Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy — Ghost Stories

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Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy

Name: Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy
Price: 28.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
ISBN: 9780593723128

✍️ Josh Malerman

Reader Score

4.8

(5 reviews)

$28.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A haunting tale of a girl facing a malevolent entity demanding entry into her heart.

The narrative focuses on Bela, an eight-year-old girl whose family faces supernatural threats from Other Mommy. This entity repeatedly asks to enter Bela's heart, escalating tension as incidents around the house grow more severe. The story examines how familial bonds and marital issues intersect with paranormal horror. Malerman uses a child’s perspective to explore fear and loyalty within a haunted home setting.

Key Themes

family bonds supernatural haunting parental strain

Literary Context

This novel sits within the contemporary American horror genre, published in 2024 by Del Rey Books. It draws on gothic and supernatural traditions, focusing on domestic spaces as sites of terror. The work reflects modern interests in psychological horror and family dynamics.

Josh Malerman

📚 all books by this author (49) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Gothic ghost stories with emotional depth · Psychological horror focusing on family dynamics

👻

Ghost Stories

🏛 Del Rey Books 📅 2024 📖 367 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780593723128

📝 Description: Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy

Josh Malerman, known for his work in horror fiction, presents a chilling narrative centered on eight-year-old Bela. Her world revolves around her mother, father, and grandmother Ruth, but it is disrupted by Other Mommy, a malevolent entity seeking entry into Bela’s heart. The story unfolds through the perspective of this young girl as she witnesses terrifying incidents within her home that signal Other Mommy’s growing impatience. This supernatural force demands an answer to its repeated question, threatening her family if they refuse. The plot highlights the tension between familial bonds and marital strain, showing how cracks in Bela's parents' marriage endanger her safety. As Other Mommy becomes bolder and stronger, the household faces escalating paranormal events that test their resilience. Malerman draws on gothic and supernatural traditions to craft a unique tale of haunting. The book suits readers who enjoy psychological horror and family dynamics under pressure. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted fiction or traditional ghost stories without emotional depth. This novel explores themes of fear, loyalty, and the fragility of domestic life through a child’s eyes. Malerman’s approach offers a distinct voice in contemporary horror literature.

💎 Our verdict on Incidents Around the House: A Novel: The Inspiration for the Movie Other Mommy

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Malerman crafts a chilling narrative that successfully merges gothic haunting with psychological tension. The use of a child’s viewpoint creates an unsettling atmosphere where domestic life feels precarious. However, this may not suit readers seeking lighthearted fiction or traditional ghost stories lacking emotional complexity. Those preferring straightforward plot resolutions might find the focus on marital issues and supernatural ambiguity frustrating. It is best for those willing to engage with themes of loyalty and fear within a strained family structure, rather than those looking for conventional horror tropes without deeper thematic resonance.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate horror that intertwines supernatural terror with complex familial relationships will find this novel compelling. It offers a unique exploration of fear and loyalty through the eyes of eight-year-old Bela, making the stakes feel intimate and personal. The narrative effectively uses a child’s perspective to highlight marital strain and domestic fragility, appealing to those who enjoy psychological horror over simple jump scares. It is ideal for audiences seeking emotional depth alongside paranormal threats, as it examines how parental bonds are tested by malevolent forces. This book provides a distinct voice in contemporary literature, focusing on the tension between safety and danger within the home.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Fans of psychological horror and gothic family dramas will find this compelling. The narrative delves deep into marital strain and parental fear through a child’s perspective. However, readers seeking lighthearted escapism or traditional jump-scare ghost stories without emotional weight should look…

Reader rating

4.8

Based on 5 reviews

Emily H.

May 17, 2026

Been meaning to get this one for a while. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. Five stars from me.

Sarah G.

October 10, 2025

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. Five stars from me.

Donna G.

October 26, 2025

Worth every penny

This has been on my wishlist for months. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Print is comfortable for late-night reading.

Emily J.

September 14, 2025

I read a lot of horror and I'm picky. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Five stars from me.

❓ Frequently asked questions

While both feature Malerman’s signature tension, this story focuses on supernatural intrusion within a family unit rather than sensory deprivation. It explores parental protection and marital collapse under paranormal pressure, offering a different kind of dread.

The horror stems from psychological manipulation and the violation of domestic safety. It features intense emotional stakes and a relentless antagonist rather than graphic violence, making it more unsettling for those sensitive to family dynamics and child endangerment.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Josh Malerman situates his novel within the rich lineage of domestic gothic fiction, echoing the claustrophobic dread found in works by Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier. By shifting the gaze to a child’s vulnerable perspective, he revitalizes the haunted house trope. This approach bridges classic supernatural tradition with modern psychological trauma, creating a fresh entry in contemporary horror that emphasizes emotional terror over mere physical threat.