This cursed house
COMING OCTOBER 8, 2024
from penguin michael joseph in the u.k.
launch date october 24
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 this is her chance to start over.
But Jemma discovers that this family isn't what they seem. Light enough to pass as white, the Black family members look down on the brown-skinned Jemma. Their tenuous hold on reality extends to all the members of their eccentric clan, from haughty grandmother Honorine to the beautiful yet inscrutable cousin Fosette. And soon, the shocking truth comes out: the Duchons are under a curse. And they think Jemma can 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.
Forgiveness, acceptance, and family bonds are at the heart of THIS CURSED HOUSE, a Southern gothic horror novel featuring an eccentric cast of characters, family secrets, a decaying plantation house, and supernatural events.
This cursed house
praise for This cursed house
“Sandeen's debut is an eerie and emotional journey into a family's haunted past... Sandeen's writing is both vivid and chilling, making it a compelling read for anyone drawn to tales of family secrets and haunted legacies. This novel will captivate fans of gothic horror and those who enjoy richly atmospheric settings, as This Cursed House stands out for its emotional depth and spine-tingling narrative, making it a memorable addition to the genre.”
- Booklist
“A fresh perspective to the gothic horror genre. The author’s exploration of bloodlines, family, and race is complex and nuanced, and her heroine is easy to root for as she confronts ghosts both literal and metaphorical. Sandeen offers much to chew on.”
- Publishers Weekly