I can’t watch scary movies anymore (Paranormal Activity pretty much ruined
that for me), but I love suspenseful, thrilling books, and Sonja Condit’s
Starter House is deliciously
creepy.
The novel opens with a young married couple
moving into their first home together. After searching for months Lacey
has finally found a house that instantly captivates her, and after a childhood
spent moving from place to place, sleeping in cars and motel rooms, she believes
she’ll finally be able to settle down. But hesitant words of
warning from the real-estate agent set off the story’s
vaguely uncomfortable, ubiquitous sense of unease surrounding the house.
Inside the house lurk dark forces that rush down stairs and a creepy child
specter who can be eating sugar cookies one moment but whose tantrums can
utterly destroy rooms the next. Lacey must figure out how to pacify this
spirit in the house before her own son is born into a hostile environment where
only one child is tolerated.
Starter House
is extremely well written, able to evoke moments of both suspenseful
anticipation and the beauty of being a mother and teacher, while Lacey’s
character really draws you into her fright and the horrible decisions she is
forced to contemplate. I seriously
recommend looking out for this one, which comes out January of next year. If you can’t wait that long to
experience this chilling story, eGalleys are currently available on
Edelweiss.
-Amanda