This Cursed House

"So good. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in 1962, it concerns a family haunted by ghosts, the actions of their ancestors, and their own past actions. Beautifully written, a fast read. The main character is flawed in understandable ways, and grows with the knowledge she gains throughout the story. "

"This is a fun historical fiction-southern gothic-paranormal mystery. Del sandeen takes you back to the 1960's and shows you what the life of an educated unmarried black woman was like. Jemma Barker's life in Chicago is falling apart when she is offered the job of a lifetime. The job offers her a new start on life and a move to New Orleans to work for the Duchon family. She believes she is hired to be a tutor, as she is a teacher, but when she arrives at the families estate she finds no children to teach. The eccentric family has not been honest with Jemma. The light skinned black family is a little antiquated and seem to despise her darker skin color, but they also seem to need her in their favor. The Duchons believe that Jemma is the only one who can free the family from a deadly curse. Offered unbelievable pay Jemma agrees to stay on and help, but as Jemma settles in to her new life down south, old problems begin to surface. Here is where things take a turn for the strange, and Jemma will have to get to the root of the mystery to save them all. The dark wonderland that Del has created is filled with messed up people and echoes of America's past. The paranormal aspects are the heart of the book, they will make you feel just as claustrophobic as Jemma. The Duchons are the perfect cast of morally grey, off-beat side characters that will help bond you to Jemma and leave you invested in the outcome of the story. This is the perfect book for a fan of historical fiction that wants to try dipping their toes into the spookier side of fiction. Fans of Crimson Peak, The Haunted Mansion and Sleepy Hollow should definitely give this book a spin"