Maggie Holt is shocked to learn she’s inherited Baneberry Hall, the Victorian mansion in Vermont that her family fled 25 years earlier. The 20 days they lived at Baneberry Hall were chronicled in a bestselling book, House of Horrors, written by Maggie’s father. Although Maggie has no memory of that time, she’s spent her life being asked by fans, critics, and journalists if the house really is haunted. Her parents have never given her a straight answer, so Maggie decides to go to Baneberry Hall and find out for herself. Although she starts out a skeptic, she finds her stay plagued by strange events similar to the ones in her father’s book. Could Baneberry Hall really be haunted? If so, is she in danger?
This was the third book I’ve read by Riley Sager and it was not what I expected. The other books were psychological thrillers and this felt more like horror. Until the big reveal at the end, I spent the whole time wondering if someone was messing with Maggie or if there really were ghosts. I’m not going to tell which it is, but I will say the author deserves kudos for pulling it off. This is also a genuinely scary book in a slow burn sort of way. I was fine while reading it, but when I would go to bed at night I’d remember certain scenes and be a little freaked out. My only complaint isn’t really a complaint about the book at all. The more the tension built, the more impatient I became to know the truth. I couldn’t finish the book fast enough. That’s a sign of a really great book.