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The Cockroach King
“We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.”
When Cassie Baker buys the house on Cedar Street, it’s partly because it reminds her of the house she grew up in in the ‘80s. It reminds her of happier times, when her Mom was still alive, before the cancer had taken her. It seems like the perfect place to raise her baby boy, Sam.
That is, until a friend unearths the remains of a dog, buried in a shallow grave in the backyard.
After the bones come the cockroaches…
The Cockroach King is a new novella written by Andrew Cull, the award-winning author of Remains and Bones.
When Cassie Baker buys the house on Cedar Street, it’s partly because it reminds her of the house she grew up in in the ‘80s. It reminds her of happier times, when her Mom was still alive, before the cancer had taken her. It seems like the perfect place to raise her baby boy, Sam.
That is, until a friend unearths the remains of a dog, buried in a shallow grave in the backyard.
After the bones come the cockroaches…
The Cockroach King is a new novella written by Andrew Cull, the award-winning author of Remains and Bones.
65 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2020
17 people are currently reading
1181 people want to read
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April 28, 2021
*Originally reviewed at IndieMuse
* https://www.myindiemuse.com/author/mo...
Do you know ‘Itsy-Bitsy-Spider’?
I rewrote it a little…
Mother-fuckin’ cockroach
Ran on my kitchen floor.
My wife jumped on the table
Like she can do parkour.
I know I shouldn’t chuckle
It’s something I regret.
I hope she will forgive me
So I can go to bed…
Entomophobia – the fear of pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates, the largest group within the arthropod phylum…or insects, if you will.
Katsaridaphobia – the fear of blattodea, or cockroaches, if you must.
I may suck as a teacher but ‘Copy’ and ‘Paste’ can hide it well, right?
Andrew Cull is a name I’ve had my eye on for a while and this is the first story I’ve read by him.
Cassie Baker’s mother died and, with the sale of her house, she was able to (barely) afford a house on Cedar Street. As a single mother of a baby boy, Sam, she braves anything and everything for her son. With the help of Tommy, a friend, who will clean up and remodel the garden, things are off to a promising start.
This story begins with a stunning line:
“We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.”
If that doesn’t get your attention, nothing will.
The bones seem to belong to a dog, and later, more dogs. And with missing posters for dogs all over the neighborhood, things become eerie.
And then the cockroaches come.
This author impressed me and, for most of the story, it was 3.5 STARS from me – I picked up a small continuity mistake, but in the greater scheme of things it didn’t matter all that much.
However, the way this author ended this one was superb, and for that I will gladly say 4 STARS.
Oh yes, if you wonder about the phobias I mentioned, I have to give a fair warning that people who suffer from either will most probably scratch a lot through this story.
Just ignore the soft movement on your neck…
You’ve been warned!
* https://www.myindiemuse.com/author/mo...
Do you know ‘Itsy-Bitsy-Spider’?
I rewrote it a little…
Mother-fuckin’ cockroach
Ran on my kitchen floor.
My wife jumped on the table
Like she can do parkour.
I know I shouldn’t chuckle
It’s something I regret.
I hope she will forgive me
So I can go to bed…
Entomophobia – the fear of pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates, the largest group within the arthropod phylum…or insects, if you will.
Katsaridaphobia – the fear of blattodea, or cockroaches, if you must.
I may suck as a teacher but ‘Copy’ and ‘Paste’ can hide it well, right?
Andrew Cull is a name I’ve had my eye on for a while and this is the first story I’ve read by him.
Cassie Baker’s mother died and, with the sale of her house, she was able to (barely) afford a house on Cedar Street. As a single mother of a baby boy, Sam, she braves anything and everything for her son. With the help of Tommy, a friend, who will clean up and remodel the garden, things are off to a promising start.
This story begins with a stunning line:
“We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.”
If that doesn’t get your attention, nothing will.
The bones seem to belong to a dog, and later, more dogs. And with missing posters for dogs all over the neighborhood, things become eerie.
And then the cockroaches come.
This author impressed me and, for most of the story, it was 3.5 STARS from me – I picked up a small continuity mistake, but in the greater scheme of things it didn’t matter all that much.
However, the way this author ended this one was superb, and for that I will gladly say 4 STARS.
Oh yes, if you wonder about the phobias I mentioned, I have to give a fair warning that people who suffer from either will most probably scratch a lot through this story.
Just ignore the soft movement on your neck…
You’ve been warned!
April 17, 2021
Definitely delivers on what I’ve come to expect from Andrew Cull as a storyteller. Cull is skilled in the art of short fiction. I highly recommend his collection, BONES as well as the novella, REMAINS. In just a few pages, readers can trust Cull will execute on great character development and a unique story concept.
The Cockroach King is further proof.
A single mother, Cass, finds a home that feels like a place she can settle into with her young son and build a life there together.
With the help of a friend, Cassie slowly begins the daunting task of making the house her own. Digging in the yard one day, she discovers bones.
From this moment on, Cull begins to build that sweet, sweet tension as Cass slowly begins to realize that the house is...well, problematic.
This tale capitalizes on several different realistic fears: Homeownership (if you don't think that's scary or stressful, have you owned an older home?), single parenthood, Entomophobia (fear of bugs), isolation (being alone in this world especially after the end of a relationship or the death of a loved one) and lastly, a good ol' case of 'what the fuck is wrong with this house' trope.
I wish that bugs freaked me out more-there were some intense scenes in this book that missed the mark for me, had they been spiders-it would be a different story but roaches don't skeeve me out the way spiders do. There's one thing that happens toward the end that I thought turned the dial leaning more into horror and I appreciated the level up.
This is another great Andrew Cull story. I think new readers could start with any of Cull's works and gain access to fandom.
The Cockroach King is further proof.
A single mother, Cass, finds a home that feels like a place she can settle into with her young son and build a life there together.
With the help of a friend, Cassie slowly begins the daunting task of making the house her own. Digging in the yard one day, she discovers bones.
From this moment on, Cull begins to build that sweet, sweet tension as Cass slowly begins to realize that the house is...well, problematic.
This tale capitalizes on several different realistic fears: Homeownership (if you don't think that's scary or stressful, have you owned an older home?), single parenthood, Entomophobia (fear of bugs), isolation (being alone in this world especially after the end of a relationship or the death of a loved one) and lastly, a good ol' case of 'what the fuck is wrong with this house' trope.
I wish that bugs freaked me out more-there were some intense scenes in this book that missed the mark for me, had they been spiders-it would be a different story but roaches don't skeeve me out the way spiders do. There's one thing that happens toward the end that I thought turned the dial leaning more into horror and I appreciated the level up.
This is another great Andrew Cull story. I think new readers could start with any of Cull's works and gain access to fandom.
December 9, 2020
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Andrew Cull deliver some truly stunning reads. ‘Bones‘ took the dark fiction community by storm, his collection was bleak and brutal and hit all of the right buttons.
Shockingly, I was privileged to beta-read his debut ‘Remains‘ which is a high-water mark for haunting, grief-based horror.
Throughout this, Andrew and myself have messaged back and forth, encouraging each other and beta reading different pieces here and there. When ‘The Cockroach King‘ was announced, I was beyond thrilled that the world was going to see a new Cull release shortly and even more thrilled to see it was on my friend Glenn’s upstart publishing company Beneath Hell Publishing.
What I liked: ‘The Cockroach King‘ is a quick read, initially released for free on Beneath Hell Publishing’s website. I personally decided to wait and buy the ebook as I wanted to support these two, so once the pre-order was loaded on my Kindle, I dove in. It tells the story of a single mother recently moving into a new house with her young son. As with most stories in this genre, things look to be on the up and up for the small family until an incident and a discovery.
Through this, Cull works his magic by keeping the reader on the edge of their seats while slowly dangling that carrot before your eyes. You want to know more. Why this house? Why this family? Cull introduces a few side characters that both help move the plot along but also immediately feel familiar. His easy way of storytelling is that of an old friend whom you’ve met up after some time. Sharing how life is and how the family is doing. It’s through this calm and friendly narrative that Cull is able to suck the reader in and before you know it, you’re hyperventilating when he describes a baby monitor’s batteries running low.
I need to stay spoiler-free, but I will say that the last quarter of this book is written with a chaotic hyperness that ramps everything up an extra notch. The finale is spot on and the ending worked really well.
What I didn’t like: Two things here. One personal and one for other readers. As you can gather from the title, cockroaches make plenty of appearances and while most people are creeped out by them, I find them a bit meh in literature. So, for me in this case, when they were found in places or arrived it didn’t make me squirm. But if they creep you out, prepare to feel as though they are crawling all over you.
The second thing – and this is for the other readers – this book may do well to have a trigger warning put at the beginning due to some animal stuff. I don’t want to spoil it at all, but the key cog to the book revolves around the discovery I alluded to earlier and for some readers as things play out and the finale arrives things do get worse. I don’t need trigger warnings for books myself, but keep this in mind.
Why you should buy this: Cull is head and shoulders at the forefront of ‘new and exciting’ writers that everyone should be reading. You can’t go wrong with any of his back catalog and this new release is sure to win new fans. At the moment this is an ebook only release, but Cull has stated he’s writing another story related to the first so that a physical release will be coming.
I really loved ‘The Cockroach King.’ Another fine example of how, no matter what the main narrative of a story is, Cull can infuse the darkest subject with grief and make the reader feel emotional and really care about his characters.
Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of watching Andrew Cull deliver some truly stunning reads. ‘Bones‘ took the dark fiction community by storm, his collection was bleak and brutal and hit all of the right buttons.
Shockingly, I was privileged to beta-read his debut ‘Remains‘ which is a high-water mark for haunting, grief-based horror.
Throughout this, Andrew and myself have messaged back and forth, encouraging each other and beta reading different pieces here and there. When ‘The Cockroach King‘ was announced, I was beyond thrilled that the world was going to see a new Cull release shortly and even more thrilled to see it was on my friend Glenn’s upstart publishing company Beneath Hell Publishing.
What I liked: ‘The Cockroach King‘ is a quick read, initially released for free on Beneath Hell Publishing’s website. I personally decided to wait and buy the ebook as I wanted to support these two, so once the pre-order was loaded on my Kindle, I dove in. It tells the story of a single mother recently moving into a new house with her young son. As with most stories in this genre, things look to be on the up and up for the small family until an incident and a discovery.
Through this, Cull works his magic by keeping the reader on the edge of their seats while slowly dangling that carrot before your eyes. You want to know more. Why this house? Why this family? Cull introduces a few side characters that both help move the plot along but also immediately feel familiar. His easy way of storytelling is that of an old friend whom you’ve met up after some time. Sharing how life is and how the family is doing. It’s through this calm and friendly narrative that Cull is able to suck the reader in and before you know it, you’re hyperventilating when he describes a baby monitor’s batteries running low.
I need to stay spoiler-free, but I will say that the last quarter of this book is written with a chaotic hyperness that ramps everything up an extra notch. The finale is spot on and the ending worked really well.
What I didn’t like: Two things here. One personal and one for other readers. As you can gather from the title, cockroaches make plenty of appearances and while most people are creeped out by them, I find them a bit meh in literature. So, for me in this case, when they were found in places or arrived it didn’t make me squirm. But if they creep you out, prepare to feel as though they are crawling all over you.
The second thing – and this is for the other readers – this book may do well to have a trigger warning put at the beginning due to some animal stuff. I don’t want to spoil it at all, but the key cog to the book revolves around the discovery I alluded to earlier and for some readers as things play out and the finale arrives things do get worse. I don’t need trigger warnings for books myself, but keep this in mind.
Why you should buy this: Cull is head and shoulders at the forefront of ‘new and exciting’ writers that everyone should be reading. You can’t go wrong with any of his back catalog and this new release is sure to win new fans. At the moment this is an ebook only release, but Cull has stated he’s writing another story related to the first so that a physical release will be coming.
I really loved ‘The Cockroach King.’ Another fine example of how, no matter what the main narrative of a story is, Cull can infuse the darkest subject with grief and make the reader feel emotional and really care about his characters.
November 30, 2021
A young mother and her toddler move into a new to them home and it should be a happy, exciting time but before long the gardener digs up some bones (ahhhh!) and then cockroaches start showing up to ick everyone out and things only get worse from there!
This story will make you feel all kinds of ways. The grieving mother and her desperation to do the right thing while fearing she's just dumped all of her mother's legacy into a nightmare? Ugh, so sad. The anger at some of these people for reasons I shall not expose made me want to throw them all into a pit of roaches for all of eternity. It's also really gross. If you, like me, watched that Creepshow cockroach episode as a kid and have been tormented by it ever since, this book is not going to make you feel better about those disgusting hell creatures. The ending, which I will NOT spoil, was perfection.
There are also two other short stories included here. Definitely worth a read if you want to get icked out!
This is a review of my personal reading experience. Yours may differ. Don't be blaming me if it does!
CW:
This story will make you feel all kinds of ways. The grieving mother and her desperation to do the right thing while fearing she's just dumped all of her mother's legacy into a nightmare? Ugh, so sad. The anger at some of these people for reasons I shall not expose made me want to throw them all into a pit of roaches for all of eternity. It's also really gross. If you, like me, watched that Creepshow cockroach episode as a kid and have been tormented by it ever since, this book is not going to make you feel better about those disgusting hell creatures. The ending, which I will NOT spoil, was perfection.
There are also two other short stories included here. Definitely worth a read if you want to get icked out!
This is a review of my personal reading experience. Yours may differ. Don't be blaming me if it does!
CW:
September 30, 2022
3.5 rounded up. Another fun, quick read!!
December 10, 2020
Loved this novella! Review to follow soon...
November 28, 2020
“We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.”
When Cassie Baker moves into her new house on Cedar Street, all she wants is to start a new chapter of her life with her baby boy Sam there. She bought that house on a whim, it reminded her of happier times, when her mum was still alive, before a cancer had taken her. But one day a friend finds a carcass of a dog buried in her garden and since then, Cassie feels like there is someone else in that house. Not a person... but a dark presence.
It's not a secret that I am a huge fan of Andrew Cull and I was so excited to read his brand new novella, The Cockroach King.
This story is creepy, dark and unsettling since the very first line and I loved to read about Cassie, her relationship with her mum and with her baby boy, how she handled grief and the pregnancy alone. She is such a strong character and I really admired her choices... and of course how she dealt with those disgusting cockroaches in her house! There are a few scenes that literally made my skin crawl (it may sound bad but this is the fun part of horror books for me), thanks to Cull's gorgeous "cinematic" prose that makes you feel like the action is happening right in front of your eyes, and yes it's gross and quite disturbing but you can't look away. You just can't. And I couldn't stop reading this story.
The Cockroach King is a great read, super recommended! I can't wait to see what's next!
5 stars.
When Cassie Baker moves into her new house on Cedar Street, all she wants is to start a new chapter of her life with her baby boy Sam there. She bought that house on a whim, it reminded her of happier times, when her mum was still alive, before a cancer had taken her. But one day a friend finds a carcass of a dog buried in her garden and since then, Cassie feels like there is someone else in that house. Not a person... but a dark presence.
It's not a secret that I am a huge fan of Andrew Cull and I was so excited to read his brand new novella, The Cockroach King.
This story is creepy, dark and unsettling since the very first line and I loved to read about Cassie, her relationship with her mum and with her baby boy, how she handled grief and the pregnancy alone. She is such a strong character and I really admired her choices... and of course how she dealt with those disgusting cockroaches in her house! There are a few scenes that literally made my skin crawl (it may sound bad but this is the fun part of horror books for me), thanks to Cull's gorgeous "cinematic" prose that makes you feel like the action is happening right in front of your eyes, and yes it's gross and quite disturbing but you can't look away. You just can't. And I couldn't stop reading this story.
The Cockroach King is a great read, super recommended! I can't wait to see what's next!
5 stars.
December 1, 2020
I hate bugs. I hate their little eyes, legs, and their creepy crunchy bodies.
I loved this book though. Its quick and creepy.
I'm glad I slipped this to the top of my TBR. If you are thinking about reading it definitely do it. It has something for everyone, creepy things, dead things, sad back story, a mother's strength and determination. I'm really impressed he managed to pack all of this into such a short book. I would suggest a can of bug spray and a nightlight as companions after reading this book.
I loved this book though. Its quick and creepy.
I'm glad I slipped this to the top of my TBR. If you are thinking about reading it definitely do it. It has something for everyone, creepy things, dead things, sad back story, a mother's strength and determination. I'm really impressed he managed to pack all of this into such a short book. I would suggest a can of bug spray and a nightlight as companions after reading this book.
January 11, 2024
Skin crawling, stomach-churning and creepy as all hell!
Do NOT read if you have any fear or phobia of creepy crawlies, cockroaches, swarming insects of any kind.
Do NOT read if you have any fear or phobia of creepy crawlies, cockroaches, swarming insects of any kind.
December 9, 2020
What a lovely late-year surprise. Andrew Cull offers up a quick skin-crawling novella where the suspense keeps mounting in worsening turns of fate. Definitely one of those stories that can be hard to read, in terms of both relationships and bugs, but horrificly enjoyable throughout.
December 9, 2020
This book was STRESSFUL. Wow. Andrew Cull packs so much story into the novella. I loved the protagonist, Cassie, and thought she was really well-written. She feels so human -- strengths, flaws, and above all else -- the determination to make sure her son, Sam, survives the shadows and creepy crawlies coming to life in their new home. I was already terrified of cockroaches before going into the book, and Cull makes sure to dive straight into how unsettling these creatures are. I enjoyed this book a lot and secretly am hoping Cull does a prequel with more about the origin of The Cockroach King because I need to know!! Excellent tension, pacing, and just overall writing -- Cull is definitely an author who should be on your to-read list.
December 22, 2020
This is a brilliant quick read that will hold your attention from start to finish. Andrew Cull's writing style is very easy to read although the subject matter is what will make you tense! You'll never want to crawl under a house again.
January 18, 2021
Short, but very effective. And holy shit, not where I was expecting things to go with the bones in the yard! I already can't stand bugs, so this gave me the heebee-jeebies. Just ugh. 🤮
January 31, 2021
With The Cockroach King Andrew Cull managed to grab my attention and cause fear from the opening lines of this novella, so much so that I didn't put it down until I had finished it. I was immediately concerned for our main character Cassie when I read the opening line "Wed been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden." If that doesn't grab a hold of you and reel you in, what will?
From the onset, I knew that I was in for a wild ride. Cassie, a single mother is raising her young son Sam in their first home, everything they had has gone into purchasing this house and making it a home. Yet, they didn't expect to find what they stumbled into, what they disturbed. It's kind of gross, it's everywhere, you can't escape it once it's woken. Cassie does everything that she can to manage to be rid of the home's pest, but it's not enough.
There's a wild concept at play here, the implication that some people will keep anything a secret as long as it keeps them safe. Such is the case for Cassie's neighbors, but in the end, things get made right. This is such a quick read, but the pacing keeps you on your toes, guiding you to the end. I myself read this in no time, I just couldn't bring myself to put it down until I knew exactly what was at play here. I found myself asking if any house will ever be worth putting my family through something like this?
If you like your horror quick and to the point, engaging and causing you to rip through the pages, then The Cockroach King will be your cup of tea. Not to mention the proceeds go to a good cause.
From the onset, I knew that I was in for a wild ride. Cassie, a single mother is raising her young son Sam in their first home, everything they had has gone into purchasing this house and making it a home. Yet, they didn't expect to find what they stumbled into, what they disturbed. It's kind of gross, it's everywhere, you can't escape it once it's woken. Cassie does everything that she can to manage to be rid of the home's pest, but it's not enough.
There's a wild concept at play here, the implication that some people will keep anything a secret as long as it keeps them safe. Such is the case for Cassie's neighbors, but in the end, things get made right. This is such a quick read, but the pacing keeps you on your toes, guiding you to the end. I myself read this in no time, I just couldn't bring myself to put it down until I knew exactly what was at play here. I found myself asking if any house will ever be worth putting my family through something like this?
If you like your horror quick and to the point, engaging and causing you to rip through the pages, then The Cockroach King will be your cup of tea. Not to mention the proceeds go to a good cause.
April 22, 2022
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and I'll reverse back over you to make sure you're dead."
Cassie Baker buys a house on Cedar Street that reminds her of happier times when her mom was still alive. Now, it is the perfect place to raise her son. That is until her friend discovers dog remains buried in her backyard. Then comes the cockroaches..
Another dark and unsettling story by Andrew Cull. Imagine an infestation of cockroaches trying to attack you 😬 I sure as hell couldn't, but our protagonist, Cassie, had to deal with that, going from fear into go mode as she protected her son while trying to figure out what the hell was going on with her new home. From dog bones, cockroaches, and neighbours that kept to themselves, it didn't take long for Cassie to realize something sinister was going on in her neighbourhood.
Something about a swarm of insects always makes me feel squeamish and this book delivers it well. And, once again, Cull does a wonderful job depicting grief as Cassie reminisces about her mother. This is a quick read that keeps you at the edge of your seat. It is filled with action, creepiness, and sorrow. I highly recommend it!
4.5⭐️ rounded up.
Cassie Baker buys a house on Cedar Street that reminds her of happier times when her mom was still alive. Now, it is the perfect place to raise her son. That is until her friend discovers dog remains buried in her backyard. Then comes the cockroaches..
Another dark and unsettling story by Andrew Cull. Imagine an infestation of cockroaches trying to attack you 😬 I sure as hell couldn't, but our protagonist, Cassie, had to deal with that, going from fear into go mode as she protected her son while trying to figure out what the hell was going on with her new home. From dog bones, cockroaches, and neighbours that kept to themselves, it didn't take long for Cassie to realize something sinister was going on in her neighbourhood.
Something about a swarm of insects always makes me feel squeamish and this book delivers it well. And, once again, Cull does a wonderful job depicting grief as Cassie reminisces about her mother. This is a quick read that keeps you at the edge of your seat. It is filled with action, creepiness, and sorrow. I highly recommend it!
4.5⭐️ rounded up.
November 23, 2020
Where do I even begin with this amazing Novella!
Andrew Cull has such a unique writing style that will suck you in from the very first page. The Cockroach King is a disturbing story that will have you second guessing every discussion you make when it comes to buying a house.
Cassie and Sam’s relationship throughout this novella is incredible. I cared so deeply for this mother and son in such a short time. The things Cassie endures in this novel physical made my skin crawl. I never want to shower again after reading one scene in particular.
If you are looking for a story that will pull at your heart strings and scare the shit out of you at the same time, this one is for you. I can not hype this book enough guys. The Cockroach King is in my top five reads of the year. I’ve never had a story make such an impact on me in such a short amount of pages.
Hands down a 5 out 5 stars from me.
Andrew Cull has such a unique writing style that will suck you in from the very first page. The Cockroach King is a disturbing story that will have you second guessing every discussion you make when it comes to buying a house.
Cassie and Sam’s relationship throughout this novella is incredible. I cared so deeply for this mother and son in such a short time. The things Cassie endures in this novel physical made my skin crawl. I never want to shower again after reading one scene in particular.
If you are looking for a story that will pull at your heart strings and scare the shit out of you at the same time, this one is for you. I can not hype this book enough guys. The Cockroach King is in my top five reads of the year. I’ve never had a story make such an impact on me in such a short amount of pages.
Hands down a 5 out 5 stars from me.
December 7, 2020
Cull writes an excellent short tale full of encroaching dread as Cassie and her baby move into their new home only for dog bones to be found scattered through the garden. With their discovery comes increasing appearances of a cockroach infestation throughout the house, which from the title you can gather is more than it seems.
Nothing can foster fear quite like creepy crawlies and a baby paired together and couple that with the dread of being the only adult in the house looking out to the dark of the garden and you get a simple recipe for domestic scares. This is definitely one of the scarier horrors I've read in a while and I'm going to need to catch up with Cull's other work. Thankfully cockroaches aren't a typical Scottish sight!!
Nothing can foster fear quite like creepy crawlies and a baby paired together and couple that with the dread of being the only adult in the house looking out to the dark of the garden and you get a simple recipe for domestic scares. This is definitely one of the scarier horrors I've read in a while and I'm going to need to catch up with Cull's other work. Thankfully cockroaches aren't a typical Scottish sight!!
February 14, 2021
Andrew Cull has crafted something special in this story of domestic horror where a single mom's attempt to make a home for her son becomes a nightmare of skittering horror. From the opening scenario of unearthing bones in the garden to the cringe-inducing shudder of seeing cockroaches run from the light, the stakes ramp up quickly for the protagonist, Cassie, as she encounters one nightmare after the next. What stands out here is the characters, especially the interplay between Cassie and her son, Sam, as their dream home turns into a horrorshow of almost cosmic dimensions. This is the kind of horror that hits home with me every time, filtered through the dynamic of a family overwhelmed by something dark and destructive. Cull is the real deal.
December 30, 2020
Creepy and Uncomfortably Awesome
If you are looking for a story that makes you squirm and feel uncomfortable from start to finish, then this is it. We follow Cassie as she moves into her new home, and she quickly learns there is something not quite right. Everything unravels quickly, and there are cockroaches. Lots of them.
This short story is everything it needs to be and nothing more. No fluff or filler, just the necessary parts and characters to set your skin crawling and make you want to call an exterminator. You know, just in case.
If you are looking for a story that makes you squirm and feel uncomfortable from start to finish, then this is it. We follow Cassie as she moves into her new home, and she quickly learns there is something not quite right. Everything unravels quickly, and there are cockroaches. Lots of them.
This short story is everything it needs to be and nothing more. No fluff or filler, just the necessary parts and characters to set your skin crawling and make you want to call an exterminator. You know, just in case.
December 15, 2020
Holy shit this book was awesome. It gave me the creepy crawly sensations for sure. I really dig this book. 5 stars for making my skin crawl and making me check myself a few times...... I fucking hate cockroaches 😂😂😂😂😂. Awesome read
May 19, 2021
Cockroaches are one of those bugs that most people hate and of which even more have a phobia, with good reason. They hide in the walls proliferating unseen, scattering when exposed to the light, invading our spaces. The Cockroach King not only plays with our innate revulsion of these scuttling six-legged pests, it quickly escalates it. At only 65 pages, this is one novella that excels at tending a feeling of dread and coaxing it into an inferno of unease.
Cassie is a single mother, intent on raising her little boy Sam and creating a life. Told from the first-person view, we quickly feel for her. She's just poured everything she has into their very first home after the death of her mother. She's so well written. She's relatable and her grief is familiar. There's a strength to her that you find yourself quickly cheering for. You want her to succeed and something is standing in the way of her hopes and dreams as Cassie soon finds that their house isn't quite the home-sweet-home that she'd hoped it would be.
From the very first line—“We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.”—Cull sets the scene for something foreboding and insidious. This is such a creepy little read. The characters are intimate and the pacing is excellent. The writing is deliberate and invokes such great visceral reactions while reading. The tension builds as the reader is given more questions than answers until it all comes down in a culmination of exposed horrific secrets.
Interestingly enough, while I was writing this review, my husband came in from outside with an odd discovery: a tiny skull in his hand that he found lying next to the driveway. We've had numerous pet rats throughout the years and they are all buried in the flower garden. I went outside expecting to find the rock pile set on top disturbed and the burial hole open; It was not. I don't know how the skull got where it was but I find any roaches in my house, you can bet I will bug-bomb this sucker to kingdom come.
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Cassie is a single mother, intent on raising her little boy Sam and creating a life. Told from the first-person view, we quickly feel for her. She's just poured everything she has into their very first home after the death of her mother. She's so well written. She's relatable and her grief is familiar. There's a strength to her that you find yourself quickly cheering for. You want her to succeed and something is standing in the way of her hopes and dreams as Cassie soon finds that their house isn't quite the home-sweet-home that she'd hoped it would be.
From the very first line—“We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.”—Cull sets the scene for something foreboding and insidious. This is such a creepy little read. The characters are intimate and the pacing is excellent. The writing is deliberate and invokes such great visceral reactions while reading. The tension builds as the reader is given more questions than answers until it all comes down in a culmination of exposed horrific secrets.
Interestingly enough, while I was writing this review, my husband came in from outside with an odd discovery: a tiny skull in his hand that he found lying next to the driveway. We've had numerous pet rats throughout the years and they are all buried in the flower garden. I went outside expecting to find the rock pile set on top disturbed and the burial hole open; It was not. I don't know how the skull got where it was but I find any roaches in my house, you can bet I will bug-bomb this sucker to kingdom come.
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October 28, 2021
This was fascinating. Close to the lines of what I'm looking for. I really want something creepy, something that makes my skin crawl, makes me shiver. Some scenes here were close. But, even with how short this was, I still took a break 'cause I got a bit bored.
I did not mind at all that it was about a single mother and her baby. (Normally that would be something that would annoy me/make me not even pick this up.) I really liked the protectiveness it brought about and really think it added a great dynamic to the story, and pushed things along. Most people would do whatever they could to help someone they love, let alone a parent's love.
Bit of a pet peeve of mine but I don't like it when stories do this:
If I'd known what was coming for us that night, do you think I'd have let Sam spend another minute in that house?
I wish we'd gotten a bit more in the end instead of just explanations, but I can also forgive that since this is so short. Also think that might take away from the story. Tommy was a part of this in the beginning, though, so I thought he deserved some screen-time in the end. Also think that the ending bit was fitting.
Overall, very enjoyable (3.5 rounded down) and I will definitely check out this author again. So far been the closest to "creepy" I've been able to find this season. (I also wanted to slip in something short so this was perfect for that.)
I did not mind at all that it was about a single mother and her baby. (Normally that would be something that would annoy me/make me not even pick this up.) I really liked the protectiveness it brought about and really think it added a great dynamic to the story, and pushed things along. Most people would do whatever they could to help someone they love, let alone a parent's love.
Bit of a pet peeve of mine but I don't like it when stories do this:
If I'd known what was coming for us that night, do you think I'd have let Sam spend another minute in that house?
I wish we'd gotten a bit more in the end instead of just explanations, but I can also forgive that since this is so short. Also think that might take away from the story. Tommy was a part of this in the beginning, though, so I thought he deserved some screen-time in the end. Also think that the ending bit was fitting.
Overall, very enjoyable (3.5 rounded down) and I will definitely check out this author again. So far been the closest to "creepy" I've been able to find this season. (I also wanted to slip in something short so this was perfect for that.)
January 5, 2022
We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden.
How about a big, large, nope.
I’m not scared of bugs, when I see a beetle or a spider on the wall, in the bathtub, crawling on the floor, I’ll pick it up and parp it outside. I always live by the phrase “It’s more scared of you than you are of it.”
That phrase went out the door when I picked up The Cockroach King. The story follows Cassie, a single mother dealing with the grief of not having her mother, moving into a new home, and taking care of her little boy, Sam. The new house Cassie moves into is one that fills her with nostalgia and memories, but soon enough, the house will be haunting her every waking moment.
The Cockroach King is dreadful. From the get go, it’s just this constant paranoia of “what the heck is happening?” And it just gets more bizarre and horrifying the more you read on. I genuinely felt like my skin was starting to crawl while reading.
For how short this book is, it packs a whole lot of dread & horror, and is a fantastic one sitter. Cull has definitely gained a new fan.
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How about a big, large, nope.
I’m not scared of bugs, when I see a beetle or a spider on the wall, in the bathtub, crawling on the floor, I’ll pick it up and parp it outside. I always live by the phrase “It’s more scared of you than you are of it.”
That phrase went out the door when I picked up The Cockroach King. The story follows Cassie, a single mother dealing with the grief of not having her mother, moving into a new home, and taking care of her little boy, Sam. The new house Cassie moves into is one that fills her with nostalgia and memories, but soon enough, the house will be haunting her every waking moment.
The Cockroach King is dreadful. From the get go, it’s just this constant paranoia of “what the heck is happening?” And it just gets more bizarre and horrifying the more you read on. I genuinely felt like my skin was starting to crawl while reading.
For how short this book is, it packs a whole lot of dread & horror, and is a fantastic one sitter. Cull has definitely gained a new fan.
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April 7, 2024
The book includes a 100-page long novella (the title story) and two short stories which are approximately 20 pages long each.
3.5/5 🌟 The Cockroach King: Mother and son move into a new house and discover multiple dog bones in their backyard. And the occasional cockroach here and there. 🤭
Good descriptions and pace. Interesting characters. Predictable and did not scare me.
After the story, the author talks about how the story was originally planned, how he got the idea for it, how the writing process went. 10 little pages that were very insightful!
3/5 🌟 The Book Club: A group of bullied boys meet in the woods and read books together. One day, they find something scary in the woods...
Good friendship dynamics and descriptions of the 'something scary'. Yet again, very predictable and a bit too short for my taste.
2/5 🌟 The Boy Among Us: Transcripts from police statements detailing the events from one summer night where a bunch of young kids all went missing.
Interesting idea and cool format. I was expecting more explanations and more horror.
3.5/5 🌟 The Cockroach King: Mother and son move into a new house and discover multiple dog bones in their backyard. And the occasional cockroach here and there. 🤭
Good descriptions and pace. Interesting characters. Predictable and did not scare me.
After the story, the author talks about how the story was originally planned, how he got the idea for it, how the writing process went. 10 little pages that were very insightful!
3/5 🌟 The Book Club: A group of bullied boys meet in the woods and read books together. One day, they find something scary in the woods...
Good friendship dynamics and descriptions of the 'something scary'. Yet again, very predictable and a bit too short for my taste.
2/5 🌟 The Boy Among Us: Transcripts from police statements detailing the events from one summer night where a bunch of young kids all went missing.
Interesting idea and cool format. I was expecting more explanations and more horror.
September 29, 2021
I sometimes prefer novella to novels because it is straight to the point no dilly dally around, granted a good novel starts building up to the end and I do love them as well but you can’t beat a good novella specially from author Andrew Cull’s “The Cockroach King”. This is my first book by him and I can tell he’s an extraordinary horror author.
From the blurb: “We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden”. That sentence was enough to grab me and add it to Amazon’s basket. I continue “When Cassie baker buys the house on Cedar Street. It’s partly because it reminds her of the house she grew up in in the 80’s. It reminds her of happier times. When her mom was still alive before the cancer had taken her. It seems like the perfect place to raise her baby boy, Sam”. Oh boy she’s in for a shock!!.
There are also 2 short stories “The Book Club” & “The Boy Among Us” which I rather enjoyed. I recommend this 5 * read to all horror fans even if you hate cockroaches!!!
From the blurb: “We’d been in the house two weeks when Tommy pulled the first bones from the garden”. That sentence was enough to grab me and add it to Amazon’s basket. I continue “When Cassie baker buys the house on Cedar Street. It’s partly because it reminds her of the house she grew up in in the 80’s. It reminds her of happier times. When her mom was still alive before the cancer had taken her. It seems like the perfect place to raise her baby boy, Sam”. Oh boy she’s in for a shock!!.
There are also 2 short stories “The Book Club” & “The Boy Among Us” which I rather enjoyed. I recommend this 5 * read to all horror fans even if you hate cockroaches!!!
March 8, 2023
Well that was disgusting, 5 stars
October 2, 2022
3.7. This was a nice, creepy short story. Fast paced and will make you feel creepy crawlies all over you. I think we can all relate to the main character in how she acts and how she responds to what's happening to her. Give this one a read if you aren't afraid of bugs!!
December 7, 2020
Let me start by saying I hate cockroaches and I have a valid reason why.
A few years back I woke up to one biting my hand. I kid you not. This was at my workplace. Then I swear every time I was at work they would constantly be there, flying around and generally creeping me out.
So.. it took some real courage to read this story.
This is essentially a story of a mother and what she would do for her child in the face of intense fear.
A woman and her son move into a new home and a dog’s skeleton is accidentally uncovered in the backyard then all of a sudden she starts seeing cockroaches everywhere in the house.
This is the kind of story that really gets under your skin, makes you squirm and causes you to double check behind doors and in shadows. As a mother this story was truly horrifying to me and it grossed me out so much.
P.S I still hate cockroaches!!!
A few years back I woke up to one biting my hand. I kid you not. This was at my workplace. Then I swear every time I was at work they would constantly be there, flying around and generally creeping me out.
So.. it took some real courage to read this story.
This is essentially a story of a mother and what she would do for her child in the face of intense fear.
A woman and her son move into a new home and a dog’s skeleton is accidentally uncovered in the backyard then all of a sudden she starts seeing cockroaches everywhere in the house.
This is the kind of story that really gets under your skin, makes you squirm and causes you to double check behind doors and in shadows. As a mother this story was truly horrifying to me and it grossed me out so much.
P.S I still hate cockroaches!!!
December 29, 2020
In Andrew Cull’s recent novella, The Cockroach King, we are introduced to Cassie, single mother to a toddler, in search of a home to build a life in. Her mother is recently dead, and there is no one else in her life besides her boy, Sam. When she finds the home on Cedar Street, it’s exactly the type of home that reminds Cassie of her own youth. It’s with this that Cull starts slowly increasing the dread I’ve come to associate with him.
You can read Chris' full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Chris' full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
December 16, 2020
65 pages but Damn does he pack a punch. In such a short amount of time he gives us a memorable main character and the story is creepy as hell as someone who HATES bugs. Ew just fucking EW!
I was in a bit of a writing slump myself, as I'm working on my first novel but reading this story.....I found myself thinking about how in so few pages I was able to care about his characters an it really made me think about the characters in my own story an what was happening to them, it inspired me to pick my story back up and for that I'm really grateful to have read this.
I was in a bit of a writing slump myself, as I'm working on my first novel but reading this story.....I found myself thinking about how in so few pages I was able to care about his characters an it really made me think about the characters in my own story an what was happening to them, it inspired me to pick my story back up and for that I'm really grateful to have read this.
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