The Caretaker is a masterclass in slow-burn dread that turns into full-blown psychological and supernatural terror by the end. This is Marcus Kliewer’s second novel following his hugely successful debut, We Used to Live Here—and it not only proves he isn’t a one-hit wonder but also that he’s writing horror like no one else right now. While the story is already so unsettling, the audiobook is a completely different level of terror—making it the ultimate reading format. Aside from being mind-bending and terrifying, the novel weaves in compelling mental health themes, including grief, trauma, anxiety, codependency, and dissociation—so readers sensitive to these themes should proceed with caution.

The story follows Macy Mullins, a desperate young woman trying to keep her life—and her younger sister’s—from falling apart after their father’s death. When money runs out and options disappear, she takes on a mysterious three-night house-sitting job in an isolated home with a strict list of rules. What begins as a strange but manageable gig quickly spirals into something far more sinister. The house has its own logic, its own demands, and its own terrifying consequences for those who don’t follow them.

The novel opens with an eerie prologue from the POV of David, the home’s owner, immediately setting a chilling tone that will send shivers down your spine. From there, the narrative shifts to protagonist Macy’s POV, pulling readers deep into her unreliable psyche and trauma-filled past. She’s someone you’ll root for but also grow increasingly frustrated with—as her desperation, grief, and need to protect her sister drive her to make choices that will have you practically yelling at the page! Her initial journey to the interview for the house-sitting gig is steeped in atmospheric dread, but it’s nothing compared to what happens once she steps inside the house!

The rules—keep the lights off, never answer the door, and more—become a source of constant, escalating terror. The writing is intensely immersive, making you feel as though you’re trapped in the house with her. But the heart of the story is the relationship between Macy and her sister, which will pull at your heartstrings. As the pressure on Macy intensifies, the events in the house become more mind-bending, blurring the lines of reality and what sinister force is behind it all!

It’s important to know that despite a slower start that introduces Macy and her sister’s backstory, once she accepts the job and steps into the house, the pacing becomes relentless, with chapter after chapter ending on unsettling notes that make it impossible to put down—and even when you want to look away, you won’t! It’s unpredictable the whole way through, and when you finally reach the end, you’re left with that disorienting, “What the hell did I just read?” feeling that demands a discussion with someone else who’s read it! And just like the author’s debut, you’ll be thinking about it for days afterward!

Without a doubt, this is a must-read for fans of psychological horror, haunted house stories, and anyone who enjoys stories that play with perception and reality! And if you enjoyed Kliewer’s debut, you’ll love this one as well—and do yourself a favor and listen to the audiobook, as Jeremy Carlisle Parker brings the story to another level, making it impossible to stop listening!