We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

I just finished We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer, and I’ll start by saying this: this story is best enjoyed if you go into it knowing as little as possible. If you’re a fan of domestic horror thrillers that lean heavily into mystery, just stop here and give it a shot.

For those who need a bit more to go on, here is my take.

TLDR:

This book is a gripping domestic horror thriller that thrives on mystery and high-wire suspense. It is a well-written, unsettling exploration of that paradigm shift that occurs when the "established norm" begins to morph into something new and different.

Synopsis:

The story kicks off when a couple is interrupted by a mysterious family who knock on their door and claim that they used to live in their newly purchased house. They ask for a tour.

What begins as an awkward social encounter quickly spirals into a domestic nightmare. It’s a "house of horrors" story that plays with your sense of security and makes you question the history of the spaces we inhabit.

On a deeper level, it’s a parable of identity and acceptance that will echo in your mind long after you close the book.

Insights:

• The "Ergodic" Feel: The suspense is incredibly well-maintained and the story is fantastic, but what really stood out to me were the materials placed between the chapters. It gave the book an ergodic quality—like I was navigating a puzzle rather than just reading a straight narrative.
• Social Subtext: Beyond the scares, I recognized echoes of social justice and the friction of change. It captures that specific fear of the “established norm" being forced to give way to new and different ideas about what a family can be.
• Reading Between the Lines: As an LGBTQIA+ ally with a queer partner, I saw a struggle written into the subtext regarding displacement and identity. It’s a struggle I haven’t endured firsthand, but I’ve seen others go through it, and seeing it reflected here felt very intentional.

Final Reflection:

I gave this 4/5 stars. There is a lot of depth here that I’m not quite ready to dive into yet because I need to think more on it and also I don't want to hit spoiler territory in a general review. I need to let this one settle in my mind for a while, but it’s a fantastic recommend for thriller readers looking for horror, or horror fans who want a solid mystery.