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The House
Sadie, Fin, and their two children were a perfectly ordinary family. Even if Fin felt taken for granted sometimes. Even if their introverted son, Liam, had terrible nightmares and knew things he shouldn’t.
But everything changes the night Sadie is viciously assaulted by former client Lance Sherry. Sherry knows where they live, and when the police fail to catch him, Sadie and Fin are forced to run. They think they’ve found the perfect place to start over. The house is everything Fin dreamed of, but as they settle in, Sadie discovers their home may not be what it seems, and daughter Lucy’s imaginary friend might not be imaginary at all. Or even a friend. With Lance Sherry hunting them, the house could be the least of their problems. He’s coming to finish what he started. And he won’t stop until he finds Sadie.
But everything changes the night Sadie is viciously assaulted by former client Lance Sherry. Sherry knows where they live, and when the police fail to catch him, Sadie and Fin are forced to run. They think they’ve found the perfect place to start over. The house is everything Fin dreamed of, but as they settle in, Sadie discovers their home may not be what it seems, and daughter Lucy’s imaginary friend might not be imaginary at all. Or even a friend. With Lance Sherry hunting them, the house could be the least of their problems. He’s coming to finish what he started. And he won’t stop until he finds Sadie.
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2019
8 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Eden Darry
9 books21 followersEden Darry is a UK based author who has three novels published with Bold Strokes Books. Eden writes speculative fiction with a romantic arc, and her novels so far have featured a haunted house, an apocalypse and zombies. To find out more, follow the ‘Publications’ tab above.
Eden has recently moved out of London, having lived there her whole life, and is enjoying a change of scenery in Kent.
Eden has recently moved out of London, having lived there her whole life, and is enjoying a change of scenery in Kent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 12, 2019
3.50 Stars. This is Darry’s full length debut. I could still see some room for growth but I thought this was pretty well written for a debut. I guess you could put this in the category of either paranormal or light horror. However, this book wasn’t scary; it was creepy and a little dark. While you might be slightly uncomfortable while reading at times, it’s not really a tough read. It’s definitely not too scary to read.
This is the kind of book that is not easy to review because you don’t want to give anything away. The book started off with a bang, slowed down a little, but for the most part kept up a good pace. It was very readable for me and I liked that it was not a long book so the story never really dragged. There is a paranormal element to this, but it’s almost more evil than what you think about a “normal” haunting with ghosts. And there is also a real life evil person the characters have to deal with so it’s a lot on their plates.
The main characters in this book are in an established relationship already with two kids. There are some nicer, sweet moments but there is also a lot of relationship drama/arguing because of the circumstances. I do have to admit the arguing was getting a little old, but given the storyline I get it so I can’t really complain.
The book had a few small twists and some excitement which was nice. I read it in one sitting so it absolutely entertained me. I was not in love with the storyline, but I’m still glad I gave this a try. If you are looking for something creepy this is a good choice. I wouldn’t hesitate to read Darry again.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
This is the kind of book that is not easy to review because you don’t want to give anything away. The book started off with a bang, slowed down a little, but for the most part kept up a good pace. It was very readable for me and I liked that it was not a long book so the story never really dragged. There is a paranormal element to this, but it’s almost more evil than what you think about a “normal” haunting with ghosts. And there is also a real life evil person the characters have to deal with so it’s a lot on their plates.
The main characters in this book are in an established relationship already with two kids. There are some nicer, sweet moments but there is also a lot of relationship drama/arguing because of the circumstances. I do have to admit the arguing was getting a little old, but given the storyline I get it so I can’t really complain.
The book had a few small twists and some excitement which was nice. I read it in one sitting so it absolutely entertained me. I was not in love with the storyline, but I’m still glad I gave this a try. If you are looking for something creepy this is a good choice. I wouldn’t hesitate to read Darry again.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
April 26, 2019
When I read Charon Docks At Daylight by Zoe Reed, watched Bird Box and the latest Stanley Tucci's movie, The Silence. I asked myself this - what scared me the most? The paranormal creatures or the humans?
I didn't have to dig Einstein out to help me with the answer as it was obvious - humans.
Harry Bowers and his gang of misfits were a nightmare on their own but when Bowers signed an M.O.U. with Pennywise, it was a whole new ball game.
The Clairborne family found themselves facing a similar situation when the psycho made a pact with the paranormal creature to do the the evilest things to this beautiful family. Nothing came easy for them from page 1 as they became victims to two sides of evil that really did a number to the leads and their kids.
Several scenes really caused my heart racing, my foot tapping and the hair at the back of my neck to stand. The thriller and horror elements played such a big part in the story rather than just a tacked on bit of drama for the sake of drama and they were superbly written.
This book had some cringeworthy / disturbing / intense scenes but necessary to keep up with the theme.
Whoever said that romance is dead when you're married, need to read this book.
As a die hard fan of horror, thanks to my eldest brother and sister for introducting me to The King when I was 7, I recommend it. If you're searching for disturbing horror movie to watch, do check out Sam Neil's Event Horizon or Ethan Hawke's Sinister. They're not Lesfic friendly so might as well get The House and enjoy.
I didn't have to dig Einstein out to help me with the answer as it was obvious - humans.
Harry Bowers and his gang of misfits were a nightmare on their own but when Bowers signed an M.O.U. with Pennywise, it was a whole new ball game.
The Clairborne family found themselves facing a similar situation when the psycho made a pact with the paranormal creature to do the the evilest things to this beautiful family. Nothing came easy for them from page 1 as they became victims to two sides of evil that really did a number to the leads and their kids.
Several scenes really caused my heart racing, my foot tapping and the hair at the back of my neck to stand. The thriller and horror elements played such a big part in the story rather than just a tacked on bit of drama for the sake of drama and they were superbly written.
This book had some cringeworthy / disturbing / intense scenes but necessary to keep up with the theme.
Whoever said that romance is dead when you're married, need to read this book.
As a die hard fan of horror, thanks to my eldest brother and sister for introducting me to The King when I was 7, I recommend it. If you're searching for disturbing horror movie to watch, do check out Sam Neil's Event Horizon or Ethan Hawke's Sinister. They're not Lesfic friendly so might as well get The House and enjoy.
April 18, 2019
This is quite a difficult book to rate because, on the one hand, it’s tense and gripping but on the other, it really didn’t make me happy. An attack on Sadie one night shatters the previously peaceful existence of Fin, Sadie and their children. The suspect is at large and knows where they live. Sadie is too traumatised to return to the house but living with Sadie’s parents is torture for Fin. They find a house a little out of London and closer to the countryside which Fin loves, Sadie is ambivalent about and their son, Liam, hates. Liam is sensitive and has premonitions but his mom’s don’t put much credence in the paranormal.
I used to love reading this type of paranormal/thriller/horror when I was younger by I seemed to have lost my resilience for it, especially when children are a part of the story. Fin has a strong presence and she’s a great character if not always terribly likeable. Sadie is a much more empathetic character and stabilising influence even when she’s traumatised. Liam and Lucy, their children, have an integral role in sustaining the impending sense of terror.
I enjoyed the pace, the tension and the way it was written. I wouldn’t put it in the romance category, partly because Fin and Sadie are in an established relationship and partly because the focus of the story is more on the paranormal and thriller aspects. The combination of the real and the paranormal was a nice touch. I’d read more by Darry, but preferably without children involved.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
I used to love reading this type of paranormal/thriller/horror when I was younger by I seemed to have lost my resilience for it, especially when children are a part of the story. Fin has a strong presence and she’s a great character if not always terribly likeable. Sadie is a much more empathetic character and stabilising influence even when she’s traumatised. Liam and Lucy, their children, have an integral role in sustaining the impending sense of terror.
I enjoyed the pace, the tension and the way it was written. I wouldn’t put it in the romance category, partly because Fin and Sadie are in an established relationship and partly because the focus of the story is more on the paranormal and thriller aspects. The combination of the real and the paranormal was a nice touch. I’d read more by Darry, but preferably without children involved.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
April 3, 2019
I liked it. This is debut novel of the author and she did a really good work.
This is a paranormal story about a family of four Fin, her wife Sadie and their two kids Liam and Lucy. The family move in a new house after the attack on Sadie and the new house is haunted. The monster in the house befriends Lucy and try to break the family apart. At the same time the guy attacked Sadie came back to finish what he started.
Paranormal stuff is good, we have two psycho villains. Romace of the MCs is good too, but there are serious issues of miscommunication. I'm usually not a fan of books about romace of already together couple.
Its debut novel of this author but there are some short story works of her, so i have decided to read them.
3.5*
This is a paranormal story about a family of four Fin, her wife Sadie and their two kids Liam and Lucy. The family move in a new house after the attack on Sadie and the new house is haunted. The monster in the house befriends Lucy and try to break the family apart. At the same time the guy attacked Sadie came back to finish what he started.
Paranormal stuff is good, we have two psycho villains. Romace of the MCs is good too, but there are serious issues of miscommunication. I'm usually not a fan of books about romace of already together couple.
Its debut novel of this author but there are some short story works of her, so i have decided to read them.
3.5*
August 29, 2020
Another Farah recommended book. It was scary, it was creepy, it was sweet, and it was even sexy at times! 🤷🏽♀️
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 26, 2019
3.75 stars
Although this is stated to be Eden Darry's 'debut novel', it is the third ‘story’ I’ve read by her. After giving 5 stars to both of her shorter books, I was excited to get my hands on a copy of The House.
For the most part, the story is told from both heroines point of view, but at times the reader is also privy to what’s going on in wee Liam’s head as well as the villains.
The driving force of this story is miscommunication between the leads, while I get what was causing their continuous arguing, and a rather rough sexual encounter, the bickering grew old after a while.
I guess I expected this to be a spookier story than it was, so for those of you weary of horror stories, this definitely doesn’t fall into that category. I’m not sure I’d even class it as particularly dark, but, of course, that’s subjective.
Overall this was a great read that kept me entertained.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley.
Although this is stated to be Eden Darry's 'debut novel', it is the third ‘story’ I’ve read by her. After giving 5 stars to both of her shorter books, I was excited to get my hands on a copy of The House.
For the most part, the story is told from both heroines point of view, but at times the reader is also privy to what’s going on in wee Liam’s head as well as the villains.
The driving force of this story is miscommunication between the leads, while I get what was causing their continuous arguing, and a rather rough sexual encounter, the bickering grew old after a while.
I guess I expected this to be a spookier story than it was, so for those of you weary of horror stories, this definitely doesn’t fall into that category. I’m not sure I’d even class it as particularly dark, but, of course, that’s subjective.
Overall this was a great read that kept me entertained.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley.
April 25, 2019
The House, the debut full-length novel by Eden Darry, is an exciting and polished paranormal thriller. I am very impressed with Ms. Darry’s writing.
This is a dual thriller. You have the psychopath who attacks one of the main characters (Sadie) at the beginning of the book and is obsessed with raping and killing her throughout the story. Then the paranormal, possible haunted house enters the plot when the family moves out of their London home into an old house in the countryside. Ms. Darry did an excellent job weaving these two different types of thrillers into one tale.
I am also impressed at the way the author created the tension and mood of the story. The very beginning starts with a normal family going through an ordinary day. Then the jolt of the attack on Sadie signals a beginning of the mood change. As you keep reading, you will notice how each act adds to that change both in the mood of the story and to the characters themselves.
This is not a romance, but you do have an established married couple with two children, and their relationship is an integral part of the plot. I loved how well the characters are developed in the book, and how the author shows the changes they go through as the story develops. I can’t give you more information here without revealing too much of the plot, but I feel that Ms. Darry did a brilliant job with the character development throughout the novel, both with the main characters and the secondary ones.
This is an excellent first novel by Ms. Darry, and I look forward to reading more from her.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
This is a dual thriller. You have the psychopath who attacks one of the main characters (Sadie) at the beginning of the book and is obsessed with raping and killing her throughout the story. Then the paranormal, possible haunted house enters the plot when the family moves out of their London home into an old house in the countryside. Ms. Darry did an excellent job weaving these two different types of thrillers into one tale.
I am also impressed at the way the author created the tension and mood of the story. The very beginning starts with a normal family going through an ordinary day. Then the jolt of the attack on Sadie signals a beginning of the mood change. As you keep reading, you will notice how each act adds to that change both in the mood of the story and to the characters themselves.
This is not a romance, but you do have an established married couple with two children, and their relationship is an integral part of the plot. I loved how well the characters are developed in the book, and how the author shows the changes they go through as the story develops. I can’t give you more information here without revealing too much of the plot, but I feel that Ms. Darry did a brilliant job with the character development throughout the novel, both with the main characters and the secondary ones.
This is an excellent first novel by Ms. Darry, and I look forward to reading more from her.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
March 24, 2021
This review is also available on my blog.
This review contains mild to moderate spoilers. Proceed at your own risk, although I wouldn't recommend reading this book in the first place so it's kind of a moot point.
Bold Strokes Books usually blows it out of the water, so I suppose it was inevitable that something like this would happen eventually.
Like The Upstairs Room and The Little Stranger , this is a novel about a (potentially) haunted house. One of the most classic horror tropes there is, there's a hundred thousand minefields you need to be sure not to step in so your book is actually engaging, and The House manages to stand in all of them.
I'm not a horror buff. I've only seen a handful of horror films, and 6.3% of the books I've read have been horror. (Shoutout to past me's diligent Goodreads tagging that allowed me to do the math.) But even I knew exactly where this was going, and what the twists would be, and what every single trope was.
Here are some tropes I noticed, none of which were executed particularly well.
- Moving to a country house with vaguely bad juju but hell, it's ridiculously cheap!
- A child has an imaginary friend, called Koosh.
- The other child has psychic dreams.
- A journal of a Victorian inhabitant of the house is discovered, called Nathanial Cushion. Yes, Cushion, like Koosh, which of course does not get noticed by Fin. Because I, and most readers, am not as stupid as these characters, I noticed immediately. It should also be noted that the first diary entry Fin reads dates from 1888, which seems a lot like a very heavy-handed connection to Jack the Ripper. We get it, he's evil.
- The bad guy is the Baddest Bad Guy To Ever Bad, a misogynistic sociopathic murderer who is terrible in every way. Men like this do, obviously, exist; the issue isn't that it isn't realistic, but that it is boring.
- Fin starts to be angry and verbally vicious after moving into the house. Instead of a slow build-up, however, it comes completely out of leftfield.
- Fin finds a trapdoor. This is cliche enough as it is, but of course the trapdoor slams shut behind her. And of course this passageway is a keystone of the denouement.
- Fin's related to the Evil Victorian Ghost, because it wasn't cliche enough already.
The writing itself was... average. Nothing exciting, just something to hang the plot off like scaffolding, but nothing bad either.
You may potentially enjoy this book if you have lived under a rock your entire life and have literally no knowledge of horror tropes. Otherwise, you'll see everything a mile off and roll your eyes the whole way through.
Needless to say, I do not recommend.
This review contains mild to moderate spoilers. Proceed at your own risk, although I wouldn't recommend reading this book in the first place so it's kind of a moot point.
Bold Strokes Books usually blows it out of the water, so I suppose it was inevitable that something like this would happen eventually.
Like The Upstairs Room and The Little Stranger , this is a novel about a (potentially) haunted house. One of the most classic horror tropes there is, there's a hundred thousand minefields you need to be sure not to step in so your book is actually engaging, and The House manages to stand in all of them.
I'm not a horror buff. I've only seen a handful of horror films, and 6.3% of the books I've read have been horror. (Shoutout to past me's diligent Goodreads tagging that allowed me to do the math.) But even I knew exactly where this was going, and what the twists would be, and what every single trope was.
Here are some tropes I noticed, none of which were executed particularly well.
- Moving to a country house with vaguely bad juju but hell, it's ridiculously cheap!
- A child has an imaginary friend, called Koosh.
- The other child has psychic dreams.
- A journal of a Victorian inhabitant of the house is discovered, called Nathanial Cushion. Yes, Cushion, like Koosh, which of course does not get noticed by Fin. Because I, and most readers, am not as stupid as these characters, I noticed immediately. It should also be noted that the first diary entry Fin reads dates from 1888, which seems a lot like a very heavy-handed connection to Jack the Ripper. We get it, he's evil.
- The bad guy is the Baddest Bad Guy To Ever Bad, a misogynistic sociopathic murderer who is terrible in every way. Men like this do, obviously, exist; the issue isn't that it isn't realistic, but that it is boring.
- Fin starts to be angry and verbally vicious after moving into the house. Instead of a slow build-up, however, it comes completely out of leftfield.
- Fin finds a trapdoor. This is cliche enough as it is, but of course the trapdoor slams shut behind her. And of course this passageway is a keystone of the denouement.
- Fin's related to the Evil Victorian Ghost, because it wasn't cliche enough already.
The writing itself was... average. Nothing exciting, just something to hang the plot off like scaffolding, but nothing bad either.
You may potentially enjoy this book if you have lived under a rock your entire life and have literally no knowledge of horror tropes. Otherwise, you'll see everything a mile off and roll your eyes the whole way through.
Needless to say, I do not recommend.
May 25, 2019
The House by Eden is a paranormal/horror novel…..a haunted house for the modern family.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bold Strokes Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Sadie, a lawyer, is viciously attacked by a potential client. A client who she refused to defend, because she knew he was guilty. Lance Sherry skips the country, but knows he will return, if only for a brief time. He has a bone to pick, and this time that lawyer will not survive.
Although the idea of moving out of bustling London and into the country did not really appeal to Sadie, she agreed with her wife Fin, that getting away from the “scene of the crime” did sound good. So when Fin found the house of her dreams, they bundled their two kids up and moved to the country. Unfortunately, the house didn’t really hold the same charm to Sadie as it did to Fin. Six-year old Liam didn’t like the house either, although three-year old Lucy seemed to be fine with it. She even found herself an invisible friend.
Fin seemed to change when they moved in to the new house. A much grumpier Fin emerged, one that neither Sadie nor Fin herself liked. Neither one of them really had control though. There seems to be more than meets the eye with this house. Fin feels an affinity to the previous owner, and the mysteries of the house itself, but is unwilling to share this information with Sadie. Sadie, on the other hand, does not understand why Fin is suddenly so mean.
Things are getting out of control, and they are going to get a whole lot worse.
My Opinions:
For a debut novel, Eden Darry did really well. This book had everything a modern-day horror novel needed. A modern couple, a haunted house, and a talented author to combine the two. The atmosphere was eerie and the plot held a lot of suspense. The couple went between love and hate, and if only they had talked to one another! And the reader just kept turning those pages. The book had a good pace, so it was a fast read.
I liked how there were two “villains” in the book. Both the stalker and the house contributed to the overall suspense.
Parts were dark and creepy, parts a little brutal, but parts could have used just a little more scare power, a little more paranormal activity.
Overall, it was a good debut, and I’m looking forward to more from this author!
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bold Strokes Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Sadie, a lawyer, is viciously attacked by a potential client. A client who she refused to defend, because she knew he was guilty. Lance Sherry skips the country, but knows he will return, if only for a brief time. He has a bone to pick, and this time that lawyer will not survive.
Although the idea of moving out of bustling London and into the country did not really appeal to Sadie, she agreed with her wife Fin, that getting away from the “scene of the crime” did sound good. So when Fin found the house of her dreams, they bundled their two kids up and moved to the country. Unfortunately, the house didn’t really hold the same charm to Sadie as it did to Fin. Six-year old Liam didn’t like the house either, although three-year old Lucy seemed to be fine with it. She even found herself an invisible friend.
Fin seemed to change when they moved in to the new house. A much grumpier Fin emerged, one that neither Sadie nor Fin herself liked. Neither one of them really had control though. There seems to be more than meets the eye with this house. Fin feels an affinity to the previous owner, and the mysteries of the house itself, but is unwilling to share this information with Sadie. Sadie, on the other hand, does not understand why Fin is suddenly so mean.
Things are getting out of control, and they are going to get a whole lot worse.
My Opinions:
For a debut novel, Eden Darry did really well. This book had everything a modern-day horror novel needed. A modern couple, a haunted house, and a talented author to combine the two. The atmosphere was eerie and the plot held a lot of suspense. The couple went between love and hate, and if only they had talked to one another! And the reader just kept turning those pages. The book had a good pace, so it was a fast read.
I liked how there were two “villains” in the book. Both the stalker and the house contributed to the overall suspense.
Parts were dark and creepy, parts a little brutal, but parts could have used just a little more scare power, a little more paranormal activity.
Overall, it was a good debut, and I’m looking forward to more from this author!
April 27, 2019
I read this book in two sittings, interrupted only by sleep. The first sit-down with this book, I thought it was pretty good and read until I was about 30% through. The next afternoon, I went from that point and read all the rest of it until I finished just before sunset. I mention this because I don't always read books like that. For that to happen, the writing has to grab me, shake me and not let go.
The House sure did that!
The pacing was pretty good for a debut novel, and believe me when I tell you that's not always easy.
As a writer myself, I can tell you that writing a story that will leave readers with chills, or even keep them up at night, is tough! I could see the pacing 'footprints' here, but that's not a bad thing. I could see the little clues left like breadcrumbs (Fin's Uncle is important, pay attention to him) and in retrospect, all of these things were just what the story needed.
I read this as a writer, so while it spooked me in a couple of places, I was left with a great deal of respect for Ms. Darry's skill and bravery.
As a reader, I'm not too proud to admit it left me with goosebumps.
I will be reading this one again! Just for fun.
The House sure did that!
The pacing was pretty good for a debut novel, and believe me when I tell you that's not always easy.
As a writer myself, I can tell you that writing a story that will leave readers with chills, or even keep them up at night, is tough! I could see the pacing 'footprints' here, but that's not a bad thing. I could see the little clues left like breadcrumbs (Fin's Uncle is important, pay attention to him) and in retrospect, all of these things were just what the story needed.
I read this as a writer, so while it spooked me in a couple of places, I was left with a great deal of respect for Ms. Darry's skill and bravery.
As a reader, I'm not too proud to admit it left me with goosebumps.
I will be reading this one again! Just for fun.
August 26, 2020
This is why I hate old houses!
Fin has always wanted to live in the country, and when the opportunity to do so presents itself following an attack on her wife Sadie, Fin finds the perfect family home. Fin loves the place and is convinced they will be safe there, but her family don’t quite agree. Sadie starts to worry when she gets a feeling from the house that is shared by their son Liam, and when their daughter Lucy gets a new imaginary friend, she really doesn’t feel comfortable there. With the house presenting problems, Fin acting strangely, and her attacker hunting them, the ultimate horror becomes a reality.
This was an extremely good debut novel, and it creeped the hell out of me, yet I felt compelled to read on and couldn’t put it down. There were many elements that built up the horror of this whole story, but it was such a thriller. The way the suspense was built up and Eden used the other characters, to build the tension was so clever.
It amazed me how intuitive their son Liam was, and that in itself was freaky but when they moved into this house and Fin started to uncover strange things and decipher goings on it just got spookier and spookier. I was hooked through, so completely needing to know what the house and its history was, and how it was all going to connect and when I did finally start getting the answers, I could never have imagined the outcome.
It soon became clear that this was going to give me a rush, building up to something completely unexpected and I wasn’t disappointed with any of it. I was actually quite intrigued, and horror really isn’t my thing but if you like horror you will love this, just as I ended up doing. It made me think, and has confirmed my suspicion that old houses are super creepy and that strange layouts and features are not exciting!
It got to be very nail-biting at times and I feared for Sadie and the kids, but more so for Fin. This house was not good for any of them and it gave me chills reading about it. What a creepy place. Whatever inspired this though, it made for a very clever, unique and different horror story that could have gone any which way. I was sure at one point it really was all going to go wrong. That thrill only added to the angst and drama of the whole story.
I absolutely loved this and am excited to read future novels from Eden Darry! Just fantastic and a must read for any horror fan, or those looking to branch into the genre with something dark and creepy, that isn’t too heavy on the gore!
Fin has always wanted to live in the country, and when the opportunity to do so presents itself following an attack on her wife Sadie, Fin finds the perfect family home. Fin loves the place and is convinced they will be safe there, but her family don’t quite agree. Sadie starts to worry when she gets a feeling from the house that is shared by their son Liam, and when their daughter Lucy gets a new imaginary friend, she really doesn’t feel comfortable there. With the house presenting problems, Fin acting strangely, and her attacker hunting them, the ultimate horror becomes a reality.
This was an extremely good debut novel, and it creeped the hell out of me, yet I felt compelled to read on and couldn’t put it down. There were many elements that built up the horror of this whole story, but it was such a thriller. The way the suspense was built up and Eden used the other characters, to build the tension was so clever.
It amazed me how intuitive their son Liam was, and that in itself was freaky but when they moved into this house and Fin started to uncover strange things and decipher goings on it just got spookier and spookier. I was hooked through, so completely needing to know what the house and its history was, and how it was all going to connect and when I did finally start getting the answers, I could never have imagined the outcome.
It soon became clear that this was going to give me a rush, building up to something completely unexpected and I wasn’t disappointed with any of it. I was actually quite intrigued, and horror really isn’t my thing but if you like horror you will love this, just as I ended up doing. It made me think, and has confirmed my suspicion that old houses are super creepy and that strange layouts and features are not exciting!
It got to be very nail-biting at times and I feared for Sadie and the kids, but more so for Fin. This house was not good for any of them and it gave me chills reading about it. What a creepy place. Whatever inspired this though, it made for a very clever, unique and different horror story that could have gone any which way. I was sure at one point it really was all going to go wrong. That thrill only added to the angst and drama of the whole story.
I absolutely loved this and am excited to read future novels from Eden Darry! Just fantastic and a must read for any horror fan, or those looking to branch into the genre with something dark and creepy, that isn’t too heavy on the gore!
December 14, 2025
Short and mildly entertaining, but it was way too over the top. There’s a fine line between creepy/scary and ridiculous in a ghost story, and this book left that line far, far behind.
May 19, 2019
Just look at the cover! OK, I saw this cover recently, tried to stay away from it (because my current reads were overloaded already and I really wanted to finish them first before I went mad with panic for not clearing the queue on a timely manner! I know...oddball nutter I am!) but then the image of the ominous-looking, totally mesmerising house, photographed in a sinister, intimidating angle with that menacing ivy wrapped around it, kept resurfacing in my peripheral vision which eventually got the better of me. I couldn't deny its allure anymore. The house was beckoning me!! Crikey! Yes, as soon as I found a tiny little space in-between books in my reading schedule, I managed to squeeze in with a quick read of this one (not having heard of the author before be damned!). Was I glad I did because, Eden Darry's "The House," her debut full-length effort, I might add, satisfied most of my required ingredients in a properly written, plotted and constructed story, not just in a generic paranormal/horror genre but specifically in a lesfic genre, with a compelling and captivating plot that also combined a couple of goodies to enrich the main ghost/paranormal plot - corporeal evil and clairvoyance. So, the story's also crafted within the realm of the psychological thriller genre, too, cleverly serving as a backdrop to it main ghost/paranormal flavour.
As expected, the "look" of the house on the cover lived up to its implication as Darry introduced me to it when the two MCs along with their two kids had to move from the comfort of their house in the city to THE house in the outskirts, ala the countryside, to escape the horrors that happened to Sadie. I enjoyed the whole scenario involving Fin, Sadie, the other prospective buyers and the estate agent of the house. I won't divulge anything else except Darry's entire construction of it started off with intrigue and ended with that little tingle that made the tiny hairs stand on the back of my neck, which I always crave for when reading books of this genre!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
As expected, the "look" of the house on the cover lived up to its implication as Darry introduced me to it when the two MCs along with their two kids had to move from the comfort of their house in the city to THE house in the outskirts, ala the countryside, to escape the horrors that happened to Sadie. I enjoyed the whole scenario involving Fin, Sadie, the other prospective buyers and the estate agent of the house. I won't divulge anything else except Darry's entire construction of it started off with intrigue and ended with that little tingle that made the tiny hairs stand on the back of my neck, which I always crave for when reading books of this genre!
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
April 20, 2019
Oh, man this was creepy. Between the atmosphere of the house, the spirit held within, and the stalker, I thought this was one of the scarier lesfic books that I have read. I give props to the author, as it is a debut, but there were just some bugs that almost took me out of the story.
Sadie and Fin have a solid, loving relationship. They love their two kids and each other. That all changes when Sadie is viciously attacked and stalked by a former defense client, forcing them to move from their London home into the suburbs. The house they picked seemed to resonate with Fin and their young daughter, Lucy, but Sadie and their son Liam felt something off with the house. As if it, or something in it was evil...
So, Darry managed to pack a whole bunch of stuff in the book even with the shorter word count. There's some slight resentments from Fin (which feel legit) that get exacerbated when they move to the house - all the negative feelings just come to the fore, and the couple ends up fighting most of the time. Then there's the presence in the house the kids pick up on right away. And finally there's the stalker. I loved the way Darry used the house to help drive some of the plot - in many cases, it more than the spirit, felt more menacing. The house's overall effect on the family was played well, but I thought there was a little too much emphasis on that part of the horror. Mixing in the real life threat to the family's safety was a nice twist, too.
If anything, I wish we could have seen more paranormal stuff, and not just through the kids, which was a great touch. The house's affect on the kids was the most notable, especially since Liam seems to be a bit of a psychic, and Lucy got to be the creepy three year old for a minute. I just which we could get more stuff happening to Sadie or Fin. Also Fin playing the jerk skeptic partner was a nice touch, but man, she took way too long to get with the program. The side characters were fine, but they didn't play as much of a role in the proceedings of things as most side characters do.
Good debut by an author who, I hope, continues to write books like these. There should be more lesfic horror stories out there.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Sadie and Fin have a solid, loving relationship. They love their two kids and each other. That all changes when Sadie is viciously attacked and stalked by a former defense client, forcing them to move from their London home into the suburbs. The house they picked seemed to resonate with Fin and their young daughter, Lucy, but Sadie and their son Liam felt something off with the house. As if it, or something in it was evil...
So, Darry managed to pack a whole bunch of stuff in the book even with the shorter word count. There's some slight resentments from Fin (which feel legit) that get exacerbated when they move to the house - all the negative feelings just come to the fore, and the couple ends up fighting most of the time. Then there's the presence in the house the kids pick up on right away. And finally there's the stalker. I loved the way Darry used the house to help drive some of the plot - in many cases, it more than the spirit, felt more menacing. The house's overall effect on the family was played well, but I thought there was a little too much emphasis on that part of the horror. Mixing in the real life threat to the family's safety was a nice twist, too.
If anything, I wish we could have seen more paranormal stuff, and not just through the kids, which was a great touch. The house's affect on the kids was the most notable, especially since Liam seems to be a bit of a psychic, and Lucy got to be the creepy three year old for a minute. I just which we could get more stuff happening to Sadie or Fin. Also Fin playing the jerk skeptic partner was a nice touch, but man, she took way too long to get with the program. The side characters were fine, but they didn't play as much of a role in the proceedings of things as most side characters do.
Good debut by an author who, I hope, continues to write books like these. There should be more lesfic horror stories out there.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 10, 2019
Now this is the kind of supernatural thriller that I have always been waiting for! I can't believe this is a debut novel because this author blew me away with her vivid descriptions of the house Sadie and Fin bought and the maleficent spirit that roamed in it. In addition, this superb author did a fabulous job of portraying Sadie, Fin, their children and even Lance Sherry's innermost thoughts equally without going overboard or straying from the main focus of the story. I really hope Eden Darry has another book in the pipeline because she has become one of my new favorite authors!
October 28, 2019
I don't read a lot of horror. I'm not really a fan of being scared. I do like fantasy and paranormal stories. This is a bit of both horror and paranormal. Fin and Sadie and their children need to move after Sadie is brutally attacked. Her attacker knows their address. Fin finds a house outside of London that seems ideal. Their son Liam has some gifts - he sees some future events in his dreams. He and Sadie do not like the new house. Fin and their daughter Lucy do.
That sets up the story and I'm not going into any more details. The story unfolds with each new event and we learn more about the house and the man who attacked Sadie. I have to read a happy story now. If you do like horror and ghosts, you might enjoy this book. Halloween is coming, so if you want some chills, this could work for you.
That sets up the story and I'm not going into any more details. The story unfolds with each new event and we learn more about the house and the man who attacked Sadie. I have to read a happy story now. If you do like horror and ghosts, you might enjoy this book. Halloween is coming, so if you want some chills, this could work for you.
November 2, 2021
Fascinating and gently edgy, The House is about Sadie, Fin and their two children and the night Sadie is assaulted. Escaping to start over they realize that not everything is at it seems. The attacker, Sadie's former client has found out where they are hiding and is on the way to finish the job.
A riveting, edge of your seat read!
A riveting, edge of your seat read!
April 25, 2019
eof, this would be a good horror story.
Liam has horrifying nightmares and Lucy has an imaginary friend who may not be all her imagination. And Fin is obsessed or possessed and undergoes a terrifying change in personality
Liam has horrifying nightmares and Lucy has an imaginary friend who may not be all her imagination. And Fin is obsessed or possessed and undergoes a terrifying change in personality
December 18, 2020
This was quite scary.
June 28, 2019
*2.5*
TW: attempted rape
After Sadie Tate is attacked by a client, she and her wife, Fin, decide to move out of the city with their two kids. In a stroke of luck, Sadie and Fin are able to buy the house Fin fell in love with instantly. Soon after moving in, their son Liam starts to have nightmares about the house, and their daughter Lucy starts a friendship with a new imaginary friend.
Let's start with the positives. One thing I genuinely liked about this book was the mystery and the uncertainness of what genre the book is. Is it a murdery horror story? Or is it a ghosty horror story? I liked that until the end I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out. This might definitely not be the case for everyone, though. I also enjoyed the (lesbian yay) couple, but mostly when they were having issues. when there was tension, how their relationship changed with the house.
The book is told in the point of view of many different characters, mostly Sadie and Fin. I liked both of those points of view, however, I could not stand to read the other ones. One of the povs is of the client who attacks Sadie, Lance Sherry. I found him to be the worst. . . I mean that's kinda the point, but I seriously considered stopped reading the book just so I wouldn't have to get through his scenes. Lance is obnoxious, sexist, and just downright a terrible person, and again that's the point, but what annoyed me the most was how over the top he was. His thoughts, his actions, his entire existence was exaggerated. I could not stand him.
I found the writing style to be awkward and very odd at times. Not my cup of tea at all. It was creepy. but predictable. The last 5-8% was ten times more exciting than the first 90%. Things were introduced out of nowhere when it conveniently suited the story. I mean I know that's also kinda the point but most of the things felt forced. There are some things I'm still confused about, which happened right at the end so I won't mention them, but I'd like to get a clearer picture of what happened. I also couldn't connect to any of the characters. I mentioned before how I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters when the relationship wasn't great because it was when I could see them more. When everything was tension-free I just didn't care about any of the characters.
This book could've been a perfect 5 star read for me, but it just missed the mark for me. Many other people seem to have enjoyed, so if you're intrigued by all means give it a go. I'm not recommending it, but I'm also not *not* recommending it, if that makes any sense.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
TW: attempted rape
After Sadie Tate is attacked by a client, she and her wife, Fin, decide to move out of the city with their two kids. In a stroke of luck, Sadie and Fin are able to buy the house Fin fell in love with instantly. Soon after moving in, their son Liam starts to have nightmares about the house, and their daughter Lucy starts a friendship with a new imaginary friend.
Let's start with the positives. One thing I genuinely liked about this book was the mystery and the uncertainness of what genre the book is. Is it a murdery horror story? Or is it a ghosty horror story? I liked that until the end I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out. This might definitely not be the case for everyone, though. I also enjoyed the (lesbian yay) couple, but mostly when they were having issues. when there was tension, how their relationship changed with the house.
The book is told in the point of view of many different characters, mostly Sadie and Fin. I liked both of those points of view, however, I could not stand to read the other ones. One of the povs is of the client who attacks Sadie, Lance Sherry. I found him to be the worst. . . I mean that's kinda the point, but I seriously considered stopped reading the book just so I wouldn't have to get through his scenes. Lance is obnoxious, sexist, and just downright a terrible person, and again that's the point, but what annoyed me the most was how over the top he was. His thoughts, his actions, his entire existence was exaggerated. I could not stand him.
I found the writing style to be awkward and very odd at times. Not my cup of tea at all. It was creepy. but predictable. The last 5-8% was ten times more exciting than the first 90%. Things were introduced out of nowhere when it conveniently suited the story. I mean I know that's also kinda the point but most of the things felt forced. There are some things I'm still confused about, which happened right at the end so I won't mention them, but I'd like to get a clearer picture of what happened. I also couldn't connect to any of the characters. I mentioned before how I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters when the relationship wasn't great because it was when I could see them more. When everything was tension-free I just didn't care about any of the characters.
This book could've been a perfect 5 star read for me, but it just missed the mark for me. Many other people seem to have enjoyed, so if you're intrigued by all means give it a go. I'm not recommending it, but I'm also not *not* recommending it, if that makes any sense.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2019
10/5
Sadie and Fin and their two children live an ordinary life until one night Sadie gets attacked. This sudden event forces them to move out of their house and out of the city. The House is everything Fin had ever wanted and she feels at home right from the start. Sadie does not share does feelings but for Fin's sake she tries to make it work. However the house has other plans for the family and it might just be too late by the time they realize the House's real intentions.
This book was really incredible. Completely unexpected. Thrilling, scary and a complete page turner.
Every character was well develop and I felt like you were there with them experiencing their changes and fears. This book was a complete surprise. Finished it in one seating even though I was scare to turn the page many times. I had already recommended this to everyone I know.
Amazing book and I cannot wait for future titles from this author.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review
Sadie and Fin and their two children live an ordinary life until one night Sadie gets attacked. This sudden event forces them to move out of their house and out of the city. The House is everything Fin had ever wanted and she feels at home right from the start. Sadie does not share does feelings but for Fin's sake she tries to make it work. However the house has other plans for the family and it might just be too late by the time they realize the House's real intentions.
This book was really incredible. Completely unexpected. Thrilling, scary and a complete page turner.
Every character was well develop and I felt like you were there with them experiencing their changes and fears. This book was a complete surprise. Finished it in one seating even though I was scare to turn the page many times. I had already recommended this to everyone I know.
Amazing book and I cannot wait for future titles from this author.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review
November 5, 2019
3.5
This is an impressive full length debut novel from Ms. Darry. The story revolves around Fin and Sadie, an established couple, and their two children after the move from London to an old country house – make that an old haunted country house. Sign me up – I love a good haunted house story.
I really enjoyed the way that Darry establishes a healthy and loving relationship between Fin and Sadie and, as the story progresses, how it slowly devolves. The normal stress and uncertainties of dealing with the after-effects of an attack, the looming threat of a stalker and moving from the city to the country would be enough to put a strain on any relationship but when Darry adds the malevolent influence of the house’s ghostly presence, the once strong relationship turns toxic. There’s a subtle build of tension as Fin falls deeper under the house’s influence, her thoughts and rationale getting twisted and darker by the day. This one doesn’t go for the jump scare or lots of thumps in the middle of the night to keep the horror level up – there are odd events and the children are drawn in as six year old Liam senses the innate danger in the house and three year old Lucy’s imaginary playmate starts causing physical damage. Overall a good creepy read.
This is an impressive full length debut novel from Ms. Darry. The story revolves around Fin and Sadie, an established couple, and their two children after the move from London to an old country house – make that an old haunted country house. Sign me up – I love a good haunted house story.
I really enjoyed the way that Darry establishes a healthy and loving relationship between Fin and Sadie and, as the story progresses, how it slowly devolves. The normal stress and uncertainties of dealing with the after-effects of an attack, the looming threat of a stalker and moving from the city to the country would be enough to put a strain on any relationship but when Darry adds the malevolent influence of the house’s ghostly presence, the once strong relationship turns toxic. There’s a subtle build of tension as Fin falls deeper under the house’s influence, her thoughts and rationale getting twisted and darker by the day. This one doesn’t go for the jump scare or lots of thumps in the middle of the night to keep the horror level up – there are odd events and the children are drawn in as six year old Liam senses the innate danger in the house and three year old Lucy’s imaginary playmate starts causing physical damage. Overall a good creepy read.
May 21, 2019
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one was a bit of a slow start, and I initially didn’t think I would like it much. But it picks up just before the halfway point and I ended up racing through to the end to see what happened.
I also really appreciated the LGBTQ angle to the story; I don’t see enough of that in the suspense/psychological thriller/paranormal genres. And a normal, loving couple to boot! It was refreshing.
Fairly well-written, and a nice refreshing take on the haunted house story. I’d like to read more by this author!
This one was a bit of a slow start, and I initially didn’t think I would like it much. But it picks up just before the halfway point and I ended up racing through to the end to see what happened.
I also really appreciated the LGBTQ angle to the story; I don’t see enough of that in the suspense/psychological thriller/paranormal genres. And a normal, loving couple to boot! It was refreshing.
Fairly well-written, and a nice refreshing take on the haunted house story. I’d like to read more by this author!
June 4, 2019
Eden Darry is an exciting new author with her debut novel having just thoroughly captivated me.
Sadie is a barrister in London and her wife Fin is an up and coming upholsterer and they have two young children Liam and Lucy. One night when Sadie was coming out of chambers on her way home she was attacked by a disgruntled villain whose intention had been to rape and murder her. Fortunately he was disturbed and ran off
Shaken the family decide to move away from London into the country and Fin believes she has found the perfect Claire for them.
With the villain, Lenny, finally behind bars are there troubles over ?
Super debut loved it.
Sadie is a barrister in London and her wife Fin is an up and coming upholsterer and they have two young children Liam and Lucy. One night when Sadie was coming out of chambers on her way home she was attacked by a disgruntled villain whose intention had been to rape and murder her. Fortunately he was disturbed and ran off
Shaken the family decide to move away from London into the country and Fin believes she has found the perfect Claire for them.
With the villain, Lenny, finally behind bars are there troubles over ?
Super debut loved it.
August 10, 2019
This book is outside of my preferred genre. I don't know that I anticipated so much horror since it was billed as a thriller. That said, I enjoyed the book for the most part. Usually, I read a book from start to finish non stop. While reading this book I found myself needing breaks because of the fear factor. Not over the top for most, but I'm not a fan of any scary stuff. But, the writing was good and I appreciated the normalized representation of lesbian parents with children. As one half of two moms with a 20 year old, it is wonderful to see quality representation finally happening.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2022
Rounded 2,5*
Let's start with the negatives. This book is visibly a debut. The writing is unpolished, and feels repetitive. The story is not very tight.
The creepiness is like 1,85 on a 1-5 scale. If you have no experience with horror, and are reading it alone in the total darkness, you might find it spooky, but for more hardened horror lovers, this is a very light read.
The story is a typical haunted house story, so if you like those, you might enjoy it. But don't expect something new added to the genre.
However, debuts aren't meant to be perfect. And there's still room for improvement, so I'll certainly read another book by this author.
Let's start with the negatives. This book is visibly a debut. The writing is unpolished, and feels repetitive. The story is not very tight.
The creepiness is like 1,85 on a 1-5 scale. If you have no experience with horror, and are reading it alone in the total darkness, you might find it spooky, but for more hardened horror lovers, this is a very light read.
The story is a typical haunted house story, so if you like those, you might enjoy it. But don't expect something new added to the genre.
However, debuts aren't meant to be perfect. And there's still room for improvement, so I'll certainly read another book by this author.
January 10, 2025
This was ok. The author did a good job of using two psychopaths, one living and one a malevolent poltergeist, to build a sense of dread. I was actually creeped out enough to set it aside one evening. So, the horror worked well. I just didn’t enjoy the pacing, with the conflict between the mains going on longer than I was comfortable with and then the ending was too quick. Fans of The Shining (King’s book version, not Kubrick’s film interpretation) might be a better fit for this. It reminded me of it in many ways.
June 8, 2019
A bit predictable with a formula that has been done many times before but still interesting enough to keep me reading. The characters were well defined and the story kept up a good pace, while at times it felt a little formulaic, there were enough original concepts which spiced up the tale. All in all I liked it and I will definitely keep an eye on this author. #NetGalley
June 17, 2019
This is an impressive debut novel that is firmly in the psychological thriller realm. Highly readable and page-turning. This is a thriller/horror, but with some twists in plot/characters that make it fresh that are nice to see. The pacing of this was great and it read as a thriller should read, leaving you ready to turn the pages quickly.
#TheHouse #NetGalley
#TheHouse #NetGalley
May 20, 2019
Solid suspense with a dab of paranormal activity, a bit of The Shining-like psychological tension, and a long-term biracial lesbian couple with kids. I listened to the audiobook version and would be happy to read it again.
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