The Unhaunting/Micaiah Johnson
G.P. Putnam’s Sons/September 29, 2026
A unique twist on the standard “haunted house” trope, Micaiah Johnson’s The Unhaunting honors Shirley Jackson in the author’s sophomore effort.
Shantell’s life has been filled with loss, resulting in her only family being Avery, the boy she grew up with who has always supported her during bouts of anxiety and depression. Avery is her everything, but Shantell is not blind to his flaws–his need to be liked, his acceptance of a charmed life he hasn’t earned, his former addiction. He accepts her shortcomings, so she accepts his.
When Avery inherits a centuries-old house, Shantell follows him from Illinois to Mississippi with the goal of renovating it. They both see the enterprise as a fresh start, a challenge that could start a new chapter for each of them. Indeed, the house is magnificent despite its age, and the process of restoring it for re-sale or re-purposing seems exhilarating.
But right away, something is off. The house has strange idiosyncrasies and details, such as the strangely unblemished walls and floors. If the house is that ancient, how is that possible? Dying and felled trees lie just pass the property lines, none before it. There seems to be an attic, but Shantell and Avery cannot access it during the renovation.
In the beginning, Shantell is more unsettled by the presence of Avery’s older brother Tobias than by the oddities of the house. Tobias was the villain of her childhood, a nasty teenager with a rage problem who put his fists on Avery. As the elder brother, Tobias should have inherited the house, and Shantell wonders about his lingering resentment against Avery for the slight. Tobias soon proves resourceful and complex, however, and Shantell identifies with his darkness and insecurities.
Tobias and Shantell begin to comprehend that this is more than just a house. They see things that Avery refuses to; and sometimes not in exactly the same way, which only makes their observations even more bizarre. And there are holes in Avery’s memories regarding summers he’d spent at the house, such as having no recollection of a boy who was once his best friend. Henry was the son of Freddie, a shopkeeper who tells Shantell that “nothing bad happens inside the house.”
Soon Shantell learns the history of the structure–that long ago, a woman built a house that would always protect those inside it. But, in exchange for this protection, the house takes something else.
Despite presenting a horror story, The Unhaunting‘s biggest strength is its depiction of relationships. Avery and Shantell are both broken people, but Shantell’s scars are more visible, obvious. Their shared history results in a complicated love that realistically plays into the story and the stakes at play. And, while Tobias is at first a one-dimensional brute to Shantell, he soon proves much more multi-layered and sympathetic.
It would have been easy for Johnson to have fallen into stereotypes. Shantell is Black, Avery is White. Shantell does not come from wealth, Avery does. The differences in race and class, however, aren’t used for social commentary. They are simply explanations for why the characters are who they are and how they relate to one another. Skin color is acknowledged but not emphasized. Had Johnson taken it in a different direction, she may have hit a false note.
The action is quiet at times, and The Unhaunting starts at a slow burn. There are no jump scares, the real sense of danger presenting at the end. Still, The Unhaunting is an intriguing, atmospheric reading experience that uses the house itself as an occasional narrator much the same way one might tell a ghost story from the perspective of the specter.
Visit this haunted house. Especially with the upcoming spooky season, it’s worth putting on your to-be-read list.
*About the reviewer: Sarah Reida’s debut adult novel, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. She is seeking representation for her sophomore novel, a small town mystery involving beer and murder. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
