Thaumaturgist

by Matt Duchossoy

Following a flawlessly executed heist, a gang of masked thieves believe the worst of the danger is behind them. The police have shut down the main routes out of the city, forcing them to take an alternative route to the unmarked landing strip and the waiting contact. Unfortunately, the hills to which they’re headed are home to unfathomable horrors.

After a car wreck, Samuel, Jez, Marie, Freyja, and Boon abandon the vehicle to seek shelter from the law in the surrounding woods. They stumble across a remote property home to a peculiar family and swiftly make themselves at home. Tensions rise as inexplicable, seemingly supernatural events occur, and an impossibly tall, dark figure is spotted peering through windows and stalking the surrounding property.

An ancient evil. An unyielding, intelligent creature. The odds are stacked against them. Will anyone survive to reap the rewards of their labor?

Thaumaturgist is fast-paced graphic horror that explores themes of trust, family, and retribution, from the author of INCEL.

Genres: Horror

Audible Audio

Published March 14, 2024

About the author

For those that don't know, Duchossoy is a pen name. I've switched back to writing under my real name, Matthew A. Clarke, as of late 2023. Be sure to follow me over there so you don't miss out on future releases, and stay spooky!

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sounded like an awesome premise, but there was a lot that didn’t connect for me here. The four criminals were kept very surface-level, which made it very hard to care about what happened to them. And things constantly jumped between them throughout the entirety of the story, which also made it hard to stay focused. Now the family in the cabin had some really cool stuff going on there, but even that felt like it was weighed down by everything moving at breakneck speed. Things finally felt like they took shape about 75% of the way in, but I was already very fatigued by then. The writing is fine and, again, it’s a great concept, but this needed a lot of fine-tuning.

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I meant to review this book almost a week ago but time sort of got away from me so you're getting my not so fresh thoughts.

With a cast of almost entirely profoundly despicable characters Thaumaturgist is a tale of a lot of violence, hubris and damaged people meeting in one tragic melting pot with a marvelously bleak, maybe, ending as the cherry on top. It drops you right in the action and really doesn't stop until the end. There's a touch of the bizzare to it as well, so you really don't have much space to get bored, the book really has a lot going for it but some parts still felt a little rough or rushed to me.

I enjoyed this book well enough for its quick pacing and brutal story but if I'm honest it didn't feel quite like Matt's other work and that frustrated me a little bit, I expected a bit of a mindf*ck and I didn't get it, so I was left possibly nitpicking. There I said it, Matt has set the bar way high with his other work and I find myself wondering if I'm able to review this book fairly on its own merit.

[Matt Duchossoy]

Hello, wonderful people.

Thaumaturgist is my third book, releasing July 14th 2023. If you enjoyed my others, I'm confident you will enjoy this, too! As usual, I'm not going to rate it. I am simply here to wish you a happy read.

Please do share your thoughts and feedback, good or bad, as everything helps!

Thanks, and see you all again soon.

[Corrina Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thaumaturgist: the working of magic or performance of miracles.

This describes not only the main character and title of this book, but also Matt's ability to write in multiple genres! I was introduced to his work firstly, as Bizarro author, Matt Clarke, then the horror elements started to appear, and eventually he created a whole other persona, his horror author persona, who we have here, Matt Duchossoy! Both Matts combine and give us some magical horror/bizarro blends, such as this one!! And trust me when I say, whatever you're into, genre wise, Matt can deliver! His stories are always fun, crazy, horrific, rammed full of action and have great narrative and imagery! Don't take my word for it though, why not go see for yourself! 😁

Anyway, back to the story….

Fleeing after an explosive robbery, a gang of thieves only end up in more trouble when something appears in front of them while they're making their escape, delaying their getaway and causing them to have to hole up for a while until the heat is off them. They come across an old Manor house and decide to hide out there until the police call off the search. But they end up staying longer than they anticipated….

After incapacitating the owner and her daughter, Jez decides to have a little fun of his own while the others sleep off the stress of the day. But he gets distracted by something outside the house, and decides to go after it…

Things get weird very quickly, inside and outside the house. The tension builds swiftly, as swiftly as the strange occurrences. And when a diary is discovered and the group discover the secrets that lay within the house and its grounds, they're in for a real shock! Things get pretty messed up, brutally, horrifically and shockingly!

A story of a father going to extreme lengths to help his terminally ill daughter, whatever and whoever it takes. His desperation to save her life, performing grisly miracles in which to do so and sacrificing a great deal in the process.

This was absolutely a "just one more chapter" book! Totally addictive and immersive. Creepy, intense and suspenseful, Matt gives you just enough information to intrigue you and to keep you guessing! Fast-paced from the start, this just keeps gaining speed until the savage massacre leading to a fantastically chilling ending!!

[DA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story! As you read you get little clues about what's really going on taking your mind in different directions trying to figure it out. When it's finally revealed it makes perfect sense.
While you don't get real in depth backgrounds on the main characters, they're still fully developed characters. There wasn't a single character that I didn't like which is unusual.
This book will have you on the edge of your seat!

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Wow!

This is a thrilling ride into the dark side. Matt has incredible talent at making the readers feel empathic towards real dirtbags. These people are not only burglars; they are rapists and murderers as well. But, holy cannoli! The slap back from karma is intense and Matt makes you feel a little bit regretful about how things work out. I finished this in one sitting and do not regret changing plans to do so.

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read from Matt Duchossoy, and every one has been a really high calibre story. This one is no exception: the story has lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is really fast paced so you feel like you are there with the characters.
Matt has an uncanny ability for writing wholly unlikeable characters and making you sympathise with them, and Thaumaturgist has at least 3!

Overall, I would recommend Thaumaturgist, I wish it had been longer!

[Crystal Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. No one does horror like Matt. This is his third horror book, and while all three are spine tingling (I don’t say that lightly) he goes even darker with this one. Can’t recommend it enough.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent a lot of time in junior high and high school reading a ton of creepypasta, and Thaumaturgist rather happily reminded me of that time. I had a lot of nostalgia reading this because I was remembering when I found Slendy and Jeff and all the other creepypasta I read.

Kenny gave me mad Slenderman and wendigo vibes, but not, and it was great! Matt did such a good thing with the atmosphere in this story, I've been side eyeing my windows and doors, making sure there's nothing there waiting for me. The chapters weren't super long, but it kept the pace of the story moving and I think the shorter chapters did this a lot of credit.

Let's talk characters! I was really pulling for Freyja. She got under my skin and is my favourite character in the book. That being said, her storyline ended exactly as it should have (even if it pains me to say that). Samuel got exactly what he deserved and I regret any nice thing I thought about him while I was reading. I'm so curious about what happens after this. Matt left it a bit open ended and I'm extremely curious over the end result since this seems like a different effect that what happened with Kenny.

All in all, I had a great time with this! Big thank you to Matt for providing me a copy of this to review! Time to go on a deep dive through his catalogue to see what other fun things I can find :D

[Amina Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I love books that start with the action and don’t dilly dally. This book was a action packed from the first page and was fast paced with a good amount of gore to boot. The group of filled with people who are a nasty piece of work and seeing them get their Just deserts was a jolly good time 😂

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read. Really enjoyed this one. Loads of action.

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4☆☆☆☆
Murder, mayhem, and gore. This was definitely a very creepy read, ghost, monsters, and creepy mansion. When a heist goes wrong and the group has to hind in a mansion hidden in the woods... but what lives in the woods is worse than they could ever imagine. There are so many good twists in book...I read this in one setting...love it.

[Ky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woooh brought me right back to my creepypasta days! After a successful heist a group of criminals hide out in a cabin in the woods. Things go sour and we get to watch the carnage and the just desserts. Fantastic book, I love watching characters get what they deserve and I found it to be a happy campy little gorefest. Absolutely recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

“There was Boon, lying prostrate on the bed. The sheet Freyja had draped him in was sodden. In the corner of the room, to the side of the sleeping man’s head, was a dark, human-shaped shadow.”

If you’re looking for a creepy creature horror story, this one will fit the bill!

A group of robbers take refuge in an isolated manor. Something is prowling the grounds and woods outside though, and it will kill for what it wants…

Just knowing that not even the walls surrounding them will keep this monster out have me the chills. It truly felt like the main characters were trapped with no options!

I loved the shoot out scene and all the carnage! That was definitely my favourite part.
It was also hard to like and root for any of the characters as they are villains themselves… I guess you have to decide if you want humans or horrors to win in the end.

[Chris St.Pierre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt's story telling hooks you in and keeps your attention for the whole ride. Great story line with really good character building and through in a twist or 2. Definitely worth the read!!!!

[Thomas Loud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thaumaturgist is a horror novella which only has two concerns: horrific violence and the horrible people it happens to. And in both areas this story is ruthlessly efficient and engaging.

Thaumaturgist follows a small band of thieves whom after completing the greatest and deadliest heist of their lives, find themselves hiding out in a mansion alone in the forest as they're preyed upon by the monster who ruined their escape. All but one of these thieves are deeply unlikable for me and they're the sole reason I don't give this story a 5/5. Those early few chapters with the crew are rough as the reader is shown and told their heinous actions and past, not to mention that they start the story with a collective body count in the three digits with majority being from a hospital. If one isn't able to stomach following such crude and terrible characters as leads then for sure skip out on this. However for those of you that can, you will find that these folks aren't just characters but well-realized people who happen to show some of the worst humanity has to offer. In fact, of all the terrible people in this story, I'd never call a single one a caricature or 1-dimensional. That's not to say there aren't some poor, tropey decisions made by the characters but their easy to look past if you're looking for the catharsis of each of their fates. And their journeys to these fates are filled with their blood and many others.

This is where I'll talk about the writing itself. The story is written with laser focus, no fluff and everything easy to digest to the point that it flowed together so well that I nearly completed all of Thaumaturgist in my first sitting. I give some compliments to whoever edited this story alongside the writer because this truly feels like a published work that has been combed over to avoid nearly anything that might pull a viewer out of the story on a technical level. When characters aren't shivering in fear or trying to figure out the exact nature of the monster they face, visceral violence and gore packs these pages and display an impressive ability to paint what it feels, looks, smells, and sounds like to face a monster that is far beyond human capability.

Speaking of the monster, I think it best to leave most of who and what they are for the reader to learn, for its mystery and that of the house's previous residents is an important part of the story. What I will say is that this beast is one which emulates the horror something like the Xenomorph and Predator can present: oppressive and mind-consuming when off-page and frenetic and vicious whenever on. There's an intelligence present that taunts the leads as it stalks them and gives part of the satisfaction in watching them cower and hide away.

And finally I'll talk about the story, which I really feel exist mostly as a vehicle for all the horror that occurs but also manages to catch the interest when paid attention to. The mystery of the monster and the history of the home function not just as good explanations for what occurs but also paints a bit of an occult tragedy that the reader sees come to an end just as this story begins but only
understands fully by the ending. And said ending I found fitting for all involved. How satisfactory it will be for each reader will depend mostly on how much you hope for these characters to fall, but that's something Thaumaturgist does near perfectly.

Overall, I recommend this novella for anyone whose in for a quick read chocked full of horrendous deeds, gory action, and the terrible fates both promise.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Destynnee Realta · Rating 4 out of 5]

She wasn’t bad looking, that Phillipa. Perhaps he’d even have a go at the daughter, should he have the energy left after.
Who was he kidding. Of course he would.
-Jez

Thaumaturgist
by Matt Duchossoy
147 pages
Currently on Kindle Unlimited in the USA.
Publication date July 14, 2023
a.co/d/dXbnEFp
goodreads.com/author/show/23089507.Ma...

I received a copy of this book from Booksprout and the Author, and this is my review.
Please, watch out for possible spoilers, including but not limited to, TW/CN/Etc.

Possible TW, Tropes, and Genres
Explicit, Novella, Horror, Creature Feature, Extreme Horror, Haunting, Monster, Supernatural, Thriller, Gore, Violence, Body Horror, Demon Worship, Death of a Child, Death of a Parent(s), SA (off page, but talked about) SA/Pedo (NOT ON PAGE. THOUGHT ABOUT), Murder, Theft, Ghosts, Car Wreck, Explosions (off page but spoken about), Hiding in Rotting Corpses, Eating Decaying Tumor, and possibly more.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I did enjoy it. I hated, with a passion, certain characters the moment they came on the page, and you should.

As far as gore, and horror goes. I found it a bit tame, but everyone is different. The couple times that I felt it wasn’t tame, was in the underground area, where someone found themselves sitting in rotting corpses.

I do highly suggest checking TW/CN for all horror to make sure that you can handle the material itself. Especially, since the horror genre can be so very diverse.

Now, the overall story, I enjoyed quite a bit. I liked how the characters interacted with each other. The secrets they were keeping from each other, etc.

I do kind of wish, that the few death scenes we got on page, were maybe a bit more graphic, and drawn out. But, overall, they were done well.

I would suggest giving this a read, especially if you are looking for a dark horror quickie. I think this would be a good one to use to bring someone into the horror fold, but then again I relax to Hellraiser, and take naps to Horror in general because I find it calming. But, I know that is not the way it is for everyone. Especially if there is any on or off page SA. There are only a few details about the off page SA, so it could be skipped over.

4/5 stars
-Destynnee

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what’s great about reading? Learning new words. My kid is always asking me how I know all these big words and my response is always the same. Reading. Books. Today’s word of the day is thaumaturgist. A thaumaturgist is one who practices magic or sorcery. A miracle worker. A term often synonymous with necromancer.

Now that the vocabulary lesson is over, let’s talk about the story. A group of criminals pull off the perfect bank heist, only to fuck up and wreck during their getaway. They realize they are going to have to improvise from this point on so they grab as much loot as they can and hoof it into the woods hoping to find a place to hide out until they can get in touch with their contact and get their escape back on track. They end up at the front door of an isolated cabin and trick the woman living there into letting them in. Things go south for that woman and her daughter pretty quickly. Her four visitors are not good people. Once the occupants of the house are handled, the criminals figure all that’s left for them to do is to wait for extraction in relative comfort. Boy are they mistaken. Their host’s patriarch has been watching them and isn’t about to let them get away unscathed. There is so much more going on in that isolated home than anyone could have guessed.

Let’s talk about the audiobook for a moment. As I often do, I read along on my kindle as I listened to the audiobook. This was my first experience listening to a Blake Brown narration and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I did have to speed it up a bit, but reading speed is a personal preference. I speed up all my audiobooks. The recorded speed does match the story well and adds to the rising tensions. I would happily listen to Brown read to me again.

Because I am familiar with this author’s writing, I knew it would not end the way I expected. I also knew things would get way worse for everyone involved before any resolution. There are scenes and imagery that will live on in my brain forever. I really like the way Duchossoy tempers his extreme horror with bizarro elements and general weirdness. The cover art gives you an idea of what the thaumaturgist looks like and Duchossoy’s words fill in all the blanks. He has a way of making you sympathize with the baddies and then reminding you why you shouldn’t.

I was gifted an Audible code by the author. All views expressed here are my own. I am a long time fan of Duchossoy’s work. I’ve loved every book of his that I’ve read and Thaumaturgist is no exception. Now go read it!

[Valorie Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A team of morally corrupt criminals on the run come across a horror beyond imagining. When they are run off the road during their escape, millions of dollars on hand, and seek refuge in a house tucked back in the woods, they can't even imagine the terror that awaits them. No one in this book is the good guy; I liked that. Absolutely no one was a hero, a sympathetic final girl, or even a villain/monster that you romanticize into an anti-hero and root for. And I love bad guys. It took about a third of the book for the action to really start, and it wasn't until the "final" confrontation scene between our criminals, the monster, and the police that the true carnage began. Fortunately, that scene lasted a while and had quite the gore-fest to enjoy. You have the real-life horror of the monster itself, and then some more mystical and supernatural occurrences with a ghost and a curse, and of course, Satanism is tucked nicely in there. It was a lot of fun to read and very short, and I love my bite-sized gore.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Duchossoy kindly offered ARCs of his latest and I immediately responded; how could I not, after ‘Incel’ and ‘Burden’ by the same author? Duchossoy chose a Greek-based word for the title of his new novel, ‘𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭,’ meaning “miracle-worker.” And, indeed, there’s a miracle-worker in this book; but he’s a monster, also a family man, and you can see him on the cover. He’s as creepy as he looks – more, even. Like a Slenderman doing a slasher movie. No way I’d mess with this beast! Unfortunately, this doesn’t go for the nasty people starring in this book: they fall straight into his lair and, guess what, they do awful things to this guy’s family. So perhaps they deserve everything coming their way. They’re criminals, anyway, having terrorized a city (they even bombed a hospital!) in order to pull off the perfect heist. And yet, I couldn’t help rooting for this group of scumbags! They’re smart, they’re broken, they’re aware of their faults. But, ultimately, they’re not good people. So if you find yourself pitying them (and you probably will!), blame it on the author. He can take it.

Releasing July 14!

[Beatrix Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know by now that Matt Duchossoy is an excellent author with great stories. My all time favourite of course is Incel, but Thaumaturgist comes a close second.

A bunch of criminals just pulled off a heist that left a city reeling in blood while these piece of crap humans are on the run from the police. A car accident lands them in a remote house, where they dig in to await the cavalry. But very soon they realise that they picked the wrong house...

I think one of the best things about the book are the characters. Matt makes them so alive, it's unreal. The story took some unexpected turns, it was fully engaging and gory to boot. Quite a few scenes were outright horrifying and omg i need to stop reading these while eating.

A brilliant ending to finish it off, I honestly think you should all go and grab this gem.

[E The Creepy Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a better written, more refined version of those classic creepypastas we so love, and I am here for it. I’ve always loved the concept of creepypasta and other internet horror stories, but it’s so rare to find them executed well. That is why I love this book so much. It sets up the mystery with perfect pacing, nothing feeling overdone or rushed. I don’t read supernatural stories very often, because a lot of them fall flat for me, but if this is the new age of those types of novels, count me in. I was so afraid the ending would flop for whatever reason, and that was perfect as well. The characters were interesting, their dynamic was exciting, and even though they committed a crime, you can feel a sense of urgency, even if you aren’t cheering them on.

I think this author is going to be one of my new favorite writers, as I’m halfway through Burden and I am loving it as well. Incel was another perfect novel by him, and I can’t wait to read Teddy.

[Margaret Hamnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts off with such promise- a band of thieves whose job has gone wrong come across an isolated house in the middle of nowhere and stop to ask for help. What could go wrong?
And this story delivers beyond anything I hoped for. I’ve read a lot of Matt’s work and this was completely different and much more intense than the usual.
It also had everything; cults, folk horror, supernatural elements, medical horror, sort of alien stuff. I just loved it.
I read it in a day even when I was so tired I couldn’t stay awake. I would sleep, wake up, read and repeat. The description of the creature is still haunting me and I’m left feeling a bit jumpy. I can see why everyone is raving about this one.

[Joan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You Matt Duchossoy

Once again Matt Duchossoy hits a home run. One of the Masters of the Condense Short Stories.
Mr Duchossoy knows how to make a quick read feel like a full blown novel. Fast Pace Action Packed Suspense Short Story.

Five people nearly get away with the biggest Heist of their lives in a Blaze of Glory. Before they can reach their getaway plane, karma starts to work its charm on each of them 😉. One by One things happen. The group finds a house to lay low until the heat dies down and ....

I really enjoyed this story. It's a solid 4.5 there was a small bit of lag in development. It picks up tho. This will keep you on the edge if your chair.

Crime/Horror
Cosmic Horror
Extreme Horror
Profanity
Triggers

[Rachal Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had my eye on Matt Duchossoy ever since I read Incel and added Burden to my tbr, when the opportunity came along from the author to receive an arc copy of The Thaumaturgist I dove right in, and it was intense. After a successful bank heist, five individuals find themselves in a bind after some car trouble, they come across a Manor in the middle of BFE, they con their way inside intending to take over and wait out for plan B, what they find is an abomination of evil, which turns into a non-stop gory fun time. Release date is July 14th, get you a copy, read, review and support.
 

[Ashley Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, even though it's not super scary - tell me why the second I started reading this, I started having nightmares? Lmaooo.
The scene is set so well and it actually makes it hella creepy. And add some bizarro in there, which Duchossoy does so well; making it a perfect recipe for a fucked up story.
I can't tell you if I was rooting for, or against the bad guys?! Literally, I still don't know. I FEEL SO CONFLICTED?!
Also loved the diary entries!

[Carri lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy hell this book leaves you conflicted on who you should be rooting for! 5 criminals, who just happen to be murderers, rapists, and burglars, pulled off a heist and are making their getaway but something supernatural has other plans for them. After a car wreck, they stumble upon a secluded house and that's where things take a turn for the worst.This story is fast paced from page 1 and holds you until the end.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a wild ride! The book opens in a moment of action and the twists and turns don't stop until the very end, and even the last page has a twist I did NOT see coming. The main characters are horrible people, and as horrible people, it was a satisfying read to find out what happens to them. The descriptions are grotesque and squirmy in some places but not overly so. This is a fast-paced adventure and a quick read, but the ending definitely leaves it open for sequels! 4/5

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is focused on a crew of thieves and murderers (and one is a rapist) who are thrown off course while trying to get away from the authorities after a successful heist. They end up in a spooky mansion and within the first few chapters, chaos ensues. Even though the characters were so unlikeable, there was just the tiniest part of me that felt sorry for them. The creepy atmosphere was established well and the story was gripping. Overall, this was an awesome read.

[Codylyn Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

👻🩸When Matt put out the post in our fb group and I read the description I RAN to his dm’s hoping to get to read this one asap and let’s just say, I was not disappointed! I love anything that is like a creature/cryptid and this book was awesome! Gives a smidge thriller vibes with the bank heist then DIVES right into the horror!

Following a mismatch group who literally pull off the perfect bank heist only to have a slight hiccup that leads them into the woods, off a backroad, searching for a hiding spot. Stumbling upon the manor, whose host mistakably lets them in, to get ahold of their “contact”.

Let’s just say, things took a turn for the worst for everyone involved and I DID NOT see that ending coming!🩸👻