The Unseen and Uninvited: A short story

by Sara Kate

Lack of sleep is a form of torture. And Emily has been tortured for six months now.
Ever since her sister unexpectedly died, Emily’s sleeping pattern died too.

And now her sanity is in question.

The once cozy confines of her home have become a maze of unsettling noises and eerie occurrences. Every creak and every oddity feels like an intruder lurking just out of sight.

But no matter how deeply Emily looks, nobody is there. As these disturbances intensify, Emily fears her grief may be driving her to the brink of madness.

Is she losing her grip on reality, or is there something more sinister lurking in her home?

Genres: Short Stories

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2025

About the author

Sara Kate (with a K) writes fast-paced psychological and survival thriller books with storm settings. She resides in South Florida where she travels in her RV full-time. Aside from writing, she enjoys rollerblading, photography, painting, and anything thriller/mystery related.

Reviews

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unseen and Uninvited by Sara Kate
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a super fun and exciting thriller! The story is full of suspense, mystery and twists. It’s a very short story, but written well and has a great complete storyline. Emily is hearing and seeing things in her house and isn’t sure if she’s experiencing hallucinations due to grief, or if something else is going on at home.
This book is exciting from beginning to end! I didn’t want to stop reading until the last page, and the ending is a big shocker!

Thank you to Sara Kate for an arc of this excellent novella! I can’t wait to read more from Sara!!

*It comes out November 21st! Make sure to grab this quick read!*

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick read! I read it in bed next to my sleeping husband because I couldn't fall back to sleep, which might have not been the best choice. LOL. You will see why when you read the book.
The twist at the end was interesting.

I was given an ARC of the book but as always, only give honest reviews.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @sarakateauthor for the ARC! This book is out 21st January 2025! 🎁

I read this in one wide eyed sitting.
Emily has started hearing things in her house. This goes on for a little while, and her husband is reluctant to call the police because there is no evidence of a break in and he isn't hearing these things himself. Emily goes to therapy when she starts thinking perhaps her house is haunted. Is she really losing her mind? Her therapist reminds her that her sister, Summer, hasn't long passed away in shocking circumstances, so this is probably her grief. But no. Emily is sure this isn't all in her mind!

For such a short story, I was gripped! I HAD to know: is Emily losing it or is there something else going on? Is this a haunted house story, or is someone actually coming into the house?

I wasn't expecting the ending and man, that was CRAZY!! I want to say more but I don't want to spoil it. This is so short, you have to read it and find out yourself! You'll probably, like me, join Emily in not being able to sleep!

Well done Sara for building such suspense in such short time!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story reminded me of something I actually experienced in my own home shortly after buying it. My husband was deployed, so it was just me and my 6 month old baby. The baby still slept in my room in a Pack 'n Play, so we were never upstairs. But several times a week, the light in the upstairs bathroom would turn on, and other strange occurrences to the point where I wondered if someone was holed up in our attic. It definitely elicited some spooky vibes from my lived experience.

Overall, I struggled with the main character. Her inner monologue felt repetitive. The FMC didn't work for me, but overall, I enjoyed this story!

Thank you Sara Kate for the gifted ARC! However, I decided to read it on Kindle Unlimited today to celebrate its release :) It's a quick read, taking just about half an hour, so give it a go!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This haunting tale of grief, paranoia, and mystery grips you from the very first page and refuses to let go!

Emily’s journey is both heartbreaking and terrifying as she battles insomnia and the crushing weight of her sister’s death. The way her sleeplessness blurs the lines between reality and imagination is brilliantly portrayed, pulling the reader into her disoriented state of mind. You’ll find yourself questioning every shadow, every creak, and every eerie occurrence right alongside her.

The author’s writing is vivid and atmospheric, turning Emily’s once-safe home into a claustrophobic maze of fear and doubt. The pacing is impeccable, with the tension building steadily until it becomes almost unbearable. Each chapter leaves you with a lingering sense of unease, and the twists keep you guessing until the very end!

[WeronikaNatalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC!
I think overall I am not a huge fan of short stories, as it always seems to me like it’s not enough. If this was longer, with more suspense, I would probably enjoy it way more! BUT, as a short story, it was still a pretty good one and very easy to read!

[Danielle Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick & thrilling suspenseful short story that’ll have you on the edge of your seat with paranoia the entire time!

Thank you for the arc, Sara! I loved the way you weaved this one together!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily has suffered a tragic loss now her life is falling apart. Is she going crazy or is it something sinister? Spooky

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not typically a fan of short stories but this was so interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

[JoAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am grateful to have received this short story as an ARC. It's different compared to what I normally find myself reading (fantasy/romance). However, I have wanted to start reading psychological thrillers and this was a good story to get me into the genre.

Things start off in this story with just random occurrences like returning home after work to an unlocked front door. Did she forget to lock it when leaving for work? Did she turn on the TV and not remember doing so? Is she forgetting to close cabinet doors after putting the dishes away? Is her lack of sleep causing her forgetfulness or is she just losing her mind after her sister's death?

Emily recently lost her sister unexpectedly due to an accident on vacation six months ago. Trying to navigate through life without her has her feeling off. Emily is a light sleeper and has been unable to sleep through the night. She believes she hears noises in her house, but it's just her and her husband in the house. Her husband sleeps peacefully and doesn't stir.

Could everything happening just be a coincidence or is there more to the story?

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lack of sleep is a form of torture. And Emily has been tortured for six months now. Ever since her sister unexpectedly died, Emily’s sleeping pattern died too. And now her sanity is in question.
The once cozy confines of her home have become a maze of unsettling noises and eerie occurrences. Every creak and every oddity feel like an intruder lurking just out of sight. But no matter how deeply Emily looks, nobody is there. As these disturbances intensify, Emily fears her grief may be driving her to the brink of madness. Is she losing her grip on reality, or is there something more sinister lurking in her home?"
Short quick novella, I think this story could been a whole one, had my attention from beginning to end, what would you think or what would you do if you heard noises or felt like an intruder was in your house? Absolutely, wonderful Novella, cannot wait to read more from this author. I give this book 4 stars.

[Sarah [ Page.Turning.Thrills ] · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Unseen and Uninvited: A Short Story" by Sara Kate follows a married woman, Emily, as she seems to grow more confused and paranoid by the day due to a lack of sleep. Strange occurrences happen around her home that she just can't explain. Is she losing her mind because of a lack of sleep, or is it something truly frightening?

I enjoyed the immense tension in this short story! There's so much of it to go around. I mean, Emily literally has no clue what to believe, and I couldn't gain the upper hand on what could truly be going on until the end. Let me tell you, the ending is like nightmare sauce. Good luck sleeping soundly after reading this one.

The only thing that could have been better for me is if more thorough editing had been completed. There are some spelling, grammar, and sentence structure issues, but overall, I was able to get a complete story out of the book, and it was a great read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

[Eric Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, abbreviated, and to the point, this short story by Sara Kate is great for when you want a bite-sized scare at night while reading in the dark. We have all had those moments when we are alone at home and suddenly have that fear that someone is in the house. You find a cabinet open, or the TV is on and you don’t remember doing these things. You begin second guessing yourself or wonder if you are doing things unconsciously, which can cause even more problems. What I love most about this story is that the reader has no idea what is happening to Emily (the main character) other than her sister recently died in a skiing accident, and now she is experiencing these bizarre happenings. I would’ve liked to have seen more action in the climax scene (maybe the couple discovering what was happening themselves), but being a shorter work means it doesn’t draw out too far. Definitely a good read if you’re looking for something short and ominous.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unseen and Uninvited is a short story by Sara Kate. Sara is known for her thrillers so I was excited to jump into this quick read.

The book follows Kly and Emily after they move into their new house. Emily begins to experience disturbances within the home that make her wonder if she is losing her mind: sounds, open cabinets, missing items. Surely, her mind is just playing tricks on her, or is it?!

This quick read will have you on edge. Wondering right along with Emily. I loved the suspense and the twist at the end!

Thank you to Sara Kate for gifting me an eARC of The Unseen and Uninvited. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kim Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good tense thriller that will keep you guessing along with Emily.
I think we've all questioned our actions and memories sometimes. Did we lock the door? Did we move something or did someone else? When Emily finds this happening to her she starts to question herself on everything strange that she starts to see and hear. As it continues to happen she doesn't know if it is because of her lack of sleep, if these strange things are really happening or if its her struggle with grief after the loss of her sister. I can't say too much without giving anything away but I did not see the ending coming. Another tense, enjoyable read by Sara Kate.

[Susan Blissett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a suspenseful, mysterious short thriller which I read in one sitting. I was keen to know what a was going on throughout. Emily is hearing and seeing strange things occurring in her house, but is this grief because of her sister dying recently, or is something else strange going on? It was fun, quick read, but didn’t answer all my questions about the strange occurrences.

Thank you to the author for a free copy as part of the Stuff Your Kindle Crime Edition promotion.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily and Ely are married. They own a home, one that becomes strange after Emily's sister dies. Strange things are happening, noises, moved items, and more. Could the house be haunted? Maybe something else is happening. This is a really short tale but has a great feel to it. Would have liked to see it as a longer story.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I was given an advanced copy for review purposes **

I loved this! It was short and sweet but god did it keep me on the edge of my seat! The twist was great I did not see that coming. Sara knocked it out of the park with this one

[Karen Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review
I genuinely had no idea where this book was going but it was brilliant. A short read that I devoured in my lunch break was just what I needed. 

It's a great page turner and I needed to know who was in the house. It's my first Sara Kate book but it won't be my last.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Gina Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to read this short story 😊

I think this was a great short story.
With the battle of grief and insomnia, Emily is wondering if she is imagining things.
Each chapter keeps you hooked.

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
A short and entertaining thriller. I was sort of hoping for a different ending but that's just me. Good build up of suspense and a creepy story that's enough to make me double check inside wardrobes tonight when I go to bed!

[Tracy Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily is seeing and hearing things, forgetting if she locked the door or closed the cabinets. Is it because she just lost her sister in a horrible accident or something more sinister? This was a quick short story. I wanted a bit more action but overall a decent read

[Jamie Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unseen and Uninvited was an addictive short story. I honestly wasn't expecting that ending! Totally creepy! If you're in search of a fast-paced thriller that you can devour in one sitting, look no further!!

[Bibiana Krall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Unseen and Uninvited: A short story by Sara Kate was a fast-paced short story that definitely took a twist at the end. I was sure I had it figured out and boy oh boy... very entertaining and the perfect size for coffee-time reading! Well done!

[Aurora Potocnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me reading this in one sitting while I can’t sleep…lol. Great little thriller though! I ate this up so quick. The writing style was so easy to follow. I kinda guessed the ending but the journey was still really thrilling

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could really see this as a full-length novel! The premise and twist have real potential to keep you on your toes for many more chapters! Thank you to the author for an ARC! 3.5 stars rounded up.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up for its size!! Small but mighty as they say! A quick, heart-pounding, and nail-biting story that will have you thinking of it for months to come. Highly recommend

[cals 🤍✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

the writing style wasn’t for me, the “twist” was obvious the whole way through (unsure if this was intentional).

wish i could rate it higher but i just can’t.

[Pamela Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Interesting

A quick read of a unusual plot
I enjoyed the light reading and would recommend it read with an open mind

[Ruth Castellano · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine, an interesting short story but honestly was just a good time filler.