How to Sell a Haunted House

Last updated
How to Sell a Haunted House
How to Sell a Haunted House (book).jpg
Author Grady Hendrix
Audio read byJay Aaseng
Mikhaila Aaseng
LanguageEnglish
GenreHorror
Published2023
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint, ebook, audiobook
ISBN 0593201264 First edition US hardback
Preceded by The Final Girl Support Group  

How to Sell a Haunted House is a 2023 horror novel by American author Grady Hendrix. The book was first published on January 17, 2023.

Contents

Synopsis

The publisher's book synopsis reads: [1]

Louise’s parents have passed away, and she’s returning to the small Southern town where she grew up to get their house ready to sell. It means she’ll have to spend time with her younger brother—and their old grudges make that a terrifying prospect. But childhood hurts pale in comparison to the dangers posed by what still lives inside the house.

Development

Hendrix began writing the novel during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, "whether it's around a campfire, at a sleepover, or alone by ourselves on the couch, there's nothing more comforting than a haunted house story." He chose to center the story around family due to the impact family has on everyone's lives. Hendrix set the story in his hometown, which he had used for his novels My Best Friend's Exorcism and The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, noting that this would be the last novel to use this setting. [2] [3]

Release

How to Sell a Haunted House was published in hardback and ebook formats on January 17, 2023 through Berkley Books. [4] [5] An audiobook adaptation narrated by Jay and Mikhaila Aaseng was released simultaneously through Penguin Audio. [6]

Reception

Critical reception for the book has been positive. [7] In a review for The New York Times , Danielle Trussoni states that "by weaving violence, family trauma and humor, Hendrix creates a texture that engages the reader emotionally and viscerally." [8] Lee Mandelo of Tor.com noted that, "The novel reminded me of the frenetic, compulsive energy that propelled me through pulp horror paperbacks as a kid, except cleverly updated for a contemporary adult audience." [9] NPR called it "campy, unexpectedly deep — and as creepy as the dead eyes of a puppet at midnight in a gloomy room — How to Sell a Haunted House is a tense, dark novel." [10]

Adaptation

In 2023, Legendary Entertainment won the rights to a film adaptation directed by James Ashcroft and adapted by Hendrix. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berkley Books</span> Publishing imprint of Penguin Group (USA)

Berkley Books is now an imprint of the Penguin Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Trussoni</span> American novelist

Danielle Anne Trussoni is a New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times Top 10 bestselling novelist. She has been a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction jurist, and wrote the "Dark Matters" column for the New York Times Book Review for five years, from 2018-2023. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, where she was a Maytag Fellow. Her novels have been translated into 33 languages.

Christopher Buehlman is an American novelist, comedian, playwright, and poet from St. Petersburg, Florida.

Alan Peter Ryan was an American author and editor, known for his work in the horror genre in the 1980s.

<i>Horrorstör</i> 2014 horror comedy novel by Grady Hendrix

Horrorstör is a 2014 horror comedy novel that was written by Grady Hendrix and illustrated by Michael Rogalski. The novel was released in paperback on September 23, 2014 through Quirk Books and is set in ORSK, an IKEA-esque store that has been experiencing supernatural phenomena. The audiobook release was narrated by Tai Sammons and Bronson Pinchot. The book's events take place largely over the course of one night in ORSK and the story is accompanied by illustrations of ORSK products, which grow more sinister as the book progresses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grady Hendrix</span> American author and journalist

Grady Hendrix is an American author, journalist, public speaker, and screenwriter known for his best-selling 2014 novel Horrorstör. Hendrix lives in Manhattan and was one of the founders of the New York Asian Film Festival.

<i>Paperbacks from Hell</i>

Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of ‘70s and ‘80s Horror Fiction is a 2017 non-fiction book by American writer Grady Hendrix. It was first published by Quirk Books on September 19, 2017 in print and ebook. An audiobook release by Blackstone Audio followed on January 9, 2018.

<i>We Sold Our Souls</i> 2018 novel by Grady Hendrix

We Sold Our Souls is a 2018 horror novel by American writer Grady Hendrix. It was first published in the United States in print, ebook, and audiobook formats by Quirk Books on September 18, 2018. The novel centers upon a metal guitarist who discovers that her soul was sold by a former bandmate in order to achieve success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suyi Davies Okungbowa</span> Nigerian author

Suyi Davies Okungbowa is a Nigerian fantasy, science fiction and speculative writer and academic. He is the author of various novels, including The Nameless Republic epic fantasy trilogy, beginning with Son of the Storm. His debut was the godpunk fantasy novel, David Mogo, Godhunter. He has also written works for younger readers under the author name Suyi Davies, including Minecraft: The Haven Trials. His work is heavily influenced by the histories and cultures of West Africa and Nigeria, and discusses themes of identity, challenging difference and finding home. WIRED referred to him as "one of the most promising new voices coterie of African SFF writers." He is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Ottawa.

<i>This Is How You Lose the Time War</i> 2019 novel by Amal el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

This Is How You Lose the Time War is a 2019 science fiction fantasy LGBT epistolary novel by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. It was first published by Simon & Schuster. It won the BSFA Award for Best Shorter Fiction, the Nebula Award for Best Novella of 2019, and the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Novella.

<i>Gideon the Ninth</i> 2019 science fantasy novel by Tamsyn Muir

Gideon the Ninth is a 2019 science fantasy novel by the New Zealand writer Tamsyn Muir. It is Muir's debut novel and the first in her The Locked Tomb series, followed by Harrow the Ninth (2020), Nona the Ninth (2022), and the upcoming Alecto the Ninth.

This article contains information about the literary events and publications of 2020.

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a 2020 horror novel by American author Grady Hendrix. It was first published on April 7, 2020 through Quirk Books and centers upon a women's book club that faces a vampiric threat.

<i>Mexican Gothic</i> 2020 novel by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Mexican Gothic is a 2020 gothic horror novel by Mexican Canadian author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It centers on a young woman investigating her cousin's claims that her husband is trying to murder her.

<i>The Final Girl Support Group</i> 2021 horror novel by Grady Hendrix

The Final Girl Support Group is a horror-themed mystery novel by American writer Grady Hendrix, published July 13, 2021 by Berkley Books. A television series adaptation has been announced.

<i>We Are All Completely Fine</i> 2014 horror novel by Daryl Gregory

We Are All Completely Fine is a 2014 horror novel by Daryl Gregory. It was first published by Tachyon Publications. The book won the 2015 World Fantasy Award—Novella and the 2014 Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novella.

<i>House of Hunger</i> (Henderson novel) 2022 horror novel by Alexis Henderson

House of Hunger is a 2022 horror novel by Alexis Henderson. It is the author's second novel. The story is set in a world where nobles feed on the blood of their servants. The plot follows the life of Marion as she becomes a bloodmaid in the titular House of Hunger.

<i>We Set the Dark on Fire</i> 2019 young adult fantasy novel by Tehlor Kay Mejia

We Set the Dark on Fire is a 2019 young adult fantasy novel by Tehlor Kay Mejia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Henry</span> American author (born 1974)

Christina Henry is an American novelist working in the horror and dark fantasy genre. "Christina Henry" is a pseudonym of Tina Raffaele, based on her name (Tina), and the names of her husband (Chris) and son (Henry). Her Black Wings series, is a national bestseller. She has also produced her own retellings of classic children's tales, such as the three works in The Chronicles of Alice series, Lost Boy (2017) from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, and The Girl in Red (2019) based on Little Red Riding Hood.

References

  1. "See the Cover of Grady Hendrix's HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE". Nerdist. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  2. "How to Sell a Haunted House". Grady Hendrix. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  3. Ryan, Lindy (2023-01-22). "Interview: Grady Hendrix Tells Us "HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  4. Hendrix, Grady (17 January 2023). How to Sell a Haunted House. Berkley. ISBN   9780593201268.
  5. "Grady Hendrix Knows HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE". FANGORIA. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  6. "How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix: 9780593201268". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  7. "Book Marks reviews of How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix". Book Marks. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  8. Trussoni, Danielle (2023-01-18). "A Puppet That's Truly the Stuff of Nightmares". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  9. Mandelo, Lee (2023-01-23). "Book Review: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix". Tor.com. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  10. IGLESIAS, GABINO (January 20, 2023). "'How to Sell a Haunted House' is campy and tense, dark but also deep". NPR.
  11. Donnelly, Matt (April 26, 2023). "Legendary Wins Film Rights to Grady Hendrix Bestseller How to Sell a Haunted House (Exclusive)". Variety . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.