The house I grew up in was huge.
We had these stairs in the living room with two sets of lights, with a light switch for the living room and another for the top. And it was a tricky thing at night when I was alone, because I’d have to flip the bottom light switch off and then run upstairs in the dark to turn the top lights on in time. Does that make sense? It was almost like a game. I had to run. I always had the feeling if I took too long to turn the lights back on something running after me in the dark would catch me. And this book felt like running up the stairs in the dark trying not to trip and praying I’d reach the light switch in time.
I mean, what an insane idea for a story. A little girl haunted by a thing coming out of her closet feels like a metaphor, and by god I was hoping for that. An evil entity turns out to be just the secrets your parents keep from you, that’d be easy. Analytical, even. I’m sure Freud had a couple of things to say about that. But the further the story went on, the more I started seeing things out the corners of my eyes. I paced around a little, for sure. And needless to say, all my lights are on right now and even that’s not helping.

Thank you to the Pan Macmillan Team for thinking I’d enjoy reading this arc through Netgalley ahead of the UK release, but next time maybe send along a couple of candles, some protection spells or something, Jesus Christ. I honestly don’t know how I’m gonna sleep tonight.

this was a real spooky read, i loved the formatting and way it was told - felt super fun and original. the overall concept was a hoot.

Written from the point of view of a young child, Bela, the unusual formatting and voice of the book takes a few pages for the reader to adjust, but once you get the rhythms, you're sucked right into this story of a young girl who keeps seeing the "Other Mummy" in her room, and who's afraid to say yes when this entity asks to be let into her heart. Is she imagining things? Is it connected to the fact she knows her parents are keeping secrets from her even if she can articulate this? Or is there something much more terrifying going on?

The book proceeds at whipcrack pace as Bela becomes increasingly scared of the "Other Mummy" and soon the grownups realise they are dealing with something that is much worse than a child's overactive imagination. But what does it want? Why has it targeted Bela? The answers won't necessarily surprise readers familiar with the horror genre, but Malerman effectively plays with tropes and scenarios we've seen before in ways that make them urgent in the moment. The unique voice and perspective only add to the unsettling atmosphere, and I'm a sucker for books where characters are living whole other stories away from the protagonist, and we only see these drip feed through our limited perspective. Here, seeing the disintegration of the adult world through clues Bela can't comprehend adds an extra layer of depth to everything.

In short, this is a tense, unsettling possession novel with a unique and pacy voice that only heightens the atmosphere of the strange. Very much recommended.

Incidents Around The House by Josh Malerman is a dark and disturbing tale that will unsettle the reader in the best possible way. Our narrator is eight year old Bela who lives with her Mommy and Daddo , oh and Other Mommy of course- a mysterious and malevolent entity that lives in her closet and asks Bela daily " Can I go into your heart?" As the book unfolds a series of incidents around the house convince Bela's parents that she is telling them the truth and something truly terrifying and dangerous is sharing their home. In trying to save their family will they be the ones to destroy it?
I was intrigued by the premise of the book and I was not at all put off by the idea of a child narrator, though I have to say that in many ways Bela seemed much younger than her stated age of 8. I think that the child's perspective added a lot to the tension of the book, her attempts to understand what was going on made her a good proxy for the reader. I do think there was an issue with the pacing of the book, it started strong but definitely flagged in the middle, becoming quite repetitive and then the ending felt a little too abrupt for my tastes - it is definitely an ending that will divide readers and leave them thinking. I think this is a book in general that readers will either love or hate, if you need lovable or even likeable characters and a well resolved plot this is not the book for you. In my opinion the best thing about the book was how well the various descriptions of Other Mommy worked to creep me out while reading, her constantly changing appearance meant that nobody was safe and some of the descriptions left just enough to the imagination to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up while reading but that just wasn't enough to make me love the book as much as I hoped to when I read the blurb.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

As a long-time fan of horror literature, I had heard a lot of buzz about Josh Malerman's work, and when I finally got my hands on an ARC of Incidents Around the House, I was thrilled. After all, the hype surrounding Malerman's ability to instill terror in readers was almost legendary, so I eagerly dove into this highly anticipated book with excitement. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling deeply disappointed and let down in ways I hadn't anticipated.

From the start, it became clear that Incidents Around the House wasn't going to be the spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat experience I was hoping for. As someone who tends to get scared easily, I expected the book to get under my skin. I imagine that's the core appeal of Malerman's writing for many – the ability to evoke those unsettling, fear-inducing moments that linger long after reading. Sadly, this book failed to do any of that.

The story itself is a slow burn, but not in the way that builds tension or suspense. It felt more like an endless slog of dull events and repetitive moments that went nowhere. I kept thinking, Okay, this is going to lead to something big—some kind of twist or revelation, but it never came. Instead, I found myself trudging through chapter after chapter of what can only be described as boring filler. There was no payoff, no big "a-ha" moment to reward my patience. The narrative simply felt aimless.

As someone who gets creeped out easily, I usually find that a good horror novel will haunt me well after I’ve put it down. However, Incidents Around the House did the opposite. It failed to even make a lasting impression. The supposed "scary" moments never hit home for me. There was nothing about the book that felt unsettling, eerie, or remotely terrifying. If anything, the lack of tension and atmosphere made it almost frustrating to keep reading.

The most disheartening part of this experience is knowing how many people have praised the book for its scares, only for me to find it dull and devoid of excitement. I wanted to like it so much, but it simply wasn’t what I had hoped for. If I could give it 0 stars, I honestly would. I’m disappointed that my first foray into Malerman's work turned out this way, but I suppose not every book is going to be a winner.

In the end, I would caution other readers to skip this one. If you're looking for genuine scares, atmospheric tension, or anything even remotely exciting, Incidents Around the House won’t satisfy you. I can’t recommend this book, and I’m just glad I didn’t end up buying it after all my searching.

Thank you for NetGalley and Pac Macmillan for the ARC

Though this book was published in 2024, I got an invitation to review this book from the publisher as the paperback version will be released on March 27th 2025. To be honest I have always wanted to read this book and I was super excited for the invitation to review the book!

Bela is an eight year old girl who lives with her parents--Mummy and Daddo and her grandmother Ruth. But there is also the Other Mummy--a malevolent entity hiding in the closet of Bela's room. The Other Mummy wants only one thing from Bela--to help the Other Mummy enter into Bela. But Bela was frightened and soon, her parents also realized the presence of entity and tries to move from place to place. But the Other Mummy is persistent and would not let Bela live alone.

It is interesting to read from a child's point of view--the entire story is written in Bela's POV. There were jump scare parts particularly the description of Other Mummy in words, make you feel like you are actually watching a horror movie on the TV. The only thing about the book was, I didn't really care much about the other characters, and I just really wish there was some background of about Other Mummy. Other than those two negative points, the whole book gave a creepy sense of vibe throughout the story. There were terrifying parts as well.

Overall this book is worth five stars.

Seeing some of the reviews I honestly wondered if we'd all read the same book - sadly this one really missed the mark for me.
The story is narrated by a child, this didn't put me off - I've read some where it's worked really well, however this child was meant to be 8 years old, but reads like she's only 3 or 4! And don't get me started on the parents!!
I'm not a fan of the format this was written in, the story was so repetitive it felt like a chore to get through, any possible sparks of interest that could have been explored were rushed, and the ending a mess.
I received an arc ebook from netgalley.

‘Incidents Around the House’ by Josh Malerman is a spine-chilling haunted house story that quickly becomes more than just a typical ghost tale. The novel is seen through the eyes of 8-year-old Bela, whose perspective gives the horror a sense of innocence and vulnerability that amplifies the terror of the "Other Mommy" haunting her family. The eerie occurrences, though initially subtle, escalate into a chilling descent into fear.

What truly sets this book apart is its unique approach to the horror genre. The creeping unease is felt deeply as Bela experiences the haunting with no full understanding of what's truly going on — she only knows that something is wrong. The events in the story are described in a way that taps into the reader’s primal fears, with creepy, unsettling moments that evoke a sense of claustrophobia and dread. Malerman excels at crafting these terrifying scenes, making even the most ordinary settings feel sinister.

While the horror itself is unsettling, it’s the existential questions the book raises that linger long after the final page. The concept of "Other Mommy" following the family no matter where they go raises deep questions about parental protection, childhood innocence, and the things lurking just beyond comprehension. The moments when "Other Mommy" asks, “Can I go into your heart?” are particularly disturbing, adding a layer of psychological horror that makes you question what’s real and what’s not.

The mounting tension and terrifying visits from Other Mommy keep the reader hooked. There are also moments that blend a twisted sense of reality with a nightmarish quality that’s hard to shake off.

The ending is both a shock and a puzzle, leaving many readers (me - I’m the readers!) with more questions than answers. It’s open to interpretation, inviting readers to ponder whether the events were literal or metaphorical, symbolic of something deeper. This ambiguity adds to the lasting impact of the novel, ensuring that it stays in the mind long after the book is finished.

If you're a fan of horror that feels like a nightmare you can't wake up from, ‘Incidents Around the House’ is a must-read. It’s a haunting exploration of childhood fears, the mysteries of the mind, and the things that haunt us from the inside out. The unsettling, deeply psychological nature of this book makes it perfect for fans of both traditional ghost stories and those looking for something with a bit more depth.

With thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.

Until this book, I thought I was numb to being scared by words on a page. It proved me wrong and how delicious that was!

Written from the viewpoint of 8 year old Bela, the writing style is unusual but lends itself to the reader really FEELING what Bela feels. Childlike language and perceptions interspersed with adult interactions to add depth to the characters of Daddo, Mummy and Grandma.

And of course, 'Other Mummy', the entity that continues to haunt Bela from her closet and continually ask her to let her into her heart so that she can reincarnate. Shudders down my spine!

The story unfurls as Other Mummy continues to become emboldened and more brazen in her (it's) quest and be seen by others around the house. A war ensues between a family fighting an evil they are not prepared for, whilst managing their own family's idiosynchrasies and foibles and builds to finally escalate in a breathtaking climax where we know not who will triumph.

This book was an utterly frightful joy to read and I feel privileged to have witnessed the story. Seriously spooky and horribly fabulous.

Josh Malerman, I salute you!

Josh Malerman is one of the very few authors who can write books that really get under my skin and creep me out. He uses clever psychological scares rather than just browsing out on visceral horror. Loved the book, hope I can sleep without nightmares.

This one lived up to the hype.

Told entirely from Bela’s perspective, the book maintains a consistent and immersive tone, strengthening the eerie, unsettling atmosphere. Malerman crafts a story that is not just spooky but genuinely scary in places, and the way he describes events makes it incredibly visual—almost cinematic in its storytelling.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was excellent, enhancing the tension and drawing me even deeper into the unsettling mystery. The plot also took unexpected turns, never going quite where I thought it would, and I’m so glad it didn’t. By the end, I was left with a full-blown book hangover, processing everything I’d just read.

My only nitpick? The title. I get where it comes from, but it feels misleading for those going in blind. It undersells just how intense and haunting this book truly is.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded to 4.

Firstly - the way this book is written is at times disorienting, but honestly it makes the experience more genuine. The narrator is an eight year old girl, Bela, who is being haunted by an entity who calls itself Other Mommy, and the way it's written does a good job of portraying the confusion of this. I was expecting to be really scared by this book, but ended up sort of predicting what would happen which softened it for me. It's certainly unsettling, and as I mentioned, the format helps with the creepiness. If you're new to the horror genre then this might be a good gateway read for you!

I started this on audiobook a few months ago but I couldn't get into it with a child narrator. Not because they were bad at reading the book! It just didn't work for me. Luckily, Pan Macmillan reached out with an eARC for me to read with my eyeballs and I flew through it in a single evening! The non-traditional formatting choices took me a minute for my brain to adjust but once the story hooked me, I don't think I even noticed the text was laid out differently to a normal novel. This was so fast paced, which I especially enjoy in a haunted house story. Very little time was wasted with people second guessing the paranormal or refusing to take what was happening seriously.

Bela has a friend who lives in her bedroom closet. Other Mommy comes out at night. They have staring contests and laugh together. Other Mommy asks if she can go inside Bela's heart. Bela's not so sure about that, even though Other Mommy says if they were really friends she'd say yes. Other Mommy is getting tired of waiting to be let in and she's started venturing outside of Bela's bedroom, appearing during the day. Bela's getting scared now.

This book is pretty terrifying! It’s about a young girl who is being visited by ‘Other Mommy’ who lives in her bedroom closet - the premise is terrifying! It’s written from the child’s POV but Josh Malerman did it so skilfully, it’s not silly or cringey; I found Bela’s voice authentic and perfect for the story. The book is gripping, creepy and rather tense too and I would not read it after dark!

Frustrating one this. It started slowly, but I persevered and ended up very much enjoying the middle section, where things escalate and there’s a strong sense of rising terror. But the final act is pretty underwhelming and doesn’t really stand up to much interrogation at all. Almost brilliant, but ultimately falls short.

I have very mixed feelings about Incidents Around the House! On the one hand, I think the horror itself is fantastic. The various descriptions of the creepy entity known as Other Mommy are SO well done and truly made me a little fearful at night. I also loved how the story ended. But on the other hand, I found the narration of eight-year-old Bela to be insufferable. She reads more like she’s five, and yet her parents go off on philosophical monologues to her every so often. It all just felt a bit forced—and irritating—to me.

I think I could have really enjoyed this book if Bela was written to sound older. But as it stands, I think the brilliant terror of Other Mommy is dragged down by the narration style.

I only just realised this book was actually released in 2024 when I was coming to write the review!

This was a really interesting read for me in terms of the formatting, child perspective and the absence of speech marks during dialogue.
For that reason I found it hard to follow at times but it didn’t make it any less intense or addictive- it was fast paced horror chaos.
Kids will never not be one of the scariest horror tropes.
I did struggle to picture what other mother looked like - being described as being hairy and her eyeballs changing position it was hard to imagine anything other than Krum from “Aghh real monsters”.
I think the bit that disturbed me and scared me / distressed me the most was when the parents were drunk and mocking the entity- never ends well.

Thanks NetGalley for a copy of the book!

I LOVED incidents around the house! This unnerving gem is out on 27 March. It’s written from the perspective of a little girl who had grabbed the attention of an entity she calls Other Mommy who lives in her closet. It’s beautifully creepy from the first page and just gets increasingly intense. Absolute flew through it. Definitely worth a read, especially if you’re not a massive fan of sleeping…

This was one of my most anticipated reads of recent months and sadly it ended up being one of the most disappointing. It was 'fine' is all I really want to say. I am actually really sad at how disappointed I am. Sorry.

3.5 stars
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so when I managed to get a copy I read it immediately.
First off, I found this story was told in a very unique way (solely from the POV of an eight year old child Bela) which I loved. I liked the characters and was invested in them and I found the plot to be interesting. I was hooked on the story throughout.
However, I have to say that I didn't find this book to be creepy or scary at all.
In fact having finished it, I can't help but feel a little disappointed.
I just wanted so much more from this story. More chills, thrills and more action.
But, for the most part I did enjoy this. I liked the writing and I found it to be a unique read that I will remember and I do recommend reading this is one setting as it definitely adds to the tension if you do.