After finishing this book I can see how the ratings were not great. That being said, I did enjoy it. I believe you have to be a real thriller/ horror lover to appreciate many of the little Easter eggs and references. Many old/classic horror movies were referenced in this story and I really liked how the author paid homage to so many classics. The story was good, I was entertained and enjoyed the writing style. The one thing that I could not overlook was what a horrible nasty person our main character Harry was! Good grief she was just so needlessly snappy, nasty, judgemental, and downright rude. Ugh she really annoyed me. People went out of their way to be nice and helpful to her and she would bite their heads off! She was constantly worried about people thinking they were better than her. Other than that criticism, I enjoyed it. I think the book will have a very niche following. I will read more by this author.

Honestly one of the best parts about this book was how fast it read. I was able to finish it in less than 24 hours which is always a win in my book. Other than that the story felt very underwhelming to me. Sure there were some spooky parts that freaked me out but I felt like for the most part it was more about the main character Harry freaking out about money and where her and her son were going to live. I wanted more of the spooky haunted house and less of the mother/son relationship. I did really enjoy the plot twist at the end even though I saw it coming but I feel like the rest of the story I more or less zoned out on. I understand the meaning of the title I just wanted more ghostly happenings to occur. And if I'm being completely honest I couldn't stand the main character Harry. I get she's trying to be the independent single mom that doesn't need anyones help but I got tired of reading about the independent single mom that doesn't need anyones help.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the review copy!

Thank you so much @berkley pub for the eArc #blogstop ❤️ & thank you @prhaudio for the Alc! This was one of my most anticipated books & I’m so excited for it to be out in the world. Read this book if you like: gothic horror, houses with creepy histories, likable protagonists that you want to root for or quick horror novels that make you nostalgic for old horror movies.

I was really excited to read this book! The cover art & description were perfectly designed to elicit interest. After reading it though I will say it was an entertaining read but fell short of my expectations. I love how the book grapples with heavy topics, incorporates legends from around the world, & normalizes lgbtq+ storylines. Those reasons alone make me want to recommend that you absolutely read this book. As with any anthology some of the stories are absolutely phenomenal there are one or two I would give 5 stars to. But they’re averaged out by more mediocre stories which I could have done without. The one thing I would wish for is a more cohesive thread between the stories. The summary promised a book of stories that were connected by a single house. But aside from some throw away lines you wouldn’t know it. I think that a bigger emphasis on how the stories were intertwined with the house would have given it a bigger impact. I do think this book is a good read and very good at incorporating topics that lost ya shy away from

Thank you to @berkleypub for the #gifted copy.

I read a lot of horror. This was creepy, but not scary or gory so if you are looking for something to ease you into the genre then this would be a great start. The story fely YAish to me, but very engaging and enjoyable.

I really liked this story. It is a little slower paced with a gothic horror, but it builds to a great mystery and climax. I ended up going to purchase the paperback of this one to have the physical copy.

One of the immediate questions in horror like this tends to be "why don't they just leave" when they have that option. This book does a great job at setting up stakes and why Harry keeps going despite the strange happenings.

Figuring out if Javier is the evil or another victim adds a great layer to this story!

I had such a fantastic time reading this book! I really enjoy Christina Henry books, and her latest horror books have been so entertaining to read, and I knew that I would have a blast reading this book, and I did! The premise was interesting and I loved reading it!

The atmosphere of this book was just sinister and creepy, which was perfect for a horror book. It had me tense, and nervous for what was going to happen next, but I had to keep reading to find out, because curiosity has to be followed through in a book!

The fact that there are these voices asking for help in her employer's house? When that employer is how she's supporting her family by herself? That was just another thing to struggle with on top of the horror. Not to mention the bond that was forming between her boss and her son to further complicate things.

What ended up happening though? Yeah, that was so great to read, I was cheering for Harry to come out victorious, after all that she'd been through. All those pieces that came together worked really well. I just wish we could've had a bit more of the ending!

This was another really great story by Christian Henry and I can't wait to read more!

Unfortunately, once again a Christina Henry book started out with a great premise, characters I cared about and a great first half. Then things slowly fell apart and the book turned out to be just ok. I felt the story was wrapped up too quickly.

This is the second Christina Henry book in a row that’s been really disappointing and I’m not sure if it’s an editing issue or if she doesn’t have an editor anymore or if something else is going on. Like Good Girls Don’t Die, this one is super disjointed and doesn’t even seem to get to the real story until the back 1/4 and by that point, it doesn’t even matter because I was frustrated and bored. The idea was GREAT and I kept reading in hopes that something, ANYTHING, would be worth the effort but in the end, I finished and decided I’m not going to be reviewing her books any longer unless I hear from someone else that a particular story is really good. So sad.

Lisa Flanagan did such a wonderful job narrating this book! The depth of concern and love Henry has for Gabe was magnified by Lisa’s tone and inflections. I’m definitely adding her to my list of narrators I love!

Christina Henry’s books are perfect for readers wanting to get into the horror genre without diving right into the deep end. There is an ominous undertone and I found myself wondering what was really going on behind the scenes. Is the house truly haunted? Is Mr. Castillo really as pleasant as he seems? What the heck happened to his wife and son? So many questions! The ending wraps up nicely with some twists I didn’t expect. If you’re looking for a quick and creepy read, definitely add this one to your lists! Especially the audiobook!

Christina Henry’s latest novel, The House That Horror Built, is perhaps her least unconventional in recent years. In spite of this, it worked for me. The story captures the tradition and spirit of the best horror movies, making this one of her more enjoyable books.

Set in Chicago amidst the pandemic, Harry Adams is struggling to get by with her fourteen-year-old son Gabe after all the restaurants closed in the city, taking away her waitressing job. Desperate for work, she applies to be a house cleaner three days a week at Bright Horses, a sprawling estate owned by Javier Castillo, a renowned horror film director. Secretly, Harry is a huge fan of his work, but decides to keep quiet to give the man his privacy. The filmmaker’s life has been plagued with scandal after his only son Michael became the main suspect in a young woman’s murder. However, before an arrest could occur, Michael vanished along with his mother. Abandoned by his family, Castillo chose to live in the mansion in solitude, away from the prying eyes of the media.

At first, the job goes well. Castillo may be a reticent and curt man, but as far as bosses go, he is fair and relatively undemanding. Harry’s primary duties are to keep the house immaculate and to clean his vast collection of horror movie props, which quickly becomes routine. But then, strange things begin to occur, especially surrounding a particular costume piece from Castillo’s most famous film. The costume’s mask seems to watch Harry with empty eyes, and sometimes she thinks she can see it move and hear voices. Afraid to lose her job, she keeps quiet, even though she suspects an otherworldly presence in the house and that her employer may be involved. But when Castillo begins to take an unsettling interest in Gabe, Harry’s protective instinct sets off every alarm system in her brain.

Unlike Henry’s more recent novels like her fairy tale retellings and over-the-top horror, The House That Horror Built feels more down-to-earth and familiar. For one, the setting and the characters’ pandemic reality is something that most of us can relate to—social distancing, financial woes, and emotional strain. In Harry’s case, she is struggling to find a job, pay her rent, and keep her son in school. Her troubles lend the story more authenticity, and while some may find all this a bummer, the rawness appealed to me because it helped ground the novel’s supernatural premise in the everyday.

I also observed how character development here was prioritized over heavy messaging (Good Girls Don’t Die, I’m looking at you). Everything about Harry’s personality from her no-nonsense determination to her resentfulness and mistrust is a product of her past—a strict and religious upbringing—revealed through flashbacks which enrich the narrative. On the other hand, things are a lot less clear when it comes to Javier Castillo. Questions surround the enigmatic director, leading the reader to wonder if there is more to his decision to live alone in a creepy old mansion surrounded by his weird horror movie props.

Last but not least, The House That Horror Built is equal parts horror and mystery, which is what I enjoyed most about the book. But while it may not be a 24/7 fright fest, there is still enough atmospheric tension to keep readers invested, and despite the classic haunted house motif, the plot invites readers to explore the genre beyond cheap thrills and simple scares.

Bottom line, I appreciated the fine balance between setting, character, and plot that I felt was lacking in the author’s last few novels. In The House that Horror Built, Christina Henry has managed to capture the energy behind the fascination for haunted house stories and the horror genre in general, and it’s a passion that feels genuine and fun.

A creepy, seemingly nice and generous old man and former horror filmmaker hires a single mom as his housekeeper and lets her move into his big house with her son. From the beginning Henry gets bad vibes about the house but its when her son's life comes into danger that she is forced to take action. Deliciously suspenseful with lots of Blue Beard vibes, this was a quick, fast-paced read. Good on audio, this wasn't my fav by Chrstina Henry but it was still worth picking up. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was hoping for more gothic horror from this one, and it just wasn't doing it for me. I'm bummed that this wasn't my jam. Thanks Berkley for letting me give it a shot!

3.5 stars. This has some scary moments and the ending was twisty. Hated Harry so much. Her religious parents burned her horror books so she decides to run away?!?! Talk about extreme. Then she becomes a rather strict parent—ironic. She puts her son’s needs first but does nothing to better herself or her financial situation. The house and horror movie props are spooky and Sten is super creepy. Daniel was a great character. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC

This one is a good one that isn’t as spooky as it sounds. The suspense kept me intrigued. The story was one that was creepy and will keep you wondering, what happened?

Harry is a struggling, single mother trying to make ends meet. Her teenage son is a great kid and the two of them share a love of horror movies, especially the classics directed by Javier Castillo. Castillo has relocated to Chicago after tragedy struck his family. He requires discretion, precision and timeliness. He hires Harry to clean his house. Mr Castillo is a little odd, but Harry keeps her head down and focuses on the job, some of that entails dusting his enormous collection of frightening movie props. That is creepy enough until she begins to hear cries for help from a locked door at the end of the hall.

I could not wait to dive into this book, the premise sounded so intriguing and I started reading with high expectations. I have really enjoyed Henry’s other works, especially, “Near the Bone.” I am fine with a slow paced story as long as the ending delivers a fantastic payoff. Unfortunately this fell short for me. It. There just wasn’t enough substance and I found the characters lackluster and disjointed. There was a good story there it just took too long to get there.

2 ⭐️

Harry Adams has been a horror fan most of her life, so working as the cleaner for a famous, reclusive horror movie director--Javier Castillo--feels a bit surreal. However, Harry tries to focus on the job and the money it provides to support herself and her teenage son, Gabe. When strange events start occurring, voices behind a locked door, a moving costume figure, amongst her employer's substantial collection of memorabilia, Harry feels compelled to find answers. Is the house haunted and why?

This book feels tailored to horror movie buffs. The love of the genre is written into every word. The world of film-making is intrinsic to this novel as Harry is the stand-in for other movie lovers who are as fascinated by the people who make the movies as much as the movies themselves, yet they don’t always like what they see behind the scenes. Harry is a very likable main character, self-deprecating, very practical, but also clearly very educated about horror concepts. She is a great character to follow into a potentially haunted house because she knows all the mistakes that people make in horror movies and carefully avoids making them. Her relationship with her son is so heartwarming. The reader sees the hardships and how much Harry has sacrificed to give her son a good life, not to mention the genuine love between them. It is juxtaposed to reveals in this novel that tie intimately to the secrets Bright Horses hides. Gothic atmosphere is a strong part of this book, and the tone is more sinister than outright frightening. Readers looking for visceral, brutal horror won’t find that here. This is a slower-paced, quiet horror thriller that carefully focuses on relationships, particularly the parental-child bond. While the ending felt abrupt, the journey was very fulfilling, and it was hard to say goodbye to Harry and her son when the book ends.

The House That Horror Built is an eerie and tense read. It is a slower paced story but it keeps you engaged and on your toes throughout. There’s no big thrills or twists but it maintains the suspense. There was a feeling of nostalgia that I enjoyed. This story did not need to rely on gore or dramatics to entertain. The simplicity of the supernatural element paired with the evocative writing are enough to create fear and chills.

I was sent this widget from Penguin Randomhouse.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6501416398

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Here's the thing: this worked for me in a "single mom struggling to raise son; boss is kind of weird" way. It worked less for me as "scary horror novel", but that wasn't like, a terrible thing? Just... maybe lower expectations if you're hoping for pee-your-pants creepy? I definitely felt for main character Harry- she's in a dead end job, trying to make ends meet for her and her teenage son. She takes a cleaning job with a famous horror film producer since she loves horror films, but also she's scrambling for work in a quasi-post-COVID world.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Harry and Gabe. And I also liked the way Harry was trying to come to terms with Gabe getting older and becoming more independent. As a mom, that scares the bejeezus out of me, too, so I felt that. Add to it that Javier is a little...extra. Harry doesn't feel super comfy being friendly with Javier, since he is her employer, but she acquiesces- and then immediately regrets her life choices as she and Gabe become closer to Javier (and Javier's history).

I enjoyed the mystery aspect, for it seemed to me more mysterious than thrilling, but I suppose that is just semantics. I enjoyed Harry as a character, and all the hard choices she has to make. I won't say this is my favorite novel of Henry's, but neither did I dislike it.

Bottom Line: A good mystery and character story, a bit light on the horror.

This was a really fun, unexpected read from Christina Henry! I 've found that Christina Henry really excels in writing books in many different genres and with different tones. The House That Horror Built runs more in the thriller/horror vein than straight horror, in my opinion. It's not necessarily Henry's best work, but it was perfectly entertaining and I really enjoyed how the story played out. I felt as though the ending was a bit crowded and abrupt and would have appreciated something that was a bit more drawn out, but overall I had a fun time with this one. I really liked getting to know these characters and also getting some flashbacks into some background for them.