It Was Her House First
By (Author) Cherie Priest
Sourcebooks, Inc
Poisoned Pen Press
30th September 2025
22nd August 2025
United States
General
Fiction
Horror and supernatural fiction
Fiction: general and literary
813.6
Paperback
352
Width 140mm, Height 210mm
A brand-new horror thriller from award-winning author Cherie Priest! Ronnie Mitchell's new home isn't exactly empty; it's hiding secrets, and one of them means to take everything from her. Ronnie doesn't know it yet, but her fate rests in the hands of the dead. Silent film star Venita Rost's malevolent spirit lurks spider-like in her cliffside mansion, a once-beautiful home that's claimed countless unlucky souls. And she's not alone. Snared in her terrible web, Inspector Bartholomew Sloan-her eternal nemesis-watches her wreak havoc in helpless horror, shackled by his own guilt and Venita's unrelenting wrath. Now the house has yet another new owner. This time it's Ronnie Mitchell, a grieving woman who buys the run-down place sight unseen. She arrives armed with an unexpected inheritance, a strong background in renovation, and a blissful ignorance regarding the house's blood-soaked history. But her arrival has stirred up more than just dust and decay. In the shadows, unseen eyes watch. Then, a man comes knocking. He brings wild stories and a thinly veiled jealousy, as well as a secret connection to the house that can only lead to violence. Venita's fury awakens, and a deadly game unfolds. Caught between a vengeful ghost and a ruthless living threat, Ronnie's skepticism crumbles. The line between living and dead isn't as sharp as it seems, and she realizes too late that in Venita's house, survival might be just an illusion.
CHERIE PRIEST is the award-winning author of two dozen books and novellas. Her works have been nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards for science fiction and have won the Locus Award (among others)-and have been translated into nine languages in eleven countries. Cherie lives in Seattle, Washington.