In this episode of The New York Times Book Review Podcast, we delve into the chilling novel 'A Haunting on the Hill' by Elizabeth Hand, a spooky tale featuring an imposing mansion and its new occupants. We also discuss 'A Day in the Life of Abed Salama', a tragic story unravelled by Nathan Thrall about a fatal bus collision involving Palestinian children. Join us as we explore the themes, strengths, and lessons from these gripping works that hold mere words captive to their narratives.