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These Familiar Walls
A spine-chilling, heart-pounding suburban horror novel at the heart of the genre, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Cassandra Khaw, and Catriona Ward.
In 1998, desperate loneliness pushes preteen Amber to ignore the misgivings of her family, particularly her younger sister, when she befriends the troubled new kid in the neighborhood—a boy with dead eyes, a fascination with fire, and no remorse. Their turbulent relationship is brief but creates lasting consequences.
Twenty-two years later, in 2020, he resurfaces to kill Amber’s parents, and is in turn betrayed by his accomplice and killed in Amber's childhood home.
After the deaths, Amber inherits the house and, in an effort to save money, moves in with her husband and two children, hoping to reclaim some sense of stability in the grief and chaos surrounding her. Instead, she finds that the familiar walls are haunted by more than just bitter memories and lockdown stress. She shifts in and out of dreamlike trances, her reflection won’t blink, and a menacing voice whispers to her from the gathering shadows. Although she tried to brush off the strange happenings as stress-fueled hallucinations, Amber is soon forced to admit that something much more real—and more dangerous—haunts her family. But Amber has deadly secrets of her own, and she must resolve these long-buried truths or lose the life she’s contrived for herself.
In 1998, desperate loneliness pushes preteen Amber to ignore the misgivings of her family, particularly her younger sister, when she befriends the troubled new kid in the neighborhood—a boy with dead eyes, a fascination with fire, and no remorse. Their turbulent relationship is brief but creates lasting consequences.
Twenty-two years later, in 2020, he resurfaces to kill Amber’s parents, and is in turn betrayed by his accomplice and killed in Amber's childhood home.
After the deaths, Amber inherits the house and, in an effort to save money, moves in with her husband and two children, hoping to reclaim some sense of stability in the grief and chaos surrounding her. Instead, she finds that the familiar walls are haunted by more than just bitter memories and lockdown stress. She shifts in and out of dreamlike trances, her reflection won’t blink, and a menacing voice whispers to her from the gathering shadows. Although she tried to brush off the strange happenings as stress-fueled hallucinations, Amber is soon forced to admit that something much more real—and more dangerous—haunts her family. But Amber has deadly secrets of her own, and she must resolve these long-buried truths or lose the life she’s contrived for herself.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2026
About the author
C.J. Dotson
12 books183 followersC.J. DOTSON possesses the statistically average number of body parts for a human being to have. She and her husband, stepson, and children (all of whom also appear human) share a cabin in the woods with more bugs than she would ever like to see. In her limited spare time she enjoys reading, video games, painting, baking and decorating cakes (with…questionable success), and petting her dog and six cats. Visit her at cjdotsonauthor.com or cjdotsonsdreadfuldispatch.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 319 reviews
October 10, 2025
These Familiar Walls is equal parts chilling, shocking, thrilling, atmospheric, horrific, and spooky! Woohoo! This is how you do it! C.J. Dotson had my attention from the very first page! Plus, talk about a jaw dropping shocking reveal!!!!!!!! I did not see that coming AT ALL! Whew! What a SHOCKER!
This book is told in two timelines, 1998 and 2020, and both are intriguing and intense! Usually when there are two timelines, I tend to enjoy one more than the other. I actually enjoyed both timelines equally. Both timelines have shocking and thrilling moments!
In the 1988 timeline, readers are introduced to Amber, her younger sister, Hannah, and the new boy who moved into the home next door. Amber is lonely and hopes to make a new friend with her new neighbor and to say that their relationship is chaotic is an understatement.
In the 2020, Amber's parents are murdered in their family home. Amber inherits the home and moves in with her husband, Ben and their two children. Soon, Amber will find that These Familiar Walls that she grew up are quite eerie, spooky, creepy and chilling. She begins to experience strange things. She hears whispers, strange reflections, and experiences creepy sensations. She is not the only one in the home who experiences these things.
First off, I would have been out of there so fast it would make my families head spin! Haunted Houses freak me out. Home is where you are supposed to feel safe. I wondered how do these people sleep at night with all this eerie and spooky crap happening? But they stay and HOLY CRAP, I was not prepared for the suspense and shocking reveals that came at warp speed toward the end of the book!!!!!!!
Hats off to C.J. Dotson, seriously, hats off. So well done, so well thought out! So clever, so shocking, so spooky, and so eerie! This book was oozing with creepy vibes, dread, tension, and dread!!!
4.5 stars
*This was a fantastic witches words buddy read with Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch! We had a great time discussing this book. Please be on the lookout for her review to get her thoughts on These Familiar Walls!!!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press 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 📖
This book is told in two timelines, 1998 and 2020, and both are intriguing and intense! Usually when there are two timelines, I tend to enjoy one more than the other. I actually enjoyed both timelines equally. Both timelines have shocking and thrilling moments!
In the 1988 timeline, readers are introduced to Amber, her younger sister, Hannah, and the new boy who moved into the home next door. Amber is lonely and hopes to make a new friend with her new neighbor and to say that their relationship is chaotic is an understatement.
In the 2020, Amber's parents are murdered in their family home. Amber inherits the home and moves in with her husband, Ben and their two children. Soon, Amber will find that These Familiar Walls that she grew up are quite eerie, spooky, creepy and chilling. She begins to experience strange things. She hears whispers, strange reflections, and experiences creepy sensations. She is not the only one in the home who experiences these things.
First off, I would have been out of there so fast it would make my families head spin! Haunted Houses freak me out. Home is where you are supposed to feel safe. I wondered how do these people sleep at night with all this eerie and spooky crap happening? But they stay and HOLY CRAP, I was not prepared for the suspense and shocking reveals that came at warp speed toward the end of the book!!!!!!!
Hats off to C.J. Dotson, seriously, hats off. So well done, so well thought out! So clever, so shocking, so spooky, and so eerie! This book was oozing with creepy vibes, dread, tension, and dread!!!
4.5 stars
*This was a fantastic witches words buddy read with Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch! We had a great time discussing this book. Please be on the lookout for her review to get her thoughts on These Familiar Walls!!!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press 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 📖
December 21, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Here’s one thing about me I know to be true:
If my parents were murdered in horrific fashion, inside my childhood home, it would never cross my mind to move my family there. There isn’t much else I have that kind of certainty about, but I stand firmly on this.
But, this book reveals that there is much more to the story than that. While it impersonates a standard, trope laden horror novel for 75% of the book, its shift into unexpected territory will leave your head spinning. I know it did mine. While this novel is scary, filled with supernatural dalliances, the real world horror of the boy next door is the thing that disturbed me the most. He’s got mad serial killer vibes and every time he was in story, I was tense.
This is a solid horror novel, and is the second in a row of C.J. Dotson’s I’ve said that about. It feels like she’s coming into her own. You should definitely read this.
Here’s one thing about me I know to be true:
If my parents were murdered in horrific fashion, inside my childhood home, it would never cross my mind to move my family there. There isn’t much else I have that kind of certainty about, but I stand firmly on this.
But, this book reveals that there is much more to the story than that. While it impersonates a standard, trope laden horror novel for 75% of the book, its shift into unexpected territory will leave your head spinning. I know it did mine. While this novel is scary, filled with supernatural dalliances, the real world horror of the boy next door is the thing that disturbed me the most. He’s got mad serial killer vibes and every time he was in story, I was tense.
This is a solid horror novel, and is the second in a row of C.J. Dotson’s I’ve said that about. It feels like she’s coming into her own. You should definitely read this.
September 2, 2025
This book gave off an unsettling, disturbing, look behind your shoulder kind of feel.
Quick synopsis: Amber, her husband Ben and two kids have just moved in to her recently deceased parent’s house. As soon as they move in, strange things begin to happen. Amber starts seeing things within the closets and mirrors. It’s not just things that she’s seeing she also is having other sensory type feelings. There are two timelines one in the present and one in the past revisiting Amber’s childhood. To go any further would involve spoilers so that’s just the basic gist of it.
I found the present timeline very confusing, which coincided with what Amber was feeling. I was grasping for answers as much as Amber was. The past timeline was ultimately my favorite because while it was completely disturbing to me, it gave a good glimpse into what made these characters who they were in the present day. The ending gave a nice little twist which pulled everything together well but then it became too drawn out. There was a point that I think it should’ve ended, but then it kept going that it kind of gave me a bit of an eye roll. But that’s just a minor quibble.
Thinking back onto the novel as a whole it almost seemed like there were two genres intertwined, the thriller aspect, and then the horror aspect. There was one component /character that I felt didn’t fit both of those aspects and was kind of a loose end. But other than that, both genres were woven together really well.
This is a great spooky season read and definitely a bit on the disturbing side. Maybe make sure your doors are locked and you have your nightlight plugged in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Quick synopsis: Amber, her husband Ben and two kids have just moved in to her recently deceased parent’s house. As soon as they move in, strange things begin to happen. Amber starts seeing things within the closets and mirrors. It’s not just things that she’s seeing she also is having other sensory type feelings. There are two timelines one in the present and one in the past revisiting Amber’s childhood. To go any further would involve spoilers so that’s just the basic gist of it.
I found the present timeline very confusing, which coincided with what Amber was feeling. I was grasping for answers as much as Amber was. The past timeline was ultimately my favorite because while it was completely disturbing to me, it gave a good glimpse into what made these characters who they were in the present day. The ending gave a nice little twist which pulled everything together well but then it became too drawn out. There was a point that I think it should’ve ended, but then it kept going that it kind of gave me a bit of an eye roll. But that’s just a minor quibble.
Thinking back onto the novel as a whole it almost seemed like there were two genres intertwined, the thriller aspect, and then the horror aspect. There was one component /character that I felt didn’t fit both of those aspects and was kind of a loose end. But other than that, both genres were woven together really well.
This is a great spooky season read and definitely a bit on the disturbing side. Maybe make sure your doors are locked and you have your nightlight plugged in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
March 28, 2026
This mysterious horror novel was really creepy! It comes with a dual timeline, one in 1998 and the other in 2020. The book made me feel claustrophobic and tense. I read a lot of horror novels, so this one didn’t really scare me. Even though this one did not scare me at all, it was dark, mysterious and sad. It starts where a girl named Amber becomes friends with her neighbor back in 1998. This neighbor is a boy that is creepy and there is just something off about him.
This is a slow burn horror, where everything begins to make sense towards the ending. A few of the twists I saw coming, but some of them completely caught me off guard. I really enjoyed the dual timelines and the emotional depth to it. This comes with a clever plot, that was well executed. It was also suspenseful and descriptive. It gave me the movie, “Hereditary” vibes. Overall, I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author C. J. Dotson and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on April 14, 2026!
This is a slow burn horror, where everything begins to make sense towards the ending. A few of the twists I saw coming, but some of them completely caught me off guard. I really enjoyed the dual timelines and the emotional depth to it. This comes with a clever plot, that was well executed. It was also suspenseful and descriptive. It gave me the movie, “Hereditary” vibes. Overall, I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author C. J. Dotson and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is set to be published on April 14, 2026!
October 12, 2025
A major ick, if you will, for me as a reader is any mention of the pandemic, Covid, lockdowns, etc. I do not wish to immerse myself in this time. Period. I have been there along with everybody else and have no desire to reach my mind back to an overall unpleasant time when I’m indulging in my favourite pastime of reading.
I want to immerse myself, I want to get carried away in a story. Mentioning the pandemic puts a block to my imagination, my ability to flow. The same way it was symbolically and literally a big ‘block’ in real life. I don’t want to start a book with an eye roll, which I did here.
I found this book pretty substandard overall. The house has the history of a crime and the only remaining adult child is moving back in with her own family. Nothing mind blowing or imaginative. Any creepiness wasn’t all that creepy or effective. I did feel some boredom and indifference while reading that made me want to skim. There was nothing that set this book apart.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
I want to immerse myself, I want to get carried away in a story. Mentioning the pandemic puts a block to my imagination, my ability to flow. The same way it was symbolically and literally a big ‘block’ in real life. I don’t want to start a book with an eye roll, which I did here.
I found this book pretty substandard overall. The house has the history of a crime and the only remaining adult child is moving back in with her own family. Nothing mind blowing or imaginative. Any creepiness wasn’t all that creepy or effective. I did feel some boredom and indifference while reading that made me want to skim. There was nothing that set this book apart.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
September 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 / 5
The cover of These Familiar Walls immediately drew me in, and the synopsis intrigued me even more. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. I love a great horror story, and this one delivered a fresh and original take on psychological horror that kept me turning pages. It’s gut wrenching, anxiety ridden, and dripping with paranoia. Add in a touch of the paranormal, and it hit all the right notes for me. The ending left me gasping, and starting this late at night definitely came with some strange, unsettling dreams.
I highly recommend this one, Mark your calendars for Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Huge thanks to @stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
#SMPEarlyReaders #BookReview #BookTok #Bookstagram #PsychologicalHorror #ParanormalReads #SpookySeason #ARCReview #ReadersOfInstagram #HorrorBooks
The cover of These Familiar Walls immediately drew me in, and the synopsis intrigued me even more. From the very first chapter, I was hooked. I love a great horror story, and this one delivered a fresh and original take on psychological horror that kept me turning pages. It’s gut wrenching, anxiety ridden, and dripping with paranoia. Add in a touch of the paranormal, and it hit all the right notes for me. The ending left me gasping, and starting this late at night definitely came with some strange, unsettling dreams.
I highly recommend this one, Mark your calendars for Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Huge thanks to @stmartinspress for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
#SMPEarlyReaders #BookReview #BookTok #Bookstagram #PsychologicalHorror #ParanormalReads #SpookySeason #ARCReview #ReadersOfInstagram #HorrorBooks
September 27, 2025
I read a lot of horror, and this book is my favorite of the year! From the first page, you're sucked into a macabre and blood-soaked nightmare. These Familiar Walls is also a very uncomfortable read, as it deals with explicit bullying (much of which is very disturbing and will leave your heart racing). That's not to mention all the spooky haunting, fire imagery, and familiar drama/tragedy.
This is a layered and terrifying novel that you absolutely have to read if you're a fan of the genre (and especially haunted houses).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a layered and terrifying novel that you absolutely have to read if you're a fan of the genre (and especially haunted houses).
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2025
Wow. I don't call novels "scary" lightly, and this novel is SCARY. 4/5 stars.
Amber suffers from childhood trauma, and also from her parents' murder in their own home, which she now lives in. She's going through a lot. When she moves into her family home after her parents are murdered, she starts experiencing strange phenomenon. Her reflection's eyes are always closed, she hears strange whispers, her children start acting strange, and worst of all, she's not alone in experiencing all of this. She has to figure out what is going on, and quick, before she loses her mind completely.
I reaaaally enjoyed this novel! I felt a connection with the main character Amber, as she portrays symptoms of PTSD and BPD, both of which I personally have experience with. I truly found this novel creepy. I love all things horror, so of course I would read bits of this book right before bed, and it really freaked me out! I say this is going to be an extremely popular novel when it releases!
The author's prose is the perfect heart-pounding pace for a horror novel, and the story itself was so intriguing I couldn't put it down!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Amber suffers from childhood trauma, and also from her parents' murder in their own home, which she now lives in. She's going through a lot. When she moves into her family home after her parents are murdered, she starts experiencing strange phenomenon. Her reflection's eyes are always closed, she hears strange whispers, her children start acting strange, and worst of all, she's not alone in experiencing all of this. She has to figure out what is going on, and quick, before she loses her mind completely.
I reaaaally enjoyed this novel! I felt a connection with the main character Amber, as she portrays symptoms of PTSD and BPD, both of which I personally have experience with. I truly found this novel creepy. I love all things horror, so of course I would read bits of this book right before bed, and it really freaked me out! I say this is going to be an extremely popular novel when it releases!
The author's prose is the perfect heart-pounding pace for a horror novel, and the story itself was so intriguing I couldn't put it down!
Thank you very much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 22, 2025
Haunting, spooky, creepy… a multi timeline horror which will leave you absolutely shook from the insane twists 😆😆
This book couldn’t have come at a better time! Literally the perfect read for the Halloween period… I was thoroughly creeped out!
I loved the psychological aspects the most.. I was definitely questioning everything and feeling the palpable sense of paranoia from the main character in present day.
I definitely recommend reading at night time if you wanna scare yourself 🤣 just be sure to sleep with the lights on 💡
Disclaimer: this book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!
This book couldn’t have come at a better time! Literally the perfect read for the Halloween period… I was thoroughly creeped out!
I loved the psychological aspects the most.. I was definitely questioning everything and feeling the palpable sense of paranoia from the main character in present day.
I definitely recommend reading at night time if you wanna scare yourself 🤣 just be sure to sleep with the lights on 💡
Disclaimer: this book was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!
October 27, 2025
This wasn't terrible, per se, it just didn't have that sort of spark I'd like to see. Also, a warning: there is violence against an animal in here (a mouse is tortured briefly—I wanted to quit reading, but I was so far in already that I continued).
I think my problem with this was the twist relies on the author deliberately withholding information from us readers.
The supernatural elements were just strange and seemed a bit shoehorned in. I guess this one just wasn't for me. I normally love horror, but I don't think I could recommend this.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
I think my problem with this was the twist relies on the author deliberately withholding information from us readers.
The supernatural elements were just strange and seemed a bit shoehorned in. I guess this one just wasn't for me. I normally love horror, but I don't think I could recommend this.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.
February 8, 2026
4.5 Stars
✨✨✨TENSION & GOOD TWIST!✨✨✨
Well damn, the prologue started this off book off SO WELL and visceral! It definitely grabbed my attention instantly and made feel uneasy. These Familiar Walls is FULL of tension! This book has a really stellar unsettling atmosphere!
I liked the dual timelines and I’m so glad that both were equally interesting. That’s not always the case but in this book it is! Also, that ending!!! I did not see that twist coming! This is such an excellent thriller/horror novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 14, 2026.
✨✨✨TENSION & GOOD TWIST!✨✨✨
Well damn, the prologue started this off book off SO WELL and visceral! It definitely grabbed my attention instantly and made feel uneasy. These Familiar Walls is FULL of tension! This book has a really stellar unsettling atmosphere!
I liked the dual timelines and I’m so glad that both were equally interesting. That’s not always the case but in this book it is! Also, that ending!!! I did not see that twist coming! This is such an excellent thriller/horror novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released April 14, 2026.
Want to Read
March 24, 2026🏚️🕯️ These Familiar Walls 🕯️🏚️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. I definitely need to listen to the audiobook of this!!
👁️ What to Expect
• Haunted house
• Family secrets
• Childhood trauma
• Grief and loss
• Supernatural elements
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 4 Stars
📅 Pub Date: April 14, 2026
📝 Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. I definitely need to listen to the audiobook of this!!
👁️ What to Expect
• Haunted house
• Family secrets
• Childhood trauma
• Grief and loss
• Supernatural elements
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 4 Stars
📅 Pub Date: April 14, 2026
📝 Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
September 8, 2025
These Familiar Walls (C.J. Dotson)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - ARC Review (releasing April 14th, 2026)
I'm so thankful to C.J. Dotson for sending me the ebook of her 2nd ever novel. An absolute nightmare of a book (in the best possible way), These Familiar Walls gave me 3 nights of uneasy sleep and constant anticipation throughout my day so I could return to the story (and the house) to find out what would happen next.
Reviewing this book is very hard without spoiling it, so I will be vague. I mostly read this book at night in my bed, which was both a huge mistake and also accentuated just how creepy Dotson is able to make a house feel. This story is about a woman named Amber who moves into her parents' house with her husband shortly after her parents are murdered. What follows will have you peeking around corners and paranoid of every noise you hear in your house.
I felt the entire story was extremely well written, but I did find some dialogue at the end took a bit of the bite out of the fear factor for me, but overall the story held strong.
If you're into horror/thrillers like me, go ahead and add this book to your Want to Read list on GoodReads. Releasing April 14th, 2026, this one will haunt you long after you're done with it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - ARC Review (releasing April 14th, 2026)
I'm so thankful to C.J. Dotson for sending me the ebook of her 2nd ever novel. An absolute nightmare of a book (in the best possible way), These Familiar Walls gave me 3 nights of uneasy sleep and constant anticipation throughout my day so I could return to the story (and the house) to find out what would happen next.
Reviewing this book is very hard without spoiling it, so I will be vague. I mostly read this book at night in my bed, which was both a huge mistake and also accentuated just how creepy Dotson is able to make a house feel. This story is about a woman named Amber who moves into her parents' house with her husband shortly after her parents are murdered. What follows will have you peeking around corners and paranoid of every noise you hear in your house.
I felt the entire story was extremely well written, but I did find some dialogue at the end took a bit of the bite out of the fear factor for me, but overall the story held strong.
If you're into horror/thrillers like me, go ahead and add this book to your Want to Read list on GoodReads. Releasing April 14th, 2026, this one will haunt you long after you're done with it.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2026
This story opens with a murder scene and quickly sets the stage to be a disturbing, twisty read.
Amber's parents have been murdered and, in the midst of the investigation, the house is released and she decides to move back home. It's in the midst of the 2020 pandemic and the 2 kids are being homeschooled and she's working from home - so her childhood home seems like the perfect place to settle in. But it doesn't take long for weird fogs, sleepless nights, and disturbing images in the mirrors starts to unravel this happy family.
This was a tough read, for me, for many reasons. I struggled to connect with the main character. I thought the flashes to the past, to give us the backstory, were good except I found the animal abuse shocking and unnecessary. All in all, it's an interesting horror that I found interesting but didn't love. 2.5 stars I'm rounding up.
TRIGGER WARNING - there were some truly awful moments with animals in this one so if you are sensitive to that, please know that it's in here twice and you can skim/skip it as it doesn't play into the story at all.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Amber's parents have been murdered and, in the midst of the investigation, the house is released and she decides to move back home. It's in the midst of the 2020 pandemic and the 2 kids are being homeschooled and she's working from home - so her childhood home seems like the perfect place to settle in. But it doesn't take long for weird fogs, sleepless nights, and disturbing images in the mirrors starts to unravel this happy family.
This was a tough read, for me, for many reasons. I struggled to connect with the main character. I thought the flashes to the past, to give us the backstory, were good except I found the animal abuse shocking and unnecessary. All in all, it's an interesting horror that I found interesting but didn't love. 2.5 stars I'm rounding up.
TRIGGER WARNING - there were some truly awful moments with animals in this one so if you are sensitive to that, please know that it's in here twice and you can skim/skip it as it doesn't play into the story at all.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
February 11, 2026
This story was an interesting take on a paranormal premise, and I truly think it could have been really good, but because of the lead character, it unfortunately did not land for me.
The first 75% of this novel sat at a two star rating. It held my attention, but mostly because I wanted answers. I found the lead character incredibly frustrating and completely unrelatable. Honestly, I just wanted to slap some sense into her. There were moments where I caught myself skimming, trying to push through the boredom just to get to something interesting, or simply to reach the end so I could understand what was actually happening.
That being said, I did not stop reading, so it clearly held my attention on some level. Once I reached the final 25%, I actually started to enjoy myself. I believe this was intentional on the author’s part, that the frustration with the lead character was meant to enhance the payoff. Unfortunately, for me, it did the opposite and took away from the overall experience.
A very reluctant three stars from me.
The first 75% of this novel sat at a two star rating. It held my attention, but mostly because I wanted answers. I found the lead character incredibly frustrating and completely unrelatable. Honestly, I just wanted to slap some sense into her. There were moments where I caught myself skimming, trying to push through the boredom just to get to something interesting, or simply to reach the end so I could understand what was actually happening.
That being said, I did not stop reading, so it clearly held my attention on some level. Once I reached the final 25%, I actually started to enjoy myself. I believe this was intentional on the author’s part, that the frustration with the lead character was meant to enhance the payoff. Unfortunately, for me, it did the opposite and took away from the overall experience.
A very reluctant three stars from me.
September 18, 2025
Wow yeah this book messed with my head (compliment). An extremely dark psychological mind game that had me invested from the start. My favorite parts of this book were the childhood flashbacks, I flew through them trying to figure out everything. I will say that there are certain relationships that I wish were more fleshed out — without spoilers, I was desperate to fill in some of the blanks in the development of the book’s main marriage.
April 14, 2026
#ad much love for my advance copy
These Familiar Walls
< @
It’s a new house, a fresh start, but not for her. Because she grew up here and her parents were murdered here.
Yeah so who would move into a house where your parents were killed? Brutally murdered. With that family history, because more happened here, I’d be moving as far away as I could. Then, let’s also bring our small kids too?! I don’t care how much you need to save money, I wouldn’t ever move back into this house - let alone BRING MY KIDS?!
The story jumps timelines going back to when Amber was a kid in 1998, and then the now 2020 - where her parents were killed and where she’s now moving into that house. It’s the middle of the pandemic - and I wanna roll my eyes at all these reviewers having issues with that. We are still in the pandemic, just because lockdowns have ended doesn’t mean covid is all of a sudden safe now. We need MORE awareness on what COVID actually does and the long-term effects on our immune system, bodies, organs, brains etc. But let’s just leave that out for a second, because obviously I have my own issues with this book.
Scary? No, just dumb. Reused plots, no shocking twists, quite frankly boring. I just couldn’t with so many things in this book.
I was so excited for this horror book, but that excitment was squashed pretty quickly. After that first chapter it’s all down hill until the ending but by the time that hits, I no longer cared and had my rating already decided.
I did enjoy the writing though. And now it all makes sense - same author who wrote Cut. Cut was the same too, pretty boring until the end. I just like more action. And I’m just annoyed when author’s hook us during the prologue - like it’s the best read ever - as it should be, but then loses that traction until the ending of the book.
Oof.
These Familiar Walls
< @
It’s a new house, a fresh start, but not for her. Because she grew up here and her parents were murdered here.
Yeah so who would move into a house where your parents were killed? Brutally murdered. With that family history, because more happened here, I’d be moving as far away as I could. Then, let’s also bring our small kids too?! I don’t care how much you need to save money, I wouldn’t ever move back into this house - let alone BRING MY KIDS?!
The story jumps timelines going back to when Amber was a kid in 1998, and then the now 2020 - where her parents were killed and where she’s now moving into that house. It’s the middle of the pandemic - and I wanna roll my eyes at all these reviewers having issues with that. We are still in the pandemic, just because lockdowns have ended doesn’t mean covid is all of a sudden safe now. We need MORE awareness on what COVID actually does and the long-term effects on our immune system, bodies, organs, brains etc. But let’s just leave that out for a second, because obviously I have my own issues with this book.
Scary? No, just dumb. Reused plots, no shocking twists, quite frankly boring. I just couldn’t with so many things in this book.
I was so excited for this horror book, but that excitment was squashed pretty quickly. After that first chapter it’s all down hill until the ending but by the time that hits, I no longer cared and had my rating already decided.
I did enjoy the writing though. And now it all makes sense - same author who wrote Cut. Cut was the same too, pretty boring until the end. I just like more action. And I’m just annoyed when author’s hook us during the prologue - like it’s the best read ever - as it should be, but then loses that traction until the ending of the book.
Oof.
April 15, 2026
Wow, wow, wow! How I loved this book! Call me dumb but I totally fell for all the plot twists and very much enjoyed how everything has come together at the end.
The book follows Amber in two timelines. In the pandemic-ridden 2020, Amber is married with 2 kids and just moved into her childhood home after her parents were murdered there. And the haunting begins almost immediately. Amber and her family suffer from a smoky entity and fire hazard episodes. And some episodes are pretty steamy, hehe. Though on the surface it looked liked a typical haunted house story, at the end it turned out way more than that. And the haunting itself was very refreshing, not anything I’ve encountered before.
In 1998 timeline, Amber is 12 and a new kid of her age has moved into the neighboring house. The new kid is seriously unsettling. But Amber is desperate to do anything to become friends, even endanger her little sister. Amber’s little sister, Hannah, is perhaps is my favorite character. No, not because it’s my name too, she’s really smart. Even though I enjoy the creepy kid stories, I wish it made a connection with the main storyline sooner because I’ve got a little bored.
Overall, on the spookiness scale this books gave me some tingles and chills, but I still was able to read it at night.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC of this book, it was pretty darn great
The book follows Amber in two timelines. In the pandemic-ridden 2020, Amber is married with 2 kids and just moved into her childhood home after her parents were murdered there. And the haunting begins almost immediately. Amber and her family suffer from a smoky entity and fire hazard episodes. And some episodes are pretty steamy, hehe. Though on the surface it looked liked a typical haunted house story, at the end it turned out way more than that. And the haunting itself was very refreshing, not anything I’ve encountered before.
In 1998 timeline, Amber is 12 and a new kid of her age has moved into the neighboring house. The new kid is seriously unsettling. But Amber is desperate to do anything to become friends, even endanger her little sister. Amber’s little sister, Hannah, is perhaps is my favorite character. No, not because it’s my name too, she’s really smart. Even though I enjoy the creepy kid stories, I wish it made a connection with the main storyline sooner because I’ve got a little bored.
Overall, on the spookiness scale this books gave me some tingles and chills, but I still was able to read it at night.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC of this book, it was pretty darn great
September 11, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. The premise of this book was really good, with the main character being so unlikable that I was not disappointed with the ending. The paranormal activity had me scared of mirrors and I do not recommend reading this one at night. While I found some of the book to be repetitive and a bit overdone, I still really enjoyed it and look forward to another read by this author.
March 28, 2026
I was definitely intrigued going into this one and was hoping to love it more but it fell in the middle for me. This one jumps right off the bat with gore and I was so here for it. The haunted house vibes were strong in this one and there were so many creepy moments that I loved. It gave me a little bit of Sinister vibes, which made it even more creepy. I enjoyed the duel timelines and seeing them connect and come full circle. I do have to say that I predicted one of the big twists and I was not a big fan of Amber, especially in the past timeline. Also, the epilogue fell a little flat for me and I wanted just a little something more.
Overall, I do recommend this one to anyone who loves a haunted house horror and characters that are psychopaths.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Overall, I do recommend this one to anyone who loves a haunted house horror and characters that are psychopaths.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
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March 28, 2026This book was so creepy! I couldn’t put it down and it had me curled up biting my nails ahaha. The twist I half saw coming but not fully so it gets points for that, and the ending was original and really interesting. Like I would have never seen it coming who the ghosts were, and I found that really interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reading this advanced copy! This was my first one and what an experience. I can honestly say this story was gripping, horrifying and left me gasping. I’m typically the kind of reader who can see a plot twist fairly quickly but C. J. Dotson got me good in “These Familiar Walls” Without giving spoilers I can say I was truly afraid to read this book home alone, the scenes played out in my head and stayed with me long after I put it down. I love a good dual timeline that helps with giving context to current situations the characters are facing. I wish this book was coming out this fall so that I could recommend it for a fall TBR but nonetheless I will tell all my spooky readers to pick up this paranormal, psychological thriller!
August 27, 2025
This was definitely a chilling suburban horror novel that caught me off guard. This is a hard book to review without giving spoilers but I found myself intrigued which kept me turning the pages!
When Amber and her husband and 2 kids move into her family home after the brutal double murder of her parents, the house doesn’t seem to want them there. We go back and forth in time to Amber’s childhood friend who was the one who later returned to murder her parents.
I will say things were not what they seemed in this book. The twist at the end really shocked me and that’s hard to do!
When Amber and her husband and 2 kids move into her family home after the brutal double murder of her parents, the house doesn’t seem to want them there. We go back and forth in time to Amber’s childhood friend who was the one who later returned to murder her parents.
I will say things were not what they seemed in this book. The twist at the end really shocked me and that’s hard to do!
November 27, 2025
Thank you netgally for this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In the year 2020 during the Covid epidemic a family moves into the wife's childhood home after her parents were brutally murdered in a home invasion. Things were starting to look up for them in their fresh start until weird things start happening to the wife, Amber and Husband, Ben.
Thoughts/Opinions:
Other than the actual spooky parts, I HATED, loathed this book with my entire being. If it wasn't an ARC it'd be a DNF for sure. I wish there was a warning about the extreme dislikeable character.
Have to admit the thing with the mirrors freaked me out, actually did its job and made me avoid mirrors for a bit there. However, either time frame I just hated the character.
Stupid kid turned into an even stupider adult. Nothing that happened in the book actually surprised me just because of how unlikable the character was. They deserved everything that happened and then some.
I'm seriously hoping the Cut by the same author is better than whatever this was. Sad, I was hoping for a good horror that'd scare me.. when really the only scary thing was how much I wanted to steal a car and run the character over a couple times.
The writing was good and easy to read though, easy to follow. The story was easy. It just wasn't for me in any capacity.
In the year 2020 during the Covid epidemic a family moves into the wife's childhood home after her parents were brutally murdered in a home invasion. Things were starting to look up for them in their fresh start until weird things start happening to the wife, Amber and Husband, Ben.
Thoughts/Opinions:
Other than the actual spooky parts, I HATED, loathed this book with my entire being. If it wasn't an ARC it'd be a DNF for sure. I wish there was a warning about the extreme dislikeable character.
Have to admit the thing with the mirrors freaked me out, actually did its job and made me avoid mirrors for a bit there. However, either time frame I just hated the character.
Stupid kid turned into an even stupider adult. Nothing that happened in the book actually surprised me just because of how unlikable the character was. They deserved everything that happened and then some.
I'm seriously hoping the Cut by the same author is better than whatever this was. Sad, I was hoping for a good horror that'd scare me.. when really the only scary thing was how much I wanted to steal a car and run the character over a couple times.
The writing was good and easy to read though, easy to follow. The story was easy. It just wasn't for me in any capacity.
August 31, 2025
This wasn’t terrible but I just like my thrillers and horrors to be a bit more interesting and not just the ending to be fast paced and gripping. Once you really get into the book, it’s hard not to see where and how it’s going to end.
The characters are terrible and with the plot being a bit flat, I didn’t want to always pick this up and keep reading. The ending is satisfying though so that’s a good thing about this book.
Overall, I liked where the author was going with the story but it wasn’t executed well enough for me to enjoy it.
The characters are terrible and with the plot being a bit flat, I didn’t want to always pick this up and keep reading. The ending is satisfying though so that’s a good thing about this book.
Overall, I liked where the author was going with the story but it wasn’t executed well enough for me to enjoy it.
September 22, 2025
ARC review. Unfortunately this book was not for me. The basic plot is one that’s been rehashed many times over, the twists were easily guessed early on, and pretty much all of the characters were intensely unlikeable. That being said, there were some solid chills and eerie scenes, so I would definitely try another book by this author, I just felt this specific story fell a little flat.
April 28, 2026
In 1998, lonely and young Amber forms a dangerous friendship with a boy who gives off immediate bad idea energy. He's obsessed with fire, emotionally cold, and impossible to fully understand. That connection doesn't last long, but it leaves a mark that refuses to fade. Fast forward to 2020: that same boy resurfaces, murders Amber's parents, and dies in her childhood home shortly after. Now, Amber inherits the house, the very place where everything started and everything shattered. Trying to rebuild her life, she moves back in with her husband and kids... but the house isn't just holding on to memories. It's watching, whispering, and it's not done with her yet. As Amber slips into strange dreamlike states, reflections behaving wrong, voices creeping from the walls, she's forced to confront the idea that this isn't grief... it's something far more real.
These Familiar Walls isn't loud horror. It doesn't need to be. It builds this quiet unease that settles in and just... stays there. Amber's story unfolds in layers, flipping from past to present in a way that slowly tightens the knot of anxiety. You start connecting the dots before she does and that anticipation is brutal in the best way! There's this constant tension between what psychological and what's possibly supernatural, and this book plays in that gray area very well. This isn't just about a scary house, it's about what we carry with us, the things we try to forget, and what happens when those things refuse to stay buried. And that atmosphere? Heavy. Still. Suffocating but expertly done! If you love slow burn horror that leans into dread and memory this one delivers!
Thank you to NetGalley, CJ Dotson, and St Martin's Press for both the eARC and physical copy!
These Familiar Walls isn't loud horror. It doesn't need to be. It builds this quiet unease that settles in and just... stays there. Amber's story unfolds in layers, flipping from past to present in a way that slowly tightens the knot of anxiety. You start connecting the dots before she does and that anticipation is brutal in the best way! There's this constant tension between what psychological and what's possibly supernatural, and this book plays in that gray area very well. This isn't just about a scary house, it's about what we carry with us, the things we try to forget, and what happens when those things refuse to stay buried. And that atmosphere? Heavy. Still. Suffocating but expertly done! If you love slow burn horror that leans into dread and memory this one delivers!
Thank you to NetGalley, CJ Dotson, and St Martin's Press for both the eARC and physical copy!
April 23, 2026
I went into These Familiar Walls expecting a fairly straightforward horror story, but it's much more than that. It has a great opening hook that had me metaphorically rubbing my hands together with excitement, then it gradually unfolds into something much deeper and more layered.
I like the plot immediately, but I didn’t warm to the main character at first. As the story progressed, I began to understand how her personality and worldview had been shaped. In fact, most of the characters are flawed, some are outright terrible, but they are compelling to read about, so I was invested.
The dual timeline structure really worked for me. The past and present don’t feel like separate threads; they actively inform each other, revealing just enough at the right moments to keep the tension building. Each shift adds new context, slowly reshaping your understanding of both the characters and the events.
Atmosphere is easily one of the book’s strongest elements. There is a constant sense of creeping dread, especially in the present-day scenes inside the house. The use of mirrors and reflective surfaces, the “black mirror” effect, is done brilliantly. Combined with strange sensory experiences and subtle distortions of reality, it creates a deeply unsettling tone without relying on cheap jump scares. It leans more into psychological horror, which I really appreciated.
I also liked how the story blends supernatural elements with very human themes. Family dynamics, trauma, resentment, and the long-term impact of childhood relationships are all woven in effectively, giving the horror more emotional weight.
The reveals are well-paced and satisfying. When I thought I knew what was next, the story would shift and add another layer. After a major reveal, the pacing noticeably picks up, especially after a slower middle section, and it felt perfectly timed. I was ready for that surge of momentum, and it made the final stretch intense and hard to put down.
The back stretch of the book was shocking and upsetting, leaving a lasting impression. It made me want to revisit a few earlier scenes where I thought I knew characters' motivations but really didn't. This 'made' the book for me.
Overall, this is an unsettling, layered, and emotionally slow-burning horror that rewards patience with a strong payoff.
I like the plot immediately, but I didn’t warm to the main character at first. As the story progressed, I began to understand how her personality and worldview had been shaped. In fact, most of the characters are flawed, some are outright terrible, but they are compelling to read about, so I was invested.
The dual timeline structure really worked for me. The past and present don’t feel like separate threads; they actively inform each other, revealing just enough at the right moments to keep the tension building. Each shift adds new context, slowly reshaping your understanding of both the characters and the events.
Atmosphere is easily one of the book’s strongest elements. There is a constant sense of creeping dread, especially in the present-day scenes inside the house. The use of mirrors and reflective surfaces, the “black mirror” effect, is done brilliantly. Combined with strange sensory experiences and subtle distortions of reality, it creates a deeply unsettling tone without relying on cheap jump scares. It leans more into psychological horror, which I really appreciated.
I also liked how the story blends supernatural elements with very human themes. Family dynamics, trauma, resentment, and the long-term impact of childhood relationships are all woven in effectively, giving the horror more emotional weight.
The reveals are well-paced and satisfying. When I thought I knew what was next, the story would shift and add another layer. After a major reveal, the pacing noticeably picks up, especially after a slower middle section, and it felt perfectly timed. I was ready for that surge of momentum, and it made the final stretch intense and hard to put down.
The back stretch of the book was shocking and upsetting, leaving a lasting impression. It made me want to revisit a few earlier scenes where I thought I knew characters' motivations but really didn't. This 'made' the book for me.
Overall, this is an unsettling, layered, and emotionally slow-burning horror that rewards patience with a strong payoff.
September 30, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this! My opinions are given voluntarily.
After reading The Cut, I was very interested to see what C.J. Dotson would come up with next. What I've discovered is that she is an absolute master of plucking at the strings of a reader's subconscious, prodding that part of our lizard brains that tell us something is wrong.
These Familiar Walls felt off from the first moment in a way that was creepily intriguing - the book was like a puzzle that I needed to unravel. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong for a good chunk of the book and that made it even creepier - it's a DIY haunting that made me look sideways at the windows of my room as I was reading.
And when Dotson decides to kick things up a notch, she serves something utterly blood chilling. No holding back, just pure terror. I'm a grizzled veteran of the horror genre but let me tell you, These Familiar Walls is PETRIFYING. There's something viciously visceral about this haunting that puts it above your normal door-slamming, cold-spots, ookie-spooky kind of ghost story.
After reading The Cut, I was very interested to see what C.J. Dotson would come up with next. What I've discovered is that she is an absolute master of plucking at the strings of a reader's subconscious, prodding that part of our lizard brains that tell us something is wrong.
These Familiar Walls felt off from the first moment in a way that was creepily intriguing - the book was like a puzzle that I needed to unravel. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong for a good chunk of the book and that made it even creepier - it's a DIY haunting that made me look sideways at the windows of my room as I was reading.
And when Dotson decides to kick things up a notch, she serves something utterly blood chilling. No holding back, just pure terror. I'm a grizzled veteran of the horror genre but let me tell you, These Familiar Walls is PETRIFYING. There's something viciously visceral about this haunting that puts it above your normal door-slamming, cold-spots, ookie-spooky kind of ghost story.
April 14, 2026
Thanks to St Martin's Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions below are my own.
An elderly couple is murdered brutally by a troubled man who had grown up tormenting their daughter and an accomplice who inexplicably kills him on the scene. Their daughter, Amber and her family are now living in the house where she grew up and where they were killed. Now she and her family are tormented by strange happenings while they are locked down in the house during the pandemic. Are they just hallucinations and paranoia or is something really haunting them? Why were her parents murdered? And by whom?
The beginning of this book was so engrossing. After the scene is set, we get present day Amber and Amber as a child filling in the backstory of her life as we see the challenges of her current life with the stresses of motherhood and marriage. The creepy incidents build and build becoming more and more intense and overwhelming. The middle lost me a little bit, maybe because I figured out one of the major twists pretty early. However the ending was a pretty breakneck pace of crazy with a really great reveal and resolution.
An elderly couple is murdered brutally by a troubled man who had grown up tormenting their daughter and an accomplice who inexplicably kills him on the scene. Their daughter, Amber and her family are now living in the house where she grew up and where they were killed. Now she and her family are tormented by strange happenings while they are locked down in the house during the pandemic. Are they just hallucinations and paranoia or is something really haunting them? Why were her parents murdered? And by whom?
The beginning of this book was so engrossing. After the scene is set, we get present day Amber and Amber as a child filling in the backstory of her life as we see the challenges of her current life with the stresses of motherhood and marriage. The creepy incidents build and build becoming more and more intense and overwhelming. The middle lost me a little bit, maybe because I figured out one of the major twists pretty early. However the ending was a pretty breakneck pace of crazy with a really great reveal and resolution.
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