I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I looooove a good haunting/ghost story, especially when they color outside the lines. I’ve read so many of these types of novels that I can be hard to impress, but that was not the case with Josh Malerman’s “Incidents Around the House.” In this book, readers are taken on a chilling journey through the lens of eight-year-old Bela, whose new friend, “Other Mommy,” is not at all the safe imaginary friend the adults in her life think she might be. From the very first page, Malerman’s creative storytelling immediately pulls you into the dark and twisted world of Bela’s sweet on the surface but dysfunctional at the core family, and it’s not long before the lines between reality and nightmare begin to blur.

As with most children, Bela’s family is everything to her. On the surface, everything seems great for the most part, even though Mommy and “Daddo” occasionally disagree, and sometimes Mommy comes home smelling like other people. Bela is very observant, and though her parent’s behavior sometimes confuses her, she relishes the fun times when they’re all together as a family, laughing, cuddling, and playing games.

When “Other Mommy” opens Bela’s closet door one night and says “Hello,” it frightens Bela, but the more Other Mommy comes around, the more Bela begins to warm up to her. But then Other Mommy asks Bela a haunting question: “Can I go inside your heart?” This question sets the tone for the rest of the novel, and as the incidents around the house escalate, Bela realizes that saying no to Other Mommy may come at a terrible cost. Malerman expertly weaves a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, wondering whether Other Mommy can be stopped and, if not, who will ultimately pay the price for Bela’s decision.

One of the most striking aspects of this novel is Malerman’s ability to capture the innocence and vulnerability of a child while simultaneously exploring themes of family, love, and sacrifice. Typically, when we read novels about hauntings or possessions, we see them through an adult lens. There was something very unsettling reading about it through the innocent perspective of a child. Bela is at the age where she is bordering on the wonder of early childhood and that time when we start to become a little more perceptive and notice subtle differences – especially in the way adults behave. She’s starting to pick up on things that don’t seem right between her parents and trying to reconcile that with how she used to see the world. When Other Mommy first appears, it’s scary, but Other Mommy seems friendly enough and offers Bela a sense of comfort. Still, Bela feels that something isn’t quite right, but she can’t fully comprehend the horror about to unfold within her home.

Malerman’s creative approach keeps the plot engaging. The palpable tension and suspense create a sense of unease that lingers long after the final chapter. Several scenes had my skin crawling (hello toilet scene!), but about 2/3 of the way into the novel, it all started to feel repetitive and stalled out a bit. I felt like I’d already experienced several scenes and craved some forward movement. I was also a little annoyed with the author’s stylistic choices (no quotation marks and no paragraph breaks when the adults would speak for extended lengths of time.) I realize he was trying to frame it like a kid might frame a story, but it didn’t quite land for me. Still, it wasn’t enough to completely ruin my overall enjoyment.

This is a chilling, unforgettable novel that will leave your mind spinning. I’ll be thinking about it for a while. If you’re a fan of unconventional horror narratives that push boundaries, this book needs to be on your radar. Leave a light on while reading and prepare to be terrified and ultimately moved by this tale of a family that is haunted in more ways than one.