We have all experienced that feeling where we are alone on a dark night and believe there is something or someone watching us, but when we look, there is nothing there except our paralysing fear. This sums up how I felt reading The Home, enjoying it so much that I finished it in just two sittings. Strandberg successfully delivers those moments of terror we experience when watching a perfectly executed horror film, and has woven together a creepy, yet simple, story that forces the reader to face the monsters hidden in the closet, much like the characters in the novel.

The majority of the The Home takes place inside Pineshade Nursing Home and provides a deep humanising insight into the tragic, harrowing, and touching moments of dementia, and the effect it has on the patients, their families, and those who care for them on a daily basis. I feel that all readers should be able to relate in some way, which ultimately makes the plot much more horrifying as it unfolds.

Without revealing any spoilers, exploring the impact of dementia really heightens the creepy, and often subtle elements, of horror throughout the story, leading the patients, the carers, and even the reader to question the reality of the situation they are facing given the nature of the disease. You will find yourself rooting for the characters as Strandberg does an excellent job of playing with the mind and building a lot on what cannot be seen. There is a looming sense of dread that continues to crescendo (much like the patients’ outbursts) until it reaches a satisfying climax.

We follow most of the story in Joel and Nina’s points of view, who have equally been given a lot of thought and development. There is some rich backstory to sink your teeth into which feeds well into the main arc of the story. Furthermore, it is nice to see how representation of different communities, such as LGBTQ+, was part of the narrative but in no way forced, or an integral part of the story.

The Home is certainly a welcome addition to a genre which often lacks suspense and originality. I would therefore very much like to thank Jo Fletcher Books (Quercus Books) for granting me access to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.