How to Fake a Haunting

How to Fake a Haunting

Christa Carmen

#6143 of 8,085 books · #551 in Horror

Shortlisted for the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel (2025).

In this novel of contemporary horror, Lainey Taylor struggles with the escalating instability of her husband, Callum, whose alcoholism and unpredictable behavior place strain on their family. Unable to pursue separation or custody through conventional means, Lainey considers an alternative plan proposed by her friend Adelaide: staging a series of fabricated supernatural events intended to persuade Callum to leave the household. As the staged "haunting" unfolds, tensions within the home increase, and the situation develops in unexpected and dangerous ways. Lainey eventually confronts the consequences of the deception and must work with Callum to navigate the forces that have been set in motion.