This Cursed House

De: Del Sandeen

Narrado por: Chanté McCormick

One of Esquire's Best Horror Books of 2024
One of Crime Reads' Best Gothic Novels of 2024

In this Southern gothic horror debut, a young Black woman abandons her life in 1960s Chicago for a position with a mysterious family in New Orleans, only to discover the dark truth: They’re under a curse, and they think she can break it.

In the fall of 1962, twenty-seven-year-old Jemma Barker is desperate to escape her life in Chicago—and the spirits she has always been able to see. When she receives an unexpected job offer from the Duchon family in New Orleans, she accepts, thinking it is her chance to start over.

But Jemma discovers that the Duchon family isn’t what it seems. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon the shocking truth comes out: The Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma has the power to break it.

As Jemma wrestles with the gift she’s run from all her life, she unravels deeper and more disturbing secrets about the mysterious Duchons. Secrets that stretch back over a century. Secrets that bind her to their fate if she fails.

2 stories in one

i disliked how long it was for the story it was. I wish that theyd have left out some parts. it was a good ghost story and southern Gothic horror story. I wish they'd have let her have a betterending

A specific time and place.

Wonderful Southern Gothic Tale with believable characters that I’ll miss finding out if they matured or stayed locked in time.

So rich and engaging.

Loved this book. I hope the author writes another book. I highly recommend! Read this book, it does not disappoint.

Wow

This book was a recommendation and when I tell you it didn’t miss….it didn’t miss!!! I really enjoyed it simply because I’m from Louisiana and it gave a glimpse into how my ancestors lived and passed before of their skin, hair and eyes.

A good story, that keeps you interested

A good story, that keeps you interested the entire book. The Performance was good. Overall, I'd recommend this book.

cursed

this book was a lot longer than it needed to be at the story was good but it could have been shortened there were some parts in there that I was about ready to fall asleep but the overall I really enjoyed it it was a very good

Solid but underwhelming

The narrator did a great job - no notes. The story is a little lacking and the main character is somewhat irritating.

The resilience of the ancestors.

All skin folk ain't kin folk, and the reality that racism has always been in this country.

Just okay

It was just okay, the first 25% of the book had my full attention but then it started to feel repetitive and I couldn’t connect with the characters.

Great read

I loved the concept. It kept my attention the entire time and made it hard to walk away.