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Something of a Calling
From the brilliant Zoje Stage, Bram Stoker Award finalist and author of Baby Teeth, Something of a Calling is an unsettling look at a woman—and a world—on the brink of change. This gorgeous hardcover edition includes sprayed edges.
Detective Andy Cooper is about to retire. She isn’t sure what’s next … perhaps traveling in the RV she has yet to buy, with a dog she doesn’t currently own. Perhaps gardening near the ever-shrinking patch of woods behind her house—once the cable company’s backhoe is removed.
She’ll need to do something, if only to distract herself from how empty her life has become. After the murder of her young daughter by a drunk driver. After the divorce. After the realization that all she has is her job and that she’s about to lose that, too.
Everything changes when bodies begin to turn up. Murdered, but how? Not by knife, gun, or any obvious weapon. teeth marks. Chunks missing. Like they’d been chewed on. And not by humans.
As she’s struggling to solve her final case, an unexpected new friendship seems like just what Andy needs. Where she is detached from life, Fiona embraces it. Where she is a homebody, Fiona roams. Yet the women are drawn together by a shared love of nature and wildlife. Until Andy learns the dark truth behind Fiona’s smile. A secret that threatens to unravel the world as she knows it.
Detective Andy Cooper is about to retire. She isn’t sure what’s next … perhaps traveling in the RV she has yet to buy, with a dog she doesn’t currently own. Perhaps gardening near the ever-shrinking patch of woods behind her house—once the cable company’s backhoe is removed.
She’ll need to do something, if only to distract herself from how empty her life has become. After the murder of her young daughter by a drunk driver. After the divorce. After the realization that all she has is her job and that she’s about to lose that, too.
Everything changes when bodies begin to turn up. Murdered, but how? Not by knife, gun, or any obvious weapon. teeth marks. Chunks missing. Like they’d been chewed on. And not by humans.
As she’s struggling to solve her final case, an unexpected new friendship seems like just what Andy needs. Where she is detached from life, Fiona embraces it. Where she is a homebody, Fiona roams. Yet the women are drawn together by a shared love of nature and wildlife. Until Andy learns the dark truth behind Fiona’s smile. A secret that threatens to unravel the world as she knows it.
252 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Zoje Stage
15 books2,892 followersZoje Stage is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author of psychological thrillers (Baby Teeth, Dear Hanna, Getaway), psychological horror (Wonderland, Mothered), and offbeat books of dark whimsy (My UnderSlumberBumbleBeast, The Girl Who Outgrew the World). She's been a "Book of the Week" author in People magazine, and a Bram Stoker award nominee. Her books have been named "best of the year" by Forbes Magazine, Library Journal, PopSugar, Barnes & Noble, Book Riot, BookPage, Bloody Disgusting, and more. She lives in Pittsburgh with her cats.
(She is also the author of #AUTHORLIFE, written under the penname Joe Zagets.)
(She is also the author of #AUTHORLIFE, written under the penname Joe Zagets.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Since moving into my house in 2020, I have fallen in love with my animal neighbors and I frequently see squirrels, deer, groundhogs, cardinals, blue jays, chipmunks, raccoons... I've discovered that they all love black oil sunflower seeds, and I feel honored when they stop by for snacks. Really, this book exists because of my proximity to these animals and my wish that we'd made a better world for them.
September 21, 2026
4 stars - Liked this one - and it's MC, Andy, an about to retire detective and older woman. I would definitely classify this as "social horror" with perhaps more focus on the "social" part. I also appreciated that it's very fast-paced. If you too think that animals are here for more than eating them, and care about the earth, then give this title a try!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is an example of a book I read months ago and still hadn’t reviewed. First, this is not a horror book. Do not expect to go into this one thinking that.
At first, I was really into this story about animals turning on humans. It really made me think. However, towards the end…. It just became a little silly with the turn of events. I wished the author would have come up with a completely different ending.
This is a perfect example of a mismarketed book. I really wished they would stop that.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Blackstone Pub for my gifted copy.
At first, I was really into this story about animals turning on humans. It really made me think. However, towards the end…. It just became a little silly with the turn of events. I wished the author would have come up with a completely different ending.
This is a perfect example of a mismarketed book. I really wished they would stop that.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Blackstone Pub for my gifted copy.
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September 4, 2026I had so much fun with BABY TEETH, so I was excited to request this when I saw it on NetGalley.
Premise - Detective Andy Cooper is on the cusp of retirement, divorced, and mourning the murder of her daughter by a drunk driver. Her life is empty. Enter: the bodies.
They’re murder victims, yes, but they arrive looking like chew toys. Whoever’s killing them isn’t doing it in a usual way.
Now Detective Cooper is working on her last case and, even better, she’s making a new friend, Fiona, who shares her love of the outdoors and seems to make up for the traits she lacks. But this friendship has teeth…
I thought this was an interesting subversion of the classic werewolf story I was expecting. It felt very different from Baby Teeth and overall felt like a quieter, sadder(?) read. It grapples with late life reflections, the environmental crisis, and nature's revolt.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jenn Lee. She has a very soothing voice and reading style, making this an easy background listen while accomplishing tasks around town.
Thanks, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Premise - Detective Andy Cooper is on the cusp of retirement, divorced, and mourning the murder of her daughter by a drunk driver. Her life is empty. Enter: the bodies.
They’re murder victims, yes, but they arrive looking like chew toys. Whoever’s killing them isn’t doing it in a usual way.
Now Detective Cooper is working on her last case and, even better, she’s making a new friend, Fiona, who shares her love of the outdoors and seems to make up for the traits she lacks. But this friendship has teeth…
I thought this was an interesting subversion of the classic werewolf story I was expecting. It felt very different from Baby Teeth and overall felt like a quieter, sadder(?) read. It grapples with late life reflections, the environmental crisis, and nature's revolt.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jenn Lee. She has a very soothing voice and reading style, making this an easy background listen while accomplishing tasks around town.
Thanks, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2026
I have read and enjoyed this author before, but unfortunately this one was not on par with the others. It started off interesting and ended up just so ridiculous that I couldn’t take it seriously.
Andy was a well rounded character, even if she did seem way too trusting for a Homicide Detective. The fact that she’s mere weeks from retirement could also explain some of that, but I was questioning her behavior. Later in the story, though, I wasn’t really on board with anything that was happening and I was just trying to solve the mystery of what was going on, and I ended up very disappointed.
I think my other big issue with the book was that the overall tone could be very preachy at times, even though I agreed with the “save the animals” messaging. The symbolism was heavy handed and the dialogue almost had me rolling my eyes in places. There was also a long explanation/series of monologues at the end (a personal pet peeve!) that were so silly and over the top.
I think there was a good idea in here but the way it was handled just wasn’t for me. I would recommend “Mothered” or “Baby Teeth” by this author instead.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
TW: Animal death, Child death, Misogyny
Andy was a well rounded character, even if she did seem way too trusting for a Homicide Detective. The fact that she’s mere weeks from retirement could also explain some of that, but I was questioning her behavior. Later in the story, though, I wasn’t really on board with anything that was happening and I was just trying to solve the mystery of what was going on, and I ended up very disappointed.
I think my other big issue with the book was that the overall tone could be very preachy at times, even though I agreed with the “save the animals” messaging. The symbolism was heavy handed and the dialogue almost had me rolling my eyes in places. There was also a long explanation/series of monologues at the end (a personal pet peeve!) that were so silly and over the top.
I think there was a good idea in here but the way it was handled just wasn’t for me. I would recommend “Mothered” or “Baby Teeth” by this author instead.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
TW: Animal death, Child death, Misogyny
September 29, 2026
A haunting blend of eco-horror and speculative fiction. This book is for the animal lovers and for those who cringe at the thought of the rapid and ongoing destruction of animal habitats. As someone who lives in the country and regularly sees deer, coyotes, hawks, crows, herons, raccoons, opossums, turtles, and frogs, I was a huge fan of animals evolving into weapons. I loved our MC, Andy, a woman detective on the brink of retirement. The way she leans into nature to heal her is a powerful theme throughout and she's an extremely likeable protagonist. And the ending? Pure fun!
September 20, 2026
A compelling, almost mesmerising read. It's not horror; it's speculative fiction at its best.
The intent here isn't to frighten or repulse, but to engender empathy, consider the possibilities and costs of change, and reflect on what each of us is willing to take responsibility for.
The story is initially structured as a police procedural, focused on extraordinary events seen through the eyes of a days-from-retirement police detective whose life is in a period of transition that challenges her to consider who she is and who she wants to be.
Despite the trappings of a mystery, this is less about solving a puzzle than it is about a process of discovery aimed at a paradigm shift, a reassessment of how the main character sees the world and her place in it.
The intent here isn't to frighten or repulse, but to engender empathy, consider the possibilities and costs of change, and reflect on what each of us is willing to take responsibility for.
The story is initially structured as a police procedural, focused on extraordinary events seen through the eyes of a days-from-retirement police detective whose life is in a period of transition that challenges her to consider who she is and who she wants to be.
Despite the trappings of a mystery, this is less about solving a puzzle than it is about a process of discovery aimed at a paradigm shift, a reassessment of how the main character sees the world and her place in it.
September 27, 2026
This is such an interesting book. It starts with a detective Andy Cooper investigating a murder. A very unique murder because these types of animals don't do that 👀 As Andy struggles with life's challenges and the grief of her daughters passing she meets Fiona a free spirited woman who is a nomad and lives in her van. Would Fiona somehow help her not just in life but on her case also? Read the book to find out!
August 27, 2026
Thank you Net gallery for the ALC! I listened to this audiobook and I loved it! It was my first ecological horror book that I have read. I enjoyed the main character Andy because she was a great detective on solving the mysteries surrounding the murders happening in the woods. I think this was a prefect read for the spooky season and I’m so grateful I got an ALC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5⭐️ rounded-up.
🦌 Nature Strikes Back
💚 Eco Horror
🦌 Detective FMC
💚 Apocalyptic Dread
🦌 Grief + Identity
This wasn't a bad read. But it wasn't a good one either. I understand what the author was trying to do—but it just didn't work for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the story, and the messaging is too heavy-handed, making it feel preachy.
•
Andy is preparing to retire as a detective from the police force and figure out what to do with the rest of her simple life. That is, until she is kayaking and comes across a dead body, setting off a chain of events where bodies appear in odd places with bite marks and chunks taken from their flesh. As she tries to unravel what’s happening, she must confront her own grief and the possibility that her newfound friend Fiona is hiding something.
•
So this was a very quick read. I liked the concept, although there is hardly any real suspense or dread. On one hand, I think this story could have been better if it was more fully developed; on the other, I'm not so sure because it felt like it was missing oomph, particularly in how it ended—and more of this exact story might have felt tedious. I'm not sure if the author was trying to build suspense, but I never felt that what was happening felt like a mystery; the background to the string of murders was pretty obvious from the start. Beyond the predictability, there was also an element of preachiness—only *bad people* were getting killed, which made the cause lack nuance for us to side with Andy, and I just… didn't.
More nuance in supporting motives and underlying themes could have made me more interested in the message, but when it feels like the author is forcing me to support their point of view through the story, I tend to rebel a little—even when I agree with the message, implicitly.
Overall, I think this book just lacks range; while we see that the MC struggles with grief, it's hard to feel sorry for her when her entire life is immersed in bitterness towards others. She is also distrustful and bitter towards everyone she meets *except* Fiona, and that inconsistency in character didn't work for me, especially when Fiona appears out of nowhere with a very suspicious demeanour. I also don't know how to discuss what is and isn’t a spoiler for this book because, again, the lack of suspense means there’s no real question about where the story is heading.
While I read this quickly and didn't *hate it*, I am left feeling very indifferent overall.
•
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
🦌 Nature Strikes Back
💚 Eco Horror
🦌 Detective FMC
💚 Apocalyptic Dread
🦌 Grief + Identity
This wasn't a bad read. But it wasn't a good one either. I understand what the author was trying to do—but it just didn't work for me. I didn't feel connected to the characters or the story, and the messaging is too heavy-handed, making it feel preachy.
•
Andy is preparing to retire as a detective from the police force and figure out what to do with the rest of her simple life. That is, until she is kayaking and comes across a dead body, setting off a chain of events where bodies appear in odd places with bite marks and chunks taken from their flesh. As she tries to unravel what’s happening, she must confront her own grief and the possibility that her newfound friend Fiona is hiding something.
•
So this was a very quick read. I liked the concept, although there is hardly any real suspense or dread. On one hand, I think this story could have been better if it was more fully developed; on the other, I'm not so sure because it felt like it was missing oomph, particularly in how it ended—and more of this exact story might have felt tedious. I'm not sure if the author was trying to build suspense, but I never felt that what was happening felt like a mystery; the background to the string of murders was pretty obvious from the start. Beyond the predictability, there was also an element of preachiness—only *bad people* were getting killed, which made the cause lack nuance for us to side with Andy, and I just… didn't.
More nuance in supporting motives and underlying themes could have made me more interested in the message, but when it feels like the author is forcing me to support their point of view through the story, I tend to rebel a little—even when I agree with the message, implicitly.
Overall, I think this book just lacks range; while we see that the MC struggles with grief, it's hard to feel sorry for her when her entire life is immersed in bitterness towards others. She is also distrustful and bitter towards everyone she meets *except* Fiona, and that inconsistency in character didn't work for me, especially when Fiona appears out of nowhere with a very suspicious demeanour. I also don't know how to discuss what is and isn’t a spoiler for this book because, again, the lack of suspense means there’s no real question about where the story is heading.
While I read this quickly and didn't *hate it*, I am left feeling very indifferent overall.
•
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback contained within this review are my own.
September 7, 2026
“Something of a Calling” - “Weird Sh*t With Animals?”
★★★☆☆ (3,5)
This novel feels very fitting for this day and age and with everything thats going on in the world.
It has a clear message and while it might be less of a horror in the graphic kind of way, it’s scary to think what the future holds everyone involved in this story.
While this tale holds an element of predictability, it’s still an interesting, enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley for the Audiobook. I leave this review voluntarily.
★★★☆☆ (3,5)
This novel feels very fitting for this day and age and with everything thats going on in the world.
It has a clear message and while it might be less of a horror in the graphic kind of way, it’s scary to think what the future holds everyone involved in this story.
While this tale holds an element of predictability, it’s still an interesting, enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley for the Audiobook. I leave this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Zoje Stage’s writing so was excited to hear of this new book. It was a departure from the previous books I’ve read in that it’s a much shorter read. But the excellent writing is still evident and the strong plot carried the story forward. I enjoyed the animal perspective and it’s an interesting plot to think about. I do recommend this if you’re a fan of her work!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 15, 2026
Genre: Horror, Fiction
Synopsis: Detective Andy Cooper is about to retire. She isn’t sure what’s next …but she needs to do something to distract herself from what her life has become. After the murder of her young daughter by a drunk driver. After the divorce. After the realization that all she has is her job and that she’s about to lose that, too.Everything changes when bodies begin to turn up. Bodies with chunks missing from their flesh with teeth marks, like they'd be chewed on. And not by humans. As she’s struggling to solve her final case, an unexpected new friendship seems like just what Andy needs. Until Andy learns the dark truth behind Fiona’s smile. A secret that threatens to unravel the world as she knows it.
Overall: This is a very different story than Stage's previous novels, but it's really more of a novella, so it's hard to draw comparisons. Short, sweet and utterly scary, "Something of a Calling" has a hauntingly realistic component that will leave readers thinking about humanity's impact on the planet. This is a story where readers will empathize with and understand the motivations of the "killers", and might even cheer for them. Well written and a quick read, Stage's new story is a twist on the horror genre.
Expected publication date: Sept. 15, 2026
Genre: Horror, Fiction
Synopsis: Detective Andy Cooper is about to retire. She isn’t sure what’s next …but she needs to do something to distract herself from what her life has become. After the murder of her young daughter by a drunk driver. After the divorce. After the realization that all she has is her job and that she’s about to lose that, too.Everything changes when bodies begin to turn up. Bodies with chunks missing from their flesh with teeth marks, like they'd be chewed on. And not by humans. As she’s struggling to solve her final case, an unexpected new friendship seems like just what Andy needs. Until Andy learns the dark truth behind Fiona’s smile. A secret that threatens to unravel the world as she knows it.
Overall: This is a very different story than Stage's previous novels, but it's really more of a novella, so it's hard to draw comparisons. Short, sweet and utterly scary, "Something of a Calling" has a hauntingly realistic component that will leave readers thinking about humanity's impact on the planet. This is a story where readers will empathize with and understand the motivations of the "killers", and might even cheer for them. Well written and a quick read, Stage's new story is a twist on the horror genre.
September 16, 2026
Something of a Calling by Zoje Stage is being touted as a horror/mystery novel about the behavioural change of animals.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Blackstone Publishing, and the author (Zoje Stage), for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Okay, I'll have to go back and find more of her books. This was really good. A little out there, but good.
The book looked at how the world has treated the animal kingdom, and the environment in which we all live together. It looked at a change in the dynamics.
Andy was a great character, with enough depth that the reader can relate to her. I loved her.
This was a some-what unsettling book, not really scary, but really making you think. It wasn't horror, but I guess eco-terror? Not really sure the genre. It doesn't really matter. Overall, it is a fast read, and it will stay with me for a bit.
Anyway, until next time ...
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
April 28, 2026
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this advanced copy for my honest review
This was my first eco-horror book and definitely won’t be my last. The book was short and sweet but really packed a punch. It really makes you think about how we interact and disregard the animals we share the world with. It was nice to see them fighting back.
This was my first eco-horror book and definitely won’t be my last. The book was short and sweet but really packed a punch. It really makes you think about how we interact and disregard the animals we share the world with. It was nice to see them fighting back.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🖋️ Author: Zoje Stage
📖 Title: Something of a Calling
🎙️ Narrator(s): Jenn Lee
📅 Pub Day: November 17, 2026
💌 Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🏷️ ISBN: 9798228497078
⏱️ Length: 4h 34m
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Eco Horror
⭐ Star Rating: 4.5
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Something of a Calling hit much different than I expected. Andy's a detective who's lost pretty much everything, her daughter, her marriage, and now she's about to lose her job and coworkers too since she's retiring. Not exactly the retirement she pictured, and then bodies start showing up with bite marks like something's been chewing on them.
Then Fiona enters the picture and things get so much more interesting. Their friendship comes together over a shared love of nature and wildlife, and it adds this whole other layer to the story that I really enjoyed.
I listened to this one as an audiobook and Jenn Lee absolutely nailed it. You know within the first couple sentences when a narrator is going to be good, and this was one of those moments. She carried the tone perfectly the whole way through.
It's gory, it's got teeth (literally), and even though it's a shorter read I found it well paced and never felt rushed. There's a lot going on for such a short book, but it never felt like too much. Zoje Stage packed a lot into a small space and it worked.
Really solid read if you want something quick, gory and a little wild.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ nature horror
✔️ animal attacks
✔️ gory mysteries
✔️ unlikely friendships
✔️ retiring detectives
✔️ short eco horror
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoje Stage, and Blackstone Publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
📖 Title: Something of a Calling
🎙️ Narrator(s): Jenn Lee
📅 Pub Day: November 17, 2026
💌 Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
🎧 Format: Audiobook
🏷️ ISBN: 9798228497078
⏱️ Length: 4h 34m
📌 Genre(s): Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Eco Horror
⭐ Star Rating: 4.5
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Something of a Calling hit much different than I expected. Andy's a detective who's lost pretty much everything, her daughter, her marriage, and now she's about to lose her job and coworkers too since she's retiring. Not exactly the retirement she pictured, and then bodies start showing up with bite marks like something's been chewing on them.
Then Fiona enters the picture and things get so much more interesting. Their friendship comes together over a shared love of nature and wildlife, and it adds this whole other layer to the story that I really enjoyed.
I listened to this one as an audiobook and Jenn Lee absolutely nailed it. You know within the first couple sentences when a narrator is going to be good, and this was one of those moments. She carried the tone perfectly the whole way through.
It's gory, it's got teeth (literally), and even though it's a shorter read I found it well paced and never felt rushed. There's a lot going on for such a short book, but it never felt like too much. Zoje Stage packed a lot into a small space and it worked.
Really solid read if you want something quick, gory and a little wild.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ nature horror
✔️ animal attacks
✔️ gory mysteries
✔️ unlikely friendships
✔️ retiring detectives
✔️ short eco horror
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Thank you to NetGalley, Zoje Stage, and Blackstone Publishing for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.
August 28, 2026
This short book follows a series of murders that seem to be coming from the animals? Our FMC is a police officer on the verge of retirement. Her last few weeks are spent trying to solve the case while also preparing for her next phase of life.
I really loved how this immediately drew me into the mystery of the deaths. How and why are these usual peaceful animals now killing people? Such a wild and fun time. I loved how the focus was on the animals in the end, how we treat them and act as if this world is just for us.
Overall a really good book. It’s fast paced and the writing style is straightforward, making it easy to focus in on the story.
The audio for this was amazing. I loved the narration, it was clear and I felt the emotion from the story relayed through her.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced Audio Book.
I really loved how this immediately drew me into the mystery of the deaths. How and why are these usual peaceful animals now killing people? Such a wild and fun time. I loved how the focus was on the animals in the end, how we treat them and act as if this world is just for us.
Overall a really good book. It’s fast paced and the writing style is straightforward, making it easy to focus in on the story.
The audio for this was amazing. I loved the narration, it was clear and I felt the emotion from the story relayed through her.
Thankyou to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced Audio Book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
First things first, I am not currently vegan or vegetarian, but I have spent a significant portion of my life not eating meat and I still endeavour to source what meat and animal products I do consume from more ethical sources. I do not support the meat industry, nor the devastation wrought on the environment by capitalism, and were there to be an actually coordinated movement to boycott the meat industry, I would be all about it.
I say the above so you have a better understanding of where I'm coming from when i say, fuuuuuuuuuucking hell this is a long fucking walk for very, very little. This reads like something commissioned by PETA, the only people more likely to kill your dog than the filth - speaking of the rozzers, this book also reads as copaganda. I say commissioned because the premise is unbelievably on the nose and some of the language genuinely offensive, but Stage can actually write, so this is far more actually readable than the drivel PETA produces.
Humans are doing terrible things to this planet and each other. Most of us agree about this. I don't believe being an omnivorous species makes us evil. The meat industry is evil. I don't believe earing meat is intrinsically evil. Animals that omnivorous or carnivorous are not evil. Prey animals don't spontaneously evolve the means to kill their predators. Murdering random people or being an accomplice to murder is wrong.
I feel like this would have been a much more interesting short story and from a different perspective.
This is so stupid.
Annihilation this is not.
Jenn Lee's narration is fine.
First things first, I am not currently vegan or vegetarian, but I have spent a significant portion of my life not eating meat and I still endeavour to source what meat and animal products I do consume from more ethical sources. I do not support the meat industry, nor the devastation wrought on the environment by capitalism, and were there to be an actually coordinated movement to boycott the meat industry, I would be all about it.
I say the above so you have a better understanding of where I'm coming from when i say, fuuuuuuuuuucking hell this is a long fucking walk for very, very little. This reads like something commissioned by PETA, the only people more likely to kill your dog than the filth - speaking of the rozzers, this book also reads as copaganda. I say commissioned because the premise is unbelievably on the nose and some of the language genuinely offensive, but Stage can actually write, so this is far more actually readable than the drivel PETA produces.
Humans are doing terrible things to this planet and each other. Most of us agree about this. I don't believe being an omnivorous species makes us evil. The meat industry is evil. I don't believe earing meat is intrinsically evil. Animals that omnivorous or carnivorous are not evil. Prey animals don't spontaneously evolve the means to kill their predators. Murdering random people or being an accomplice to murder is wrong.
I feel like this would have been a much more interesting short story and from a different perspective.
This is so stupid.
Annihilation this is not.
Jenn Lee's narration is fine.
May 22, 2026
All thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book!
Well..that was a lot of words. I honestly am not entirely sure how to feel about this book. There’s a very obvious, somewhat preachy message that’s pretty obvious as soon as you get a few pages in. Which at 149 pages isn’t all that long, and somehow felt even longer. We don’t really get a picture of the main character Andy beyond a few simple facts and Andy is really chill about a lot of things in a way that makes me think Andy has some screws loose. I went into the book thinking I was getting a horror story and I guess there’s some gruesome moments but it’s downplayed by the sheer lack of plot. The interactions between Fiona and Andy were strange at best and given Andy’s life as a detective she’s extremely quick to accept the situation happening around her. I dunno. This was weird, and almost not in a good way.
Well..that was a lot of words. I honestly am not entirely sure how to feel about this book. There’s a very obvious, somewhat preachy message that’s pretty obvious as soon as you get a few pages in. Which at 149 pages isn’t all that long, and somehow felt even longer. We don’t really get a picture of the main character Andy beyond a few simple facts and Andy is really chill about a lot of things in a way that makes me think Andy has some screws loose. I went into the book thinking I was getting a horror story and I guess there’s some gruesome moments but it’s downplayed by the sheer lack of plot. The interactions between Fiona and Andy were strange at best and given Andy’s life as a detective she’s extremely quick to accept the situation happening around her. I dunno. This was weird, and almost not in a good way.
September 20, 2026
I read very little horror fiction, but I make an exception for Zoje Stage’s novels. Maybe it helps that her work often treads the line between psychological thriller and horror. But regardless of how you categorize them, it's undeniable that her books will keep readers up at night. Her latest, SOMETHING OF A CALLING, is no exception, introducing elements of climate fiction in a way that's both intriguing and more than a little unsettling.
Detective Andy Cooper, who is in her mid-50s, pretty much has given her entire adult life to the police department in Longdan, Pennsylvania, a mid-sized town near Pittsburgh. That became especially true after her young daughter was killed in a drunk-driving accident years ago, followed by the end of her marriage. Now, after three decades on the force, Andy is unsure what her next chapter looks like, especially since it feels like her world has shrunk down so that it's little more than work. Who will she be in retirement?
The plot device of “retiring detective gets handed one last case…and it's a doozy!” is a well-worn trope at this point. But Stage isn't afraid to go there, and she does so right on the first page. Out for a routine kayak ride on Lake Longdan, Andy spots a body floating in the water. She phones it in just like a civilian would, but her curiosity gets the better of her. As she paddles just a little closer, she's surprised to notice that the victim's body appears to have been…chewed?
Andy only grows more intrigued --- and concerned --- when a golfer's body shows up on the local course, again appearing to have been attacked by animals. In this case, however, a shoe print is also nearby. Could this be the work of a human or humans? Or is there something stranger going on? As increasingly similar cases --- not just around Longdan but elsewhere, too --- come to light, Andy finds herself both relieved not to have responsibilities and reluctant to hand those reins over to her soon-to-be former colleagues.
Meanwhile, a slightly older woman, Fiona, has parked the van in which she lives right on Andy's street. Andy's neighbors are concerned about vagrants, but she feels an immediate connection with Fiona, whose warm and friendly presence helps alleviate the loneliness that she feels and fears. But as the days pass and the body count rises, Andy can't help but wonder if Fiona has anything to do with this. If so, what will she do about it?
SOMETHING OF A CALLING is a unique character study of a woman on the verge of a major change in her life. It's also a pretty terrifying portrait of a world out of balance, a disturbance that seems to be coming home to roost right in Andy's backyard. This is an intense read, as well as a quick one. Its small trim size and larger type size make it a book that readers will be able to devour in an afternoon or evening…provided that all the lights are on and the doors are locked.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Detective Andy Cooper, who is in her mid-50s, pretty much has given her entire adult life to the police department in Longdan, Pennsylvania, a mid-sized town near Pittsburgh. That became especially true after her young daughter was killed in a drunk-driving accident years ago, followed by the end of her marriage. Now, after three decades on the force, Andy is unsure what her next chapter looks like, especially since it feels like her world has shrunk down so that it's little more than work. Who will she be in retirement?
The plot device of “retiring detective gets handed one last case…and it's a doozy!” is a well-worn trope at this point. But Stage isn't afraid to go there, and she does so right on the first page. Out for a routine kayak ride on Lake Longdan, Andy spots a body floating in the water. She phones it in just like a civilian would, but her curiosity gets the better of her. As she paddles just a little closer, she's surprised to notice that the victim's body appears to have been…chewed?
Andy only grows more intrigued --- and concerned --- when a golfer's body shows up on the local course, again appearing to have been attacked by animals. In this case, however, a shoe print is also nearby. Could this be the work of a human or humans? Or is there something stranger going on? As increasingly similar cases --- not just around Longdan but elsewhere, too --- come to light, Andy finds herself both relieved not to have responsibilities and reluctant to hand those reins over to her soon-to-be former colleagues.
Meanwhile, a slightly older woman, Fiona, has parked the van in which she lives right on Andy's street. Andy's neighbors are concerned about vagrants, but she feels an immediate connection with Fiona, whose warm and friendly presence helps alleviate the loneliness that she feels and fears. But as the days pass and the body count rises, Andy can't help but wonder if Fiona has anything to do with this. If so, what will she do about it?
SOMETHING OF A CALLING is a unique character study of a woman on the verge of a major change in her life. It's also a pretty terrifying portrait of a world out of balance, a disturbance that seems to be coming home to roost right in Andy's backyard. This is an intense read, as well as a quick one. Its small trim size and larger type size make it a book that readers will be able to devour in an afternoon or evening…provided that all the lights are on and the doors are locked.
Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Read
September 21, 2026"Too many of them. Not enough of us." That's a fox, sizing up six people drinking beer on a deck, and it's the exact moment I figured out what kind of book I was in. The setup is solid: a detective two weeks from retirement goes kayaking and finds a body with a lasso around its neck and its legs chewed to the bone, then catches a golfer who got eaten on the fourth hole, and by chapter six the medical examiner is saying "raccoons" like it's a goddamn diagnosis. Animals getting sick of our shit and organizing is a premise with teeth. What I didn't sign up for is Andy stopping every few pages to remind me that money is the root of all crime and big-box stores look like prisons, while a guy on a street corner with a sandwich board about boiling lobsters alive turns out to be the wisest man in town. None of that's a spoiler. She's off on it by page ten.
It's also a horror novel where nobody stays scared for more than a page. The kills run about two pages each: someone hears a noise, cut to black, next chapter Andy's eating a banana. The mystery has as many suspects as a game of Guess Who with one card left, and Andy, thirty years on the job, spends a long time not noticing things I noticed from the couch. The big emotional monologue is about a shrew. I'm not kidding. Stage can write a scene (the morgue that smells like a hundred skunks is great, and a dead fawn on the highway got me for a second), but the whole thing is maybe 35,000 words chopped into thirty-four chapters, some shorter than this review, plus a nightmare sequence about hermit crabs wearing laundry detergent caps that I think was supposed to break my heart and mostly made me want a snack. Somewhere in here is a mean little short story about a lonely cop and a lady who lives in a van, and it'd be a hell of a lot scarier if the book had ever once considered that the animals might not have a point.
It's also a horror novel where nobody stays scared for more than a page. The kills run about two pages each: someone hears a noise, cut to black, next chapter Andy's eating a banana. The mystery has as many suspects as a game of Guess Who with one card left, and Andy, thirty years on the job, spends a long time not noticing things I noticed from the couch. The big emotional monologue is about a shrew. I'm not kidding. Stage can write a scene (the morgue that smells like a hundred skunks is great, and a dead fawn on the highway got me for a second), but the whole thing is maybe 35,000 words chopped into thirty-four chapters, some shorter than this review, plus a nightmare sequence about hermit crabs wearing laundry detergent caps that I think was supposed to break my heart and mostly made me want a snack. Somewhere in here is a mean little short story about a lonely cop and a lady who lives in a van, and it'd be a hell of a lot scarier if the book had ever once considered that the animals might not have a point.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ALC.
Rating: 2.5 Stars rounded up.
“Something of a Calling” by Zoe Stage tells the story of Detective Andy Cooper, about to retire and feeling unmoored by the impending loss of structure in her life. Her constant sense of loneliness after the sudden death of her young daughter and her divorce is alleviated when she finds friendship in an unexpected place. But as she is trying to solve her mysterious final case – humans murdered by what seems to be animals – she starts to question more than just who is behind these murders.
This book is incredibly hard to describe. I requested it because I love horror books that have themes of nature, but I’m not 100% certain this is what I would classify this as.
Before starting it I expected some mystery, but I don’t think the author really expects you to be surprised by certain parts of her reveal.
Andy is an interesting character, but some things (like her seeming naïveté and how weirdly easy she trusts this stranger) make it less easy to really take her seriously.
Generally, I do agree with the message of this book, but unfortunately the message is so extremely heavy-handed that it becomes almost comical, and much less impactful.
The last few chapters of this book feel like an ongoing lecture and include a reveal that I half like, half want to laugh at.
The audiobook is narrated by Jenn Lee, who I think did a wonderfully emotive job, and whose voice really fits Andy as a character.
I don’t really know who I would recommend this book to. Maybe vegans who don’t mind some heavy handed metaphors? I think if you go into this with some disclaimers and don’t really expect a horror novel, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did.
Rating: 2.5 Stars rounded up.
“Something of a Calling” by Zoe Stage tells the story of Detective Andy Cooper, about to retire and feeling unmoored by the impending loss of structure in her life. Her constant sense of loneliness after the sudden death of her young daughter and her divorce is alleviated when she finds friendship in an unexpected place. But as she is trying to solve her mysterious final case – humans murdered by what seems to be animals – she starts to question more than just who is behind these murders.
This book is incredibly hard to describe. I requested it because I love horror books that have themes of nature, but I’m not 100% certain this is what I would classify this as.
Before starting it I expected some mystery, but I don’t think the author really expects you to be surprised by certain parts of her reveal.
Andy is an interesting character, but some things (like her seeming naïveté and how weirdly easy she trusts this stranger) make it less easy to really take her seriously.
Generally, I do agree with the message of this book, but unfortunately the message is so extremely heavy-handed that it becomes almost comical, and much less impactful.
The last few chapters of this book feel like an ongoing lecture and include a reveal that I half like, half want to laugh at.
The audiobook is narrated by Jenn Lee, who I think did a wonderfully emotive job, and whose voice really fits Andy as a character.
I don’t really know who I would recommend this book to. Maybe vegans who don’t mind some heavy handed metaphors? I think if you go into this with some disclaimers and don’t really expect a horror novel, you’ll probably enjoy this more than I did.
September 16, 2026
3.5⭐️. This was a fun little read! Starts out as a seemingly normal police procedural, but then turns more ecohorror. Liked the characters and the story well enough, especially everything to do with the animals. My main complaints are 1) I wish we got a bit more world building and explanation for HOW the certain weird thing was happening and 2) the ending was a bit abrupt. I would have liked an epilogue following where Andy ends up after the main events take place.
Readers who like short mysterious books about weird animals will enjoy this! I can see it being a very campy movie as well.
My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an eARC via NetGalley!
Readers who like short mysterious books about weird animals will enjoy this! I can see it being a very campy movie as well.
My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me an eARC via NetGalley!
September 17, 2026
4.5 rounded up to 5!
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of Something of a Calling!
I don't want to say too much about this because I feel like the less you know going in, the better. What I will say is was fully rooting for the murderer in all of their forms. I'll be thinking about this and the bunny scene for a while to come, with a smile on my face.
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC of Something of a Calling!
I don't want to say too much about this because I feel like the less you know going in, the better. What I will say is was fully rooting for the murderer in all of their forms. I'll be thinking about this and the bunny scene for a while to come, with a smile on my face.
August 6, 2026
Andy Cooper lives a solitary life in Longdan, Pennsylvania. A quiet house, brushing the edge of the quiet forest, encasing an overall quiet life. With only 2 weeks left until retirement as a detective, Andy doesn't expect much excitement anymore. She finds beauty in solitude when she can, enjoys company when she has it, and otherwise tries to keep memories of the past at bay.
When a shocking murder turns up expectedly in Andy's territory, however, that sense of solitude departs. Bodies are turning up in strange places, with strange markings, and a nomadic woman's turned up on Andy's street. Connected or not, something's stirring in the air in Longdan, and Detective Andy Cooper is racing against a 2 week clock to find out what.
"Something of a Calling" is the kind of novella you should go into blind so you can fully enjoy the ride. As someone who's read Zoje Stage's past novels (which are arguably much darker), I fell into her comfortable, transportive writing style easily. What I will say about this gem of a story is that it's for the animal girlies: no, the real animal girlies. If young Leah had read this, let's just say that her life would've probably taken a drastically different path.
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for my advanced review copy!*
When a shocking murder turns up expectedly in Andy's territory, however, that sense of solitude departs. Bodies are turning up in strange places, with strange markings, and a nomadic woman's turned up on Andy's street. Connected or not, something's stirring in the air in Longdan, and Detective Andy Cooper is racing against a 2 week clock to find out what.
"Something of a Calling" is the kind of novella you should go into blind so you can fully enjoy the ride. As someone who's read Zoje Stage's past novels (which are arguably much darker), I fell into her comfortable, transportive writing style easily. What I will say about this gem of a story is that it's for the animal girlies: no, the real animal girlies. If young Leah had read this, let's just say that her life would've probably taken a drastically different path.
*Many thanks to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for my advanced review copy!*
September 22, 2026
This was an enjoyable easy read but the ending felt a bit abrupt. As a reader I wish the story had been fleshed out a bit more, but it does work like this. Just don’t expect a lot of answers.
September 16, 2026
Something of a Calling was a quick and easy mystery, billed as a horror, but honestly not very gory or scary. Maybe more of a literary horror? Well, whatever you want to technically describe it, I enjoyed it. I did see some reviews that were disappointed it was labeled as a horror, and I can see why if someone was hoping for lots of gore or just spookiness. I did like the eeriness I felt while reading, and I liked the overall message. Sure, I would have loved more gore, but I’ll take what I can get.
Knowing it was as short as it was, I figured there probably wasn’t going to be a fully resolved ending. Sometimes I’m annoyed by that, but this was one I was okay with. It honestly felt kind of like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he picked this one up. Did I love this book? No, but I also didn’t feel like it was a waste of my time. I might have a hard time convincing others to read it, but if you swipe to see what the hardcover edition looks like, you may just need to pick it up!
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Fans of eco-horror, very light horror, police procedurals/ crime mysteries, or M. Night Shyamalan.
𝑨 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:
The narrator did great! No complaints here.
Knowing it was as short as it was, I figured there probably wasn’t going to be a fully resolved ending. Sometimes I’m annoyed by that, but this was one I was okay with. It honestly felt kind of like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he picked this one up. Did I love this book? No, but I also didn’t feel like it was a waste of my time. I might have a hard time convincing others to read it, but if you swipe to see what the hardcover edition looks like, you may just need to pick it up!
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Fans of eco-horror, very light horror, police procedurals/ crime mysteries, or M. Night Shyamalan.
𝑨 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:
The narrator did great! No complaints here.
August 28, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for sharing this book with me. All opinions are mine own.
For all the fans of The Happening like me go read this right now. It’s a fantastic eco-horror novella! It feels very dark but also has a silver lining and a found family, asexual romance and older adults representation.
It’s a short novella about a police detective, Andy, who’s just a week away from retirement but has no idea what she’s going to do with her life after. Two very strangely mutilated bodies show up in the small town and Andy unfortunately still has to look into it. In the course of her begrudging investigation she uncovers a much larger problem. While at home Andy makes a new unexpected friend, an older woman living in a van, who will change all her plans.
On the spooky scale, it’s pretty light. The biggest warning is for my fellow animal lovers, because there’s a lot of animal cruelty and very graphic animal death. Humans too.
I have read at least two other books by Zoje Stage but this one is not similar to any of them. Don’t forget to read the Acknowledgments, there’s an Easter egg for you.
For all the fans of The Happening like me go read this right now. It’s a fantastic eco-horror novella! It feels very dark but also has a silver lining and a found family, asexual romance and older adults representation.
It’s a short novella about a police detective, Andy, who’s just a week away from retirement but has no idea what she’s going to do with her life after. Two very strangely mutilated bodies show up in the small town and Andy unfortunately still has to look into it. In the course of her begrudging investigation she uncovers a much larger problem. While at home Andy makes a new unexpected friend, an older woman living in a van, who will change all her plans.
On the spooky scale, it’s pretty light. The biggest warning is for my fellow animal lovers, because there’s a lot of animal cruelty and very graphic animal death. Humans too.
I have read at least two other books by Zoje Stage but this one is not similar to any of them. Don’t forget to read the Acknowledgments, there’s an Easter egg for you.
September 28, 2026
3.5 stars
Detective Andy Cooper is approaching retirement and has no idea what she’s going to do next. After a difficult career, the murder of her young daughter by a drunk driver, and a divorce, her job has become pretty much her entire life. Her final case involves a series of gruesome deaths where the victims appear to have been partially eaten, although whatever killed them doesn’t appear to be human.
At the same time, Andy meets Fiona, a woman who feels like something of a kindred spirit. Both women have always felt deeply connected to nature and animals, and their friendship gives Andy something she didn’t realize she was missing. But as the deaths continue, Andy begins to realize that Fiona may know more about what’s happening than she initially thought.
Something of a Calling is a quick read with short chapters, and I flew through it. I’d put this in the eco-horror category, although the horror itself isn’t terribly intense. The crime scenes can get pretty gross and graphic, but this is more of a story that makes you think than one that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
At the center of the book is a pretty simple question: What happens when the natural world starts pushing back? Humans have spent generations putting ourselves at the top of the food chain while steadily taking away the habitats and food sources other animals depend on. Stage takes that reality and pushes it a little further, imagining what might happen if the balance began to shift. I don’t want to get too specific about how because that gets into spoiler territory, but I liked where she took the idea.
Andy is also an interesting character to follow through all of this. She’s tired after spending her career fighting for justice and has reached retirement without much idea of what she wants the rest of her life to look like. Her connection with Fiona, and their shared love of nature and wildlife, gives her a different way of looking at both her final case and what might come next for her.
Environmental issues and sustainability have come up in Zoje Stage’s other work, and they’re much more overt here. I like that she continues to bring those concerns into horror and find different ways to explore our relationship with the natural world. Something of a Calling isn’t especially scary, but I enjoyed what Stage was doing with it and the questions the story raises.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Read more book reviews on my Substack
Follow me @shellywritesstuff
Detective Andy Cooper is approaching retirement and has no idea what she’s going to do next. After a difficult career, the murder of her young daughter by a drunk driver, and a divorce, her job has become pretty much her entire life. Her final case involves a series of gruesome deaths where the victims appear to have been partially eaten, although whatever killed them doesn’t appear to be human.
At the same time, Andy meets Fiona, a woman who feels like something of a kindred spirit. Both women have always felt deeply connected to nature and animals, and their friendship gives Andy something she didn’t realize she was missing. But as the deaths continue, Andy begins to realize that Fiona may know more about what’s happening than she initially thought.
Something of a Calling is a quick read with short chapters, and I flew through it. I’d put this in the eco-horror category, although the horror itself isn’t terribly intense. The crime scenes can get pretty gross and graphic, but this is more of a story that makes you think than one that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
At the center of the book is a pretty simple question: What happens when the natural world starts pushing back? Humans have spent generations putting ourselves at the top of the food chain while steadily taking away the habitats and food sources other animals depend on. Stage takes that reality and pushes it a little further, imagining what might happen if the balance began to shift. I don’t want to get too specific about how because that gets into spoiler territory, but I liked where she took the idea.
Andy is also an interesting character to follow through all of this. She’s tired after spending her career fighting for justice and has reached retirement without much idea of what she wants the rest of her life to look like. Her connection with Fiona, and their shared love of nature and wildlife, gives her a different way of looking at both her final case and what might come next for her.
Environmental issues and sustainability have come up in Zoje Stage’s other work, and they’re much more overt here. I like that she continues to bring those concerns into horror and find different ways to explore our relationship with the natural world. Something of a Calling isn’t especially scary, but I enjoyed what Stage was doing with it and the questions the story raises.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Read more book reviews on my Substack
Follow me @shellywritesstuff
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, this book was ODD… but in the best possible way. 😂 I absolutely love Zoje Stage’s writing, so I was already excited to pick this one up, and she did not disappoint.
I went into this one thinking I had a pretty good idea of what kind of story I was getting, and then… nope. Not even close. 😂 My mind was ALL over the place trying to figure out what was happening, especially once Andy starts investigating a string of bizarre murders where the victims have been… well, chewed on. 😳
And then there’s Fiona.
I absolutely loved her character. She’s whimsical, curious, completely different from Andy, and somehow their friendship becomes one of my favorite parts of the story. I had SO many thoughts and feelings about Fiona while reading, and I kept wondering what her deal was. When everything finally came together, I literally thought, “NO WAY. THAT’S SERIOUSLY CREEPY.”
I’m not saying anything else because figuring out what is actually happening is half the fun.
This had such an unsettling, slightly surreal vibe that kept me guessing, and I loved the way Zoje Stage slowly peeled back the layers. The characters were great, the premise was completely bonkers in the best way, and there were definitely moments where I had to sit back and process what I had just read. 😂
Another perfect spooky-season read for me, although honestly, if you like psychological thrillers, horror, or books that make you question what the heck is actually going on, you could pick this one up anytime.
Definitely one that is going to stick in my brain for a while. 👀
I went into this one thinking I had a pretty good idea of what kind of story I was getting, and then… nope. Not even close. 😂 My mind was ALL over the place trying to figure out what was happening, especially once Andy starts investigating a string of bizarre murders where the victims have been… well, chewed on. 😳
And then there’s Fiona.
I absolutely loved her character. She’s whimsical, curious, completely different from Andy, and somehow their friendship becomes one of my favorite parts of the story. I had SO many thoughts and feelings about Fiona while reading, and I kept wondering what her deal was. When everything finally came together, I literally thought, “NO WAY. THAT’S SERIOUSLY CREEPY.”
I’m not saying anything else because figuring out what is actually happening is half the fun.
This had such an unsettling, slightly surreal vibe that kept me guessing, and I loved the way Zoje Stage slowly peeled back the layers. The characters were great, the premise was completely bonkers in the best way, and there were definitely moments where I had to sit back and process what I had just read. 😂
Another perfect spooky-season read for me, although honestly, if you like psychological thrillers, horror, or books that make you question what the heck is actually going on, you could pick this one up anytime.
Definitely one that is going to stick in my brain for a while. 👀
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