Incidents Around the House - Josh Malerman
A chilling horror novel about a haunting told from the perspective of a young girl whose troubled family is targeted by an entity she calls “Other Mommy,” from the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?”
When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay.
Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling.
But Other Mommy needs an answer.
Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror told by the child Bela. A story about a family as haunted as their home.
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I recently picked up Josh Malerman's 'Incidents Around the House,' mostly because I was so captivated by 'Bird Box.' And let me tell you, this book does not disappoint in delivering a unique brand of horror that truly gets under your skin. The core mystery revolves around 'Other Mommy,' a malevolent presence that haunts young Bela's home, and it’s this entity that makes the book so incredibly chilling. From Bela's perspective, 'Other Mommy' isn’t just a ghost; it's a persistent, insidious threat that asks, "Can I go inside your heart?" daily. This simple question, repeated over and over, builds an unbearable tension, a slow-burn dread that is far more terrifying than jump scares. You really feel Bela's mounting terror and helplessness. What struck me most was how Malerman manages to make this entity both abstract and terrifyingly real. Is 'Other Mommy' a manifestation of family trauma, a literal demon, or something else entirely? The ambiguity is part of its power, mirroring the unsettling feeling from the book's cover with its dark, plush toy and glowing aura, suggesting something innocent turned sinister. The search query 'other mommy incidents around the house' really zeroes in on what makes this book so compelling. It's not just about the entity itself, but the 'incidents' it causes – the subtle shifts, the growing cracks in the family's façade, and the escalating threats that make Bela realize her family is in grave danger. These aren't grand, theatrical hauntings; they're personal, psychological attacks that erode the safety Bela associates with her home and parents. The way Malerman draws out this escalating horror through the eyes of a child is masterful, forcing you to confront primal fears of vulnerability and the breakdown of familial protection. For anyone interested in deeper dives, thinking about 'other mommy drawing' (as in, how the entity is depicted or imagined) is fascinating. The book doesn't give a concrete image, which allows your own mind to draw the most terrifying version. The cover's shadowy toy gives a hint, but the true horror is in what you can't see, what's implied. The psychological depth of the story, combined with Malerman's distinctive voice, makes 'Incidents Around the House' a must-read for fans of atmospheric, character-driven horror. It's a story that truly draws you into its nightmare world and leaves you pondering the nature of evil long after you've finished reading.
I need to read this book!!!! It’s on my ever growing tbr lol but I’d love to get around to it soon!