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.

Genres: Horror

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2026

About the author

Odella Howe is a former ghostwriter and full-time mother of four who’s now taking “ghostwriting” literally, crafting supernatural stories that both terrify and thrill her readership. Her debut novel, The Violin, combines her lifelong passion for dark fiction and her obsession with Saint-Saens’s haunting composition, “Danse Macabre.” When not writing, Odella enjoys hiking the stunning foothills of Utah, sewing, and spending time with her family.

Reviews

[Breana Sprinkle]

Once again I am impressed by this author's storytelling ability. I find it unique and thoughtful to turn a selfish landlord (the type lots are used to) into a horror story about a dead tenant following him home.
With both the style of a creepy ceiling crawling, dripping wet creature with a sinister smile with the ability to scare you into good behavior...and the ghosts of a familiar Charles Dickinson novel we all seem to love at Christmas.

Perfectly portrayed a character that I didn't like from the start with his disgusting remarks and selfishness. I was getting so angry with him.
I started to laugh as she tried to torture him with the most horrifying pranks that only the dead could cause. It gave such a mystical element. But every time he failed to see the error of his ways or get a grand epiphany, I was shaking my head in disappointment.
But what came next...well, I won't give anything away. Just know I felt bad for him and his slow decent into becoming who he became but there's many surprises in store.

Self-published authors can definitely take more creative liberty. Which is why these stories stand out the most.

Gifted copy. Review left voluntarily.
All opinions and thoughts are mine.

[lacy white]

Title: The Tenant
Author: Odella Howe
Genre: Horror
Format: eARC
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4 stars

A special thank you goes to Odella Howe and TCB ARC Collective for providing me with a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.

tw: blood, suicide, animal cruelty and death, spiders, death

This was such a great novella. It reminded me very much of A Christmas Carol, but it had its own twist, which I very much enjoyed. It went deeper with the horror aspect, which you know is something that I will always enjoy. There was even a character that I very much enjoyed, which was shocking to me.

The main character in this book is Marvin. And wow, Marvin is such an asshole to put it rudely. He was a piece of work, but surprisingly, I enjoyed his character quite a bit. There was something about him that I just liked, even though he did everything to make me not like him. But as the story progressed, he really just grew on me more and more. I also enjoyed Collette as a side character as well. I would love a little novella of her as well. She was very interesting, and you all know I love a lady with some good old female rage. And boy, did she have some female rage, rightfully so if you ask me.

As I mentioned above, the plot was based on A Christmas Carol. I confess I’ve never read the book or seen the movie. But I have seen the Scrooge McDuck version. I love how it dived more into the horror aspect with the spiders and such. I don’t want to give too much away, but it does get pretty spooky and graphic at times.

Overall, I enjoyed this novella quite a bit. The horror was done well. The pacing was excellent. I enjoyed the main character quite a bit, even though he was the type of person that I should not have enjoyed at all. I can't wait to read more by this author.

[Jen B]

4.25*

This starts off a bit Clockwork Orange-ish, then transitions to a modern day Christmas Carol where Marvin becomes a reluctant Scrooge with permanent training wheels (in the form of Colette). This was dark and satirical and I loved it. I even shed a tear at the end for Marvin.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Abhijeet Kumar]

"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.

[Rachel]

The Tenant starts off surreal and absurd as the spirit of Colette Finch leads her landlord, Marvin Hoeff through some quite unique scenes so he can (hopefully) start to realise the error of his ways and begin to reform. In this first third it’s unsettling and surreal. At times it also builds up a sense of impending doom as you don’t know if Marvin’s hell is truly over or if there is more to come.

By the second third, however, it pivots to a more traditional ‘A Christmas Carol’ format and here it loses its unique and surrealist edge. Although these sections do give insight into Marvin’s personality and past, because the format is so overdone I did find myself getting a bit bored. By the last third where Marvin began making amends I wasn’t as invested. The dynamic between Colette and Marvin was more lighthearted in this section and although we’re told that she can be a threat at any time if Marvin doesn’t stay on the straight and narrow, I never felt that she was threatening through her actions.

I don’t think it needed the pivot to the traditional format. The first third is very creative and I think if this was expanded upon it could have constituted the majority of the novella. I also found myself wanting a stronger feeling of dread from Colette throughout. This felt strong in the beginning but did fade for me over time.

Ultimately, the start of this novella was a creative take on the classic Scrooge tale and the author has some great surreal and horrific ideas, but this vibe was lost in the remainder of the book.

I received a free copy from BookSirens and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Alison Faichney]

I’m a sucker for dope covers and loved the simplicity combined with the surreal nature of the artwork used for The Tenant. The Tenant is a supernatural novella about an incredibly apathetic landlord, Martin. When one of his tenants, Colette, dies by suicide in her tub, Martin’s only concerns are how he will cover the costly repairs to his property. But Colette isn’t quite finished with him yet. I’ve had my share of bad landlords + narcissistic men over the years so I definitely could picture Martin.

I vibed with the first half of this one. Loved the surrealist hell he becomes intertwined with, and getting to see some of his misdeeds coming back as reformation chambers was well executed (pun intended). I liked Colette as well but never got to learn much about her own life. The first half was fairly dark and as I got further through the book it almost felt like one author started the book and another finished. The tone just seemed to shift. The entire story is very cinematic and has some dope visuals, but for the last bit I kept expecting the other shoe to drop and it never did. It felt a bit disjointed from the time in the reformation chambers. There’s a certain literary character mentioned several times and ultimately this book felt like a remake of that exact story. If you vibe with shorter horror that has gore but tends to be a bit lighter in tone overall, this might be a great read for you. It’s an accessible novella that introduces some very unique perspectives of karmic retribution which I know many readers will appreciate.

[Zane]

There’s a particular kind of story that doesn’t just haunt it audits you. The Tenant is that story.On its surface, it plays like a darkly comedic ghost tale: a miserable landlord, a dead tenant, and a haunting that feels less like revenge and more like… paperwork. But beneath the sardonic humor and supernatural absurdity is something far more uncomfortable a moral excavation. Marvin Hoeff isn’t a villain in the theatrical sense; he’s worse. He’s ordinary in his neglect, quietly complicit in the suffering of others, and that’s exactly what makes his unraveling so effective.Howe leans into the absurd with precision. The idea of a “cosmic bureaucracy” handling ethical reform could easily collapse into gimmick, but instead it sharpens the satire. The punishments feel less like horror set-pieces and more like forced introspection weaponized. It’s not about fear of death it’s about the slow, suffocating realization of who you’ve been all along.What stands out most is the tonal balance. The novella walks a tightrope between biting humor and existential dread without losing its footing. One moment you’re smirking at the pettiness of it all, the next you’re hit with a quiet, creeping unease that lingers longer than any jump scare.If there’s a critique, it’s that the brevity leaves you wanting just a bit more time in its strange, bureaucratic purgatory. But perhaps that’s intentional like Marvin, you don’t get the luxury of settling in.

Verdict: A morbidly funny, unsettling character study disguised as a ghost story. Equal parts satire and reckoning.

[Pauline]

A recurring problem I have with a lot of novellas I read is that I want MORE. And I mean this in the best possible way, because the story has grabbed me and won't let me go and now I want to read more of it. That's definitely the case here with "The Tenant." Marvin is no doubt a shitty person and a slumlord with little care for people other than himself, making him well-deserving of a haunting/reckoning. Enter Colette, his recently diseased tenant; a cosmic bureaucracy experimenting with different methods for reformation; and 100 or so pages of figuring out whether Marvin can be fixed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. While this is more than just a ghost story, there were still some genuinely creepy parts, especially when Colette's ghost is first shown. The introduction of the cosmic bureaucracy captured the going-through-the-motions vibes perfectly. And the characters had surprising depth. While at first I was not only prepared, but excited to see Marvin get his comeuppance, Howe eventually whittled away at my skepticism, to the point where I was actually happy about how the story turned out. Again, my only real complaint is that I want to read more about the bureaucracy, more about Marvin and Colette (and Thor/Loki), and more about the world that's been created!

I received an advance review copy for free from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lauryn Rohl]

I Enjoyed this So Much

So many references to Christmas Movies and Cheshire the Cat.
Her writing was Perfect.

This is Christmas Carol vibe but with A Very Selfish Landlord being the Plot of the story. A dark humor with a Bit of Horror as well.

Marvin and Colette's banter, and oh the visuals I could see. I made so many annotations, so many Haha's and You Tell him moments


Marvin is the Grumpy, Self-centered Landlord Ass- hole, We all have meet in our time, who doesn't see his Tenants issues as him own. He is greedy and spiteful. Always wanting to get more and do less work. Money is all he cares about.

Collette is his Jiminy Cricket, and she helps him on his way to be better. She is Not to be played with, and She has him all figured out.
She can show him through his selfish ways to look within himself as to Why, and Where it happened.

The people you meet in life their is purpose, and Everyone around us needs help.

This is an ARC Read for me and I want to thank the Author and Publishing for allowing me to read it.

[Armando Ramirez]

The Tenant by Odella Howe was such an amazing little novella to read, especially on a Friday the 13th! While it’s rooted in the horror genre, I was struck by how much it reminded me of A Christmas Carol with its haunting presence guiding Marvin through moments of his past and encounters with people who shaped his life. Rather than pure terror, the story leans into emotional resonance, offering a profound reflection on guilt, memory, and redemption.The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that I expected more of a “scare-you-to-pieces” experience. Instead, it delivered something more poignant and heartfelt. Still, it’s a wonderfully written and memorable story, especially compelling because it draws from real-life experiences many of us can relate to. A perfect, thought-provoking read for a quiet, eerie evening.

[Melissa Mejia]

I have the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was a fast novella that i wish would have been longer!! Great story that made you jump at times and very detailed!! If you love supernatural suspense and dark comedy with a haunting that will have you at the edge of your seat this is the book for you!! Need more!!

“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.”

[Eloise Clayton]

A tense, quietly unsettling read, The Tenant: A Novella by Odella Howe delivers more atmosphere than its slim length might suggest. Howe builds a slow burning sense of unease through sharp, observant prose and a protagonist whose grip on reality feels increasingly fragile. The confined setting works brilliantly, turning ordinary domestic details into something ominous and claustrophobic.

While the pacing may feel a bit deliberate for readers looking for immediate thrills, the payoff lies in the creeping psychological tension and ambiguity that lingers after the final page. It’s the kind of story that invites interpretation rather than handing you clear answers.

A haunting, compact novella that’s perfect for fans of subtle, character driven suspense!!

[David Washburn]

The Tenant is a story dripping with the lifeblood of a Christmas Story meshed with the real-life experience of living in an apartment with a slum-lord.

In this, we follow Marvin, a fortunate man with plenty of rental properties under his management, and while he exceeds in bringing in money and keeping lease agreements black and white, he does lack a warm heart.

When a recently passed tenant haunts him he is given the opportunity to see his life and choices and how they go out into the world.

This novella feels like a great premise for a horror story, but by the end feels very speculative. Maybe it's the feel-good nature of it. Odella Howe is a strong writer and I think this book is fantastic and I'll be eager to see what she does next.

[Nikki B.]

The Tenant is a very short, quick little novella. A lot of times, with novella's the story feels like it's missing something. There aren't enough details to really understand the characters. This is not that. This was well done. Though short, it was twisty and thrilling.
This reminded me of the ghosts of Christmas past, minus the christmas. Marvin is known for being one of those landlords that's just in it for the money and doesn't really care about the people or the living conditions. A former tenant, Colette, who ends up ending her life over is cruelty, will make him regret it.
The story is teaches a valuable lesson through its cruelty and torture. It is a little graphic and creepy, but full of dark humor.

[Püppët]

✨”It’s not about what you have, it’s about how you make those around you feel”✨

This novella really caught my attention, with its A Christmas Carol feel. The story follows Marvin, a landlord that doesn’t care about anyone but himself and his money. He soon finds out that there is more to life with the help of Colette, a ghost that needs some redemption of her own. Although it is meant to be somewhat of a horror novel, it is more of a feel-good read with some horror elements. It definitely does not disappoint!

[Vickie]

This is a great retelling of Scrooge in modern times. Take the very worst slum-lord you've ever had and let loose.. Marvin pulls you in, hating him, literally despising him for his pure inhumane selfish treatment of people. Colette makes him regret his choices. Truthfully you can substitute any person with no conscience, no morals and no integrity into the main character role and enjoy the trip he or she goes on. As cathartic this book must've been for the author to write, it can do the same for the reader.

[Kelly]

Ok so this novella is fine, but I wouldn’t call it a horror story really. It’s about a landlord (think Scrooge) who’s dead tenant shows him the error of his ways and he goes about righting his past wrongs. The horror part, is because the story starts with the tenant offing herself with a razor in the bathtub - we are told, and how the apartment is covered in blood, etc. Other than that, it’s just basically a retelling of A Christmas Carol. Three stars because I didn’t not like it, but it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be either.

[A.M. Burk]

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!

[DarkStar's Book Cavern]

This is a fun little psychological thriller perfect for a dark afternoon. Marvin is a perfect symbol of a complete asshole who is all too believable a character, especially given his profession. I really like the imagery, especially at the beginning. However, the more I read the more I felt that it was just a different twist on a classic Christmas horror, it didn't help when the main character of that novel is mentioned a lot.

[M.G. Moseley]

A story about how those we don’t take proper care of, can grow attached to us in very bad ways. I had the esteemed privilege of being an ARC reader for this book. Odella delivers the story by scaring the crap out of you so bad while pulling in every heart string. There’s even a surprise later in the book. (Hint: there’s a character named after me).
Go read it, before it becomes a life lesson for you!

[Candace's_Book_Nook]

Quietly unsettling and completely absorbing. This leans into a slow, creeping tension that builds steadily instead of rushing, and it works.
The atmosphere is strong and a little suffocating in the best way, with just enough unease to keep you turning pages. The characters feel grounded, which makes the tension hit harder.
Not for readers looking for nonstop action, but if you like moody, character-driven suspense that sticks with you, this is a solid pick.

[Krystal]

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.

[Gisela Marengo]

This book was given to me as an ARC here is my honest and voluntarily review. I finish this book in one sitting i couldn’t put it down so good it gave the Christmas Carol vibes . The story follows Marvin Hoeff, a selfish and miserly landlord who believes he’s done nothing wrong until a ghost comes for him Colette Finch a ex tenant. I loved it will recommend this book 📕

[Josh Buyarski]

Let’s make a horror story based on a Christmas Carol, but make it more modern and also more accessible to everyone who has ever had a heartless landlord.

The visuals were great, the description of Colette in the beginning was cozy turned creepy. Zeus’s revenge was a great take.

Overall a really good tale!

[Rebecca White]

This is an author to keep yer eyes on!

Howe has a great storytelling ability and really knows how to set the tone in her work.

Colette is a fantastic character and I love how witty and sarcastic she is. I appreciated the nods to the classic story this novella is reminiscent of, although this one is way more fucked up - in the best way.

Quick, dark, with some comedic relief. Highly recommend!

[Sam]

I was really excited when I saw this book on BookSirens. I was drawn in by the cover and then the plot. I love a re-telling and it was interesting to see how a retelling of A Christmas Carol would work outside of the festive season.

I really enjoyed the writing style in this book. Marvin Hoeff really was a vile character and completely blind to how he affects others lives. I love how Colette played the ghost in this tale and guided Marvin through his past, present and future and their consequences. There are some Douglas Adams and Philip K. Dick vibes via the court scene and punishments.

I enjoyed this novella, I think that I would have loved it to be a bit longer. I loved how there was horror but it was also funny, it also has a fantastical element. I will definitely seek out more of Odella Howe’s books.

Thank you for BookSirens and the publisher, Fiddleback Press for allowing me to read this advance copy.

[Jennifer Loschiavo]

This may be a shorter read but it is FULL of depth and humor. Psychological and marvelously layered. Dark humored for the people who are just a bit unwell and twisted. This book found its way into every part of my psyche.

[Shawn Burt]

The tenant is a physiological horror, the story centers around a greedy landlord and a dead tenant. This book was very creepy but had a dark humor to it. The banter was great in this book. I really enjoyed it.

[Morana Bylur]

Read for the author to do a quote pull

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

[Brenda Yager]

In short, read it. It's quck, you'll love Collette. It was gruetesque = grotesque + gruesome.