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The September House by Carissa Orlando

The September House

by Carissa Orlando

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  • Sep 2023, 352 pages
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There are currently 25 reader reviews for The September House
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Kristen H. (New Bern, NC)

Twisty
A very twisty turn story to say the least. Held my interest all the way. Loved how the author was very descriptive of the characters. The husband's character was most impressive as the author did a great job of slowly developing his story. I did not guess that he was that way. Completely shocked. Cannot say more as this would definitely be a spoiler.
Rebecca K. (Chicagoland)

Dream home or haunted house?
I read a lot of thrillers, and not as much horror (especially supernatural horror), but a good haunted house story is hard to resist.

A few ghosts won't keep Margaret away from her dream home. Sure, they appear mangled based on how they were murdered, but the house is otherwise perfect! Well, aside from the blood dripping down the walls & the monster in the basement. Unfortunately her husband, Hal, wasn't willing to spend another second in the terrifying home. He left.

Margaret's daughter Katherine is determined to find her father. She takes time off work to visit her parents' new house for the first time and look for him. Margaret tries to hide the fact that the house is haunted from Katherine, but not everything can stay a secret.

It was difficult for me to relate to Margaret, as I'd definitely head for the hills at the first sign of blood dripping down my walls, but I still liked her. I also developed a fondness for a couple of the less-scary ghosts. Despite the gore, I really wanted to find out how the story ended so I was kept interested throughout.

FTC disclosure: I received an eARC from the publisher via BookBrowse.
Power Reviewer
Vivian H. (Winchester, VA)

A Real Page Turner
The September House started out strong with Margaret & Hal finding their dream house, a stately Victorian that had been on the market for ages. Margaret loves the house despite the strange happenings that tend to peak during the month of September. Of course the perfect house is haunted with a collection of ghosts. And the basement is a mysterious place that is kept off limits.

As the story develops it is evident that what is first presented as an idyllic marriage is anything but.
It is when Katherine, the couple's estranged daughter come to visit, that the story becomes predictable.
Nonetheless, the family saga rings true. Perhaps my own life experience explains why I found the final third of the book predictable.
Ultimately, September House is a horror story that many families experience everyday behind closed doors.
Debbie C. (Sun Lakes, AZ)

Kept my attention
I do not usually read horror stories but this one was good. It captured my attention from the prologue. I loved Margaret's tenacity to solve the issues with the spirits in the house. I don't think I would watch it as a movie, but really enjoyed the book.
Inge M. (Long Beach Public Library, CA)

A nice little horror story
I enjoyed reading this book. In the beginning the author tends to repeat and overuse some things, but if you keep on reading, it is totally worth it in the end. At times a little gory, but certainly recommended for horror lovers!
Linda M. (Ocala, FL)

What's Going on Here?
The September House kept me up reading late into the night. Old, spooky Victorian houses, especially those with a turret can so easily capture our imaginations. But this old house is really unique. Never has a house been haunted by so many spirits who died in so many horrible ways. Even the ways they haunt the house are unique. The month of September brings out the worst in all of them. The book is hard to put down because the reader just has to figure out, "What's going on here?" It's definitely a book that will be enjoyed by readers who love a good haunting story.
Teresa L. (Lake Elsinore, CA)

The September House
This is one creepy book! The way the author described the house really made the house a character in its own right. I did have a hard time liking the main character Margaret (who kept lying to her own daughter) and found it hard to relate to her. She was so dissociative to what was really going on around her (but maybe that was the author's point?)

This was a creative story and had surprises I didn't expect. If you like haunted house stories you will most likely enjoy this book.
Mary G. (Greensboro, GA)

A Dream Home Becomes a Nightmare
When Margaret and Hal are finally able to purchase their dream home, they never expected their dream to become a nightmare. It turns out an evil presence resides in their basement and his victims haunt their home. Every September, the house comes alive with blood-soaked walls and very active apparitions.

While Margaret accepts the horrors of September and has learned to abide by the rules of the house, Hal, a recovering alcoholic, begins drinking again and begs Margaret to leave with him. She, however, is determined to remain in her dream home. Then Hal disappears. Their concerned daughter arrives at the house at the height of the September hijinks and Margaret tries desperately to hide the behavior of the house from her.

While I did enjoy the book, I felt it took too long to reach its conclusion—which I thought was well done. The author seems to have been a bit undecided about whether she wanted a clever book with a degree of horror or a horror book with a bit of cleverness. But, overall, not a bad way to while away a few hours.

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