I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A House With Good Bones by T. Kingfisher Published by Tor Nightfire on March 28 2023
Genres: Adult, Gothic, Horror
Pages: 256
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: T. Kingfisher mashes together Southern gothic creepiness, a cast of unforgettable characters, and plenty of humor in A House With Good Bones, a thoroughly entertaining haunted house story.
“There is probably something more awkward than the morning after you’ve found a jar of teeth and your mother has admitted she thinks she’s being haunted by your dead grandmother, but I couldn’t think of it.”
A new T. Kingfisher story is always a delight to read. Readers who loved The Twisted Ones, The Hollow Places or What Moves the Dead will also find a lot to love about Kingfisher’s latest. You know what you’re getting when you pick up one of her books—a smart, quirky female lead, a creepy family history of some sort, a possible love interest, laugh-out loud funny sections and terrifyingly weird scenes sprinkled in among the humor. I laughed and screamed practically in the same breath, and if that sounds like fun to you, then this is a must read.
Samantha Montgomery is a thirty-two year old, socially awkward archaeoentomologist who decides to visit her mother in rural North Carolina after an unsettling conversation with her brother Brad. Brad thinks something is “off” with Edie, so Sam decides it’s as good a time as any to check on her, especially since the dig she was working on was put on hold. Admittedly, Sam is a little hesitant to return to the house where she and her mother once lived with her stern, religious grandmother, but she’ll do anything to make sure her mom is OK. When she arrives at the house on Lammergeier Lane, she’s immediately struck by how different everything is. Not only does her mother look thin and anxious, but the once colorful walls of the house have been painted a depressing eggshell white, and outside a vulture perches on the mailbox. A horrifying Confederate painting hangs over the fireplace (a painting that once belonged to her racist grandmother), and strangest of all, Edie’s beautiful rose garden doesn’t have a single insect—which Sam knows is impossible.
When Sam starts having vivid nightmares and bouts of dream paralysis that involve her dead grandmother, she decides to consult Gail, a neighbor who is rehabilitating a flock of vultures. Gail admits that something strange is going on at Edie’s house, but it will take Sam digging into her mysterious great-grandfather’s past before all the pieces start to come together. With the help of Phil, a cute handyman, Gail and Edie, Sam is determined to uncover the truth behind the weird happenings in her mother’s house.
This is a haunted house story, but it’s not what you think. Kingfisher puts her own weird spin on that subgenre and takes her story in a much different direction than I was expecting, and boy was it fun! I don’t think anyone does the humor/horror combo the way Kingfisher does, she’s simply brilliant at making you laugh one minute and break out in goosebumps the next. There are some standard haunted house occurrences in the beginning, like objects falling off walls by themselves and strange noises, but later on the author introduces a very disturbing element involving a story than mean ol’ Gran Mae used to tell Sam and Brad when they were kids in order to make them behave. There’s even a subplot about witches and wizards, and I especially loved Edie’s rose garden, a group of thirteen rosebushes that are, um, out for blood. And let’s not forget the vultures, another unsettling element that makes you wonder what the heck is going on in that house. The story is packed with all kinds of things that don’t seem like they belong together, yet Kingfisher assuredly wrangles everything into a cohesive story.
Kingfisher’s characters leap off the page. Sam’s first person voice is light and breezy, as if she’s simply talking to a friend. And she’s funny. I spent a great deal of time laughing out loud at Sam’s observations of the world around her. Her job is to study insects at archeological sites, a career I didn’t even know existed! Leave it to Kingfisher to come up with something bizarre like that. Sam wants to believe there’s a rational explanation for all the weird things that are happening in the house, but eventually she has to admit that science can’t explain everything, and that’s a hard pill for her to swallow.
Gran Mae is the perfect villain, a racist Southern white woman too set in her ways to change. Sam recounts some of the awful things she did to her as a child, and it was nearly impossible to feel anything but disgust for her. But the author has a way of giving the most heinous of her characters a relatable, human side, and somehow she did just that with Gran Mae.
The last few chapters go to some very dark places, but almost in an absurd way, if that makes any sense. I did think the ending was rather abrupt, but I liked the way it ended too. I think readers are going to love A House With Good Bones, and if you’re a T. Kingfisher newbie, this would be a great place to start.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
So the latest Kingfisher book keeps alive that wonderful blend she manages so well of darkness and humor!
(not that I had any doubt about it…)
I have to admit that the image of the vulture perching on the mailbox made me laugh out loud thanks to the promise of wonderful craziness that this book hints at. Intriguing and very welcome review! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…GHOSTWRITTEN, by Ronald Malfi
The vultures are a wonderful touch, quirky but menacing at the same time, lol.
Yay! I’ve been looking forward to your review of this book before wanting to read it myself so now that I know you enjoyed it, I’ll have to pick it up soon. I love a good haunted house story and I love that the author puts her own weird spin on it. I can’t wait to find out what that actually means. Thanks for sharing, Tammy!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: Books for People Who Like Sarah J. Maas + Quotes!
I hope you get to read it, it’s so much fun:-)
Fab review! I totally loved this book too (my review is half-finished). You really capture it all so well. There aren’t many horror books that make me laugh as much as T. Kingfisher’s! I loved Sam and her job, Gail and the vultures, even the crazy old man across the street. 🙂
I’m looking forward to your review!
I’ve only read one T. Kingfisher book, but I really liked it. I need to read more for sure.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Reading The Lowest Rated Books On My Shelf
I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve of hers so far:-)
Awesome review Tammy..!!! I’m usually a no no on horror but it’s T. Kingfisher, so I’ve been eyeing this one and just got the audiobook. So, I’m glad to see your wonderful review. It definitely seems like something I will enjoy without being too horrified.
Thank you Sahi! I think the humor and characters make the horror a little less horrific. I hope you enjoy it!
This author just seems to be at the top of their game, and I very much hope that continues. They create such fantastic stories and characters. Very glad you enjoyed it and that I have another one to look forward to.
She really is at the top of her game, and she’s averaging two new books a year, so that’s good for her fans:-)
I haven’t read Kingfisher’s horror stories but I have enjoyed her other stuff. Maybe I should try this one.
Her horror is a lot of fun, definitely try one when you have time.
“I especially loved Edie’s rose garden, a group of thirteen rosebushes that are, um, out for blood.”
It reminds me of the fungus in What Moves the Dead…
Oh yeah! There are definitely similar vibes as What Moves the Dead.
Could not agree more! I had so much fun with this one, she probably could have just had Sam watching paint dry and I would have enjoyed it, let’s be honest. So glad you enjoyed it too, great review!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…March 2023 Wrap-Up Round-Up
Ha ha I agree! Just listening to Sam ramble was surprisingly entertaining.
Great review! I can’t wait to read this!
A horror story that can make you laugh at the same time sounds like something I need to check out, especially as I moved What Moves the Dead so much. Glad you enjoyed this 😀
I can’t wait to read this one! I love T. Kingfisher.
Jennifer | Book Den recently posted…Review | Chlorine by Jade Song
I still have yet to read a Kingfisher book, but I see all good things about them. I got my first ARC for an upcoming book of hers, so maybe I’ll be on the bandwagon soon!
Really loved this! It reminded me so much of The Twisted Ones in terms of style and tone, and that was my first book by Kingfisher. I felt that same strong connection to the story and Sam as well.
I can’t normally cope with horror – but it is Kingfisher, who I love. And the fact there’s so much humour makes me think I could cope with the darker stuff. A brilliant review that I’m finding very tempting, Tammy – thank you for sharing!
I honestly see only good reviews for that one Tammy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I love knowing what we’re getting with Kingfisher, and I loved the vultures in this one, haha. 🙂
Ive just read this and loved it.
Lynn 😀