Author: Marcus Kliewer
Published: April 21, 2026 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books/12:01 Books
Format: Hardcover, 295 Pages
Genre: Horror
Blurb: Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she's not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.
Besides, it’s only three days’ work…
Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.
What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.
Follow the Rites...
Follow the Rites...
Follow the Rites...
My Opinion: I went into The Caretaker fully prepared to say, “Nope, not for me.” Horror and I have an understanding: it stays over there, and I stay over here with my cozy mysteries and my sanity intact. And honestly, book recommendations rarely land for me. I’m never sure if it’s that people don’t quite know my reading quirks, or if they’re simply passing along what worked for them and hoping for the best. But every now and then, something slips past my defenses and pulls me in before I realize I’ve stopped breathing.
Well… this time, it worked.
I’m not usually a horror reader, but Marcus Kliewer had me from page one. My usual “let me give it a moment” turned into nine chapters plus the preface, which, by the way, is unsettling enough on its own to make you wonder if you should keep going or call for backup. The vibe is a little King, a little Koontz, and a dash of From (the TV show) sprinkled in for good measure. It’s that brand of horror where the world feels just familiar enough to lull you in, and then suddenly you’re staring at something so wrong your brain needs a minute to recalibrate.
This is absolutely a “read in big sweeping chunks” kind of book. If you stop, it takes a handful of pages to find your footing again, like trying to jump back onto a moving train. Make the commitment. Settle in. Accept that air is optional. And then join the ever growing “what the heck did I just read?” fandom. Also, side note, maybe don’t leave a depressed person in charge of saving the world. Just saying.
This was my first Kliewer novel, and to the folks who recommended it: dang, you did good. I may not sleep tonight, but I read the thing, and it’s going to stew in my head for a long while. I’ll be eyeing any future Kliewer books with a healthy dose of side eye, wondering if I’m about to be dragged into another creepy, terrifying ride where rabbits are omens and eye color determines who’s good and who’s very much not.
And honestly? I kind of hope I am.
Besides, it’s only three days’ work…
Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.
What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.
Follow the Rites...
Follow the Rites...
Follow the Rites...
My Opinion: I went into The Caretaker fully prepared to say, “Nope, not for me.” Horror and I have an understanding: it stays over there, and I stay over here with my cozy mysteries and my sanity intact. And honestly, book recommendations rarely land for me. I’m never sure if it’s that people don’t quite know my reading quirks, or if they’re simply passing along what worked for them and hoping for the best. But every now and then, something slips past my defenses and pulls me in before I realize I’ve stopped breathing.
Well… this time, it worked.
I’m not usually a horror reader, but Marcus Kliewer had me from page one. My usual “let me give it a moment” turned into nine chapters plus the preface, which, by the way, is unsettling enough on its own to make you wonder if you should keep going or call for backup. The vibe is a little King, a little Koontz, and a dash of From (the TV show) sprinkled in for good measure. It’s that brand of horror where the world feels just familiar enough to lull you in, and then suddenly you’re staring at something so wrong your brain needs a minute to recalibrate.
This is absolutely a “read in big sweeping chunks” kind of book. If you stop, it takes a handful of pages to find your footing again, like trying to jump back onto a moving train. Make the commitment. Settle in. Accept that air is optional. And then join the ever growing “what the heck did I just read?” fandom. Also, side note, maybe don’t leave a depressed person in charge of saving the world. Just saying.
This was my first Kliewer novel, and to the folks who recommended it: dang, you did good. I may not sleep tonight, but I read the thing, and it’s going to stew in my head for a long while. I’ll be eyeing any future Kliewer books with a healthy dose of side eye, wondering if I’m about to be dragged into another creepy, terrifying ride where rabbits are omens and eye color determines who’s good and who’s very much not.
And honestly? I kind of hope I am.
