The Pumpkin House

Every harvest demands a sacrifice.

When Rory Pike’s car breaks down outside Bayou Vista, she’s stranded with nothing but a few torn boxes, an empty wallet, and a past she can’t outrun. Virgil Thatch offers her food, shelter, and a place to belong—but he isn’t looking for help. He’s looking for a replacement.

His late wife’s apron still hangs by the stove. Her wedding dress waits in the barn. And every fall, Virgil carves new pumpkins—each one with a face that looks a little too real.

At first, Rory tells herself it’s kindness. A second chance. But the longer she stays, the more she sees how tightly he controls every breath inside that house. What she wears. Where she goes. How she speaks. And what happens when she disobeys.

As the harvest draws near, the truth about Ruth Thatch—and the faces carved into the pumpkins—comes to light. And by the time Rory realizes what she’s become, it may already be too late.

Set against the haunting backdrop of rural Louisiana, The Pumpkin House is a slow-burning psychological thriller about power, obsession, and the terrifying ways love can rot.