This is probably the longest most drawn out book I’ve read in a while. There is way too much packed into this story for it to make sense together. I also believe gothic novels have lost the plot. This book is not scary or creepy. It wants to be a supernatural Native American tale so bad but feels clumsy and mismatched. This has potential with some proper editing and thinning out

I'm not entirely sure that you can call a book a “Native American Southern Gothic” if 90% of it takes place in Wisconsin, but perhaps that's just me being nit-picky. Honestly, I really don't know how to categorize this book. There are supernatural elements, but it's not really horror. It's kind of, I dunno, imagine that a very PG-13, very heavily sedated Stephen Graham Jones collaborated on a book with Thomas Hardy and Graham Jones was all, like, “Hey, we need to add in some supernatural stuff and Native American folklore.” And Hardy was all, “That's cool and we can definitely do that, but mostly we have to make sure that it's really, really depressing and that the characters' lives are all just one long, never-ending tragedy. Kind of Tess of the D'Urbervilles vibes but with fairies or some shit?” I mean, obviously this isn't the most likely author collaboration (mostly because Hardy has been dead for almost a hundred years), but I imagine that the novel they came up with would look a lot like this one.

Don't get me wrong. Lots of people are going to love this book. It's atmospheric and has otherworldly aspects without being scary. There's a family of healers and Little People (of the supernatural variety, not individuals with dwarfism). There are fever dream-y bits and serious bits and lots of contemplation on family and grief and generational trauma. There are witchy moments and tender moments and even a few creepy moments. If you like dark and emotional tales involving dysfunctional families and tragic alcoholism and violence and depression and marginalized communities, there's a very good chance that your'e going to find this one unputdownable. If you go into it expecting a traditional horror novel with creatures in the woods who are snatching away defenseless children, however, well … it's definitely not that.

My favorite parts of the book were the chapters that do take place in South Carolina, when Nadine meets her extended family and learns to control her supernatural gifts. “Before we do anything, you need to understand: You have the sight. And there's some trouble with the sight … You may be able to see things other folks can't. But those other things can see right back into you.” Like, oh my gosh, yes. This is what I came here for! Rosebud and Talisa and Elgone and Prentiss are all fascinating characters and I would love to read an entire book about just them and their lives as healers.

Ultimately, I found this book to be thought-provoking and unique, but so, so, very depressing. The characters' lives are bleak and there is a very definite lack of sunshine and rainbows. It's full of broken people and broken families and there just isn't enough of the supernatural stuff to counterbalance all of the tragedy. That's not to say that it isn't a good book because it certainly has literary merit, but … yeah. So much sadness.

My overall rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.

Haunted. The word conjures up thoughts of abandoned houses and stories of specters told by the fire. If the Dead Belong Here is not that kind of ghost story, though. Houses can be just as haunted by those still living in them, and sometimes, the ghosts are grief, generational trauma, and granting yourself the ability to process and evolve.

Carson Faust has also worked to masterfully weave in supernatural elements and Indigenous folklore, giving this debut even more layers. What begins with a disappearance becomes a heartbreaking and beautifully-crafted story of a family who are all confronting the past, family turmoil, loss, violence, pain, and growth in their own ways. The characters are extremely well-written, and their pain, their choices, are all unique and compelling. As the reader, you're fully immersed in the tragedy that has painted Nadine Taylor's family for generations, and you're by her side as she embraces the practices and traditions of her family to seek the guidance of her elders.

This book had my attention the second I saw "Native American Southern gothic," and I'm so glad that I picked it up. Knowing that the author drew inspiration from the history of her own family made this book even more engaging, and I can't wait to read more of Faust's work in the future. I like to avoid spoilers, but for other readers, I will note that a lot of heavy content is addressed in this book. While that made me love it even more, I know that isn't for everyone.

I hope to see this book get the attention it rightfully deserves. At its core, If the Dead Belong Here delivers a thought-provoking narrative delving into familial pain, trauma, and resilience, and how those things are all colored by the scars the past has left on this family.

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Viking Penguin, and Carson Faust for this complimentary copy.))

The book’s sorrow isn’t just told—it’s felt. The writing is so immersive that the grief and desperation settle in your chest, making every moment heavy with emotion. Especially in the struggles Nadine and Ayita face both within themselves and in their relationships with others. The narrative effectively conveys the weight of their trauma, allowing the reader to experience it with them.

I also enjoyed the cultural aspects woven into the story. While I’m not very knowledgeable about Native American folklore, I appreciated what the book offered and the light it cast on the various aspects.

The book employs multiple POVs and shifts between timelines, which highlights how past events shape current conflicts. It intertwines generational traumas, showing how cause and effect ripple through time. Ultimately affecting the characters in powerful ways. However, some portions felt underdeveloped or unclear. There were moments where I wasn’t sure if I had missed something, and even after re-reading, I was still left with unanswered questions.

That said, I was surprised to learn this is the author’s debut novel. Despite my frustrations at times, the writing was strong, and I ultimately enjoyed the book. I’m definitely interested in seeing what he does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC!

3.5 stars. This novel left me wanting more. The story jumped around a lot, and I do not feel as though we got an entire picture of any aspect of the story.