Have you ever heard of a spite house before? I had no idea it was a real term for a house built to get revenge. In this case the Masson House was built on a small ledge of land to get revenge for the owner's family estate being sold without his approval. That’s just one of the small details that go into this intricate haunted house meets Southern Gothic tale.

The Spite House is told through alternating narratives from a wide cast of characters that range from Eric’s family, the home’s current owner, and individuals you’ll want to know from the past. I loved getting so many different perspectives, which I genuinely think brought this story to life. My favorites were those of Eric and his daughters where I was able to observe their close bond while also unpacking why they are on the run. The house itself gives off major Hill House/Hell House vibes and I loved the way it was able to have a direct influence on characters. This story is so rich in detail that at times I found myself a little lost and having to reread sections, but despite that I never stopped being invested.

Compton has a true gift with words and I look forward to reading whatever he comes up with next!

A huge thank you to Tor Nightfire for my gifted copy!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.

I’ve heard so much buzz about this book and a lot of people giving it five stars that I believe I am an exception on this case. I started reading it without knowing what the book was about and it was very difficult for me to keep interest in this debut novel.

The book follows Eric Ross, and his two daughters, Dess and Stacy, with a mysterious past that he is running from. He is hard up for cash so when he finds an ad in the paper about a stay in a house and getting a substantial amount of money for it, he feels very inclined to do the job. But the job and the pay seems too good to be true. What Eric does not know is that the owner of the house has her own mysterious agenda to it.

The house is one of Texas’s most haunted buildings and the owner wants the protagonist to record and prove the existence of the supernatural. The story is full of twists and turns but in my opinion the book takes too much time for the characters to get into the house. And when they do, everything seems to happen very fast. I guess the many POVs is one of the things that threw me off and made it difficult for me to concentrate more in this story.

The narration by Adam Lazarre-White is great. I think this novel will be a great read for those who enjoy multiple POVs, haunted houses, family curses, revenge, and trauma. I gave this claustrophobic haunted story three stars.

I found this to be an engaging audiobook and definitely recommend it. The story is a ghostly tale that centers around a father and his two daughters who are on the run. They have an unspoken reason for fleeing from their home and heading to the family’s hometown. They are living from job to job, trying to make enough money to make ends meet. Then Eric (Dad) gets word of a job that is “too good to be true”. They just have to stay in the supposed haunted house and take note of the events that occur. In exchange, they will earn a lot of money.
This was not scary as much as it was gothic and supernatural fiction. It is a propulsive story that keeps you reading. The narrator, Adam Lazarre-White, completely captures the eerie atmospheric force of the story.
I will easily recommend this to anyone who loves southern gothic tales with a strong plot and characters that you root for

#TheSpiteHouse #NetGalley #MacmillonAudio

Rating: 3.75 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 3.5/5
-Cover: 3.5/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 5/5
Horror: 2.75/5
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yeah

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book. Coming into this book I wasn't sure exactly what to expect and I am thankful for that. What I got was a swirl of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House mixed with Stephen King's The Shinning, but even with this Johnny made it into his own world. Where I was disappointed with Shirley's work, Johnny picked up and made better.

The narrator did an amazing job, reminding me of James Earl Jones, and made a haunted house... inviting.

All in all the story was good and worth the read. I say it leaned heavier on the gothic more than the horror. Was it creepy? Yes. Did it make me second guess going into the dark parts of my house? Yes. But all in all it was poetic in justice. Johnny showed how anger and hurt can fester into a generational curse.

This was an ok listen for me. The spooky bits were good. I did have a bit of a problem with the pacing at times. I caught myself physically making the “hurry up” signal with my hands quite frequently. It was quite wordy at times, especially when trying to describe what the characters were thinking. Skip the flowery language and just get to the point. It also felt really chaotic at times. There were SO many characters and they all had their own chapters from their POV. I lost track of who a couple of them were and still was able to (sort of?) follow the story. The last quarter of the book had me confused. I’m not entirely sure everything was explained. It sort of was… but not really? Maybe that was the point? I definitely feel like I might have missed something along the way somewhere.

I really enjoy Adam Lazarre-White’s narration. I will listen to just about anything he reads!

The Spite House is an interesting take on a gothic story. Eunice needs to prove that there are spirits in her house, Eric needs to earn large amounts of money to car for his daughters. Together they form a working relationship that fulfills both of their goals. Although Eunice has hired dozens of people to stay in her house, no one has been brave enough to stay once the ghost start to show. Eric has a respect for spirits that is unmatched by anyone, except his own children. The twists and turns and creepy vibes propels this story. The narrator does a great job building the tension through his inflection. I will definitely be reading any other books this author lens!

The Spite House (Hardcover)
by Johnny Compton
This is a dark look at our family obligations. A young family is torn apart by tragedy, we come into their story after the events only to see that they are fractured to their foundation. Reeling from the tragedy, they struggle to make ends meet. Father and elder daughter taking risks so that they can be able to afford the necessity of keeping their secret. They stumble upon and old story in the Spite house. How history has caused pain, how pain has caused debt, and how recovery may be subverted by the need to hide shame. This story shows how a small town covered up a tragedy of their own, and the rich family that took advantage of it.

And just like that Adam Lazarre-White soars to the top of my list of the best narrators. I will definitely be seeking other audio titles narrated by him.

This was a fabulous read, moderately paced, deeply atmospheric, offering answers but at the same time acknowledging the reader's intelligence ... and sprinkling these funny nuggets of comic relief here and there.

"Even if we went straight through, it still takes like five years to get out of Texas, don't it"

What some people may see as meandering or slightly unfocused story, I see as a thoughtfully built multi dimensional construct that has a main storyline centered around the characters that are grounded in a real life. The author put so much love and care into creating his characters and ended up with relatable, multi dimensional human beings.

Eric is looking for a safe place to settle with his two daughters. Their mysterious past gets revealed in between chapters of their current encounter with the haunted house located in a small town. Eric's path will cross with the dark past of the owners of the house revealing the frightening power of anger, resentment, and the unfulfilled need for revenge. But also, the power of fatherly love and devotion, the heartbreak for the loss of childhood innocence, resilience, and the importance of the family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the free audio copy.

The Spite House by Johnny Compton
Pub date: February 7, 2023
Narrated by: Adam Lazarre-White
Duration: 11H 16M

From Wikipedia:

𝘈 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴.

The Spite House is everything I was hoping it would be. Perfectly spooky with a gothic atmosphere that gave me goosebumps. There’s nothing quite like listening to a beautifully narrated book and feeling the need to look over your shoulder because you’re sure there’s something otherworldly creeping up on you. Creepy but in a good way, you know?

Eric and his daughters, Dess and Stacey, are on the road, running from something that I’m not going to tell you about, when Eric accepts a job in Texas staying at the Masson house. It is haunted and freaky but the payout will be worth it if they can make it through.

Along with the chills comes a moving story that explores generational trauma along with grief and loss. There are some truly terrifying moments and I can’t wait to see what Johnny Compton does next!

My thanks to @MacMillan.Audio for this gifted ALC.

I listened to the audiobook as well as read the physical copy. It is has a Gothic, creepy feel to it. I love books with haunted houses and I enjoyed this one. I didn’t know what a spite house was until this book and then realized I drove past one for years.

Eric and his two daughters move into what is considered the most haunted house in Texas, the Masson House. Eric is desperate for money so he agrees to the owners demands. The owner wants proof that the house is haunted. Eric and his two girls are not prepared for what happens next.

The Spite House is available February 7, 2023.

Thank you to netgalley and macmillian audio for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Spite house by Johnny Compton it was a fun and unique introductory horror book. I thought the orator was on task and tried to give inflection and his voice when things were supposed to be erie.

I did notice with the audio book there were some long strange pauses before chapters would start and the flow is not very cohesive. The book, however, was engaging and to keep you on your toes. I felt like there were two stories when one and they both wrapped up it by the end, but one can't say too much or it'll give it away.

It was a fun and engaging read just be prepared as there are some strange silences in between chapters on the audiobook.

"Eric Ross is on the run from a mysterious past with his two daughters in tow. Having left his wife, his house, his whole life behind in Maryland, he's desperate for money—it's not easy to find steady, safe work when you can't provide references, you can't stay in one place for long, and you're paranoid that your past is creeping back up on you.

When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them."

I went into this story thinking it was a traditional haunted house story, expecting to get creepy vibes from the things that go bump in the night. I was wrong. This story was more of a mystery than a thriller/ horror and focused heavily on the things a father will do for his children. While the premise was interesting and did keep me engaged, it was a slow burn story. I did enjoy the characters and the storyline, I just wish that it went darker and creepier. If you enjoy a character driven mystery with a side of haunted house vibes, this one is for you.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)

Thank you to @netgalley , @tornightfire and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

A ghost story with actual ghosts, not a Scooby-Doo ending, thank you very much.

This is a gothic horror that didn't give me nightmares but will stick with me for a long time. I loved the dad as the hero and the older sister playing the mom to her younger sister. The family dynamic was tight and plausible if living on the run, and the slow pace at which the history is revealed was timed just right. The plot meandered a lot, different points of view, different timeliness, and I occasionally felt bogged down with info I didn't need but it kept moving at a good clip most of the time. I found the ending disturbing and it makes me brood still. Unique plot, strong characters, creepy setting, and full of tension.

Adam Lazarre-White is one of my favorite narrators and it was nice to see he doesn't have to be reading SA Cosby for me to get lost in his rich voice.

Audiobook
This debut novel immediately captured my interest with the title and the book cover. When I read that it was about a haunted house, I was definitely ready to start listening. And the narrator didn’t let me down.

Eric Ross and his two daughters, Dess and Stacy, are on the run from something, and apparently getting low on cash. When Eric sees that Eunice, a wealthy woman, is willing to pay a large amount of money to someone willing to stay in the Masson House and record any supernatural occurrences, he jumps at the opportunity.

However, it doesn’t take long to discover that everyone is hiding secrets.

My Concerns

I had to keep on my toes since the perspectives changed between Eric, his girls, and Eunice.

Another reason to be more attentive was that the plot felt deeper than most.

Final Thoughts

My concerns are also the strong points of the story. The various perspectives helped unravel the emotions involved. And the plot kept me analyzing things.

And I hate to disagree with the book blurb, but I don’t classify this as a “terrifying Gothic thriller.” I was not terrified, just impressed with a good story. I only mention this because I don't want that word to keep you from picking up the book, My habit of not reading a synopsis paid off since I'm just testing the horror genre out.

I think most who like this type of book would rank it among their favorites.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early recording of this book.

So before reading this book, I never realized that a spite house was a thing. I love when a book teaches you something new.

I really enjoyed this audio narrator.

The overall story was decent, but had a lot of characters that I could not keep straight. This book definitely had a cool premise.

There were some really cool scenes in this book, and it was very atmospheric. However, at times I found myself losing interest. Towards the end, the pacing picked up and gained by interest again.

I definitely think this book would make a really cool movie and honestly it would probably be easier for me to keep track of the characters that way.

Overall, I would say this book wasn’t really for me. It had too many different things and characters going on simultaneously. It was just a lot. So, just to clarify, when I say it wasn’t for me, that doesn’t me it was bad. It was a decent read and I think people who like Gothic horror books would probably really enjoy this one. If you can keep up with a lot of characters and storylines you’ll definitely end up enjoying this one.

The Spite House by Johnny Compton is a Gothic horror novel, think Jane Eyre or The Haunting of Hill House. If you're in search of a The Exorcist-type scare, this isn't the book for you.

Eric Ross is on the run, but from what we do not know. He and his girls picked up and left Maryland and have been on the move ever since. Dez, the eldest daughter, had to grow up quickly once they left their home, and Stacy, the younger of the two, just misses her mom. With Eric's work having to be under the table, his financial situation hasn't been great. Unfortunately, neither is their living situation, moving from seedy motel to seedy motel, so he's looking for his next job before the money dries up.

That's when the opportunity of a lifetime falls into his lap: get paid to live in a house. All Eric has to do is record activity at the dwelling. But there's a catch; there always is. Eunice, the owner of the Masson House, is looking for answers to the mystery of her ancestors and proof of the paranormal. While it is well known to the town of Degener, Texas, that this house was built out of spite, it is also built on secrets. The Masson House might also hold the answers to Eric's own paranormal past. It seems like a win all around, but things are rarely what they seem.

This debut novel by Compton was almost perfect. NetGalley and MacMillan Audio were kind enough to supply me with an advanced listener copy. The narration by Adam Lazarre-White was flawless. He used his voice to unnerve, keeping the reader on edge. (There was something about the voice he did for Fred that sent chills down my spine). The book itself is atmospheric and eerie, somewhere between a ghost story and philosophy, that asks the age-old question: what happens when we die?

I requested this book, because of the cover and the premise. The first few words of the narrator prompted me to look up the author, and low and behold, he was Black. And it became abundantly clear within the first few minutes of listening that his protagonist was also. As a lover of Gothic horror, it is a genre generally dominated by whiteness. So it was refreshing to see Black characters, often overlooked in horror, at the forefront of this story.

And while I generally like this genre to be more psychological and less paranormal, The Spite House works because it commits to the paranormal from the very beginning. Eric isn't a skeptic; he knows there are things that go bump in the night. Instead, it comes from a more philosophical terror, dealing with existentialism and relativism. The kind of story becomes scarier the more you think about it. The rotating POV allows the reader to stay firmly grounded in the present while also peeling back layers of history to reveal how this building came to be haunted in the first place. This gives us just enough information to be curious about what happened without feeling like an encyclopedic reading.

If anything, The Spite House's main downfall was being too ambitious. For me, there were still too many unanswered questions at the end. I wish the book had been given more time to breathe, explore, and tie up some loose ends more satisfactorily. It needed to be more fleshed out. We needed some more meat on those old bones. As a result, the book fell a little short of its potential. It was almost there. Almost. But not quite.
Overall, The Spite House is an excellent book for people looking to add some diversity to their TBR. Compton's writing style is compelling, and his prose is engrossing. He's a tremendously talented writer, and I look forward to his future works.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the ARC!

An excellent haunting ghost story and haunted house story! A father and his daughters on the run, he decides to take a caretaker position for a Spite house, considered the most haunted house in Texas. This story has multiple pov’s which I don’t always love but in this case you really got the whole story. Great for any horror fan!

This book completely got under my skin. Johnny Compton’s debut is confident and creepy as heck.

The best horror novels to me are ones that make me care about the characters. At the heart of The Spite House is Eric Ross and his two daughters, Des and Stacey. They’re on the run from a secret in their past, and desperate for money to start over. Eric is a determined, caring father and his bond with the brave and resourceful girls feels so realistic it pulled me into the story immediately.

Eric is offered money to stay in a haunted house, of course, and takes this potentially life-saving opportunity. He’s smart and cautious, and I love that he doesn’t deny what’s happening or make stupid choices.

The house itself is a Spite House — a house built not for love, but for revenge (after this book I may have spent waaay too much time online chasing down fascinating stories of spite houses).

I won’t spoil what’s actually happening in the house, but it’s creepy and sad in the way the best haunted houses are. The protagonists are a Black family and there’s some strong social horror elements in the house’s history and their family’s history.

Adam Lazarre-White is the perfect narrator for this book. His voice is warm and pulled me into Eric’s head (though the book is written in third person, Eric is the main protagonist) in a way that made me care about the family immediately. I love that he doesn’t overact or try to do overly feminine voices for the girls or other female characters in the book. He lets the listener experience the story themselves.

I loved this book. The Spite House is one of my new favourite haunted house books. I loved the audiobook so much that when I got in from a hike with three hours left in the story, I cleaned my kitchen and reorganized my home office just so I could finish it (I loathe cleaning).

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my review copy of this audiobook.

Desperate for financial freedom and a fresh start, a man and his two daughters move into a haunted house in rural Texas. The ultra rich homeowner offers a handsome reward for proof of supernatural activity and boy do things start popping off! An ode to classic horror with multifaceted and diverse characters. Big fan of this!

Learned something new. I had no idea spite houses existed.
I didnt realize that when i picked this book it would be a ghost story. I am not a fan of ghosts. But i didnt like this book either. LOVED the voice actor, but thats about it. It was kinda all over the place and im still confused.