Such an Odd Word to Use: Secrets don't hide, they echo

by Carl Goodwin

A hidden Clerkenwell refuge, a watchful neighbour — and a narrowing gap between paranoia and perception.

After years on the move, Mark hopes for peace in a secluded Clerkenwell house once used as a music studio. Hidden behind Georgian terraces, it feels like the perfect retreat... until small disturbances begin to ripple beneath the surface. A glance held too long. A neighbour who knows too much. Watchers who linger.

A routine planning request triggers something deeper, that seems too coordinated to be pure chance. As unease grows, Mark begins to suspect the house holds more than memories. But in an age of constant surveillance, what separates paranoia from perception?

Such an Odd Word to Use is a quietly unsettling psychological mystery novella for the digital age, where even silence may be scripted.

152 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2025

Reviews

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Everything felt veiled in stillness. As if the house itself was holding its breath.”

Carl Goodwin has written a brooding and subtly sinister book.

Following a move to a new home, the owner begins to feel he is being watched or even trapped in his home.
Is he being followed? Who are the people seen outside his front door at all times of day? Why are some of his neighbours acting strangely ? And does his house hold a secret ?

With an increasing sense of paranoia and general mistrust towards the local community and even technology, how will the situation ever be resolved?

A short novel with a palpable sense of growing fear and confusion.

The outcome may not be what is expected but this is an intelligent reflection on what could happen on anyone’s doorstep with an ever increasing society of isolation .

[IngramSpark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This title was selected for IngramSpark's Indie Title Discovery Spotlight 2025!

An eerie, gripping thriller perfect for fans of psychological fiction, literary novellas, and slow burn suspense!

[Simon Drayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story definitely has an unsettling feel to it. It is about a man who, since moving to his home, starts to feel monitored by others. He notices a bunch of little nothings, too little to report the authorities for help, but too much to be ignored or dismissed as mere coincidence. If he were an average person, he probably would’ve become overwhelmed by paranoia or just have moved away. Yet, he stays for years. This story kept my interest and the end was somewhat satisfying. I like mysteries that feature no violence or murder and this story is definitely one of them. The character, Lana, and her activity added to the mystery and the story itself.

[Mostafizar Rahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an Odd Word to Use: Secrets don’t hide, they echo is a compelling and thoughtful read that stays with you after you finish. The book explores how hidden truths and unspoken choices can ripple outward, shaping relationships and identity in subtle but powerful ways. The title captures the tone perfectly—quietly intense, reflective, and occasionally unsettling.

What worked best for me was the atmosphere and the character-driven approach. The author builds tension without needing nonstop action, letting small moments and details carry weight. The writing feels purposeful, and the themes around silence, memory, and consequence come through clearly. I found myself slowing down in places to absorb what was happening beneath the surface.

While a few parts felt slightly slower than I expected, the overall experience was still very strong. If you enjoy introspective, character-focused stories with a mysterious edge and emotional depth, this one is definitely worth reading.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming in at around 150 pages this was a quick read and held my attention. By no means was it a bad book, but I think I was expecting something different. I usually read mystery/thriller type books so I’m used to a lot more going on. This seemed to be more on the psychological fiction side, is that a thing? Because I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thriller. I felt it was about paranoia and isolation and the effects it was having on the main character and how he was dealing with his community. I also feel like it’s something that could be interpreted in other ways depending on the reader. If you’re looking for a quick read, give it a go, you may see something entirely different.

Many thanks to LibraryThing, Carl Goodwin and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

[Ayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such an Odd Word to Use by Carl Goodwin presents a compelling premise: a secluded Clerkenwell house, an increasingly watchful neighbour, and the fragile line between paranoia and perception in an age of constant surveillance. The concept — particularly its exploration of digital-era unease and the question of whether silence itself can feel orchestrated — is timely and intriguing.

The novella is positioned as a quiet, slow-burn psychological suspense, and it certainly leans into restraint. However, I found the execution did not fully deliver on the tension suggested by its premise. The writing style felt somewhat distant, which made it difficult for me to connect with Mark’s growing paranoia. In a narrative so dependent on psychological closeness, I had hoped to feel more immersed in his perspective and increasingly unsettled alongside him.

While the atmosphere is understated, I found myself wanting more immediacy and emotional depth. The story often tells the reader what is happening rather than allowing the tension to unfold organically, which lessened the overall impact for me.

At novella length (31.5k words), I expected a tightly paced reading experience. Instead, it moved more slowly than anticipated, and the suspense never quite reached the level of urgency I had hoped for.

That said, the central idea is strong, and readers who appreciate subtle, contemplative psychological narratives may find more to connect with here. The themes of surveillance, perception, and modern isolation are relevant and thoughtfully considered, even if the emotional intensity did not fully resonate with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Jela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been so completely drawn into a story that, on the surface, is about nothing more than random goings-on in a house in the UK. Carl Goodwin's Such an Odd Word is part mundane, part slow-burning psychological thriller. I am still not entirely sure what happened, but it was pretty compelling

The novella follows Mark, who's finally settling into a secluded house (a former music studio in London), hoping for some peace and quiet. What he gets instead is a subtle unraveling. He's beset by odd glances from neighbors, small disturbances, surveillance vibes, and that nagging sense that something nefarious is going on. Goodwin builds the tension so gradually, through everyday observations and quiet unease, that you're hooked before you even realize the dread has set in.

It reads almost like a diary, informative but disjointed. I loved how the story stays grounded in the real world with no sudden jarring big reveal, just the slow build of paranoia. And the ending? I'm still not entirely sure what happened, and that's exactly why it's so compelling. It lingers, forcing you to replay moments in your head, wondering what was real and what was scripted.

If you enjoy quiet, intelligent thrillers with a slow burning unease or the subtle psychological depth in books that don't spoon-feed answers, this is a gem. At novella length, it's perfectly paced. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates ambiguity that feels earned and haunting.

[Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is a quick and concise read. Perhaps it's because I connected with the author's background in Data Science and the streets, alleys and coffee shops around Clerkenwell. If that is all 'foreign' to you don't be put off. I did get three-quarters the way through and started to think that something awful was going to happen and the story would evolve into a whodunit - but that never happens. For me, the particularly inspiring aspect was seeing the world through the eyes of a young girl - Lana. Yes, things do happen, but they are all so ordinary and inconsequential. Overall, a masterpiece for a new author, let's hope there is more to come.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed his descriptions of the house the most, that also infused the unsettled atmosphere with the natural lighting poorly designed "as if daylight was something to be filtered rather than welcomed" and referring to the fallen bulb as "like a fragile chick pushed from its nest". Unfortunately my enjoyment greatly fizzled out and immediately at that. I honestly only finished because it was a novella and the narrator was pretty entertaining. Mark's surges of paranoia became very repetitive in both causation and description. I felt more frustrated at Mark than feeling disturbed with him.

[Nichol Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is boring. The writing is bland and straightforward to a fault with zero emotion whatsoever. It failed to make me care about anything. I also found it severely lacking in detail in many parts - to the point that most events don't seem important. It read like the ramblings of an emotionless, yet paranoid, person. When the conclusion comes, there is no real investigation, no big reveal - simply a stating of facts that made the whole thing fall flat.

[Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informatics drag the issued until it was voice reckognizionated. Ahlussunnah wal jama'ah.

[Lola · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just bland and boring.