This week’s episode shows what a good haunted house can do. Deena Helm is a mixed American-Palestinian author, who’sdebut novel, Our Cut of Salt, puts all the power of the Gothic to use inframing the occupation and oppression of Palestine. It takes place before the ongoing genocide, but offer a chance to consider how horror fiction can play its part in framing that obscenity.  That all sounds heavy, and it rightfully is – but this book also has a frightening, tragic and murderous house at its core… so there’s (our kind) of fun to be had as well. This is an important episode for the show. I hope you listen and enjoy. Other books mentioned: White is for Witching (2009), by Helen OyeyemiTell Me I’m Worthless (2021), by Alison RumfittFrankenstein in Baghdad (2013), by Ahmed SaadawiMornings in Jenin (2006), by Susan AbulhawaBehind You is the Sea (2024), by Susan Muaddi DarrajGentle Things (2026), by Danielle GilesHungerstone (2025), by Kat Dunn Support Talking Scared on Patreon Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch Come talk books on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices