Haunting and atmospheric, Megan Shepherd expertly blends horror and suspense in her captivating book-within-a-book adult debut. Beautifully written and steeped in Gothic lore, Malice House explores themes of family and legacy, magic and curses, and the mysterious power of stories.”
—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger
"Gripping, chilling, creepy, and enthralling, Megan Shepherd's new thriller Malice House channels Shirley Jackson, if Shirley Jackson knew how to make me check under the bed every night before going to sleep. Malice House is a must for readers who love gothic horror, creaking old houses, attics overflowing with dark secrets, or for anyone who has ever secretly suspected that there is an entire other universe hovering just out of reach."
—Katherine Howe, New York Times bestselling author of Conversion and The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
“This book, like Malice House itself, contains many secrets, and you will read it voraciously to try to find and consume them all. May it compel you as swiftly as it compelled me."
—Chuck Wendig, NYT bestselling author of Wanderers and the Star Wars: The Aftermath trilogy
“In her adult debut, Shepherd (Midnight Beauties) conjures up a twisted tale—made up of even more twisted tales—perfect for adults nostalgic for Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark.”
—Library Journal
“All is not what it seems at Malice House, and Shepherd uses the conventions of a gothic haunted-house tale to keep readers on the edge of their seats. In her adult debut, bestselling young adult author Shepherd has written an intensely spooky and scary tale about the power of stories and the art of creation. Highly recommended."
—Booklist (starred)
"Each word of this novel felt like a blade down the spine, chilling and haunting and perfectly crafted. Megan Shepherd weaves a story like no one else, and Malice House is no exception."
—Shea Ernshaw, New York Timesbestselling author of A History of Wild Places
"Shepherd's deft adult debut is a propulsively charming nightmare, pooling like spilled ink across your imagination. Count me a happy resident of Malice House amidst all its monsters."
—Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author of Hide
“Utterly original and exquisitely terrifying, Malice House unfolds like a carefully crafted mystery. Every twist and reveal drew me deeper into its walls and the monsters within refused to let me go. Like a bone-chilling Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children for grown-ups.”
—Elle Cosimano, USA Today bestselling author of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It
“Turn on all the lights before you start Malice House, and plan to stay up late. Megan Shepherd's novel is a sophisticated, gothic tale that will keep readers turning the pages and guessing what's next until the very end.”
—Gwenda Bond, New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds
“Beyond phenomenal! This book scratched an itch I’ve had since reading Night Film years ago. I adored every second! Malice, and all its denizens, are going to linger with me for a very, very long time to come!”
—Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows
“Megan Shepherd crafts a seriously tight mystery with plenty of red herrings, shocking twists and even a few jump scares, making it a chilling thriller with a totally immersive setting. At the same time, it is a deliciously dark fantasy that is a true testament to the power of stories and perfect for any book lover who has ever wanted to step inside a book or has been obsessed with a favorite author (bad idea, says Haven). Haunting, full of secrets and strangely charming, Malice House is perfect for readers of Leigh Bardugo, Shea Ernshaw and Katherine Howe.”
—Bookreporter
08/01/2022
DEBUT In her adult debut, Shepherd (Midnight Beauties) conjures up a twisted tale—made up of even more twisted tales—perfect for adults nostalgic for Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark. When Haven returns home to settle the estate of her late father, a Pulitzer Prize—winning author, she stumbles upon his unpublished manuscript Bedtime Stories for Monsters. Hoping to finally kick-start her career as an artist, Haven begins to illustrate the creatures from the secret manuscript and negotiate book deals. Then she witnesses things she can't explain: real-life manifestations of the imaginary creatures from her father's stories, which perfectly resemble her renditions. But who manifested them? Haven, her father, or something much darker? When bodies begin to pile up, and Haven and the manuscript are the only things that all the deaths have in common, she begins to question her father's dementia and her own sanity. VERDICT Readers will love the mystery, mayhem, and terrifying look at make-believe, and the monsters that are dreamed into existence in the process. Recommend to fans of Darcy Coates's The Haunting of Leigh Harker and EV Knight's Children of Demeter.—Alana Quarles
