In my never-ending search for the next compelling book, I came upon Marcus Kliewer’s first novel, “We Used to Live Here.” This title occurred to me on a particularly sleepy Sunday afternoon as I was exploring future releases on different book sites. As a long-time fan of psychological thrillers and horror tales, the idea of this novel instantly piqued my interest. It promised a spooky, frightening atmosphere reminiscent of some of my favorite horror films. After reviewing many similar works, including Ruth Ware’s “The Turn of the Key” and Sarah Pinborough’s “Behind Her Eyes,” I was impelled to delve into Kliewer’s story.
Initial Impressions
“We Used to Live Here” captures your attention right away with its fascinating arrangement. The plot focuses on Charlie and Eve, a young homosexual couple who make a fortune flipping properties. Their newest project is an antique home in a gorgeous but secluded area. They are overjoyed with the contract they’ve secured, considering it to be an ideal chance for a profitable flip. However, their enthusiasm is fleeting. One day, when Charlie is gone, Eve opens the door to a man called Thomas and his family, who claim to have lived in the home for years. Despite her initial doubts, Eve’s courteous approach convinces her to let them inside to show their children around.
About the Author: Marcus Kliewer
Marcus Kliewer is a rising star in the genres of psychological thriller and horror literature. Kliewer, known for his ability to create gripping storylines that keep readers on the edge of their seats, has swiftly established himself as a master of dark, atmospheric writing. His work often digs into the disturbing parts of the human mind, deftly addressing topics like dread, memory, and the eerie.
Kliewer is a Canadian native whose work reflects his degree in psychology and appreciation of classic horror literature. He takes influence from Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, and other genre masters, but he also provides a unique viewpoint. His tales often portray regular individuals thrown into exceptional and horrific circumstances, blurring the boundary between truth and psychosis.
Kliewer’s narrative is distinguished by its fast pace, rich details, and the insidious, creeping dread that grows with each chapter. These aspects are on full show in “We Used to Live Here,” where he tells the terrifying story of a family returning to their previous home, only to discover hidden truths and confront their worst fears. The book demonstrates Kliewer’s ability to create engrossing, disturbing settings that stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.
Marcus Kliewer, a relatively young author, is rapidly gaining popularity among aficionados of horror and psychological thrillers. His writings are renowned not just for their riveting narratives, but also for their ability to delve into the darkest aspects of the human experience. With “We Used to Live Here,” Kliewer solidifies his name as a suspense and horror fiction writer to watch.
Plot Summary and Characters
Once inside, things get odd and terrible. Unexplained occurrences continue to unfold: the family’s youngest kid goes missing, ghostly apparitions arise, and strange phenomena grow, indicating that the family’s stay is anything but pleasant. Eve is entangled in a web of terror and bewilderment, particularly when Charlie disappears without a trace.
Eve, the primary character, is shown as relatively weak and indecisive, often deferring to Charlie on crucial issues. This portrayal is critical as her confusion and anxiety deepen, taking readers through a psychological labyrinth in which reality and psychosis merge. Thomas, on the other hand, is portrayed as strangely calm and relentless, which adds to the unnerving mood.
Themes and Comparisons To Other Similar Books
Here’s a table comparing “We Used to Live Here” to the other novels mentioned:
| Aspect | We Used to Live Here | The Girl Before | The Silent Patient | Home Before Dark | The Cabin at the End of the World | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Marcus Kliewer | JP Delaney | Alex Michaelides | Riley Sager | Paul Tremblay | Daphne du Maurier |
| Main Theme | Psychological horror centered on home and past | Home as a site of control and manipulation | Trauma and the search for truth | Haunted house and blurred reality | Home invasion and apocalyptic horror | Gothic mystery and psychological tension |
| Setting | A house filled with traumatic memories | Minimalist, high-tech house | Psychiatric institution | Haunted mansion (Baneberry Hall) | Remote cabin | Manderley, an English estate |
| Protagonist | A woman confronting her traumatic past | Two women from different timelines | Psychotherapist investigating a patient | Maggie Holt, investigating her past | Family besieged by strangers | Young bride haunted by her predecessor |
| Narrative Style | First-person, unreliable narrator | Dual timeline, alternating perspectives | First-person, with diary-style entries | Dual timeline (past and present) | Third-person, multiple perspectives | First-person, with a strong sense of place |
| Psychological Focus | Effects of trauma on memory and reality | Control, memory, and desire | Repressed memories and their consequences | Distinction between reality and fiction | Paranoia, belief, and mental breakdown | Identity, memory, and the haunting past |
| Horror Element | Blurring of reality and delusion | Psychological manipulation and control | Psychological trauma | Supernatural or psychological hauntings | Threat of physical and psychological terror | Haunting presence of a past figure |
| Twists and Revelations | Frequent twists regarding the protagonist’s past | Numerous twists about the house’s secrets | Major twist regarding the protagonist’s past | Uncovers the truth about a potentially haunted house | Ambiguous ending and psychological tension | Revelations about Rebecca’s true nature |
| Tone and Atmosphere | Claustrophobic, eerie, unsettling | Tense, controlled, mysterious | Dark, introspective, unsettling | Gothic, suspenseful, eerie | Tense, urgent, apocalyptic | Gothic, mysterious, atmospheric |
Marcus Kliewer’s psychological thriller “We Used to Live Here” explores deep-seated anxieties of house invasion and the eerie. Kliewer brilliantly constructs a tale that blurs the borders between fact and illusion, resulting in a terrifying environment in which the protagonist’s sanity is continuously questioned. The work is renowned for its study of topics such as memory, trauma, and the long-term influence of the past on the present, all set inside the boundaries of what should be the safest place—a home.
Given the book’s heavy psychological emphasis and horror themes, here are some related works with thematic and stylistic parallels:
1. “The Girl Before” by JP Delaney
“The Girl Before” is a psychological thriller that, like “We Used to Live Here,” explores the idea of home as a source of horror and power. In this story, two ladies from different eras move into a minimalist, cutting-edge home constructed by a mysterious architect. The mansion, which is almost like a character in its own right, has rigorous rules, and the more the characters dive into its secrets, the more they learn about their own weaknesses and wants.
Comparison: – Theme of house as a Psychological environment: Both works address the idea that a house may be more than a physical environment, but also a psychological battlefield. While Kliewer’s work looks at this through the perspective of prior trauma emerging in a familiar place, Delaney utilizes the architectural construction of the home to reflect power, manipulation, and how the environment shapes human behavior.
- Unreliable Narrators: Both tales include protagonists that aren’t fully trustworthy. In “We Used to Live Here,” the protagonist’s views are obscured by prior trauma, but in “The Girl Before,” the narrative switches between two women whose perspectives on reality are formed by their experiences in the home.
- Twists and Reveals: Both volumes are full of unexpected twists that keep the reader on edge as they strive to put together the truth.
2. Alex Michaelides’ “The Silent Patient”
In “The Silent Patient,” Alicia Berenson, a great painter, murders her husband and then refuses to speak again. The plot progresses as her psychologist, Theo Faber, gets concerned with discovering the reasons for her silence, probing into her background and potential traumas that led to the murder.
Comparison: – Psychological Trauma: Similar to Kliewer’s story, “The Silent Patient” focuses on the protagonist’s prior trauma and its impact on their current behavior. Both novels investigate the issue of repressed memories and how they might lead to apparently irrational conduct.
- Therapeutic Investigation: Both novels feature a character attempting to piece together a traumatic past, but in “The Silent Patient,” a third party (Theo) is investigating Alicia’s silence, whereas in “We Used to Live Here,” the protagonist is dealing with these buried memories.
- Claustrophobic Settings: Although “The Silent Patient” is mostly set in a mental facility, it shares a feeling of claustrophobia with Kliewer’s work, in which the setting’s walls seem to press in on the protagonists as they discover painful facts.
3: “Home Before Dark” by Riley Sager
“Home Before Dark” tells the unsettling story of Maggie Holt, who returns to the home her family abandoned years ago following a series of terrible, mysterious incidents. Maggie’s father published a best-selling book on their experiences, alleging that the home was haunted. Maggie must now determine if the atrocities they saw were genuine or a fiction.
Comparison: – Haunted home: Both stories revolve on a home that is more than it seems. In “We Used to Live Here,” the home evokes horrific memories, but in “Home Before Dark,” it provides the setting for perhaps otherworldly phenomena. In both cases, the home serves as the focal point for the growing psychological terror.
- Dual Timelines: Sager’s story has a dual narrative structure that alternates between Maggie’s current inquiry and extracts from her father’s book. This pattern is similar to how Kliewer intertwined the present with recollections from the past, resulting in a layered narrative that gradually revealed the truth.
- Reality vs. Fiction: Both stories query the nature of reality, with characters unsure whether their experiences are based on fact or are the result of their imaginations. The blurring of the border between reality and fiction heightens the psychological strain in both novels.
4: “The Cabin at the End of the World” by Paul Tremblay
Paul Tremblay’s “The Cabin at the End of the World” is a gripping, apocalyptic horror tale that pushes the limits of terror and paranoia. The plot revolves on a family on vacation in a rural cabin who are kidnapped by a gang of strangers who declare they must make a horrible sacrifice to keep the world from ending.
Comparison: – Home Invasion: Both stories explore the innate dread of home invasion. In Kliewer’s story, the invasion is more psychological and linked to the protagonist’s past, but in Tremblay’s, the danger is immediate and tangible, raising problems about belief and reality.
- Psychological Horror: Tremblay, like Kliewer, dives into his characters’ psyche, investigating how severe conditions might drive them to the brink of crazy. Both works retain a constant tension, with the protagonists’ psychological states degrading as they face unspeakable events.
- Ambiguity and Paranoia: Both novels make readers rethink what is real. Tremblay’s story is notorious for its enigmatic finish, much as Kliewer’s book leaves the reader wondering about the actual nature of the events taking place in the home.
5. Daphne du Maurier’s “Rebecca”
Though a classic gothic tale, “Rebecca” has thematic similarities with Kliewer’s work, most notably the investigation of a haunting past that lingers over the present. The book follows the narrative of a young bride who arrives into Manderley, her husband Maxim de Winter’s mansion, only to find herself living in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, whose presence seemed to pervade the home.
Comparison: – Psychological Unrest: Similar to “We Used to Live Here,” “Rebecca” explores the protagonist’s developing anxiety in her new home. Both stories look at how past events may leave lengthy shadows on the present, influencing the protagonists’ mental states.
- home as a Character: Manderley, like the home in Kliewer’s book, takes on its own personality, full with memories and secrets that haunt the living. The atmosphere of the home in both tales adds much to the overall feeling of dread.
- Identity and Memory: Both books explore the notion of identity, how it is molded by memory, and how the past may affect and even control the present. The characters are both struggling to identify themselves in the face of powerful historical forces.
Analysis and Review
Kliewer’s ability to create a sense of creeping dread is one of his most riveting literary skills. The novel is mostly told from Eve’s point of view, enabling readers to feel her increasing paranoia and anxiety. The home becomes a character, with its dark past and secrets eventually revealed, adding layers to the mystery.
Kliewer’s detailed work conjures up vivid images of the unpleasant events in the home. The narrative framework, which includes strange notes and interviews, contributes to the story’s depth and complexity. These aspects suggest a larger conspiracy or supernatural phenomena, prompting readers to wonder what is real and what is imagined.
However, the book is not without criticism. Some readers may find Eve’s character annoyingly passive, and her actions dubious. This passivity, although important to her character growth, may occasionally slow the story down. Furthermore, although the book’s conclusion is gripping, some readers may want a more decisive resolution.
Spoilers and Key Moments
For those who want the whole experience, here are some spoilers and significant moments:
- The Mysterious Family: Once inside, Thomas’s family displays progressively unusual behavior. Their unwillingness to go, along with their peculiar dynamics, creates a sense of dread.
- The absence: Charlie’s unexpected absence signals a watershed moment. Eve’s frantic search and the weird evidence she discovers heighten the tension.
- Supernatural Elements: The ghostly presence in the basement and the apparition of Eve’s childhood toy monkey, together with the house’s shifting construction, point to a malicious force at work.
- The Unraveling: As Eve delves further, she discovers cryptic notes and interviews that hint to the house’s dark history and prior tenants who suffered similar tragedies.
Further Analysis
“We Used to Live Here” transports readers to a realm where reality and the otherworldly intersect. The mansion, with its fluctuating construction and menacing presence, symbolizes the protagonists’ psychological moods. Eve’s fight with her sanity is reflected in the house’s increasingly unpredictable behavior. The cryptic notes and interviews sprinkled throughout the narrative point to a wider, maybe more evil, past concerning the property and its previous residents.
Kliewer’s writing style is both detailed and evocative, and he skillfully creates a feeling of dread throughout the narrative. The thorough descriptions of the house’s layout and the spooky events that occur inside it add to the overall sense of dread. The author’s use of third-person narration immerses readers in Eve’s developing anxiety and terror, making the horror seem personal and urgent.
The novel’s pace is measured, with suspense growing gradually and deliberately. This slow-burn method may not appeal to many readers, especially those who love action-packed horror. However, for those who value psychological depth and atmospheric tension, “We Used to Live Here” is a gratifying and terrifying experience.
Comparing to Similar Works
Comparing “We Used to Live Here” to other works in the genre reveals Kliewer’s distinct approach to horror. While it has thematic similarities to “The Haunting of Hill House” and “House of Leaves,” Kliewer’s emphasis on the psychological disintegration of his characters distinguishes it. The novel’s combination of supernatural horror and psychological thriller components results in a unique and fascinating reading experience.
Furthermore, the novel’s societal critique, similar to “Get Out” and “Parasite,” adds another degree of complexity. The invasion of the couple’s private space by Thomas and his family is a metaphor for greater social concerns. The notion of invasion and ensuing loss of power resonates well, making the terror seem both present and contemporary.
Impact of the Novel
“We Used to Live Here” contributes significantly to the horror genre. It establishes Marcus Kliewer as a potential new voice capable of telling captivating and frightening stories. The novel’s appeal stems from its ability to merge psychological horror with supernatural aspects, resulting in a narrative that is both thought-provoking and disturbing.
Early reviews of the work complimented Kliewer’s ability to create mood and tension. The novel has been referred to as “an atmospheric nightmare” and “a gem of contemporary horror.” These distinctions reflect Kliewer’s ability to tell tales that connect with readers and make an impact.
Conclusion
Marcus Kliewer’s first album “We Used to Live Here” sounds promising. It’s a tale that expertly blends psychological horror with supernatural themes, resulting in a fascinating story that keeps readers on edge. While the novel has shortcomings, its main assets are the atmospheric tension and the way it plays on fundamental concerns of home invasion and the unknown.
For aficionados of horror and psychological thrillers, this is a must-read. Its connection to “Get Out” and “Parasite” is well-deserved, since it explores comparable themes of society and personal terror. As I add this book to my ever-growing collection of reviews, I am convinced that Kliewer is a horror novelist to watch. His ability to craft a suspenseful and terrifying story assures that “We Used to Live Here” will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading it.
Kliewer’s first stands out among current horror tales for its psychological depth and atmospheric intensity. “We Used to Live Here” encourages readers to go into the darkest depths of the human brain and face their innermost anxieties. It’s a horrifying but captivating trip, making it a highlight in the genre.
As I contemplate on my newest review, I’m reminded of why I like horror fiction. They have a distinct capacity to investigate the human condition, delving into our worries and anxieties in ways that other genres cannot. “We Used to Live Here” is an excellent illustration of this, since it asks us to face the unknown and examine our own conceptions of reality.
To summarize, “We Used to Live Here” is a frightening and thought-provoking tale that will appeal to readers of psychological horror and supernatural thrillers. Marcus Kliewer has produced a narrative that is both terrifying and immensely interesting, demonstrating his writing abilities. As I conclude this chapter and look ahead to my next literary journey, I can’t help but be curious to see what Kliewer comes up with next. If “We Used to Live Here” is any indicator, we may expect some genuinely scary stories in the future.
