This Cursed House is a Southern gothic horror novel set in 1960s New Orleans, about a young Black woman who goes to work for a strange family. She thinks she’s been hired as a tutor, but the family has a darker reason for wanting her there — tied to her ability to see ghosts.

The Cursed House is engaging and reveals its secrets deliberately. This is a strong social horror that leans in to the horror of racism and prejudice, and also emphasizes the strength of forgiveness, community, and freedom. Jemma is a great protagonist, smart and empathetic, who kept me rooting for her.

Readers of character-driven, atmospheric social horror will love this book. If you enjoyed When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen or The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, pick up Del Sandeen’s confident debut.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for my review copy of this book.