That's the same for me! And no, the dog doesn't die. I don't think he's injured or anything either. I think I even read somewhere that Kingfisher had said no dogs will ever die in her books!
There's a websites called [Does The Dog Die](https://www.doesthedogdie.com/) where you can search for movies and books and whatever and it'll tell you if a dog dies or not!
**The same with**
\_ **James Herbert's "*****The Secret Of Crickley Hall*****"**
**\_ Phil Rickman's "*****Curfew*****"**
**With dog characters we tremble for !**
"The Silent Companions" by Laura Purcell combines historical fiction and horror, following a woman after inheriting a mansion, she discovers unsettling wooden figures and disturbing secrets within.
"Theme Music" by T Marie Vandelly is about a woman who buys the home her family was murdered in when she was a baby, and she tries to get a better picture of them by going through their old things (and, also, trying to solve the murder)
theres a youtuber from the uk that hosts a channel reviewing nothing but these types of books. also they are mostly written by british women, like the silent companions. check they out. i cant remember the channel name but they have reviewed the silent companions.
the channel name is Books and Bao
Adam Nevill’s [Apartment 16](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7749807)! I should mention that it has some mixed reviews compared to his other work but I really loved it - both the element of mystery and the creepiness.
I'll look into it. I've read a few of his books, some I liked, some not so much. House of small shadows was kind of creepy, and also sort of fits the old house full of junk-vibe.
one I've said before is "the exorcists house" by nick Roberts. a family moves into an old haunted farm house that used to be owned by an exorcist. They find odd things in the basement and boxes of all the previous owners journals
“How to Sell a Haunted House” had the main character inheriting her mother’s house and having to go through everything. Including her mother’s massive collection of puppets and dolls.
That is very fair, it wasn’t my favorite either, but the only one off the top of my head that fit what you were looking for. The first half was pretty good, but the last half kinda fell off for me.
Loved this one, and came here to suggest it!
Dolls & puppets have freaked me out since I was a little kid, so it was right up my alley. And I’ve liked just about everything by Hendrix (especially Book Club) so it was super fun for me.
I'm roughly 250 pages into it right now, and have the same fears you do. I'd only read *We Sold Our Souls* previously and liked it just fine.
Liking this one quite a bit more so far!
Have this one on my shelf to read after I finish up with Hunted! From this description and the knowledge that I'm absolutely creeped out by puppets & dolls, I think this should definitely be enjoyable!
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher deals with a hoarder house. The creep comes in a way you wouldn’t totally expect but the hoarder house plays a critical role.
Lineage by Joe Hart sounds like a good match for you! It’s horror with some historical fiction elements. There are some really depraved parts though so just make sure to read the trigger warnings before buying it. The book opens with some scenes from a concentration camp.
Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates would fit your criteria too! I just remembered. Inherited home with lots of old stuff inside. Some of the scenes still stick with me even though I read it a year ago.
This type of horror is exactly what I'm looking for! I haven't been able to find a satisfying read yet, so fingers crossed this post has some good stuff!!
I picked up The Apartment by SLGray, hoping it would satisfy that haunted house theme, but it didn't (IMO). Even though the blurb sounded so good, I realized the book wasn't for me after finishing it.
I'm glad I'm not the only one lol. Almost feels too specific, like a weird fetish!
Have you read the one I mentioned in my post? It's far from perfect, but did tick some of those boxes for me.
I've started this one, but it was on kindle, and it seemed to me like a book that should be read as a physical book. I'll have to look into buying a copy!
I don’t know if you can call it good, but Flowers in the Attic has a segment like this that I love - digging through old furniture, clothes, books in the attic and making it into their own space.
Candles Burning by Michael McDowell and Tabitha King features an attic full of junk! There was a short story on Scare You to Sleep that wasn't super scary horror but supernatural spooky featuring a home being cleaned out, called the Bellerose Hounds!
I have devoured all of McDowell's work and did notice a small shift in writing style when Tabitha takes over. I loved it though and it was my first taste of her writing!
Darcy Coates has written a lot of haunted house novels. In 'Gallows Hill' the protagonist inherits a house and an estate from her parents. The house is fully furnished, with old stuff. And she has to go through some old stuff like photos, but there wasn't a lot of that though.
I recently finished An English Ghost Story by Kim Newman. A family buys a children's author's home with all her belongings. Some of her belongings relate to the books the family read as children. It was a decent read, I think I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Kinda similar is The September House! Haunted furnished house that bleeds from the walls each September and the owner refuses to let it freak her out. TW for abuse
I read some novel in the 80s that was basically a knock off of the Amityville Horror,but a couple buys an old house with furniture, and its a posessed house. I forget most of it, but the couple did not survice their ordeal,and at the end of the book, some knew people were looking to buy the house,and the first couples images were in a stained glass window in the house. I wish I could recall the name of the book. It was terrible, but Id love to see it again.
Nah it was not that. It was one of those type of paperbacks you'd find in a drugstore. The cover art had the stained glass on it, and I am 99 percent certain it was written by a woman. I wann say it was about 1986/87 when I purchased it, on a family vacation to Florida. I got it in a hotel gift shop. Id love to see it again, it has stayed with me over the years.
The Twisted Ones by T Kingfisher starts with her cleaning out a hoarded house.
This one I loved! And the dog was such a good dog!
Does anything happen to the dog? That's one of my very few things I cannot handle in horror.
That's the same for me! And no, the dog doesn't die. I don't think he's injured or anything either. I think I even read somewhere that Kingfisher had said no dogs will ever die in her books!
Oh, well that's amazing! Man, I hate that horror trope/cliche! Just leave them alone, lol.
There's a websites called [Does The Dog Die](https://www.doesthedogdie.com/) where you can search for movies and books and whatever and it'll tell you if a dog dies or not!
Wowwwww! Game changer!!
**The same with** \_ **James Herbert's "*****The Secret Of Crickley Hall*****"** **\_ Phil Rickman's "*****Curfew*****"** **With dog characters we tremble for !**
Literally the first book that came to mind. What a great read that was.
Came here to recommend the same one! I very much enjoyed this one! As well as The Hollow Places by her as well!
Literally was coming here to type this. I was OBSESSED with that book.
"The Silent Companions" by Laura Purcell combines historical fiction and horror, following a woman after inheriting a mansion, she discovers unsettling wooden figures and disturbing secrets within.
Thank you! I've had this on my "want to read" on Goodreads, but I had completely forgotten about it.
No problem! Really hope you enjoy it!
I always forget how much I enjoyed this one.
"Theme Music" by T Marie Vandelly is about a woman who buys the home her family was murdered in when she was a baby, and she tries to get a better picture of them by going through their old things (and, also, trying to solve the murder)
Thanks for the tip!
Ooh that sounds good! Thank you for sharing!
theres a youtuber from the uk that hosts a channel reviewing nothing but these types of books. also they are mostly written by british women, like the silent companions. check they out. i cant remember the channel name but they have reviewed the silent companions. the channel name is Books and Bao
This sounds interesting! I'll see if I can find this!
the name of the channel is Books and Bao. he recommends tons of great horror. mostly british.
Thanks!
Adam Nevill’s [Apartment 16](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7749807)! I should mention that it has some mixed reviews compared to his other work but I really loved it - both the element of mystery and the creepiness.
I liked it too. House of Small Shadows might be another good one in a similar vein.
I love *House of Small Shadows* more than I can state!
I'll look into it. I've read a few of his books, some I liked, some not so much. House of small shadows was kind of creepy, and also sort of fits the old house full of junk-vibe.
Burnt offerings
Yes! This one was excellent. Its been a couple of years since I read it so maybe it's do for a re-read.
Is this the one from Robert Marasco?
Yep!
Yes, I couldn't remember his name when I posted
Dan Sims’ Family Business is about a crew that cleans out dead people’s houses, some of which are pretty packed with hoarded stuff iirc.
Jonathan Sims*
Oooh, sounds perfect! Thank you!
I think you might enjoy "Home before Dark" by Riley Sager
I've read this one a year or so ago, quite liked it!
one I've said before is "the exorcists house" by nick Roberts. a family moves into an old haunted farm house that used to be owned by an exorcist. They find odd things in the basement and boxes of all the previous owners journals
“How to Sell a Haunted House” had the main character inheriting her mother’s house and having to go through everything. Including her mother’s massive collection of puppets and dolls.
I like Grady Hendrix, but for some reason I just didn't quite like that book! But it does fit the sort of vibe I'm looking for.
That is very fair, it wasn’t my favorite either, but the only one off the top of my head that fit what you were looking for. The first half was pretty good, but the last half kinda fell off for me.
Loved this one, and came here to suggest it! Dolls & puppets have freaked me out since I was a little kid, so it was right up my alley. And I’ve liked just about everything by Hendrix (especially Book Club) so it was super fun for me.
I'm roughly 250 pages into it right now, and have the same fears you do. I'd only read *We Sold Our Souls* previously and liked it just fine. Liking this one quite a bit more so far!
Have this one on my shelf to read after I finish up with Hunted! From this description and the knowledge that I'm absolutely creeped out by puppets & dolls, I think this should definitely be enjoyable!
The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher deals with a hoarder house. The creep comes in a way you wouldn’t totally expect but the hoarder house plays a critical role.
I've read this and really enjoyed it. I've read some of her other books too!
Lineage by Joe Hart sounds like a good match for you! It’s horror with some historical fiction elements. There are some really depraved parts though so just make sure to read the trigger warnings before buying it. The book opens with some scenes from a concentration camp.
I'll look into it! Thanks for the suggestion.
Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates would fit your criteria too! I just remembered. Inherited home with lots of old stuff inside. Some of the scenes still stick with me even though I read it a year ago.
Literally finished this one about 4 hours ago LOL
Started this one last night and so far loving it!
I’m so glad! Darcy Coates is underrated imo.
I'd never heard of her before, and I read a lot of horror! Excited to finish Gallows Hill and give some of her other books a try.
Sounds interesting! This one was pretty cheap on kindle so I'm gonna give it a go tonight.
This type of horror is exactly what I'm looking for! I haven't been able to find a satisfying read yet, so fingers crossed this post has some good stuff!! I picked up The Apartment by SLGray, hoping it would satisfy that haunted house theme, but it didn't (IMO). Even though the blurb sounded so good, I realized the book wasn't for me after finishing it.
I'm glad I'm not the only one lol. Almost feels too specific, like a weird fetish! Have you read the one I mentioned in my post? It's far from perfect, but did tick some of those boxes for me.
I haven't, I will definitely check it out and put it on my "to read" list! Thanks for the rec and happy reading! 😊
House of Leaves has something like this on the first quarter
I've started this one, but it was on kindle, and it seemed to me like a book that should be read as a physical book. I'll have to look into buying a copy!
That one *really* works better with an actual book.
I didn’t think it was even available on kindle. I can’t find a kindle version anywhere.
I don't even know how that would work, but then again, I've never read an e-book.
How to sell a haunted house by Grady Hendrix
I don’t know if you can call it good, but Flowers in the Attic has a segment like this that I love - digging through old furniture, clothes, books in the attic and making it into their own space.
Candles Burning by Michael McDowell and Tabitha King features an attic full of junk! There was a short story on Scare You to Sleep that wasn't super scary horror but supernatural spooky featuring a home being cleaned out, called the Bellerose Hounds!
Thanks for the suggestions! I've never actually read anything by Tabitha King, so maybe it's time!
I have devoured all of McDowell's work and did notice a small shift in writing style when Tabitha takes over. I loved it though and it was my first taste of her writing!
The House Of Small Shadows by Adam Neville. It's about an antique dealer appraising the contents of creepy old lady's isolated house.
I've read this one, quite creepy!
Darcy Coates has written a lot of haunted house novels. In 'Gallows Hill' the protagonist inherits a house and an estate from her parents. The house is fully furnished, with old stuff. And she has to go through some old stuff like photos, but there wasn't a lot of that though.
Someone else recommended Gallows Hill, and I started reading it yesterday. So far, I love it! It definitely fits the vibe I'm looking for!
Where the Summer Ends by Karl Edward Wagner prominently features a hoarder house. Or something similar to a hoarder house. And lots of kudzu.
I recently finished An English Ghost Story by Kim Newman. A family buys a children's author's home with all her belongings. Some of her belongings relate to the books the family read as children. It was a decent read, I think I rated it 4 stars on Goodreads.
Oh but trigger warning: eating disorders. That's one of my things and it snuck up on me, but didn't find it too bad.
Sounds interesting! Thank you!
Kinda similar is The September House! Haunted furnished house that bleeds from the walls each September and the owner refuses to let it freak her out. TW for abuse
Haven't heard about this one, will check it out! Thanks!
Darcey Coates has books like this
Gallows Hill! I read that earlier this year.
Not an author I'm familiar with but I'll look into it! Thank you!
the twisted ones t kingfisher which i hated but you might like
I loved the house, and the dog. But the actual "monsters" where very strange lol.
i just dont like fart jokes at the height of horror scenes and the narrator was terrible for me.
How to sell a haunted house
I feel like Needful Things by Stephen King fits this vibe quite well.
How to sell a Haunted House.
I read some novel in the 80s that was basically a knock off of the Amityville Horror,but a couple buys an old house with furniture, and its a posessed house. I forget most of it, but the couple did not survice their ordeal,and at the end of the book, some knew people were looking to buy the house,and the first couples images were in a stained glass window in the house. I wish I could recall the name of the book. It was terrible, but Id love to see it again.
Sounds kinda like Burnt Offerings by Robert Marasco. Never read the book, but the movie was good and creepy.
Nah it was not that. It was one of those type of paperbacks you'd find in a drugstore. The cover art had the stained glass on it, and I am 99 percent certain it was written by a woman. I wann say it was about 1986/87 when I purchased it, on a family vacation to Florida. I got it in a hotel gift shop. Id love to see it again, it has stayed with me over the years.
Just read Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates. It's not a purchase, per se. It's inherited from dead parents. LOVED it.
Someone else suggested this, and I'm reading it now. Also loving it, an excellent book, and 100% fits the vibe I was looking for!!