The Spite House by Johnny Compton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Wait, this is a debut?!
I seriously had no idea while reading this. Just now looking over the book details did I discover this fun fact, making what I read even more impressive.
Johnny Compton is one to watch…
The Spite House follows dedicated father, Eric, who is on the run with his two daughters, Dess and Stacy. Starting in Maryland, the family has made it to Texas without major incident, but will that luck hold?
The road isn’t an easy place, with Eric only taking unreliable jobs paying cash where he can. It’s unclear exactly what they’re running from, but it is clear that it’s imperative they don’t get caught.
They’re living in hotels, barely getting by, when Eric discovers an ad for a live-in position at the Masson House, in Degener, Texas. The pay is six-figures, the hazards…it’s haunted. Reputedly, the most haunted house in Texas.
Haunted or not, Eric and his girls don’t have a lot of choices. Eric is intrigued. All they have to do is live at the property and report to the owner any paranormal happenings they might observe.
The exciting pay rate is one thing, but Eric has his own additional reasons for wanting to explore the potentially supernatural nature of the house.
This story follows the perspectives of Eric, Dess and Stacy, in the days leading up to and including their time at the Masson House. There’s a few other perspectives as well.
There’s Eunice, the lady who hires them, Lafonda, Eunice’s employee, Millie, Max, the children; there’s actually a lot of different perspectives helping to build out this story. While I understand why the author chose to tell it this way, it was actually the story’s biggest downfall for me personally.
It felt a little crowded. I’ll admit to finding it hard to track in certain places. Never Eric, Dess or Stacy. They were clear and distinct throughout. I even really enjoyed having Eunice and Lafonda’s insights, but for me personally, it could have ended there as far as perspectives were concerned.
The story itself was delightful in its sense of place. I loved the Southern vibe carried throughout, including the fantastic narration of the audiobook by Adam Lazarre-White.
Additionally, the themes and topics explored were unique and well-presented. The nature of the hauntings allowed Compton to build a sense of dread that really never let up. This was one of my favorite parts of this. It was eerie start-to-finish.
This includes Eric, Dess and Stacy’s situation. You know something is going on there, but at first, it’s not clear what it is. I liked how Compton chose to reveal that side of the story and it definitely helped to amplify the situation at Masson House.
I also found the history of the Masson House, and the property it sits on, fascinating. I love when land holds on to these sorts of generational traumas and carries it through to a modern-day perspective, or situation.
There’s something unsettling about that. I think we’ve all been to places that hold a certain feeling and I love watching that play out in fiction. Considering what could be behind those vibes. It’s so interesting to me.
Overall, I felt this was a unique and engaging story with a fabulously narrated audiobook. The Spite House should be on every Horror Lovers immediate TBR. You do not want to miss out on this one.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.
I am so excited to read more from Johnny Compton in the future. If this book is any indication, he has a long and successful career ahead of him!