Incidents Around the House

Eight-year-old Bela has an imaginary friend named Otter, but there's something deeply unsettling about this companion that only she can see. What begins as innocent childhood play gradually reveals itself to be something far more sinister, as Otter's influence over Bela grows stronger and the line between imagination and reality blurs in terrifying ways. Her mother becomes increasingly alarmed by her daughter's behavior and the strange occurrences happening in their home, leading to a desperate attempt to understand what Otter truly is before it's too late. Josh Malerman crafts a chilling exploration of childhood innocence corrupted, told through Bela's own voice in a way that makes the horror feel both intimate and disturbingly authentic. The novel taps into primal fears about the vulnerability of children and the unseen forces that might prey upon them, while examining how parents navigate the terrifying possibility that something genuinely malevolent has entered their lives. Malerman's signature atmospheric dread builds steadily throughout, creating a deeply unsettling reading experience that lingers long after the final page. Perfect for readers who appreciate slow-burn psychological horror with supernatural elements, this novel combines the everyday terror of domestic life with genuinely frightening paranormal stakes. Fans of Malerman's previous work will recognize his talent for taking familiar scenarios and twisting them into nightmarish territory, while the unique perspective of a child narrator adds fresh dimensions to the haunted house subgenre.