While I've never read Grady Hendrix's earlier work, I was a huge fan of Southerners Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group, but this one was definitely more reminiscent of what I would expect his earlier and farther out there work to be. This one had a bit more supernatural elements and got really weird after the first 30% in more a Stephen King way. Hendrix is a great storyteller, but this one wasn't my favorite. I'll definitely check out more from him in the future.

The nitty-gritty: Domestic drama, a vengeful puppet and a family mystery come together in Grady Hendrix's latest, a fun and bloody must-read for all Hendrix fans.

I can always rely on Grady Hendrix to come up with a highly entertaining story that veers into the absurd, and his latest is no exception. How to Sell a Haunted House went in some unexpected directions, but it ended up being a blast to read.

Louise Joyner is surprised one day by a phone call from her estranged brother Mark. He tells her their parents, Nancy and Eric, have just been killed in a freak car accident. Devastated by the news, Louise leaves her five year old daughter Poppy behind to attend to her parents affairs and help plan the funeral. But when she arrives, she’s shocked to find out that Mark has already had Nancy and Eric cremated (against the family’s wishes) and planned a funeral themed around Nancy’s love of puppetry. And when Louise and Mark meet at the house to talk about selling it, they’re confronted with their unconventional past: Nancy’s beloved puppets and dolls are everywhere, spilling off of bookshelves and crowding the sewing room where Nancy created them. 

But there’s something else off about the house. Louise hears odd noises coming from the attic, and Nancy’s lifesize “Mark” and “Louise” dolls keep moving around the house. Is Mark playing a trick on her? Or is the house haunted? Louise is also suspicious about the accident. Why was a hammer found on the floor, and who boarded up the attic? And when Louise is attacked by Pupkin, Nancy’s favorite puppet and the source of many of Louise’s childhood nightmares, Louise and Mark decide to team up to cleanse the house of whatever spirits might be living there, because as their real estate agent Mercy tells them, you can’t sell a haunted house. With the help of some quirky friends and relatives, Mark and Louise delve into their past to confront what really happened that long ago day that Mark nearly drowned in the pond, and what it has to do with what’s happening in the present.

There are so many layers to this story. On one level, it’s an emotional look at two estranged siblings and how they must repair their relationship in order to overcome a childhood enemy. When the story opens, Louise is faced with the unpleasant task of going home to deal with her parents’ deaths, which includes interacting with Mark, the brother she hasn’t spoken to in years. I’ll admit I hated Mark in the beginning. Not only does he do awful things, but he’s a serious jerk. He gloats over the fact that Nancy left him everything (except her horrible art collection), and he refuses to share any of his inheritance with Louise, who could really use the financial help. From Louise’s point of view, we learn that Mark got away with all sorts of things as a child, while Louise was the “responsible” one, graduating from college and getting a job. 

It isn’t until we get a chapter from Mark’s perspective that my opinion of him began to shift. And wow, what a chapter it was! Hendrix introduces readers to the concept of a “radical puppet collective,” a group of performers he meets while attending Boston University. The performers immerse themselves in the puppets’ personas in order to convey their political beliefs in the form of outrageous puppet shows, and it’s at this time that Mark becomes heavily involved with his mother’s puppet Pupkin. This is also the point where the story really took off for me.

And of course there is the “haunted house” layer of the story, which was very well done. Poor Louise has some horrible experiences in the house, mostly involving Pupkin, and in typical Grady Hendrix style, the calm before the storm doesn’t really prepare you for the unhinged, violent action that seems to come out of nowhere. I’ll admit I wasn’t prepare to read a story about creepy puppets, but Hendrix does some unique things with the trope, including Nancy’s obsession with the Christian Puppet Ministry, something I thought the author had invented until I started Googling it! Apparently there is a whole subculture that revolves around puppets, and I’m sort of glad I didn’t know about it until now.

The author adds in lighter moments with some of the female relatives, like Aunt Honey, Gail and Constance. Hendrix is so good at dialog—I think I mention that in every review I write—and some of the exchanges among the family members were laugh out loud funny. If you like your humor black, then you really can’t get much better than this. And underlying the humor is a somber tone that never completely goes away. There are way too many secrets in this family, harmful secrets that must be kept at all costs. This balance of humor, poignancy, thrilling action and introspective reflection is one of the author’s strengths, and Hendrix once again nails that balance perfectly.

The only thing that didn’t really work for me was Poppy’s role in the story. I feel like the author only needed her for the big finale, but up to that point she’s mostly kept off-page. Also, Louise comes across as a horrible mother (you’ll understand when you read the book) and I don’t think that was necessarily the case.

Hendrix explores different types of “hauntings,” the ones with actual ghosts, and the ones that involve inescapable childhood memories. Certainly the Joyner family has been haunted all these years by Nancy’s puppet obsession and everything that occurred after Pupkin was “born.” I loved that the author used The Velveteen Rabbit as a touchstone for Louise’s childhood, a book that her mother insisted on reading to her, but one Louise hated. Later in the story, the tension surrounding Pupkin and what’s happening in the house ramps up to almost ridiculous levels, and even though the author telegraphs one particularly nasty scene, I was still surprised when he actually went there. 

All in all, I had so much fun reading How to Sell a Haunted House, even though my favorite of Hendrix’s books is still The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires. Grady Hendrix fans will not be disappointed.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

This is the best book Grady Hendrix has written. I was horrified and enthralled, and all I want to do is read it again. It’s living in my head rent free, and everything else that I’m reading isn’t holding my attention or measuring up.

At one point I was under the covers, with one hand splayed across my face to protect myself, rocking back and forth, and I considered waking up my snoring husband so that he could make sure my 40 year old Care Bear didn’t jump on my back and murder me in my sleep. Yes, Grady Hendrix literally made me scared of a pink stuffed Care Bear that’s been my comfort animal since childhood.

We meet Louise, living in CA on the opposite coast from her family. After an awful accident kills both of her parents, she flies home to work with her estranged brother on the details of what comes next. As family bickering turns ugly, the dolls and puppets in Louise’s childhood home come to life in the most horrific ways.

This is more than five stars, but that’s the highest praise available, so that’s what we’ll go with.

Seriously, read this book. If you live Grady’s work, you’re going to love this. If you’re scared of puppets and dolls, you’re going to be horrified in the best ways.

I literally want to scream from rooftops about how much I love this book. I cannot wait to get my paws on a physical copy.

**Huge, huge, HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC of this amazing novel. My gushing opinions are completely my own**

I did not enjoy this book because the twist felt a bit corny. I am choosing to not review this book on my social channels because I respect the author’s previous works.

Oh, wowzers !
Grady Hendrix did it again - awesome !!!

I love, how the author always shows us, that there's lots of spooky stuff going on down South.
His characters are all charming, some are feisty, but they all want us to move down South, regardless of the shenanigans going on...

Here's a quick - no spoilers - synopsis:

Big sister lives in San Francisco with her 5-year old daughter.
She gets a call: Her parents have passed away in a car accident.
So she will have to go home to the Carolinas, to take care of things.
Once she arrives, she finds out, that her little brother tried to take care of everything already with "discount" services and papers for the funeral.
The rest of the family is not very happy about it and ultimately, the parents house needs to be sold and money needs to be shared between the siblings...but...

Their mother was a doll and puppet maker, as well as kind of a weird lady.
Meanwhile the Father was a straight shooter and a Professor.

However, there are lots of secrets in that Family, which will be revealed when both siblings are trying to clean the house and sell it.

So that's the short version.

However, besides the point that the siblings never really liked each other and have lots of their own childhood secrets, we will find out that the story is not that simple and there are lots of things going on, that might make you wet your pants...

I highly recommend to pick up a copy, find a warm and safe place to curl up with your new book and make a long day/night or a great weekend out of it.
Enjoy !

A big thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Berkley Pub for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

You guys-take me seriously when I say anyone who has a genuine fear of dolls or puppets should NOT read this book! You’ll never sleep again.

I was so sucked into Louise and Mark’s drama that I actually forgot this was a horror novel until the taxidermic animals and creepy ass puppets went on the offensive. This was a terrifying thrill ride told in Hendrix’s unique style. I was emotionally connected to the characters, riveted by all of the action scenes that felt like they were straight out of a classic horror movie, and traumatized in the best way by the numerous haunted entities. There was humor and depth that you don’t usually expect to find in this genre. I wouldn’t change a thing about this crazy story!

Grady Hendrix's contemporary horror, HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE, is a terrifying update on the haunted house story that, unfortunately, is weakened by Hendrix's familiar problems: uneven pacing, unlikable characters, and an unsatisfying ending.

I think Hendrix is just an amazing author, even when I’m not fond of one of his plots I still enjoy is writing immensely. I hated the dolls in this one; they felt like cheap scares, and they weren’t even scary at that. The main villain’s ghostly reveal came much too late—we really needed that direction earlier in the book. And the plot felt repetitive after a while; when in doubt, wear the puppet on your arm and bad things happen, then repeat ad nauseam. I absolutely loathed the brother’s story of college cult membership. It was such a boring aside, and his character already was hanging on by a thread in believability. Anyway, Hendrix is a fantastic author and I love what he does, but this one was such a dud for me.

LOVED this! Grady Hendrix never misses! This book was absolute insanity in the best way, which is kind of Hendrix’s brand. The story was well-plotted and paced and never lacked in action. He does what he does best: takes an absolutely unbelievable premise and writes it in a believable, jaw-dropping way. Easily 5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 4.5/5 stars

How to Sell a Haunted House is another bonkers horror comedy by Grady Hendrix. This story follows siblings, Louise and Mark Joyner, as they deal with their parents’ deaths and try and come together to decide what to do with their estate. Louise and Mark have never been close and grief and competition have brought out the worst in them. However, when they find some disturbing things in the parents’ home and begin to remember strange events from their childhood, they may have to put their differences aside to..defeat the haunted puppets taking over their childhood home.

This book is completely unhinged. I believe it is unhinged in the best ways, but I can see this one being a bit polarizing. I loved the off the wall, very dark humor of the story. It also actually creeped me out at times. I mainly listened on audio, which really added to the experience. I love a haunted doll/puppet and Grady Hendrix delivers. Pupkin is a horror icon and I need to see him on a screen. He is the star of the show, but there is plenty of family drama as well. Louise and Mark are (very) flawed, but their sibling dynamic added so much to the story.

I’m interested in seeing what others think of this one. I loved it and cannot wait to see what Hendrix thinks of next!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ok this book reminds me of Annabelle meets Chucky! Don’t read this before bed!!
Louise is a single mother to a daughter named Poppy. One night she receives a devastating phone call from her brother Mark, their parents have died in a car accident. Immediately Louise is confused why was her elderly mother driving at night and in the rain? Louise takes the next flight out to Charleston to her family home. The home is filled with her mothers beloved dolls and puppets hundreds of them! Louise is hoping to go there and go through everything and sell the house, and head back to San Francisco. Selling the house will help her financially. Walking into the home she’s flooded with memories, but she’s confused why is the tv on, her mothers purse on the counter, dolls sitting in the chair and a hammer on the floor? Every time she turns the tv off it clicks back on and noises are coming from the attic. Talking to other family members she hears her mother left in a hurry that night saying something about an attack. Louise and Mark realize there something angry and threatening in the home, a powerful energy that isn’t ready to let them go or the home. A house filled with family secrets and memories, Louise and Mark will have to uncover what the house is hiding! Oh my gosh the dolls and puppets will continue to haunt me!! No Punkin for me thank you!

Short synopsis: When Louise’s parents die suddenly in a car accident, she heads back home to clean the house to sell.

My thoughts: Wow, what did I just read. I don’t know if I’m terrified, or if I loved that book. Some parts were straight up spooky, others left me feeling a little nauseated and covering my eyes. It read so quick and could totally see it being made into a future horror film.

Dolls didn’t really scare me before, but I’m definitely rethinking that! This book is filled with not just spooky dolls, but possessed puppets which is probably worse!

I’ve read most of Grady Hendricks books and he has quite an imagination. When i saw this new release I jumped at the chance to pick it up. I did a mix of reading and listening to this one, and the audio narrators did such a great job with this. They had the spooky puppet voice down!

Read if you love:
- Puppets and dolls
- Staying awake past your bedtime afraid you’ll have nightmares
- Family baggage and secrets
- Horror films

What an INTENSE read. Hendrix knows how to write creepy but this by far was his creepiest. Killer puppets coming to life? I also enjoy how all of his books have a huge overarching theme. This one being a strained familial relationship in particular a brother/sister one.
All I know is this scared me a ton and I never will look at my children's stuffed animals/dolls the same again.
Damn Grady Hendrix.

I requested this ARC because I thought it would be fun reading on a long plane ride. I could not get into the writing and DNF'd this at 30%.

I knew going into this book that I would, at the very least, enjoy it. Even the Grady Hendrix books that I don't rate five stars are all worth reading, he has a sly approach to horror and humor that just proves that he himself is a fan of the genre. What I DIDN'T expect was a poignant reflection on death, adulthood, and just how hard we'll work to convince ourselves that our weird little families are normal. Hendrix titles the sections of the novel using the BADDA approach to grieving--Bargaining, Anger, Depression, Denial, Acceptance (though not in that particular order). This felt apt, as I felt such a complex range of emotions while reading the story. The characters all feel real, especially to anyone who grew up in the south and has ever uttered the word "Memaw." The action is intense, and the horror had my skin crawling in a way books usually don't. Still, my favourite aspect of the book is the way the main character, Louise, has to face the way her perceptions of life--her brother, her parents, herself--aren't necessarily the factual truth, as there are multiple sides to every story and great leaps that we'll take to convince the world that we're the normal ones.

All in all a solid read in a way that ensures I'll suggest this book to all sorts of readers, not just ones looking for a spooky horror read.

As usual, Grady Hendrix manages to tell a haunting, creepy story about ghosts and the supernatural, but it's really about something else. Loved this aspect of family trauma and trying to fight the passing of generational trauma.

Let me start by saying that I love Grady Hendrix. His fusion of horror, heart, and comedy is right up my alley and I was so looking forward to this book like I do with every new release of his. It did not disappoint. Truly creepy, laugh-out-loud funny, and incredibly heartfelt, this book delivers. The only reason this isn't a five-star read for me is the whole possessed doll/puppet trope. I had a hard time buying into that, so the horror part of the novel was slightly less effective for me because of that. Mr. Hendrix makes up for this however with his sensitive, realistic, touching exploration of grief.

Creepy. Solid plot and story line. Dark humor. Did I mention creepy?
Louise and Mark have not been close since they were small children. Mark constantly favored by their mother did not help.
Upon their parents' sudden death, Louise and Mark are forced to get along, cope with death. And their mother's legacy - puppets. Dozens of puppets. Including Pupkin, the original puppet from when their mother was a young child.
But Pupkin isn't happy. When Pupkin isn't happy, people get hurt.
Wonderful imagery, lots of creep factor and the plot - great twists. And always love Grady's dark humor.

What's creepier than a solid haunted house story? How about one filled with creepy puppets?

I'll admit that Grady Hendrix's novels are usually big hits or big misses for me - but this one was a huge swing, right out of the park. Known for blending typical horror tropes and wacky twists, Hendrix wrote a story here that is full of well-written characters. These are people you feel like you know, they could be your own family - and the decisions they make in the most absurd situations still manage to feel authentic.
Maybe I'm biased due to my own unfounded fears of dolls and puppets (any other 80s kids out there who had a Cricket doll? ~shudder~), but the craziness of this one really satisfied my desire for good old-fashioned horror, while still delivering on character development.
This was my first read of the New Year and I have a feeling it's going to be one of my favourites.
5/5
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: January 17, 2023

I received a gifted galley of HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE by Grady Hendrix for an honest review. Thank you to PRH Audio, Berkley Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review! This was my most anticipated January release so was happy to kick off the year strong with this one!

HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE follows Louise, a single mother who gets a horrible phone call telling her that both of her parents have been killed in a car accident. She must make her way back to her hometown to sort things out with her brother Mark, a brother she has barely talked to in years. They must come together to plan a funeral and deal with their parents’ estate.

When it comes to their childhood home, something about it feels off. It is stuffed full with their mother’s crafts and especially with the puppets she created to perform her unique ministry. There is a lot of work to get done to have the house ready for sale and a lot of tension between the siblings. When disturbing things begin to happen in the house, each suspects the other is to blame, but there is more going on than they could have guessed.

This isn’t your typical haunted house story and looking at some of the less favorable reviews, I think that is at it’s core. If you’re going into this one expecting a standard haunted house, then I could see why this wouldn’t live up to expectations. That said, this book absolutely delivered the creepiness and the shudder inducing eww-ness I was looking for when I picked it up. There are definitely moments from the book that my brain is still vividly showing me!

Louise and Mark didn’t really impress me in the beginning, but I really enjoyed the character arc each goes through and the way their relationship changes as things begin to happen and different secrets are uncovered. There is a lot of toxic drama in this family!

There were a few places where the pacing slowed down a little bit, especially as we got into some backstory between the more high action sections. Still, I can see why the information given through those sections was needed for the story.

Overall this book was WILD and intentionally over the top in the way I expect from Grady Hendrix. He is definitely and autoread author for me and I’m already eager for more!