Published by Michael Joseph Genres: Fiction, Gothic, Horror, Paranormal
Format: ARC, eBook
Gothic and dripping with atmosphere and tension, This Cursed House delivered a chilling Southern gothic tale about a house, a curse and the Duchon family. I loved the vivid descriptions and the feeling of dread and emotion that this book evoked. The Duchon family have bene cursed and have not left their home for almost 28 years! Can you even imagine? The isolation, the boredom, the lack of outside stimulation, lack of socializing? Being stuck with the same people/family members day after day, week after week, year after year!
Jemma Barker has received a very generous job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans. Jemma jumps on it. She wants to leave her life in Chicago behind and start over. Upon arriving in New Orleans, Jemma notices people are welcoming until they hear she will be working for the Duchon family. Then they become guarded and cold; often warning her against working for them. The family can’t be that bad, can they?????
Upon arrival she learns she has been brought there under false pretenses, and that their ulterior motive is a dark one. They have been cursed and believe that she is the only person who can break the curse. Talk about pressure!
This book is full of secrets, spirits, lies, deception, atmosphere, tension, dread, hope, and anger. This book had a very creepy vibe to it. I loved the setting and the unsettling something-isn’t-quite-right vibe which flowed throughout the book. Plus, Jemma can see spirits/haints in the home. She has been able to see spirits her entire life, but it is still unsettling and scary for her.
The characters range from the likeable supporting characters of Dennis and Magdalene to the many unlikeable main characters in the Duchon family. There were also a few characters which I felt sorry for while reading. Imagine being stuck with the same people day after day, week after week, year after year -UGH!
I thought the author did a tremendous job of showing colorism and how the Duchon family, who were light enough to pass as white, looked down on anyone, including Jemma, who had darker skin. Plus, the amount of family secrets this family had was enough to make my head spin. The unraveling of those secrets made for interesting and captivating reading!
This book played out like a movie in my mind. As I mentioned this was a very atmospheric gothic southern tale that was equal parts chilling and tense. There were a few twists and revelations along the way which kept me fully invested in the plot and turning the pages.
Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House | Michael Joseph and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
