What an incredible read! I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I requested this book simply based off the cover and title!

I loved the gothic, spooky, atmospheric details with an abundance of interesting history. Grief really can change a person, and this book really delivered on that. I really loved the nature of horror and historical fiction, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I learned so much from this book while still being a little scared. The book takes place during the Russian revolution and while I “knew” about Anastasia from a cartoon and Bolsheviks from my high school history teacher saying the word a bunch, I didn’t really know what went on in Russia during this period. Olesya brought history to life with characters that felt like they were living in the pages of my previously mentioned high school history book. She made you feel what life was like for people of the tumultuous time while adding paranormal details to strengthen the fear you should be feeling for them. The book centers on what is left of the Goliteva family. They are known as former people in this new Soviet Russia, because they were princes, princesses and other aristocratic members of high society but they have lost their social status due to the revolution. When things began to look bad their family left the Petersburg house for their Moscow house, but life in the Moscow house was anything but easy. When the Bolshevik’s commandeer the Moscow house, they force the 6 remaining members of the family to retreat to the attic, but they awaken something more sinister lurking in the shadows of all the pain and loss. This book is easy to read and plays out almost like a Netflix miniseries, and slowly unravelling the mystery of the Moscow House is half the fun of this book. The world building is top notch, and as I’ve mentioned before, this whole book reads like a historical fiction novel. There are gothic elements of folklore, witchcraft and social horror that haunt this tale, but I think that people that don’t necessarily “like” horror will enjoy this book too. Sometimes it’s fun to get the blood racing and this book manages this with historical context, romance and through the traditional horror suspense of things going bump in the night so there is a little something for everyone. The story offers an explanation and a resolution for the people that need to know this before picking up a horror book.

This book had great vibes and a lot of potential, but it was ultimately not a good fit for me. I thought the time period and setting was unique and I was interested to learn more about the former people and their lives under the Soviet regime. The story was much too slow for me, however. I didn’t feel much character conflict or motivation, even though there was a lot of potential for it. There weren’t enough small events to keep me reading and get me to the big one at the end. I respect the author’s writing about her family’s culture and the research she did, but I ultimately can’t recommend this book, unfortunately.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Olesya Salnikova Gilmore for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Irina and Lili Goliteva can't help but long for simpler times...BEFORE the Bolsheviks took over their ancestral home. As former aristocrats, they now have been forced into a tiny corner of the upstairs of their home and are adjusting to their new normal in Soviet Russia. The sisters feel like they have so little control over their new lives and ache for the days when their choices were truly their own...but as women, there is only so much they are ALLOWED to do about it.

When the American Relief Administration (ARA) provides them the opportunity for employment, however, both sisters are eager to jump on the bandwagon and explore their potential. They'll take ANY chance to turn the tide of their current predicament and maybe even stumble into love along the way. But the large and imposing Moscow House doesn't take too kindly to all of its new inhabitants...and the sisters discover that there is far more dark family history buried in its walls and secrets waiting to be discovered than they EVER could have imagined. Unfortunately, there's a slight problem with the sisters' digging...some secrets prefer to remain buried.

When a body of one of the Bolshevik soldiers is found downstairs, Irina and Lili begin to realize that their curiosity has awakened something evil...and deadly. Can they summon the spirits of their ancestors to battle the evil seeping from Moscow House's very walls themselves? Or will the House take this prime opportunity to crush the enemy AND end the family lineage...forever?

Gothic fiction is always touch and go for me, but with the promise of a fascinating time period and a creepy house and fall at our doorstep, I figured there was no better time to dive into a pre-Halloween spooky historical fiction read. But what I got in this one, rather than a historical fiction feast was a somewhat mushy casserole of historical fiction, gothic fiction, romance, and folklore that simply couldn't decide what dish it wanted to be....and subsequently ended up a mediocre, lukewarm version of all four.

To say I am well versed in Russian history would be an epic overstatement, so this alone made this read sort of a struggle for me in terms of not getting bogged down in the details. While you don't NEED the historical background to enjoy the story, I do think having a better sense of it would help. The book starts off very dark, dry, and dramatic, and I'll be honest, I thought it would read more like wordy historical fiction throughout, with a plethora of names, dates, and family ties to keep track of, and I sort of settled in for this type of book. Irina and Lili met their ARA companions, and THEN I figured..."Oh, this is going in a women's lib sort of direction"...and was okay with that too.

And THEN...things turned once again. We hopped into some semi-romances, which not only felt out of place but wholly unnecessary, with gratuitous spice to boot. All of a sudden, it didn't seem like it MATTERED what Irina and Lili were doing...as long as they ended up with their dreaaamy men. While I understand that gothic fiction often has this romantic element, it seemed sort of shoehorned in rather than central to the plot. I then started to get into the groove with THIS type of book, and figured it would be the 'hero saving the princess' (not my favorite, but oh well) and waited for that to take over the narrative.

At this point, the book remembered it was supposed to be SCARY...and we launched into the details of the house's past and WHY it was so scary..but this is where it started to lose me entirely. In successful gothic fiction I've read in the past, the haunted house often sort of serves as its own character, lurking in the background, its evil slowly seething within until it unleashes said fury on its inhabitants. But when it came to Moscow House...sure, it was old and had a dark history...but I just didn't find it frightening. We are treated to lots of diary entries from the past and sleuthing by the sisters, but after a while, it simply felt boring. I kept waiting for the tension to ramp up, but I felt the book got so lost in the weeds trying to explain what had happened in the past that I sort of just lost interest.

On the bright side, there is an interesting, engaging, and thoughtful author's note at the end of the story to provide some insight into why the author chose to write this particular story, how it came about, etc. It was the sort of author's note that provides such a glaring contrast to the reading experience that it actually made me question "Did I like the book more than I thought?"...but after some time to process and moving on to other reads, unfortunately the answer is still a firm no.

There are times when a chef can take a hodgepodge of ingredients, toss in some spices, stir vigorously, and end up with a creation that you never thought would work...but just does. In the case of the The Haunting of Moscow House, however, while the meal was presented with every classic ingredient present, it felt a bit more shaken than thoroughly stirred.

3 stars

Not my first and definitely not my last book about this particular period. I'm more familiar than others I guess from tales and stories, and of course lore that comes from the Russia and the fall of Russian Empire. So this was almost like comfort horror read. Though I did not expect where this book will go. It was such a horrific period in Russian history and the author did it justice, especially for the high society of Russia. I know I know, people could say, oh the privileged fell. But once you only know one way of living the change is hard. Especially when those who over turn you, when start treating you not as human but as things/animals/nothings. And they think they have the right to take everything - from your body to your soul. And that's exactly what I felt for the two girls that are the main characters in this story. The new leadership was trying to destroy these girls' souls. But what is worse - is when their familiar person turns to even darker things to try and save what is old and familiar, and of course take revenge of those who destroyed them.

I loved the nod again to the lore, and pagan spirits of the house. I loved how deeply it went into the spirit of the house, and what it could do, how it could be treated. I loved seeing the Americans and what hope they provided to a lot of people during those dark times. The way the author showed the beaurocracy of the times and what it could mean if you did/said/looked the wrong thing or way. It took just one bad word against you, and you would be dead, or jailed for life. The way people were manipulated into caring just for themselves and not for your neighbors (which is still live and well in a lot of post Soviet countries). It was a disease that spread so fast and easily and is still well and alive to this day.

The real life (historical) horrors mixed with the supernatural folklore built a spooky book, great for the fall season.

Thank you Berkley for my review copy.

As someone who doesn’t usually love historical fiction I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The Haunting of a Moscow House is a gothic tale set in 1920s Soviet Union. The Golitevas were once a renowned family before the Russian Revolution. Sisters Irina and Lili now live as paupers in their once grand family home. When Bolsheviks take up residency in the home, the sisters and their family are forced to relocate to the deserted attic. Soon, death arrives at the house and the sisters must figure out how to send the spirits back to the grave.

While I didn’t find this book to be scary, it was definitely a gothic tale. The writing was atmospheric and the house itself felt alive. I was creeped out more than once by the descriptions of the dead rising, and the images of decay that spread throughout the house made my skin crawl a bit. Setting the novel during winter time really added to the rather dark/bleak tone of the novel, but sprinkling in Russian folktales added a bit of hope to the story. I would compare this to novels like The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia, and I think if you enjoyed those stories you will also enjoy The Haunting of Moscow House.

I’ll also add that I know very little about Russian history, so I appreciated the Author’s Note at the end of the novel. I would recommend reading it as the author shares the real stories her inspiration came from and a bit more of the history of the ARA operations.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program, all opinions are my own.

This was a very interesting gothic historical tale with romantic and paranormal elements to keep the reader interested. This follows two sisters, whos family has fallen from the aristocracy in post revolutionary Russia. Their family and ancient mansion referred to as Moscow House keeps many secrets, and Irina and Lili have to uncover the most devastating of the secrets known only by their beloved uncle who passed several years ago and their strange aunt who currently lives with them in order to save what is left of their family. Lili uncovers her uncle's diaries and learns some of those secrets and how to fight some of the strange and terrible things that have been happening in their home.

In the meantime both Lili and Irina have taken jobs with the American Relief Administration in an attempt to feed the remaining members of their family. They are barely surviving, but their new jobs may be seen as treason by the current regime, especially the men who have taken over their house. Both girls must carefully navigate tricky family and political situations while also developing romantic relationships.

I thought this was entertaining enough, but it didn't have enough paranormal elements for a haunted house story in my opinion. This was more character driven and centered around the familial relationships and relationships the sisters had with the people around them. The research that went into the time period and the setting was excellent!

Overall, this was a great fall read. It is spooky with the creepy house and gothic elements. Slavic folklore is fascinating and it has great characters.

The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore is an unexpected read for me. The historical fiction of this book taking place in Russia during the 1920s with two sisters living in their family home which is overtaken. They sisters start seeing the ghosts of their relatives and leave to protect their surviving family. They take on jobs with the American Relief and discover more about their families past and secrets unfold. I really enjoyed this book because the story was great, the spooky element added a new twist, and the historical element of Russia really made this a unique story. I definitely recommend and look forward to reading more from this author.

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore’s The Haunting of Moscow House is based on a real family fictionalized to incorporate Slavic folklore.
It is the summer of 1921, after the Russian Revolution and Civil War, and Irina and Lili Goliteva’s family has ripped of their royal and social status. Several family members have died, and it is just the two young women, their grandmother, and her aunt with her two children. When a group of Bolsheviks take over their home, the titular Moscow House, the family is ordered to live in the attic and turn over food and belongings. Eager to escape it and their unwelcome new landlords, Irina and Lili find jobs with the recently arrived American Relief Administration, meant to ease the famine. This means employment, food, safety, and a chance to do something for their fellow suffering Russians. But at the decrepit mansion, the spirits of their deceased family have arisen and are hungry for revenge. When one of the officials living in the house is found dead, no one believes the girls about the ghosts. How many people will be killed while these ghosts are enacting revenge?
I loved that Gilmore doesn’t play games with the ghosts. They are real and they show up very soon in the story. This is not a psychological game where the girls are unsure if they see ghosts or go crazy. This was refreshing as I have been reading a book of ghost stories where it’s always a dream or insanity. Plus, these ghosts aren’t Casper. They are actually scary especially when the source of the ghost is revealed. Based on a tale by a Ukrainian writer, Gilmore brings the specter alive while giving credit to Nikolai Gogol. This makes the book a great story.
It's often hard to morally think about the goings on of the novel. The girls come from the worst of the rich that contributed to the revolution. They have been knocked down to poor status just like the rest of the Russian people. But there becomes a sense of morality in the abuses they suffer at the hands of the Communists. Family members are killed, the family goes hungry, children who have done nothing wrong suffer. Gilmore has done what she sets out to do: make you care about those who history has taught us we shouldn’t. These characters are sympathetic people you root for.
Though frightening, The Haunting of Moscow House has heart. I would recommend this historical horror to anyone who can separate past Russians from current Russia.

I spent many years in my early reading days indulging in historical fiction and while I don't read as much of this genre as I once did, if the description interests me, I'll give it a try. This book was one where the synopsis grabbed me right away -- historical fiction, romance, with gothic / horror elements -- I was all in.

The story takes place in the 1920 in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.Two sisters are trying to survive, even thrive in an uncertain environment. Their home has been appropriated by the Bolesheviks, and they have family members that are basically imprisoned in the worst spaces in the house. Tough times.

I did love the cultural aspects of this story. It's always interesting to learn of long-held beliefs of different cultures, especially those that are a bit supernatural or magical. The concept of a house spirit is used effectively in this story and while considered malevolent, there are some interesting qualities here that blur things here. I did like how this brought some horror elements to the story through this folklore. I like to read historical fiction to learn about those times, and this definitely added something there.

Family secrets shake up things at the house, and there are some romantic elements. In spite of all of what goes on in this book, the pace is a bit of more of a slow burn rather than fast paced, which is more to my liking. I also wasn't a fan of the third person point of view, but I became accustomed to it once I got involved in the story.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It's well researched and an accomplished mash-up of historical fiction, the supernatural with a nice dose of romance.

3.5 stars

The Haunting of Moscow House is an interesting amalgamation of gothic horror and historical fiction that is perhaps slightly encumbered by its pacing and length. It’s a story about two sisters and the trauma coded into their ancestral home.

If you love a slow unraveling of suspenseful elements, and a beautiful exploration of the ties that bind us together, this book just might be for you.

Read my full review: https://www.mwgerard.com/russia-disquiet/

Three years after the Bolsheviks have murdered the royal family and seized control of the country, the rebels have arrived at the crumbling Goliteva mansion. Once a prosperous family, members of the minor aristocracy, they have been relegated to the bare, freezing attic while soldiers tromp below. What little food they had is taken by the unwelcome guests.

Sisters Lila and Irina go to the market each day, in hopes of securing scraps for their family back home. On a recent trip they happen to meet two young Americans working for the American Relief Association. A sanctioned organization, they help deliver charity to displaced Russians. They offer the sisters jobs at the agency, an offer they tentatively accept.

By day they lend their talents to their modern reality. But at night the literal ghosts of their ancestors come back to life in their old home. This novel imagines a liminal world where the past demands to be part of the present.

3 stars

Got about halfway through before I DNF’d. Couldn’t keep my attention and I kept skimming.

Post-revolutionary Russia seems like a pretty good place to set a Gothic novel, but alas, the scariest thing in this book is the Bolsheviks.

I suppose if you look at this as historical fiction and focus on the sociopolitical situation at the forefront of the story, it’s a well-structured novel. Certainly the writing is lovely and the pacing is fine.

But this is supposed to be a gothic novel, and the actual gothic and supernatural elements of this are really a snooze. It’s not scary, it lacks the slow build dread that good gothic novels all have, and the house itself felt like a well-conceived but poorly deployed narrative device.

If you just can’t get enough of post revolutionary Russia as a setting, this will likely work fine for you. Gilmore is clearly a skilled writer and her sense of history is evident. But if you’re here for the gothic, look elsewhere.

3.75 stars
I found THE HAUNTING OF MOSOW HOUSE to be a fascinating mix of gothic horror, historical fiction, Russian folklore, and romance. I enjoyed the historical aspect, focusing on the aristocrats’ lives after the 1917 Russian revolution, the most. What could have been a bleak, depressing tale is deftly told with an underlying sense of hope for the future. The haunting adds an interesting layer to the story, and the climactic ending made for a satisfying read.

I recommend THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE to any reader interested in Russian history and a gothic setting.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

The Haunting of Moscow House is a delightfully spooky gothic historical fantasy with a basis in real life history. At the heart is a story of family and history. Also, it’s a story of how grief and loss can change a person and a country. Are the hauntings actual or just memories? Which is scarier?

***review as posted to my IG today***

MALEFICENT MONDAY

Thanks #partners @berkleypub & @prhaudio for my #gifted copies! #berkleyig #berkleypartner #penguinrandomhousepartner

The Haunting of Moscow House
Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Available now

📖 The Haunting of Moscow House follows the Goliteva sisters, Lili and Irena, in 1920s Moscow — the years following the Russian Revolution. Before the war, the sisters enjoyed a life of aristocracy, but after the Bolsheviks commandeer their mansion, the family is forced to live in the attic, bartering family heirlooms for survival. When the Americans arrive, Irina and Lili are offered jobs for the ARA in exchange for food and a better life. But back home, supernatural occurrences unbury dark, sinister secrets that shock the sisters to their core.

💭 The Haunting of Moscow House has so many elements I love! It's based in part on true events, and weaves historical fiction with supernatural horror and a romance subplot. As someone who hasn't read many historical fiction novels set in Russia, this was as educational as it was entertaining. While it did drag at times, I was still fully invested in the story and the sisters' outcome. This tale is often dark — exploring both the horrors of Russian history and the those of the supernatural variety — but it's also an inspiring and hopeful story of sisterhood and perseverance in the face of unimaginable adversity. I appreciate the incorporation of lighter elements to offset the darker elements, which results in an overall well-rounded novel.

🎧 I chose to read this one in tandem, by combining my print copy with the audiobook. The Magnificent Maarleveld (Saskia Maarleveld) was the perfect casting choice here; I always love listening to books in her voice. She nails the accents and genders, flawlessly shifting from Russian to English, and women to men. Wonderful performance as always!

This is the perfect read to get you in the mood for the upcoming Halloween season!

📌 Out now!

This was a truly creepy and horrific gothic historical novel. The history was rich and well done, and I will admit you don’t see a lot of Russian historical fiction. It was very interesting to see a family of “former people” and what they went through after the revolution in Russia. I did think that while this story was full of interesting supernatural pieces and truly horrifying horror the story moved to slowly for me at bits which made it hard to focus on this book instead of the never ending pile of books waiting to be read. Lili and her sister Irina are struggling to survive in Russia and to protect what is left of their family. While they once had titles and riches the revolution has left them nothing more than their empty home. As strange things start happening the girls are determined to figure out what happened the night their uncle was killed and their father and grandfather arrested because it seems connected to what’s happening now. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars rounded up for good levels of spooky.

Russia's history is drenched in war, instability, terror, the unknown, and the fear of the past sneaking up behind you and tapping you on the shoulder. You focus on the present and just get through the next horror. Your stomach caving in on itself in hunger, the Bolsheviks eyes caressing your every move, not knowing what your future holds. Your family is your priority. Getting them through the next obstacle, filling their belly's, and making sure they are loved. When the past finally catches up to you and completely sends you running in terror. You know you must do whatever it takes to get through to the other side.

Irina and Lili Goliteva are sisters. They were brought up in extreme privilege, which has been yanked away by the new government. Their family members have been murdered, their possessions sold off or destroyed. The Moscow House is the only thing they have left. A vast mansion that holds their past hostage. In 1921 a group of Bolshevik soldiers move in, turning their lives into upheaval. The ghosts of the past are not happy and are making it known. As accidental deaths begin to add up. Irina and Lili are beginning to see ghostly forms of their family members. The walls begin to mold, there is the smell of death and decay in the air. The gloom swirls around them, making them fear for their lives. The house haunted in every sense of the word. Their Aunt seems possessed at times. As the past and the present collide the girls need to confront their ghosts of the past to move forward.

Olesya Salnikova Gilmore weaves a fantastical tale. Bringing together Russian folklore, history, and a stunning atmospheric setting which had me at the edge of my seat. It is a slow burn, that quietly grows with intensity as more of the past is uncovered. I loved the Russian history, it literally oozed from the pages. Making me want to learn more and to read more of their folklore. Which let's be honest, can be horrifying on its own. Add in a dash of the occult and Russian Superstition and you have a perfect book to add to your pile of spooky book reads. Thank you to Oleysa Salnikova Gilmore and Berkley Publishing for this haunting read of love, sisterhood, and family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group as well as the author for this haunting ARC.
#NetGalley #BerkleyPublishingGroup #HauntingofMoscowHouse #Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

Title: The Haunting of Moscow House
Author: Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Format: eBook
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
Themes: family, Russian history, haunted house, paranormal, historical horror
Trigger Warnings: Alcohol abuse, historical horror, death of children, pregnancy/childbirth, psychological abuse, blood rituals, family drama, war and the effects on soldiers, sex and sexual harassment

This was a bleak one. I do love historical horror and old haunted houses. This delicious tale is about an old family mansion falling into disrepair during the summer of 1921. Some Bolsheviks
have taken over the family mansion and forced the family, including Lili and Irina Goliteva. The sisters try to get used to the way things are in Soviet Russia now, even though they’re used to the finer things. Lili and Irina find jobs and are doing their best when their ancestors wake up. Deaths follow. Are the spirits responsible or the Amercians? Do the dearly departed have something to say?

Everyone is occasionally visited by the ghosts of their past, just usually not literally. The ghosts of the family home of Irina and Lili Goliteva are very literal and provide an eerie, unsettling feeling for this gothic story. I enjoyed this book very much. I’m not very knowledgeable on Russian history so I learned quite a bit. I loved learning Russian folklore also and I also liked how these things didn’t detract from the main story. Not to say that history would detract but, in less capable hands, extra narrative can cause the story to drag. This book was beautifully written and I learned a lot.

It was interesting but bleak. The tone was grim and bleak. I have no problem with this but some may. I actually liked the dark narrative because it gave the sisters’ personalities and courage room to shine by comparison. I really loved these characters and I missed them when I finished this book.

All in all, I loved this one and highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history, gothic ghost stories and family drama. Thank you again to Berkley, NetGalley, and the author for this treat.