A House with Good Bones

Sam Montgomery, an archaeoentomologist, returns to her childhood home in North Carolina to visit her mother Edith. The house belonged to Sam's late grandmother Gran Mae, who was known for her cruelty and obsession with roses. Upon arrival, Sam notices concerning changes in both her mother's behavior and the house's appearance. Strange events begin to occur - swarms of ladybugs invade the house while the garden remains oddly devoid of insects. Sam uncovers disturbing evidence beneath the rose bushes and encounters unsettling phenomena that suggest a supernatural presence tied to her grandmother's legacy. The story connects Southern Gothic traditions with elements of psychological horror and family dynamics. Through its exploration of generational trauma and family secrets, the novel examines how the past can maintain its grip on the present.

Readers describe this as a unique blend of Southern Gothic horror and humor, focusing on family dynamics and creeping dread rather than gore or violence. Many note it reads quickly, often finished in 1-2 sittings. Readers appreciated: - Balance of humor with unsettling moments - Mother-daughter relationship portrayal - Scientific protagonist's analytical approach - References to gardening and nature - Spiders used effectively for tension Common criticisms: - Ending felt rushed or anticlimactic to some - Side characters could be more developed - Some found the pacing slow in the middle section Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (5,800+ ratings) StoryGraph: 4.15/5 Reader quote: "Like being wrapped in a warm blanket while something scratches at your window" - Goodreads reviewer Several readers compared it favorably to Grady Hendrix's style of horror-comedy, though noting Kingfisher's distinct voice.

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia A young woman investigates disturbing events at a remote mansion where her cousin lives, uncovering dark family secrets and supernatural horrors rooted in the house's history.

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher A woman clearing out her grandmother's hoarded house in rural North Carolina encounters folkloric entities and ancient evils connected to her family's past.

The Death of Jane Lawrence by Caitlin Starling A practical young woman's marriage to a country doctor leads her to a mansion filled with mathematical magic and bloody secrets that connect to her husband's ancestry.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas In post-revolutionary Mexico, a woman moves into her new husband's estate only to find the house harbors malevolent forces tied to family histories and colonial violence.

Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth Two parallel narratives connect a modern film production to a century-old tragedy at a girls' school, revealing interconnected horrors that span generations.

🦗 T. Kingfisher is the pen name of Ursula Vernon, who won the Hugo Award for her graphic novel "Digger" and the Nebula Award for her short story "The Tomato Thief." 🌹 The book's focus on roses isn't arbitrary - in Victorian times, roses were often planted over graves because their deep roots were thought to prevent the dead from rising. 🏠 Southern Gothic literature emerged as a genre in the early 20th century, characterized by themes of decay, dark secrets, and supernatural elements in Southern settings. 🐞 Archaeoentomology, the protagonist's field of study, is a real scientific discipline that uses insect remains to understand past environments and human activities. 👻 The novel draws inspiration from traditional Southern folklore about haints - restless spirits that can be warded off by painting porch ceilings "haint blue," a practice still seen in many Southern homes today.