The House Built on Alligator Bones

“Sophia Huneycutt is a gifted writer whose talent shines throughout The House Built on Alligator Bones. Her evocative descriptions and finely crafted prose draw readers into the swampy, shadowy world that is backcountry Florida. This is a novel written with intelligence, heart, and a rare command of language.”
—Randy Wayne White, New York Times bestselling author of Tomlinson’s Wake

“A beautiful, singular story from a writer to watch, The House Built on Alligator Bones is a modern Heart of Darkness, set in a brutal, gory version of Florida. In conversation with years of Southern Gothic fiction while carving its own haunted path, Huneycutt paints a matriarchy at war with nature and itself, led by a character who has more than a little in common with Conrad’s Kurtz. More than brooding, or grisly, or spellbinding—though it’s all three—this is a vivid, visceral story about the lives and legacies of predators, both those dwelling in swamps and in Gilded Age mansions.”
—Ashley Winstead, national bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me

“As quirky, shady, and diabolically entertaining as the state in which it’s set, The House Built on Alligator Bones puts Florida Gothic—and debut author Sophia Huneycutt—firmly on the horror map.”
—Jennifer Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Diavola

“An absolute stunner of a novel . . . Rivalries and secrets abound, and Huneycutt lays out the strange, compulsive story in beautiful, measured prose.”
—CrimeReads

“An absolute banger of a Floridian gothic . . . intensely atmospheric.”
—Reactor

“Family secrets hang heavy as Florida heat in this Southern Gothic ghost story, where lies burn like salt water—and what lurks at the bottom of the swamp won’t lie dormant forever. Hauntingly captivating, the warped halls of this mystery brim with cinematic prose, the dark heart of family legacy, and, of course, the whispers of the dead.”
—Ande Pliego, USA Today bestselling author of The Library After Dark

“If you’re a fan of homes that haunt, look no further than The House Built on Alligator Bones. Huneycutt gives readers the swampy, atmospheric horror vibe they’ve been waiting for.”
—Debutiful

“Full of mysterious occurrences, mythic family lore, buried histories, and the inescapable burdens of the past, Sophia Huneycutt’s compulsively readable The House Built on Alligator Bones has the hallmarks of the best of Southern Gothic. Underneath its intrigue and suspense lies a story about the longing for familial connection and one’s desire to find their place in the world.”
—LaTanya McQueen, author of When the Reckoning Comes

“The House Built on Alligator Bones is a mystery haunted by the past. Dark and oozing as the Florida swamp, it’s a story about the weight of family legacy and what it takes to imagine a new future. If you like your heroines dark, your mansions dilapidated, and your ghosts to have teeth, then this is the page-turner for you.”
—Bailey Seybolt, author of Coram House

“Captivating, eerie, and authentic . . . The layered family drama drives the plot as the mystery unfolds . . . Fans of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn will love this debut Southern gothic set in Florida; great for every collection.”
—Library Journal

“Strikingly original.”
—Publishers Weekly