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Human Flesh
During the winter of 2017, a series of strange occurrences took place in a small town of northern Maine. A rational explanation for what happened has still not been presented. Now, for the first time, all available evidence is being released to the public from what is commonly known as the Freyston case. Human Flesh was originally published in Danish to great reviews, and is now available in English. This dark winter horror story will also satisfy crime lovers, as the plot is told through written evidence in a fictitious murder case. For fans of Hannibal Lecter , and those who enjoyed the mood of Pet Sematary and the style of Carrie .
"Great, mysterious and creepy ... I couldn't put it down"
★★★★★ Adventures of a Book Nerd "All the planning it must have taken to put the story together is impressive. And the effect is enormous. It gave me chills and I still feel it"
★★★★★ Bookish Love Affair
Evidence no. 4: Entry from the blog My Otha Life by Otha Cochran [...] I suddenly realized just how cold the house was, and I noticed the window being ajar, the curtain swaying in the draft. I quickly closed it and felt the completely cold. I had no idea why Grandpa would have shut off the heat and opened the window. Upstairs I could hear Hugh still calling and opening and closing doors, obviously looking for Grandpa. My sense of dread increased still further, and I was just about to turn around and go upstairs when my eye caught something through the French door into the dining room. It was dark in there, too, but the windows were visible as bright rectangles, and in front of one of them stood a tall, gangly figure. It kind of looked like Grandpa, except I didn’t remember him being that thin. I went and opened the door, but the man by the window didn’t move as I entered the room. I could tell he had his back to me, as though he had gone to look out the window and then fallen into a trance. “Grandpa?” I asked low, not wanting to scare him. No reaction. Suddenly, I got a very strange feeling that the man wasn’t my Grandpa. I know it’s totally silly—I mean, who else could it be? I squinted my eyes in an effort to see his features more clearly, and I realized to my astonishment he was naked except for a pair of white undies. I’m not kidding. I know I should have felt embarrassed, but for some reason it just made me even more uneasy. Something was definitely not right. “Grandpa?” I said, louder. Still, the man didn’t stir. I noticed the faint whisper of the wind blowing through the room, and I noticed the windows in here were also standing ajar. Finally, it dawned on me to turn on the lights. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier, but the situation was just so unreal and I was really confused and scared. I found the switch and flicked it. At long last, the man by the window reacted and started turning slowly around. I gaped at him. It was my Grandpa all right, but I almost didn’t recognize him. His cheeks were hollow, his lips thin and dry, the skin around his eyes was very dark, the eyes themselves were really haunting, being way too dark, like almost black, as though the pupils had grown to blot out the white. There was something strange above his head, too, although it must have been the shadows playing a trick on me—but for a brief second, I could have sworn Grandpa had a couple of branches sticking out of the top of his skull. Yeah, I know. It sounds completely bonkers. It was all over in a blink of an eye, then Grandpa looked exactly like I remembered him—the only odd thing about him being the missing clothes. “Well, if it isn’t Otha,” he said, his face lighting up. “I was just wondering when you guys would show up.” [...]
"Great, mysterious and creepy ... I couldn't put it down"
★★★★★ Adventures of a Book Nerd "All the planning it must have taken to put the story together is impressive. And the effect is enormous. It gave me chills and I still feel it"
★★★★★ Bookish Love Affair
Evidence no. 4: Entry from the blog My Otha Life by Otha Cochran [...] I suddenly realized just how cold the house was, and I noticed the window being ajar, the curtain swaying in the draft. I quickly closed it and felt the completely cold. I had no idea why Grandpa would have shut off the heat and opened the window. Upstairs I could hear Hugh still calling and opening and closing doors, obviously looking for Grandpa. My sense of dread increased still further, and I was just about to turn around and go upstairs when my eye caught something through the French door into the dining room. It was dark in there, too, but the windows were visible as bright rectangles, and in front of one of them stood a tall, gangly figure. It kind of looked like Grandpa, except I didn’t remember him being that thin. I went and opened the door, but the man by the window didn’t move as I entered the room. I could tell he had his back to me, as though he had gone to look out the window and then fallen into a trance. “Grandpa?” I asked low, not wanting to scare him. No reaction. Suddenly, I got a very strange feeling that the man wasn’t my Grandpa. I know it’s totally silly—I mean, who else could it be? I squinted my eyes in an effort to see his features more clearly, and I realized to my astonishment he was naked except for a pair of white undies. I’m not kidding. I know I should have felt embarrassed, but for some reason it just made me even more uneasy. Something was definitely not right. “Grandpa?” I said, louder. Still, the man didn’t stir. I noticed the faint whisper of the wind blowing through the room, and I noticed the windows in here were also standing ajar. Finally, it dawned on me to turn on the lights. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier, but the situation was just so unreal and I was really confused and scared. I found the switch and flicked it. At long last, the man by the window reacted and started turning slowly around. I gaped at him. It was my Grandpa all right, but I almost didn’t recognize him. His cheeks were hollow, his lips thin and dry, the skin around his eyes was very dark, the eyes themselves were really haunting, being way too dark, like almost black, as though the pupils had grown to blot out the white. There was something strange above his head, too, although it must have been the shadows playing a trick on me—but for a brief second, I could have sworn Grandpa had a couple of branches sticking out of the top of his skull. Yeah, I know. It sounds completely bonkers. It was all over in a blink of an eye, then Grandpa looked exactly like I remembered him—the only odd thing about him being the missing clothes. “Well, if it isn’t Otha,” he said, his face lighting up. “I was just wondering when you guys would show up.” [...]
204 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2019
173 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Nick Clausen
76 books373 followersI write stories about the apocalypse so that I don't need to work a real job. I grew up reading Stephen King and still haven't fully recovered. I'm currently ending the world in my new series Under the Breaking Sky.
Join my reader club to be kept in the loop -> nick-clausen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 16, 2019
Buddy Read with my friends @ Horror Aficionados
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
August 17, 2019
When my friend brought this book to my attention, I was so excited to read it. There isn't many new books about Wendigos and I think they are scary AF. I liked the format used for this story. It's interesting and worked really well here. I'm glad Nick decided to include some of the folklore about these beings. I will definitely read more by this author.
August 24, 2019
Ever since I found out about the wendigo I've been fascinated. When I came across this book in a Facebook group from the author himself looking for reviews I told him I was interested. I was not disappointed! Human Flesh is quite the book as it delivers a great blend of telling a story that seems calm and collective but then turns to disturbing and horrific. The story is told from characters blogs, text messages, phone calls, voicemails, and e-mails, which I can't say I've ever seen in a book before but it totally works given how we've made communication for ourselves these days. I found this aspect very well done and the characters were relatable and enjoyable.
With the two main characters, Otha and her little brother Hugh visiting their grandpa the story reminded me of the movie "The Visit" especially since their grandpa was acting weird. The build-up at times did take a while to present itself but when it did I was very satisfied. Also, I was confused at some points but all were answered at the end. I also liked Otha's explanation of Wendigo's at the end which I feel was the author's way of showing off his newfound knowledge of them, which I totally would have done myself. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by author Nick Clausen. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Wendigos and folklores as much as I do.
With the two main characters, Otha and her little brother Hugh visiting their grandpa the story reminded me of the movie "The Visit" especially since their grandpa was acting weird. The build-up at times did take a while to present itself but when it did I was very satisfied. Also, I was confused at some points but all were answered at the end. I also liked Otha's explanation of Wendigo's at the end which I feel was the author's way of showing off his newfound knowledge of them, which I totally would have done myself. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by author Nick Clausen. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys Wendigos and folklores as much as I do.
July 22, 2019
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Human Flesh is set in the throes of winter. A family ski trip to Pittsfield is cancelled after Michael Cochran sprains his ankle whilst shovelling snow on the driveway of the family home. Not wanting his son and daughter, Hugh and Otha to miss out on a vacation he suggests that instead they go and visit their grandpa, Fred who lives on a farm on the outskirts of Freyston, a remote town in Maine.
When they arrive in Freyston Fred isn’t waiting for them at the train station, he has forgotten to pick them up. Being only a small town with a small community where everyone knows each other a local called Martin who lives near Fred takes Hugh and Otha to the farm.
When the trio arrives at the farm, it seems deserted, empty and void of life. While searching the house Otha spots Fred standing, staring out of the window in a darkened room. Something feels off to her, it doesn’t feel like her grandpa, like his comforting presence. Fred looks different, gaunt, haunted and taller with pitiless black eyes and for a moment it even looks like he has antlers. That image of Fred, of a creature superimposed over his features, is only glimpsed by Otha in passing. There one second and gone the next before it is Fred standing there, once again her grandpa.
There are various rumours surrounding Fred that have circulated throughout Freyston over the years. Fred’s wife died years ago in a plane crash and Fred was the only survivor of the accident. The plane crashed miles from anywhere in the wilderness, in the freezing cold and rumours have persisted about how Fred was able to survive when all others on board, those who survived the initial crash all perished. Since the crash, Fred has had episodes of going into a trancelike state and acting strangely.
Otha is concerned about her grandpa, his acting weirdly, his episodes of vacant staring and she thinks that he might be showing the early stages of dementia. She wants to uncover the truth as Fred’s erratic behaviour isn’t normal, it is disturbing and there is something wrong with her beloved grandpa. There are other occurrences that add to the disquiet that both Otha and Hugh feel in the isolated house, a creature/person briefly spotted on the roof, rancid smells akin to spoilt meat and the wind whispering, repeating the same word over and over again ‘Wendigo‘.
The story in Human Flesh is told through the written evidence that was collected in relation to the Freyston case. Comprising of text message conversations, transcripts of voice mail messages, transcripts of phone conversations, emails and blog posts written by Otha.
There is also an excerpt from a website article about Swift Runner, an Indian from over a century ago who killed his entire family after hearing the wind whispering ‘Wendigo‘ at him. A diary entry from Fred detailing the plane crash, the aftermath and his survival also adds to the story too.
Each piece of evidence offers a snapshot, a snippet of what is going on and helps to make the whole picture become clearer.
Clausen packs a lot into the short page-count of Human Flesh. I really liked the use of the folklore and myth of the Wendigo and how it is incorporated into the story. The pacing is decent, you get a feel for the characters (as much as you can in a novella) and their personalities, the cold winter setting comes to life, the writing flows well and I loved the format in which the story is told. The use of the blog posts, emails and various transcripts work really well to keep you intrigued in the mystery that is unfolding through them.
There’s no outright gore throughout Human Flesh but there are a creeping unease and a sense of solicitude for what will come to pass. I found it to be easy to read, at times chilling, always page-turning and overall, a highly enjoyable horror novella.
It took me about an hour to read Human Flesh and it was a delightfully dark hour well spent.
Human Flesh is set in the throes of winter. A family ski trip to Pittsfield is cancelled after Michael Cochran sprains his ankle whilst shovelling snow on the driveway of the family home. Not wanting his son and daughter, Hugh and Otha to miss out on a vacation he suggests that instead they go and visit their grandpa, Fred who lives on a farm on the outskirts of Freyston, a remote town in Maine.
When they arrive in Freyston Fred isn’t waiting for them at the train station, he has forgotten to pick them up. Being only a small town with a small community where everyone knows each other a local called Martin who lives near Fred takes Hugh and Otha to the farm.
When the trio arrives at the farm, it seems deserted, empty and void of life. While searching the house Otha spots Fred standing, staring out of the window in a darkened room. Something feels off to her, it doesn’t feel like her grandpa, like his comforting presence. Fred looks different, gaunt, haunted and taller with pitiless black eyes and for a moment it even looks like he has antlers. That image of Fred, of a creature superimposed over his features, is only glimpsed by Otha in passing. There one second and gone the next before it is Fred standing there, once again her grandpa.
There are various rumours surrounding Fred that have circulated throughout Freyston over the years. Fred’s wife died years ago in a plane crash and Fred was the only survivor of the accident. The plane crashed miles from anywhere in the wilderness, in the freezing cold and rumours have persisted about how Fred was able to survive when all others on board, those who survived the initial crash all perished. Since the crash, Fred has had episodes of going into a trancelike state and acting strangely.
Otha is concerned about her grandpa, his acting weirdly, his episodes of vacant staring and she thinks that he might be showing the early stages of dementia. She wants to uncover the truth as Fred’s erratic behaviour isn’t normal, it is disturbing and there is something wrong with her beloved grandpa. There are other occurrences that add to the disquiet that both Otha and Hugh feel in the isolated house, a creature/person briefly spotted on the roof, rancid smells akin to spoilt meat and the wind whispering, repeating the same word over and over again ‘Wendigo‘.
The story in Human Flesh is told through the written evidence that was collected in relation to the Freyston case. Comprising of text message conversations, transcripts of voice mail messages, transcripts of phone conversations, emails and blog posts written by Otha.
There is also an excerpt from a website article about Swift Runner, an Indian from over a century ago who killed his entire family after hearing the wind whispering ‘Wendigo‘ at him. A diary entry from Fred detailing the plane crash, the aftermath and his survival also adds to the story too.
Each piece of evidence offers a snapshot, a snippet of what is going on and helps to make the whole picture become clearer.
Clausen packs a lot into the short page-count of Human Flesh. I really liked the use of the folklore and myth of the Wendigo and how it is incorporated into the story. The pacing is decent, you get a feel for the characters (as much as you can in a novella) and their personalities, the cold winter setting comes to life, the writing flows well and I loved the format in which the story is told. The use of the blog posts, emails and various transcripts work really well to keep you intrigued in the mystery that is unfolding through them.
There’s no outright gore throughout Human Flesh but there are a creeping unease and a sense of solicitude for what will come to pass. I found it to be easy to read, at times chilling, always page-turning and overall, a highly enjoyable horror novella.
It took me about an hour to read Human Flesh and it was a delightfully dark hour well spent.
August 14, 2019
Having read many of Nick Clausen's books, I opened this book with much gusto. The entire story of a murder was told in transcript style with evidence given my each person involved in the story. Otho and Hugh visited their grandfather Fred in the coldest winter of 1917, when a series of events occurred which culminated in death.
I enjoyed how the author brought the urban legend of windego come alive in this story connecting the past to present, legend to reality. The transcript style made this a quick read, half an hour at the maximum. It was barely 100 pages.
I liked how the author tried to bring out the fear and macabre in the statements and blog posts and various calls and emails between the various characters. I felt the book tried too hard to be scary, I wasn't scared at all.
A different style of writing along with bringing the myth to the forefront may make this an entertaining read for people who love horror. There was cannibalism in the story which might put off many. Be forewarned.
I enjoyed how the author brought the urban legend of windego come alive in this story connecting the past to present, legend to reality. The transcript style made this a quick read, half an hour at the maximum. It was barely 100 pages.
I liked how the author tried to bring out the fear and macabre in the statements and blog posts and various calls and emails between the various characters. I felt the book tried too hard to be scary, I wasn't scared at all.
A different style of writing along with bringing the myth to the forefront may make this an entertaining read for people who love horror. There was cannibalism in the story which might put off many. Be forewarned.
September 11, 2019
A scary novella that asks us some uncomfortable questions I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team, and I freely chose to review an ARC copy of this novel.
I am a fan of horror, had read great reviews of one of Clausen’s collections of short stories, and I liked the sound of this one (and the cover is pretty impressive as well).
This is a short horror novella that works at many levels. Its topic is fairly well known (especially to lovers of the genre, and as a psychiatrist I’m also aware of its diagnostic implications, although I won’t elaborate on that), but despite its short length, the author manages to capture the atmosphere of the story, the cold, the darkness, the weirdness and the horror (more psychological than graphic, although it has its moments) in the few pages available, using also a pretty interesting way of telling the story. As mentioned in the description, rather than a standard narration, we have what appears to be a compilation of documents pertaining to a mysterious case, and this will appeal as well to lovers of crime stories and police procedural novels (although if they are sticklers for details, they might be bothered by the supernatural aspects and by some bits and pieces of information that don’t seem to quite fit in, but…). This peculiar way of narrating the story forces readers to do some of the work and fill in the blanks, and that is always a good strategy when it comes to horror (our imagination can come up with pretty scary things, as we all know). It also gives readers a variety of perspectives and some background that would have been trickier to include in a story of this length otherwise. Does it make it more difficult to identify with any of the characters? I didn’t find that to be the case. The story (or the evidence) starts mildly enough. An accident means that a family cannot go skiing as usual for their winter holidays, and the father decides to send his two children (and older girl, Otha, and a younger boy, Hugh) to stay with their grandfather, Fred, in Maine. Things start getting weird from the beginning, and Otha (who has a successful blog, and whose entries create the backbone of the story, making her the main narrator and the most sympathetic and easier to identify with for readers) is not the only one who worries about her grandfather, as some of the neighbours have also been wondering about the old man’s behaviour. The secret behind their grandmother’s death becomes an important part of the story and there are eerie moments aplenty to come.
The novella manages to combine well not only some legends and traditional Native-American stories with more modern concepts like PTSD, survivor’s guilt, but also the underlying current of grief that has come to dominate the life of the children’s grandfather. It also emphasises how much we have come to rely on technology and creature comforts that give us a false sense of security and cannot protect us again extreme natural conditions and disasters. Because of the age of the main protagonist, there is also a YA feel to the story with elements of the coming-of-age genre —even a possible love interest— and I’ve seen it listed under such category, but those aspects don’t overwhelm the rest of the story, and I don’t think they would reduce the enjoyment of readers who usually avoid that genre.
Is it scary? Well, that is always a personal call. As I said, there are some chilling scenes, but the novella is not too graphic (it relies heavily on what the characters might or might not have seen or heard, and also on our own capacity for autosuggestion and suspension of disbelief). There is something about the topic, which combines a strong moral taboo with plenty of true stories going back hundreds of years, which makes it a very likely scenario and something anybody reading it cannot help what reflect upon. We might all reassure ourselves that we wouldn’t do something like that, no matter how dire the conditions, but how confident are we? For me, that is the scariest part of the story.
In sum, this is a well-written and fairly scary story, with the emphasis on atmosphere and psychological horror rather than on blood and gore (but there is some, I’m warning you), successfully combined with an interesting way of narrating a familiar story. As a straight mystery not all details tie in perfectly, but it’s a good introduction to a new voice (in English) in the horror genre. I’m sure it won’t be the last of Clausen’s stories I’ll read.
I am a fan of horror, had read great reviews of one of Clausen’s collections of short stories, and I liked the sound of this one (and the cover is pretty impressive as well).
This is a short horror novella that works at many levels. Its topic is fairly well known (especially to lovers of the genre, and as a psychiatrist I’m also aware of its diagnostic implications, although I won’t elaborate on that), but despite its short length, the author manages to capture the atmosphere of the story, the cold, the darkness, the weirdness and the horror (more psychological than graphic, although it has its moments) in the few pages available, using also a pretty interesting way of telling the story. As mentioned in the description, rather than a standard narration, we have what appears to be a compilation of documents pertaining to a mysterious case, and this will appeal as well to lovers of crime stories and police procedural novels (although if they are sticklers for details, they might be bothered by the supernatural aspects and by some bits and pieces of information that don’t seem to quite fit in, but…). This peculiar way of narrating the story forces readers to do some of the work and fill in the blanks, and that is always a good strategy when it comes to horror (our imagination can come up with pretty scary things, as we all know). It also gives readers a variety of perspectives and some background that would have been trickier to include in a story of this length otherwise. Does it make it more difficult to identify with any of the characters? I didn’t find that to be the case. The story (or the evidence) starts mildly enough. An accident means that a family cannot go skiing as usual for their winter holidays, and the father decides to send his two children (and older girl, Otha, and a younger boy, Hugh) to stay with their grandfather, Fred, in Maine. Things start getting weird from the beginning, and Otha (who has a successful blog, and whose entries create the backbone of the story, making her the main narrator and the most sympathetic and easier to identify with for readers) is not the only one who worries about her grandfather, as some of the neighbours have also been wondering about the old man’s behaviour. The secret behind their grandmother’s death becomes an important part of the story and there are eerie moments aplenty to come.
The novella manages to combine well not only some legends and traditional Native-American stories with more modern concepts like PTSD, survivor’s guilt, but also the underlying current of grief that has come to dominate the life of the children’s grandfather. It also emphasises how much we have come to rely on technology and creature comforts that give us a false sense of security and cannot protect us again extreme natural conditions and disasters. Because of the age of the main protagonist, there is also a YA feel to the story with elements of the coming-of-age genre —even a possible love interest— and I’ve seen it listed under such category, but those aspects don’t overwhelm the rest of the story, and I don’t think they would reduce the enjoyment of readers who usually avoid that genre.
Is it scary? Well, that is always a personal call. As I said, there are some chilling scenes, but the novella is not too graphic (it relies heavily on what the characters might or might not have seen or heard, and also on our own capacity for autosuggestion and suspension of disbelief). There is something about the topic, which combines a strong moral taboo with plenty of true stories going back hundreds of years, which makes it a very likely scenario and something anybody reading it cannot help what reflect upon. We might all reassure ourselves that we wouldn’t do something like that, no matter how dire the conditions, but how confident are we? For me, that is the scariest part of the story.
In sum, this is a well-written and fairly scary story, with the emphasis on atmosphere and psychological horror rather than on blood and gore (but there is some, I’m warning you), successfully combined with an interesting way of narrating a familiar story. As a straight mystery not all details tie in perfectly, but it’s a good introduction to a new voice (in English) in the horror genre. I’m sure it won’t be the last of Clausen’s stories I’ll read.
October 22, 2018
4.5 stjerner
October 27, 2019
Wow! This story actually gave me nightmares and had me thanking my lucky stars I live in Texas. The format of the novel was innovating. I loved the file vibe. This is totally a Spooktober read! This eerie tale will have you intrigued from start to finish!
December 31, 2021
I can’t believe this is my last read of 2021! This was a good short story. It has a climactic build and was a complete storyline. I really liked how it was in the style of a collection of evidence, and transcripts. My only critique would be that the author didn’t seem to know a whole lot about skin walkers and the story would have been more successful for me if he just said demon rather then making it about something so specific.
April 8, 2021
I love anything wendigo related and this book did not disappoint! It was an easy read, creepy and disturbing with a great storyline. I'll definitely be reading more Nick Clausen. 5/5 wendigo skulls for Human Flesh 💀
May 15, 2021
This was a nice, quick read. Entertaining enough that I finished it, and I gotta say, I do love an epistolary piece of work. However, I didn't like the main character, Otha, and a lot of this story is told through her blog posts. She is a 19 year old who could have passed for 13, extremely naive and immature. We don't get much back story on any of the characters, aside from one important event from the grandfather's past. This really ramped up to an explosive ending, but it all happened so quickly - too quickly. I was left feeling pretty unsatisfied and honestly a little unimpressed.
December 13, 2025
An unfamiliar cryptid for me. The beast was fantastically rendered/described, but the novel doesn’t really spend much time with the baddie.
August 15, 2019
The cover really attracted me to the book plus not knowing anything about the myth of the man eating creature/spirit of a Wendigo.
The story was built well and told through a series of emails, texts, blog entries and diary entries.
It was a chilling and creepy tale with a well thought out story line that pulls you in and keeps you hooked.
The story was built well and told through a series of emails, texts, blog entries and diary entries.
It was a chilling and creepy tale with a well thought out story line that pulls you in and keeps you hooked.
August 17, 2019
This story was a dark and, quite literally, a "chilling" read! First of all, I loved the format the story was wrote it, which was a mixture of blog entries, texts, voicemails, etcetera. The different point of views and realistic language for each format type helped me stay inside the story. Also, this is my first reading experience with a wendigo and I have to say that it's such an interesting, disturbing creature. The idea that someone can appear as a totally normal person for months or even years while it lies dormant, but then suddenly become it when the temperature drops enough is frightening! I loved this read. It managed to evoke feelings of horror in a quick read without unnecessary fluff!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2019
Two siblings are headed to Maine to spend their winter vacation with their grandfather. But he doesn't show up at the train station. Catching a ride to his house, things start to get weird when they arrive. The house is freezing and grandpa isn't dressed, lost in thought gazing out the window.
Told through police evidence and blog stories, we get a look at the winter break for Otha and Hugh, as they watch their grandfather's behavior get more and more bizarre. They've heard rumors of their grandfather's odd behavior, but this is more, so much so. Something is out there, and if the kids don't find help, they could be next.
So the thing I've come to love about Clausen is that he gives you a great, creepy, horror story in a little package, and he delivers a 5-star read in Human Flesh. It's dark and mysterious, it's creepy, and it's a perfectly packaged wild ride of horror. Very well done.
Told through police evidence and blog stories, we get a look at the winter break for Otha and Hugh, as they watch their grandfather's behavior get more and more bizarre. They've heard rumors of their grandfather's odd behavior, but this is more, so much so. Something is out there, and if the kids don't find help, they could be next.
So the thing I've come to love about Clausen is that he gives you a great, creepy, horror story in a little package, and he delivers a 5-star read in Human Flesh. It's dark and mysterious, it's creepy, and it's a perfectly packaged wild ride of horror. Very well done.
July 13, 2019
I just meet this young author today, he had posted a picture of this book on a Facebook group and it immediately called my attention. So I began to read it and let me tell you I couldn't put it down. It had me hooked from the first page until the last one. My heart was doing summersaults the whole entire time. I loved the thrill. It was disturbing and supper scary just the way I like my horror stories. This is my first book by this author and I can tell you it wont be my last. I truly enjoyed it.
August 21, 2019
Interesting take on cannibalism!
I enjoyed the story but it didn’t terrify me or disgust me.. I don’t know if that’s what I was looking for lol! I love the horror genre because of all the different kinds of stories and mostly they relate to being human. When we suffer can it manifest itself physically? Supernaturally? Trauma after all If felt in the body as well as the mind, and PTSD makes sense. I just feel like something was missing, that oomph to make me say I loved it rather than liked it. That’s why I gave it 4 stars.
I enjoyed the story but it didn’t terrify me or disgust me.. I don’t know if that’s what I was looking for lol! I love the horror genre because of all the different kinds of stories and mostly they relate to being human. When we suffer can it manifest itself physically? Supernaturally? Trauma after all If felt in the body as well as the mind, and PTSD makes sense. I just feel like something was missing, that oomph to make me say I loved it rather than liked it. That’s why I gave it 4 stars.
September 16, 2025
This story was absolutely excellent! I've always been fascinated by the Wendigo trope, whether it's Algernon Blackwood, Graham Masterton, or more contemporary writers. Nick Clausen has achieved his place in this pantheon with Human Flesh, written in a spin on the epistolary format, with blog posts, text messages, voice message records, and police files. He has accomplished an extraordinarily absorbing Horror tale without over compensating with gore. I was immensely surprised, since due to the nature of the focus, going overboard on the gross-out would have been all too easy. But Mr. Clausen exercises restraint, so that the tale is carried by character arc, not by splatter. Kudos to Nick Clausen!
June 24, 2019
This was the first book I have ever read that is written soley through texts, blogs, emails, phone records, etc..
It's very creative, and the story is good. Parts of it chilling (pun intended).
If I knew at first this was written different than any book I had ever read, I probably would've passed on it. But I'm glad that I didn't.
I don't wanna give away any spoilers, but this isn't the book to read if you want a happy ending
It's very creative, and the story is good. Parts of it chilling (pun intended).
If I knew at first this was written different than any book I had ever read, I probably would've passed on it. But I'm glad that I didn't.
I don't wanna give away any spoilers, but this isn't the book to read if you want a happy ending
June 26, 2019
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast read, even for a short story. The writing is smooth and the plot keeps you interested throughout the whole book.
The story is told entirely through blog posts, e-mails, texts and transcriptions. I had never read anything of this kind and it really surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
I'm definitely picking up another one of his books this Halloween.
This was a fast read, even for a short story. The writing is smooth and the plot keeps you interested throughout the whole book.
The story is told entirely through blog posts, e-mails, texts and transcriptions. I had never read anything of this kind and it really surprised me how much I enjoyed it.
I'm definitely picking up another one of his books this Halloween.
August 7, 2019
*I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Nick Clausen had me at windego.
There is so much good packed into such a few amount of pages, and I loved every second of it. The story style was fresh and unique in the sense that everything was told through evidence in an open crime case in the form of emails, voicemails, blogs, notes, etc.
I can’t wait to read more of his work!
Nick Clausen had me at windego.
There is so much good packed into such a few amount of pages, and I loved every second of it. The story style was fresh and unique in the sense that everything was told through evidence in an open crime case in the form of emails, voicemails, blogs, notes, etc.
I can’t wait to read more of his work!
December 8, 2019
This story starts off too slow for my liking, but after reading several reviews I decided to keep reading anyway.
I'm glad I did, because about halfway through it got so much better. Not scary (to me, but books never really scare me), but very interesting and hard to put down.
I like the original storytelling of this short book and the plot is great.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review.
I'm glad I did, because about halfway through it got so much better. Not scary (to me, but books never really scare me), but very interesting and hard to put down.
I like the original storytelling of this short book and the plot is great.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review.
September 29, 2025
He had me at "Wendigo."
I found this short novel by accident while scrolling Kindle Unlimited and seeing the noun, Wendigo, as headlined. Having always been a fan of the Frozen North, I've read The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood, The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service, Born of the Winds by Brian Lumley, and so approached Mr. Clausen's tale with anticipation. It did not disappoint! Told in epistolary fashion through texts, notes, emails, and blog posts, this is a story with convincing characters that I followed with complete absorption. Being easily read in a single setting, the plot carried me from start to finish, ending in hope (or disaster, depending on the character). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Best wishes!
I found this short novel by accident while scrolling Kindle Unlimited and seeing the noun, Wendigo, as headlined. Having always been a fan of the Frozen North, I've read The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood, The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service, Born of the Winds by Brian Lumley, and so approached Mr. Clausen's tale with anticipation. It did not disappoint! Told in epistolary fashion through texts, notes, emails, and blog posts, this is a story with convincing characters that I followed with complete absorption. Being easily read in a single setting, the plot carried me from start to finish, ending in hope (or disaster, depending on the character). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Best wishes!
August 2, 2019
Human Flesh by Nick Clausen.
A fantastic read. I loved it. Although it didn't have chapters I still was hooked from the first page. I loved Otha Martin and Hugh. Fred was scary. I loved the cover too. Highly recommended. 5*.
A fantastic read. I loved it. Although it didn't have chapters I still was hooked from the first page. I loved Otha Martin and Hugh. Fred was scary. I loved the cover too. Highly recommended. 5*.
March 3, 2020
Virkelig en spændende og anderledes gyser. Uhyggelig på den der krybende måde, hvor man bare må læse en side mere for at finde ud af, hvordan det hele hænger sammen.
August 7, 2019
A truly chilling tale
I came after his book via a recommendation on a Facebook page devoted to horror books, and am I ever glad I found it. Equal parts original and creepy, Human Flesh is a must read.
I came after his book via a recommendation on a Facebook page devoted to horror books, and am I ever glad I found it. Equal parts original and creepy, Human Flesh is a must read.
September 20, 2019
This was the first time I've read Buck's work and I was impressed. Its a good read with lots of creepiness that keeps you on your toes.
July 25, 2019
I couldn't put it down, the story was very well written. Enjoyed every second of it
July 28, 2019
Free E copy for an honest review.
The format of this book is so interesting to read as it's in the form of emails, letter, phone records, texts and journal entries etc. This sort of format made it really easy to read and fun which is the main thing when reading. It was definitely be a good reading style for those in a reading slump or if your just bored of loads of writing.
The story itself however I felt I wanted more in some areas but personally I think it's just because it was short. I love how the writing and format style made it feel very personal, you really get to connect with the characters and I genuinely was rather terrified for them at some points of the ending.
I would recommend this authors way of writing it's super fluid and is easy to read and he keeps the story moving even though clues are given to the ending throughout the book itself
The format of this book is so interesting to read as it's in the form of emails, letter, phone records, texts and journal entries etc. This sort of format made it really easy to read and fun which is the main thing when reading. It was definitely be a good reading style for those in a reading slump or if your just bored of loads of writing.
The story itself however I felt I wanted more in some areas but personally I think it's just because it was short. I love how the writing and format style made it feel very personal, you really get to connect with the characters and I genuinely was rather terrified for them at some points of the ending.
I would recommend this authors way of writing it's super fluid and is easy to read and he keeps the story moving even though clues are given to the ending throughout the book itself
January 24, 2024
It is amazing how much can be achieved in terms of storytelling with not really much writing. This book consists of text messages, blog posts, diary entries, transcripts of voicemails, copies of e-mails and interviews. The work behind the story, all the planning it must have taken to put the story together is impressive. And the effect is enormous. It gave me chills and I still feel it. Perfect Halloween book.
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This review was published on my blog in September 2018.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Menneskekød er en lille, men effektfuld bog. Jeg sad og fik kuldegysninger mens jeg læste, og det løb mig koldt ned at ryggen, da jeg begyndte at forstå, hvad der var ved at ske. I mine øjne er det her en af de bedste bøger, Nick Clausen har skrevet, og en af dem, der virkelig har fået mig til at føle noget mens jeg læste.
Bogen er skrevet meget specielt. Det bedste eksempel jeg kan give, er hvis man ser på bøger som Illuminae af Amie Kaufmann og Jay Kristoff, dog leger Clausens bog ikke helt så meget med formatet og opsætningen. Bogen består nemlig af alt fra SMS-samtaler, telefonsvarer-beskeder, emails, transkriptioner af afhøringer og interviews, dagbogssider og blogindlæg. På denne her måde stykker Clausen historien sammen sådan at læseren langsomt bliver præsenteret for flere og flere sider af denne her mystiske sag, men tilbageholder samtidig rigtig tit informationer, for at afsløre dem senere. Det må kræve et stort planlægningsarbejde at skrive en bog på denne her måde, hvor meget handling er skåret ud og læseren får fortalt store plotpunkter i flashbacks eller lignende. Men det fungerer og det synes jeg virkelig, man skal rose forfatteren for. Det var ikke sådan, at jeg sad og følte, at jeg manglede noget, og jeg sad hen i næsten åndeløs spænding, når jeg vendte siderne for at finde ud af, hvad der var sket. Formatet af bogen er en af de ting, jeg er mest imponeret over og den adskiller sig herved også fra flere af de andre bøger, jeg har læst af ham.
En anden ting, jeg virkelig godt kan lide, er selve mysteriet. Hvad det er, denne “Terstved-sag”, bedre kendt som “Menneskekød” handler om. Der er tale om inspiration fra et gammelt folkesagn og jeg kunne godt lide, at det var noget helt nyt, jeg ikke har læst noget om før. Mysteriet er godt skruet sammen, og bliver afsløret lidt efter lidt. Jeg var for opslugt af handlingen til at forsøge at gætte selv, men jeg tror alligevel ikke, jeg havde ramt rigtigt. I sagens natur er det ikke fordi der er meget action eller karakterudvikling i en bog, der er baseret på “skriftligt bevismateriale”, men de glimt man får af personerne er med til at handlingen slår lidt hårdere og jeg blev i hvert fald ret investeret i at finde ud af hvad der skete med de forskellige personer, som optræder i bogen. Børnene Anne og Hugo, deres bedstefar, den venlige nabo Martin og børnenes afdøde farmor er bare nogle af personerne, som man møder i den mystiske sag. Børnene ser ikke frem til en kedelig vinterferie hos deres farfar, mens temperaturen bare daler og daler, og da farfarens rengøringskone en dag forsvinder sporløst, begynder børnene at undre sig over hans mærkelige opførsel, og hvorfor der altid er så koldt indenfor.
For mig er Menneskekød er skøn kort bog, perfekt til en mørk efterårsaften. Hvis man er til de lidt anderledes historier, og til en bog der kan få en til at føle noget, så er det bestemt en bog, man skal læse. Selv om bogen er ret kort, fik den hårene på min arme til at rejse sig og jeg skuttede mig mere end en gang. Menneskekød er den perfekte efterårs- eller Halloweenbog, men husk at tænde for varmen først.
--
This review was published on my blog in September 2018.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
Menneskekød er en lille, men effektfuld bog. Jeg sad og fik kuldegysninger mens jeg læste, og det løb mig koldt ned at ryggen, da jeg begyndte at forstå, hvad der var ved at ske. I mine øjne er det her en af de bedste bøger, Nick Clausen har skrevet, og en af dem, der virkelig har fået mig til at føle noget mens jeg læste.
Bogen er skrevet meget specielt. Det bedste eksempel jeg kan give, er hvis man ser på bøger som Illuminae af Amie Kaufmann og Jay Kristoff, dog leger Clausens bog ikke helt så meget med formatet og opsætningen. Bogen består nemlig af alt fra SMS-samtaler, telefonsvarer-beskeder, emails, transkriptioner af afhøringer og interviews, dagbogssider og blogindlæg. På denne her måde stykker Clausen historien sammen sådan at læseren langsomt bliver præsenteret for flere og flere sider af denne her mystiske sag, men tilbageholder samtidig rigtig tit informationer, for at afsløre dem senere. Det må kræve et stort planlægningsarbejde at skrive en bog på denne her måde, hvor meget handling er skåret ud og læseren får fortalt store plotpunkter i flashbacks eller lignende. Men det fungerer og det synes jeg virkelig, man skal rose forfatteren for. Det var ikke sådan, at jeg sad og følte, at jeg manglede noget, og jeg sad hen i næsten åndeløs spænding, når jeg vendte siderne for at finde ud af, hvad der var sket. Formatet af bogen er en af de ting, jeg er mest imponeret over og den adskiller sig herved også fra flere af de andre bøger, jeg har læst af ham.
En anden ting, jeg virkelig godt kan lide, er selve mysteriet. Hvad det er, denne “Terstved-sag”, bedre kendt som “Menneskekød” handler om. Der er tale om inspiration fra et gammelt folkesagn og jeg kunne godt lide, at det var noget helt nyt, jeg ikke har læst noget om før. Mysteriet er godt skruet sammen, og bliver afsløret lidt efter lidt. Jeg var for opslugt af handlingen til at forsøge at gætte selv, men jeg tror alligevel ikke, jeg havde ramt rigtigt. I sagens natur er det ikke fordi der er meget action eller karakterudvikling i en bog, der er baseret på “skriftligt bevismateriale”, men de glimt man får af personerne er med til at handlingen slår lidt hårdere og jeg blev i hvert fald ret investeret i at finde ud af hvad der skete med de forskellige personer, som optræder i bogen. Børnene Anne og Hugo, deres bedstefar, den venlige nabo Martin og børnenes afdøde farmor er bare nogle af personerne, som man møder i den mystiske sag. Børnene ser ikke frem til en kedelig vinterferie hos deres farfar, mens temperaturen bare daler og daler, og da farfarens rengøringskone en dag forsvinder sporløst, begynder børnene at undre sig over hans mærkelige opførsel, og hvorfor der altid er så koldt indenfor.
For mig er Menneskekød er skøn kort bog, perfekt til en mørk efterårsaften. Hvis man er til de lidt anderledes historier, og til en bog der kan få en til at føle noget, så er det bestemt en bog, man skal læse. Selv om bogen er ret kort, fik den hårene på min arme til at rejse sig og jeg skuttede mig mere end en gang. Menneskekød er den perfekte efterårs- eller Halloweenbog, men husk at tænde for varmen først.
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