The Spite House

A Novel

By: Johnny Compton

Narrated by: Adam Lazarre-White

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, 2023

"The plotting is intricate, following the points of view of many characters from the past and present, all of whom are expertly performed by Adam Lazarre-White."—Library Journal

"Adam Lazarre-White narrates this terrifying debut novel with a Southern drawl that puts the gothic into this gothic thriller."—AudioFile

A terrifying Gothic thriller about grief and death and the depths of a father's love, Johnny Compton's The Spite House is a stunning debut by a horror master in the making—The Babadook meets A Head Full of Ghosts in Texas Hill Country.

Eric Ross is on the run from a mysterious past with his two daughters in tow. Having left his wife, his house, his whole life behind in Maryland, he's desperate for money—it's not easy to find steady, safe work when you can't provide references, you can't stay in one place for long, and you're paranoid that your past is creeping back up on you.

When he comes across the strange ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas, Eric thinks they may have finally caught a lucky break. The Masson property, notorious for being one of the most haunted places in Texas, needs a caretaker of sorts. The owner is looking for proof of paranormal activity. All they need to do is stay in the house and keep a detailed record of everything that happens there. Provided the house’s horrors don’t drive them all mad, like the caretakers before them.

The job calls to Eric, not just because there's a huge payout if they can make it through, but because he wants to explore the secrets of the spite house. If it is indeed haunted, maybe it'll help him understand the uncanny power that clings to his family, driving them from town to town, making them afraid to stop running.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire.

©2023 Johnny Compton (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Compton’s chilling debut is horror with heart that puts a refreshingly modern spin on the haunted house story... This tense work of gothic horror provides a complex and multidimensional look at how anger, grief, and trauma can strengthen bonds of familial love...Even the most jaded horror fans will be wowed."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"One part road trip, one part family relationships, and one part haunted house, serve this update on genre staples to showcase the voice of a rising new writer to an audience that adores the classics."—Aaron Heil, Library Journal

“The Spite House is an aching, heartbroken meditation on what haunts us and the sins we inherit from those who came before us.”—Cassandra Khaw, author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth

New and intriguing!

I sometimes feel like I have read all the horror novels, so glad I found this book! Read it!

Too slow

Could have been better,had it been shorter and more straight forward. Time wasted jumping from character to character did not move story line.

A poignant ghost story

This ghost story explores the fragile barriers between life and death, love and obsession. A father desperate to protect his daughters, one who straddles the border between life and death, has a strong obsession of his own. Several members of his family appear to have died and come back to life. He’s drawn to a haunted house searching for answers, but the house’s ghostly occupants have plans of their own for him.

Fantastic!

Truly one of my new favorite books! I can’t recommend it enough. I promise it is worth your time!

Original and thoughtful

Very original ghost story; a great refresher to the genre, escaping standard tropes. Well written and well performed. Highly recommend to followers of the genre.