New couple moves to inherited home brimming with dark secrets
“Slewfoot” meets “The Haunting of Hill House”
in historical Southern Gothic horror
RICHMOND, Texas – Dare to enter the haunted pages of Leigh M. Hall’s new atmospheric post-Civil War horror “The Chambermaids” (LMH Publications, Nov 11, 2025). When a young woman and her much older husband inherit a crumbling ancestral home, they discover the walls hold more than memories. With the sudden arrival of two chambermaids, the house’s secrets begin to unravel–along with those who dwell within it.
A Claymore Award Winner for “Best Southern Gothic”, this is Hall’s 15th release since her debut in 2020 with fan favorite “Girl Bully”. Drawing on her talent for gripping thrillers, she delivers a chilling and enthralling tale set in the aftermath of the Civil War that is perfect for fans of Anne Rice and Shirley Jackson.
Synopsis: After losing their fortune to the Civil War, hot-headed Wilbur Saxton resents having to move South to his wife’s newly-inherited house, but his young wife Elouise is glad to finally return to her home state. But when they arrive at the crumbling estate, they discover a dark family secret among the rot.
When two mysterious young women arrive, offering their services as chambermaids and claiming they know the land better than anyone, the couple accept–unaware they’ve opened their lives to something far more dangerous. As the women’s influence deepens, Wilbur falls under their spell, and Elouise begins to lose her grip on reality.
What should have been a fresh start curdles into a nightmare. To save herself–and her husband–Elouise must confront the truth buried within her family’s legacy. But is she truly fighting for freedom, or merely playing out the fate that was written for her long ago?
“The Chambermaids”
Leigh M. Hall | November 11, 2025 | LMH Publications | Southern Gothic Horror
Ebook | 979-8289125668 | $5.99
Paperback | B0FH51MGZ6 I $14.99
Hardcover | 979-8-3485-7138-2 | $28.99
Leigh M. Hall is the author of jaw-dropping, knock you off your feet, shock you in the ass psychological thrillers. She lives in Texas with her family of gremlins and their amazing dogs. Not only does she love the heat, but she is preparing herself just in case there, in fact, will be a hell at the end of all this. Growing up, she spent most of her time in the land of fictional characters and kept her head buried in a book. With ideas continually running around in her strange mind, she decided to dip her toes into writing. Leigh published her first novel, “Girl Bully” (a best-selling psychological thriller), in 2020. Since then, she has published many more intensely dark and captivating novels. Over the last few years, Leigh has been very busy building her career as a writer. She is a Houston Writer’s Guild member and, as of 2022, Leigh is now an associate member of International Thriller Writers (ITW). Find out more about her at https://www.leighmhall.com.
Follow Leigh M. Hall on social media:
Facebook: @authorlmhall | Instagram: @leighmhall | TikTok: @authorlmhall
What inspired you to start writing, and how did your journey as an author begin?
I always enjoyed reading and writing from the time I was a teenager. However, I sucked at it. Guess I needed a little more life experience before I was ready to master the art of writing. I was almost 40 before completing my first novel.
Can you share a little about your latest book and what readers can expect from it?
The Chambermaids is unlike any book I have written before, but I can say that about almost all of my previous work. Each one of my books is unique in its own way. You will still find dark and disturbing material hidden inside the cover, but this one also includes some creepy paranormal aspects.
Which character has been the most challenging (or rewarding) for you to write, and why?
I would say Elouise was both challenging and rewarding. She had so much growth through the book. Although that was hard to keep up with at times, it was also extremely rewarding to see how strong she was in the end.
Did you encounter any surprises or unexpected turns during the writing process of your newest book?
Not when it came to the story, or the characters. What I struggled with was the writing and dialogue. I had never written a historical before. Not being able to use compound words was difficult.
How do your personal experiences or background influence your storytelling?
I have written many books that have chunks of myself and my life in them. The Chambermaids was not one of them. Everything in this book came out of some deep, dark crevice in my mind that has since closed up. Don’t worry, I have plans for more Southern Gothic horror novels and will reopen that crevice soon.
What’s one piece of writing advice you wish you’d received when you were starting out?
I wish I had known how my perspective as a reader would change the moment I completed my first manuscript. I may have thought twice before choosing to be a professional writer if I had known that the way I read would never be the same. From that moment on, I would dissect and possibly rewrite almost everything I would read from then on out.
Are there any authors or books that have especially influenced your work?
There are probably hundreds of authors and books that have influenced my work without me even realizing it. However, there is one whom I fell in love with back in 2009, I believe. Tarryn Fisher self-published a novel called The Opportunist. I read that and instantly fell in love with her. I knew right then and there that I needed more heartbreak, unstable minds, and open endings in my life.
How do you balance research and creativity—especially when writing about complex or unfamiliar topics?
I try to stick with what I know. There has been very little so far that I have had to deep dive into research on. At 45 years old, I have a lot of life experience, so finding material to work with isn’t hard. I also try to stick to settings I am familiar with. If I haven’t visited a real-life place, I am probably going to leave it out of my stories.
What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
Questions! I always love feeling just a little puzzled after reading a book. Not confused, but questioning the character, their actions, and wondering what I would have done in that situation. I hope I leave my readers so invested that questions linger in their minds for a while.
Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?
I am currently about 40% into my first draft of a standalone psychological thriller. It is a dual timeline, something I have not done before but love reading, and it is set in a shared, made-up universe. I love the way it bounces back and forth between decades and can’t wait to see where it takes me. Yes, I have no idea where it is going because, for the first time ever, I did not create an outline before I started writing.
About the author…
Leigh M. Hall is an award-winning writer of several dark and gripping novels. Her debut, Girl Bully, is a bestseller. Book one in The St. James Saga: Within These Walls was a finalist for the Killer Nashville Reader’s Choice Award in 2023. The Broken Sister, a standalone novel, was also up for a Reader’s Choice Award in 2024. Her next release, The Chambermaids, won a Claymore award for Best Southern Gothic and is currently available for pre-order. Right about now, she is probably floating in a pool, soaking up the Texas sun, and arguing with fictional characters.