Alright, my gaggle of literary vultures, grab your spoons because A House with Good Bones is dishing out another heaping plate of Southern gothic strangeness, with a generous side of family dysfunction. This is the second helping of T. Kingfisher I’ve devoured, and once again, she’s spicing things up with her signature dark humor, this time through a distinctly gothic lens. Expect creepy gardens, unnerving vultures, and a mom who’s gotten way too attached to her floral wallpaper.

Overall Rating: 3.6

Storyline: 3.5
Writing Style: 3.7
Atmosphere: 3.5

Synopsis

Picture this: You return to your childhood home for a little R&R, and everything looks just fine—except your mom is suddenly acting like a Stepford Wife, the garden looks like it’s been dug up by something that’s not exactly human, and there’s an unsettling amount of vultures hanging around. That’s where we find Sam Montgomery, our witty, relatable protagonist, who’s trying to figure out what the hell happened to her once-normal mother. With a mystery that digs up long-buried family secrets (along with, well, something else), this is a ghost story wrapped in between lots of quirky inner dialogue.

Why You Should Read It

Sam is the kind of protagonist you’d want by your side during a horror movie marathon—or better yet, during a haunted house tour. Why? Because she’s the one constantly clinging to Reason and Logic, even when things are going sideways faster than you can say “roses.” She’s the ultimate skeptic, insisting on rational explanations while the universe throws all the supernatural nonsense at her. Kingfisher nails this balance of humor and horror, with Sam’s deadpan reactions keeping things grounded (and humorous), even as the creep factor cranks up. Who needs jumpscares when you’ve got a protagonist who’s ready to debate the plausibility of haunted garden gnomes?

The atmosphere is thick with gothic unease—kind of like walking through one of those old Southern homes that smell like mildew and old secrets. You just know something’s hiding behind the walls. And the vultures? They’re not just there for decoration. They seem to know more than they’re letting on, which, you know, is terrifying.

Where It Stumbles

Overall, the read feels quick, especially because you can blaze through Sam’s inner dialogue, which is half the fun. Sam’s logical, often sarcastic thoughts keep the pace moving, even when not much is happening plot-wise. Sure, the pacing might feel slow at first—like you’re waiting for the horror to really kick in while Sam marvels at how her mom has gone full-on 1950s housewife. But once the cracks in the house—and reality—start to show, you’ll be racing through the final pages before you even realize it.

Final Verdict

At the end of the day, A House with Good Bones is exactly what I hoped for from Kingfisher: a blend of eerie vibes with characters that feel real and hilariously out of their depth. Sam’s a skeptic through and through, and watching her try to Reason and Logic her way through all the weirdness made the whole thing enjoyable. Sure, the pacing simmers a bit at first, but once those weird encounters start bubbling up, the story hits a full boil and doesn’t let up.

If you’re into quirky horror with a gothic twist, and you like your ghost stories with a generous side of sarcastic banter, then this one’s definitely worth a read.

Until next time, keep your house skeleton-free and your vultures…well, just keep an eye on them.