Bethesda

by Lisa Morris

Tryss just wants to get home to say goodbye to her dad before he passes away, but when she pulls off the freeway to find a gas station, she ends up stuck in Bethesda, a backwoods town with no cell service and a car that won’t start. Worse still, the town’s citizens aren’t exactly…alive. Unless you count the Barbs. They’re Bethesda’s sisterhood of cloned caretakers, and they may look friendly, but like the town, surface impressions can be deceiving. In her attempt to leave, Tryss meets Aiden, who’s been stuck in Bethesda for six months and has all but given up hope of escaping. They team up to figure out the town’s deadly—and just plain weird—secrets, but will the town actually let them leave?

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fiction

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 23, 2026

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was a super fun novella. Tryss is on her way to see her dying father when she ends up in Bethesda to fill her gas tank. There isn’t any cell service and her car breaks down after filling up, starting the strange series of events. This is a campy horror story that manages to be creepy and fun at the same time. We get to see all the weird happenings and along the way we meet Aiden. Tryss and Aiden decide to team up and see if they can figure out what’s really going on and if there is a chance to escape this weird little town.

Thank you NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC!!

[RijaReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing House for this ARC
Pub Date: June 23

This book was a complete what did I just read experience… in the best way possible 😭

If you’re a fan of the movie House of Wax, I definitely think you’ll enjoy this. It’s a super short novella that perfectly fits spooky season and summerween vibes, but still manages to feel really original.

The atmosphere was unsettling, creepy, and weirdly fun all at the same time. And that ending?? Somehow expected and unexpected simultaneously 😂

Overall, I had a really good time with this one.

[ame · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into Bethesda expecting a creepy suburbian horror and ended up getting something stranger, more unhinged, and way more memorable than I expected.

The story follows Tryss, who after a long road trip, ends up trapped in a seemingly normal little town called Bethesda. However appearances can be deceiving, because the place is filled with unsettling inhabitants, and more questions than answers.

The concept alone immediately pulled me in. Creepy small town? Weird residents? Uncanny valley? Count me in! The whole thing gave me From meets The Stepford Wives vibes, and I loved that atmosphere from the start.

With that being said however, I really struggled with the beginning and I even put it on hold for a week before picking it up again. The book is written in first person, which is already a hit or miss writing style for me because in my opinion sometimes it can come across as choppy or too fanficy, and unfortunately that was exactly how I felt about the first part of the book too. It actually mentioned that Tryss is basically writing this story down so she won’t forget, which would explain the writing style to an extent, however it never felt like it's someone's diary, so I think that concept got lost somewhere at the beginning. I honestly didn't like it and Tryss herself did not help with that either. She was unreasonably impulsive and unhinged, which made me question every single decision she made.

BUT somewhere around the 25-30% mark, something suddenly changed. The writing noticeably improved, the pacing became much stronger, and my entire opinion of the book changed. Tryss was still unhinged and reckless, but now in a way that actually worked for the story, and instead of finding her annoying, I genuinely started rooting for her. From that point on, I had a really hard time putting the book down because there was always a new piece of information, another strange discovery, or some new unsettling detail pulling the story forward.

One of my favorite things about Bethesda was how much it leaves you questioning everything. Even after finishing it, I kept randomly thinking about it throughout the day and trying to piece things together in my head. While the book technically gives you some answers, it also leaves enough ambiguity that you start questioning whether those answers can even be trusted. Did things really happen the way they seemed to? Can Tryss actually be trusted as a narrator? What exactly was going on in Bethesda? I love books that leave enough unanswered questions to haunt your brain afterward, and this definitely did that.

The atmosphere was honestly one of the strongest parts of the book. I’m a sucker for creepy small town horror, and this absolutely scratched that itch. The Barbs were really unsettling, and even when they weren’t directly interacting with Tryss, their presence constantly lingered in the background, making you feel uneasy.

I somehow didn’t even realize this book was only 157 pages long while reading, and I was really proud of myself for finishing a whole book in almost one sitting. That shows how good the book is, because despite being short, it never actually felt that way. It felt like reading a "normal" 300+ pages book, it was well though out, it wasn't rushed, and it felt complete.

Overall, Bethesda ended up being a really surprising read for me because I genuinely thought I was going to hate it at first, only to end up completely loving it by the end. It’s eerie, weird, atmospheric, twisty, and leaves you with a million questions afterward. If you enjoy creepy small towns, unsettling vibes, unhinged main characters, and stories that make you question everything by the final page, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!

*ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining little story that definitely took a route I wasn't expecting. It's not so much cult horror as campy creepy vibes, which I quickly clocked and adjusted to.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of the story - it's a "wtf is happening here" story in a good way! The whole time I was reading, I was interested in finding out how exactly Bethesda as a 'world'/town worked. Like Tryss and Aiden, I wanted to figure out what was happening because I was rooting for them to escape, but also just out of an almost morbid curiosity. The investigation and adventure the two undertake was fun to follow, and my favorite part of the story was absolutely the ending! While it leans a bit into a trope I'm usually not a fan of, I was surprised that I found it perfect for this storyline and it didn't bother me at all - it actually made me like the story even more. And the *very* end/last section?! PERFECT! Absolutely loved it. It's not a story that I feel has a huge moral theme/lesson - it's just a fun, wild ride that has a slight overarching idea about feeling and being trapped, and possibly conformity. But, honestly, I thought it was just an entertaining story!

All of that said, I would recommend it for a fun, campy, quick story (again, the ending really amped my enjoyment of this up for me!).

While I really liked the ending and had a good time while reading, I had a few things I struggled with:
- I enjoyed the setup as a sort of "this is my last written word before I maybe perish" basis from Tryss, though I will say that that setup/narration falls off somewhere within the story.
- I didn't really buy into the romance or think it was relevant. It distracted me from the actual story.
- Though repetition is intentional in terms of the Barbs of Bethesda, I found the beginning of the story itself (when Tryss is exploring) to be very repetitive, so I wasn't as engaged (particularly her going into so many places - churches especially - just to find the same things).
- I initially liked Tryss' clear self-awareness that she's acting against reason and in a 'stupid main character in a horror movie' type of way, but eventually it just made me frustrated. Similarly, I thought that sometimes the humor didn't fit into the story (aka the tone didn't totally flow for me).

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill and Crow Publishing for the eARC to read and review early. All opinions are my own.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: The Bethesda by Lisa Morris
I received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novella from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
If you are looking for a quick, gripping horror read that will completely hook you, The Bethesda delivers. I flew through this eerie novella in just two days, unable to tear myself away from its creepy, at times genuinely horrifying atmosphere. It perfectly captures that signature dark, unsettling vibe you expect from a Quill & Crow release.

What to Expect
Pacing: Fast-paced and high-tension; a perfect weekend read.
Prose: Tight and atmospheric, building a strong sense of psychological dread.
Vibe: A masterclass in medical and environmental horror that keeps you glued to the page.
Content Warnings
Claustrophobia, medical bondage/horror, numerous dead bodies, implied cannibalism, and themes of possible self-harm.

My Thoughts
The Praise: The character dynamics and emotional stakes in this story are incredibly compelling. I became deeply invested in Tryss, particularly her relationship with Aiden. [SPOILER WARNING] Discovering that their connection was entirely fabricated absolutely devastated my heart, making the horror elements feel deeply personal rather than just atmospheric. [END SPOILER] It is rare for a short-format piece to pack that much of an emotional gut-punch alongside the scares.

The Critique: Where the novella stumbled a bit for me was in its macro-level execution. The background world-building—specifically the elements involving potential nuclear test fallout—felt a bit haphazard and thrown in, rather than fully fleshed out or logical within the story. Combined with an ending that arrived so quickly it felt abrupt, I left the book wishing the narrative details had a bit more room to breathe.

The Verdict: Even with those narrative bumps, the novella absolutely succeeds at what it wants to do: deliver a fun, deeply unsettling, and claustrophobic thrill ride. The psychological tension is consistent from page one, making it a highly addictive read despite the minor world-building flaws.

Who Will Like This: Fans of compact gothic horror, medical thrillers, and stories that rely heavily on a dark, high-stakes atmosphere.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for providing me with this digital ARC! All opinions are entirely my own.

[E.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say the book is more creepy than horror, but then again there's a lot (a lot!) of dead bodies so I guess it depends on what horrifies you. It plays a lot with uncanniness, making you uncomfortable the whole way through the story.

I really liked the atmosphere and the town the author created, the perfect mix of "perfect small town with a dark secrets". Everyone, well, Barb, is too nice and everything is too perfect until you look closer. That is the winning aspect of this book for me.
That being said, I wish the author went even deeper into the world building and the creepiness of it all. There's a lot of brushed over things which would have been interesting to explore.
The epilogue was also very good and really made the book. Not a book for you if you don't like unanswered questions though! Because there's plenty that is never explained.

On the not so great side, I didn't like Tryss much. She felt, to me, like the author tried too hard and she ended up annoying me. On the other end of the spectrum, I wish Aidan had been more developed. While I think the romance was unnecessary and not that well done, I loved the idea of their relationship formed by trauma and the need/want to survive and escape. Unfortunately, if at first Aidan was interesting, he quickly became more of an excuse to share information than an important character in his own rights.

In the end, while this wasn't a favorite I liked the atmosphere and the concept a lot. I didn't gel with the author's way of writing the story, but that's a personnal issue and shouldn't deter you from giving the book a try if the whole creepy town vibe tickles your fancy.

A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC of this book. Horror is not something I usually read, but I do enjoy from time to time certain horror stories (I mean my favorite game is Bioshock). And this book sounded right up my alley. Tryss has been trapped in a Twilight Zone type town where the town is run by multiple versions of one woman and all the residents are dead.

This sounded interesting and creepy and I was excited to try it out. I will say I was a little frustrated the author’s note in the beginning of the book spoiled the ending, I would recommend avoiding reading the note until the end. Because of this note the ending felt predictable.

The story is short, easy to read and engaging. Although, when Tryss meets Aiden, the book feels less engaging. I started to lose some interest since it was more planning and talking rather than interacting with the town. The beginning was super fun when Tryss was exploring the town, it felt creepy. But when she meets Aiden the creepiness factor starts to diminish.

I did have a fun time reading this and I am glad to have had an opportunity to read it. The premise was great, but the dialogue and interactions between Aiden and Tryss hindered the story for me. I did appreciate that the horror theme of the book wasn’t extreme (again more Twilight Zone horror) but there is a lot of use of the ‘f’ word (in the event a teen is reading this just as a fyi).

While the ending felt spoiled to me, I did like the ending and felt it kept with the Twilight type feel. I do wish there was a deeper dive into the town and the Barbs but it was a short read. If it was longer I would have liked to read more about why the town is the way it is and how the Barbs are the way they are and why.

[Meghan (TheBookGoblin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC recieved in echange for an honest review

First 1/3: ⭐⭐⭐
Last 2/3: ⭐⭐

Despite this, I decided to still put 3 stars for GR because I do appreciate that it takes effort to write a book.

I really waffled back and forth about my rating for Bethesda. I would say the first third of the novela was a solid 3 star. It was suffieciently creepy with nods to the 2000s House of Wax remake (one of my favourite movies from that era) and was chock full of millenial refrences. Tryss was pretty obviously a self-insert character for the author, which is fine it usually helps make the character more relatable...

But tell me how this fun, sarcastic woman (seeminlgy in her thirties based on context clues) meets a suspiciously perfect-for-her emo boy and instantly turns into a pick-me girl I would have rolled my eyes at in ninth grade?? From the time she met Aiden to almost the last chapter, Tryss was annoying and childish (they both talk like teenagers) and the story became a rushed slapstick dark comedy with moments of:

'oh no there's only one bed 🤭'
'oh no we're hiding together in coffin 😝'
'I have a penatgram tatoo and wear an upside-down cross because I am GOTH 💀'

While the last chapter and ending overall did bring me back around, the last two thirds of Bethesda felt like fanfiction written by a teenager. It was super disappointing because I really liked the beginning, but I think Lisa Morris will need to brush up on her adult writing skills a bit beforre this ever gets picked up by mass market publishing.

I still found it entertaining, but I'm glad I didn't pay for it.

[Nicole Veldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you read this book, expect dead people.. a lot of dead people 🤭

What’s it about?
Tryss just wants to get home to say goodbye to her dad before he passes away, but when she pulls off the freeway to find a gas station, she ends up stuck in Bethesda. It's a backwoods town with no cell service and a car that won’t start. When she explores it she finds out the town is filled with corpses. The only living citizens are the Barbs; they all look the same and may seem friendly but looks can be deceiving. Eventually Tryss meets Aiden, who’s been stuck in Bethesda for six months and has all but given up hope of escaping. They team up to figure out the town’s deadly—and just plain weird—secrets, but will the town actually let them leave? 👀

My thoughts
This was such a fun and weird book. It was short and easy to read, I literally finished it in a day. It had an eerie atmosphere (what other can you expect with all the corpses lying around haha) with enough creepy aspects. However, not a lot of really scary things happened. For instance, they didn’t really get caught a lot by the Barbs or something 🫣

I also thought Tryss and Aiden were so chill under the circumstances. I would freak out, but she was just chilling and exploring the town… 😂 That didn’t really help with the level of fear haha. I still really enjoyed it tho! The characters were fun and the Barbs too! I liked to discover the secrets of the town and was rooting for them to escape. The ending was so good as well! ✨️

Overall, a fun and twisted novella 🩷 The idea is so good and it reminded me of the TV-show From. So if you like that one, you need to read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Margo · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!!
SPOILER WARNING
- My summary - Tryss needs to dive home because her dad is dying, and she stops to get gas, but the station is closed, so she goes to the next station, fills up, but her car dies. She doesn’t have any service so she just goes exploring in the town and finds a dead body taxidermied in a house, then goes to the church and a couple other places, all full of corpses! Tryss is goth so apparently none of this is startling and she starts taking pictures. In the morning, she of the town opens up and she gets served breakfast by Barb in town and goes to the library and is helped by Barb and then an antique store and buys a ring that looks like her mother‘s and Barb checks her out. She eventually runs into the only other living person, Aiden, who confirms that everyone in the town is either dead or Barb, and they trap people and eat them or turn them into other Barbs. They try to escape by getting their car fired up again and they actually do!! They make it out and go to her dad who sees Tryss’ ring and says that he got it in a weird little town, Bethesda, full of corpses. After this illuminating and adventurous few days, Tryss takes a nap, but wakes back up in Bethesda as one of the Barbs!
- My review - I’ve never described a book as campy, but this book is the definition of campy. I was a little frustrated about the humor and nonchalance about all the corpses until I read that, then I was along for the roller coaster ride. I could snort at the obsurdity, but still root for Tryss and Aiden. I wasn’t a fan of the ending because I actually wanted them to be one of the survivors! But I understand why it had to be done. Finally, I think its a missed opportunity that all the ladies aren’t named Beth after Bethesda.
- When to review - when going to weird little towns in the Midwest
- Why I read - I just loved this premise and it lived up to the hype!
- Thank you, again NetGalley for this ARC! Truly enjoyed.

[Barb (Boxermommyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those books where after the first page, you just get sucked in and you know you are going to love it? Well, this was one of those books for me.

Tryss is traveling back to her hometown in a race against time to see her father who just entered hospice. Toward the end of her journey, she runs low on gas and finds a small town with an open gas station. However, after filling up, her car won't start. Thus begins Tryss's mission to find someone to help her.

She cannot get cell reception and since it is the middle of the night, no one is on the streets. Tryss knocks on several houses and eventually breaks into one where she finds a preserved woman sitting at the kitchen table. Tryss sends Tryss exploring the whole town and she finds quite a few people, but none can help her because they are all dead. The next morning Tryss notices several open businesses, but all say the town has no working phones and all seem to look like that same person and have the same name - Barb.

I really don't want to say much but if you love horror, then this is one you can't miss. I couldn't wait to see what unfolded and if Tryss would make it home to see her dad and even though the ending left quite a few things open for interpretation, it was still satisfying. In fact, a day later, I find myself still trying to wrap my head around the mysteries of Bethesda. While this novel is only a novella, I find myself wanting more and I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future. So stop reading my review and go preorder a copy!

[Marc Tizura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bethesda is a helluva town and one helluva debut for Lisa Morris

I like to thank Quil&Crow and Netgallery for the arc read.

Where to begin...I traveled a lot and often found myself is those small one stop light towns in the middle of the night with every building dark. My imagination often wondering what happens in these places. Well this book scratches that itch of my imagination is all the best ways possible.
We follow Tryss on her way to see her dying father before she gets trapped in the small town of Bethesda.
The beginning is a little slow but that helps us adjust and builds the world we will inhabit with Tryss and Aiden, another soul trapped in this small town as they plan their escape.
Then there are the Barbs aka the sidewalk people (iykyk), they are creepy and uncomfortable in the best possible way.
There is a well placed mystery about the town with every new discovery only lead to me to wanting more.
I genuinely felt concerned for the two main characters I found myself urging them at times as my palms sweated.
There is humor infused nicely in the book I found myself chuckling often.
And just when you think all is well the twist does come and fits the story perfectly.
If I could compare to something it would be the Twilight Zone episode called Elegy (iykyk) with a much darker and more macabre tilt.
I look forward to seeing more work from the author.
Maybe she will someday revisit Bethesda because there is always room in Bethesda

[Whit Lindeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Quill & Crow Publishing, and Lisa Morris for the ARC!

Protagonist Tryss is trying to get home to her dying father, but runs out of gas, and ends up stranded in a bit of an odd little town. No cell service, no mechanic, time seems to work differently, and, oh, perhaps worst of all, all the people there are dead. Just...dead folks everywhere. And then there are The Barbs, the clones who run the town. They aren't dead, but definitely don't have good intentions for the town's visitors. As the tense story unfolds, we follow Tryss in her quest to a) Figure out WTF is going on in Bethesda, and b) Get TF out of there.

When I got the opportunity to read this horror novella ahead of its June publication date, I snatched it right up, and devoured it immediately. I love a good campy horror story, and this scratched that itch perfectly! So campy, so fun, so tense! The pop culture references spoke to me. But beyond that, this is a well-told escape story, which is something I think everyone can relate to - that struggle to break free of something, whatever that thing may be. The author discusses this in her author's note, and I appreciated her insight, especially her statement that, "We're not doomed to repeat the cycle forever. We're not stuck in Bethesda."
Obviously, this is one I would recommend. Look for it in late June and give it a read!

[Addie DiPalmo · Rating 2 out of 5]

ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴏꜰ ᴇ-ᴀʀᴄ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ

Aw man. As a small-town Indiana girly, I *really* wanted to love this. The idea of being trapped in a creepy time-warped town *is* very Twilight Zone-esque, but this story has some jarring issues.

1. Tryss is just like “cool, whatevs” when she walks into building after building filled with posed corpses. She has no survival instincts, it’s hysterical.

2. The whole nuclear site storyline didn’t really add anything to the story.

3. I think the writing style and “humor” in this book is extremely juvenile. It felt like the author is very out-of-their-element trying to describe that her characters are “hip” and “emo.” Same goes for the pop-culture references etc. This is poorly done satire, unfortunately.

4. The ending is not a win.

The banter is bland, the humor is bland. The horror is bland. Honestly, the best part of this book was the initial, interior food truck descriptions!!

As an Indiana native & having went to IU Bloomington, this was a really cool experience to have small-town Indiana rep, but the story was just not for me. I’d like to see a different take on the Barbs than church-sacrificing & nuclear aftermath…

Thank you to Lisa Morris, Quill and Crow Publishing, and NetGalley for an early copy of Bethesda in exchange for an honest review.

[RavenReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bethesda is a chaotic, fast paced horror novella that fully embraces its own weirdness. It has the uncanny, “something is very wrong here” energy of The Twilight Zone, paired with the glossy, macabre spectacle of House of Wax (but with far more self awareness and payoff). When Tryss and Aiden find themselves stranded in the eerie town of Bethesda, they quickly realize they’re not just dealing with an isolated location, but a deeply unsettling pattern: identical women, all named Barb, and a town filled with preserved taxidermized, plasticized, and frozen in time bodies.

Lisa Morris leans hard into the strangeness. The discovery of bodies and abandoned cars stretching back to the 1940's builds a creeping sense of dread beneath the novella’s almost campy surface. There’s a constant question humming underneath it all: what happened here? And the story keeps you hooked as it spirals further into the bizarre. It’s a wild ride from start to finish: unsettling, absurd, and darkly entertaining. The novella doesn’t overstay its welcome, delivering a punchy, memorable horror experience that’s as fun as it is strange.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lisa Morris, and Quill and Crow Publishing House for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Nikki Kossaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bethesda by Lisa Morris feels like southern gothic roadside horror run through a fever dream a dying town, clone paranoia, and grief that sits in your chest like a stone. Bethesda itself is the real monster here. The kind of town that seems to exist outside of time, where escape feels less and less possible the longer you stay. Every answer only opens another strange door.

The Barbs were easily my favorite part. There is something so unsettling about manufactured kindness, especially when it starts slipping at the seams. They felt campy, eerie, and deeply tragic all at once. Like if Stepford Wives wandered into cosmic horror territory and never came back out.

Underneath all the weirdness and body horror though, this is really a story about trying to get home before loss becomes permanent. Tryss carries that desperation through every terrifying moment, and it gives the book a real emotional pulse beneath all the nightmare imagery.

This is for people who like their horror sticky with atmosphere and just a little mean. Small town uncanny horror where reality feels warped around the edges, where gas stations become liminal spaces, and where grief keeps mutating into something monstrous.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a fun, quick horror novella, Bethesda is a great pick. It’s a short, creepy story that doesn't take itself too seriously. The premise immediately hooks you: Tryss is just trying to drive home to see her sick father when she gets stuck in a backwoods town with no cell service, a dead car battery, and dead citizens.

The weirdest part of the town is definitely the "Barbs", which are a cloned sisterhood of caretakers. I loved the creepy, bizarre vibe of Tryss constantly running into a woman named Barb everywhere she went, from the diner to the antique shop. Watching her explore the town and stumble upon things like corpses in houses and secret rooms in churches was super entertaining.

While it has horror elements, it wasn’t genuinely scary. It actually felt pretty lighthearted at parts. Tryss and her companion Aiden are trying to figure out the town's secrets, but they don't seem overly terrified or desperately motivated to escape. Even so, it was a really fun ride, and the ending drops a twist that you absolutely won't see coming.

If you like a lighthearted creepy vibe and weird backwoods secrets, this one is for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC!

[Aaron Ebling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc read provided by NetGalley - thank you!

Bethesda is an eerie, unsettling thriller that blends the glossy perfection of The Stepford Wives with the disturbing, uncanny atmosphere of House of Wax. From the moment the protagonist arrives in the town, the story cultivates a creeping sense of unease that makes every interaction feel loaded with hidden meaning.

The town of Bethesda feels like a character in its own right: polished, eerie, and deeply wrong beneath the surface.

The constant sense that something was "off" kept me turning the pages. I genuinely struggled to put this book down.

The narrative drip-feeds information in a way that keeps you questioning everything.

I would have loved more insight into why everything was happening in Bethesda. One of the lingering threads that left me wanting more closure was what happened to Aiden?

Bethesda is a gripping, atmospheric thriller with a fantastic sense of dread and a compelling mystery at its core. While I wished for slightly more resolution in certain areas, the reading experience was tense, immersive, and thoroughly engaging. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Lisa Morris.

[Eric Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for bizarre and creepy, take a gander at Bethesda. The dry sarcasm was on full display from the first page, which is sorely missing in the horror/thriller/suspense genres. But more than that was the confusion of just what this town was, not to mention, when this town was. First person POV main character Tryss is heading home because her father is dying. Unfortunately her car runs out of gas and then breaks down in this tiny town close to her destination. At first she feels she’s entered a ghost town (filled with taxidermied humans) before finding other living people (well, one at least) but not finding anyone able or willing to help her. When she finally meets a man having similar experiences hiding in the town, more of the horror comes to fruition. I connected to this book for many reasons, including the similar themes to one of my own novels. The cloned “Barbs” were creepy, the taxidermied bodies sprawled over the town were morbid, and the constant state of fear for anyone from the outside world made the ride through this story thrilling.

[Marie Reads a Mystery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tryss is on her way home to see her father before he passes away. She stops for gas in a strange little town called Bethesda and finds she can’t escape when her car won’t start. She runs into Aiden, who has been trapped in the town for six months, and the two team up to investigate the mysterious Bethesda and find a way to escape the cloned Barbs, who populate the town.
The dialogue between Tryss and Aiden was a bit distracting at times. It seemed as though it was the same person talking, and for me, they didn’t have their own voice.
This was a novella-length book and was a fast read. I loved the twist at the end, and the story was very well written and engaging. The creepiness of the town was fun to read and I will absolutely be on the lookout for Lisa Morris’ books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own

[Zimbellina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tryss’ car runs out of gas in a small town and then won’t start when she tries to turn it on after filling up the tank. She meets a bunch of Barb’s and a lot of dead bodies.

This was a weird book for me to read because the Author’s Note that clearly states the ending of the book was at the start. And I read it. So I went in knowing the ending of this book, which kind of made the whole story a bit irrelevant. I would have enjoyed the story much more without knowing the ending. I’d suggest not putting the ending of the book in the Author’s Note if you choose to place the Note at the front of the book.

Knowing the ending distracted me the whole time and I had no investment, but I enjoyed the weirdness of the story. It didn’t really explain much, just kinda strange.

Thanks NetGalley for the copy of the book.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bethesda is a short, fast-paced horror novel that makes for a perfect summer afternoon read. The story moves quickly, the atmosphere is unsettling, and it gave me strong House of Wax vibes, which I really enjoyed.

The mystery surrounding the strange events kept me turning the pages, and I appreciated how easy it was to read in a single sitting.

My main issue was with the protagonist's reactions. As increasingly disturbing things started happening, she often seemed surprisingly calm and unconcerned, which made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story.

Overall, this was an entertaining and atmospheric horror read that I'd recommend to readers looking for something quick, creepy, and easy to binge.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for this ARC!!

[Jammedinpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 stars rounded down

Oh man. Whatever you do, do NOT read the author’s note. Cause why would you spoil your own book like that 💀

This book has its flaws, but first, the good. This short book gripped me from the start. The horror and suspense was written so well, I felt like my eyes were feasting on the pages. I loved that it was fast-paced too.

But as soon as Aiden was thrown into the mix, that’s when the hype died down. It lost most of the horror to give way for... romance? Really? There’s still an underlying plot in all that, but it doesn’t really get explained well. The humor and dialogue were so cliche, it read like a YA novel.

I’d recommend watching the TV series “From” cause it’s pretty much the same plot, but done excellently.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for providing me with this ARC.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Wax meets From in Lisa Morris's debut horror novel Bethesda. On the way to see her dying dad, Tryss runs out of gas and winds up trapped in the bizarre small town of Bethesda, where cloned 'Barbs' abound and taxidermied people are posed around the shops and homes. Using a lot of fun movie references and dark humor, this fast-paced book is both creepy and quirky.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters. I felt like the ending was a little quick but overall it was a great mix of creepy and fun that I would definitely recommend. It is perfect for readers who enjoy small town horror, clones, and inescapable places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quill & Crow Publishing House for the ARC!

[Jomilojuluvstoreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Going into this, I expected a full-on horror novel, but what I got was something much creepier. The story is unsettling from start to finish, with an eerie atmosphere and a sense of weirdness.

The strangest part of the town has to be those women with the same faces and names. There was a “Barb” everywhere. It was bizarre, creepy, and honestly one of the best parts of the book.

That said, I wasn't a fan of the ending. After all the buildup, I think a more meaningful conclusion would have worked better. It felt like the author was aiming for a shocking horror-style twist, but it didn't quite fit the rest of the story. Because of that, I'm giving this just 4 stars. Not every book needs a big, dramatic twist ending to make an impact.

[Clairiefaerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bethesda is such a creepy little story, I really enjoyed it. It really felt like an episode of the twilight zone or are you afraid of the dark. I flew through it quickly but I think it will stay with me for a long time.

I liked the small town setting and all the retro equipment (even if the story takes place in 2024). I really liked Tryss relationship with Aiden, bonding over your emo phase in a crisis felt very authentic. The ending was incredibly unsettling and the Barb’s were terrifying.

If you are looking for a quick read that gets scarier the more you think about it then I highly recommend this one, I’ll be avoiding road trips for a while.

Thank you to Quill and Crow publishing and NetGallet for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[GJO AND PUPS · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book! Its felt like From, Twighlight zone and House of Wax teamed up to creep me out!

I really liked how this preyed on all of my gas station / remote village fears and did exactly what my intrusive thoughts tell me would happen if I needed petrol during a reload trip.

Tryss is a truly likeable character and very relatable. She narrates her detour with whit and terror in equal measures. The level of unease increased with each new 'character" introduction and the author really knows how to paint a picture! I was really satisfied with the ending until it sucker punched me . Absolutely loved this one!

[ChanaReadsHorror · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a wild ride. I went in thinking one thing, and it was not what I was expecting in all the right ways. This book was odd, strange, unique and fun all rolled into one. It was sci-fi meets horror and they both worked so well together, not one genre outshined the other. The world building was so good, I was able to picture everything in my head. I did not want to stop reading once I started. If you are a fan of fallout, the twilight zone, or even tales from the darkside you will highly enjoy this one.

[danie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc opportunity!

This was such a fun and thrilling novella with such interesting twists and turns that had mt stomach turning over throughout the whole read.

The premise is straight out of "The Twilight Zone" and the author absolutely delivers a spectacular story that not only kept me intrigued throughout, but had me second guessing everything and everyone in the story. I absolutely loved the writing style and the plot and characters were unique and entertaining.

I absolutely would recommend this to fans of the the morbid, unique, and gut wrenching.

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪦📻 Bethesda by Lisa Morris 📻🪦

This was a quick and short novella. I was surprised by how much was packed into it though. The ending was both perfect and also sad 😭😭😭

😱 What to Expect
• Backwoods horror
• Small town
• Clone sisterhood
• Stranded travelers
• Survival horror
_ _ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 3.75 Stars
📅 Pub Date: June 23, 2026
📝 Thank you to Quill & Crow Publishing House and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.