Horror · Fantasy · Science fiction
What Moves the Dead
A retelling of the Fall of the House of Usher. A retired soldier answers a childhood friend's call and arrives at a decaying family house, where the surrounding woods, the animals and the people all seem to be wrong.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2022
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 165
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in Sworn Soldier
Read this if you want a short, creepy gothic story with a practical narrator and a touch of dark humour.
Skip this if you dislike body horror or want a long, slow-building story.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about What Moves the Dead
- What is What Moves the Dead about?
- A retelling of the Fall of the House of Usher. A retired soldier answers a childhood friend's call and arrives at a decaying family house, where the surrounding woods, the animals and the people all seem to be wrong.
- Who should read What Moves the Dead?
- Read it if you want a short, creepy gothic story with a practical narrator and a touch of dark humour. Skip it if you dislike body horror or want a long, slow-building story.
- How long and how fast is What Moves the Dead?
- It is a fast-paced, short read of about 165 pages, first published in 2022.
- Does What Moves the Dead have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death.
- Can I borrow What Moves the Dead for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends What Moves the Dead; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after What Moves the Dead?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Haunting of Hill House, Mexican Gothic, Annihilation.
Your shelf
Saved in this browser only. Open my shelf
Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
Prices appear here as retailer feeds are connected. Where none is shown, check the store. Links open the store in a new tab.
Some store links, including Kobo, are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Library links are never affiliate links. How this works
Share this pick
Because you might love it
If you loved What Moves the Dead
-
The Haunting of Hill House
The classic haunted-house novel, with a similar quiet menace and a fragile household.
-
Mexican Gothic Another decaying mansion with a strange illness and a heroine who refuses to be scared off.
-
Annihilation A short, strange story where nature itself seems to be doing something unnatural.
Horror