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While I Was Gone: Short Horror Stories by Andrew Cull
In his new collection, While I Was Gone, Andrew Cull returns from the woods with more tales of terror. Written in Andrew's signature cinematic style, these stories combine filmic thrills with classic ghost story chills.
A father's ten-year search for his missing daughter nears its end...
A retired park ranger recounts his terrifying experiences with an Australian cryptid legend...
Find out the true origin of the mysterious deep sea Julia sound recording...
After a child is taken from the village of Gorey, a mother hunts the King of the Harvest for answers...
A father's ten-year search for his missing daughter nears its end...
A retired park ranger recounts his terrifying experiences with an Australian cryptid legend...
Find out the true origin of the mysterious deep sea Julia sound recording...
After a child is taken from the village of Gorey, a mother hunts the King of the Harvest for answers...
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
157 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 24, 2025
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via the author. All thoughts are my own.
While I Was Gone is a brilliant comeback book from Andrew Cull with a thought-provoking selection of short horror stories perfect for reading at any time of year. My favourites were The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake and The Gorey Man. These two really gave me the chills.
Andrew has a great way of spinning a short story into something believable and haunting at the same time.
This book also contains an introduction from Andrew about his personal cancer journey offering hope to anyone with, having had or knowing someone with cancer too.
While I Was Gone is a brilliant comeback book from Andrew Cull with a thought-provoking selection of short horror stories perfect for reading at any time of year. My favourites were The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake and The Gorey Man. These two really gave me the chills.
Andrew has a great way of spinning a short story into something believable and haunting at the same time.
This book also contains an introduction from Andrew about his personal cancer journey offering hope to anyone with, having had or knowing someone with cancer too.
November 3, 2025
Every Halloween/horror vibe pitch perfect over a stretch of a handful of stories - grief, folklore, urban legends, body horror, the unexpected - a thoroughly enjoyable collection from start to finish.
July 1, 2025
Excellent stories. I loved them all. I'm finding that I enjoy an open ending. Allows my imagination to keep running after the story is finished.
December 18, 2025
Over the last number of years, I’ve read a bunch of Cull’s work, between his phenomenal novel ‘Remains,’ his bleak novella ‘The Cockroach King,’ and his myriad short story collections and have really come to love the way he crafts a story. I said at one point in a past review that everything he creates feels cinematic, as though we’re reading this directly through the lens that he’s writing it through.
When this collection was announced, I was so elated to see. Andrew had a very public battle with cancer, sharing with us his ups and downs, and when this was announced, it felt like a cathartic moment – for Andrew and his fans. A giant middle finger to the illness. A statement of intent – ‘F&ck you, I’m back!’
On my end, I jotted this one down on my list of ‘books to buy’ and unfortunately, life snuck up on me and it wasn’t until recently when I was looking at that list that I realized I’d neither purchased it yet, nor read/reviewed it. I rectified that immediately, snagging the Kindle edition and diving in.
Cull has a writing style that is both layered and straight forward and that, combined with his cinematic approach to telling the story, meant I zipped through this in no time at all.
What I liked: Within this collection, Cull bounces from strength to strength, always showcasing the character in a way we know them almost instantly, while also bringing the world around them alive, in a way only Cull can. It’s as though he’s reading these stories to you, stopping every so often to whisper, ‘see that over there?’ or ‘look at the way the leaves ripple in the wind.’ His stories are immersive and each story in this batch of stories jumped from the page, transporting me from place to place.
The standout stories for me were;
‘Carly’s Wish.’ The first story in the collection is also a very dark tale. A man’s daughter disappeared a decade ago, and though he’s professed to dedicating his life to finding her, he also seems content to reap the benefits from multiple bestselling books on the disappearance and a movie adaptation. Then he gets a call one day from an unknown number. They saw something that day and want to meet. It’s heart wrenching and brutal.
‘The Grave Listeners.’ This was one of the shortest stories in the collection, but packed one of the biggest wallops. A ground of friends hear a story about people being buried alive, scratches coming from within their caskets. So, they form a grave listening gang. At first it seems fun. Until one of their moms dies. This felt like a classic Tales From the Crypt story.
‘The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake.’ In this one, we’re introduced to a park ranger who is retiring and finally able to share some of the creepy and horrifying tales of what took place at Sanatorium Lake. So freaky but also so much fun.
‘Julia.’ I was convinced this was going to be my favorite story in the collection, but one other one surpassed that. This one follows a desperate man, searching for his wife and daughter. Their yacht capsizes and he can’t pull them free, watching as they sink to the depths. But then a sound is recorded. And when he listens it seems to be his wife calling for him to come rescue them. This takes a wonderfully macabre Lovecraftian turn and Cull delivers an emotional wallop wrapped in a man’s descent into madness.
‘The Gorey Man.’ This was my favorite of the collection and when I tried to figure out why I loved it just that hair’s width more than ‘Julia’ I knew it was because this one was set in the remote woods and featured a creature with horns. I know, I’m predictable! In a remote village, a young boy is sacrificed every year to The King of the Harvest, a hoofed/horned abomination that resides in the depths of the forest near them, to ensure the crops will be plentiful. Constance is sure that her son will be chosen, and when he’s not, she takes matters into her own hands, hiking with her boy into the depths of the woods to seek the King and make things right. One of the creepiest folklore stories I’ve ever read and the descriptions within this that Cull brutalizes our eyeballs with were exceptional. Outstanding.
What I didn’t like: As always in collections, the reader will have different reactions to each story and in this case, I wasn’t a huge fan of the story ‘The Scream.’ It was good, but compared to the rest, it didn’t hit the high notes like the others. As well, there was one other story – Halloween based – that felt a tad rushed.
Why you should buy this: Cull has a way of packing a novels worth of plot and emotions into a short story and this collection showcases that in spades. Each story feels fresh and different than all the others, but connected in a way that you wouldn’t be surprised to find a few of the characters hanging out with each other.
I often cite Kealan Patrick Burke and Calvin Demmer as the two masters of short fiction working today that you absolutely must read, but this collection proves to me that Andrew Cull makes it a trio and I can’t wait to see what he gives us next.
At the very least, you need to read this for ‘Julia’ and ‘The Gorey Man.’ Those two stories are short story masterpieces.
When this collection was announced, I was so elated to see. Andrew had a very public battle with cancer, sharing with us his ups and downs, and when this was announced, it felt like a cathartic moment – for Andrew and his fans. A giant middle finger to the illness. A statement of intent – ‘F&ck you, I’m back!’
On my end, I jotted this one down on my list of ‘books to buy’ and unfortunately, life snuck up on me and it wasn’t until recently when I was looking at that list that I realized I’d neither purchased it yet, nor read/reviewed it. I rectified that immediately, snagging the Kindle edition and diving in.
Cull has a writing style that is both layered and straight forward and that, combined with his cinematic approach to telling the story, meant I zipped through this in no time at all.
What I liked: Within this collection, Cull bounces from strength to strength, always showcasing the character in a way we know them almost instantly, while also bringing the world around them alive, in a way only Cull can. It’s as though he’s reading these stories to you, stopping every so often to whisper, ‘see that over there?’ or ‘look at the way the leaves ripple in the wind.’ His stories are immersive and each story in this batch of stories jumped from the page, transporting me from place to place.
The standout stories for me were;
‘Carly’s Wish.’ The first story in the collection is also a very dark tale. A man’s daughter disappeared a decade ago, and though he’s professed to dedicating his life to finding her, he also seems content to reap the benefits from multiple bestselling books on the disappearance and a movie adaptation. Then he gets a call one day from an unknown number. They saw something that day and want to meet. It’s heart wrenching and brutal.
‘The Grave Listeners.’ This was one of the shortest stories in the collection, but packed one of the biggest wallops. A ground of friends hear a story about people being buried alive, scratches coming from within their caskets. So, they form a grave listening gang. At first it seems fun. Until one of their moms dies. This felt like a classic Tales From the Crypt story.
‘The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake.’ In this one, we’re introduced to a park ranger who is retiring and finally able to share some of the creepy and horrifying tales of what took place at Sanatorium Lake. So freaky but also so much fun.
‘Julia.’ I was convinced this was going to be my favorite story in the collection, but one other one surpassed that. This one follows a desperate man, searching for his wife and daughter. Their yacht capsizes and he can’t pull them free, watching as they sink to the depths. But then a sound is recorded. And when he listens it seems to be his wife calling for him to come rescue them. This takes a wonderfully macabre Lovecraftian turn and Cull delivers an emotional wallop wrapped in a man’s descent into madness.
‘The Gorey Man.’ This was my favorite of the collection and when I tried to figure out why I loved it just that hair’s width more than ‘Julia’ I knew it was because this one was set in the remote woods and featured a creature with horns. I know, I’m predictable! In a remote village, a young boy is sacrificed every year to The King of the Harvest, a hoofed/horned abomination that resides in the depths of the forest near them, to ensure the crops will be plentiful. Constance is sure that her son will be chosen, and when he’s not, she takes matters into her own hands, hiking with her boy into the depths of the woods to seek the King and make things right. One of the creepiest folklore stories I’ve ever read and the descriptions within this that Cull brutalizes our eyeballs with were exceptional. Outstanding.
What I didn’t like: As always in collections, the reader will have different reactions to each story and in this case, I wasn’t a huge fan of the story ‘The Scream.’ It was good, but compared to the rest, it didn’t hit the high notes like the others. As well, there was one other story – Halloween based – that felt a tad rushed.
Why you should buy this: Cull has a way of packing a novels worth of plot and emotions into a short story and this collection showcases that in spades. Each story feels fresh and different than all the others, but connected in a way that you wouldn’t be surprised to find a few of the characters hanging out with each other.
I often cite Kealan Patrick Burke and Calvin Demmer as the two masters of short fiction working today that you absolutely must read, but this collection proves to me that Andrew Cull makes it a trio and I can’t wait to see what he gives us next.
At the very least, you need to read this for ‘Julia’ and ‘The Gorey Man.’ Those two stories are short story masterpieces.
July 1, 2025
I do love a good horror with just enough to give me a little jump scare. Cull's latest collection did just that!
The author very kindly gifted me a copy which I spent the rest of the day immersed in.
While I Was Gone is a collection of horror shorts, some of which would be fab as full length stories. I love horror whether reading or watching, although admittedly I'm the first to be hiding behind a cushion. Cull's collection had just the right amount of scare for me.
My personal favourites include Julia, The Scream and Carly's Wish.
Eerily atmospheric, gory and gripping.
The author very kindly gifted me a copy which I spent the rest of the day immersed in.
While I Was Gone is a collection of horror shorts, some of which would be fab as full length stories. I love horror whether reading or watching, although admittedly I'm the first to be hiding behind a cushion. Cull's collection had just the right amount of scare for me.
My personal favourites include Julia, The Scream and Carly's Wish.
Eerily atmospheric, gory and gripping.
November 2, 2025
Cull remains a master at tapping into nostalgia, lulling you into the comforting only to do the literary equivalent of pouncing at you in the dark and ominous shortcut you knew was a bad idea just before bedtime. Cull hasn’t had the easiest time as many of us know, and I’m so incredibly happy to see his return to writing and that his latest offering is such a stellar collection. These stories will unsettle you but leave you richer for it.
I’ve added an overview of the stories and marked my favorites with an “*” below.
-Carly’s Wish:
10 years have passed since David’s daughter, Carly, went missing. A couple of books detailing her disappearance, a movie and numerous tv appearances have led David no closer to finding her. That is, until a mysterious 4 AM caller stating he knows where she was taken. Sometimes the missing don’t want to be found, especially in the face of the neglect found at home. A slow burn and a twist that left me with mixed feelings.
-The Grave Listeners:*
An unsettling coming-of-age-tale about a group of boys who decide to listen for noises coming from the recently buried. It takes a dark turn when someone close to them passes away. Loved this. I don’t know what it is, but Cull is able to do so much on such few pages & this, like other favorites of mine, has an uncanny ability to awaken a deep sense of childhood nostalgia. Haven’t thought of it in years but I used to place my ear against the ground in the hopes of hearing something.
-The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake:*
A bartender/writer recounts the horrific experiences a retired ranger had by Sanatorium Lake and how it relates to a string of missing people.
-Julia:*
An underwater noise so loud it was recorded across vast distances and the ensuing expedition to Antarctica. The man leading the expedition lost his wife and daughter at sea the year before and thinks he hears something (someone) familiar in the recordings. What follows is the mass death of fish, madness and something rising.
Cosmic horror and grief collide in this deeply unsettling story.
-Trick:
A boy’s night trick or treating turns sinister when they’re tasked with a certain kind of trick by a man. The only hinted at consequences of this is what makes it truly unsettling. What happened to Cassie?
-The Scream:
A series of people fall victim to a state where they can but scream. Pandemic? Nerve gas? Nobody knows and all the mom of this story knows is that she has to get her daughter and father in law to safety far away from the city. That, as it turns out, is easier said than done and won’t come without its losses
-The Gorey Man:
Harvest rituals and folk horror. A mother is disappointed when her son isn’t chosen as that year’s tribute by the mysterious King of the Harvest. Unwilling to let it pass, she brings her son into the forbidden forest to seek the creature out. By far the most ruthless mother in this collection and terrifying in what unquestioning faith can lead one to do.
I’ve added an overview of the stories and marked my favorites with an “*” below.
-Carly’s Wish:
10 years have passed since David’s daughter, Carly, went missing. A couple of books detailing her disappearance, a movie and numerous tv appearances have led David no closer to finding her. That is, until a mysterious 4 AM caller stating he knows where she was taken. Sometimes the missing don’t want to be found, especially in the face of the neglect found at home. A slow burn and a twist that left me with mixed feelings.
-The Grave Listeners:*
An unsettling coming-of-age-tale about a group of boys who decide to listen for noises coming from the recently buried. It takes a dark turn when someone close to them passes away. Loved this. I don’t know what it is, but Cull is able to do so much on such few pages & this, like other favorites of mine, has an uncanny ability to awaken a deep sense of childhood nostalgia. Haven’t thought of it in years but I used to place my ear against the ground in the hopes of hearing something.
-The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake:*
A bartender/writer recounts the horrific experiences a retired ranger had by Sanatorium Lake and how it relates to a string of missing people.
-Julia:*
An underwater noise so loud it was recorded across vast distances and the ensuing expedition to Antarctica. The man leading the expedition lost his wife and daughter at sea the year before and thinks he hears something (someone) familiar in the recordings. What follows is the mass death of fish, madness and something rising.
Cosmic horror and grief collide in this deeply unsettling story.
-Trick:
A boy’s night trick or treating turns sinister when they’re tasked with a certain kind of trick by a man. The only hinted at consequences of this is what makes it truly unsettling. What happened to Cassie?
-The Scream:
A series of people fall victim to a state where they can but scream. Pandemic? Nerve gas? Nobody knows and all the mom of this story knows is that she has to get her daughter and father in law to safety far away from the city. That, as it turns out, is easier said than done and won’t come without its losses
-The Gorey Man:
Harvest rituals and folk horror. A mother is disappointed when her son isn’t chosen as that year’s tribute by the mysterious King of the Harvest. Unwilling to let it pass, she brings her son into the forbidden forest to seek the creature out. By far the most ruthless mother in this collection and terrifying in what unquestioning faith can lead one to do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
Andrew Cull proves once again that he’s a master of his craft. His storytelling never falters. Remains is a book I still find myself forever recommending, and While I Was Gone only reinforces why.
Of all the stories in this new collection, “The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake” stood out most to me. The eerie Australian setting adds to its power, but it’s the slow-building, skin-crawling atmosphere that really lingers. It’s creepy in all the right ways—chilling, immersive, and unforgettable.
And please don’t skip the introduction. Andrew shares his two-year journey through cancer with a rawness that’s both heartbreaking and inspiring. It’s intimate and honest in a way that makes you feel honoured just to read it.
This is a solid 5 star read that I’ll be recommending for a long time.
Of all the stories in this new collection, “The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake” stood out most to me. The eerie Australian setting adds to its power, but it’s the slow-building, skin-crawling atmosphere that really lingers. It’s creepy in all the right ways—chilling, immersive, and unforgettable.
And please don’t skip the introduction. Andrew shares his two-year journey through cancer with a rawness that’s both heartbreaking and inspiring. It’s intimate and honest in a way that makes you feel honoured just to read it.
This is a solid 5 star read that I’ll be recommending for a long time.
November 24, 2025
I was gifted a copy of WHILE I WAS GONE from the author when they hosted a giveaway - thank you!
Cull's latest collection is not one to miss if you like any of the following -
1) Horror Short Story Collections
2) Short Horror Fiction
3) Horror That Balances Blood and Gore with Heart and Sorrow
4) Authors Who Know How to Hit You Where It Hurts
This was the perfect collection to read during the Halloween season. Each story sings with different notes showcasing the author's interest in nostalgia horror, folk horror, urban legends, body horror, and the uncanny. Not to mention a solid jump scare or two. One thing they all have in common though is an incredibly eerie atmosphere.
My personal favorites were Julia, The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake, and Carly’s Wish.
And trust me, don't skip the intro. For those that follow Cull, his story won't catch you by surprise, but his openness and vulnerability about his journey with cancer is not something you should miss. I found it both encouraging and hopeful and told with a streak of black humor that comes (I'd argue naturally) to horror authors.
Cull's latest collection is not one to miss if you like any of the following -
1) Horror Short Story Collections
2) Short Horror Fiction
3) Horror That Balances Blood and Gore with Heart and Sorrow
4) Authors Who Know How to Hit You Where It Hurts
This was the perfect collection to read during the Halloween season. Each story sings with different notes showcasing the author's interest in nostalgia horror, folk horror, urban legends, body horror, and the uncanny. Not to mention a solid jump scare or two. One thing they all have in common though is an incredibly eerie atmosphere.
My personal favorites were Julia, The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake, and Carly’s Wish.
And trust me, don't skip the intro. For those that follow Cull, his story won't catch you by surprise, but his openness and vulnerability about his journey with cancer is not something you should miss. I found it both encouraging and hopeful and told with a streak of black humor that comes (I'd argue naturally) to horror authors.
August 8, 2025
Andrew Cull has been one of my favorite voices in horror since I've devoured Bones, a collection of chilling ghost stories, back in 2018. So of course I was excited to read his new collection, not only because I love everything he writes, but also because of Cull's recent battle with cancer (he talks about his experience in the introduction of this book, make sure to read it if you want to know the lovely person he is besides his talent).
While I Was Gone is a fantastic collection of spooky moments, all evolving around someone missing (in different ways) and the perfect read for horror newbies and for Halloween, if you're planning your October TBR already. My favorite stories were The Grave Listeners and The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake, which I found excellent and I wish they were longer! A few other stories left me wanting for more, so I hope Cull is going to publish something else soon - maybe another novel? A girl can only hope.
4.5 rounded up
* I'd like to thank Andrew Cull for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
While I Was Gone is a fantastic collection of spooky moments, all evolving around someone missing (in different ways) and the perfect read for horror newbies and for Halloween, if you're planning your October TBR already. My favorite stories were The Grave Listeners and The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake, which I found excellent and I wish they were longer! A few other stories left me wanting for more, so I hope Cull is going to publish something else soon - maybe another novel? A girl can only hope.
4.5 rounded up
* I'd like to thank Andrew Cull for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2025
There is something so satisfying about reading a new book from your favorite author. I loved every single story in this short story collection and that’s very rare for me. Andrew does short horror fiction so well. My favorite stories were Carly’s Wish (that ending 👀), Trick because what the actual hell, and Julia because the open sea can be truly terrifying. Thank you so much Andrew for sending me a signed copy of While I Was Gone. I’m so happy you are doing better and are able to get back to doing the things you love. I can’t wait to see what you come with next.
June 23, 2025
4.5⭐️ rounded up.
August 17, 2025
Review to come.
June 15, 2025
I'm a huge fan of Cull’s work and always find myself completely lost in his stories—this collection was no exception. The atmosphere, tension, and storytelling were as gripping as ever. That said, many of the stories ended on an ambiguous note. While I’m not opposed to open endings, I found myself wanting more closure in some cases. A few of these tales would make amazing novellas if expanded further. Still, a great read for fans of subtle, slow-burning horror.
May 25, 2025
A new short horror story collection by Andrew Cull? Instant buy!
Got a copy of the book through Amazon with a fast next day delivery and immediately dove deep into it. Ever since reading "Remains" by Andrew Cull I have been severely impressed by his writing and his way of creating an experience within the stories told. I still think "Remains" is one of the best books I have read to date and the only author that comes close to the absolute brilliance of Jonathan Aycliffe, who (in my opinion) has written the scariest books ever (far superior than the more common horror books by King may I add....and yes this is entirely objective)
I devoured this horror collection instantly and as usual loved the stories and the writing. What I like about Cull's stories is how dark they are....absolute nightmare material.
"The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake" was my favorite.....and gosh I wish this would've been much much longer. The only reason I am not rating it 5 stars is not really caring about "Trick", it just left me confused and was a bit of a chaotic read. Also so impressed knowing what a challenging time he has gone through....here's hoping to many more books by Andrew Cull, I will definitely devour them all.
Got a copy of the book through Amazon with a fast next day delivery and immediately dove deep into it. Ever since reading "Remains" by Andrew Cull I have been severely impressed by his writing and his way of creating an experience within the stories told. I still think "Remains" is one of the best books I have read to date and the only author that comes close to the absolute brilliance of Jonathan Aycliffe, who (in my opinion) has written the scariest books ever (far superior than the more common horror books by King may I add....and yes this is entirely objective)
I devoured this horror collection instantly and as usual loved the stories and the writing. What I like about Cull's stories is how dark they are....absolute nightmare material.
"The Bone Man of Sanatorium Lake" was my favorite.....and gosh I wish this would've been much much longer. The only reason I am not rating it 5 stars is not really caring about "Trick", it just left me confused and was a bit of a chaotic read. Also so impressed knowing what a challenging time he has gone through....here's hoping to many more books by Andrew Cull, I will definitely devour them all.
July 19, 2025
Andrew Cull’s powerful introduction openly and honestly documents the serious health issues he has been dealing with over the last couple of years and the extent to which this handicapped his writing, at certain points cutting it back to zero. While I Was Gone is this fascinating author’s ‘comeback,’ with some of these stories loosely connected to his return or being written during his gruelling recovery period. This collection is Andrew Cull shouting, “I’m back!”, and the horror community is all the better for it. Given the circumstances, the fact these stories exist at all is a miracle, and we should all shout along with Andy!
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
June 24, 2025
Have you ever went into a book knowing you’re going to love it and…..you do!! It’s a great feeling.
There’s six stories in this collection and I enjoyed them all. My favorites were Carly’s Wish, Julia, and Scream. One of the things I love about Cull’s writing is how dark it is. I love dark, visceral stories and Cull delivers in spades.
My only problem were some of the stories ended on an ambiguous note. I did want more closure, particularly in the story Trick.
Other than that I highly recommend this collection and all of this author’s other work. Be sure to read the moving introduction about Cull’s recent battle with cancer. It’s a raw and intimate look into the life of a fantastic author and person.
Thanks again, Andy, for my signed copy!
There’s six stories in this collection and I enjoyed them all. My favorites were Carly’s Wish, Julia, and Scream. One of the things I love about Cull’s writing is how dark it is. I love dark, visceral stories and Cull delivers in spades.
My only problem were some of the stories ended on an ambiguous note. I did want more closure, particularly in the story Trick.
Other than that I highly recommend this collection and all of this author’s other work. Be sure to read the moving introduction about Cull’s recent battle with cancer. It’s a raw and intimate look into the life of a fantastic author and person.
Thanks again, Andy, for my signed copy!
January 9, 2026
This is an awesome collection of short stories. Thought-provoking, eerie and atmospheric, this quick read does not fall short on the scares!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews