In the realm of ghost stories, authenticity often takes a backseat to theatricality. Sarah Pinsker’s latest novella, Haunt Sweet Home, deftly explores this tension through the lens of reality television, where staged hauntings blur the line between performance and genuine supernatural encounters. But beneath its spooky veneer lies a deeper meditation on self-discovery, family expectations, and the various ways we haunt ourselves.
Plot & Premise: Reality TV Meets Supernatural Reality
The story follows Mara, a directionless twenty-something who lands a job as a night-shift production assistant on her cousin Jeremy’s ghost-hunting reality show. Her role involves creating artificial scares for homeowners—hiding fog machines in orchards, playing spooky sounds, and tossing books from hidden corners. However, when she encounters Jo, a mysterious coworker who seems to know her better than she knows herself, the line between staged and real hauntings begins to blur.
Strengths: Carved in Detail
Atmospheric World-Building
Pinsker excels at creating rich, textured environments. The various locations—from the haunted orchard to the two-story library—feel lived-in and authentic. The author’s attention to detail in describing the technical aspects of reality TV production lends credibility to the narrative.
Complex Character Development
Mara’s journey from feeling like a “spare part” in her family to discovering her artistic voice through woodcarving is beautifully rendered. Her relationship with her grandmother, a renowned wood sculptor, adds depth to her character arc and grounds the supernatural elements in tangible craft.
Thematic Resonance
The novella thoughtfully explores themes of identity, family legacy, and artistic expression. The metaphor of woodcarving—finding the shape within—perfectly parallels Mara’s journey of self-discovery.
Challenges: Rough Edges
Pacing Issues
The story occasionally struggles with pacing, particularly in the middle section. Some scenes, like the cow-haunting episode, feel stretched thin while other potentially rich moments are rushed.
Character Relationships
While Mara’s relationship with Jo is central to the story, some secondary character dynamics, particularly with her cousin Jeremy, feel underdeveloped. The family dynamics, though interesting, could have been explored more deeply.
Plot Resolution
The ending, while thematically satisfying, leaves some practical questions unanswered about the nature of Jo’s haunting and its implications for Mara’s future.
Writing Style: A Skilled Craftsperson’s Touch
Pinsker’s prose is clean and efficient, with moments of lyrical beauty, particularly in descriptions of woodworking and the natural world. Her background as a musician shows in her attention to sound and rhythm, especially in scenes involving the family’s musical gatherings.
Genre Context & Comparisons
Unlike Pinsker’s previous works like We Are Satellites and A Song for a New Day, which lean more heavily into science fiction, Haunt Sweet Home represents a shift toward supernatural horror. However, it maintains her characteristic focus on character development and social dynamics.
The novella’s unique blend of reality TV critique and ghost story recalls elements of Grady Hendrix’s The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires in its mix of horror and humor, while its exploration of craft and legacy brings to mind Jo Walton’s Among Others.
Impact & Significance
Innovation in Ghost Stories
Pinsker brings fresh perspective to the ghost story genre by examining the relationship between artificial and authentic hauntings, asking questions about what makes a haunting “real.”
Craftsmanship Themes
The incorporation of woodcarving as both plot element and metaphor adds unique depth to the supernatural narrative, grounding ethereal concepts in tangible artistry.
Final Verdict:
Haunt Sweet Home is an ambitious novella that largely succeeds in its goals, despite some structural issues. Pinsker’s elegant handling of supernatural elements and her deep understanding of artistic process create a memorable story about finding one’s place in the world.
Reader Recommendations
This novella will particularly appeal to fans of:
- Character-driven supernatural fiction
- Stories about artistic creation
- Reality TV behind-the-scenes narratives
- Family dramas with supernatural elements
- Ghost stories that prioritize atmosphere over shock
Additional Notes
The novella’s examination of reality television production provides an interesting meta-commentary on the construction of narrative and authenticity, themes that resonate throughout Pinsker’s body of work. While some readers might wish for more conventional horror elements, the story’s strength lies in its subtle exploration of personal growth and self-discovery through supernatural means.