I received this book from Hampton Street Press on NetGalley… it did not disappoint!

Creepy house, friendship, sneakiness, lies, teenage love, being closely watched by the cops, murder, ghosts - this book has it all. Based in New Castle, New Hampshire, this story follows the life of Billy Hasler. His best friend inherits a creepy island house, and that’s when strange things begin to happen for Billy and his friend group.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars because I have never read anything like it. I enjoyed not being able to predict where the story was going. I actually almost put this one in my DNF list. It took me a very long time to actually get into the story. Slows burn for me. BUT the last few chapters I felt made it completely worth it! I will absolutely be reading more books by this author.

A house that sits alone on an island off the coast of New Hampshire becomes deadly for a group of teenagers one fateful summer. An intricately woven plot elevates this from a typical haunted house story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I read this 2 months ago and it lives inside me now.

I’m not even going to give a synopsis because I think it undermines the creative genius that is a JD Barker novel.

Instead I’m going to use adjectives to describe this New England haunted horror…

I have had the privilege of vacationing on Peak’s Island, Maine, a few times, and the setting in this book brings me right there.

Haunting. Brooding. Dark. Sinister. Nostalgic. Comforting in the most unsettling way.

JD’s prose is like no other, the feeling he can evoke through pages is incredible. You have to use all 5 senses when you read one of his books, they are that tantalizing and raw.

I will recommend this to everyone I know. I might even stand outside bookstores and shout at people to read it like an uninvited panhandler.

It’s that good.

I thought this book was creepy, compelling, but not quite unforgettable and a little confusing at times.

As a fan of psychological thrillers and a little supernatural horror, Something I Keep Upstairs scratched a lot of the right itches. Barker kicks things off with a super eerie premise—there’s something upstairs, and whatever it is, it’s messing with more than just the lights. The suspense builds in all the right places, and the first half had me totally hooked.

Think classic haunted-house dread meets psychological unraveling. Barker does a great job blurring the lines between mental breakdown and real danger, and I loved that I never felt totally sure what was real. Sometimes I was a little confused trying to keep it all straight.

That said, the second half loses a bit of steam. Some twists felt a little too out-there, and the ending was more “huh?” than “holy crap!” Still, the ride was fun, the atmosphere was thick with tension, and there are a few genuinely chilling moments that stuck with me. I couldn't read the end fast enough but beware, there are authors notes, and I thought that was where it ended, thank goodness it wasn't. There is another chapter that helped wrap it up.

If you're into horror that messes with your head more than splashes blood on the walls, this is worth a read—even if it doesn’t hit as hard as Barker’s best which was The Forth Monkey for me!

Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy of this book for my honest reveiw.

This was my first foray into the works of J.D. Barker and I found the story to be an exhilarating and enjoyable horror read blending well with the aspect of the mystery within the plot as a whole. The characters were all well fleshed out, a nice eerie unsettling setting and atmosphere and a break neck plot that had me intrigued from start to finish.
I would like to thank both Net galley as well as Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

I love a good house haunting!
The characters are young..just 17...so that can take a book into YA territory or if done well, it can stand as an adult book. We're on the edge of YA here. I think the author has done a good job in giving the boys some maturity and strength of character. All of that added to the tension as we watched the friends really go through it in the last half of the book. The first half was a bit of a slog.
The house is super evil, which I love, and it created great moments of true page turning anxiety as we got nearer the ending.
As others have said...please read the authors note at the end as it brings a lot to the story.

Thank you to the author J.D. Barker, the publisher Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster and #NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts are my own.

I'm a J.D. Barker fan and I think I've read the majority of his books (and I hope there will be many, many more!). When I saw this one was coming out I had to have it. I have read reviews comparing Barker to Stephen King, and many of his books do have a similar feel, but Barker is penning his own style. I enjoy the books Barker does on his own the most, but the ones he has co-authored with James Patterson are really good too.

Description:
For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.

In the sleepy coastal town of New Castle, New Hampshire, seventeen-year-old Billy Hasler's life is about to take a terrifying turn. When his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island, it seems like the perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. No parents. No police. No responsibilities.

As they dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations. What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.

"Something I Keep Upstairs" is a haunting exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and the darkness lurking just beyond our understanding. It will keep you on edge until the final, chilling page.

My Thoughts:
Great plot with lots of action and history in a New England setting. I found it surprising that Barker set this story where he lives. Many of the historical events in the story are real. The book is full of dark evil and will give you nightmares (at least it did me!). Lots of surprising twists and shockers with a stormy backdrop and a haunted house. The characters were perfect. That whole island is full of evil, an evil that never ends. Thriller enthusiasts will love it! I am having trouble making the title fit the book though.

Thanks to Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.

This started so slowly that I almost put it down but buddy when it HIT!!! I was desperate to know what was going on and every layer of the mystery that was unveiled left me with new questions.

I was on the edge of my seat figuring out the mystery of the island. The final twists were beautiful but what absolutely sent this to the next level was that final chapter... I will be thinking of that for a long time, I think. Praise Emerson.

Something I Keep Upstairs by J.D. Barker and narrated by Michael Crouch was a spooky scary tale and dark in some places. I loved it! I love the twist and turns within this book, especially as it keeps you on your toes. . . . . .

This book is set in a sleepy coastal town of New Castle, in New England, where a seventeen year old Billy Hasler life is about to take a terrifying turn. When, his best friend David Spivey inherits a mysterious house on a nearby island. . . This seems to be a perfect place to spend their final summer before heading off to college. Especially as there are No parents. No police. and above all, No responsibilities. What could possibly go wrong?

But, as they start to explore the area and its dig into the island's dark past, they awaken an ancient evil that has influenced generations.

What begins as an innocent summer adventure quickly descends into a nightmare.

Will they survive their final summer? or will it be their last?

Wow! This audiobook is excellent and the narrator Michael Crouch was excellent.

I highly recommend Something I keep upstairs, but don;t read or listen to it at night!!!!! There maybe something hidden upstairs!

I’d been craving something spooky to read, and I found this novel perfectly suited my mood. While it didn’t leave me sleepless, its chilling, unsettling moments hooked me from start to finish.

The story follows a group of teens who decide to spend their summer on this weird, haunted island after one of them inherits a super mysterious house. Of course, there are a bunch of rules they break (classic), and everything starts to spiral from there. It has ghosts, witchy stuff, and a house that sort of shifts through time, which was a cool twist I wasn’t expecting.

My main critique is the pacing… some sections dragged, making the book feel a bit too long. And, certain backstory elements felt repetitive, pulling me out of the tension.

Still, this was a fun, eerie read with a strong haunted house setup. It wasn’t nightmare fuel, but it hit the spot and now I’m curious to check out more from J.D. Barker.

This book felt like a dream. I was confused, sad, scared, annoyed, angry and a lot of other emotions while reading this book. I’m not sure how I feel about it

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

THIS WAS GOOOOOD. I loved how our author gave the darkest eerie feeling that went straight to the bone with this one. This book isn’t called a CHILLER for no reason. The setting is dark, the writing is done in such a way that you can imagine it all playing out as you read. There’s nothing more creepy that a scary book with deep dark mystery and things hidden in every corner. The book involves a place called Wood Island…just the name alone and something on that island just isn’t right and we are about to find out what that is. I don’t want to go too far into this because there’s just too much I could say and give it away but I’ll leave you with a quote and let you snag this read and curl up on the chair and binge away.

“For a haunted house to be born, somebody has to die.”

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster | Hampton Creek Press

This is my first time reading this author's work, and I was thoroughly impressed. The book is a captivating blend of suspense and supernatural elements, making it a top-notch paranormal thriller. The plot is intricately woven, with well-developed characters and unexpected twists that kept me engaged from start to finish. I can't wait to explore more of their writing in the future

I'm a huge fan of J.D. Barker's Fourth Monkey series. I thought it was one of the darkest, grittiest serial killer series I'd ever read. I was hoping J.D. Barker's horror novel would have the same vibe, but unfortunately I was a little let down by this novel. It started off with a lot of promise as the atmosphere of Wood Island was introduced, but I thought the plot slowed down in the middle and it felt like a lot was unnecessary.

I also didn't connect with any of the characters which also felt like a missed opportunity. It isn't a bad book by any means and it definitely is going to have an audience for it, but this isn't one that will live on in my memory.

The island gives, and the island takes. But above all… never forget to feed Emerson!
Equal parts mystery and thriller, this novel delivers all the eerie elements I crave in a story. Set on a remote island with a haunted house, and an unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after the last page. While I was initially unsure about the teenage protagonists, it quickly became clear that their age added a compelling layer to the narrative's intensity and emotional depth.
Barker masterfully weaves together some of my favorite horror tropes…. creepy teens, witchcraft, local lore, isolated location, and an ominous house all with a seamlessness that feels fresh rather than forced. I especially enjoyed how the main character, Billy, is forced to confront multiple moral dilemmas that help deepen the storyline beyond its terrifying surface.
I devoured this book in one sitting, completely hooked by the mystery of what was real, who could be trusted, and how far these characters would go to satisfy one terrifying demand… to please Emerson. If you're looking for a gripping, creepy read that pulls you into a dark, atmospheric world then you won't want to miss this one.

*Thank you to J.D. Barker, Hampton Creek Press / Simon & Schuster | Hampton Creek Press and Netgalley for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Something I Keep Upstairs was such an amazing read. It was creepy, seductive, addictive, with enough horror and unexplainable phenomena that was just perfect to keep you hooked! 💫💫💫💫💫

Please feed Emerson
Billy Hasler and David Spivey are best friends. Spivey inherits a house, Woodland Island, from his grandmother Geraldine Rote, whom he has never met or spoken to and was unaware of. But the house comes with many rules (Don't answer the phone), and they are all imposed by one weird lawyer named Lockwood Marston. (Never lock the doors)

Chief Whaley knows that the island where the house is situated holds many secrets. (Watch pilot light in basement) And he will have to figure them all out the hard way in order to save some lives. (Anyone here at sunset must stay until sunrise)

Matt, Izzie, Chloe, Kira, Alesia, Billy, and Spivey will learn dark secrets and past sacrifices that were made. Their friendships, loyalty, and lives will be tested. (Nothing can be removed from the house)

Thank you, Netgalley and Hampton Creek Press/ Simon & Schuster

A good creepy story but it is a slow burn and took the creepiness a little time to settle in. I liked that the main characters were teens as it made for a coming of age story as well

Let me start off by saying "I love J.D. Barker." After reading "Something I Keep Upstairs" I still love his work. This one was scary. I didn't know what was coming next. I did like the characters and I think that's why I was sucked in right from the beginning. Not only did it have that spooky feel, it offered so much more.

Go grab JD’s latest novel along with his M2K series.

It is usually hit or miss if I like these sort of books. I was shockingly surprised how intrigued and sucked in I was with this book! From the very beginning I wanted answers! I wanted to know what was going on and surprises came from all sides with no answers for a while then they slowly started trickling in and I was even more intrigued! I really enjoyed this book. I felt it kept a good pace and kept me hooked throughout. The only reason it wasn't a 5 star for me was I guess it could have been a little shorter. At times I felt like it sort of dragged on a bit but those times didn't last too long so i never lost interest. It has some twists and turns and surprise towards the end I wasn't expecting and I always love a book that catches me off guard!

This was my first ever J.D Barker book & it won’t be my last. While this didn’t blow me away, I still thoroughly enjoyed it! The theme of friendship was really strong throughout and I was always excited to see what would happen next for Billy and David. The creepiness was definitely there especially after reading the Author’s Note at the end! I felt like that gave us a little something extra which I appreciated! I was still left with a few questions but nothing crazy. Overall I really enjoyed this book!