🕯️ Book Review: All My Darkest Impulses by Lisa Unger (Kindle Edition, House of Crows Book 1)
A haunting psychological thriller that blends supernatural suspense with buried trauma—Lisa Unger opens her four-part House of Crows series with a chilling tale of memory, mystery, and the ghosts we carry.
🧠 Overview
Published in May 2021, All My Darkest Impulses is a 63-page novella and the first installment in Lisa Unger’s House of Crows series. The story follows Matthew Merle, a disgraced professor who inherits his grandfather’s decaying mansion—Merle House—a place steeped in eerie memories and unresolved tragedy. As Matthew returns to the house, he reconnects with Claire, a psychiatrist and childhood friend, who is also grappling with her own demons after a patient’s violent breakdown.
Together, they begin to unravel the mystery of a girl who vanished in the woods years ago, a disappearance that still casts a shadow over their lives. But Merle House isn’t just a setting—it’s a character in itself, waiting for their return and ready to reveal its secrets.
🔍 Key Themes & Highlights
- 🏚️ Haunted house atmosphere: Merle House is rich with gothic tension and psychological unease
- 🧠 Trauma and memory: The story explores how childhood experiences shape adult fears and relationships
- 🕵️♀️ Slow-burn mystery: Layers of suspense unfold through character introspection and eerie flashbacks
- 📖 Serial format: Designed to be read in one sitting, each part builds toward a larger supernatural arc
“What really happened to the girl who walked into the woods and vanished forever? It’s a never-forgotten mystery that clings like a shadow…”
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 3.77/5 from over 5,300 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the story’s creepy tone, emotional depth, and tight pacing
- 🧾 Some felt the short format limited character development, but many appreciated the setup for the rest of the series
- 💬 “A little spooky, mysterious, and just enough to make me want to keep reading the rest of the series.” — StoryGraph reviewer
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 63 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as part of the full House of Crows experience
- 📚 Series continuity: Works as a standalone introduction, but leaves threads to be explored in later installments
- 🧠 Character-driven suspense: Focuses more on mood and psychology than fast-paced action
🏁 Final Verdict
All My Darkest Impulses is a moody, atmospheric novella that sets the stage for a layered supernatural thriller. Lisa Unger’s writing is introspective and eerie, making this Kindle edition a compelling entry point for readers who enjoy psychological horror with emotional complexity.
