A family moves into their dream home—only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger—in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.
The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.
Yet as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong. Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow, and her daughter's favorite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible The house is hungry. It's devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this "food" ever existed.
When Claire exploits the house's power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home—and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.
Claire and her husband Tom get a great deal on a multimillion-dollar home. It wasn't that long ago that their teenage son was a victim of assault. This will be a fresh start and a move away from the crime and violence of the city.
When they settle in, Claire is the first to notice the strange noises and the way items go missing. What's more, she is the only one who remembers that the missing items ever existed. Her husband doesn't believe her at first until he sees it for himself.
It may sound like something you've read before, but it was quite unique.
This was a fast paced original take that breathed new life into the old haunted house trope. The house isn't haunted; it's alive and needs to be fed. The house is neither good nor evil, merely hungry, but it could be a dangerous tool in the hands of the wrong sort of person.
Although there is a supernatural aspect to the plot, with the house exerting its influence over occupants and even the would-be occupants, that was not the true horror of the story. People change drastically in this house, but it is more an unmasking of their true personality traits than a possession.
If you are in the mood for a dark domestic horror, full of mystery, suspense, and murder, I highly recommend The House That Eats The Dead.
My thanks to Bantam Books for the e-ARC
