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Sick House
It's a home invasion from beyond the grave in this novel of unrelenting terror from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of PRESSURE, DWELLER, and WOLF HUNT.
It doesn't seem like the perfect house, but screw it, it's good enough to rent for a year. Unfortunately for Boyd, Adeline, and their two young daughters, it's immediately clear that they chose the wrong place.
The nightmare begins with violent coughs and headaches. Food starts to rot almost as soon as they take it inside. A pet tarantula goes missing. Some family members begin to exhibit creepy behavior.
Then the ghosts arrive, and all Hell breaks loose...
It doesn't seem like the perfect house, but screw it, it's good enough to rent for a year. Unfortunately for Boyd, Adeline, and their two young daughters, it's immediately clear that they chose the wrong place.
The nightmare begins with violent coughs and headaches. Food starts to rot almost as soon as they take it inside. A pet tarantula goes missing. Some family members begin to exhibit creepy behavior.
Then the ghosts arrive, and all Hell breaks loose...
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2018
633 people are currently reading
1496 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Strand
229 books2,212 followersBram Stoker Award-winning author of a bunch of demented books, including PRESSURE, DWELLER, CLOWNS VS. SPIDERS, AUTUMN BLEEDS INTO WINTER, MY PRETTIES, the official novelization of ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, and lots of others!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
April 2, 2025
"His head was pounding so violently that he literally believed that something might be trying to escape from it. Literally. At this point, why couldn't there be a creature inside there, hammering with its clawed fists, cracking his skull a bit more with each punch? Soon it would shatter his cranium, wriggle its way out, and slither away to wreak havoc.
Would it really be so bad if he died now?
Yes. He wasn't ready to die.
But he wasn't sure he had a choice"
A slowly devolving, fast paced paranormal activity and gorefest of the creepy kind. Excellent read. Had so much fun with this one!
I highly recommend.
Would it really be so bad if he died now?
Yes. He wasn't ready to die.
But he wasn't sure he had a choice"
A slowly devolving, fast paced paranormal activity and gorefest of the creepy kind. Excellent read. Had so much fun with this one!
I highly recommend.
October 4, 2019
Boyd Gardener receives a promotion and moves with his family to a new town and into a new house. Problem is, the hause is haunted. A witch (Gina Atherton) murdered the three killers of her sisters in an extremely violent and brutal way (you are explicitly told here with many gory details). At first only groceries turn bad then ghostly action turns against the Gardeners. Will the Gardeners survive? (what a questions). And what will happen to Gina and the transformed house? The novel starts with a fine prologue (eerie details about bone collecting) but then the story gets cheesier and turns more into a horror travesty with many splatter elements. The fight with the ghosts goes on endlessly and wasn't very intriguing to be honest. I liked the scene when a police officer knocked at the door of the haunted house as neighbours complained about noises and a rotten smell (ha, ha). I missed some eerie and uncanny elemens here. This was more the hack and slay kind of horror not nailbiting psychological tension with historical element. If you are into violent witchy ghost horror you might risk a glance.
November 9, 2018
When Boyd Gardener gets a job in another town, he moves into a rental property with his wife and their two daughters. Odd things start happening, like food spoiling, and people getting ill. But there are far worse things in store for the Gardener family inside... THE SICK HOUSE!
I'm a big Jeff Strand fan and I finally pulled the trigger on buying this a couple weeks ago. I'm glad I did.
Sick House is told in two threads, that of three men hired to kill an old woman and Boyd Gardener and his family. It wasn't all that apparent just how the threads would intersect at first.
After Cyclops Road and Blister, I think I let my guard down a little. I won't make that mistake again. Jeff Strand spends the early portion of the book introducing Boyd and his family. Once you get to know them and like them, he unleashes the bad shit upon them. There's a lot more blood and gore in this than from a lot of Jeff Strand's recent books. There were times I didn't think any of the Gardeners would survive.
That's about all I want to reveal. It was an exciting haunted house tale, a type of horror that typically goes for the slow burn. Sick House was like having someone hold your hand to the burner of a stove. Once they turn the burner on, it's only a matter of seconds before you're smelling roasted skin. While I don't put this on the level of Kumquat, my favorite Strand book, it's definitely up there. 4 out of 5 stars.
I'm a big Jeff Strand fan and I finally pulled the trigger on buying this a couple weeks ago. I'm glad I did.
Sick House is told in two threads, that of three men hired to kill an old woman and Boyd Gardener and his family. It wasn't all that apparent just how the threads would intersect at first.
After Cyclops Road and Blister, I think I let my guard down a little. I won't make that mistake again. Jeff Strand spends the early portion of the book introducing Boyd and his family. Once you get to know them and like them, he unleashes the bad shit upon them. There's a lot more blood and gore in this than from a lot of Jeff Strand's recent books. There were times I didn't think any of the Gardeners would survive.
That's about all I want to reveal. It was an exciting haunted house tale, a type of horror that typically goes for the slow burn. Sick House was like having someone hold your hand to the burner of a stove. Once they turn the burner on, it's only a matter of seconds before you're smelling roasted skin. While I don't put this on the level of Kumquat, my favorite Strand book, it's definitely up there. 4 out of 5 stars.
April 22, 2018
3.5*/5*
SICK HOUSE is yet another example of Jeff Strand's crazy and sick mind. What fun!
It's a relatively short book written in such a way that it just flies by. There's crime, violence, murder, witchcraft, a haunted house, lots of blood and gore and a satisfying ending. What else is there to say?
Recommended for those who like their in horror in short, bloody bites!
*I bought this book with my hard earned money and it was worth it!*
SICK HOUSE is yet another example of Jeff Strand's crazy and sick mind. What fun!
It's a relatively short book written in such a way that it just flies by. There's crime, violence, murder, witchcraft, a haunted house, lots of blood and gore and a satisfying ending. What else is there to say?
Recommended for those who like their in horror in short, bloody bites!
*I bought this book with my hard earned money and it was worth it!*
September 27, 2025
I do have a warning for readers with queasy stomachs as there is quite a bit of torture and gore in the beginning of the book. So if you cannot handle extreme situations then this book might not be for you, but the readers that love torture, gore, and extreme horror, then by all means pick up this book!
Small backstory:
Boyd and Adeline Gardner along with their children, Naomi and Paige move into a new home as Boyd has a new job and they wanted to be close to his work. The family hasn't been in the house very long and they notice something is happening to the groceries they bought. Some of the food is in an advanced stage of molding and rotting. They are concerned that there is something wrong with the air quality of the house, so they have an inspector that comes out to the house.
The inspector cleans the air ducts and everything seems fine with the air quality to the point of the groceries are no longer rotting. That night though things change and the atmosphere in the house shifts. When ghosts make an appearance is when things start getting freaky and the Gardners find themselves trapped in the house with no escape.
Who are the ghosts? Why are they haunting the house? What happens to the Gardners when the ghosts appear? Are the Gardners able to escape the house? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book.
Thoughts:
This was a new author to me and I wasn't disappointed as this book Sick House was a crazy ghostly mess! Some of it was spooky, but it was mostly suspenseful, tense, and downright twisted!
This book kicks off fast in the first chapter and the momentum of the book picks up speed as the more I became involved in the story line, the more I wanted to continue reading to see what would happen next. When the ghosts make an appearance is when the book kicks into high gear and doesn't let up all the way to the end. Giving this book four "Twisted Haunted Terror" stars!
Small backstory:
Boyd and Adeline Gardner along with their children, Naomi and Paige move into a new home as Boyd has a new job and they wanted to be close to his work. The family hasn't been in the house very long and they notice something is happening to the groceries they bought. Some of the food is in an advanced stage of molding and rotting. They are concerned that there is something wrong with the air quality of the house, so they have an inspector that comes out to the house.
The inspector cleans the air ducts and everything seems fine with the air quality to the point of the groceries are no longer rotting. That night though things change and the atmosphere in the house shifts. When ghosts make an appearance is when things start getting freaky and the Gardners find themselves trapped in the house with no escape.
Who are the ghosts? Why are they haunting the house? What happens to the Gardners when the ghosts appear? Are the Gardners able to escape the house? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book.
Thoughts:
This was a new author to me and I wasn't disappointed as this book Sick House was a crazy ghostly mess! Some of it was spooky, but it was mostly suspenseful, tense, and downright twisted!
This book kicks off fast in the first chapter and the momentum of the book picks up speed as the more I became involved in the story line, the more I wanted to continue reading to see what would happen next. When the ghosts make an appearance is when the book kicks into high gear and doesn't let up all the way to the end. Giving this book four "Twisted Haunted Terror" stars!
January 28, 2024
Another fun one from Strand!! The last 60% was a non stop thrill ride. I don’t know how he’s able to maintain such constant tension that just doesn’t let up once it’s starts.
It’s about this small family that move into an old home with an unfortunately dark past, and very quickly some odd things start to happen. First the food all starts to go bad, then a few of them get sick, then they start having these strange thoughts, and I’ll just leave you with that 😅 things get INSANE. This was a really unique take on the traditional haunted house.
I will say, this one did have a really slow start. I knew things were gonna get crazy, but this is probably the slowest build of any of his books I’ve read so far, but again, once it starts it just doesn’t stop.
It’s about this small family that move into an old home with an unfortunately dark past, and very quickly some odd things start to happen. First the food all starts to go bad, then a few of them get sick, then they start having these strange thoughts, and I’ll just leave you with that 😅 things get INSANE. This was a really unique take on the traditional haunted house.
I will say, this one did have a really slow start. I knew things were gonna get crazy, but this is probably the slowest build of any of his books I’ve read so far, but again, once it starts it just doesn’t stop.
August 10, 2019
The first third of this was good. There was a lot of fun playful banter between the dad and his oldest daughter. When the "weird" things started happening with their new house, it was eerie... but then enter the ghosts, and after that it just became too over-the-top goofy for me.
June 2, 2022
Haunted House!!
This was a lot of fun, but not the kind of horror which I was expecting. It started off quite creepy with Boyd and his family moving into a new house, in a new town, due to receiving a work promotion. To begin with, the family start developing flu like symptoms, and fresh food was going mouldy within the day. It turns out the house is haunted by 3 ghosts, who were murdered in the house, by the sister of the woman, these 3 guys had tortured and killed. I thought this may have been a supernatural, creepy kind of horror, but tbh it was quite funny in parts, despite there being lots of blood, violence. The first half of the book was quite creepy but the second half was mostly involving the family trying to fight these ghosts, who want to fulfill a ritual so that they can come back in human form. This was creepy, funny, bloody, with lots of gore, and some witchcraft, all wrapped up in a haunted house.
This was a lot of fun, but not the kind of horror which I was expecting. It started off quite creepy with Boyd and his family moving into a new house, in a new town, due to receiving a work promotion. To begin with, the family start developing flu like symptoms, and fresh food was going mouldy within the day. It turns out the house is haunted by 3 ghosts, who were murdered in the house, by the sister of the woman, these 3 guys had tortured and killed. I thought this may have been a supernatural, creepy kind of horror, but tbh it was quite funny in parts, despite there being lots of blood, violence. The first half of the book was quite creepy but the second half was mostly involving the family trying to fight these ghosts, who want to fulfill a ritual so that they can come back in human form. This was creepy, funny, bloody, with lots of gore, and some witchcraft, all wrapped up in a haunted house.
July 4, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a good time with this book. This was a really nice change of pace which was exactly what I was looking for. I don't read horror all that often but I almost always enjoy it when I do decide to pick one up. This was a really quick read that hooked me right from the start. I am so glad that I decided to pick up something a little different than my usual reading fare.
Boyd and his family are excited to get a fresh start when he gets a promotion. They find what they believe to be a perfect house for their family in their new town and are thrilled to move in. Then some strange things start happening. Food goes bad almost as soon as it comes into the house. There is an incident with the family's pet tarantula. Then things really start to get crazy.
I really liked Boyd and his family right from the start. They really seemed to be excited about the move and they kept a pretty positive attitude about things until events became out of control. I loved the way that Boyd and his wife, Adeline, always put the kids first and did everything in their power to protect them. The kids seemed to handle things better than could be expected and some pretty important scenes in the book revolve around them so they were important players in the story.
I did enjoy the first half of the book a bit more than the second half. I was almost holding my breath trying to figure out what was going on in this house. I knew that something big would happen and I think the anticipation really added to the overall enjoyment for me. After some of the big events started, the excitement level stayed at a very high level until the book came to a conclusion. I did enjoy the action and liked that there were some pretty creepy and gory scenes but the mystery of the story seemed to fade a bit. I did appreciate the epilogue and liked that there were a few surprises saved until the very end of the novel.
This was my first experience listening to Joe Hempel's narration and I kind of feel like I might have been missing out. I thought he did a fantastic job with this book and I am pretty sure that I liked the story even more because I made the decision to listen to the book. He did a great job with all of the voices and was able to add a lot of excitement to the story. I definitely hope to listen to more books by this narrator in the future.
I would recommend this book to horror fans. This was a really interesting take on a haunted house story with plenty of gruesome and scary moments to keep things entertaining. This was my first time reading any of Jeff Strand's work and I look forward to reading more in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the narrator or author via Audiobook Boom.
Initial Thoughts
This was a nice change of pace for me. There were some pretty creepy and rather gory scenes in this tale of a family and their new home. I liked the first part of the book when the family was just trying to figure out what was going on quite a lot. The second half of the book was pretty much non-stop action until the end. I thought that Joe Hempel did a fabulous job with the narration of this one and I will be looking for more of his work in the future.
I had a good time with this book. This was a really nice change of pace which was exactly what I was looking for. I don't read horror all that often but I almost always enjoy it when I do decide to pick one up. This was a really quick read that hooked me right from the start. I am so glad that I decided to pick up something a little different than my usual reading fare.
Boyd and his family are excited to get a fresh start when he gets a promotion. They find what they believe to be a perfect house for their family in their new town and are thrilled to move in. Then some strange things start happening. Food goes bad almost as soon as it comes into the house. There is an incident with the family's pet tarantula. Then things really start to get crazy.
I really liked Boyd and his family right from the start. They really seemed to be excited about the move and they kept a pretty positive attitude about things until events became out of control. I loved the way that Boyd and his wife, Adeline, always put the kids first and did everything in their power to protect them. The kids seemed to handle things better than could be expected and some pretty important scenes in the book revolve around them so they were important players in the story.
I did enjoy the first half of the book a bit more than the second half. I was almost holding my breath trying to figure out what was going on in this house. I knew that something big would happen and I think the anticipation really added to the overall enjoyment for me. After some of the big events started, the excitement level stayed at a very high level until the book came to a conclusion. I did enjoy the action and liked that there were some pretty creepy and gory scenes but the mystery of the story seemed to fade a bit. I did appreciate the epilogue and liked that there were a few surprises saved until the very end of the novel.
This was my first experience listening to Joe Hempel's narration and I kind of feel like I might have been missing out. I thought he did a fantastic job with this book and I am pretty sure that I liked the story even more because I made the decision to listen to the book. He did a great job with all of the voices and was able to add a lot of excitement to the story. I definitely hope to listen to more books by this narrator in the future.
I would recommend this book to horror fans. This was a really interesting take on a haunted house story with plenty of gruesome and scary moments to keep things entertaining. This was my first time reading any of Jeff Strand's work and I look forward to reading more in the future.
I received a review copy of this audiobook from the narrator or author via Audiobook Boom.
Initial Thoughts
This was a nice change of pace for me. There were some pretty creepy and rather gory scenes in this tale of a family and their new home. I liked the first part of the book when the family was just trying to figure out what was going on quite a lot. The second half of the book was pretty much non-stop action until the end. I thought that Joe Hempel did a fabulous job with the narration of this one and I will be looking for more of his work in the future.
February 7, 2018
SICK HOUSE, by Jeff Strand is a pulse pounding horror novel with some extremely unique, gory scenes. Another thing that makes this story stand out among other "haunted house" themed books is Strand's own darkly comedic touch interlaced throughout. While this helps to lighten the mood in places, the tension is still felt to be amping up the further the reader progresses.
Boyd Gardner and his family--wife, Adeline, and daughters Paige and Naomi--are moving to a new town due to his job placement. While the move is a definite step up for them, they decide to rent a house for the first year.
"Though it wasn't as if they were suddenly fabulously wealthy monocle-wearing socialites, the lives of the Gardners were about to get a lot better."
Even in the beginning, you can feel the undercurrent of "wrongness" once they settle into their newly rented house. It is all-pervasive, lingering even when you're reading the most innocuous of scenes. At first, it's only small things, but with the rapid pacing and culmination of other minor events, it is quickly apparent that this is not exactly their "dream house".
"What if it was built on an ancient burial ground where people from India were horribly murdered?"
"Then we should probably move . . . "
Of course, there is a gruesome subplot worked in that really gets your attention, in a much more overtly horrific manner. Along with a woman named Gina, who likes to play with the bones of deceased animals . . .
". . . The quickly rotting fruit was bizarre, but this was crossing the line into flat-out disturbing . . . "
Personally, I can't get enough of Strand's writing style. His fast, fluid style, and sarcasm-laced comments make you feel as though you're witnessing a scene in person, no matter how outlandish or paralyzing the subject material. These are the kind of books that go by too quickly. When I reach the end, it's almost with regret that the journey is over.
In SICK HOUSE, the apparitions are something much more than your average, garden-variety ghosts. These are twisted, sadistic, and gruesome beings.
You won't like the games they want to play.
" . . . never, ever considered that . . . demise might come at the hands of a homicidal ghost . . . "
The Gardners are instantly likable characters, which makes their plight all the more an urgent, compulsive read. When things get bad, you'll feel as though you're right in the middle of it with them--although merely an impotent observer.
". . . I thought my sanity was doing pretty well, all things considered. Oh, look, my hand is a snake."
Overall, this novel had all of the key components that I expect in a great story: believable characters, a fantastic, tense atmosphere, and a malevolent opposition to contend with. This is a book that is sure to be on my list of top reads of the year, as well as one to be re-read in the future.
Highest recommendation!
Boyd Gardner and his family--wife, Adeline, and daughters Paige and Naomi--are moving to a new town due to his job placement. While the move is a definite step up for them, they decide to rent a house for the first year.
"Though it wasn't as if they were suddenly fabulously wealthy monocle-wearing socialites, the lives of the Gardners were about to get a lot better."
Even in the beginning, you can feel the undercurrent of "wrongness" once they settle into their newly rented house. It is all-pervasive, lingering even when you're reading the most innocuous of scenes. At first, it's only small things, but with the rapid pacing and culmination of other minor events, it is quickly apparent that this is not exactly their "dream house".
"What if it was built on an ancient burial ground where people from India were horribly murdered?"
"Then we should probably move . . . "
Of course, there is a gruesome subplot worked in that really gets your attention, in a much more overtly horrific manner. Along with a woman named Gina, who likes to play with the bones of deceased animals . . .
". . . The quickly rotting fruit was bizarre, but this was crossing the line into flat-out disturbing . . . "
Personally, I can't get enough of Strand's writing style. His fast, fluid style, and sarcasm-laced comments make you feel as though you're witnessing a scene in person, no matter how outlandish or paralyzing the subject material. These are the kind of books that go by too quickly. When I reach the end, it's almost with regret that the journey is over.
In SICK HOUSE, the apparitions are something much more than your average, garden-variety ghosts. These are twisted, sadistic, and gruesome beings.
You won't like the games they want to play.
" . . . never, ever considered that . . . demise might come at the hands of a homicidal ghost . . . "
The Gardners are instantly likable characters, which makes their plight all the more an urgent, compulsive read. When things get bad, you'll feel as though you're right in the middle of it with them--although merely an impotent observer.
". . . I thought my sanity was doing pretty well, all things considered. Oh, look, my hand is a snake."
Overall, this novel had all of the key components that I expect in a great story: believable characters, a fantastic, tense atmosphere, and a malevolent opposition to contend with. This is a book that is sure to be on my list of top reads of the year, as well as one to be re-read in the future.
Highest recommendation!
December 2, 2021
Boyd, Adeline, and their two young daughters move into a house they have rented for a year. They thought they were getting a good deal. They were wrong. Headaches, violent coughs, and brand new food rots within hours. The homeowner left out the part where she brutally murdered all three of her sister's killers in the basement. The murder ghosts have found a way to return, but first they need some bodies.
I found this book hilarious. I have a wicked sense of humor so this appealed to my inner spirit. The one liners had me cracking up. I recommend this book if you want a good horror story with some laughs thrown in.
🐱🐱🐱🐱
I found this book hilarious. I have a wicked sense of humor so this appealed to my inner spirit. The one liners had me cracking up. I recommend this book if you want a good horror story with some laughs thrown in.
🐱🐱🐱🐱
July 8, 2018
I think I may have rented a similar place on Airbnb.
Want to read
April 22, 2018This hardcover is numbered 14 of 62 copies produced and is signed by Jeff Strand.
February 14, 2018
2.5 stars
I’ve been meaning to try a Jeff Strand book for awhile, and I was loooking for something quick and entertaining, and this fit the bill. There was nothing groundbreaking here, but it was a fun book. I’ll probably read some more from him in the future.
I’ve been meaning to try a Jeff Strand book for awhile, and I was loooking for something quick and entertaining, and this fit the bill. There was nothing groundbreaking here, but it was a fun book. I’ll probably read some more from him in the future.
October 31, 2019
I thought I would like this but weirdly, it just wasn't for me.
January 17, 2022
The entire time I was reading this, I was thinking, "Damn, this guy is creative. Damn, this guy is unhinged. Damn, this guy is really creative!"
It's a fun book that screams JEFF STRAND! But if it's deep, psychological horror you're looking for, this isn't the story for you. While it starts out as a classic haunted house story (and a really great one), it quickly morphs into so much more...with a raw and unapologetic splatterpunk vibe. It totally worked for me, but I can see how it would be jarring for some.
4.5 stars for me! (Would have been 5 if not for poor Gordon.)
Available on Amazon!
It's a fun book that screams JEFF STRAND! But if it's deep, psychological horror you're looking for, this isn't the story for you. While it starts out as a classic haunted house story (and a really great one), it quickly morphs into so much more...with a raw and unapologetic splatterpunk vibe. It totally worked for me, but I can see how it would be jarring for some.
4.5 stars for me! (Would have been 5 if not for poor Gordon.)
Available on Amazon!
September 23, 2019
SICK HOUSE by Jeff Strand was not the Jeff Strand I'm accustomed to so far. I knew he had stuff out there that was more gruesome and viseral that what I'd been exposed to before and now I've found some of that stuff in SICK HOUSE. It is not by any means an extreme horror or splatter punk book or a gory slasher for that matter. But when it gets down to the blood, he spares no drop to be spilled.
The story leans less on humor and more on horror. Yes, the signature Jeff Strand humor is in there if only to stand as a moment of comic relief before he churns the bile in your ducts once more. This is half ghost story, half home invasion story. It's engaging as always and pulls you in from the jump as Jeff Strand is apt to do. Late in the second act and into the third act, I did feel the pace slowed as it seemed the story was trying to find its resolution (in short it read a little like Strand was trying to write himself out of a corner.) I don't know if that is the case or not, just the sense I got while reading.
All in all, SICK HOUSE is an excellent horror story worthy of any with horror sensibilities to check out. It shows the range that Jeff Strand is known to have and should be a must read for fans and the curious alike. Just make sure you keep your sick bag at your side, you may need it.
The story leans less on humor and more on horror. Yes, the signature Jeff Strand humor is in there if only to stand as a moment of comic relief before he churns the bile in your ducts once more. This is half ghost story, half home invasion story. It's engaging as always and pulls you in from the jump as Jeff Strand is apt to do. Late in the second act and into the third act, I did feel the pace slowed as it seemed the story was trying to find its resolution (in short it read a little like Strand was trying to write himself out of a corner.) I don't know if that is the case or not, just the sense I got while reading.
All in all, SICK HOUSE is an excellent horror story worthy of any with horror sensibilities to check out. It shows the range that Jeff Strand is known to have and should be a must read for fans and the curious alike. Just make sure you keep your sick bag at your side, you may need it.
February 15, 2018
SICK HOUSE is scary as shit!
Boyd, Adeline and their two daughters move into the wrong house...
Three ghosts want to come back to the living world...
How do you fight something you can't hurt or kill?
This is one of the darker Strand books that I've read and it leans more toward full-frontal horror. It sucked me in and gave me a very scary ride...and I loved every second of it!
Recommended to all fans of horror...if they can handle it.
Boyd, Adeline and their two daughters move into the wrong house...
Three ghosts want to come back to the living world...
How do you fight something you can't hurt or kill?
This is one of the darker Strand books that I've read and it leans more toward full-frontal horror. It sucked me in and gave me a very scary ride...and I loved every second of it!
Recommended to all fans of horror...if they can handle it.
Read
September 5, 2025RTC…!
August 5, 2018
Sick House was a very quick read and it certainly had its creepy moments. I have been wanting to read an Jeff Strand book for some time now but I'm a little disappointed, to be honest. Sure it had its blood and gore. I just didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. I guess perhaps I had my expectations set too high? I don't know! I feel like it had so much potential but sadly it just didn't hit its mark. The writing was decent and I did enjoy the characters, therefore, I decided to go ahead and give it the three stars! I'm sure I'll give another one of Strand's books a try eventually. Better luck next time :) I hope.
December 23, 2022
‘Sick House’ by Jeff Strand is over the top in sadistic violence, horror and haunted-house stereotypes! The book is definitely a hilarious 300-page joke, but omg, by the middle of the novel it is one stomach-turning scene after another. I had to skim sometimes, well, maybe more often than sometimes, gentle reader. But I also guffawed. A lot. Like huge belly laughs. Horror genre fans looking for something wickedly fun will LOVE this novel! It’s full-frontal adult horror with genre wit, but also incredibly juvenile in humor! It reminded me of the witty slasher movie, Scream. But non-horror readers, if they manage to read through at least chapter fifteen before wretching, will probably back away very slowly from you if they see what book you are reading and take notice that you are laughing!
I have copied the book blurb because it is accurate:
”It's a home invasion from beyond the grave in this novel of unrelenting terror from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of PRESSURE, DWELLER, and WOLF HUNT.
It doesn't seem like the perfect house, but screw it, it's good enough to rent for a year. Unfortunately for Boyd, Adeline, and their two young daughters, it's immediately clear that they chose the wrong place.
The nightmare begins with violent coughs and headaches. Food starts to rot almost as soon as they take it inside. A pet tarantula goes missing. Some family members begin to exhibit creepy behavior.
Then the ghosts arrive, and all Hell breaks loose...”
The book is shockingly disgusting if you don’t enjoy reading horror, but it is surprisingly funny if you do. But if you think horror stories should always be serious, ‘Sick House’ will seem disrespectful. And seriously, I will be backing away from you!
I have copied the book blurb because it is accurate:
”It's a home invasion from beyond the grave in this novel of unrelenting terror from the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of PRESSURE, DWELLER, and WOLF HUNT.
It doesn't seem like the perfect house, but screw it, it's good enough to rent for a year. Unfortunately for Boyd, Adeline, and their two young daughters, it's immediately clear that they chose the wrong place.
The nightmare begins with violent coughs and headaches. Food starts to rot almost as soon as they take it inside. A pet tarantula goes missing. Some family members begin to exhibit creepy behavior.
Then the ghosts arrive, and all Hell breaks loose...”
The book is shockingly disgusting if you don’t enjoy reading horror, but it is surprisingly funny if you do. But if you think horror stories should always be serious, ‘Sick House’ will seem disrespectful. And seriously, I will be backing away from you!
August 22, 2023
Pretty good. I liked the rules for the ghost here, as they have the ability to interact with the human world with relative ease. Makes the ghost a lot more threatening. Also adds some uniqueness to the story so it doesn't just feel like every other ghost story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2018
Boyd, Adeline and their two daughters are moving. Boyd, received a promotion, and he wants to move his family closer to his new job. In the begging, everything seems to be fine. Then strange things began to happen. Food begins to rot in a matter of hours. The family started hearing strange noises, getting headaches, and even having strange nightmares. Even the pet tarantula escaped. When they find the tarantula, it was covered in green mold. It seems that Boyd and his family are not the only ones, who are inhabiting this house. This was one hell of a twisted roller coaster ride. This book, is filled with sarcasm, dark humor, and fast paced fun. This story reminds me of The Three Stooges, meeting The Wicked Witch of the West. This is the first book that I have read by Jeff Strand. His sarcasm, and dark humor, makes for an interesting story line. I plan on reading more from this author. I highly recommend it.
January 19, 2018
Jeff Strand's Sick House was, AMAZING!!
Sick House, was a non-stop read!! Could not put it down!! Definitely NOT for the weak of heart or if horror gives you nightmares...LOL.
A promotion at work, more money and having to relocate to a rental home (a home with a few issues....lol), send this family into a total Twight Zone life! Can our intrepid family survive? You'll have to read to find out!! Don't forget to leave a few lights on, if you read at night....
Sick House, was a non-stop read!! Could not put it down!! Definitely NOT for the weak of heart or if horror gives you nightmares...LOL.
A promotion at work, more money and having to relocate to a rental home (a home with a few issues....lol), send this family into a total Twight Zone life! Can our intrepid family survive? You'll have to read to find out!! Don't forget to leave a few lights on, if you read at night....
August 30, 2018
This is my first read for Jeff Strand's books. and It will not be the last.
Anyway, I will try to give you a brief synopsis for this book.
In past… there was a girl who is in to collecting dead animals bones and rearrange them in weird way in shallow graves.
Three killers come to an old woman's house trying to seek her forgiveness for killing her sister.
Present time.. Small family move in to a rented house.. The nightmare begins with violent coughs and headaches. Food starts to rot almost as soon as they take it inside. A pet tarantula goes missing. Some family members begin to exhibit creepy behavior.
Book filled with ghosts, dark magic, paranormal activities and horror moments.
I liked it and enjoyed reading light horror book because I am not in to the heavy ones.
Anyway, I will try to give you a brief synopsis for this book.
In past… there was a girl who is in to collecting dead animals bones and rearrange them in weird way in shallow graves.
Three killers come to an old woman's house trying to seek her forgiveness for killing her sister.
Present time.. Small family move in to a rented house.. The nightmare begins with violent coughs and headaches. Food starts to rot almost as soon as they take it inside. A pet tarantula goes missing. Some family members begin to exhibit creepy behavior.
Book filled with ghosts, dark magic, paranormal activities and horror moments.
I liked it and enjoyed reading light horror book because I am not in to the heavy ones.
June 26, 2018
My original SICK HOUSE audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Usually, the haunted house and the home invasion story are two separate tropes within the horror genre, although it could be argued the two certainly have a fair share of overlap, particularly in terms of how the terror is delivered. In Sick House, Jeff Strand tears down whatever walls were separating these particular types of stories to deliver a tale of a home invasion from beyond the grave, one that is, in typical Jeff Strand tradition, laced with plenty of humor in between buckets of blood and gore.
Few authors straddle the realms of comedy and horror as well as Strand, and it can be a difficult balancing act to simultaneously make a reader laugh and feel grossed out. For Strand, though, it’s a natural talent and his comedic chops are firmly on display here. Paige, the thirteen-year-old daughter of new homeowners Boyd and Adeline Gardner, is quintessentially Strand, constantly trying her parents with her outlandish, ribald commentary that leaves Boyd demanding to know, “Why are you so comfortable with me?!” The dialogue between each of Strand’s characters is witty and tack-sharp, and it’s always a pleasure to listen to the character’s conversations unfold.
This lightness, however, is offset by moments to makes you squirm and, eventually, sheer brutality. Shortly after moving into their new home, the Gardener’s begin to notice that their freshly bought groceries rot with incredible swiftness, and soon several of them become ill. Odd occurrences mark their days with increasing rapidity until the ghosts finally make their presence known and the terror sets in. Strand delivers a number of extremely well-executed and shockingly violent set pieces as the Gardener’s struggle to survive, but it comes with a minor caveat. Some of the metaphysical shenanigans got a little too cartoonish for me, but I still found Sick House to be solidly entertaining overall.
Joe Hempel’s narration is wonderfully straight-forward, which serves to help keep the material grounded. I think that a less capable narrator might be inclined to ham it up and lean hard into some of the book’s slapstick elements, but Hempel acts as the straight man to Strand’s comedic stylings. Hempel and Strand make for a great double act, and I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Joe to not crack up at some of the material he reads here. Thankfully, the narration is smooth and flawless, uninterrupted by gales of laughter and gasps of discomfort, which is left entirely up to the audience to supply.
[Note: Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com]
Usually, the haunted house and the home invasion story are two separate tropes within the horror genre, although it could be argued the two certainly have a fair share of overlap, particularly in terms of how the terror is delivered. In Sick House, Jeff Strand tears down whatever walls were separating these particular types of stories to deliver a tale of a home invasion from beyond the grave, one that is, in typical Jeff Strand tradition, laced with plenty of humor in between buckets of blood and gore.
Few authors straddle the realms of comedy and horror as well as Strand, and it can be a difficult balancing act to simultaneously make a reader laugh and feel grossed out. For Strand, though, it’s a natural talent and his comedic chops are firmly on display here. Paige, the thirteen-year-old daughter of new homeowners Boyd and Adeline Gardner, is quintessentially Strand, constantly trying her parents with her outlandish, ribald commentary that leaves Boyd demanding to know, “Why are you so comfortable with me?!” The dialogue between each of Strand’s characters is witty and tack-sharp, and it’s always a pleasure to listen to the character’s conversations unfold.
This lightness, however, is offset by moments to makes you squirm and, eventually, sheer brutality. Shortly after moving into their new home, the Gardener’s begin to notice that their freshly bought groceries rot with incredible swiftness, and soon several of them become ill. Odd occurrences mark their days with increasing rapidity until the ghosts finally make their presence known and the terror sets in. Strand delivers a number of extremely well-executed and shockingly violent set pieces as the Gardener’s struggle to survive, but it comes with a minor caveat. Some of the metaphysical shenanigans got a little too cartoonish for me, but I still found Sick House to be solidly entertaining overall.
Joe Hempel’s narration is wonderfully straight-forward, which serves to help keep the material grounded. I think that a less capable narrator might be inclined to ham it up and lean hard into some of the book’s slapstick elements, but Hempel acts as the straight man to Strand’s comedic stylings. Hempel and Strand make for a great double act, and I can only imagine how hard it must have been for Joe to not crack up at some of the material he reads here. Thankfully, the narration is smooth and flawless, uninterrupted by gales of laughter and gasps of discomfort, which is left entirely up to the audience to supply.
[Note: Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com]
January 28, 2018
Oh, Jeff Strand... you’re just awesome
Okay, so... although this was not my favourite Strand novel, it still just reeks of awesomeness. It starts off a bit slow, until you meet “the three stooges” who are Heck, Fletch, and Maddox. The story becomes even more intriguing when you throw in Gina. You then get to take a crazy ride into “what the fu__” when the Gardners find out what kind of house they rented. The best part of this novel is the unrelenting sarcasm that Mr. Strand usually uses in his novels. It keeps the story, although gory and vicious, a little lighthearted and totally readable. I thought it equally amazing to have such strong woman characters in Gina, Paige, and especially Adeline (you just don’t mess with a momma with her cubs). Thanks, Mr. Strand, as a huuuuuggggggeeee fan, I am very much looking forward to reading your next adventure.
Okay, so... although this was not my favourite Strand novel, it still just reeks of awesomeness. It starts off a bit slow, until you meet “the three stooges” who are Heck, Fletch, and Maddox. The story becomes even more intriguing when you throw in Gina. You then get to take a crazy ride into “what the fu__” when the Gardners find out what kind of house they rented. The best part of this novel is the unrelenting sarcasm that Mr. Strand usually uses in his novels. It keeps the story, although gory and vicious, a little lighthearted and totally readable. I thought it equally amazing to have such strong woman characters in Gina, Paige, and especially Adeline (you just don’t mess with a momma with her cubs). Thanks, Mr. Strand, as a huuuuuggggggeeee fan, I am very much looking forward to reading your next adventure.
September 16, 2021
I was really liking the book and enjoying it until it got to the end. The ending was not to great in my opinion actually made me not like book nearly as much as I was. I've read many Jeff Strand books and so far this has to be my least favorite book.
July 6, 2018
When Boyd gets a promotion, he has to rent a new place closer to work, they find a house they think is perfect for them, but things start turning bad pretty quickly! Food starts spoiling nearly as soon as it's brought into the house, Boyd starts feeling sick, and the rest of the family start acting weird. But it's when the ghosts start turning up that things take a descent into darkness.
The plot of this was good...ish. The first half of the book was intriguing, entertaining and had me hooked, but then things start going weird and that's why it's a 4 star and not a 5 star read. The author builds the tension nicely from the start, and I loved that! It made me eager to see what was going to happen next. I even liked it when the ghosts came and things started ramping up, but then Gina enters and things just go weird. Never the less, the plot was good and I liked it for the most part.
I liked Boyd and his family. They just want a nice place to live, but are thrown into something that shouldn't involve them. The most uncomfortable parts were to do with the daughter. It broke my heart and was tough to read!! One thing I've seen with this author is how he makes such great characters! They are easy to like and I was rooting for them all the way through.
In all, this was a good read. Even with it being so dark, it still had a lot of funny moments which added much needed levity to the overall story.
Joe Hempel is one of the best, especially when he reads Horror. He knows how to bring the atmosphere and tension to life. He has plenty of tones and voices for all the characters and was easy to listen to.
The plot of this was good...ish. The first half of the book was intriguing, entertaining and had me hooked, but then things start going weird and that's why it's a 4 star and not a 5 star read. The author builds the tension nicely from the start, and I loved that! It made me eager to see what was going to happen next. I even liked it when the ghosts came and things started ramping up, but then Gina enters and things just go weird. Never the less, the plot was good and I liked it for the most part.
I liked Boyd and his family. They just want a nice place to live, but are thrown into something that shouldn't involve them. The most uncomfortable parts were to do with the daughter. It broke my heart and was tough to read!! One thing I've seen with this author is how he makes such great characters! They are easy to like and I was rooting for them all the way through.
In all, this was a good read. Even with it being so dark, it still had a lot of funny moments which added much needed levity to the overall story.
Joe Hempel is one of the best, especially when he reads Horror. He knows how to bring the atmosphere and tension to life. He has plenty of tones and voices for all the characters and was easy to listen to.
March 9, 2021
Second strike
It's a home invasion from beyond the grave in this novel of unrelenting terror. More like a wanna be gory three stooges story? I read The Haunted Forest Tour and it was ok so I decided to give Strand another shot. I wanted to like the book and the writing is fine. Strand's conversational passages left much to be desired yet it was better in this book than HFT. There was too much repetition (in both books) for me. I actually was alright with this book until the ghosts arrived - maybe 70 to 80% in. That last portion of the book was literally painful to finish. I am sure there is a market out there for this author but it is not for me. For that reason alone I rounded up to a 2 star.
It's a home invasion from beyond the grave in this novel of unrelenting terror. More like a wanna be gory three stooges story? I read The Haunted Forest Tour and it was ok so I decided to give Strand another shot. I wanted to like the book and the writing is fine. Strand's conversational passages left much to be desired yet it was better in this book than HFT. There was too much repetition (in both books) for me. I actually was alright with this book until the ghosts arrived - maybe 70 to 80% in. That last portion of the book was literally painful to finish. I am sure there is a market out there for this author but it is not for me. For that reason alone I rounded up to a 2 star.
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