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Puddle People
Walter Minsk is sick of the world. Of people who just don't get his incredible work, his inventions, his lifelong dream of global peace and unity.
Not seeing the change in his fellow man that he so greatly desires, Walter has decided to take matters into his own hands.
People need to learn a lesson. An ice-water cold lesson.
But when his experiments fall flat and the townsfolk of Sterling, Northern Ireland, start to go missing, the case falls to Chief Bill Reilly.
A dark comedy of cat and mouse ensues, and who will win is anybody's guess...
Not seeing the change in his fellow man that he so greatly desires, Walter has decided to take matters into his own hands.
People need to learn a lesson. An ice-water cold lesson.
But when his experiments fall flat and the townsfolk of Sterling, Northern Ireland, start to go missing, the case falls to Chief Bill Reilly.
A dark comedy of cat and mouse ensues, and who will win is anybody's guess...
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2026
About the author
Eamonn Bradley
3 books46 followersEamonn Bradley is an Irish born suspenseful horror writer. He now lives in Jersey CI with his wife. Eamonn reads everything from Cormac McCarthy, Richard Matheson, Stephen King to Keith Rossen. A Carpenter, Eamonn to launch his career as an indie author and bring the indie horror scene to light in 2025. Eamonn is hard at work bringing his visions to life, with many more books planned for the foreseeable future.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
You’re like that Willy Wonka fella, playin’ in your lab with your toys. Messing around like a child, and for the love of me I cannot figure out why.
December 1, 2025
The Saddest Kind of Second Chances
I didn’t pick up The Puddle People for the puddles, or the tiny creatures the cover hints at. I’m long past believing in fairy-tale beings or comic-book heroes who made sense only when we were young.
What I found instead was heartbreak, the quiet, layered, human kind. A story about how we insist we’re all the same, yet refuse to act like it when it matters. This is a story of standing with others but standing alone at the same time. A story of not seeing what should be seen right under our noses.
Strip it down and this book is about lives cracking open. The world softens, bodies and certainties turn liquid, and our moral compass bends until we can’t tell if it’s broken or simply pointing somewhere we want to go. We justify what we shouldn’t. We deny what’s painfully obvious, and we pretend belief outranks reality.
And then comes the second chance - not the mild, self-help kind, but the terrifying, life-rewriting kind. The kind that could silence all the demons long enough to forget they ever existed.
Some people leap into that chance with fire and good intentions, convinced they can bend the world toward better. That’s the part that cuts deepest: how hope and damage can look so similar depending on your perspective.
“Imagine life after months as a living puddle. Humans don’t realize what they have until it’s gone. Freedom. We could change the world forever.”
Except we don't. And that’s the point.
When it’s all over, they do what humans always do—they cage the scientist. He sits in his cell, a Dexter wannabe still justifying his mad scientist ways, only now the vision of his dad is attached to his wrist in the form of a smartwatch - a magic 8-ball that never tells him 'no.' Left alone with this enabling oracle, he keeps following the only compass he trusts: the broken one inside his own chest.
The real punchline, the one that sat with me long after I closed the book, is this:
They get their bodies back. Their voices. Their homes. A whole restored world that should, by any logic, shock them into being better.
And they go right back to who they were. Just like that. An ending that doesn't finish in a magical way that exists only in my world where I look for the good and the positive in everything.
There is no collective awakening. No “never again.” Just the same rigid shapes they had before the melting. Their world's didn't change for the good after all and that reality for me anyways, was one I steadfastly refused to accept.
It turns out you can liquefy a person, but that doesn’t mean they learn how to flow. You can change their state, but not their substance, unless it's done from the inside and that is the perfect moral to this story after all.
We like to imagine catastrophe will transform us. The Puddle People looks us dead in the eye and asks:
“Would it, though?”
Because in this story, it doesn't. And very few ever do.
And this is what makes those that change on the backs of breathing dragons or puddles on a dark street, not need anyone else to do it.
I didn’t pick up The Puddle People for the puddles, or the tiny creatures the cover hints at. I’m long past believing in fairy-tale beings or comic-book heroes who made sense only when we were young.
What I found instead was heartbreak, the quiet, layered, human kind. A story about how we insist we’re all the same, yet refuse to act like it when it matters. This is a story of standing with others but standing alone at the same time. A story of not seeing what should be seen right under our noses.
Strip it down and this book is about lives cracking open. The world softens, bodies and certainties turn liquid, and our moral compass bends until we can’t tell if it’s broken or simply pointing somewhere we want to go. We justify what we shouldn’t. We deny what’s painfully obvious, and we pretend belief outranks reality.
And then comes the second chance - not the mild, self-help kind, but the terrifying, life-rewriting kind. The kind that could silence all the demons long enough to forget they ever existed.
Some people leap into that chance with fire and good intentions, convinced they can bend the world toward better. That’s the part that cuts deepest: how hope and damage can look so similar depending on your perspective.
“Imagine life after months as a living puddle. Humans don’t realize what they have until it’s gone. Freedom. We could change the world forever.”
Except we don't. And that’s the point.
When it’s all over, they do what humans always do—they cage the scientist. He sits in his cell, a Dexter wannabe still justifying his mad scientist ways, only now the vision of his dad is attached to his wrist in the form of a smartwatch - a magic 8-ball that never tells him 'no.' Left alone with this enabling oracle, he keeps following the only compass he trusts: the broken one inside his own chest.
The real punchline, the one that sat with me long after I closed the book, is this:
They get their bodies back. Their voices. Their homes. A whole restored world that should, by any logic, shock them into being better.
And they go right back to who they were. Just like that. An ending that doesn't finish in a magical way that exists only in my world where I look for the good and the positive in everything.
There is no collective awakening. No “never again.” Just the same rigid shapes they had before the melting. Their world's didn't change for the good after all and that reality for me anyways, was one I steadfastly refused to accept.
It turns out you can liquefy a person, but that doesn’t mean they learn how to flow. You can change their state, but not their substance, unless it's done from the inside and that is the perfect moral to this story after all.
We like to imagine catastrophe will transform us. The Puddle People looks us dead in the eye and asks:
“Would it, though?”
Because in this story, it doesn't. And very few ever do.
And this is what makes those that change on the backs of breathing dragons or puddles on a dark street, not need anyone else to do it.
February 12, 2026
Okay, so this is just pure fun, told with a true storyteller’s enthusiasm. I imagined I was sitting in the pub with the author, getting more and more pished as he told me all about Walter’s madcap exploits in his own little neck of the woods. Highly recommended for a larger-than-life, escapist read.
February 16, 2026
A fun mad scientist tale. Walter thinks he has the solution to all the world's problems. Everyone just needs a timeout, and turning them into harmless puddles for a while will do the trick. However, he can't get the formula quite right.
Highly recommended, a quick read with several fun quirky characters. Will have you ripping through the pages to see what possibly could happen next.
Highly recommended, a quick read with several fun quirky characters. Will have you ripping through the pages to see what possibly could happen next.
November 27, 2025
Puddle People is a crazy ride into dark humor, framed with real world concerns, and is entirely
apropos in this time of overly well-to-do messiah-complexed missionaries. The characters and plot are perfectly crafted, and certain aspects kept reminding me of Breaking Bad but on wholly different
wave length. Though I'm still no huge fan of dramatic present tense, the descriptions and dialogue fit
the plot to a tee and drove the narrative. Though not a standard horror, the fact that one could see some overly ambitious crusader attempting to save the world this very way, or something very similar, is scary enough. We could all find ourselves gurgling for freedom.
This is a really good story. Highly recommended.
apropos in this time of overly well-to-do messiah-complexed missionaries. The characters and plot are perfectly crafted, and certain aspects kept reminding me of Breaking Bad but on wholly different
wave length. Though I'm still no huge fan of dramatic present tense, the descriptions and dialogue fit
the plot to a tee and drove the narrative. Though not a standard horror, the fact that one could see some overly ambitious crusader attempting to save the world this very way, or something very similar, is scary enough. We could all find ourselves gurgling for freedom.
This is a really good story. Highly recommended.
December 6, 2025
This book is a trip!🤯
Sci-Fi/Horror with solid
Comedy all the way through!
Really fresh & unique plot with
cool, well-developed characters!
Fairly quick read, definitely a fun one!
Sci-Fi/Horror with solid
Comedy all the way through!
Really fresh & unique plot with
cool, well-developed characters!
Fairly quick read, definitely a fun one!
April 1, 2026
Dark humoured Mad Scientist howcatchem.
This is an amusing and inventive "Playing God" type of tale in which we follow the villain closely enough to understand what on earth he's thinking while executing his ridiculous plan. It takes place in a town called Sterling (not to be confused with Stirling across the water) which is simultaneously in Northern Ireland and the Republic in some sort of geographical quantum superposition. This turns out to be perfectly consistent with the absolutely insane manipulations of physics and chemistry Walter Minsk manages to pull off throughout the story. Along the way we meet some satisfyingly crafted caricatures set up nicely to be the victims. They're not bad people. Just annoying, and that makes their fate both funny and tragic at the same time. Incompetent as they are they pose no obstacle to Walter's demented plans, so instead the main tension comes from a Columbo-like element of a local police detective who just won't leave Walt alone.
I had just a few issues with some of the writing choices. Some broken sentences left orphaned clauses, and the language is a strange mix of (mostly) Irish spelling with some American phrases and vocabulary as well as one or two very English phoneticisms and even one Nigerian phrase. But I am sure they were deliberate choices as I only spotted one typo, so it will be a matter of taste for each reader. There is also a fair amount of headhopping which took some getting used to.
The ending falls pat which for me somewhat undermines the rest of the story, although there is always room for a sequel.
Overall I had a lot of fun with this!
This is an amusing and inventive "Playing God" type of tale in which we follow the villain closely enough to understand what on earth he's thinking while executing his ridiculous plan. It takes place in a town called Sterling (not to be confused with Stirling across the water) which is simultaneously in Northern Ireland and the Republic in some sort of geographical quantum superposition. This turns out to be perfectly consistent with the absolutely insane manipulations of physics and chemistry Walter Minsk manages to pull off throughout the story. Along the way we meet some satisfyingly crafted caricatures set up nicely to be the victims. They're not bad people. Just annoying, and that makes their fate both funny and tragic at the same time. Incompetent as they are they pose no obstacle to Walter's demented plans, so instead the main tension comes from a Columbo-like element of a local police detective who just won't leave Walt alone.
I had just a few issues with some of the writing choices. Some broken sentences left orphaned clauses, and the language is a strange mix of (mostly) Irish spelling with some American phrases and vocabulary as well as one or two very English phoneticisms and even one Nigerian phrase. But I am sure they were deliberate choices as I only spotted one typo, so it will be a matter of taste for each reader. There is also a fair amount of headhopping which took some getting used to.
The ending falls pat which for me somewhat undermines the rest of the story, although there is always room for a sequel.
Overall I had a lot of fun with this!
December 3, 2025
What do we expect from the authors we read? Do we wish / expect to be entertained by a good plot / story, character development, social commentary? I say yes to all and ‘Puddle People’ more than delivers on all of these!
We’re presented with a story centered on a small, quiet town facing a BIG problem and how to deal with and respond to that problem.
Our protagnonist, Walter, is an aging scientist / inventor who wishes nothing more than to help better mankind. Walter tirelessly works to invent something, anything that would allow mankind to end the endless daily suffering of humans and bring about worldwide peace.
What Walter eventually settles on is a method of human liquefaction and then re-solidification. By reducing people to puddles and re-solidifying them he hopes that they will better appreciate life. A desire that people of all backgrounds, socio-economic status, religions and ethnicities will in some way, shape or form realize the error(s) of their lives and strive for a universal betterment. Sounds intriguing and Walter’s heart is in the right place. However, there is one caveat, it is Walter who will decide when someone who has been liquified will be re-solidified. Placing himself squarely in the lineage of well-meaning tech-oligarchs who profess a deep desire to benefit humanity but really wish to be the ultimate and final decision maker as to the path humanity takes. Does this sound familiar? Is this not what we're currently in the midst of? Did I say social commentary?
As the story progresses, we’re presented with Walter’s first attempts at liquefaction, which fail and leads to a game of cat and mouse between Walter and the town’s chief detective. As the chase ensues, who are you cheering for, the detective or Walter? Do you hope that Walter doesn’t get caught and carries out his mankind changing project or do you hope the madmen gets caught before unleashing his creation upon an unsuspecting world? Well done by the author! This is the tension that ultimately drives the novel.
Puddle People plays out as part sci-fi story, part detective story with just a dash of horror. All these parts are tethered to one man’s desire / quest for a better world. It is quite an engaging story and I promise you will not be disappointed by what you read!
We’re presented with a story centered on a small, quiet town facing a BIG problem and how to deal with and respond to that problem.
Our protagnonist, Walter, is an aging scientist / inventor who wishes nothing more than to help better mankind. Walter tirelessly works to invent something, anything that would allow mankind to end the endless daily suffering of humans and bring about worldwide peace.
What Walter eventually settles on is a method of human liquefaction and then re-solidification. By reducing people to puddles and re-solidifying them he hopes that they will better appreciate life. A desire that people of all backgrounds, socio-economic status, religions and ethnicities will in some way, shape or form realize the error(s) of their lives and strive for a universal betterment. Sounds intriguing and Walter’s heart is in the right place. However, there is one caveat, it is Walter who will decide when someone who has been liquified will be re-solidified. Placing himself squarely in the lineage of well-meaning tech-oligarchs who profess a deep desire to benefit humanity but really wish to be the ultimate and final decision maker as to the path humanity takes. Does this sound familiar? Is this not what we're currently in the midst of? Did I say social commentary?
As the story progresses, we’re presented with Walter’s first attempts at liquefaction, which fail and leads to a game of cat and mouse between Walter and the town’s chief detective. As the chase ensues, who are you cheering for, the detective or Walter? Do you hope that Walter doesn’t get caught and carries out his mankind changing project or do you hope the madmen gets caught before unleashing his creation upon an unsuspecting world? Well done by the author! This is the tension that ultimately drives the novel.
Puddle People plays out as part sci-fi story, part detective story with just a dash of horror. All these parts are tethered to one man’s desire / quest for a better world. It is quite an engaging story and I promise you will not be disappointed by what you read!
December 7, 2025
This was the first of Eamon Bradley’s books I read and boy was it great!
Mad scientist mixed with a twinge of horror move this story along at a great pace, riding along with Walter Minsk, Freedom, Chief Bill Reilly and more colourful characters for the ride of their lives
A definite must have for any reader!
Ryan D Haigh
Mad scientist mixed with a twinge of horror move this story along at a great pace, riding along with Walter Minsk, Freedom, Chief Bill Reilly and more colourful characters for the ride of their lives
A definite must have for any reader!
Ryan D Haigh
December 31, 2025
Eamonn Bradley's liquidy tale of genius gone awry is absurdly enjoyable.
4+ Stars rounded to 5.
The characters are fantastic, and the cast was kept to a manageable level without overflowing. The story is easy to follow due to Eamonn's skillfully woven narrative. But we're not talking baskets. In this story, it's buckets.
This is a fun story with a cup of humor here, a gallon of satire there, and a tub of trouble that continues to fill despite Walter's attempts to right his own errors... er, "miscalculations."
I recommend Puddle People. It's fantastic. It will bring to mind flickers of Flubber, or Despicable Me's Dr. Nefario, but in a more horifying way, although they are in no way literarily similar (must read to see). The horror is boldly there.
The story switches POVs frequently in some spots. It's done well, but on occasion, caused me confusion.
4+ Stars rounded to 5.
The characters are fantastic, and the cast was kept to a manageable level without overflowing. The story is easy to follow due to Eamonn's skillfully woven narrative. But we're not talking baskets. In this story, it's buckets.
This is a fun story with a cup of humor here, a gallon of satire there, and a tub of trouble that continues to fill despite Walter's attempts to right his own errors... er, "miscalculations."
I recommend Puddle People. It's fantastic. It will bring to mind flickers of Flubber, or Despicable Me's Dr. Nefario, but in a more horifying way, although they are in no way literarily similar (must read to see). The horror is boldly there.
The story switches POVs frequently in some spots. It's done well, but on occasion, caused me confusion.
May 6, 2026
An exciting and engaging read from beginning to end. It has all the amazing elements of a cheesy 80s monster movie. I was never bored and it never felt like the plot dragged while reading.
The writing is clear and understandable while still being descriptive and quite colorful.
My only real criticism is that the pacing is way too fast, character motivations flip on a dime with no buildup, and the rushed solutions feel more like coincidences, which weaken the stakes a bit.
But overall, despite its flaws, this is one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far!
Can't wait to see what he'll come up with in the future!
The writing is clear and understandable while still being descriptive and quite colorful.
My only real criticism is that the pacing is way too fast, character motivations flip on a dime with no buildup, and the rushed solutions feel more like coincidences, which weaken the stakes a bit.
But overall, despite its flaws, this is one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far!
Can't wait to see what he'll come up with in the future!
January 25, 2026
Thanks to the author for personally sending me this ARC.
When I heard this was a horror comedy, I was supper excited to jump in. Unfortunately, the kind of humor in this wasn't for me. I love a silly, likable villain, which is the MC to a T, but that's about the only thing I enjoyed. I found the comedy to be eye rolling, and the horror aspects were severely lacking. I think an older audience would love this, but unfortunately, I didn't.
When I heard this was a horror comedy, I was supper excited to jump in. Unfortunately, the kind of humor in this wasn't for me. I love a silly, likable villain, which is the MC to a T, but that's about the only thing I enjoyed. I found the comedy to be eye rolling, and the horror aspects were severely lacking. I think an older audience would love this, but unfortunately, I didn't.
December 2, 2025
Puddle People by Eamonn Bradley
4.10 rounded down to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Jan. 16, 2026
Back at the lab…
💡 Orbs Prologue: Inside a clear cylindrical test tube, I settle. Currently being heated by the flame of a Bunsen burner, I feel rather toasty in this stale environment. My liquified form takes shape rather nicely, and my body takes on a beautiful shade of aqua blue. Walter Minsk, inventor extraordinaire, has run the calculations, furthering the chances that I will succeed in his journey towards peace. Before me, numerous inferior batches have left bodies spilling on the floor, quite literally, creating chaos in the small town of Sterling. Time is of the essence, for we are on Chief Bill Reilly’s radar. Am I the chosen one to teach humanity a lesson in humility?
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: Is there anything quite so deadly as a mad scientist, whose creations are meant to change a world viewed as extremely flawed? Author Eamonn Bradley’s scrupulously concocted novel shoves readers into the demented mind of inventor Walter Minsk, creator of Minsk Forever Flakes serum that keeps breakfast cereal crispy. Amassing wealth has been rewarding, but Minsk wants to be known for something truly remarkable. With the help of Alice, a sentient AI, and Freedom, a loyal student, Minsk is gearing towards a monumental idea to change mankind. For this plan to succeed, Minsk needs test subjects to try out his amalgamation of ingredients, the conclusion of which ends in the needle of a syringe and is injected for the best results. In the small town of Sterling, everyone knows everyone’s business, so when people start going missing, the townsfolk take notice. The rain has come crashing down in slanting waves, and limb-filled puddles are forming along the sweeping North Irish landscape, scattering watery clues for Chief Bill Reilly to discover. In a race against time, can Minsk secure the necessary positive results from his handpicked test subjects to launch his idea worldwide, or will Reilly put a halt to his devious plans?
👍 Orbs Pros: I loved Minsk. For a man so manipulative, he came across as likable and enhanced my experience. Eamonn Bradley’s ability to write tense yet playful scenes created, dare I say, a “fun” environment, reminiscent of a Willy Wonka-esque canvas, albeit with a more sinister tone. For reference, I could not get my mind clear of Chet, Bill Paxton’s character in Weird Science, being turned into a mutant blob. Creative! It’s not every day a novel is being written about a human body being transformed into a small pool of water. Deceptive! The desired implementation of Mink's plan was ingenious and had me scratching my head as to why I hadn’t picked up on it beforehand.
👎 Orbs Cons: Perhaps I dove into this wanting more horror elements to shine through. While certainly dark, the underlying humor tended to deflate the scariness factor.
Recommended! Thoroughly enjoyable! With slightly over 200 pages, the book was a quick jaunt into some madness. Just by the title alone, “Puddle People” readers should expect a quirky ride, and Bradley does an exceptional job in providing just that. If you are looking for some lighthearted horror, put this on your TBR list.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Finished, I am now being carefully transferred to the syringe; the plunger stands atop my surface, cocked and fully loaded. The excitement in the room is only offset by the curious visitation of one Bill Reilly, who has shown up to ruin my glory. Hurry up, Minsk! Reilly storms into the facility, red-faced and on a mission to seal our fates. The boy named Freedom now holds me in his sweaty palm. A series of shouts echoes off the white concrete walls, and I await anxiously. Alice, speaking as only an AI can, has maintained a robot-like calmness, attempting to placate Reilly, but to no avail. Behind a fog of darkness, I am injected, swimming into the spidery caverns of a bloodstream of whom? WHO? WHO!!!!
Many thanks to Eamonn Bradley for the ARC through BookFunnel in exchange for my honest review.
4.10 rounded down to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Jan. 16, 2026
Back at the lab…
💡 Orbs Prologue: Inside a clear cylindrical test tube, I settle. Currently being heated by the flame of a Bunsen burner, I feel rather toasty in this stale environment. My liquified form takes shape rather nicely, and my body takes on a beautiful shade of aqua blue. Walter Minsk, inventor extraordinaire, has run the calculations, furthering the chances that I will succeed in his journey towards peace. Before me, numerous inferior batches have left bodies spilling on the floor, quite literally, creating chaos in the small town of Sterling. Time is of the essence, for we are on Chief Bill Reilly’s radar. Am I the chosen one to teach humanity a lesson in humility?
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: Is there anything quite so deadly as a mad scientist, whose creations are meant to change a world viewed as extremely flawed? Author Eamonn Bradley’s scrupulously concocted novel shoves readers into the demented mind of inventor Walter Minsk, creator of Minsk Forever Flakes serum that keeps breakfast cereal crispy. Amassing wealth has been rewarding, but Minsk wants to be known for something truly remarkable. With the help of Alice, a sentient AI, and Freedom, a loyal student, Minsk is gearing towards a monumental idea to change mankind. For this plan to succeed, Minsk needs test subjects to try out his amalgamation of ingredients, the conclusion of which ends in the needle of a syringe and is injected for the best results. In the small town of Sterling, everyone knows everyone’s business, so when people start going missing, the townsfolk take notice. The rain has come crashing down in slanting waves, and limb-filled puddles are forming along the sweeping North Irish landscape, scattering watery clues for Chief Bill Reilly to discover. In a race against time, can Minsk secure the necessary positive results from his handpicked test subjects to launch his idea worldwide, or will Reilly put a halt to his devious plans?
👍 Orbs Pros: I loved Minsk. For a man so manipulative, he came across as likable and enhanced my experience. Eamonn Bradley’s ability to write tense yet playful scenes created, dare I say, a “fun” environment, reminiscent of a Willy Wonka-esque canvas, albeit with a more sinister tone. For reference, I could not get my mind clear of Chet, Bill Paxton’s character in Weird Science, being turned into a mutant blob. Creative! It’s not every day a novel is being written about a human body being transformed into a small pool of water. Deceptive! The desired implementation of Mink's plan was ingenious and had me scratching my head as to why I hadn’t picked up on it beforehand.
👎 Orbs Cons: Perhaps I dove into this wanting more horror elements to shine through. While certainly dark, the underlying humor tended to deflate the scariness factor.
Recommended! Thoroughly enjoyable! With slightly over 200 pages, the book was a quick jaunt into some madness. Just by the title alone, “Puddle People” readers should expect a quirky ride, and Bradley does an exceptional job in providing just that. If you are looking for some lighthearted horror, put this on your TBR list.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Finished, I am now being carefully transferred to the syringe; the plunger stands atop my surface, cocked and fully loaded. The excitement in the room is only offset by the curious visitation of one Bill Reilly, who has shown up to ruin my glory. Hurry up, Minsk! Reilly storms into the facility, red-faced and on a mission to seal our fates. The boy named Freedom now holds me in his sweaty palm. A series of shouts echoes off the white concrete walls, and I await anxiously. Alice, speaking as only an AI can, has maintained a robot-like calmness, attempting to placate Reilly, but to no avail. Behind a fog of darkness, I am injected, swimming into the spidery caverns of a bloodstream of whom? WHO? WHO!!!!
Many thanks to Eamonn Bradley for the ARC through BookFunnel in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2026
Your Strange Girl has only had the opportunity to review just a couple of books that fall into the horror category, so when author Eamonn Bradley offered me the chance to review his third novel, Puddle People, I won’t lie—I was here for it.
PLOT
Puddle People is horror/comedy with the emphasis firmly on comedy. It’s more “laugh-out-loud ridiculous” than “hide under the blankets,” and that’s exactly the vibe it’s going for. The story follows your classic mad scientist, Professor Walter Minsk, who’s obsessed with perfecting a serum that will liquify a person while keeping them gloriously alive. Why? World peace, obviously. Because nothing says “global harmony” like turning people into sentient puddles.When the first human trials go sideways and locals start vanishing, the sheriff of sleepy Sterling starts asking questions. Walter, with the help of his delightfully sentient AI sidekick Alice, races to fix the formula before everything dissolves—literally. The whole thing is gloriously textbook mad-science camp, and honestly? It works for what it is.
ISSUES
The characters are colorful chaos gremlins and the premise is unhinged in the best way, but the prose occasionally yanks you out of the fun like a disappointed mom at a sleepover. We get hit with unnecessary info dumps, clunky metaphors that try too hard, and dialogue that sometimes feels like it was written by someone who’s never had an actual conversation. Case in point, this purple-prose masterpiece on page 12: “But it’s times like these when all seems lost and the sky has fallen about our feet, that the weirdest things happen…”
Translation: Tell me nothing in the most dramatic way possible. It’s pompous, stalls the momentum, and adds zero value to the plot or characters. It’s the literary equivalent of someone clearing their throat for thirty seconds before saying absolutely nothing.
Then we have this random detour into minor character Cliff’s wistful family memories on page 66. Cliff exists to check on one employee and then vanishes from the story forever. I did not need his entire emotional backstory, complete with beautiful wife and lovely daughters I will never see again. Where are my cookies!
And page 156 gave me this gem: “Panic unexpectedly settles like a flowerbed in his belly. Only no flowers grow, weeds have broken the surface…”
The mixed metaphors are so tangled they need their own rescue team. Again, it's overwritten. Metaphors are stacked and contradict. A flowerbed but then no flowers? In that case why not just jump straight to weeds as they climb and tighten. Panic takes root like weeds, climbing his ribs, tightening in his chest, choking the life from him.
“Panic gripped him” would’ve done the job and kept the pace snappy. We’re not writing literary fiction here; we’re melting people into puddles for giggles.
CONCLUSIONS
Puddle People is a silly, campy, occasionally daft horror-comedy that knows exactly what it is and leans all the way in. Some of the dialogue is so painfully on-the-nose it circles back around to charming:
“Quiet in here today, ain’t it?” “It’s like that during the week, Bill. But you know what?” “What?” “I’m not that bothered. Do you know why?” “Why?” (Page 101)
But the editing is crisp, the italics are used correctly (a miracle), and the ending lands perfectly—satisfying while still leaving the tiniest hint that a sequel might be bubbling up. If you’re in the mood for something fun, ridiculous, and zero-brain-cell-required to escape real life for a few hours, this one delivers. Just don’t expect too much and you’ll have a grand time watching people turn into goo.
Strange Girl Verdict: Worth the read if you like your horror with a heavy side of slapstick and zero pretension. Pass the danish cookies (and the mop!)
💜
PLOT
Puddle People is horror/comedy with the emphasis firmly on comedy. It’s more “laugh-out-loud ridiculous” than “hide under the blankets,” and that’s exactly the vibe it’s going for. The story follows your classic mad scientist, Professor Walter Minsk, who’s obsessed with perfecting a serum that will liquify a person while keeping them gloriously alive. Why? World peace, obviously. Because nothing says “global harmony” like turning people into sentient puddles.When the first human trials go sideways and locals start vanishing, the sheriff of sleepy Sterling starts asking questions. Walter, with the help of his delightfully sentient AI sidekick Alice, races to fix the formula before everything dissolves—literally. The whole thing is gloriously textbook mad-science camp, and honestly? It works for what it is.
ISSUES
The characters are colorful chaos gremlins and the premise is unhinged in the best way, but the prose occasionally yanks you out of the fun like a disappointed mom at a sleepover. We get hit with unnecessary info dumps, clunky metaphors that try too hard, and dialogue that sometimes feels like it was written by someone who’s never had an actual conversation. Case in point, this purple-prose masterpiece on page 12: “But it’s times like these when all seems lost and the sky has fallen about our feet, that the weirdest things happen…”
Translation: Tell me nothing in the most dramatic way possible. It’s pompous, stalls the momentum, and adds zero value to the plot or characters. It’s the literary equivalent of someone clearing their throat for thirty seconds before saying absolutely nothing.
Then we have this random detour into minor character Cliff’s wistful family memories on page 66. Cliff exists to check on one employee and then vanishes from the story forever. I did not need his entire emotional backstory, complete with beautiful wife and lovely daughters I will never see again. Where are my cookies!
And page 156 gave me this gem: “Panic unexpectedly settles like a flowerbed in his belly. Only no flowers grow, weeds have broken the surface…”
The mixed metaphors are so tangled they need their own rescue team. Again, it's overwritten. Metaphors are stacked and contradict. A flowerbed but then no flowers? In that case why not just jump straight to weeds as they climb and tighten. Panic takes root like weeds, climbing his ribs, tightening in his chest, choking the life from him.
“Panic gripped him” would’ve done the job and kept the pace snappy. We’re not writing literary fiction here; we’re melting people into puddles for giggles.
CONCLUSIONS
Puddle People is a silly, campy, occasionally daft horror-comedy that knows exactly what it is and leans all the way in. Some of the dialogue is so painfully on-the-nose it circles back around to charming:
“Quiet in here today, ain’t it?” “It’s like that during the week, Bill. But you know what?” “What?” “I’m not that bothered. Do you know why?” “Why?” (Page 101)
But the editing is crisp, the italics are used correctly (a miracle), and the ending lands perfectly—satisfying while still leaving the tiniest hint that a sequel might be bubbling up. If you’re in the mood for something fun, ridiculous, and zero-brain-cell-required to escape real life for a few hours, this one delivers. Just don’t expect too much and you’ll have a grand time watching people turn into goo.
Strange Girl Verdict: Worth the read if you like your horror with a heavy side of slapstick and zero pretension. Pass the danish cookies (and the mop!)
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April 10, 2026
Puddle People is the latest novel from Eamonn Bradley, whose previous books include The Veil and The Ranger, and I have to say, I struggled to know how to start this review, because, simply put, Puddle People is unlike anything that I have read before.
The ‘mad scientist’ (and I use that term lightly in this case) trope is most certainly well-established in literature and, as with any piece of writing, it can be incredibly difficult to conjure up something original—something that stands out from the rest and sticks in the mind. With Puddle People, Bradley has bound countless strides beyond achieving that.
The last time I enjoyed reading a novel this much—a novel that filled my head with imagination and pure excitement and joy with every page—it was Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which is fair to say has been some considerable years. That’s not to say that they carry any similarities as they are vastly different novels. But it is the same uniqueness and wonderment of PP that makes it one of the most enjoyable books that I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and I make zero apologies for sounding like I'm gushing icing sugar from a toffee-coated gob.
The novel is incredibly well-written, with a flow and style that has its very own fingerprint which keeps you engaged and invested in the characters and the story from start to finish, never straying or taking your mind out of the world that Bradley has created. The central figure in this novel, inventor Walter Minsk (alongside his fantastic digital ‘sidekick’ Alice), is easily one of my favourite characters in recent memory, and he has a depth and likeability that shines throughout, with ideals and intentions that reflect real-world issues, coupled with bizarrely brilliant sci-fi/horror solutions that are the result of outstanding creativity from the author. There are also other wonderful characters throughout such as Chief Billy Reilly (the excellent ‘cat’ in this cat and mouse escapade), Freedom, Doug and others that compliment the story incredibly well and continue to drive the narrative forward.
The language and dialogue are superb, and it all felt very natural and authentic. I felt that the present tense was a great choice for PP and it had me fully immersed throughout. I found myself smiling and laughing on several occasions from the very beginning. The horror aspect of the novel is not over the top and is wholly relative to the theme and tone of the book. Beautifully unique. I really could go on and on, but at the risk of becoming irritating, I will just say this—Puddle People is unlike anything else you will read. It is dark, funny, fascinating, thought-provoking, exciting, original, captivating, strange and bloody brilliant. The whole thing made me excited to turn to the next page.
This is an incredible piece of work by Eamonn Bradley. Applause, applause! If you are a fan of all the things that I just mentioned, you need to go and grab yourself a copy of Puddle People immediately, if not sooner. This book deserves an extremely wide reach; this would make an awesome movie. I, for one, can’t wait to read it again and have a printed copy sitting on my shelf.
The ‘mad scientist’ (and I use that term lightly in this case) trope is most certainly well-established in literature and, as with any piece of writing, it can be incredibly difficult to conjure up something original—something that stands out from the rest and sticks in the mind. With Puddle People, Bradley has bound countless strides beyond achieving that.
The last time I enjoyed reading a novel this much—a novel that filled my head with imagination and pure excitement and joy with every page—it was Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which is fair to say has been some considerable years. That’s not to say that they carry any similarities as they are vastly different novels. But it is the same uniqueness and wonderment of PP that makes it one of the most enjoyable books that I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and I make zero apologies for sounding like I'm gushing icing sugar from a toffee-coated gob.
The novel is incredibly well-written, with a flow and style that has its very own fingerprint which keeps you engaged and invested in the characters and the story from start to finish, never straying or taking your mind out of the world that Bradley has created. The central figure in this novel, inventor Walter Minsk (alongside his fantastic digital ‘sidekick’ Alice), is easily one of my favourite characters in recent memory, and he has a depth and likeability that shines throughout, with ideals and intentions that reflect real-world issues, coupled with bizarrely brilliant sci-fi/horror solutions that are the result of outstanding creativity from the author. There are also other wonderful characters throughout such as Chief Billy Reilly (the excellent ‘cat’ in this cat and mouse escapade), Freedom, Doug and others that compliment the story incredibly well and continue to drive the narrative forward.
The language and dialogue are superb, and it all felt very natural and authentic. I felt that the present tense was a great choice for PP and it had me fully immersed throughout. I found myself smiling and laughing on several occasions from the very beginning. The horror aspect of the novel is not over the top and is wholly relative to the theme and tone of the book. Beautifully unique. I really could go on and on, but at the risk of becoming irritating, I will just say this—Puddle People is unlike anything else you will read. It is dark, funny, fascinating, thought-provoking, exciting, original, captivating, strange and bloody brilliant. The whole thing made me excited to turn to the next page.
This is an incredible piece of work by Eamonn Bradley. Applause, applause! If you are a fan of all the things that I just mentioned, you need to go and grab yourself a copy of Puddle People immediately, if not sooner. This book deserves an extremely wide reach; this would make an awesome movie. I, for one, can’t wait to read it again and have a printed copy sitting on my shelf.
January 21, 2026
Eccentric Inventor turns to sinister intentions in this page turning dark comedy…
Eccentric inventor ‘Walter Minsk’ is on a mission to help humanity whether or not they want to be helped and his latest project has some rather sinister intentions in this fun dark comedy by Eamonn Bradley. Just how far will one creator go in order to make sure his life altering product works? That’s a huge part of the intrigue that kept me turning pages.
This is a character driven tale where many of the main cast have variety and depth while they bring life to the Northern Irish setting of ‘Sterling’ where some gradually turn their attention to ‘Walter’ who takes a path that becomes darker and even desperate as he tries to perfect the testing phase of his newest offering. Unsung younger colleague ‘Freedom’ shares many of the genius level beliefs with his boss but must face choices because he is being deliberately kept away from the more sinister aspirations. I did enjoy the concept of virtual assistant known as ‘Alice’ which eventually takes a presence of her own as the story evolves along with the madness. With a determined lawman eventually noticing the happenings of this madcap inventor, the chase ensures and then the culmination and pay off works to deliver a cracking read.
There are plenty of moments that worked to deliver some laughs as well as a few ‘what the hell?’ moments that drive the story of an inventor who has kind of lost any real grip on morality for his actions all for the sake of his creations.
‘But it’s times like these when all seems lost and the sky has fallen about our feet, that the weirdest things happen, that the universe suddenly listens and your world that’s been shrouded in coal black mist suddenly clears. Inspiration, call it divine or purely accidental, has a way of finding us just when it’s the right time. And if you know how to spot it, your life changes as fast as day burns into night… ‘
Eccentric inventor ‘Walter Minsk’ is on a mission to help humanity whether or not they want to be helped and his latest project has some rather sinister intentions in this fun dark comedy by Eamonn Bradley. Just how far will one creator go in order to make sure his life altering product works? That’s a huge part of the intrigue that kept me turning pages.
This is a character driven tale where many of the main cast have variety and depth while they bring life to the Northern Irish setting of ‘Sterling’ where some gradually turn their attention to ‘Walter’ who takes a path that becomes darker and even desperate as he tries to perfect the testing phase of his newest offering. Unsung younger colleague ‘Freedom’ shares many of the genius level beliefs with his boss but must face choices because he is being deliberately kept away from the more sinister aspirations. I did enjoy the concept of virtual assistant known as ‘Alice’ which eventually takes a presence of her own as the story evolves along with the madness. With a determined lawman eventually noticing the happenings of this madcap inventor, the chase ensures and then the culmination and pay off works to deliver a cracking read.
There are plenty of moments that worked to deliver some laughs as well as a few ‘what the hell?’ moments that drive the story of an inventor who has kind of lost any real grip on morality for his actions all for the sake of his creations.
‘But it’s times like these when all seems lost and the sky has fallen about our feet, that the weirdest things happen, that the universe suddenly listens and your world that’s been shrouded in coal black mist suddenly clears. Inspiration, call it divine or purely accidental, has a way of finding us just when it’s the right time. And if you know how to spot it, your life changes as fast as day burns into night… ‘
November 27, 2025
This is a darkly comedic but interesting take on a kind of "mad scientist" type vibe. An inventor who is only known for creating a coating which keeps cereal crispy in milk, feels that he's not recognized enough. Sure he's very wealthy but he plans on changing the world with an invention which he feels will lead to world peace and harmony.
Along with his AI assistant (who will play a major role in this book) and a young apprentice who basically worships the ground he walks on, he's almost ready to unleash his next invention. Except he needs human subjects to experiment on and he chooses those who he feels deserving of what they get.
These experiments are going to lead to people basically turning into puddles of goo while still being conscious of what's happening. And things are not going to go well once things begin falling apart for the inventor!
The AI assistant really plays as another character and she seems to be experiencing human emotion and is less robotic than you would think. His personal assistant is stuck between a dedication to the inventor and his wife, who warns him that something is wrong.
Chaos will ensue and once we find out what his vision for the world is, it becomes apparent that he's not quite right. This book has a really great sense of weirdness and bizzare situations and you'll be happy to go along for this wild ride. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Along with his AI assistant (who will play a major role in this book) and a young apprentice who basically worships the ground he walks on, he's almost ready to unleash his next invention. Except he needs human subjects to experiment on and he chooses those who he feels deserving of what they get.
These experiments are going to lead to people basically turning into puddles of goo while still being conscious of what's happening. And things are not going to go well once things begin falling apart for the inventor!
The AI assistant really plays as another character and she seems to be experiencing human emotion and is less robotic than you would think. His personal assistant is stuck between a dedication to the inventor and his wife, who warns him that something is wrong.
Chaos will ensue and once we find out what his vision for the world is, it becomes apparent that he's not quite right. This book has a really great sense of weirdness and bizzare situations and you'll be happy to go along for this wild ride. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
November 24, 2025
In his novel PUDDLE PEOPLE, Eamonn Bradley introduces us to the Northern Irish town of Sterling and local inventor Walter Minsk, who, not content with the single invention for which he is famous, begins to embark on a bizarre, misguided crusade to bring peace to all mankind. His methods are nothing short of crazy and once he sets out to start testing his invention, we see the results of his madness start to play out.
Walter's grotesque chemical process is really something to behold. I was so impressed by the audacity of the invention in the way it literally flows from the page. It had me grinning and at times laughing aloud at Bradley's wild sense of invention. Soon after Walter's first test, disappearances follow and once the people around Walter start to investigate, Walter doubles down in pursuit of his goal.
Several times I laughed out loud at the humour in this novel. Some of the detail might not be for the squeamish, but I had bucket-loads of fun, turning the pages at pace to see the madness unfold. Horror-comedy is a delicate balance, and Bradley walks this tightrope with style.
Walter's grotesque chemical process is really something to behold. I was so impressed by the audacity of the invention in the way it literally flows from the page. It had me grinning and at times laughing aloud at Bradley's wild sense of invention. Soon after Walter's first test, disappearances follow and once the people around Walter start to investigate, Walter doubles down in pursuit of his goal.
Several times I laughed out loud at the humour in this novel. Some of the detail might not be for the squeamish, but I had bucket-loads of fun, turning the pages at pace to see the madness unfold. Horror-comedy is a delicate balance, and Bradley walks this tightrope with style.
January 18, 2026
I had the pleasure of reading this book in an earlier beta version, then again in its final form.
One measure of an author's skill is their ability to take an early, rougher draft and transform it into a quality piece while holding to the original substance. Oh boy, did Eamonn deliver. I'm genuinely impressed.
Puddle people reads like a weird, mad-scientist techno thriller with so many quirky moments and great laughs along the way that you forget it's supposed to be horror (and you're having so much fun that hey, who cares what genre we call it, am I right?).
Wonky AI and Ms. Piggy Peterson had me in fits more than once. The rest, I leave for you to discover, but brace yourselves for a hilarious trip you didn't expect but won't regret.
One measure of an author's skill is their ability to take an early, rougher draft and transform it into a quality piece while holding to the original substance. Oh boy, did Eamonn deliver. I'm genuinely impressed.
Puddle people reads like a weird, mad-scientist techno thriller with so many quirky moments and great laughs along the way that you forget it's supposed to be horror (and you're having so much fun that hey, who cares what genre we call it, am I right?).
Wonky AI and Ms. Piggy Peterson had me in fits more than once. The rest, I leave for you to discover, but brace yourselves for a hilarious trip you didn't expect but won't regret.
December 5, 2025
Thanks for Eamonn Bradley for the ARC
Puddle People is a great comedic entry to the mad scientist canon, and is a lot of fun! Bradley’s strength really lies in his strong characterisation; every character had their own distinct voice and affected the plot suitably. Although outlandish at points, the plot is fast paced and easy to follow, and has an ending that will stick with you after the book is finished.
Puddle People is a great comedic entry to the mad scientist canon, and is a lot of fun! Bradley’s strength really lies in his strong characterisation; every character had their own distinct voice and affected the plot suitably. Although outlandish at points, the plot is fast paced and easy to follow, and has an ending that will stick with you after the book is finished.
November 27, 2025
This was a fun read, enjoyed the story and there were some genuinely funny moments. The characters felt like moustache-twirling villains but didn’t feel out of place in this story.
Very quick read that keeps you flipping the page to find out how it ends. 3.5/5.
Thank you BookFunnel and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Very quick read that keeps you flipping the page to find out how it ends. 3.5/5.
Thank you BookFunnel and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2025
Yet again another great book from Eamonn Bradley! This is the third book I've read of his and he never disappoints. I really enjoyed the character development in this book and the A.I. lady had me creeped out and questioning everything that was going on in the story.
April 14, 2026
Puddle People is a cracking piece of sci-fi horror that fans of the genre will mop up (pun intended).
The author has crafted a wonderfully addictive mad-scientist romp, with moments of dark humour I truly adored. You don’t want to miss this one!
Brilliantly done!
The author has crafted a wonderfully addictive mad-scientist romp, with moments of dark humour I truly adored. You don’t want to miss this one!
Brilliantly done!
February 1, 2026
A dark and humorous body horror that made me think of a modern day Frankenstein.
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