The Spite House

I’m still on the hunt for a good ghost story. I decided to give The Spite House a read since it was marketed as a Southern Gothic. I did enjoy it, but I have some thoughts. So, let’s get into my review.

Synopsis

Eric Ross is on the run from a mysterious past with his two daughters in tow. Having left his wife, his house, his whole life behind in Maryland, he’s desperate for money–it’s not easy to find steady, safe work when you can’t provide references, you can’t stay in one place for long, and you’re paranoid that your past is creeping back up on you. When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them. The job calls to Eric, not just because there’s a huge payout if they can make it through, but because he wants to explore the secrets of the spite house. If it is indeed haunted, maybe it’ll help him understand the uncanny power that clings to his family, driving them from town to town, making them afraid to stop running.

My Thoughts on The Spite House

The Spite House had a lot going for it. I love a good southern gothic that features a haunted house. However, most of this story didn’t even take place in The Spite House. There was a lot of story building but little action. Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed learning the history of the house. But I would have liked to seen more of the story take place there.

Toward the end things started to come together. The tension built and I couldn’t wait to see it all unfold. But the big reveal didn’t catch me off guard at all. The author alluded to it a lot. But there were some other plot twists that took me by surprise. This whole story felt like a fever dream and there were so many unanswered questions. Overall, I had fun reading it, but I think it could have used a little polishing up.

My Rating: 3/5

Check out my rating chart here.