The premise of this book sounded really intriguing, and I was excited to read it, but unfortunately, this was a letdown. The story felt overly drawn out, too long, and not very engaging. The beginning was intriguing, but as it went on, it started to drag..and drag..and drag. The writing was decent, but the plot just didn’t work for me. I wanted more from the story. The ending was disappointing and felt anticlimactic. I really think the story had a lot of potential, but it ended up being a disappointment.

'What Remains of Teague House' was a good mystery/family drama novel. It started off slowly, but finished fast. I also enjoyed the family tensions. I give this book a solid 4 star rating.

This is a dual timeline/multiple POV thriller. It is a very entertaining read, and it easily kept me hooked. I'm not a huge fan of the multiple POV, but it worked for this story. If you like thrillers about family secrets this should definitely be your next read! I will lastly say that in this story things are not always what they seem.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen for the copy of this ARC. Get your copy today!

What Remains of Teague House is a dark tale of a very dysfunctional family. A newly wed couple with limited means is able to buy a big plot of land and there they build their dream home. Life is good until the moment that secrets they hold become so overwhelming that it's not possible to live with them anymore. The father kills himself, the mother never never talks again, the older children move out of town and rarely return home, the youngest one also leads a very troubled home life. Then the mother dies, her caretaker (her sister) leaves their home the day after the funeral, and dead people (old and new) are found in the property. How are the deaths linked to the family? Who is responsible for them? Why these people were killed? There are so many secrets held by each character in this story that the end seems too simple. It's an engaging and interesting read.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This was an interesting, twist filled thriller. It was filled with family drama and murder. Told through multiple POVs, this is a slow burn thriller. However, I felt like this was almost a little too slow burn and it definitely took me a while to get into. The ending felt rushed and cobbled together, and it just didn't seem very satisfying to me.

3.5 Stars rounded up

I enjoyed the atmosphere of this book—it had a moody, slow-burn quality that worked really well with the setting. The multi-POV storytelling added depth and helped keep the narrative moving, giving insight into each character’s messy past and present. While the premise isn’t entirely new, it wasn’t so overdone that it ruined the experience for me. The twist was solid and kept me engaged, and I loved the epilogue—it delivered the kind of punch I wish the rest of the book had leaned into a bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was a doozy of a murder mystery. Told through multiple POVS and in dual timelines, this story was loaded with secrets, betrayal, and doubts about which characters were trustworthy and which were not. My favorite character was a private investigator named Maddie, who was trying to discover what happened to her missing friend. Fans of family secrets and murder mysteries will enjoy this book.

3.5 stars

3.5 stars rounded to 4

When a family member’s passing brings three siblings back to their childhood home, they find a something lurking beneath their memories and grief - a dark secret spanning decades.

What Remains of Teague House is an engaging murder mystery! I especially loved the family dynamics, which reminded me of Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher series; not in the horror but in the separate yet intertwined secrets each family member harbours in their lives.

🔪 Murder Mystery
🔪 Multiple POVs
🔪 Family Drama
🔪 Return to Family Home/Land

It took me a little while to get into the book, as it initially introduced multiple characters across two timelines. However, as the story progressed, I found myself getting more invested and intrigued by the plot. I was enjoying the book until I figured out the "twist," which, for me, made the story feel just average. While I’m usually a fan of an epilogue to tie everything together, this one felt a bit strange. Overall, it was just an average read, but I’d definitely be open to trying more of this author’s work in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted ARC of this novel!

To me, this book is more of a whodunnit mystery than a thriller. The first chapter and the last 10% of this book is a roller coaster of a ride in terms of pacing. Otherwise, I do think this was a bit of a slow burn for me. I also had some difficulty relating to the characters throughout. I will say that I did not see mystery’s resolution coming; I had several guesses but none of them were correct. I see that this is a debut author, and I think this book is a solid release for a first novel! If you enjoy slow burn type mysteries, this would be a great book for you!

This debut was a really good mix of messy family drama with a mystery! I felt like each of the characters are suspicious in their own ways. Even though I correctly predicted the do-er relatively early, the writing, setting, characters (including multiple POV and a degree of unreliability in narration) and sprinkle of multiple timelines kept this a very entertaining and quick read!

The first chapter creeped me out and was eerie enough to really suck me in right away. After initially wondering how I was going to keep the cast of characters straight, the author fleshed them out well enough for me to simultaneously suspect multiple people, but also reasonably doubt their involvement.

Bonus points for an epilogue that gave me the chills…

What Remains of Teague House by Stacy Johns is a twisty and atmospheric thriller with a dual timeline and multiple POVs.

After their mother's death, the Rawlins siblings Robbie, Sandra and Jon all return to Teague House to make funeral arrangements and to sort through years of belongings. But one day when walking through the woods Sandra and Jon find a freshly dug grave. When the police are called out to investigate, they discover multiple remains on the property. As the investigation continues, dark family secrets come to light and repressed memories start to surface. Why were the bodies buried on their property? Did their parents know? And why is Aunt Phil, who had been their mother's caretaker, suddenly packing up to go on an indefinite vacation? What other dark secrets will come out of Teague House?

This was definitely an intriguing read full of drama, mystery, and hidden secrets!! This book is a bit of a slow burn but still interesting enough to keep with it. The multiple POVs and dual timeline really lets the reader explore the family's motivations behind the deception. Definitely kept me guessing until the last twist. All of the characters are well developed, even if some are more likable than others. I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting for the whole novel and the tension buildup was perfect. Definitely can't wait to see what Stacy Johns comes out with next!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Stacy Johns, and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!!! Publication date is April 8th 2025.

After the unexpected death of their mother, the Rawlin’s family return home to The Teague House just in time for the family secrets to be unearthed!

Local law enforcement are investigating a body discovered buried in the woods behind the family home. While processing the scene more bodies are discovered! Private Investigator Maddie Reed joins the investigation, looking to solve a missing persons case near and dear to her. 🚔

This dysfunctional family was bound to have a mystery afoot living so close to the Teague Woods and its pet cemetery.🪦 The siblings and Aunt Phil are left to pick up the pieces and solve the puzzle.

This is a dual story line, multi POV read with more than one mystery to solve. Can you dig in and find the clues of this family saga?
This was an intriguing read where things are not always what they seem. Enjoy this creepy, murder mystery soaked in family drama.

Thank you to the author,Stacy Johns, publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book. I received an epub and my review is being left voluntarily.

Three Rawlins siblings, John, Sandra and Robby reunite at their childhood home (Teague House), after the passing of their mother. Robby still lives on the property in a cottage, away from the house with his family, but from the get go we read that he seems to be having martial problems as his wife and kids are staying with his mother in law. Their Aunt Phil, has been taking care of their mother, so when she passes Phil lets the siblings know that she will be going on a never ending cruise to finally live her life. Sandra goes for a walk on the property, and that’s when she sees a finger in the ground. This is where the real mystery begins… because not only is there a body on the property, but also a grave to several others in the same location. Who did it? Did their parents have a sinister past? Why is there a new grave?

This book kept me interested the whole time. A couple characters I felt could be eliminated right away, so I really tried to pay attention to clues on the other characters. The book has a slow burn to it but keeps you interested to see where these bodies came from. Overall I really enjoyed the mystery of who did it. This book has several character POVs, but I felt it was very easy to keep track of. If your vibe is family secret thrillers, then this book is for you.

3.5 Stars rounded up.

What Remains of Teague House is a twisty dual timeline and multiple POV murder mystery that follows the lives of three siblings and their aunt. After their mother’s passing, the Rawlings siblings return home for the funeral and to sort out her belongings. Multiple buried bodies are found on their land and the police are investigating to see if the Rawlings family are involved.

I found it hard to get invested in the story. Sandra was the only likable character. Robby was annoying and Aunt Phil was just plain weird. It felt like a slow burn with little build up and then a rushed ending. Overall just an ok book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

I loved the darkness of this novel intertwined with the mystery it provided a gripping and exciting read.

When the Rawlins matriarch dies, her three adult children return home—only to discover multiple bodies buried in the woods behind their family home, including one disturbingly fresh grave. As buried secrets and long-suppressed memories resurface, suspicions surface: Is the youngest sibling hiding something? Why is their aunt in such a rush to leave town?? Could their father have had something to do with the bodies in the woods? Private detective Maddie Reed has her own reasons for investigating this case—and may have been chasing this killer her entire life.
My Reading Experience: This book was spooky, atmospheric and quick paced. The family dynamic was so convoluted I could not decide who I trusted or what memories were real. It was It kept me guessing until the very end. Well written and spooky as hell!
Final Recommendation: If you love fast paced spooky thrillers, then this is the book for you! Isolated family houses, a long history of missing people and not knowing who or what to trust. A spooky murder mystery with a hint of paranormal elements laced together for a horrifying ride.

I was initially very intrigued by this premise, but it ultimately fell flat for me. This book starts off in a disjointed and confusing manner and it doesn't improve from there. It has far too many characters introduced in a short period of time and there's no coherency in the story for the first part of the novel. Once you do understand the world and how all the characters relate to each other, the plot is extremely slow and nothing interesting really happens.

The ending was also unexpected, but not in a good way. It just didn't make a lot of sense and there was nothing to lead the reader down that route. Overall, a pretty mediocre mystery.

This is a mystery told in different POV. We first learn of the passing of Val. Two of her adult children, Jon and Sandra, live out of town so they rush home for the funeral arrangements. Their younger brother Robby lives on the Teague House property so they all reconnect. Their aunt Phil is also there and she is like the glue that holds them together and they turn to her for support during this time.
As the story unfolds a body is found on the property but when the police start digging they uncover more than what they were hoping for.
Now, Jon, Sandra and Robby must try to uncover what family secrets were buried on their property.
Overall the story was really good. I felt that each chapter with different POV kept the reader hooked wanting to know what else would be uncovered. The story is told in present time but some POVs take us to the past and we learn about the secrets that this family had.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions are my own.

What Remains of Teague House by Stacy Johns is a captivating blend of murder mystery and family drama, set against the eerie backdrop of a decaying ancestral home. The story kicks off with a compelling premise: the Rawlins siblings return to their childhood home after their mother’s death, only to discover a fresh grave on the property. This discovery unearths decades-old secrets, setting them on a suspenseful journey to uncover the truth about a series of mysterious deaths tied to their family’s past.

The novel alternates between dual timelines and multiple points of view, adding depth to the narrative. We follow the adult children in the present, as well as the past lives of their parents and aunt. Meanwhile, Maddie, a private investigator brought in to help with the case, offers a fresh perspective with her first-person narration, placing the reader alongside her as an outsider in a family full of hidden secrets. While the characters are well-developed, some may find it challenging to keep track of all the family members’ histories at first, as the plot weaves through generations of betrayal and loss.

The atmospheric setting is one of the story’s strongest elements. Teague House itself is richly described, with its ominous woods and secret hideaways that seem to echo the dark secrets of the family. The tension is palpable throughout, as the Rawlins siblings confront their own grief and suspicions about each other. Each family member’s flaws make them feel real and relatable, but also raise suspicions, making them all potential suspects in the unfolding mystery.

While the plot itself is engaging, some readers may find the build-up slow at times, with the ultimate twist becoming fairly predictable early on. That said, the slow burn of the story keeps the reader invested, and the final chapters deliver a satisfying conclusion, with a clever epilogue that ties everything together in a satisfying way.