These Familiar Walls

by C.J. Dotson

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 meet her gaze, 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.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Paranormal

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

C.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

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 📖

[Court Zierk · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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.

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[TheConnieFox · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Gina Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.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

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Natalie K · Rating 2 out of 5]

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. For example, Amber wonders if they'll ever catch Nathan's accomplice, except SHE'S the accomplice. So, I guess that's a fair thing to wonder, but the way it's written, it seems like she wants the accomplice caught, though we later find out she doesn't.

Also, we don't find out until WAY later that the kids are Amber and Ben's nephew and niece, the children of Amber's sister Hannah and her husband Greg, who died in a fire. So yeah, there's a twist, but it wouldn't have happened or been as surprising if the author hadn't pulled that sleight of hand.

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.

[Ceeceereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Erin Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[BookishKB]

🏚️🕯️ 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.

[Steve Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[KaysKillerReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[KM · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Bonnie MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sabrina (witchy.library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Sasha]

This 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.

[Alexis Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Gabbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kaitlyn Burke · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Familiar Walls by C. J. Dotson is a quiet, unsettling read that sneaks up on you. The story lives in the small moments and unspoken tensions, letting atmosphere do most of the heavy lifting. Dotson has a sharp eye for how familiar spaces can slowly turn claustrophobic, and that sense of unease never really lets go.

What stands out most is the emotional restraint. Nothing feels overexplained or forced, which makes the characters and their choices feel uncomfortably real. The pacing is deliberate, but it works in the book’s favor, giving you time to sit with the discomfort and piece things together on your own.

If you like character driven stories that rely more on mood than spectacle, this one is worth your time. It is the kind of book that lingers after you finish, especially if you enjoy fiction that trusts the reader and doesn’t spell everything out.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ebook ARC!!

[Jessi McConnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! This book had multiple elements that I love; paranormal activity, whodunnit mystery, childhood nostalgia (thankfully unreliable childhood nostalgia for this one). The main character is, in my opinion, incredibly unlikeable but it totally works for this book. There were some things that I predicted while reading that I was correct about and some that I was wrong about. Even though I was right about some things, it didn’t take away from the story or make it any less satisfying to read. If you’re in the mood for a a thriller with some very spooky scenes, this is a great novel! It will be a book I recommend to people for a long time. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the ARC!

[Jeremy Krcal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wild ride. My husband and I had such a good time reading this together, even when it was genuinely uncomfortable and unsettling. It honestly might have contributed to one of the most terrifying nightmares I’ve ever had.

We’ve all met a Nathan or two, and Dotson did a great job portraying this unfortunate male archetype

And Amber. I could not stop blurting out things like, “GOD I hate this demonic creature of a woman” or “DOES THIS PSYCHO EVEN LIKE HER KIDS?!” And well... every single one of those thoughts ended up being justified.

I had little inklings about how things might go, but nothing ever made me totally sure until it all came out. That’s rare for me. Usually once I settle on a theory, it doesn’t change and I end up being right. However I really wasn't sure until the end.

I’m not the most eloquent with reviews (obviously), but judging from her novels so far, I can really see Dotson becoming the kind of author people know and genuinely look forward to new releases from.

[Carlie Viemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!

This book was so spooky and creepy, it really was giving me goosebumps reading it. It had almost Paranormal Activity vibes throughout??? There were a lot of twists and turns, I thought I had it figured out from the beginning and then it got worse and worse. It really made me uncomfortable and honestly a bit disturbed.

As someone who reads a lot of horror, this one really really got to me. It is a standout on my list this year for one of my fav reads so far!

[McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book. Sometimes horror books can be hit or miss but this was spot on. I kept thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it. Defintiely gives all the chills.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!! I’ll update my review later I need to digest it all!!

I love this book! The name is perfect for the plot very claustrophobic by the end nowhere feels safe. The surge does a great job of creating sympathy for both amber and her husband though I had reservations about amber from her internal monologue.
Trapped in their home (amber’s parents) during covid there is more of cabin fever atmosphere and thus extends to the backyard; literally nowhere is safe. Things are happening to them, around them, disembodied sounds, mirrors are distorted but amber refuses to acknowledge this. Out loud. Seems amber wont talk about much. Great story! Thanks NetGalley for this arc!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I chose to read this book, I had never heard of the author before and, so, I did not know what to expect, which means I didn't go in having high hopes. I was surprised with how much I kept picking this book back up to not only see what would happen next, but to figure out what the heck was going on! This book opened in a way that really captured me, something thrilling with a mystery left hanging, but I was sure I had figured it out very early on. While some parts of this book may feel like you've figured it out, lean into the things that don't make sense to you yet and let it carry you to the end. There were definitely some twists and things that did make sense later, while I was still able to have that feeling of "yep, I did call that part at least!" Trying to leave this vague for an early review, but if you like horror and hauntings this will satisfy that itch. Perfect for a fall read. Is the main character seeing something paranormal or having perceptual disturbances? It's one of those that you'll have to work out (or find out at the end). I felt like that there was a satisfying end to the book as well in that you aren't left wondering. This book jumps back-and-forth between two time periods, sometimes three, but it is very easy to follow and understand what's happening and why. There were some parts that I wish were explored more, but I liked the length of this book and was okay not having those explored and imagining some things. There aren't extra "nobody" characters and I definitely had some scared moments reading this book in bed, in the dark, alone at night! It made sense that the setting was the house in question throughout the book, but the reader should also be prepared for the story to pretty much all take place there so no change of scenery although the differing times help with that. I would read more by this author and happy I gave it a chance. I rated this a 4.75, but 5 when there are no "in-between" ratings.