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Something Bad Happened Here
Lost and unmoored after her mother’s death, Carmen drifts from place to place. Moving from one Airbnb to the next, she is a ghost in the towns she passes through—an outsider, never quite belonging.
With her inheritance dwindling away, and determined to stop drifting, Carmen decides it’s time to settle. Time to buy a little house, close the door, and try to rebuild her life.
When she finds a surprisingly cheap property on a nice street, Carmen thinks she’s struck gold, until the estate agent hesitates. The house has a history, she warns. Something unspeakable happened there. A murder so brutal she can barely bring herself to describe it.
But Carmen isn’t easily spooked. The house wasn’t to blame. And a bargain is a bargain. Ghosts aren’t real. Hauntings are just superstition.
Yet, as Carmen turns her key in the lock, a thought haunts her:
What if she’s wrong?
What if walls really do remember?
Something Bad Happened Here is a chilling haunted house story which deals with themes of ghosts and possession. It will appeal to fans of Come Closer by Sara Gran and A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay.
With her inheritance dwindling away, and determined to stop drifting, Carmen decides it’s time to settle. Time to buy a little house, close the door, and try to rebuild her life.
When she finds a surprisingly cheap property on a nice street, Carmen thinks she’s struck gold, until the estate agent hesitates. The house has a history, she warns. Something unspeakable happened there. A murder so brutal she can barely bring herself to describe it.
But Carmen isn’t easily spooked. The house wasn’t to blame. And a bargain is a bargain. Ghosts aren’t real. Hauntings are just superstition.
Yet, as Carmen turns her key in the lock, a thought haunts her:
What if she’s wrong?
What if walls really do remember?
Something Bad Happened Here is a chilling haunted house story which deals with themes of ghosts and possession. It will appeal to fans of Come Closer by Sara Gran and A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay.
ebook
Published October 25, 2025
24 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Zoe Rosi
5 books108 followersI am a thriller and horror author from Oxford, UK.
I write dark but entertaining books about the kind of people you probably wouldn't want to meet.
To watch some videos about my books, visit my Instagram page @zoerosiauthor or visit www.zoerosi.co.uk.
I write dark but entertaining books about the kind of people you probably wouldn't want to meet.
To watch some videos about my books, visit my Instagram page @zoerosiauthor or visit www.zoerosi.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 2, 2025
Nope.
The two stars here is generous. I mean, I finished it but it was a bit of a struggle.
For most of the book, almost nothing happens. As you get to the end, your meek and bleak little haunted house story (sort of) takes a left turn and you've got frantic parking lot sex, boozing it up with a homeless guy and...the thing that happens in the end.
Our MC has zero personality for the whole of the book. The book starts with another POV character who just disappears partway through. Nothing happens to her. She's just...no longer important to the story so she poofs.
So, again...Nope. Just nope.
The two stars here is generous. I mean, I finished it but it was a bit of a struggle.
For most of the book, almost nothing happens. As you get to the end, your meek and bleak little haunted house story (sort of) takes a left turn and you've got frantic parking lot sex, boozing it up with a homeless guy and...the thing that happens in the end.
Our MC has zero personality for the whole of the book. The book starts with another POV character who just disappears partway through. Nothing happens to her. She's just...no longer important to the story so she poofs.
So, again...Nope. Just nope.
October 11, 2025
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for the digital Arc of this on. This is coming out October 25th, 2025 which is a perfect time for it.
Here we are following Carmen who is an Editor and is looking for a change of pace. She happens upon a house for sale that is too good to be true. You know where this is going and therein lies the rub.
The writing was good and I appreciated the quality as there was nary a misspelling or any grammatical mishaps.
Ultimately I landed in a solid 3 stars. I think this is a decent Halloween/Fall pick and would be good for readers of Sarah Pinborough
Here we are following Carmen who is an Editor and is looking for a change of pace. She happens upon a house for sale that is too good to be true. You know where this is going and therein lies the rub.
The writing was good and I appreciated the quality as there was nary a misspelling or any grammatical mishaps.
Ultimately I landed in a solid 3 stars. I think this is a decent Halloween/Fall pick and would be good for readers of Sarah Pinborough
October 30, 2025
Carmen is looking for a fresh start after the passing of her mum.
She contacts an estate agent to book in a viewing. She is made aware of the property's dark history - a brutal murder that took place in the 70's.. but Carmen doesn't want to know the story behind it. She isn't superstitious. A house is a house, and she is happy to bag a bargain and settle down!
Things go downhill from there. Carmen can't explain the strange noises and occurances that keep happening. Has she made a mistake accepting this house?
.
.
.
I devoured this book in one sitting. Zoe Rosi writes book that are so easy to binge!
Something Bad Happened Here has a brutal story behind it. The tension builds throughout and I felt increasingly uncomfortable reading this. Towards the end I was squirming out of my seat!
This is a perfect spooky novella for this time of year. Love a haunted house horror 🙌!
She contacts an estate agent to book in a viewing. She is made aware of the property's dark history - a brutal murder that took place in the 70's.. but Carmen doesn't want to know the story behind it. She isn't superstitious. A house is a house, and she is happy to bag a bargain and settle down!
Things go downhill from there. Carmen can't explain the strange noises and occurances that keep happening. Has she made a mistake accepting this house?
.
.
.
I devoured this book in one sitting. Zoe Rosi writes book that are so easy to binge!
Something Bad Happened Here has a brutal story behind it. The tension builds throughout and I felt increasingly uncomfortable reading this. Towards the end I was squirming out of my seat!
This is a perfect spooky novella for this time of year. Love a haunted house horror 🙌!
October 21, 2025
4.25 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story was perfect for the fall season. It was creepy, full of dread, and the fact it was inspired by true events makes it even more terrifying. I enjoyed the character development of our FMC Carmen. She was really having a rough time in her life and tried to make the best out of her situation. I found myself relating to her in several ways, which also added to my terror while reading this.
I do wish this was a bit longer - while the backstory of the house and Carmen were well-developed, I would have liked more to the haunting and those events, since most of the terrifying moments were at the end of the story. However, this is a novella, and the abruptness of the ending and the shocking terror once the events unfolded actually added to the fear I felt for Carmen while reading.
This book kind of made me think of The Amityville Horror, so if you liked that book or movie, definitely check this out!
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story was perfect for the fall season. It was creepy, full of dread, and the fact it was inspired by true events makes it even more terrifying. I enjoyed the character development of our FMC Carmen. She was really having a rough time in her life and tried to make the best out of her situation. I found myself relating to her in several ways, which also added to my terror while reading this.
I do wish this was a bit longer - while the backstory of the house and Carmen were well-developed, I would have liked more to the haunting and those events, since most of the terrifying moments were at the end of the story. However, this is a novella, and the abruptness of the ending and the shocking terror once the events unfolded actually added to the fear I felt for Carmen while reading.
This book kind of made me think of The Amityville Horror, so if you liked that book or movie, definitely check this out!
October 3, 2025
A good creepy cover, a wicked title & the intrigue & allure of possession during spooky season…? Uhmm. Yes please! I’m helpless to resist.
Unfortunately….. this novella read like it was an afterthought. Surface level, excessive fluff & an MC whose inner thoughts were audible-sigh & eye-roll inducing. All of it needless, senseless & incredibly annoying.
Dubbing this as horror was a downward dog kinda stretch. It was like the author was trying to get in enough words for this to qualify as a novella. “Fledgling” is a word that comes to mind. 🤷🏻♀️
Sorry.
Thanks to NG and the pub for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub: 10.25.2025.
Unfortunately….. this novella read like it was an afterthought. Surface level, excessive fluff & an MC whose inner thoughts were audible-sigh & eye-roll inducing. All of it needless, senseless & incredibly annoying.
Dubbing this as horror was a downward dog kinda stretch. It was like the author was trying to get in enough words for this to qualify as a novella. “Fledgling” is a word that comes to mind. 🤷🏻♀️
Sorry.
Thanks to NG and the pub for this arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub: 10.25.2025.
October 8, 2025
Short chapters made this book move fast. Imagine finding a house for sale that you have an interest in buying only to find out something bad had happened years earlier. It sure didn’t bother Carmen. She loved her new house. Some paranormal things start happening to make this story “spooky”. This was a DNF book for me. It got too weird at 85% for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published October 25, 2025.
January 18, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads. I enjoyed this book, even though it is profoundly sad at times. This is a story about grief and mental health disguised as a haunted house story. I feel so heartbroken for the main character Carmen, who just wants to find some peace and quiet after caring for her mom through the end of her life. I also like that the author left the ending purposely ambiguous, allowing the reader to determine for ourselves what happened in the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
bone chilling
Loving all the thrills I get from reading Zoe’s books they are fast paced and leave you uneasy. I love it I am torn between needing to know and glad I don’t
Loving all the thrills I get from reading Zoe’s books they are fast paced and leave you uneasy. I love it I am torn between needing to know and glad I don’t
December 20, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me an ARC.
October 13, 2025
Something Bad Has Happened Here by Zoe Rosi
3.55 rounded up to 4🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Oct. 25, 2025
Lighthouse Books
A house with a dubious history located 30 minutes outside of Oxford….
💡 Orbs Prologue: Blink, blink, blink… My small red light alerts others that I am on and functioning. A silent period has resided over this residence, my home, since the previous owners decided to move away, leaving a certain musty odor in their place. That is the pattern in this house. People come and go, unable to deal with what lives beneath the surface. Carmen is the latest in a long list of people who saw potential in this well-cared-for home, giddy with an exuberance to settle down here. Upon Carmen’s first couple of days, she is unable to sleep. I, on the other hand, have been terribly busy. At 3 am, or rather the witching hour, I wake up. Blaring through my speakers, my voice is alarming. A shrill escapes my body, but why? I smell no smoke and feel no heat. In the background, doors begin flapping like a bird trying to maintain flight in the midst of a storm. Welcome to your new home, Carmen. I hope you enjoy your new life!
🔩 Nuts & Bolts Is Carmen experiencing a midlife crisis? Not exactly, but she is wracked by the pain of losing her mother. Unable to shake this depression, Carmen is determined to navigate life and start anew. With a sizable inheritance, Carmen decides she needs to purchase a home, hoping it might bring more sunshine to her rather rainy existence. Upon contacting the realtor about a potential home, she is informed it has a murderous history, but this is no issue for Carmen, as she views the home as a good investment for the price. At first, the home simply thrusts confusion like a dagger into the situation. The sound of children crying inexplicably douses those within with fear. Where is it coming from? Outside, most likely, considering the background of this property. Readers are sucked into a vortex of devilish happenings and bear witness to Carmen as she slowly attempts to manage that which can not be managed. Can she survive the invisible onslaught?
👍 Orbs Pros: Easy, fun, and quick! Author Zoe Rosi takes our minds on a journey through the past and an act of sheer abhorrence. This revulsion bleeds suspiciously into Carmen’s current predicament, the home full of promise yet marred with a demented spirit hell-bent on chaos.
👎 Orbs Cons: A worn-out trope. Loosely written, without a certain amount of precise complexity. Reads like a B-horror movie.
Loosely Recommended! I like B-horror movies. I like their roughness and lack of attention to detail, almost focusing on the ridiculousness. We simply have a short novella where the main character, Carmen, isn’t overly likable. As such, I felt no deep emotions for what she was going through; for heaven's sake, if you can blatantly ignore all the warning signs put in front of your face and purchase the property anyway, you deserve what you get. I am sorry for the loss of your mother, Carmen; however, I am entirely unsympathetic to your blatant disregard for the crazy happenings and utter abandonment by the previous tenants of this tarnished abode. That said, I “still” enjoyed this novel. I think for those that don’t demand much in the way of an intricate story, this is perfect for the spooky season; think of it like a Scooby Snack for Halloween.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Shrill, shrill… Carmen pokes me with the end of her broomstick handle, coaxing me to be quiet. As I comply, the silence embarks. Soon asleep, I notice out of my periphery, Carmen slinking downstairs. Her gorgeous blue eyes have somehow changed to a darkened, lifeless brown. She looks terrible, as if something is tearing the very fabric of her reality. Another night, another round of blaring trebles out of me. I am being driven mad by my own set of issues. There is no fire, so why am I falsely alerting Carmen? An invisible maestro is conducting my sounds, something with the power to overtake those within these walls. Take my batteries; my sanity is breaking. I must drive Carmen away, for then the peace will return. Those unseen forces are protecting their legacy, and I am simply caught in the middle. Pray for me, dear reader; pray for the innocence of an overactive smoke alarm.
Many thanks to Lighthouse Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.55 rounded up to 4🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Oct. 25, 2025
Lighthouse Books
A house with a dubious history located 30 minutes outside of Oxford….
💡 Orbs Prologue: Blink, blink, blink… My small red light alerts others that I am on and functioning. A silent period has resided over this residence, my home, since the previous owners decided to move away, leaving a certain musty odor in their place. That is the pattern in this house. People come and go, unable to deal with what lives beneath the surface. Carmen is the latest in a long list of people who saw potential in this well-cared-for home, giddy with an exuberance to settle down here. Upon Carmen’s first couple of days, she is unable to sleep. I, on the other hand, have been terribly busy. At 3 am, or rather the witching hour, I wake up. Blaring through my speakers, my voice is alarming. A shrill escapes my body, but why? I smell no smoke and feel no heat. In the background, doors begin flapping like a bird trying to maintain flight in the midst of a storm. Welcome to your new home, Carmen. I hope you enjoy your new life!
🔩 Nuts & Bolts Is Carmen experiencing a midlife crisis? Not exactly, but she is wracked by the pain of losing her mother. Unable to shake this depression, Carmen is determined to navigate life and start anew. With a sizable inheritance, Carmen decides she needs to purchase a home, hoping it might bring more sunshine to her rather rainy existence. Upon contacting the realtor about a potential home, she is informed it has a murderous history, but this is no issue for Carmen, as she views the home as a good investment for the price. At first, the home simply thrusts confusion like a dagger into the situation. The sound of children crying inexplicably douses those within with fear. Where is it coming from? Outside, most likely, considering the background of this property. Readers are sucked into a vortex of devilish happenings and bear witness to Carmen as she slowly attempts to manage that which can not be managed. Can she survive the invisible onslaught?
👍 Orbs Pros: Easy, fun, and quick! Author Zoe Rosi takes our minds on a journey through the past and an act of sheer abhorrence. This revulsion bleeds suspiciously into Carmen’s current predicament, the home full of promise yet marred with a demented spirit hell-bent on chaos.
👎 Orbs Cons: A worn-out trope. Loosely written, without a certain amount of precise complexity. Reads like a B-horror movie.
Loosely Recommended! I like B-horror movies. I like their roughness and lack of attention to detail, almost focusing on the ridiculousness. We simply have a short novella where the main character, Carmen, isn’t overly likable. As such, I felt no deep emotions for what she was going through; for heaven's sake, if you can blatantly ignore all the warning signs put in front of your face and purchase the property anyway, you deserve what you get. I am sorry for the loss of your mother, Carmen; however, I am entirely unsympathetic to your blatant disregard for the crazy happenings and utter abandonment by the previous tenants of this tarnished abode. That said, I “still” enjoyed this novel. I think for those that don’t demand much in the way of an intricate story, this is perfect for the spooky season; think of it like a Scooby Snack for Halloween.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Shrill, shrill… Carmen pokes me with the end of her broomstick handle, coaxing me to be quiet. As I comply, the silence embarks. Soon asleep, I notice out of my periphery, Carmen slinking downstairs. Her gorgeous blue eyes have somehow changed to a darkened, lifeless brown. She looks terrible, as if something is tearing the very fabric of her reality. Another night, another round of blaring trebles out of me. I am being driven mad by my own set of issues. There is no fire, so why am I falsely alerting Carmen? An invisible maestro is conducting my sounds, something with the power to overtake those within these walls. Take my batteries; my sanity is breaking. I must drive Carmen away, for then the peace will return. Those unseen forces are protecting their legacy, and I am simply caught in the middle. Pray for me, dear reader; pray for the innocence of an overactive smoke alarm.
Many thanks to Lighthouse Books for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2025
📚Something Bad Happened Here
✍🏻Zoe Rosi
Blurb:
Lost and unmoored after her mother’s death, Carmen drifts from place to place. Moving from one Airbnb to the next, she is a ghost in the towns she passes through—an outsider, never quite belonging.
With her inheritance dwindling away, and determined to stop drifting, Carmen decides it’s time to settle. Time to buy a little house, close the door, and try to rebuild her life.
When she finds a surprisingly cheap property on a nice street, Carmen thinks she’s struck gold, until the estate agent hesitates. The house has a history, she warns. Something unspeakable happened there. A murder so brutal she can barely bring herself to describe it.
But Carmen isn’t easily spooked. The house wasn’t to blame. And a bargain is a bargain. Ghosts aren’t real. Hauntings are just superstition.
Yet, as Carmen turns her key in the lock, a thought haunts her:
What if she’s wrong?
What if walls really do remember?
Something Bad Happened Here is a chilling haunted house story which deals with themes of ghosts and possession. It will appeal to fans of Come Closer by Sara Gran and A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay.
My Thoughts:
Something Bad Happened Here is a great engaging novella of terror, traditional haunting and possession. Our MFC, Carmen is consuming by grief after losing her Mother and wants a new start. Finding a house thats a bargain and having it disclosed that it was a Murder House, Carmen moves in, after all, she doesn't believe in ghosts. found the pacing of the book constant and fairly quick paced. The atmosphere and tone of the book becomes dank and dark the further you move through the book to the point it becomes oppressive, which I liked. The ending did feel a little rushed but really enjoyed the ambiguity and the openness. I really bonded with Carmen, having lost someone close to me, she felt very relatable,
Thanks NetGalley, Lighthouse Books and Author Zoe Rosi for the advanced copy of "Something Bad Happened Here" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#LighthouseBooks
#ZoeRosi
#SomethingBadHappenedHere
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Zoe Rosi
Blurb:
Lost and unmoored after her mother’s death, Carmen drifts from place to place. Moving from one Airbnb to the next, she is a ghost in the towns she passes through—an outsider, never quite belonging.
With her inheritance dwindling away, and determined to stop drifting, Carmen decides it’s time to settle. Time to buy a little house, close the door, and try to rebuild her life.
When she finds a surprisingly cheap property on a nice street, Carmen thinks she’s struck gold, until the estate agent hesitates. The house has a history, she warns. Something unspeakable happened there. A murder so brutal she can barely bring herself to describe it.
But Carmen isn’t easily spooked. The house wasn’t to blame. And a bargain is a bargain. Ghosts aren’t real. Hauntings are just superstition.
Yet, as Carmen turns her key in the lock, a thought haunts her:
What if she’s wrong?
What if walls really do remember?
Something Bad Happened Here is a chilling haunted house story which deals with themes of ghosts and possession. It will appeal to fans of Come Closer by Sara Gran and A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay.
My Thoughts:
Something Bad Happened Here is a great engaging novella of terror, traditional haunting and possession. Our MFC, Carmen is consuming by grief after losing her Mother and wants a new start. Finding a house thats a bargain and having it disclosed that it was a Murder House, Carmen moves in, after all, she doesn't believe in ghosts. found the pacing of the book constant and fairly quick paced. The atmosphere and tone of the book becomes dank and dark the further you move through the book to the point it becomes oppressive, which I liked. The ending did feel a little rushed but really enjoyed the ambiguity and the openness. I really bonded with Carmen, having lost someone close to me, she felt very relatable,
Thanks NetGalley, Lighthouse Books and Author Zoe Rosi for the advanced copy of "Something Bad Happened Here" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#LighthouseBooks
#ZoeRosi
#SomethingBadHappenedHere
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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October 4, 2025𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐡𝐞'𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥.
Carmen's mother was the one person who kept her grounded, and after she died, Carmen had nothing to anchor herself to. She went through the motions and moved from one temporary place to another. Afraid of wasting her inheritance, she goes house hunting and decides on a nice house situated on a quiet street. The price is shockingly low, and the realtor confesses the house has a dark history. Carmen isn't swayed by any talk of the supernatural...that is, until she begins to live in the house.
She experiences the requisite cold spots, slamming doors, and scratching noises. It's not until a friend stays over and leaves in a hurry the following morning that Carmen realizes she's not just imagining the other things, especially the sounds of children crying. Something terrible happened in her house, and it appears that the house remembers.
I really think this concept would work fantastically as a novel length work. A novella simply wasn't long enough to delve into the complexity of what happened in the house and the adjoining property, and the ending was so frustrating because I needed and wanted more. Many thanks to the author for the early review copy. Look for this one October 25, 2025.
Carmen's mother was the one person who kept her grounded, and after she died, Carmen had nothing to anchor herself to. She went through the motions and moved from one temporary place to another. Afraid of wasting her inheritance, she goes house hunting and decides on a nice house situated on a quiet street. The price is shockingly low, and the realtor confesses the house has a dark history. Carmen isn't swayed by any talk of the supernatural...that is, until she begins to live in the house.
She experiences the requisite cold spots, slamming doors, and scratching noises. It's not until a friend stays over and leaves in a hurry the following morning that Carmen realizes she's not just imagining the other things, especially the sounds of children crying. Something terrible happened in her house, and it appears that the house remembers.
I really think this concept would work fantastically as a novel length work. A novella simply wasn't long enough to delve into the complexity of what happened in the house and the adjoining property, and the ending was so frustrating because I needed and wanted more. Many thanks to the author for the early review copy. Look for this one October 25, 2025.
November 21, 2025
Man, I did not want this to end where it ended. But I'll get to that.
This novella focused on Carmen, who is dealing with the grief of just having lost her mother. Carmen gets an inheritance from her mum, which allows her to purchase a house! Hurray!... Except, the house came cheap because of some sordid past it has that Carmen doesn't want to know about, lest it dampen her joy of buying her first home.
Probably not the best idea, because the house has some quirks, to say the least.
It took me a while to get through this - At least, the first half of it. It took some time before truly creepy stuff started happening. But once it did in the latter half of the story, I couldn't put it down and tore through it pretty quickly.
I liked how Carmen was written. Not so much because I liked her as a character, but because those feelings of loss and low self esteem felt very human. This was reflected in her constant comparison of herself with others - Her mom, her friend Nicole, etc. And it made her very vulnerable to the dark energies that made themselves apparent in her house.
I wasn't expecting the story to end where it did. It was very abrupt, and while I appreciate the invitation to imagine the possibilities of how the whole saga ended/continued, I have to say that the stopping point was pretty jarring.
Overall, though, a fun read with short chapters. Many thanks to Lighthouse Books and Netgalley for the ARC! I will be looking for more from author Zoe Rosi.
This novella focused on Carmen, who is dealing with the grief of just having lost her mother. Carmen gets an inheritance from her mum, which allows her to purchase a house! Hurray!... Except, the house came cheap because of some sordid past it has that Carmen doesn't want to know about, lest it dampen her joy of buying her first home.
Probably not the best idea, because the house has some quirks, to say the least.
It took me a while to get through this - At least, the first half of it. It took some time before truly creepy stuff started happening. But once it did in the latter half of the story, I couldn't put it down and tore through it pretty quickly.
I liked how Carmen was written. Not so much because I liked her as a character, but because those feelings of loss and low self esteem felt very human. This was reflected in her constant comparison of herself with others - Her mom, her friend Nicole, etc. And it made her very vulnerable to the dark energies that made themselves apparent in her house.
I wasn't expecting the story to end where it did. It was very abrupt, and while I appreciate the invitation to imagine the possibilities of how the whole saga ended/continued, I have to say that the stopping point was pretty jarring.
Overall, though, a fun read with short chapters. Many thanks to Lighthouse Books and Netgalley for the ARC! I will be looking for more from author Zoe Rosi.
October 11, 2025
I was really excited to dive into this - I love a creepy haunted house story, but this was a big let down.
A big issue for me was the pacing, everything moved way too quick, there wasn’t enough time to build the tension and suspense present in so many great works of horror. I wanted more of an explanation- what happened to McGregor? It seems like something possessed him, but then Carmen basically turns into him, so was he really possessed or was the darkness in him all along?
Some of the dialogue felt unrealistic- Carmen’s eyes turn from blue to brown and Anna’s just like ‘ha ha, no big deal!’ I’m sorry, if that happened to me I would’ve been way more freaked out.
The parts that really got to me were, one, when the word count on the computer changed to 666 - really? That was so cheesy and cliche. Second, Anna’s really ok with pretty much a total stranger baby-sitting her grandchildren? I couldn’t imagine any reasonable person allowing that.
And the ending? It was so abrupt I had to check and make sure I hadn’t missed something.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A big issue for me was the pacing, everything moved way too quick, there wasn’t enough time to build the tension and suspense present in so many great works of horror. I wanted more of an explanation- what happened to McGregor? It seems like something possessed him, but then Carmen basically turns into him, so was he really possessed or was the darkness in him all along?
Some of the dialogue felt unrealistic- Carmen’s eyes turn from blue to brown and Anna’s just like ‘ha ha, no big deal!’ I’m sorry, if that happened to me I would’ve been way more freaked out.
The parts that really got to me were, one, when the word count on the computer changed to 666 - really? That was so cheesy and cliche. Second, Anna’s really ok with pretty much a total stranger baby-sitting her grandchildren? I couldn’t imagine any reasonable person allowing that.
And the ending? It was so abrupt I had to check and make sure I hadn’t missed something.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 9, 2025
Carmen finds the perfect house at a great price near the village of Oxford. She does not research the property for its alleged haunting. She doesn’t believe in that stuff. The house will change that opinion, and perhaps Carmen will change too….and not for the better.
I really enjoyed this book once Carmen finds the house and moves in. There is a lot written about Carmen’s grief, her career prior to the house coming into play. I would.have liked a little bit less of that and would have enjoyed more time with Carmen and the house before the climax comes. That part was very eerie and had an excellent dark, foreboding feel to it. It could have been a bit longer and maybe some more incidents could have happened. I found the grief over her mother’s loss and her career and imposter syndrome repetitive. The end…..(no spoilers here)….oh my. I was at the edge of my seat. I still kind of am. You will understand what I mean when you read the book to the end. Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #SomethingBadHappenedHere. I would gladly read more by #ZoeRosi.
I really enjoyed this book once Carmen finds the house and moves in. There is a lot written about Carmen’s grief, her career prior to the house coming into play. I would.have liked a little bit less of that and would have enjoyed more time with Carmen and the house before the climax comes. That part was very eerie and had an excellent dark, foreboding feel to it. It could have been a bit longer and maybe some more incidents could have happened. I found the grief over her mother’s loss and her career and imposter syndrome repetitive. The end…..(no spoilers here)….oh my. I was at the edge of my seat. I still kind of am. You will understand what I mean when you read the book to the end. Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to read and review #SomethingBadHappenedHere. I would gladly read more by #ZoeRosi.
October 22, 2025
Carmen is having a rough time. After caring for her now deceased mother for months, she is drained. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally. Sitting in an AirBnB, she decides that a restart is in order. She decides to purchase a home with her inheritance, and to look for one close to where her mother had lived and she had grown up. Carmen finds the perfect place, and it is priced wonderfully due to its history - and said history is not pretty. But practical Carmen doesn't believe in ghosts, haunted houses, demons, or any of the like. A house is just a house. Right?!
But then she starts hearing kids wailing, scratching noises, and doors slamming shut when there's no draft. It seems like she's hearing someone talking to her inside her head. And have her eyes changed color...? Perhaps there is something to this haunted house after all.
Hard to write too much without spoiling, but what a story. I'm still debating how I feel about the ending, but I kind of like the...shall we say optimism. It was certainly a bold choice.
4 stars
But then she starts hearing kids wailing, scratching noises, and doors slamming shut when there's no draft. It seems like she's hearing someone talking to her inside her head. And have her eyes changed color...? Perhaps there is something to this haunted house after all.
Hard to write too much without spoiling, but what a story. I'm still debating how I feel about the ending, but I kind of like the...shall we say optimism. It was certainly a bold choice.
4 stars
October 30, 2025
After reading Courier and Pretty Evil from this author, I was looking forward to something a little different and spooky and for the most part Something Bad Happened Here delivered.
We meet Carmel early on and her need to move house and nearer to Oxford after a recent trauma in her life and she's thrilled to find a suitable house in a nearby village. Even when she discovers its somewhat gruesome past, she's certain that she can cope with it. After all, houses don't have memories, do they?
Whilst it resembles Amityville (and its many copies) it veers off in a very different direction as Carmel actually seems to have an element of common sense initially and it certainly is a lot more restrained and subtle than the novels i mentioned earlier, both of which hit you like a sledgehammer!! I also found the ending interesting, leaving the reader to question a couple of things themselves as to how things unfolded.
A decent twist on the haunted house genre.
We meet Carmel early on and her need to move house and nearer to Oxford after a recent trauma in her life and she's thrilled to find a suitable house in a nearby village. Even when she discovers its somewhat gruesome past, she's certain that she can cope with it. After all, houses don't have memories, do they?
Whilst it resembles Amityville (and its many copies) it veers off in a very different direction as Carmel actually seems to have an element of common sense initially and it certainly is a lot more restrained and subtle than the novels i mentioned earlier, both of which hit you like a sledgehammer!! I also found the ending interesting, leaving the reader to question a couple of things themselves as to how things unfolded.
A decent twist on the haunted house genre.
October 21, 2025
I love me a good possession story, especially one with a cliffhanger-ish bleak ending. And if you can do all that in under 200 pages? Even better. Thank you for not dragging out what’s supposed to be a simple story.
What didn’t work for me was the nonstop inner monologue. It’s repetitive, often about mundane things, and drags down the pacing. I get the grief, but I don’t need every thought explained just to show she can’t make a decision without her mother. Let that dead woman rest and buckle up, woman!
The possession angle also had potential but got lost in all the little side quests. The third act also fizzled; it stayed bleak but not in a satisfying way. Half the time it didn’t even feel like she was possessed, more like she was having a menty b instead.
Still, I’d read the author’s other work, ‘Courier’. Thanks to NetGalley and Lighthouse Books for the e-ARC!
What didn’t work for me was the nonstop inner monologue. It’s repetitive, often about mundane things, and drags down the pacing. I get the grief, but I don’t need every thought explained just to show she can’t make a decision without her mother. Let that dead woman rest and buckle up, woman!
The possession angle also had potential but got lost in all the little side quests. The third act also fizzled; it stayed bleak but not in a satisfying way. Half the time it didn’t even feel like she was possessed, more like she was having a menty b instead.
Still, I’d read the author’s other work, ‘Courier’. Thanks to NetGalley and Lighthouse Books for the e-ARC!
October 21, 2025
With Courier and All Expenses Paid Zoe Rosi is building up a reputation for her novellas, in addition to her excellent full length thrillers.
When Carmen spots a house for sale in a desirable area below market value she is happy to ignore the superstitions relating to the property’s gruesome history.
It builds up nicely, it gets creepy then dark and fierce, and then it ends, leaving the reader wanting more.
It follows the classic structure - ‘Is the house really haunted? How will it affect Carmen? Will she escape the haunted presence?’. It works in a similar way to Ania Ahlborn’s The Bird Eater and if you enjoy that style of dark, no limits, edge-of-madness horror then this is definitely one for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lighthouse Books
When Carmen spots a house for sale in a desirable area below market value she is happy to ignore the superstitions relating to the property’s gruesome history.
It builds up nicely, it gets creepy then dark and fierce, and then it ends, leaving the reader wanting more.
It follows the classic structure - ‘Is the house really haunted? How will it affect Carmen? Will she escape the haunted presence?’. It works in a similar way to Ania Ahlborn’s The Bird Eater and if you enjoy that style of dark, no limits, edge-of-madness horror then this is definitely one for you.
Thanks to Netgalley and Lighthouse Books
October 24, 2025
With its eerie cover, intriguing title and the promise of possession and a haunted house, it made for a perfect spooky season ARC! It’s a short, fast-paced novella that goes from 0 to 100 in no time. I only wish it had dug a little deeper into the story as it felt like it only grazed the surface and there was so much more to explore.
One of the main drawbacks for me was the repetition throughout and the presence of multiple grammar mistakes. The ending also felt unresolved, though I can appreciate that the author intended to leave it open to interpretation for each reader, but I prefer a full closure ending.
Overall, an enjoyable read for spooky season that I devoured in less than 24 hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and Zoe Rosi for the digital ARC!
Publication date- 25th October 2025
One of the main drawbacks for me was the repetition throughout and the presence of multiple grammar mistakes. The ending also felt unresolved, though I can appreciate that the author intended to leave it open to interpretation for each reader, but I prefer a full closure ending.
Overall, an enjoyable read for spooky season that I devoured in less than 24 hours.
Thank you to Netgalley and Zoe Rosi for the digital ARC!
Publication date- 25th October 2025
October 24, 2025
Trigger Warning: Child Death
3.5 Stars
This book started off strong. As I had read the synopsis though I was not expecting the storyline the book took, however once I read the scene it was too late to scrub my mind of the facts and I chose to continue. The story itself was creepy enough. The bar scene took a turn that turned the book into a strange horror novel, but I did like it. The ending left me curious about what was really going on. Was the actions brought on after learning of the history or was there something else really going on. Overall the story held my interest, however I wish the synopsis held a little bit of a warning as to the content as this could definitely change the choice for some people.
* I was provided an EBook Arc by Netgalley.
3.5 Stars
This book started off strong. As I had read the synopsis though I was not expecting the storyline the book took, however once I read the scene it was too late to scrub my mind of the facts and I chose to continue. The story itself was creepy enough. The bar scene took a turn that turned the book into a strange horror novel, but I did like it. The ending left me curious about what was really going on. Was the actions brought on after learning of the history or was there something else really going on. Overall the story held my interest, however I wish the synopsis held a little bit of a warning as to the content as this could definitely change the choice for some people.
* I was provided an EBook Arc by Netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2025
After the death of her mother, Carmen decides to buy a home with a dark history—a place where a murder once took place. Undeterred by its past, she moves in, hoping for a fresh start. However, as she settles in, eerie occurrences begin to unfold, and she starts to witness unsettling visions that blur the line between reality and the supernatural.
I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts. I found this short story to be somewhat lacking in excitement. While the eerie events and scary elements have potential, they didn’t fully engage me. I genuinely wish I had enjoyed it more, but that doesn’t diminish the possibility that others may find it captivating!
I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts. I found this short story to be somewhat lacking in excitement. While the eerie events and scary elements have potential, they didn’t fully engage me. I genuinely wish I had enjoyed it more, but that doesn’t diminish the possibility that others may find it captivating!
October 20, 2025
3,5 ⭐
The book follows Carmen who decides to settle in and buy a cheap house after here mother's death. However the house has it's own history, as there happened a really brutal murder. Carmen is not scared and doesn't believe in ghosts. But she still keeps thinking what if she's wrong?
The novella was fast paced and the story was intriguing. I finished this in one sitting. This book is excellent during the spooky season. I found the story more thrilling than scary, but I think it's just me as I'm so used to horror books and movies. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for fast paced horror books during fall. I will definitely try something else from this author as well!
*Thank You Netgalley, Zoe Rosi and Lighthouse Books for this copy
The book follows Carmen who decides to settle in and buy a cheap house after here mother's death. However the house has it's own history, as there happened a really brutal murder. Carmen is not scared and doesn't believe in ghosts. But she still keeps thinking what if she's wrong?
The novella was fast paced and the story was intriguing. I finished this in one sitting. This book is excellent during the spooky season. I found the story more thrilling than scary, but I think it's just me as I'm so used to horror books and movies. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for fast paced horror books during fall. I will definitely try something else from this author as well!
*Thank You Netgalley, Zoe Rosi and Lighthouse Books for this copy
October 19, 2025
Something Bad Happened Here follows Carmen, a freelance editor grieving the loss of her mother, who decides to buy an old house in Oxford that’s suspiciously cheap and comes with a dark history. From there, things spiral quickly : strange noises, cold spots, and a creeping darkness that starts to take over her life.
It’s a short read, so everything moves fast, but it never feels rushed or incoherent. The pacing works, and the story manages to stay atmospheric and unsettling throughout. I wouldn’t say it’s terrifying, but it’s engaging and eerie enough to keep you turning the pages. A solid, quick horror read that does exactly what it sets out to do.
It’s a short read, so everything moves fast, but it never feels rushed or incoherent. The pacing works, and the story manages to stay atmospheric and unsettling throughout. I wouldn’t say it’s terrifying, but it’s engaging and eerie enough to keep you turning the pages. A solid, quick horror read that does exactly what it sets out to do.
October 4, 2025
if you enjoy creepy stories, this one is for you! Carmen, who lost her mom, has been living in Airbnbs ever since. She finally decides to buy a house in an area she likes and finds one online that's surprisingly cheap. She arranges a viewing with the estate agent, who hates the house and finds it creepy. Despite warnings about its history, Carmen, not believing in ghosts, falls in love with it and makes it her own. But once she moves in, everything changes—sleepless nights, scratching noises, and so much more. It's an addictive read that keeps you hooked until the end!
October 9, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.
I was intrigued by the concept of this book, but it was just not very interesting. It was literally the most cookie cutter ghost story with nothing interesting happening.
The main character was a cardboard cutout with no personality and the POV changes were jumbled and weird, felt like they were only used as a plot device.
There's also zero explanation for any of what happened back in the 70s or why it would be coming back now?
This was just such a forgettable story.
I was intrigued by the concept of this book, but it was just not very interesting. It was literally the most cookie cutter ghost story with nothing interesting happening.
The main character was a cardboard cutout with no personality and the POV changes were jumbled and weird, felt like they were only used as a plot device.
There's also zero explanation for any of what happened back in the 70s or why it would be coming back now?
This was just such a forgettable story.
October 27, 2025
When Carmen buys a haunted house with the money her mother left her, ignoring what the estate agent has to say, she soon begins too regret her decision after trying to ignore the signs.
This was such a good spooky Halloween read. I really got into this one, which is surprising as it was quite creepy, but I didn't want to put it down. It was so easy to get caught up in the story and it didn't go how I expected at all. I don't want to give anything away, especially how it ended but it kept me on the edge of my seat. If you're into horror stories I would definitely recommend this one.
This was such a good spooky Halloween read. I really got into this one, which is surprising as it was quite creepy, but I didn't want to put it down. It was so easy to get caught up in the story and it didn't go how I expected at all. I don't want to give anything away, especially how it ended but it kept me on the edge of my seat. If you're into horror stories I would definitely recommend this one.
October 7, 2025
A new Zoe Rosi book is exactly what I needed! This was a very different vibe to All Expenses Paid and Courier, verging into the paranormal which wouldn’t usually be my scene but this worked so well!! The haunted house theme is perfect for a spooky read, and although it’s a novella there’s a good level of depth to Carmen’s character. Tension builds until you’re held in a vice like grip, needing to know what happens next. The only downfall is I’d have loved more!
October 13, 2025
Easy quick and fast paced, short chapters which is a bonus for me, a creepy Haunted house, would of loved it to have been a little longer in length to really build up the Suspense and tension to make you really hooked on reading it every spare moment. The cover and book title are what drew me in. I enjoyed the pov changes
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