👻 Ghost Stories

The Day of the Door

✍️ Laurel Hightower
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$16.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A family reunion unravels dark secrets about a brother's violent death.

Hightower examines the lingering effects of trauma through the Lasco family. Stella Lasco finally addresses the incident that ended their childhood. Nathan Lasco harbors deep resentment toward his mother for her role in Shawn's death. The arrival of a paranormal team shifts the dynamic from grief to investigation. The third floor holds the key to the mystery. The narrative does not offer easy comfort but rather confronts the reader with unresolved pain and supernatural elements. This approach creates a tense atmosphere where past sins dictate present realities. The story focuses on the psychological weight carried by each sibling.

Key Themes
family trauma supernatural investigation hidden family secrets
Literary Context

Published by Ghoulish Books in 2024, this work fits within contemporary American horror fiction. It engages with gothic traditions of haunted houses and familial curses. The setting remains tightly focused on the Lasco home, reflecting a modern interest in domestic horror where safety is violated.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Daphne du Maurier · Stephen King · Angela Carter
👻
Ghost Stories
🏛 Ghoulish Books 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781943720965

📝 Description: The Day of the Door

Laurel Hightower presents a chilling narrative in The Day of the Door. The story centers on the Lasco siblings, who faced a world that failed to protect them. Their childhood ended on a hellish night when eldest brother Shawn died violently after being dragged behind closed doors. Official records list this as an accidental death, but Nathan Lasco knows better and has never forgiven their mother, Stella. Two decades later, Stella promises to reveal the truth of The Day of the Door. She invites a paranormal investigative team to accompany the family for one final gathering. The Lasco siblings come together again, though none are prepared for the revelations waiting on the third floor. Hightower draws on gothic and supernatural traditions to explore family trauma and hidden secrets. The narrative structure focuses on the reunion and the subsequent investigation into past events. This book suits readers who enjoy atmospheric horror and complex family dynamics rooted in the supernatural. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or clear resolutions without ambiguity. The story relies on the tension between known facts and hidden truths within a confined domestic setting.

💎 Our verdict on The Day of the Door

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Hightower delivers a chilling examination of family trauma through the lens of gothic horror. The narrative effectively shifts from grief to investigation, utilizing a paranormal team to unearth secrets hidden behind closed doors. The confined domestic setting amplifies the tension, forcing characters to confront their brother's violent death and their mother's perceived role in it. While it lacks fast-paced action or easy comfort, the atmospheric dread is palpable. This work best suits readers who enjoy psychological depth and supernatural ambiguity over straightforward horror tropes.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric horror rooted in complex family dynamics will find this title compelling. It offers a deep dive into the psychological weight carried by siblings facing unresolved grief and hidden secrets. The story suits those interested in gothic traditions where the past dictates present realities, providing a tense exploration of trauma rather than simple scares. Those seeking ambiguity over clear resolutions will appreciate the nuanced confrontation with pain and supernatural elements.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Hightower delivers a chilling examination of family trauma through the lens of gothic horror. The narrative effectively shifts from grief to investigation, utilizing a paranormal team to unearth secrets hidden behind closed doors. The confined domestic setting amplifies the tension, forcing characters to confront their brother's violent death and their mother's perceived role in it. While it lacks fast-paced action or easy comfort, the atmospheric dread is palpable. This work best suits readers who enjoy psychological depth and supernatural ambiguity over straightforward horror tropes.

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