A quick and satisfying genre mash-up.

"Haunted Hamburger House" is one of those books that's a little hard to explain without spoiling part of what makes it a fun and entertaining read. So, if you find the premise presented in its description interesting, I'd recommend just giving it a try and going along for the ride.

For those unconcerned about "spoilers," a bit more convincing: The story starts off fairly grounded and straightforward, with a real-estate agent attempting to sell the titular hamburger house, and desperately trying to convince herself it isn't haunted. Things escalate and get more "out there" as more characters are introduced, including reality-TV paranormal investigators, a couple outside observers monitoring the property from afar, and another uninvited guest.

Those familiar with Edler's other works of bizarro fiction will feel right at home with where the story ends up, as things go progressively further off the rails and more toward the outlandish, which I found charming and amusing as ever for the most part. That said, what really made "Haunted Hamburger House" work for me was how those elements were juxtaposed or integrated with the more mundane "slice of life" aspects, making everything feel more "real" and connected than can often be the case with tales that lean into the absurd.

This one wasn't quite a slam dunk for me but I really did enjoy a lot of things about it, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any speculative-fiction fan, or those with a taste for quirky, offbeat, and often humorous storytelling.