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Wicked Things
Private investigator Jack Carlson is traveling to the small, remote upstate city of Winship to look into a rash of suspicious insurance claims. Like the farmer who accidentally blew himself up in a garnet mine, and the teenager who died in a peculiar car crash.The Winship police and Medical Examiner appear cooperative but offer no real help. Local insurance agent Joe Bellman is evasive and fearful.And shortly after meeting Jack, both Bellman and his secretary Chris Innes turn up dead, an apparent case of murder-suicide. Jack isn't buying any of it.As he pokes behind the Norman Rockwell exterior of Winship, he finds a place smoldering with crime, corruption and bizarre religious fervor. He becomes involved with a club dancer named Kelly, who may know some of the secrets but who may also be a mortal threat to Jack.The town of Winship is itself part of the puzzle, a place where unseen choirs can be heard, where the ground appears to glow, creating confusion and mental disorder in anyone nearby, where gangs of young thugs roam free to bully and beat people.A friend of Kelly's disappears in an open meadow, as if swallowed up by the earth. Behind it all may be a cherubic old priest, Father Jimmy.And as Jack tries to unravel the growing number of mysteries -- both criminal and mystical -- he finds himself in a fight to save his own life, and sanity...
233 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
4 people are currently reading
99 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Tessier
196 books103 followersThomas Tessier grew up in Connecticut and attended University College, Dublin. He is the author of several acclaimed novels of terror and suspense, plays, poems, and short stories. His novel Fog Heart received the International Horror Guild's Award for Best Novel, was a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and was cited by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of the Year. He lives in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 25, 2023
My edition of this book contains Wicked Things and a novella-- Scramburg, U.S.A. Both stories are set in Upstate NY (I believe) and take place in towns close to one another. The first, Wicked Things is set in the 70s and features an insurance claim investigator, our main protagonist Jack, who heads out to the small town of Winship. 16 people in the last year or so died in Winship via various accidents, which blows away the statistical norms. Another anomaly rests with the fact that the same insurance agent in town sold the 16 policies on the deceased, but each with a different insurance company. Sure smells fishy to Jack and the company he works for!
Scramburg, U.S.A. takes place a few decades earlier than Wicked Things, roughly in the late 50s. Our main protagonist here is a neerdowell named Howie, who was adopted at an early age by a pastor and his wife, but now, aged 18 or so, has become a violent thug in town. The police chief has a meeting with the pastor after another violent episode and decides the best thing to do is to make sure Howie leaves town. Hence, he lures Howie out to the country and, along with some deputies, proceeds to beat the shit out of him and tells him to never come back. Howie, however, decides to get even...
I like Tessier's prose and the snarky dialogue among the characters and both stories ended in ways I did not expect. Nonetheless, I thought Tessier could have done more with both. Wicked Things just leaves too many things hanging that I would have liked to have been resolved, or at least revealed. While Tessier does a great job building the mystery around Winship (strange lights in the sky and ground, an odd, ancient cult that permeates the place, etc.), we never find out much about it before the denouement. The second story ended much the same-- nasty and violent, but without much closure. I liked them both, especially the historical aspects, but would have really liked to see Tessier develop them more. 3 wicked stars!
Scramburg, U.S.A. takes place a few decades earlier than Wicked Things, roughly in the late 50s. Our main protagonist here is a neerdowell named Howie, who was adopted at an early age by a pastor and his wife, but now, aged 18 or so, has become a violent thug in town. The police chief has a meeting with the pastor after another violent episode and decides the best thing to do is to make sure Howie leaves town. Hence, he lures Howie out to the country and, along with some deputies, proceeds to beat the shit out of him and tells him to never come back. Howie, however, decides to get even...
I like Tessier's prose and the snarky dialogue among the characters and both stories ended in ways I did not expect. Nonetheless, I thought Tessier could have done more with both. Wicked Things just leaves too many things hanging that I would have liked to have been resolved, or at least revealed. While Tessier does a great job building the mystery around Winship (strange lights in the sky and ground, an odd, ancient cult that permeates the place, etc.), we never find out much about it before the denouement. The second story ended much the same-- nasty and violent, but without much closure. I liked them both, especially the historical aspects, but would have really liked to see Tessier develop them more. 3 wicked stars!
October 17, 2012
a mystery so baffling even the writer can't solve it.
January 23, 2014
This was my first read by Tessier, who seems to be highly esteemed in the horror field judging by all the accolades, but it was fairly underwhelming. This book included a short novel and a novella linked by the same locale. The novel was a blend of mystery and horror, heavy on the mystery side, with that old something off in the picturesque quaint all American small town. Tessier writes well enough, in a style reminiscent of Jack Ketchum, without Ketchum's emotional punch and overall awesomeness. Not the greatest introduction to the author, just a decent one. Very fast read, about 3 hours for the whole book.
August 26, 2019
A nice throw-back story that didn't altogether feel like it was throw-back story except for certain details in the story. It wasn't until about 60% through that it's confirmed the tale takes place in 1978, but the writing style feels more like it was written when published in 2007. The biggest hitch in Wicked Things is the shocking abrupt ending, and a big twist that really made no sense, but other than that it was a solid read.
The novella Scramburg, U.S.A. which is included in the book may appeal to fans of 50s and 60s "rebel" or violent stories, but to me was pretty mediocre and uninteresting.
The novella Scramburg, U.S.A. which is included in the book may appeal to fans of 50s and 60s "rebel" or violent stories, but to me was pretty mediocre and uninteresting.
June 28, 2011
I loved Thomas Tessier's Finishing Touches, but his new book, Wicked Things was definitely a step down for me. Although it contains the addictive quality that most Tessier novels have, the story leaves too many unanswered questions. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with leaving a few loose ends untied, but when the majority of them remain a mystery at the conclusion of the book, it's more than a little frustrating. I also felt the protagonist acted out of character towards the end of the story, and as much as I wanted not to see the ending coming, Tessier fell right in line with my predictions.
I've been noticing a pattern with his writing in that his endings all seem a bit rushed. Even the novella, Scramburg U.S.A., that was included as a bonus with this book had a bit of fast wrap-up for my taste. Which is a shame, because Tessier's writing is pretty amazing -- the pace, the characters, the situations -- are all highly entertaining. I'm sure one of these days he'll nail it on the head and make the masterpiece I know he's capable of. I still recommend the book because for 75% of it, I was enthralled.
I've been noticing a pattern with his writing in that his endings all seem a bit rushed. Even the novella, Scramburg U.S.A., that was included as a bonus with this book had a bit of fast wrap-up for my taste. Which is a shame, because Tessier's writing is pretty amazing -- the pace, the characters, the situations -- are all highly entertaining. I'm sure one of these days he'll nail it on the head and make the masterpiece I know he's capable of. I still recommend the book because for 75% of it, I was enthralled.
June 3, 2012
"Wicked Things" is a pulp-noir story about an insurance investigator assigned to look into a series of suspicious death & dismemberment claims in a remote town. There he encounters shady cops, a possible cult, and more than one femme fatale. Tessier's prose kept me turning the pages, which made it all the more disappointing when the story suddenly ended, resolving nothing. It was as if the author simply decided to quit.
This edition also includes another novella called "Scramburg, USA," about a war between a group of juvenile delinquents and the police. It isn't particularly satisfying, either.
A note about the Cemetery Dance limited edition: it is rife with proofing errors, ranging from simple typos to wrong words to one instance where an entire passage appears to have been cut from a later chapter and pasted into an earlier one. If you are releasing a signed collector's edition, shouldn't you take some care putting it together?
This edition also includes another novella called "Scramburg, USA," about a war between a group of juvenile delinquents and the police. It isn't particularly satisfying, either.
A note about the Cemetery Dance limited edition: it is rife with proofing errors, ranging from simple typos to wrong words to one instance where an entire passage appears to have been cut from a later chapter and pasted into an earlier one. If you are releasing a signed collector's edition, shouldn't you take some care putting it together?
January 31, 2011
Not really horror, this story never got scary. A lot of what should've been intrigue just made me scratch my head in confusion. There was potential for mystery in the allusion of a town full of authorities in cahoots with something evil, or each other, but nothing really came of it in an understandable or interesting way.
The story drew me in with promises of more, but in the end I was simply disappointed.
[The bonus novella in the back, Scramburg USA, was less confusing (straight forward storyline of teens getting back at authority) but still had a disappointing ending.]
The story drew me in with promises of more, but in the end I was simply disappointed.
[The bonus novella in the back, Scramburg USA, was less confusing (straight forward storyline of teens getting back at authority) but still had a disappointing ending.]
November 30, 2017
Review: WICKED THINGS by Thomas Tessier
A very fast-paced and highly suspenseful novel, WICKED THINGS is a first-person narrative by Jack Carlson, an almost middle-aged single insurance investigator. Jack works for an investigative consortium in New England. His latest case is an investigation into 16 "accidental" deaths and subsequent insurance claims, on 16 policies sold by one independent agent, to 16 different companies. Jack finds a peaceful, well-kept small community, almost "too good to be true." A very isolated area, with strange chants, wild gangs of adolescents, strange lights in the sky and strange lights in the ground and earth tremors. Added to the statistically improbable death rate are dismemberments and disappearances. Soon Jack is in over his head, and in a denouement that resonates with the horror of Thomas Tryon' s HARVEST HOME, outsider Jack Carlson finds the true meaning of community involvement. Author Thomas Tessier demonstrates a powerful flair for subtlety in horror, and provoking stories that won't be readily forgotten.
A very fast-paced and highly suspenseful novel, WICKED THINGS is a first-person narrative by Jack Carlson, an almost middle-aged single insurance investigator. Jack works for an investigative consortium in New England. His latest case is an investigation into 16 "accidental" deaths and subsequent insurance claims, on 16 policies sold by one independent agent, to 16 different companies. Jack finds a peaceful, well-kept small community, almost "too good to be true." A very isolated area, with strange chants, wild gangs of adolescents, strange lights in the sky and strange lights in the ground and earth tremors. Added to the statistically improbable death rate are dismemberments and disappearances. Soon Jack is in over his head, and in a denouement that resonates with the horror of Thomas Tryon' s HARVEST HOME, outsider Jack Carlson finds the true meaning of community involvement. Author Thomas Tessier demonstrates a powerful flair for subtlety in horror, and provoking stories that won't be readily forgotten.
August 28, 2024
This book left so much to desire. The ending? Abysmal. I really hoped it would get better and then it just ended.
February 13, 2018
***1/2
“Wicked Things,” Thomas Tessier
I recently wrapped up a three-week business trip in India, a trip that coincided with being gifted a stack of Leisure paperbacks from the late 90s through 2007. I threw five of these books in my backpack, and ended up reading four by the time I got back home. Leisure typically gives me what I’m looking for; I only wish I’d discovered their company, and in particular book club, before they shuttered their doors several years ago.
First up: Thomas Tessier’s “Wicked Things,” a stranger-in-town tale of an insurance investigator stumbling in way over his head. An alarmingly high number of “accidents” draws the attention of Mr. Investigator’s company, and he heads into a small northeast town to find out what’s going on. He befriends a local woman, but can’t tell if she’s hiding something for her boss, one of his points of investigation.
“Wicked Things” moves quickly; if adapted for the visual medium, it’d make a great 42-minute episode of an anthology series. The ending is abrupt, but not sudden, and the reader can’t be sure until the conclusion whether we’re dealing with knife-wielding mortals or something from beond the grave.
“Wicked Things,” Thomas Tessier
I recently wrapped up a three-week business trip in India, a trip that coincided with being gifted a stack of Leisure paperbacks from the late 90s through 2007. I threw five of these books in my backpack, and ended up reading four by the time I got back home. Leisure typically gives me what I’m looking for; I only wish I’d discovered their company, and in particular book club, before they shuttered their doors several years ago.
First up: Thomas Tessier’s “Wicked Things,” a stranger-in-town tale of an insurance investigator stumbling in way over his head. An alarmingly high number of “accidents” draws the attention of Mr. Investigator’s company, and he heads into a small northeast town to find out what’s going on. He befriends a local woman, but can’t tell if she’s hiding something for her boss, one of his points of investigation.
“Wicked Things” moves quickly; if adapted for the visual medium, it’d make a great 42-minute episode of an anthology series. The ending is abrupt, but not sudden, and the reader can’t be sure until the conclusion whether we’re dealing with knife-wielding mortals or something from beond the grave.
August 3, 2018
This was a pretty good mystery. Very intriguing. It kept me turning the pages. There were a few details that I found difficult to swallow, but I can look the other way. The only thing that bothered me was the ending. It certainly concluded the book, but it is far from any kind of solution at all. There are too many open questions. I'm fine with a book that's open to interpretation, but this one is a bit much.
I enjoyed the bonus novella a lot more. It's a grim, ugly, vicious story rife with violence and insanity. The ending makes a lot more sense, although I'm fairly certain that this is one of the few revenge stories I've ever read that may or may not have been just. I like that. See? I'm open to interpretation.
I enjoyed the bonus novella a lot more. It's a grim, ugly, vicious story rife with violence and insanity. The ending makes a lot more sense, although I'm fairly certain that this is one of the few revenge stories I've ever read that may or may not have been just. I like that. See? I'm open to interpretation.
September 19, 2012
This was a bit of a letdown after the 4 star "Finishing Touches." The ending was so abrupt it felt like the author just gave up on writing the story. And like other reviewers posted, there were too many loose ends.
December 25, 2016
I was enjoying this book, but it just ended, suddenly, with no conclusion, no explanations, nothing. I wanted to know more about Wendell's Grove and the OSM and the Conservancy and, what the fuck, Jenny?! I feel jipped!
May 19, 2018
OK story, but some continuity errors, at times laughable dialogue and a lot of typos/grammatical errors take away from what could have been a good book
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February 2, 2021a quick jabof a novella
June 23, 2022
Definite mystery horror. Was not expecting that ending though. Felt like there were a lot of loose ends.
September 13, 2025
A strong start tapering off to a stumble as it nears the finish line.
This started out well enough.
I liked the originality of the protagonist. Instead of a cop or gumshoe detective, Jack Carlson is an insurance investigator, a pretty good job choice for someone suddenly catching wise to a series of suspicious deaths in an out-of-the-way hamlet in rural New York. Carlson’s hard-nosed dialogue and no-nonsense approach to digging details out of witnesses and the shady-side of the little town of Winship felt very pulp-ish, direct and a bit like a punch in the nose.
The rest of Thomas Tessier’s Wicked Things does not, unfortunately, come together nearly as neatly. Which is a shame because, I really liked this one to a point. Carlson, barreling his way through the townsfolk, quickly finds his way into the beds of key witnesses while other local figures end up just as quickly in Winship’s morgue. There’re also supernatural elements afoot: a ghostly little girl walking in the woods, cultish symbols carved into buildings, a gang of vagrant youth prowling the streets.
But instead of coming together, this one falls apart like limp spaghetti, never really making a whole lot of sense. The supernatural elements are never really explained, and the motives of the antagonist cult members are obtuse. For example, having stymied Carlson in his inquiries, the bad guys rather inexplicably use their mole to suddenly feed him more information, keeping him on their trail when … they could have just let him go home. The story comes to an abrupt end as despite his street smarts, Carlson dopily turns his back on the bad guys … and to no one’s surprise, that doesn’t end well.
It’s a quick 240 pages with a short story tacked to the end to hit paperback length. And while the short story’s actually not bad – though more thriller than horror story – Wicked Things itself feels like it needed that extra 100 pages to fully develop its plot. Instead, it’s a weak novella that feels cut short by a writer on deadline.
April 10, 2020
Genuine line of dialogue:
"Some of their goons beat the shit out of me the other night, trying to warn me to back off but it's too late for that."
"Oh my God. Jack, you make me wet when you talk like this ..."
So yeah, that about sums the book up. Which was disappointing because the start was promising - an insurance investigator sent to a strange, isolated town to investigate a suspicious pattern of deaths. It was also disappointing to me, on a personal level, because i have fond memories of reading Finishing Touches as a teenager - one of Tessier's earlier novels - a thoroughly obnoxious but genuinely disturbing book that I'm now scared to revisit incase it turns out to be as bad as this one.
Two stars because at least I finished it. But that was probably only because it was so short.
"Some of their goons beat the shit out of me the other night, trying to warn me to back off but it's too late for that."
"Oh my God. Jack, you make me wet when you talk like this ..."
So yeah, that about sums the book up. Which was disappointing because the start was promising - an insurance investigator sent to a strange, isolated town to investigate a suspicious pattern of deaths. It was also disappointing to me, on a personal level, because i have fond memories of reading Finishing Touches as a teenager - one of Tessier's earlier novels - a thoroughly obnoxious but genuinely disturbing book that I'm now scared to revisit incase it turns out to be as bad as this one.
Two stars because at least I finished it. But that was probably only because it was so short.
July 2, 2010
Pointless!
August 24, 2011
this book had me from the start..loved it!!!
July 2, 2013
Wishing the cases were solved. Now that would have been a great book. First Thomas Tessier book for me.
September 10, 2013
So bad I feel that maybe I read it by mistake. Apparently the author has written better books.
February 2, 2017
So ending sucks, so many things not answered, very annoying!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews