly introvert. Each feels driven by their histories and reacts accordingly. Can our skeptic stay skeptical in the face of overwhelming evidence of ghosts? Maybe, but the mental gymnastics of someone conquering their cognitive dissonance are well captured here.

KC Jones also definitely knows a corgi or two. As someone who has owned (been owned by?) a corgi for over 13 years, this book has their mannerisms and sass down pat. Fish Stick absolutely steals the show, adding levity to the proceedings.

I really enjoyed this one. It’s got humor, human interest, and hauntings. The spectral happenings are delightfully spooky, even if they’re not going to scare the socks off the more jaded horror readers. It takes a great book to be able to both give you the chills and warm your heart.

I was super engrossed in this story the entire time! I honestly didn't know where it was going to go next and the characters were so likeable.

A delightfully spooky and fast-paced read! KC Jones strikes the perfect balance between eerie atmosphere and fun, engaging storytelling. I couldn’t put it down and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great haunted tale!

I literally finished this in a single sitting. That's how I know it was a good one. I mean so many people have done the haunted house trope but there's very few I have actually liked/loved. And House Haunters was one I loved. From the unique concept behind the hauntings, the MCs (Grace and Frank) and their budding romance, to the the funny commentary about the emergence of AI in almost every field, this book was a treat to read. Fish Stick the corgi was the literal MVP. I can literally a whole series of these characters solving hauntings and bickering while they are at it. Kinda reminded me a bit of Lockwood and Co. but make it for adults!