"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

I don’t read a lot of Southern Gothic but this one sounded interesting because of the 1960s setting. I really like the main character Jemma. And the book was atmospheric with just enough creepiness. The book was hard to put down.

When Jemma Barker is offered a job working for the Duchon family in New Orleans, she thinks her luck has changed. She recently lost everything. Her father, her boyfriend, her job and she has no reason to stay in Chicago. This could be the fresh start that she so desperately needs.
But this family had selfish reasons for reaching out to Jemma. There are no children, and they did not hire her to be a tutor. The matriarch, Honorine, believes that Jemma is the only person who can break the curse that is keeping her family prisoner. They cannot leave their house and every seven years; a family member dies a gruesome death. How can this family think that Jemma can help them? All will be revealed in this creepy Gothic tale.
I must admit to yelling at Jemma more than once. She had something this family desperately needed, yet she still took an awful lot of their abuse. I would have been like bye-bye until you write me a big fat check and learn some manners!
I hope that doesn’t sound like I didn’t enjoy this book, because I did. I just hated seeing Jemma hurting. The Duchon family honestly didn’t deserve her help or sympathy. This was a slow burn that had me guessing what was really going on with this family as I furiously flipped pages. I couldn’t believe that this was a debut.

This Cursed House is a grippy Southern gothic with horror elements. In 1960s Chicago, Jemma, a young black woman with a special ability to see spirits, escapes her broken life to work for a New Orleans family for a substantial salary to start over.

But when she arrives, she finds out that her ‘position’ is nebulous and that the Duchy family has brought her to their house hoping she can break the family’s curse which doesn’t allow them to leave—and kills someone every year.

The secrets unfold slowly keeping the pages turning as the stunning and shocking—and sinister reveals are made.

It’s hard not to give spoilers as there are so many! But readers will enjoy the rollout of the family history from all the angles and the reveals of the mysterious past as Jemma has to embrace her gift and her past while learning about herself and her own family’s history. Always a fan of a Gothic, I loved the setting of this book, and the time period which is of change in itself.

Lovely writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this advanced copy for an unbiased book review

A young woman in Chicago is lured by the prospect of a tutoring job to an old Southern mansion . Once there however she discovers that the job is not that of tutor at all and the family is horrid to her. She is connected to them in a way she didn’t expect and is there really just to break a curse that her mother placed on them at her birth. Horrible people but the story is a good dark, mysterious tale of voodoo, curses, and what happens when cousins marry cousins too many times. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

"This Cursed House," a Southern Gothic horror novel by Del Sandeen, follows Jemma Barker, a young Black woman who leaves her life in 1960s Chicago to work for a mysterious family in New Orleans. Ignoring local warnings about the plantation, Jemma becomes ensnared in a chilling and atmospheric ghost story. The novel explores themes of generational curses, family scandals, and the supernatural.

Overall, "This Cursed House" is a remarkable debut that promises much for Del Sandeen's future works. It is a must-read for fans of gothic horror and those who appreciate stories that delve into the darker aspects of family and history. The novel's strengths far outweigh its minor weaknesses, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

**3.5 out of 5 Star Review: This Cursed House by Del Sandeen**

*This Cursed House* by Del Sandeen is a debut novel that dives deep into the heart of Southern Gothic horror, blending historical fiction with elements of the supernatural. Set in 1962, the story follows Jemma Barker, a young woman seeking a fresh start who lands a promising job at a mysterious plantation home in New Orleans. What begins as a hopeful new chapter quickly unravels into a tale of curses, ghosts, and the haunting legacy of racial trauma.

**Thoughts:**
Sandeen does a commendable job of setting the scene in the Deep South, creating an atmosphere steeped in history and tension. The Duchon family’s plantation home, with its dark secrets and oppressive aura, serves as the perfect backdrop for a story that explores generational curses and the lingering effects of slavery. The novel is rich with themes of race, trauma, and the insidious nature of inherited guilt, making it a thought-provoking read.

Jemma Barker is a strong protagonist, and I appreciated how Sandeen portrayed her resilience in the face of increasingly strange and sinister events. However, I found myself frustrated with some of the decisions she made, particularly regarding her loyalty to the deeply flawed Duchon family. Despite uncovering disturbing truths about the family and the house, Jemma’s reasons for staying felt somewhat unconvincing, which detracted from the overall impact of the story.

The novel’s pacing is another point of contention. While the slow burn allows for a thorough exploration of the house’s dark history, there are moments where the story drags, making it feel longer than necessary. The middle section, in particular, could have benefited from tighter editing to maintain the reader’s engagement.

That said, Sandeen’s commentary on racism, colorism, and the long shadow of enslavement is where the novel truly shines. The use of Southern Gothic elements to critique societal issues is well-executed, adding depth to what might otherwise have been a straightforward haunted house tale.

**Final Thoughts:**
*This Cursed House* is an ambitious and atmospheric debut that will appeal to fans of Southern Gothic horror and historical fiction. While it has its flaws, particularly in pacing and character motivations, the novel’s exploration of race and generational trauma gives it a unique and powerful voice. Del Sandeen is clearly a talented storyteller, and I’m looking forward to seeing how her writing evolves in future works.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you enjoy slow-burn horror with a strong dose of social commentary, *This Cursed House* is worth a read.

The debut novel at hand is truly remarkable. As a genre, gothic novels have a long-standing reputation for delving into complex and deep issues. This work uses the genre well to show how a curse can slowly ruin a family. It also shows the darkness in dysfunctional families. Additionally, it deftly explores the concept of family and challenges the conventional notion of what defines it. The expertly crafted suspense and well-placed plot twists only add to the overall eerie atmosphere of the novel. Furthermore, the underlying message of forgiveness adds a poignant depth to the narrative. However, while the novel excels in many aspects, I could not help but feel that the setting and ambiance were somewhat lacking. In gothic literature, the vivid depiction of the surroundings often takes on a character of its own, improving the overall impact of the story. In this case, the Southern Gothic elements could have been used more effectively to create a stronger sense of atmosphere. Nevertheless, I have no hesitation in proclaiming this book as one of my favorites of the year. It is a poignant and thought-provoking read that will surely stay with me for a considerable time.

This one didn't quite hit the mark for me, especially with the characters, but I believe others will enjoy it more.

Loved this one!

It’s perfectly Southern Gothic and positively creepy.

I loved our Main Character, was horrified by her newfound family, and was immediately transported to another place and time.

Now, my family is New Orleans Creole, and this passé blanc family raised way too many memories. I’m not sure of the author’s background, but if she’s not Creole, she certainly knows them!

Loved this history and the mystery of this one!

• ARC via Publisher

A southern gothic novel about a family curse that is tied to mysteries from the past. Woven within is a consideration of the power of forgiveness and love and the damage done by hatred and anger. Set in 1962 in New Orleans, the book tells the story of Jemma who grabs at the chance to leave the end of a bad relationship & the death of her father by heading to New Orleans to work for a rich family. The longer she stays with the reclusive Duchons, the more questions she has. The author does not shy away from discussing racism, colorism, and the damage vengeance can do