Book Review: The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty

 

From the publisher:

A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.

Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter's favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible happenings. The house is hungry. It's devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this "food" ever existed.

When Claire exploits the house's power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.

The House That Eats the Dead by Max Doty was published August 18th, 2026 by Bantam Books.

My Thoughts: This is a different sort of haunted house story. The house in question seems to be alive rather than haunted by a spirit. Things disappear or seem to be drained of their life force: flowers, food, a favorite stuffed animal, and more... At first frustrated, Claire learns how to deal with the house. She takes on an effort to try and train it to do her will. And she and her husband Tom find they have other needs for the house. 

I thought that when Claire bonds with the house, it was a most interesting plot point. I liked that she seemed to find ways to work with the house rather than just be its mistress. On the other hand it is terrifying when it becomes clear just what all the house is capable of doing. I don't want to say more here because it would involve spoilers. 

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars. I had to deduct one star for a serious pet peeve I have, even though I could kind of understand it in the story. I hate that saying more would involve a spoiler. Otherwise, the book is fantastic. I can almost see a sequel possible. And I would definitely read it, but alas the author mentions in his note that he intends to move onto other things and hopes that you have enjoyed your time with Claire and her family. If you enjoy haunted house stories and new takes on the subject, then this would be a good book for you. And as Spooky Season approaches, this would make a great read for the season. Check it out!

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #619: Hallowed Bones by Lucy Smoke

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: The first in the Sons of Salem series— a seductive, dark why-choose romance filled with cursed bloodlines, secret societies, and a powerful heroine destined to save the coven. With gorgeous and haunting printed edges!

Four men. One woman. Five families accused of witchcraft. A dark desire they all share.

I was warned to stay away from the Sons of Salem. Not because they’re monsters—but because they’re broken enough to recognize one. 

Ezra Bishop. 
Cameron Goode. 
Lyall Corey. 
Reyes Scott. 

And me—Haven Wardwell. 

Legacies. Witches. Something far worse than myths. 

Now that I’m here, there’s no telling what the Gods will ask for in return.

Ghosts haunt the corridors of Ipswich College, and if I’m not careful, I might just become one of them.

Hallowed Bones by Lucy Smoke is due out October 6, 2026 from St. Martin's Griffin. It's the first in the Sons of Salem series.

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoy books set in the Salem area as well as witchy books. It's also got cursed bloodlines, secret societies, and a strong female lead. All of which are a plus.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #618: I'm Not the Only Murderer at This Wedding by Fergus Craig

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: Fresh off a sentence for a murder she didn't commit (this time), retired serial killer Carol Quinn investigates a murder in the likeliest of places...a wedding.

Things are unexpectedly lively for the residents of Sherman Oaks Retirement Home. Carol's been wrongfully convicted and is back in prison, retired barrister Margaret is working to get her out, and ex-cop Geoffrey and ex-pathologist Catherine are set to marry. Luckily, Margaret gets Carol's sentence cut short just in time for her to attend the happy event.

Things don't stay happy for long, however, as the bride's disgruntled ex-husband, Nigel, turns up, warning her not to marry Geoffrey. Then, even more unfortunately, he's found murdered on the morning of the wedding with the spike used to hold the cake up. Can Carol and her friends solve the murder? Or will death do them part early?

I'm Not the Only Murderer at This Wedding by Fergus Craig is expected out February 16, 2027 from Berkley

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoyed the first book, I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home. It had humor and suspense as the 4 friends investigate the murder that Carol Quinn, retired serial killer, is suspected of doing. This book sounds equally as good. I thought the walker falling off the cake on the cover was a nice touch too.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Monsters of Ohio (sneak peek) by John Scalzi

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

 It’s existential, and rabbits don’t do existential. Existential requires a big brain and time to just sit around and think. You have neither; your brain is the size of a walnut and if you just sat around thinking, something would probably find you and eat you.

Scalzi, John. Sneak Peek for Monsters of Ohio (p. 6). Kindle Edition. 

Currently the sneak peek is available at Amazon for free. The full edition is expected out November 3, 2026 from Tor Books.

Friday Favorites: Female Protagonist Action/Adventure Novel Series

 

Action and Adventure books are more than a mystery. There is a mystery of some sort of course, but the focus is on the actions and adventures of the characters more than the mysteries alone. In no particular order, the following are some of my favorite action and adventure books.

The Revenge Services Inc. Series

Currently there are 3 books in this series by Alex A. King. Kick the Bucket is the first book in the series with a main character who is 44 years old.  The second and third books in the series have main characters in their 30s. All three main characters work for Revenge Services Inc. Someone has wronged you and you want to get back at them with creativity, you consult the Revenge Services. 

A substantial part of all three books takes place in Greece. Come for the mystery, stay for the action, adventure, culture, and humor. All three books are available for purchase or through Kindle Unlimited. I really like that the women are not 20 somethings and that the plots show a good deal of creativity.  

Poppy Fields Adventures

Follow the adventures of Poppy Fields starting with Fields' Guide to Abductions by Julie Mulhern. Poppy is an influencer and rich "IT girl." People follow her on social media and in the news. Then one day her life is changed forever when she is abducted by a Mexican Cartel while on vacation. She rises to the occasion with some missteps. I don't think it's a spoiler to say she survives with plenty of humor and snark since there are 8 books in the series at this point. In each book we get to know her and the other characters better as we follow her increasingly wild adventures. Again, the books are available by purchase or Kindle Unlimited.

Killers of a Certain Age series
 

And just in case pretty, young protagonists aren't your thing, there are Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn.  Four attractive, older women who previously had worked as hitwomen find themselves on the other end of the gun. The women are in their 60s. They find out someone has taken a hit out on them. They must work together if they are going to survive. Book two is a lot of fun too. 

And More:

There are plenty more books that fall into this category that make for fun reads: The Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, the Aunties series by Jesse Q. Sutanto, and the Confessions. of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman series by J.B. Lynn to name a few. 

What books in this category do you like to read? Share them in the comments so we can add them to our ever growing TBR list.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #617:The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: Small town secrets, a reluctant psychic, and a cold case that could expose them all.

Drew Benson can read tarot cards and get impressions from objects—she just never expected to use her gifts to investigate an infamous cold case.

Drew Benson has a secret. She gets visions, something she hasn’t tapped into since she was a teenager, when her late aunt, a TV psychic known as Hannah Mystic, became the scapegoat in the unsolved disappearance of a local teenager. Twenty years later, Drew is happy to ignore her gift, focusing instead on keeping the metaphysical shop she inherited from Hannah afloat, wrangling her sole, astrology-obsessed employee, and dodging local rake Foster Banks in her picturesque lakeside hometown.

But when Drew's arch-nemesis from high school, now a big city reporter, decides to investigate the cold case from all those years ago, it’s Drew’s ability that could finally make a break in the decades old mystery. With bills piling up, a disapproving mother laying on the guilt, and a local vandal who wants Drew and her witchy store gone, Drew has a lot to lose. But what she stands to gain—finding out what happened to the missing teen, clearing her aunt’s name, and a second chance at belonging—could change everything.

In The Mystic and the Missing Girl, Vikki VanSickle seamlessly draws readers into an utterly charming world in this unputdownable, small town mystery.

The Mystic and the Missing Girl by Vikki VanSickle is expected out September 8, 2026 from Minotaur Books.

Why am I waiting on this book? Tarot cards are fascinating. Couple that with the gift to get impressions from objects and you have some formidable talent. I'm curious about the main character tapping into her talents. And I want to know more about what happened to her aunt. I want to see a happy ending for her. The plot sounds interesting.

What book are you waiting on? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Book Review: A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

 

Ana and Din are called on to solve an unusual murder - one where the corpse isn't consistently at rest. Combine that with some Romeo and Juliet type plotting and you get two families at odds with each other threatening the peace of this area of the empire.

There is also more about how the empire works. This book talks about the keys to producing meat and keys for grain to feed the cattle. Din continues to be likable. Ana is weird as usual. Both Ana and Din have their observations and insights questioned before the surprising truth is revealed. I also liked the character of Fo, Din's sister. She was a surprise when he arrives in the canton. As the story goes on, the weirder things get. 

A Trade od Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett was released August 4, 2026 by Del Rey.

I gave the book 5 out of 5 stars. The world-building is excellent. With each new mystery,  new details of how the world works are revealed. The details of each mystery show wonderful imagination. 

While each mystery can be read as a standalone, the series reads better if you start at the beginning and work your way forward. The characters themselves are well detailed. And again with each new mystery, we learn more about each person. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy well-detailed people and complex characters as well as people who enjoy unusual mysteries and detailed world-building. It's defiitely worth a read. 

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.