HORROR

Gothictown

by Emily Carpenter
Kensington. Mar. 2025. 368p. ISBN 9781496750549. $28. HORROR
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In her latest novel, influenced by Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” Carpenter (Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters) creates a Southern gothic tale for horror-curious readers. Billie Hope is looking for something to lift her out of her malaise. The pandemic forced her popular New York City restaurant to close, and her mother left New Jersey for a small religious community. When an email offers a home for $100 in Juliana, GA, along with a grant to start a small business, the opportunity seems too good to be true. But soon Billie, her husband Peter, and their daughter move to the charming small town of Juliana. Disturbing dreams and the discovery of the grim history of “Gentle Juliana” and its founding families cause Billie and her family to wonder what the cost of their new life will be.
VERDICT Those who prefer a slow-burn story with an increasing sense of unease will enjoy this book, and fans of suspense novels with a small-town setting could find this a perfect way to try some gothic horror. Read-alikes include The Invited by Jennifer McMahon and The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons.
Reviewed by Lila Denning , Feb 14, 2025
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