Up on Goodreads now, live on the blog on 12 May:

’m a huge J.D. Barker fan (when he writes alone that is, I’m not a fan of the recent collabs with other authors) so I was thrilled when my beady eye caught sight of Something I Keep Upstairs! Honestly, they had me at that tagline. A haunted house? Sign me up! While Something I Keep Upstairs didn’t quite grab me as much as his earlier books, I did have a great time with it, even though I’m sure I fried my brain. Frankly, I could sum up my reading experience quite nicely using one emoji: 🤯.

Yup. My brain is fried, my mind is blown, don’t expect too much from this review, as my ability to form coherent thoughts has pretty much left the building. But I’ll try!

So this starts out as a rather straightforward coming-of-age story, with seventeen-year-old David Spivey inheriting a small island including a quite luxurious villa and thinking he’s now king of his own castle and nothing can ruin his summer. Said inheritance comes with a rather strange and mysterious set of rules, though. Kids under sixteen aren’t allowed on the island, doors must not be locked, the phone must not be answered, and oh yes, Emerson must be fed. But there is no one on the island, so who or what the hell is Emerson? I was immediately intrigued.

As the story progresses, it gets darker, creepier, and weirder. And quite sad, too, in a way. At multiple points in the story, I had no idea which way was up, I was entirely discombobulated. Mostly in a good way. I will not try to explain, because that would lead us straight into spoiler territory. Suffice it to say that if you’re in the market for a dark, creepy, mind-boggling chiller, you should definitely add Something I Keep Upstairs to your list.

Something I Keep Upstairs is out in digital formats and audio on 13 May, and in hardcover on 3 July.

Massive thanks to Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

Creepy. Unnerving. Suspenseful and twisty. Did I mention unnerving? Even when you get to the end, is it really the end? This was the first JD Barker book I've read, discovered by the author's post in a Facebook group for Psychological Thrillers, and it very definitely messes with your head. I received it as an ARC from Hampton Creek Press/Simon & Schuster via Netgalley.

Wow! Alright I loved this.

I read the first book in the 4MK series from this author- it wasn’t insta love unfortunately- but I just had to give them another chance. I found that first book to be a bit of a slog for some reason and did not pick up the rest of the series, I’m definitely rethinking that now!

This one was super good and the author notes at the end was the cherry on top. I love a great historical- paranormal- thriller- mystery. I had NO idea where it was going which kept me on the edge of my seat for sure. It was like throwing so many things at the wall to see what stuck and having everything stick and just come together so well.

I highly recommend it and will definitely be going back to other books.

Thank you so much for the gifted ebook in exchange for a review! All opinions are my own.

This book is a wonderful rollercoaster of a read. It is a departure from J>D.Barkers usual thrillers.
This story takes place in rural New Hampshire It starts off with us meeting 17 year olds Billy Hasler, David Spivey and Billy's girlfriend Kira.
David Spivey was left a house on an island by his grandmother whom he had not seen in years. It came with many restrictions. The evil in this book started hundreds of years before. This book is about friendship, loyalty, sacrifice ,love and evil.
It was very creepy and I found it hard to read at night. The author uses the house as a main character along with the unknown evil Emerson.
I would recommend this book even if you are not a fan of supernatural novels

What an incredibly fascinating story!! This book definitely entertained the creep factor; there were a few scenes that had my eyes bugging out of my head! While I found the story dragging on in some places, I certainly understand the need for all that character building! Some themes present couldn’t be glossed over and I am grateful for the authors attention to detail!

A really good take on "the haunted house" trope. I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down! The writing was excellent, great character development, and wonderful suspense throughout. I was constantly left guessing and the twists were shocking! 100% recommend.

4.5⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author J.D. Barker and his publisher Hampton Creek Press. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the May 2025 release of Something I Keep Upstairs. I’m a big fan and absolutely loved the 4MK thriller series so I was excited to get an advance copy. I also loved a good haunted house and horror story. Well, I got way more than I bargained for. Atmospheric, gripping, chilling and twisty! So much more than a horror/ghost tale. Very dynamic. I was hooked right from the start and I was kept guessing until the very end. Love it when that happens!! Barker is becoming a fav for thrillers!! Highly recommend this book, especially curled up by a fire, in the Fall, with the lights down low. #perfection

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I read this book and while it is not my usual genre of choice I loved it. I read it in two days and could not put it down. And while I didn’t like the ending because to be Emerson should’ve not been fed again, it was well written and I look forward to reading more from the author.

📚 Book Review 📚

This chilling story takes place against the backdrop of a small town in New Hampshire and the creepy house on the tiny island off the coast.

For many years, the house on the island has been inhabited by one reclusive woman. No one on the mainland has seen her for years until one day out of the blue, she visits and dies in a cafe. Her house and the island passes to her grandson and what should be the start of a new life for him and his friends, turns to something much darker.

The story grabs the teenage characters at a time when their summer holidays should be full of fun and friendship and throws them into danger and darkness. What starts off as a period of summer parties and teenage love becomes something that the teenagers cannot run away from.

JD Barker has created a haunting tale of evil that exists in the very ground beneath our feet, an evil that lasts for generations and doesn’t stop.

This book is well written, it feels like you are right there in the room with the characters, observing the unfolding events. The characters are well rounded and engaging and the story is original and scary. Make sure that you read the author’s note at the end, that really adds to the unease!

I’d like to thank Hampton Creek Press/Simon and Schuster, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 13th May 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a spooky story. Don't read at night. If you do, leave the lights on. A haunted house with a history, along with the island it's on. Not your normal haunted house story. Great read overall.

This is my first ever ARC read and I loved it. It was a slow burner and the dual POV did get a little bit confusing at times with no note of whose turn it was. But Billy's story was captivating, I really enjoyed it. It was a very good thriller, with some fact and fiction, according to the 'Author's Notes'. The fact that Wood Island and the house that occupies it are real places made this story much more entertaining. The amount of description that went into the house and characters was perfect for me and I was able to picture everything at every moment throughout. I will definitely be checking out some more of J.D. Barker's work. Thankyou to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I always enjoy reading books by J.D. Barker and I was excited to receive a copy of his latest book Something I Keep Upstairs.
This was a dark and chilling story about an old house that sat on a private island with a history of ghosts and strange occurrences.
This book had me hooked from the first page and had me reading until the small hours.
I can’t wait for the next book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, J.D. Barker and for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very good book, I am not usually one to read horror type of stories, but as long as it is good, which this one is, then I'll read and in this case enjoy very much. Billy is a typical teenager in New Hampshire, he has a girlfriend a very close friend from childhood, Dave, and a larger group of friends that get together as teenagers do. It's the last summer before they all head off to college and it's made more interesting when Dave is told that he has inherited a house on an island just off the coast of New Hampshire, accessible only by boat. Of course all his friends think this is the best place to party the summer away and Dave suddenly becomes very popular. There are a number of rules though, one rather mysterious one, and one that stipulates that Dave cannot sell the island or the house, should he pass, the house would go to a local town. A lawyer, Marston, handles the transaction and his parents who are very keen on selling the house, but rules are rules. Strange things start to occur and Billy becomes very concerned about some of the happenings, especially when he is at the house when Dave is not there. Overall a very good book, a tad long at times, but I would still recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Hampton Creek Press for the ARC.

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC of 'Something I Keep Upstairs' by J.D. Barker.

This book is from the point of view of Billy Hasler and Sheriff Whaley (primarily Billy). The multiple POV and the writing style ensure that this book sucks you in from the start and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end. The authors note that is at the end is a must-read and made this book even more mind-blowing. My first J.D. Barker book was the 4MK series, which will more than likely be my favorite thriller series for the rest of my life. I have now also read We Don't Talk About Emma, and Something I Keep Upstairs. J.D. Barker's writing is phenomenal.

Billy's best friend, David Spivey (referred to as Spivey), inherits an island called Wood Island, located off the coast of New Castle, a small town in New Hampshire, after his grandmother passes away. As part of his grandmothers Last Will and Testament, there is a long list of rules for the house and the island. A few of those rules are as follows: Keith and Pam Spivey (Spivey's parents) are not to set foot on the island, anyone on the island at sundown must stay until sunset, you must feed Emerson.

Little do they know, the house has a dark history. They believe it will be the perfect place to escape the adults in their lives and party their summer away before moving onto college, adult life, and responsibilities. But when they invite their friends out to the island, they start to realize they're in over their heads, and Emerson must be fed.

The house on Wood Island cycles, in one cycle, the house is pristine, everything is new in the house, there is a basement, and the pictures on the walls can change. In the other cycle, the house is falling apart from years of neglect, there is no basement, and everything is still and quiet. Is it all in their heads? Was it ever truly the clean house they remember with all new appliances, TV's, radios, etc? Or was it always falling apart and a mass hallucination? What happens when Emerson isn't fed? And will the teenagers survive to tell the story?

I just finished reading "Something I Keep Upstairs" by J.D. Barker, and it was an absolutely thrilling experience. The story revolves around a mysterious attic and the dark secrets hidden within it. From the very first page, I was hooked by the eerie atmosphere and the suspenseful plot.

Barker's writing is incredibly vivid, making it easy to visualize the creepy setting and feel the tension. The main character's journey to uncover the truth is filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I also appreciated how Barker delved into the psychological aspects of fear and curiosity, adding depth to the narrative.

Overall, "Something I Keep Upstairs" is a fantastic read for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller with a touch of horror. It’s a book that I couldn’t put down and will definitely be recommending to my friends.

I love J.D’s books so much.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster this ARC! When Billy’s best friend, Spivey’s, estranged grandma dies he inherits a house on the remote Wood Island. At first it is a fun place for teenagers to go and party and enjoy the summer, albeit with some strange rules that Spivey’s grandma has written into her will. They all don’t know what evil they are awakening, and it quickly turns into a nightmare.

I have loved every book I’ve read by J. D. Barker, and this one is no exception! Although I did feel that it went on a little longer than necessary. I felt connected to the main character, Billy, and his friendship with Spivey was well written. His love for his friend pulled me in. I also loved Kira, though she did make me mad at times. The other kids were ok, but they all brought something important to the story. I found myself feeling really bad for Whaley, the sheriff. He was pulled into it by his job. I didn’t really care for his POV chapters until later in the book, but they were definitely important to the story.

The creepy island and the house were like characters themselves, and the atmosphere was appropriately terrifying. The house itself had its own story to tell, and what a story it was! Although hard to follow and confusing at times, it was still scary. I haven’t felt that creeped out by a book in awhile.

I also loved the author’s note at the end where he tells us his inspiration for the book. That was really cool, and I learned a few things. I’m giving it 4 stars because it kept me hooked!

This book was just not it, it was so hard to finish reading, it dragged out, was not interesting in the slightest and was just overall not what I had imagined it to be. I do not recommend this book to family and friends

I’m usually a fan of this author’s books, but I just don’t enjoy books that deal with the supernatural. If you like this sort of scary book that delves into the supernatural world, you’ll probably enjoy this one.