Taylor pulls examples of “sick houses” from pop culture, history, and true crime. This makes the book interesting, although if you haven’t watched the movies she talks about she goes into the plot so you might want to skip out on those sections.

The greatest detriment to this book is including "Haunted Homes" in the tagline. While Sick Houses does feature haunted houses, those expecting a thorough analysis of the haunted home to be the primary focus will be disappointed. "The Architecture of Dread," however, perfectly encapsulates Taylor's scope, and this is particularly evident in the chapter on Brutal Houses.

Brutal Houses, while not typically considered haunted, especially due to the lack of history normally entrenched in them, can certainly evoke dread. Conceptually, this was a masterful chapter. However, it is also illustrates one of my biggest issues with Sick Houses: spending too much time covering tangentially related real history and not enough on analysis.

When Taylor engages with film and literary analysis, it's compelling. She's skilled at drawing concise conclusions and making obvious the symbolism behind every motif. Her style as a writer, when she gets to really go in on it, is one that I love. But there are points in this that lost me. At times, I felt more like I was reading a list of real-life examples related to the current category of sick house than literary analysis. I certainly did not need the level of detail into a person's history and family that I received to discuss their house, and in these scenarios often found myself struggling to keep the "characters" straight or remember what kind of sick house they had, or how it would connect to the larger plot of the work. Some of the chapters are less connected to the larger idea of Sick Houses and the architecture of dread than I would like them to be, and there was a lot of room for critical analysis to tie them back in. It was still interesting, but at points my reaction was much more "okay, cool story?" than how I typically react to well-written literary criticism.

If you want a critical framework for haunted house stories and what makes them compelling, Taylor does exemplary work on this in her introduction. The introduction alone is worth a read for her ideas about why the haunted house trope is one that is endured since the origin of horror, and her likening of haunted houses to the demon-possessed body. "American Houses," too, is an excellent unravelling of this idea, particularly as it relates to the modern haunted house. "Little Houses" is one I think haunted house enjoyers and horror movie fans will also really enjoy, and was one of my favourite criticism sections. "Mad Houses" is another that readers drawn by the tagline should appreciate. "Forever Houses" I enjoyed a lot more than I expected to based on the title, and "My House" was an excellent way to end this novel. However, "Witch Houses" and "Brutal Houses" could benefit from focused editing to get to the meat of the matter.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Haunted houses, the homes of notorious series killers, those places you pass and just wonder about because they're a little odd -- that's what this book is about. And I LOVED it. The author delves into well known properties, both fictional and real, and also several that I'd never heard of. I came away from it with a fairly long list of movies I want to watch (surprising, because I love haunted house movies and have watched so many) and some new insight into movies I'd already watched. There are plenty of spoilers in the detailed plot discissions, but I don't really mind because I probably wouldn't have watched them if I hadn't read about them here. A few, I'll watch anyway. Another I'll go out of my way to avoid. The book sent me down quite a few interesting rabbit trails and I'm glad I picked it up.

DNF at 25%
A lot more film plot focused than I expected. I was hoping for more exploration of real life places and buildings but a lot of the focus was on retelling film plots and loosely connecting the location of those films to architecture. I also hadn’t seen some of the films so it felt very spoiler-y which I wanted to avoid. I also wish there were more pictures to have a full view of the buildings mentioned.

This book had a really intriguing concept that caught my eye at first, but I found that it didn't quite resonate with me as I had hoped. As someone who loves horror novels and haunted houses, I thought it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, it seemed to lean more towards the architectural side of the homes and the idea of “what makes a house a home,” which wasn’t what I expected.

The content felt a bit like an extended listicle about famous haunted places, and a lot of it summarized plot points from other horror films and literature—definitely a few spoilers for those who haven’t seen them yet! Overall, it seemed like the author might have needed a deeper dive into the subject matter. A more thorough research approach and analysis, rather than just summarizing, could have really elevated the quality of the book.

**My thanks to Repeater Books for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**

5 stars

Leila Taylor has produced a fascinating and highly readable examination of the role of architectural spaces in psychological horror (both real and fictional). Charting the ‘sick’ houses of American horror films, serial killers, and visual art, she questions what makes a house stand out as ‘bad’—haunted, witchy, or perverse—and how we respond to houses that have or are rumored to have contained some kind of rot. Throughout, she admits the slightly voyeuristic urge to peep inside these houses but treats them and their inhabitants with pure civility and grace; the section on Sarah Winchester’s famous house is a particularly affirming correction of the record.

I would highly recommend this title to anyone interested in horror media.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! Before I begin, I love this cover it is so creative and colors come together so well. Now, this was a great read on the history of haunted houses was not something that I knew I needed in my life but I am so glad that I found it. In the past year I have truly been diving into horror literature and this felt like a great addition to the genre, it is new and not something people (myself included) really thought about. It felt wondering what is the background and history of things that re utulized in the genre of horror, I would honestly love a series of this! Gettingg into the context, I really appreciated the photos and references to movies to explain the topics she provided, it made me want me watch to watch every movie through the authors eyes.

Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread is a non-fiction-work about one of my all-time favourite horror tropes. Unfortunately, it was quite different from what I was expecting, and left me disappointed by the end.

The back-flap summary mentions the word “Exploration/Explore” 4 times. That was exactly what I was hoping for; a exploration and a deeper look into what makes some of the world’s most famous haunted houses júst that. I was hoping for a deeper analysis. Like the title suggests: what element of the architecture come into play to evoke the haunting? What basal fears does this trope trigger in us?
Although there were a few passages like this, the rest of the book felt more like a listicle than anything else. We got summaries for famous movies and books, as well as real-life cases of supposed hauntings, but we never went beyond surface level. I missed an element of original thought and analysis by the author, beyond that.
This might just be a marketing-thing. Had this been sold as more of a coffee-table book, or an introductory piece into the genre, I would’ve entered with different expectations. Because of the back-flaps promises of “exploration” of the topic, I was left disappointed. This felt more so like sightseeing than exploration to me.

Overall, this might be an interesting reference-guide or introduction if you’re new to the trope of haunted-house-fiction and are looking for good places to start. It includes a wide scope, from cinema, to literature, to true crime. That scope immediately is its downfall too. It’s too wide to allow for any form of depth, leading to a text that’s wide as Victorian-style mansion, but deep as a single-floor bungalow.

Thanks to Repeater for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful nonfiction look at the houses and places that just feel wrong. Taylor has clearly done a ton of research, which creates an absolutely fascinating look at haunted places but also what makes a home and this country’s sometimes shameful past of who was allowed to be a homeowner.

I was really looking forward to this read. I tend to really enjoy nonfiction about horror and commentary on true crime. I was interested enough through this, but unfortunately found myself without much to take away here. For how short this book was, the author attempted to cover a lot of ground. There were sections on fictional houses, horror movie houses, apartments, witch houses, real serial killer homes, and more. The scope felt a little too large to get a cohesive point across. I wish it offered a deeper dive into a few of these topics instead.
I think this book would better suit someone newer to the genre unfamiliar with horror/film scholarship, as I was already familiar with a lot of the talking points. I enjoyed how accessible the writing was, something not too common in scholarship in general. Even though this helped make it an easy read, I did struggle to get through this.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

My thanks to Repeater Books, Leila Taylor and Netgalley.
This was not a bad book, by any means.
What it was is something unexpected. What? The unexpected content was mostly about....fucking movies or television.
I scooped this arc up because of its supposed content.
You could supply me with 2 shitstones to rub together, and still? Nothing.
If, like me you have lived in multiple dwellings or even a singular dwelling with "ghosts, spirits" whatever... Kick this book to the curb.
In truth? I was looking for validation. Stupid of course.
What angered me quite a bit about this book and it's advertising is that it was and is affective. But, its all a lie.
I believe in ghosts. I didn't, until the day that I did.
This book is not that.
I don't watch movies or television because it not interesting.
This author took a topic that was and is endlessly fascinating and bored me near to death.
Seriously, I'm damned near gasping and wheezing for breath!
Also, hauntings? Yeah, I've known a few.
This was woefully inadequate.

Why do we associate mansard roofs with spooky goings-on? What made the Unabomber's cabin hideaway feel so particularly unsettling? Taylor looks at the architecture of unsettling places, from haunted dollhouses to the failed Pruit-Igoe project in Saint Louis. I loved the premise of this, and even though I know little about architecture, it didn't dive too deeply into the technical aspects of building design to alienate me. I also appreciated Taylor's feminist framework, which shows up in critiques of narratives about supposedly "spooky" women who chose to live alone or lived their lives in unconventional ways, such as Sarah Winchester, of the Winchester Mystery House.

'This was fascinating, informative, and had me stopping to look up images and videos of places she mentioned. I read a digital ARC of this book, and I hope the final publication will include some photos - that would really enhance this reading experience!

A house is supposed to be a place of comfort, security, and refuge—but what happens when it becomes a source of terror instead? Sick Houses is a fascinating and chilling exploration of how architecture can hold and amplify horror, transforming our safest spaces into something sinister.

From infamous real-life locations like the Amityville house and the Unabomber’s cabin to the eerie mansions of gothic fiction and haunted homes in horror films, this book delves deep into why certain spaces feel inherently unsettling. Using examples from film, television, and literature, it unpacks how physical structures shape our fears—whether through their design, their history, or the eerie feeling that something just isn’t right.

What makes Sick Houses so compelling is its blend of psychological insight, cultural analysis, and spine-tingling storytelling. It doesn’t just recount ghost stories; it examines why we are drawn to them, why the idea of a haunted house is so universal, and how real-life horrors are often more terrifying than fiction. The book also raises thought-provoking questions about memory, trauma, and the ways in which architecture can hold onto the past.

Whether you're a horror aficionado, a fan of true crime, or simply someone who has ever looked at an old house and felt a chill run down your spine, Sick Houses is a must-read. It’s an engrossing, intelligent, and eerie deep dive into the dark side of the places we call home.

95/100 or 4.75 stars

This was a fasinating read, and I am so glad I got a chance to check this out! It is right up my alley in terms of subject matter for a non-fiction book, and I has so much fun reading and learning!
It made me view a few movies differently and made me want to check out the ones that I have not seen yet.
10/10 would recommend for horror fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and Repeater Books for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This was an extremely interesting compilation of histories. I loved how the architectural horrors were a front for the connection between horror and the American Dream, the necessity of feminism and race and the exclusion of Black Americans from the horror genre. I came out of Sick Houses with a solid list of horror movies to watch. I love that Taylor avoided the True Crime aspect of the houses she talked about and rather connected them as reflections to real societal issues. If you usually dislike nonfiction but enjoy essays, I definitely recommend Sick Houses because the tone throughout was personal, enlightening but without a bombardment of unnecessary information

Sick Houses, an analysis of the architecture behind the haunted house, is a fantastic nonfiction read for any horror movie buff, architecture nerd, or haunted house enthusiast! Taylor's thoughtful, in-depth examination deftly walks the line between an academic thesis and a pleasure read, managing to be both scholarly and entertaining. From film to fiction, Taylor clearly knows her horror, and Sick Houses' analyses run the gamut from the classic Victorian haunted house to less stereotypical forms like modern architecture, bunkers, miniatures, and more. I'd definitely recommend this to any horror fan, or, for those who aren't horror fans, this would make a great gift for any spook-loving person in your life! Thanks to Repeater Books and NetGalley for the digital advanced review copy!

While Sick Houses was a fun premise and I'm sure people will love it I didn't. I found myself ready for it to be over before I was even half way through. I feel like this would have done better as a shorter section in a book about the history of horror and crime or something. I do think people who are into architecture and haunted or creepy houses will love this though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Repeater Books for the ARC!

This is an endlessly fascinating study of what Stephen King famously describes as 'The Bad Place'. Leila Taylor begins by taking a look at home ownership, and details the hopes and fears that accompany moving from one house or apartment to another, sometimes attempting to bury bad memories in pursuit of security and happiness. The question of when does a house become a home is fully addressed and by the time we move on to what constitutes a undesirable residence, some readers may well be nodding their head with regard to past or current location.

Real and fictional places come under the spotlight in this book: the Ed Gein house of horrors; Amityville; the Winchester home and cinematic gems such as the Bates house from Psycho, the imposing gothic mansion from The Haunting and (bonus points for this one) the bone chilling centre of Peter Sasdy's The Stone Tape.

As well as movies, Leila also includes a literary angle in her study, and her brief description of 'Piranesi' compelled me to push the book to the top of my tbr pile.

Leila Taylor's writing is crisp and intelligent and happily - at least for people like me - is not overly academic. It never confuses with complicated jargon, and is easy to follow with a sharp, keen-eyed analysis of the subject matter. My own shallow knowledge of Victorian architecture and other building designs was certainly heightened by this enjoyable look at houses with a dark history and fresh builds with a clean slate.

A genuine 5 star delight!

Published by Repeater Books

I loved this book. The subject matter was fascinating and well researched. It offered some fascinating perspectives on a topic I thought I was well versed in. I’ve recommended it to my friends with similar interests

Leila Taylor’s Sick Houses is such a fascinating deep dive into the world of haunted houses. It’s packed with insights about the cultural, historical, and psychological roots of these eerie spaces, all written in a way that’s both thought-provoking and engrossing. Taylor’s blend of sharp analysis and vivid storytelling makes it a truly captivating read, especially if haunted houses are your favorite horror subject like me!!