Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House is a quintessential novel in the horror genre. Yet, understanding the inner workings of her haunted house story is important, as it is firmly rooted in gothic horror. It’s also a novel about atmosphere and what lies under the surface. More so, it is all about the slow burn. By analyzing this text, we can understand more about the genre itself and what true horror looks like.