How to Sell a Haunted House (export Paperback)

"How to Sell a Haunted House" by Grady Hendrix is a haunting and emotionally charged novel that explores themes of death, grief, and inheritance. Here is a comprehensive overview of the book:

Plot Summary

The story revolves around Louise Joyner, a single mother living in San Francisco with her five-year-old daughter. Louise works a steady design job and tries to keep her life as far away from her hometown of Charleston as possible. However, her life is disrupted when she receives a call from her estranged brother Mark, informing her that their parents have died unexpectedly. Louise must return to her childhood home to settle their affairs, which she had hoped to avoid.

Upon her return, Louise and Mark are tasked with sorting through the extensive belongings left behind by their parents. The house is filled with their mother's lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls, as well as taxidermy squirrels. As they navigate the process of cataloging and disposing of their loved ones' belongings, they uncover a suspicious tableau suggesting that their parents might have fled the house in a hurry on the night of their accident.

The siblings must confront unresolved childhood traumas and the mess their parents left behind. The house itself seems to be haunted by something tied to their deaths, hinting at a deep-seated family history. As they deal with each other and the eerie atmosphere of the house, they realize that some houses do not want to be sold.

Key Themes

1. Death and Grief: The novel explores the emotional impact of sudden loss on family members, particularly siblings who have been estranged.
2. Inheritance: The story delves into the complexities of inheriting a family home filled with memories and artifacts.
3. Childhood Trauma: Unresolved issues from the siblings' past are revisited as they confront their childhood traumas.
4. Family History: The novel uncovers long-buried secrets and family dynamics that have haunted the Joyner family for years.

Critical Reception

The book has received positive reviews for its blend of horror and emotional depth. Here are some highlights from various reviews:

• Haunting and Emotionally Charged: Reviewers have praised the novel for its ability to balance horror elements with deep emotional resonance.
• Pulp Horror and Shared Trauma: The book is noted for its use of pulp horror elements to explore themes of shared trauma and family history.
• Engaging and Chilling: Critics have highlighted the engaging and chilling nature of the story, particularly in how it uses the haunted house as a metaphor for unresolved family issues.

Overall, "How to Sell a Haunted House" is a compelling and unsettling read that delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the lasting impact of unresolved traumas.