Author: Cori Nevruz
Publisher: Masonboro Press
Published: February 3, 2026
Cori Nevruz is becoming one of my go-to authors for creepy house settings. I read The Unwelcome Guest last year, a locked-room (island) thriller about a family reunion on a remote island. The setting of this, a remote mountain-top retreat, gave me the same creepy vibe.
The Johnson family of five has decided to spend their vacation at Murdoch Manor. They have no idea that it’s been linked to the disappearances of several people throughout the years, starting with the disappearance of Maryanne Maxwell in 1954. The story alternates between the POVs of Rachel and Mia Johnson and the victims of those who went missing over the years. To complicate matters, there is a family that is responsible for cooking and cleaning, BnB style, but their interactions with the family are rather suspect to me!
As much as I try to stay away from paranormal events in stories, Mia’s ability to see spirits is a thread that is important to the story, and it was so well done that it didn’t make me cringe.
Thank you to Book Sirens and Masonboro Press for keeping this author on my radar with an advance reader’s copy.
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