House of Bone and Rain

By: Gabino Iglesias

Narrated by: Jean-Marc Berne, Daya Mendez

In the latest from Shirley Jackson and Bram Stoker Award-winning author of THE DEVIL TAKES YOU HOME, a group of five teenage boys in Puerto Rico seek vengeance after one of their mothers is murdered; a Latinx STAND BY ME with a haunted, obsidianly dark heart.

For childhood friends Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and Bimbo, death has always been close. Hurricanes. Car accidents. Gang violence. Suicide. Estamos rodeados de fantasmas was Gabe’s grandmother’s refrain. We are surrounded by ghosts. But this time is different. Bimbo's mom has been shot dead. We’re gonna kill the guys who killed her Bimbo swears. And they all agree.

Feral with grief, Bimbo has become unrecognizable, taking no prisoners in his search for names. Soon, they learn Maria was gunned down by guys working for the drug kingpin of Puerto Rico. No one has ever gone up against him and survived. As the boys strategize, a storm gathers far from the coast. Hurricanes are known to carry evil spirits in their currents and bring them ashore, spirits which impose their own order.

Blurring the boundaries between myth, mysticism, and the grim realities of our world, House of Bone and Rain is a harrowing coming of age story; a doomed tale of devotion, the afterlife of violence, and what rolls in on the tide.

©2024 Gabino Iglesias (P)2024 Mulholland Books

Critic reviews

"Gripping, eerie, and impossible to put down, House of Bone and Rain is a dark coming-of-age story drenched with spectral terror. And it’s a page-turning dive into the cost of vengeance, loyalty, and love. Gabino Iglesias walks the electric high wire between crime and horror with breathtaking assurance."—Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of HEAT 2

"A pulse-pounding, blood-spattered revenge tale about the bonds of friendship and the devastation of violence, about ruthless gods and restless ghosts, about love and loss and righteous anger. With breathless pacing, knockout prose, and dynamic characters to follow into the dark, House of Bone and Rain is part crime thriller, part supernatural horror, and completely brilliant."—Rachel Harrison, national bestselling author of BLACK SHEEP

"Thoughtful and violent, lyrical and muscular, House of Bone and Rain is a mystical, moving powerhouse that never lets up—and lingers long after the last sentence. Buy this book and welcome the storm.”—Michael Koryta, New York Times-bestselling author of AN HONEST MAN

Poor narration

I honestly wish this had been read by AI. I had to put it down in spite of the great writing because the reader was so terrible. Poor pronunciation, attention to sentence flow, etc. It was distracting. I’m sure the Spanish parts were great, but I don’t speak Spanish. This is one time I’d prefer to read a print version.

unexpected and brilliant

I stumbled upon this after an NPR interview and jumped in sight unseen. What a great listen. The characters are so heartfelt, even in the midst of violence and tragedy. And the twists I didn't see coming kept me hooked till the very end.

Revenge is the most beautiful destructive ballet

This book should be adapted into a tv series it’s honestly epic! Fully immersive in the storm. No one is coming to help, it’s up to this group of friends to avenge the death of one of their mothers. I love the narrator and the prose of Gabino Inglesias! It’s hard to describe this book so you should just read it because you’ll love it too! Highly recommend!

Another great horror novel from Gambino Iglesias!

Iglasias is a master at the making us empathize with his characters taking a dark path. Set against a hurricane in PR, this noir story keeps us engaged through each twist and turn. Highly recommend!

A horrific yet satisfying return to PR.

I loved this book! This was my first Gabino story and it didn’t disappoint. This story offers a tasty mix of horror, weird, crime, action, and cultural reflection. Having spent a lot of time in Old San Juan over the past few decades, I loved going back despite the horrific circumstances of this story. Gabino brings PR to life for his readers, showing the island and its culture for what it is: simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.

I didn’t expect our waterborne friends. But I appreciate them having spent many years at sea, much of it around PR. I can imagine those reefs birthing their horrors…

I recommend the audiobook above other formats. The narration brings the culture to life and helps non-Spanish speakers naturally navigate the beauty of the language woven throughout the book.

immersive

I love the way Gabino weaves myths and social commentary together to make a rich story that is not only compelling but powerful.

Fantástico!

I liked how the character development of the protagonist developed and how he interacted with his best friends. There were wins and losses. Surprises and predictable outcomes. The undercurrent of island mystery was really interesting, and played a major part in the story.

Great story - bad narration

I want to revisit this book in print. I loved the interplay of the mystical/noir elements in the backdrop of Hurricane Maria. However, the narrator chose to play one of the main characters in such a way that his voice would crack every time he played him (which was half the book) and it took me out of the story.

Hurricane Vice

This was a wild ride, and I was here for it. House of Bone and Rain is about high school friends in Ouerto Rico getting revenge when one of their mothers is killed by a drug lord. It’s dark and can be violent, but part of what I loved was the intense loyalty between the young men. But man, it got them into serious trouble. The language is beautiful. Listening to the audio I really got a feel for the characters and the dialogue is terrific. Nice comedic relief just when you need it the most. Someone compared to Stephen King and Don Winslow and I think that’s right but would also add SA Crosby to the list. And like all those, this is not to be missed!

I love the inventiveness of the story playing out within a natural disaster

This is my 2nd book by this author. I love the genre of barrio noir. It would help to know Spanish but it's not necessary. I don't want to say too much that might give anything away but definitely different and an appreciated voice in horror. This one is a little more "out there" than Devil Takes you Home but ties in nicely to the culture and folktales. The performance was great.