The Caretaker

by Marcus Kliewer

STOP PRESS!
HOLLYWOOD TAKES ON THE CARETAKER !
To be adapted by Universal Studios...
Horror maestro David Bruckner set to direct...
Sydney Sweeney attached to star and produce...

Follow the Rites...

Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake.

From Marcus Kliewer, a new ‘titan of the macabre and unsettling’ (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

EXCITING
Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.

Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she's not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.

Besides, it’s only three days’ work…

Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.

What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.

Follow the Rites...

Follow the Rites...

Follow the Rites...

..--- / ..... / ---..

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

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2026

About the author

Marcus Kliewer is a writer and stop-motion animator. His debut novel We Used to Live Here began life as a serialized short story on Reddit, where it won the Scariest Story of 2021 award on the NoSleep forum. Film rights were snapped up by Netflix, and it was acquired by Simon & Schuster for publication even before it had been extended into a full-length novel. He lives in Vancouver, Canada.

Follow him on Instagram @marcus_kliewer for exclusive book updates / writing things / stop motion animation & a lot of pet videos.

Reviews

[Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Are they losing their mind or the apocalypse going to happen?"

Macy is broke and desperately needs a job so she accepts a questionable one she found on Craigslist. The pay is suspiciously good but all she has to do is to follow a few easy rules... how hard can it be?

In general, I'm a big fan of the premise and this book is no exception. I prefer when there's an actual answer at the end so this was even better.

Did I get scare reading this in the dark? Yes. Did I keep repeating that the MC was driving me nuts? Also yes. Do I think you need to read this, especially if you enjoyed his other books? Absolutely!

Spoiler free reading vlog: https://youtu.be/mDDQRxDq9ws

[Sydney Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creeeeepy, tense, and atmospheric AF. I LOVED this concept. Our main character, desperate for cash, takes a job as a caretaker but the job description is unsettlingly vague and the stakes are HIGH. This book stressed me the hell out, I was on edge the entire time. It would have been a five star book if we had gotten a few more answers but the ambiguity is honestly terrifying in itself.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense. Creepy. Full of jump scares. Mind-bending. Absolutely terrifying. This book takes horror to another level—one of those stories that crawls into your head and refuses to leave. It lingers for days, maybe even months, because it doesn’t just try to scare you with monsters; it targets your softest spots: fear, resentment, regret, emotional pain, loneliness. And the way it tackles grief, suicide, and depression is so raw and unfiltered that if you’ve ever struggled with anything similar, the dread settles even deeper into your bones. Truly scary as hell.

I adored the author’s previous novel. (And yes—full disclosure—I did cry in protest when they cast Blake Lively in the film adaptation. I stand by that reaction.) So I approached Caretaker with sky-high expectations. Following a debut that eerie and atmospheric is a risk in itself, and I was anxious to see if lightning could strike twice.

The opening felt slow for my taste—a simmer rather than a boil. The strange rituals, the suffocating gothic house waiting for its “visitor,” the oppressive quiet… all of it felt like the calm before a storm you know is going to be catastrophic. Some of the repeated sequences were nerve-fraying and borderline irritating, but then the second half hit—especially that explosive, jaw-dropping ending—and everything clicked. I went from “this is interesting” to full-volume “NOOOO WHAT IS HAPPENING” real quick. I ended up loving it more than the author’s first book, which I didn’t think was possible.

This story is dark, psychological horror at its finest. It digs into human vulnerability—those inner nightmares we try so hard to bury. No cheap gore, no cliché monsters. Just the terrifying truth of what we fear most, what we’re willing to sacrifice, and how quickly darkness can grow inside us if we let it.
The plot follows Macy Mullins, a young woman drowning in grief, debt, and responsibilities as she cares for her sister Jemma after their father’s sudden death. She can’t catch a break—her graphic design degree isn’t opening doors, she can’t keep a barista job after a breakdown, and eviction looms over them. So when she sees a caretaker job on Craigslist—red flags and all—she’s desperate enough to apply.

Arriving at Brooksview Heights, an old, eerie estate on the Oregon Coast, Macy meets Grace Carnswell, who claims she just needs someone to “watch the house” while she visits her grandchildren. Her husband is dead, the money is suspiciously good, and the job is only three days—but the warning signs are practically screaming. Then Grace hands Macy a VHS tape, recorded by her deceased husband, outlining the house’s bizarre rules: turn on lights at witching hour (exactly 3:00 a.m.), answer landline calls from mysterious “visitors” and obey whatever eerie instructions they give, never allow rabbits inside, and above all… FOLLOW THE RITES.

Jemma begs her not to take the job, but Macy is broke, exhausted, and out of options. And the second she’s alone in that house—with its rituals, its secrets, its visitors—Macy realizes she has stepped straight into the kind of nightmare from which no one truly wakes.

Overall: I’m speechless. This book is freaking fantastic. Dark, atmospheric, imaginative, and genuinely skin-crawling. The ending left me absolutely rattled. Someone please option this for a horror film immediately (and please, for the love of cinema, no wooden actresses with jealous rich husbands). I cannot express enough how much this story shook me—in the best way.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books and Emily Bestler Books/ 12:01 Books for sharing this AMAZING horror novel’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️s

Just follow the Rites, Macy. Follow the Rites and everything will be okay. Follow the Rites.

But will everything be okay?

Macy Mullins is broke, on the verge of eviction, and responsible for her teenage sister. So when she comes across a caretaking job at a house along the Oregon Coast that offers a huge payout for only three days of work, she naturally accepts despite all the blaring red flags.

I finished this last night, and I’m still thinking about it. One thing is for sure: Marcus Kliewer knows how to write characters that make me scream at them and houses that completely creep me out. The other thing he’s good at is confusing the heck out of me.

This psychological horror/thriller had me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next. The story builds slowly in the first half, then the second half becomes a race to see how it will all play out. The Rites were insane, stressful, and made my heart race at times. What I never expected to unnerve me, of all things, were the rabbits, but the second one appeared I was on edge. I’ve been side-eyeing our pet bunnies ever since I started this one.

Be sure to check the trigger warnings, as this one leans heavily into grief, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, but the author handles these sensitive topics with great care.

I’m so glad I read this with my sweet friend Kelsey because I had so many questions at the end and needed to pick her brain and discuss theories.

I’m someone who prefers answers, but unfortunately, just like with his previous book, I was left with plenty of unanswered questions. Even so, I enjoyed this one more than his debut, We Used to Live Here, and I’m definitely curious to see what he writes next.

Now available! My thanks to Atria Books via Netgalley for my digital ARC.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ★

Follow the Rites… 🐇

In The Caretaker, Macy Mullins takes a mysterious three-day caretaking job on the Oregon coast, only to discover the isolated house and its sinister rituals hide a terrifying evil. As the job turns into a nightmare, Macy may be humanity’s only defense against what lives there.

After absolutely loving Marcus Kliewer’s debut, We Used to Live Here, I instantly wanted to read anything he wrote in the future. While I still prefer his first novel, this one absolutely lived up to the hype for me.

Kliewer’s books are so unique and unlike anything else I’ve read. They just keep building and building, getting eerier and eerier as they go. His books feel like they were written for me and my reading taste, and I felt the same way with this one.

Unlike his first book, this one took me a little longer to get into. I was a bit annoyed by the characters at first, especially the way the sisters spoke to each other. At times, the dialogue felt very Gen Z, but in a way that felt forced rather than natural. I also found her reasons for taking such a strange and possibly dangerous job a little weak. I understand that they needed money, but I’m not sure I fully bought risking your life for $6-9k.

Still, once I let myself get pulled into the story, I was fully immersed. From there, the horror in this really worked for me.

From the moment Macy gets to the house, things feel off, and they only get worse from there. The horror elements were so effective for me. It wasn’t especially gory, but more built around strange things happening around the house, leading to a growing feeling of dread. The rites Macy had to follow ended up being some of my favorite parts of the book.

As a reader who also plays video games, this reminded me a lot of the horror walking simulators I’ve played, as well as Silent Hill and No, I’m Not Human in parts. It had that same slow, unsettling feeling of moving through a space where everything seems wrong and every detail feels like it matters. I could totally see this being turned into a game in a similar style, and it made me even more excited to see the movie adaptation.

I also thought the symbolism was really well done. Everything about the mystery and horror felt like it had a purpose. The commentary on depression and loss especially worked for me and added a lot to the story.

By the end, I was totally sold on the characters and the story. The last line genuinely gave me chills.

This isn’t a full five-star review for me because even though I really enjoyed it by the end, I didn’t feel as connected to the mystery of what was going on as I did with We Used to Live Here. I didn’t have that same desperate need to know every single detail or figure out everything I might have missed. While I did end up caring about the characters, I never fully felt as emotionally connected to them as I think the book wanted me to.

Still, I would strongly recommend this to most horror readers.

A huge thank you to the Atria Publicity Team for sending me a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

—

Follow my Bookstagram for all things mystery, thriller, and horror novels!

instagram.com/joshxreads

[Saray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sounded sooo promising, especially with the prologue, got me hooked right away! The atmosphere was very eerie and tense. OCD is usually written very surface-level in most books. But this book really captures the essence and depth of what it's like to have OCD. As someone with OCD, it definitely triggered mine a little bit with how well the writing was articulated—the rituals, the constant checking, the anxiety, and the sense of dread. Definitely recommend checking out the trigger warnings with this one. I loved it mostly because it resonated with me and really spooked me out.

Macy, our fmc, is struggling with grief and depression, and is currently the guardian for her younger sister. It all starts with a Craigslist ad for Macy, when she desperately needs a way to come up with money for her and her sister. Although the house and the job come with weird rules, the money is good enough for her to take the job. Macy struggles with following the rituals set, and what develops is a story of chaos.

The pacing was a tad slow in the beginning. But when it picks up, it's really hard to put down. The visual setting really set the tone for the unsettling emotions felt throughout the book. I had conflicting feelings about the ending, wasn't my favorite.

Definitely recommend this for horror fans!

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for an ALC of The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer



I need to get this out of the way first. If you're a super technical person, you might struggle with this one. For example, if you're a person who doesn't understand why the horror movie is happening in the first place because the people could have just avoided the haunted house all together.. maybe skip this. As always, I say that with love. Because you deserve to be happy while you read and good books don't deserve bad reviews because it wasn't for you.. especially because I can struggle with being a technical person so I know they're out there lol. But I also love me some good horror and this was just horror at its finest. 

If you were a fan of books such as Stolen Tongues or Slade House  you're really going to enjoy this. 

At the end of the day the horror genre has its own set of rules. It doesn't necessarily need any sort of backstory or characters don't necessarily need to be super complex. It can be more about the  "now" .. and that's what was focused on here and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was really well done! 


Until next time,
Hades
🩵

[The Belladonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My heart pulsed-a terrible pounding like drums from the deepest level of hell.”

"Follow the Rites... Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake."

The Caretaker is due for release on April 21, 2026.

Waaait... WHAT?!? This read was bananas! Marcus Kliewer delivers a novel that is the DEFINITION of a thriller!! The first half of the book, he builds that suspense up, and the second half, he's got you grabbing your anxiety sedatives and high blood pressure meds, cause you're on the edge of your seat with your heart racing, it's so intense.

Listen, money talks, so when Macy answered a Craigslist ad for a caretaking job that ended up sounding sketchy as hell, the red flags didn't outweigh the dollar signs. It's just her and her sister Jemma, and they are struggling to make ends meet, on the verge of getting evicted. Macy is broke and desperate, so it's worth the risk... isn't it? Okay, so the caretaking job is really to house sit, and the homeowner gave her a videotape of very bizarre instructions. Something about lights, rabbits, and people called The Visitors? Eh, the job is only for 3 days in a very upscale community, sure the homeowners seem super eccentric and nutty, but it's for a ridiculous amount of money. How bad could it be? Besides, at the first sign of trouble, she could just leave, right?

Written with psychological elements, in an atmospheric setting, Kliewer crafted a creepy, fast-paced, entertaining read. Does it leave you with some unanswered questions? Yes. Do you at times wish you could strangle Macy? Yup. Am I going to check out his first novel We Used to Live Here now that I enjoyed this book so much? Also, yes.

"You need to get out of there, NOW!"

A big Thank You to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for gifting me this advanced copy. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review this book.

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a horror addict’s wet dream right here! Or shall I say, wet nightmare? This novel drips and oozes with unease and foreboding right from the start! Intrigued?

First, let me be clear and say that I was not in love with Kliewer’s debut, We Used To Live Here. The Caretaker is on a whole other level. This isn’t even on a sophomoric scale. Here’s why.

Marcus Kliewer sets the stage from the very first chapter. Something ominous breathes within these pages. As the story moves on, with a slow burn start, we get to know our female MC, Macy Mullins. She’s broke, depressed and seeping in grief. Her job? A three day stay alone as a Caretaker in a stranger’s home. She just has to Follow the Rites. This was all I knew going in and so should you. TRUST ME!

You can guarantee the author has solidified his reputation as a horror writer. The Caretaker is hauntingly eerie, stirring with dread, and obsessively terrifying. I dare you to read it!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date - 4/21/26

Massive thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and the author for the gifted copy.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

No sophomore slump for Marcus Kliewer, his second novel The Caretaker, is one addicting, page-turner of a story!

The Caretaker is a highly original gripping work of horror. Concisely written with psychological elements, an atmospheric setting, and moments of foreboding, Marcus crafted a highly entertaining read that left me breathless.

I enjoyed Marcus’s debut novel but to be perfectly honest I didn't love it so The Caretaker blew away all my expectations. Horror readers will absolutely love this one!

The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer will be available on April 21. Many thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

Follow the rites...

The Caretaker is one of those books that I'm blessed enough to get a chance to read early, and then I can't wait for everyone else to read because I need to talk about it!



This story captured my full attention and did not let up the entire way through. I read it in a day and it left me with A LOT to think about. I was doing mental gymnastics trying to keep up with everything Kliewer was throwing at me, and honestly, it was exhilarating.

Macy Mullins, our MC, is a young woman a bit down on her luck, who needs to scramble to support not only herself, but her little sister, Jemma. After a string of failed job interviews, Macy is still on the hunt when an enticing ad on Craig's List catches her eye:

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:
Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.



Macy applies and ends up securing an interview. She meets with the woman who she would be working for, and although it's an unusual meeting, to say the least, Macy can't afford to be picky.

As an outside observer, I may have been screaming at Macy to not agree to take the job, but I also can't pay Macy's bills, so she does what she has to do and she accepts.

It's only 3-days work, where she'll have to stay at the woman's house in the wilderness of Oregon and take care of her house. How bad could it possibly get?



Y'all, it can get bad. I think we all know this. Even Macy probably knew this, but like I said, she really didn't have much of a choice. The first thing that really captured me about this book was how realistic and well-developed Macy was as a protagonist.

While I've never experienced some of the things that Macy had been through, I couldn't help by feel connected to her struggles. I had such empathy for her while she was just working through her own thoughts.

I also felt like I was going on this journey with her. The house, the property, the weirdness of the whole circumstance was seeping off the page and into my brain. It felt tactile to me. I was feeling it all; transported.



The synopsis describes this as a waking nightmare, and I can't think of a better way to put it. There were scenes that played into some of my own fears and left me absolutely chilled to the bone and my blood pumping.

I need to get a physical copy, because I'll be reading it again. It's twisted, layered and I would love to take more time with it. Now that I know the end, I feel I could pick up more of the smaller pieces I may have missed on this first go.

Upon completion, I sat and just stared at the wall for a good 4-to-5 minutes. Yes, that's a good thing. If this doesn't leave you with an existential crisis, I'm not sure what will.



At this end of the day, I found this wildly-entertaining. It's highly-consummable, gripping and disturbing. It's going to stick in my mind for a long, long time.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This is the first I've read from this author, but you better believe I'll be picking up more.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: HAPPY RELEASE, MARCUS! 🤩 Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC. I’m standing up and applauding. Marcus Kliewer, you are one brilliant man. For lovers of Mike Flanagan’s 𝘖𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴, Patrick Brice’s 𝘊𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘱, and of course the lovers of Kliewer’s debut 𝘞𝘦 𝘜𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦.

This was a fast-paced, heart-pounding, chills-down-your-spine horror that leaves you with more questions than answers but not in a “wow, that was full of plot holes” way, but in the way that makes you want to stare blankly at a wall in silence for 3 hours (yes, 3).

If you want a book that makes you question your sanity, your choices, your reality, and how far you’d be willing to go to save the people you love (or in this case the entire world), that perfectly blends the psychological with the supernatural, look no further.

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast paced horror novel was really creepy and full of suspense! I really had no idea what was going to happen next. It starts out very atmospheric and continues throughout the novel. I felt really bad for the main character, Macy. I felt bad for her sister as well, even though I felt like she was a bit annoying in the story.

Macy is in desperate need of money and sees an ad on Craigslist that gets her attention. It’s a caretaking job that’s only 3 days long and it pays really well, what’s the worst that could happen? Well… A lot happens. To me, the book starts becoming a fever dream and I wasn’t sure what was really happening or wasn’t happening. It is about survival of humanity, horrific events, rituals, and comes with a slow burn dread. If you enjoy reading horror that fights against evil, this book is for you! All in all, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Marcus Kliewer and Atria Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be released on April 21, 2026!

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 2 out of 5]

you know.. maybe i should’ve just took the win from We Used to Live Here and minded my business cause i did not like this book. it reminded me of a more grief focused “Cabin at the End of the World” and i tried so hard to give this a fighting chance despite that. the biggest issue is not even that the main character Macy has got to be the most incompetent person on the planet.. instead, it’s the fact that this book is so boring.

”The belief, no matter how ridiculous, no matter how contrived, had dug it’s teeth into my psyche and refused to let go.”

i had a feeling there would be more ambiguity with this, but at some point it comes across lazy when you spend the whole book setting up a scenario and don’t give answers. i’m not even sure what point the story was trying to get across? i just have too many questions and it’s getting on my nerves. like why was any of this happening in the first place? and how did the whole “caretaker” job start for that house? either way, i didn’t like the fmc cause she came across as a moron and the ending was so unsatisfying. this was not for me at all.

➣ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Atria Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[Sidney · Rating 3 out of 5]

We Used to Live Here was one of my favorite reads last year so I knew I had to read The Caretaker but ultimately this fell short for me. It's not bad by any means, but I didn't love it either.

Now I was so into it for the first half. The writing pulled me in pretty quickly. I loved the suspenseful, tense atmosphere & I'm a sucker for isolated anything so this was gearing up to be right up my alley.

What kept me from fully connecting to the story was Macy. Girl why do you suck so bad at this job? Not only is she too busy wallowing in self loathing but she's kind of stupid. Every decision she made started to irritate me. How hard is it to follow the damn rites Macy, like not even just one???

I don't know if it's the Leo in me or what but I just do not have the patience to sit around & listen to people having pity parties every day. Every few pgs I kept expecting something creepy to happen & instead here we go again going through another pity party for Macy. There's so much build up of tension that almost goes nowhere. I get it, you've had a few bad years girl & now you suck at life but oh my goodness can you please stop letting this define you? Can we not grow? Can we not make stupid decisions & literally risk unleashing whatever evil is here? That'd be great.

Aside from that, I would have liked for the story to have leaned more into the rites. I know a lot of people will love this but unfortunately it was kind of a let down for me. Anywho, I will not be letting any rabbits into my house any time soon.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All that Macy Mullins had to do was follow the rites. That’s it. But alas, it’s harder than what it seems. Let me back up a bit. Macy is currently guardian to her little sister, Gemma, after their dad died. Due to insurance being tied up, they are struggling to make ends meet. While perusing Craigslist Macy finds a job for a caregiver in an upscale community for one weekend. Once she arrives, she realizes the request is a bit strange but she can’t turn down the money. How hard can it be? Needless to say things don’t go to plan and we begin to see that this job is not as simple as what Macy had hoped.

This definitely had me on the edge of my seat. I felt I was right there in there assisting Macy, whether I wanted to be or not. The premise of the rites is super intriguing and I loved every bit of it. The Pacific Northwest set the tone for a very atmospheric setting.

So the ending… I have questions. The idea of why was never explained( unless I’m stupid and completely missed it, which is highly possible). Maybe there was never a need to understand it to that level, but I would’ve enjoyed a little bit more backstory behind the rites.

I definitely prefer this novel over the authors previous one. I feel there there’s not as many unanswered questions with this one. Highly recommend picking this one up for sure. I can’t wait to see what this author has for us in the future. I will gladly be the first in line to read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pray You Didn't Forget to
Lock Any Doors...

THE CARETAKER
by Marcus Kliewer

2 1/2 stars. David Carnswel followed the muddy footprints leading off his front porch. The survival of humanity was at stake...

Earlier...

In his dementia he'd seen the rites in his thoughts. The rites he must follow to protect humankind...

The people he chased down in the woods he called Visitors. This Visitor was a young man...

Later...

Macy Mullins was answering a Craigslist ad for a caretaker for an elderly man...

Who had passed away three months earlier...

Macy was hired to housesit by the widow for two days for a very large sum of money...

Detailed instructions were on a VHS tape...

The tape concluded with: These are the rites. If you fail to carry out the rites, we will all become believers the hard way...

And...
Pray you didn't forget to lock any doors...

I wish I could say that this was a great story. I certainly looked forward to it, but honestly, it wasn't for me. The setup was what intrigued me, but the rest of it was slow-moving and repetitive. The female lead, Macy, was an annoying dumbell who irritated me, and by the book's end, there were too many questions left unanswered.

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOLLOW THE RITES

The Caretaker is psychological horror thriller following Macy Mullins, a financially desperate woman who accepts a high-paying, three-day house-sitting job in a remote Oregon coastal home to support her teenage sister. Only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.

Well excuse me wasn’t this a peculiar creepy novel!

I am not an avid horror reader and tend to steer away from them because I am that person who if I get a whiff of danger I become a runner and a track star. My common sense overweighs my curiosity. Thank you no thank you. I am not interested.

But I went into this book with an open mind and I am glad. It was intriguing, creepy and atmospheric.

The slow burn of it all nearly took me out, so I switched to the audiobook format, and I am so glad I did. The narrator did such an amazing job having me on edge and I highly recommend listening to the audiobook of this novel.

The pacing is slow but picks up after the halfway mark of the book and I kept just asking myself, ‘what the fig is going on’!? There is so many inner dialogue of our protagonist that I was starting to mistake reality with inner thoughts and at times just confused as to whether it was her own thoughts or someone else’s.

There is a lot of traumas dumping in this novel too at times and because I didn’t find Macy fully likeable I did get a bit irked at her and kept shouting for her ‘to do better!’

The ending is open for debate. Its one of those ones that will have you speculating your own conclusion and I do wonder whether a sequel will be incoming? All in all, I enjoyed this one better than the authors debut.







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Admittedly I wasn't wowed by this authors debut book!
But I am all for second chances!
Could this one be a winner!?
❤️🩶🩶❤️

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We defend even those who cast filth upon your name"

Macy Mullins is barely getting by since the death of her father. She is caring for her 17 year old sister while trying to keep a roof over their head. Times are tough, money is short, and that eviction notice isn't going to go away until she coughs up some cash fast.

That's when she finds the job ad:

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:

Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.

Macy figures she has nothing left to lose by applying.

When she arrives at the interview she is told that the position isn't quite what was advertised. She debates leaving that very minute but the money this old woman is willing to pay her for three days is too good to pass up. She desperately needs that money.

"As soon as you set foot on this property with intention to be it's caretaker, you can't just quit."

If Macy thought things couldn't get worse she is in for a BIG surprise.

Follow the rites....Follow the rites....Follow the rites

Marcus Kliewers debut, We Used to Live Here, was my favorite book last year. When I was approved for his new novel, The Caretaker, I nearly jumped for joy.

I'm pleased to tell you that this did not disappoint. It may not have terrified me quite as much as his debut did but it's a really solid entry in the horror genre.

Macy was easy to root for and that is so important in a book of this kind.

The ending was totally unexpected in the best way possible.

What really sets this apart from so many others in the horror genre is how talented of a writer Kliewer is. As I've gotten older my taste for horror leans more literary so if your like me then this is an author you should have tried yesterday. Seriously, do yourself a favor and order his debut. If your an arc receiver, request this and hope for approval. You can all thank me later.

I can honestly say that Kliewer has joined the ranks as one of my favorite authors and I can't wait for his next nightmare inducing story! 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you atria books for the early copy!!

Obsessed, phenomenal, weird, heart pounding, perfect

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTreapFPC/

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Without a doubt, Marcus Kliewer is one of the most promising new voices in horror. Despite not being wowed by this book, my opinion certainly hasn’t changed! I’m ecstatic to see what his next project will be already 😂

Now. I cannot say that I think The Caretaker reaches the level of genius that is apparent in We Used To Live Here, but it still makes for an exciting horror novel. Although I can’t say any part particularly terrified me (more as to why later), I think the possible evil was SO well done in this book. It was in the descriptions of things not actually haunted - such as the possibility of things lurking behind a shower curtain - that really got my spine tingling.

The main reason the real horror elements didn’t get me here is because NONE of them are explained. Not one thing. And I just felt that anything could have been thrown in. I mean Macy could have literally been faced with a cotton candy monster or something and it would have fit in due to how loose the horror is in this book. I was really just wishing for one singular thing to be explained or at least hinted at. One of the things I appreciate most about his debut is we got snippets of the same evil happening to other people, and I think that format would have worked here as well. Give me some fake Reddit chains and police interviews again! I needed something to convince me that this truly was happening and not just Macy being manipulated into seeing everything for 320 pages.

The characters….were no Eve and Charlie to say the least. Macy is a character I feel SO much sympathy for but cannot relate to at all. I think this book, which hinges so much on her internal monologue, would hit harder and be scarier with people who relate to her struggles. As someone who just does not think the way she does, I found myself getting tired of the constant looping her thoughts would do to the same topics. If I had to read her say ‘Red. Blue. Red. Blue’ one more time!!! 😭😭

The side characters are kind of non existent other than my girl Jemma (who I love!). Grace is ???? And what was the point of some of the other people we see honestly? I just didn’t care for anyone really at the end of the day.

This is a novel where it’s kinda impossible to not get supremely frustrated at Macy. Because, undeniably, she messed up literally everything she could. I wished we had more of her thoughts as to why she did the thing she did at the end. Also, speaking of the ending, it was a bit too abrupt for my tastes. I expected it from the first few pages to be honest (this novel just starts off bleak) but I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed as to how we got there. I understand Macy somewhat, but not enough for me to not just plainly question why she’d make such a monumental decision.

This is a slow burn of a novel, which can’t be for everyone. I think it only gets truly page turning at 70% in, which is by no means a bad thing - just not entirely my taste. I don’t really know if the horror elements themselves were my taste either. Also my biggest pet peeve ever is when a character is thinking about their past and gets broken off and just doesn’t finish their thought that is about to reveal pivotal information. It happens frequently in this book which made me want to shake Macy ☺️

I hope someone smarter than me can analyze this book and come up with some theories. I have literally only one. This book seems much more straightforward than Marcus’ last, but I think the complete lack of resolution (or at least to me, I may have missed some things!) kind of makes it not hit as hard as I know it could. I haven’t thought about it nearly as much as I did We Used To Live Here (I am trying my hardest to not compare them though!).

Ultimately, this book didn’t quite scratch the horror itch for me, but Marcus can write exceptionally and I’m seated for this third novel!

[Sadie Hartmann]

Title/Author: The Caretaker/Marcus Kliewer
Format Read: Physical ARC from the publisher
Pub date: April 21st, 2026
Publisher: Atria
Page Count: 320
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978198219...
In-Person author event: I'm in-conversation with Marcus at Elliot Bay Book Co. April 24th at 7 PM
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Supernatural horror/Possible apocalypse (think Paul Tremblay's iconic Cabin book)
- Rural/Woods/Isolation (this would never happen to me because I'm smart-vibes)
- "Don't go in there" jump scares
- Readers who like their suspense STRESSFUL & FRUSTRATING (almost maddening-the FMC is pretty unlikable and it's stuff to feel so much more capable than the protagonist. She is so incompetent!)
- Taps that fear (We Used to Live Here) of strangers showing up to a house-the scary entities are even called "Visitors"
- Found Footage/Grief/The fear of failure/Consequences
__
Minor complaints:
- Pacing
- Repetition
- Heavy-handed trauma/looping thoughts
- Incompetent MC; I thought this would have been even scarier if she did everything right and bad stuff escalated regardless. But with her failing everything she was supposed to do, it made me mad
- Animal harm (suggested)

Final recommendation: 
As an anxious rule follower, this kind of horror is a mental landmine for me. The premise is fairly simple: A young woman down on her luck and in a bad headspace due to grief, interviews for a caretaking job from a stranger who is offering a ridiculous amount of money for what seems to be some weird culty shit in the middle of nowhere. So, immediately this whole situation is a giant red flag that would NEVER work on me. It's like the movie, BARBARIAN. I'm staying in a Vacation Rental House with a secret tunnel to who-knows-what in the basement and I'm going to explore that? No. No I'm not. I'm leaving. It's the same with The Caretaker. You want me to follow some RITUALISTIC SHIT otherwise I'm in danger?? This is a joke. And the horror of this story comes in waves because the main character is INCOMPETENT and MESSY and will 100% screw this up and face every consequence. ENTER THIS BOOK AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!
Comps: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay, US movie (2019), The Ring movie (Japanese 1998),

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Publishing on 4/21/26!***

This was weird AF and I absolutely loved it.

From the author of “We Used to Live Here,” one of my favorite books of the last few years. I couldn’t wait to request an early review copy of this when I heard about it. I strongly suggest going into it knowing as little as possible. (I won’t spoil anything.)

The book had one of the most interesting opening chapters I’ve read in a long time, and it only got crazier from there. I never knew what was waiting around the next corner, and Kliewer built up the atmosphere so well that I really felt like I was there in that house and in those woods.

Macy is the perfect protagonist for this situation. I read other reviews that complained about her inability to follow the instructions, but I feel differently. She does put in the effort. Her problem is that she goes into it with anxiety, emotional baggage, and a healthy doubt in what is actually going on. She’s a very believable person, especially given her age, personality quirks and everything she’s already been through. Plus, after seeing what some of those instructions consist of, I’m side-eyeing the more critical reviewers a little bit.

This is one of those horror books that’s also a big metaphor. But it’s handled well. And the creativity and interesting narrative had me hooked. Sometimes the “rules” that Macy had to deal with reminded me of something out of a video game, and I love video games.

While the moral of “We Used to Live Here” was: “Never let a stranger into your house,” this one is: “Never agree to house sit for someone you don’t know.”

Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year! (Read near the end of 2025, but I held off on posting the review per the Publisher's request.) I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. Even the ending was satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

Biggest TW: Suicide/Suicidal Ideation, Animal death, Depression/Anxiety, Self-harm

[Aisvarya [back ig] · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOLLOW THE RITES......

Wowww, I had high hopes for this one and it delivered!!!!
⚠️Do look up trigger warnings before reading this book.

What to expect -
🐇Isolated setting
🐇Caretaker FMC who has no idea what's waiting for her
🐇Paranormal and supernatural activities
🐇FROM series vibes
🐇Sibling relationships
🐇Grief and its impact
🐇Mental health rep

Macy Mullins takes on the job of being a caretaker of a house as she's desperate for money, and the only thing she's advised to do by the owner is to "Follow the Rites" for the next three days. What could go wrong, right?! Guess you have to read and find out🙂

This was genuinely creepy, not in the fast-paced, jump-scare kind of way, but more like the slow, uneasy feeling that makes you question your surroundings and brings your worst nightmares to life kinda way, and I loved that!!

The first half focuses more on exposition - you're made aware of how the house demands a caretaker, and you're introduced to our main character and how she lands the job. Even though this part takes up quite a bit of space, it's important because it eases you into the story so the second half hits harder. And the second half is where everything goes completely unhinged. There's so much creepy imagery, unsettling events, and full-on mindfuck moments that make you question your sanity🥶 And I don't want to spoil anything, but you're never going to look at rabbits the same way again🤭 Also, if you lovee the series FROM, you're going to eat this up!!!! (I absolutely did😍)

Our FMC was definitely a vibe and you'll either hate her or relate to her, and surprisingly, I'm the latter. She lost someone close to her a few years ago, and since then she's had to become the breadwinner of the family, carrying a lot on her shoulders. But it's not the responsibility of looking after her sister or providing for her family that's suffocating her but the loss!! The grief lingers in her dreams and her waking moments, and she keeps replaying everything she could've said or done differently. That constant weight, along with the depression that follows, pulls at her from all sides. She can't quiet her mind, and when she's alone, it only gets worse. She feels like she's not doing enough, or doing everything wrong...and no matter what she does, it never feels like enough. And the house feeds on that vulnerability.

In a way, I felt like the whole book was a metaphor for depression, grief, and the insomnia that comes with it. Idk if that was the author's intention, but it felt like the story was trying to say that the scariest thing isn't the supernatural but it's your own mind when you're left alone with it!!! I think every overthinker can relate to this - "it's always you and your own mind against the darkness." Cuz it's in those quiet moments, especially at night, the intrusive thoughts come knocking, and once you follow them, you spiral. You lose sleep, you lose peace, and you wake up feeling even worse. And Macy's experience with the house felt like a reflection of that, being trapped in your own thoughts and unable to escape. And I really related to that, so give me all the broken, desperate, depressed FMCs🙂↕️ And that ending?! I liked how it tied things up and also left us with some more questions.

Overall, if you're looking for a short read that's going to mess with your mind and make you think twice before reading at night, you have to pick this up.
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✨Pre-read:
Absolutely loved this author's debut, so going into this with high expectations😍🎧✨

[Ghoul Von Horror · Rating 1 out of 5]

TW/CW: death of parent, classism, grieving, anxiety, smoking, mourning, death by suicide (attempt), trauma, blood, gory scenes, violence, language, animal death (attempt)

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she's not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.Besides, it’s only three days’ work…Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.Follow the Rites...Follow the Rites...Follow the Rites...
Release Date: April 21st, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Book reads fast
2. Absolutely creepy things happening

What I Didn't Like:
1. Writing is choppy
2. So many dreams
3. Repetitive
4. Ending sucked
5. Trama focused too hard

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

Well I don't know about Macy but she goes to an interview in the middle of nowhere from a Craigslist ad that's so vague it's one line. Then the lady lies to her about the job is and the husband is dead. Now the lady is saying it's a weekend of cleaning the house that is very precise to what her dead husband wanted. The kicker is that the lady says it pays $6,000 with a $3,000 bonus. Macy get out. Ever heard the saying if it's too good to be true than it probably is? I get Macy is desperate but she can't be this stupid? All of this is suspicious.

Get out of here that they own a vcr. They gave so little belongings and are living in a tiny studio but they hold onto a vcr and 200 vhs'. Do you know how much room those would take? I'm sorry but who owns a vcr? Okay granted I own two but they were mine and I still have my tapes. These young girls holding onto one for no reason seems out of place. As soon as the vhs was mentioned I knew they would have a vcr.

Thank God, Macy's sister has some smarts. She tries to convince her sister how dumb this job is to take and how weird it is. Macy decides she has to take it because she was already paid and there's still another $6,000 left to be paid (supposedly). I get where Macy is coming from - her choices are so limited and she has to take what she can take, but you still have to the brains to think logically.

So far this book is reminding me of Something I Keep Upstairs from J.D. Barker with the directions of what to do at the house to keep things away.

It's so weird that Macy would think that her asking Grace about if anyone calls on the phone that Grace would think she's being indicative saying that she has no family that would call her when she's on her way to her granddaughter's birthday. Why would she think that in that way?

Well that's weird a photo falls of what looks like a family photo of a woman with blue eyes for Grace has light brown eyes so very odd. Are we going to find out Grace really isn't the wife of David?

Is Lucy even real? She's on the bus but disappears (yeah Macy had fallen asleep so she could have gotten off). She mentions death twice to Macy; one about all the people who have jumped from the cliff ending their lives and two about how her friend and her would go knocking on doors but everyone got guns so they quit. Plus her hair is wet but it wasn't raining and Macy's hair isn't wet. If her hair is wet and she's scared of the edge of the cliff was she pushed into the water?

The scene with the jerk snapping into her ear because he wanted cream in his cup when Macy already explained it was by the door was so real feeling. I've worked customer service and what Macy did wound be so amazing to watch or do.

No thank you to a random truck parked out in the woods and her sewing it in the dark drive off. That would be my last night in that house.

Oh she finds a knife with C.C. carved into it. I suppose it's Caleb's knife.

So many dreams in this book. I hate dreams in books. Very rarely does it actually do anything for the plot and it's just filler.

This entity is a jerk. She's so close to catching the rabbit and then the phone rings to tell her to not let the rabbit go. What was the point of that? You don't want the rabbit to get out but you interrupt her minutes from being able to get the rabbit.

This whole insurance thing for her father is so weird to me. Usually you use your insurance money to cover the funeral but maybe they didn't have a funeral since his body wasn't found they didn't have to bury anyone or worry about a body. In any case now the insurance company is claiming after 3 years that her father chose to drive into the river and end his life. Isn't there a video that shows him sliding on the road into the river so if you're sliding it would mean you're attempting to not go that direction and gain control.

God, Macy is the worst housesitter! How has she messed up this badly on day one? I wish the author would spread it out a little but so we could adjusted to our settings as a reader to learn the dangers more personally. Having everything thrown at us just feels exhausting and overwhelming.

I just knew they'd want you to kill the rabbit. I can't blame Macy for not wanting to do that it would be horrific. She let's the rabbit out and then 3 knocks from Lucy. Luckily she has enough smarts to hide from Lucy because I'm still suspicious of Lucy. I don't think she's one of the visitors since she has green eyes not ice blue, but I'm still thinking she's dead. Why else would this cleaning person by in the woods all the time? What cleaning person has the time to hang out in the woods and go visit people? I know she said she's comes out a few times a week to hike but she saw someone jump last night and there are no police? Plus she went home and came back to talk to Macy?

After Macy leaves in an Uber she decides to come back because she's having this weird feeling that something bad is going to happen if she doesn't. Honestly I wonder how she's going to fix everything she's already messed up. She let the rabbit out and she didn't answer the phone.

So they did have a funeral for her dad but how did they pay for it without the insurance money? I doubt Macy had the money to cover it.

Oh my God the man on the phone said she has to follow Lucy Footprints Into the Woods at dark in night all by herself. And I'm over here saying no way because I would be so scared. Oh and then if the person starts breaking down and getting all crazy she has to run back to the house and make sure all the doors are locked so that none of them get in. We also get a tidbit the guy calling losing a world where the person failed and he's dealing with the aftermath of it. So the people calling on the phone must exist in a different Realm maybe were things didn't go as planned. I wonder why they have to help other people or how they know that other people are failing in their worlds.

How does Macy know the property line is 30 feet away? She's in the middle of the woods and this is the 2nd time she has been out of the house and in the woods.

Have you ever ran at night in the woods? Even when the moon the trees still block the light. It's just too hard to do without falling.

So even her failing at not letting them in the house isn't the end of it. There are more ways to fix everything. Sigh. So you just get more and more chances to fix things. Every note and phone made it seem like the end of the world if you didn't do it this way but then she keeps getting more chances. It gives you more chances than your parents do. Than your jobs allow.

At a certain point it starts to feel repetitive - turning the lights off and now they have to be on. We just follow Macy around while she checks each floor over and over. It gets as boring as it sounds.

I don't get how so many boots went into the house and Macy passes out but only Lucy comes in. What a build up all for nothing. I imagined she'd have the house full and would have to deal with being quiet while moving around them. Lucy shuts herself in a room so that seems convenient and easy.

Okay so it's still dark in the house and she is able run down the hall, avoid the glass, get a switchblade off the table, and see Brownie in the dark? I get there's moonlight but not through every window is it shining.

Here we are again... Moving the goal posts and nothing bad happens when she doesn't keep the lights on and picture frames up. I mean I get now she's being chased by a monster but that's it? She's failed every thing she was supposed to do and it's just now actually chasing her?

So that's it???? She only had to kill a monster and that's it! That's what saved humanity???

God, there is the reminder that a woman doesn't eat! Every book I swear loves to tell us that women don't eat because they are just so stressed. You know how many books I've read where men are mentioned not eating? So few so few.

The phone rings and tells her she has to mow the lawn. I get this house is tied to mourning and people who have lost someone come here but what a stupid thing to have to do.

Ahhhhhh get out of here!!! Macy sees a white rabbit and goes to burn it in the fireplace but does she get the cage out like instructed to do while she gets the fire ready? No. She holds the rabbit and it gets loose in the basement. Her timer goes off and now 3 knocks. How can humanity rely on her?? It's all so annoying and repetitive. I'm honestly tired of reading about Macy messing up. While dealing with this problem she also answers the phone to talk to her sister. Why??

House tricks her into thinking that her sister was killed by her but I'm not really sure why she believes this since she calls her sisters number and it rings from the white room - a room Jemma wasn't in. So Macy gives up (did she even really try?) decides to not follow the ritual. She let's the white rabbit out and Jemma calls saying she and the police are their way but the sun has turned red now. I mean don't worry her next phone call is probably something ridiculous like sit in a room and clap 35 times while thinking of a movie she saw when she was 5 & 3/4 years old.

Final Thoughts:

Did I find it odd that the author was writing a second book centered around another house doing weird things; yes, I did.

This book reminds me of The Cabin at the End of the World meets Cabin in the Woods.

There are definitely some scary scenes in this book but overall the book has very little substance to it. So much time is spent doing/saying the same stuff over and over that it comes off boring by the climax.

That ending... Wow was terrible.

What's with all the trama dumping this book did? It was exhausting. It's on every page that I honestly stopped caring about her father. A little less might have meant caring more about her loss of her father but when it's beaten over your head countless times it gets redundant. There are 123 uses of the word dad which is insanely too much.

For me reading this book is broken down into;
10% wth?
30% this is scary and I can't stop reading.
60% why is she messing up so much - get it together Macy!
80% I'm bored and how many chances does she get to make it right?
100% well that took a turn for the worse.

This book went from 5 stars to 1 star for me. I only really enjoyed the first 200 pages but the last 100 plus took a nose dive the book just couldn't come back from.

There was something I didn't understand. Like how this Lucy person's description was on the bus on her way with Macy to the interview but was gone when she woke up. Was this person just from Macy's memory? Can these visitors only take from your memory? How did Lucy first have green eyes and then white blue?

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Marialyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well I got to 70% and I just don't have it in me for another 30%. A boring lot, followed by inane circumstances, and a no resolution to the issues is a prescription for a two star book.

I know the author was going for scare, but unlike his book We Live Here Now, there was little, scare with a whiny main character, who couldn't seem to work her way out of a paper bag.

There was no scare but lots of naval gazing as the future of the world depended on the whiny highly inefficient Macy is in charge of our destiny.

Color me hugely disappointed.

[Tina | TBR, etc. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibes were everything!! Even better on audio.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌲🕯️ The Caretaker 🕯️🌲

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year!

🤯 I’m going to need 5-7 business days to process this book.

I read it in one sitting and nearly had to take a break because it was causing so much dread and anxiety.

6 Star read and one of my favorites of the year.

I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date. Full ARC review to come.


🔍What to Expect
• Isolated house setting
• Suspicious job posting
• Supernatural horror
• Unraveling mystery
• Ominous rituals
• Psychological tension
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

"David, my husband," she continued, "he was a little eccentric, to put it mildly. He had very specific upkeep routines for our property, and on his deathbed, he made me promise to keep them going . . . Right up until his passing, he truly believed his routines were preventing certain . . . " She searched for a word, and settled on: "consequences."

Hmm. That sounds somewhat . . . ominous, but Macy is cash-strapped enough to take the job. After all, how hard can it be to follow some dead kook's list of rules for "suppressing" (Gulp!) an entity?

Oh, it's harder than you might think, I guess, as it isn't long at all until Macy is opening one of the envelopes containing emergency instructions:

If you are reading this, it means you have failed the first Rite.

For such a creepy book, this was a lot of fun. I don't get to say that too often, so congrats on another winning scary book, Mr. Kliewer.

[Steph ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck hell Marcus! What the heckity was that?! I stared at a wall for 30 minutes after reading this.

This was so phenomenally atmospheric, creepy, terrifying, isolating, claustrophobic, all of the things you want out of a horror, thats what this was. It was also open ended, maybe more questions than answers at the end, but the kind of book that'll linger. Like, I just know in a few weeks time, I'm gonna be thinking about Macy. I'm gonna be thinking about the house and wondering whats going on. This book will be one I'll think about for a while, just like We Used to Live Here. This was brilliant.