- Title: We Used to Live Here
- Author: Marcus Kliewer
- Published: June 2024
- Genre: Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Paranormal
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
👉 You can grab a copy of We Used to Live Here on Amazon.
A Different Kind of Horror
We Used to Live Here is not your typical haunted house story. It’s unsettling in a way that creeps into your thoughts and refuses to leave.
The story follows a married lesbian couple who buy a house, hoping to start fresh.
But what begins as an exciting new chapter soon unravels into a chilling psychological nightmare.
The Unsettling Feeling While Reading
From the first pages, I felt a sense of unease that only grew as the story progressed.
Kliewer crafts moments that feel ordinary, almost mundane — like a family visiting the house — only to twist them into something deeply disturbing.
The way the children’s behavior shifted from natural to uncanny left me genuinely uncomfortable.
And the basement scene? That’s where the tension really cemented itself for me.
Writing Style & Atmosphere
Kliewer’s writing is fast-paced, with short chapters that keep you on edge.
The narrative drives forward with urgency, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
However, some flashback scenes felt slightly confusing, and I struggled with certain coded sections like the use of Morse code — I only understood those better after checking Goodreads discussions.
Even so, the overall style works brilliantly to maintain suspense.
Themes & The Ending
The novel leans more toward psychological horror than gore.
It bends your mind with questions about the family, the house, and the nature of reality itself.
The ending in particular is a gut-punch — disturbing, layered, and full of ambiguity.
Just when I thought I understood, Kliewer delivered another twist that left me unsettled and questioning everything.
The unresolved nature of the finale reminded me of how horror sometimes works best: leaving space for readers’ imaginations to haunt them long after the book is finished.
Final Thoughts
We Used to Live Here is a fast, eerie, and thought-provoking read that blends psychological and paranormal horror.
It’s not about gore or jump scares — it’s about dread, unease, and the shadows between what we know and what we fear.
I recommend it to horror fans, both newcomers and seasoned readers. If you’re ready for a mind-bending, unsettling ride that stays with you, this book is worth your time.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.