The Tenant: A Novella

by Odella Howe

Marvin Hoeff never thought he was a selfish bastard. Unfortunately for him, the universe begs to differ.

After surveying the grim aftermath of tenant Colette Finch’s death, all petty, miserly landlord Marvin Hoeff wants is his evening takeout and a long, hot shower. The problem is, something has followed him home… something sopping wet, sharp-tongued, and absolutely furious with him.

Before he can say “lease violation,” Marvin finds himself the newest guinea pig of a cosmic bureaucracy’s experimental reformation method. Colette claims the purgatorial punishments are all for his “character development,” which would be easier to believe if she didn’t look so delighted at his misery.

But as her relentless haunting begins peeling back the rot he’s spent a lifetime ignoring, Marvin can’t help but

What if she’s not trying to destroy him… but save whatever’s left?



Twisting together dark comedy, supernatural suspense, and a sharply absurdist edge, The Tenant delivers a haunting that’s as unsettling as it is unexpectedly heartwarming. Perfect for readers who enjoy morbidly funny horror stories with a philosophical twist, morally gray heroes, and ghost stories wrapped in social commentary, this thought-provoking satire offers a fresh take on the paranormal—equal parts eerie, bizarre, and delightfully human.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 6, 2026

Reviews

[Abhijeet Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't want to be stuck with you any more than you want to be stuck with me," admitted Colette. "But maybe we deserve each other."

The Tenant by Odella Howe is a psychological horror built around a greedy landlord and a ghostly tenant. It’s probably more dark comedy than horror, but it’s creepy nevertheless. Received an ARC from the author, and here goes my review.

In the story, Marvin Hoeff is a miserly landlord, perennially indifferent to other humans. And Colette Finch is a deceased tenant. But Marvin is just thinking of all the monetary expenses he would incur (for maintenance and repairs), inconsiderate of the death. That night, the “dead” reappears.

What ensues is a joyride with the ghost... through some darkest of supernatural experiences. The story is both exciting and unsettling. The haunting sequences are equal parts eerie and absurd. And Marvin is truly pain-in-the-aff-unlikable.

The story is fast-paced and engaging throughout. It has quite some jumpscares. And the ghost Collette’s punishments for Marvin keep on going one after another. I found her cheeky and endearing. Always in the mood to play with her toy (i.e., Marvin).

The writing, though, is more emotional than scary. It has a calm, thoughtful tone, as if dead-set on Marvin’s reformation. It’s simple, direct and occasionally pun-ny.

My only disappointment with The Tenant is that it didn’t turn out to be an intense, skin-crawling horror. The book isn’t heavy on supernatural elements.

The ghost clinging to someone would have been scary in usual situations. But in this novella, you start rooting for the ghost. The story is focused on character change. Even though it has some violence and implied gore, it’s minimal.

Recommended for fans of quirky, psychological horror. But keep in mind that The Tenant isn’t pure horror. Although it did feel like a thriller in the beginning, it’s more like a refreshingly beautiful, feel-good horror.

[A. M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the joy of getting to read this early through and ARC, and my goodness—this novella is worth the wait! I'm not a huge horror reader, but I still couldn't put this book down! It captured my attention immediately and had me breathless until the final pages. It's a wonderful blend of heart-pounding horror with deep thought-provoking topics and several light-hearted moments that had me laughing out loud. It's one of those stories that sticks with you long after you close the book. 10/10!

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I want to thank Odella for reaching out and allowing me to read this heartwarming story. At first I thought it would be another scary story but it surprised me in the best way. I devoured this.

Definitely perfect for readers who enjoy paranormal ghost stories mixed with funny horror.

[Morana Bylur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the author to do a quote pull

Gave very "Christmas Carol but make it horror" vibes. Perfect for spooky babes!