I really liked the bones of this story - the complex interweavings of colorism in the south and the relative privilege afforded to those who were white passing, the messy (and very Gothic) family dynamics, and each of the major twists were fantastic - but the pacing and the “telling”-heavy writing really hampered the overall delivery.

The first half of the book especially felt so long, and we were given the answer to the curse sooo early but not in a clever way; instead our MC deliberately ignores it and we circle around the same failed ideas several more times.

I found Jemma’s relationships with Laurence and Fosette to be confusing (another instance where the “telling”-heavy writing style works against us) because a switch is flipped and loyalties change and we don’t really get an explanation (at least not one that I was particularly satisfied with). I also wanted much more of the imagery/descriptions that are typical of Gothic-style books. We get the briefest introduction to what the Duchon house looks like when Jemma first arrives, but beyond that, nothing. And that’s my favorite part of the Gothic genre too…

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for my e-ARC of This Cursed House!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👻 can see ghosts
👶🏼 were adopted as a baby
🌪️ love books with several twists
🎺 have ever been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

In the fall of 1962, twenty-seven-year-old Jemma Barker is desperate to escape her life in Chicago—and the spirits she has always been able to see. When she receives an unexpected job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans, she accepts, thinking it is her chance to start over.

But Jemma discovers that the Duchon family isn’t what it seems. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon the shocking truth comes out: The Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma has the power to break it.

As Jemma wrestles with the gift she’s run from all her life, she unravels deeper and more disturbing secrets about the mysterious Duchons. Secrets that stretch back over a century. Secrets that bind her to their fate if she fails.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such an incredible book, and the fact that it was a debut made it all the better! It’s a bit on the longer side, but totally necessary to really delve into this story. It’s got history, backstory, and so many twists and turns you’ll never see coming! The MC was likable where her family was not. She acted in ways that I could never to be honest. The ghosts and curses in the story felt realistic and the entire story just flowed well together. I was happy with the ending, and honestly, I think we could see more of her in future books! If that is what the author wants of course!

4.5 stars - This book was super creepy, and I loved all the historical details (it's set in the 60s but also has echoes of the pre-Civil War South). There were aspects of this book that felt a little predictable at first, but then several twists were included that I did not see coming. So many of the characters are just plain unlikable, so they make for the perfect villains. I especially loved the last third of the book that felt like a more thrilling ride than the beginning (although I get there needed to be some serious tension built before the payoff). I would definitely read other novels from Sandeen, especially if they're in the horror genre like this.

Three hundred dollars a week is a lot of money in 1962. So much so, in fact, that it tempts Jemma Barker from the relative safety of Chicago to New Orleans, where Jim Crow is violently enforced. She should have known that the money was too good to be true. In Del Sandeen’s original and chilling novel, This Cursed House, Jemma quickly learns that three hundred dollars a week is far too little to compensate her for dealing with the Duchon family.

Traveling south from Illinois to Louisiana in 1962 is like traveling to another country, another time. First, there’s the transfer to the segregated “colored” car. Then, there’s having to step out of the way of white pedestrians. There are cafes that won’t serve Jemma and buses that won’t take her where she wants to go. When Jemma reaches the Duchon house, in the countryside near New Orleans, she discovers that this place is no respite from segregation. Something much stranger—and much more dangerous—is haunting this house. Jemma is greeted by the matriarch, Honorine Duchon, a light-skinned woman of African descent who rules her family with a fierce, menacing will. The Duchons are a strange group. They never leave their house and grounds. They dress in old-fashioned clothes. Their maid does not speak, no matter how the family abuses her. And there does not appear to be a job. Jemma is being paid $300 a week to do little more than entertain Honorine’s granddaughter. The Duchons, frankly, made my skin crawl.

Jemma is not the kind of woman to be bossed around by anyone, no matter how much she’s being paid. She keeps her temper until a venomous comment from Honorine or an act of abuse towards the maid, Agnes, provokes Jemma into speaking her mind. In fits and starts, Jemma’s anger at the family and their strange ways makes the plot begin to move. Her anger prompts Honorine and her family to give up their secrets. And then, if you can believe it, things get even weirder.

This Cursed House is an incredible blend of Gothic ghost story, racism, and a vicious family so concerned with their image that they commit all kinds of crimes against their own relations that it takes the breath away. I loved how the plot would twist and turn, never going in the direction expected but always adding new layers to the story. There are some moments towards the end that get a bit mawkish (I skimmed these), but I’m willing to forgive these because the rest of the book is so original and so atmospheric. Readers who are looking for stories that blend family and American history will find a lot to enjoy here.

I have said it before and I will say it again-this is the year of the debut! I tell ya! Im so shocked that this is Sandeen’s first novel. Thank you @berkleypub @netgalley for my advanced copy!

This is very much a southern gothic novel. The time period, the setting of New Orleans and the overall vibes really set the mood. You can literally smell the coffee and beignets.

Right off the bat you feel the unease. The horrors in this novel aren’t your typically spooky ghosts, no the horrors here are the real living people. All of the Duchon family are atrocious. At times, I gasped at the horror they inflicted. There is so much here to unpack and the heart heavy topics really affected me. Jemma was so resilient and went through so much. Throughout the entire novel she continued to push through. Sandeen is definitely an author to watch!

This book literally took my breath away. It had a little bit of everything that encompasses southern gothic. Atmospheric setting where ghosts and spirits swirl around you. The smell of smoke lingering in the air. It takes part during the 1960s in the south, you better believe there are some race issues that need to be discussed. A family that is light skinned and can pass as white. Getting rid of any relation that is a little bit darker than they are. There is a curse that bounds the Duchon family to their mansion. They are at Jemma's mercy to break the curse that has haunted them for decades. Will they be able to come together and figure out how to escape their bounds?

Jemma has had one intense month. Her boyfriend whom she lives with knocked up another girl. She has been let go from her teaching job and she has nowhere left to go. She has never felt like she has fit in anywhere. Even with her family she has felt like a failure. She craves the love and attention of a family, no matter who the family is. She needs to leave Chicago and have a fresh start. A letter arrives at just the perfect time, allowing her to take a job in New Orleans. She has no idea what she is in for. But what she is met with leaves her mouth hanging open and her mind racing. What will she discover when she goes digging into the Duchon family's past?

I loved this book. I was at the edge of my seat, a chill rolls down my spine, the Duchon family are the definition of nasty. They do not know when or how to stop their disgusting behaviors. I was not surprised that they had a curse set upon them. The why took my breath away. Buckle up you are in for one intense ride. Thank you to Del Sandeen and Berkley Publishing for my gifted copy of this incredible Spooky Season read.

I love a good Southern gothic horror novel. It's been a while since I'd read one, and this definitely hit the spot. Set in the Deep South in the 1960s, this story is full of curses, spirits, and dark family secrets.

The book focuses on 27-year-old Jemma Barker. When the book begins, Jemma's life is coming apart, so when she receives a letter from Honorine Duchon, offering Jemma $300 a month if she moves in with Honorine and her family in New Orleans, Jemma takes her up on the offer. Jemma has no idea who this woman is or how she found her, but she's desperate for money and feels that a change of scenery is exactly what she needs after all she has been through.

From the moment Jemma arrives in New Orleans, everyone she meets warns her to leave rather than stay with the family, and when she arrives at their home, it's abundantly clear that something is off. The family members, who are Black but can pass as white, never leave their house and are all dressed as if it's the 1940s. And where is the child that Jemma assumed she would be tutoring? It's not long before Jemma learns that there is no child, and the family brought her there because they need help with a curse placed on them 28 years ago. A curse that prevents them from leaving their property and claims a family member's life every seven years. Jemma has no idea how the family knows she can see ghosts or why they think she can help break their curse. But as the days pass, Jemma learns dark secrets about this eccentric family - secrets that may threaten her life and her sanity.

The author seamlessly blends elements of horror, suspense, and family drama and does it very well. The Duchon family's complex history, secrets, and the curse that haunts them provide a haunting backdrop for Jemma's journey. Even though I had a few suspicions about some of the characters early on, I loved watching it all come together.

Sandeen's writing is immersive and easily draws readers into 1960s New Orleans. This is still very much a Jim Crow South, and Jemma is exposed to a lot more racism than she experienced in Chicago. It's unsettling and adds an extra layer of danger and frustration to an already tense tale. Not only is there danger in the South, but all of that is amplified further at the Duchon's home with the family's dark secrets. There is a lot of tension and creepiness between these pages.

As far as characters go, this book is filled with several memorable ones. Jemma is a breath of fresh air in a genre that often lacks diverse representation. Not only is she fighting her own secrets, but she's also dealing with the racism of a Jim Crow South and the colorism in the Duchon household. She is strong and driven, and I loved watching her grow. As far as supporting characters go, the Duchon family is the icing on the cake. Honorine and her family are characters you will either love or love to hate. I found myself pitying them one moment and then hating them the next.

I think my only complaint with this one was that I felt the pace was uneven. The author tended to repeat herself a lot - almost as if she didn't trust the reader to remember certain plot points. I also felt like we would get several chapters of intense forward movement, and then things would slow down for a few chapters. I read an advance copy, so maybe some pacing issues were fixed before the final publication. Despite this, I still very much enjoyed the story.

Overall, I found this to be a haunting read that I couldn't put down. It's full of family secrets, curses, and creepy happenings, offering a unique twist on Southern Gothic horror. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a blend of the eerie and the mysterious. If you're a fan of ghost stories, this one is a must-add to your Halloween TBR.

The author's passion shines through in this book. It explored some very intriguing themes. However, I didn’t connect with it or the characters like I wanted to. That's a reflection of me as a reader and not the book! It has great potential to appeal to other spooky/thriller readers and I encourage others to try it out! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

First of all, this is an OUTSTANDING debut novel. I am so impressed by the quality of the writing, the storytelling, the character development, the scene setting and the atmosphere in this book.

This is a beautifully spun historical southern gothic filled with family drama, lies, curses and spirits. We follow Jemma, whose life has just imploded after she loses her job and discovers her partner has been cheating. She is offered a job in New Orleans that seems too good to be true, but she jumps at the opportunity to start fresh and immediately accepts. When she arrives, she realizes that the job is not at all what she was expecting, and neither is the family that she was employed to work for.

We've got lots of characters, from Jemma to the Duchon family, as well as some of my favorite (and the most likable characters) Dennis, Magdalene and Agnes. I loved watching the relationships between everyone grow and change, and I especially loved watching Jemma embrace herself and find herself again.

The social commentary is exceptional, with an emphasis on colorism and racism and it really put a spotlight on the harsh realities of life in the '60s in the south.

While this book is marketed as a horror, I felt that it was a little bit tame when it comes down to it, and I wish that there had been a bit more spook, gore or terror involved. That said, this is still an incredible read and I think it holds a ton of appeal for many different readers, especially considering the important themes that are tackled within its pages.

HIGHLY recommend this one! Del Sandeen is an author to keep your eye on!

I feel like for the past two weeks all I have read is holiday ARC’s so I needed a break and something a little more on tune with the spooky season reads, this book delivered!

If I had to just some of this book with a line, it would be “it was all about the vibes”. The vibes were just so good. Books like this make me love the gothic genre. I am a sucker for it, and always chasing the high that books like this one give me. There is just something about it that I love so much.

This book had such a great plot, and it had a nice amount of history in it. I have read enough history to know stories similar to this book played out in real life (okay not some aspects – it is fiction) but if you’ve read any books dealing with colorism then it will be familiar to the themes that this book is built on. I think that this book did the history justice.

There are so many lies in this book, so much deception and on so many levels. Don’t hear gothic and think boring, this book is anything but and will keep you engaged and interested from the start.

"In this Southern Gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They're under a curse, and they think she can break it.

In the fall of 1962, twenty-seven-year-old Jemma Barker is desperate to escape her life in Chicago - and the spirits she has always been able to see. When she receives an unexpected job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans, she accepts, thinking it is her chance to start over.

But Jemma discovers that the Duchon family isn't what it seems. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon the shocking truth comes out: The Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma has the power to break it.

As Jemma wrestles with the gift she's run from all her life, she unravels deeper and more disturbing secrets about the mysterious Duchons. Secrets that stretch back over a century. Secrets that bind her to their fate if she fails."

The real question is, why did Jemma think there'd be less spirits in New Orleans?

A carefully woven mystery full of ghosts, lies, and a cruel past, this story gets his depth from its carefully crafted sense of place and the real history beneath the fiction's surface. I loved the way the unraveling of the central mystery is so tightly intertwined with the mystery of Jemma's own life.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A southern gothic novel about a light skinned family who despised their darker relatives and caused a curse to be leveled on the family.

3 stars

Maybe a bit too much horror for me? Lots of heavy themes that I probably should have been in a different headspace in order to deal with. Overall not a bad book, but maybe I would have rated higher if I was in a different mood entirely.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for a pre-release copy of This Cursed House. Below is my honest review.

Now that was a fun debut novel! I'm a big fan of gothic horror, and This Cursed House delivered. Was it perfect? No. There were some places where the story felt like it was hitting the same beat a few times in repetition, and during the first few chapters, the repeated use of "hazel eye" descriptions pulled me out of the story a bit. But it was a great novel nonetheless. I wanted to know what was going on, and hung on to every word in hopes of figuring it out, craving just another supernatural moment.

This book also made me feel very uncomfortable, but in a good way. As a white person, it's sometimes easy to forget the historical systemic issues surrounding race, and how that celebration of whiteness and devaluation of blackness even affected how lighter-skinned Black people treated darker-skinned ones. While being set in the past, this novel did a great job of reminding us that while some things might have gotten better, we still have a long way to go in repairing the damage caused by racism and slavery.

All in all, a great read, and I look forward to Del Sandeen's next book! Definitely recommended for fans of Southern gothic horror (light horror, really).

Jemma Baker leavers her life in Chicago for a mysterious job in New Orleans. When she arrives at the Douchon estate, she realizes that not all is as it seems. After some time with the family, they make her aware that they are cursed and they believe she is the only one who can break it as it was her mother who cursed them. As family secrets are revealed, Jemma must figure out how to break the curse before someone else dies.

I forgot how slow gothic horror could be. Despite taking place in 1962, this follows the path of a decent southern gothic story. This beginning is slow to build which almost made me stop reading but a bit over the 55% mark is where the action starts. The ending lagged for me and just when I thought it would end, there was still 30% to get through. I don't read many books about cursed families so this was something new. This will definitely be a hit for people who like a slower horror story. This would be a perfect fit for an Aardvark Book Club pick for October.

I was hoping for something on the spookier side so this one wasn’t for me. I’m sure someone will love it though!

This was such a sad and haunting story about a woman who accepts a position working for a well-to-do but, unbeknownst to her, cursed family. The family believes she can undo the curse placed on their family as our main character has always been able to see and speak to spirits/ghosts. Our main character uncovers family secrets and ghosts of the past, both literally and figuratively.

This was a perfect blend of historical fiction and light horror. This would be a great read for someone who is looking to dip their toes into the horror genre. There were moments of scares/“horror” but it’s more horrific in that parts of this story could very well have happened during this time period. There were great conversations about racism, colorism, and internalized racism. Overall an intriguing and powerful read.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jemma is plagued by restless spirits, since childhood she's had the burden of being able to see those who have died and been unable to pass on- and the place she's headed is a hotbed of spiritual activity. She's on her way to New Orleans to take up a tutoring position with a wealthy family. The hot weather is not the only thing that intensifies as she travels further south: she thought being a black woman in 1962 Chicago was hard, but in The South the racist treatment she gets is on another level. Dazzled by the pay she's been promised, and fleeing a toxic relationship back home, Jemma's determined to make this new life work. Although she is surprised to find this wealthy family that hired her is African American, their colorism and antiquated ways of talking about race are no less hard to deal with. The work they have in mind for her is nothing like what she thought. This family has been bound with a terrible curse which has been hanging over them for decades and they have brought in Jemma to break the spell. This southern gothic is as much a mystery as it is a dark tale of the horrors of slavery. The reader accompanies Jemma as she digs into a family history full of drama, racism, colorism, violence and murder. The author chooses the darkest of settings for this horror story to great effect. This novel is rich and atmospheric, full of horror and steeped in historic prejudice.

A 4.5 star review. I love the southern gothic style that this story portrays. Set in the 60s when racism was still prevalent. This story tells a woman’s journey from Chicago to New Orleans. Basically feeling like her life has hit rock bottom, until she gets a mysterious job offer. Well she is hit with lies and deception right from the beginning. She must unravel a curse that was put in the family 27 years before. A bit of a slow burn, but it will have you hooked just trying to figure out the lies and deception. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a gothic style of writing. Not a thriller or horror but a good read regardless.
A debut novel, but I can’t wait to read the next novel Del Sandeen come up with.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the ARC