Tillinghast

by Clare Cavenagh

There's a name for what he is. He prefers not to use it…Stutley Tillinghast lives a solitary life, ostensibly as the minister of a remote rural parish in Rhode Island. For many decades now, what little human contact he allows himself has been brief, frenzied and bloody, and always ends in a shallow grave in his cellar.

You and I would have a name for what he is, but he prefers not to use it – he has needs, and when they become unbearable, he fulfils them.

Then the girl arrives – 19 years old, she has travelled from the UK to find him. She seems to have his surname, and her resemblance to him is uncanny. She is sick – very sick – and Tillinghast recognises her symptoms all too well. Which means he also knows what she needs…

Darkly compelling and irresistibly readable, TILLINGHAST marks the arrival of a major new literary talent.

Genres: Horror, Gothic, Vampires, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Historical

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Clare Cavenagh spent her childhood in Erica, Australia, and her adolescence in Fribourg, Switzerland. She read English and then renaissance literature at the University of Cambridge, and now lives in London where she works as a copywriter. Her short fiction and criticism have been published in Editions L'Hèbe, Cambridge Quarterly and Eucalyptus Lit. Her first novel, TILLINGHAST, will be published in June 2026. She is currently working on her second novel.

Reviews

[Nicki Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Man Called Ove if he was a vampire lolol

[Salem ☥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Tillinghast inhaled through his nose, mostly fuel, but a little bit of soft, vegetal dampness. He could feel the potential of the movement in his hand. The band was wound, the energy was stored up, energy in his hand, in the match head, in the gasoline puddles on the floor and the volatile fumes in the air. No more actions were needed. He just had to let go. It was as easy as anything."

2.5.

I wanted to like this book soooo freaking bad. There's a review about Pride and Prejudice that says it's just about people going to each other's houses, and that's kind of how this novel felt to me. Nothing really happens. It's just the protagonist going from place to place.

Tillinghast kills a man within the first couple of pages, and through his letters his vampirism is explored, but not in the moment. So much more could've been expanded on, though it simply wasn't. I wish Tillinghast's relationship with Sarah would've been explored more.

The prose was easy to read, though a bit bland. Everything flowed smoothly, and I had a nice experience reading it—I just wish quite literally anything interesting would've happened. My expectations were a bit high, and unfortunately they weren't met.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Olivia Wolfenden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I assumed the stilted writing was due to translation issues, but nope, apparently it was an intentional choice. Huh.

DNF

ARC from netgalley

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not someone who needs a lot of plot in my reading; I love a plotless character study way more than the next guy. But Tillinghast really put my patience to the test, unfortunately for no payoff. Stutley Tillinghast has been a vampire (though the novel refuses to use the word) for a long, long time, living by himself in his family home in New England and killing someone every 70 days or so to survive. Sarah, a young stranger, arrives in town with a note with Tillinghast's name on it, leaving both to put together the pieces of their connection and their affliction.

And... that's about it. There are countless pages of Tillinghast wondering around his house, sort of musing on things. At one point, Sarah goes missing, and there must be 20 pages of uneventful, pointless looking for her. There's no real life (pun intended) in any of these characters; I could frankly not have cared less about Tillinghast himself, making his book-long decision on whether or not to self-immolate simply boring, frankly. There are really no other characters than Tillinghast or Sarah, just a few townspeople and the characters in Tillinghast's origin story.

I don't think this book is doing anything new or different enough with the vampire story to recommend, unfortunately. Thanks to Viking and NetGalley for the advance ARC in exchange for my thoughts.

[Ashley]

lol got an ARC of this but now i'm scared

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* really. An interesting take on a familiar theme just thought it took a long time to get where it was going.

[Vikki Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely well written, just a little boring for me

[She’s Stranger Than Fiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you do not like character-driven plots, this book is not for you. Now that I have that out of the way, this book is a great work of literary horror. It has some gore, but it is not excessive. There is a little bit of medical horror and a moderate amount of body horror. There is a whole lot of personal existential horror, and loads of character growth. The titular character is very contemplative and complex.
Tillinghast is a 150 year-old vampire and a Christian minister with a heavy heart and a guilty conscience. He is not of the Dracula/Nosferatu variety. He is almost indistinguishable from everyone else - except for the powerful thirst for blood and a few other things. He is contemplating ending his life when a sick young woman comes into his care.
The book explores loneliness, morality, altruism, and underlying motivators. It delves into Tillinghast’s inner world as he interacts with others around him.
Highly recommended for those who like deep literary psychology.
Side note: I love Tillinghast the character’s writing voice. It is reminiscent of Mary Shelley or Emily Brontë - perfect for a vampire from the 19th century.

This is my honest opinion regarding this title, received as an ARC. My thanks to Clare Cavanagh, Viking Press, and NetGalley for this opportunity.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

A refreshing take on the vampire genre, this was lovely to read. While this wasn’t full of blood and guts like certain novels, it was full of character. It was slow moving, with a lot of time spent exploring the past, but I really enjoyed that. The writing was all consuming, making it easy to fall into this story. A really great example of a character led story, with interesting elements of horror and real history blended throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #Tillinghast #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Juli Stadler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Per the publishers’ synopsis, “TILLINGHAST is a dark, atmospheric literary horror novel inspired by the real events of the 19th century New England vampire panic. It follows a solitary, ancient protagonist living as a minister in a remote Rhode Island parish, whose violent, hidden life is upended by the arrival of a young woman.”

Vampires have always been my favorite monster, so I was excited to read TILLINGHAST, my sixth vampire novel in four months. I liked the unique concept and looked forward to learning about the New England vampire panic, as well as Rhode Island. I loved the book cover design. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the novel.

The characters did not seem like fully realized individuals. There were notable inconsistencies, such as Tillinghast switching from a formal voice to “popping open” a car trunk. He wishes to go unnoticed and states he “hides by habit”, yet wears a priest’s collar, which would only draw attention to him. These are just a couple of examples.

There are numerous plot holes. It doesn’t make sense that Tillinghast lives in a house that is not wired for electricity, yet he drives a car. There is a scene that takes place in an ER waiting room that is implausible. The individual sitting behind the plexiglass who is an ER Register Clerk/Admitting Representative, not a nurse. They don’t have access to medical equipment, and they would certainly never give you a sample “because it’s disposable.”

I understand that this book is being published simultaneously in the UK and the US, but given that it is set in Rhode Island, it’s important that the vernacular reflect that. As an American reader, there were numerous times that I had to look up terminology that we don’t use in the US, such as “bitumen” (asphalt), “Perspex” (plexiglass), “pinboard” (bulletin board), and “singlet” (tank top).

The pace was too slow. There isn’t a strong sense of place. The storyline is fairly uneventful. The vampire mythos was confusing. These vampires are free to move about day and night, yet they spend a lot of time being sickly. It’s also unclear if Tillinghast was born a vampire or made a vampire.

Pub Date: June 23, 2026

Thank you, Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing me with a complementary DRC of TILLINGHAST. All opinions are my own.

[Kylie]

read about 50% of this - and i still couldn’t really tell you what the plot was

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚

3.5 ⭐️

"Stutley Tillinghast lives a solitary life, ostensibly as the minister of a remote rural parish in Rhode Island. For many decades now, what little human contact he’s allowed himself has been brief, frenzied and bloody, and has always ended in a shallow grave in his cellar."
 
I was so excited to recieve this ARC.  I grew up in Rhode Island, and still live in New England.  I've spent many late nights with friends trying to see if Mercy Brown's ghost would appear at her grave. 

This book started off slow for me.  Tillinghast's life is so routine and mundane that it almost leaks into the text.  I had thought about DNFing it 7% in.  I'm glad I decided to keep with it.  It picks up when Sarah enters, and it kept me engaged for the rest of the story.

Ok, so I may be partial to any and everything written about New England.  I may also love seeing names like Mystic, Beavertail, Fisherman's Memorial Park, etc. written in novels.  This is also a story that everyone who grew up in Rhode Island knows by heart.  The vampire panic of the late 1800's.  Spurred on by the fear of death by consumption (tuberculosis) the graves of the Brown family were exhumed one by one when Mercy's brother said she visited him at night and sat on his chest.  When they got to Mercy's grave its said that she was not in the state of decomposition that was expected.  Her heart and liver were removed and burned to the point they were charcoal, mixed with water, and given to her brother to consume as a cure for vampirism.  He died a few months later. 

What if the story wasn't that simple though?  What if there really was some truth the vampire panic?  This novel explores that in a way that seamlessly blends the past with the present while adding in a love story/mystery that doesn't overshadow the gothic feel.  I feel that this was a really strong debut novel, and I would definitely be interested in reading more writing by the author. 

P.S.  The only  part that took me completely out of the story was the flashback about digging the graves up.  The was a description of the sound of a "shovel slicing through damp earth".  This is probably not something people who don't live in New England would even realize, but we have rocks, lots and lots of rocks.   So many rocks that I have never once dug a hole and have heard a shovel slice through the ground.  What you would hear is the ping of metal on stone and the crunching of stone as the shovel was slid around to wiggle past.  Again if you aren't from New England this probably wouldnt even be on your radar, but it definitely was a detail that I picked up on.



I want to extend thanks to Clare Cavenagh, Viking Penguin, and Netgalley for an ARC copy in exchange for a review

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

After I finished reading Tillinghast, I immediately hopped over to Goodreads because I knew this one was going to ruffle some feathers. The lenses through which readers experience books always amazes me — the words on the page don’t change, but the way they hit us absolutely does. So I was dying to see what everyone thought.

One reviewer, a Rhode Islander with deep personal ties to the area’s 1800s vampire panic connected with the book on that level. Someone else compared it to A Man Called Ove, which I've never read, and said it’s basically that book… if Ove were a vampire. And another reader referenced a review of Pride and Prejudice that described it pretty much as “a novel about people going to each other’s houses,” and said: samesies. And there was one person who was hilariously hung up on all of the situational things that were completely unplausible, as if the fact that the main character was a vampire wasn't unplausible enough, haha.

As far as vampire lore goes, Tillinghast is definitely a slower burn. We spend most of the novel inside the mind of a man who has learned to quietly manage his urges and pass as a priest and caretaker of a sleepy, retired church. It’s a very internal, introspective take on the monster myth — one that humanizes him and leans into the emotional and psychological toll of his condition.

Everything shifts when he receives a call from a local hotel claiming that a woman named Sarah — calling herself his niece — is gravely ill and asking for him. He has no idea who she is, but curiosity gets the best of him, and he brings the nearly unconscious woman back to his home. It doesn’t take long for him to realize he’s no longer the only one of his kind… and he becomes determined to help her survive. Together, they begin unraveling the threads that bind them.

It’s cheeky, contemplative, and surprisingly tender, but also undeniably slow. The introspection works, for the most part, though the pacing sometimes drags the story down instead of deepening it.

In the end, Tillinghast is a thoughtful, offbeat twist on the vampire tale — not a new favorite, but a solid three‑star read with enough charm and melancholy to keep me turning the pages.

[Claire Burge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stutley Tillinghast is a, well, you know....



He's moody, broody, and been doing this charade called life for far too long. He's only met one other like him, the woman who made him who he is, his undoing. If there are others like him, they sure don't live in New England. That is, until Sarah shows up.

A stranger in town, Sarah has her hooks into local lore and a hunger for finding the missing piece in her own life. Neither she or Tillinghast expect their paths to cross, but when they do long-unspoken questions begin to bubble to the surface.

His stead over the old wooden church and Tilllinghast's gothic, looming house create a chilling and lonesome atmosphere, and the first few pages kicked off with a bang. It's the meat of the story that left me hungry for more - chapter after chapter felt repetitive as Tillinghast tries to fix, and then ultimately welcomes this new beginning. Paragraphs of procedure took precedent over diving into deeper character development or what could have been immersive dialogue between Sarah and Stutley. I didn't mind the ambiguity among the story itself, but certain aspects felt unfinished instead of intentional.

Through Tillinghast's own penning of his life story, you witness his crisis of faith and see a man unaltered by time trying to figure out if he's spent too much here already. These snippets were a highlight of the book for me, the only time I felt like I was getting a true connection to any character. The brief glimpses into Sarah's POV seemed repetitive, which I could have appreciated IF there had been more of her woven into the dialogue - instead it felt like all of her character development was being TOLD to me as a reader, instead of getting to experience it within the book.

While flashbacks into Tillinghast's long life bring in a historical aspect of living through early America's vampire panic, this felt like a conjoining of two very different stories. What could have been a symbiotic blend of historical fiction and fantastical storytelling read to me as a conjoined effort that fell flat.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Ends of the Word · Rating 4 out of 5]

As clergymen go, Reverend Stutley Tillinghast is, shall we say, quite unorthodox. Nominally in charge of a rural parish in Rhode Island, previously ministered to by his ancestors, he is afflicted by an irresistible taste for blood, which makes him kill to live and live to kill. You might well call him a monster, except that he takes no pleasure in his hunting sprees and is, on the contrary, torn by guilt at what his body makes him do. And so Tillinghast plans his own death (not easy when you are what he is). Then his reality is upended by the arrival of a young woman who may or may not be a relative, and may or may not share his affliction.

As explained in the author’s note at the end, Clare Cavanagh’s debut novel is inspired by the vampire panic that seized New England in the 19th century. During a wave of cases of consumption, people started believing that their deceased relatives were returning from the grave to feed on the living. A famous case involved Mercy Brown in Rhode Island in 1892, whose body was exhumed during an outbreak that locals thought was being caused by vampirism. This historical episode is woven into a contemporary tale with roots in the historical past.

The particular inspiration for this novel gives Cavenagh the opportunity to write a vampire novel with a twist. Indeed, the reverend protagonist is never explicitly described as a “vampire” and lacks some of the more typical qualities of the literary undead. For instance, he does not seem to mind sunlight; he is not a mind-reader; and his frenzied attacks lack the eroticism of the typical “Old World” vampire, seeming closer to the behaviour of a werewolf. Ultimately, Tillinghast comes across as a weary anti-hero who needs to confront tough moral choices.

Tillinghast suffers from some plot gaps and narrative gear changes that ultimately leave the reader wanting. Yet the unusual take on the vampire myth, the weaving of elements of New England folklore, and the psychological and moral debates at the heart of this novel still make it a worthwhile and compelling debut.

3.5*

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stutley Tillinghast. Reverend Stutley Tillinghast. He is about as unreverential as it gets. He hunts, it’s a necessity and afterwards, there’s penitence. Now, he’s making an exit strategy. Then, most unexpectedly a young English girl comes into his life, she’s ill and extremely so. Tillinghast has seen her symptoms before, indeed, has experienced them and so knows what to do.

This story will not be for everyone as it’s undeniably dark, mysterious and very chilling. The writing is of a high-quality and this keeps me immersed in the storytelling. Infused into the strangeness of the plot is the story of him and Lena Browne whose name is the stuff of legend and rumour in this area of New England. The pacing is not fast, Stutley is telling his story and he’s taking his time in doing so. He gives his backstory, his interactions with Lena and to inform readers of his ghastly tale and the deeper it goes, the stranger it gets. It’s not especially graphic yet it’s obvious what’s happening annd the whys and wherefores soon become apparent and it has me transfixed. I like how things change and develop between Sarah and Tillinghast which is not expected given how things have been shaping up.

The strongest element of the book in my opinion, lies in the atmosphere created, it’s ghostly, ghastly and eerie with Tillinghast’s isolation and the isolated nature of its property and the church adding to this. Throughout there’s a palpable sense of unease, of off kilter oddness and at times a kind of weightless almost like an out of body experience is conveyed. Torment and turmoil are most apparent. Is there regret? Possibly.

Overall, I’d probably describe this tale which is based on real events in 19th century New England, as mild horror. It’s told at a languid pace but the high-quality writing has me engaged throughout.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction /The Borough Press for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[CloseTheClosetDoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note for fellow horror readers: The Closet Door Rating System

Because I read mostly horror and psychological thrillers, my dark walk-in closet has become part of my review system. If a book is disturbing enough that I have to shut the closet door before bed so I’m not staring into the void during a midnight bathroom trip, it earns a 5/5 Closet Door rating. The lower the score, the safer I felt leaving it open… even if my husband “accidentally” did.

Closet Door Rating: 3/5 — Book Rating: 4/5

Inspired by the 19th-century New England Vampire Panic, Tillinghast follows Stutley Tillinghast, a man living a solitary and bloody existence due to a strange sickness. His quiet routine is disrupted when a woman named Sarah arrives carrying the same last name and the same affliction, forcing him to confront the long path that led him here.

Clare Cavenagh’s writing is deeply atmospheric, pulling you into the damp, decaying world of rural New England with vivid sensory detail. The novel opens strong, immediately immersing the reader in the brutality and isolation of Tillinghast’s life. His backstory is the most compelling part of the book and really drives the narrative forward. Tillinghast himself is a fascinating character. Despite how closed off he appears, his loneliness and desire for companionship quietly shape many of his choices.

The pacing slows once Sarah arrives, creating a few lulls in the middle, and the ending felt somewhat rushed compared to the careful buildup earlier in the story. Some developments resolve a bit too quickly.

Overall, this is a haunting and immersive gothic horror story about isolation and the powerful pull of human connection. The horror element is much more of that classic gothic building of dread and tension, and it sure does work well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an interesting and unique premise, and while it didn't 'hit the spot' for me, I was still intrigued to finish it until the end. It helped that I enjoyed Clare Cavenagh's writing.

This book was slow-paced, and my interest truly only peaked after the 60% mark. You are contained in a limited setting (mainly Tillinghast's house with the occasional visit to his past or Sarah's life in London) with an equally limited cast of characters. As I said, I only really got sucked in once Sarah started coming-to more and more.

Mr. Stutley Tillinghast is a miserable, sad, almost pathetic man - but!!! he is one that grew on me the more I learned about him, his childhood, and his subsequent 'pre' and 'post-Vampirism' life. Essentially, the man is lonely and needs a therapist :( He's just going through the motions of life, dulled and numb, until he encounters Sarah and begins to feel something akin to hope.

Sarah herself is someone who comes along trying to find him. Her mother is Lena Browne, a vampire that Tillinghast met briefly in his youth. She aptly abandons Sarah when she reaches adulthood, leaving Sarah to figure stuff out for herself... where she eventually ends up thinking Tillinghast may be her dad. Is he? idk. I don't think so, but why did Lena leave him n only him alive?? Cuz he was like her? mannn I just have so many q's!!

Will wrap up this review with just a snippet some of my questions: Who really is Lena Browne? Are these vampiric people born this way, based on what we heard in the book? Who is Sebastian and the reporter and how do they even connect??

All that's to say, I do enjoy how this was loosely based on the New England vampire panic back in the 18th/19th century. I had no idea this was a thing, and reading the blurb about it at the end was enjoyable.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Charlie de Lioncourt · Rating 5 out of 5]

TILLINGHAST caught my eye on a list of vampire books, although the V word is never mentioned in the blurb. After I started reading this, I was no longer sure if it WAS a vampire book at all. I’ll let you figure that out for yourself, because the mystery of this book is what is so great about it 🩸 What I can tell you is this is classic gothic, inspired by the New England vampire panic in the 19th Century.

I gratefully received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review (Spoiler free).

Reverend Stanley Tillinghast lives a solitary life in present day, in a rural parish on Rhode Island. We know from the start that he is compelled to kill people. He’s got a lot of skeletons in the closet, and he seems to feel pretty bad about it. His routine is upended when a young girl from England turns up and claims to be his relative. How can that be? She’s very sick though. And he thinks he might know what to do about it.

From the first few pages I was hooked! This book isn’t super scary or especially gory, but the vibes are immaculate, and there are some creepy, tense and spooky moments. There are no gimmicks such as dual timelines, nothing feels hidden in a frustrating way, and the writing isn’t flowery, but the author describes every event and sensation in such vivid clarity, that I could tell immediately I was in safe hands. The mystery of who Tillinghast is, and what is going on is so fluidly revealed that I kept staying up far too late for “just one more chapter”. I was really intrigued by Tillinghast as a character, and rooted for him.

The only thing more that I wanted from this book is a few loose ends tied up. It might have been deliberate… it felt like a fully contained stand alone, but I guess there could be a prequel / sequel / spin off? If so I’ll be the first in the queue to get it because I wanted more to this story.

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.75 Rounded up

Tillinghast changes from a lonely man who hides from his monstrous nature into someone who confronts who he truly is and tries to act with compassion despite his curse. One of the aspects I appreciated most about the story is the complexity of the main character, Mr. Tillinghast. He is not simply portrayed as a monster; he still possesses a sense of humanity. His struggles with guilt, loneliness, and morality make him a layered and sympathetic figure. Because of these qualities we are given an interesting moral conflict, the battle between humanity and monstrous instinct.

Another strong element of the novel is its rich gothic atmosphere. The story builds a dark, eerie mood that fits the supernatural theme very effectively. The isolated setting and mysterious tone, combined with a suspenseful sense of mystery, help keep the reader engaged. The novel is also deeply introspective. Much of the narrative explores questions of morality, identity, and whether someone who has done terrible things can still choose compassion. Readers who enjoy character-driven gothic fiction will likely find this especially appealing.

However, the slow and reflective style may not appeal to everyone. The novel contains relatively little action, and some sections focus heavily on Tillinghast’s internal thoughts, which can make the pacing feel slow at times. In addition, a few of the side characters could have been developed further.

Overall, Tillinghast is a thoughtful, moody gothic story about loneliness and the struggle between human conscience and monstrous instinct. It’s best suited for readers who enjoy atmospheric horror and complex characters rather than fast-paced thrills.

[Katie Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by true events during the New England vampire event of the 19th century, Stutley Tillinghast has been living a solitary, bloody lifestyle. Alone until a woman comes searching for him, bearing the same last name and the same sickness that plagues him.

Upon her arrival, #Tillinghast takes us down the winding path of his past—where he came from, his family, and how he became the monster he is now. His desire to end the wicked pattern he’s been living slowly slips away as he spends more time with his unexpected guest.

Clare Cavenagh writes beautifully as she takes us through this dark, twisted world, becoming immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells.

The novel starts off strong, diving right into the dark and gore of Tillinghast’s life. It slows down a bit upon the arrival of Sarah, maybe showing how Tillinghast had little awareness of time until now—how time didn’t matter until now. Tillinghast’s backstory is captivating and the driving force of the story.

I overall enjoyed this book, even though there were a few lulls throughout. I felt the ending was a little rushed—or that it was like “okay, moving on.” Some things were sort of easily accepted and brushed over.

I also loved Tillinghast’s dynamic character—how closed off he seems only because of the unnatural forces keeping him from others. He perfectly demonstrates how the desire for companionship—no matter what form—can trump all else.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves haunting and dark stories that captivate the senses and transform the world around you.

Thank you #NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is this a debut novel? I loved it *so* much, and was immediately sucked into the world of this Rhode Island vampire-adjacent man. It was a character study that also somehow moved so quickly that the end of each chapter left me promising myself "just one more" until the early hours of the morning.

There was something so absolutely delicious about Cavenaugh's writing. The verbs she chooses are so descriptive in the most surprising ways sometimes. One sentence described fire as "herniating" through a window – what a perfect visual, especially paired with some of the body horror that a vampire-adjacent book is wont to have.

I also found the premise of this lonely man incredibly interesting in the same vein as the creation of Frankenstein's monster/the Bride of Frankenstein. Tillinghast has been so alone (and almost entirely silent as a result) for so long his voice is whispery, so when he meets this person who he thinks he might share some connection with, it's incredibly interesting to watch his internal dialogue as he thinks through the ethics of his choices.

I loved how the book flips between his confession, his present day telling of events, and Sarah's perspective of those same events.

For me, this has been the most interesting vampire book to come out since Vampires of El Norte. It sits perfectly at the intersection of horror and litfic, and was such a great time.

Thank you to Viking Penguin and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. Can't wait to add a physical copy to my collection.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vampire story with a twist. Or rather, this isn't a romantasy with hunky men and heaving bosoms. (I don't read it so apologies if I've got everything wrong).

Stutley Tillinghast believes he is the last of his line. He is much older than he looks and he is tired of the life, tired of the needs he cannot control and tired of the killing. He is also concerned that people are taking notice, asking questions he will not answer.

As he writes a final confession and makes plans to end everything he gets a phone call asking him to pick up a girl from a nearby hotel. She has been asking about him and shares his name. But exactly who is Sarah Tillinghast and will she bring comfort to the lonely man or simply more trouble?

Tillinghast isnt particularly horrifying as such. It feels much more like a novel describing a "real" vampire and how they would live hundreds of years, avoiding detection whilst still needing to feed.

The whole novel is dark and forbidding. There is nothing attractive about Stutley and Sarah is portrayed as understandably bewildered and afraid by what she finds out.

The novel could have benefited from a little more lightness but it did feel honest and believable (or as honest and believable as a vampire book can get). It reminded me of the more prosaic parts of Vampire Tapestry by Anne Rice, which is the only other book about about vampires that I've actually thought "well I could see that being possible".

I would recommend this book for anyone who prefers less gory horror. Do not expect attractive young people simply dying (sorry) to be introduced to a vampire. I liked it. It was cleverly done.

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the digital review copy.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | The Borough Press for providing me with the ARC.
Pub Date 4 Jun 2026
I fell in love with the cover, it’s simply one of the most beautiful covers ever. But I’m sad to say that the book itself was a bit of a letdown. I loved the different approach to the vampire subgenre of horror, how Tillinghast is not named the thing that he is. It adds to the mystery, although you clearly know what is happening. But the main issue for me was the pacing of the story, it was painfully slow. This is more of a historical novel that takes part in our modern times. I was highly intrigued by the confession that Tullinghast was writing and if the book was presented solely that way, I would have liked it better, no doubt. At times the narrative really dragged, there were sentences describing every little action the character took to do simple tasks and the constant questions the characters were asking themselves started to bother me by the end. I just don’t like this type of writing. And the biggest negative for me was a time discrepancy that was not explained and it was one of the main mysteries of the plot. I won’t get into this, because it is a spoiler, but it was unsatisfying not knowing how exactly this “relationship” was possible. I am still interested in Clare Cavenagh’s future works. Read this novel if you love slower paced historical fiction with dark and disturbing elements.

[Pat - BigPoppaReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Review based on an ARC ebook copy courtesy of NetGalley and Viking Press*

Tillinghast was an interesting story. I wanted to love it, as I felt the description was captivating. In reality, I felt pretty neutral about it. It is well-written, and the author captures the gothic and bleak tones well. The plot has a lot of potential, but ultimately I feel like the author missed some opportunities in the story. Within the first few pages, we already see Stutley Tillinghast in the throes of his secret desires, but the way the author has chosen to portray the story and the way the story is meant to unfold, you end up with my questions than answers.

I did enjoy the way the author chose not to name what Tillinghast is. It is implied, and the more you learn, the more you begin to unpack what/who he is, but that mysterious unnamed monster in him really adds to the gothic nature of this story.

Probably the biggest negative for me was a time discrepancy that was never explained and it was one of the biggest mysteries in the plot. I don’t like posting spoiler reviews, but it felt very incomplete not knowing how this relationship and the fruits of such was possible.

I would definitely read more of Clare Cavenagh in the future, but this book did fall short of my expectations. If slow paced gothic historical fiction is your thing, read this!

Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

[erica utti-hodge ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

3/5 stars overall

Tillinghast is, at it's core, a vampire book. because of this, and because "literary horror" is typically the only kind of literary narrative i can tear through, i really expected this to be a quick and thought provoking read.

i think that this book was not for me. the narrative meanders and feels kind of pointless at times, and Tillinghast (the main character) is the most bland character in the novel. Sarah's sections were much more interesting in my opinion, and i found myself disappointed whenever we inevitably returned to focusing on Tillinghast again. i also don't think that the narratives of Sarah and Tillinghast seem distinct enough, as both kind of read as vaguely british even though Tillinghast has primarily resided in new england.

i felt like sections of this book were overwritten while questions still remained--i will try to convey this without giving away any plot details. at one point, a blood transfusion is needed, and we get laborious detail regarding how the materials for this are obtained,inserting the needle and cannula, and the timing of each medical procedure, but the fact that this blood could not have been refrigerated for days is ignored.

i think that readers that enjoy very slow-burn horror and can't handle much gore would enjoy reading this, but that is the opposite of my taste when it comes to horror.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Reverend Stutley Tillinghast lives a solitary life in a remote area of Rhode Island. When overcome by his needs, he does what is necessary. The result is always another body in his cellar graveyard.

Haunted by what he is and what he does, Stutley hides from what makes him a monster; he questions who and what he is as he battles between his nature and his humanity.

What lies ahead for the tortured man?

=========

Inspired by real events of the vampire panic in New England during the nineteenth century, “Tillinghast” gives readers a distinctly unique look at a vampire and at the life he leads. There is horror here, but it is rather restrained. Readers may find themselves feeling a bit of sympathy for the reverend as his backstory reveals the details of his life and showcases both his anguish and his loneliness.

There is an undercurrent of apprehension throughout the story; it is both dark and disturbing. However, the unfolding tale captivates even as it haunts; those who enjoy vampire tales are likely to appreciate this unique take on the genre.

Readers who enjoy mysteries, vampire tales, and unusual explorations of situations are likely to find much to appreciate here.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Viking Penguin / Viking and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#Tillinghast #NetGalley

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say it, but this was an extremely tough read for me. I had high expectations and I thought this would be a great read for me, but I honestly had to force myself to continuously pick this up. It became a chore instead of a pleasure.

The pace is so, so, so slow. The start was promising. We very quickly see Tillinghast's vampire nature within the first handful of pages, but after that it completely dropped off. The writing, while not poor, felt incredibly bland to me. The characters felt flat, the story felt flat, and nothing of true substance happened within this whole book. A lot of this book is written from the past and I think that furthered my feeling of disconnect to the characters and the overall story.

I thought with Sarah's integration into the story that the plot would finally pick up, but instead it just added to the repetitive and bland nature of this book. For far too many pages, we were constantly told about Sarah's "treatment" and suffering in bed. This was one of the hardest sections of the book to get through.

Seeing as though this is within the "gothic" genre, I was expecting a slower paced story, but nothing like what I received here. The atmosphere that I normally see within the gothic genre was absent here. Maybe this book will resonate with you, but it certainly did not with me. Onto the next vampire horror novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Liberty Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit light on horror in my opinion, but I still found Tillinghast to be entertaining. In tone and premise this reminded me a lot of The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland, but I think the page count here was more appropriate for the pacing. The main character leads a very solitary life as a sort of self-inflicted punishment for what he is, so the beginning is a little light on action other than his murder routine. While I don't think it's for everyone, I liked that a lot of things were left unanswered as to how the vampirism here works. It makes sense that we don't get to understand something the characters themselves have no answers for, so I'll allow the ambiguity to an extent.

I think for me what would have fleshed this out more is greater depth on his early life pre-vampirism, as this is limited to short excerpts of his written life story. The parts that focus on the New England vampire panic were really interesting, and I wish we got more of this so we could expand his character a bit. I warmed up to him more once Sarah comes into the picture; their relationship was oddly heartwarming to watch develop. If this were any longer I think I'd expect more questions answered, but overall I enjoyed the character development and the particulars of the vampirisim so I think I'd give this 4.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC.