These Walls Remember

“Delilah’s descent into madness juxtaposed with the devastation of the past provides a unique perspective for this haunted house. Perfect for fans of gothic fiction who also appreciate historical references, as in LaTanya McQueen’s When the Reckoning Comes (2021) and Charlotte Carter’s Beauty in the Blood (2025).“—BooklistPraise for This Cursed House“If you’re a fan of Jordan Peele’s films, you’ll love this novel.”—WTMJ TV (Milwaukee)“Heavy as the theme is, This Cursed House is never less than absolutely fun. It’s self-aware but never self-conscious, and Sandeen pauses the breakneck pace only to ensure that you have a moment to fully grasp the secrets buried in its lineages and family trees, like Wuthering Heights transposed to the Big Easy. It’s such ripe Gothic that if you squeezed it, I’m half convinced blood-red juice would stain your hands.“—Esquire“An absolute marvel of a debut from a prodigious talent. This Cursed House is a richly atmospheric, utterly chilling ghost story, an enthralling puzzle box of family scandals and secrets—that’s also an unflinching examination of the insidiousness of racism, the horrors of colorism, and how the toxicity of hate is a curse that traps us all with the worst of ourselves. A spellbinding Southern gothic.”—Rachel Harrison, New York Times bestselling author of Play Nice and Black Sheep“Del Sandeen’s This Cursed House is a richly layered Southern gothic about the cruelty of family secrets and the many different ways we can be cursed. This house is full of ghosts, but it’s the people who are truly haunting. A wonderful debut!”—Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Last Resort“Sandeen’s critiques of racism and colorism are powerful and Jemma is a wonderfully complex protagonist… . Sandeen is an author to watch.”—The New York Times“A sinister and beautifully rendered Southern gothic, This Cursed House explores the real-life horrors of racism and trauma. Del Sandeen’s stunning debut haunted me.”—Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching“A fresh perspective to the gothic horror genre. The author’s exploration of bloodlines, family, and race is complex and nuanced, and her heroine is easy to root for as she confronts ghosts both literal and metaphorical.” —Publishers Weekly “In this haunting and chilling story, an inglorious remnant of American history is handled so deftly that you won’t believe it’s Del Sandeen’s first novel. It’s hard to say which is more disturbing: the otherworldly goings-on in the Duchon mansion or the racism of the South in the 1960s.”—Alma Katsu, author of The Fervor“An enthralling, twisty Southern Gothic historical full of family secrets and century-spanning sins. A remarkable debut.“—Eden Royce, award-winning author of Root Magic“This Cursed House is a hauntingly beautiful story about how far we would go for family—both the living and the dead. An absolute must-read for fans of gothic horror.”—Darcy Coates, USA Today bestselling author of The Whispering Dead“An eerie and emotional journey into a family’s haunted past… . Sandeen masterfully builds suspense, blending supernatural elements with a deep exploration of familial bonds and personal identity… .This novel will captivate fans of gothic horror and those who enjoy richly atmospheric settings, as This Cursed House stands out for its emotional depth and spine-tingling narrative, making it a memorable addition to the genre.”—Booklist“With her debut novel, Del Sandeen solidifies herself as a force to be reckoned with, as she seamlessly merges the residue of racism and colorism with the horrors of generational trauma that remains centuries later. This is a must-read for lovers of books like Beloved, Kindred, and Corregidora.”—Essence

Del Sandeen lives in northeast Florida, where she works as a copy editor and writes speculative fiction. Her work has appeared in FIYAH- Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction and Gay Mag and on the Nightlight podcast. She is the author of This Cursed House.

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