It Was Her House FIrst

It Was Her House First was a thrilling haunted house story that was hard to put down. Cherie Priest’s style is casual and makes for an easy read, but full of all the dread and emotion I look for in a ghost tale. It Was Her House First is a ghost story - even more than it is a haunted house story because the house isn’t the only thing that’s haunted - so is Ronnie - by her anxiety, by choices made to live with that anxiety, and by memories of her brother.

The story is told primarily from two POVs, beginning with Bartholemew - who introduces us to the house - and to the “her” whose house it was first - nearly 100 years ago and Ronnie today.

Ronnie’s telling us her story in real time, beginning with giving us a tour of the house and illustrated by how she keeps putting off telling us about her brother until she’s ready.

Knowing (in part, at least) some of the earlier events in the house only added to the concern we have for her as she begins renovations - like telling on-screen characters not to go where you know the killer is, but Priest does a good job of telling us just enough to add to that dread but not so much that we’re not reading as fast as we can to learn not only what happens next, but what else happened before?

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Pub. date: 7/22/25

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