Synopsis
A family moves into their dream home – only to discover that it hides an insatiable hunger – in this dread-laced and darkly outrageous domestic horror novel.
‘Doty’s devilishly voracious novel ended up devouring me’
– Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Devil Inside
' Nasty, smart, satisfying, and enormously fun'
– Scott Hawkins, author of The Library at Mount Char and Blacktail
The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It’s a move towards the quiet suburban life she has craved since her turbulent childhood; a step up the corporate ladder for her husband, Tom; and a safe haven for their two children.
Yet, as they unpack their boxes, she senses something is wrong . . .
Fresh flowers dry up, store-bought eggs are inexplicably hollow and her daughter’s favourite toy disappears. Claire soon confronts a series of impossible truths: the house is hungry. It’s devouring anything that was once alive. And only Claire and Tom, the owners of the house, will remember that this ‘food’ ever existed.
When Claire exploits the house’s power in a moment of weakness, she and the house forge a fragile bond. But as its hunger intensifies and Claire starts to lose control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home – and what sinister appetites they’ll bring.
'Deliciously unhinged'
- Leigh Radford, author of One Yellow Eye
Grady Hendrix meets The Shining in this darkly fun supernatural horror novel. Perfect for fans of A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher and Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison.
Details
13 August 2026
9781035061808Reviews
Here I am, thinking I’m the one devouring The House That Eats The Dead, only to learn - too late - that Max Doty’s devilishly voracious novel ended up devouring me. Better put your fear in escrow before opening this book. Your heart's going to need it
The House that Eats the Dead rips . . . Max Doty peers straight into the blacker corners of the human soul and reports back without blinking. It’s nasty, smart, satisfying, and enormously fun. I had a great time with it
A dark, domestic fairytale that edges closer to madness with every chapter . . . Thrilling and haunting in equal measure, The House that Eats the Dead makes a banquet of everyday horrors and leaves no crumbs
An ingenious take on haunted houses, The House That Eats The Dead is a delightfully bloody story about the sacrifices people make for stability . . . With a clever premise and a tightly paced escalation, I was hooked up until the deeply satisfying conclusion
