Pragmatic, determined, tenacious Margaret refuses to let the ghostly presences in her house outlast her. Instead, she follows the rules of the house and lives alongside them.

The September House is really a story about a mother and daughter fixing their relationship; the horror is clearly a secondary element. We explore cycles of domestic violence and the long-lasting impact this has on family members. The author has a doctorate in clinical-community psychology, which shows in her skillful handling of the abuse aspects. The story is more of a literary horror and has a strong psychological horror feel, which may appeal to non-traditional horror fans and explain this book's unusually high average rating.