, , ,

We Used to Live Here

As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in. As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things? This unputdownable and spine-tingling novel “is like quicksand: the further you delve into its pages, the more immobilized you become by a spiral of terror. We Used to Live Here will haunt you even after you have finished it” (Agustina Bazterrica, author of Tender Is the Flesh).

About the Author

Marcus Kliewer

 

Litlinks Review

Picked this one at the airport.

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer is a haunting, psychological horror novel that masterfully blends supernatural terror with a surreal, mind-bending narrative. The story follows Eve and Charlie, a couple who move into an old Victorian house, only to face inexplicable and unsettling events triggered by a mysterious family that claims to have once lived there.

The novel expertly combines classic haunted house tropes with themes of psychological disorientation. Readers are drawn into Eve’s spiraling paranoia as the house seems to warp reality itself. Kliewer incorporates intriguing elements like the Mandela Effect and doppelgängers, creating a pervasive sense of unease. Eve, as the central character, is relatable yet deeply flawed, adding emotional weight to the surreal horrors she encounters.

I was a bit frustrated as not all mysteries in the story were resolved. The ambiguous ending invites introspection, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy unresolved tension and lingering questions.

Its psychological depth and immersive horror does make it a standout in the genre.

 

Country of Origin

Canada

Available Formats

audio book, hard cover, paperback