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I’ve always enjoyed Grady Hendrix’s books — they’re usually sharp, witty, and imaginative with just the right balance between horror and humour. How to Sell a Haunted House was one of my most anticipated reads, but sadly it fell flat for me. This one felt oddly lazy, as if it were rushed out without the usual polish or tight pacing that makes Hendrix’s stories so addictive.
The biggest issue for me was how repetitive it became. Characters seemed to just circle the same points over and over again — having the same arguments, revisiting the same fears, and rehashing plot beats that didn’t need repeating. Instead of building momentum, it felt like the story kept resetting itself, dragging out scenes long past the point where they’d lost their tension.
Some of the scenarios were just… ridiculous, and not in the fun, self-aware way Hendrix can usually pull off. One moment that stuck out was a scene where a car door opens and it’s treated like someone’s opened an aeroplane door mid-flight, with over-the-top chaos that felt cartoonish rather than creepy. These moments didn’t heighten the horror — they just pulled me out of the story completely.
I can see the glimmers of what this book could have been, and there are small flashes of Hendrix’s usual charm here and there, but overall it felt padded, repetitive, and far less engaging than his previous work. A real disappointment from an author I know is capable of so much more.
Gareth Ellis - Author 