The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

The Caretaker is an atmospheric horror tale of isolation, terrifying rituals, and psychological dread that lingers long after the final page.

on May 26, 2026

However, there is another kind of horror which relies neither on jump scare nor on gruesome images but rather delves deep into the subconscious of the viewer through creating the necessary atmosphere and through using repetition in order to instill fear and dread into the audience. This is exactly what makes The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer such a great example of contemporary horror literature.

The author has already shown himself as being highly talented in the previous work named We Used to Live Here and he repeats himself here, giving us yet another excellent story. At first glance, the idea of the book seems quite straightforward. There is a troubled young woman who applies to take care of someone because she needs extra cash. But from the moment when the girl answers the posting on Craigslist everything changes dramatically.

Right from the very beginning we meet an extremely relatable protagonist – a young woman who works as a nanny and is trying really hard to get some money and earn as fast as possible. For this reason she applies to the Craigslist posting and accepts the job at an isolated wilderness location where she soon discovers terrible rituals and ancient evil spirits.

In terms of strengths, Kliewer's ability to create an atmosphere is unparalleled. The remote coastal setting takes on a character of its own, with the dense fog and silent woods contributing to a feeling of oppression and isolation. The repeated use of the frightening expression "Follow the Rites…" takes on a trance-inducing quality, creating a blend of paranoid delusion and reality for the reader.

What sets Kliewer's supernatural horror apart from other examples of cosmic horror, however, is the emotional depth she introduces into the narrative. Underneath the supernatural events described, there is a powerful tale of survival, responsibility, and burden. The sense of duty that drives Macy to defend her young sister provides the story with an emotional component, making cosmic horrors more relatable and intimate.

Finally, Kliewer shows incredible mastery of the pace of her novel. Dread builds up gradually and creates the necessary emotional backdrop for the horror moments to hit home hard. The story does not rely on graphic violence and focuses on suspense. Instead, the reader can experience the fear of the unknown – of not knowing the meaning behind the terrifying rituals and their terrible consequences if broken.

Those who have a passion for atmospheric horror as written by authors like Shirley Jackson, Paul Tremblay, and Stephen King should be thrilled by this novel. However, Kliewer's voice is quite unique in its nature, drawing heavily on the psychological elements of internet-based horror as well as the movie-like vision that he developed through his career as a stop-motion animator.

In The Caretaker, Marcus Kliewer offers readers an eerie tale of fear, solitude, and terrifying rituals that they won't soon forget. This is a novel that truly understands the inner workings of horror not only terrifying the reader, but also creating a feeling of haunting that will stick with them long after turning the last page.