The September House
by Carissa Orlando
Summary
When Margaret and her husband Hal bought the large Victorian house on Hawthorn Street—for sale at a surprisingly reasonable price—they couldn’t believe they finally had a home of their own. Then they discovered the hauntings. Every September, the walls drip blood. The ghosts of former inhabitants appear, and all of them are terrified of something that lurks in the basement. Most people would flee.
Margaret is not most people.
Margaret is staying. It’s her house. But after four years, Hal can’t take it anymore, and he leaves abruptly. Now, he’s not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine—who knows nothing about the hauntings—arrives, intent on looking for her missing father. To make things worse, September has just begun, and with every attempt Margaret and Katherine make at finding Hal, the hauntings grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.
GoodReads Nominee for Favorite Horror 2023 and Nominee for Favorite Debut Novel 2023
My Review
I don’t read a lot of horror books, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The September House. Even more impressive is that this is Carissa Orlando’s debut novel, and it feels so polished and well-crafted.
I listened to the audiobook, which pulled me right into the unsettling atmosphere. The narrator’s performance was fantastic and gave me chills more than once. The story is creepy and eerie without being overwhelmingly terrifying, which made it perfect for me. It had just the right level of spookiness, and the atmosphere was wonderfully unsettling while still accessible. The tone never felt too heavy or depressing, making it an ideal choice for autumn or Halloween reading.
Margaret and her family were fascinating to follow, and the house itself was unforgettable. Every September, it comes alive with walls that bleed, ghostly figures in the shadows, and chilling screams at night. I loved how Orlando put a fresh spin on the haunted house trope, balancing mystery, dread, and intrigue in a way that kept me listening into the wee hours of the night.
What stood out most was how Margaret accepted the hauntings. Her relationship with the house gave it a personality of its own, almost like another character in the story. Their strange bond brought moments of humor, tenderness, and even warmth alongside the darker, more disturbing scenes. The emotional range kept me hooked, and the ending delivered some shocking twists I never saw coming.
This book reminded me of Grady Hendrix’s writing style, but I actually found Orlando’s writing even stronger. This book was a clever, inventive, and memorable read that I absolutely loved. I cannot wait to see what she writes next. Highly recommend!