What Moves the Dead

Written by T. Kingfisher

Narrated by Avi Roque

"The audiobook narrated by Avi Roque is delightful." - Buzzfeed

"Narrator Avi Roque delivers a perfectly paced performance in this concise audiobook...holding listeners hostage until the house reveals its terrifying secrets." -AudioFile Magazine

From T. Kingfisher, the award-winning author of The Twisted Ones, comes What Moves the Dead, a gripping and atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher."

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Jul 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9781250856890

T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher, also known as Ursula Vernon, is the author and illustrator of many projects, including the webcomic “Digger,” which won the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story and the Mythopoeic Award. Her novelette “The Tomato Thief” won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette, and her short story “Jackalope Wives” won the Nebula Award for Best Story. She is also the author of the bestselling Dragonbreath, and the Hamster Princess series of books for children. Find her online at RedWombatStudio.com.

Reviews for What Moves the Dead

[Toni Snyder · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such an amazing read and the audio was perfect for it.

[Tiffany Culbertson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think it really captures the same atmosphere a Poe or Lovecraft story might, and I love horror books with believable explanations for the horror. The characters felt like real people, and the story built up the suspense perfectly.

[Geo Frank · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Creepy and unnerving, in a good way. Unsettling up until the resolution.

[Rebekah Pennington · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little slow at the start, but a great book in the end. It left me wanting more!

[İsra Gül Bedir · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Didn't like the way it's narrated. About the book, the first part wasn't as immersive, the last was good enough. But, there were a lot of repetitions like the author didn't have enough vocabulary to convey the bleak atmosphere of the original.

[Katherine Kelley · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t love the short story either, but it didn’t even capture those feelings imo

[Adelia Ward · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book but the audiobook has a part missing, unfortunately.

[Charles Jones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took a while to get going, but it finally found its footing in the later chapters and delivered a good conclusion. Not necessarily an original idea, but it was executed very well.

[missbeamarie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so good. I read this blind- I didn't know it was a retelling of The Fall of House of Usher that was done so well. Truly terrifying is fungus and the known/unknown they will do to survive. It was so well written and the comedy factor was dry as a margarita. I LOVED it.

[Lillian Humphery · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A short horror mystery with a very interesting cast of characters. The protagonist is non-binary and had a very interesting explanation for how they are able to manage it despite the story taking place well over 100 years ago. Was shocked when Rain Whispers from the owl house started reading to me, but it wasn't an unwelcome surprise at all!

[Jenifer Furie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting story. However the book dragged for me. Didn't get good until the last 4 chapters or so ? But VERY INTERESTING STORY.

[Amy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such an interesting book. It has instantly become one of my favorites. The audibook narration is also fantastic.

[davischristopherjohn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun! A re-telling of Fall of the Usher that feels geared towards 2020s millenials. Not many surprises here, but enjoyable, easy listening.

[Chantal Terblanche · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was an entertaining morning listening. I enjoyed it! Would definitely recommend. And this isn't even a genre I'm normally interested in.

[Susan Garcia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very suspenseful, especially when you learn that the fungi puppet the dead, so it gives it a zombie feel. Fungi are very intelligent and it makes me wonder if something like this could happen irl. So sad Rodrick sacrificed himself but seemed like he was sick too. I wonder how the village will keep anyone away from this place to avoid others getting infected.

[April · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really adds to the original poe story! Great for mushroom fans