Look Out For … The Spite House by Johnny Compton

“With his debut novel, Compton tackles our universal need to understand our past with this ghastly ghost story, cranking the dread to a fever pitch.”

Running from his mysterious past, Eric Ross leaves his wife, his house … his life … behind. With only his two daughters with him, Eric answers an ad for the Masson House in Degener, Texas. Supposedly one of the most haunted places in Texas, Eric takes the job, thinking this might be the lucky break he needs.

Taking the job as caretaker of the property comes with additional duties: looking for proof of paranormal activity, the owner wants Eric to keep a detailed record of everything that happens on the property. Even knowing the house drove all the previous caretakers mad, Eric is desperate for the money and takes the job.

Eric dives deep into the job, not because of the huge payout, but because he has a need to discover the secrets of this spite house. If it’s as haunted as they say, then he might be able to get a grip on the strange power that clings to his family that drives them from town to town, afraid to stop running.

Why we’re excited about this book:

Johnny Compton’s debut novel is one of the most anticipated books of 2023. Compton calls San Antonio, Texas home and his short fiction has appeared in such publications as Strange Horizons, On the Premises, Devolution Z, and Arkham Tales among others, and have been featured on The NoSleep Podcast and Pseudopod. Compton is also the creator and host of the podcast Healthy Fears. With his debut novel, Compton tackles our universal need to understand our past with this ghastly ghost story, cranking the dread to a fever pitch. Richard Kadrey (King Bullet) says: “In The Spite House, Johnny Compton introduces us to a family with secrets and a house as mean and hungry as any in horror. The book is a work of great imagination and humanity, showing both love and terror in a world as real as the dust in the attic of a terrible old house.”, and Cynthia Pelayo (Children of Chicago) says: “Johnny Compton’s The Spite House is the modern Gothic story full of dread we’ve all been waiting for. This strange house, perched on a hill and full of terrifying sounds and shadows that come out at night, will steal a part of you and never give it back.”