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Observer: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26A disquieting, atmospheric debut horror novel about a young woman investigating her mother’s disappearance at an abandoned Nevada observatory, for fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Mariana Enriquez
On a scorched summer day, Renata Scarborough comes home to find the contents of her estranged mother Corinne’s life on her doorstep. Her aunt and cousin seem eager to conclude that the troublesome Corinne is dead. Renata isn’t convinced and begins poring over her mother’s journals for answers. Among descriptions of Corinne’s work at the McNairy Observatory, Renata unearths a hidden obsession with an early twentieth-century surveyor whose encounters with a mysterious entity bear a startling resemblance to her mother’s reports. Compelled beyond reason, Renata journeys to that now-abandoned outpost in the Nevada wilderness to search for the truth.
But in McNairy, a thorny, decades-long clash between science and the desert only complicates Renata’s questions. The town’s scarred and suspicious residents refuse to discuss the observatory’s closure, leaving Renata to wonder if Corinne’s version of events reflects reality. As she ascends the peak that looms over McNairy, Renata witnesses unnerving phenomena she can’t explain and feels a creeping dread that what is waiting for her isn’t her mother at all.
Haunting, darkly comic, and captivating, Observer reveals the pure cosmic terror of the desert, a place of wonder and menace, asking what happens when we look out at nature and find something inhuman looking back.
On a scorched summer day, Renata Scarborough comes home to find the contents of her estranged mother Corinne’s life on her doorstep. Her aunt and cousin seem eager to conclude that the troublesome Corinne is dead. Renata isn’t convinced and begins poring over her mother’s journals for answers. Among descriptions of Corinne’s work at the McNairy Observatory, Renata unearths a hidden obsession with an early twentieth-century surveyor whose encounters with a mysterious entity bear a startling resemblance to her mother’s reports. Compelled beyond reason, Renata journeys to that now-abandoned outpost in the Nevada wilderness to search for the truth.
But in McNairy, a thorny, decades-long clash between science and the desert only complicates Renata’s questions. The town’s scarred and suspicious residents refuse to discuss the observatory’s closure, leaving Renata to wonder if Corinne’s version of events reflects reality. As she ascends the peak that looms over McNairy, Renata witnesses unnerving phenomena she can’t explain and feels a creeping dread that what is waiting for her isn’t her mother at all.
Haunting, darkly comic, and captivating, Observer reveals the pure cosmic terror of the desert, a place of wonder and menace, asking what happens when we look out at nature and find something inhuman looking back.
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Expected publication September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Ecco for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you go into “Observer” by Nicholas Russell expecting straight-up horror, then you might come out a little confused but also kind of impressed.
This book is one of those weird genre-blenders that doesn’t fit neatly into a box. It’s marketed as horror, but it reads more like a slow-burn sci-fi mystery with cosmic horror vibes lurking in the background. There are creepy moments, but they’re spaced out, and the real focus is on atmosphere, perception, and unraveling a mystery that may or may not make sense by the end.
The story follows Renata, who starts digging into her estranged mother’s disappearance after receiving her belongings, including a bunch of unsettling journals. These journals (which all have distinct voices and writing styles) slowly pull her toward an abandoned observatory in the Nevada desert. And from there, things just get increasingly strange.
The setting is easily one of the best parts of the book. The isolated desert town, the abandoned observatory, the feeling of being completely alone in this vast, empty landscape - it’s all done really well. You can practically feel the heat and silence pressing in on you. It has that eerie “something is wrong here but no one will explain it” energy the whole time, which keeps you hooked even when the plot slows down.
And the pace does slow down. A lot. The pacing is definitely on the medium-to-slow side, especially in the middle. It takes a while for Renata to actually get to the town, and even longer for the horror elements to really show up. By the time things start getting intense, the ending kind of rushes in, which makes it feel a little uneven overall.
The horror itself leans more toward cosmic and psychological; think unsettling, reality-bending, “what am I even looking at” type of fear rather than gore or jump scares. It plays a lot with perception, surveillance, and the idea that maybe we’re not meant to fully understand what’s out there. If you like that quiet, creeping dread, this will work for you. If you want constant action or scares, then maybe not.
There are also some deeper themes here like racism, family dynamics, and generational tension, but they don’t always feel fully explored. The book brings them up, but doesn’t dig quite as deep as it could have, which is a bit frustrating considering how much potential they had.
As for the writing style, it’s definitely experimental. The multiple journal entries and shifting tones are cool in theory and help build the mystery, but they can also be a bit hit-or-miss.
That said, it is a compelling read. There’s something about the mystery, like what happened to Renata’s mom, what’s going on at the observatory, what exactly is out there, that keeps you turning pages even when the pacing drags.
Overall, “Observer” is eerie, atmospheric, and a little disorienting in a way that feels intentional. It’s not a traditional horror novel, and it definitely won’t work for everyone, but if you’re into slow-burn, cerebral stories with cosmic horror vibes and unsettling desert settings, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand or to fully explain itself by the end.
If you go into “Observer” by Nicholas Russell expecting straight-up horror, then you might come out a little confused but also kind of impressed.
This book is one of those weird genre-blenders that doesn’t fit neatly into a box. It’s marketed as horror, but it reads more like a slow-burn sci-fi mystery with cosmic horror vibes lurking in the background. There are creepy moments, but they’re spaced out, and the real focus is on atmosphere, perception, and unraveling a mystery that may or may not make sense by the end.
The story follows Renata, who starts digging into her estranged mother’s disappearance after receiving her belongings, including a bunch of unsettling journals. These journals (which all have distinct voices and writing styles) slowly pull her toward an abandoned observatory in the Nevada desert. And from there, things just get increasingly strange.
The setting is easily one of the best parts of the book. The isolated desert town, the abandoned observatory, the feeling of being completely alone in this vast, empty landscape - it’s all done really well. You can practically feel the heat and silence pressing in on you. It has that eerie “something is wrong here but no one will explain it” energy the whole time, which keeps you hooked even when the plot slows down.
And the pace does slow down. A lot. The pacing is definitely on the medium-to-slow side, especially in the middle. It takes a while for Renata to actually get to the town, and even longer for the horror elements to really show up. By the time things start getting intense, the ending kind of rushes in, which makes it feel a little uneven overall.
The horror itself leans more toward cosmic and psychological; think unsettling, reality-bending, “what am I even looking at” type of fear rather than gore or jump scares. It plays a lot with perception, surveillance, and the idea that maybe we’re not meant to fully understand what’s out there. If you like that quiet, creeping dread, this will work for you. If you want constant action or scares, then maybe not.
There are also some deeper themes here like racism, family dynamics, and generational tension, but they don’t always feel fully explored. The book brings them up, but doesn’t dig quite as deep as it could have, which is a bit frustrating considering how much potential they had.
As for the writing style, it’s definitely experimental. The multiple journal entries and shifting tones are cool in theory and help build the mystery, but they can also be a bit hit-or-miss.
That said, it is a compelling read. There’s something about the mystery, like what happened to Renata’s mom, what’s going on at the observatory, what exactly is out there, that keeps you turning pages even when the pacing drags.
Overall, “Observer” is eerie, atmospheric, and a little disorienting in a way that feels intentional. It’s not a traditional horror novel, and it definitely won’t work for everyone, but if you’re into slow-burn, cerebral stories with cosmic horror vibes and unsettling desert settings, it’s worth checking out. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand or to fully explain itself by the end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Observer follows Renata, raised by her aunt alongside her cousin and constantly reminded that her aunt is not her mother. When her estranged mother’s belongings suddenly arrive at her doorstep, Renata starts looking for answers. She reads through journals, first her mother’s and then older ones from an early 1900s scientist, and begins to see strange connections she cannot ignore.
Her mother’s work at the McNairy Observatory in the Nevada desert becomes the center of everything. Renata travels there, a place that is almost empty and falling apart. The post office is bombed but still has hundreds of packages. The campground is shut down and she breaks in anyway. People warn her about the air, about wearing a mask higher up because of allergens, and they warn her about asking too many questions.
The story moves between timelines, 1905, the 1990s, and the present, slowly building something that feels unstable and infected. Science mixes with obsession. Observation turns into something dangerous.
There is something wrong in the air itself. Spores. Mutation. Tendrils. People who seem changed or controlled. Something ancient and unseen spreading through the desert and into everyone who gets too close.
It has the same unsettling scientific dread you find in books like Annihilation where nature feels alive in a way that is not comforting at all.
The pacing is slow and sometimes disorienting but it fits the story. You are not meant to feel steady here.
By the end it is less about finding her mother and more about realizing the truth might not be human anymore.
Unsettling, atmospheric, and creeping in its horror. It stays with you.
Her mother’s work at the McNairy Observatory in the Nevada desert becomes the center of everything. Renata travels there, a place that is almost empty and falling apart. The post office is bombed but still has hundreds of packages. The campground is shut down and she breaks in anyway. People warn her about the air, about wearing a mask higher up because of allergens, and they warn her about asking too many questions.
The story moves between timelines, 1905, the 1990s, and the present, slowly building something that feels unstable and infected. Science mixes with obsession. Observation turns into something dangerous.
There is something wrong in the air itself. Spores. Mutation. Tendrils. People who seem changed or controlled. Something ancient and unseen spreading through the desert and into everyone who gets too close.
It has the same unsettling scientific dread you find in books like Annihilation where nature feels alive in a way that is not comforting at all.
The pacing is slow and sometimes disorienting but it fits the story. You are not meant to feel steady here.
By the end it is less about finding her mother and more about realizing the truth might not be human anymore.
Unsettling, atmospheric, and creeping in its horror. It stays with you.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Ecco, and Nicholas Russell for the ARC of Observer! All views expressed in this review are my own.
PRO: I really enjoyed the atmosphere this story set right from the beginning. The tone is so unique and atmospheric, especially with the unnerving desert setting and the 'liminalness' of the vibes. I really really enjoyed the mystery and uncertainty surrounding events and characters in the book, which contributed to this tone.
PRO: I really like that this book didn't ever feel the need to explain itself to the reader or make the reading experience 'easy' while still being an enjoyable read. The reading experience really puts you in Renata's shoes of not understanding what is happening or what she is dealing with and I felt like this was a strength of the book. This novel is told in a very unique style which is hard to explain succinctly, but every choice makes sense for the story and enhances the reading experience.
CON: My main critique of this story is that I wish it had been clearer on exploring and developing some of the themes brought up in the novel. While this is a great, unsettling, and compelling book, it did not have the depth that I typically expect of a really exceptional sci-fi/speculative/horror novel. I wish some themes had been more developed or most consistently dealt with throughout the novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing others' reactions when the book is released!
PRO: I really enjoyed the atmosphere this story set right from the beginning. The tone is so unique and atmospheric, especially with the unnerving desert setting and the 'liminalness' of the vibes. I really really enjoyed the mystery and uncertainty surrounding events and characters in the book, which contributed to this tone.
PRO: I really like that this book didn't ever feel the need to explain itself to the reader or make the reading experience 'easy' while still being an enjoyable read. The reading experience really puts you in Renata's shoes of not understanding what is happening or what she is dealing with and I felt like this was a strength of the book. This novel is told in a very unique style which is hard to explain succinctly, but every choice makes sense for the story and enhances the reading experience.
CON: My main critique of this story is that I wish it had been clearer on exploring and developing some of the themes brought up in the novel. While this is a great, unsettling, and compelling book, it did not have the depth that I typically expect of a really exceptional sci-fi/speculative/horror novel. I wish some themes had been more developed or most consistently dealt with throughout the novel.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing others' reactions when the book is released!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
thank you to netgalley for access to this eARC.
this novel is well written, experimental, and medium/slow-paced. however, i think that this is completely mischaracterized as “horror.” this is a slow burn sci-fi mystery with 2 icky parts.
i enjoyed that this book tried to explore racism and complex family relationships, but i felt like it didn’t fully dive into these concepts as well as it could have. also, though i admire that the various journals had different tones and writing styles that distinguished them from one another, it was upsetting to read Corrine’s repeated use of the r-slur. i understand that she’s kind of insufferable and it is the 90s, but using it once would’ve gotten the point across.
thank you to netgalley for access to this eARC.
this novel is well written, experimental, and medium/slow-paced. however, i think that this is completely mischaracterized as “horror.” this is a slow burn sci-fi mystery with 2 icky parts.
i enjoyed that this book tried to explore racism and complex family relationships, but i felt like it didn’t fully dive into these concepts as well as it could have. also, though i admire that the various journals had different tones and writing styles that distinguished them from one another, it was upsetting to read Corrine’s repeated use of the r-slur. i understand that she’s kind of insufferable and it is the 90s, but using it once would’ve gotten the point across.
April 19, 2026
Observer is a slow-burn sci-fi horror novel that follows an intrepid young woman and she seeks to uncover the mystery behind her estranged and missing mother. What follows is a perilous journey filled with a strange town with even stranger residents, otherworldly science, and a confrontation with trauma that stems from abandonment.
This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the Southern Reach series. It thrives when it’s at its weirdest, and is grounded in the story of a woman who wants to know about her absentee mother and her inexplicable past.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoyed the Southern Reach series. It thrives when it’s at its weirdest, and is grounded in the story of a woman who wants to know about her absentee mother and her inexplicable past.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
April 7, 2026
I requested this ARC because I live in Nevada. Going in, I hoped for cryptid horror. I was also looking forward to reading about a young woman investigating her estranged mother’s disappearance.
I like how eerie and isolated the town is, and the characters feel like real people you would meet there. Nevada is very desolate and this novel captures how truly alone you are in the desert.
There are way too many run on sentences! I did feel like the book was very slow leading up to Renata visiting McNairy, but once the townspeople were introduced it got much more interesting. Unfortunately this makes the ending feel a bit rushed and confusing.
I like how eerie and isolated the town is, and the characters feel like real people you would meet there. Nevada is very desolate and this novel captures how truly alone you are in the desert.
There are way too many run on sentences! I did feel like the book was very slow leading up to Renata visiting McNairy, but once the townspeople were introduced it got much more interesting. Unfortunately this makes the ending feel a bit rushed and confusing.
April 5, 2026
This started off strong but it dragged a little in the middle. I liked the ending but by the time I had gotten there, I was less invested. I wish more horror elements had been introduced earlier on and through out. I feel like the focus was on the history but not necessarily the underlying goings on. I did like this but it could have done with more editing and more horror.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Observer
By Nicholas Russell
Pub Date: Sep 15 2026
This book is a wild mystery. It's the first book in a long time that I kept reading because I needed to know what was going on and the payoff was worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Nicholas Russell
Pub Date: Sep 15 2026
This book is a wild mystery. It's the first book in a long time that I kept reading because I needed to know what was going on and the payoff was worth it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews