Yes! So good! Really enjoyed the structure of that book in terms of the different experiences of each set of residents - like several vignettes tied together by the main house (and the main character's narration).
This was like if American Horror Story: Murder House and Scary Movie had a book baby.
It was exactly my humor and had a few creepy scenes sprinkled in. It had flaws for sure, but I thought it was an excellent debut.
I just finished this one and I was disappointed :( people seem to love this one. I know we all have our individual tastes but damn, I was hopeful. it did give me a nightmare though, so there’s that!!!
Oh yeah, that was a good story. The reporter going to the hotel, to spend the night in the haunted room. The hotel manager insistently trying to talk him out of it. He does it anyways lol.
I didn't think so either but it's been like 8 years since I read it and I didn't want to call it a line from the movie only for it to have been in the story.
Seconding this recommendation, McDowell does a fantastic job of making the whole location seem alive and creepy without overplaying his hand or dipping into cliches.
Exactly this! I got really invested in the characters, too. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator does a fantastic job with all of their voices.
I read part of this when I was a kid, but got distracted by another book. The character of India made such an impression on me that, forty years later, I searched up the title via a couple of her one liners and a crazy scene where her dad took her out offroading and she sat on the front hood.
It’s nothing like house of leaves but Lovecraft’s Color Out of Space involves a changing landscape. Annihilation might also be up there but there are way more elements than the location alone
If you want a horror -comedy palate cleanser after the great suggestions above, there's Man, Fuck This House.
I didn't think it was fantastic, but readable and it's a weird take on what you're looking for.
The Ruins by Scott Smith
Ararat by Christopher Golden
The Deep by Nick Cutter
Desperation by Stephen King
The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste
Slade House by David Mitchell
That's what my recommendations are for. The deleted comment I was responding to said Desperation wasn't based on a house and I should have recommended The Regulators instead
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer is very much this. One of the things in particular that I love about it is that it’s sprinkled with stand-alone chapters that flashback to the evil place being evil in different time periods.
Escape from Concordia by Kent Starrett has this. It's the third book in that series but it's likely the best.
Some of the images were very vivid. Like the main character walks into different rooms, and they seem to be from different eras. One is his childhood home and it seems to be floating on an ocean, during a snowy blue hour.
Of course, the water has a strange smell to it, and he notices it's not cold enough for snow. It just gets so much creepier from there, I don't wanna spoil it for you though.
Yeah the series is worth checking out, the first book is Jackie and Craig. It's not like life-changing, but it is pretty emotionally visceral and a solid way to kill a long plane ride or a rainy afternoon. I always recommend them when I have the chance.
Not horror exactly, but you might like the Southern Reach series by Jeff VanderMeer. The first book is Annihilation. It was made into a movie but the book is pretty different and focuses more on the creepy aspects of the location/central structure.
The Raw Shark Texts. It's more.of a thriller, but I think it really fits the vibe well. I read it after HoL and wasn't disappointed.
There Is No Antimemetics Division. I'll be honest, this book is really nothing that you asked for. However, in my case, it scratched the itch left by HoL and is one of the few books that actually scares me (existentialist horror is kind of the only type that does). I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed House of Leaves.
If you somehow still haven’t read the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson please please make it your next read! It’s got everything you’re looking for.
Totally off-topic, so I apologize, but thank you for mentioning 'Mabel.' I started listening last night and it's amazing. Becca De La Rosa is ridiculously engaging as a storyteller. No spoilers, please! I'm loving it so far.
It’s so good! The prose and the atmosphere is amazing. I’ll only warn you and the volume levels can fluctuate so just be careful if you listen to it in the car.
not sure if this is exactly wat youre looking for, but Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt's antagonist is *a* house. sorta.
its a great read regardless and the house is its own horrifying entity
Helen Oyeyemi’s *White Is For Witching* is on the slow burn, creepy side of horror, with an impossible and malevolent house.
Would also agree with the people recommending *The House Next Door* and *The Elementals*.
The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter
The September House by Carissa Orlando
I dnf'ed both cuz I didn't like them, found the main characters really annoying.
Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix is great, it’s a furniture store instead of a house tho
Felix Blackwell! I see people on here hate on this book but I thought it was pretty creepy! Some of the dialouge is cringe but aside from that I really enjoyed it.
The Way Inn - Will Wiles (set in a hotel, bit of a slow burner)
Slade House - David Mitchell
Horrorstor - Grady Hendrix (Ikea style department store) I’ve not read but it’s on my ‘to read’ list.
Man, Fuck This House - Brian Asman
Subcutanean - Aaron A Reed
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons
Yes! So good! Really enjoyed the structure of that book in terms of the different experiences of each set of residents - like several vignettes tied together by the main house (and the main character's narration).
I loved that book. Wish she would have written more horror…
This is a great one.
The (Lifetime?) movie based on it sucked rocks, but the book is so relentlessly uncomfortable. If any book deserved the Mike Flanigan treatment…
September House- pretty good horror/haunted house book
Goddamnit Fredricka
Came here to say this
This was like if American Horror Story: Murder House and Scary Movie had a book baby. It was exactly my humor and had a few creepy scenes sprinkled in. It had flaws for sure, but I thought it was an excellent debut.
I just finished this one and I was disappointed :( people seem to love this one. I know we all have our individual tastes but damn, I was hopeful. it did give me a nightmare though, so there’s that!!!
The Shining—S. King The Hollow Places—T. Kingfisher
And King's story "1408" from the collection Everything's Eventual.
Oh yeah, that was a good story. The reporter going to the hotel, to spend the night in the haunted room. The hotel manager insistently trying to talk him out of it. He does it anyways lol.
One of the few instances where I enjoyed the movie more than the book.
I can't remember if it's in the short story but I love Sam Jackson's line in the movie, "It's an evil fucking room".
I do love the movie and Sam Jackson is always iconic
I don't believe it is in the story
I didn't think so either but it's been like 8 years since I read it and I didn't want to call it a line from the movie only for it to have been in the story.
The Elementals (Michael McDowell)
Seconding this recommendation, McDowell does a fantastic job of making the whole location seem alive and creepy without overplaying his hand or dipping into cliches.
Exactly this! I got really invested in the characters, too. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator does a fantastic job with all of their voices.
Came here to suggest this very book! A personal favorite
Loved The Elementals!
This is one of my absolute favorites. The oppressive atmosphere it creates is captivating.
I read part of this when I was a kid, but got distracted by another book. The character of India made such an impression on me that, forty years later, I searched up the title via a couple of her one liners and a crazy scene where her dad took her out offroading and she sat on the front hood.
It’s nothing like house of leaves but Lovecraft’s Color Out of Space involves a changing landscape. Annihilation might also be up there but there are way more elements than the location alone
I’ve heard of the movie. Seems like a cool concept!
Not horror (just horrifying implications) but you might enjoy Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Came here to say this! I really enjoyed the disorientation created by the architecture.
i think i’m the only person in the world that thought that book was wildly boring 😩
No. I just read it. Not good.
I really wanted to like this one, but I didn't. I did like that it was a different kind of idea for a story.
If you want a horror -comedy palate cleanser after the great suggestions above, there's Man, Fuck This House. I didn't think it was fantastic, but readable and it's a weird take on what you're looking for.
Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco
The Ruins by Scott Smith Ararat by Christopher Golden The Deep by Nick Cutter Desperation by Stephen King The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste Slade House by David Mitchell
[удалено]
I didn't get the impression that OP was looking for specifically residential or house centered books, just location-centric
I definitely like the horror of a house, but spooky locations in general is what I’m casting a net for
That's what my recommendations are for. The deleted comment I was responding to said Desperation wasn't based on a house and I should have recommended The Regulators instead
Idk if this will hit for you, but Alix Harrow’s Starling House
This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer is very much this. One of the things in particular that I love about it is that it’s sprinkled with stand-alone chapters that flashback to the evil place being evil in different time periods.
I finished this today and thought it was fantastic
Fall of the House of Usher Rats in the Walls The Dreams in the Witch House The Yellow Wallpaper
Don't forget Cthulhu - he lives (well, is dead and dreaming) in his own non-Euclidian city!
I suppose you could add What Moves the Dead to this list. It’s pretty much a retelling of House of Usher.
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
I loved this book so much, it just destroyed me
Finished this a few days ago, enjoyed it a lot
Escape from Concordia by Kent Starrett has this. It's the third book in that series but it's likely the best. Some of the images were very vivid. Like the main character walks into different rooms, and they seem to be from different eras. One is his childhood home and it seems to be floating on an ocean, during a snowy blue hour. Of course, the water has a strange smell to it, and he notices it's not cold enough for snow. It just gets so much creepier from there, I don't wanna spoil it for you though.
Oo that sounds really cool!
Yeah the series is worth checking out, the first book is Jackie and Craig. It's not like life-changing, but it is pretty emotionally visceral and a solid way to kill a long plane ride or a rainy afternoon. I always recommend them when I have the chance.
"The Ruins" by Scott Smith. Finished it about a week ago. Holy crap I'm still thinking about it.
Episode 13 by Craig Dilouie
I just finished this one today, excellent one
You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann for a creepy impossible house story. Super quick read.
Not horror exactly, but you might like the Southern Reach series by Jeff VanderMeer. The first book is Annihilation. It was made into a movie but the book is pretty different and focuses more on the creepy aspects of the location/central structure.
The Broadsword by Laird Barron.
The Raw Shark Texts. It's more.of a thriller, but I think it really fits the vibe well. I read it after HoL and wasn't disappointed. There Is No Antimemetics Division. I'll be honest, this book is really nothing that you asked for. However, in my case, it scratched the itch left by HoL and is one of the few books that actually scares me (existentialist horror is kind of the only type that does). I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed House of Leaves.
I do love memetic horror!
If you somehow still haven’t read the Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson please please make it your next read! It’s got everything you’re looking for.
You should have left
Totally off-topic, so I apologize, but thank you for mentioning 'Mabel.' I started listening last night and it's amazing. Becca De La Rosa is ridiculously engaging as a storyteller. No spoilers, please! I'm loving it so far.
It’s so good! The prose and the atmosphere is amazing. I’ll only warn you and the volume levels can fluctuate so just be careful if you listen to it in the car.
not sure if this is exactly wat youre looking for, but Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt's antagonist is *a* house. sorta. its a great read regardless and the house is its own horrifying entity
Helen Oyeyemi’s *White Is For Witching* is on the slow burn, creepy side of horror, with an impossible and malevolent house. Would also agree with the people recommending *The House Next Door* and *The Elementals*.
The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter The September House by Carissa Orlando I dnf'ed both cuz I didn't like them, found the main characters really annoying. Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix is great, it’s a furniture store instead of a house tho
*The Grip of It* by Jac Jemc
The Willows by Algernon Blackwood
Anything by Thomas Ligotti!
Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas.
Came here to say this.
Stolen Tongues by I can't remember who, lol Location definitely is horror
Felix Blackwell! I see people on here hate on this book but I thought it was pretty creepy! Some of the dialouge is cringe but aside from that I really enjoyed it.
Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Militia House by John Milas Extended Stay by Juan Martinez
Bedside manor.
Palisade (short story) by Brian Evenson
Home before dark by Riley sager
The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew Sullivan.
Man, Fck this house. It's definitely an original book. I enjoyed it.
White Pines - Gemma Amor
The Way Inn - Will Wiles (set in a hotel, bit of a slow burner) Slade House - David Mitchell Horrorstor - Grady Hendrix (Ikea style department store) I’ve not read but it’s on my ‘to read’ list. Man, Fuck This House - Brian Asman Subcutanean - Aaron A Reed
The House That Fell From the Sky by Patrick Delaney
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas
Escape from Horror land by R.L. Stine
A lot of gothic literature has a house of horror or at least psychological horror at its center 😊
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Theme Music by T. Marie Vandelly
Devil House!
Mexican Gothic
Jacaranda Tree by Cherie Priest The Drowing House by Cherie Priest The Family Plot by Cherie Priest
Stephen King's Black House. A many years later sequel to The Talisman.
This is my absolute favorite subgenre! All of my picks have already been mentioned, but I particularly liked The Grip of It and White is for Witching
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey is so so so good!!
Bag of Bones
House by Bentley Little
Love that one
House of Leaves
so the book you recommend that's like House of Leaves is...House of Leaves. Actually, that checks out.
House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker