Sarah Pinborough has long been a master of the unsettling thriller, blending the psychological with the supernatural until readers no longer know what is real and what is imagined. We Live Here Now is a prime example of her craft: a gothic domestic thriller set in a Dartmoor country house where secrets, suspicion, and dread echo through every creaking floorboard.
A House That Holds Its Breath
Emily and her husband Freddie leave London for a fresh start at Larkin Lodge after Emily survives a near-fatal illness. To Freddie, the house is beautiful, a dream escape from the chaos of city life. To Emily, it feels wrong from the moment she steps inside. Cold spots, extinguished fires, books falling from shelves, and the oppressive atmosphere of the third-floor room all suggest a haunting.
But Emily’s mind is fragile. Her post-sepsis condition can trigger hallucinations, making her question whether the horrors she sees are supernatural or the by-product of her illness. Freddie notices nothing unusual, and his insistence on normality drives an even deeper wedge into their marriage. As Emily grows obsessed with uncovering the history of the house, she begins to suspect that Larkin Lodge hides not only its own secrets but also those her husband would rather keep buried.
Gothic Suspense at Its Best
Pinborough excels at weaving atmosphere into character conflict. Larkin Lodge is not just a setting; it is a looming presence, a gothic specter that reflects the cracks in Emily and Freddie’s marriage. The novel delivers all the hallmarks of gothic suspense: isolation, mistrust, whispers of tragedy, and a creeping sense of dread that builds until it’s nearly unbearable.
The choice of multiple perspectives, including an unexpected narrator in the form of a raven, adds originality to the structure. The bird’s point of view feels strange at first but ultimately deepens the story’s themes of haunting and survival. Fans of Edgar Allan Poe will appreciate the way his influence echoes throughout.
Twists, Paranoia, and Secrets
As with her earlier novels like Behind Her Eyes and Insomnia, Pinborough does not shy away from blindsiding her readers. The final chapters deliver surprising turns that shift the novel from haunted house mystery into something more layered, exploring dishonesty, obsession, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
Not all readers will connect deeply with the characters some found Emily and Freddie hard to empathize with but Pinborough’s narrative style keeps the tension tight. Even in slower passages, the ominous atmosphere refuses to let go.
Final Thoughts
We Live Here Now is a claustrophobic, eerie, and beautifully written thriller that blends gothic horror with psychological suspense. It is a story about a house that may or may not be haunted, a marriage built on fault lines, and secrets that demand to be unearthed. Whether you read it for the gothic chills, the shocking twists, or Pinborough’s lyrical prose, this novel will linger with you long after you’ve finished.
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