I’m a sucker for the classic gothic haunted house trope. Maybe it’s because I grew up in cramped single-wide trailers, but the idea of wandering through a vast, drafty Victorian with doors that slam on their own? Positively delightful.
At its heart, haunted house horror taps into our yearning for safety and the dread of having that sanctuary invaded by something sinister. In fiction, houses often harbor vengeful spirits whose pain seeps into the living world and collides with the mundane day-to-day of the living. Sometimes the family moving in is Stepford perfect, or at least good at pretending. Most of the time, there’s an undercurrent of abuse or dysfunction that a good haunted house story ratchets up until blood comes pouring out of the
I like my gothic tales best when the house itself becomes a character, like the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining. Maybe it’s not even “haunted” in the traditional sense, but alive in some inexplicable way. Here are a few novels that put delightfully weird spins on the haunted house trope:
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (publishes 09/2025)
A fun, fast read that plays with the “difficult woman” trope. A mother and daughter are haunted by their dramatic reputations and maybe also by their house. Clio, an influencer and fashionista, remodels her childhood home while documenting the whole thing on Instagram. The catch? She grew up in a nightmare, and the question is whether that nightmare was human-made or something far more sinister. Perfect for fans of open-ended conclusions, pop culture, and haunted houses with secrets.
The Good House by Tananarive Due
This novel reminded me how much I love a house with a sinister agenda. This story is a bit heavier than some others on this list, as it is steeped in intergenerational trauma and racism. Angela, our protagonist, returns home to Washington to confront her son’s death and uncovers a legacy of pain stretching back generations. It’s a powerful story of grief, resilience, and reckoning. This one’s for fans of Jordan Peele’s horror vibes and anyone who likes watching small-minded jerks get what’s coming.
The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry
A struggling single mom named Harry takes a cleaning job in the home of legendary horror film director, Javier Castillo. The house is a shrine to cinematic scares, packed with props and costumes she’s paid to dust. Creepy stuff starts happening almost immediately. At first, Harry doesn’t seem to mind, until things go from spine-tingling to murderous. Is it for everyone? No. But if working in a haunted house seems like a dream job, this book is probably your idea of a good time too.
The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden
I pitch Christopher Golden’s books to readers as “what happens if Indiana Jones and Stephen King had a baby.” They’re globe-trotting, high-stakes, and laced with supernatural mayhem. This one’s set in the Italian countryside, where an American couple relocates to reconnect with family and live la dolce vita. Spoiler: that lasts exactly one hot second before all hell breaks loose. A perfect read for your Italian vacation if you fancy yourself part Rick Steves, part demonologist.
What other books have taken haunted houses in unexpected directions? Send me your suggestions!