After reading a couple of this author’s books, I’m thinking Kingfisher might make my auto-buy list.

Sam is an archaeoentomologist, a profession I’d never heard of, and studies insects in archaeological remains. Which sounds so cool to me – and yes, I realize that may sound weird to many people. Her current dig was shut down for several weeks, so she’s heading to NC to visit her mother. The visit is also to check on the mental status of her mother since Sam’s brother says something seems off with her. Sam isn’t home for long before she notices several oddities – a lack of insects in the beautiful backyard rose garden, a gang of vultures hanging around the house, and odd sticky notes her mom posted around the house. Then there’s the jar of teeth she finds in the backyard.

Sam is such an easy character to like. She’s witty, intelligent, cares deeply for her mother, and her internal monologue is hilarious. Neighbor and master gardener Phil has no problem keeping up with her, and he’s the kind of guy who isn’t afraid to jump right in and help out when he’s needed. As a woman of science, Sam struggles to find a rational explanation for all the bizarre occurrences. She soon realizes not everything in the world can be explained by science. As a warning, if insects freak you out, these vivid descriptions may cause you to feel phantom bugs crawling up your spine.

With the rose garden being such a prominent part of the story, I loved that most chapters begin with decriptions of various types of roses I’ve never heard of. I’ll never look at rose bushes in quite the same way again. I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shoutout to Hermes – undoubtedly the coolest vulture I’ve come across.

This novel is an engaging blend of horror injected with humorous moments that I enjoyed from the first page. You may want to keep a can of insect repellent close by while reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the second T. Kingfisher book I’ve read and they’ve definitely become a favorite author of mine. There are a lot of gothic horror vibes that I very much enjoy, perfect amount of creepiness and no overly disgusting bits that you sometimes get in horror (I’m looking at you, My Best Friend’s Exorcism). My preferred genre of horror is paranormal and T. Kingfisher’s style is perfect for the type of paranormal I usually look for.

From the minute I saw this incredible cover, I knew I wanted to read this book. The contrast between the clean lines and elegance of the home with the haunting vulture silhouette was an immediate attention grabber, made even better when you realize the formal wallpaper is patterned with skulls 💀🖤

The cover art is the perfect symbolism for this southern gothic story of the darkness and rot hidden beneath the formal traditions of family and society.

Sam is an archaeological entomologist, which is a crazy cool career. When her dig is postponed, she returns to her family home in North Carolina. But things don’t make sense at home: her mom is skittish and seems unwell, and the family home is being reverted back to the days of her childhood, when her domineering grandmother was the head of the family. And what’s with all the vultures that seem to be keeping watch?

As the story progresses, it is alternately funny, smart, and creepy, with a well written atmosphere that becomes more and more unsettling. If you’ve enjoyed the recent trend in “nature horror” then this is probably right up your alley and Sam’s love of bugs and references to her work are fun enhancements to the reader’s experience.

Thank you to @netgalley and @tornightfire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. A House with Good Bones is out now!

Okay, I really wanted to like this. I hate having to start a review this way, but it's the honest to God truth.
I just kept waiting for things to happen, other than the description of bugs. I definitely giggled throughout at the main character's wit, though. Which is why I've given it three stars. I liked her.

When the book finally took off, it was near the end and it felt a little rushed and sort of hard to follow. Maybe it's because I'm more of a horror/thriller reader than a sci-fi/spec fiction with a twist kind of reader, but it just wasn't for me. However, I'm sure there are SO many readers that will dig this the most. :)

Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc!

T. Kingfisher is one of those authors I don't even need to think about putting on hold at the library. Her books are fun, engaging, and most importantly, scary as hell. Her ability to draw you in and send a shiver down your spine is incredible.

While I have absolutely adored all of the books I've read by her so far, A House With Good Bones tragically is not making her top three for me. It's difficult to judge because the plot was interesting, and I generally enjoyed the main character - but I just didn't want to be in her head quite so much. For such a short book, the plot seemed to drag a bit for the first 3/4ths of the book, and then hit you like a ton of bricks. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but with this the pacing was not really to my taste. I don't want to get into spoiler territory so I'm going to leave it at that.

Overall, this is still a fantastic book, but compared to some of her others, it didn't quite land as well as I hoped.

Thank you so much to Tor and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun, if a little off the rails towards the end.

I loved just about all of the characters. Sam was a fantastic heroine with an extremely refreshing take on someone dealing with a strange, confusing, and horrifying situation. A few of the side characters were also great to read (Gail is the MVP here).

Towards the beginning, the sense of tension felt through Sam's perspective was so, so good. Just the right amount of buildup before the climax!

Really the only kind of problem I had with the book/plot was that after the tension climaxed it kept going a little too far. It went past what had been the initial main focus and into an area that was just a little too much and pushed the book slightly past deliciously tense gothic horror and into being a bit silly.

Overall, a very enjoyable time. 3/5.

I really enjoyed this creepy yet funny novel from T. Kingfisher. I liked the entomologist angle, as well as the vultures! It was certainly in the gothic horror, and the house itself was creepy. Great writing, quick to read but very enjoyable.

I am a huge fan of T. Kingfisher and her creepy quirky stories. She develops unique storylines and knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat. A House With Good Bones is, by far, the most disturbing story I have read by Kingfisher. I couldn't wait to figure out what was happening in that house.
I look forward to seeing what Kingfisher comes up with next.

This is the first T. Kingfisher book I’ve read and I love her writing style! The plot is entirely creepy and perfect for both seasoned horror lovers and those who want to get into the genre. There is magical realism, paranormal aspects, and so many vultures! At just over 300 pages, this is a quick, entertaining read.

I wouldn’t necessarily call the beginning a slow burn but the creepy factor definitely ramped up at the end! I loved that the MC is an entomologist - it’s definitely not a common career included in fiction but it worked so well for this story!

Read this one if you’re a fan of:
- quirky families
- long treks across Texas
- odd pets
- overcoming insecurities to release your inner badass

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Another wonderfully creepy read from Kingfisher. A little thin around the ending (the last chapters get a little MCU CGI slurry feeling), but the writing and the specificity of the characters are so good that it doesn't really matter.

Many thanks to my friends at @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio

Southern gothic horror but make it equal parts creepy and laugh-out-loud funny.

This is my third read by Kingfisher, and it’s safe to say that where ever she leads I will follow.

Apparently, that now includes a house haunted by ancestral secrets and guarded by vultures. Open up the boxed wine. I’m in.

“Mom seems off.” On furlough, Sam returns to her childhood home and realizes her brother wasn’t exaggerating. But her mom isn’t the only thing that’s worrisome. Among the variety of noticeably unsettling household modifications, there’s now a vulture perched on the mailbox.

Ever the scientist, Sam tries to make sense of what’s going on. But as she unearths long-held family secrets, dark magic, and generational curses, it becomes obvious that logic won’t get to the bottom of this.

Disturbing yet highly entertaining, I found myself completely engaged in this bizarre storyline, and by the end I started to ponder the benefits of a vulture for a pet. If that isn’t an endorsement for a southern gothic horror story, I don’t know what is.

Sam won me over from the beginning. Between her penchant for old British detective shows and her love of bugs (she’s an archaeoentomologist), she felt both relatable and oddly loveable. She’s my favorite kind of heroine: smart, witty, fierce. And her droll inner dialogue made for a compelling narration.

But… it was Gail, the eccentric (witchy?) vulture owning neighbor that I constantly wanted more of! She was elusive and unconventional, and I know there’s a wealth of secrets within her walls. A potential spin-off novella??? One can wish.

I don’t typically think of southern gothic humor as being comical. And yet, Kingfisher has created a read that is both intense and laugh-out-loud funny at times. With hilarity deftly woven throughout and playing such a key role, I found this to be a much more accessible horror-lite read.

🎧 Never wanting to set my book aside, I utilized the audiobook while on-the-go. And while I enjoyed the narrator’s depiction for most characters, I found the execution for Phil to be a bit cringy and almost comical. If you’re on the go, definitely utilize the audiobook. But if you’re able, I’d recommend the print version.

Let me start by saying I adore Kingfisher. Nettle and Bone is one of my favorite books and What Moves the Dead was perfection. She is definitely an author whose books I will always read.

This one, however, was just OK for me. I didn’t quite ever get into a groove with the plot and felt off balance the whole time. By the time anything actually started to happen, the book was practically over. Sam’s comedy routine was entertaining up to a point. The end felt too rushed and wrapped up too neatly.

I absolutely loved the vulture and the bugs were pretty cool.

A House with Good Bones is an absolute delight! I absolutely love Kingfisher's humor and this actually has major creeps in it which for me is super rare. I hardly ever get any kind of creeps when I read and it's always a fun thing for me when it happens

Thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, T Kingfisher, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

From the first page, I was completely drawn into the world Kingfisher created within this book. The story follows Sam Montgomery as she visits her mother's house in North Carolina, only to find that something is seriously off. Her mom is acting strange, the house is sterile and cold, and there are vultures circling overhead. Like, is mom just getting older and more conservative and weird or is something seriously wrong here??? But when Sam discovers a jar of teeth hidden beneath the rose bushes, she realizes there's something much darker lurking beneath the surface of her family's seemingly perfect home.

What I loved most about this book was Kingfisher's ability to create a truly unsettling atmosphere. I found myself on edge, wondering what was going to happen next. And Sam is such a relatable and likable character that you can't help but root for her as she uncovers and reacts to some super creepy things.

As someone who's read Kingfisher's previous book "What Moves The Dead," I was blown away by the difference in tone between the two. It's a true testament to Kingfisher's talent as a writer that she can seamlessly switch between genres and still maintain her signature style.

If you're a fan of books like "Love in the Time of Serial Killers" and "Tell me I'm Worthless," then "A House With Good Bones" is a must-read for you. I knew this one would be a hit for me and I'm so glad to have been right.

I really enjoyed the first half of this but I didn't like the "plot twist" in the 3rd act. I think the characterization was done really well but I wish the narrative had delved a little more into the southern familial racism of the main character's grandmother. Overall, it was a good read and I think it had a satisfying ending.

A HOUSE WITH GOOD BONES by T. Kingfisher
Publication: 3/28/2023 by Tor Nightfire Books



Jump on board for a fun filled spooky Southern gothic tale by Hugo and Nebula Award winning Ursula Vernon … she performs her magic under the pen-name of T. Kingfisher. Who best combines humor and horror in the same tale. Samantha “Sam” Montgomery knows all about creepy and crawly things. She is an expert archaeo entomologist … and studies how “bugs” infested the civilizations and cultures of yore. Her current dig is on hold, and because her brother Brad, has raised concerns regarding the wellbeing of their mother, Edith, she decides to drive across the country from Arizona to visit their mother in rural North Carolina. Upon arrival, she is met by a huge black vulture calmly sitting upon the family mailbox … and has no intention upon flying away when confronted. This can’t possibly be a good omen! She is surprised to see that her mother has redecorated the house back to when the deceased Granma Mae was alive …. twenty years ago. There are post it notes scattered around the house … but, some appear to be addressing the deceased grandmother. Edith appears anxious and even frightened in her own house. Sam was hoping to spend some quality time with her mom, sitting around drinking boxed wine , and watching British crime shows, trying to guess who the identity of the villainous criminal. However, she is disturbed by her mothers’ weird and strange behavior. Gone is the charm and warmth. Sam awakens in the night to an infestation of ladybugs in her room… yet, the house surrounds are notable for there lack of any viable insects. She starts to awaken to nightmares come alive! The neighbors insist the house is haunted. She finds a jar of teeth in the yard, under the rose bushes grown and nurtured in the past by her Gran Mae.
T. Kingfisher spins a delightful yarn populated by quirky characters, and laced with dark humor, that propulsively leads down a suspenseful and intriguing path that catapults into a page turner. An enduring sense of unease with a creepy atmosphere pervades the narrative.
Sam will embark on her own investigation to discover what’s really going on with the house and her mother. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nighfire Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. I can hardly wait for the next Kingisher gem!

I have read another book by the author and enjoyed it.

Again, T. Kingfisher does not disappoint. A House With Good Bones is a creepy horror story. You won't look at roses the same way again after reading this. The characters are interesting and the story keeps your interest. Once you start reading it, you won't want to put it down until you finish it.

Any horror fan will enjoy reading this book. I highly recommend it. And I look forward to reading more books by the author.

This book had a lot of potential, but I think there was just too much going on. it felt like I was reading two different plots in one book and the pages got mixed up by accident.

It’s a bummer I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would because the premise of this book hooked me from the start. A spooky house that seems to be reverting back in time to the way her dead grandmother had it?? Like sign me up! I love haunted house stories with cool twists so I was ready for the ride.

The beginning held a lot of promise when weird stuff would start happening with no explanation and the main character’s mom was acting strangely and speaking as if the grandmother was still alive and random vultures(???) were hanging around the house?? The vibes were there!

It was towards the middle to 60% of the book that it started to drag a little in the pacing, and then it went completely off the rails the last 20% of the novel. I think this book could have been two separate stories, one about the haunted house and one about that random last 20% of the novel.

With that being said, I really do like this author’s brand of horror. They have a lot of great ideas, quirky characters and an ominous plot that will always keep you guessing what is actually happening. I did not know what was going on in this novel until it was happening and it was pretty freaky! The execution was just not there for me. I am intrigued by the author's other books and am looking forward to reading more books by kingfisher.

Thank you Macmillan-Tor/Forge and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I discovered T. Kingfisher last year with Nettle & Bone (Fairytale Horror) and What Moves The Dead (Edgar Allan Poe retelling). I loved both books. Here, T. Kingfisher explores southern gothic horror with a fair amount of humor infused.

What I really enjoyed:
✨Sam (our MC & POV) - her internal monologue is quirky, sarcastic, and hilarious. Her scientific brain logically explains the horrors happening in this haunted house. And boy, does she love bugs!
✨Side Characters - Gail, the rumored witch with a one-winged vulture as a pet; Phil, the kinda cute handyman whose paranoid father lives across the street; and Sam’s mother, who loves boxed wine, TV detective stories, and is suddenly scared the house is “listening.”
✨Narration - I loved the voices for the women, but the male’s voice took me a bit to get used to.

Why not a “love” for this one? I wish it were a bit scarier. But if you are just starting to dabble in the horror genre, A House With Good Bones is a great place to start. Not too scary and laced with a lot of humor makes this one an entertaining read!

A great combination of T. Kingfisher / Lovecraftian horror with sense of humor in A House with Good Bones. A new new Southern Gothic novel full of long-lost family secrets. A Southern gothic horror with a house haunted by the main characters racist, abusive grandmother. Sam is a scientist and a skeptic, but she might not remain skeptic after coming home to visit her mom for awhile. Lots of strange unexplained behavior from her mom leads to many other curious discoveries ....

Great read. I was given this arc in return for an honest review.