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This Cursed House by Del Sandeen The story took place in the 1960 United States. Jemma Barker fled the only home she knew in Chicago for the land of her ancestors. Readers experience the difference in those two worlds as Jemma rides buses and trains toward New Orleans. Though she expected a fresh beginning, Jemma realized the future depended upon addressing the past. Not simply her past, but that of her ancestors. “Some things are best left buried.” Honorine Duchon hired Jemma, but for what? In her anxiety to flee Chicago, Jemma asked few questions. Once she arrived in Louisiana, the truth remained elusive because lying formed a significant part of the Duchon family DNA. Despite warnings from her friend, and essentially everyone in New Orleans, Jemma traveled to the Duchon estate. Instantly, she discovered a world restricted by the past. Members of the Duchon family have been dying on the date of her birth. Someone cursed the family. Who? And how could Jemma overcome that curse? “I hate to see people doing stupid shit just for the sake of family. Sometimes your family ain’t worth doing for.” The Duchon family secrets threatened more than Jemma’s life but their own. Jemma had to uncover those secrets then convince the Duchon’s. Sandeen created a story about family and self-discovery. However, the plot slogged through many chapters while not developing the secondary characters. The historical fiction aspect of the story saved the plot, which otherwise felt bland. The plot is more suspense than horror, but still a decent read. “…she hadn’t loved herself enough. She hadn’t realized that what she needed most was herself.”
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