The House on Blood Street

by Josh Hanson

Jack and Avery’s new home on Calliope Street is a fixer-upper’s dream. The lurid collage of pornographic clippings on the basement wall seems like a quirky (and campy) feature. But once thehouse awakens, what seemed harmless becomes as horrifying as the blood seeping from the carpet. The house is alive. It is intelligent. And it demands homage. Inspired by the surreal and graphic films of the Italian maestros as well as a meditation on obsession and the relationship between tragedy and art, The House on Blood Street evokes the myth of Orpheus and Euridice, mixing art, love, and death into a modern take on the haunted house.

Genres: Horror

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 29, 2026

About the author

Author of Calliope Street/House on Blood Street (2026), King’s Hill, the Woodcutters, Marshbank (novelette), and Minotaur (short stories). Fortress and Stacking Coffins coming soon. .

Josh hanson lives in Northern Wyoming with his family. He is a graduate of the University of Montana MFA program and teachers high school English. His work has appeared in the Horror Zine, The Chamber, as well as various anthologies.

Reviews

[Aaron Todd Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ | 2.5 🔪

The House on Blood Street was unlike anything I expected.

I loved Part One. I was completely invested in what was happening inside the house. It struck a great balance between giving you enough to keep theorizing while still holding plenty back. I loved the two main characters and their neighbors.

Part Two is much more surreal, symbolic, and almost psychedelic. I’ll be honest…a lot of it went over my head. I don’t think I fully understood everything Josh Hanson was trying to say, but I was still interested the entire time. I enjoyed trying to pick apart the imagery and symbolism, even if I never landed on one clear interpretation. It felt like the kind of story that isn’t meant to have one meaning.

Part Three felt a little disjointed, and I had a harder time settling back into the emotional side of the story. That said, I still appreciated where everything ended up. Even though I’m still not sure I know where that is… 😂

This isn’t a book I’d recommend to someone looking for straightforward horror. It’s much more interested in atmosphere, symbolism, and interpretation. I definitely feel like there’s a lot that I missed, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. It’s the kind of book that makes me want to hear what everyone else took away from it because I’m sure there are layers I haven’t uncovered yet.

[Amelia Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy and atmospheric haunted house story. I really enjoyed reading this book the intertwined story of the poems, movie and story about the previous owner was a really clever take that really added to the trippy surreal aspects of the story.

I was equally in parts shouting at the characters to investigate the collage and run run run far away

Thanks to black crow for the arc

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cursed Film Trope is BACK!

The House on Blood Street by Josh Hanson is a twisted and evil type of haunted house novel. It feels like a fever dream and that is projected through a film reel. It feels all too real and terrifying, but also like watching a classic Giallo horror. Jack and Avery move into a fixer‑upper on Calliope Street, where the most obvious red flag is a bizarre collage of pornographic magazine clippings covering a basement wall, complete with a dark hole at its center that seems to stare back at you. As they settle in, they learn about the house's violent history, the murder of a young woman named Becca Mays and the strange legacy of Arthur Boorman. The House on Blood Street was inspired by the very house they now occupy. Then the house wakes up. Blood seeps through the carpet. Ritual markings emerge. The line between art, memory, and reality begins to dissolve.

THIS IS A WEIRD BOOK! Not weird for the sake of being weird, but gloriously, intentionally surreal in a way that feels inspired by Argento, giallo cinema, and mythological tragedy all colliding together. The description of this story runs true. The deeper Jack and Avery fall into the house's orbit, the more the story becomes an exploration of obsession, creation, grief, and the cost of turning tragedy into art. The atmosphere is intoxicating, the imagery is unforgettable, and the house itself evolves into one of the most fascinating horror antagonists I've read in years. Think House of Leaves or the No-End House, but more twisted and "slashery." I often felt like I was reading a lost cult horror film rather than a novel, and I mean that as the highest compliment. This is the kind of book that burrows into your brain, leaves strange images behind, and dares you to keep staring into the hole at the center of the wall.

[Dara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it was only the first line of the book and they’d already found a creepy collage paper mache perv hole in the basement…I knew I needed to buckle up 😂

Books where the house is a main character are absolutely my bag, especially when it’s a horror! So thank you to the publishers for having me on the blog tour for ‘The House on Blood Street’ and sending me this wild ride of a book!

It’s split into 3 parts and they actually feel like 3 different books (without feeling disjointed) which kept it really refreshing throughout.

Part 1, ‘The House on Calliope Street’, is the longest and proper gave me the heebie jeebies! Hanson plays to our fears of the unknown so well and I was severely unsettled.

Part 2, ‘In the Locust Tree’ is more like a slasher and a lot more trippy. It’s written to be imagined in the style of the Italian giallo horror films, so this section will be particularly interesting to horror movie fans.

Part 3, ‘Camera Obscura’ feels almost apocalyptic and I quite literally could not put the book down by this point!

‘The House on Blood Street’ has so many themes running through it that I’ve found myself thinking about it a lot since I finished it. It would be an excellent book club choice, features a prominent transgender character and really packs a punch despite being just 300(ish) pages.

What it lacks in clarity it makes up in heart and I will never feel safe around a beaded curtain again.

[What-Rian-Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment Avery and Jack found the creepy display in the basement of the house on Calliope Street I knew I was going to be in for a wild ride reading this book.

It was a weird and wonderful blend of an old school slasher story mixed with a weird drug induced (I imagine like 70s Woodstock vibes) fever dream. But man did it work! From the fawns to Arthur to the “Cult” up in the hills.

I am still questioning so much about the ending of this book, I have so many questions, but I love that as it’s open to so many interpretations. Is the house haunted? Is it alive? Or is it both???

The main characters of Avery and Jack are each fantastic in their own way, I love how different the story pans out for each of them.

I don’t want to spoil the read so can’t say much more but if you want a weird wonderful haunted house horror then make sure you pick up this read! It won’t disappoint but may leave you full of questions and theories.

[SpookyxSpice]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC to review.

Unfortunately I DNF'd it at 20%. I could not bare the obnoxious, politically driven rants, collegiate drivel that both main characters constantly monologued. 90% of their inner thoughts don't even have to do with the story! Your main FMC doesn't even like her partner, it's written she never found him attractive so why are they fucking every now and then? This just felt discombobulated of two characters inner monologuing constantly while creepy stuff happens in their very clearly haunted house.
It might work for some audiences, it did not unfortunately work for me.

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the start of the book but it started going downhill from about halfway and I hated the ending!

[Eunice Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

If I had to pick one emoji to describe my experience with reading this, it's definitely this one: 😱. It’s that perfect mix of pure shock, utter disbelief, and the kind of "what did I just read?" feeling that lingers long after you close the book.

First off, can we talk about the cover? it's absolutely stunning and sets the tone perfectly for the story inside.
Honestly, this book is a trip. I’m usually not a fan of slow-burn stories, but this one completely hooked me. Even when I tried to pull away, I’d find myself picking it back up just two minutes later. I ended up staying up until 1:30 AM to finish it, and let’s just say my 6:00 AM alarm the next morning was very painful!
I’m honestly torn on this book,I can’t say I liked it, but I definitely can’t say I hated it, either. I enjoyed the story, but the ending left me absolutely heartbroken. It’s so ambiguous that I found myself literally swiping my screen, convinced I’d missed a hidden epilogue. (No, I won’t spoil it for you).

This isn't your typical slasher or jump-scare horror. It’s more of a psychological descent a story about living in guilt and being trapped within the confines of your own sanity. It’s not just about what’s lurking in the shadows; it’s about what’s lurking in your own mind.

I do have a slight bone to pick with the structure in the middle section. Personally, I would have enjoyed alternating perspectives more consistently throughout the novel. I found myself wanting a broader view of what was happening and how the different threads connected in real time. I’m sure the author made that choice intentionally to keep us off-balance. It’s the kind of pacing that makes you scratch your head and flip back a few chapters just to make sure you didn’t miss a clue.

The House on Blood Street is a strange, haunting, and deeply unsettling read. If you’re looking for something that will mess with your head and stay with you long after the final page, this is it.

[Niamh · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5

👤⭐️⭐️⭐️
📜⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🪓⭐️⭐️⭐️
✌🏼⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I feel like this book edged me

Thanks to Black Crow PR for the amazing edition of this!

Avery and Jack buy a bit of a fixer-upper on Calliope Street and doon in the basic is a weird titty collage that has a kinda, in my mind, glory-hole at the centre of it. Creepy shit starts going on, they learn about the previous owner and air - don’t wanna say too much.

This book wasn’t what I expected - I’m not typically a horror gal simply for the fact I feel the few I’ve read haven’t been that well written or just plain booooooring.

But this certainly wasn’t boring. The first part really hooked me and built the atmosphere - drip feeding us just enough but still stretching our heads.

The second half I felt leant away from the creep and horror aspects and more focused on imagery, symbolism and surrealism.

It’s not a typical horror or slasher - more psychological and a bit creepy.

Pissed me off that Avery and Jack just didn’t communicate well enough with each other about the spooky ass shit going on.
Also felt like shulpur or whatever it was never really got fully explained or had a significant part where it should have - maybe I missed it

Loved the fact that most of the chapters were incredibly short which helped make it feel more fast paced even tho it was a slow-burn.

As I’ve said in plenty other reviews - I don’t like repetition too much so felt that “rictus” was overused just coz it’s not a word you see so often so stands out to me 😂

Felt like a bit of a blend of Orpheus/Eurydice tale (which was referenced after I thought it I swear 😝) and The Star and the Strange Moon

I dont even know if I liked it. Actually kinda hated the ending. I like my stories all wrapped up, neat and definitive and this definitely did not give me this - hence the edging but like I never got to cum.

But. I still enjoyed it? Did I? Fuck knows.

Have I sold you on it???

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well...this was a wild ride.

Avery & Jack have just bought there first home, a fixer upper on Calliope Street. The basement holds a lovely collage of ladies parts with a hole in the middle. Wtf is that all about 🤣 clearly my head was in the gutter cause it wasnt what I thought 🫣

Things seem to be going fantastic until they arent. Noises can be heard, a strange symbol is found on the hardwood floor under the carpet, the basement is creepy... then Avery goes missing.

This is a book that you cant really give too much away about but I will say its not what youd expect and is a fantastical fever dream that keeps you hooked right till the end. I loved it, but I wanted a different ending. Thats just me and you'll can guess what outcome I wanted by the ending we get.

[Jessica 🌷 dissipatedpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Black Crow books PR for the digital ARC & the signed special edition copy ahead of my stop today on their socials tour! My rating and thoughts below are entirely my own.

It’s no secret that creepy haunted houses are among my favourite subjects in fiction, so of course I was looking forward to reading this book from the get go.

The best way for me to describe this book is to use three words: psychedelic fever dream. It’s weird in a good way and leaves you with an unsettling feeling as you progress through the story.

Jack and Avery were both interesting characters to follow, and I especially loved the trans representation in Avery’s character; the writer took a very natural and casual approach to this, and it was very refreshing.

I did feel a little disconnected at times throughout the story, like I couldn’t fully grasp what was happening, and I feel the ending will be something that divides readers; I definitely wanted a little more from the ending myself, but on the whole I did enjoy my time with this book, even if I still feel the lingering sense of unease days later.

Bottom line: If I ever move into a kinda old house with a decorated history and wind up finding a weird soft porn collage on a wall in the basement, I will be taking a flamethrower to that IMMEDIATELY.

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021]

The House on Blood Street is a unique horror story given to us in three parts. The short chapters felt like the pacing should have been quick but it felt slow, this story was definitely a slow burn.
To be honest I'm not sure how to review this story as it's totally different to what I was expecting, Part one felt it was building the scene and the characters were introduced and Part two took a turn I wasn't expecting, Part three didn't help clear anything up.
The atmosphere created through the writing was good, the history of the house was intriguing and the way that played out throughout really ramped up the eeriness of it all as I read but the confusion of where all this was heading was still in the forefront of my mind.

[Vicki (chaptersofvicki) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The House on Blood Street, it was different to what I expected but in a good way.

I was completely invested in everything going on at the house on Calliope Street. The book certainly didn’t waste anytime in getting straight into all the creepy and strange going’s on.

I really liked Jack and Avery. They were keen to know more about the history of the house. I don’t want to say too much and spoil anything.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen next. I liked the short chapters and that book was split into 3 parts. That ending though, I have questions.

[NoSaints · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book found me at perfect time because I’m into my weird fiction nowadays. Look at that cover!

The House on Blood Street by @josh_hanson_books is a fast paced gem that sets the scenery from the very first page. We meet Jack and Avery who are viewing a house on Calliope Street. In true horror fashion, when they discover a creepy as hell “art” they clap in happiness and buy the property. I did have a laugh but Jack and Avery are pretty self aware which quickly shows you that we are in for a treat.

And then we quickly meet Shurpu…

I enjoyed the horror and mystery and I really appreciated that the author gave depth to his characters instead of only focusing on the creepy factor. We quickly discover that Avery is a trans character, a representation always welcomed - you know I’m always keen on books, whether thrillers, crime, horror, fantasy, where the characters have different stories to tell and yet it’s not the only focus of the story.

I loved that I was hooked up immediately. The mix of real life horrors (renovating a house until you die or file for bankruptcy) and the surreal ones made me laugh a few times too. It was interesting to discover what the house was about, the previous owner, that movie, all the mysteries… it kept me hooked until the last page.

Can’t wait to read more from this author. Until next one!

Thank you for having me on this book tour @josh_hanson_books @blackcrow_bks @blackcrow_pr

📚📚📚
#bookreview #bookstagram #horror #weirdfiction #books

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunted house setting has always been a favourite trope of mine when it comes to horror. The House on Blood Street took that trope to another level.

Mind-bending madness, hallucinatory visuals, and an omnipresent sense of disturbia filled me with a deep sense of unease, the horror seeping into my pores.

The house was an entity, a character in it's own right. It's reverance real, and it's hunger enticing. The main characters were well written, had emotional depth, and were based on the Greek myths Eurydice and Orpheus.

Definitely a favourite.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5)

Thank you Black Crow Books for the eARC and finished copy!

This was a bit different than I was expecting, but I absolutely loved it.

Jack and Avery were instesting characters, I was intrigued to watch them start living in their new house and then kept going WAIT WHAT while the shenanigans of the house were going on. This wasn't the usual spooky house though, and the things it produced were both sad and a bit haunting (without a ghost being there to provide the scares!). The creepiness kicks in straight away, and I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting to know what was going to happen next.

I found this to be really atmospheric, and chilling at times, and this really is what makes the book. I also enjoyed that it was in three parts! The chapters were quick and kept me wanting to continue - if I had had more time for this, I would definitely have read this over a weekend in as few sittings as possible. I found the ending to be satisfying, although I would love for it to go just a bit further as it is left up to us to decide what would happen next.

I will definitely be checking out Josh's other works, as this was one of the best horrors I have read this year.

[Hannah Boyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Avery and Jack buy a house on Calliope Street for a brilliant price, they expect a bit of a fixer upper, but what they find is slightly more.. disturbing?

This book felt like a fever dream, and I loved every second of it. The first half of this felt like such an OG slasher story, reminiscent of horrors like scream. The second half was what I’d probably call incredible weird lit fic, and I was so here for it.

I really liked both Jack and Avery as MCs. I especially adored that whilst Avery was trans, and this was discussed, it was just another part of her, and it didn’t use her transness as some kind of narrative device.

If you like your endings to answer all your questions, this might not be for you. This book left me with a million questions and honestly? I’m fine with it.

This was nothing like I expected (in a good way). It feels hard to discuss without spoiling things, but if you love haunted (and alive) houses, I really recommend this one!!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Maritza Laurienzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying that this book definitely won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I often questioned what was actually happening throughout the novel. Instead of an unreliable narrator, the author essentially makes the entirety of happenings in the home feel unreliable and constantly had me questioning what was really happening.

I discussed this with a coworker who is really into horror cinema, and he mentioned that it sounded like a Giallo. Giallo is a subgenre of horror that emerged from Italian cinema in the 1960s. It can be broadly described as a stylized fusion of thriller and horror, typically focused on a sometimes erotic and always extremely violent murder mystery. Given the erotic elements, including the pornography our main characters encounter, as well as the author’s allusions to cult activity and the brutal murder that occurred in the home before Avery and Jack moved in, I definitely see the various ways in which this novel could have been inspired by that style of Italian cinema. I haven’t looked into it further to see if Giallo was an actual inspiration for the author, but I think it’s a really cool connection!

Additionally, while reading The House on Blood Street, I noticed elements that reminded me of other authors I love who explore hallucinatory and erotic horror, such as Clive Barker and Gretchen Faulkner. If those authors resonate with you, you'll likely enjoy the disjointed, surreal vibes that Josh Hanson explores.

This was a fun read and although I left it with questions unanswered I still had a good time. I was able to connect with friends and delve into some historical horror cinema conversations.

Thank you NetGalley and Black Crow Books for the eARC for my honest review

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to start describing the surreal experience I had reading this book! It is tragic, psychedelic, obsessive and suspenseful all at once! I definitely see the inspiration from the Italian surreal horror films from the 70s, due to the imagery, the confounding plot and the sexual elements. In addition we have hints of a cult and a gruesome murder happened in the house that Avery and Jack recently bought and moved into.

Whilst the main characters are nothing to write home about, I was more intrigued by the plot and its execution, divided into three main parts, with the last two where the madness and the surreal truly unfold. I loved the second part with Avery as the main protagonist, trapped in this living house that is stuck in time when a specific traumatic event happened, a house that was brought to life by a deluded poet playing with the supernatural.

The last part features Jack, desperate and lonely, trying to find Avery and bring her back. In his delirious conviction and desperation he makes a film aiming to bring his wife back to him, literally descending into madness and into the realm of the dead, like a modern Orpheus. Would he succeed? Well, you have to read the book to find out!

Whilst I enjoyed the psychedelic elements, the surrealism and the non-linear plot, I feel this is not a novel for everyone. This novel is pure experience, where the reader needs to leave behind any logical thinking and just enjoy the ride, like watching a film at the cinema, which is exactly what I did!

Thanks to Black Crow Books for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Claire Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩸 A House That Hungers 🩸

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some haunted houses whisper. Others scream. The House on Blood Street does something far more unsettling – it seduces.

Josh Hanson has crafted a haunted house novel that feels more like a fever dream; dripping with atmosphere, obsession, and beautifully grotesque imagery. Every room seems to breathe, every wall watches, and every page pulls you deeper into a nightmare where love, grief, and art become impossible to separate.

What begins as a quirky renovation project for Jack and Avery quickly spirals into something deeper. The house itself is a magnificent creation: intelligent, malevolent, and strangely mesmerising. It's impossible to look away, even as our unsuspecting couple plunge into darkness. Hanson masterfully balances surreal horror with genuine emotional weight, making everything feel terrifying because of what it reveals about the people trapped inside it.

The prose is hypnotic, rich with vivid, almost cinematic descriptions that evoke bold colours and dreamlike terror. But beneath the visceral horror lies a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the dangerous lengths we'll go to preserve both memory and beauty. There’s a haunting emotional resonance that lingers long after the final page, elevating the novel beyond its blood-soaked premise.

Verdict: This isn't a haunted house story that relies on jump scares or familiar tropes. It's strange, ambitious, deeply unsettling, and gloriously original. By the time I closed the book, I felt as though the house had left its mark on me, too. It's a mesmerising descent into beautiful madness.