The House Built on Alligator Bones

by Sophia Huneycutt

The Greers built their fortune on alligator bones.

Dartrine Beaumont believes her mother’s sudden death has left her alone in the world—until she learns of long-lost wealthy relatives living in Florida. Confused but delighted by the possibility of extended family, Dart travels to her grandmother’s stately Gilded Age mansion on Amelia Island for answers, just in time to stake a claim on an unusual inheritance: an alligator farming empire.

Her arrival at Greer House isn’t everything she hoped. Without warning, Dart finds herself in fierce competition with her grandmother’s arrogant heir-apparent, and tensions rise as threatening acts of vandalism escalate on one of the farms. More unsettling is her hostile grandmother’s fanatical belief that the danger stems from a curse; according to legend, a larger-than-life alligator hunted down by a bloodthirsty ancestor still haunts the family. Yet Dart can’t deny that the farm’s placid alligators hiss only at Greers, or that a shadowy figure creeps through the mansion’s halls, plaguing her with suspicions that the mythical alligator and monstrous, long-dead matriarch may have unfinished business.

As Dart uncovers the truth about her violent birthright, she faces a terrible accept her place in her family’s grim legacy or forge a new path by slaying a different beast entirely.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Fiction, Southern Gothic, Contemporary, Thriller, Adult

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Sophia Huneycutt was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. Her short fiction has won the Porch Prize, judged by Kevin Wilson, and appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, STORY, The Greensboro Review, Nashville Review, and elsewhere. She has received support from the de Groot Foundation, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, and the Ohio Arts Council. A Tin House alumna, she holds a BA in English literature from Davidson College and an MFA in creative writing from The Ohio State University. The House Built on Alligator Bones is her first novel.

Reviews

[Lizzy Davis]

guys sophia was my instructor for my literary publishing class so i may be biased but im SO EXCITED TO READ THIS

[Annie Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the ARC}

I thoroughly enjoyed The House Built on Alligator Bones. Honeycutt does a great job of balancing the ethical implications of this type of farming with the conservation aspects, and doesn’t shy away from the brutality of it all. Additionally, the atmosphere is consistent, spellbinding, and intoxicating, and, as a Florida native, I felt that the setting was very accurate. My main criticism would be how hard it is to naturally and casually include something like POTS (postural orthostaric tachycardia syndrome) through narration, and I wonder how it adds to the story, other than by offering representation. I felt it could’ve been woven in more strongly, especially in the case of Ida, who was said to have it but no proof was ever given. Additionally, I get tired of horror books always having to have a love interest. He could’ve been the same character doing the same things without the romance and it would’ve been the same reading experience.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! .

[kristyn ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

this was definitely an interesting concept! i've never read anything dealing with alligator farming, but the author did a lot of research to make it sound like a legitimate company in florida. definitely check this one out when it releases in october!

[Stacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this. Southern gothic family drama with curses, haunted mansions, alligator farms, hurricanes, and generational secrets? I really thought this would be the “it” Halloween book this year. Unfortunately, this ended up being one of the most frustratingly horrible books I’ve read in a long time.

My biggest issue was that the story felt like it had absolutely no idea what it wanted to be. Was this a haunted house story? A southern gothic? A family curse novel? Psychological horror? Possession story? Murder mystery? The book throws plotline after plotline at you without fully developing or resolving almost any of them.

Characters and motivations constantly felt unfinished or abandoned entirely. Joe’s hatred of the Greers and the farm seemed important until it suddenly wasn’t. Ida’s influence over the family never became clear enough to feel satisfying. Was Gazzie possessed? Was Harrison losing his mind (or just as sick in the head as them)? Was the house actually haunted? By the end, I genuinely couldn’t tell what the author intended versus what was simply left underdeveloped.

The pacing was painfully slow, but somehow the book still felt chaotic because so many threads were introduced with little payoff. Instead of building tension, it became exhausting. On top of that, the prose leaned heavily into overwriting and “purple prose” moments that often distracted from scenes that desperately needed actual clarity and substance.

Also, as someone familiar with Florida and hurricanes….some of the storm and injury details also felt unbelievable enough to pull me completely out of the story. The alligator injury in particular had me rolling my eyes and actually yelling lol.

What disappointed me most was the ending. After all the buildup, there was no real emotional payoff, growth, justice, or sense of resolution. It just felt like the cycle of madness would continue endlessly, making the entire journey feel pointless rather than haunting.

There is definitely some atmosphere here, and I can see what the author was aiming for, but for me this was a slow, muddled, deeply unsatisfying read.

[Travis Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The House Built on Alligator Bones
By Sophia Hunneycutt
Pub Date:Oct 06 2026

This is a heavily character driven book. There is a wild family mystery that is unsettling from the start. I enjoyed the character development and family mystery kept me interested.
This book definitely gave me can't trust anyone vibes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.

[Emily Poche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Dutton for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The House Built on Alligator Bones by Sophia Honeycutt is a new southern gothic novel following a woman who, growing up isolated by a controlling mother, is thrust into a dark and brutal family dynamic when reuniting with long lost relatives on their family alligator farm.

Something that the author of this book did very well is create characters that have a deep seated inner darkness and brutality. There is no hero or heroine in this story, only a protagonist. For this reason though, about halfway in, out of sheer frustration I did start hoping that the ghost of a long dead possibly magical alligator would end up consuming the whole mess of a family in a fiery blaze.

Here is what I liked about this book:

First it had a very intriguing setting. A gorgeous but unsettling mansion on a Florida island and an eerie, menacing alligator farm are incredible for creating a creepy atmosphere. The lurking danger of alligators really is a great motif that makes for a compelling horror backdrop.

There’s a pretty good overarching metaphor about the dangers of blind capitalism over the respect of nature and the needs of family. I think that the messaging is important and applied with a light but not imperceptible touch.

Here’s what I didn’t like about the book:

The story cannot decide on what it wants to be. It tries its hands at creature story, possession, humans vs. nature, haunted house, and making various members of the family and story complete psychopaths. The author makes inroads with each horror style, but none of them are completely fleshed out. It feels like too many competing horror tropes in a way that feels unfinished.

The other thing is that motivations are extremely tenuous. Characters constantly display extremely impulsive or hazy decision making, and a lot of emotional weight is meant to be held in these decisions, but they seem often super tenuous or like the explanation comes after the fact. For example, the main character shows unyielding and fervent loyalty to a grandmother she’s barely met, who actively treats her like garbage, immediately. One could argue she’s longing for connection, but it’s more than that. It’s like a lifelong familial piety that shows up full blaze immediately, displacing other people who appear to care about her more and who are not alligator murdering weirdos.

TW: There are several scenes of alligator farming and alligator harvesting in which the practices are unnecessarily cruel or outdated. Whether this is a trigger warning for abuse vs. cruelty really depends on your view of farming animals. I did find it to be pretty gruesome.

For me, I think that this is a very solidly spooky idea with a lot of really great, eerie moments. However, I do wish that it had been more focused in the nature of the horror, and that the character motivations were clearer. 3/5 stars.

[Trisha]

I am SO excited for this one!! Just Look at that cover!

** ARC REC'D THANK YOU ***

[Caitlin Teaches · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House Built On Alligator Bones opens on Dartrine (Dart) Beaumont walking through the collapsing corpse of her ancestral home debating the fate of her unborn child and recounting the story of the curse that haunts her family.

What follows is a strong southern gothic horror that explores abusive family systems and the corruption that comes when human greed and nature collide. The atmosphere is chilling despite the heat and detailed, and the charged family dynamics have real teeth. In fact, the combination was effective enough to force me to slow down and stop while reading at several points. The gore is not mild when it is present, and if you can't deal with animals being harmed, this is not the book for you. Same if you struggle with emotional abuse or abusive family systems. It was very much worth the discomfort for me.

Dart is not an entirely reliable narrator, and doesn't really try to be. Her life is shaped by trauma, isolation, and the reality of living with an invisible illness. We get to see and live with the way having POTS has changed how Dart has to navigates the world and what she expects of others. The fact that she is dependent on some assistance for survival heightens the hostile atmosphere of the Florida gator farm. So does her desperation to finally be loved and cared for by someone who doesn't see her as a monster.

We are told that her family has a long history of a variety of chronic illnesses, and to the point POTS plays a role in the curse's origin. There is the implication that the ongoing health struggle of the family are part of nature's revenge. It feels strange to have disease/disability treated as a moral punishment in 2026 when the author avoids other genre pitfalls by not having the curse come from stigmatized religions or people. Of course, the very limited representation of non-white people in a southern gothic talking about a house built on bones has its own discomfort.

I do believe that the book does manage to stand despite this in part because of the depiction of the ways in which white women can become complicit or even driving forces in destructive power systems. We are given space to understand the decisions of the matriarchs of the Greer family while seeing exactly how monstrous they actually were. I was a little disappointed in the final resolution of the novel. Dart provides us an extremely poetic and quotable resolution to the novel, but when compared to the visceral intensity of the rest of the novel, it feels like it is wrapped up a little too kindly to the surviving characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

[chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

as someone who knows a thing or two about a powerful matriarch who lives on past her death and once sewed hair into portraits (what are the odds, lmao!), and as a reader who is OBZEST with alligators, hauntings, and doomed/tragic family lines, this book is BURSTING with everything I need.

the atmosphere here is unmatched. the way we slowly sink into greers' house and their history is so satisfyingly spooky; the small bits of the paranormal that poke through act as beautiful moments of unrest and catharsis in what they represent. as such, I actually think this would have been a lot better served as a slow-burn literary gothic, rather than one with the pacing and stakes that follow the dramatic arcs of a proper thriller. I was ravenous for any information about this family I could get: leon, the older generations' experiences growing up, ida herself, and our mc's mother-daughter relationship. I really craved a bit more juice when it came to their family history, and the cycle and hereditability of violence.

as such, I felt very thrown off kilter-by the action scenes and neat conclusion. everything ended up feeling very cinematic in a way that I wasn't massively invested in.

regardless, I think that some of the writing in this book is SO exciting!! from memory: the barn (if I'm remembering correctly) affixed to the gator farm building being described as being a tumor; the slow-build of the haunting developing over time. sometimes, though, I do think the lyrical writing floundered when it came to the actions scenes. some similes felt out of place; someone's words hanging in the air "like a feather" without any indication or call-back as to why that was the imagery used. an "anvil" hitting an ankle that is later revealed to be a bite. I felt that the use of plain language would have served these scenes much better, and that it only muddled my ability to picture what was going on, thus negating the sense of urgency.

ultimately, I do think this book ended up having a heavier focus on commercial entertainment than I cared for, and I would have drooled over a more immersive literary experience. despite these personal criticisms, it's hard for me to look past the atmosphere, setting, and imagery, as they were just so good.

I think I can settle on a 3.5 here. thank you for the advanced copy! :)

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.75 rounded up

The House Built on Alligator Bones by Sophia Huneycutt is dark, eerie, and suspenseful, with a strong Southern Gothic atmosphere. In true Southern Gothic style its a thriller about family secrets, inheritance, and a possible curse lurking in the Florida swamps. As a Florida Native I have always had a respectful and healthy fear of our official state reptile and oddly enough have dreamed of being stalked by them on and my whole life. Ok so maybe the fear is not as healthy as I first claimed. Anyway, back to the book.

Dark and ominous, the story constantly suggests that something is wrong beneath the surface with both the Greer family and their history. The mansion, the swamps, and the alligator farms create a sense of constant danger and impending doom. For me the Florida swamp setting is the core of this novel. The humid air, dark water, and lurking alligators create a heavy, moody atmosphere that makes the story feel mysterious and unsettling. Truly portraying a sinister, suspenseful, and haunting feel that perfectly fits a Southern-Gothic mystery about family curses and buried secrets.

This is a character heavy read. The story spends a lot of time exploring Dartrine “Dart” Beaumont’s thoughts and emotions, the complex Greer family relationships, uncovering the Greer family’s past and the tension that comes from trust issues, manipulation, and hidden intentions among characters. That said, the pacing can feel slow in the middle as the novel focuses on family history and character dynamics. Some of the rivalries and motivations between relatives are interesting but occasionally difficult to keep track of. I also found myself wanting a little more clarity around the supernatural elements.

Overall, The House Built on Alligator Bones has a rich atmosphere, unusual setting, and family-mystery plot that is truly engaging. If you enjoy stories about complicated families, haunting legacies, and mysteries buried in the past, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Linda W. Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

(e-ARC received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; thank you to Sophia Huneycutt and Dutton)

actual rating: 3.75⭐️

If I recall correctly, this is my first experience with a southern gothic horror novel, and I had an enjoyable time. This is a character-driven story, with elements of the paranormal and a unique representation of man vs. nature.

I really liked all of the characters in this book. Our FMC Dartrine struggles with sudden bursts of anger and POTS, the latter of which I don’t think I’ve ever read about in a novel so that representation was nice to see. Her love interest Harrison, who begins as a rival in Dart’s inheritance, is mentioned to have struggled with OCD in the past. I wish we could’ve explored that a bit more.

I absolutely loved the setting being on an alligator farm in Florida, on an island with a close-knit group of people. The eeriness of nature creeping in to take back what was stolen from them was very well-written, and the added aspect of the family home being inhabited by the spirit of an ancestor added the perfect level of creepiness.

There were a few moments that dragged on for me, or where I had a hard time focusing. That could’ve also had to do with the fact that I had to read this ARC on my phone, as a Kobo option wasn’t available. I lose focus quicker when reading on my phone, so I’ll blame it on that.

The last 30%-ish and ending of this book was really intense, and I enjoyed the almost cult-like vibe I got from the Grear family. I thought the writing style flowed well, and I’ll be sure to check out more of this author’s work in the future.

[Alex E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5: The House Built on Alligator Bones

After the death of her mother, Dart discovers that she has long-lost relatives living in Florida. Wealthy relatives. Who just so happen to be alligator farmers. So off to Florida she goes. She finds herself in the middle of a gruesome industry...that's possibly put a curse on her family.

Vibes:
-Southern gothic horror
-Mystery
-lil' bit of romance
- POTS (postural orthostaric tachycardia syndrome) representation
-Alligators. Lots of gators. (*including TW death of gators*)
-Haunted house (mansion)
-Generational trauma and secrets galore
-Unreliable (semi unlikeable) MC

My thoughts- this was a fun Southern gothic with the unique backstory of alligator farming. I was kept interested and curious about what was going to happen next. As someone with chronic illness myself I especially enjoyed the POTS and chronic illness representation.

My biggest issue with this book is that is perhaps the book tries to take on *too much*. It's a ghost story, but its also a mystery, but it's also a possession story, too? Which means we get a bunch of a lot vs a well flushed out one thing. I think because of that it didn't feel particularly spooky to me. I could see this doing well as a movie, perhaps.

I did enjoy this as a Southern gothic, and I'd suggest it for fans of atmospheric reads - just don't expect any jump scares.

.......
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.
.......
PS: New here? Hi! 👋 FYI: I don’t sugarcoat my reviews. Peek at my pinned post to see how my rating system works. 😘🖤

[The Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The House Built on Alligator Bones is one of those books that immediately pulls you into its haunting atmosphere. The Southern Gothic setting is vivid, the family secrets are layered with tension, and the slow unraveling of the Greer legacy kept me invested from beginning to end. Sophia Huneycutt has a beautiful writing style that makes every page feel immersive, balancing eerie imagery with emotional depth.

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its pacing. The mystery unfolds gradually, with each revelation raising the stakes and making it impossible not to question every character's motives. Dart is a compelling protagonist whose internal conflict adds another layer to an already captivating story.

My biggest issue, however, was the ending. After such a strong buildup and an atmosphere filled with suspense, I expected a conclusion that matched the intensity of everything leading up to it. Instead, the resolution felt surprisingly subdued. It wasn't necessarily a bad ending, but it lacked the emotional impact and payoff I had been anticipating. Considering how much tension the story carefully builds over the course of the novel, the finale didn't feel as powerful or as memorable as it could have been.

That said, this is still an incredibly well-written debut with unforgettable imagery, rich Southern Gothic vibes, and a mystery that kept me turning the pages. Even though the ending didn't fully work for me, the journey absolutely did, and I'd still recommend it to anyone who enjoys atmospheric mysteries with dark family secrets and a touch of the uncanny.

[AmandaReadsRomantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a early read in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, Dartrine and her family missed the mark for me. I will be honest that I did not really know what I was getting into. Definitely thought it was a whodunnit and set in a creepy little swamp town. What you actually got was a lot of violence towards animals. Specifically crocs, and the mass killing of them and then being referred to throughout the entire book as carcasses. Dartrine as a child was the creepy, introverted weird kid who was fascinated with dead animals and had temper issues. Turns out she really didn’t grow out of that, but the apple doesn’t fall from the tree here.

The setting was actually nicely laid out and I did feel like I was transported to the Greer House in all its sticky Floridian charm.

Another big problem I had was the lack of anything really happening of value too late into the book. We are already on chapter 15 or 18 before things really started getting better and they unfortunately still were quite flat for me. The romance interested me a tiny bit.

Then the back and forth with the characters health - we have a character with POTS who seems to pass out at the most opportune moments yet casts her own frightful shadow. I’m just not buying it.

It’s unfortunate that I just could not get into this one, I thought I’d love the creepy cursed house! However I would not hesitate to try another of this authors book.

[Brynx · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Florida grown girlie, I was incredibly excited to sink my teeth into “The House Built on Alligator Bones”! The cover is so cool and the premise pulled me right in.

Dart’s mother has passed. It’s always just been the two of them with no family to speak of..until Dart finds a letter from her grandmother in the trash. She embarks on a journey to find her lost family and in doing so, realizes that she may be the heir to an alligator farm dynasty. But her grandmother is not the kind woman from the letter and there is something off about the family home. When things start going wrong at the farm, Dart makes it her mission to save the business and secure her legacy. But how is she supposed to stop a supernatural entity?

This is primarily a thriller, but also a southern gothic with romance sprinkled in. Because it dips its toes in so many genres, it gets a bit messy and feels like it’s doing too much. There are also quite a few plot holes, and the dialogue is unnatural a lot of the time. The way characters speak is stilted and is used more of a means to an end than to actually show personalities. Actions do not consistently match up with motives, and the motives are often big swings. Dart doesn’t hold herself accountable to her actions enough for my taste. Overall, the premise is great but could use quite a few more rounds of editing to make it a cohesive novel.

Thank you, Netgalley and Dutton, for the ARC E-book in exchange for an honest review!

⭐⭐⭐

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read the premise of this book, it was somewhat different to my usual reads but I was intrigued. Now I'm so glad I requested it!

This book is awesome! I loved the steamy, brooding setting of the old world Florida island, and really enjoyed seeing all the characters fully fleshed out throughout the story. Sophia Huneycutt does this really, really well and I like the return to fully-fleshed, fully human characters with proper grey areas and flaws, and baggage! Two dimensional characters with no blood in their veins just don't do it for me.

The plot and pacing kept me hooked throughout and despite the dark tones I enjoyed diving into this world - I didn't want to put it down. The ending and wrapping up of the story was swift but satisfying and I know this book will be living rent free in my brain for a long while.

This was my first foray into the Southern Gothic genre and after that incredibly strong start I will be searching for some more! (Any recommendations welcome!)

If you're looking for a read full of mystery, supernatural threat, intriguing characters, family skeletons and a truly immersive setting, look no further than this book. Chef's kiss!

I can't wait to see what Sophie Huneycutt writes next!

Thank you very much to Sophia Huneycutt, NetGalley and Dutton for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seem to have potentially crazy anti-social protagonists in my algorithm or something. Not that I'm complaining by Alligator Bones is another one with an MC with a suspicious past and non many social connections.

This time we're on an Alligator farm (well empire of farms really) with 'Dart' having been recently reunited with her Grandmother 'Gazzie.' The vibe is highly untrustworthy with Gazzie being grumpy and obnoxious, the farm workers being deeply anti this sudden appearance of a potential heir, and someone sabotaging the farm. That's before the potential supernatural elements, where apparent 'Ida' and 'Ironheart' are still in spiritual conflict around the farm and all surrounds.

Its a great setting, well researched and just weird enough to draw you in (and I assume interesting and acceptable to actual alligator farmers? Not really a big thing in little ole NZ) danger comes from many corners, potentially even Dart herself.

The story is more character driven than action, or mystery twists, its really a journey through Dart's internal struggle, although with the odd dream sequence and jump scare moment - I wouldn't necessarily say this book is the best or treads new horror ground, but definitely had a vivid setting you wouldn't find elsewhere.

Thanks Netgalley for the review and good luck Huneycutt for the book release !!

[swamp pig · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley for the arc! 🫶

I really wanted to love this. Southern gothic, set in Florida and specifically the Florida swamp, alligators, ghosts - these are all my favorite things! Unfortunately I was hoping for an animal revenge story in the same vein as The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, but instead this reminds me more of Mexican Gothic, which I also didn't love. I do think there is an audience that will love this book, I'm just not it.

I felt it read more like a paranormal thriller than a true horror novel, as someone who doesn't really ever gravitate to thrillers this definitely wasn't what I was looking for. The writing was extremely repetitive but also vague and events in the main characters past that we didn't know about kept getting referenced in a way where I thought I had missed something (I hadn't).

The actual plot was frustrating. There was only one time where I felt the main character was truly in danger, so the haunting felt incredibly low stakes and the conclusion felt too easy and unsatisfying. My biggest pet peeve was the need to hamfist a romance plot into this story. I think all the time spent thinking about this random dude's eyes and dryer sheet smell would have been much better utilized to instead explore the main character more or further flesh out the plot.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her mother, Dart discovers her secret: family. While it isn't immediately clear why her mother changed her name and ran away, Dart decides to reach out to them; she's lived an isolated life and has always craved a sense of family. Enter Greer House, her mother's ancestral home, and its associated alligator farm. Gazzy, Dart's grandmother, is suspicious of her granddaughter's sudden appearance.

Greer House is full of old family traditions, stories, and secrets... and Dart could be the key to them all.

First and foremost I adored all of the alligator farming information and appreciated the level of research that went into it. I was fascinated to say the least. I really enjoyed this book, it was a spooky southern gothic (can't go wrong there). There was so much buildup to uncover the mystery of it all, but I felt a little let-down by the reveal in some ways. I think it's tough to tow that line in a horror story, of having someone react realistically while also operating within a ghost story-- in other words, readers know that the supernatural can exist in a fantasy world, but the characters don't (yet). For this book at least, I felt like Dart should have been quicker to buy into the theory that ghosts were afoot (especially after the first bathtub incident).

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for this ARC.

[Chevonnika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts off with our main character 'Dart' returning to her now ruined ancestral home, then we get to see how she got there in the first place...reuniting with family she did not know she had...and learning the hard way on why she never got the chance to meet that family prior.

I love that Dart is a very flawed character, she is very much as we learn a part of her family. But she does has the opportunity to change and take a different path. A lot of the book is going through the changes of emotion and perceptions that Dart has towards he family and wanting to belong. That does not take away from the eerie atmosphere throughout the book. There are many instances in which action happens while there is character development going on. The way the author incorprated the generational traumas and current day Darts dealings was done very very well, I was not bored at all with the inner monologs.

I do wish there was a bit more of the horror element, while the atmosphere was really good...I was hoping for a few more scarier or eerie bits involving Ida or even Gazzie.

Overall, a very fun experience with reading this novel. I would definitely recommend this to my audience as it is definitely a more action packed generation trauma type horror novel.

[Sarge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Dutton for giving me an ARC of this book!

This novel is a solid first outing for debut author Sophia Huneycutt. The sense of place and setting is immaculate, sticky, and so very Floridian. I loved the building mystery and the depths Dart- our main character- possesses. The book reads easily, and at first I thought Dart was going to annoy me, but I quickly realized that she is fighting an internal battle and censoring some of her personal desires and thoughts in such a way that the way she views the world began to make much more sense to me.

I want to praise this novel's unique setting and scenario as well. I've never read anything about an alligator farm before. I will be thinking about this one for a very long time and I would heartily recommend it to friends who enjoy thrillers and gothic horror.

I will say that I did call every single plot beat and twist, which is why I can't quite give this 5 stars. I've read these scenarios before many times, but that doesn't mean I disliked them. Just that despite the marvelous setting, it wasn't quite a perfect knockout for me- though a VERY good one!

Keep your eyes peeled for this novel's release in October if you like haunted houses, dangerous women, and natural terror.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars ⭐️, rounded up.

Set in a beautifully gothic and swampy Florida, Dartrine Beaumont finds a letter in her dead mother's kitchen trash from mysterious relative Gazzie Greer. After accepting the offer to meet, Dartrine throws away her life in Georgia to live and work at the Greer's family business: the alligator farm. The Greer women grew an empire on the questionable ethics of hunting, growing, and skinning alligators on their farm, and Dartrine realizes she has signed up for more than she bargained for. The illusion of the Greer's family charm diminishes as Dartrine learns more about their family secrets and sees who is really ruling the Greer family empire.

While I did absolutely love the Southern Gothic elements and how easy it was to picture yourself in the sticky and swampy wetlands of Amelia Island, the middle of the book was a bit slow in my opinion and the enemies to lovers romance elements maybe didn't hit as much for me compared to some other readers. The addition of the romance plot *did* end up making more sense in the end so I do understand why it was incorporated into the story. Overall, this was a fresh take on the Southern Gothic genre that I really enjoyed!

Thank you to Dutton, Sophia Huneycutt, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Aaron Todd Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Aaron Todd Reads | TikTok: @theaarontodd

“I am wicked, and I am loved. Apparently, both things can be true.” 🐊🦴🌺

TLDR;
A 2026 must-read. Most suited for readers who enjoy gothic thrillers like The Only One Left and Midnight Is the Darkest Hour. I rate this a 3/5 on my AT Intensity Scale due to several detailed scenes of violence (primarily animal slaughtering) and themes of generational trauma, bullying, family secrets, and inherited evil.

Title: The House Built on Alligator Bones
Author: Sophia Huneycutt
Publisher: Dutton

Release Date: October 2026
Format: Ebook
ARC: Thank you NetGalley and Dutton!

⭐ Star Rating: 4.5/5
🔪 AT Intensity Rating: 3/5
📄 Pages: 384

Quick Descriptors
• Southern Gothic
• Thriller pacing with Gothic Horror aesthetic
• Generational curse
• Mystical alligator
• Family secrets
• Dark inheritance
• Atmospheric coastal setting

Review
A haunting Southern Gothic Horror Thriller about the weight of legacy and the monsters families leave behind.

While The House Built on Alligator Bones begins with an unexpected inheritance, the story quickly reveals itself to be about something far darker: the generational curse Dartrine (Dart) Beaumont unknowingly carries and the secrets her family has hidden from her for years.

After the sudden death of her mother, Dart receives an unexpected visit from her long lost Aunt Virginia and discovers that her relatives are tied to a powerful alligator farming empire on Amelia Island. Hoping to finally understand where she came from, she travels to Greer House, only to find a family that views her as a threat, a legacy built on violence, and whispers of a curse tied to a mystical ancestor.

What makes this story compelling is that the true conflict isn’t just external. Dart has spent her entire life grappling with dark impulses and shame, believing there is something fundamentally wrong with her. As she learns more about her family’s past, she begins to question whether those instincts are simply part of who she is or something she inherited.

The novel also thoughtfully incorporates Dart’s experience living with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), bringing awareness to the condition while shaping how she navigates stress, danger, and the physically demanding world she’s stepped into.

Huneycutt leans into classic Southern Gothic atmosphere: decaying wealth, a looming ancestral curse, and a mansion filled with hostile relatives and buried truths. Jump-scares galore, scenes that will cause you to look over your shoulder, and several that depict the brutal slaughter and processing of the alligators. The latter adds a visceral layer to the story and reinforcing the brutal legacy that built the Greer family fortune. This element of the book is challenging to grapple with, due to the descriptive writing and the general nature of animal brutality. I believe the author did her due-diligence to research and portray this element with as much care as possible, while honoring the brutal reality of the alligator farming industry.

This lands at a 3/5 on my intensity scale. There are several moments of graphic violence, particularly surrounding the alligators, but the novel leans just as heavily into psychological tension, family trauma, and the unsettling question of whether the curse haunting the Greers might actually be real.

A HUGE thank you for the chance to read this story! This was refreshing, entertaining, disturbing, informative, and gripping. I was hooked from the first page.

I am anxiously awaiting the next book from Sophia Huneycutt.

[Sara Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Southern gothic horror isn't usually my go-to, but The House Built on Alligator Bones completely pulled me in. The atmosphere is thick with dread, the family dynamics are twisted, and the Florida gator farm setting is equal parts fascinating and horrifying.

This book doesn't hold back. The gore is graphic, and there are scenes involving animal harm and emotional abuse that made me put the book down for a breather more than once. If those are triggers for you, definitely keep that in mind.

I really liked Dart as a main character. Living with POTS added another layer to her story and made her feel authentic and vulnerable. While I wasn't completely sold on how the family curse tied into chronic illness, it didn't take away from how compelling the story was overall.

The ending wrapped things up a little more neatly than I expected after such an intense ride, but I still found this to be a memorable, unsettling read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Life is crazy... go enjoy some fiction.

[danie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the ARC of this book!

This was a hauntingly beautiful southern Gothic mystery with family mysteries and some not so southern charm.

Greer House has been owned by the Greer family for over 100 years. Ida Greer had it built on top of the bones of a legendary alligator that she slayed to gain her fortune. The family continues their fortune by creating an alligator farm and Dart unsuspectingly inherits that farm after her mother dies. She must then figure out what is going on at the Greer House- is it the family curse or something else?

A great novel with deep characterization. Much more of a thriller/mystery than a horror in my opinion and as someone who was born in Florida, this one hit home. I enjoyed the pacing and the writing style and I did enjoy the prologue as well. I would recommend this one to anyone looking got a good southern gothic thriller!

[Holly Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply atmospheric, The House Built on Alligator Bones is the story of one girl's reckoning with her family past, and how the actions and attitudes of our descendants echo to the present. Good characterization, with an unreliable (yet human) narrator. I appreciated the depiction of the character's battle with POTS, as it is still a disease many do not understand. The only drawback was the draggy parts in the middle that seemed to build suspense but not deliver. The ending was still pretty solid, with the biggest strength being the incredible setting on Amelia Island, along with the theme of man vs. nature. Would recommend. #thehousebuiltonalligatorbones. #sophiahoneycutt #netgalley #goodreads

[Nasrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC
4 stars
After the death of her mother, Dart finds a letter from her great aunt, and finds out everything her mother told her about her family has been a lie. Determined to lean more about her long lost and wealthy family, Dart decides to travel to Greer House and it’s a massive alligator empire, however the more time she spends with her newly found family the more she realizes there’s something off about the Greer family.

This was an amazing southern gothic horror book. The vibes were spooky and suspenseful. Dart was such a complex character, she really grapples with wanting to be apart of this new family but has that burning suspicion of them. I loved the POTS representation and how she wasn’t infantilized or looked down on.

[kindle.babe · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Starting off with the cover--I LOVE LOVE the cover. Perfect for the book honestly. I am excited to see what Huneycutt comes out with next. Can now say I've read my first book about gator farming. This book had such a great storyline, setting and I enjoyed our characters and this book was very character driven. This was moody, eerie and had a dark loom overhead. You have a slow burn read with turns around the corners and mystery weaved through the pages.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Horror, Gothic, Southern, Thriller, Halloween, Gator Farming, Paranormal, Slow Burn, Family Secrets, Florida Swamps, Inheritance

Thank you NetGalley, Dutton, & Sophia Huneycutt, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Releasing on October 06, 2026!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely gothic with a unique setting and an unusual heroine with an appreciation for the beauty in decay. While the concept is similar to other gothic novels, with the main character arriving at an old family home and discovering that something is not right, the personality and background of Dart give the story its unique twist, and the alligator farm becomes a character in its own right.
The opening prologue lets you know that something is going to go down, but the devil is in the details, and it’s those details that keep you reading to discover how it’s all going to play out.

Disclosure: I received this book as a giveaway at the 2026 American Library Association conference.

[Ashley Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spooky, Southern gothic horror that pulled me in with its slow building dread. I really enjoyed how creative the concept is. Can't say I've read any other stories involving alligator farming. The writing is vivid and lush, making it easy feel immersed in every eerie and unsettling detail. The characters are messy and complex, which lends well to the generational family turmoil.
If you enjoy stories with complicated family histories, eerie mystery, and faulted characters, I recommend picking this one up!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Dutton for the digital ARC.