Eric and his family are running, from what we don't know. Only that they don't stay in one place too long, he takes cash-only jobs, and if anyone shows too much interest, they are off to the next place. They are running low on funds when Eric spies an opportunity in the paper. They are looking for someone to catalog their paranormal experiences and the payout is big... so big it could set Eric and his family up for a good long while, and help them put down some roots somewhere permanent.

The activity begins almost immediately, and Eric quickly realizes that his daughters aren't safe, however, he needs something from the house beyond the money, and he isn't leaving until he gets what he's come for.

The house is spooky AF, ghosts are everywhere, and the woman who owns the house is keeping secrets about the house and what happened to the others that came before Eric.

I loved the relationship between Dess and Stacy, the spooky vibes were A+, and I totally wish this book were longer. I can't wait to read what Johnny Compton comes out with next.

3.5 stars - I thought this was a fresh angle on a haunted house story that was pretty successful and entertaining on the whole. I wish there hadn't been so many POVs... keeping it tightly to Eric, Dess, & Stacy would have been more suspenseful I think. Still, this felt genuinely creepy in a lot of places and I liked the ultimate progression of the reveals and scares

Genre: Horror

Synopsis: A father leaves his home and his wife in Maryland to move to Texas with his 2 daughters. Eric found a well-paying job to live in the Spite House. The homeowner warned him of the haunted house and that all the previous people hired had been too spooked to stay. His objective was to stay at the house and report all paranormal activity back to her.

The narrator (Adam Lazarre-White) made my listening experience pleasant. His deep and definitely matched the vibe of this book. 2 thumbs up.

The cover in itself got me- it gave me the creepy Haunted on Hill House vibes. The book was very easy to listen to. The first 25% of the novel was plot and setting so hang in there. When the family finally gets to the house is where the action begins. Chapters are a mixture of long and short chapters. The story is told by multiple characters of the novel (similar to the Paris Apartment). A few of the scenes creeped me out but I did really enjoy it.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC copy of this novel.

What an exciting take on a haunted house story that is full of interesting characters, an intriguing mystery, and a lot of heart! This is a quick read, but it is well-paced, and it doesn’t sacrifice character for brevity. The characters are intriguing and have depth, and the core relationship at the heart of the story is believable and feels both desperate and real. The story itself, this particular take on what haunts a house, and why and how, feels fresh and exciting, exploring not just legacy and trauma but also what it means to hold onto certain stories of the past, certain emotions and ideas of who you are. The writing itself is refreshing and direct. Nothing too flowery or poetic, but everything feels natural, nothing forced or hackneyed, and it was a delightful and compelling read in that regard. The writing pulled you along and allowed you to be there, with the characters, without feeling anything heavy-handed. The structure, where each chapter swapped to different POVs, including occasional POVs outside of the three primary characters/family members, was great. It kept the story moving, allowing for various build-ups and opportunities for tension building, while also letting the story feel well-rounded.

Throughout the story there are reflections on social justice issues, that are almost incidental insofar as they are a normality for the main characters, not the primary antagonists in the story, which I really enjoyed. With a story that is centered on a Black family in contemporary America, of course racism, personal and structural, is an implicit character, always lurking in the background. Nothing feels preachy or message-y about this story, but there are enough small touches, or flourishes, that remind you that the certainty of safety is different for different people.

The one thing keeping this from a five-star read for me, and this may seem to contradict my praise for its pacing, is that I wanted there to be just a little more. There are so much depth in the premise, and so many ideas set up, that I would have liked to luxuriate in this world longer. The pace and intensity does help emulate the characters’ sense of anxiety, but I felt like there was room to play with some of the mysteries, add more set-pieces and scares, and really just take a little more time in the fears, inherited and otherwise, that are flowing through the different characters. This was a short enough read that I feel like there could have been an additional hundred pages before it started feeling bloated or dragging, especially since the jumping POV allows for a structural dynamism that just allows more avenues of exploration. I wasn’t disappointed with the conclusion, what was left unanswered or where various characters ended up, I just felt like there could have been a lot more happening before they got there and finished the book feeling a little wanting. That said, I would rather a tight novel that gets in and out and leaves me wanting a little more than one that tires me out and makes me lose interest in the characters before the third act. So, I enjoyed this story, and I heartily recommend it for anyone, especially if you enjoy the haunted house subgenre.

I want to thank the author, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow, somewhere between a southern gothic, a haunted house trope, and a story about grief & trauma, lies The Spite House. I grew up in a town with its own spite house, so the title alone intrigued me. I am so pleased I picked this one up. Johnny Compton is a fantastic writer, with a unique voice in the horror genre. His take on a haunted house, and how it becomes haunted, is a fresh take on the subgenre. With its paranormal investigation and the "did that or did it not happen" moments, it felt like a descendant of The Haunting of Hill House (my favorite book).

I loved his descriptions of the house and its otherworldly inhabitants. His take on generational trauma and the physical manifestations of grief isn't something I have read in other horror novels. It makes you question just how much is passed down to us from our ancestors, and if there is ever a way to break the curse of generational trauma.

While there are certainly elements I enjoyed about this book, I was left feeling so-so at the end. It was an enjoyable read, don't get me wrong! I liked that it had elements akin to Haunting of Hill House, which I absolutely adored; the idea of a spite house unwilling to let those that enter, leave. However, the back and forth between characters took me out of the story too much; I think I may have preferred the book to be solely based from Eric's POV. I think perhaps it would have created a more cohesive story. I still think that this book is worth your time and I am definitely interested and looking forward to reading more of Johnny Compton's work.

Eunice needs to know the secrets of death; even if it puts others in harm’s way. As a child, she saw her aunt Val die an excruciating death while exclaiming, “You can’t have her!” Since then, she has become obsessed with finding evidence of the paranormal, to converse with the dead. She wants to know what lies beyond death, and believes that Masson Mansion—also known as the Spite House—is the gateway.

Jane and Max Renner are paranormal experts hired by Eunice to document any ghostly activity at Spite House. They are not the first, and, most likely, they will not be the last. Jane begins to experience the affects of the house almost immediately. After several weeks, her husband finds her laying on the floor unable/unwilling to move. As he tries to pull her out of the house, she states that something—or someone—has taken a part of her and refuses to give it back: “I can’t leave me behind.” When they finally make it through the door, her husband hears a scream coming from the house that sounds just like Jane.

Eric answers the advertisement for a new caretaker at Spite House. He and his daughters are on the road either running from or running to something. This is the kind of job for a man who wants to stay hidden. As they have their first look at the house, eighteen-year-old Dess describes the house as gaunt, gray, old, and sickly. Her seven-year-old sister, Stacy, observes that the house looks hungry. Are they describing a house or a human?

This is a tale on the lines of gothic ghost and haunted-house stories made popular during the mid-to-late 1800s. The exterior of the house—reminiscent of the façade of Shirley Jackson’s Hill House—is visually off-kilter. There are unexplained voices, footsteps, and doors that open and close without explanation. The walls are soddened with the sins and obsessions of the dead, affecting the inhabitants. The house, an almost living and breathing character, acts on its own volition.

This is Johnny Compton’s first novel, and I appreciate the parallels he draws between the African American family central to this story, and the events surrounding the house, town, and people. I highly recommend this scary book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Tor Nightfire Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Spite House did what it needed to do and entertained me . I found the beginning to be a bit slow and wanted more horror. I like the setting and atmosphere and overall will be good spooky season read.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of The Spite House.

This is a fantastic spooky debut by Johnny Compton. The book draws you in at the beginning and doesn't stop. I love haunted house books and The Spite House doesn't disappoint.

Eric is moving his two daughters to a new town to escape a secret he is hiding. He comes across an ad that is looking for someone to stay in The Masson House and document any paranormal happenings for a large sum of money. What Eric things is an easy job turns out to unleash unspeakable horrors

🏚️ The premise of this book is fantastic. I was completely drawn in by the synopsis, and the actual story gave me even more than I expected!

🏚️ I had no idea what a spite house was, but now I know I’ve actually seen them before. Have you ever seen a house built to specifically irritate a neighbor? That is a spite house.

🏚️ The book did have a general gothic feel to it, and it was genuinely scary at times, but I personally would have enjoyed a few more atmospheric moments in the house.

🏚️ There was one significant plot point that appeared toward the end of the story that I was not expecting at all. I can’t tell you what it was (huge spoiler if I do!), but I loved this extra bit of information. My only beef is that there wasn’t a good explanation about why this new thing occurred in the first place. I felt like this new situation needed some more explaining and a purpose behind how/why it happened at all. That said, it was still super creepy and added to the fear factor of the story for sure!

🏚️ There is a lot of history covered in the story, which is understandably necessary to explain some of the hauntings and what is going on. However, I did feel like the focus on the historical background bogged down the story just a bit.

🏚️ I love that cover!

🏚️ If you are looking for a decent haunted house story, give this a shot. I do have some lingering questions about what happened with one of the characters, but overall it was a good read with some genuine scares. For a debut novel, I’m pretty impressed and I’ll be looking out for the author’s next book.

Thank you @NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge/Tor Nightfire for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A Spite House! What a novel idea. I absolutely loved the promise of this book. Creepy kids, a haunted house, a family on the run, a cast of questionable characters, The Spite House has all the characteristics of a fantastic horror novel.

This book started off strong. I was enthralled from the very start. Unfortunately, it lost steam for me. The multiple and I mean multiple POVs were a bit too much for me. I feel like some POVs could have used more focus and elaboration and some could have been completely left out. I could have used more of Eric and the Masson’s backstory and less of Dana, Luanda, and Millie. I also think it would have been interesting to have the POV of the house itself.

I did enjoy the 3 main characters. Creating a horror story surrounding a spite house, which is a real thing by the way, (I googled it) was brilliant. A spite house just sounds like it’s destined to be haunted. The ideas were there. I personally felt like they didn’t play out. I was left with more questions than answers and that is what ultimately lead to my lower review.

This debut novel is the perfect for readers of gothic noir, mysteries and horror novels.

The story unfolds as Eric and his two daughters are fleeing their home in Maryland. Hiding from his past and trying to keep his daughters safe, he is desperate for a safe, paying job. When he finds an ad for a caretaker of the Masson House, the most haunted house in Texas, he thinks he may have found the ideal situation. All he needs to do is record his observations of paranormal activity while staying in the house. As long as he can tolerate the scares and terrors of living there.

A haunted house story that gradually reveals why the family is running away. This debut is creepy and compelling with the perfect spooky setting for a horror novel. It will keep you reading late into the night.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I love haunted house stories so the premise of this sucked me in. What kept me going was that I wanted to know why Eric and his daughters were on the run. I was not expecting the the reason why! The book was creepy but it left me with some questions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for this electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. My review will be posted on my Instagram (@booksandbackstreet) closer to the publishing date.

When I saw the title for The Spite House, I was all in. A gothic haunted house? Yes please!

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me and left me wondering why it was being called “gothic.”

I can see the huge influence that the author took from The Haunting of Hill House. And I have to give it up for the way that the house/ghosts/hauntings manifested. That part was fantastic and I really did want more of the house itself.

However, gothic horror usually has a slow burning atmospheric build of spine chilling horror. I found the atmospheric build to be lacking with The Spite House.

This book contains multiple POV’s, which I usually enjoy. But I felt like in this case it really took away from the story. And I’m left with A LOT of questions and no answers.

The relationship between Dess and Stacy was fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed their characters.

I think that if you’re new to horror, especially gothic horror, then this might make a decent entry book. But as a seasoned gothic reader, it just left me wanting more.

The Spite House is a genuinely terrifying haunted house tale filled to the brim with secrets that only reveal themselves little by little. The main protagonists: Eric and Dess are endearing and genuine. The reader can’t help but root for them, even though they are harboring a secret that keeps them on the run with the youngest daughter, Stacy.

Once The Spite House enters the picture, the scares are quick and the terror builds. What really amps up the terror is the unraveling mystery of the spite house. It sits atop a cliff above a now abandoned and decrepit orphanage. All of this sits on land that is riddled with death and betrayal.

Be prepared to lie awake, haunted, by the events that unfold. The Spite House is an unforgettable read.

Eric is on the run. He took his daughters, left his wife behind, and hit the road. There is no way anybody is going to believe how events unfolded, even his wife. Finding odd jobs that pay cash, he has stopped in Texas. He believes he needs to return to the beginning, to the first time he saw someone that should have been dead.
Stopping somewhere in Texas, Eric sees an advertisement for a paranormal specialist. This rich woman in Degener, Texas needs someone to document paranormal happenings in a house she owns. Why she would need this Eric doesn’t know but maybe it will answer some questions of his own and the money is advertised as being very good. Hopefully he can make enough money to get him to his final destination, Odessa, Texas, to his grandfather’s house.
Eric can’t believe his good fortune, Eunice hires him straight out. He has a nagging feeling though that Eunice hasn’t told him everything about the house. Still the money is good and he sure needs it. Their first night in the house, they can all feel the malevolence of the Spite house and they don’t have to wait long before things start happening. In the middle of the night, things got so bad, Eric takes his girls to stay with Eunice. In the light of day, Eric wonders if he has taken on more than he handle.

I loved this debut novel. It is very atmospheric and creepy. This thriller will have you curled into a ball and hiding under a blanket as you listen with dread for the next bump or whisper in the night! Caution – will cause nightmares!

Thank you, Tor and NetGalley, for providing me with the ARC!
This was a pretty creepy read. It almost reminded me of Pet Sematary if Pet Sematary was wholesome and took place in a haunted house. The two different plotlines (figuring out Stacy's character and figuring out what happened in the house) didn't converge as much as I expected them to. When the book ended, and I flipped from the last page to the acknowledgments section, I was left thinking, "Wait. . . that's it?" I was kind of disappointed because the book has such a spooky, unnerving atmosphere to start with, but ended up just not wrapping things up properly. If there were a planned sequel, the ending would've made more sense, but by itself, it didn't explain/expand on things enough.

Would you agree to stay in a haunted house and document your findings for a six figure salary? That's the premise of the story when a father takes his two daughters to Texas and agrees to live in the local haunted house. Interesting take on the haunted house theme with some genuinely creepy occurrences.

Creepy as it can be! I love it! It gave me goosebumps and I just burn through it! If you love gothic horror you should give it go!

The Spite House is incredible. I don't know where to begin with everything I loved about this novel. The characters, the plot, the setting, everything. One thing I especially love is how the horror element in The Spite House isn't one that relies on gory descriptions or literary "jump scares" (and that's not a criticism! I love gory descriptions and literary jump scares!). The horror lies in the dread and anticipation of everything to come, all the questions without having the answers, and just the feelings that Johnny Compton evokes with his writing. I don't know how to talk about everything I love about this book without giving away spoilers, but I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend it and can't wait to read more from this author!