Audiobook Review: A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

Mogsy’s Rating (Overall): 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Hachette Audio (October 3, 2023)

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Author Information: Website

Narrator:  Carol Monda

In Elizabeth Hand’s A Haunting on the Hill, protagonist Holly Sherwin is a struggling playwright who is hoping to find new inspiration outside of her dead-end job teaching English in New York City. A promising opportunity soon presents itself in the form of a grant to produce “Witching Night,” a new play she had recently written about a 17th century woman who makes a Faustian deal with the devil who comes to her in the guise of a big black dog. Hence, upon discovering an abandoned and delightfully spooky mansion nestled along a lonely road out in the remote country, Holly decides she has found the perfect place to hold rehearsals.

After wasting no time contacting the house’s owner to make the arrangements, she moves in with her modest crew. In addition to Holly, there is her girlfriend Nisa, singer and songwriter extraordinaire who will also be working on the play; Stevie, a sound director and actor who will be taking on the role of the devil in “Witching Night”; and finally, Amanda, a washed-up actress who is hoping Holly’s production will put her back in the spotlight following a scandal that all but ruined her career.

However, none of the guests find themselves too comfortable in the house which will be their home for the next few weeks. Even the caretakers, who for years have maintained the property for its secretive owner, refuse to stay in the house, not even for one night. Exploring the grounds around the mansion, Holly comes across a strange breed of large black hares that keep popping up to smile their eerie, blood-stained human-like teeth at her And then there’s the crazy knife-wielding neighbor lady who doesn’t seem at all pleased with the crew moving in. The house itself also seems alive with a malevolent energy, buzzing with unexplained noises and strange occurrences.

The rest, you can probably guess. Like many others, I suspect, my interest was first piqued when I read the publisher description and saw the following quote: “first-ever authorized novel to return to the world of Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House.” Admittedly, my expectations also went through the roof at this, though looking back, I probably shouldn’t have overhyped myself. Clearly, it was the author’s duty to carry on the original novel’s legacy and tradition, a book which had so influenced and defined the haunted house genre. As such, it also shouldn’t have been surprising when A Haunting on the Hill failed to introduce anything remarkably new or groundbreaking into the mix.

That said, it’s worth noting that the characters are entirely fresh faces. They brought a different kind of dynamic to the table, even if I found them insufferably self-inflated and naïve because they mostly fit the mold of your stereotypical “artsy city folk.” On the bright side, this did make it all the more entertaining to witness the house drive their minds to madness and push them to their limits.

Ultimately, this book would be perfect if you’re looking for a haunted house book that echoes the timeless classic. In that regard, it was enjoyable, if also conventional and safe. Credit to Elizabeth Hand though, her writing was skillful in managing to nail the familiar creepy ambience of Hill House, even if it’s simply in a “retreading of familiar territory” kind of way. At the end of the day, A Haunting on the Hill can be viewed as a respectful homage to Shirley Jackson’s iconic work, a fine read for fans of the original even if it might not leave a lasting impression.

Audiobook Notes: Great narration by Carol Monda, and I appreciated the little touches like sound effects (though I would have liked to hear even more).