Our Cut of Salt: The gripping haunted house novel from a bold Palestinian voice

THE HOUSE IS WAITING FOR YOU.

Our Cut of Salt is an unflinching, sinister and moving take on the haunted house novel, from a bold new Palestinian voice. Perfect for fans of The Only Good Indians and The Haunting of Hill House.

‘Lyrical and haunting, Our Cut of Salt explores the horrors of occupation via the lens of three generations of women as well as a one-of-a-kind haunted house. A disturbing, mesmerizing read’ Paul Tremblay, New York Times bestselling author of Horror Movie

There is something haunting Nuhad’s childhood home in Haifa. Cats avoid its perimeter, strange noises come from within, and residents have been known to disappear entirely in its walls without a trace.

Although Nuhad has not returned to her home since the Nakba in 1948, she always held a place for the house in her heart. And, in return, the house did the same for her.

After Nuhad passes away, her granddaughter, Marina, is determined to visit her grandmother’s home in Haifa after a lifetime of being kept in the dark about her culture and family history. Marina’s mother, Haifa-named for the city that was lost to their family-reluctantly agrees to her trip, despite her omnipresent anxiety.

When a long-buried spirit of the past begins to haunt both dreams and waking life, Marina develops breathing problems that cause her to feel as if she is drowning on dry land. Despite Nuhad’s warnings, Haifa rushes to help her daughter. As the three women converge in their ancestral haunted home, they must learn what the price of the past truly is.

‘Lyrical and terrifying, Helm’s portrait of generational trauma will leave you aching in its wake. Our Cut of Salt is not just a powerful exploration of injustice and survival, but also a testament to the power of love’ Monika Kim, author of The Eyes are the Best Part

‘In this moving exploration of mother-daughter relationships, and generational trauma and grief, Helm provides a timely reminder that the real horrors can be found in history’ E. L. Chen, author of One of Us Is Already Dead

‘Our Cut of Salt is the must-read of the year. Longing and rage are woven beautifully in this multi-generational family story, taking readers to the steps of a house in Haifa that they will not forget’ Trang Thanh Tran, author of She Is a Haunting

‘Our Cut of Salt rages and aches and demands your complete attention, re-contextualizing the very notion of what a haunted house is’ Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Wake Up

‘Painfully timely and poignant, it’s a testament to Helm’s mastery of the craft that Our Cut of Salt is horrifying even in its quiet moments. . . Deena Helm is a generational talent’ Megan Bontrager, author of The Sea Hides its Dead

‘A raw and affecting dive into family secrets and the buried past in the best gothic haunted house tradition. Honest, heart-felt and gripping’ Bitter Karella, author of Moonflow