INSIDE

by Sarah McKnight

A slow burn horror where everything is fine...until it isn't. When Cora Johnson’s husband lands his dream job in Japan, she’s excited to start a new chapter of their lives in a beautifully restored centuries-old house. With the move comes new friends, a new career, and big adjustments to an unfamiliar culture.

But as Cora settles into the peaceful countryside, her idyllic new life begins to crumble.

A horrible smell assaults her senses. Objects move on their own. Gaps form in her memory. A chilling secret comes to light.

The house is tainted, and Cora feels herself losing more control with each passing day.

Something is lurking. Something is trying to get INSIDE.

Genres: Horror

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 24, 2024

About the author

Sarah McKnight is an award-winning multi-genre author with an interest in contemporary young adult, coming-of-age, and horror fiction. After spending two years teaching English to middle schoolers in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, she came back to the US to pursue her next dream – to finish writing all of the books taking up valuable space on her hard drive.

Her most popular book by far, The Reaper’s Quota, has placed in several awards, including the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Award. While some of her books lean more toward the fantastical, she always incorporates elements of realism and mental health, hoping that everyone can find something they relate to.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a minor in creative writing. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and five cats.

You can find her on:
Twitter/X @mcknight_writes
Instagram @sarahmcknightwrites
TikTok @sarahmcknightwrites

Reviews

[Lady MacDeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I feel as though I’ve just returned from a fantastic vacation in Japan. The author made me feel as though I was actually in this story experiencing the food, the culture, the wonderful old shrines, and the stunningly beautiful Japanese countryside. To be honest, I have never had the inclination to go to Japan, but I want to book a flight immediately, though I don’t want to experience the horror which Cora, the MC in this story befalls, as soon as she steps foot inside her new home.

Cora and her husband Sean, leave their home in Seattle to begin a brand new life in Japan, a lifelong dream of Sean’s. They both have teaching jobs lined up, and have an old, traditional Japanese house, in the countryside to move into. But, for Cora, the horror starts to build immediately from day one.

This was a really good book, from an author I’ve never really heard about, but after reading the synopsis, and loving Japanese horror, I just had to read it…man, I’m so glad I did. This is a creepy little story about Japanese folklore, and shrines that are built to respect and protect. I was hooked from the start, and highly recommend it.

Thanks to the author and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, which I gladly leave a voluntary review.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[AgoraphoBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside
Sarah McKnight 
8/24/24


Ok, so ...

This was a really interesting read. It's a slow burn; one where the eerieness creeps up on you, and before you know it, it gets inside. (Ha, you see what I did there ... eh?) 🤨😳 

Anywho , I loved following Cora (our main character) on her journey throughout the novel. 

Sarah McKnight's writing is so descriptive that it's really easy to feel transported and immersed in the culture and locations.

This is certainly an author I'll be keeping an eye on and reading more of in the future.

If you enjoy haunted house stories and/or Japanese horror ... or even just a really great, character-driven, atmospheric, suspenseful mystery - give this one a read. 

The writing is beautifully visual. 
The horror is eerie and visceral.
The vibe is serving up thrilling mystery. 

I had a great time. 

I'd definitely recommend checking this one out for yourself. 

4 out of 5 stars. 


(I received this ARC eBook via BookSirens, and am choosing to leave this review.)

[William Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this but am leaving an honest review voluntarily. An atmospheric Japanese themed horror that crawls under your skin and starts to itch away under the surface until the tension is unbearable.

I've been a big champion of McKnight's work - particularly that of the Reaper trilogy - but even with those high expectations, this was something else. An inescapable horror that will sit had me putting it down before instantly picking it back up again, because I just had to know what came next.

Superb.

[Elizabeth M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with what others have said here. I can’t afford a trip to Japan right now, but this book totally took me there. It felt almost cozy, despite the horror undertones. I liked reading about the school, and the shopping, and the train rides. It really put me “in” the story.

I did take one star off because it was VERY slow in the beginning. On the one hand, it helps the reader build a relationship with our protagonist Cora. On the other, some of the chapters I felt probably could have been cut out.

I thought the plot was definitely unsettling! It honestly unlocked a fear I didn’t know I had— the memory loss!

All in all, not a terrifying book, but definitely creepy. I recommend!

I received this book via book sirens, and I am voluntarily leaving this review

[MiniMicroPup (X Liscombe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more of a slice-of-life contemporary fiction about Cora and Sean’s life for the first 57%, but I was loving it. I was excited for the spooky stuff since I was invested in the characters. But for me, the character reactions and scheming how to get rid of the horrors felt too flat and I lost interest.

🐺 Growls: Almost too clinical in dealing with the evils.
🐕 Howls: Lots of hints leading up to reveals makes it predictable. Cora seems kinda dense sometimes. Unbelievable character reactions in that ‘huh, I guess I just forgot everything I did today ~shrug~’ way.
🐩 Tail Wags: The experiences and information about Japanese etiquette, culture, education and transit systems, food etc [but if you’re familiar with it or just here for horror, it could feel like dull info-dumping]. World-building. Slow, day-in-the-life style pacing.

Energy: Animated. Attentive. Educational.
Scene: 🇯🇵 A rural community near Hiroshima, Japan
Perspective: Our main character is moving to Japan with their spouse, who has a position at the local university. They are teaching English to Japanese students, while navigating the strange happenings in their new home and culture shock.

🤓 Reader Role: Deep in the main character’s mind experiencing things alongside them.
🗺️ World-Building: Atmospheric and immersive.
🔥 Fuel: Dynamic relationships and getting to know the neighbourhood, exploring parts of Japan. Later on switches to loss of memories, time, unhinged mind or something more?
📖 Cred: Gradient from realistic to suspended disbelief campy.

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Sakura flavoured latte. Soba noddles. Sizzling grill. Puffy donuts. Bamboo clacking. Thick forests. Hot garbage. Beer foam. Steam. Pokémon stickers.
• Straightforward writing style and storytelling
• Expat culture shock and navigating life & friendships in Japan
• Slow-burn day-in-the-life of an assisted language teacher
• Japanese folklore
• Rural home with history
• Psychological possession suspense
• Paranormal spiritual realism
• Haunted person unhingedness

Content Heads-Up: Blood. Injury. Self injury, abortion, institutionalization, murder (off page). Fire (fatality; off page). Loss of child (brief mention; off page). Vomit, nausea (descriptive, on page). Birth control. Hallucination. Blackouts, lost time. Demonic/possession.

Rep: Black and White American-Japanese. Australian, Jamaican, British peripheral characters. Expat/newly immigrated. Cisgender. Heterosexual. Pale, dark, tanned skin tones. Student in wheelchair (preteen). Childfree by choice.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from BookSirens

My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat

Actual rating of 4.75

When Cora's husband lands his dream job in Japan, they pack up what they need and uproot their lives for a new adventure. Cora was apprehensive at first, but the excitement slowly builds as they approach their final destination. Moving to a foreign country being unable to speak the language would make anyone nervous, but as Cora settles into the quaint little village where she works as an ALT at a Japanese school, gets to know the students, other teachers, their elderly neighbour, and makes friends with the other ALTs, she couldn't be happier. However, soon, a terrible smell keeps appearing and disappearing in her new home. Strange dreams plague her at night, and not long after, she begins to lose chunks of time. As Cora spirals towards despair at her idyllic life crumbling before her eyes, she realises that the house holds a dark secret, and that something malicious lurks in the shadows, just waiting for its chance to get inside...

When I saw this one available, I considered not grabbing it because I'm drowning in ARCs at the moment. When I read the blurb though, I just had to request it. I've been in love with Japan since I was quite young. I had the pleasure of being able to visit in 2014 for 19 days, just for a vacation. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I have vowed to return at some point. So, when I saw that this book was set in Japan and it was a protagonist from the west who was attempting to acclimatise to the country, I just couldn't say no. And I was not disappointed.

This story was a softer slower burn horror, which I actually thoroughly enjoyed. This had some slice of life stuff in there, educational stuff that wasn't bogged down in too much detail yet still informative, and a slow, creeping dread type of horror that slotted nicely in the gaps to unsettle you as you progressed through the story. The atmosphere of this one built so slowly on the horror side of things, until I could feel the suffocating closeness of being trapped in a situation that sounds so out there, no one would believe you. While on the sunny side of the coin, McKnight made me feel like I was back in the country that holds my heart. I found myself smiling at every little detail that brought Japan to life in the pages of this book, and it's just made me want to return even more. When I was younger, I wanted to move to Japan at some point, that hasn't occurred as yet, but who's to say that one day it won't. The descriptions of the house that Cora and her husband bought, just made me long for one of my own in a little village where I could walk everywhere *sigh* I could tell straight off the bat that McKnight had spent some time in Japan, and I was unsurprised to find out that I was right while reading the acknowledgements at the end.

The story itself is told from Cora's perspective and I felt that she behaved how anyone would in her situation. Taking such a huge leap, moving halfway around the other side of the world to a country where you can't speak that language would be a culture shock to anyone. This was the first thing that tipped me off to McKnight's firsthand experience. Everything rang true to reality, and it really helped to drag me into the story from the beginning. Cora's husband was an enjoyable character though he did annoy me at times. I kept reminding myself that he is a person of logic, so even though he had such a strong love of Japan, the myths and legends of the country would be just that to him. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Yusuke and found him refreshing, and my favourite character would have to be Yoyogi-san. I just loved her so much from the moment I met her, and I wish she was my neighbour.

The story itself, as said above was a nice blend of slice of life and horror. The horror elements were done so well, and I really felt for Cora as she tried to logic things away in the beginning. The sense of being isolated and trapped were tenfold in this one because Cora WOULD feel isolated. She can't speak Japanese bar a few words here and there, so being unable to communicate what was happening to her just left me feeling a sense of dread and isolation by proxy. The self-gaslighting I really felt, as I do this too in my own life with a lot of different things. The slow descent into horror that happens with this book caused goosebumps to rise on my arms on a few different occasions and had me creeped out while reading before sleep. Even though I had deduced a couple of things, I still didn't know for sure which way things would go, so I found it a page turner as I devoured the words as fast as I could.

All in all, this was a great slow burn horror that really brought a slice of life feel to it. I absolutely adored the story, and the scenery was so well described and real, I felt like I'd been dropped into Japan again myself. I enjoyed the horror aspect of it and found it to be creepy and atmospheric. I also loved the use of Japanese mythology. If you're looking for a lighter horror that isn't completely up in your face but can still unsettle you, give this one a go. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Zankhana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the pace of the book. As promised, it was a slow-burner-horror and such a good one! I am glad I picked this up for my ARC. The plot build-up is clever and the progress with all the twists and revelations is just the right amount. With this, squeeze in cultural aesthetics plus a splash of folklore, and the author has concocted this perfect novel for us. Although the story was fast-paced in some places, it was gripping and kept me hooked till the end. I also liked how well the author has created & described each character making each one an essential part of the story.

This is a horror-thriller set in Kiri ga Mori (translated as Mysterious Forest), a small town on the outskirts of Hiroshima, Japan. This story takes us to the beautiful countryside of Japan where Sean and Cora are all set for their new beginnings as English teachers. It was Sean's dream to settle in Japan and Cora is all-in for going along with her husband's plan even if it meant leaving behind her teaching job in Seattle, their friends and family. They also buy and restore a beautiful old (very old!) house in Kiri ga Mori with the help of Yusuke, Sean's friend who was a local. The trouble starts as soon as they move into the house. Cora feels it in her bones that something is wrong with the house but Sean ignores this as stress she might be having with all the moving in and being homesick for Seattle. My rating for this book: 4 out of 5 stars.

It has been a long time since I read an ARC and the reason I avoided it was, I would usually DNF some of the books. BUT this one has not only been entertaining, but it has also urged me to read other books by Sarah McKnight. The descriptions of the daily life in Japan, the food, and the historical aspects of the folklores: all of it, has been such a pleasure to read. And not once did I feel like it is deviating from the main story. In fact, it all works to build up the story remarkably well. I surely would recommend this to all the horror-thriller lovers out there. This book also emphasizes on the significance of supportive friendships; friendships where there are no questions asked however ridiculous anything they might sound. Suitable for anyone above 15 years of age.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicariously experience life in the Japanese countryside... with a bit of demonic possession on the side!

This book is a thoroughly enjoyable read, especially if you have any experience living and teaching English in the inaka of Japan. The majority of locations and details are based on real places and described in a way that easily paints them in your imagination. For me, it evoked a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of my own time abroad, laced with an underlying sense of dread that eventually becomes a full-on horror movie. Although it can be a bit of a slow burn at the start, when things take a sinister turn it becomes hard to put down. The author does a good job of creating a sense of fear and unease that doesn't just reply on blood and gore for shock value. More than anything, I think the psychological elements have the most impact. I particularly found myself sympathizing with the main character as she faced the stress of skeptical friends and language barriers. Overall, this is a well written piece of fiction framed within a non-fictional experience. It has a straightforward plot and a relatively small cast of characters, so I found it easy to read on and off at my own pace. Highly recommended if you're into horror or Japanese culture!

[Christina Wissman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the country of Japan! Here you will experience the bustling city of Tokyo, feel the weight of history in Hiroshima, move at a slower pace in the Japanese countryside, and…grapple with an ancient demon?

In Inside, we follow our protagonist Cora as she moves to Japan from America with her husband Sean. I love all the detail included about Cora’s observations of Japanese culture. As someone who has never visited Japan before, I really felt like I was living this experience too.

Their move to Japan, however, is not as smooth as they’d hoped. Mysterious happenings at their house and town threaten their dream of moving to Japan. I was really pulled into the story and mystery, and once I started I finished this book in a few sittings.

A warning to readers: The subject matter is intense at times, there is violence, self-harm, gaslighting, and other disturbing subjects you might expect from a horror novel. However, if you are used to reading horror you may be more prepared to encounter this in the story.

Will Cora triumph over evil forces, or will she be forced to return to America? You’ll have to check this book out for yourself to find out!

I received an ARC of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bronte Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

I'm not sure how to describe the writing style of this author and probably the best I can come up with is clean and slightly impersonal. There is a lot of description of the locations/setting which I myself really enjoyed - somewhat to my own surprise. I found it extremely evocative of the Japan I know only from TV etc and I felt totally immersed in the culture and tradition. In fact the "voice" of the author is reminiscent of the efficiency and structure of Japan itself despite the writer not being a native. I have no idea if this is intentional but it certainly gave me such a strong sense of authentic atmosphere that Im still getting "aftershocks" days later. I wouldn't personally describe this as a horror. Although there are slightly horrific elements in the later part of the book, it reads more like a thriller or mystery. It's certainly "slow burn" which may frustrate some readers, but I was so interested in all the description and scene setting that I just enjoyed the ride and learned so much about the country and its people. Ideally I'd give 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for ghosts and folklore. This book had all this and then some. I can still feel the dread Cora felt every time she entered her home. The idea that a demon was waiting in the home; hoping someone would come along for him to inhabit is terrifying. The hardest part was finding someone to believe Cora. At first, her strange happenings were blamed on stress. She became so frustrated trying to get someone to believer her. Then she had to find help to banish the demon. My feelings of horror were turned to relief as Cora finally found someone to believe her. Then it was just waiting for help and hopefully banning the demon from her home.

The other thing I liked about this book was the attention to detail the author wrote to establish how amazing the Japanese culture reflects in all things. From the buildings to the landscape I felt like I was standing in front of temples and shrines. Even when reading about the demon, the descriptions were effective in convincing my imagination that this demon meant business. I am also glad the centipede stayed in the book: a bug the length of my foot AND poisonous! No thank you.

[Steph Kvellestad · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Inside" tells the tale of a couple from Seattle who uproot their lives for a small town in Japan. They navigate the joys and challenges of adapting to a new country, grappling with different social norms and language barriers. Settling into a beautifully renovated old house initially seems idyllic, but soon unsettling events begin to unfold.

I found the novel to be a captivating exploration of Japan. Its pacing and structure, though slower for fans of quick-paced thrillers, deeply immerse readers in the characters' journey and their evolving circumstances. It's ideal for those who enjoy character-driven narratives and empathize with their struggles.

Recommended for former study abroad students familiar with the challenges of being far from home, as well as fans of atmospheric horror like "The Grudge" who appreciate rich character development.

Overall, "Inside" earns a solid 5-star rating from me! Many thanks to BookSirens for the ARC!

[Vale Elgueta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This horror book is most definitely a slow burner in the best way. Cora and Sean move from Seattle to Japan to help him fulfill the job of his dream teaching at a university while she teaches english at a middle school in a small town. Soon though, Cora begins to feel odd, things at home are not quite right, and something way more sinister than you could imagine begins to unravel.
I enjoyed every single chapter of this book.
I loved how the author made the story go from a little slow to not being able to put the book (or e-reader in this case) down. Any fan of horror and suspense will definitely enjoy it. I think the fact it goes on in Japan makes it even better!
Thank you so much to the author and BookSirens for this ARC, hope to read more like this in the future.

[Taylor Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the moment I read the summary. The characters, the setting, the tension!!! Everything was laid out perfectly and I couldn’t have plotted it better. I will say that I felt like the scary/eerie vibes were more intense toward the beginning of the book and tamed down before ramping up a lot at the end. Definitely check trigger warnings but if you’re looking for something to get you into spooky season, this is it. I will definitely be looking for other books from this author because it sparked something inside me. I thought about this book a LOT when I wasn’t even reading it and I was always excited to pick it back up. That’s pretty rare for me!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inside is a nice blend of culture, relationships and spookiness. I enjoyed taking a trip to Japan through the pages. Imagine pacing up your stuff and moving to another country where you don't even know much of the language! That would be an adventure even without the added ghosts!

I liked the characters and I loved how Cora jumped into her new life with both feet, until...... I felt like I spent a lot of pages waiting for something. Maybe I expected too much. I don't feel it was the book's fault, just one of those things. I did enjoy it, I just didn't love it.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for allowing me to read and offer my voluntary review.

[Myranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read anything by this author before and now I want to read all the things! When I started reading this a few days ago (that's crazy to me that I finished a 300+ page book in less than a week), I immediately thought my cousin would like it because she spent time in Japan as an English teacher (maybe an ALT) when she was in college. The author is able to describe the country side, the cities, the shops, everything in such vivid detail that I can picture it in my mind.

Full review coming to my website 7.30.24

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Sarah McKnight

This book drew my attention from the cover art. It looks so isolated.


The main story is about a couple that moves to Japan to begin their lives journey together. The author does make the reader feel like they are in Japan trying a variety of food and drinks and learning new culture norms. It's a really slow burn that takes a relatively long time to get to any real horror vibes of any sort. The ending does pick up somewhat once the story becomes darker. For me it was a solid 3.5 that I rounded up to a 4 star.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I love the writing style and descriptions of Japan. It definitely made me want to visit there! It was an original story line that hasn’t been done a million times.

It was a bit slow during the first half and felt more like a story about a woman moving to Japan from Seattle and her teaching job. The second half of the story focuses more on the horror elements and kept me wanting to know what happens.

Overall, I liked this book and would highly recommend it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annika Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this was a very good read I do feel as though more horror aspects could have been added. It was a very slow start in the beginning and "spooky" things started happening about 7 chapters in. I love the way the story is set in Japan and lots of culture was included as well!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing. I loved how it seamlessly immersed me in the culture without ever feeling like a lesson. The possession story was captivating, and in a strange way, it had a certain beauty to it. One thing’s for sure—if I ever buy a house, I’m definitely doing my research first.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Book sirens and Sarah McNight for the ARC of Inside.

This is my second book from this author and it did not disappoint. I love the slow burn to get to the creepy then steam roll to the end. I could not stop reading this atmospheric creepy book. I enjoyed the way the surroundings and culture were described. The creepy was good with this one and will stay with me for a long time!

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The vivid detailed descriptions had in Japan living the different culture’s customs, way of life, and of course language..even the house is eerily haunted. The flow of the story has a slow creeping up on you horror that unready on edge feel… WOW!

*I was given an advanced reader copy via BookSirens and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

[Laura Sanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horror story with a happy ending! Huzzah!!

I am a huge otaku, so the Japanese elements of this story were my bread and butter!! I LOVED this book!!!

If you are looking for a book about possession don't look any further! Wow. I am so happy this is off my TBR, and I look forward to a reread in the future.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, BookSirens, for the ARC. I liked this book - the characters felt believable and relatable, and for a horror, it was quite gentle. I really enjoyed the pacing and the fact that the horror wasn't overwhelming - especially with the natural involvement too.

[Jason M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsettling paranormal suspense.

Inside by Sarah McKnight slowly creeps up on you, then hits you with a one-two.

I’m normally not a huge fan of the slow burn, however it works really well here.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Daniel Lorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a fantastic job of fully immersing you into this slow-burning horror tale set in Japan.
INSIDE is a beautifully written story which absolutely deserves a massive five stars!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inside by Sarah McKnight is a slow burn horror that sent shivers down my spine even on one of the warmest days of the year.
We follow Cora and her husband Sean as they relocate to Japan when he lands his dream job there. Initially reluctant and apprehensive about uprooting their life from Seattle, Cora has embraced the idea and found a job as an assistant English teacher. She's looking forward to the new opportunities and eager to move into their new home, a recently renovated centuries old house in the beautiful countryside. What could possibly go wrong? Well anyone who has ever read a horror story before might have some ideas where this is headed, and they are probably not wrong, but I have to compliment the author on just how effectively she finds ways to keep ratcheting up the tension and creating genuinely terrifying scenarios. From disgusting smells to objects moving by themselves, Cora is increasingly worried but when she begins losing time and acting out of character the terror truly kicks in, and as she learns about the true past of her once dream home, the nightmare is only beginning.
Oh this book had me hooked, I could barely put it down once I began. It has somewhat of a slower pace which some readers might find off putting but I enjoyed spending the time getting to know not just Cora but also more about Japan and its culture and tradition. By the time things started to get a little weird I was fully invested in Cora as a person, not just a character in a book, and so I felt everything she was going through keenly. Once things started to happen , the pace ramped up significantly along with the tension and the terror. If you are looking for a well crafted character based horror then you won't go wrong with this book.
I read an ARC, all opinions are my own.