If you weren’t already freaked out by dolls or puppets, How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix will make sure you are by the end.

Grady Hendrix is hands down one of my favorite horror authors, and I credit him for pulling me into the genre. I’ve historically avoided horror—it always felt too scary or unsettling—but Hendrix has a way of writing horror that’s accessible without losing the creep factor. Whether it’s his slow-burn approach or his intriguing, layered stories, his style makes the genre feel less intimidating and more captivating.

How to Sell a Haunted House is a prime example of why I love his work. After being let down by his novel The Final Girl Support Group, this one totally redeemed him in my eyes. While it’s not my all-time favorite (that honor belongs to The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires), this book is easily my second favorite of his novels.

The story centers on Louise and Mark, estranged siblings who are forced to reconnect after their parents tragically die in a car accident. Tasked with clearing out and selling their parents’ house, they soon realize that the process—already emotionally fraught—comes with an additional complication: haunted dolls and puppets. Yeah, big fucking problem.

The first third of the book is a bit of a slow burn, as Hendrix takes his time developing Louise and Mark’s strained relationship. Personally, I didn’t like either character all that much, but that almost felt intentional. They’re written so well that their flaws and dysfunction don’t detract from the story—they add to it.

As is typical with Hendrix’s writing, the horror builds gradually, with moments that genuinely made me gasp or cringe. (Pro tip: don’t read this alone at night unless you’re ready to side-eye every doll in your house.) At one point, I had to take a few weeks off from reading because the creep factor was just that intense.

If you’re a fan of Hendrix or the horror genre in general, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s a solid entry in his repertoire and one that will haunt you long after you turn the final page.