Incidents Around the House

Frightened by the “Other Mommy” in her bedroom closet who asks her, "Can I go into your heart?,” Lonely 8-year-old Bela enters into a horrific waking nightmare involving her whole family.

I picked this one up for several good reasons. 1. I really like this author's work....2. I love ghost and paranormal stories...and 3. it's set in a town in my state, Michigan, even if it is a fictional town. It's a small town, that the author has named Chaps, Michigan, near some of the other fictional places in other of Josh Malerman’s spooky novels. The story revolves around a very, very dysfunctional and troubled family. Little Bela’s mommy has been cheating on her father, "Daddo", whose friendliness seems to clash with his wife’s overly show more dark personality. They are so wrapped up in their endless fighting and arguing and workplace demands that they’ve neglected to pay any attention to Bela. Then Bela meets "Other Mommy" who is sweet and seductive to start with. "Other Mommy" offers Bela, who blames herself for the mess that her parents are...a solution. They will trade places, with the Babadook-like presence that is reincarnated in Bela, and... who knows where she’ll go. “Whatever you do, most of all, don’t allow someone else’s meanness, someone else’s cruelty, to get inside of you,” Daddo offers this way too late advice to Bela. We don't have long to wait before a screaming, shape-shifting version of "Other Mommy" is revealed to the family, leading them to run off to an assortment of supposedly safe places and bring in experts that deal in the spirit world business to rid them of "Other Mommy". Leave it to Mom and Dad to get so caught up in themselves that they miss most of what Bela says. As a result of long monologues about secrets and lost innocence and such, the book loses a bit of its edge, but it soon picks up again. Bela is treated almost like an 'after thought" instead of someone that just might have the answers and that somewhat deprives the story of a deeper dimension. That said, Josh Malerman keeps us engrossed and wonderfully, creepily terrified, as that is one of his greatest talents. This novel has earned and well deserves a spot on my "books to read again and again" shelf. show less

Josh Malerman is back at it again, folks. The man who gave us Bird Box (and single-handedly made blindfolds trendy…?) now delivers Incidents Around the House. If you were hoping for a cozy haunted house story that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy, then I’m sorry to disappoint—but also, what the hell were you expecting? This is Josh Malerman we’re talking about, the guy who treats horror like an art form and nightmares like a second language. With Incidents Around the House, Malerman serves up a piping hot plate of dread, spiced with existential terror and garnished with family dysfunction. Bon appétit, you sickos.

Let’s start with the basics. The story revolves around eight-year-old Bela, her parents Ursula and Russ (aka show more Mommy and Daddo), and a malevolent closet-dwelling entity known as Other Mommy. What starts as Bela’s innocent imaginary friend—or so her parents hope—quickly escalates into a supernatural shitstorm. Other Mommy doesn’t just hang out in the closet making spooky noises. Oh no, this twisted bastard wants to “go into Bela’s heart,” which, is not as wholesome as it sounds.

Other Mommy’s persistence is unmatched. She shows up at bedtime, in the park, and probably in the background of your next family photo if you look hard enough. As Bela’s family scrambles to understand what the hell is happening, their own secrets and dysfunctions bubble to the surface, adding a delicious layer of human messiness to the supernatural horror.

Here’s the thing about Malerman: he doesn’t just want to scare you—he wants to mess with your head and make you think about your crappy childhood. Beneath the spooky stuff, Incidents Around the House dives headfirst into themes of innocence, trust, and the ways we fail the people we love. Bela’s perspective—the whole story is told through her eyes—is the perfect lens for exploring these themes. She’s a kid caught in the crossfire of her parents’ unraveling marriage and the literal demon in her closet. It’s heartbreaking and terrifying all at once. And let’s not forget Other Mommy, who’s more than just a creepy entity. She’s a manifestation of everything Bela fears and doesn’t understand: her parents’ fights, her own loneliness, and the instability of a world that should feel safe but doesn’t.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate Malerman’s twisted genius. The guy writes like he’s trying to crawl inside your brain and rearrange the furniture. His prose is deceptively simple—especially here, where the narrative mirrors an eight-year-old’s thoughts—but don’t let that fool you. Every word is meticulously placed to ratchet up the tension. By the time Other Mommy makes her first truly horrifying move, you’re already too deep in the story to look away.

Malerman’s decision to write from Bela’s perspective is a risky move, but damn, does it pay off. I dare say most writers fall into the trap of infantilizing children characters, forgetting what it’s like to truly be that age. But Malerman mostly nails the voice of a child without making it feel cloying or inauthentic. Bela’s innocence amplifies the horror, because you’re seeing everything through the eyes of someone who can’t fully comprehend what’s happening. It’s like watching a kid wander into traffic while you’re stuck on the sidewalk, screaming at them to stop.

Why does this book slap?:

The Atmosphere: This book is dripping with dread. From the first page, you’re sucked into Bela’s world, where every shadow hides a threat and every silence feels deafening. Malerman doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares; he builds tension slowly, making you feel like you’re walking on a tightrope over a pit of alligators.
The Characters: Bela is a standout, but let’s not forget Mommy and Daddo. They’re flawed as hell—Ursula’s having an affair, Russ is perpetually clueless—but their love for Bela is palpable. Their desperation to protect her, even as their own lives fall apart, adds an emotional depth that’s often missing in horror.
The Writing: Malerman’s prose is as sharp as a knife in a slasher. He balances Bela’s childlike narration with moments of gut-punching insight, creating a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is terrifying.
The Horror: Other Mommy is the stuff of nightmares. Malerman doesn’t over-describe her, which makes her even scarier. You’re left to fill in the gaps with your own worst fears, and trust me, your imagination is a sadistic jerk.
Alright, let’s nitpick. The ending might be divisive for some readers. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say it’s open to interpretation. Some people are going to love the ambiguity; others might throw the book across the room. Personally, I’m in the “What the hell just happened?” camp, but in a good way. Still, if you like your endings tied up in a neat bow, you’ve been warned. Another minor gripe is the pacing. As someone with quite a bit of patience, the slow build works for me for the most part, but there are a few spots where the tension dips.

Read this book you cowards. Despite the haunted house story being pretty fucking tired in my book, Incidents Around the House is a psychological gut-punch that feels quite fresh. Malerman proves once again that he’s one of the best in the game, delivering a book that’s as emotionally resonant as it is terrifying.

So go on, grab a copy. And when you’re lying awake at 3 AM, too scared to close your eyes, just remember: Other Mommy is watching. Sweet dreams. show less

Super Creepy, Super Suspenseful, and a Little Sad

Creepy, sad, and easy to relate to, this book is a paranormal horror suspense told almost entirely from a young child’s point of view.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 For Fans of:
- paranormal horror
- suspense horror
- haunted house
- haunted child
- short chapters
- child’s POV
- suspense horror

✏️ Spoiler-Free Review and Vibes
This book was so interesting to me because it was told almost entirely from a child’s perspective. From that angle you learn about the parents relationship with her and with each other, plus understanding why the child, Bella, feels certain ways about certain things.

Since the book is told from her point of view, almost asa diary, the writing is simple and definitely has a show more lot of details shared that she may not understand but we, as readers, do understand.

The vibes were creepy and at times I had to turn the lights back on because I felt so creeped out.

I also highly recommend the audiobook because it just made it way creepier and more realistic and almost sad, hearing it all from the child’s voice.

I would definitely read more from this author!

📚 Book: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman
📅 Release Date: OUT NOW (2024)
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5
✅ I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a creepy book! show less

"Who is good and who is bad? What is right and what is wrong? You ever think, Bela, how people say that light shows what things really look like, but they also say that light and dark are equal and need each other and you can’t have one without the other and so . . . is it so crazy to say that maybe what we see in the dark is the truth too?"

This is a really creepy novel told from the perspective of a child named Bela. Bela like a lot of children has an imaginary friend. But hers lives in the closet, and tells Bella she's her other Mommy. Other Mommy is constantly asking Bela to let her into her heart, to reincarnate her and bring her to life. And then Other Mommy starts appearing outside the closet, haunting Bela wherever she show more goes.

This was entertaining and scary..thank you Random House Ballantine for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

Josh Malerman's Incidents Around the House is a chilling horror novel centered on eight-year-old Bela, who is tormented by a malevolent entity called Other Mommy. As unsettling incidents around her home intensify, Bela realizes her family's safety hinges on her decision to let Other Mommy into her heart. The tension escalates with the cracks in her parents' marriage, adding to the sense of impending doom. Malerman's skillful blend of psychological and supernatural horror creates a haunting and unforgettable tale about a family's struggle against an unrelenting evil.

This has been the creepiest book I've read in a while. As I've always said anything with children gives me the chills. Did i sleep like crap last night? Absolutely! But that's great writing.

I sure do recommend this book to anyone who wants their heart rate to speed up when you hear your house crack at night, or when you look into a dark corner and see something that isn't there. And my favorite, having to use the restroom in the middle of the night. 🫣 Then this book is right up your alley.

"Doesn't everyone want to scream sometimes?
Doesn't everybody want to scream?"

This was a wonderfully creepy book. It's told from the perspective of a child, in the story, and one that is being haunted. "Other Mommy" has appeared in her life almost as long as she can remember. And she has a very special question she keeps asking.

I thought this book had interesting twists. The parents, Daddo and Mommy, are trying hard to help Bela - all the while, keep their lives and their sanity. I liked that each parent wasn't perfect. That we, as the reader, can easily wonder if we'd react like they do. I loved how up and down their "help" was, that they took offers and information from every source - right or wrong. Again, it felt realistic and I show more liked the twists.

But the ending was just a little abrupt - I would have liked more. show less