"Some writers go a step past, into the darkness, but that step past is just a starting point for Usman T. Malik . . . Follow his voice. If you dare." —Stephen Graham Jones, bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

Shirley Jackson meets The Arabian Nights in this stunning, epic dark fantasy, the debut novel of Stoker and World Fantasy award-winning author, Usman T. Malik.

When a mysterious and deadly plague sweeps through the world, a group of friends retreats to a luxurious countryside mansion at the Pakistani-Indian border, unaware of the ancient darkness lying in wait inside its walls.

After unearthing a sealed chest from a hidden cave on the property, the group realizes the terrible truth: they have trapped themselves inside the haveli with a secret, primordial power far more dangerous than the world they were trying to escape. As each member of the group fractures under the strain of the haveli’s maddening spell, they must decide whether to face the truth of their own demons or be lost within in the glittering labyrinth forever.

In his lush, epic debut novel, award-winning writer Usman T. Malik invites readers to explore the rich, spellbinding tapestry that is Middle Eastern folklore. A Dark and Narrow House is a terrifying exploration of memory, trauma, and the power of stories to save or destroy us.