 Grady Hendrix is one of those writers who can have you laughing out loud one minute and then staring at the ceiling wondering why your eyes are leaking the next. How to Sell a Haunted House nails that weird, wonderful balance. On the surface, it’s a story about a brother and sister stuck cleaning up their parents’ house after a loss, except the house is crammed with creepy puppets and dolls that may or may not be alive. Sounds ridiculous, right? And it is. Hendrix leans all the way into the absurd, and you’ll find yourself laughing at how over-the-top some of it gets.
But then, right when you’re laughing, he sucker-punches you with something hard: grief, regret, the way siblings wound each other and carry those scars into adulthood. The haunted house is really just a stand-in for all the baggage that gets passed down in families, the secrets, the grudges, the unspoken hurt. It’s generational trauma wrapped up in a horror-comedy package, which makes it hit that much harder. I think that’s what makes Hendrix so good. You go in for the campy horror, some killer puppets, spooky house vibes, but you leave with your heart a little bruised. This book is hilarious, creepy, and surprisingly moving all at once. Check out the book at the library or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian
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 We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer completely caught me off guard. On the surface, it starts with a young couple showing their house to potential buyers, but then a family shows up at the door claiming they used to live there. From that simple setup, things spiral into something much stranger, darker, and more unsettling than I ever expected. I had no idea which direction it was going to go, and that unpredictability made it a delight to read.
I’m nearly impossible to scare, but this one actually managed it. I read parts late at night, in the dark, after everyone had gone to bed. Normally that doesn’t faze me at all, but here I found myself pausing, uneasy, and hyper-aware of the pitch-black silence around me. It truly got under my skin and that’s rare. If you want something twisty, eerie, and impossible to pin down, We Used to Live Here is well worth the read. Get the book at the library or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  If you’re looking for a horror novel that genuinely gets under your skin and stays there, This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno might just be the book to ruin your week in the best way possible.
The story follows Thiago, a guy reeling after the sudden death of his wife, Vera. He starts talking to her in the second person, so the whole book feels like a letter to someone who’s gone. And it’s not just sad (though it’s definitely sad). It’s weird, and unsettling, and at times downright terrifying. At first, the horror starts small. Strange noises, lights flickering, their smart speaker (Itza) acting possessed. You think, "Okay, haunted Alexa, that’s fun." But then it keeps escalating, and it becomes clear this isn’t just a haunted house or glitchy tech. There’s something bigger and stranger going on. Something that doesn't care about logic or closure. It’s like the horror version of grief itself. What really stuck with me, though, is how much heart is in this book. Thiago’s grief feels so real and so unfiltered. It’s messy. He’s angry, scared, numb, all of it at once. Moreno also weaves in subtle commentary on immigration, identity, and the alienation that comes with being a person of color in a country that treats you like an outsider even when you’re mourning. I will say, the book shifts gears pretty hard about two-thirds in. We move from haunted apartment to isolated cabin, and from domestic terror into full cosmic horror. Some people might find that jarring. I didn’t mind it. It felt like falling into the abyss alongside Thiago, but if you're someone who likes a neat resolution or grounded plot, the ending might leave you scratching your head. Still, for me, this book worked. It’s creepy. It’s sad. It’s strange in the best way. And it made me feel something deep in my gut. If you liked The Only Good Indians, or you want a horror novel that actually says something about what it means to lose someone, and to lose yourself in the process, pick this one up. Just… maybe don’t read it alone at night with a smart speaker nearby. Download the eBook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  The September House by Carissa Orlando is a haunting in every sense of the word. Margaret buys a beautiful old home with her husband, only to discover it’s filled with screaming ghosts, blood that seeps from the walls each September, and something terrifying in the basement. But instead of running, she stays. She cleans up the blood. She pretends nothing is wrong. When her daughter comes back into the picture, the cracks in Margaret’s carefully managed world start to widen, and the story spirals into something both emotionally raw and deeply unsettling.
Orlando blends supernatural horror with real-world trauma, using ghosts as a metaphor for the things we live with, bury, and pretend not to see. It’s dark, eerie, sometimes funny, and emotionally sharp. If you like horror that lingers and means something, this one’s for you. Get the book at the library or download the eBook or audiobook with your SPL card. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian  House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski is one of those rare books that's genuinely unlike anything you've read before. It's creepy, mind-bending, and totally unique, mixing psychological horror with an experimental approach to storytelling that keeps you guessing from start to finish.
On the surface, the story is about a family whose new home turns out to be mysteriously larger on the inside than on the outside, strange rooms and hallways appear, leading into darkness. But that's only the beginning. Danielewski tells the story through multiple layers: footnotes upon footnotes, scattered fragments, and pages that twist and turn physically as much as the narrative itself. The complexity of the print and layout is actually one of the book's biggest strengths. Weird formatting, sideways text, pages with only a few words, and chaotic notes all mimic the confusion and anxiety experienced by the characters. It’s not just a style choice, it's a clever way to pull you deeper into the weirdness, making reading feel like you're actually exploring a dark, unpredictable maze. Sure, the unusual style might throw off readers looking for something more straightforward, but if you're open to something different, that complexity pays off big time. It makes the experience feel fresh, immersive, and unforgettable. Overall, House of Leaves is creepy, fascinating, and creatively daring. It sticks with you long after you've finished, making you question what's real and what isn't. If you like books that challenge you and keep you on your toes, definitely give this one a try. This is a book you definitely need a physical copy to read. Reserve it at the library here. Aimee Clark, IT Librarian |
The SPL StaffWe work here at the library, and we’re into all kinds of books! How Do I Get These Books?See our Quickstart Guides page for information on how to use the online catalog and how to get eBooks and audiobooks for your specific device. You can also contact us there if you need more help!
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