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House Haunters
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26From Bram Stoker Award finalist KC Jones comes House Haunters, a fast-paced thrill ride perfect for fans of How to Sell a Haunted House and Play Nice, in which a skeptical reality TV show producer and a misanthropic ghosthunter must team up to survive a shoot from hell.
Grace Wonderly needs a hit show. Desperately.
If the aspiring director-turned-reality television producer doesn’t find the next big thing, she may have to abandon her dream job.
Her long-time friend might have just the a misanthropic ghost hunter named Frank Pendleton (and his trusty corgi sidekick, Fish Stick). But Frank is no ordinary ghost hunter. He claims that he can’t feel fear, which makes him more sensitive to paranormal phenomena. Skeptical but intrigued, Grace gathers a film crew to shoot a proof-of-concept for her studio.
What should be a straightforward shoot quickly spirals into a nightmare and Grace must confront some hard ghosts are real; and though callous and distant, Frank is their only hope of getting out alive.
Also by KC Jones:
White Line Fever
Black Tide
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Grace Wonderly needs a hit show. Desperately.
If the aspiring director-turned-reality television producer doesn’t find the next big thing, she may have to abandon her dream job.
Her long-time friend might have just the a misanthropic ghost hunter named Frank Pendleton (and his trusty corgi sidekick, Fish Stick). But Frank is no ordinary ghost hunter. He claims that he can’t feel fear, which makes him more sensitive to paranormal phenomena. Skeptical but intrigued, Grace gathers a film crew to shoot a proof-of-concept for her studio.
What should be a straightforward shoot quickly spirals into a nightmare and Grace must confront some hard ghosts are real; and though callous and distant, Frank is their only hope of getting out alive.
Also by KC Jones:
White Line Fever
Black Tide
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
K.C. Jones
5 books182 followersAfter graduating from the University of Nevada—Las Vegas with a degree in film production, KC JONES returned to the Pacific Northwest to focus on a career in screenwriting, before making the leap to novels. When not writing, he likes to cook, explore the local wilderness, and play video and board games. Black Tide is his debut novel.
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June 10, 2026ARC received! Thank you, Tor Nightfire. I love K.C. Jones, so am super stoked for this. It sounds right up my alley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This started a little slow for me, but I sure felt Grace's frustration with her boss who's relying on AI for show ideas instead of Grace's own. But once she meets Frank? Hang on for the ride.
Haunted house stories are my kryptonite. I've read more than a few, but I've never met a character like Frank. He doesn't possess the ability to feel fear. That may not sound like a bad thing, but think about the dangerous situations you might walk into lacking those instincts and a warning voice in your head. Enter Fish Stick, the bestest boy and coolest corgi ever. Frank relies on Fish Stick's spot on judgement to know if something is safe (a paw stomp) or dangerous (bark). Since childhood, Frank's been able to see and communicate with ghosts. Grace believes the combination of that ability and Frank's home inspection business will be the next big thing in reality television. She's a skeptic, but after everything that happens - she's a confirmed believer.
This is a different spin on hauntings that I really like. Frank refers to the entities as "spectrals" because that term covers all manner of remnant energies. Houses, furniture, jewelry, etc. may contain moments and experiences from the people that owned them with varying degrees of strength. It's the stronger energies that can take shape and interact with the environment - which is when folks call Frank.
The first shoot of the reality show is a disaster, and it's clear something doesn't want the crew there. Subsequent attempts at filming grow even more dangerous resulting in injured crew members and others who refuse to come back. But the occurrences aren't confined to the condo where they're filming. Something is following Grace and leaving her threatening messages.
My hands and eyes were glued to my Kindle during the last 40%, and we're talking Gorilla Glue. Unless blood or a body were involved, I wasn't parting with this book. The ending is satisfying, but I think a door was left open for a sequel, and I'm hoping this isn't the last we'll see of Frank and Fish Stick. Highly recommended for fans of ghost hunters and haunted houses, adorable corgis, and adrenaline-inducing scenes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Haunted house stories are my kryptonite. I've read more than a few, but I've never met a character like Frank. He doesn't possess the ability to feel fear. That may not sound like a bad thing, but think about the dangerous situations you might walk into lacking those instincts and a warning voice in your head. Enter Fish Stick, the bestest boy and coolest corgi ever. Frank relies on Fish Stick's spot on judgement to know if something is safe (a paw stomp) or dangerous (bark). Since childhood, Frank's been able to see and communicate with ghosts. Grace believes the combination of that ability and Frank's home inspection business will be the next big thing in reality television. She's a skeptic, but after everything that happens - she's a confirmed believer.
This is a different spin on hauntings that I really like. Frank refers to the entities as "spectrals" because that term covers all manner of remnant energies. Houses, furniture, jewelry, etc. may contain moments and experiences from the people that owned them with varying degrees of strength. It's the stronger energies that can take shape and interact with the environment - which is when folks call Frank.
The first shoot of the reality show is a disaster, and it's clear something doesn't want the crew there. Subsequent attempts at filming grow even more dangerous resulting in injured crew members and others who refuse to come back. But the occurrences aren't confined to the condo where they're filming. Something is following Grace and leaving her threatening messages.
My hands and eyes were glued to my Kindle during the last 40%, and we're talking Gorilla Glue. Unless blood or a body were involved, I wasn't parting with this book. The ending is satisfying, but I think a door was left open for a sequel, and I'm hoping this isn't the last we'll see of Frank and Fish Stick. Highly recommended for fans of ghost hunters and haunted houses, adorable corgis, and adrenaline-inducing scenes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
House Haunters is a charming and somehow wholesome ghost story about a skeptical reality TV show producer and a misanthropic ghosthunter (and home inspector) plus his trusty sidekick, a corgi named Fish Stick.
The thing that I really love about horror is how diverse it is as a genre. Do I sometimes want to read a gore-filled and blood-soaked tale? For sure. But is it also nice to actually like the characters and get a bit of humanity mixed in with my scares? Also yes.
Ever since I picked up KC Jones’ Black Tide years ago, his ability to write authentic characters has really shone through. House Haunters is no different - each character feels like a real person whether it’s your AI-obsessed corporate jerk of a boss or the curmudgeonly introvert. Each feels driven by their histories and reacts accordingly. Can our skeptic stay skeptical in the face of overwhelming evidence of ghosts? Maybe, but the mental gymnastics of someone conquering their cognitive dissonance are well captured here.
KC Jones also definitely knows a corgi or two. As someone who has owned (been owned by?) a corgi for over 13 years, this book has their mannerisms and sass down pat. Fish Stick absolutely steals the show, adding levity to the proceedings.
I really enjoyed this one. It’s got humor, human interest, and hauntings. The spectral happenings are delightfully spooky, even if they’re not going to scare the socks off the more jaded horror readers. It takes a great book to be able to both give you the chills and warm your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC! Opinions here, as always, are my own.
House Haunters is out Oct. 6, just in time for spooky season. Go pre-order this one!
The thing that I really love about horror is how diverse it is as a genre. Do I sometimes want to read a gore-filled and blood-soaked tale? For sure. But is it also nice to actually like the characters and get a bit of humanity mixed in with my scares? Also yes.
Ever since I picked up KC Jones’ Black Tide years ago, his ability to write authentic characters has really shone through. House Haunters is no different - each character feels like a real person whether it’s your AI-obsessed corporate jerk of a boss or the curmudgeonly introvert. Each feels driven by their histories and reacts accordingly. Can our skeptic stay skeptical in the face of overwhelming evidence of ghosts? Maybe, but the mental gymnastics of someone conquering their cognitive dissonance are well captured here.
KC Jones also definitely knows a corgi or two. As someone who has owned (been owned by?) a corgi for over 13 years, this book has their mannerisms and sass down pat. Fish Stick absolutely steals the show, adding levity to the proceedings.
I really enjoyed this one. It’s got humor, human interest, and hauntings. The spectral happenings are delightfully spooky, even if they’re not going to scare the socks off the more jaded horror readers. It takes a great book to be able to both give you the chills and warm your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC! Opinions here, as always, are my own.
House Haunters is out Oct. 6, just in time for spooky season. Go pre-order this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The part I liked best about the book was the Corgi Fish Stick barking to warn of danger and stamping a foot to give the all clear. I also liked the little character details like the homeowner who loves penguins.
Absolutely hated the television producers' reliance on AI to decide what's a good and bad show as well as all the little hints from the Good Idea Fairies to change the show. That's probably a realistic depiction of Hollywood, but that doesn't mean I liked reading about it. To be honest, I've reached a part of my life where a major motivation for reading is getting away from AI-related thoughts. I think we're supposed to dislike that bit though. That's like saying "hey, that villain was dastardly!" I also disliked the idea that everything we do soaks into our environment and creates spectral energy such that "ghosts" are just tiny fragments of people's not-nice thoughts and personalities. It's a take that I thought was unique and different. But I didn't enjoy reading about it. Individual tastes will differ on that, of course.
I do think the ending wrapped up nicely. It's not a cliffhanger and things are resolved in a satisfying way.
Overall though, it was Fish Stick and the little stamping paw that kept me reading. What will Fish Stick do next? The world was overdue for a Corgi version of Lassie rescuing Little Timmy from the well.
The type of person who would like this book the most is the type of person who wants a fresh take on a ghost story.
Absolutely hated the television producers' reliance on AI to decide what's a good and bad show as well as all the little hints from the Good Idea Fairies to change the show. That's probably a realistic depiction of Hollywood, but that doesn't mean I liked reading about it. To be honest, I've reached a part of my life where a major motivation for reading is getting away from AI-related thoughts. I think we're supposed to dislike that bit though. That's like saying "hey, that villain was dastardly!" I also disliked the idea that everything we do soaks into our environment and creates spectral energy such that "ghosts" are just tiny fragments of people's not-nice thoughts and personalities. It's a take that I thought was unique and different. But I didn't enjoy reading about it. Individual tastes will differ on that, of course.
I do think the ending wrapped up nicely. It's not a cliffhanger and things are resolved in a satisfying way.
Overall though, it was Fish Stick and the little stamping paw that kept me reading. What will Fish Stick do next? The world was overdue for a Corgi version of Lassie rescuing Little Timmy from the well.
The type of person who would like this book the most is the type of person who wants a fresh take on a ghost story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The creepy reality TV concept, combining home inspections and haunted houses, drew me into the storyline. Especially after the terrifying and deadly opening scene. I also connected with Grace and her ambitions of getting to run her own show while putting up with an overreaching boss who relies on AI to make his decisions on what ideas to fund. But my favorite character arc is Frank's—the star of the show with psychic abilities and a big heart. Together, Frank and Grace are a fantastic duo who care about helping the homeowners and the spirits trapped inside them find peace. This is a great book for fans of Rachel Harrison or Grady Hendrix.
July 9, 2026
Frank and Fish Stick must be protected at all costs. That’s it. That’s the review. All jokes aside, I loved this. It was somehow both wholesome and spooky. I really enjoyed the concept of a skeptic filming a haunted house show and wait oh crap it’s actually real. The central mystery was fleshed out and resolved in a satisfying way. Overall, a win. Black Tide was a favorite of mine but I didn’t love White Line Fever, so I’m thrilled this was such a great read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars - ARC from NetGalley
PETITION TO HAVE LIZ KERIN’S CORGI CLEMENTINE PLAY FISHSTICK IN THE SCREEN ADAPTATION. So fun, fast paced, chilling, and charming. I need this to be a movie staring Alison Brie ASAP thanks! Also as a PNW native, loved the Portland setting.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBFNPR7a/
PETITION TO HAVE LIZ KERIN’S CORGI CLEMENTINE PLAY FISHSTICK IN THE SCREEN ADAPTATION. So fun, fast paced, chilling, and charming. I need this to be a movie staring Alison Brie ASAP thanks! Also as a PNW native, loved the Portland setting.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTBFNPR7a/
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Stars: 4 out of 5
This turned out to be a pretty good story about different types of ghosts people leave behind, sometimes even before we die. It's also about our dreams and aspirations that we sometimes abandon because it's safer to just stay in a rut instead of risking our comfort to try for something new.
Longer review to come once the book is published.
This turned out to be a pretty good story about different types of ghosts people leave behind, sometimes even before we die. It's also about our dreams and aspirations that we sometimes abandon because it's safer to just stay in a rut instead of risking our comfort to try for something new.
Longer review to come once the book is published.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews