We Used to Live Here

"We Used to Live Here" is a disquieting psychological thriller that transforms the familiar anxiety of homeownership into something far more sinister. When a couple finally purchases their dream home, they're eager to start fresh—until a seemingly harmless knock at the door shatters their peace. A family appears claiming they used to live in the house and asking for a brief tour for nostalgia's sake. What begins as an awkward but understandable request quickly spirals into an increasingly disturbing invasion that refuses to end. Kliewer crafts a masterful slow-burn exploration of territorial anxiety, personal boundaries, and the unsettling question of who truly belongs in a space. The novel taps into primal fears about home security and the vulnerability of letting strangers cross your threshold, while gradually peeling back layers to reveal something far stranger lurking beneath the surface. The tension escalates with surgical precision, transforming polite discomfort into genuine dread. What makes this debut particularly compelling is Kliewer's ability to ground supernatural unease in relatable domestic anxieties. The novel will appeal to readers who appreciate horror that begins in the mundane before veering into genuinely bizarre territory, reminiscent of works by Catriona Ward or Andrew Pyper. It's a propulsive, unsettling read that asks: what would you do if the previous owners simply wouldn't leave—and what if their reasons for returning were more disturbing than you could imagine?