The House That Eats the Dead - by Max Doty (Paperback)

Book 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.

The new house is a fresh start for Claire and her family. It's a move away from the cityscape of a declining San Francisco and 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 favorite 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 loses control, she fears who else might be drawn to her home--and what sinister appetites they'll bring.

Review Quotes

"An ingenious take on haunted houses, The House That Eats the Dead is a delightfully bloody story about the sacrifices people make for stability. I adored Claire and enjoyed cheering for her as she navigated the horrors that came with her new house. With a clever premise and a tightly paced escalation, I was hooked up until the deeply satisfying conclusion."--Bonnie Quinn, author of the How to Survive Camping series

"A wonderful exploration of love, loss, pain, memory, and the nature of good and evil--as well as a fun read and absolute page-turner!"--Kelly Dwyer, author of Ghost Mother

About the Author

Max Doty is a veteran game-writer who served as the head of content for Choices: Stories You Play and Surviving High School, for which he also wrote two spin-off novels. His screenplay Almost Kings won Netflix's inaugural "Find Your Voice" award and was made into a feature film. Max regularly contributes to reddit's NoSleep forum as scarymaxx, where his works often appear at the top of the charts. He holds a BA and an MA from Stanford University as well as an MFA from Arizona State University.