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Mother Dauber: A Folk Horror Novel
"A masterclass in making you squirm." - 5-Star Goodreads Review
SOME MEMORIES ARE BURIED . . . OTHERS HATCH
Delilah Jones returns to her hometown of Clear Fork to take care of her dementia-riddled mother. It should have been a somber, simple duty. But the woods surrounding the house echo voices from her past. The night doesn’t feel as empty as it used to, and something is singing to her from the wood line.
THE SILENCE DOESN'T LAST
Mud-caked wasp nests colonize the house. The droning of wings swell as her mother is dying in front of her. The voices in the woods are getting more personal, and something is circling the cabin at night. It sucking on the windows and watching her sleep.
Cornered by a siege of buzzing nightmares, Delilah faces loss after loss and must fight for her survival.
THE HIVE IS AWAKE
From the author of the breakout western folk horror novel, 'The Boatman', comes a frightening and gruesome tale of disease, stingers, and loss.
SOME MEMORIES ARE BURIED . . . OTHERS HATCH
Delilah Jones returns to her hometown of Clear Fork to take care of her dementia-riddled mother. It should have been a somber, simple duty. But the woods surrounding the house echo voices from her past. The night doesn’t feel as empty as it used to, and something is singing to her from the wood line.
THE SILENCE DOESN'T LAST
Mud-caked wasp nests colonize the house. The droning of wings swell as her mother is dying in front of her. The voices in the woods are getting more personal, and something is circling the cabin at night. It sucking on the windows and watching her sleep.
Cornered by a siege of buzzing nightmares, Delilah faces loss after loss and must fight for her survival.
THE HIVE IS AWAKE
From the author of the breakout western folk horror novel, 'The Boatman', comes a frightening and gruesome tale of disease, stingers, and loss.
- GenresHorror
316 pages, Paperback
Published February 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a full on terrifying folk horror novel with just about every creepy thing you could want.
Delilah is back home taking care of her mother who has dementia. But her world will soon spin out of control when she begins experiencing horrific things, perhaps hallucinating, and quickly begins to doubt her own sanity. When she meets the sheriff, an ex boyfriend from high school, he tells her things about her past that she doesn't have any memories of.
Then there are the wasps. LOTS of wasps, mud daubers, which are under the control of something evil and something which feeds on the mind. Together, Delilah and the sheriff will experience some absolutely horrifying things trying to get to the truth. But that's just the beginning of something far more terrifying.
This book doesn't take long to get right into the gruesome heart of things with a fast paced narrative, secrets galore, and an incredibly frightening disgusting creature at the center. And it does feed into the author's previous book, The Boatman, but you don't need to read that one first as this isn't a direct sequel. I do highly recommend The Boatman though!
This one is a visceral nightmare that'll make you want to leave the lights on. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Delilah is back home taking care of her mother who has dementia. But her world will soon spin out of control when she begins experiencing horrific things, perhaps hallucinating, and quickly begins to doubt her own sanity. When she meets the sheriff, an ex boyfriend from high school, he tells her things about her past that she doesn't have any memories of.
Then there are the wasps. LOTS of wasps, mud daubers, which are under the control of something evil and something which feeds on the mind. Together, Delilah and the sheriff will experience some absolutely horrifying things trying to get to the truth. But that's just the beginning of something far more terrifying.
This book doesn't take long to get right into the gruesome heart of things with a fast paced narrative, secrets galore, and an incredibly frightening disgusting creature at the center. And it does feed into the author's previous book, The Boatman, but you don't need to read that one first as this isn't a direct sequel. I do highly recommend The Boatman though!
This one is a visceral nightmare that'll make you want to leave the lights on. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
February 6, 2026
Huge thanks to the author for the eARC. The final cover is sick!
This is a folk horror that meshes psychological second-guessing with one hell of a buggy creature feature. The writing reminded me of King, and the pace was fast and smooth. Short chapters that almost always ended with something exciting or a hook made this a quick read for me.
Delilah has returned home in order to care for her ailing mother, who is bedridden. The town is one she’d rather avoid, as people stare as if she’s the shiny ‘new thing,’ but things are even darker than they seem. Her barista seems to tolerate her, the grocery store clerk, Mr. Gengi, is the most warmth she can seem to find, and in the midst of things spiraling she finds herself reliant on an old crush, the sheriff. And as much stress as having a parent lose themselves and their personality as sundowning rolls around each day, her mother’s ire is the least of her worries as truly horrific things start to happen.
Are they hallucinations, or are they real? Or perhaps even worse, is this mysterious entity implanting them? While folk horror is something I do delve into, I wouldn’t say it’s my typical read. This somehow nailed both the more creepy dread of the likes of a folk film, as well as the pace and action of a creature feature. While I haven’t read IT, the hallucinations/visions really reminded me of Pennywise’s torment in the movies and Welcome to Derry. Heinous thoughts, creepy voices, and trauma-buried memories are brought to life, and even if Delilah can distinguish what’s real, it still won’t be over.
The novel also features wasps, and lots of them. I’ve noticed an uptick in bee related plots recently, and while I have yet to read more of them, I certainly get it. Why do they have an armored carapace, why can they sting, and why do wasps possess the ability to do so over and over? While I’m not outright afraid it insects, I’m still not a fan! These mud daubers were something new to me entirely, the tube-like mud nests for their young, and how the creature expands on this and makes use of them, was gross and creepy. This loosely reminded me of notes of Cicada by Tanya Pell, with its winged horrors, and how both insects utilize a kind of ‘becoming.’ The entity, which you’ll have to read on your own to find out more about, had me picturing a mesh of a demogorgon and the aliens from A Quiet Place…real creepy stuff.
Overall, the ending nailed it for me. Creepy, fast, and refreshingly different. The connection to the author’s other work was so cool too, I love when people do that, and it made me want to hurry up and get to The Boatman too.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-mother...
This is a folk horror that meshes psychological second-guessing with one hell of a buggy creature feature. The writing reminded me of King, and the pace was fast and smooth. Short chapters that almost always ended with something exciting or a hook made this a quick read for me.
Delilah has returned home in order to care for her ailing mother, who is bedridden. The town is one she’d rather avoid, as people stare as if she’s the shiny ‘new thing,’ but things are even darker than they seem. Her barista seems to tolerate her, the grocery store clerk, Mr. Gengi, is the most warmth she can seem to find, and in the midst of things spiraling she finds herself reliant on an old crush, the sheriff. And as much stress as having a parent lose themselves and their personality as sundowning rolls around each day, her mother’s ire is the least of her worries as truly horrific things start to happen.
Are they hallucinations, or are they real? Or perhaps even worse, is this mysterious entity implanting them? While folk horror is something I do delve into, I wouldn’t say it’s my typical read. This somehow nailed both the more creepy dread of the likes of a folk film, as well as the pace and action of a creature feature. While I haven’t read IT, the hallucinations/visions really reminded me of Pennywise’s torment in the movies and Welcome to Derry. Heinous thoughts, creepy voices, and trauma-buried memories are brought to life, and even if Delilah can distinguish what’s real, it still won’t be over.
The novel also features wasps, and lots of them. I’ve noticed an uptick in bee related plots recently, and while I have yet to read more of them, I certainly get it. Why do they have an armored carapace, why can they sting, and why do wasps possess the ability to do so over and over? While I’m not outright afraid it insects, I’m still not a fan! These mud daubers were something new to me entirely, the tube-like mud nests for their young, and how the creature expands on this and makes use of them, was gross and creepy. This loosely reminded me of notes of Cicada by Tanya Pell, with its winged horrors, and how both insects utilize a kind of ‘becoming.’ The entity, which you’ll have to read on your own to find out more about, had me picturing a mesh of a demogorgon and the aliens from A Quiet Place…real creepy stuff.
Overall, the ending nailed it for me. Creepy, fast, and refreshingly different. The connection to the author’s other work was so cool too, I love when people do that, and it made me want to hurry up and get to The Boatman too.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-mother...
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was incredibly good and as emotional as it was horrifying. There are so many layers to this story, it's more than just another cryptid tale. Once I started reading I found myself not wanting to stop. It's written beautifully and in a way that makes you feel and see everything.... which if I am being honest, kept me awake at night!
October 1, 2026
I bought this ebook when it first released, but lord knew when I’d actually get to it. Then I saw Bengston had audio download codes available and you know I had to throw my hand up — I needed something to keep me company on my commute, and I knew I’d get to it much faster this way.
And honestly? I’m glad I did. The narration for this book is fantastic. The pacing, the emotional beats, the creeping dread, the twist on the cryptid‑horror genre... it all lands. It leans into that classic “you should never go home again” trope, but he balances the creepy stuff with the emotional stuff so well that you feel fully invested from the get-go. And * * * watch out, soft spoiler alert * * * thank god he didn’t kill off the dog! …
The story follows Delilah, whose uncle convinces her to move back home to care for her rapidly declining mother - a woman suffering from dementia and a severe case of the orneries that has scared off every home‑care nurse in the county. Delilah assumes it’ll be a painful but pretty straightforward gig. Her childhood home and the woods surrounding it, though, have other plans.
It doesn’t take long before her mother’s mood swings become the least of her worries. Delilah starts hearing familiar voices and old nursery rhymes from her past, echoing through the house and the trees. At first, she thinks it's all in her head. But as she rekindles her friendship with the local sheriff Clay, he admits he can hear it too. And then there's the dauber nests that keep appearing outside her mother’s window — no matter how many times she scrapes them away — are a whole new level of “absolutely not.”
As her mother continues to deteriorate, Delilah realizes something is out there beyond the tree line, watching them, messing with them and it all seems tied to the old farm on the other side of the woods. Memories, nightmares, and ancient dark things begin to surface, and Delilah starts to understand that whatever is making her mother sick might be far worse than dementia.
This was a great audio experience — well‑paced, well‑performed, and deeply atmospheric. Muddy, goopy, cryptid horror done right.
And honestly? I’m glad I did. The narration for this book is fantastic. The pacing, the emotional beats, the creeping dread, the twist on the cryptid‑horror genre... it all lands. It leans into that classic “you should never go home again” trope, but he balances the creepy stuff with the emotional stuff so well that you feel fully invested from the get-go. And * * * watch out, soft spoiler alert * * * thank god he didn’t kill off the dog! …
The story follows Delilah, whose uncle convinces her to move back home to care for her rapidly declining mother - a woman suffering from dementia and a severe case of the orneries that has scared off every home‑care nurse in the county. Delilah assumes it’ll be a painful but pretty straightforward gig. Her childhood home and the woods surrounding it, though, have other plans.
It doesn’t take long before her mother’s mood swings become the least of her worries. Delilah starts hearing familiar voices and old nursery rhymes from her past, echoing through the house and the trees. At first, she thinks it's all in her head. But as she rekindles her friendship with the local sheriff Clay, he admits he can hear it too. And then there's the dauber nests that keep appearing outside her mother’s window — no matter how many times she scrapes them away — are a whole new level of “absolutely not.”
As her mother continues to deteriorate, Delilah realizes something is out there beyond the tree line, watching them, messing with them and it all seems tied to the old farm on the other side of the woods. Memories, nightmares, and ancient dark things begin to surface, and Delilah starts to understand that whatever is making her mother sick might be far worse than dementia.
This was a great audio experience — well‑paced, well‑performed, and deeply atmospheric. Muddy, goopy, cryptid horror done right.
June 21, 2026
Mother Dauber by K Bengston
Narrated by Wendy Robinson
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(4.5 rounded up)
This is a very unique and interesting folk/psychological horror story! It’s a dark, suspenseful and creepy story!
Delilah has come back home to take care of her sick mom, but quickly realizes something isn’t quite right. Delilah is hearing voices and her mom isn’t making sense with things she is saying. She begins to wonder what is real and what is a hallucination.
I listened to the audio version and the narrator did an amazing job!!
This is my first read from this author and I’ll definitely be reading more from him!
**I recommend the read/listen!!**
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Narrated by Wendy Robinson
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟(4.5 rounded up)
This is a very unique and interesting folk/psychological horror story! It’s a dark, suspenseful and creepy story!
Delilah has come back home to take care of her sick mom, but quickly realizes something isn’t quite right. Delilah is hearing voices and her mom isn’t making sense with things she is saying. She begins to wonder what is real and what is a hallucination.
I listened to the audio version and the narrator did an amazing job!!
This is my first read from this author and I’ll definitely be reading more from him!
**I recommend the read/listen!!**
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
January 11, 2026
Omg! This book, it had me hooked from the beginning. The mix of horror/eeriness in the beginning with the grief and hateful episodes of a declining mother had chills running down my spine while tears were pricking my eyes. The emotional range this writing gave was amazing and when the use of an old child’s song came into play, it literally gave me a vestal reaction and I was like “eww I hate that”. I could picture every place in the book, which I love when that happens,and it took me back to running around my grandparents house, even having Pepsi as the drink of choice felt like home, minus the horrifying monster. 10/10 I definitely recommend this book!
January 20, 2026
THIS is how you write horror! This book is so so good. I need to see this made into a movie! The descriptions and the way certain scenes were told and depicted, made me have to pause and take a moment to breathe before getting right back in. I was making a mini movie in my head the entire time.
I am 100% adding this author to my list of “always a must have”. I am a horror obsessed girlie and have been looking for a book to give me a good scare and a 5 star review, and this book wins. I will always keep this book in my top list of recommendations. I am bowing down to this book, it is hands down one of my favorite reads EVER!
I am 100% adding this author to my list of “always a must have”. I am a horror obsessed girlie and have been looking for a book to give me a good scare and a 5 star review, and this book wins. I will always keep this book in my top list of recommendations. I am bowing down to this book, it is hands down one of my favorite reads EVER!
Review of advance copy received from Author
As a lover of The Boatman, Bengston's debut novel, reading this was a no-brainer.
Even so I was absolutely blown away!
Crafting a cryptid tale set in the Ozarks, Mother Dauber creates a monster of unique proportions, blending psychological fear with physical intimidation, plus some extra bug-phobia for good measure.
Before reading this I was unfamiliar with Mud Daubers, but once I learned about them and their creepy tubes, I never wanted to see it again. A human sized one was more than enough to set me squirming in my seat.
Full praise for the character writing; Delilah, the MC, feels like a real character in a heart breaking situation. She reacts as somebody actually would. See a monster? Google/Reddit immediately. Monster is at the house? Protects the dog. It's the little things that make the big things work. That said, one particular death left me unhappy, and I'll be having a word about that!
Stick around for the epilogue; If you like cryptids, you'll love what's been made here.
Even so I was absolutely blown away!
Crafting a cryptid tale set in the Ozarks, Mother Dauber creates a monster of unique proportions, blending psychological fear with physical intimidation, plus some extra bug-phobia for good measure.
Before reading this I was unfamiliar with Mud Daubers, but once I learned about them and their creepy tubes, I never wanted to see it again. A human sized one was more than enough to set me squirming in my seat.
Full praise for the character writing; Delilah, the MC, feels like a real character in a heart breaking situation. She reacts as somebody actually would. See a monster? Google/Reddit immediately. Monster is at the house? Protects the dog. It's the little things that make the big things work. That said, one particular death left me unhappy, and I'll be having a word about that!
Stick around for the epilogue; If you like cryptids, you'll love what's been made here.
February 17, 2026
You start by venturing into the unknown and follow Delilah to whatever lays in wait. It's a slow-burn but there's oddities handed at points where you're not sure what's going on. Is Delilah crazy, is someone messing with her, is her mum up to something, are there ghosts, ghouls or what exactly???? It isn't clear and so, you have to be patient.
It's a small town setting and these are always good for weird goings on. Delilah's mum is sick but even that doesn't make sense and you feel sorry for Delilah who's juggling this new situation - all with Tinker by her side. He's her constant and trusty companion; and shows her that she's not the only one picking up on things seeming a bit wrong. Trying not to give too much away but it's quirky and piques your interest if you like horror and know these things can go in a variety of ways.
Clay is a good addition and motives seems innocent enough as does Gengi. They are key in supporting Delilah but she's ultimately the one that needs to make sense of everything and survive it all. The fact they don't seem to have the answers to help her means it comes to a battle of memory and a quest to unravel the past quickly before time runs out. The fact that something has blocked Delilahs memory means it's not straightforward and there no obvious fix. You have to feel sorry for Delilah. She came to do good and ended up battling for her life. The story picks up momentum and it becomes a rough ride for Delilah. I did wonder how she managed to escape scrutiny but the bit at the end shows that there's something bigger going on and I guess there's a link to The Boatman and whatever comes next....
It's a small town setting and these are always good for weird goings on. Delilah's mum is sick but even that doesn't make sense and you feel sorry for Delilah who's juggling this new situation - all with Tinker by her side. He's her constant and trusty companion; and shows her that she's not the only one picking up on things seeming a bit wrong. Trying not to give too much away but it's quirky and piques your interest if you like horror and know these things can go in a variety of ways.
Clay is a good addition and motives seems innocent enough as does Gengi. They are key in supporting Delilah but she's ultimately the one that needs to make sense of everything and survive it all. The fact they don't seem to have the answers to help her means it comes to a battle of memory and a quest to unravel the past quickly before time runs out. The fact that something has blocked Delilahs memory means it's not straightforward and there no obvious fix. You have to feel sorry for Delilah. She came to do good and ended up battling for her life. The story picks up momentum and it becomes a rough ride for Delilah. I did wonder how she managed to escape scrutiny but the bit at the end shows that there's something bigger going on and I guess there's a link to The Boatman and whatever comes next....
January 26, 2026
My first ever advanced reader copy, and it couldn’t have been a better pick. Mother Dauber is a fantastic follow-up to a strong debut and firmly cements K. Bengston as an author I’ll be buying automatically going forward.
This book was genuinely hard for me to read in places, and I mean that as a compliment. My fear of swarming insects made certain scenes deeply uncomfortable, which only reinforced how effective the horror is here. Horror should make you uneasy, and this absolutely succeeds.
The story reads like a folkloric horror film brought to life: atmospheric, tense, and relentlessly engaging. I was on edge the entire time, pulled along by creeping dread and an ever-present sense that something terrible was just around the corner.
If you love T. Kingfisher’s work or gravitate toward folkloric, myth-tinged horror that prioritizes mood and discomfort, this one is an easy recommendation. Bengston is clearly an author to watch.
May 3, 2026
When Delilah returns to her isolated childhood farm to care for her ailing mother, long-buried memories begin to stir. It quickly becomes clear that her past isn’t quite what she remembers, and something far more unsettling is waiting beneath the surface.
SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
I expected the Biloko to serve as a metaphor for Delilah’s trauma, but the story veers into creature-feature territory instead. That shift isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just not what I had anticipated, and it changed the tone in a way that didn’t fully land for me.
.
.
.
END OF SPOILERS
Where the book really shines is in its atmosphere. The remote farmhouse in the woods, and the characters are messy and flawed in a way that feels real, which adds to the tension.
That said, the pacing drags at times. The prose can get overly descriptive, especially in moments that don’t need it (there’s an unusual amount of attention given to the dog’s every movement, which started to pull me out of the story).
Overall, a good read.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
I expected the Biloko to serve as a metaphor for Delilah’s trauma, but the story veers into creature-feature territory instead. That shift isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just not what I had anticipated, and it changed the tone in a way that didn’t fully land for me.
.
.
.
END OF SPOILERS
Where the book really shines is in its atmosphere. The remote farmhouse in the woods, and the characters are messy and flawed in a way that feels real, which adds to the tension.
That said, the pacing drags at times. The prose can get overly descriptive, especially in moments that don’t need it (there’s an unusual amount of attention given to the dog’s every movement, which started to pull me out of the story).
Overall, a good read.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I say this was a crazy ride, I really mean this was a crazy ride. The concept of a monster chasing you, harassing you and climbing into your mind is absolutely terrifying. A monster that can read your thoughts and use them against you? No thank you. I also enjoyed all the character development, world building and plot creation that went into this story. It is full of people you will fall in love with and action upon action. An absolute star from start to finish.
Thank you so so much to the author for shaing this with me and letting me help just a little 🖤
Thank you so so much to the author for shaing this with me and letting me help just a little 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
Horror is not my usual thing, but this book made sure I finished it. The writing makes it feel less like reading and more like watching it on a screen. Every scene feels deliberate, tightening the noose just a little more. The dread never releases you...it lingers, festers. Returning home to care for a sick mother becomes something far more disturbing, layering trauma upon trauma until escape feels impossible. Bengston didn’t just convince me to read more of his work, he convinced me to read more horror.
Im thankful to be given the opportunity to read this in advance.
Im thankful to be given the opportunity to read this in advance.
February 9, 2026
Some books whisper.
This one crawls into your throat and suffocates you with dirt.K. Bengston’s Mother Dauber isn’t just a thriller it’s a slow, skin peeling descent into obsession, grief, and the kind of violence that feels personal.From page one, the atmosphere is thick and claustrophobic. Every scene feels damp, shadowed, and wrong like something is watching you from the treeline.
And when the violence hits?
It hits like a shovel to the skull.
Bengston doesn’t rely on cheap shocks.
The horror comes from tension… dread… the unbearable crawl of knowing something terrible is coming and being powerless to stop it.The characters feel raw and flawed the kind of people who make bad decisions because they’re desperate, grieving, or terrified. Nobody is safe. Nobody is clean.And the antagonist energy?Absolutely feral.
There’s this primal, animalistic undercurrent throughout the story like nature itself is conspiring against you. The title becomes more and more symbolic and unsettling the deeper you go.By the last act I wasn’t “reading.”
I was white knuckling the book.
Heart racing.
Jaw clenched.
Breath shallow.
And that ending?
Cold. Brutal. Unforgiving.
Exactly how a thriller should be.
If you like:
✔️ dark rural settings
✔️ psychological dread
✔️ gritty survival vibes
✔️ morally gray characters
✔️ stories that leave dirt under your nails
Read. This. Book.
This one crawls into your throat and suffocates you with dirt.K. Bengston’s Mother Dauber isn’t just a thriller it’s a slow, skin peeling descent into obsession, grief, and the kind of violence that feels personal.From page one, the atmosphere is thick and claustrophobic. Every scene feels damp, shadowed, and wrong like something is watching you from the treeline.
And when the violence hits?
It hits like a shovel to the skull.
Bengston doesn’t rely on cheap shocks.
The horror comes from tension… dread… the unbearable crawl of knowing something terrible is coming and being powerless to stop it.The characters feel raw and flawed the kind of people who make bad decisions because they’re desperate, grieving, or terrified. Nobody is safe. Nobody is clean.And the antagonist energy?Absolutely feral.
There’s this primal, animalistic undercurrent throughout the story like nature itself is conspiring against you. The title becomes more and more symbolic and unsettling the deeper you go.By the last act I wasn’t “reading.”
I was white knuckling the book.
Heart racing.
Jaw clenched.
Breath shallow.
And that ending?
Cold. Brutal. Unforgiving.
Exactly how a thriller should be.
If you like:
✔️ dark rural settings
✔️ psychological dread
✔️ gritty survival vibes
✔️ morally gray characters
✔️ stories that leave dirt under your nails
Read. This. Book.
February 17, 2026
This one was like walking into the forest by a pull from something unknown. Each slow step getting you closer and closer to it. Something so foreign yet somehow familiar. He doesn’t miss with his writing. Each word, each paragraph, each chapter pulls you closer to the heartbeat of the story. So easily and so much so that you’ll not look up from reading and realize you’ve not moved the entire time until you’re at the end. I want to share all the things but my lips are sealed because you HAVE to experience this for yourself!
May 27, 2026
Probably the best book I've read all year! The suspense about what was going to happen and how was awesome. I'll definitely be ordering any of his books he writes in the future.
March 16, 2026
I do believe I’ve found another horror author to add in my top ten.
Excellent read!
Folk horror and creepy as heck. I’d use other words but don’t wanna be banned haha
Del is helping her mother who sadly is dying, the wasps are bugging them with their nest building. The voices are flowing from where they shouldn’t be.
Just a great creepy build up and run through.
Go read. Just go read.
Excellent read!
Folk horror and creepy as heck. I’d use other words but don’t wanna be banned haha
Del is helping her mother who sadly is dying, the wasps are bugging them with their nest building. The voices are flowing from where they shouldn’t be.
Just a great creepy build up and run through.
Go read. Just go read.
October 5, 2026
Gripping and fantastic! I never saw what happened coming!
February 19, 2026
When Del returns to her small hometown to care for her mother who is slowly succumbing to dementia, she finds that they are not the only ones residing in the woods of the Ozarks. A mysterious cryptid that feeds on memory lurks in the woods, and it's been waiting for Del to come home for a looooong time.
My god this book was great! I got to read The Boatman last year and it was a strong debut novel. But Mother Dauber has blown me away. The pacing is fantastic, with quick chapters that leave you on the edge of your seat. Del was such a fun character because she felt so human. She was terrible in most emergency situations, leaving me going "DEEEEEEEL NO, what are you doing?!" so many times. When she found out ther was a monster, she ran to google and reddit and that just made me giggle so much. And the monster...ugh...so gross and so cool an excellent cryptid creation. This is a book I long to see made into a movie. Someone get Guillermo del Toro on the phone.
If you are looking for a gross, eerie, skincrawling horror about grief and trauma and the things people will do to forget them, I think this will be a good book for you!
My god this book was great! I got to read The Boatman last year and it was a strong debut novel. But Mother Dauber has blown me away. The pacing is fantastic, with quick chapters that leave you on the edge of your seat. Del was such a fun character because she felt so human. She was terrible in most emergency situations, leaving me going "DEEEEEEEL NO, what are you doing?!" so many times. When she found out ther was a monster, she ran to google and reddit and that just made me giggle so much. And the monster...ugh...so gross and so cool an excellent cryptid creation. This is a book I long to see made into a movie. Someone get Guillermo del Toro on the phone.
If you are looking for a gross, eerie, skincrawling horror about grief and trauma and the things people will do to forget them, I think this will be a good book for you!
April 29, 2026
Omg is all I can say. I went into this knowing it was a thriller but I didn’t expect being dragged through forgotten memories and untold horrors. This story was sad and intense and left you guessing at every turn. I am so happy I got the privilege of getting this ARC. I am still reeling from it all. Got to say if I lived through What Delilah lived through I would absolutely disappear off the face of the earth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2026
Wow! Insects are a no for me, so this was a creeper for me. Loved that it was also psychological. A mother that has dementia that is speaking differently, sinister things. Worth the read!
July 31, 2026
Wow what a fun and wild ride, loved it!
July 21, 2026
Oh my goodness, what did K. Bengston even put in this book?! I couldn’t stop reading Mother Dauber but when I did have to; I couldn’t stop thinking about it!! This incredible folklore filled, psychological horror book is everything I could ever want. In fact, I will be begging A24 to make a movie of this one immediately!! Mother Dauber is an endless buffet of visceral bug induced gore, horrific memories, bad thoughts our main characters don’t deserve and so much mythological mystery!
I absolutely loved our FMC; Del and her amazing pet sidekick; Tinker. Tinker brought much needed moments of light to Del and even to readers! I loved how K threw those in, along with bits of laughter. While horror is always dark, ones that have a tiny morsel of sunshine are always the best. It helps me feel like my favorite characters have a chance of hope at the end of their incredibly traumatic and terrorizing journey🤣🫶🏻 Mother Dauber brings a whole new meaning to “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” I recommend reading this in the daylight😝🤭
I absolutely loved our FMC; Del and her amazing pet sidekick; Tinker. Tinker brought much needed moments of light to Del and even to readers! I loved how K threw those in, along with bits of laughter. While horror is always dark, ones that have a tiny morsel of sunshine are always the best. It helps me feel like my favorite characters have a chance of hope at the end of their incredibly traumatic and terrorizing journey🤣🫶🏻 Mother Dauber brings a whole new meaning to “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” I recommend reading this in the daylight😝🤭
April 9, 2026
This was a very good book. It was exciting, weird, and had heart. I loved the characters and the plot build, though I think it could have been condensed a bit. I have mixed feelings about the Epilogue... and I don't think I have ever said that before. All-in-all, the story was solid, the writing was good, and the way the characters were developed was really well done.
June 22, 2026
This book was really good! This book is the reason I don’t want to live In the middle of the woods, add in creepy creatures nope. I was yelling at the main character what are you doing don’t go in there. I highly recommend this book if you love horror which I absolutely do! I can’t wait to read more by this author.
April 25, 2026
Mother Dauber???? I'm at a loss as to if I liked this story or not. This started off slow and I thought of DNF. But I want to expand my reading horizons. In the middle it got better, I was invested. Then I was confused as to what was going on. I have to blame that part on my self since I let everyone interrupt me while I read. The ending had me at a loss. I could only think of the XFiles and I've never watched that. Rounded up from 3.5 stars to 4.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Once again another great creepy book by K. Bengston. This one is cryptid based. Delilah (Del) moves home to help her mother, since all her nurses keep quitting. She has no idea what she is in for. Highly recommend if you like creepy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I got a chance to arc read this book and let's say it DID NOT DISAPPOINT. K.Bengston has done it once again. this folklorish horror book has me captured instantly. it made my skin crawl in the best way i cant wait to get a physical copy!!!!! You sir have outdone urself
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book scared the holy heck out of me! I normally don't gravitate towards Horror however, after getting a Beta Copy to read and review I read it and let me tell you, I will never look at wasps or farms the same again! it was so well written! Every interaction and paragraph of dialogue drove the story forward in a beautiful way. There were some twists that I absolutely didn't see coming that made me literally gasp and say out loud "WTF!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!"
it was so well written that it had my heart racing the whole time!
do not sleep on this amazing book!
it was so well written that it had my heart racing the whole time!
do not sleep on this amazing book!
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March 14, 2026I love horror, and it was nice to be introduced to the folk–insect horror subgenre. It’s a different kind of (body) horror when insects are involved. Just imagining them makes my skin crawl and itch, and this book perfectly captured that feeling. I also liked the folklore element, although I didn’t fully understand what a “biloko” was until I Googled it after finishing the book.
On the other hand, although it has the elements of a good horror story, it felt like there were too many ideas being explored. It seemed like the author tried to execute several concepts at once, which ended up being confusing for me. I eventually felt a bit lost about where the direction of the story was going. Also, the FMC is an ornithology graduate, but the monster in the story is related to insects. I found myself wondering what it would have been like if the creature were bird-related instead, tying more closely to her background.
Overall, I prefer the author’s first novel, The Boatman, over this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On the other hand, although it has the elements of a good horror story, it felt like there were too many ideas being explored. It seemed like the author tried to execute several concepts at once, which ended up being confusing for me. I eventually felt a bit lost about where the direction of the story was going. Also, the FMC is an ornithology graduate, but the monster in the story is related to insects. I found myself wondering what it would have been like if the creature were bird-related instead, tying more closely to her background.
Overall, I prefer the author’s first novel, The Boatman, over this one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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