Maggie Holt's world is upended as she grapples with the possibility that her childhood fears were real and that her father's book, House of Horrors, might be more than just a story. As she digs deeper into the history of Baneberry Hall, a disturbing pattern emerges, and the line between the living and the dead blurs.
Chapter 16:
In the present, a sleep-deprived Maggie calls Dane Hibbets for a ride, but their tense exchange leads to Dane quitting. Maggie seeks out Dr. Weber, the child psychologist mentioned in her father's book. Dr. Weber confirms that a young Maggie spoke of supernatural entities, including Miss Pennyface and Mister Shadow, who whispered that she was "going to die." This revelation shatters Maggie’s skepticism, forcing her to confront the possibility that her childhood fears—and her father's book—were real.
Meanwhile, in House of Horrors, on Day 14 (July 9), a servant bell labeled "The Indigo Room" rings on its own, leading Ewan Holt to an empty room with a lit chandelier. Back in the kitchen, all the bells ring, and a terrified Maggie claims Mister Shadow "wants to talk to you." That night, Ewan convinces Jess Holt to use a Ouija board, which spells out the name of Curtis Carver and confirms he is Mister Shadow. The board spells "CAREFUL" repeatedly before abruptly ending. Simultaneously, Maggie screams, claiming Mister Shadow was in her room.
Chapter 17:
Maggie visits the Bartleby Gazette to research Baneberry Hall's history, a theme of The Past Haunting the Present. She makes a deal with the editor, Brian Prince, for access to the archives. Maggie confirms that every death her father chronicled in House of Horrors was a real, reported event, including the death of Indigo Garson in 1889. She also discovers that Brian Prince wrote the original 1975 article about her family fleeing the house, titled "THE HAUNTING OF BANEBERRY HALL."
In the book excerpt for Day 15 (July 10), Jess, convinced Ewan is faking events, throws the Ouija board away, warning him that she won't "stick around to help you clean up the mess." Later, Ewan retrieves the board and deciphers a message from Curtis Carver, who confirms he told Maggie she would die in the house but denies planning to kill her. He also denies killing his daughter, Katie.
Chapter 18:
Maggie learns that Brian Prince also wrote the original 1974 article about the Carver murder-suicide. He remembers Marta Carver as a happy woman before the tragedy. Maggie decides to speak with Marta directly, who agrees to meet her at Baneberry Hall. Marta tells Maggie, "We're a lot alike... Both of us have been defined by Baneberry Hall," hinting at a shared, tragic connection to the house.
In the book, on Day 16 (July 11), Ewan meets Marta at the library. Marta recounts Katie’s mysterious illness and finding Curtis and Katie dead, confirming she was awakened by the sound of Curtis's body hitting the floor at 4:54 a.m. Ewan suggests that "someone else—or something else" killed her family, deeply offending Marta. As Ewan leaves, he notices a portrait of William Garson holding a walking cane, connecting it to the "tap-tap-tap" sound he has been hearing.
Chapter 19:
Marta arrives at Baneberry Hall but is too afraid to enter. She confirms that she met with Ewan for his book but insists that the part where she questions Curtis's guilt is fiction. She reveals that Curtis left a suicide note explaining he couldn't handle Katie's illness, seemingly confirming his guilt. Marta then confronts Maggie about selling "artifacts" from Baneberry Hall online. Maggie discovers listings for items from the house, including the silver letter opener with the initials "W.G." Realizing who has been stealing from the house, Maggie ends the conversation with Marta.
On Day 17 (July 12), Elsa Ditmer warns Ewan that in Baneberry Hall, "all daughters are in danger." Ewan researches deaths at the house and discovers that seven girls, sixteen or younger, have died there, each in the presence of their father. This discovery aligns with the theme of Family Secrets and Their Consequences. He asks the spirit of Curtis Carver if William Garson is responsible for the deaths. The record skips on the word "careful," confirming his suspicion that William Garson is influencing fathers to kill their daughters, and Maggie is his next target.
Chapter 20:
Maggie confronts Hannah Ditmer, who confesses to stealing items from the house to sell online to pay for her mother Petra Ditmer's medical bills. She admits to faking some hauntings to scare Maggie away but denies placing Buster the bear in Maggie's room. Elsa appears, mistaking Maggie for Petra and warning her, "You're going to die there." Maggie offers to let Hannah take whatever she wants from the house. Hannah reveals a hidden door at the back of the house, concealed by ivy.
On Day 18 (July 13), Ewan wakes up to Jess violently attacking him. He finds red, hand-shaped bruises around Maggie's neck. Jess is convinced Ewan tried to strangle Maggie, claiming she saw him get back into bed just before Maggie started crying. Ewan insists he was possessed by William Garson. Jess, believing her husband is a danger to their child, leaves with Maggie, telling Ewan, "It's not the house I'm afraid of." Ewan is relieved that Maggie is safe and sits before the wall of bells, determined to contact Curtis Carver and defeat William Garson.
Key Events
- Maggie Confirms the Book's Truth: Maggie learns from Dr. Weber that her childhood fears of ghosts were genuine and discovers at the Gazette that the house's tragic history is exactly as her father described.
- The "Ghoul" is Revealed: Maggie confronts Hannah Ditmer, who confesses to stealing items and faking some of the hauntings to scare Maggie away.
- Curtis Carver's Suicide Note: Marta Carver reveals that Curtis left a suicide note, which seems to definitively prove he killed his daughter and himself, contradicting what the "spirits" told Ewan.
- The Pattern of Deaths: Ewan discovers that seven young girls have died at Baneberry Hall over the decades, always in the presence of their fathers.
- Jess Leaves with Maggie: After finding handprints on Maggie's neck, Jess becomes convinced Ewan is dangerously unstable and flees the house with their daughter, marking the end of their family unit.
Character Development
- Maggie Holt: Maggie's journey from skeptic to believer is complete. She becomes an active investigator.
- Ewan Holt: Ewan transforms into a man consumed by a supernatural battle, leading to the destruction of his family.
- Jess Holt: Jess's denial hardens into certainty. Her maternal instinct drives her to abandon Ewan to protect Maggie.
- Marta Carver: Marta is revealed as a woman trapped by her past, clinging to the rational explanation for her family's tragedy.
- Hannah Ditmer: Hannah is revealed to be a desperate woman trying to care for her sick mother, providing a rational explanation for some events.
Themes & Symbols
Truth vs. Fiction and the Unreliability of Narrative: Maggie discovers the "fiction" of House of Horrors is built on verifiable truth. Hannah's confession reveals fabricated hauntings. Ewan's narrative is his truth, but to Jess, it is a dangerous fiction. The novel constantly asks the reader to question which narrative to trust.
Supernatural vs. Psychological Horror: Ewan is immersed in supernatural horror, while Jess experiences psychological horror. Hannah's tricks provide a rational explanation for some events, amplifying the terror of the unexplained.
The Servant Bells: The bells evolve into a key symbol of communication, a direct line between Ewan and the spirit of Curtis Carver.
Significance
These chapters represent the novel's major turning point, shifting the central question to "What is the true nature of the evil in this house?" Maggie's skepticism is dismantled, forcing her to confront the house's darkness.
The parallel narratives of Maggie and Ewan converge. Ewan's discovery of the historical pattern of fathers killing daughters provides context for the immediate threat to Maggie. The climax of Ewan's story explains the trauma that defined Maggie's life. The reveal of Hannah's deception clears away the "fake" hauntings to isolate the real threat.
Analysis
Riley Sager masterfully uses the dual-narrative structure to build suspense. By showing Ewan's terror, the reader is positioned to believe in the supernatural threat before Maggie does. Jess's perspective provides a rational counter-narrative, making Ewan's story feel both tragic and delusional. Her final line, "It's not the house I'm afraid of," encapsulates the theme of Supernatural vs. Psychological Horror.
The introduction of the suicide note is a brilliant narrative device, providing a logical explanation for the Carver tragedy that contradicts the supernatural claims of Ewan's book. This creates a powerful conflict, forcing both Maggie and the reader to question what is real.