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Something I Keep Upstairs: A Chiller
For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.
In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.
As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.
Something I Keep Upstairs is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding.
In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.
As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.
Something I Keep Upstairs is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding.
Audible Audio
Published May 13, 2025
622 people are currently reading
8682 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Barker
56 books6,913 followersJ.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL and the wildly popular 4MK series. He is currently collaborating with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
A note from J.D.
As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
jd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 587 reviews
February 10, 2025
An island off the coast of New Hampshire sets the stage for this creepy and chilling tale. While this book does focus on the creepy old mansion, its history, and the house rules, it also showcases friendship, love, sacrifice and suffering.
Billy and his friends have their futures in front of them. It is the summer before they all go off to college. It should be a summer of fun in the sun, good times, good friends, and adventure. But when his best friend, David Spivey interstates a mysterious home on an island, and Billy, David and their group of friends begin to party, things change from fun in the sun to shadows, darkness, and danger. Something there had been lurking and waiting and now it has been awakened!
J.D. Barker has created a dark, chilling and haunting tale of evil that has lurked for generations. Things take a dark turn and as more is revealed, learned, and experienced by the characters, I felt as if I were right there with them as a silent observer. I enjoyed the emphasis on friendship, secrets, obligation, and sacrifice. But the friendships are what shinned through the darkness for me. There were quite a few characters in this book, but they all have a part to play along the way.
This was a dark tale full of dread, tension, and eeriness. There is a sense of unease flowing throughout the book which only grows stronger as the pages turn. This kept my attention and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next!
*Be sure to read the author's note at the end of the book!
3.5 stars
Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Billy and his friends have their futures in front of them. It is the summer before they all go off to college. It should be a summer of fun in the sun, good times, good friends, and adventure. But when his best friend, David Spivey interstates a mysterious home on an island, and Billy, David and their group of friends begin to party, things change from fun in the sun to shadows, darkness, and danger. Something there had been lurking and waiting and now it has been awakened!
J.D. Barker has created a dark, chilling and haunting tale of evil that has lurked for generations. Things take a dark turn and as more is revealed, learned, and experienced by the characters, I felt as if I were right there with them as a silent observer. I enjoyed the emphasis on friendship, secrets, obligation, and sacrifice. But the friendships are what shinned through the darkness for me. There were quite a few characters in this book, but they all have a part to play along the way.
This was a dark tale full of dread, tension, and eeriness. There is a sense of unease flowing throughout the book which only grows stronger as the pages turn. This kept my attention and had me wanting to know what was going to happen next!
*Be sure to read the author's note at the end of the book!
3.5 stars
Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
February 1, 2025
My thanks to Hampton Street Press, J.D. Barker and Netgalley.
You know, I fully expected to love the crap out of this story.
I didn't. I really disliked the characters and couldn't find any common ground.
I kept expecting greatness! Then I set my sights on really goodness! Then I lowered them to "for fuck's sake..edness!"
Yeah, not a word, but that's how I felt.
Sadly, at 75% I was waiting for that Barker, bezerker madness to come into play.
Sadly, here I am, finished. No nothing. Bummer dude.
Barker usually has his shit going on. Hmm....maybe next time.
Doesn't matter. He's still my favorite new author. I will read the crap outta anything he writes.
This however won't be in the cards for second read.
You know, I fully expected to love the crap out of this story.
I didn't. I really disliked the characters and couldn't find any common ground.
I kept expecting greatness! Then I set my sights on really goodness! Then I lowered them to "for fuck's sake..edness!"
Yeah, not a word, but that's how I felt.
Sadly, at 75% I was waiting for that Barker, bezerker madness to come into play.
Sadly, here I am, finished. No nothing. Bummer dude.
Barker usually has his shit going on. Hmm....maybe next time.
Doesn't matter. He's still my favorite new author. I will read the crap outta anything he writes.
This however won't be in the cards for second read.
May 28, 2025
Moody, intricately layered, and quietly unsettling!
“For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die”—how’s that for a hook? This book had all the ingredients I usually enjoy: a mysterious house, a coastal setting, summer friendships, and a sinister past just waiting to be uncovered. The eerie island atmosphere and haunting imagery were captured so well. Barker’s writing truly stands out—so vivid and cinematic that I could see everything play out like a supernatural thriller on screen.
There was a strong sense of foreboding throughout, which I really appreciated, but for some reason it was not quite enough to keep me fully invested.
I made it to about 70% and then found myself skimming to the end. I did catch the author’s note—which I actually think would have worked better if I snuck it in before starting. It might have added just the right amount of extra intrigue to draw me in more fully from the start. But I do understand why the author chose to place it at the end—it might be a bit spoilerish to read it beforehand.
I did not dislike the book, not at all. But I cannot say I truly connected with it either. It’s a long one—and long books are always a bit tricky for me. I have to be in the right headspace, with time to sink in and not feel rushed. Lately, the mood reader in me has been all over the place. I find myself reading one thing while thinking about something else entirely. What is up with that? I’m feeling impatient, easily distracted, and honestly considering whether it’s time to shift back to the genres I’ve always loved most.
This book often felt like it had too many layers competing for attention, and while the concept is fascinating and the writing is undeniably strong, in the end it left me feeling a little lost. No strong reactions either way, which is always the hardest kind of book for me to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. If you enjoy long, richly descriptive supernatural thrillers with a moody setting, dark supernatural elements, and a touch of horror, this might be a better fit for you.
“For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die”—how’s that for a hook? This book had all the ingredients I usually enjoy: a mysterious house, a coastal setting, summer friendships, and a sinister past just waiting to be uncovered. The eerie island atmosphere and haunting imagery were captured so well. Barker’s writing truly stands out—so vivid and cinematic that I could see everything play out like a supernatural thriller on screen.
There was a strong sense of foreboding throughout, which I really appreciated, but for some reason it was not quite enough to keep me fully invested.
I made it to about 70% and then found myself skimming to the end. I did catch the author’s note—which I actually think would have worked better if I snuck it in before starting. It might have added just the right amount of extra intrigue to draw me in more fully from the start. But I do understand why the author chose to place it at the end—it might be a bit spoilerish to read it beforehand.
I did not dislike the book, not at all. But I cannot say I truly connected with it either. It’s a long one—and long books are always a bit tricky for me. I have to be in the right headspace, with time to sink in and not feel rushed. Lately, the mood reader in me has been all over the place. I find myself reading one thing while thinking about something else entirely. What is up with that? I’m feeling impatient, easily distracted, and honestly considering whether it’s time to shift back to the genres I’ve always loved most.
This book often felt like it had too many layers competing for attention, and while the concept is fascinating and the writing is undeniably strong, in the end it left me feeling a little lost. No strong reactions either way, which is always the hardest kind of book for me to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. If you enjoy long, richly descriptive supernatural thrillers with a moody setting, dark supernatural elements, and a touch of horror, this might be a better fit for you.
Want to read
February 6, 2025Mr. Barker, you knew I would be here and I always will be bestie 😅
May 30, 2025
EXCERPT: My name is Billy Hasler.
When I was a kid, my best friend's name was David Spivey. I haven't said that name aloud in nearly eleven years. It's been at least nine since I'd last written it down, and I have mixed feelings about putting it on paper here. I've been told I should though, so there's that. They tell me it will be good for me, but I can't help but wonder if they really mean it will be good for them.
A lot of people want some kind of closure from me. Honestly, that's a big ask. I'm still waiting for my own closure to come.
I've been told that if I continue to keep all this to myself, bottled up inside, the pressure will build and one of these days I might just . . .
Kablooey!
Okay, that's silly. But that's what the doctors tell me.
That's what my mom tells me.
That's what my remaining friends tell me.
Most certainly the police. Their visits aren't as frequent as they used to be, but they still come around. Mundie gave up. Sandy Lomax has long since retired, but that's never stopped the latest fresh-faced officers on our small force from knocking on my door.
'Hey, I read the file and I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes to talk about Chief Whaley, those kids . . . '
I tell them enough to make them go away.
Just enough to make them understand that the sponge has been squeezed dry by many hands before them, and I have nothing left to give.
ABOUT 'SOMETHING I KEEP IN THE ATTIC': For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.
In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.
As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.
MY THOUGHTS: Do the dead know they're dead?
That question is doing my head in, but it is an important question in the context of Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker.
The more I think about this read, the more I find to like about it. Initially I had trouble connecting with both the storyline and the characters - there's a very YA feel to it. The main characters are sixteen and seventeen years old - that's a long way back in my rear-view mirror. And not a lot happened in the first half of the book. I wasn't getting chills or tingles in my spine and, to be quite honest, I was feeling quite disappointed.
But after the halfway point, the tension ramps up quite considerably. I still didn't get the tingles and the hairs on the back of my neck were resolutely flat-lining, but it certainly became a whole lot more interesting. I knew that no matter how it ended, it wasn't going to be good (for the characters).
There are still some things I don't understand, and I am tempted, at some near point in the future, to give this a second read. Knowing what I now know, I think I will get a lot more out of this read and I will probably find the answers to those questions. This is also one of those very rare instances where I think I would have benefited from reading the author's note BEFORE I read the book.
I was extremely blessed to be able to combine reading with listening to Something I Keep Upstairs and I definitely preferred reading Something I Keep Upstairs to listening to it. This is no reflection on the narrator. Michael Crouch does a superb job of the narration, and I have no complaints on that front. I just think that more of the creep factor came through the written words.
As an aside, the next pet I get, I am going to name Emmerson, and there will be a note on my fridge which readsDon't forget to feed Emmerson.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#SomethingIKeepUpstairs #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, Simon & Schuster for providing an e-ARC and RB Media for providing an audio ARC of Behind A Closed Door by J.D. Barker for review. Both formats were delivered via NetGalley. The audiobook is well-narrated by Michael Crouch. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
When I was a kid, my best friend's name was David Spivey. I haven't said that name aloud in nearly eleven years. It's been at least nine since I'd last written it down, and I have mixed feelings about putting it on paper here. I've been told I should though, so there's that. They tell me it will be good for me, but I can't help but wonder if they really mean it will be good for them.
A lot of people want some kind of closure from me. Honestly, that's a big ask. I'm still waiting for my own closure to come.
I've been told that if I continue to keep all this to myself, bottled up inside, the pressure will build and one of these days I might just . . .
Kablooey!
Okay, that's silly. But that's what the doctors tell me.
That's what my mom tells me.
That's what my remaining friends tell me.
Most certainly the police. Their visits aren't as frequent as they used to be, but they still come around. Mundie gave up. Sandy Lomax has long since retired, but that's never stopped the latest fresh-faced officers on our small force from knocking on my door.
'Hey, I read the file and I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes to talk about Chief Whaley, those kids . . . '
I tell them enough to make them go away.
Just enough to make them understand that the sponge has been squeezed dry by many hands before them, and I have nothing left to give.
ABOUT 'SOMETHING I KEEP IN THE ATTIC': For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.
In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.
As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.
MY THOUGHTS: Do the dead know they're dead?
That question is doing my head in, but it is an important question in the context of Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker.
The more I think about this read, the more I find to like about it. Initially I had trouble connecting with both the storyline and the characters - there's a very YA feel to it. The main characters are sixteen and seventeen years old - that's a long way back in my rear-view mirror. And not a lot happened in the first half of the book. I wasn't getting chills or tingles in my spine and, to be quite honest, I was feeling quite disappointed.
But after the halfway point, the tension ramps up quite considerably. I still didn't get the tingles and the hairs on the back of my neck were resolutely flat-lining, but it certainly became a whole lot more interesting. I knew that no matter how it ended, it wasn't going to be good (for the characters).
There are still some things I don't understand, and I am tempted, at some near point in the future, to give this a second read. Knowing what I now know, I think I will get a lot more out of this read and I will probably find the answers to those questions. This is also one of those very rare instances where I think I would have benefited from reading the author's note BEFORE I read the book.
I was extremely blessed to be able to combine reading with listening to Something I Keep Upstairs and I definitely preferred reading Something I Keep Upstairs to listening to it. This is no reflection on the narrator. Michael Crouch does a superb job of the narration, and I have no complaints on that front. I just think that more of the creep factor came through the written words.
As an aside, the next pet I get, I am going to name Emmerson, and there will be a note on my fridge which readsDon't forget to feed Emmerson.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#SomethingIKeepUpstairs #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: As a child I was always told the dark could not hurt me, that the shadows creeping in the corners of my room were nothing more than just that, shadows. The sounds nothing more than the settling of our old home, creaking as it found comfort in the earth only to move again when it became restless, if ever so slightly. I would never sleep without closing the closet door, oh no; the door had to be shut tight. The darkness lurking inside needed to be held at bay, the whispers silenced. Rest would only come after I checked under the bed at least twice and quickly wrapped myself in the safety of the sheets (which no monster could penetrate), pulling them tight over my head.
I would never go down to the basement.
Never.
I had seen enough movies to know better, I had read enough stories to know what happens to little boys who wandered off into dark, dismal places alone. And there were stories, so many stories.
Reading was my sanctuary, a place where I could disappear for hours at a time, lost in the pages of a good book. It didn’t take long before I felt the urge to create my own.
I first began to write as a child, spinning tales of ghosts and gremlins, mystical places and people. For most of us, that’s where it begins—as children we have such wonderful imaginations, some of us have simply found it hard to grow up. I’ve spent countless hours trying to explain to friends and family why I enjoy it, why I would rather lock myself in a quiet little room and put pen to paper for hours at a time than throw around a baseball or simply watch television. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I want to do just that, sometimes I wish for it, but even then the need to write is always there in the back of my mind, the characters are impatiently tapping their feet, waiting their turn, wanting to be heard. I wake in the middle of the night and reach for the pad beside my bed, sometimes scrawling page after page of their words, their lives. Then they’re quiet, if only for a little while. To stop would mean madness, or even worse—the calm, numbing sanity I see in others as they slip through the day without purpose. They don’t know what it’s like, they don’t understand. Something as simple as a pencil can open the door to a new world, can create life or experience death. Writing can take you to places you’ve never been, introduce you to people you’ve never met, take you back to when you first saw those shadows in your room, when you first heard the sounds mumbling ever so softly from your closet, and it can show you what uttered them. It can scare the hell out of you, and that’s when you know it’s good.
Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hampton Creek Press, Simon & Schuster for providing an e-ARC and RB Media for providing an audio ARC of Behind A Closed Door by J.D. Barker for review. Both formats were delivered via NetGalley. The audiobook is well-narrated by Michael Crouch. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 21, 2025
If you like haunted houses, specifically ones on an isolated island with a sordid history in New England, then I’ve got a story for you.
Billy‘s friend Spivey has just inherited his grandmother’s house located on an island previously used by the Coast Guard. As with most inherited houses, this one comes with some rules and what good are rules if not made to be broken. What starts out as some innocent fun turns into something much more sinister.
The first half of the book I had a hard time getting into for a few reasons. The biggest issue I had is that it felt very much like a YA novel, and the characters themselves were very one-dimensional. It also seemed like nothing really happened until a little over halfway of the novel then things went from 0 to 60 super fast. Once things started going, I was able to get immersed into the story and wanted to figure out how it was all going to end. There were some questions that I don’t feel like I ever got answered, but that could’ve just been me thinking too hard into the concept of what was going on. But other than that, everything else was tied up nicely.
The author’s note at the end is extremely relevant to the book. I love to understand the backstory of towns and places, and let’s just say based on the author’s note I went down a Google rabbit hole. It lent a much creepier perspective to the novel.
Overall, this was certainly a good read and I would recommend those who enjoy horror/supernatural at a more tame level.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Billy‘s friend Spivey has just inherited his grandmother’s house located on an island previously used by the Coast Guard. As with most inherited houses, this one comes with some rules and what good are rules if not made to be broken. What starts out as some innocent fun turns into something much more sinister.
The first half of the book I had a hard time getting into for a few reasons. The biggest issue I had is that it felt very much like a YA novel, and the characters themselves were very one-dimensional. It also seemed like nothing really happened until a little over halfway of the novel then things went from 0 to 60 super fast. Once things started going, I was able to get immersed into the story and wanted to figure out how it was all going to end. There were some questions that I don’t feel like I ever got answered, but that could’ve just been me thinking too hard into the concept of what was going on. But other than that, everything else was tied up nicely.
The author’s note at the end is extremely relevant to the book. I love to understand the backstory of towns and places, and let’s just say based on the author’s note I went down a Google rabbit hole. It lent a much creepier perspective to the novel.
Overall, this was certainly a good read and I would recommend those who enjoy horror/supernatural at a more tame level.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2025
4 ⭐️s
My house is hungry for attention too, but it acts much less ghosty in its pursuit. It’s much more like an aggrieved ex, constantly reminding me of its faulty electrical and backed up pipes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press | Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy and the opportunity to write an honest review.
This book was good. I have always been a Barker fan, and although this suffered slightly from his typical verbosity, I was never once pulled out of the story because of it. And this was just a flat out good ghost story.
Themes…
The power of childhood friendship, the impact of broken trust, and the exploration of how far we’d go to find wealth and immortality.
Character Work…
The characters were great. The ones we were supposed to love were lovable. The ones we were supposed to despise were despicable. And the ones who traversed those emotions were complex and nuanced.
Prose…
Barker never wows you with his prose, but he’s incredibly effective in his storytelling, and uses language deftly in doing so.
Pace…
Like I said before, Barker is verbose. There were parts that were unnecessarily descriptive and other parts that were a tad repetitive, but nothing that the intrigue of the story couldn’t overcome.
My house is hungry for attention too, but it acts much less ghosty in its pursuit. It’s much more like an aggrieved ex, constantly reminding me of its faulty electrical and backed up pipes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press | Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy and the opportunity to write an honest review.
This book was good. I have always been a Barker fan, and although this suffered slightly from his typical verbosity, I was never once pulled out of the story because of it. And this was just a flat out good ghost story.
Themes…
The power of childhood friendship, the impact of broken trust, and the exploration of how far we’d go to find wealth and immortality.
Character Work…
The characters were great. The ones we were supposed to love were lovable. The ones we were supposed to despise were despicable. And the ones who traversed those emotions were complex and nuanced.
Prose…
Barker never wows you with his prose, but he’s incredibly effective in his storytelling, and uses language deftly in doing so.
Pace…
Like I said before, Barker is verbose. There were parts that were unnecessarily descriptive and other parts that were a tad repetitive, but nothing that the intrigue of the story couldn’t overcome.
June 3, 2025
When seventeen year old Billy Hassler’s best friend Spivey inherits a small island off the New England coast with an old house and a boat the boys think their last summer before college is made. No parents, no police, just parties and good times ahead! But the island has a dark past and comes with rules that must not be broken as the boys soon find out.
The atmosphere of the novel soon changes from summer sunshine to chilling darkness and stormy seas and the sense of evil and foreboding is palpable. What the group of teens don’t know is that the evil presence haunting the island has affected generations and is still hungry for more. JD Barker’s writing notches the eeriness and tension up to maximum but themes of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice keep it real for Billy, Spivey and their friends.
I did however, feel the book the book was overly busy with a lot of ideas, which sometimes weakened the flow and suspense, and felt it could have been a tad shorter with some of the themes more streamlined to make them stronger and even creepier. Even so, there was sufficient clever creepiness to keep me entertained and I enjoyed the way Barker worked in some local history.
With thanks to Hampton Creek Press via Netgalley for a copy to read
The atmosphere of the novel soon changes from summer sunshine to chilling darkness and stormy seas and the sense of evil and foreboding is palpable. What the group of teens don’t know is that the evil presence haunting the island has affected generations and is still hungry for more. JD Barker’s writing notches the eeriness and tension up to maximum but themes of friendship, loyalty and sacrifice keep it real for Billy, Spivey and their friends.
I did however, feel the book the book was overly busy with a lot of ideas, which sometimes weakened the flow and suspense, and felt it could have been a tad shorter with some of the themes more streamlined to make them stronger and even creepier. Even so, there was sufficient clever creepiness to keep me entertained and I enjoyed the way Barker worked in some local history.
With thanks to Hampton Creek Press via Netgalley for a copy to read
February 7, 2025
Would you like to own a beautiful island? All you have to do is die to get there.
AS usual J.D. Barker writes a very spooky scary tale involving a group of young people "enjoying" their last summer before college. Sun, sea, boats, freedom, and adventure are on their score card. However, what they get is a tad different from their expectations.
Billy Hasler and David Spivey are good friends. When David inherits an island and a home from his eccentric grandmother, it seems like he has hit the jackpot. Little do David "Spivey" and his friends know that the island is a bewitched place and that grandma has a list of unusual rules that guests must follow. But it is all in fun right, until it's not.
One of their friends is into the occult and as they delve into legends, spells, and incantations, they awaken an evil spirit and are required to feed this spirit.
J. D. Barker is always able to raise the hair on my neck with his tales that weave lots of eeriness and creepiness and this one certainly does not fail at those things.
If you read this tale, do not skip the author's note for it too will send those shivers up your spine once again!
AS usual J.D. Barker writes a very spooky scary tale involving a group of young people "enjoying" their last summer before college. Sun, sea, boats, freedom, and adventure are on their score card. However, what they get is a tad different from their expectations.
Billy Hasler and David Spivey are good friends. When David inherits an island and a home from his eccentric grandmother, it seems like he has hit the jackpot. Little do David "Spivey" and his friends know that the island is a bewitched place and that grandma has a list of unusual rules that guests must follow. But it is all in fun right, until it's not.
One of their friends is into the occult and as they delve into legends, spells, and incantations, they awaken an evil spirit and are required to feed this spirit.
J. D. Barker is always able to raise the hair on my neck with his tales that weave lots of eeriness and creepiness and this one certainly does not fail at those things.
If you read this tale, do not skip the author's note for it too will send those shivers up your spine once again!
May 23, 2025
“For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.”
J.D. Barker is an author whose books always intrigue me, but the high page count usually has me taking a pass. However, I thought I would take a shot at his newest Gothic YA thriller when I saw that it was significantly shorter than his last book (yet still 448 pages).
I’m not a lover of YA, but I was pleasantly surprised that while the plot revolves around a group of teenagers, it deals with darker themes (see trigger warning) and reads like an adult novel.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Michael Crouch. I enjoyed this format, but unfortunately he used the same voice for the police detective’s chapters as he did for Billy’s, so I found it difficult to remember who was speaking.
Spooky, eerie, and unsettling, Something I Keep Upstairs held my attention until the very last page. While I saw some of the twists coming, others were a complete surprise. The plot also reminded me a bit of E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, which is one of my favorite YA thrillers.
Definitely recommend!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Trigger warning: Suicide
J.D. Barker is an author whose books always intrigue me, but the high page count usually has me taking a pass. However, I thought I would take a shot at his newest Gothic YA thriller when I saw that it was significantly shorter than his last book (yet still 448 pages).
I’m not a lover of YA, but I was pleasantly surprised that while the plot revolves around a group of teenagers, it deals with darker themes (see trigger warning) and reads like an adult novel.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Michael Crouch. I enjoyed this format, but unfortunately he used the same voice for the police detective’s chapters as he did for Billy’s, so I found it difficult to remember who was speaking.
Spooky, eerie, and unsettling, Something I Keep Upstairs held my attention until the very last page. While I saw some of the twists coming, others were a complete surprise. The plot also reminded me a bit of E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, which is one of my favorite YA thrillers.
Definitely recommend!
4.5/5 stars rounded down
Trigger warning: Suicide
September 23, 2025
**3.5-stars**
Something I Keep Upstairs is set in the coastal New Hampshire town of Newcastle, and follows a story told by Billy Hasler.
He shares with the Reader the events that happened to him and his group of friends in the Summer he was 17, that would change the course of all of their lives.
That was the Summer before they were all supposed to head off to college, as most of us know an oft emotional and pivotal time in a young person's life.
When his best friend, David Spivey, inherits his deceased Grandmother's mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems the perfect spot for Summer shenanigans. As they start to spend time there with their friends though, it becomes clear that the island houses a dark past.
Things spiral out of control for the group. It becomes the stuff of nightmares, and it's hard to trust what you're hearing from Billy. This house is evil and it's something that's effected generations of people in Newcastle.
It doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon either. Will Billy be able to escape its hungry grasp unscathed, or will he suffer the same fate of many before him?
For my personal tastes, Something I Keep Upstairs wasn't a super enjoyable reading experience. My attention frequently wavered and I probably only managed to retain 1/2 of it. Nevertheless, I have to give many extra points for Barker's fluid writing style and wild-creativity.
While this had some strong attributes, like the atmosphere and inclusion of local history/lore, a few of the concepts weren't to my tastes. I also felt it dragged on for way too long. Coming in at just shy of 500-pages, this story felt like a monster undertaking that struggled to get off the ground.
I did love the sort of confessional Coming of Age narrative style though. I think that was a great choice by the author, and perhaps if the 'what' of the island captured my attention a little more, I wouldn't have minded the length as much.
Some of the extra points also go towards the many unexpected turns of the story, which I never saw coming. However, with this being said, I did find it difficult to track some of the side characters and past events/time shifts.
At the end of the day though, I think it was merely a mismatch for my tastes. I can appreciate the skill it took to create this story, but for me, it just wasn't a hit.
With this being said, this is purely my personal opinion based upon my reading experience. Just because I wasn't the biggest fan, doesn't mean you wouldn't love it. I strongly encourage anyone who thinks it sounds interesting to give it a go. It's absolutely worth the shot!
Thank you to the publisher, Hampton Creek Press and Recorded Books, for providing me with copies to read and review. I def plan to check out more from this author!
Something I Keep Upstairs is set in the coastal New Hampshire town of Newcastle, and follows a story told by Billy Hasler.
He shares with the Reader the events that happened to him and his group of friends in the Summer he was 17, that would change the course of all of their lives.
That was the Summer before they were all supposed to head off to college, as most of us know an oft emotional and pivotal time in a young person's life.
When his best friend, David Spivey, inherits his deceased Grandmother's mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems the perfect spot for Summer shenanigans. As they start to spend time there with their friends though, it becomes clear that the island houses a dark past.
Things spiral out of control for the group. It becomes the stuff of nightmares, and it's hard to trust what you're hearing from Billy. This house is evil and it's something that's effected generations of people in Newcastle.
It doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon either. Will Billy be able to escape its hungry grasp unscathed, or will he suffer the same fate of many before him?
For my personal tastes, Something I Keep Upstairs wasn't a super enjoyable reading experience. My attention frequently wavered and I probably only managed to retain 1/2 of it. Nevertheless, I have to give many extra points for Barker's fluid writing style and wild-creativity.
While this had some strong attributes, like the atmosphere and inclusion of local history/lore, a few of the concepts weren't to my tastes. I also felt it dragged on for way too long. Coming in at just shy of 500-pages, this story felt like a monster undertaking that struggled to get off the ground.
I did love the sort of confessional Coming of Age narrative style though. I think that was a great choice by the author, and perhaps if the 'what' of the island captured my attention a little more, I wouldn't have minded the length as much.
Some of the extra points also go towards the many unexpected turns of the story, which I never saw coming. However, with this being said, I did find it difficult to track some of the side characters and past events/time shifts.
At the end of the day though, I think it was merely a mismatch for my tastes. I can appreciate the skill it took to create this story, but for me, it just wasn't a hit.
With this being said, this is purely my personal opinion based upon my reading experience. Just because I wasn't the biggest fan, doesn't mean you wouldn't love it. I strongly encourage anyone who thinks it sounds interesting to give it a go. It's absolutely worth the shot!
Thank you to the publisher, Hampton Creek Press and Recorded Books, for providing me with copies to read and review. I def plan to check out more from this author!
May 5, 2025
I listened to the audiobook for this one and I liked the narrator. It’s funny I listened to another audiobook with the same narrator (my first of hearing him) just a couple of weeks ago and the books could not have been more different. I think this one started really strong, but it lost me near the middle. The ending was better than I was expecting and especially creepy with the author’s notes about why he used a real location and even some real events. This book is horror heavily focused on the supernatural, so be aware of that. It worked for me, but it wasn’t what I was expecting when I picked this one up. This is Billy’s story of the summer before he turned 18. His friend inherited an island and it seemed the perfect place to spend a summer and hang with friends. But there is clearly something strange about this island. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars which I rounded up because It was an enjoyable read.
March 9, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press, and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
J.D. Barker is back with another thriller from his world of unpredictable stories. I can usually rely on Barker to create a dark and addictive story that has me reading well into the night, all in hopes of discovering what he has going on. In a piece that centres around an isolated house in rural New Hampshire, a group of teenagers take possession and set things up like their own private clubhouse. However, evil lurks in the shadows and what begins as a great getaway soon takes a perilous turn towards the macabre. A chilling piece that had some great moments to showcase J.D. Barker's abilities.
The town of New Castle, New Hampshire is as bucolic as it sounds. Sleepy and free from most any disturbance, the locals thrive on the sense that little of interest creates much of a stir. All that changes for Billy Hasler one day and he doesn't even know it's coming. Billy's best friend, David Spivey is contacted by the authorities to say that he's been given a house on a nearby island by his dead grandmother. David is unsure what to do with it, but Billy knows that this could be an adventure for their group of friends. They take a journey out to Wood Island and inspect the property, which is in great condition. This could be the ideal place to spend together before the hectic world of college commences in the fall. For now, Billy and David will gather their friends for a chance to party, live away from others, and create wonderful memories together.
When something seems off at the house, Billy and the group commence their own investigation, which soon spirals out of control. A number of things take place, putting not only the group ill at ease, but creates a sense of danger for everyone. What that house contains is more than simply family memories for David, but a collection of nightmares from which no one is safe. J.D. Barker crafts this story to keep the reader enthralled until the very end, as they try to decipher truth from chilling distraction.
I have long enjoyed the writing of J.D. Barker and his various story ideas. Some work their way into my mind like an earwig, while others are less impactful. It all comes down to the calibre of the story's foundation, the narrative. Barker sets the scene from the opening pages with a strong base and builds on it from there. Things definitely develop from there, though there are times when the tires appear to spin rather than propel the reader forward. Decent character introduction and development keeps the story on point and the reader wondering what awaits them. While the book was divided into parts, one for each day, this was less effective in the story's presentation, as one day held the bulk (perhaps eighty percent) of the entire piece. I might have liked to see things better chapterised or parts divided in a more balanced manner, though this did not ruin the reading experience by any manner. Plot points worked well, though I found myself bogged down at times and seeking resolution to ensure some progress and added hype. I am pleased to have had the time to read this book and cannot wait to see what's to come for Barker, both independently and with his various collaborators.
Kudos, Mr. Barker, for an eerie story in an intriguing presentation.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
J.D. Barker is back with another thriller from his world of unpredictable stories. I can usually rely on Barker to create a dark and addictive story that has me reading well into the night, all in hopes of discovering what he has going on. In a piece that centres around an isolated house in rural New Hampshire, a group of teenagers take possession and set things up like their own private clubhouse. However, evil lurks in the shadows and what begins as a great getaway soon takes a perilous turn towards the macabre. A chilling piece that had some great moments to showcase J.D. Barker's abilities.
The town of New Castle, New Hampshire is as bucolic as it sounds. Sleepy and free from most any disturbance, the locals thrive on the sense that little of interest creates much of a stir. All that changes for Billy Hasler one day and he doesn't even know it's coming. Billy's best friend, David Spivey is contacted by the authorities to say that he's been given a house on a nearby island by his dead grandmother. David is unsure what to do with it, but Billy knows that this could be an adventure for their group of friends. They take a journey out to Wood Island and inspect the property, which is in great condition. This could be the ideal place to spend together before the hectic world of college commences in the fall. For now, Billy and David will gather their friends for a chance to party, live away from others, and create wonderful memories together.
When something seems off at the house, Billy and the group commence their own investigation, which soon spirals out of control. A number of things take place, putting not only the group ill at ease, but creates a sense of danger for everyone. What that house contains is more than simply family memories for David, but a collection of nightmares from which no one is safe. J.D. Barker crafts this story to keep the reader enthralled until the very end, as they try to decipher truth from chilling distraction.
I have long enjoyed the writing of J.D. Barker and his various story ideas. Some work their way into my mind like an earwig, while others are less impactful. It all comes down to the calibre of the story's foundation, the narrative. Barker sets the scene from the opening pages with a strong base and builds on it from there. Things definitely develop from there, though there are times when the tires appear to spin rather than propel the reader forward. Decent character introduction and development keeps the story on point and the reader wondering what awaits them. While the book was divided into parts, one for each day, this was less effective in the story's presentation, as one day held the bulk (perhaps eighty percent) of the entire piece. I might have liked to see things better chapterised or parts divided in a more balanced manner, though this did not ruin the reading experience by any manner. Plot points worked well, though I found myself bogged down at times and seeking resolution to ensure some progress and added hype. I am pleased to have had the time to read this book and cannot wait to see what's to come for Barker, both independently and with his various collaborators.
Kudos, Mr. Barker, for an eerie story in an intriguing presentation.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 1, 2025
This is a coming of age story more than anything else. Even more than a haunted house story. If you have read a decent amount of my reviews you know I love both of these genres. I am also a big fan of this author. My four star rating, instead of 5, may be because of all of the above reasons. My passion makes me picky.
The setting of the book is the small town of New Castle, New Hampshire. A small group of friends are planning to have the best summer ever before beginning the senior year of high school. A last hurrah before adulthood begins.
Our narrator is Billy Hassler. Kind of a jock. Not that it matters in a town this small. He has a serious girlfriend and a best friend. His best friend is David Spivey. David is not considered cool, and honestly, he has issues. His parents fight constantly. His mom pops pills and his dad is an alcoholic who is gone most of the time. David also has leukemia. Bad luck, right? Well, it looks like David’s luck is changing at the beginning of the summer when a grandmother he vaguely remembers meeting once, dies and leaves him a private island. Yup, a private island complete with a house, a boat, and a whole lot of cash. What seems like a gift from above, the vehicle for this whole friend group to have the summer to remember, might be a curse instead.
Are you ready for some of my rambling personal views? Okay. Here we go.
* The Setting
Now I am going to start comparing and contrasting this book to the work of Stephen King. I believe that this is relevant seeing that Barker is a big fan of King’s. So much so that he asked permission of King to use one of his characters in a book of his own.
King sets many of his stories in the fictional town of Castle Rock. While Castle Rock is not real, it is rooted in the place where King grew up, the town of Durham in the state of Maine. It is obviously a place he knows well. A place that he feels a deep kinship to. Barker’s novel takes place in New Caste, New Hampshire. He lives there and it is a real place (in fact the entire story is loosely based on a local mystery). You can feel Barker’s love of the place, similar to King’s. They know what the ocean looks like at 3am. They know who runs the General Store and who comes in for a coke or a dirty magazine. They know all three of the cops who work in the town. And everyone’s family four generations past. I like when a coming of age book is placed in a setting that seems to never change. It highlights a time in life where you learn that everything actually IS changing (and at a breakneck speed).
*Devices:
Now I am just rambling BUT I found that this novel did not work as well as King’s novella, The Body, or his novel, It. I am trying to pin down why. Part of it is that the characters did not have the depth that King’s do. Barker’s novel was not as immersive. For the life of me I cannot pinpoint WHY. Please, if you can - drop it in the comments.
A devise that King used to add depth to a character but to also show the closeness of the friend group, was the phrase,”beep beep Richie.” Every time you heard it you were pulled in. Barker uses the phrase,”Nick Nock,” in a similar way but it just felt empty to me. Like I saw what he was trying to do (a big part of the problem) but it wasn’t working.
Another devise that Barker employs is (I don’t know how else to phrase this) is the teenage “orgy” as a way to bolster the strength of the group. I know it sounds weird but I feel like Barker actually explains it better than King. The sheer force of the newness and the power of young emotion generates a gargantuan amount of power. I know this sounds messed up - but if you have also read It you know what I am taking about. And this will either land for you or it won’t.
* Wrap it up (I’ll take it)
So that has to be one of the strangest reviews I have ever written. I hope some die hard King fans can relate to it.
The setting of the book is the small town of New Castle, New Hampshire. A small group of friends are planning to have the best summer ever before beginning the senior year of high school. A last hurrah before adulthood begins.
Our narrator is Billy Hassler. Kind of a jock. Not that it matters in a town this small. He has a serious girlfriend and a best friend. His best friend is David Spivey. David is not considered cool, and honestly, he has issues. His parents fight constantly. His mom pops pills and his dad is an alcoholic who is gone most of the time. David also has leukemia. Bad luck, right? Well, it looks like David’s luck is changing at the beginning of the summer when a grandmother he vaguely remembers meeting once, dies and leaves him a private island. Yup, a private island complete with a house, a boat, and a whole lot of cash. What seems like a gift from above, the vehicle for this whole friend group to have the summer to remember, might be a curse instead.
Are you ready for some of my rambling personal views? Okay. Here we go.
* The Setting
Now I am going to start comparing and contrasting this book to the work of Stephen King. I believe that this is relevant seeing that Barker is a big fan of King’s. So much so that he asked permission of King to use one of his characters in a book of his own.
King sets many of his stories in the fictional town of Castle Rock. While Castle Rock is not real, it is rooted in the place where King grew up, the town of Durham in the state of Maine. It is obviously a place he knows well. A place that he feels a deep kinship to. Barker’s novel takes place in New Caste, New Hampshire. He lives there and it is a real place (in fact the entire story is loosely based on a local mystery). You can feel Barker’s love of the place, similar to King’s. They know what the ocean looks like at 3am. They know who runs the General Store and who comes in for a coke or a dirty magazine. They know all three of the cops who work in the town. And everyone’s family four generations past. I like when a coming of age book is placed in a setting that seems to never change. It highlights a time in life where you learn that everything actually IS changing (and at a breakneck speed).
*Devices:
Now I am just rambling BUT I found that this novel did not work as well as King’s novella, The Body, or his novel, It. I am trying to pin down why. Part of it is that the characters did not have the depth that King’s do. Barker’s novel was not as immersive. For the life of me I cannot pinpoint WHY. Please, if you can - drop it in the comments.
A devise that King used to add depth to a character but to also show the closeness of the friend group, was the phrase,”beep beep Richie.” Every time you heard it you were pulled in. Barker uses the phrase,”Nick Nock,” in a similar way but it just felt empty to me. Like I saw what he was trying to do (a big part of the problem) but it wasn’t working.
Another devise that Barker employs is (I don’t know how else to phrase this) is the teenage “orgy” as a way to bolster the strength of the group. I know it sounds weird but I feel like Barker actually explains it better than King. The sheer force of the newness and the power of young emotion generates a gargantuan amount of power. I know this sounds messed up - but if you have also read It you know what I am taking about. And this will either land for you or it won’t.
* Wrap it up (I’ll take it)
So that has to be one of the strangest reviews I have ever written. I hope some die hard King fans can relate to it.
May 20, 2025
Billy Hasler opens the book with telling the reader that he is finally going to write down what happened more than 10 years ago, when he and some of his friends embarked on an adventure they later rather wished they hadn’t.
Billy’s best friend Spivey suddenly inherits a small island with a large old house on it. It belonged to his grandmother and it comes with a rather disturbing list of rules he has to keep to be able to live there, should he want so. Well, what teenager wouldn’t be over the moon? A whole island! A big house to invite your friends for the summer and have parties! However, Spivey, Billy and their other friends, among which Kira, Billy’s girlfriend and some assorted classmates, are still young teenagers and obviously they cannot fathom what could go wrong when they don’t stick to the rules.
What starts off as a bit of a strange story quickly becomes a very dark, dangerous and haunting one. Apparently the island and the house come with a dark, dark past, a past that already had its influence on the parents of Spivey, Billy and the others. Soon, things get out of hand and although Billy tries to keep his calm, events spin out of control due to the machinations of other friends.
It's pure horror at it’s best and as a good horror story it also has its sad moments, moments when you cannot think but how evil people can become when they hope to get everything they’ve always wanted without doing something for it.
Absolutely stunning and memorable, including the end!
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press and Netgalley for this review copy.
Billy’s best friend Spivey suddenly inherits a small island with a large old house on it. It belonged to his grandmother and it comes with a rather disturbing list of rules he has to keep to be able to live there, should he want so. Well, what teenager wouldn’t be over the moon? A whole island! A big house to invite your friends for the summer and have parties! However, Spivey, Billy and their other friends, among which Kira, Billy’s girlfriend and some assorted classmates, are still young teenagers and obviously they cannot fathom what could go wrong when they don’t stick to the rules.
What starts off as a bit of a strange story quickly becomes a very dark, dangerous and haunting one. Apparently the island and the house come with a dark, dark past, a past that already had its influence on the parents of Spivey, Billy and the others. Soon, things get out of hand and although Billy tries to keep his calm, events spin out of control due to the machinations of other friends.
It's pure horror at it’s best and as a good horror story it also has its sad moments, moments when you cannot think but how evil people can become when they hope to get everything they’ve always wanted without doing something for it.
Absolutely stunning and memorable, including the end!
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press and Netgalley for this review copy.
May 16, 2025
I'm a J.D. Barker fan and I think I've read the majority of his books (and I hope there will be many, many more!). When I saw this one was coming out I had to have it. I have read reviews comparing Barker to Stephen King, and many of his books do have a similar feel, but Barker is penning his own style. I enjoy the books Barker does on his own the most, but the ones he has co-authored with James Patterson are really good too.
Description:
For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.
In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.
As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.
"Something I Keep Upstairs" is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding. It will keep you on edge until the final, chilling page.
My Thoughts:
Great plot with lots of action and history in a New England setting. I found it surprising that Barker set this story where he lives. Many of the historical events in the story are real. The book is full of dark evil and will give you nightmares (at least it did me!). Lots of surprising twists and shockers with a stormy backdrop and a haunted house. The characters were perfect. That whole island is full of evil, an evil that never ends. Thriller enthusiasts will love it! I am having trouble making the title fit the book though.
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.
In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.
As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.
"Something I Keep Upstairs" is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding. It will keep you on edge until the final, chilling page.
My Thoughts:
Great plot with lots of action and history in a New England setting. I found it surprising that Barker set this story where he lives. Many of the historical events in the story are real. The book is full of dark evil and will give you nightmares (at least it did me!). Lots of surprising twists and shockers with a stormy backdrop and a haunted house. The characters were perfect. That whole island is full of evil, an evil that never ends. Thriller enthusiasts will love it! I am having trouble making the title fit the book though.
Thanks to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.
April 29, 2025
This was a tremendous read.
A chiller, set in a sleepy New England town, which follows a group of teenage friends and the strange goings on around a small island just offshore. Expect things to get a little crazy.
This was so well written, with many intricacies and tonnes of backstory. The pacing was maybe a little slow, but the chills and thrills more than made up for this. If you like supernatural horror then this will most certainly be a good choice for a spooky read.
Fantastic!!
A chiller, set in a sleepy New England town, which follows a group of teenage friends and the strange goings on around a small island just offshore. Expect things to get a little crazy.
This was so well written, with many intricacies and tonnes of backstory. The pacing was maybe a little slow, but the chills and thrills more than made up for this. If you like supernatural horror then this will most certainly be a good choice for a spooky read.
Fantastic!!
March 17, 2025
Dark & stormy mood throughout this book! I was really invested with the characters, especially our main guy. As always, JD Barker brings lots of surprises!
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Want to read
December 22, 2024I’m so early for wanting this book! Can’t believe it’s not on more people’s radar.
May 14, 2025
Happy Publication Day!
JD Barker as a solo author is one that I will read as soon as I get the (e)book. This book was not my favorite genre but it really gave me vibes of when I read SHE HAS A BROKEN THING WHERE HER HEART SHOULD BE. It went to scary, dark places with scary, dark people but it was a story with a mysterious plot and the storytelling was what made it for me. Then the author puts some extra flavor into it along the way which is why I feel the way I do about him.
Thank you to both Netgalley and the author for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
JD Barker as a solo author is one that I will read as soon as I get the (e)book. This book was not my favorite genre but it really gave me vibes of when I read SHE HAS A BROKEN THING WHERE HER HEART SHOULD BE. It went to scary, dark places with scary, dark people but it was a story with a mysterious plot and the storytelling was what made it for me. Then the author puts some extra flavor into it along the way which is why I feel the way I do about him.
Thank you to both Netgalley and the author for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2025
I will read anything Barker writes and this was one of the creepiest, darkest books ever! Most of it takes place on Wood Island which was given to David Spivey by his dead grandmother. So when he and pal, Billy motor out there they discover more than they had imagined. The house itself is immaculate and there's even food in the fridge, but something just isn't right. Regardless, Bill and Spivey invite all their high school friends out there to drink, party, and even have a seance. And then they plan to make it a haunted house....Just read the book and prepare yourself!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 29, 2025
3.5/5 stars rounded down.
This was a pretty good audio listen! This was an eerie story and the tone in this was fantastic. I loved the relationships between characters even though I didn't completely love the characters themselves. At times I felt like there was a lot going on but at other times, it felt a bit drawn out. I was more intrigued by the beginning and end than I was with the middle. It felt like it got a bit muddled for me.
The ending was a bit more heart wrenching than I was expecting it to be. I wasn't expecting to have this type of bittersweet ending but I thought it was good! I think I would've preferred to have the physical book with me to read along to while listening but the narration was great. I had no complaints. I just think I would've been more immersed in this particular story with a visual read.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
TW: Cancer, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
This was a pretty good audio listen! This was an eerie story and the tone in this was fantastic. I loved the relationships between characters even though I didn't completely love the characters themselves. At times I felt like there was a lot going on but at other times, it felt a bit drawn out. I was more intrigued by the beginning and end than I was with the middle. It felt like it got a bit muddled for me.
The ending was a bit more heart wrenching than I was expecting it to be. I wasn't expecting to have this type of bittersweet ending but I thought it was good! I think I would've preferred to have the physical book with me to read along to while listening but the narration was great. I had no complaints. I just think I would've been more immersed in this particular story with a visual read.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
TW: Cancer, Death, Gore, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
StoryGraph Review
Fable Review
March 10, 2025
A group of friends start to spend more and more time on Wood Island, where their friend has inherited a house and innumerable secrets. Is it haunted? Something is definitely off about the ancient building…Follow the rules, and maybe you’ll survive.
“If a soul occupies a place, do parts of it soak into the wood? Like sweat or exhaled breaths? Where do those things go? Do the living own a place or are they simply borrowing from the dead?”
I’m so curious to know other readers’ thoughts on this one! For myself, there was so much I loved, but also had moments of annoyance.
First of all, the setting: a small island surrounded by rocks and shark infested waters was awesome. I loved the isolation. However, the description of the island itself felt lacking (aside from the house). In my head I pictured a tiny, rocky outcropping, but then found out it’s big enough for people to picnic on and fish off of.
The characters: this was hit or miss, as the majority are teens and somewhat annoying. “Nik Nok” had me wanting to punch things it drove me so crazy. NO! NO MORE WHATEVER THE HELL NIK NOK MEANS! I really enjoyed the adult characters and their complex relationships to each other, their families, and the town/island.
The plot: so creepy at times, but so confusing 30% of the time. What actually was happening here? I feel like I only had the vaguest understanding by the end. It was a bit of a rollercoaster between tense and freaky moments then boring sections. I do think the story could’ve been trimmed down to make it a faster pace overall.
“Nobody dies on that island, but that doesn’t mean they don’t come home. In the end, we all come home. In the end, that’s all we can do.”
I would like to point out that this book was quite unique- definitely give it a read and share your opinions!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Hampton Creek Press/ Simon & Schuster for a copy!
“If a soul occupies a place, do parts of it soak into the wood? Like sweat or exhaled breaths? Where do those things go? Do the living own a place or are they simply borrowing from the dead?”
I’m so curious to know other readers’ thoughts on this one! For myself, there was so much I loved, but also had moments of annoyance.
First of all, the setting: a small island surrounded by rocks and shark infested waters was awesome. I loved the isolation. However, the description of the island itself felt lacking (aside from the house). In my head I pictured a tiny, rocky outcropping, but then found out it’s big enough for people to picnic on and fish off of.
The characters: this was hit or miss, as the majority are teens and somewhat annoying. “Nik Nok” had me wanting to punch things it drove me so crazy. NO! NO MORE WHATEVER THE HELL NIK NOK MEANS! I really enjoyed the adult characters and their complex relationships to each other, their families, and the town/island.
The plot: so creepy at times, but so confusing 30% of the time. What actually was happening here? I feel like I only had the vaguest understanding by the end. It was a bit of a rollercoaster between tense and freaky moments then boring sections. I do think the story could’ve been trimmed down to make it a faster pace overall.
“Nobody dies on that island, but that doesn’t mean they don’t come home. In the end, we all come home. In the end, that’s all we can do.”
I would like to point out that this book was quite unique- definitely give it a read and share your opinions!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Hampton Creek Press/ Simon & Schuster for a copy!
October 26, 2025
Класен хорър, експлоатиращ винаги актуалната "мефистофелска сделка", а на Джей Ди - ГОЛЯМО БРАВО - успял е да постигне мрачно "Кинговско" звучене, защото съвсем явно ме наведе на мисли за два от най-страховитите романи на Краля - "То" и "Гробище за домашни любимци".
March 16, 2025
For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.
If Stephen King gave us Pennywise, JD Barker presents Emerson because "Emerson should always be fed
First, a thank you to NetGalley, the author and Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster for providing the eARC for the book
I was over the moon cause I am a JD Barker fan of his 4MK series.
and because of that, I was not daunted by the 492 pages.
In fact, I wanted it to be more.
I am hesitant between a 3.5 and 4 stars because, truthfully, this was my least favorite of Mr. Barker It started out extremely slow, detailed, and very irrelevant, however after the 38% mark I was very much engrossed and couldn't put it down
The book is told mainly through two perspectives
First person of 17-year old Billy Hasler and third person of Chief Cliff Whaley. Both protagonists thrust into the mysterious house of Wood Island in Castle Rock.
What started for Billy as a typical teenager summer getaway with his girlfriend Kira when his best Friend Spivey inherits the house from his late grandmother quickly turns into a horror nightmare when they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations.
As I mentioned, the book was very slow in the first third to the point that I concidered DNFing it. But, I am glad I powered up because what came next was thrilling and terrifying. I absolutely loved the twists and surprises that sprung. Many of which I did not see coming. One could tell that an extensive background research went into the book.
Imagine an entity that could grant you whatever wish your heart desires as long as you feed it. And what does IT require in return? oh just a simple token! And all tokens belong to Emerson!
I highly recommend reading this book if you like the macabre and paranormal.
here is what did not work for me
1- as I said, 1/3 of the book to be that slow would definitely deter many from continuing reading
2- It was long and detailed in parts where it shouldn't be, while other stories and characters deserved to be fleshed out but weren't.
3- personally, I thought that if we had multiple POVs where the main affected characters showed their background and motives instead of telling us would have been better.
4- because of that, I did not feel some characters' anguish, desperation or goals! How did Alesia and her mother truly accomplish all that? why did Kira do what she did? Who is this Matty and why is he so evil? And I wanted more of David Spivey, after all, he was the catalyst for the story.
5- The book is titled " Something I keep upstairs", but who is this "I"? The house belonged to Spivey and Billy was struggling against it! It didn't make sense to have the "I" refer to Billy!!
6- I thought the ending was a mix of WaW! and anti-climatic cause it did not make sense in the end.
Nevertheless, it was one of the best supernatural horror books I have read in a while.
If Stephen King gave us Pennywise, JD Barker presents Emerson because "Emerson should always be fed
First, a thank you to NetGalley, the author and Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster for providing the eARC for the book
I was over the moon cause I am a JD Barker fan of his 4MK series.
and because of that, I was not daunted by the 492 pages.
In fact, I wanted it to be more.
I am hesitant between a 3.5 and 4 stars because, truthfully, this was my least favorite of Mr. Barker It started out extremely slow, detailed, and very irrelevant, however after the 38% mark I was very much engrossed and couldn't put it down
The book is told mainly through two perspectives
First person of 17-year old Billy Hasler and third person of Chief Cliff Whaley. Both protagonists thrust into the mysterious house of Wood Island in Castle Rock.
What started for Billy as a typical teenager summer getaway with his girlfriend Kira when his best Friend Spivey inherits the house from his late grandmother quickly turns into a horror nightmare when they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations.
As I mentioned, the book was very slow in the first third to the point that I concidered DNFing it. But, I am glad I powered up because what came next was thrilling and terrifying. I absolutely loved the twists and surprises that sprung. Many of which I did not see coming. One could tell that an extensive background research went into the book.
Imagine an entity that could grant you whatever wish your heart desires as long as you feed it. And what does IT require in return? oh just a simple token! And all tokens belong to Emerson!
I highly recommend reading this book if you like the macabre and paranormal.
here is what did not work for me
1- as I said, 1/3 of the book to be that slow would definitely deter many from continuing reading
2- It was long and detailed in parts where it shouldn't be, while other stories and characters deserved to be fleshed out but weren't.
3- personally, I thought that if we had multiple POVs where the main affected characters showed their background and motives instead of telling us would have been better.
4- because of that, I did not feel some characters' anguish, desperation or goals! How did Alesia and her mother truly accomplish all that? why did Kira do what she did? Who is this Matty and why is he so evil? And I wanted more of David Spivey, after all, he was the catalyst for the story.
5- The book is titled " Something I keep upstairs", but who is this "I"? The house belonged to Spivey and Billy was struggling against it! It didn't make sense to have the "I" refer to Billy!!
6- I thought the ending was a mix of WaW! and anti-climatic cause it did not make sense in the end.
Nevertheless, it was one of the best supernatural horror books I have read in a while.
May 5, 2025
This was my first book by J.D Barker and I’ll likely check out his others. I listened to it on audio and loved the narrator. The story revolves around a creepy house on a secluded Island and a group of friends, one of them whom inherits the island from his estranged grandmother. Things are not exactly what they seem and start to get strange very quickly. There were some elements of the story I didn’t vibe with and I thought were not fully developed like the witchcraft part - there should of been more backstory or maybe just left that part out. The second they mentioned “Emerson must be fed” I HAD to know who or what the heck he was. Overall I rated it 3 stars and thought it was pretty good. Recommended if you like mystery books with creepy houses, teenagers and sacrifices. Publishing later this month
Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for my review.
April 14, 2025
another dark chilling read from J.D. Barker, Billy, heading to college, his best friend David Spivey has a home on an island and wants a big party before they head to college, but hidden in the darkness, danger is lurking.Another Great read,and I'm looking forward to reading more of his books.
January 5, 2026
Ik ontmoette JD Barker afgelopen oktober tijdens het Best of Thriller event. Natuurlijk kocht ik een boek van hem. Gesigneerd met persoonlijke boodschap!
Het verhaal dat hij vertelde over het huis op een eilandje voor de kust waar hij woont, vond ik geweldig om te horen. Dat huis vormde de inspiratie voor Wat ik op zolder bewaar.
In een slaperig kustplaatsje staat het leven van de zeventienjarige Billy Hasler op het punt een angstaanjagende wending te nemen. Wanneer zijn beste vriend David Spivey een mysterieus huis erft op een nabijgelegen eiland, lijkt het de perfecte plek om hun laatste zomer door te brengen voordat ze naar de universiteit gaan. Geen ouders. Geen problemen. Geen verantwoordelijkheden.
Terwijl ze graven in het duistere verleden van het eiland, wekken de jongens een oud kwaad op en wat begint als een onschuldig zomeravontuur verandert al snel in een nachtmerrie. Want het huis blijkt een markante beheerder te hebben en de regels die zijn opgesteld voor degenen die het huis betreden zijn niet mals. Dit zijn de belangrijkste:
Vergeet niet Emerson eten te geven
Neem de telefoon niet op
Als je in het huis bent tijdens zonsondergang, dan moet je tot zonsopkomst blijven
Doe nooit een deur op slot
De tweede verdieping en alles daarboven is verboden terrein
Als je een thriller zoals De beller op lijn vier of Het spel verwacht, dan kom je bedrogen uit. Dit boek is volledig in de stijl van King. Horror, griezelen, bovennatuurlijke gebeurtenissen, spanning, in dit verhaal vind je de complete mix. Ik hou er van!
Het is echter wel een verhaal waar je je aandacht bij moet houden, anders raak je de draad kwijt.
Hoewel dit misschien niet zijn beste boek is, heb ik er van genoten. Dit is er wel eentje voor de liefhebber, niet iedereen zal hier enthousiast over zijn…
Het verhaal dat hij vertelde over het huis op een eilandje voor de kust waar hij woont, vond ik geweldig om te horen. Dat huis vormde de inspiratie voor Wat ik op zolder bewaar.
In een slaperig kustplaatsje staat het leven van de zeventienjarige Billy Hasler op het punt een angstaanjagende wending te nemen. Wanneer zijn beste vriend David Spivey een mysterieus huis erft op een nabijgelegen eiland, lijkt het de perfecte plek om hun laatste zomer door te brengen voordat ze naar de universiteit gaan. Geen ouders. Geen problemen. Geen verantwoordelijkheden.
Terwijl ze graven in het duistere verleden van het eiland, wekken de jongens een oud kwaad op en wat begint als een onschuldig zomeravontuur verandert al snel in een nachtmerrie. Want het huis blijkt een markante beheerder te hebben en de regels die zijn opgesteld voor degenen die het huis betreden zijn niet mals. Dit zijn de belangrijkste:
Vergeet niet Emerson eten te geven
Neem de telefoon niet op
Als je in het huis bent tijdens zonsondergang, dan moet je tot zonsopkomst blijven
Doe nooit een deur op slot
De tweede verdieping en alles daarboven is verboden terrein
Als je een thriller zoals De beller op lijn vier of Het spel verwacht, dan kom je bedrogen uit. Dit boek is volledig in de stijl van King. Horror, griezelen, bovennatuurlijke gebeurtenissen, spanning, in dit verhaal vind je de complete mix. Ik hou er van!
Het is echter wel een verhaal waar je je aandacht bij moet houden, anders raak je de draad kwijt.
Hoewel dit misschien niet zijn beste boek is, heb ik er van genoten. Dit is er wel eentje voor de liefhebber, niet iedereen zal hier enthousiast over zijn…
May 13, 2025
Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker is a horror novel about a number of teenagers who explore a rather haunted house on an island.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
First, I was so happy to be offered this book. Barker is finally writing on his own again, no collaboration. I knew that this would be good, and I certainly was not disappointed.
Yes, the book is a haunted house/island story filled with ghosts, and witchcraft, and a house that changes (cycles) to a past time. But it is also a story of friendship, young love, and teenage angst.
The characters were great, and most of them were well-fleshed out. The reader could really get behind the heroes and boo the villains. There were very few "grey" characters, although a few of the adults were in that category. My sympathies went out to Spivey, Billy and Kira, right from the start. You just felt that things were not going to end well for that trio. Chief Whaley also earned my admiration.
The overall plot was interesting, suspense rose and fell, and just when you could take a breath, Barker would throw in a twist.
I think the main thing that didn't work for me was the chapters. Things were broken down by different days, and that didn't seem logical. I would sooner have the chapters broken down by character points of view. Another thing that bothered me was that it was a little too long. Barker's novels are always long, but I think there was just a little too much history included, and it seemed to be repeated.
Overall, this was a dark, highly atmospheric tale of supernatural evil that has been around for hundreds of years, and has been awoken again.
Anyway, until next time....
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, its author information and a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 22, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ | I went into this one blind and totally enjoyed this creepy horror of a story.
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