Spite House by Johnny Compton
If you don’t know what a spite house is, stop reading and go google it because they are fascinating artifacts of human stubbornness. And also they look neat? Okay. To borrow a phrase, Spite House is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. The narrative bounces between several narrators, each of them with their secrets, no one ever fully revealing their hand before they have to. I loved the gradual reveals. It created a wonderful tension between characters as with each reveal, I had to reevaluate who might be in danger from whom, separate from the ghosts. I also loved the ghosts. Johnny Compton makes full use of the unique setting to create a pervasive sense of menace and claustrophobia. Add in the real world horror of being a black family in America, trying to move quietly and safely through Texas and, well, there’s a lot to keep you up at night.
drowsyreaper. 