THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE is a gothic horror set in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution exploring what happened to the remains of the overthrown families, full of ghosts and secrets.

Like Olesya's debut, this novel is a speculative historical novel - though instead of fantasy in the mix, this time it's gothic horror. A lot of research has clearly gone into recreating the Moscow (and Russia) three years after the end of the First World War and four years after the revolution. I love books where it's clear a lot of attention has been paid to the details, helping to bring the world to life.

This Moscow is bitter and fractured and there are clear losers (and it's harder to work out who the true winners are.) The former aristocracy are barely clinging on, forced into abject poverty and struggling to survive - as are so many others. And there are, naturally, brutes who are lording their power over others, as so often happens in crises. It was so interesting to see the American relief mission, a part of history rarely spoken about (and unimaginable two decades later).

I really liked the setting, this decaying house that's echoing and empty, full of reminders of what was. It's a gothic trope for a reason, and it's used to full effect here. It's creepy and sinister, a twisted version of home. This book incorporates the creepier side of Russian folklore than THE WITCH AND THE TSAR, with dark magic and spirits of the dead. There's a slow, creeping menace throughout the book that ramps up toward the big finale.

Hands down one of the most hauntingly brilliant reads of the year. Based on real people and places this tale set in WWI really hit me hard. I haven’t read many books based in Russia and this author has really opened my eyes to historical fact and also a country rich in myths and folklore. Lili and Irina will stay with me for a very long time and Moscow House was also a character in itself, inhabited by ghosts from the past. A truly wonderful read, I can’t wait to hear more from this author.

This book was a really struggle for me which is a huge shame because I thought I'd enjoy it- maybe if I'd been more invested in the main characters and the idea of the Romanovs I'd have enjoyed it more.

Thank you to the publisher for the earc!

While historical books aren’t my usual pick, I did enjoy The Haunting of Moscow House. It was filled with secrets, love, betrayal, ghosts and history.

Loved the sisters, though it was clear that Lili was the younger. Even though she was 18, everyone treated her as a child, especially Irina. But she was smart and strong. They both had to be, for the sake of their remaining family.

Loved the romance for both sisters, but I did enjoy Nicky and Lili’s a bit more. I usually don’t like friends to lovers, but it was done so well here, I had absolutely no choice in the matter. Irina and Will’s story was also good, though theirs had a bit different dynamic, considering they didn’t know each other before.

In school I never really liked history, it was too dry and political for me. The only thing I wanted to know, how people lived in different eras, under different circumstances? For one lesson our textbook had a snippet from a diary, and let me tell you that was my favorite part ever. And I guess this is why I enjoyed this book. We studied about WW1, the Russian revolution, the way the Russian elite was eliminated, but still, we didn’t know anything about the people, how they lived, and how they managed to survive in a new world. This book showed it. Was it historically 100% accurate? Probably not, but it is fiction after all.

Would highly recommend if you’re looking for historical fiction with ghosts.

I loved the Witch and the Tsar and was really looking forward to this book but for me, it missed the mark.

I didn't really know what the book was trying to say and found myself struggling to keep my attention on the book. I also hoped for more of that dark whimsy and magic of the first book but this was lacking.

The Romanovs and Russian history was not an obsession of mine growing up, so maybe if you were more interested in that area of history you would prefer this.

Thanks: Received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

1.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advance reader copy.

The premise of this story was so interesting and what pushed me to request this book, especially the ghost element and the setting. Unfortunately there was a lot of exposition and weirdly the romance felt unnecessary within the story and not a lot put into the ghost story.

I found this to be a long read and skimmed through some parts due to the story not progressing.

Having really enjoyed The Witch and the Tsar, I jumped at the chance to reading this one. In my youth I loved anything to do with the Romanovs, that period of history - another reason why this book appealed. Set after the the fall of Imperial Russia, we nfollow Irina and Lili, two sisters who with other members of their family, have been confined to living in the attic of their home, Moscow House, by the Bolshevik group who have taken it over. As former members of the aristocracy - Lili remembers playing with Anastasia, the most famous daughter of Tsar Nicholas - they now find themselves barely able to feed themselves. Like all ‘former’ people, their family has been destroyed and their belongings ransacked. Luckier than most, they still have their home, even if it is just the attic. With the sisters are their grandparents, their aunt and two young cousins. The other males of the family have wither been killed or imprisoned. When the ARA (the American Relief Administration) offers the girls employment, they see it as a way to help their predicament. However, this is a novel with gothic, even horror vibes. Moscow House is haunted and the girls see their deceased relatives making reappearances. There are also murders within the house and their aunt, Marie, seems to be acting very strangely. There is an undercurrent of threat throughout - not just from the Bolsheviks but also the ‘ghosts’, even though they are family. Russian folklore also makes an appearance with the house spirit, the Domovoy, who has been awakened by their aunt and must now be appeased. There is so much in this novel, threat, horror which ramps up in the final 15/20%, ghosts, folklore, romance and sex, the secret that Irina has kept hidden and even a mad aunt. Historical fiction with gothic horror, I suppose I could catergorise it. For me though, I enjoyed parts but not all of it - I found it slow to start - but if you like gothic horror - you’ll love it.

The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore. Again, we need to stop calling everything gothic horror just because something one time happens in the dark. Irina and Lili’s house gets taken over by the Bolsheviks and everyone is rather hungry. They end up working with some Americans and the house is haunted and at no point did I feel fear but it’s a book about Russians so yes I was sold.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - such a deep and powerful gothic historical story!


I absolutely did not know what to expect from this book and despite not being something I would usually choose to read I enjoyed it none the less.

Right from the start we are thrown into an action pact story with horror vibes and supernatural elements.

I absolutely loved the atmosphere and the gothic vibes and learning about Russian folklore however there were definitely parts that I was confused and unsure. But that is probably due to my lack of knowledge.

The world building was immersive and the writing style allowed for the story to flow well throughout!


Thank you so much to NetGalley and Olesya for this ARC copy 🖤🖤

The story is set in 1921 Moscow, in a stately mansion that was once the home of the aristocratic Goliteva sisters. The Bolsheviks have taken over the house, forcing the sisters and their remaining family members into the attic.

The sisters, Irina and Lili, must uncover their family's secrets and confront the house's dangerous past. 

I really enjoyed the time period and the setting of the old mansion and all Russian history, it was interesting. And there were some great spooky moments in the beginning of the book.

I wish there would have been more focus on the house, the creepy goings-on, and the haunting as opposed to the romance between certain characters, I just felt like the romance didn't really need to be there, for me, and I struggled to connect with them characters.

The pacing was very slow at times, and felt overcomplicated and drawn out in certain places. I would have like to have more of the horror aspect.

I really enjoy historical fiction with supernatural elements, but unfortunately the very formal writing style, the present tense third person and the jumping between both sisters and present and past time periods (via constant recollections) made it hard for me to get into the story. I never found a natural flow with it, or an element that hooked me emotionally because my brain was solely focused on processing everything. It was just something I couldn't get past. This happens for me sometimes, and might not be an issue at all for some/most readers.

It had an interesting main plot and setting/time period but I think there were one or two many elements in play. If there was only one protagonist and therefore one romance, and it was in first person (even if the dreaded present tense was still there), I would have been able to connect more to that one character. There also would have been more time to spend following that one character at the ARA and at Moscow House investigating the ghostly mystery, and I would have felt more invested.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

What do you do when the spirits of your ancestral home wake up and try to tell you what they went through? This gothic novel, set in Russia in 1921, a turbulent time, tells the story of Irina and Lili Goliteva, two sisters who used to be part of the aristocracy.

The Bolsheviks have taken over their home in Moscow after some of their family members have been murdered before. The rest of the family members are forced to live in attic, while the soldiers live in the rest of the house. But then both Irina and Lili start to experience the presence of ghosts and people start to get killed.

The sisters combine their new jobs at the American Relief Administration, an organisation that wants to help diminish the famine in Russia with their quest for the truth.

I enjoyed this book very much. It paints a good portrait of life in revolutionary Russia: living in a delapidated house, the challenges of famine (do we take this job that may jeopardise our position in society even more?), coming to terms with a lesser social status, superstition, fear of the new powers that be as well as the supernatural.

I love how the sisters complement each other. Irina, the practical one, who turns out to have a big secret and Lili, the dreamer and how this shifts during the novel at times. Irina was my favourite character. She looks straightforward to her family a the rest of the world but carries this big secret that makes the choices she faces much more consequential than most people think.

Unlike classic Russian novels, this book is an easy read. Yet I love how the writer kept the patronyms and the titles, so she kept it quite Russian. You have to love a bit of fantasy though. The women discover what really happend through the ghosts, so that's probably not for everyone. But if you love the supernatural, you will enjoy this one!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Fiction for this ARC.

I really liked the setting and the atmosphere of the book, but the story was drawn out and the characters were annoying. There was a lot going on and I got pretty confused and bored at times. I had a really hard time pushing through the last third of the book.

Haunting of Moscow House is an intriguing story taking place in post revolutionary Russia, with strong undertones of gothic horror and supernatural mysteries. It was an enjoyable read, but ultimately fell a little short of my expectations and left me wanting a little more from its characters and setting.

I really liked the Russian setting and the sense of atmosphere created in the novel, particularly in the house itself. Combined with the book’s pacing which steadily increased throughout, there was a real sense of tension created, aided in no small part by the increasingly unhinged actions of their Aunt!. I also really liked the occasional nods to Russian folklore, and would have loved this to play an even bigger role in the story.

Some of the book’s drawbacks personally are in the characters, who I felt didn’t have a lot of emotional depth to them. Characters were quick to make questionable decisions that I felt were more in aid of the story rather than a genuine action one would take. I also felt the characters were living in a bit of a closed loop with little interaction with any of the wider community - this might well have been intentional, though I feel the odd extra interaction would help use the post-revolutionary setting a little better.

2.5

I truly struggled with this book and I'm sorry to admit that I skim read quite a lot of the last twenty percent. For me it was overly complicated and drawn out.

The story revolves around Moscow House where sisters Irina and Lili are trying hard to keep body and soul together following the revolution. They are confined, with their aunt and quite a few other "former people" to the attic while the bolsheviks have the rest of their crumbling home.

What follows from this is a convoluted tale about people being brought back from the dead, several love stories, the sisters trying to save their remaining family and home, everyone trying to survive, house imps, some Americans and lots of family secrets.

You can see why I got confused. Add to this the Russian names (3 each not including diminutions and nicknames - used in varying ways throughout), lots of incidental characters and an awful lot of procrastination- some of which takes place while their lives are at stake. I think it was the circuitous nature of the narrative that really got me down. It just went on and on.

To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I'd really loved the same author's "The Witch and The Tsar" last year. But this book fell far short of my expectations. I am fascinated by Russian history and since it's nearly Halloween I thought this would be a great book to read but I trudged through it at a snail's pace.

I'd still read another book by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore because I think she is a good writer. This just needed some serious cuts and clarification.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Harper Fiction for the advance review copy.

Oh, this was so good.

Set in the years following the fall of Imperial Russia, the development of the Soviet Union, and the shifts in social structure that ensued, THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE is a beautifully creepy and deeply moving Gothic, set in a historical period I find fascinating. It's a novel full of both literal and figurative hauntings: both Irina and Lili are traumatised by Bolshevik violence that tore their family apart, while their sinister aunt Marie acts as a ghost of the dead Imperial way of life, and clings to memories of grandeur and her dead son. The term 'Gothic' gets thrown around a lot in marketing, but THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE fundamentally places itself within the expectations of the genre, as the Golitevas are crushed beneath the weight of a history which they can no longer manage the upkeep of - ghosts of Imperial Russia, alongside much older Russian folklore, makes itself at home in Moscow House. The best Gothic fiction is the type that is unafraid to make the setting a character in and of itself, and Moscow House - crumbling and full of memories - is slowly becoming a tomb around the family.

Family relationships - of both the Golitevas and their fellow 'former people' - are complex and intense, and so the use of patronymics and titles make it a distinctly Russian novel that's unafraid to incorporate these details to anchor it both culturally and temporally. Sisters Irina and Lili, 'former people' and fallen aristocrats have an excellent sisterly relationship, accentuated by their changes in fortune and their difference in age - as noted in Salnikova Gilmore's author's note at the end (how I love an author's note with cultural details!), they also act as a great depiction of how it fell to women of formerly aristocratic families to provide following the revolution, in which many of the men - for instance, the sisters' father and their Uncle Pasha, adored by Lili - were either killed or arrested.

THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE is a novel packed with ghosts, which are made genuinely terrifying as the haunting increases in intensity over the course of the novel: Salnikova Gilmore enmeshes residual and independent hauntings in such a way that becomes very creepy in their manifestation, and again accentuates just how heavy with history Moscow House is. Of course, the human elements are just as, if not more terrifying. Moscow House is adopted as a base by a group of Bolshevik soldiers - who terrorise the vulnerable women, children and elderly that remain of the Golitevas, forcing them to reside in the attic of the house - and the Cheka, the Soviet secret police, are a lurking menace for Lili and Irina throughout the entire novel. Even without the supernatural element, its tension is consistent. Even the slower pace doesn't let down this constant foreboding, allowing the reader to really settle themselves into 1921 Moscow. Alongside raising tension in gradual, skilful narrative steps, it also allows the reader to grow attached to both the Golitevas and Moscow House, not to mention to really understand the nature of the residual hauntings (tip to paranormal writers - it's not a residual haunting if you only dedicate a single occurrence of page-time to it happening). It's genuinely very sad as a reader to see Moscow House, a beloved family home, rot away - both supernaturally and literally given the fall of Imperial Russia - and even the novel's twist villain, and the cause of the violent hauntings, demands their own sympathy from the reader as their motives are slowly unwoven.

THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE, alongside being one of my favourite Gothic reads of this year, is a fundamentally excellent narrative about grief, not just of family members and friends (alongside her beloved Uncle Pasha, Lili makes reference to her playmate Anastasia, instantly recognisable as Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, and likely the most famous of his children following the rumours she had survived her execution in Ekaterinburg with the rest of the Imperial family - she did not), but of a way of life. Times of change and upheaval make for excellent settings for Gothic horror (look no further than Rosie Andrews' THE LEVIATHAN, set during the English Civil War), and as a period of upheaval and systemic terror, Salnikova Gilmore uses it to full extent in order to produce a novel which intertwines its scares with its heart. Its greatest accolade, even aside from its temporal rendering and genuinely scary supernatural scenes, is its ability to make its readers deeply, personally care.

Thank you to HarperVoyager for an eArc in exchange for an honest review. THE HAUNTING OF MOSCOW HOUSE was released in the UK on the 12th of September, so remember to support your brick-and-mortar bookshops, especially indies!

I thoroughly enjoyed this spooky, horror tale!
An aristocrat family are trying to survive in war torn Russia. in the early 1900’s. We see how the girls Lilli and Irina have to go out and scavenge for food day after day. They happen upon some American soldiers who tell them that they are looking to employ bilingual people to help them translate their conversations with Russian people who they come across to give out food to, to help with the war famine. Their home is then taken over by Russian soldiers and they are banished to their attic. They find that their auntie is behaving very strangely, and then they think there’s a presence in their house. Things go awry from there, but you will be so entranced by the story that you won’t be able to put the book down!!! It’s 5 stars from me!!
Many thanks to Harper Collins for the opportunity to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #HarperCollins, -#OlesyaAuthor.

What a fascinating book, particularly as is is set over the Russian Revolution and describes how things really do fall apart when you try to make everyone "equal" - ha ha!

The main story is mostly excellent, although I was a little challenged by the relatively quiet portrayal of the Americans and way they interfaced with the Russians they employed and the State. The other thing that challenged me was the use of expletives, not a large number but they did grate and I felt they added nothing to the narrative.

The ghosts and ghosties of the Russian family interfaced rather well and they made the story gallop to its rather fitting ending, when the almost became people of substance. You will need to read the book to discover the what and the how of that last sentence.

I suggest you pop it on your Christmas List.

As other reviewers have said, where the author's previous title was more folk history based, this is more of a gothic horror, but still with the same Russian historical basis. I was really intrigued to learn about the fates of the Russian aristocracy after the revolution and this set me to do more research in to the subject. I did not initially realise that many of the characters mentioned were real people, but thought this to be a nice twist.
I am not usually a fan of the horror genre, so this element was probably second to the overall setting for me, although I felt that it was done very well. The descriptions of of the people and the interactions with the ghostly family were rich and atmospheric; the reader is easily able to immerse themselves in the story.
Overall, a great title for reading at Samhain/Halloween and into the winter beyond.

Stepping into "The Haunting of Moscow House" felt like entering a shadowy realm where history clings to the walls, whispering secrets of a bygone era. Olesya Salnikova Gilmore has woven a gothic tale that not only captivates but also immerses the reader in the tumultuous backdrop of post-revolutionary Russia.
Set in the summer of 1921, the story follows the strained lives of sisters Irina and Lili Goliteva, former aristocrats who are now relegated to living in the cramped attic of their ancestral home, overtaken by Bolshevik officials. As they navigate their new reality, I could feel the weight of their dislocation—the decay of their once-grand home mirroring the loss of their societal status. The sisters' predicament is both haunting and relatable, their struggles against starvation and the threat of violence a stark reminder of the harshness of their world.
Gilmore's prose is elegant and evocative, expertly combining elements of gothic horror with historical detail. The crumbling mansion pulsates with its own life, serving as a character filled with memories and ghosts from the past. I found myself captivated by the way the house both sheltered and imprisoned Irina and Lili, trapping them in their family's traumatic history.
However, while I was drawn in by the setting and premise, I must admit that I struggled to connect with the story at times. The pacing felt uneven, and certain elements—particularly the inclusion of their uncle’s diaries—didn't resonate with me as much as I had hoped they would. I found myself itching for the plot to pick up speed, as the supernatural elements began to unfold. When ghosts of the Goliteva family started appearing, I was eager for some spine-chilling encounters; unfortunately, the buildup didn't deliver the impactful thrill I anticipated. Though the gothic atmosphere was richly detailed, I felt that the narrative meandered and I occasionally lost track of the urgency the plot promised.
What truly shone throughout the novel was the relationship between Irina and Lili. Their contrasting personalities—Irina’s practicality and Lili’s artistic spirit—created a compelling dynamic that resonated with me. Watching them navigate the trials of their crumbling lives, I was invested in their struggles to find happiness amidst the chaos. It’s this element that brought a sense of warmth to the otherwise chilling atmosphere, and I found myself rooting for their resilience and growth.
I appreciated how Gilmore tackled the theme of memory, both personal and collective, and how history continuously haunts the present. The political and social upheaval of the time adds a layer of poignancy to the sisters' struggle for identity and belonging. In many ways, their story feels deeply relevant, resonating with the complexities of navigating one's past while trying to forge a new future.
While I didn't find the storyline as gripping as I had hoped, the exquisite writing and richly developed characters propelled me through to the end. "The Haunting of Moscow House" undeniably paints a vivid picture of a tumultuous period in history, and it serves as a testament to the indomitable spirit of its characters. For readers who appreciate a slow-burn gothic tale steeped in historical detail, this novel will surely deliver.
In conclusion, while I had hoped for a more intense and engaging exploration of the supernatural, the atmosphere and character development held my interest. Gilmore has created a poignant narrative that unearths the complexities of family, history, and survival, making it a worthwhile read for fans of the genre. I may not have been entirely satisfied with the pacing and some elements of the plot, but I do not doubt that "The Haunting of Moscow House" will resonate with many others.