Gothic and dripping with atmosphere and tension, This Cursed House delivered a chilling Southern gothic tale about a house, a curse and the Duchon family. I loved the vivid descriptions and the feeling of dread and emotion that this book evoked. The Duchon family have bene cursed and have not left their home for almost 28 years! Can you even imagine? The isolation, the boredom, the lack of outside stimulation, lack of socializing? Being stuck with the same people/family members day after day, week after week, year after year!

Jemma Barker has received a very generous job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans. Jemma jumps on it. She wants to leave her life in Chicago behind and start over. Upon arriving in New Orleans, Jemma notices people are welcoming until they hear she will be working for the Duchon family. Then they become guarded and cold; often warning her against working for them. The family can't be that bad, can they?????

Upon arrival she learns she has been brought there under false pretenses, and that their ulterior motive is a dark one. They have been cursed and believe that she is the only person who can break the curse. Talk about pressure!

This book is full of secrets, spirits, lies, deception, atmosphere, tension, dread, hope, and anger. This book had a very creepy vibe to it. I loved the setting and the unsettling something-isn't-quite-right vibe which flowed throughout the book. Plus, Jemma can see spirits/haints in the home. She has been able to see spirits her entire life, but it is still unsettling and scary for her.

The characters range from the likeable supporting characters of Dennis and Magdalene to the many unlikeable main characters in the Duchon family. There were also a few characters which I felt sorry for while reading. Imagine being stuck with the same people day after day, week after week, year after year -UGH!

I thought the author did a tremendous job of showing colorism and how the Duchon family, who were light enough to pass as white, looked down on anyone, including Jemma, who had darker skin. Plus, the amount of family secrets this family had was enough to make my head spin. The unraveling of those secrets made for interesting and captivating reading!

This book played out like a movie in my mind. As I mentioned this was a very atmospheric gothic southern tale that was equal parts chilling and tense. There were a few twists and revelations along the way which kept me fully invested in the plot and turning the pages.

"This Cursed House," is a compelling Southern Gothic horror novel that revolves around Jemma, the protagonist. Jemma is enticed by a lucrative job offer in New Orleans from a wealthy family. Jemma Initially thought she was hired as a tutor for their children, but soon discovers that there are no children in the household. So, the question is why has she been hired?

The book takes its time to build a gothic atmosphere, and although it took me a while to fully engage with the story, the creeping sense of unease and unexpected plot twists ultimately made for a satisfying read. However, I did find certain parts to be repetitive, and the book could have been more concise. Nonetheless, the ending was gratifying and neatly resolved the storyline.

Despite the unlikable nature of most characters, they are well-developed. Jemma stands out as a likeable character, and I believe the story could have been just as engaging with her as the sole focus.

Overall, "This Cursed House" constitutes an impressive debut novel, and I am eager to explore more of the author's work in the future.

I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for providing me with a digital review copy (eARC) of "This Cursed House." The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, and I have shared them willingly.

Initially, this didn't grab my attention, but it picked up later, and I enjoyed it. The story follows Jemma, a Black woman from Chicago who receives a job offer from a family in New Orleans during the early 1960s. As she travels to Louisiana, she encounters segregation and Jim Crow laws, which are central themes of the book.

The narrative also delves into the changing social landscape in the USA, with civil rights protests gaining momentum. The book explores the significance of ethnicity and skin colour, especially within the Black community, and depicts Jemma's feelings of belonging in Chicago compared to being an outsider in Louisiana.

Jemma's employers, the Duchon family, are portrayed as reclusive and peculiar. They claim to be "coloured," but their behaviour reveals their racism towards Black people. As Jemma learns more about the family and the haunted house they inhabit, she encounters the ghosts of the enslaved people buried on the property.

Overall, the book is a Southern gothic horror story that intricately explores complex themes such as internalised racism, colourism, and the enduring impact of slavery. The narrative drew me in as I found myself rooting for Jemma to escape the oppressive environment created by the Duchon family.

A poignant aspect of the book was how the characters who showed remorse and a willingness to change suffered while the more heinous ones did not. Despite their unlikeable behaviour, I felt sympathy for Laurence and Fosette, who have been trapped in the house since childhood due to a curse. I could understand how their circumstances shaped their personalities.

Massive thank you to Netgalley for the Digital ARC version of This Cursed House in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of "This Cursed House" in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delicious book if you look at it as a historical gothic novel and not a standard "boo" horror novel. I was strongly impressed by how well traditional gothic elements like familial taboos and crimes of the past were incorporated into the 1960s New Orleans setting (see: I'm a slut for any media at all set in Louisiana). We got all the gothic horror tropes but with twists unique to the time period as "This Cursed House" tackled hard themes like slavery, colorism, family ties, and forgiveness. I would have liked our main girlie Jemma to be, yunno, a little more intuitive and a little less trusting of these fake white people (see: the Duchon family who have summoned Jemma to their dilapidated plantation house to break a terrible curse on their bloodline). But other than that, "This Cursed House" was a beautiful, spooky, and very antiracist horror read and I'll definitely be looking out for Del Sandeen's future releases.

Del Sandeen's debut novel is a gripping supernatural story about family, forgiveness, and racism in 1960s New Orleans. The Duchons are cursed. Jemma, a young black lady from Chicago looking for a new life, is driven to unravel the mystery of the family curse to which she is also linked. With each turn of the page, I became more immersed in Jemma's quest, pulling for her to overcome the curse and live the life she badly wants.

When Jemma Baker receives an invitation from the Duchon family to work for them she jumps at the chance. Wanting to leave her old life behind in Chicago she travels to the decrepit New Orleans mansion. But all is not as it seems as the Duchon family have been under a curse for almost 30 years and have reason to believe that Jemma is the key to breaking it. As Jemma delves deep into the history of the Duchons she uncovers more and more disturbing secrets that tie her to the same fate as the family.

This was a brilliant debut novel. This was a twisty, gripping, southern gothic ghost story and I was hooked from the first page. This was full of twists, turns, secrets and so many shocks I never knew what was coming next and you could feel the feeling of dread creeping up the further into the story you go. The characters were written really well and I really felt like I was transported back in time while reading this. This was fantastic and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Del Sandeens work. Highly recommend.

This Southern Gothic novel set in the 1960s follows Jemma, a Black woman from Chicago, who was offered a job at a mysterious mansion in Louisiana. Hauntings and secrets of the weird family inhabiting the mansion follow. This book frustrated and engaged me in equal measure, and my tagline is that with a better editor and a writer more experienced at their craft it could have been something very special.

It was refreshing to see a novel examining white supremacy without any named white characters. The story centres a white passing Black family of former enslavers, and their reckoning with their past. Sandeen did a good job of creating a strong sense of place. Haunted house novels rely on atmosphere, especially of the house, but Sandeen primarily excelled at putting the house in its wider Louisiana/New Orleans context. The novel is more mysterious than chilling, I would not read this looking to get spooked. Although I ultimately found the plot unconvincing for reasons to be discussed below, it really kept my attention and I wanted to come back to it once I put the book down. The world of the rich very light skinned Black people of Louisiana mesmerised me, inspiring me to find out more about the social history at the heart of this novel.

My main issue is that so much about this novel - the characters, the themes and the main message of forgiveness and reckoning - fell flat. The reader is told, not shown, far too much. Much of character dialogue is plot dump exposition. Jemma's motivations for staying in the house, her desire to be accepted by the family, is again told to us, not shown, and it is told again, and again, and again. Her character does a 180, as the reader is told her backstory in the first 20% of the book or so, we feel that we are getting to know this woman. Then a bombshell revelation (which Jemma herself knew, it is new to the reader only) is made, which sets up her driving motivation for the next 250 pages. Why not use the narrative to set up that motivation, which ultimately drives the story and explains Jemma's behaviour? Her motivation does not change, deepen or get any multifaceted exploration throughout the story, staying flat the entire time. If that's the protagonist, you can imagine how much depth or exploration the secondary characters got. It is a shame, as the contextual set up for Laurence, Magdalene and Fossette was intriguing, and I wish we learned a bit more about their inner world.

Instead of discussing issues with nuance or providing layers, the author just repeats her main points page after page. Some of it got ridiculous. For example, the reader can figure out the main plot intrigue pretty easily. We are then told what it is through a letter found by the protagonist. Jemma explains the plot point she just discovered to her main ally. Jemma goes on to repeat the main points to the family. One of the characters, who was just told the plot, completely ignores that explanation, prompting Jemma to repeat the plot point again. At this point, the reader has experienced the plot point FIVE times, each explanation taking a good page or two.

This is a bit of a pet peeve, but I really dislike it when a character from a novel focused on two different time periods ends up feeling like our contemporary, rather than someone from the more modern, but STILL HISTORICAL period. Case in point - Claire from Outlander is meant to be a woman from the 1940s, and she always felt like a third wave feminist from the 1990s. Jemma's views are used as a point of contrast for the Duchon family, who are stuck in the past, but, despite some period-appropriate language, there is little to show that she is a woman from the 1960s, rather than a generic 'modern' or 'more modern' person.

More thorough editing would have helped the author to create a more robust structure and avoid the ubiquitous repetition. Setting up Jemma's motivation earlier, showing more and telling less would have really helped to flesh her out. The repetition got particularly bad in the last quarter or so, which prompts me to think that the editorial team ran out of time.

It is a shame, because quite a few things about this novel were promising, and ultimately it fails at the craft, not talent, level. Somewhere between a 2 and a 3 star read for me, rounded up to 3 due to a well-created sense of place, an interesting setting and some intriguing discussions of the social and political context of the story.

Just loved this one

Gothic
dark
deep south intrigue
a cursed plantation house
Lucious writing and atmosphere

Hell yeah!

Rich, atmospheric, dark, gothic, just utterly brilliant! This Cursed House is a wonderfully, dark and atmospheric tale set in New Orleans in the 1960s, in a time when the Jim Crow Laws were horribly prevalent, and this is a situation that runs throughout the novel. Our female main character is Jemma, a young Black woman from Chicago, who receives a mysterious job offer from a family in New Orleans. I love her strength and the power that she demonstrates, not in a magical sense, but rather as she recognises who she is and stands up for herself, despite the limits placed on her by society.
The family, Duchons, have a lot of secrets and these are slowly revealed throughout the novel as the tension ramps up and the storyline becomes increasingly darker and scarier, with all the elements for a Souther gothic horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

It took me a little while to get into this—at around 30% of the way through, I still wasn't hugely interested and wondered if I should drop it. But then it picked up and kept running with the plot, so I'd definitely recommend sticking around if it's not pulling you in immediately!

The main character, Jemma, is a Black woman from Chicago who gets a work offer from a family in New Orleans. This is the early 1960s, so we're introduced to Jemma on the train. It's made clear to us that Jim Crow laws are still in place—the train puts up a 'coloured' sign on her carriage once they reach a certain point along the journey. Jemma's Blackness, particularly her darker skin tone, is an important factor in this book not just because it limits her in what she can do in segregated Louisiana.

Protests are mentioned throughout the country, signifying the slow change rolling through the USA, and Jemma supports it wholeheartedly. It's important to note that ethnicity and skin colour are very important in this book, particularly amongst the Black community here. Jemma feels relatively comfortable and home in Chicago, whereas she feels very Othered in Louisiana.

The family she's here to work for are a strange bunch - a reclusive family in an old antebellum house miles from anyone else. The people Jemma meets in New Orleans act strange when she mentions working for the Duchons, and it's not long before she realises the Duchons are, in fact, very weird. Upon first meeting them, she thinks they're a white family, but they proclaim to be proudly 'coloured' (an outdated term Jemma takes offence at).

Despite this, throughout the book, the Duchons reveal themselves to be perhaps the worst family ever. They're heavily racist and colourist to Black people, both directly and indirectly, despite their claims to be proud. They're only proud if the Black folk look like them; otherwise, they use some horrible language to describe them. Jemma learns a lot about the Duchons and the house they never seem to leave, and her life is much more entwined with them than she thinks. Not to mention the ghosts of the slaves buried on the property she keeps seeing.

At the heart of it, this is a Southern gothic horror about a haunted house. But it's a much deeper discussion about internalised racism and colourism, classism, the horrors of slavery still ricocheting through time and the repercussions of something even worse than slavery on its own - Black-owned slavery. I spent the book rooting for Jemma to get away from this horrible family because they were honestly just disgusting people.

The saddest part for me was that the only characters I liked (mainly because they showed remorse and a willingness to change) suffered, whereas others, particularly heinous, didn't. Two of the family, Laurence and Fosette, were unlikable in their own ways, but I also felt sorry for them. A curse on the house means they can't leave, so since they were little kids, they've never been able to leave the house and have been stuck with horrible adults. It's understandable how they ended up with awful personalities, too, but they at least have the excuse that they've never been able to explore the world and learn any better.

This was fully worth the read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone else who loves horror!

What a cracking debut novel!!!! I have always been a fan of gothic novels so was really pleased to be offered the opportunity to read an advanced copy of This Cursed House.
This is a Southern Gothic horror set in the 1960s in New Orleans. The story follows Jemma Barker, a young Black woman who moves from Chicago to work for the Duchon family. As expected in a gothic horror, she uncovers a web of curses, hauntings, and dark family secrets. The book also addresses some important themes such as racial discrimination and the legacy of slavery.

This Cursed House is perfect for us lovers of gothic fiction, it’s the perfect atmospheric horror read. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

This is a genuinely creepy read, filled with tension and threat. Along the way, it explores a number of serious issues including racism, slavery and colonialism. It’s very much a slow burn and the gothic atmosphere builds layer by layer. I’ve visited New Orleans, a beautiful city, quite unique; even on a bright day, there’s an undercurrent of the old voodoo vibes and the mansions and swamps make it an excellent setting for this story.

It works well, in the main. It’s 1962 and Jemma has left her home and family in Chicago to take up a live inpost with the Duchon family. They have an ulterior motive, wanting a curse lifted. The family is dysfunctional, the mansion run down and Jemma finds herself way out of her depth as an impoverished black girl in a strange place. This is a chilling tale as secrets and lies from the past reverberate. The era was one of significant racial hatred in America and that theme runs through. It’s not always comfortable reading, but it’s a clever construction and overall, it’s a satisfying story.

Jemma Barker, a young black woman, accepts a post in the Duchon House in New Orleans. Its early 60's and there is still racial discrimination. The Matriach of the family Honorine, informs Jemma that she wishes her to break a curse that was placed by her dying daughter Ines. But the members of the family, despite classing themselves as coloured, look down on Jemma because of her colour.
Jemma soon realises there are problems within the house and the family are unpleasant, added to that she can see ghosts of people that have a connection to the house. These all give problems in trying to break the curse.
This is a very powerful debut novel. It's a historical gothic horror. It's sinister and the ghosts add to the creepiness of the house.

Set the 60s a messy situation results in a young woman traveling far from home to work on what was a plantation in New Orleans.
Jemma finds herself on a journey of discovery about herself and her family.
Atmospheric and uncomfortable this is a story ultimately about secrets and lies.
Unsettling family dynamics, colourism, slavery,- big issues are incorporated into a piece of very visual storytelling.

If you like a book thats a slow burn, creepy with atmosphere this is for you! The story and characters are intriguing, mind opening and full of thought provoking moments. Once I got going I enjoyed it!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

An intriguing concept with a build up of story, This Cursed House delivers what you would expect. I imagine many readers will enjoy this book.

What a gripping premise with its exploration of a haunted residence, making it impossible for me to resist.

The novel’s atmospheric tension and haunting setting are masterfully crafted, evoking the classic ghost story's eerie charm. Sandeen excels at creating a pervasive sense of dread, with the house's ominous details vividly brought to life. Yet, the execution falls short in some areas and the plot occasionally drags, with some pacing issues that may test the reader's patience.

Overall, If you enjoy atmospheric horror with a few chilling moments, it’s worth a read!

1962 Chicago and times are a changing. Jemma Barker is desperate to leave the city as her life is unraveling and she needs to get away. The recent death of her adoptive father, the breakdown of her relationship with her live in partner, a suicide attempt, the dismissal from a job she loved, have all led to her thinking it’s time she got away. But no funding, no family, with nowhere to go, Jemma is stuck. Temporarily living with her friend Betty, Jemma receives a letter offering her a home and job that she can’t refuse, so off to New Orleans she goes. The first glimpse we get of Jemma’s ‘gift’ is in the segregated coloureds carriage on the train, when she sees another passenger who really isn’t there.

On arrival in New Orleans, despite a couple of warnings to think again, Jemma is keen to meet her new employer and to find out who she is tutoring.

This is the kind of story where the reader is screaming “no, don’t go there” at the narrative, it’s so obviously wrong! Despite her desperation it’s unlikely that in 1962 a young woman would think full board and lodgings, plus $300 a week salary was normal!!

I really liked the setting for this book, and was hoping for more of an Anne Rice vibe and her antebellum mansions. This didn’t happen, and much more could have been made of the house and grounds. The plot was good, but very drawn out, a real slow burn. As expected, the rich folk were awful, and the poor folk downtrodden, nothing unusual there. The phantoms were a touch lacklustre, but delivered the message! The ending, when it finally arrived, tied up all loose ends and it was a satisfactory conclusion.

If the book had been 20% shorter and had not been riddled with repetition then this would have been an easy 4* read. As it is, it’s a 3*.

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House.

I have to admit, I’m wired in a way that I prefer modern day setting to older – but this book – set in 1962, got properly under my skin.

Our protagonist, Gemma, has been offered a mysterious job in a mysterious house for a then huge sum of money. She travels down from Chicago to New Orleans to work for a family called the Duchans in what she presumes to me a tutoring job with a child.

This Cursed House dishes out atmospherics, heat and injustice from the get go as we experience the systemic racism and caste system with her as she navigates new places, faces and hate toward races..

It’s a southern gothic horror with some welcome tropes (to me) throughout: a haunted house, a family she is warned about, she can see spirits, the mysterious role that has been mis-sold and a creeping dread that I adore.

And lo, we’re all set up for a gloriously creepy story that flows like haunted molasses in the burning Louisiana sun.

Gemma’s character is solid and well developed, there are the twists and turns you’d want but don’t always see coming. The horrors of a black woman living in a Jim Crow era are handled deftly and leaves us agog with disgust. It’s all rather well put together.

It’s a very beautifully crafted, slow burning gothic horror that leads you slowly, surely and languorously to a satisfying conclusion. Fast and furious it is not. Slow, intelligent and haunting it is.

Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Del Sandeen for the opportunity to read this ARC book. FIVE STARS.