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If the Dead Belong Here
When a young girl goes missing, the ghosts of the past collide with her family’s secrets in a mesmerizing Native American Southern Gothic
When six-year-old Laurel Taylor vanishes without a trace, her family is left shattered, struggling to navigate the darkness of grief and unanswered questions. As their search turns to despair, Laurel’s older sister, Nadine, begins experiencing nightmares that blur the line between dream and reality, and she becomes convinced that Laurel’s disappearance could be connected to other family tragedies. Guided by her elders, Nadine sets out to uncover whether laying the ghosts to rest is the key to finding her sister and healing her fractured family.
Carson Faust captivates in this chilling literary debut that confronts the specter of colonization and the generational scars it leaves on Native American families. Steeped in Indigenous folklore and drawing from the author’s own family history, If the Dead Belong Here examines what it means to be haunted—both by the supernatural and by terrors of our own making. Faust crafts a powerful, kaleidoscopic tale about the complicated legacies of violence that shape our present, the importance of honoring our past, and the resilience of a family—and a people—determined to heal from old wounds.
When six-year-old Laurel Taylor vanishes without a trace, her family is left shattered, struggling to navigate the darkness of grief and unanswered questions. As their search turns to despair, Laurel’s older sister, Nadine, begins experiencing nightmares that blur the line between dream and reality, and she becomes convinced that Laurel’s disappearance could be connected to other family tragedies. Guided by her elders, Nadine sets out to uncover whether laying the ghosts to rest is the key to finding her sister and healing her fractured family.
Carson Faust captivates in this chilling literary debut that confronts the specter of colonization and the generational scars it leaves on Native American families. Steeped in Indigenous folklore and drawing from the author’s own family history, If the Dead Belong Here examines what it means to be haunted—both by the supernatural and by terrors of our own making. Faust crafts a powerful, kaleidoscopic tale about the complicated legacies of violence that shape our present, the importance of honoring our past, and the resilience of a family—and a people—determined to heal from old wounds.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2025
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15340 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
March 28, 2025
I'm not entirely sure that you can call a book a “Native American Southern Gothic” if 90% of it takes place in Wisconsin, but perhaps that's just me being nit-picky. Honestly, I really don't know how to categorize this book. There are supernatural elements, but it's not really horror. It's kind of, I dunno, imagine that a very PG-13, very heavily sedated Stephen Graham Jones collaborated on a book with Thomas Hardy and Graham Jones was all, like, “Hey, we need to add in some supernatural stuff and Native American folklore.” And Hardy was all, “That's cool and we can definitely do that, but mostly we have to make sure that it's really, really depressing and that the characters' lives are all just one long, never-ending tragedy. Kind of Tess of the D'Urbervilles vibes but with fairies or some shit?” I mean, obviously this isn't the most likely author collaboration (mostly because Hardy has been dead for almost a hundred years), but I imagine that the novel they came up with would look a lot like this one.
Don't get me wrong. Lots of people are going to love this book. It's atmospheric and has otherworldly aspects without being scary. There's a family of healers and Little People (of the supernatural variety, not individuals with dwarfism). There are fever dream-y bits and serious bits and lots of contemplation on family and grief and generational trauma. There are witchy moments and tender moments and even a few creepy moments. If you like dark and emotional tales involving dysfunctional families and tragic alcoholism and violence and depression and marginalized communities, there's a very good chance that your'e going to find this one unputdownable. If you go into it expecting a traditional horror novel with creatures in the woods who are snatching away defenseless children, however, well … it's definitely not that.
My favorite parts of the book were the chapters that do take place in South Carolina, when Nadine meets her extended family and learns to control her supernatural gifts. “Before we do anything, you need to understand: You have the sight. And there's some trouble with the sight … You may be able to see things other folks can't. But those other things can see right back into you.” Like, oh my gosh, yes. This is what I came here for! Rosebud and Talisa and Elgone and Prentiss are all fascinating characters and I would love to read an entire book about just them and their lives as healers.
Ultimately, I found this book to be thought-provoking and unique, but so, so, very depressing. The characters' lives are bleak and there is a very definite lack of sunshine and rainbows. It's full of broken people and broken families and there just isn't enough of the supernatural stuff to counterbalance all of the tragedy. That's not to say that it isn't a good book because it certainly has literary merit, but … yeah. So much sadness.
My overall rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.
Don't get me wrong. Lots of people are going to love this book. It's atmospheric and has otherworldly aspects without being scary. There's a family of healers and Little People (of the supernatural variety, not individuals with dwarfism). There are fever dream-y bits and serious bits and lots of contemplation on family and grief and generational trauma. There are witchy moments and tender moments and even a few creepy moments. If you like dark and emotional tales involving dysfunctional families and tragic alcoholism and violence and depression and marginalized communities, there's a very good chance that your'e going to find this one unputdownable. If you go into it expecting a traditional horror novel with creatures in the woods who are snatching away defenseless children, however, well … it's definitely not that.
My favorite parts of the book were the chapters that do take place in South Carolina, when Nadine meets her extended family and learns to control her supernatural gifts. “Before we do anything, you need to understand: You have the sight. And there's some trouble with the sight … You may be able to see things other folks can't. But those other things can see right back into you.” Like, oh my gosh, yes. This is what I came here for! Rosebud and Talisa and Elgone and Prentiss are all fascinating characters and I would love to read an entire book about just them and their lives as healers.
Ultimately, I found this book to be thought-provoking and unique, but so, so, very depressing. The characters' lives are bleak and there is a very definite lack of sunshine and rainbows. It's full of broken people and broken families and there just isn't enough of the supernatural stuff to counterbalance all of the tragedy. That's not to say that it isn't a good book because it certainly has literary merit, but … yeah. So much sadness.
My overall rating: 3.49 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is October 7, 2025.
September 18, 2025
[4.5 stars] I first discovered Carson Faust from his story in the Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology collection and have been waiting not-so-patiently to read his debut. I was not the slightest bit disappointed. Mark your calendars for October 7th folks.
Described as a Native American Southern Gothic, the novel tells the story of a family grappling with the sudden disappearance of six-year-old Laurel Taylor. Like so many Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the family is given few resources or support in their journey to find her. The road feels like a series of dead ends. Her elder sister Nadine is forced to unravel the mystery herself while tending to her mother in the throes of grief and addiction.
If the Dead Belong Here is less of a whodunnit and more of an exploration of the lasting repercussions of intergenerational trauma, colonialism, displacement, and injustice. From Laurel’s disappearance, the family is forced to trace through their lineage and find meaning in the cycle of loss and grief. Borrowing elements of horror, magical realism, and quintessential gothic elements, the story had me immersed from the first page. The writing is lush with description and imagery, and the alternating perspectives provide much-needed momentum and suspense.
If you enjoyed The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott or This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno, I think you’ll find a new favourite in this. The characters and their stories will stick with me, and the ending is a masterful conclusion to a story that had my whole heart.
Note: The comments on this review are from when my Bookstagram account got randomly deleted and this happened to be the most recent review I had on Goodreads! Happy to report my account is back and provide some context for the influx of comments seemingly unrelated to the book xx
Described as a Native American Southern Gothic, the novel tells the story of a family grappling with the sudden disappearance of six-year-old Laurel Taylor. Like so many Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the family is given few resources or support in their journey to find her. The road feels like a series of dead ends. Her elder sister Nadine is forced to unravel the mystery herself while tending to her mother in the throes of grief and addiction.
If the Dead Belong Here is less of a whodunnit and more of an exploration of the lasting repercussions of intergenerational trauma, colonialism, displacement, and injustice. From Laurel’s disappearance, the family is forced to trace through their lineage and find meaning in the cycle of loss and grief. Borrowing elements of horror, magical realism, and quintessential gothic elements, the story had me immersed from the first page. The writing is lush with description and imagery, and the alternating perspectives provide much-needed momentum and suspense.
If you enjoyed The Reformatory by Tananarive Due, And Then She Fell by Alicia Elliott or This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno, I think you’ll find a new favourite in this. The characters and their stories will stick with me, and the ending is a masterful conclusion to a story that had my whole heart.
Note: The comments on this review are from when my Bookstagram account got randomly deleted and this happened to be the most recent review I had on Goodreads! Happy to report my account is back and provide some context for the influx of comments seemingly unrelated to the book xx
October 30, 2025
Taken. Saved?
"If the Dead Belong Here" begins with the abduction of a six-year-old girl, Laurel. The narrative intertwines supernatural elements and Native American folklore, shedding light on the enduring impact of colonial harm. What resonates most, however, is the overwhelming grief borne by the women in this novel.
Laurel’s mother, Ayita, initially accuses the father of kidnapping. He was an abusive man who abandoned the family before Laurel's birth. Their relationship was destined for failure due to the damage caused by their alcoholism. An emotional wreck now, Ayita vacillates between rage and melancholy– the bottle always there to mock.
Haunted by nightmares, fourteen-year-old Nadine grapples with the disappearance of her sister, Laurel, and its unsettling connection to their family's past. Feeling the weight of solving the mystery while her mother flounders, Nadine seeks guidance from her elders, hoping to uncover the knowledge concealed within her family's traditions.
In the novel's latter half, Nadine travels from Wisconsin to her ancestral home in South Carolina. There, she discovers the stories of the "Little People"—the enigmatic figures her sister depicted and communicated with—and the boundary between the living and the dead becomes increasingly indistinct. A pivotal question arises: can the dead heal the living, or are the living members of the family haunting the dead?
Carson Faust's debut novel is a remarkable convergence of themes. Described as "Native American Southern Gothic," it masterfully weaves together elements of horror, magical realism, domestic violence, and the enduring impact of historical injustice. These themes are enveloped in an overwhelming sense of grief and pain, leaving the reader to contemplate the resilience required to endure such profound suffering.
“Sisters… She, like me, is torn in two. You wouldn’t understand. Some of us are not meant to be whole in the world. Some of us are made to exist in pieces.”
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #IftheDeadBelongHere #NetGalley
—---
May 5th marks the National Awareness Day for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a critical issue with some connection to this book's theme. Although public awareness of this heinous problem has been increasing, this year the US Department of Justice regrettably chose to withdraw significant reports concerning violence against Indigenous people, including those related to the bipartisan Not Invisible Act. Funding for vital programs is now at risk due to executive orders targeting "gender ideology." This issue demands more visibility, not less.
"If the Dead Belong Here" begins with the abduction of a six-year-old girl, Laurel. The narrative intertwines supernatural elements and Native American folklore, shedding light on the enduring impact of colonial harm. What resonates most, however, is the overwhelming grief borne by the women in this novel.
Laurel’s mother, Ayita, initially accuses the father of kidnapping. He was an abusive man who abandoned the family before Laurel's birth. Their relationship was destined for failure due to the damage caused by their alcoholism. An emotional wreck now, Ayita vacillates between rage and melancholy– the bottle always there to mock.
Haunted by nightmares, fourteen-year-old Nadine grapples with the disappearance of her sister, Laurel, and its unsettling connection to their family's past. Feeling the weight of solving the mystery while her mother flounders, Nadine seeks guidance from her elders, hoping to uncover the knowledge concealed within her family's traditions.
In the novel's latter half, Nadine travels from Wisconsin to her ancestral home in South Carolina. There, she discovers the stories of the "Little People"—the enigmatic figures her sister depicted and communicated with—and the boundary between the living and the dead becomes increasingly indistinct. A pivotal question arises: can the dead heal the living, or are the living members of the family haunting the dead?
Carson Faust's debut novel is a remarkable convergence of themes. Described as "Native American Southern Gothic," it masterfully weaves together elements of horror, magical realism, domestic violence, and the enduring impact of historical injustice. These themes are enveloped in an overwhelming sense of grief and pain, leaving the reader to contemplate the resilience required to endure such profound suffering.
“Sisters… She, like me, is torn in two. You wouldn’t understand. Some of us are not meant to be whole in the world. Some of us are made to exist in pieces.”
Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #IftheDeadBelongHere #NetGalley
—---
May 5th marks the National Awareness Day for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, a critical issue with some connection to this book's theme. Although public awareness of this heinous problem has been increasing, this year the US Department of Justice regrettably chose to withdraw significant reports concerning violence against Indigenous people, including those related to the bipartisan Not Invisible Act. Funding for vital programs is now at risk due to executive orders targeting "gender ideology." This issue demands more visibility, not less.
May 4, 2025
The book’s sorrow isn’t just told, it’s felt. The writing is so immersive that the grief and desperation settle in your chest, making every moment heavy with emotion. Especially in the struggles Nadine and Ayita face both within themselves and in their relationships with others. The narrative effectively conveys the weight of their trauma, allowing the reader to experience it with them.
I also enjoyed the cultural aspects woven into the story. While I’m not very knowledgeable about Native American folklore, I appreciated what the book offered and the light it cast on the various aspects.
The book employs multiple POVs and shifts between timelines, which highlights how past events shape current conflicts. It intertwines generational traumas, showing how cause and effect ripple through time. Ultimately affecting the characters in powerful ways. However, some portions felt underdeveloped or unclear. There were moments where I wasn’t sure if I had missed something, and even after re-reading, I was still left with unanswered questions.
That said, I was surprised to learn this is the author’s debut novel. Despite my frustrations at times, the writing was strong, and I ultimately enjoyed the book. I’m definitely interested in seeing what he does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC!
I also enjoyed the cultural aspects woven into the story. While I’m not very knowledgeable about Native American folklore, I appreciated what the book offered and the light it cast on the various aspects.
The book employs multiple POVs and shifts between timelines, which highlights how past events shape current conflicts. It intertwines generational traumas, showing how cause and effect ripple through time. Ultimately affecting the characters in powerful ways. However, some portions felt underdeveloped or unclear. There were moments where I wasn’t sure if I had missed something, and even after re-reading, I was still left with unanswered questions.
That said, I was surprised to learn this is the author’s debut novel. Despite my frustrations at times, the writing was strong, and I ultimately enjoyed the book. I’m definitely interested in seeing what he does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC!
October 4, 2025
I don’t know if this was just not the book for me. It might be for you. However, I have given it two stars not because I didn’t like it, but because it was—to me--excruciatingly repetitive, and painfully slow. I often have a hard time starting a book; it takes me awhile to get into a story. I was hoping that by the halfway point I’d become invested. However, that didn’t happen.
Nadine Taylor’s little sister, Laurel, has disappeared. They live with their mother, Ayita, and great-aunt, Rosebud. Ayita has a history of using alcohol to numb herself from the abandonment she has endured by the people in her family. Because of this, she is often not able to take care of the girls. Since their father left (Barron), fourteen-year-old Nadine has taken on more and more responsibility. If it wasn’t for Rosebud, there would be no reliable and loving adult. Nadine and her aunt decide that they need to return to South Carolina and their Indigenous roots to find answers, and, possibly, Laurel. Was Laurel abducted, or was it the Little People (whom I enjoyed reading about) take her away?
The author, Carson Faust, utilizes Indigenous folklore to tell the story. The ghosts of their ancestors may hold the answers they seek.
I would like to thank Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Nadine Taylor’s little sister, Laurel, has disappeared. They live with their mother, Ayita, and great-aunt, Rosebud. Ayita has a history of using alcohol to numb herself from the abandonment she has endured by the people in her family. Because of this, she is often not able to take care of the girls. Since their father left (Barron), fourteen-year-old Nadine has taken on more and more responsibility. If it wasn’t for Rosebud, there would be no reliable and loving adult. Nadine and her aunt decide that they need to return to South Carolina and their Indigenous roots to find answers, and, possibly, Laurel. Was Laurel abducted, or was it the Little People (whom I enjoyed reading about) take her away?
The author, Carson Faust, utilizes Indigenous folklore to tell the story. The ghosts of their ancestors may hold the answers they seek.
I would like to thank Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 23, 2025
Folk horror/indigenous horror with some amazing characters.
Nadine’s sister, Laurel, is taken in the night and everything falls apart. Nadine’s mother, Ayita, falls back into a deep depression and alcohol and her Aunt Rosebud tries to hold the family together. But something lurks in the woods around Laurel’s treehouse.
I loved the lore behind this tale. Indigenous lore of the “little people” who are sometimes helpful, sometimes not. And sometimes they take. This is a book of generational trauma but also strong female empowerment and a matriarchal line.
Nadine’s sister, Laurel, is taken in the night and everything falls apart. Nadine’s mother, Ayita, falls back into a deep depression and alcohol and her Aunt Rosebud tries to hold the family together. But something lurks in the woods around Laurel’s treehouse.
I loved the lore behind this tale. Indigenous lore of the “little people” who are sometimes helpful, sometimes not. And sometimes they take. This is a book of generational trauma but also strong female empowerment and a matriarchal line.
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August 17, 2025
I simply cannot believe this is a debut! If the Dead Belong Here is an absolutely chilling and heartbreaking novel, spanning five generations of grief and the varying forms of strength among survivors. The immense gratitude I feel for the author for sharing such an intimate story, no matter how much fiction was spun around, is immeasurable. Nonfiction-Fiction is my favorite, and this delivered.
"We share our bodies. We share our blood. Our memories are deep in the blood. They linger. They stain."
If the Dead Belong Here left me in tears several times and covered in goosebumps. Faust’s writing is stunning. Poetic in every chapter without being overwhelming, perfectly capturing the love and knowing Indigenous folks have for their land and people. Plus enough chilling horror to satisfy. The Little People folklore was everything I craved: myth and terror intertwined, their presence ‘traveling’ with the family from South Carolina to Wisconsin, mirroring the emotional weight of generational trauma.
I have no genuine critiques that would steer me from calling this a 5-star read. Were there things I didn’t love? Sure—like Nadine and Laurel’s father, or that much of the novel unfolds in Wisconsin rather than the Deep South. But I believe that was THE point. Southern Indigenous lore had to migrate north to survive, just as the people did, whether because they were FORCED by government, or because they were FORCED by an abusive man, it doesn't matter. Forced.. That’s the reality: Indigenous communities carry their knowings with them, no matter where they’re forced to go. I dare say no indigenous fictional dystopia could feel authentic without honoring that truth. The endurance, the theft, the resilience.
I hope this story reaches far and wide, amplifying attention for MMIWR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives). No matter who steals them—white men, hate, or grief—they deserve to be seen.
A breathtaking, necessary debut.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Viking, Penguin | Viking, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
"We share our bodies. We share our blood. Our memories are deep in the blood. They linger. They stain."
If the Dead Belong Here left me in tears several times and covered in goosebumps. Faust’s writing is stunning. Poetic in every chapter without being overwhelming, perfectly capturing the love and knowing Indigenous folks have for their land and people. Plus enough chilling horror to satisfy. The Little People folklore was everything I craved: myth and terror intertwined, their presence ‘traveling’ with the family from South Carolina to Wisconsin, mirroring the emotional weight of generational trauma.
I have no genuine critiques that would steer me from calling this a 5-star read. Were there things I didn’t love? Sure—like Nadine and Laurel’s father, or that much of the novel unfolds in Wisconsin rather than the Deep South. But I believe that was THE point. Southern Indigenous lore had to migrate north to survive, just as the people did, whether because they were FORCED by government, or because they were FORCED by an abusive man, it doesn't matter. Forced.. That’s the reality: Indigenous communities carry their knowings with them, no matter where they’re forced to go. I dare say no indigenous fictional dystopia could feel authentic without honoring that truth. The endurance, the theft, the resilience.
I hope this story reaches far and wide, amplifying attention for MMIWR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives). No matter who steals them—white men, hate, or grief—they deserve to be seen.
A breathtaking, necessary debut.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Viking, Penguin | Viking, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
October 24, 2025
Carson Faust, Two-Spirit Edisto Natchez-Kusso author, crafted a poignant and heartbreaking multi-generational story focused on the disappearance of little Laurel. In the 1990s storyline, we follow single mother Ayita, her older teenage daughter Nadine, and her aunt Rosebud. Told mostly from Nadine and Ayita's perspectives, we explore the story of the immediate aftermath of the disappearance of the 6-year-old Laurel. These chapters are interwoven with glimpses into the lives of Rosebud, her mother, and her sisters in the 1970s. Although billed as Southern Gothic, most of the story does not take place in the South (although the family is originally from South Carolina, and some of the past storyline chapters shed light on the unique circumstances of Indigenous life in the state). The Gothic is also primarily explored through the idea of reckoning, and the more explicitly Indigenous epistemology elements are not fully present till quite late into the narrative.
The prose was not consistently engaging, but on occasion breathtakingly gorgeous. The pacing didn't quite work for me - almost nothing happens till about the 65% mark, and the slow burn of the first half of the book did not seem entirely justified to me. We get a slow and through immersion into Ayita's rampat substance abuse problems. If the Dead Belong Here is one of the most relentlessly bleak and grim books I have read recently. There is no space for joy or any sense of respite in it. There is little sense of space for school, work or anything that is not substance or domestic abuse in Ayita's life (in contrast with the 1970s chapters, in which Rosebud and the women in her immediate family also experience domestic constraints, but also have a sense of community, work and purpose). Once Nadine visits her South Carolina family and the storylines merge, it becomes painfully obvious that Rosebud, her mother, and sisters did not get enough space to be explored as three-dimensional characters, receding instead to the role of the wise Native crones. Despite such a kitchen sink hyperfocus on Aytia's despair, there is little explicit narrative exploration of the systematic factors that enabled it.
The prose was not consistently engaging, but on occasion breathtakingly gorgeous. The pacing didn't quite work for me - almost nothing happens till about the 65% mark, and the slow burn of the first half of the book did not seem entirely justified to me. We get a slow and through immersion into Ayita's rampat substance abuse problems. If the Dead Belong Here is one of the most relentlessly bleak and grim books I have read recently. There is no space for joy or any sense of respite in it. There is little sense of space for school, work or anything that is not substance or domestic abuse in Ayita's life (in contrast with the 1970s chapters, in which Rosebud and the women in her immediate family also experience domestic constraints, but also have a sense of community, work and purpose). Once Nadine visits her South Carolina family and the storylines merge, it becomes painfully obvious that Rosebud, her mother, and sisters did not get enough space to be explored as three-dimensional characters, receding instead to the role of the wise Native crones. Despite such a kitchen sink hyperfocus on Aytia's despair, there is little explicit narrative exploration of the systematic factors that enabled it.
October 7, 2025
Thank you to Viking for giving me an ARC of If the Dead Belong Here. All opinions are my own.
What to expect:
➳ Native American Southern Gothic
➳ Indigenous folklore
➳ Mystery - missing person
➳ Multi-generational POVs
Description:
If the Dead Belong Here takes place primarily in 1996, when a 6-year-old girl, Laurel, goes missing. Her family is shattered and searching for answers when Nadine, her older sister, starts experiencing strange nightmares that might be linked to their family history and which may explain where Laurel has gone.
I wanted to love this. I really did. But honestly, I was just bored for 90% of it. I was hoping for eerie, but I got a whole lot of nothing. This book is almost 400 pages, and so much of it was filled with imagery, and subtext, and metaphor that nothing really happened. The majority of it was dedicated to creating an unsettling atmosphere, but it never fully achieves it.
So, would I recommend this book? Honestly, not really. While I think the premise of a Native American Southern Gothic is really interesting, it doesn't quite reach its potential. Other books have managed to capture the eerie, unsettling atmosphere that If the Dead Belong Here was trying to create, so I would suggest reading those.
What to expect:
➳ Native American Southern Gothic
➳ Indigenous folklore
➳ Mystery - missing person
➳ Multi-generational POVs
Description:
If the Dead Belong Here takes place primarily in 1996, when a 6-year-old girl, Laurel, goes missing. Her family is shattered and searching for answers when Nadine, her older sister, starts experiencing strange nightmares that might be linked to their family history and which may explain where Laurel has gone.
I wanted to love this. I really did. But honestly, I was just bored for 90% of it. I was hoping for eerie, but I got a whole lot of nothing. This book is almost 400 pages, and so much of it was filled with imagery, and subtext, and metaphor that nothing really happened. The majority of it was dedicated to creating an unsettling atmosphere, but it never fully achieves it.
So, would I recommend this book? Honestly, not really. While I think the premise of a Native American Southern Gothic is really interesting, it doesn't quite reach its potential. Other books have managed to capture the eerie, unsettling atmosphere that If the Dead Belong Here was trying to create, so I would suggest reading those.
March 21, 2025
Haunted. The word conjures up thoughts of abandoned houses and stories of specters told by the fire. If the Dead Belong Here is not that kind of ghost story, though. Houses can be just as haunted by those still living in them, and sometimes, the ghosts are grief, generational trauma, and granting yourself the ability to process and evolve.
Carson Faust has also worked to masterfully weave in supernatural elements and Indigenous folklore, giving this debut even more layers. What begins with a disappearance becomes a heartbreaking and beautifully-crafted story of a family who are all confronting the past, family turmoil, loss, violence, pain, and growth in their own ways. The characters are extremely well-written, and their pain, their choices, are all unique and compelling. As the reader, you're fully immersed in the tragedy that has painted Nadine Taylor's family for generations, and you're by her side as she embraces the practices and traditions of her family to seek the guidance of her elders.
This book had my attention the second I saw "Native American Southern gothic," and I'm so glad that I picked it up. Knowing that the author drew inspiration from the history of her own family made this book even more engaging, and I can't wait to read more of Faust's work in the future. I like to avoid spoilers, but for other readers, I will note that a lot of heavy content is addressed in this book. While that made me love it even more, I know that isn't for everyone.
I hope to see this book get the attention it rightfully deserves. At its core, If the Dead Belong Here delivers a thought-provoking narrative delving into familial pain, trauma, and resilience, and how those things are all colored by the scars the past has left on this family.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Viking Penguin, and Carson Faust for this complimentary copy.))
Carson Faust has also worked to masterfully weave in supernatural elements and Indigenous folklore, giving this debut even more layers. What begins with a disappearance becomes a heartbreaking and beautifully-crafted story of a family who are all confronting the past, family turmoil, loss, violence, pain, and growth in their own ways. The characters are extremely well-written, and their pain, their choices, are all unique and compelling. As the reader, you're fully immersed in the tragedy that has painted Nadine Taylor's family for generations, and you're by her side as she embraces the practices and traditions of her family to seek the guidance of her elders.
This book had my attention the second I saw "Native American Southern gothic," and I'm so glad that I picked it up. Knowing that the author drew inspiration from the history of her own family made this book even more engaging, and I can't wait to read more of Faust's work in the future. I like to avoid spoilers, but for other readers, I will note that a lot of heavy content is addressed in this book. While that made me love it even more, I know that isn't for everyone.
I hope to see this book get the attention it rightfully deserves. At its core, If the Dead Belong Here delivers a thought-provoking narrative delving into familial pain, trauma, and resilience, and how those things are all colored by the scars the past has left on this family.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Viking Penguin, and Carson Faust for this complimentary copy.))
September 14, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.25 stars.
I think this is an interesting read and had lots of things I enjoyed about it, but the ending went over my head slightly and felt so open-ended that I felt a little unsatisfied.
I like the multi POV as it gives a wider perspective and more well rounded story. The differing characters all seem to have very different understandings of what’s going on, where Laurel might be and how to get her back if they can at all. The story uses time jumps in the past to link into the present, felt kind of like breadcrumbs to understand what is happening in the present day.
The story has a fairly mysterious and eerie tone with supernatural themes and the plot surrounds a missing child. The ending sadly lost me a little bit, but I did like the concept and the atmosphere the story certainly built.
I think this is an interesting read and had lots of things I enjoyed about it, but the ending went over my head slightly and felt so open-ended that I felt a little unsatisfied.
I like the multi POV as it gives a wider perspective and more well rounded story. The differing characters all seem to have very different understandings of what’s going on, where Laurel might be and how to get her back if they can at all. The story uses time jumps in the past to link into the present, felt kind of like breadcrumbs to understand what is happening in the present day.
The story has a fairly mysterious and eerie tone with supernatural themes and the plot surrounds a missing child. The ending sadly lost me a little bit, but I did like the concept and the atmosphere the story certainly built.
September 8, 2025
Review in the September 2025 issue of Booklist and on the blog here: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2025/09...
Three Words That Describe This Book: generational trauma, atmospheric, multi pov and timelines
The summary in the main record gives you the gist of the plot pretty well without spoilers. This review is based on the appeal of the story-- the why someone would read it, not what happens.
coming of age theme is strong here. will add a YA statement for this one.
bleak-- immersively so, but it makes sense because this Native family has been hell, both from society, domestic abuse, and their connection to the little people part of their storytelling traditions. The average reader is not ogoing to be Native so I appreciated that Faust took the time to explain the folklore (a scene in the library where Nadine looks it up to understand better) and make sure the reader understood the generations of hurt involved here. Some may say this book is too depressing, but I think it is the author trying to get the bleak truth across.
As a result, the terror is atmospheric. There is beautiful writing about the time when Nadine connects with the spiritual world. But there is also blunt and descriptive writing about the very real life in WI which while not flowery (rightly so), hits the reader head on so that we can feel the not only the hurt and sorrow but the physical place they live-- rural and small town.
The multiple points of view and timelines enhance this story. It begins with a family tree and the story goes back and forth-- clearly labeled-- in time and who is speaking to see other family members and understand how Nadine-- the main protagonist here-- got to where she is as a daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, and human.
This is a well crafted debut. I would read more by this author. Like all but a few debuts, the this act is the weakest part but it this is way better than your average debut.
For fans of Jessica John's Bad Cree, Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel House of Bones and Rain by Gabino Iglesias. The Marrow Thieves would be good as well by Dimaline.
The Iglesias is a great example of generational trauma horror based in traditions with a strong coming of age theme. A bit more violent than this one, but not as violent as his other books. Very focused on the trauma, the pull between worlds.
I think this is good moment to point out that just because this is Native horror, not all Native writers work here. They all write differently. Bad Cree is the best readalike of the slew of Native Horror writers- both in theme and writing style.
If you want more Native Folk Horror: Never Whistle at Night is where you should go next.
Folk horror from other traditions is also great readalike, such as the work of Neil Sharpson, anything by Adam Nevil, T. Kingfisher also works.
Three Words That Describe This Book: generational trauma, atmospheric, multi pov and timelines
The summary in the main record gives you the gist of the plot pretty well without spoilers. This review is based on the appeal of the story-- the why someone would read it, not what happens.
coming of age theme is strong here. will add a YA statement for this one.
bleak-- immersively so, but it makes sense because this Native family has been hell, both from society, domestic abuse, and their connection to the little people part of their storytelling traditions. The average reader is not ogoing to be Native so I appreciated that Faust took the time to explain the folklore (a scene in the library where Nadine looks it up to understand better) and make sure the reader understood the generations of hurt involved here. Some may say this book is too depressing, but I think it is the author trying to get the bleak truth across.
As a result, the terror is atmospheric. There is beautiful writing about the time when Nadine connects with the spiritual world. But there is also blunt and descriptive writing about the very real life in WI which while not flowery (rightly so), hits the reader head on so that we can feel the not only the hurt and sorrow but the physical place they live-- rural and small town.
The multiple points of view and timelines enhance this story. It begins with a family tree and the story goes back and forth-- clearly labeled-- in time and who is speaking to see other family members and understand how Nadine-- the main protagonist here-- got to where she is as a daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, and human.
This is a well crafted debut. I would read more by this author. Like all but a few debuts, the this act is the weakest part but it this is way better than your average debut.
For fans of Jessica John's Bad Cree, Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel House of Bones and Rain by Gabino Iglesias. The Marrow Thieves would be good as well by Dimaline.
The Iglesias is a great example of generational trauma horror based in traditions with a strong coming of age theme. A bit more violent than this one, but not as violent as his other books. Very focused on the trauma, the pull between worlds.
I think this is good moment to point out that just because this is Native horror, not all Native writers work here. They all write differently. Bad Cree is the best readalike of the slew of Native Horror writers- both in theme and writing style.
If you want more Native Folk Horror: Never Whistle at Night is where you should go next.
Folk horror from other traditions is also great readalike, such as the work of Neil Sharpson, anything by Adam Nevil, T. Kingfisher also works.
October 1, 2025
A beautifully rich novel that spans generations and makes the reader think deeply about the root of these systematic failures. The panic and sorrow was felt deeply and I felt transported. Beautiful prose, well-written characters, an overall excellent debut. I’m looking forward to seeing more from this author in the future.
From page one, I was invested in the story and fate of a young girl gone missing. As a Wisconsin native, I also loved reading about the landscape and indigenous history on the lands I call home. The southern gothic touches paint a tragically violent history of forced migration and transplanted, resilient roots. Check this one out if you like historical fiction vibes wirh a supernatural/fantastical moody twist.
Special thanks to Viking Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
From page one, I was invested in the story and fate of a young girl gone missing. As a Wisconsin native, I also loved reading about the landscape and indigenous history on the lands I call home. The southern gothic touches paint a tragically violent history of forced migration and transplanted, resilient roots. Check this one out if you like historical fiction vibes wirh a supernatural/fantastical moody twist.
Special thanks to Viking Publishing and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 30, 2025
This is probably the longest, most drawn-out book I’ve read in a while. The pacing dragged, and the plot felt overly stuffed with too many themes and storylines that never quite came together cohesively. While the book tries to blend Southern Gothic, supernatural elements, and Native American folklore, it ends up feeling clumsy and mismatched.
Gothic novels are supposed to evoke an eerie, unsettling atmosphere—but this one just didn’t deliver. It wasn’t scary or even particularly haunting. It seems desperate to be a supernatural Native American tale, but instead, it loses its way trying to do too much at once.
Gothic novels are supposed to evoke an eerie, unsettling atmosphere—but this one just didn’t deliver. It wasn’t scary or even particularly haunting. It seems desperate to be a supernatural Native American tale, but instead, it loses its way trying to do too much at once.
October 19, 2025
Some novels are slow burns, but "If the Dead Belong Here" is more of a crawl. Carson Faust’s debut is rich with atmosphere and ambition—a gothic tale of grief and Indigenous spirituality—but it moves at such a deliberate pace that even patient readers may lose interest.
The story opens in 1996, when six-year-old Laurel Taylor disappears from a small Wisconsin town. Faust then winds backward through decades of family trauma, tracing the ghosts that live in bloodlines rather than basements. His mournful, lyrical style recalls Jesmyn Ward, though the fragmented timeline demands focus (the family tree was a lifesaver).
The novel’s most compelling element—the “Little People,” spirits who inhabit the space between life and death—adds texture and originality, but it’s buried under too much mundane detail. By the time the truth of Laurel’s disappearance emerges, the story has collapsed under its own weight.
Still, Faust is a writer worth watching. His ambition to reclaim the gothic through an Indigenous and queer lens is admirable, even if the result is more exhausting than enjoyable.
The story opens in 1996, when six-year-old Laurel Taylor disappears from a small Wisconsin town. Faust then winds backward through decades of family trauma, tracing the ghosts that live in bloodlines rather than basements. His mournful, lyrical style recalls Jesmyn Ward, though the fragmented timeline demands focus (the family tree was a lifesaver).
The novel’s most compelling element—the “Little People,” spirits who inhabit the space between life and death—adds texture and originality, but it’s buried under too much mundane detail. By the time the truth of Laurel’s disappearance emerges, the story has collapsed under its own weight.
Still, Faust is a writer worth watching. His ambition to reclaim the gothic through an Indigenous and queer lens is admirable, even if the result is more exhausting than enjoyable.
October 28, 2025
I didn't love it, but I definitely did not hate it.
The year is 1996, and 6 year old Laurel goes missing in the South Carolina woods. Her mother is distraught, and her sister wants to bring her back. Nadine, Laurel's older sister, begins to have unsettling nightmares of Little People. Laurel would play with these little people, which everyone thought was just part of being the kid. However, these little people are real, and they might have Laurel. While their mother goes off the rails drinking, Nadine and her great aunt try to find ways to bring Laurel back.
I really enjoyed Nadine's character, but it broke my heart seeing her have to fend for herself. She wants her mother to be a mother and get sober. She wants her to help her find her sister, but Nadine has to be a "grownup.""
I liked the setting of this story. It had Southern Gothic vibes with some similarities to the Stranger Things universe. Laurel mirrored Will Byers, Tree House, and all.
I do think this book was a tad bit long, and it could have been shorter. It didn't take me that long to finish, which was good. There were enough periods in the book that held my interest. Overall, it's solid 4 stars.
The year is 1996, and 6 year old Laurel goes missing in the South Carolina woods. Her mother is distraught, and her sister wants to bring her back. Nadine, Laurel's older sister, begins to have unsettling nightmares of Little People. Laurel would play with these little people, which everyone thought was just part of being the kid. However, these little people are real, and they might have Laurel. While their mother goes off the rails drinking, Nadine and her great aunt try to find ways to bring Laurel back.
I really enjoyed Nadine's character, but it broke my heart seeing her have to fend for herself. She wants her mother to be a mother and get sober. She wants her to help her find her sister, but Nadine has to be a "grownup.""
I liked the setting of this story. It had Southern Gothic vibes with some similarities to the Stranger Things universe. Laurel mirrored Will Byers, Tree House, and all.
I do think this book was a tad bit long, and it could have been shorter. It didn't take me that long to finish, which was good. There were enough periods in the book that held my interest. Overall, it's solid 4 stars.
October 7, 2025
The disappearance of a child rocks the balance of this already fragile household. 6 year old Laurel is a little bit different than the other children. She doesn't talk much and prefers to spend her time in her treehouse drawing pictures and talking with her "friends," people that no one else can see, but chalk up to childhood imaginary friends. Nadine, her older sister, is the first to discover Laurel is no longer in her bed. Ayita, their mother already deals with alcoholism. As the story progresses, we learn about the cycles of domestic violence that happen in the family, but also about their family's abilities to connect with what they refer to as the Little People. As they all come to confront their own issues by examining the lives of their ancestors as well, they are able to make progress.
This book is very much Southern Gothic. It's a slower story exploring family dynamics, trauma, and growth through learning from the past while incorporating some more horror elements. They are not overtly scary in the way you would think. It is subtle and distressing. I also really appreciated the inclusion of the family tree. It really helped me follow along and see the relations between people.
Although this is not an early copy of the audiobook, I did end up using a credit on audible to get the book and I listened to it while I worked. The audio is very well done and has multiple narrators. It was easy to follow who was who and where in the timeline we were at any point. So if you prefer books like this on audio, it is still a really good option.
Please be aware the book deals heavily with domestic violence and alcoholism.
*Thank you so much to Viking/Penguin for the eARC copy. All thoughts are my own :) *
This book is very much Southern Gothic. It's a slower story exploring family dynamics, trauma, and growth through learning from the past while incorporating some more horror elements. They are not overtly scary in the way you would think. It is subtle and distressing. I also really appreciated the inclusion of the family tree. It really helped me follow along and see the relations between people.
Although this is not an early copy of the audiobook, I did end up using a credit on audible to get the book and I listened to it while I worked. The audio is very well done and has multiple narrators. It was easy to follow who was who and where in the timeline we were at any point. So if you prefer books like this on audio, it is still a really good option.
Please be aware the book deals heavily with domestic violence and alcoholism.
*Thank you so much to Viking/Penguin for the eARC copy. All thoughts are my own :) *
October 2, 2025
This book isn't horror. Sure there are some spooky paranormal kind of things happening, but it isn't horror. At the most horror-lite. I also felt that the Native American and Southern Gothic elements were on the lite side as well. The story we got was well written and a somewhat depressing look at the life of a family that hasn't had it easy, but have always had each other. The female characters carry the story with the men only entering to mess things up for a bit. If the struggles in the family were related to their indigenous heritage, I didn't feel like the connect was made in the story. But, I did enjoy reading the story and held hopes for the characters. I turned pages wondering where it was going to go next. I think I wanted a less "lite" version (and I don't mean more horror). So keep that in mind when you read it!
Thanks to Viking Penguin for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Viking Penguin for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
November 5, 2025
This was an ambitious debut about a missing Indigenous daughter and the impact her disappearance has on the rest of the family. Told in alternating timelines, this spans decades, exploring intergenerational trauma, addiction and the MMIWG2S+ crisis. While I enjoyed parts of the story, I got bored during others. I think it could have done with some editing and a bit tighter plot. Overall still a worthy read just not a favorite of the year for me.
May 18, 2025
another incredibly haunting read for the center for fiction first novel prize! while a bit meandering at times, I loved the way this novel explored intergenerational trauma and grief while interwoven with indigenous folklore
these characters will stick with me for awhile!
these characters will stick with me for awhile!
November 27, 2025
Gorgeous writing, lovely, dark, beautiful story! ❤️🩹
September 9, 2025
If The Dead Belong Here
3.75⭐️
InterGenerational trauma, ghosts and strong women.
There is so much to love about this book.
The prose are poetic and haunting, not just because they are about a haunting, but because they are masterfully crafted in such a way that they won’t leave you any time soon.
This was a hard read though. It is heavy, it isn’t pretty or tied up in a bow. It made me angry, it made me sad. I had to take several breaks and read something lighter, but I kept coming back. Over and over again I opened these pages and experienced the pain that these women were suffering from.
Ayita drove me mad but it was such a realistic and raw portrayal of addiction and alcoholism, as well as grief and trauma.
Nadine, I just hope she finds peace and doesn’t continue the cycle.
I would have loved to get to know Talley more, and in my mind Nadine and Rosebud go back to SC and live their days with her, and Nadine gets to learn healing and develop her knowing more.
The horror elements were very well executed, but definitely took a back seat to the drama which I’m personally a fan of. Most haunting are family dramas with a ghost element anyways. The intergenerational trauma is the real horror of this story.
All in all it was a beautiful story with an ending I just wanted more from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for letting me read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
3.75⭐️
InterGenerational trauma, ghosts and strong women.
There is so much to love about this book.
The prose are poetic and haunting, not just because they are about a haunting, but because they are masterfully crafted in such a way that they won’t leave you any time soon.
This was a hard read though. It is heavy, it isn’t pretty or tied up in a bow. It made me angry, it made me sad. I had to take several breaks and read something lighter, but I kept coming back. Over and over again I opened these pages and experienced the pain that these women were suffering from.
Ayita drove me mad but it was such a realistic and raw portrayal of addiction and alcoholism, as well as grief and trauma.
Nadine, I just hope she finds peace and doesn’t continue the cycle.
I would have loved to get to know Talley more, and in my mind Nadine and Rosebud go back to SC and live their days with her, and Nadine gets to learn healing and develop her knowing more.
The horror elements were very well executed, but definitely took a back seat to the drama which I’m personally a fan of. Most haunting are family dramas with a ghost element anyways. The intergenerational trauma is the real horror of this story.
All in all it was a beautiful story with an ending I just wanted more from.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for letting me read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
A haunting story about generational trauma and the effects it has on a family line.
When six year old Laurel goes missing without a trace, her family is left to wonder what has become of her. Nadine, her older sister, is determined to find her. With the help of her aunt, the two set off to bring Laurel home from the magical realm of the Little People.
I really enjoyed the magical realism in this novel. Nadine’s family line has many gifted women who are healers and who can translate dreams and see past the veil into the in-between. While this gift is passed down through the generations, so is the trauma the women in the family face. They marry/become involved with men who are physically abusive. Who try to prevent them from practicing their gifts. It was heartbreaking to see the pattern repeat itself, and though Nadine ends the relationship with her abusive boyfriend, the struggle to fully untangle herself from him is ever present.
I appreciated how flawed these characters were and the level of depth and complexity they each had. These are imperfect people with hopes and dreams and struggles. I was rooting for them along the way, and hoping that Nadine and Laurel would be the ones to forge a new path in the family and end the generational trauma. I thought that the portrayal of Ayita’s alcoholism was very earnest. Faust paints an accurate portrait with empathy and lacking judgment. I really empathized with her struggle. She’s a multifaceted character, and we truly see the complexity of her struggle as she tries her best to stay sober and how she ultimately succumbs to the bottle.
I would say that Faust does a great job of creating complex character portraits, though my one critique would be that I felt Nadine’s POV was too mature for her age. Though 14, she felt as if she was a decade older. I appreciate that she’s had to grow up fast, picking up the parenting slack from her mother. I just felt she was too self aware in a way that I think teenagers her age aren’t. While she’s had to take an adult role, it’s still very much through the lenses of a child, and I don’t think that element was captured. Despite how she’s had to grow up quickly, she’s still sheltered in ways that don’t line up with her characterization at times. That being said, I did like the way that she struggled to understand her feelings with her ex boyfriend.
I would venture to say there are no real bad guys in this story. Everyone is a product of their upbringing and the trauma they’ve encountered. Each character deals with their trauma in their own way, some ways which I don’t agree with, but create a multifaceted view of the character.
This was a compelling drama that tackled complex themes with understanding and with a lack of judgement. I will say there was imagery in this story that frightened me. Kudos to Faust for their vivid descriptions of the Little People and the woman who haunts Nadine’s dreams. I was legitimately scared.
I was captivated by these characters and eager to discover whether they can find Laurel and what becomes of their futures. This is a compelling thriller, and I would recommend it for those who enjoy magical realism and flawed characters.
A haunting story about generational trauma and the effects it has on a family line.
When six year old Laurel goes missing without a trace, her family is left to wonder what has become of her. Nadine, her older sister, is determined to find her. With the help of her aunt, the two set off to bring Laurel home from the magical realm of the Little People.
I really enjoyed the magical realism in this novel. Nadine’s family line has many gifted women who are healers and who can translate dreams and see past the veil into the in-between. While this gift is passed down through the generations, so is the trauma the women in the family face. They marry/become involved with men who are physically abusive. Who try to prevent them from practicing their gifts. It was heartbreaking to see the pattern repeat itself, and though Nadine ends the relationship with her abusive boyfriend, the struggle to fully untangle herself from him is ever present.
I appreciated how flawed these characters were and the level of depth and complexity they each had. These are imperfect people with hopes and dreams and struggles. I was rooting for them along the way, and hoping that Nadine and Laurel would be the ones to forge a new path in the family and end the generational trauma. I thought that the portrayal of Ayita’s alcoholism was very earnest. Faust paints an accurate portrait with empathy and lacking judgment. I really empathized with her struggle. She’s a multifaceted character, and we truly see the complexity of her struggle as she tries her best to stay sober and how she ultimately succumbs to the bottle.
I would say that Faust does a great job of creating complex character portraits, though my one critique would be that I felt Nadine’s POV was too mature for her age. Though 14, she felt as if she was a decade older. I appreciate that she’s had to grow up fast, picking up the parenting slack from her mother. I just felt she was too self aware in a way that I think teenagers her age aren’t. While she’s had to take an adult role, it’s still very much through the lenses of a child, and I don’t think that element was captured. Despite how she’s had to grow up quickly, she’s still sheltered in ways that don’t line up with her characterization at times. That being said, I did like the way that she struggled to understand her feelings with her ex boyfriend.
I would venture to say there are no real bad guys in this story. Everyone is a product of their upbringing and the trauma they’ve encountered. Each character deals with their trauma in their own way, some ways which I don’t agree with, but create a multifaceted view of the character.
This was a compelling drama that tackled complex themes with understanding and with a lack of judgement. I will say there was imagery in this story that frightened me. Kudos to Faust for their vivid descriptions of the Little People and the woman who haunts Nadine’s dreams. I was legitimately scared.
I was captivated by these characters and eager to discover whether they can find Laurel and what becomes of their futures. This is a compelling thriller, and I would recommend it for those who enjoy magical realism and flawed characters.
October 26, 2025
//4.5 stars//
This novel has a slow start, but after 100 pages reads in one deep inhale. We follow teenage Nadine, in the wake of her younger Sister, Laurel’s, disapperance. At first she grieves and mourns, but soon she begins trying to understand the significance of the Little People, that she previously assumed was all in Laurel’s imagination. Soon, she goes on a journey with her aunty Rosebud to uncover her mother’s past, the matrimonial lineage of her family and the price they pay for healing.
The novel explores inheritance of stories, of ghosts, of knowledge, of power, of pain, of loss, of trauma and blurrs the lines between the real and the unreal, the dead and the living, the haunting and the restful in an absolutely breathtaking way.
Some moments made me really sad, others made me genuinely scared and the themes were haunting. This is such a brilliant modern gothic tale of the women in a family and all they bear, both the joy and the pain.
The novel also captures the complicated relationship with alcohol and smoking and their calming presence, the way it connects these women to the spirits and ancestors and its ritual nature but also the addiction that can spiral into hurt, neglect and death.
It was creepy and haunting and weird and very worth reading!!!
Quotes
“Back when Barron left for good, Nadine was maybe seven. In those days, the bed swallowed Ayita whole every time she slept Every time she lay down she sank deeper into the mattress, deeper into the floor. Little Nadine would pull at her hand and shake her shoulder lightly, tell her she was hungry, tell her they were running out of food, that the school lunches weren't enough for a whole day, even when her classmates would give her half of their meals. Because they were running out of food and they were running out of money.
Over those months, maternity leave was the only reason Ayita didn't lose her job at the nursing home. Ayita knew that even if little Laurel was not growing inside of her, she wouldn't have left the bed. She couldn't have left the bed. It was too deep. When Ayita was beginning to fall through the floorboards like a ghost, Aunt Rosebud came. After Nadine called her. She'd lived with Ayita and Nadine ever since.”
“For so much of her life, Nadine had been focused on making sure Mom's sickness didn't kill them. Nadine has made sure it is managed-contained. But now Nadine wonders if focusing on the ways her mother is sick has kept her from seeing the ways that she is sick herself.”
“"She thinks she's sparing you from something. Trying not to pass her hurt on."
"Well, she's doing a terrible job, if that's the goal." Maybe Nadines words are harsh, and almost a little funny, but she means them. They feel true. The hurt isn't passed on through stories or gravestones or truths. The hurt is passed on each time that Nadine has to check her mother's pulse. Each time she has to make sure her mother is still breathing. Each time Nadine could not be a child because she had to be her own mother. "This hurts so much worse."”
This novel has a slow start, but after 100 pages reads in one deep inhale. We follow teenage Nadine, in the wake of her younger Sister, Laurel’s, disapperance. At first she grieves and mourns, but soon she begins trying to understand the significance of the Little People, that she previously assumed was all in Laurel’s imagination. Soon, she goes on a journey with her aunty Rosebud to uncover her mother’s past, the matrimonial lineage of her family and the price they pay for healing.
The novel explores inheritance of stories, of ghosts, of knowledge, of power, of pain, of loss, of trauma and blurrs the lines between the real and the unreal, the dead and the living, the haunting and the restful in an absolutely breathtaking way.
Some moments made me really sad, others made me genuinely scared and the themes were haunting. This is such a brilliant modern gothic tale of the women in a family and all they bear, both the joy and the pain.
The novel also captures the complicated relationship with alcohol and smoking and their calming presence, the way it connects these women to the spirits and ancestors and its ritual nature but also the addiction that can spiral into hurt, neglect and death.
It was creepy and haunting and weird and very worth reading!!!
Quotes
“Back when Barron left for good, Nadine was maybe seven. In those days, the bed swallowed Ayita whole every time she slept Every time she lay down she sank deeper into the mattress, deeper into the floor. Little Nadine would pull at her hand and shake her shoulder lightly, tell her she was hungry, tell her they were running out of food, that the school lunches weren't enough for a whole day, even when her classmates would give her half of their meals. Because they were running out of food and they were running out of money.
Over those months, maternity leave was the only reason Ayita didn't lose her job at the nursing home. Ayita knew that even if little Laurel was not growing inside of her, she wouldn't have left the bed. She couldn't have left the bed. It was too deep. When Ayita was beginning to fall through the floorboards like a ghost, Aunt Rosebud came. After Nadine called her. She'd lived with Ayita and Nadine ever since.”
“For so much of her life, Nadine had been focused on making sure Mom's sickness didn't kill them. Nadine has made sure it is managed-contained. But now Nadine wonders if focusing on the ways her mother is sick has kept her from seeing the ways that she is sick herself.”
“"She thinks she's sparing you from something. Trying not to pass her hurt on."
"Well, she's doing a terrible job, if that's the goal." Maybe Nadines words are harsh, and almost a little funny, but she means them. They feel true. The hurt isn't passed on through stories or gravestones or truths. The hurt is passed on each time that Nadine has to check her mother's pulse. Each time she has to make sure her mother is still breathing. Each time Nadine could not be a child because she had to be her own mother. "This hurts so much worse."”
October 6, 2025
If the Dead Belong Here is a southern gothic horror steeped in indigenous mythology and pain. It’s chilling, heartbreaking and haunting.
We follow a woven tapestry of 5 generations of women, tied to the old ways, bound by loss and the price of survival.
The book begins with 6 Year old Laurel disappearing from her bed, but the roots of this story stretch back decades before her disappearance.
Pain is a family heirloom unwillingly, inevitably passed down, stitched into the fabric of their being. It wears many faces; abusive partners, addiction, grief, racism, homophobia. Generations of children desperate to escape their home, their town, the cages built around them. With multiple points of view and different timelines, this book is a puzzle you piece together as you go.
In the void Laurel leaves behind, her mother Ayita, sinks into a darkness she knows well.
Nadine, having lost her sister and watching her mother slip away, searches desperately for Laurel. For a chance to rebuild her fragile family. United by loss Nadine, Rosebud, Ayita, Talisa, Prentiss, Elgone and Morgan work to fix what’s broken. Though their end goals may not align. As the borders between realities blur Nadine discovers the ties her blood holds and the history of her lineage.
“But sometimes it's the living who haunt the dead…Sometimes the living haunt the living."
So often we swear we won’t become our parents, determined to forge our own path. One day we look up and we have followed their footsteps anyway. The love we witness as children is the map imprinted on us. Pain lingers, it stains. Secrets fester and rot if left alone. In holding on we can trap the ones we love and ourselves. If the Dead Belong Here shows the ways we can be haunted or hurt by others, and ourselves. It also illuminates the enduring power of love and connection.
The Little People’s presence, lore and mythology is a powerful part of this story. The living, the dead and everything inbetween can haunt you. When you reach out to the inbetween, to the dead, they can reach back.
This book feels like a witnessing, of indigenous stories that have been erased, a history that is often glossed over, and the impact this has on communities today. The weight that’s held in the silencing.
Some people are born to write, weave art with their sentences. Carson Faust is one of those people. The prose is lyrical and devastating tracing cycles of loss, grief, connection, suffering and hope. If the Dead Belong Here is thought-provoking, stunning and heartbreaking.
We follow a woven tapestry of 5 generations of women, tied to the old ways, bound by loss and the price of survival.
The book begins with 6 Year old Laurel disappearing from her bed, but the roots of this story stretch back decades before her disappearance.
Pain is a family heirloom unwillingly, inevitably passed down, stitched into the fabric of their being. It wears many faces; abusive partners, addiction, grief, racism, homophobia. Generations of children desperate to escape their home, their town, the cages built around them. With multiple points of view and different timelines, this book is a puzzle you piece together as you go.
In the void Laurel leaves behind, her mother Ayita, sinks into a darkness she knows well.
Nadine, having lost her sister and watching her mother slip away, searches desperately for Laurel. For a chance to rebuild her fragile family. United by loss Nadine, Rosebud, Ayita, Talisa, Prentiss, Elgone and Morgan work to fix what’s broken. Though their end goals may not align. As the borders between realities blur Nadine discovers the ties her blood holds and the history of her lineage.
“But sometimes it's the living who haunt the dead…Sometimes the living haunt the living."
So often we swear we won’t become our parents, determined to forge our own path. One day we look up and we have followed their footsteps anyway. The love we witness as children is the map imprinted on us. Pain lingers, it stains. Secrets fester and rot if left alone. In holding on we can trap the ones we love and ourselves. If the Dead Belong Here shows the ways we can be haunted or hurt by others, and ourselves. It also illuminates the enduring power of love and connection.
The Little People’s presence, lore and mythology is a powerful part of this story. The living, the dead and everything inbetween can haunt you. When you reach out to the inbetween, to the dead, they can reach back.
This book feels like a witnessing, of indigenous stories that have been erased, a history that is often glossed over, and the impact this has on communities today. The weight that’s held in the silencing.
Some people are born to write, weave art with their sentences. Carson Faust is one of those people. The prose is lyrical and devastating tracing cycles of loss, grief, connection, suffering and hope. If the Dead Belong Here is thought-provoking, stunning and heartbreaking.
October 10, 2025
"If the Dead Belong Here" by Carson Faust is a sorrowful and meditative tale that lingers more like a ghostly whisper than a scream.
The story’s beauty caught me off guard once I adjusted my expectations. It had been marketed as a gothic horror, but in truth, it reads more like a melancholy literary novel with haunting undertones. Once I shifted my mindset, I found something deeply moving beneath its quiet surface.
This book explores loss, generational grief, and colonization with aching tenderness. The way Faust captures the weight of inherited sorrow and the silence between generations feels heavy and true. The landscape itself seems to mourn alongside the characters, blurring the line between the living and the dead in a way that evokes both history and haunting.
What worked best for me was the emotional depth and the lyrical prose. The story unfolds with patience and grace, and Faust’s ability to weave grief into every detail makes this a powerful meditation on memory and belonging. It is haunting, but not in a way that frightens; rather, it unsettles with its honesty.
What didn’t quite land for me was the pacing. At times, the story felt weighed down by its own reflection. There were stretches where I longed for more momentum or sharper turns in the narrative. The atmosphere is thick and beautiful, but sometimes it smothers the tension before it can build.
I give "If the Dead Belong Here" 3.75 stars, (rounded to 4 for Goodreads.) I recommend it to readers who enjoy quiet, introspective stories about grief and identity, especially those who appreciate literary fiction with ghostly edges. I would not recommend it to readers seeking traditional gothic horror or fast-paced suspense; this story asks for patience, rewarding it with emotional resonance rather than terror. It may not have delivered the chills I expected, but it left me with something far more enduring; a heavy, haunted kind of beauty.
The story’s beauty caught me off guard once I adjusted my expectations. It had been marketed as a gothic horror, but in truth, it reads more like a melancholy literary novel with haunting undertones. Once I shifted my mindset, I found something deeply moving beneath its quiet surface.
This book explores loss, generational grief, and colonization with aching tenderness. The way Faust captures the weight of inherited sorrow and the silence between generations feels heavy and true. The landscape itself seems to mourn alongside the characters, blurring the line between the living and the dead in a way that evokes both history and haunting.
What worked best for me was the emotional depth and the lyrical prose. The story unfolds with patience and grace, and Faust’s ability to weave grief into every detail makes this a powerful meditation on memory and belonging. It is haunting, but not in a way that frightens; rather, it unsettles with its honesty.
What didn’t quite land for me was the pacing. At times, the story felt weighed down by its own reflection. There were stretches where I longed for more momentum or sharper turns in the narrative. The atmosphere is thick and beautiful, but sometimes it smothers the tension before it can build.
I give "If the Dead Belong Here" 3.75 stars, (rounded to 4 for Goodreads.) I recommend it to readers who enjoy quiet, introspective stories about grief and identity, especially those who appreciate literary fiction with ghostly edges. I would not recommend it to readers seeking traditional gothic horror or fast-paced suspense; this story asks for patience, rewarding it with emotional resonance rather than terror. It may not have delivered the chills I expected, but it left me with something far more enduring; a heavy, haunted kind of beauty.
November 10, 2025
If the Dead Belong Here has an intriguing premise, promising a Native American southern gothic with complex characters, spirits, and mystery, not to mention a beautiful cover. Unfortunately, the book fails to deliver on many of these promises. I was drawn in by the central family with their generational trauma and the mystery of a missing child, but the intrigue quickly faded, giving way to boredom. There are several main characters and perspectives as we are following a family that is dealing with hardships. Due to the constantly shifting point of view, it was a bit difficult to become fully attached to each of the characters. On top of that, there were quite a few instances of characters dealing with the same thoughts and issues. This was intentionally done in order to emphasize the cyclical nature of abuse, but it came off as incredibly repetitive.
I was also disappointed by the titular "dead". The synopsis led me to believe there would be ghosts, hauntings, and hidden terrors. I would call this more of a horror adjacent novel. The real ghosts are the ways these characters are haunted by colonization and wounds inflicted on their ancestors. There were several strong points to be made there, but they felt randomly dropped into the story and did not meet expectations. I wish we could have dived deeper into the native folklore but we only got to skirt the edges of the topic.
I was glad to receive a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway and I really was hoping I would love it. It was just so messy and aimless.
Overall: a disappointing family drama that had glimmers of good writing but mostly left me so, so bored.
I was also disappointed by the titular "dead". The synopsis led me to believe there would be ghosts, hauntings, and hidden terrors. I would call this more of a horror adjacent novel. The real ghosts are the ways these characters are haunted by colonization and wounds inflicted on their ancestors. There were several strong points to be made there, but they felt randomly dropped into the story and did not meet expectations. I wish we could have dived deeper into the native folklore but we only got to skirt the edges of the topic.
I was glad to receive a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway and I really was hoping I would love it. It was just so messy and aimless.
Overall: a disappointing family drama that had glimmers of good writing but mostly left me so, so bored.
October 29, 2025
After struggling to read this one, I give it a 2,5 star, rounded up to 3 on Goodreads/Netgalley.
My first dive into Native American content and I am intrigued to try more. This book sadly wasn't 100% what I expected but I can totally see how this is the book for others who only want tightly woven together families, their issues and toxic relationships while having a supernatural/believe system woven along.
While the set up sounded absolutely stunning this book sadly was a chore for me. It felt very repetitive at parts and while the prose was gorgeous in some parts, in others I just.. completely skipped over pages, several times (and I didn't miss anything tbh). I didn't loath reading this, but it felt very much like it needed another editing. Some pages all I read were names instead of pronouns to keep the reading easy. (Ayita this, Ayita that, Ayita said, Ayita did, constantly in just one paragraph). It threw me off several times.
The back and forth through the family tree was intriguing to read but made it so I didn't look forward to read the present day. I connected a bunch of things together earlier than the characters which made reading a bit annoying as well. Also feel like Nadine was cut short, she's stuck in an endless loop of being and feeling alone. Even tho she has Aunt Rosebud.
I feel very conflicted as the set up and the themes are very much something I'd like to read, the history of the family and the beliefs they have too, but in the end it feels a bit like a deflated balloon.
My first dive into Native American content and I am intrigued to try more. This book sadly wasn't 100% what I expected but I can totally see how this is the book for others who only want tightly woven together families, their issues and toxic relationships while having a supernatural/believe system woven along.
While the set up sounded absolutely stunning this book sadly was a chore for me. It felt very repetitive at parts and while the prose was gorgeous in some parts, in others I just.. completely skipped over pages, several times (and I didn't miss anything tbh). I didn't loath reading this, but it felt very much like it needed another editing. Some pages all I read were names instead of pronouns to keep the reading easy. (Ayita this, Ayita that, Ayita said, Ayita did, constantly in just one paragraph). It threw me off several times.
The back and forth through the family tree was intriguing to read but made it so I didn't look forward to read the present day. I connected a bunch of things together earlier than the characters which made reading a bit annoying as well. Also feel like Nadine was cut short, she's stuck in an endless loop of being and feeling alone. Even tho she has Aunt Rosebud.
I feel very conflicted as the set up and the themes are very much something I'd like to read, the history of the family and the beliefs they have too, but in the end it feels a bit like a deflated balloon.
November 22, 2025
‘The intruders enter as quiet as light.’
The novel opens in J1996 in Jordan, Wisconsin. Six-year-old Laurel Taylor is missing. Her older sister Nadine feels her absence before becoming fully aware of it. Their mother, Ayita, already fragile and alcohol dependent seems paralysed by Laurel’s disappearance. Searches for Laurel find nothing. Ayita blames her ex, Barron, for Laurel’s disappearance while Nadine begins experiencing nightmares. Those nightmares leave Nadine convinced that Laurel’s disappearance is linked to other family tragedies. With the help of Ayita’s Aunt Rosebud Crowe, Nadine meets other family members and tries to find answers to both Laurel’s disappearance and family history.
The story is a blend of both the supernatural involving both restless family ghosts from the past, the weight of history and contemporary concerns. Ayita may be trapped, but Nadine is determined to learn from the past and to not follow the same path as her mother.
The story unfolds slowly, over four parts. The timeline shifts between 1899, 1951 and 1996 touching on different parts of a complex Native American family history. Traditional practice and culture have been displaced by a (largely intolerant) Christianity. People, bereft of traditional culture,
become rudderless.
I cannot pretend to have fully appreciated the various supernatural elements. But I did appreciate Nadine’s willingness to move beyond the paralysis of grief to search for answers.
A thought-provoking read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
The novel opens in J1996 in Jordan, Wisconsin. Six-year-old Laurel Taylor is missing. Her older sister Nadine feels her absence before becoming fully aware of it. Their mother, Ayita, already fragile and alcohol dependent seems paralysed by Laurel’s disappearance. Searches for Laurel find nothing. Ayita blames her ex, Barron, for Laurel’s disappearance while Nadine begins experiencing nightmares. Those nightmares leave Nadine convinced that Laurel’s disappearance is linked to other family tragedies. With the help of Ayita’s Aunt Rosebud Crowe, Nadine meets other family members and tries to find answers to both Laurel’s disappearance and family history.
The story is a blend of both the supernatural involving both restless family ghosts from the past, the weight of history and contemporary concerns. Ayita may be trapped, but Nadine is determined to learn from the past and to not follow the same path as her mother.
The story unfolds slowly, over four parts. The timeline shifts between 1899, 1951 and 1996 touching on different parts of a complex Native American family history. Traditional practice and culture have been displaced by a (largely intolerant) Christianity. People, bereft of traditional culture,
become rudderless.
I cannot pretend to have fully appreciated the various supernatural elements. But I did appreciate Nadine’s willingness to move beyond the paralysis of grief to search for answers.
A thought-provoking read.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
September 26, 2025
I received an ARC in a goodreads giveaway. This is my honest review.
Nadine is just a teenager when her younger sister, Laurel, disappears in the middle of the night. There are no signs of a break in, no signs of a struggle. She is just gone. Her mother, Ayita, is an alcoholic with a dark past shrouded in domestic violence and abuse. Her Aunt Rosebud (who is her grandmother’s sister) lives with them ever since Nadine’s father left. The longer Laurel is missing, the more family trauma is unearthed.
The story jumps between stories of Nadine’s ancestors and the present day search for Laurel. It intermixes horrors indigenous people have endured, present loss and grief, and the supernatural. The tapestry that is woven is incredibly detailed and heartbreaking.
The good:
The writing and cadence of the book is entrancing. From the very start there are questions you want to read on in order to answer.
The bad:
Some of the jumping around gets confusing. I had a hard time making the puzzle pieces fit. The stories felt disjointed in areas and it was a patchwork trying to skip back and forth.
Overall
I would definitely recommend this book. It’s horror-adjacent. I feel like the worst horror in the novel is how humans treat each other. The characters are relatable no matter your race or upbringing. I’m not sure what authors are similar. This is truly a unique and beautiful novel.
Nadine is just a teenager when her younger sister, Laurel, disappears in the middle of the night. There are no signs of a break in, no signs of a struggle. She is just gone. Her mother, Ayita, is an alcoholic with a dark past shrouded in domestic violence and abuse. Her Aunt Rosebud (who is her grandmother’s sister) lives with them ever since Nadine’s father left. The longer Laurel is missing, the more family trauma is unearthed.
The story jumps between stories of Nadine’s ancestors and the present day search for Laurel. It intermixes horrors indigenous people have endured, present loss and grief, and the supernatural. The tapestry that is woven is incredibly detailed and heartbreaking.
The good:
The writing and cadence of the book is entrancing. From the very start there are questions you want to read on in order to answer.
The bad:
Some of the jumping around gets confusing. I had a hard time making the puzzle pieces fit. The stories felt disjointed in areas and it was a patchwork trying to skip back and forth.
Overall
I would definitely recommend this book. It’s horror-adjacent. I feel like the worst horror in the novel is how humans treat each other. The characters are relatable no matter your race or upbringing. I’m not sure what authors are similar. This is truly a unique and beautiful novel.
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