Part supernatural and part family drama, Christina Henry’s The House That Horror Built is a mixed bag for readers.
I have previously been impressed with Henry’s sequel to the Sleepy Hollow story, but this is a completely original piece.
We follow avid horror fan Harry, who takes the job of cleaning the home of renowned horror director Javier. Despite the partial dream job, things turn sour when she starts to hear noises behind a locked door.
On one hand, Harry’s story, alongside her son Gabe and their struggles, makes for a compelling part of this story. On the flip side, the supernatural part of the narrative feels quite bungled and doesn’t hit the mark.
Henry spends so much time building up Harry’s story, that the horror actually gets left behind before a rushed ending that feels wholly unsatisfactory.
Sadly, The House That Horror Built promises a lot but doesn’t quite deliver the scares and chills needed to make it a must-read.
The House That Horror Built by Christina Henry is available in various formats now from Titan Books.
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