The September House

Orlando’s masterful debut follows Margaret and her husband, Hal, who discover their dream house is haunted—but only during the month of September. The month is full of gory, ghostly manifestations, but Margaret and Hal soothe themselves by remembering that there will be 11 normal months after that. Margaret approaches life with determined practicality and a quirky inner voice that immediately charms. Kimberly Farr embodies her to perfection. Her depiction of Margaret epitomizes the unflappable American mother found in many a sitcom, perfectly balancing her against the story’s gruesome autumnal backdrop. Farr follows Orlando’s layered story, believably depicting each new development as the story moves from horror to tragedy to triumph. Although the book lures listeners in with humor, it soon becomes a moving exploration of the hidden costs of resilience and survival. As the novel nears its end, listeners may find themselves poking at the tender parts of their own lives. They will also likely spend that final half hour barricading the door against intrusions as they’re caught up in the marvelous finale.