A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

A House with Good Bones

by T. Kingfisher

A haunting Southern Gothic from an award-winning master of suspense, A House With Good Bones explores the dark, twisted roots lurking just beneath the veneer of a perfect home and family.

"Mom seems off."

Her brother's words echo in Sam Montgomery's ear as she turns onto the quiet North Carolina street where their mother lives alone.

She brushes the thought away as she climbs the front steps. Sam's excited for this rare extended visit, and looking forward to nights with just the two of them, drinking boxed wine, watching murder mystery shows, and guessing who the killer is long before the characters figure it out.

But stepping inside, she quickly realizes home isn’t what it used to be. Gone is the warm, cluttered charm her mom is known for; now the walls are painted a sterile white. Her mom jumps at the smallest noises and looks over her shoulder even when she’s the only person in the room. And when Sam steps out back to clear her head, she finds a jar of teeth hidden beneath the magazine-worthy rose bushes, and vultures are circling the garden from above.

To find out what’s got her mom so frightened in her own home, Sam will go digging for the truth. But some secrets are better left buried.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Sam Montgomery is a paleoentomologist, which is basically the fancy way of saying she studies insects found in ancient sites. She loves the work, even if it occasionally results in her getting furloughed for indeterminate amounts of time.

The good/bad news is that Sam will be spending some time with her mom. Unfortunately, something isn't right. There's a lingering feeling of wrongness in her mom's house. Not to mention that her mom seems to be constantly on edge. What could it be?

My Review:

Man, does T. Kingfisher know how to create the perfect setting for a horror story. You'd think something as banal as a home in a small neighborhood wouldn't be so creepy. But when it's done right... I'm trying to say that A House with Good Bones is a must-read for all paranormal and horror fans.

I think all the familiar elements help create that profoundly unsettling feeling. We all have that one family member with extremely outdated (read: racist) views. Likewise, who doesn't have an attic a little too full of junk?

This sets the tone for everything that follows, as Sam and her mother quickly find themselves in the center of something much darker. Interestingly, there's a lot of depth and layers to this horror/paranormal incident. That made it all the more compelling. Not everything is so black and white - even in the paranormal world.

Bonus points for having a paleoentomologist main character that is unashamed of her weight and the potential romantic subplot. Sam's character is perfect, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

Highlights:
Ghost Story
Horror
Gothic Fantasy
Paranormal

Trigger Warnings:
Familial Trauma
Mental Health Concerns
Food/Fat Shaming

Thanks to Tor Nightfire and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 April, 2023: Finished reading
  • 8 April, 2023: Reviewed