The Twitching House

by Ben Farthing

In this house, the smallest residents see the biggest horrors…

It’s no longer safe in the meadow.

A mouse named Nettle flees with her newborn pups into the Red House.

But something wicked lives deep within the Red House. It’s already haunting the human family inside.

This evil won’t take kindly to a family of mice getting involved. But Nettle can’t abandon a pup in danger, even if it’s the kind human pup who the wicked thing has targeted.

The Twitching House is a horror tale about mice, malevolence, and how we define “home,” from acclaimed horror writer Ben Farthing, “The King of Creepy” (M.J. Mars).

Praise for Ben

“Reminds me of early Stephen King.” ★★★★★

“Excuse me while I go cry from fear” ★★★★★

“When Mr. Farthing comes out with a book, I drop everything else I'm doing to read it” ★★★★★

“No one is writing the kind of horror this man is writing” ★★★★★

“This has become a yearly Halloween must-read” ★★★★★

“Now one of my favorite horror books” ★★★★★

“One of the creepiest books I’ve ever read” ★★★★★

“Ben Farthing is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors” ★★★★★

“Stunningly good” ★★★★★

“A master of building suspense” ★★★★★

“I can't wait to read everything by Ben Farthing!!” ★★★★★

“Reminiscent of '80s-era Stephen King” ★★★★★

“One of my favorites” ★★★★★

“I haven't been let down by Ben yet. He's a really great storyteller" ★★★★★

“Good luck putting it down" ★★★★★

“The perfect book to kick off spooky season” ★★★★★

“The scariest book I’ve read all year" ★★★★★

“Farthing's ability to creep the heck out of you in so few pages is incredible” ★★★★★

“One of the best books I read in 2023” ★★★★★

“Restores my faith in horror novels” ★★★★★

“The master of terror and dread” ★★★★★

“I LOVEEEE Ben Farthing. His books are *chefs kiss*” ★★★★★

“I couldn't stop reading until I got to the end. This was a mix of The Twilight Zone meets Tales From The Crypt” ★★★★★

“I can't wait for the next book" ★★★★★

“I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book, and I implore you to read it as well” ★★★★★

“Dare you to read it.” ★★★★★

Genres: Horror, Fiction

234 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your typical haunted house story and not just because the POV characters are mice. I really enjoyed how Farthing managed to make the mouse aspect work. There's a complex siblings relationship, a small exploration on the meaning of home and even on language, definitely a little deeper than you would expect for a story about mice.

I thought the way the author handled the connection between the mice and the humans was great but it will make you feel bad if you've ever had to deal with a mice infestation in your house (especially if you have a cat that's an absolute menace like my girl, Goobz).

The book isn't listed as YA but I think it would be great for readers that are ready to move beyond the Goosebumps type books.

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I heard the premise of a haunted house story told from the perspective of the mice inside, I was sold on Ben Farthing’s new book. But the mountain of emotions and kinship I felt for Nettle’s journey in the Red House was deeper than I imagined.
Farthing creates a wholly unique and beautiful world within the horrors of the Red House, while maintaining his knack for reaching down deep into what terrifies us the most. On the surface this is a delightfully creepy haunted house story, but it’ll have you reflecting on your sense of family, what makes a home, and staying true to yourself long after you finish it.

[Emilie Haydel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the reviews on this book because surely, surely someone else had to have the same thoughts I did and one person, yes, only one did 🤣 like I’m convinced the others didn’t read the same book I did. First time reading this author and if the others are in dire need of an editor and terrible, repetitive writing, I’ll just pass. Thank goodness this was a traveling book and I didn’t spend my own money on this one. Yikes!

[Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know how to rate this book.

The idea behind this novel is fantastic- a haunted house story told from the perspective of the mice living in the walls. Unique, creative, refreshing- I was sold. However the execution was sort of a mess. I spent most of my reading time extremely confused. I'm honestly not sure what exactly happened in this book nor do I know why most of the things that happened did?

I feel like the author was trying to do something new and exciting with the haunted house trope and created a confusing mess. When the new and exciting thing was the POV being that of a mouse which was enough to make this a stand out story.

Overall I found the writing a bit repetitive, and the characters hard to root for. The imagery of the mouths was so odd, all I could imagine was 80's b-movie special effects and it really didn't work for me. I genuinely do not understand the whole haunting bit, or the end with the all the animals.

I've been sitting on this one for a few days hoping something would click and it hasn't. I somehow just end up with more questions and less answers the more I think about it.

[Mistress of the Bleeding Sorrow · Rating 1 out of 5]

A haunted house story told from the perspective of a mouse, with an adorable cover? Yes, please!!! 😍 This could’ve been a delightful little tale. Unfortunately, theory and execution parted ways pretty quickly.

~ Paragraphs? Never heard of them. The author seems to believe every sentence deserves its own paragraph. Which, oddly, is just as irritating as those writers who go the opposite direction and write paragraphs so long you forget what decade it is by the time you're done reading.

~ Our main character? Mouse Karen, whose entire identity revolves around her babies. She’s so self-absorbed, I half-expected her to demand to speak to the haunted house’s manager. And of course, her poor brother ends up sacrificing himself to save her and her little mouse kids.

~ What’s so dangerous about the house, you ask? They're attacked by giant mouths and tongues in the walls. I mean... whaaat??? 🤔🥴

~ For such a short book, it somehow manages to be incredibly repetitive, and it just didn't work for me.

[Charlene Mattson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Unique Haunted House Story

Imagine Mrs Frisby from The Rats of Nihm, but instead of a lab, she's in a haunted, possessed house. And the theme is home and family, not anti-animal testing. But you get the gist.

This is the first book I have read by Farthing, and it's fantastic. Gripping, scary, full of heart, and a unique point of view. Definitely recommended.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

House

Nettle wants to keep her family safe. The Meadow is no longer safe. She goes to the Red House. Things are not safe as they seem to be in the Red House. The evil is coming from the house. Can Nettle keep everyone safe? Touching frightening read. Beautiful characters.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's such an interesting read from the mouse POV! I really enjoyed it! The description of the haunting and the way the house twitched, very cool! I look forward to reading more by Ben!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all the Ben Farthing books I've read so I was excited about this one. I love a good ghost story and a unique concept of a haunted house tale told from the perspective of mice in the walls drew me right in. It has all the elements of a good horror tale but it is different from what I was expecting. This is not a tale of traditional ghosts, it's something more sinister. It starts spooky but becomes more gruesome in the telling. I certainly rooted for Nettle and her babies along with Sorrel to the point of being wound up with tension. If you're a horror fan, you will enjoy this book. If you're expecting a creeping dread ghost story, though, it is not.

[David Blaylock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the mice in this story, but I still wouldn’t want them living in the walls of my house.

[Jennifer Tooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red House Redemption

When the field becomes unsafe for her and her pups, Nettle leaves her colony and burrow to take Hush and Wisp to live with her brother in The Red House. A structure whispered about in fear from her fellow cousins and one that every mouse has been told to stay far away from for generations. Even with these dire warnings, Nettle would rather take her chances with her brother in this imposing structure than be in the open and vulnerable to the unseen predator that is picking her cousins off one by one. Upon arrival Sorrel welcomes his sister and her pups with open arms and acquaints her with the home and its human inhabitants, particularly the human child Sorrel has lovingly nicknamed Birdsong. But no sooner are Nettle and her pups settled, strange happenings begin to occur. With a violent twitch, hallways shift and sinister predator maws appear and chase the mice back to their larder which seems to be the only safe haven. When the human inhabitants begin to be stalked by a strange Tall Man that has his sights on terrorizing and manipulating Birdsong, Nettle’s mothering instinct kicks in. Accompanied by Sorrel and a mysterious old mouse with no scent, the siblings set out to find the origin of this evil entity and banish it from their home for good.

The Twitching House is the newest book from the master of all things strange, Ben Farthing. Being the first release after last year’s I Found the Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib, Farthing takes a slightly different direction with this stand alone title. Instead of a fictional Boogeyman, Farthing takes inspiration from the classic Watership Down, introducing the reader to Nettle and Sorrel, field mouse siblings who overcome adversity both natural and supernatural to protect their human home and its inhabitants from a very real evil demonic entity who is seeking to pervert and ruin the family. With the narrative focusing mainly on the animal inhabitants of the Red House, the humans and human surroundings are written from the eyes of the creatures which provides an intriguing insight into how our world must look and feel to the pets and other animals who share it with us. Written with very human-like qualities and emotions, the further I got into the story, the easier it was for me to forget that the main characters were tiny mice and not humans. With The Twitching House, Farthing continues to be the innovator of the non-spaces within the physical realm; but this time the other dimension appears to be the pits of hell itself with its many denizens and the sinister and aptly named Tall Man coming to call nightly on the already terrorized family. And while this is not the first book where Farthing has created areas out of the ether, and I’m sure it will not be his last, with each new story, the author reveals another dimension of his storytelling that was previously not disclosed before. The Twitching House is not only a horror novel, but it is a touching triumph of a mother’s love and protection for not only her pups, but also the human child in danger. Even in the crosshairs of an unknown entity, there is great courage and tenacity that will give you goosebumps and maybe even have you shedding a tear.

For fans of vivid gory horror with a human element and unique characters that enhance the narrative Ben Farthing’s The Twitching House is a quick engaging read.

Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own. The Twitching House is scheduled for an April 15, 2025 release

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderfully wholesome, heart-wrenching yet tense read. I will forever praise Ben Farthing for the unique worlds he brings to the readers, and The Twitching House was no exception. Ben is such a incredible and talented author in the world of horror! (But I may never forgive you for the ending of this book, I was left the shell of a woman!)

This story is told from the point of view of a mouse who uproots her entire life and children to go live in the nearby house to guarantee a safe environment for her young. Little did she know that there was evil attached to the house that will challenge everything she thought she believed in and have her fighting for her family's life.

I did not expect to enjoy a horror from the point of view of mice as much as I did, but I devoured this book. Ben Farthing has a wonderful way with words and truly knows how to immerse readers into the worlds he builds. His descriptive language allows reader to immensely resonante and feel for the characters, so much so that I was an emotional mess by the end of this story.

I absolutely adored Nettle, Sorrel, Whisper and Hush so much, I truly felt that I was part of their little nest, living this adventure and horrors with them. This book had me cheering them on, crying and on the edge of my seat with stress and fear. I'll be raving about this book and it's unique premise for a long time.

I cannot recommend this book to everyone, horror fans and non horror fans because I truly believe this is an all rounder that everyone and their nanny would love! I am forever grateful to Ben Farthing for being on his ARC team and receiving early copies such as The Twitching Houses in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea behind this story is to read about a haunted house through the eyes of mice. I was not sure how this would come off as horror but after reading this story, it was done perfectly. The idea that mice could learn to adapt to the human world was an interesting concept. When Nettle moved into the Red House, she thought she would be providing her children with a safer home than the former colony where she had previously birthed her young. When the house first ‘twitched’, Nettle was confused and terrified not understanding something was terrible was going on in the house. She only knew that the house was trying to kill her and her brother via these huge mouths. When she became more curious she was able to understand a spirit was doing bad stuff in the house. The more Nettle took on human traits, the more she became able to understand how to fight back. The author does an excellent job of keeping the animals, well, animals. Both Nettle and Sorrel felt they were different than the other mice but not how. As Nettle began to understand more of human ways, she also could understand the difference between survival of the family as opposed to the survival of a species. Somehow Nettle and Sorrel found the courage to find a way to ban the man from their ‘home’. This book was definitely a horror story as what happened to the mice as they traversed the hidden spaces in the home was terrifying as well as what the family experienced in the home. Leave it to this talented author to turn a whimsical tale of mice into a story of survival from an evil spirit. This is a must read.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished The Twitching House by Ben Farthing. I love the inventiveness of Ben's stories and the way he approaches new ideas for each book, for the I Found series, and for standalones like The Twitching House. A haunted house story from the perspective of mice?! Never read a horror book like it and probably won't see that again.

I really enjoyed following mice Nettle and especially her brother Sorrel, who we see through the perspective of Nettle. I would have loved to have spent time in Sorrel's head as he was my favorite part of the story. I also dug the unraveling of the mystery of what was happening in the house and why, and The Tall Man as a threat.

What didn't work for me as much was that the story felt a little repetitive, though I think that's the limitation of telling a story from that perspective. I had a hard time envisioning the mouths that form throughout the house, so I kept wishing there would be other manifestations instead, but later in the story they started to make more sense to me.

Sorrel's odd personality and his affection for Birdsong, as well as Nettle's protective nature for her brother, for her children, and for Birdsong, really gave a lot of heart to this book and kept me reading with excitement regardless of those things. Loved the ending!

[Colleen Bursley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely wonderful story. This is a meshing somewhat reminiscent of Watership Down and The Conjuring both together. It is whimsical and evil at the same time and I dare to say one of Ben Farthings best tales.

Two little mice siblings (Nettle and Sorrel) battle an evil that inhabits the Red House. A human family’s home that the mice have moved into for safety from an unseen presence that is killing their cousins in their nests and fields outside.

This is a story of love and respect, protecting each other and helping the human family (especially the young human whom Sorrel has named Birdsong), from being destroyed by the horrors that have lived in the soul and guts of the Red House for decades.

If you’re a horror fan, one that enjoys paranormal or even fantasies, you’re going to really like this one. It is a unique tale written in the perspective of the mice’s point of view and what they can do as little creatures to help this family and put an end to what is haunting the Red House and its inhabitants.

I have received a free copy of this story from the author in exchange to post my opinion in an honest review.

[Mark Lucas-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

House Mouse

Wow, just wow! Written from the POV of Nettle who fleeing with her newly born pups enters the Red House. What ensues is a truly terrifying story of ancient evil newly released. “Wee sleekit, cowrin, tim”rous, beastie.” wrote Rabbie Burns..
Not since “Watership Down” have I read such a horrific story told from the perspective of a rodent.
Nettle is far from this when in defence of her pups, Hush & Wisp. Sorrel her brother has lived in the Red House for 3 seasons coming to admire and even love the young human pup, Birdsong, who is now under increasingly violent and deadly assault from the malignant entity that has resurfaced causing the Red House to attack all the occupants including Nettle, her brother and her pups.
Fulsome praise is well deserved for Ben Farthing who has the uncanny ability to take wholesome everyday objects and situations and transform them Black Mirror style into something twisted, disturbing and horrific.
Yet ironically perhaps this is also a very powerful and beautiful story about love in its many forms and of its redeeming power., not something that can be said of many horror stories. Kudos Ben.

[Chad Anctil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge Ben Farthing fan and have been looking forward to this book since it was announced. It was a delightful read, a book about family and home and dealing with generational horrors, all told through the eyes of the most wonderful main character, Nettle the Mouse.
The author takes a classic haunted house trope and tells it from the standpoint of mice living in the walls, yes, but it's so much more than that - the way he infuses the world with light and color and scents and sounds is magical, it makes you feel like you're a mouse. I love the way the mice can't magically understand the humans, but can infer what's happening through the tones of voice and the scents in the air - it shows how clever Nettle and Sorrel are, they're mice but they're also fully fleshed out characters that you root for, that you want to see succeed against seemingly impossible odds. I think the fact that they are so small and vulnerable in a huge and dangerous world ratchets up the fear factor, especially during the climax.
This book has real scares and so much heart - it's a wonderful tale, another great read from Ben Farthing!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nettle is a field mouse who must leave her burrow to protect her two almost newborn pups Hush and Wisp from the new dangers that are threatening her home. She finds her brother Sorrel at the Red House, a place he left the burrow for several seasons back. After they bring her babies to the Red House, she soon realizes that the terrors threatening her burrow may not be as bad as the dangers that lurk in this home. Can they keep themselves - and the human residents - of the Red House safe? Or did Nettle make a grave mistake by simply going there in the first place?

This was an absolutely fascinating concept for a horror novel - watching the happenings at a haunted house from the POV of its smallest residents. I loved Redwall as a child, and this one gives serious Redwall vibes. I grew so attached to these fictitious mice, and it was insane to see the character development as the story continued. Some moments were genuinely creepy, and I could picture the terrors of the house like it was a movie in my mind.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twitching House was surprisingly charming! I wasn't sure what to expect of a book told from the point of view of a mouse, but it was such a unique perspective, and I loved it!

I got really attached to these characters throughout the book, especially the family living in the Red House. Despite them not necessarily being the focus of the story, they were still fleshed out in a way that I appreciated for side characters. And Nettle and Sorrel! They grew on me a lot, for sure!

The revelation of who/what the bad guy is was fascinating as well. I loved the execution of his story and the connection with all the animals whose features were popping up all over the house. It added another layer to the story and the horror of what was happening.

What a cool, unique idea for a book! This concept isn't something I'd normally seek out, but I'm so glad that I gave it a chance. Ben has a way of completely drawing me in, and quite frankly, I'd probably read the phone book if he rewrote it 🤷‍♀️

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunted house book from the perspective of the mice living inside the walls? That's certainly a concept that I've never heard of before, and one that I couldn't wait to explore.

These mice characters are so interesting. Ben Farthing has personified them in a way that makes sense to how real mice act, and makes sense to how we can understand what they're going through. This combined with Ben's creepy, yet heartfelt storytelling made for a highly captivating tale.
It's incredible how you feel so strongly for these mice in such a short time.
This book is creepy and mysterious and might unexpectedly pull at your heartstrings a little bit. I honestly just wanted more.
For me, there was one story element that felt a little bit unexplained, but I think others probably won't feel that way. Other than that, I honestly loved every second of it.
4.5+

[Nyko The Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Makes A House A Home Rather Than A Trap?

How do we find the courage to banish the shadows and make ourselves and loved ones feel truly safe inside our homes.
Is it something we have to be born with? Is it sheer willpower? Determination?
Perhaps an overriding belief in our capacity for love? To be loved?
Where else could we go possibly go?
What tools will it take?
How do we banish the horrors, cruelties and unrelenting sadness that seeks to root us out, stem from stern?

Take a journey inside The Twitching House and learn its secrets.
Perhaps you’ll discover the answers.
Or, be trapped in a timeless prison nightmare, as have, so many others? Tethered by blood and ichor fusing to form the birthing of a terror, just now dreamed itself awake…

Best story told in recent memory..
Ben Farthing, my new friend and author.

[Ken Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, without a doubt, the most unique horror novel I've ever read!

I'd estimate that about 75% of my reading is horror novels. So, needless to say, I've read many authors and many different styles, but this is the very first horror novel that stars woodland creatures. Mostly mice colonies but also their enemies, snakes, and humans. All of the mice have names and roles to fill within the colony. And, of course, they all speak except the mouse pups (babies). So, you might ask what drove me to purchase this novel? Fate is the answer! If you look at the books cover, it screams horror novel. And occasionally, I will choose a horror novel based completely on the cover art! And, I have never been disappointed!

[SpookyKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. I loved this. I'm a huge animal lover so reading a horror book from the perspective of mice? YES PLEASE.
Nettle is just trying to protect her pups from some unknown force out in the wild. Her fierce need to keep them safe leads her to the Red House, where her brother, Sorrell, lives. But of course, he isn't alone! Not only does a sweet family reside there, but so does a demonic entity that is trying desperately to attach itself to the human child. Normal life for a mouse is already terrifying enough. But now with the walls, halls, and floors of this house morphing into unspeakable horrors, these little mice will do their best to fight back and claim this home as their own.

[Dana Granville · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows a mouse named Nettle who has two small pups to take care of and decides to move into the Red House to live with her estranged brother Sorrel to escape increasingly odd things that had been happening out in the meadow. However, it appears that perhaps the strangeness is actually originating from the Red House and working it's way out. So it's up to these mice to banish the evil that lurks in Red House. Overall it was a decent book; it had a very interesting premise which I enjoyed and I read the whole book in about 2.5 hours, but at times it was rather dull and just wanted it to get to the meat of the story already! Especially with it being a not very long book.

[Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.0
📖 e-book

I usually like strange horror and I’m a fan of Farthing’s other works but this was not for me.

Mouse protagonist? Cool.
Haunted house? Super cool.
A demonic spirit that creates mouth-like portals through out the house? Maybe it’s cool but honestly it was hard to follow.

I picked this up when I did because it was a short story and I wasn’t in the mood to read much. But I’m thinking it still wasn’t the right book for the time. (I read this while in the worst of my morning sickness and honestly I think my emotional state wasn’t what it needed to be for this story)

[Tabi Leass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read anything quite like this.
Using a mouse as the narrator is such a great move. it makes the world feel massive and every shadow feel like a genuine threat. The stakes felt towering and terrifying.
​The pacing is perfect and I was never bored. You get these really likable characters pitted against a villain that is genuinely evil and disgusting. There's so much more I want to say but I don't want to give anything away! If you're into horror or thrillers that do something different, you should definitely grab this one.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect fot the 12 and over set, maybe even 10 yrs if they are a curious dedicated reader. That being said, I am decades beyond that age group and I was captivated by the story of a special little mouse and how she and her brother worked tirelessly to save a little girl and her family from a relentless evil. I never was bored or lost my interest. Terrific little read.
I received a copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving my opinion of the tale.

[Doreen Fernandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is from the viewpoint of a mouse named Nettle. Nettle and Sorrel have fled from their colony to take refuge in The Red House. Nettle wants a safe place for her pups but is the house really safe? Some evil influence causes the house to twitch and apart from Nettle, the family living in the house is also in danger. Can Nettle find a way to banish the evil? The eerie atmosphere and the malevolence of the evil presence has been so well portrayed that it gave me the chills.

[Mercedes Yardley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first five-star read of the year. The Twitching House is The Rats of NIMH meets Poltergeist. It had that same special feeling that I had reading NIMH and Watership Down. It's told from the perspective of the mice, and done in a beautiful, believable way. This is the kind of book you gift to others. It's also a great read for people who want to read horror, but are skittish about it. There's enough genuine emotion and heart here to draw anyone in.

[Michelle Nelms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I hoped and even more

When Ben Farthing announced this book was coming out and said it was about a brave mouse protecting a human pup, I knew I'd love it.

I hoped for a little Secret of Nimh vibes and I felt them. This was a lovely story about a new mouse mother trying to keep her babies safe. This is a story about a mouse trying to be himself. This is a story about love in many forms. This is a story about beauty and about ugliness.