Release date: April 14, 2026
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Synopsis:
Follow the Rites…
Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake.
From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:
Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.
Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she’s not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.
Besides, it’s only three days’ work…
Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.
What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.
Follow the Rites…
Follow the Rites…
Follow the Rites…
..— / ….. / —..
Review:
The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer had such an intriguing premise that immediately pulled me in, and for a large portion of the book, I was completely invested. The eerie, isolated setting and the slow unraveling of something deeply wrong created a genuinely unsettling atmosphere. Kliewer’s writing is evocative and immersive, excelling at building tension and delivering moments that are creepy, disturbing, and at times downright chilling. There’s a strong sense of unease woven throughout, and I found myself both fascinated and unnerved by what was unfolding.
That said, this ended up being a bit of a mixed experience for me. Macy, our main character, was difficult to connect with—her perspective often felt frustrating to sit in, which made it harder to stay emotionally grounded in the story. While I could appreciate what the author was attempting with her characterization, it created a level of distance that impacted my overall engagement.
Ultimately, my enjoyment hinged heavily on the ending, and unfortunately, that’s where it lost me. The conclusion felt abrupt and somewhat underdeveloped, leaving a significant number of questions unanswered. Rather than feeling intentionally ambiguous, it came across (for me personally) as incomplete, which made the overall experience feel a bit unsatisfying after such a strong buildup. There’s no denying the creativity and atmosphere here, but I was left wishing for a more fully realized resolution.
Overall rating: 2/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 