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Remains
Grief is a black house.
How far would you go? What horrors would you endure if it meant you might see the son you thought you'd lost forever?
Driven to a breakdown by the brutal murder of her young son, Lucy Campbell had locked herself away, fallen deep inside herself, become a ghost haunting room 23b of the William Tuke Psychiatric Hospital.
There she'd remained, until the whispering pulled her back, until she found herself once more sitting in her car, calling to the son she had lost, staring into the black panes of the now abandoned house where Alex had died.
Tonight, someone is watching her back.
How far would you go? What horrors would you endure if it meant you might see the son you thought you'd lost forever?
Driven to a breakdown by the brutal murder of her young son, Lucy Campbell had locked herself away, fallen deep inside herself, become a ghost haunting room 23b of the William Tuke Psychiatric Hospital.
There she'd remained, until the whispering pulled her back, until she found herself once more sitting in her car, calling to the son she had lost, staring into the black panes of the now abandoned house where Alex had died.
Tonight, someone is watching her back.
214 pages, Print on Demand
First published August 1, 2019
28 people are currently reading
2629 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
July 10, 2019
4.5 stars! (rounded up for Goodreads)
I get so excited about debut novels. Especially when I've previously read some short stories from the author and loved them. (This happens more times than you think!)
Such is the case with Andrew Cull. Last year, BONES was a surprise hit for horror readers. A dark horse! Cull came out of nowhere and dropped this book of collected horror novellas on us and BAM! BONES made everyone's "Best of the Year" roundup. (it's a must buy if you haven't yet)
REMAINS is Cull's debut novel with a scheduled release date of August 1st, 2019.
It's this reader's opinion that fans of emotional-wrecking-grief-horror, unreliable narrators/protagonists and paranormal visitations should plan on buying this book.
Let's dive in a little deeper! (no spoilers of course)
I'll often hesitate to use the words, "Slow burn" as it pertains to a book because it suggests a negative connotation but I think I can use it appropriately for this book. This story is a slow burn. There is a long period of inactivity during the initial story's set up, Part One titled, "Grief is a Black House". The reader is introduced to our protagonist, Lucy- a woman self-committed to an institution due to mentally crippling grief after the brutal murder of her son, Alex.
Even though the subject matter is emotionally intense, for some reason at this point in the story, I felt like an observer to the events as they were unfolding; I experienced a lack of real investment and engagement with the story. It took a fair amount of time before I settled in and could feel myself getting emotionally tied to the characters.
So I'll be honest and admit that I was struggling a little.
I can pinpoint exactly where it clicked for me. Page 91.
From page 91 until the end, this felt like a different story.
I almost physically felt Cull turning the heat up from a slow simmer to a rapid boil.
As soon as the reader meets the antagonist, this book makes a full transition; A dark tale of grief and loss to straight-up horror, full stop.
There are scenes that got under my skin and unsettled me to the point of turning lights on in the house and wondering if I should keep reading this in bed before sleep.
Scary stuff in these pages; and a painful, shocking conclusion.
It's funny-- in the matter of just a few pages, this book went from 3 stars to a solid 4.5
I don't feel like I can give it 5 stars just because there was that struggle in the beginning for almost 100 pages. I'm almost 100% sure that experience won't be everyone's experience--so please just know that I am just one reader with individual preferences and I'm sharing that with you now.
But honestly, the last half of the book is so gripping--I almost forgot the patience I practiced early on. I highly recommend this book. I think this is a solid debut novel from an up and coming horror author everyone should have on their radar. I'm anticipating big things from Andrew Cull in the future. He knows how to write original, unsettling horror. I'm here for it.
I get so excited about debut novels. Especially when I've previously read some short stories from the author and loved them. (This happens more times than you think!)
Such is the case with Andrew Cull. Last year, BONES was a surprise hit for horror readers. A dark horse! Cull came out of nowhere and dropped this book of collected horror novellas on us and BAM! BONES made everyone's "Best of the Year" roundup. (it's a must buy if you haven't yet)
REMAINS is Cull's debut novel with a scheduled release date of August 1st, 2019.
It's this reader's opinion that fans of emotional-wrecking-grief-horror, unreliable narrators/protagonists and paranormal visitations should plan on buying this book.
Let's dive in a little deeper! (no spoilers of course)
I'll often hesitate to use the words, "Slow burn" as it pertains to a book because it suggests a negative connotation but I think I can use it appropriately for this book. This story is a slow burn. There is a long period of inactivity during the initial story's set up, Part One titled, "Grief is a Black House". The reader is introduced to our protagonist, Lucy- a woman self-committed to an institution due to mentally crippling grief after the brutal murder of her son, Alex.
Even though the subject matter is emotionally intense, for some reason at this point in the story, I felt like an observer to the events as they were unfolding; I experienced a lack of real investment and engagement with the story. It took a fair amount of time before I settled in and could feel myself getting emotionally tied to the characters.
So I'll be honest and admit that I was struggling a little.
I can pinpoint exactly where it clicked for me. Page 91.
From page 91 until the end, this felt like a different story.
I almost physically felt Cull turning the heat up from a slow simmer to a rapid boil.
As soon as the reader meets the antagonist, this book makes a full transition; A dark tale of grief and loss to straight-up horror, full stop.
There are scenes that got under my skin and unsettled me to the point of turning lights on in the house and wondering if I should keep reading this in bed before sleep.
Scary stuff in these pages; and a painful, shocking conclusion.
It's funny-- in the matter of just a few pages, this book went from 3 stars to a solid 4.5
I don't feel like I can give it 5 stars just because there was that struggle in the beginning for almost 100 pages. I'm almost 100% sure that experience won't be everyone's experience--so please just know that I am just one reader with individual preferences and I'm sharing that with you now.
But honestly, the last half of the book is so gripping--I almost forgot the patience I practiced early on. I highly recommend this book. I think this is a solid debut novel from an up and coming horror author everyone should have on their radar. I'm anticipating big things from Andrew Cull in the future. He knows how to write original, unsettling horror. I'm here for it.
July 24, 2021
This is one of the most distressing horror novels that I have ever read. A couple's young son is murdered, and the suffering parents must bear the loss. The mother spends time in a mental institution before leaving to buy the house in which her son was murdered. Here, she attempts to contact his spirit. The absolute bleakness and grotesque events that follow will set any reader on edge. This was a difficult book to endure. It was engrossing from beginning to end, but I will admit that I was glad to get out of the cold when the final chilling page was turned.
September 30, 2019
“She stepped over the threshold and the house swallowed her whole.”
Remains is a heavy book. It is bleak and emotional and it will haunt you. It’s unrelenting in its pain and is an excellent exploration of the hellpit of grief. If you’ve read Hunter Shea’s CREATURE and/or Kealan Patrick Burke’s BLANKY, which both explore anguish and grief manifesting in unimaginable ways, you’ll have an idea of the type of mood I’m talking about.
From the moment I began Remains I was hooked. I’m a sucker for creepy atmosphere and the author sets that up in the first paragraph. It was also loosely based, in part, on recorded true events making it all the more unnerving. It starts out at a creeping pace as the reader is introduced to Lucy who is checking herself out of an institution against her doctor’s wishes. We are quickly entrenched in her grief soaked world but we don’t know her story yet. Small bits of Lucy’s reality are revealed and probably because I’m so nosy, I felt a compulsion to keep reading just one more page to discover more – even when I knew that more was going to be bad for my emotional state.
I read this book in two days which is a rare thing for me unless I’m listening on audio. I guess I’m a sucker for a deeply moving and disturbing story and this delivered on both counts. I’m reluctant to say too much about the actual plot because, as mentioned, the entire story is delivered in slow reveals and I don’t want to spoil any of them. Just know that once the truth is revealed it is HORRIBLE, I mean, it is one of the absolute worst things a person can experience, and the terrible thing that plays back in a few scenes will likely be hard to wash from your brain.
This book is about a house that may or may not be haunted and a woman who is most definitely haunted and if you read it I’m betting you’ll be haunted too. I know it’s going to linger with me for quite a while. This is the kind of horror novel that will break your heart and leave you bleeding from the emotional trauma long after the last page is turned. Prepare thyself!
Remains is a heavy book. It is bleak and emotional and it will haunt you. It’s unrelenting in its pain and is an excellent exploration of the hellpit of grief. If you’ve read Hunter Shea’s CREATURE and/or Kealan Patrick Burke’s BLANKY, which both explore anguish and grief manifesting in unimaginable ways, you’ll have an idea of the type of mood I’m talking about.
From the moment I began Remains I was hooked. I’m a sucker for creepy atmosphere and the author sets that up in the first paragraph. It was also loosely based, in part, on recorded true events making it all the more unnerving. It starts out at a creeping pace as the reader is introduced to Lucy who is checking herself out of an institution against her doctor’s wishes. We are quickly entrenched in her grief soaked world but we don’t know her story yet. Small bits of Lucy’s reality are revealed and probably because I’m so nosy, I felt a compulsion to keep reading just one more page to discover more – even when I knew that more was going to be bad for my emotional state.
I read this book in two days which is a rare thing for me unless I’m listening on audio. I guess I’m a sucker for a deeply moving and disturbing story and this delivered on both counts. I’m reluctant to say too much about the actual plot because, as mentioned, the entire story is delivered in slow reveals and I don’t want to spoil any of them. Just know that once the truth is revealed it is HORRIBLE, I mean, it is one of the absolute worst things a person can experience, and the terrible thing that plays back in a few scenes will likely be hard to wash from your brain.
This book is about a house that may or may not be haunted and a woman who is most definitely haunted and if you read it I’m betting you’ll be haunted too. I know it’s going to linger with me for quite a while. This is the kind of horror novel that will break your heart and leave you bleeding from the emotional trauma long after the last page is turned. Prepare thyself!
July 24, 2020
Aunque no crea en estas cosas, la idea de "basado en hechos reales" siempre me entusiasma. Sé que voy a poder leer un poco más una vez finalizado el libro. Como libro de terror, quedé encantada por completo. Una historia triste y escalofriante a la vez. Cumple con toda la premisa de "casa embrujada", que tanto me gusta.
August 22, 2019
"You reached into the darkness with all your heart, and what have you pulled from it?"
Remains is Andrew Cull's first novel, and it's a great read. This story is creepy and unsettling, and it will stick with you after you are done. The foreword sets you up for a dark and spooky story, and I was excited to see what was going to happen.
It does take a little bit to get going, but it's so worth it once it does. Usually I struggle with slow burn books, but Remains worked for me. It took me a minute to get fully invested, but I was interested in the story the entire time.
I'm not going to say a lot about the story details because you deserve to experience this one on your own. I do want to say that this isn't really a fun read, and it deals with some heavy topics. It got more violent and grim than I expected, so if the synopsis sounds like something that would seriously bother you, I might stay away from this one.
There were some seriously creepy parts, and this is a great grief horror story (and, just because it makes y'all mad, it's a better story than Hereditary). Bones and Remains are both good and unsettling books, and I can't wait to see what Andrew Cull does next!
Remains is Andrew Cull's first novel, and it's a great read. This story is creepy and unsettling, and it will stick with you after you are done. The foreword sets you up for a dark and spooky story, and I was excited to see what was going to happen.
It does take a little bit to get going, but it's so worth it once it does. Usually I struggle with slow burn books, but Remains worked for me. It took me a minute to get fully invested, but I was interested in the story the entire time.
I'm not going to say a lot about the story details because you deserve to experience this one on your own. I do want to say that this isn't really a fun read, and it deals with some heavy topics. It got more violent and grim than I expected, so if the synopsis sounds like something that would seriously bother you, I might stay away from this one.
There were some seriously creepy parts, and this is a great grief horror story (and, just because it makes y'all mad, it's a better story than Hereditary). Bones and Remains are both good and unsettling books, and I can't wait to see what Andrew Cull does next!
December 27, 2020
This is the story of Lucy, who has just spent six months in a psychiatric hospital voluntarily trying to deal with the tragic and brutal murder of her young son, Alex.
The loss of a child is a heart breaking one and I knew this book was going to pull at my heart strings as soon as I read the Foreword. "A work of fiction, but loosely based on recorded events."
Years ago when my daughter was young, we were at a shopping mall. Three story, outdoor area, huge. My daughter went missing. I begun searching everywhere for her, in and out of stores asking people if they had seen my five year old before finally going to the help desk to report a missing child. As soon as I said the words "missing child" I burst into tears. Police and security were called and started going over surveillance video. All I could think was they will catch someone kidnapping her on that video!!!!
My story turned out okay, but it brings tears to my eyes to this day and for many families their story doesn't turn out okay.
I have read some reviews describing the beginning of this book to be a "slow burn" but I think the point was for us to get an understanding of just how traumatized Lucy was and Andrew Cull described it all perfectly. Now, normally an onion can't even make me cry, but my cheeks were wet! I just kept thinking of if I never got my little girl back how much it would destroy my entire world.
Enter the second half of the book and things heat up to a whole new level. It is revealed in gruesome and horrific detail just how Alex was murdered. This did make me pause for a moment.
Then the hauntings in the murder house begin...
This was some supernatural and psychological creepy reading that you don't want to read just before you turn the lights out!!!
Five stars
The loss of a child is a heart breaking one and I knew this book was going to pull at my heart strings as soon as I read the Foreword. "A work of fiction, but loosely based on recorded events."
Years ago when my daughter was young, we were at a shopping mall. Three story, outdoor area, huge. My daughter went missing. I begun searching everywhere for her, in and out of stores asking people if they had seen my five year old before finally going to the help desk to report a missing child. As soon as I said the words "missing child" I burst into tears. Police and security were called and started going over surveillance video. All I could think was they will catch someone kidnapping her on that video!!!!
My story turned out okay, but it brings tears to my eyes to this day and for many families their story doesn't turn out okay.
I have read some reviews describing the beginning of this book to be a "slow burn" but I think the point was for us to get an understanding of just how traumatized Lucy was and Andrew Cull described it all perfectly. Now, normally an onion can't even make me cry, but my cheeks were wet! I just kept thinking of if I never got my little girl back how much it would destroy my entire world.
Enter the second half of the book and things heat up to a whole new level. It is revealed in gruesome and horrific detail just how Alex was murdered. This did make me pause for a moment.
Then the hauntings in the murder house begin...
This was some supernatural and psychological creepy reading that you don't want to read just before you turn the lights out!!!
Five stars
June 11, 2021
'The writing's on the wall!'
This is a really good, highly addictive psychological and supernatural ghost story that deals with the major traumas of poor mental health and personal grief through the loss of a loved one.
Liked the idea that it was roughly based on a true story from the 1970's which the author adapted and used in order to produce his own unique and highly original ghostly fictional horror story.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, but for me felt that with a few tweaks and additions it could have easily made it into the 5-star reading category.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.
Rating: 4.2 dark stars.
This is a really good, highly addictive psychological and supernatural ghost story that deals with the major traumas of poor mental health and personal grief through the loss of a loved one.
Liked the idea that it was roughly based on a true story from the 1970's which the author adapted and used in order to produce his own unique and highly original ghostly fictional horror story.
Thoroughly enjoyed it, but for me felt that with a few tweaks and additions it could have easily made it into the 5-star reading category.
Will definitely be reading more from this author.
Rating: 4.2 dark stars.
August 28, 2020
REMAINS is a perfect blend of real-life heartache (the loss of a child), and a spine-chilling ghost tale. This was the first work by Andrew Cull that I've read, and now I'm a forever fan. His writing is immersive, his pacing and tension building top notch, and his character building deep and complex. Can't wait to see what he churns out next!
September 18, 2023
I was in the mood for a haunted house story, and I wanted to support a newer talent to satisfy the urge. And gee, this was a mixed bag! But overall, I think it is definitely worth a try.
First, the negatives. I was not a fan of the main protagonist, Lucy. Nine months prior to the events of the novel, her son was killed within a house that has now become the target for her unresolved grief and anguish. She returns to the house, abandoned and waiting, it seems, just for her. Now, when you commit to following a character this broken, you better strap in for one gloomy ride. The novel is short, but that's the only mercy you'll find here. It is unrelenting in its depressing, hallucinatory exploration of the depths of complicated grief. She spends most of the novel barely speaking and flitting about like a ghost herself.
Believe me, I am a father, and if something would happen to any of my children, it would take a miracle to have me not become like Lucy or a vengeful killer at heart. But her character got on my nerves. It wasn't entirely the author's fault--he wanted to be sure he didn't impugn the sheer destruction of a mother's psyche from the brutal murder of a child. But he seems to try too hard to tug at our heart strings, so that at times the mood feels self-indulgently emo rather than realistic.
Next comes one of my complaints that may seem to be based on a minor gripe. This book was written during the age of internet, when little effort is required for an author to check on the accuracy of things of which they do not have expertise. Yet Andrew Cull did not make the extra effort. For example, he has Lucy taking temazepam to help her sleep without dreams. He spells it "Tamazepam," which shows that he simply wrote it as he heard it in his mind, but also shows that he didn't know the difference between an actual pharmaceutical and its brand name. There are actually medications to help with vivid or nightmarish dreams, but neither temazepam nor Tamazepam is one of them. I'm not trying to be digital or OCD. The point is that books always have certain "tells" when an author took shortcuts or rushed through a story rather than sweating carefully over a true labor of love.
"But Warren, you prickly pundit of paranormal prose," I hear you protest, "why should we care about such honest mistakes that only someone with your genius knowledge of psychiatric science would notice?" Because it makes me wonder how much of the actual PLOT was thought out. So when things get vague or cease to make sense, and it does, it's hard to argue that the reader just doesn't get the author's genius.
As such, I think the lack of careful writing fails to fill out otherwise solid bones. Perhaps that is why I could not connect completely with Lucy the way the author clearly wants us to. For all the grief and depression and heartache, there is a fundamental lack of pathos. Cull based this novel on a real and tragic incident that he heard about from a friend, and when he talks about this case in his foreword, you can appreciate why he felt compelled to produce this book. But like the temazepam, it felt like Andrew Cull was writing about things he did not fully understand. So the novel is not a hard read simply because the subject matter is not cheerful. It's because somehow the author unintentionally made the central struggle of the protagonist irritating.
Now for the positives. I found the prose to be quite good. Andrew Cull does have a knack for writing accesibly but with a flourish. And you can tell that he is a real horror fan who knows how to tickle the fine hairs of your skin. There are some genuinely chilling moments in this story.
Once the novel kicks into high gear, leaving the reader alone with Lucy in the "empty" murder house, the author's true talent doesn't so much as shine as oozes pitch black ice from putrid skeletal fingers. I have never understood horror fans who say that ghost stories are not scary. I am not scared easily--but THIS is scary. M.R. James clearly was a muse for this part of the novel. I would say that this story is more about a haunted woman, however, than a haunted house. But the scenes involving the house itself alone are worth the price of the book, especially for you ghost story fans. I only wish I cared more about the main character.
As a final note, this book is a perfect illustration of something that annoys me, not so much about this novel itself, but the fleeting nature of the contemporary horror industry. "Remains" has a bit of "wow" factor, and Andrew Cull's ability to deliver spooky chills really impressed readers who wanted old-fashioned goosebumps. But now that the marketing and the hype for this book among the horror community has ended, it has been abandoned in favor of the next ARC from the next new guy, or the newest "extreme" horror, or latest reissue of a Paperback From Hell.
Take a look for yourself. The book was published in 2019. As an experiment, I looked through the dates of the Goodreads reviews, and as I expected, the majority were written within the first year of publication. That means by 2021, there were only a few of us late to the party. The early reviews were glowing. Tons of five star ratings. But the more recent reviews don't quite have the same glow. That's a shame, but that's how it goes.
That's because this is not a 5-star book by any stretch, but it deserves to be read. Well-meaning early reviewers and bloggers promise something ground-breaking, setting up high expectations which can't be met, and so later readers wonder what all the fuss about, finishing the book feeling angry or disappointed or stupid. They then leave a negative review, if they bother reviewing it at all, which then kills the momentum. My point is that I don't want you to be attracted to this book simply because of all the 5-star reviews, because if you do, the odds will be increased that you will come away dissatisfied.
So here's my final thoughts and advice. "Remains" is not a game-changer of supernatural and psychological genre fiction, nor will it be celebrated by those who get a kick out of carnage, and it is too bleak to be approached by those only wanting light-hearted Halloween entertainment. But I do think it is one hell of a ghost story in the end. If you go into it with no expectations and can maintain an open mind through the first act of the book, you will enjoy it for what it is, and it may push some of the right buttons for you. And I do hope more people revisit this story, because Andrew Cull reminds us that true horror does not need a high body count full of disposable characters spewing insipid dialogue with constant obvious references to pop culture.
"Remains" is a contemporary horror with timeless scares.
SCORE: 3.5, rounded to 4 stars
First, the negatives. I was not a fan of the main protagonist, Lucy. Nine months prior to the events of the novel, her son was killed within a house that has now become the target for her unresolved grief and anguish. She returns to the house, abandoned and waiting, it seems, just for her. Now, when you commit to following a character this broken, you better strap in for one gloomy ride. The novel is short, but that's the only mercy you'll find here. It is unrelenting in its depressing, hallucinatory exploration of the depths of complicated grief. She spends most of the novel barely speaking and flitting about like a ghost herself.
Believe me, I am a father, and if something would happen to any of my children, it would take a miracle to have me not become like Lucy or a vengeful killer at heart. But her character got on my nerves. It wasn't entirely the author's fault--he wanted to be sure he didn't impugn the sheer destruction of a mother's psyche from the brutal murder of a child. But he seems to try too hard to tug at our heart strings, so that at times the mood feels self-indulgently emo rather than realistic.
Next comes one of my complaints that may seem to be based on a minor gripe. This book was written during the age of internet, when little effort is required for an author to check on the accuracy of things of which they do not have expertise. Yet Andrew Cull did not make the extra effort. For example, he has Lucy taking temazepam to help her sleep without dreams. He spells it "Tamazepam," which shows that he simply wrote it as he heard it in his mind, but also shows that he didn't know the difference between an actual pharmaceutical and its brand name. There are actually medications to help with vivid or nightmarish dreams, but neither temazepam nor Tamazepam is one of them. I'm not trying to be digital or OCD. The point is that books always have certain "tells" when an author took shortcuts or rushed through a story rather than sweating carefully over a true labor of love.
"But Warren, you prickly pundit of paranormal prose," I hear you protest, "why should we care about such honest mistakes that only someone with your genius knowledge of psychiatric science would notice?" Because it makes me wonder how much of the actual PLOT was thought out. So when things get vague or cease to make sense, and it does, it's hard to argue that the reader just doesn't get the author's genius.
As such, I think the lack of careful writing fails to fill out otherwise solid bones. Perhaps that is why I could not connect completely with Lucy the way the author clearly wants us to. For all the grief and depression and heartache, there is a fundamental lack of pathos. Cull based this novel on a real and tragic incident that he heard about from a friend, and when he talks about this case in his foreword, you can appreciate why he felt compelled to produce this book. But like the temazepam, it felt like Andrew Cull was writing about things he did not fully understand. So the novel is not a hard read simply because the subject matter is not cheerful. It's because somehow the author unintentionally made the central struggle of the protagonist irritating.
Now for the positives. I found the prose to be quite good. Andrew Cull does have a knack for writing accesibly but with a flourish. And you can tell that he is a real horror fan who knows how to tickle the fine hairs of your skin. There are some genuinely chilling moments in this story.
Once the novel kicks into high gear, leaving the reader alone with Lucy in the "empty" murder house, the author's true talent doesn't so much as shine as oozes pitch black ice from putrid skeletal fingers. I have never understood horror fans who say that ghost stories are not scary. I am not scared easily--but THIS is scary. M.R. James clearly was a muse for this part of the novel. I would say that this story is more about a haunted woman, however, than a haunted house. But the scenes involving the house itself alone are worth the price of the book, especially for you ghost story fans. I only wish I cared more about the main character.
As a final note, this book is a perfect illustration of something that annoys me, not so much about this novel itself, but the fleeting nature of the contemporary horror industry. "Remains" has a bit of "wow" factor, and Andrew Cull's ability to deliver spooky chills really impressed readers who wanted old-fashioned goosebumps. But now that the marketing and the hype for this book among the horror community has ended, it has been abandoned in favor of the next ARC from the next new guy, or the newest "extreme" horror, or latest reissue of a Paperback From Hell.
Take a look for yourself. The book was published in 2019. As an experiment, I looked through the dates of the Goodreads reviews, and as I expected, the majority were written within the first year of publication. That means by 2021, there were only a few of us late to the party. The early reviews were glowing. Tons of five star ratings. But the more recent reviews don't quite have the same glow. That's a shame, but that's how it goes.
That's because this is not a 5-star book by any stretch, but it deserves to be read. Well-meaning early reviewers and bloggers promise something ground-breaking, setting up high expectations which can't be met, and so later readers wonder what all the fuss about, finishing the book feeling angry or disappointed or stupid. They then leave a negative review, if they bother reviewing it at all, which then kills the momentum. My point is that I don't want you to be attracted to this book simply because of all the 5-star reviews, because if you do, the odds will be increased that you will come away dissatisfied.
So here's my final thoughts and advice. "Remains" is not a game-changer of supernatural and psychological genre fiction, nor will it be celebrated by those who get a kick out of carnage, and it is too bleak to be approached by those only wanting light-hearted Halloween entertainment. But I do think it is one hell of a ghost story in the end. If you go into it with no expectations and can maintain an open mind through the first act of the book, you will enjoy it for what it is, and it may push some of the right buttons for you. And I do hope more people revisit this story, because Andrew Cull reminds us that true horror does not need a high body count full of disposable characters spewing insipid dialogue with constant obvious references to pop culture.
"Remains" is a contemporary horror with timeless scares.
SCORE: 3.5, rounded to 4 stars
October 6, 2019
This was my first time reading Andy Cull, and it certainly won’t be my last. This Is a haunted house story that delivers. This book is terrifying. I actually felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up while reading this book alone, in my bed, in a dark quiet house. Every time my floor creaked, or my furnace fired up, my nerves became frayed. This was a brutal, emotionally draining read. I have never seen grief portrayed so well on the written page. A real page turner that provides great scares while also putting you through an emotional ringer, making you feel thankful for everything good in your life. Fantastic book!
June 24, 2019
* Review is live on Kendall Reviews! *
In 2018 I was introduced to some fantastic collections. Many of these collections were filled with stories that gripped you, scared you and made you cry.
One such collection that elevated itself for me, was Andrew Cull’s Bones.
This collection really caught my eye starting with the cover and once I finally bought a copy, the words within opened up some intense doors.
Now – I’m one of those. Yup, those reviewers. I’m a reviewer who will typically message an author after reading something that moved me or shook me and thank them. I don’t do it for the interaction or for the off chance that we’ll click and become best friends. I just want them to know that they created something that affected me.
So it was, that I finished Bones and I sent Mr Cull a message on Twitter and said thank you, and why I enjoyed the stories.
Since that time, I’ve interacted and messaged with Andrew a bunch and through that, we’ve become decent online friends. The kind (at least I hope) that if we both, for some odd reason, ended up in the same place at the same time, we’d visit.
Through this burgeoning relationship, I was offered the chance to beta-read Remains, Cull’s new full-length novel. I jumped at the chance. Truthfully, if I would have known how wrecked this book would leave me, I might have second guessed my decision. I’ve been given permission to review the copy I’ve read by Andrew, and from the discussions we’ve had about my experiences with the book, it’s safe to say nothing major is going to change.
So what’s Remains about?
Remains starts out as a slow burn, as we watch this descent into grief. A mother trying to come to grips with the worst thing to ever happen. Her son, taken and murdered. Now she needs and wants closure.
With Lucy, our main character, Cull has created one of the most-realistic figures in a book I’ve come across in some time. She could be my sister, my mother, a friend. She is one of the most developed, grief-filled characters I’ve ever read. You feel her pain, you feel her sorrow and my god does Cull keep crushing the reader’s hearts. At one point I ugly cried three times in a thirty-minute reading stretch.
But don’t fret horror fans. Andrew ensures that this book isn’t just a sad book. Oh no, Cull fills this story with a few dump truck loads of creepiness. You’ll feel that inkling behind you growing during a number of sections. You’ll be pulling your feet up tight, tucking the blankets in, ensuring that as you read and the shadows grow longer, you’ll not leave any of yourself exposed and defenceless.
The house that the majority of the story takes place in, is a magnificent character all on its own. Cull introduces the ‘mythology’ of the house early on when a group of kids arrive. The kids, of course, need to prove their moxy to each other, by telling the story of what happened there, but by also trying to get inside.
From this moment on, Remains gallops forward. What started as a slow burn now becomes a full throttle run through a darkened hallway. We need to get to the door, get into the room and turn on the lights before the shadows and what’s in them get you. Andrew though isn’t content to end the carnage once the lights on. He keeps filling the narrative with more and more clues, as Lucy discovers.
Overall, Cull has created a stunning masterpiece and I know this will feature on numerous “best-of” lists at the end of the year, and rightfully so. I’d wager that this will garner some award consideration and I’m firmly putting this up on my shelf as one of the best ghost tales/paranormal tales I’ve read. Ever.
The secondary characters are fantastic and even though they play a lesser role, Cull has developed great depth for each one. The story features two of the most devastating, horrendous death’s you’ll come across in some time, and you’ll cringe and smile when you see some nods towards Final Destination and Omen all at the same time.
To close up this review and in an effort to keep it spoiler free, I was blown away by the time period this book covered. The symbolism wasn’t lost and it made the ending both a phenomenal finale but also another instance of horrendous grief. Kudos on Andrew for wrapping it up in a truly amazing way.
This is a 2019 must-read, a game changer for Cull, proving his seamless transition from the short story format to the long read, and it shows how effectively he can put the words down on paper from a cinematic vision he has in his mind.
I’m truly humbled and honoured that I was allowed to beta-read this one and I’ll be pre-ordering this for sure once the official release date is announced.
This will most likely be my 2019 book of the year!
In 2018 I was introduced to some fantastic collections. Many of these collections were filled with stories that gripped you, scared you and made you cry.
One such collection that elevated itself for me, was Andrew Cull’s Bones.
This collection really caught my eye starting with the cover and once I finally bought a copy, the words within opened up some intense doors.
Now – I’m one of those. Yup, those reviewers. I’m a reviewer who will typically message an author after reading something that moved me or shook me and thank them. I don’t do it for the interaction or for the off chance that we’ll click and become best friends. I just want them to know that they created something that affected me.
So it was, that I finished Bones and I sent Mr Cull a message on Twitter and said thank you, and why I enjoyed the stories.
Since that time, I’ve interacted and messaged with Andrew a bunch and through that, we’ve become decent online friends. The kind (at least I hope) that if we both, for some odd reason, ended up in the same place at the same time, we’d visit.
Through this burgeoning relationship, I was offered the chance to beta-read Remains, Cull’s new full-length novel. I jumped at the chance. Truthfully, if I would have known how wrecked this book would leave me, I might have second guessed my decision. I’ve been given permission to review the copy I’ve read by Andrew, and from the discussions we’ve had about my experiences with the book, it’s safe to say nothing major is going to change.
So what’s Remains about?
Remains starts out as a slow burn, as we watch this descent into grief. A mother trying to come to grips with the worst thing to ever happen. Her son, taken and murdered. Now she needs and wants closure.
With Lucy, our main character, Cull has created one of the most-realistic figures in a book I’ve come across in some time. She could be my sister, my mother, a friend. She is one of the most developed, grief-filled characters I’ve ever read. You feel her pain, you feel her sorrow and my god does Cull keep crushing the reader’s hearts. At one point I ugly cried three times in a thirty-minute reading stretch.
But don’t fret horror fans. Andrew ensures that this book isn’t just a sad book. Oh no, Cull fills this story with a few dump truck loads of creepiness. You’ll feel that inkling behind you growing during a number of sections. You’ll be pulling your feet up tight, tucking the blankets in, ensuring that as you read and the shadows grow longer, you’ll not leave any of yourself exposed and defenceless.
The house that the majority of the story takes place in, is a magnificent character all on its own. Cull introduces the ‘mythology’ of the house early on when a group of kids arrive. The kids, of course, need to prove their moxy to each other, by telling the story of what happened there, but by also trying to get inside.
From this moment on, Remains gallops forward. What started as a slow burn now becomes a full throttle run through a darkened hallway. We need to get to the door, get into the room and turn on the lights before the shadows and what’s in them get you. Andrew though isn’t content to end the carnage once the lights on. He keeps filling the narrative with more and more clues, as Lucy discovers.
Overall, Cull has created a stunning masterpiece and I know this will feature on numerous “best-of” lists at the end of the year, and rightfully so. I’d wager that this will garner some award consideration and I’m firmly putting this up on my shelf as one of the best ghost tales/paranormal tales I’ve read. Ever.
The secondary characters are fantastic and even though they play a lesser role, Cull has developed great depth for each one. The story features two of the most devastating, horrendous death’s you’ll come across in some time, and you’ll cringe and smile when you see some nods towards Final Destination and Omen all at the same time.
To close up this review and in an effort to keep it spoiler free, I was blown away by the time period this book covered. The symbolism wasn’t lost and it made the ending both a phenomenal finale but also another instance of horrendous grief. Kudos on Andrew for wrapping it up in a truly amazing way.
This is a 2019 must-read, a game changer for Cull, proving his seamless transition from the short story format to the long read, and it shows how effectively he can put the words down on paper from a cinematic vision he has in his mind.
I’m truly humbled and honoured that I was allowed to beta-read this one and I’ll be pre-ordering this for sure once the official release date is announced.
This will most likely be my 2019 book of the year!
April 15, 2020
I think this may be my favourite book of 2019. The most emotionally charged book I have ever read. This is a book so dark that I often had to take breaks whilst reading it and actually had nightmares over it. Read with caution if you have kids, or ever lost a loved one. This is a brutal book on grief. This is a heart wrenching tale drenched in horror.
Remains starts off as a slow burner, we are introduced to the main character of Lucy, a bereaved mother struggling to adapt to life without her son. I had to admit at the beginning I didn't think much of her but as the book progressed I began to identify more with her. Initially I thought this was just going to be a really sad tale on the nature of grief but it is so much more a true horror novel.
Remains is a book that won't let you go, there's no respite to the darkness as we follows Lucy's journey of recovery after the death of her only child after she checks out of a psychiatric ward. She's looking for closure, living the nightmare each day everyday. There's people on hand to help her but how can you comfort a grieving mother? How can you make things right? She refuses everyone's help, shuts everyone out. She's a mother on a mission.
Unlike everyone else, she just can't leave her son behind, even if he has passed on. She won't forget him and move on like everyone else. She's still his mum. The urge to be with him is too strong to resist and she finds herself going back to where her son was killed.
Andrew Cull is an amazing writer. It's hard to believe this is his debut novel as it so accomplished. He creates a really intense threat of horror from the first page. There's very few books that can scare me, but this is one of them. The house, 1428 Montgomery, is terrifying. Andrew Cull conjures up a real presence of evil within its walls. If you like haunted house stories this is definitely up your street.
Remains starts off as a slow burner, we are introduced to the main character of Lucy, a bereaved mother struggling to adapt to life without her son. I had to admit at the beginning I didn't think much of her but as the book progressed I began to identify more with her. Initially I thought this was just going to be a really sad tale on the nature of grief but it is so much more a true horror novel.
Remains is a book that won't let you go, there's no respite to the darkness as we follows Lucy's journey of recovery after the death of her only child after she checks out of a psychiatric ward. She's looking for closure, living the nightmare each day everyday. There's people on hand to help her but how can you comfort a grieving mother? How can you make things right? She refuses everyone's help, shuts everyone out. She's a mother on a mission.
Unlike everyone else, she just can't leave her son behind, even if he has passed on. She won't forget him and move on like everyone else. She's still his mum. The urge to be with him is too strong to resist and she finds herself going back to where her son was killed.
Andrew Cull is an amazing writer. It's hard to believe this is his debut novel as it so accomplished. He creates a really intense threat of horror from the first page. There's very few books that can scare me, but this is one of them. The house, 1428 Montgomery, is terrifying. Andrew Cull conjures up a real presence of evil within its walls. If you like haunted house stories this is definitely up your street.
September 10, 2019
This fantastic debut horror novel centers around Lucy who has been in a psychiatric hospital after the brutal murder of her son. She is drawn to the house where he died. Remains is non-stop horror with every creepy sentence. It meanders a bit at the beginning but explodes from the midpoint until the end. I will definitely be picking up anything that Andrew Cull writes.
September 1, 2019
Wow. What a gut-punch, a truly heart- and brain-wrenching book. You get the full body experience with this novel.
This was a book I sat down to try few pages of before going to sleep and I was so consumed that all of a sudden it was 1 AM and I didn’t know how I was going to sleep at all.
Remains is a story about grief and how far one is willing to go to feel close to someone they’ve lost. It’s about getting stuck in the oppressive cycle of grief so deep that it blinds you to what’s moving forward around you. It wonders about the potential physical manifestation of that grief—is it good? Bad? Does it even exist beyond the mind of the griever?
While the narrative does build slowly through the first half of the book, I felt that the time spent with Lucy was integral to the reader getting to know her, getting to deeply resonate with her pain and really feeling the black hole she’s sunk into. It is a bleak place, a place you might be willing to do anything to get out of. This setup left me emotionally raw and completely invested in the book.
By the time the proverbial s**t starts hitting the fan, I was willing to follow this story anywhere.
Cull is an emotion driven writer, and he doesn’t pull his punches. This is a haunted house story that will sit deep in your bones, and it’s one I can highly recommend.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
This was a book I sat down to try few pages of before going to sleep and I was so consumed that all of a sudden it was 1 AM and I didn’t know how I was going to sleep at all.
Remains is a story about grief and how far one is willing to go to feel close to someone they’ve lost. It’s about getting stuck in the oppressive cycle of grief so deep that it blinds you to what’s moving forward around you. It wonders about the potential physical manifestation of that grief—is it good? Bad? Does it even exist beyond the mind of the griever?
While the narrative does build slowly through the first half of the book, I felt that the time spent with Lucy was integral to the reader getting to know her, getting to deeply resonate with her pain and really feeling the black hole she’s sunk into. It is a bleak place, a place you might be willing to do anything to get out of. This setup left me emotionally raw and completely invested in the book.
By the time the proverbial s**t starts hitting the fan, I was willing to follow this story anywhere.
Cull is an emotion driven writer, and he doesn’t pull his punches. This is a haunted house story that will sit deep in your bones, and it’s one I can highly recommend.
My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
January 9, 2020
My review from High Fever Books:
Andrew Cull’s novel is not to be trifled with. As a debut novel, this book reads like someone who has been penning long fiction for years. It is polished, engaging, and a great read. I was fortunate enough to read Cull’s collection, Bones, last year so I knew what to expect in terms of writing ability and imagery, or so I thought.
I had no idea.
The journey we take with Lucy Campbell covers levels of grief beyond anything in my experience. In the Foreword, Cull makes note that this tale is loosely based on a true story of San Francisco involving deaths, seances, possessions, and exorcisms. I was so wrapped up in Andrew’s fictional story that I neglected to remember this part until I looked back over my notes in preparation for this review. I do want to note that there are issues involving child death and suicide throughout, just as a heads up for anyone who might need it.
I like the way in which I had to constantly ask myself what was real and what was a product of Lucy Campbell’s grief, and the side characters play off of Lucy in a way that exacerbates the dread. 1428 Montgomery is a terrifying place either way, and I appreciate the power Cull gives to the reader. WE make up our own minds. There are most definitely two interpretations (or more) up for grabs here. The lines between the surreal and reality are blurred, mostly because of the perfectly crafted unreliable narrator we find in Lucy, and I found myself wrapped up mentally in the world he created. And sometimes in Lucy’s mind. THAT was terrifying.
The horror? Beyond the psychological, there are vivid, gory masterpieces that play out like a horror film on the page. I recently read Ketchum’s Off Season, and there is a scene in Remains that did the same job of unsettling my mind and making me squirm. It was GROSS. I loved it! Everything seems to be woven just right, and Remains will invade your brain, smash your emotions, and then dance on the pieces that are left.
Andrew Cull’s novel is not to be trifled with. As a debut novel, this book reads like someone who has been penning long fiction for years. It is polished, engaging, and a great read. I was fortunate enough to read Cull’s collection, Bones, last year so I knew what to expect in terms of writing ability and imagery, or so I thought.
I had no idea.
The journey we take with Lucy Campbell covers levels of grief beyond anything in my experience. In the Foreword, Cull makes note that this tale is loosely based on a true story of San Francisco involving deaths, seances, possessions, and exorcisms. I was so wrapped up in Andrew’s fictional story that I neglected to remember this part until I looked back over my notes in preparation for this review. I do want to note that there are issues involving child death and suicide throughout, just as a heads up for anyone who might need it.
I like the way in which I had to constantly ask myself what was real and what was a product of Lucy Campbell’s grief, and the side characters play off of Lucy in a way that exacerbates the dread. 1428 Montgomery is a terrifying place either way, and I appreciate the power Cull gives to the reader. WE make up our own minds. There are most definitely two interpretations (or more) up for grabs here. The lines between the surreal and reality are blurred, mostly because of the perfectly crafted unreliable narrator we find in Lucy, and I found myself wrapped up mentally in the world he created. And sometimes in Lucy’s mind. THAT was terrifying.
The horror? Beyond the psychological, there are vivid, gory masterpieces that play out like a horror film on the page. I recently read Ketchum’s Off Season, and there is a scene in Remains that did the same job of unsettling my mind and making me squirm. It was GROSS. I loved it! Everything seems to be woven just right, and Remains will invade your brain, smash your emotions, and then dance on the pieces that are left.
December 26, 2019
I think I need to accept that horror, like any genre, has many layers of talent on its shelves. And once you have read the great horror novels, the rest are just, well, not so great at all. This book falls into that latter category for me.
For such a short book, it felt interminably long. One would think, knowing the set-up already, that a direction for the narrative would materialize rather easily, and quickly. Alas, the book wanders around for about 80% of its pages, unable/unwilling to pick a path. Ghost story? Gory slashfest? Atmospheric character study? Subtle descent into madness? Where are we going here? We also get too many people traveling the pages of this book, which lends to the ambiguous plotting. I never felt scared, sad, concerned, titillated, grossed out, or interested, to be frank. Sure, there is no denying the loss of a child is horrific, and the manner of that loss can compound the grief, but I didn't feel that here. Things just happened, with the usual elements included. We all know what they are. Great horror hard to do.
Which ultimately brings me back to my introductory note. The great horror writers spoil us. And a book like this just doesn't measure up, not even close. A novella is already a tough mode, as you don't have the throat punch rapidity of the short story, but nor do you have the gradual bleeding out of the novel to make your case. You are stuck in the middle (pun intended) and have to get things going quickly, but not too many things, mind you. Can't die too soon, nor leave survival as a possibility. Takes skill and a deft touch. Andrew Cull needs to develop that. I will go and find his previous book, "Bones", just because I enjoy being mistaken about an author.
But I would not recommend this book unless you are OK with, well, just OK. I found it dull and overwrought, almost like you are supposed to provide your own atmosphere Because Horror, you know?
For such a short book, it felt interminably long. One would think, knowing the set-up already, that a direction for the narrative would materialize rather easily, and quickly. Alas, the book wanders around for about 80% of its pages, unable/unwilling to pick a path. Ghost story? Gory slashfest? Atmospheric character study? Subtle descent into madness? Where are we going here? We also get too many people traveling the pages of this book, which lends to the ambiguous plotting. I never felt scared, sad, concerned, titillated, grossed out, or interested, to be frank. Sure, there is no denying the loss of a child is horrific, and the manner of that loss can compound the grief, but I didn't feel that here. Things just happened, with the usual elements included. We all know what they are. Great horror hard to do.
Which ultimately brings me back to my introductory note. The great horror writers spoil us. And a book like this just doesn't measure up, not even close. A novella is already a tough mode, as you don't have the throat punch rapidity of the short story, but nor do you have the gradual bleeding out of the novel to make your case. You are stuck in the middle (pun intended) and have to get things going quickly, but not too many things, mind you. Can't die too soon, nor leave survival as a possibility. Takes skill and a deft touch. Andrew Cull needs to develop that. I will go and find his previous book, "Bones", just because I enjoy being mistaken about an author.
But I would not recommend this book unless you are OK with, well, just OK. I found it dull and overwrought, almost like you are supposed to provide your own atmosphere Because Horror, you know?
July 7, 2021
Remains is brutal and quite literally my worst nightmare as a mother come true. The murder of your child. With this in mind, it was confronting to read but it hooked me in immediately and didn't let go until the end.
Remains follows Lucy, a mother who loses her child to murder and is left trying to come to terms with what happened. Witnessing her journey with grief is overwhelming to say the least. Lucy as a character is multi-faceted, complex and feels real. She is flawed which only serves to humanise her and her grief more as she grapples with trying to come to terms with the loss of her son.
Paranormal elements are intertwined here when Lucy decides to go back to the abandoned house where her son was brutally murdered. Lucy accidentally makes contact with darker forces in an effort to contact her son.
Andrew's writing is beautiful and immersive. I found the pacing perfect and didn't want to put the book down. I stayed up late reading Remains.
If you're a fan of grief horror you need to read this one. You won't regret it.
Remains follows Lucy, a mother who loses her child to murder and is left trying to come to terms with what happened. Witnessing her journey with grief is overwhelming to say the least. Lucy as a character is multi-faceted, complex and feels real. She is flawed which only serves to humanise her and her grief more as she grapples with trying to come to terms with the loss of her son.
Paranormal elements are intertwined here when Lucy decides to go back to the abandoned house where her son was brutally murdered. Lucy accidentally makes contact with darker forces in an effort to contact her son.
Andrew's writing is beautiful and immersive. I found the pacing perfect and didn't want to put the book down. I stayed up late reading Remains.
If you're a fan of grief horror you need to read this one. You won't regret it.
August 19, 2019
STANDOUT READ OF THE YEAR!!!
I was lucky enough to receive and ARC copy - which in no way shapes my review - of Andrew's latest book, Remains. Did I expect to be good? Hell yeah! Did I expect it to be one of the best books I have read in the last few years (Potentially of all time?) Hell no! But it was. This book blew me away, Its not common that myself (or most people in general) go looking for an experience that will crush their soul, break their heart, scare the shit out of them, and actually enjoy it, but this book is the exception.
I'd place this novel in the company of Pet Semetary and The Fisherman in regards to the impact it had on me and the themes it explores. Hell, you can't get better company than that!
5 stars - Smashed it out of the park Mr Cull.
I was lucky enough to receive and ARC copy - which in no way shapes my review - of Andrew's latest book, Remains. Did I expect to be good? Hell yeah! Did I expect it to be one of the best books I have read in the last few years (Potentially of all time?) Hell no! But it was. This book blew me away, Its not common that myself (or most people in general) go looking for an experience that will crush their soul, break their heart, scare the shit out of them, and actually enjoy it, but this book is the exception.
I'd place this novel in the company of Pet Semetary and The Fisherman in regards to the impact it had on me and the themes it explores. Hell, you can't get better company than that!
5 stars - Smashed it out of the park Mr Cull.
November 9, 2019
So very scary! Didn’t want to stop reading; the story really got a grip on me. Recommend it to all horror lovers!!
June 5, 2022
TW: Murder, loss of a child, depression, mentions of suicide, divorce, blasphemy
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Driven to a breakdown by the brutal murder of her young son, Lucy Campbell had locked herself away, fallen deep inside herself, become a ghost haunting room 23b of the William Tuke Psychiatric Hospital.There she'd remained, until the whispering pulled her back, until she found herself once more sitting in her car, calling to the son she had lost, staring into the black panes of the now abandoned house where Alex had died.
Release Date: August 1st, 2019
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Pages: 203
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
What I Liked:
1. Mention of the Zodiac killer
2. The plot of this book on paper sounded creepy and heartbreaking
3. The book read fast
4. The writing style was okay
What I Didn't Like:
1. Chapters too short
2. Never really get to know Lucy
3. A lot of errors
4. Some parts of the book were confusing
Overall Thoughts: How did Lucy get the job at The Chronicle? She is released from the hospital and starts at The Chronicle shortly afterwards, but how did she get the job when she's been gone for 6 months?
It bothered me that the chapters were so short. I would be getting into the story and then the chapter ends. It makes me feel as though I can't get immersed into the story.
There was a scene with some kids but it says there are 3 shadows but then goes on to name 4 kids that are there.
This book lost me when she goes and buys the house her son was murdered in. Ummm okay. So there are so so many problems with this. First isn’t the owners of the house the ones that owned it when her son was murdered there? Why would they sell this house to her? Second where did she just come up with money to buy that she offered well above asking price? We don’t even know anything about her to say if this is even possible. Does she share an account with her husband even though they are getting a divorce? Oh and then rushing through the paperwork to get the house in 36 hours. No, no, no!
Final Thoughts: I hate to dnf a book but this one just had too much wrong with it that I just couldn’t get past. I felt like there were too many plot holes. Not enough character backgrounds. Not getting to know the characters just made me not care about what happens to them. Her boy was just a boy that died in the book and I had no emotion to it. Not knowing anything about Lucy and her only character device was that she lost her son just wasn’t enough for me.
It says in the forward that this is loosely based on a true story so I suppose that is interesting.
Recommend For:
• People that like short books
• Short chapters
• Ghost stories
• Unreliable narrators
• Mentions of true crime | Zodiac Killer
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:Driven to a breakdown by the brutal murder of her young son, Lucy Campbell had locked herself away, fallen deep inside herself, become a ghost haunting room 23b of the William Tuke Psychiatric Hospital.There she'd remained, until the whispering pulled her back, until she found herself once more sitting in her car, calling to the son she had lost, staring into the black panes of the now abandoned house where Alex had died.
Release Date: August 1st, 2019
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Pages: 203
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
What I Liked:
1. Mention of the Zodiac killer
2. The plot of this book on paper sounded creepy and heartbreaking
3. The book read fast
4. The writing style was okay
What I Didn't Like:
1. Chapters too short
2. Never really get to know Lucy
3. A lot of errors
4. Some parts of the book were confusing
Overall Thoughts: How did Lucy get the job at The Chronicle? She is released from the hospital and starts at The Chronicle shortly afterwards, but how did she get the job when she's been gone for 6 months?
It bothered me that the chapters were so short. I would be getting into the story and then the chapter ends. It makes me feel as though I can't get immersed into the story.
There was a scene with some kids but it says there are 3 shadows but then goes on to name 4 kids that are there.
This book lost me when she goes and buys the house her son was murdered in. Ummm okay. So there are so so many problems with this. First isn’t the owners of the house the ones that owned it when her son was murdered there? Why would they sell this house to her? Second where did she just come up with money to buy that she offered well above asking price? We don’t even know anything about her to say if this is even possible. Does she share an account with her husband even though they are getting a divorce? Oh and then rushing through the paperwork to get the house in 36 hours. No, no, no!
Final Thoughts: I hate to dnf a book but this one just had too much wrong with it that I just couldn’t get past. I felt like there were too many plot holes. Not enough character backgrounds. Not getting to know the characters just made me not care about what happens to them. Her boy was just a boy that died in the book and I had no emotion to it. Not knowing anything about Lucy and her only character device was that she lost her son just wasn’t enough for me.
It says in the forward that this is loosely based on a true story so I suppose that is interesting.
Recommend For:
• People that like short books
• Short chapters
• Ghost stories
• Unreliable narrators
• Mentions of true crime | Zodiac Killer
IG | Blog
November 28, 2020
"Grief is a black house."
Lucy Campbell has a terrible breakdown after the brutal murder of her young son and she decides to lock herself in a psychiatric hospital, hoping to find some peace of mind and the power to move on with her life. But the abandoned house where his son tragically lost his life is calling her, giving her a morbid hope that she could find answers there.
But what she finds there is not what she was looking for...
After falling in love with Andrew Cull's beautiful writing and dark atmospheres in his previous work called Bones (a collection of horror stories which you all should read), I was really excited about reading his first novel Remains and... wow. I absolutely loved it. Let me shortly explain why (no spoilers!).
As the author himself described it, Remains is a proper "slow burn" because there is a long and deep presentation of the main character, Lucy, her obsessive thoughts and the heavy grief that is now part of her. The first half, which lacks in action, is however necessary to build anticipation and get up ready to be horrified from what's about to happen. I was glued to this book, especially its second half, which is packed with unexpected events, shocking twists that made my jaw drop a few times and a general feeling of... fear. The supernatural element is obviously part of it, but mostly the horror comes from the human feelings, the dark grief, the obsession, the pain of a childless mother and what she's willing to do to find her peace.
In some ways, it reminded me of the gripping painful heartache that I experienced while reading Pet Sematary by Stephen King (which is one of my favorite books ever).
Remains is brilliant. A book that I would reread immediately.
It's beautifully written, unputdownable (short chapters!) and an amazing debut novel. I highly recommend it to all horror lovers and to those who are addicted to spine-shilling stories as I am! Thank you so much Andrew for sending me a copy of your book all the way from Australia!
5 stars!
Lucy Campbell has a terrible breakdown after the brutal murder of her young son and she decides to lock herself in a psychiatric hospital, hoping to find some peace of mind and the power to move on with her life. But the abandoned house where his son tragically lost his life is calling her, giving her a morbid hope that she could find answers there.
But what she finds there is not what she was looking for...
After falling in love with Andrew Cull's beautiful writing and dark atmospheres in his previous work called Bones (a collection of horror stories which you all should read), I was really excited about reading his first novel Remains and... wow. I absolutely loved it. Let me shortly explain why (no spoilers!).
As the author himself described it, Remains is a proper "slow burn" because there is a long and deep presentation of the main character, Lucy, her obsessive thoughts and the heavy grief that is now part of her. The first half, which lacks in action, is however necessary to build anticipation and get up ready to be horrified from what's about to happen. I was glued to this book, especially its second half, which is packed with unexpected events, shocking twists that made my jaw drop a few times and a general feeling of... fear. The supernatural element is obviously part of it, but mostly the horror comes from the human feelings, the dark grief, the obsession, the pain of a childless mother and what she's willing to do to find her peace.
In some ways, it reminded me of the gripping painful heartache that I experienced while reading Pet Sematary by Stephen King (which is one of my favorite books ever).
Remains is brilliant. A book that I would reread immediately.
It's beautifully written, unputdownable (short chapters!) and an amazing debut novel. I highly recommend it to all horror lovers and to those who are addicted to spine-shilling stories as I am! Thank you so much Andrew for sending me a copy of your book all the way from Australia!
5 stars!
January 20, 2020
”Don’t go back to that house, Lucy.”
This book tore me apart, creeped me out and made me angry! Those are all the necessary emotions that make a book amazing, IMO.
Following Lucy through her grief was sometimes upsetting, because of the decisions she sometimes made but underneath it all, grief can make you do some weird crazy things. I truly felt her sorrow and her need to get closer to her son. I can’t even fathom going through what Lucy went through without losing myself completely.
Great story!!
This book tore me apart, creeped me out and made me angry! Those are all the necessary emotions that make a book amazing, IMO.
Following Lucy through her grief was sometimes upsetting, because of the decisions she sometimes made but underneath it all, grief can make you do some weird crazy things. I truly felt her sorrow and her need to get closer to her son. I can’t even fathom going through what Lucy went through without losing myself completely.
Great story!!
October 31, 2019
This was a very unique take on a haunting. It was heartbreaking at times reading about the feelings of a mother who has lost her child. There were some very chilling moments as well. I had a sense of foreboding through much of the book. It ended up turning out completely different from what I expected, and that is a good thing. I look forward to reading more from Andrew Cull!
June 19, 2020
One of the most genuinely scary books I have read this decade.
May 14, 2020
WOW.
Finished this in one day, it's been quite a while since I can remember that a book was this gripping that I couldn't let go.
The scariest books I have ever read in my life were all written by Jonathan Aycliffe (Whispers In The Dark, Naomi's Room, The Vanishment). The man has got a unique gift, a unique talent that sets him apart from every other writer out there. He knows how to make you experience a story, really experience it and in the most unsettling captivating way.
Remains by Andrew Cull is the closest I have read to date that comes close to that experience. There are no words to describe how gripping this tale is, how it sucks you in and at the end spits you out. You've been on quite the journey. What an absolutely fantastic novel, what a story. It managed to make me cry, look behind me at every sound and skip every day life just to continue reading.
Well done Andrew Cull, well done!!
Finished this in one day, it's been quite a while since I can remember that a book was this gripping that I couldn't let go.
The scariest books I have ever read in my life were all written by Jonathan Aycliffe (Whispers In The Dark, Naomi's Room, The Vanishment). The man has got a unique gift, a unique talent that sets him apart from every other writer out there. He knows how to make you experience a story, really experience it and in the most unsettling captivating way.
Remains by Andrew Cull is the closest I have read to date that comes close to that experience. There are no words to describe how gripping this tale is, how it sucks you in and at the end spits you out. You've been on quite the journey. What an absolutely fantastic novel, what a story. It managed to make me cry, look behind me at every sound and skip every day life just to continue reading.
Well done Andrew Cull, well done!!
September 16, 2019
Remains follows Lucy Campbell in the aftermath of her son Alex’s brutal murder. She becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to him in the final hours of his life. After a six month stay in a psychiatric hospital, Lucy signs herself out and begins sitting in her car outside the house where Alex was killed. She’s sure that the answers and a chance to communicate with her son are inside.
The parts of this book that were set in the house had me wanting to cover my eyes and keep the lights on. Cull mentioned in the foreword that this novel is a work of fiction, but its story is loosely based on recorded events. He definitely knows how to write horror. But a lot of this story is about grief and he writes that well, too. I highly recommend this one. Thank you so much Andrew for sending me a copy of your book all the way from Australia!
The parts of this book that were set in the house had me wanting to cover my eyes and keep the lights on. Cull mentioned in the foreword that this novel is a work of fiction, but its story is loosely based on recorded events. He definitely knows how to write horror. But a lot of this story is about grief and he writes that well, too. I highly recommend this one. Thank you so much Andrew for sending me a copy of your book all the way from Australia!
October 5, 2019
A Horrifying read! After part one 'grief is a black house '.... the story turns to the darkest of places.
For a debut novel- this is fantastic. The scene is nicely set at the beginning. But all the while I was able to feel the horrors lurking.
When the evil comes into life just before halfway, my reading became an actual experience.
Lucy returns to a house where her son was obscenely murdered. Here she re-lives a nightmare and we live it with her. I felt her every fear and saw shadows on my sleep! Really scary story that rooted from real life happenings in san fransisco. My hairs stood on end in the ouija board scenes!
Can't wait to read more from the author. Would also love to delve deeper into the back story of some of the characters in remains. .
For a debut novel- this is fantastic. The scene is nicely set at the beginning. But all the while I was able to feel the horrors lurking.
When the evil comes into life just before halfway, my reading became an actual experience.
Lucy returns to a house where her son was obscenely murdered. Here she re-lives a nightmare and we live it with her. I felt her every fear and saw shadows on my sleep! Really scary story that rooted from real life happenings in san fransisco. My hairs stood on end in the ouija board scenes!
Can't wait to read more from the author. Would also love to delve deeper into the back story of some of the characters in remains. .
October 21, 2019
At a point in Remains, Andrew Cull describes sloppy wall plaster so that it's more disturbing than bloodstains.
What else really needs to be said?
Remains is eerie from the opening paragraph, a horror novel that's both chilling and unrelenting. The worst thing in the characters' lives has already happened before the story begins. There are ghosts in the house where horror happened, but there are also ghosts making dinner, having conversations, the ghosts left by the people whose lives are already over. Remains almost feels more an experience than a story, invading the reader's sense of space, time, and universal stability. I was hooked from unnerving start to bleak finish. This novel scares and devastates all at once.
What else really needs to be said?
Remains is eerie from the opening paragraph, a horror novel that's both chilling and unrelenting. The worst thing in the characters' lives has already happened before the story begins. There are ghosts in the house where horror happened, but there are also ghosts making dinner, having conversations, the ghosts left by the people whose lives are already over. Remains almost feels more an experience than a story, invading the reader's sense of space, time, and universal stability. I was hooked from unnerving start to bleak finish. This novel scares and devastates all at once.
December 22, 2020
In this book, every chapter is a cliffhanger! They’re short chapters too, so you keep going--and going. Picture one of those “positive growth graphs,” where it climbs, then drops for a second, then climbs again up the page (building the whole way) and that’s what you’ll get from “Remains.” The main character is also unreliable (or is she?), so it kept me tense and guessing while I waited for Andrew to drop another clue.
In any haunted house book, you want to BE in that haunted house, right? You want to feel that pressure through the main character’s eyes, correct? I’m not just talking about for a chapter or two—I’m talking that you want to feel what it’s like to be IN THAT HOUSE overnight. I love that stuff—and that’s the kind of stuff that’s in “Remains.”
In any haunted house book, you want to BE in that haunted house, right? You want to feel that pressure through the main character’s eyes, correct? I’m not just talking about for a chapter or two—I’m talking that you want to feel what it’s like to be IN THAT HOUSE overnight. I love that stuff—and that’s the kind of stuff that’s in “Remains.”
August 5, 2020
This book is heavy. It's one of those books I had to read a few chapters and then sit with it. I had to take the time to process the things I read because like grief itself it crawls in your brain and leaves you questioning your sanity.
As a mother I hurt through this whole book asking myself if I would do those same things. I think Andrew Cull did an incredible job writing this story because you do feel for her and the other characters in the book.
The book is a quick five star read. It will have you questioning is this a mental break or is this real? It will have you looking at everything and everyone in the book with a suspicious eye.
As a mother I hurt through this whole book asking myself if I would do those same things. I think Andrew Cull did an incredible job writing this story because you do feel for her and the other characters in the book.
The book is a quick five star read. It will have you questioning is this a mental break or is this real? It will have you looking at everything and everyone in the book with a suspicious eye.
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