Split

by Sarah McKnight

As a recently separated mother of two, Holly Doyle wants nothing more than to give her kids a sense of normalcy. After finding the perfect house to rent, Holly can rest easy knowing a fresh start is on the horizon for her family.

But something isn’t quite right with the old house. The basement door never seems to stay closed. The family cat reacts to things that aren’t there. And, in the center of it all, Holly’s young son is acting…different.

The longer Holly and her children stay in the home, the more a dark mystery snuffs out the light. Can Holly unravel the sinister secret a century in the making, or will her son suffer the same fate as those who came before?

Holly only knows one thing for she will do anything to protect her children.

"Relentlessly gripping and deeply unsettling, Sarah McKnight’s mastery of slow-burn horror shines through in this chilling debut that forces readers to ask how far they’d go to save their family—and their sanity.

On the heels of a sudden divorce brought on by her ex-husband’s infidelity, Holly Doyle struggles to navigate life as a single mother of two. After she finds what she hopes will be the perfect home to get back on her feet, Holly and her children, Mallory and Quinn, begin the process of building a new normal. Despite the house’s dated appearance and obvious quirks, the family finds solace in their new surroundings and starts to regain a sense of calm after experiencing so much trauma. But as the dust settles on the divorce, fresh darkness awaits—this time in the form of a malevolent entity that threatens to prey upon the youngest member of the family. Now, it’s up to Holly to uncover the house’s secrets and save her son before it’s too late.

Disturbing, twisted, and absolutely chilling, SPLIT pays homage to the classic haunted house horror stories we all hold dear while offering a fresh take on the genre that (finally) does away with the toxic trope of stubborn skepticism.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden and Stephen King."

- K.T. Carlisle, author I Know What I Saw

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2025

About the author

Sarah McKnight is an award-winning multi-genre author with an interest in contemporary young adult, coming-of-age, and horror fiction. After spending two years teaching English to middle schoolers in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, she came back to the US to pursue her next dream – to finish writing all of the books taking up valuable space on her hard drive.

Her most popular book by far, The Reaper’s Quota, has placed in several awards, including the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Book Blogger’s Novel of the Year Award. While some of her books lean more toward the fantastical, she always incorporates elements of realism and mental health, hoping that everyone can find something they relate to.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature with a minor in creative writing. She currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and five cats.

You can find her on:
Twitter/X @mcknight_writes
Instagram @sarahmcknightwrites
TikTok @sarahmcknightwrites

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I have to mention that cover: Ruth Anna Evans really knocked it out of the park! It conveys exactly the atmosphere of creepiness permeating the book from start to finish. Second, though the book is a slow burn, and almost Gothic in its horror sensibility, it's full of quiet urgency, subtle terror and intrigue. McKnight takes special care to build up the tension from the very first pages, when we're introduced (both we and the main character) to the haunted house of the book. That said, it'd be amiss not to stress that this is essentially a mother's story, as the tale has to do with motherhood more than anything else. In fact, the book reads more like a domestic thriller than a supernatural story. If Freida McFadden ever wrote horror, this would probably be it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I read this book in 1 sitting. I inhaled it!! This follows the story of Holly who is going through a divorce from soon to be ex husband Kevin and her children Mallory and Quinn and Holly's bestie Norah and the lovely Ben . Having to move Holly finds a place but once her and the children move into the house things start happening of the paranormal variety. Quinn starts acting strange and become so sick and before you know it things take a turn for the worse. Can Holly make things right and save her son?? I just had to find out . A gripping read. My first story of Sarah Mcknights certainly won't be my last!! As someone who reads as a form as escapism this story was wonderful to get lost in !

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah McKnight will always be a must read author. The truly frightening things a human could think of this author knows to put it in her books. This book was no different the creepy feeling this book gave me while reading was great! She has a great talent for writing horror. Do not sleep on this author if you love creepy horror.

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Domestic Thriller / Supernatural Horror
Mood: Emotionally raw, slow-burning, unsettling
Pacing: Steady unraveling with creeping dread
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Trigger Warnings: Death of a child (off-page), divorce, emotional neglect, child trauma, gaslighting, mild psychological horror.


If grief were a haunted house, Split would be the floor plan.

Sarah McKnight serves us a deceptively quiet domestic thriller soaked in heartache, hot coffee, and just enough dread to make you hesitate before entering the basement. What starts as a woman’s desperate attempt to rebuild her life post-cheating-husband spirals into something that feels like the lovechild of The Babadook and a Lifetime original movie—if Lifetime had the guts to let things get genuinely creepy.

Holly Doyle isn’t just moving house—she’s moving into the emotional aftershocks of divorce, custody weekends, and trying not to scream when the house makes that sound again. Her son Quinn is mute, her daughter is moody, and her landlord has major “don’t open the cellar” energy. The story tiptoes between tragic realism and quiet horror, and it does so with surgical precision.

McKnight’s strength lies in character nuance. You’ll want to shake Holly and hug her in the same breath. And Quinn? That kid is a walking goosebump machine. The supernatural elements are subtle—no jump scares here—just dread layered like insulation behind every wall. The pacing is slow, but deliberately so, giving readers time to sit with the ache… until things start peeling back and nothing feels safe anymore.

This book isn’t sexy, but it is deeply emotional and twisted in its own quiet way. Like a divorcee’s fever dream.

Final Thoughts:
Split doesn’t rely on loud horror tropes. It sneaks up on you with shadows, whispers, and the kind of maternal guilt that could kill a lesser woman—or invite something worse. If you like your scares with a side of emotional devastation and empowerment… unpack your boxes. Welcome home.

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I received a free advance review copy of this book from the BookSirens.

Now, let’s talk horror. Some recent reads crank up the scares to the point of predictability, but Split takes a different approach, leaning into the psychological terror with the occasional sliver of the supernatural. It delves into heavy themes—the loss of a child, the heartache of divorce—and does so with finesse. Reviewers have likened Split to The Babadook, a film I haven't seen but have definitely heard of. I get the comparison, but if I were to liken Split to something, it would be a made-for-cable movie destined to garner a cult following in decades to come. On the surface, the plot may seem generic—and yes, it has its clichés—but McKnight cleverly chooses to take it slow, focusing on the psychological and emotional aspects. This allows the reader to form a connection with Holly and her kids right from the outset. Once I connect with a character, I can’t help but zip through the pages, which is precisely what happened with this book.

Overall, I found Split to be a solid read. It’s not without its flaws, and while it won’t earn a spot on my “perfect reads” list, it certainly left an impression. If you’re in the mood for a chilling read, grab a copy, dim the lights, and let yourself be drawn into its spine-tingling embrace. Happy reading!

Find my full review at https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/....

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a family moves into a house with a history only reading the book can the reader discover what happens. The house gave off a creepy vibe right from move in. Within days the young boy started showing signs of something off. Because the family was going through some tough times, mom thought it was stress. Little did she know things were only going to get worse for little Quinn. I cannot imagine watching your child change and unable to pinpoint the cause. I felt Holly did more than most parents as she looked into the house history. Then she had to come to terms that the house had some entity hanging around. Once the truth was discovered about why Quinn was ill, mom fought like a mama bear. With the help of knowledge and her friends she was determined to end the reign of terror. This book was a really well written story of a haunted house and the lengths parents will go to protect their children.

[Myranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was something nostalgic and familiar about this thriller but I think it's because of all the supernatural tv shows and movies that I've watched my entire life that gave it that feeling for me. The author is an amazing story teller and this thriller grabs you and hooks you from the get-go. There is mention of the loss of a child however there is no graphic details it is just mentioned. It is not the focal point of the story, at least it isn't in my opinion. I couldn't quite put my finger on what I thought was going on until a character mentioned something and then it clicked for me.

Full review on my website on Tuesday 8.5.25.
www.mommodeloading.com

[Lorelei Tomlinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was about a woman and her 2 children who move into an old house where they experience strange happenings. The author does a good job of creating a creepy atmosphere by providing lots of details. The book kept me in suspense. I didn't want to put it down because I kept wondering what would happen next. If you like books about haunted houses, you will likely enjoy this book.

I received a free advance review copy of the book. The opinion that I express here is my own.

[Mary Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like gentle stories that allow the tension build slowly and also enjoy subtleties, you'll like this ghost story. But… is it? A ghost? A stressed Mom, a threatened little kid, and some 'thing' in the basement. Split is a well-told story reminiscent of the classics of the genre, with an addictive plot that reads almost like a thriller and makes you want to keep turning the pages. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The story didn't disappoint. An enjoyable read.

[Dawn (DeDe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, tense, and emotionally raw, Holly Doyle wants a fresh start in a new house, but the walls seem to have other plans. The author builds dread in the quiet moments, layering supernatural chills over real-life fears of motherhood, trauma, and isolation. This is a sharp, eerie read perfect for fans of domestic horror with heart. I highly recommend reading this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Clarkfamilybooks]

Split is a deeply unsettling slow-burn horror. Holly Doyle wants a fresh start in a new house, but when the house comes for her son Holly will do anything to save him. Disturbing, twisted, and absolutely chilling. Another amazing thriller from this author!

[Jason M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent haunted house horror story.

I’m not a big fan of YA fiction, so this fell a bit flat for me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! That book was definitely creepy! Definitely recommending to friends! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Split is the second horror title I have read from Sarah McKnight, (the first being the excellent Carousel) and I am now fully convinced that this author has a firm grasp on the macabre and how to create a spine chilling propulsive tale that will have the reader on the edge of their seat and leave them with an unsettled feeling in the pit of their stomach.
The set up will be familiar to fans of the horror genre - a recently separated woman and her two children move into an old house with a creepy history and an even creepier basement, and before long she begins to notice changes in her little boy's behaviour that seem tied to the tragic past of the house. This may well be a tried and tested trope but McKnight still makes it feel fresh, particularly because her characters, especially the beleaguered mum feel so human and so relatable in her day to day struggles, so by the time the weirdness starts we are already firmly on their side and rooting for her and her family. That brings me to the one small gripe I had with this book, it feels like it took slightly too long setting up before the more sinister side of the story started to emerge, but once it did, it really gathered pace and built tension very well, so much so that I stayed up later than I had intended in order to finish the story. This may not be the most original of stories but it is so well executed and I enjoyed it so much while reading that I am rounding my 4.5 stars happily to 5.
I read an ARC courtesy of the author, all opinions are my own.