The Caretaker
by Marcus Kliewer
Horror | Thriller
322 Pages
Released April 2026
Rating: ★★★★ 1/2
Goodreads
Content Warnings
Kliewer’s book starts with a stark warning to the reader: “You will find no rosy platitudes here.” This is a suggestion should be very much heeded by the reader. I highly suggest proceeding with caution if you are experiencing mental health issues.
This book follows Macy Mullins, years after unexpected loss of her father. Her mother already out of the picture, Macy and her sister are left bereft, working meager jobs and barely scraping by. When a caretaking add grabs Macy’s attention, the prospect is almost too good to be true. The job, which is already odd to begin with, ends up becoming way more than Macy ever bargained for.
I adored Kliewer’s previous novel, We Used to Live Here. By that I mean, I was so fantastically creeped out by that atmosphere that I ended up reading the book far past my normal bedtime just to know how it ended. This book, while very much different from the previous, was filled with similar vibes. By chapter three, I knew I had to put it down for the day, otherwise I’d be reading it until 4am again (and unfortunately, I was not in a position to be sleep deprived).
Without a doubt, Marcus Kliewer is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror authors. The atmosphere of this story is immaculate, and the way the pressure mounts over the course of the novel is absolutely fantastic. I felt stressed, and upset, and angry and scared - it also very much evoked the memories and feelings of darker times in my life.
This book, I think, would also evoke a lot of discourse. There’s a lot to be dissected here, as Kliewer does some clever work reframing mental health issues into horror themes. The author also leaves a lot up to the reader’s interpretation and the line between reality and fantasy is fuzzy at best. I certainly had a lot to say about it once I finished reading it because I had no idea how to feel by the end other than I loved it and simultaneously wanted to throw my Kindle against the wall.
That said, I know this story won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Again I say, proceed with caution. But horror fans will surely devour this one as quickly as I did, and this story will sit with you longer after you’ve finished reading.