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Discreet Eliminators #1
The Pale House Devil
A gripping, snappy creature feature from the master of horror noir about two detectives—one dead, one living—hired by an embittered old landowner to banish a bloody cosmic monster from his ancestral home, perfect for fans of Cassandra Khaw, Charles Stross and Lucy A. Snyder.
Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living, one undead; one kills the undead, the other kills the living. Heading west to look for work and wait for the heat from their last job to cool down.
There Tilda, a young woman, hires them to track and kill a demon haunting a mansion in remote northern California for wealthy landowner, Shepherd Mansfield.
As Ford and Neuland investigate the creature they uncover a legacy of blood, sacrifice and slavery in the house. Forced to confront a powerful creature unlike anything they’ve faced before, they come to learn the biggest monster in this story might just be the person paying them.
Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living, one undead; one kills the undead, the other kills the living. Heading west to look for work and wait for the heat from their last job to cool down.
There Tilda, a young woman, hires them to track and kill a demon haunting a mansion in remote northern California for wealthy landowner, Shepherd Mansfield.
As Ford and Neuland investigate the creature they uncover a legacy of blood, sacrifice and slavery in the house. Forced to confront a powerful creature unlike anything they’ve faced before, they come to learn the biggest monster in this story might just be the person paying them.
3 pages, Audio CD
First published October 10, 2023
117 people are currently reading
2713 people want to read
About the author
Richard Kadrey
131 books3,566 followersRichard Kadrey is a writer and freelance musician living in Pittsburgh, best known for his Sandman Slim novels. His work has been nominated for the Locus and BSFA awards. Kadrey's newest books are The Secrets of Insects, released in August 2023; The Dead Take the A Train (with Cassandra Khaw), released in September 2023; The Pale House Devil, released in September 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 571 reviews
December 10, 2025
The Pale House Devil
by Richard Kadrey
I was excited to see a new series by this author. I love his Sandman Slim series. This started pretty well too. Two undead guys get hired by a gal who is almost a servant to her evil grandfather. There is something evil in a house and the guys are hired to get it out. The gal becomes good friends with them. They learn secrets along the way. Good intro to the characters and this world.
by Richard Kadrey
I was excited to see a new series by this author. I love his Sandman Slim series. This started pretty well too. Two undead guys get hired by a gal who is almost a servant to her evil grandfather. There is something evil in a house and the guys are hired to get it out. The gal becomes good friends with them. They learn secrets along the way. Good intro to the characters and this world.
February 28, 2024
Fun hook—two noir goons for hire, one undead and one not-dead—but at the end of the day, this didn’t grip me and I found myself Bored with a capital B.
Concept: intriguing
Plot/Pacing: pretty boring and propelled by dialogue
Enjoyment: it was fine
The Pale House Devil is the story of two noir goons for hire. One of them has been dead for centuries. The other is a living man. Both of them spend their criminal lives as hit men and fixers. But then one job goes awry and these two friends find themselves persona non grata.
So they do what any duo would do—they hightail it to the opposite coastline and try their luck in California.
And once in California, they find themselves... still outta luck for work. So when they get a mysterious case from a mysterious woman, they feel compelled to take it despite the red flags. Beggars can't be choosers, after all.
To share any more of the plot would spoil this very slim novella, so I'll stop there and get right to the heart of the matter: this novella was the definition of "okay" for me.
Was it gripping? Initially, yes. But the choppy and terse dialogue grated on me after the first chapter, and the fact that most of this novella was spent on dialogue really took away from the experience of this story as a horror plot.
Was it worth the read? In short... no. At least not for me. I think that a certain readership interested in this kind of setup would enjoy it. I was not that reader—I needed more context, more development of the plot, and more action.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
Concept: intriguing
Plot/Pacing: pretty boring and propelled by dialogue
Enjoyment: it was fine
The Pale House Devil is the story of two noir goons for hire. One of them has been dead for centuries. The other is a living man. Both of them spend their criminal lives as hit men and fixers. But then one job goes awry and these two friends find themselves persona non grata.
So they do what any duo would do—they hightail it to the opposite coastline and try their luck in California.
And once in California, they find themselves... still outta luck for work. So when they get a mysterious case from a mysterious woman, they feel compelled to take it despite the red flags. Beggars can't be choosers, after all.
To share any more of the plot would spoil this very slim novella, so I'll stop there and get right to the heart of the matter: this novella was the definition of "okay" for me.
Was it gripping? Initially, yes. But the choppy and terse dialogue grated on me after the first chapter, and the fact that most of this novella was spent on dialogue really took away from the experience of this story as a horror plot.
Was it worth the read? In short... no. At least not for me. I think that a certain readership interested in this kind of setup would enjoy it. I was not that reader—I needed more context, more development of the plot, and more action.
Blog | Instagram | Libro.fm Audiobooks
October 1, 2023
In the enigmatic world of "The Pale House Devil" by Richard Kadrey, a mismatched pair of contract killers, one living and one deceased, find themselves in dire straits after a mission takes an unexpected turn. Estranged from their usual circles, they cross paths with a reticent young woman who presents them with an enticing offer, promising substantial compensation. Little do they know that their mysterious employer possesses a personality darker and more sinister than the very dead they consort with. He resides within a self-imposed prison, fortified by an assortment of peculiar objects, all in an effort to repel a malevolent curse that has haunted his family for generations.
Although this novella is compact, Kadrey masterfully constructs a mesmerizing and enigmatic realm where the living unwittingly coexist with the departed, and where demons and devils lurk in the shadows, concealed from the ordinary populace. What truly shines in this narrative are the witty interactions between our unconventional protagonists. Their chemistry is electric, leaving the reader yearning for more. It is my hope that this tantalizing glimpse into Kadrey's world evolves into a series, as there is a wealth of untapped potential within these captivating characters. "The Pale House Devil" beckons for further exploration, promising a dark and gripping journey into the realms of the living and the dead.
Although this novella is compact, Kadrey masterfully constructs a mesmerizing and enigmatic realm where the living unwittingly coexist with the departed, and where demons and devils lurk in the shadows, concealed from the ordinary populace. What truly shines in this narrative are the witty interactions between our unconventional protagonists. Their chemistry is electric, leaving the reader yearning for more. It is my hope that this tantalizing glimpse into Kadrey's world evolves into a series, as there is a wealth of untapped potential within these captivating characters. "The Pale House Devil" beckons for further exploration, promising a dark and gripping journey into the realms of the living and the dead.
October 31, 2023
This was good but felt a bit rushed. I liked the banter between the two main characters. 3.5 ⭐ rounded up.
October 10, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC, all thoughts are however my own.
I truly wish there was more to this, of course being a novella I didn’t expect a long story but I truly felt like this was a car wreck happening at 100 miles an hour.
I couldn’t find any attachment to any of the characters, finding the dialogue especially between Neuland and Ford childish, rush and lacking in depth. I feel like as characters they had so much potential but the backstory’s and character building journey just wasn’t there. A lot of reviews say they loved the chemistry but for me, it must’ve been left back in the lab as I couldn’t see any.
Tilda seems to go from 0 to 100 in a matter of pages and read as a desperately annoying child, what ever age is she? I couldn’t wait to read past her scenes!
Her boss/family member/devil summoner Mansfield was clearly supposed to be some sort of nasty, decrepit and spiteful old man but all I could picture was Johnny Knoxville’s ‘Bad Grandpa’, his dialogue was ridiculous with such phrases as “two pimps” and “shit on you all the way” that I just found so immature, ruining his character image.
The overall premise had a lot of promise but it just failed at a good few hurdles. I’d love to read more bulked out tales from this author with more world and character building.
I truly wish there was more to this, of course being a novella I didn’t expect a long story but I truly felt like this was a car wreck happening at 100 miles an hour.
I couldn’t find any attachment to any of the characters, finding the dialogue especially between Neuland and Ford childish, rush and lacking in depth. I feel like as characters they had so much potential but the backstory’s and character building journey just wasn’t there. A lot of reviews say they loved the chemistry but for me, it must’ve been left back in the lab as I couldn’t see any.
Tilda seems to go from 0 to 100 in a matter of pages and read as a desperately annoying child, what ever age is she? I couldn’t wait to read past her scenes!
Her boss/family member/devil summoner Mansfield was clearly supposed to be some sort of nasty, decrepit and spiteful old man but all I could picture was Johnny Knoxville’s ‘Bad Grandpa’, his dialogue was ridiculous with such phrases as “two pimps” and “shit on you all the way” that I just found so immature, ruining his character image.
The overall premise had a lot of promise but it just failed at a good few hurdles. I’d love to read more bulked out tales from this author with more world and character building.
October 10, 2025
Read like Supernatural fanfic, only the fake Sam and Dean didn't bang each other.
December 5, 2023
After sitting with the story for a while, it's still around 2 or 2.5 stars for me. It's a real disappointment after how much I enjoyed Sandman Slim a while ago-- I wanted to like this one.
The initial hook is fun: Ford and Neuland are a hitman team. Ford is living and kills the dead; Neuland is undead and kills the living. It's clear that they're been friends for a while, and the best moments are just their mellow conversations about how things are going and what to do next. When they bail on a job and kill their client, they head out west until the heat dies down and take on an unusual job dealing with hidden menace in an old family home.
Spoilers from here on out.
All in all, not my cup of tea; I wish this had been either a little shorter or much longer. As horror goes, it's more monster-splat than eerie.
//
There's some decent character back-and-forth here, but this feels like the bare outline of a pulp noir rather than a full story. Tilda (the new young sidekick to these two hardened mercenaries) was a particular trial with no firm motivations of her own. This would have been better as either a short story/ novelette or a whole novel; as it stands, it's too sparse to be satisfying and too cluttered to be efficient. RTC.
Other recommendations:
-If you want a much better sample of Kadrey's work, try Sandman Slim (the start of his most well-known series) or even Butcher Bird, a standalone novel from his earlier career.
The initial hook is fun: Ford and Neuland are a hitman team. Ford is living and kills the dead; Neuland is undead and kills the living. It's clear that they're been friends for a while, and the best moments are just their mellow conversations about how things are going and what to do next. When they bail on a job and kill their client, they head out west until the heat dies down and take on an unusual job dealing with hidden menace in an old family home.
Spoilers from here on out.
All in all, not my cup of tea; I wish this had been either a little shorter or much longer. As horror goes, it's more monster-splat than eerie.
//
There's some decent character back-and-forth here, but this feels like the bare outline of a pulp noir rather than a full story. Tilda (the new young sidekick to these two hardened mercenaries) was a particular trial with no firm motivations of her own. This would have been better as either a short story/ novelette or a whole novel; as it stands, it's too sparse to be satisfying and too cluttered to be efficient. RTC.
Other recommendations:
-If you want a much better sample of Kadrey's work, try Sandman Slim (the start of his most well-known series) or even Butcher Bird, a standalone novel from his earlier career.
February 29, 2024
4 Stars for The Pale House Devil (audiobook) by Richard Kadrey read by Joe Hempel.
This was a fun twist on the noir detective trope. The characters were great, they were all a little strange and bizarre. And the story ended up going somewhere I would have never guessed.
This was a fun twist on the noir detective trope. The characters were great, they were all a little strange and bizarre. And the story ended up going somewhere I would have never guessed.
January 1, 2024
TW: Language, blood, violence, death, animal death,
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living, one undead; one of them kills the undead, the other kills the living. When a job goes bad in New York, they head west to wait for the heat to cool down.
There, a young woman named Tilda Rosenbloom hires them on behalf of wealthy landowner, Shepherd Mansfield, to track and kill a demon haunting a mansion in remote northern California.
As Ford and Neuland investigate the creature they uncover a legacy of blood, sacrifice and slavery in the house. Forced to confront a powerful creature unlike anything they’ve faced before, they come to learn that the most frightening monster might not be the one they’re hunting…
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Genre: Paranormal Horror
Pages: 115
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Love the writing style
2. Adored Ford and Neuland
What I Didn't Like:
1. Many spelling errors
2. Didn't like the ending
Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this short novella and the cast of characters that in it.
The writing style made it fun and a fast read that I was excited about. I seriously devoured this book for the way it was written.
Ford and Neuland had the dream chemistry I love when two friends are in a story and their personalities are able to shine through.
I was annoyed at the many typos and spelling errors that encompassed the book. It took me out the story when I was trying to figure out what the author was trying to tell me - the reader.
Final Thoughts:
I loved the first 75 pages but didn't like the directionit took once the story got closer to the ending and then the ending. I just think the author could have done better by going a different direction that wasn't so straight forward an predictable.
I did love the book overall though so I gave it 4 stars. I'll definitely check out their other books.
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Ford and Neuland are paranormal mercenaries—one living, one undead; one of them kills the undead, the other kills the living. When a job goes bad in New York, they head west to wait for the heat to cool down.
There, a young woman named Tilda Rosenbloom hires them on behalf of wealthy landowner, Shepherd Mansfield, to track and kill a demon haunting a mansion in remote northern California.
As Ford and Neuland investigate the creature they uncover a legacy of blood, sacrifice and slavery in the house. Forced to confront a powerful creature unlike anything they’ve faced before, they come to learn that the most frightening monster might not be the one they’re hunting…
Release Date: October 10th, 2023
Genre: Paranormal Horror
Pages: 115
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Love the writing style
2. Adored Ford and Neuland
What I Didn't Like:
1. Many spelling errors
2. Didn't like the ending
Overall Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this short novella and the cast of characters that in it.
The writing style made it fun and a fast read that I was excited about. I seriously devoured this book for the way it was written.
Ford and Neuland had the dream chemistry I love when two friends are in a story and their personalities are able to shine through.
I was annoyed at the many typos and spelling errors that encompassed the book. It took me out the story when I was trying to figure out what the author was trying to tell me - the reader.
Final Thoughts:
I loved the first 75 pages but didn't like the directionit took once the story got closer to the ending and then the ending. I just think the author could have done better by going a different direction that wasn't so straight forward an predictable.
I did love the book overall though so I gave it 4 stars. I'll definitely check out their other books.
IG | Blog
April 10, 2023
Being a fairly new fan and someone who is still making their way through the world / series 'Sandman Slim', I liked what this offered and I jumped at a chance to read.
I think this novella is really good, if it was meant to be a novella? If it's not, well, it requires more. STILL. It's really good and I'd read a more fleshed out series about two guys - one a ghoul - and a girl they adopt as their daughter / niece, er secretary?
As I indicated, the plot is simple and not very fleshed out in terms of backstory and world building. Sure it takes place in modern-day LA (and NY), I'd just like to feel like I'm in the world of Sandman Slim. Is it the same world? I'd like to think it is. I'd be up for seeing cross-over.
Anyway, no matter what Richard does, and how one treats this - it is not bad, bu you wish that you got more. Hopefully there will be more
I think this novella is really good, if it was meant to be a novella? If it's not, well, it requires more. STILL. It's really good and I'd read a more fleshed out series about two guys - one a ghoul - and a girl they adopt as their daughter / niece, er secretary?
As I indicated, the plot is simple and not very fleshed out in terms of backstory and world building. Sure it takes place in modern-day LA (and NY), I'd just like to feel like I'm in the world of Sandman Slim. Is it the same world? I'd like to think it is. I'd be up for seeing cross-over.
Anyway, no matter what Richard does, and how one treats this - it is not bad, bu you wish that you got more. Hopefully there will be more
October 22, 2023
The banter between Ford and Neuland, a pair of mercenaries just trying to get by, is delightful.
October 13, 2025
A fun silly time was had. And I'd read the next one, but I didn't love this. It was all a bit too quick for me.
October 2, 2023
The nitty-gritty: Two paranormal mercenaries for hire try to outwit a demon in this short but lively story with plenty of humor and heart.
This is my first Richard Kadrey book, and I’m not sure why I waited so long to check him out. The Pale House Devil is a fun, funny paranormal story with a noir vibe, and my only complaint is that it’s too short. But as a taste of what the author’s work is like, it did the job, because now I need to read more of Kadrey’s books.
Ford and Neuland are hit men for hire, but they aren’t your usual hit men. They deal in the paranormal, and often their targets are already dead—the undead, or Marcheur, as they are sometimes called (just don’t use the terms “dodos” or “dirt-napper,” they’re very offensive to Neuland). What makes Ford and Neuland special is that Ford is alive and Neuland is undead. Ford can kill the undead while Neuland can only kill the living. This makes them a formidable team, but that’s not to say that they don’t make mistakes.
When the story opens, they are on an assignment, but something goes wrong and they end up killing the guy who hired them. Leaving Manhattan is their only choice, so they head to Los Angeles to try their luck there. In L.A., they meet a young woman named Tilda Rosenbloom, who has a job for them. Tilda’s great-grandfather Shepherd Mansfield wants them to come to his estate in Northern California and kill the devil, who has taken up residence in his house. Ford and Neuland don’t believe it’s “the” devil, but Tilda promises them a hefty payday if they can complete the job.
But what they find at Mansfield’s house is a creature that turns out to be almost impossible to kill. They’re going to need all their wits and skills, and a little help wouldn’t hurt either.
Kadrey’s story is very short, but he makes the best of those pages with a tightly plotted story and lovable characters. The best parts of The Pale House Devil are the interactions among Ford, Neuland and Tilda. The men take Tilda under their wing and she becomes almost a daughter figure to them, worming her way into their lives with her bubbly personality. Kadrey’s dialogue is spot on and very funny, especially between Ford and Neuland, who have been together a long time and know each other’s personalities inside and out.
When Shepherd Mansfield enters the picture, the story takes on a more dangerous tone. He’s a complete asshole (really, there’s no other way to describe him) and he's supporting Tilda financially, so she wants nothing more than to find a way to extricate herself from his clutches. Enter Ford and Neuland, and suddenly Tilda might have a way out, if only she can prove her worth to them.
The demon who’s taken over Pale House gets its own POV chapters, and it was fun to see things from the demon’s perspective. It’s able to turn invisible and only appears to people when it wants to. It also loves to eat, and “soft things” (people!) are its favorite. Later we find out how the demon came to be trapped in the house, and Ford and Neuland, with the help of Tilda, come up with a very creative way to get rid of it. The demon’s chapters are written in such a way that the reader starts to sympathize with the beast, a huge blobby thing with a protruding mouth and many legs that felt like something out of a Lovecraftian horror story.
The real monster here, though, is Mansfield, a truly vile man. Ford and Neuland only put up with him because they want to get paid first, but you can tell they’re just waiting for an opportunity to put him in his place.
Kadrey has a good thing going here, and I’d love to see more stories about Ford, Neuland and Tilda. We do get a brief glimpse into how Neuland was “raised,” but I have a feeling the author has only shown his readers the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this world. The ending is satisfying and sweet, and I couldn’t help but be impressed with how perfectly paced The Pale House Devil is for a novella length story. Grab this book for a short, fun read that will leave you smiling!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
This is my first Richard Kadrey book, and I’m not sure why I waited so long to check him out. The Pale House Devil is a fun, funny paranormal story with a noir vibe, and my only complaint is that it’s too short. But as a taste of what the author’s work is like, it did the job, because now I need to read more of Kadrey’s books.
Ford and Neuland are hit men for hire, but they aren’t your usual hit men. They deal in the paranormal, and often their targets are already dead—the undead, or Marcheur, as they are sometimes called (just don’t use the terms “dodos” or “dirt-napper,” they’re very offensive to Neuland). What makes Ford and Neuland special is that Ford is alive and Neuland is undead. Ford can kill the undead while Neuland can only kill the living. This makes them a formidable team, but that’s not to say that they don’t make mistakes.
When the story opens, they are on an assignment, but something goes wrong and they end up killing the guy who hired them. Leaving Manhattan is their only choice, so they head to Los Angeles to try their luck there. In L.A., they meet a young woman named Tilda Rosenbloom, who has a job for them. Tilda’s great-grandfather Shepherd Mansfield wants them to come to his estate in Northern California and kill the devil, who has taken up residence in his house. Ford and Neuland don’t believe it’s “the” devil, but Tilda promises them a hefty payday if they can complete the job.
But what they find at Mansfield’s house is a creature that turns out to be almost impossible to kill. They’re going to need all their wits and skills, and a little help wouldn’t hurt either.
Kadrey’s story is very short, but he makes the best of those pages with a tightly plotted story and lovable characters. The best parts of The Pale House Devil are the interactions among Ford, Neuland and Tilda. The men take Tilda under their wing and she becomes almost a daughter figure to them, worming her way into their lives with her bubbly personality. Kadrey’s dialogue is spot on and very funny, especially between Ford and Neuland, who have been together a long time and know each other’s personalities inside and out.
When Shepherd Mansfield enters the picture, the story takes on a more dangerous tone. He’s a complete asshole (really, there’s no other way to describe him) and he's supporting Tilda financially, so she wants nothing more than to find a way to extricate herself from his clutches. Enter Ford and Neuland, and suddenly Tilda might have a way out, if only she can prove her worth to them.
The demon who’s taken over Pale House gets its own POV chapters, and it was fun to see things from the demon’s perspective. It’s able to turn invisible and only appears to people when it wants to. It also loves to eat, and “soft things” (people!) are its favorite. Later we find out how the demon came to be trapped in the house, and Ford and Neuland, with the help of Tilda, come up with a very creative way to get rid of it. The demon’s chapters are written in such a way that the reader starts to sympathize with the beast, a huge blobby thing with a protruding mouth and many legs that felt like something out of a Lovecraftian horror story.
The real monster here, though, is Mansfield, a truly vile man. Ford and Neuland only put up with him because they want to get paid first, but you can tell they’re just waiting for an opportunity to put him in his place.
Kadrey has a good thing going here, and I’d love to see more stories about Ford, Neuland and Tilda. We do get a brief glimpse into how Neuland was “raised,” but I have a feeling the author has only shown his readers the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this world. The ending is satisfying and sweet, and I couldn’t help but be impressed with how perfectly paced The Pale House Devil is for a novella length story. Grab this book for a short, fun read that will leave you smiling!
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
June 2, 2024
The Pale House Devil
by Richard Kadrey
Horror Short story
Everand (Scribd) Audio
Ages: 16+
Ford and Neuland are mercenaries with a twist: one is living and the other is undead, but when their conscience messes up a job, they leave New York and head to California, but their job gone bad beats them there and none of their usual contacts will hire them. But someone gives Shepherd Mansfield their names and accompanies his assistant, Tilda Rosenbloom, to Mansfield's childhood home called The Pale House, to kill the devil living and killing inside the house.
But that devil's activities aren't the only questionable undertakings that have happened in and around the Pale House.
The characters were unique, but there wasn't a deep dive into their backstories, though the two MCs felt way too childish, almost as if they were tweens instead of adults, one a lot older than the other The older one had a lot more backstory than his partner, so I don't know much about him.
I'm not sure how old Tilda is, but from the 'childish behavior' of the two men, left me a little creeped out about them being alone with her, even though they claimed 'uncle/niece'...
The house: OMG! The stories that one building could tell. But the only story told was what the devil was doing.
A lot of information that could've taken this story into a different and much more entertaining category had to be omitted because of the page/word restriction.
This is the perfect reason why I am not a fan of short stories. So much is lost!
The narrator did a great job, and the story was great, but it could've been so much better had it had more backstory and description as found in a much longer book. A hundred more pages would have been enough to add that much needed detailing that was lost.
3 Stars
by Richard Kadrey
Horror Short story
Everand (Scribd) Audio
Ages: 16+
Ford and Neuland are mercenaries with a twist: one is living and the other is undead, but when their conscience messes up a job, they leave New York and head to California, but their job gone bad beats them there and none of their usual contacts will hire them. But someone gives Shepherd Mansfield their names and accompanies his assistant, Tilda Rosenbloom, to Mansfield's childhood home called The Pale House, to kill the devil living and killing inside the house.
But that devil's activities aren't the only questionable undertakings that have happened in and around the Pale House.
The characters were unique, but there wasn't a deep dive into their backstories, though the two MCs felt way too childish, almost as if they were tweens instead of adults, one a lot older than the other The older one had a lot more backstory than his partner, so I don't know much about him.
I'm not sure how old Tilda is, but from the 'childish behavior' of the two men, left me a little creeped out about them being alone with her, even though they claimed 'uncle/niece'...
The house: OMG! The stories that one building could tell. But the only story told was what the devil was doing.
A lot of information that could've taken this story into a different and much more entertaining category had to be omitted because of the page/word restriction.
This is the perfect reason why I am not a fan of short stories. So much is lost!
The narrator did a great job, and the story was great, but it could've been so much better had it had more backstory and description as found in a much longer book. A hundred more pages would have been enough to add that much needed detailing that was lost.
3 Stars
Want to read
July 7, 202410€ for a 123-page novella?! What the bloody fish?!
April 6, 2024
A fun read that entertained but had many bumps and hiccups. The story surrounds two men for hire. They work as a team because one can do what the other cannot. Ford is alive and therefore takes out the living. His partner, Neuland, is of the undead and he takes out his kind. When a job turns south and they must flee, they find themselves without work until Tilda shows up. Little do they know what they are in for.
The story is a really cool idea. I really liked the two main characters. The tale itself starts to crumble when Tilda is introduced and keeps crumbling from there. I'm not sure why she is kept in the story. Her dialogue doesn't even seem like it would come from a real person and she causes more of a hindrance than anything else. Then we meet the man who is paying for the duo's services, and he is even worse. He is supposed to come across as this evil, decrepit man but just comes off as an idiot. Who talks like that??? It is so stupid. The book probably would've been better off with less talking and more action. As for the creature, kudos to it as it came off as creepy and terrifying and yet I had a little empathy for it.
All in all, it was a good read but could've been better.
The story is a really cool idea. I really liked the two main characters. The tale itself starts to crumble when Tilda is introduced and keeps crumbling from there. I'm not sure why she is kept in the story. Her dialogue doesn't even seem like it would come from a real person and she causes more of a hindrance than anything else. Then we meet the man who is paying for the duo's services, and he is even worse. He is supposed to come across as this evil, decrepit man but just comes off as an idiot. Who talks like that??? It is so stupid. The book probably would've been better off with less talking and more action. As for the creature, kudos to it as it came off as creepy and terrifying and yet I had a little empathy for it.
All in all, it was a good read but could've been better.
December 29, 2024
A great and fun read! I love the gritty supernatural worlds Kadrey creates! I only wish it was longer so we could learn more of the fascinating characters!
April 4, 2024
Have you ever felt disappointed by the amount of meat you get on a spare rib? How are you supposed to get full on that? You have to eat several to make a dent in your hunger pangs.
This novella was like eating a single spare rib.
I was hungry for something creepy, but The Pale House Devil was not satisfying. Had this been a bit more entertaining, I might have been able to forgive all it lacked, but my enthusiasm for what was to come was the only reason the book held my interest.
And nothing really came.
With some rather cartoonish characterizations and a scare factor of zero, this was akin to watching an episode of Scooby Doo. Had that been the author’s intent, I’d be quick to applaud his success, but I strongly suspect that wasn’t what he was going for.
Although I must note that the writing felt quite amateurish, the biggest issue was that everything in this was underdeveloped. A few of the characters had a hint of something interesting going for them, but the author never seized the opportunity to expound upon any of that. The titular devil could have been given a chilling backstory or, at least, a more detailed inception, but I wasn’t granted that, either. And it’s not because of the book’s short length. There was plenty of time to devote to aspects that may have made this intriguing, but it was wasted on the journey to the haunted scene, as well as unnecessary dialogue. Had the climax been fiercely terrifying, the build may have seemed worth it, but I’m inclined to say that this didn’t really have a climax at all. Even the moments that were meant to conjure fear failed to blossom.
I remain faminished, looking for more meat and less bone. I’m sure such things can be found between the covers of a 115 page book, so I’ll gladly accept your recommendations for succinct horror novellas.
This novella was like eating a single spare rib.
I was hungry for something creepy, but The Pale House Devil was not satisfying. Had this been a bit more entertaining, I might have been able to forgive all it lacked, but my enthusiasm for what was to come was the only reason the book held my interest.
And nothing really came.
With some rather cartoonish characterizations and a scare factor of zero, this was akin to watching an episode of Scooby Doo. Had that been the author’s intent, I’d be quick to applaud his success, but I strongly suspect that wasn’t what he was going for.
Although I must note that the writing felt quite amateurish, the biggest issue was that everything in this was underdeveloped. A few of the characters had a hint of something interesting going for them, but the author never seized the opportunity to expound upon any of that. The titular devil could have been given a chilling backstory or, at least, a more detailed inception, but I wasn’t granted that, either. And it’s not because of the book’s short length. There was plenty of time to devote to aspects that may have made this intriguing, but it was wasted on the journey to the haunted scene, as well as unnecessary dialogue. Had the climax been fiercely terrifying, the build may have seemed worth it, but I’m inclined to say that this didn’t really have a climax at all. Even the moments that were meant to conjure fear failed to blossom.
I remain faminished, looking for more meat and less bone. I’m sure such things can be found between the covers of a 115 page book, so I’ll gladly accept your recommendations for succinct horror novellas.
November 2, 2023
A short fast read. I loved it so ooooh much. I would love more novellas or even full length books set in this world with these characters
January 20, 2024
Very very good
August 2, 2025
2.5 stars.
While I enjoyed some of the witty dialogue and the premise was compelling, this didn’t live up to my expectations.
While I enjoyed some of the witty dialogue and the premise was compelling, this didn’t live up to my expectations.
February 26, 2025
Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up
Add to your TBR if you like..
👹Horror noir with great banter
👹The Undead
👹The Supernatural
👹Short stories/novellas
This story takes you on an adventure with two contract killers—one living and one undead—as they tackle a new case. The banter between them is excellent, and the author and narrator both do a great job of making you love the pair. I'm normally a big novella/short story fan, but this storyline felt a bit rushed.While I loved the concept and vision, I wanted more backstory on both main characters and a more extended contract.
Add to your TBR if you like..
👹Horror noir with great banter
👹The Undead
👹The Supernatural
👹Short stories/novellas
This story takes you on an adventure with two contract killers—one living and one undead—as they tackle a new case. The banter between them is excellent, and the author and narrator both do a great job of making you love the pair. I'm normally a big novella/short story fan, but this storyline felt a bit rushed.While I loved the concept and vision, I wanted more backstory on both main characters and a more extended contract.
April 14, 2023
ARC obtained through Edelweiss/Titan Books.
I honestly loved this. It's a quick comfortable read, though still eerie enough to keep you on edge. It reminds me of the early Anita Blake series - spunky, unique, morally gray detectives teaming up against otherworldly evils.
Ford and Neuland have great chemistry and complete each other perfectly, while Tilda is just the strong female icing on the cake.
I honestly loved this. It's a quick comfortable read, though still eerie enough to keep you on edge. It reminds me of the early Anita Blake series - spunky, unique, morally gray detectives teaming up against otherworldly evils.
Ford and Neuland have great chemistry and complete each other perfectly, while Tilda is just the strong female icing on the cake.
September 22, 2023
Richard Kadrey is a master of comedy-horror, combining the supernatural with giddy fun. He somehow imbues his pair of assassins with a moral center and irresistible charm. This was super fun from the jump and all the way through.
October 14, 2023
Mr. Kadrey really phoned this one in. Pretty bad.
December 6, 2023
One of those "The Cover got me good" choices that did not disappoint
I did not expect Ghouls and Vengeance to go so well together. But to be fair, I didn't know what to expect. The cover was a renaissance house with tentacles emerging and two humanoid silhouettes bathed in white light. Haunted house with a cosmic lovecraftian feel was probably somewhere in my considerations. The story took me by pleasant surprise.
Also, I bet I'm actually a Marcheur myself. Let's see: a dreamless fugue state once every couple of days - sounds suspiciously like my insomnia.
Worldbuilding Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Two contract killers - one Human and one a ghoul. They hightail it out of New York and head for LA after reneging on a hit (with good reason) and double tapping Garrick their client who ordered the hit. They may not say it but there is a comfortable fraternal brotherly love between them and their whole vibe somehow reminds me of the best of Sam and Dean Winchester so essentially not all the whiny variations after season 4.
Character Development/Favorite Character:
Ford and Neuland summed up in one interaction:
●"Oh no. Are we fathers now?”
“Uncles at best. And don’t ever say that to her or me again.” (Neuland and Ford on Tilda)
In a word, loveable, fiercely loyal, weirdly chivalrous and exist in an easy understanding of each other. In short - they're my kind of morally gray antiheroes.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene::
The tender nature in which they interacted with sweet innocent naive Tilda Rosenbaum when they first meet. So, the beach sounds like a great idea right about now. Ford and Neuland are darkly relatable.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
●This isn’t killing money, ” he said. “This is stern-talking-to money. ” (Neuland on the cost of a Hit )
●“Like you’re magic?”
Neuland thought about it.
“I’m not sure I’m magic. ”
“What would you call a walking, talking dead man?”
.....“Neuland.” (Tilda on Magic )
●"Strong emotions were for the living, like Ford. He could fly into a rage at a moment’s notice and it accomplished nothing. The undead were supposed to be above such things" (Neuland on the curse of feeling)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
●Southern Voudo/Neuland's rebirth
●Goofer Juice
● Set-Taq Jihanuut, the All-Consuming Eye
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy books by 2025
I did not expect Ghouls and Vengeance to go so well together. But to be fair, I didn't know what to expect. The cover was a renaissance house with tentacles emerging and two humanoid silhouettes bathed in white light. Haunted house with a cosmic lovecraftian feel was probably somewhere in my considerations. The story took me by pleasant surprise.
Also, I bet I'm actually a Marcheur myself. Let's see: a dreamless fugue state once every couple of days - sounds suspiciously like my insomnia.
Worldbuilding Plot/Storyline/Themes:
Two contract killers - one Human and one a ghoul. They hightail it out of New York and head for LA after reneging on a hit (with good reason) and double tapping Garrick their client who ordered the hit. They may not say it but there is a comfortable fraternal brotherly love between them and their whole vibe somehow reminds me of the best of Sam and Dean Winchester so essentially not all the whiny variations after season 4.
Character Development/Favorite Character:
Ford and Neuland summed up in one interaction:
●"Oh no. Are we fathers now?”
“Uncles at best. And don’t ever say that to her or me again.” (Neuland and Ford on Tilda)
In a word, loveable, fiercely loyal, weirdly chivalrous and exist in an easy understanding of each other. In short - they're my kind of morally gray antiheroes.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Scene::
The tender nature in which they interacted with sweet innocent naive Tilda Rosenbaum when they first meet. So, the beach sounds like a great idea right about now. Ford and Neuland are darkly relatable.
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Quotes:
●This isn’t killing money, ” he said. “This is stern-talking-to money. ” (Neuland on the cost of a Hit )
●“Like you’re magic?”
Neuland thought about it.
“I’m not sure I’m magic. ”
“What would you call a walking, talking dead man?”
.....“Neuland.” (Tilda on Magic )
●"Strong emotions were for the living, like Ford. He could fly into a rage at a moment’s notice and it accomplished nothing. The undead were supposed to be above such things" (Neuland on the curse of feeling)
Favorite/Curious/Ludicrous/Unique Concepts:
●Southern Voudo/Neuland's rebirth
●Goofer Juice
● Set-Taq Jihanuut, the All-Consuming Eye
StoryGraph Challenge: 1800 Books by 2025
Challenge Prompt: 150 Fantasy books by 2025
April 22, 2024
Ford is alive. Neuland is undead. They're partners, guns for hire who work together to kill who ever needs killing. They have their own code of ethics, though, and that gets them in trouble and leads them from New York to San Francisco where they are approached by a girl named Tilda who, on behalf of another, recruits them for a job: dealing with something they haven't seen before.
Honestly I loved this. There were some grammatical errors and typos but whatever. The relationship between the boys and Tilda feels rushed and forced but that's probably due to the "time" constraint of the novella length.
I would LOVE to see this novella morphed into a series of stories about Ford and Neuland. I love them. I loved this. I want more.
Honestly I loved this. There were some grammatical errors and typos but whatever. The relationship between the boys and Tilda feels rushed and forced but that's probably due to the "time" constraint of the novella length.
I would LOVE to see this novella morphed into a series of stories about Ford and Neuland. I love them. I loved this. I want more.
December 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this one. It was the perfect mixture of horror and humour that I love. The main characters Ford and Neuland were fantastic and I loved the dynamics between them. I would love to read more about their escapades and the trouble their line of work can get them into. It was a shame though that in a professionally published book that was only 113 pages that I found over 10 proofreading mistakes - definitely annoyed me and took away from the fun of reading the story.
September 18, 2024
I rated this little horror novel highly! It felt rushed, which is expected of a short book, but the banter between the main characters made up for it.
December 19, 2023
This was just buckets of fun. Fingers crossed that this will become a series!
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