The House That Horror Built

By: Christina Henry

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

A single mother working in the gothic mansion of a reclusive horror director stumbles upon terrifying secrets in the captivating new novel from the national bestselling author of Good Girls Don't Die and Horseman.

Harry Adams has always loved horror movies, so it’s not a total coincidence that she took the job cleaning house for movie director Javier Castillo. His forbidding graystone Chicago mansion, Bright Horses, is filled from top to bottom with terrifying props and costumes, as well as glittering awards from his career making films that thrilled audiences—until family tragedy and scandal forced him to vanish from the industry.

Javier values discretion, and Harry has always tried to clean the house immaculately, keep her head down, and keep her job safe—she needs the money to support her son. But then she starts hearing noises from behind a locked door. Noises that sound remarkably like a human voice calling for help, even though Javier lives alone and never has visitors. Harry knows that not asking questions is a vital part of working for Javier, but she soon finds that the sinister house may be home to secrets she can’t ignore.

Critic reviews

“This book is a celebration of horror films, but what will stick with readers is the relationship between Harry and her son, Daniel. A lumbering costume is fun to read about, but Harry’s past and her precarious finances are the real monsters here. Henry’s spooky tale has a scary face, but it has a heart of gold.” - New York Times

"After reading The House That Horror Built, I brought the terror into my own home and now it won't leave. Christina Henry has me questioning every creak, every warping floorboard, every stray sound around my house and now I can't sleep at night. There's something in the walls of this novel and it watches you while you read." - Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters

“An eerie haunted house tale set in the home of a famous horror director… Henry captures the epic scale of the best horror movies and her passion for monstrosity comes through clearly.” - Publishers Weekly

"A delicious exploration into the monsters we idolize and the monsters we create. The House That Horror Built will leave readers wondering what lies behind the mask of their beloved horror auteurs..." - Carissa Orlando, author of The September House

"Perfect for horror fans who prefer playful eeriness over gore." - Library Journal

“Henry’s latest is a spine-chilling postpandemic thriller with plenty of pop-culture references that will appeal to horror fans.” - Booklist

“The House That Horror Built is a true slow-burn of a horror story with the suspense building in complex and unconventional fashion.” - Book Reporter

Almost a DNF

I was mostly bored. I found the book dull and tedious. It is so different from how I felt about her other books. Th Alice Chronicles, Horseman, Near the Bone, Mermaid, The Ghost Tree and most especially Lost Boy. I loved them all. This one was almost my first DNF from Christina Henry.

One of my first issues with Harry's character was her inner dialog. I am not saying that a person who never completed their high school education cannot self educate. My incredulity comes from a person who works laborious jobs and has a child to care for and feed has such a mastery of language. How did the character pull that off on a diet of horror films?

Spoiler Alert:
The first time I found her comments believable was when she let go an F-bomb at that reporter

The allusion that Javier Castillo manipulated Harry's situation was not resolved. Was he who purchased the house causing the ultimate eviction. Was he who hired the trench-coated reporter? Also, I find it difficult to believe the police did not investigate the disappearance story or that a corrupt doctor was able to keep quiet for so many years.

All in all, I wish I had not read this. I have always awaited Christina Henry's books and would pre-order or purchase them just based on her authorship. That will no longer be the case. Of course I will still follow he to see what she writes next, I will however, be more discerning with my purchases.

great book

like this book and would listen to this author Is awesome
and writing is realistic

poor mom...

yes I understand the mother is a single parent and the father was a a-hole, but the mother explains how she's not able to afford anything for her kid every other page. I guess she's a good mom for buying him a sundae instead of washing clothes? I understand that the mother worries about any purchase she makes but it gets annoying after the 12th time explaining it. She can only buy ground beef, uses quarters to buy a sundae, rides the bus, lets her kid eat the last pancake yet she had 3 already...I guess this can become a new horror subgenre, single parent/covid. If you want to experience what single parents dealt with during covid this book is for you.

Surprisingly Good

I thought I knew for sure what the twist was going to be and I was wrong. Great book!

Harry is hero material.

Thr steady character development and weaving of multiple stories simultaneously... Christina Henry does it again!