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Old Ham
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26Everyone knows Junie Oldham is more than a little strange—but is she actually dangerous?
She’s unique, to say the least. Junie Oldham is a middle-aged hoarder who knits sweaters for cats, befriends rescued mice, and pretends to be a recovering alcoholic so she can socialize at AA meetings. Living among the piles of childhood treasures in the home she inherited, she also hangs on to a few resentments—not all of them innocuous.
When a chance encounter with Blake Patton, her high school crush, presents Junie with an opportunity to reconnect with the guy who helped set her on her solitary path, she’s ready to go to any length to become part of his life again. Blake doesn’t recognize the girl he mocked as “Old Ham” in high school, and his wife is delighted to find such a good math tutor for their daughter. Now Junie has full access to their perfect suburban home. She’s already hiding plenty of secrets of her own, but what’s hiding in the Patton household?
As the lies unravel and old scars resurface, the Pattons’ seemingly happy façade starts to crack open, and it’s only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. Because Junie’s waited more than twenty years for the real story to come out, and if she can’t get to the truth, there’s going to be trouble . . .
From the Edgar Award–nominated author of On a Quiet Street, this hypnotic and razor-sharp psychological thriller about obsession, identity, and the cost of being overlooked is perfect for fans of Baby Reindeer, Gone Girl, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
She’s unique, to say the least. Junie Oldham is a middle-aged hoarder who knits sweaters for cats, befriends rescued mice, and pretends to be a recovering alcoholic so she can socialize at AA meetings. Living among the piles of childhood treasures in the home she inherited, she also hangs on to a few resentments—not all of them innocuous.
When a chance encounter with Blake Patton, her high school crush, presents Junie with an opportunity to reconnect with the guy who helped set her on her solitary path, she’s ready to go to any length to become part of his life again. Blake doesn’t recognize the girl he mocked as “Old Ham” in high school, and his wife is delighted to find such a good math tutor for their daughter. Now Junie has full access to their perfect suburban home. She’s already hiding plenty of secrets of her own, but what’s hiding in the Patton household?
As the lies unravel and old scars resurface, the Pattons’ seemingly happy façade starts to crack open, and it’s only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. Because Junie’s waited more than twenty years for the real story to come out, and if she can’t get to the truth, there’s going to be trouble . . .
From the Edgar Award–nominated author of On a Quiet Street, this hypnotic and razor-sharp psychological thriller about obsession, identity, and the cost of being overlooked is perfect for fans of Baby Reindeer, Gone Girl, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.
- GenresThriller
216 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 4, 2026
About the author
Seraphina Nova Glass
12 books4,090 followersSeraphina Nova Glass is a two-time EDGAR AWARD nominated author. Hew novel, On A Quiet Street, was a New York Times Summer Read, a #1 Amazon Bestseller, and Editor’s Pick. It was also featured in the Boston Globe and Bustle.
Publisher’s Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in
Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho in Directing (theatre.)
She is a proud dog mom to Boston Terrier Spaghetti, and loves to travel the world with her husband, Mark. She resides in Dallas, TX.
Publisher’s Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in
Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho in Directing (theatre.)
She is a proud dog mom to Boston Terrier Spaghetti, and loves to travel the world with her husband, Mark. She resides in Dallas, TX.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 6, 2026
Seraphina Nova Glass knows how to hook her readers and Old Ham definitely delivers. I was totally invested in this short but utterly gripping novel.
Junie is a unique and quirky protagonist. I had a hard time coming to grips with my feelings for her. My heart went out to Junie for the struggles she had to endure, the cruelty that had been inflicted upon her, and simply for her general oddness, but she also totally freaked me out and I never trusted her. I most resonated with Dessa and empathized completely with her trying to right years of wrong while also being very wary. The history with Blake and Junie’s insertion into Dessa and Blake’s life was fascinating and Glass placed every domino perfectly. I could not flip the pages fast enough!
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are definite trigger warnings and the bomb at the end left me speechless. If you love quirky, fast-paced, shocking novels, Old Ham is absolutely for you! Everyone at The Pulse is going mad for Junie and I know you will too!
Old Ham releases October 13, 2026!
Junie is a unique and quirky protagonist. I had a hard time coming to grips with my feelings for her. My heart went out to Junie for the struggles she had to endure, the cruelty that had been inflicted upon her, and simply for her general oddness, but she also totally freaked me out and I never trusted her. I most resonated with Dessa and empathized completely with her trying to right years of wrong while also being very wary. The history with Blake and Junie’s insertion into Dessa and Blake’s life was fascinating and Glass placed every domino perfectly. I could not flip the pages fast enough!
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are definite trigger warnings and the bomb at the end left me speechless. If you love quirky, fast-paced, shocking novels, Old Ham is absolutely for you! Everyone at The Pulse is going mad for Junie and I know you will too!
Old Ham releases October 13, 2026!
May 31, 2026
Wow! So much going on in this disturbing, suspenseful novel!
Junie Oldham or Old Ham, her unwanted nickname, is unlike any other character I’ve come across! She’s a blend of being somewhat unreliable and unapologetically unhinged, but her reality is next level focused on brilliant revenge!
After her mother died, Junie inherited her family home where she is surrounded by a hoard of useless items and trash. When she reconnects with Blake Patton, her high school crush, (who fails to recognize her) she mobilizes a plan to infiltrate his life so he can see what he’s missed out on with her over the past twenty years!
This suspenseful novel has so many moving parts that kept me glued to the pages causing me to drop everything to read this in one sitting! As the disturbing details of her past cause cracks in Blake’s life, he feels threatened and Junie’s true colors shine through. Absolute stunner!
@ThrillerBookLoversthePulse
Junie Oldham or Old Ham, her unwanted nickname, is unlike any other character I’ve come across! She’s a blend of being somewhat unreliable and unapologetically unhinged, but her reality is next level focused on brilliant revenge!
After her mother died, Junie inherited her family home where she is surrounded by a hoard of useless items and trash. When she reconnects with Blake Patton, her high school crush, (who fails to recognize her) she mobilizes a plan to infiltrate his life so he can see what he’s missed out on with her over the past twenty years!
This suspenseful novel has so many moving parts that kept me glued to the pages causing me to drop everything to read this in one sitting! As the disturbing details of her past cause cracks in Blake’s life, he feels threatened and Junie’s true colors shine through. Absolute stunner!
@ThrillerBookLoversthePulse
June 8, 2026
Obsession and revenge in this crazy plot. The main character has been wronged and will stop and nothing to make sure the person who wronged her gets his due. CRAZY in a good way. Some
Secrets never die!
Secrets never die!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Junie Oldham is a weirdo. No friends. No social life. Living alone in a house that's basically being swallowed by rubbish. But when she unexpectedly bumps into her high school crush and realises he doesn't even remember who she is, something inside her snaps. And Junie decides she's going to become part of his life. Whether he wants her there or not.
What starts as an awkward encounter quickly spirals into something far more unsettling as Junie inserts herself deeper and deeper into his world. His home. His family. His job. Nobody opens a door for her, but somehow she keeps finding a way in.
This was a fast-paced, addictive thriller that kept me turning the pages. Junie is one of those characters where you're never quite sure what she's going to do next. She's clearly struggling with her mental health, and that unpredictability adds a constant sense of unease to the story. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were heading, Junie would do something completely unexpected.
My only real issue was the ending. The build-up was fantastic and had me expecting a huge payoff, but it felt like the story lost a little momentum right at the finish line. The ending wasn't bad by any means, it just didn't hit with the same impact as the rest of the book.
Still, this was another thoroughly entertaining read from an author who's quickly becoming a reliable choice when I'm in the mood for a twisty thriller.
🩸 Panic Verdict: Junie needs therapy. Everyone around Junie needs therapy. I might need therapy.
What starts as an awkward encounter quickly spirals into something far more unsettling as Junie inserts herself deeper and deeper into his world. His home. His family. His job. Nobody opens a door for her, but somehow she keeps finding a way in.
This was a fast-paced, addictive thriller that kept me turning the pages. Junie is one of those characters where you're never quite sure what she's going to do next. She's clearly struggling with her mental health, and that unpredictability adds a constant sense of unease to the story. Every time I thought I had a handle on where things were heading, Junie would do something completely unexpected.
My only real issue was the ending. The build-up was fantastic and had me expecting a huge payoff, but it felt like the story lost a little momentum right at the finish line. The ending wasn't bad by any means, it just didn't hit with the same impact as the rest of the book.
Still, this was another thoroughly entertaining read from an author who's quickly becoming a reliable choice when I'm in the mood for a twisty thriller.
🩸 Panic Verdict: Junie needs therapy. Everyone around Junie needs therapy. I might need therapy.
May 28, 2026
Old Ham by Seraphina Nova Glass is a suspense thriller that will be coming out on October 13th of this year! I was lucky enough to get an early copy of the book to read and review!! This book took me two sittings to finish it!
Junie Oldham is a very peculiar and strange individual, everyone that meets her will tell you the same. She is just a quiet woman who keeps to herself, knits sweaters for her little mice friends, and is a recovering alcoholic hoarder..well she is lying about the alcohol part! Thats just so she can socialize at the local church during their AA meetings. She is rather harmless…unless you are Blake Patton. He stumbles into the AA meeting Junie is attending and little does he know the mess she is about to make in his life! He was her high school crush who did something horrible to her..and she is out for revenge! The next couple weeks are intense, thrilling, and no one around Blake or Junie are safe!
This is a fast paced thriller that puts the female rage on full display! Definitely add this to your spooky season reads this year!! Thank you @thrillerbookloversthepulse and @seraphinanovaglass for letting me read this book early!
#bookreviews #arcreader #upcomingthriller #books
Junie Oldham is a very peculiar and strange individual, everyone that meets her will tell you the same. She is just a quiet woman who keeps to herself, knits sweaters for her little mice friends, and is a recovering alcoholic hoarder..well she is lying about the alcohol part! Thats just so she can socialize at the local church during their AA meetings. She is rather harmless…unless you are Blake Patton. He stumbles into the AA meeting Junie is attending and little does he know the mess she is about to make in his life! He was her high school crush who did something horrible to her..and she is out for revenge! The next couple weeks are intense, thrilling, and no one around Blake or Junie are safe!
This is a fast paced thriller that puts the female rage on full display! Definitely add this to your spooky season reads this year!! Thank you @thrillerbookloversthepulse and @seraphinanovaglass for letting me read this book early!
#bookreviews #arcreader #upcomingthriller #books
Review of advance copy
If you like your main characters unhinged, then do I have a story for you! Meet Junie Oldham, or as her classmates mockingly called her “Old Ham.” After a chance encounter with her old high school crush Blake Patton, Junie infiltrates his seemingly perfect home and family. As she becomes more and more enmeshed in their lives, things spiral out of control.
When I tell you I ripped through this one in a single sitting, that’s partially because it clocks in at just over 200 pages but mostly because it’s an absolute bonkers ride that you know is going to end in a spectacular trainwreck, but you can’t look away or stop barreling down the tracks, so you just buckle up and devour every word! I was absolutely fascinated by Junie, my reactions running the gamut from amused to horrified to pitying, but always thoroughly entertained. What a crazy, captivating thriller!
I know my friends at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse will be buzzing like crazy about this book. It’s also perfect for fans of Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich.
When I tell you I ripped through this one in a single sitting, that’s partially because it clocks in at just over 200 pages but mostly because it’s an absolute bonkers ride that you know is going to end in a spectacular trainwreck, but you can’t look away or stop barreling down the tracks, so you just buckle up and devour every word! I was absolutely fascinated by Junie, my reactions running the gamut from amused to horrified to pitying, but always thoroughly entertained. What a crazy, captivating thriller!
I know my friends at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse will be buzzing like crazy about this book. It’s also perfect for fans of Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich.
Review of advance copy
I couldn't wait to get stuck into this book and seeing it was on the shorter side (just over 200 pages), I decided to read a chapter before bed just to get a feel for it. Readers, I know what you're thinking....and you are exactly right. I ended up staying well past my bedtime because I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!
The story follows Junie Oldham, or Old Ham, as she was known in high school. When Junie gets the chance to instill herself in her old crush's life again, she does all she can to get close to Blake and his family. After all, Blake is the one who made her into the oddball she currently is. Junie is ready for revenge. Blake and his family better be ready.
Folks, you don't want to miss this one. Cleverly written, the author has once again written a stellar novel that solidifies why I love this genre so much. You just know it's going to be a disaster but you're cheering Junie on all the same to finally get her revenge.
The story follows Junie Oldham, or Old Ham, as she was known in high school. When Junie gets the chance to instill herself in her old crush's life again, she does all she can to get close to Blake and his family. After all, Blake is the one who made her into the oddball she currently is. Junie is ready for revenge. Blake and his family better be ready.
Folks, you don't want to miss this one. Cleverly written, the author has once again written a stellar novel that solidifies why I love this genre so much. You just know it's going to be a disaster but you're cheering Junie on all the same to finally get her revenge.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was an absolute wild ride! I thought I would read a few chapters and come back to it later. Nope. I ended up reading the whole book in one sitting because I was so invested.
Junie is such a bizarre and fascinating character. She's lonely, awkward, obsessive, and completely unpredictable. The entire time I was reading, I felt unsettled because I never knew what she was going to do next.
Captivating and a crazy wild ride that you’ll want to binge.
Another great read we are loving at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse.
Junie is such a bizarre and fascinating character. She's lonely, awkward, obsessive, and completely unpredictable. The entire time I was reading, I felt unsettled because I never knew what she was going to do next.
Captivating and a crazy wild ride that you’ll want to binge.
Another great read we are loving at Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse.
Review of advance copy
This book was a quick read and really pulled me in different direction...I so wanted to feel bad for Penny but then again- she was just so evil! The story line flowed rather quickly and kept me going because I wanted to make sure there was justice for the people who caused such strife...Not my first by this author and definitely not my last. I love her writing style and I enjoy reading books where I can envision how everything looks while watching the movie in my mind.
June 8, 2026
Title a thriller Old Ham and I’m reading it. I’ve enjoyed the author’s previous books and was grateful to receive an early copy from @thrillerloversthepulse
Junie is a great main character who lost her moral compass due to excessive bullying and trauma. The lengths she will go to for revenge are impressive. This thriller is fast moving, entertaining and darkly funny. You can tell @seraphinanovaglass had fun writing this one and I sure had fun reading it!
Junie is a great main character who lost her moral compass due to excessive bullying and trauma. The lengths she will go to for revenge are impressive. This thriller is fast moving, entertaining and darkly funny. You can tell @seraphinanovaglass had fun writing this one and I sure had fun reading it!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I lived this book about strange woman with strange obsessions. When she happens to run into her hush school crush, she insists it’s for a reason. She “inserts” herself into his and his families life and sons find outs the secrets this family holds. Can she dig a little deeper and make it all come tumbling down????
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews