Book Review: Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

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

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: Del Rey (June 25, 2024)

Length: 371 pages

Author Information: Website

I’m always excited every time Josh Malerman puts out a new book because of his unique blend of psychological horror and suspense, and there’s almost always a cool, spine-tingling twist. Playing on the monster-under-the-bed trope, Incidents Around the House did not disappoint, putting the spotlight on childhood fears and amplifying them to new heights that will scare the young and old alike.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Bela, a precocious eight-year-old who reveals she has an imaginary friend she calls “Other Mommy” who lives in her closet and comes out only after her parents tuck her in and say good night. But is Other Mommy truly imaginary? And is she really only confined to little Bela’s room? At first, Other Mommy is nice and wants to be Bela’s friend, but then she starts asking uncomfortable questions, questions like “Can I go into your heart?” which doesn’t sound like something someone friendly would say.

At first, Bela’s parents Ursula and Russ—Mommy and Daddo to our young protagonist—are unconcerned, believing Other Mommy to be a product of their daughter’s active imagination. But then Ursula, hiding a terrible secret and wracked with her own private guilt, thinks she catches a glimpse of something lurking in Bela’s room. Soon after, an accident in the park involving Bela has Mommy and Daddo rushing to the hospital, realizing something is very wrong. The entity known as Other Mommy is becoming more brazen, more powerful. It talks to Bela about reincarnation, and of taking her place. Soon, her parents are forced to confront the awful reality—there is something haunting their daughter, and to save her, they must act quickly to drive it out of their home, which may involve delving into their own fears and secrets.

That all these horrors are experienced from a child’s point of view is perhaps the most notable aspect of this novel. In some ways, having Bela as the narrator makes this story even more sinister and disturbing because it adds a layer of innocence and vulnerability to the terror. Not only did Bela’s naïve interpretations of strange events lead me to wonder at her reliability, but it also made her trust in the safety of her parents feel even more heartbreaking. As readers, we recognize Ursula and Russ’s desperation and their helplessness, made worse by Bela’s limited understanding of the truth behind Other Mommy, and this shattering of an idyllic childhood by a malevolent force can be felt like a punch in the gut.

Malerman also has a knack for creating atmospheric tension, especially when he is poking at deep-seated fears, like a parent’s worst nightmare of not being able to protect their child (see Bird Box and Malorie, for example). This tension is perfectly on display in Incidents Around the House and is infused completely into the plot as Other Mommy’s presence grows ever more encompassing, and Bela’s parents become frantic in trying to understand and fight this supernatural threat. In the second half of the book, this urgency rises to a fever pitch to give the reader a sense that every decision will have crucial consequences.

Of course, certain plot elements may feel familiar to horror fans, as the author is riffing on quite a few genre clichés. Still, the unique POV goes a long way to make up for this, as do some of the themes that come with it, such as the concept of lost innocence—the moment a child realizes that her parents are not infallible, for instance, and that they can’t in fact protect her from every danger lurking in the shadows. Then, of course, there is the worst revelation of all, which is that adult relationships are confusing and complicated, and the love between Mommy and Daddo isn’t as simple and solid as they’ve made Bela believe.

Overall, Incidents Around the House was a great read, providing a chilling and thought-provoking experience. I enjoyed the blending of familiar tropes with the exploration of familial relationships, especially from the perspective of a little girl which Josh Malerman manages very convincingly, earning a well-deserved recommendation from me if you are looking for an immersive dive into the eerie unknown.