Near the end of her life Shirley Jackson had become homebound and felt isolated.   Her last novel was published in 1962 and instead of another Gothic horror story she created a story about the unusual Blackwood sisters living in a rural home, away from town, but isolated because of the mistrust  and hate of the villagers.   Constance, Mary Katherine (Merricat), and Uncle Julian lived in the home six years after the rest of the family was poisoned.    Constance was the suspect, but no charges were laid and the crime was unsolved.  They have gradually retreated from human society.   Constance cooks, cleans, and cares for the others, but will not leave the home.   She has agoraphobic and timid, but kind.    Merricat is strange, superstitious, and out of touch with the world.

The story is told from within the house.    The family is gradually going mad from isolation, fear, and the enmity of the town.   Merricat explains the story to the reader, but it is twisted story, a naive view of old-denied truths.   Into this, Cousin Charles comes, hoping to acquire some of the family fortune.   Constance is sympathetic, mostly out of loneliness, but Merricat and Julian want him gone.   Charles is a smoker and almost everyone is surprised when the upstairs catches on fire.   The fire brigade puts out the fire, but the villagers go on a rampage and break whatever they can our of hate and fear.

Merricat and Constance withdraw even further into the “castle”, adapting the ground floor as their new home, allowing the vines to grow over the burned upper story.   We learn who killed the family.  Villagers try to make amends and the sisters accept gifts, but will not see anyone.   They are content to live out their days in isolation.    This is a reverse fairy tale, a strange  Gothic psychotragedy.    It is unsettling, but strong in thematic development.    It was an enjoyable short book to read, but a story like this is not for everyone.   Recommended for those with patience and a readiness to follow a different path.   4.3 out of 5.0 stars4.3