Legacy Lives in the Dark

Read Time:6 Minute, 16 Second

BOOK REVIEWS
Turn Off the Light: A Novel

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Adult
Year Released: 2026
Writer(s): Jacquie Walters
Pages: 336
Where to Watch: available March 3, 2026, pre-order your copy here: www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: What happens when a house doesn’t only have memories, but instead takes part in them? TURN OFF THE LIGHT is built around that idea, and then slowly but surely turns the screws on you until the very walls seem to be in on it. Jacquie Walters is back after her first novel, with something much more ambitious in terms of how it’s put together. This isn’t a typical haunted-house story told across time; it’s a meeting of generations and a look at fear, belief, and how women survive. In the 1600s, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Edith is a healer, someone her community depends on, but also someone they worry about. In the present, Claire returns to the house where she grew up to look after her father as his health declines, bringing her little girl along, and the place she once called home seems strangely aware of the situation. The link between the two women is the land the house stands on, but Walters wants to explore something beyond where things happen: she’s thinking about what people leave behind.

The chapters about Edith are the most gripping. Walters writes her with a control that shows the time she lived in without being too specific. Edith isn’t an over-the-top, style character; she’s someone sensible who knows about plants, medicines, and the things women have to do, the rules they don’t talk about, to stay safe in a society that is quick to call them dangerous. The worry that is growing in her home seems to be part of the panic around her. When odd things start to happen, like apples turning up where they shouldn’t, marks on skin which can’t be explained, sounds in the dark, the horror is never separate from the danger which is outside her door, from society. Walters makes it hard to tell the difference between things that might be supernatural and the way men in power distrust women. In the 1600s, Virginia and the two were almost the same.

Claire’s story at the start feels more grounded, if not even a bit intentionally wearisome. She’s dealing with the depths of sadness. Her father’s loss of memory adds to the unsettling feeling, because when he talks about evil in the house, people reading have to wonder if his mind is failing, or if he can see something others can’t. Claire doesn’t come to the house believing in ghosts. That unwillingness to believe makes her slow acceptance of what is happening more powerful. Walters looks at tiredness, being on your own, and losing your confidence.

The best thing about the novel is how the two periods of the story reflect each other without being mirror images of each other. Edith is criticized for what she knows; Claire isn’t taken seriously because of what she suspects. Edith is afraid of being called a witch; Claire is afraid of being thought mad. In both periods, women’s gut feelings are doubted first, and only later, if ever, taken as truth. Walters lets this idea sit under the story, appearing through what happens rather than through what she tells you.

TURN OFF THE LIGHT is better than other books of this style because of how it shows the structure of the story. Many novels that span periods depend on chance or family history to connect the characters. Walters chooses something more daring in idea, and it makes you think about the earlier chapters in a new way. What links the two stories is worrying because it suggests that time isn’t as solid as we think, and that things can pass through it.

Where Walters really excels is how things feel at the end. The climax isn’t about big displays or unnecessary violence. It’s about choices. The ending depends on women making decisions to help each other over time, and it changes the whole story into one about keeping things safe rather than just getting through it. This makes it more than just a haunted-house thriller; it's about women of different generations reclaiming power.

The book’s tone is a mix of horror and historical fiction, with a strong psychological undercurrent. It isn’t especially bloody. The fear comes from the suggestion that houses remember the worst in people and might somehow react to it. Walters writes about caring for people honestly, especially in scenes where Claire is with her father. The struggles of dementia are their own kind of haunting, making the line between what’s real and what isn’t unclear, the main idea of the book.

The last pages of the book give a feeling of everything coming together that many books in this type of story don’t get. Things connect without being overexplained. You get answers to your questions, but the house still has its mysteries. Walters knows that horror is best when you’re still a little unsure of what is going on.

TURN OFF THE LIGHT shows a writer who is willing to try new things with how the story is put together, while still focusing on the people in it. The mix of women being persecuted in history, sadness about family, and the supernatural feels intended, not like chasing a trend. Walters isn’t only telling a ghost story; she’s looking at how women’s stories are changed, ignored, and sometimes removed, and what it might mean if those stories fought back.

If you want constant fear, this might not be enough. But if you like mysteries with layers that take the feeling of a place as seriously as the story itself, you’ll really like this. Walters has become a writer who isn’t afraid to put emotion and honesty with ideas together, and that combination gives TURN OFF THE LIGHT a power that lasts past the last page.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching for 'Overly Honest Reviews'.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please don't hesitate to say hello or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of HACHETTE BOOK GROUP]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive complimentary items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl Records, Books, and more. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support as you navigate these links.