🩸 Horror Fiction

Crooked

✍️ Natalie Sipes
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$5.69
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A woman faces supernatural terror after losing her family and partner.

Veronica’s situation deteriorates rapidly after being pushed out by her parents and abandoned by her cheating boyfriend. She uses her remaining funds to secure an apartment, only for the space to become hostile. Frightening writings manifest on surfaces, and physical damage to the building escalates. The plot shifts from personal grief to a supernatural investigation as she meets strange people and tracks a mysterious follower. The core mystery involves a man who suffered a similar breakdown three decades ago. Sipes connects these timelines to show how past trauma influences present fears. The story relies on atmosphere and character psychology rather than action sequences. It offers a look at isolation and the breaking point of the human mind.

Key Themes
family estrangement supernatural haunting psychological decline
Literary Context

Published in 2014 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work sits within the indie horror market. It reflects contemporary anxieties about housing instability and relationship failure. The narrative draws on gothic traditions of haunted domestic spaces. It appeals to American readers interested in modern supernatural fiction that blends personal tragedy with paranormal events.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier · Thomas Ligotti · Stephen King
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2014 📖 84 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781494892920

📝 Description: Crooked

Natalie Sipes wrote Crooked, a narrative centered on Veronica, a woman whose life unravels after her parents force her to use her savings for an apartment and her boyfriend ends their relationship following months of infidelity. The story follows her descent into isolation as strange occurrences begin within her new home. Messages appear on walls, and structural elements like cracks and crashes intensify the atmosphere. Veronica encounters odd individuals and feels pursued by a man whose identity remains unclear. She uncovers the history of another person who experienced a similar collapse thirty years prior, linking her current crisis to past events. This work draws on traditions of psychological horror and supernatural fiction. It examines the consequences of familial estrangement and romantic betrayal. The narrative structure moves from personal loss to external paranormal threats. Sipes qualifies as an author exploring these dark themes through character-driven plots. The book suits readers interested in stories about mental decline and unexplained phenomena. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted romance or straightforward mystery without supernatural elements.

💎 Our verdict on Crooked

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Natalie Sipes delivers a tightly focused exploration of psychological horror, using Veronica’s descent into madness to examine the consequences of betrayal and loss. The narrative effectively shifts from personal grief to supernatural investigation, maintaining a tense atmosphere through escalating structural damage and mysterious writings. While it lacks high-octane action, the character-driven plot offers a chilling look at mental decline. The book suits readers who prefer atmospheric dread and complex emotional landscapes over traditional jump scares. It is a solid choice for those interested in how past trauma echoes into the present, though it may disappoint those seeking lighthearted romance or clear-cut mystery solutions.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a deep dive into the fragility of the human mind will find this narrative compelling. It offers a poignant examination of grief, familial estrangement, and romantic betrayal, showing how these forces can unravel one's reality. Those interested in atmospheric horror that prioritizes psychological tension over action will appreciate the slow burn of dread. The book is ideal for fans who enjoy stories where past trauma influences present fears, creating a sense of inevitable collapse. It provides a unique look at isolation and the breaking point of sanity without relying on cheap scares or straightforward mystery resolutions.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Natalie Sipes delivers a tightly focused exploration of psychological horror, using Veronica’s descent into madness to examine the consequences of betrayal and loss. The narrative effectively shifts from personal grief to supernatural investigation, maintaining a tense atmosphere through escalating structural damage and mysterious writings. While it lacks high-octane action, the character-driven plot offers a chilling look at mental decline. The book suits readers who prefer atmospheric dread and complex emotional landscapes over traditional jump scares. It is a solid choice for those interested in how past trauma echoes into the present, though it may disappoint those seeking lighthearted romance or clear-cut mystery solutions.

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