Of the three Darcy Coates books I’ve read so far, The House Next Door stands out as my favorite. With her signature gothic-horror style, Coates weaves a spine-tingling narrative filled with creative, original details that keep readers eagerly turning pages. This one has been the hardest to put down yet.​

Jo lives alone with her three cats next to the infamous Marwick House – a place shrouded in ghost stories and local legends. Tenants come and go rapidly, the longest staying only a few months. The most recent occupants fled in the middle of the night, abandoning all their belongings after firing gunshots in one of the rooms – a scene Jo witnesses through her window.​

Anna is a newly single small-business owner who refurbishes intricately decorated dolls. Escaping an abusive relationship, she moves into Marwick House seeking a fresh start. As Anna befriends Jo, she begins to notice strange occurrences: lights flickering on their own, doors opening and closing, and the apparition of Helen Marwick, a ghost from the 1940s. Anna believes Helen is a protective presence, but Jo remains skeptical. The more time Jo spends in Marwick House, the stronger Helen’s influence becomes, threatening both women’s grip on reality.​

Helen’s tragic history is revealed throughout the book, and I didn’t see certain twists about her dramatic death creeping up on me. Her husband’s death left me with the same feeling, what I thought I solidly knew earlier in my read-through turned out to be entirely false before I reached the end. It goes to show you, we never truly know the full story of what goes on behind closed doors (especially behind doors that mysteriously close themselves).

Another detail of this one that I truly loved was the cast of characters – almost entirely made up of strong female leads, with the exception of Anna’s abusive ex Raul and Jo’s skeptical but kind cousin Lukas. For the feminist reader who loves a good ghost story where the damsels in distress save themselves, this one scratches an itch perfectly.With vivid details and a compelling narrative, this slow-burn horror thriller delves into themes of trauma, insanity, and the supernatural. It’s a truly horrific tale that will take you on a psychological journey. If you’re interested in more of Darcy Coates’ work, check out my reviews of The Haunting of Ashburn House and The Haunting of Blackwood House. But if you’re looking to start with the best, I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of The House Next Door!