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What Hides In The Cupboards
Following a traumatic accident, ceramic artist Hesper Dunn trades life in Chicago for the enchanted deserts of New Mexico. But not all is quaint, and it’s far from what it seems. There’s a mystery buried deep in the heart of her new home.
Love, guilt, and grief demand that Hesper remain within the haunted pueblo. To free herself, she must free the trapped spirits…but the creatures lurking in the shadows are not what they appear. Hesper dares to wade through the murky fog of tragedy to uncover the truth, a truth that will be harder to handle than she ever dared imagine.
Love, guilt, and grief demand that Hesper remain within the haunted pueblo. To free herself, she must free the trapped spirits…but the creatures lurking in the shadows are not what they appear. Hesper dares to wade through the murky fog of tragedy to uncover the truth, a truth that will be harder to handle than she ever dared imagine.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2024
2 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Cassondra Windwalker
25 books126 followersCassondra Windwalker earned a BA of Letters from the University of Oklahoma. She's the author of nine novels and three works of poetry who does her best to keep fed the menagerie of stray critters, cryptids, marooned kelpies, and lost specters. Born and raised on the red clay, she's wandered the sticky corn fields of the Midwest, the frozen seas of the Wild North, and frequently rests her wings where orange skies meet purple mountains. She enjoys interacting with readers, writers, and generally decent humans on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 9, 2023
The author of this book reached out to me, and I'm glad she did because I enjoyed this immensely. I mean, look at that cover!
Hesper Dunn is a ceramic artist who leaves the city behind to live in the desert after a tragic accident that left her physically and emotionally hurt. But this hacienda in the middle of nowhere isn't the gift she expected it to be. Not after she finds the strange portraits, and starts seeing strange things inside the house that was supposed to save her. Not condemn her...
This is such a great story! The desert location and Hesper's state of mind certainly amped up the creepiness from the very start. And as soon as the portraits hidden inside the cabinets make an appearance, everything gets a whole lot darker.
I love how art and creations are used to amplify the trauma Hesper is suffering. How she starts out so willing to devote her time to making ceramic pieces as well as learning new ways of producing her art. She's even keen on getting her foot in the door of the many galleries in Santa Fe. But as the truth starts to unravel, her real state of mind shadows all of her good intentions.
That's when the dread takes over, and this book takes an expected and horrifying turn.
What Hides in the Cupboards is an atmospheric fever dream with a real sense of location. It twists everything that's presented as familiar, until the reader is as lost as Hesper. A sense of unease worms its way onto every page, slowly revealing what lies beneath the surface.
I really enjoyed this haunting tale!
Hesper Dunn is a ceramic artist who leaves the city behind to live in the desert after a tragic accident that left her physically and emotionally hurt. But this hacienda in the middle of nowhere isn't the gift she expected it to be. Not after she finds the strange portraits, and starts seeing strange things inside the house that was supposed to save her. Not condemn her...
This is such a great story! The desert location and Hesper's state of mind certainly amped up the creepiness from the very start. And as soon as the portraits hidden inside the cabinets make an appearance, everything gets a whole lot darker.
I love how art and creations are used to amplify the trauma Hesper is suffering. How she starts out so willing to devote her time to making ceramic pieces as well as learning new ways of producing her art. She's even keen on getting her foot in the door of the many galleries in Santa Fe. But as the truth starts to unravel, her real state of mind shadows all of her good intentions.
That's when the dread takes over, and this book takes an expected and horrifying turn.
What Hides in the Cupboards is an atmospheric fever dream with a real sense of location. It twists everything that's presented as familiar, until the reader is as lost as Hesper. A sense of unease worms its way onto every page, slowly revealing what lies beneath the surface.
I really enjoyed this haunting tale!
November 22, 2023
This book is a triumph. The protagonist, Hester, is fierce as hell despite her bordering on silly curse word replacements (mastodon-muncher!). Additionally, despite the frightening and often grief-stricken content, I found myself reading with an unusual level of comfort—I could sit back and enjoy the read with full confidence that I would not be led astray. Only the best authors give me this feeling, and Cassondra Windwalker is one of them.
February 4, 2024
“I’m my own worst enemy.”
What Hides in the Cupboards is a must-read for fans of slow-burn horror.
Following a serious car accident, ceramic artist Hesper Dunn abandons city life and seeks refuge in the desert of America’s southwest. Her new hacienda offers everything she needs to craft her pottery: clay, inspiration, and solitude. But she uncovers a secret behind its cabinet doors, triggering buried memories and emotions.
I found the writing exceptional. Take this gem, for example:
Hesper is a phenomenal character. She’s portrayed with such depth that it’s interesting just to read about her eating a cruller. There is a steady tension throughout, characteristic of well-written gothic horror. I enjoyed the scenes that dealt with the interpretation of the tapestries, just one of the many threads that all come together perfectly. But above all, I enjoyed how I was never quite sure if I was reading reality or someone’s delusion, and much to my delight, I was proven wrong—very, very wrong—when I reached the final chapter. What an ending!
What Hides in the Cupboards is a must-read for fans of slow-burn horror.
Following a serious car accident, ceramic artist Hesper Dunn abandons city life and seeks refuge in the desert of America’s southwest. Her new hacienda offers everything she needs to craft her pottery: clay, inspiration, and solitude. But she uncovers a secret behind its cabinet doors, triggering buried memories and emotions.
I found the writing exceptional. Take this gem, for example:
The desert did not apologize for what the ignorant called its inhospitality. She would not rob you of your survival, but neither would she gift it to you. She shared no sisterhood with the rich, wet forests of the north or lazy, sodden deltas of the south. She was not compelled to deck herself with flamboyant glories. She delighted in her thorns and thistles, the broad wrinkles crisscrossing her arid face, the tumbleweeds and scarred dead trees harboring hidden life. She didn’t keep her affections for either the brash sun or the retiring moon to polite and respectable levels: she embraced them madly, unabashedly, burning and shivering by turns. The desert was entirely herself, all the time. Hesper hoped she could learn to be the same.
Hesper is a phenomenal character. She’s portrayed with such depth that it’s interesting just to read about her eating a cruller. There is a steady tension throughout, characteristic of well-written gothic horror. I enjoyed the scenes that dealt with the interpretation of the tapestries, just one of the many threads that all come together perfectly. But above all, I enjoyed how I was never quite sure if I was reading reality or someone’s delusion, and much to my delight, I was proven wrong—very, very wrong—when I reached the final chapter. What an ending!
February 4, 2024
Well Written Tale of Horror and Suspense
This is the second novel I've read by Cassondra Windwalker. I enjoyed both, but liked this one more because I liked the mc more than I did in the other story.
Caution, if you are easily triggered by people suffering through mental health issues, might not be a good read for you.
Read if you like tales that leave you guessing up until the end. There's something that's made apparent from almost the beginning, but it adds to the story.
What Hides is a brilliant read about love, loss and deciding when it's time to let go of something.
This is the second novel I've read by Cassondra Windwalker. I enjoyed both, but liked this one more because I liked the mc more than I did in the other story.
Caution, if you are easily triggered by people suffering through mental health issues, might not be a good read for you.
Read if you like tales that leave you guessing up until the end. There's something that's made apparent from almost the beginning, but it adds to the story.
What Hides is a brilliant read about love, loss and deciding when it's time to let go of something.
February 1, 2024
“Perfect darkness breathed in the hall. Darkness, and something else.”
Cassandra Windwalker’s new books is based on the ceramic character Hesper Dunn. After a traumatic accident she leaves her life in Chicago for on in the deserts of New Mexico. What is suppose to be a new start for Hesper soon become something haunting and disturbing as her new home is not quit what it seems. Deeply troubled by grief, Hesper tries to figure out the mystery of the home she lives in and uncovers more than what she bargained for.
This modern gothic story is deeply routed within the themes of grief and loss. The character has had to endure something tragic and come to terms with the reality of her situation. As an artist, her passion wills her to create something beautiful whilst finding a new normal for the future she hadn’t anticipated.
The imagery and atmosphere throughout is laced with dread. Even during the moments where our main character seems to be coping well. There are triggers around her and watching her handle this while slowly connecting the dots as to what this tragedy was will be surprising for the reader.
Several relatable themes are explored here, love, loss, grief, new beginnings and that sense of soldiering on whilst falling apart. Amongst all this is a disturbing presence that lingers in Hesper’s new home. The true face of what Hesper must handle will unnerve the reader.
Overall this was an addictive read and one I did enjoy.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of her book.
Cassandra Windwalker’s new books is based on the ceramic character Hesper Dunn. After a traumatic accident she leaves her life in Chicago for on in the deserts of New Mexico. What is suppose to be a new start for Hesper soon become something haunting and disturbing as her new home is not quit what it seems. Deeply troubled by grief, Hesper tries to figure out the mystery of the home she lives in and uncovers more than what she bargained for.
This modern gothic story is deeply routed within the themes of grief and loss. The character has had to endure something tragic and come to terms with the reality of her situation. As an artist, her passion wills her to create something beautiful whilst finding a new normal for the future she hadn’t anticipated.
The imagery and atmosphere throughout is laced with dread. Even during the moments where our main character seems to be coping well. There are triggers around her and watching her handle this while slowly connecting the dots as to what this tragedy was will be surprising for the reader.
Several relatable themes are explored here, love, loss, grief, new beginnings and that sense of soldiering on whilst falling apart. Amongst all this is a disturbing presence that lingers in Hesper’s new home. The true face of what Hesper must handle will unnerve the reader.
Overall this was an addictive read and one I did enjoy.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of her book.
Read
January 25, 2024In the wake of a tragedy, potter Hesper Dunn leaves her life in Chicago for a fresh start in the New Mexico desert. Her new home houses secrets and mystery, strange hidden portraits, and a trapped spirit. It’s a similar set up to a haunted house story, but what sets What Hides in the Cupboard apart is its musing on grief and guilt and trauma and the toll it can take. It’s also a love letter to art and artists.
Most of all, this is a book about love. That’s the thread that weaves throughout the story and its big heart, and it’s the reason that although undeniably a horror story, it’s strangely cosy. I think that’s also in part due to the characterisation, particularly of Hesper who was really special. As for the horror, it’s the quiet kind that creeps up on you. All in all this was a really enjoyable and emotional read! Thank you so much to the author for reaching out to ask if I wanted to read this after LOVING one of her previous books, Idle Hands (which still remains one of my all time favourites) — What Hides in the Cupboard publishes 30/01 ♥️
Most of all, this is a book about love. That’s the thread that weaves throughout the story and its big heart, and it’s the reason that although undeniably a horror story, it’s strangely cosy. I think that’s also in part due to the characterisation, particularly of Hesper who was really special. As for the horror, it’s the quiet kind that creeps up on you. All in all this was a really enjoyable and emotional read! Thank you so much to the author for reaching out to ask if I wanted to read this after LOVING one of her previous books, Idle Hands (which still remains one of my all time favourites) — What Hides in the Cupboard publishes 30/01 ♥️
April 26, 2024
I was asked to review this book and I'm glad I accepted. Although it was somewhat predictable at times, the story was so good.
Overall, this is a story about grief, and the chains that we bind ourselves with, made of the guilt and self hatred over mistakes we've made, and things in our past that we can't change. I definitely felt a personal connection to so much in this book. I have so many regrets and chains of my own.
I'm not sure I like the twist at the end, but it doesn't diminish my opinion of the book at all. I would give it a solid 4.5/5
Overall, this is a story about grief, and the chains that we bind ourselves with, made of the guilt and self hatred over mistakes we've made, and things in our past that we can't change. I definitely felt a personal connection to so much in this book. I have so many regrets and chains of my own.
I'm not sure I like the twist at the end, but it doesn't diminish my opinion of the book at all. I would give it a solid 4.5/5
October 27, 2025
2.0/5 “The inevitability of darkness.”
“She’d been doing everything she could to bury herself for months now. Fresh air and rushing currents weren’t for her. Ash and earth, those were her inheritance. Just the thought of exhilaration, of something like joy, filled her with horror and shame.”
For a paperback that’s only 259 pages, it feels at least 150 pages too long. I read this based on Sadie Hartmann’s recommendation in her book ‘Feral and Hysterical’. Usually Mother Horror’s recommendations are solid but this one has me questioning if she actually read it prior to endorsing it.
The quality of the writing is mediocre and certainly gives the impression of something self-published. It’s in desperate need of editing as the redundancy throughout is egregious. The ending left me exceedingly underwhelmed and regretful of the time I’d spent reading it.
“She’d been doing everything she could to bury herself for months now. Fresh air and rushing currents weren’t for her. Ash and earth, those were her inheritance. Just the thought of exhilaration, of something like joy, filled her with horror and shame.”
For a paperback that’s only 259 pages, it feels at least 150 pages too long. I read this based on Sadie Hartmann’s recommendation in her book ‘Feral and Hysterical’. Usually Mother Horror’s recommendations are solid but this one has me questioning if she actually read it prior to endorsing it.
The quality of the writing is mediocre and certainly gives the impression of something self-published. It’s in desperate need of editing as the redundancy throughout is egregious. The ending left me exceedingly underwhelmed and regretful of the time I’d spent reading it.
December 16, 2024
The cover describes it as a “terrifying modern gothic,” and it does indeed have a lot of the tropes we’ve all come to know and love from the gothic genre or subgenre. We have someone recovering from some kind of trauma or tragedy moving to a somewhat remote new house. And of course the house did indeed sell for substantially less than its true value because it had been the site of the previous owner’s ghastly death. That sets us off for what looks to all the world as if it’s going to be another classical ghost story. Perhaps not as truly terrifying as the cover promises, but then again, I’m such a jaded horror nerd that I’m not the best gauge for what is or isn’t scary to other people anymore.
What actually transpires through the course of the book, though it borrows heavily from genre tropes, manages to maintain its originality, however. What starts off looking like just another ghost story gradually unravels a deeper mystery that, while it never fully diverges from that subgenre, gives us some new twists and turns we haven’t seen quite so many times before.
Admittedly, if I were to offer a couple words of criticism, it was perhaps a little rushed in the ending and a little slower than I might have liked during a few earlier sections, particularly a couple areas that involve describing elements of particular artworks or the art world generally. Part of the book’s charm is that it paints a realistic picture of the art world, but there are just a couple moments when that seemed to distract from the gothic tale I was looking for. Never to the point of seriously harming the book’s quality, though. And while I may have thought the ending moved a little too fast for my own taste, the actual CONTENT of the ending was, without spoiling anything, spot on.
I don’t think too many people know about this book yet, but they really ought to.
What actually transpires through the course of the book, though it borrows heavily from genre tropes, manages to maintain its originality, however. What starts off looking like just another ghost story gradually unravels a deeper mystery that, while it never fully diverges from that subgenre, gives us some new twists and turns we haven’t seen quite so many times before.
Admittedly, if I were to offer a couple words of criticism, it was perhaps a little rushed in the ending and a little slower than I might have liked during a few earlier sections, particularly a couple areas that involve describing elements of particular artworks or the art world generally. Part of the book’s charm is that it paints a realistic picture of the art world, but there are just a couple moments when that seemed to distract from the gothic tale I was looking for. Never to the point of seriously harming the book’s quality, though. And while I may have thought the ending moved a little too fast for my own taste, the actual CONTENT of the ending was, without spoiling anything, spot on.
I don’t think too many people know about this book yet, but they really ought to.
July 15, 2024
Quiet dread seeps into you as the mystery builds. What is really going on with Hesper? What is the accident in which she is grieving and running from? What is truly her heart's desire?
Each reveal led to more questions and keep me invested until the end. Hesper is a complicated character with depth who was trying to regain control of her life. Her instincts are yelling at her to withdraw from the world but she's fighting to make it outside. It reminds me of when my own family was grieving and withdrew from everything which makes this story land more powerfully with me. Hesper's struggles are realistic and relatable as things escalate.
Thank you to the author for reaching out to me and providing me a copy.
Each reveal led to more questions and keep me invested until the end. Hesper is a complicated character with depth who was trying to regain control of her life. Her instincts are yelling at her to withdraw from the world but she's fighting to make it outside. It reminds me of when my own family was grieving and withdrew from everything which makes this story land more powerfully with me. Hesper's struggles are realistic and relatable as things escalate.
Thank you to the author for reaching out to me and providing me a copy.
February 1, 2024
A great cover can lure me in and the cover for What Hides In The Cupboard by Cassondra Windwalker has that old time, gothic feel and I was prepared to be haunted.
Hesper Dunn suffered a traumatic accident and wanted to get out of the rat race of Chicago. She had been to New Mexico with Richard and fell in love with the desert. It fit with her skill as a ceramic artist, so it made sense that she would want to move there.
For much of the book, I felt disappointed. Where’s the horror? Where’s the terror?
Ya know what….it was right in front of my face the whole time and I never saw it.
I wondered if the creatures that lurked in the shadows and the trapped spirits haunting the house were all in her mind. I wondered if the death of the previous owner caused ghosts to walk the grounds.
Cassondra Windwalker did a superb job of making me wonder why it took me so long to see what was right in front of my eyes. Hindsight is 20/20. My mind was lulled into a sense of complacency, and when the finale came it smacked me right in the face.
So, beware, enter at your own risk.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of What Hides In The Cupboards by Cassondra Windwalker.
Hesper Dunn suffered a traumatic accident and wanted to get out of the rat race of Chicago. She had been to New Mexico with Richard and fell in love with the desert. It fit with her skill as a ceramic artist, so it made sense that she would want to move there.
For much of the book, I felt disappointed. Where’s the horror? Where’s the terror?
Ya know what….it was right in front of my face the whole time and I never saw it.
I wondered if the creatures that lurked in the shadows and the trapped spirits haunting the house were all in her mind. I wondered if the death of the previous owner caused ghosts to walk the grounds.
Cassondra Windwalker did a superb job of making me wonder why it took me so long to see what was right in front of my eyes. Hindsight is 20/20. My mind was lulled into a sense of complacency, and when the finale came it smacked me right in the face.
So, beware, enter at your own risk.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of What Hides In The Cupboards by Cassondra Windwalker.
February 22, 2024
What’s the last book that surprised you?
After recovering from a terrible accident, ceramicist Hesper has moved out to the deserts of New Mexico to pursue her art in the landscape of her idols.
While settling into her new home she discovers a series of creepy portraits, left behind by the previous owner. Startling by depictions of a little boy, a little boy she swears she’s seen outside her home.
As she tries to discover who this boy is, strange things start to happen around her. And instead of being a respite from her recent hardships, her new home becomes a catalyst of nightmares. Forcing Hesper to confront memories of a past she’d like to forget.
For a story that has typical gothic pacing, the writing is captivating and propulsive. Hesper is a charmingly flawed protagonist. I don’t want to reveal too much of the story because there is such a cleverly written twist in here that I don’t want to give away.
You should give this one a try.
Thank you to Cassondra Windwalker for providing me with a copy of your book. I can’t wait to read what you write next.
After recovering from a terrible accident, ceramicist Hesper has moved out to the deserts of New Mexico to pursue her art in the landscape of her idols.
While settling into her new home she discovers a series of creepy portraits, left behind by the previous owner. Startling by depictions of a little boy, a little boy she swears she’s seen outside her home.
As she tries to discover who this boy is, strange things start to happen around her. And instead of being a respite from her recent hardships, her new home becomes a catalyst of nightmares. Forcing Hesper to confront memories of a past she’d like to forget.
For a story that has typical gothic pacing, the writing is captivating and propulsive. Hesper is a charmingly flawed protagonist. I don’t want to reveal too much of the story because there is such a cleverly written twist in here that I don’t want to give away.
You should give this one a try.
Thank you to Cassondra Windwalker for providing me with a copy of your book. I can’t wait to read what you write next.
March 10, 2024
Think twice before reading at bedtime
Ms. Windwalker leads you in slowly with her captivating dialogue. A potter, Hesper, and her husband, Richard, relocate from Illinois to Santa Fe, New Mexico where she had happy memories of honeymooning in Taos.
All is not quite as it seems and the author drops large and small breadcrumbs for you to follow. Hesper purchases an out-of-the way bungalow and discovers portraits of a boy in the cupboards, hidden by shelf paper.
Something bad has happened in Hesper’s life and the author teases you with glimpses of flashbacks.
You’ll love the writing, the symbolism, and the things that go bump in the night. Highly recommend.
Ms. Windwalker leads you in slowly with her captivating dialogue. A potter, Hesper, and her husband, Richard, relocate from Illinois to Santa Fe, New Mexico where she had happy memories of honeymooning in Taos.
All is not quite as it seems and the author drops large and small breadcrumbs for you to follow. Hesper purchases an out-of-the way bungalow and discovers portraits of a boy in the cupboards, hidden by shelf paper.
Something bad has happened in Hesper’s life and the author teases you with glimpses of flashbacks.
You’ll love the writing, the symbolism, and the things that go bump in the night. Highly recommend.
November 23, 2024
This one sticks to the ribs for a while.
Windwalker is a sorceress scribe, deftly wielding words that pluck your heart strings — till nothing remains but pulp. She pokes at sensitive places you didn’t even know you had, by delivering relatable characters for you to connect with and then torturing them; while using the most gorgeous symbolism and superhuman prose that I’ve ever read.
This story may be set in the desert, but it is anything but dry. Hesper discovers something in the cupboard, and in doing so finds pieces of herself. You can move to a home in another part of the country, but your ghosts will always follow.
Windwalker is a sorceress scribe, deftly wielding words that pluck your heart strings — till nothing remains but pulp. She pokes at sensitive places you didn’t even know you had, by delivering relatable characters for you to connect with and then torturing them; while using the most gorgeous symbolism and superhuman prose that I’ve ever read.
This story may be set in the desert, but it is anything but dry. Hesper discovers something in the cupboard, and in doing so finds pieces of herself. You can move to a home in another part of the country, but your ghosts will always follow.
February 9, 2024
I have read every book that Windwalker has published, and I will continue to do so. Her attention to detail, depth, and understanding of the inner workings of the human mind allow readers to tap into hidden emotions waiting to resurface.
Buy and read "What Hides in the Cupboards" and you will buy every other book she has published and read them over and over.
Buy and read "What Hides in the Cupboards" and you will buy every other book she has published and read them over and over.
October 25, 2025
I had a few issues
I knew what was going on immediately
I grew up in Taos, NM and found the author's impressions hilariously wrong
Note to Authors: Santa Fe and Taos aren't interchangeable. Also, scary books should be at the very least creepy. At least.
I knew what was going on immediately
I grew up in Taos, NM and found the author's impressions hilariously wrong
Note to Authors: Santa Fe and Taos aren't interchangeable. Also, scary books should be at the very least creepy. At least.
February 15, 2024
A very impressive modern gothic supernatural tale that make great use of a desolate desert location and a complex lead character with secrets to uncover
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
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