A review by incipientdreamer
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 3.5 - 4 stars

The problem with family is that they know where all the levers are that make you move. They’re usually the ones who installed the levers in the first place.

Part family drama, part dark comedy, mixed in with some snazzy vultures and suspicious rose bushes, A House With Good Bones is a fast-paced thriller archetypal of Kingfisher's style. I was pretty excited about this after I read the author's horror novella What Moves the Dead last year. I love how likeable and readable her main characters are, blended in with some dry humour that pairs beautifully with her style of horror, which is more weird fucked up fantasy. I appreciate the lack of slasher and gore that many horror authors add for the shock factor and clickbait. Very very cheap and lazy writing and it's mainly why I have enjoyed her work so much. I've read a bit of her middle-grade stuff and that is also pretty good and comfy.

A House With Good Bones was a quick and fun read, the mystery and thriller elements kept me riveted, and the characters were all pretty great as well, and I couldn't help speeding through this one. Slightly milder on the scary/spooky side, and I'm also sad the house wasn't a character like I was hoping/expecting it to be. It served more as a setting and plot device which is fine, but I guess I have been spoiled by the influx of "house books" over the last couple of years. My only complaint would be that this ended up being a bit predictable with how the mystery folded out, hence the mid-rating.

Will be keeping an eye out for T. Kingfisher's upcoming horror adult work.