When Alex Easton receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania. What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady. Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.
What Moves the Dead by T Kingfisher
Narrators: Andy Ingalls
My Rating: 4.25/5?
Goodreads Rating: 3.86?
Storygraph Rating: 3.91?
Length: 4hrs 30mins / 402pgs
Fantasy | Horror | Gothic | Mystery
Pacing: Fast
Spice: None
Gore: Low
Now horror is absolutely NOT my genre. I am a scaredy cat. This was the perfect level of creep for me and I’ve even decided to read the next in the series soon. What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Poe’s ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ I’ve not read the original so I can’t comment but this was short, fun and psychologically creepy.
With creepy mushrooms, a run-down gothic mansion and the only animals within the area being ‘weird’ staring hares, there really shouldn’t be much delight in this story. However, Kingfisher’s ability to write such loveable and funny characters no matter the setting is a true gift. Given the limited word count, none felt like cardboard cut-outs to me and I definitely had a few chuckles along the way. The writing was atmospheric and the moods changed seamlessly without the feeling of whiplash.
Great narration by Andy Ingalls – no notes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Perfect for those of us that aren’t wanting nightmares but need a little change. Also, a shorter book so not a huge commitment in between big reads. Definitely recommend.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene