"In the Sleepy Coastal Town of New Castle" follows seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler and his best friend David Spivey, who find an unexpected turn of events when David inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island. Excited about the prospect of spending their final summer before college without parental supervision or responsibilities, the boys set off for the island, eager for adventure.

As they explore their new surroundings, they become intrigued by the island's dark history. However, their innocent curiosity soon leads them to uncover an ancient evil that has long been buried beneath the surface. Faced with eerie occurrences and unsettling revelations, the carefree summer they envisioned takes a terrifying twist. The boys must confront the malevolent forces they have awakened and grapple with the consequences of their actions.

As the tension escalates, friendships are tested, and the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Billy and David must summon their courage to confront the island's sinister legacy, navigating fear and danger that threaten not only their lives but also the bonds between them. Ultimately, what started as a quest for adventure becomes a battle for survival against an overwhelming darkness that has haunted the island for generations. The fate of their summer—and their lives—hangs in the balance as they strive to escape the island's grasp and reclaim their future.

This was my first book by this author, and I will totally be reading more. I love the setting of the book. It did drag a bit in the middle but over all it was a great read and kept me interested. This book has a lot of suspense and mystery and I love that in a book.

A good take on the classic ghost story genre. There were some genuinely creepy moments and enough mystery to hook me. It did feel like it dragged a bit in the middle, but overall it was a great read. The setting in a New England coastal town makes this a perfect book to take on vacation this summer.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley/Publishers for the eARC!

This just might be THE book of the summer!!!

Barker is amazing at keeping you engaged and in supense. THIS BOOK WAS SO BIZARRE AND SO ENTERTAINING! Its so fleshed out and intentional with every single word. There were chapters I found my gut so full with anxiety and anticipation. I felt like I was there! The history/backstory aspect of this book is chef's kiss!💋 I absolutely loved the captains log chapter. Spooky stories with a historical element are my absolute favorite! Add the fact that Barker is one of my favorite writers and this takes place over the summer on a creepy island where who knows what's actually going on... Perfection! Probably the best new summer read you could pick up this year and honestly years to come! History, teen/small town drama, a mystery, and horror with similar vibes to I Know What You Did Last Summer. It checks all the boxes! Something I Keep up Stairs is a masterpiece! Oh and make sure to read the author note!

I really enjoyed the 4MK series so I had high hopes for this book . I found it too long things dragged on and the characters weren’t very entertaining . The premise was interesting and the beginning I enjoyed.
Thank you Hampton Creek Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has it all! Ghosts, haunting, séances and teenage horror flick feels. I enjoyed the haunted house aspects of the book as the island and house feel like their own characters. The historical backstory fit well with the plot. Very enjoyable read that kept me watching the shadows in the corners of the room.

"Something I Keep Upstairs" by J.D. Barker is, without a doubt, my favorite read of the year. If you’re a fan of spine-chilling tales with a dark, psychological twist, this book will not disappoint. Set in the quaint (and let’s be real, creepy) town of New Castle, New Hampshire, the story follows seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler and his best friend David Spivey. When David inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect spot to kick back and enjoy the summer. What could go wrong? Well, pretty much everything.

From the very first page, Barker pulls you in with atmospheric writing and descriptions that are deliciously unsettling. I found myself reading with one eye on the page and the other nervously scanning the room for any lurking shadows. The tension between Billy and David escalates in ways that will keep you turning pages faster than a haunted house chase scene. And don’t even get me started on the twists—they hit you when you least expect them, leaving you questioning everything.

One of the book’s most brilliant tricks is its ability to make you feel like you’re never quite sure what’s real. Are Billy’s experiences truly happening, or is he losing his grip on reality? The story weaves in so many moments of confusion and suspense, you’ll be wondering if you need to check under your own bed for something lurking.

The pacing is spot on, giving you just the right amount of buildup before delivering a punch you won’t see coming. And if you’re the kind of person who enjoys creepy little details that make your skin crawl (like I do), you’re in for a treat. Trust me, you’ll never look at an old house on an island the same way again.

Oh, and let’s just say—whatever you do, don’t forget to feed Emerson. Trust me on this one.

In all seriousness, J.D. Barker has crafted a story that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It’s the kind of book that keeps you up at night, both because you need to finish it, and because the aftermath leaves you with chills. If you love a psychological thriller with horror elements, this one is a must-read. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Wow, that is all I can say about this book! I could not put it down. I have not read a book like this before, it was so unique! The characters were interesting and different and really made you feel like a part of the group. The story was so good, it kept me guessing. I just had to get to the end to see how this story wrapped up. This is an awesome story of friendship, betrayal, ghosts and more! I will definitely be reading more stories from this author as this is my new favorite book I've read this year!

I honestly could not put this book down. I highly recommend it to all readers, especially to the horror genre first timers. The cover gives Nicholas Sparks vibes, but the inside is anything but. The only beef that I had is that a 17 year old in the 2000’s would never make a Richard Nixon reference, let alone even know who the guy is…probably. READ THIS BOOK!

I received this book through NetGalley, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to discover new authors and share my thoughts.

Something I Keep Upstairs was a gripping and intense read that kept me hooked from start to finish. J.D. Barker masterfully builds suspense, weaving a chilling and unpredictable story that lingers in your mind long after you turn the last page. The eerie atmosphere, well-developed characters, and unexpected twists made for a thrilling experience. I enjoyed the psychological depth of the story and how it kept me guessing until the very end.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to exploring more from this author!

Good book! Keep me wanting to keep reading! My first by this author and i will read more !! Highly recommend this author !!

Creepy long winded paranormal story... I wanted to love it, but it was repetitive and long winded. What got me was the authors note. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
98% of the story happens in the past and there’s little reason to set the book in the future, though it does provide some closure.

Creepy, heartfelt, and otherworldly, this was another hit from J.D. Barker. This author certainly has a way with words, pulling you in every time, whether it's the setting, characters, dialogue, or the plot itself. There is something compelling about each one of his books, this one included. Set in a real world location made this more creepy than it already was, creating an unsettling feeling throughout the entirety of the story. The atmosphere was perfect with its wide array of teenagers, an old curse, and an isolated location. This was a unique story that will leave its reader feeling satisfied yet disturbed. Four and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press, for this ARC.

I can't stop thinking about this book. It is was simply excellent. Definitely creepy where I had to keep a light on before bed LOL. It was a great supernatural thriller that kept me wanting to read more and more. I stayed up late a few nights in a row to devour this book.

Something I keep upstairs is a thrilling and spooky book about Billy, who has a friend named David AKA Spivey, who inherits a creepy house on its little island. In my opinion, Billy is a good and likeable teen who is excited to join Spivey on his new island and bring his girlfriend along. He is a loyal and overall mature kid and is protective of Spivey who has had a less than perfect life, with neglectful parents who have their own set of issues. Spivey thinks his luck is about to change now that he has this house his grandma left him in her will. These young kids are excited to enjoy their summer on this island away from their parents to just hang out and party, but something more sinister is at play.
The house has a history that turns into a nightmare for Billy and his friends. A few chapters cover the Chief of Police's point of view, and it is interesting to see things from his perspective. The ending did keep me up at night as I pondered all that I had read. I kind of just laid there stunned with the twists. The book is descriptive and the imagery it provides makes you feel like you are right there. This book is a 4.5 stars. First I have read from this author and it won't be my last.

If I had to quickly summarize this absolute masterpiece, I would say it's a chilling coming of age story about friendship and family with undertones of generational trauma set in haunted house where everything and nothing is and isn't what it seems to be. I don't want to give away the secrets tucked away so perfectly within these pages but I know late at night when hear the house make a noise or feel like I'm not alone, my mind will definitely drift to what I read. If you're a fan of Stephen King or Joe Hill, you will devour this book.

It took a while for me to get into this, as it’s a slow read with A LOT going on, but once I really got into it, I was hooked. It was nail biting suspense, jaw on the floor thrills, heart pounding intensity, generation defying eeriness…all the things you want in a spooky book set in the East coast to keep you up at night.

Billy and David are friends who inherit a mysterious house on a mysterious island and awaken a curse. That's all you need to know before diving into this "chiller" of a book. Warning....it's long. Much like Stephen King, J. D. Barker has a lot to say and could stand a little bit of editing. Don't let that deter you from this very good, very suspenseful book from a grand master (IMO) of horror. It's a long ride but the thrills are worth it.

I was delighted to be gifted an arc of this book as Dracul is one of my favourite reads. I really liked this book, but man it went on forever. At nearly 500 pages it felt so long and very drawn out. It took me weeks to finish it. In the end I didn't really care what happened because the ending felt like it was already going on for almost the last 25% of the book.

Having said all that, the story and premise is good, I liked the characters, the small town vibe and the mysterious house on its own little island. It's well written and you end up caring about this little town and it's inhabitants. However, 3 stars from me, in my humble opinion, as it is just far too long and far too slow paced for me.

Enjoyable and engrossing characters. Written well. More please. Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for the ARC. 4/5

This is one scary book! JD Barker hasn’t disappointed me thus far. His novels are creepy, suspenseful and seriously twisted. Something I Keep Upstairs is no exception. Billy is a likable kid. He has a girlfriend, a bestie and a group of friends. He is strong, mature and extremely loyal. Still, he is only seventeen, so he makes mistakes due to inexperience. Spivey, his best friend, has had a crappy life, with neglectful parents and lifelong leukemia. His luck changes when his estranged grandma passes, leaving him a mansion on a private island. But it may be the opposite to a blessing in disguise, when a very old curse starts sucking Spivey, Billy and their friends into a living nightmare. Some chapters follow the Chief of police, who is an interested bystander that sees what’s happening from the outside and the more he finds out, the more obvious it seems that the Spivey mansion is more dangerous than the kids think. There was a subplot that didn’t quite mesh with the rest of the story, but everything else was very effective. I loved the description of the house, the sea and the island, and it is almost like being there. The mansion is so awesome that I’d probably risk a curse just to spend some time there. A few twists were unexpected and the last part was so suspenseful that I couldn’t stop reading. The ending left me speechless. I hated it, so that’s how I know it works. Simply excellent horror.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster.