I enjoyed the elements in this book and my favourite part of it was how good the writing style. It pulls you in to point where you never want to stop reading.

The plot/ story was highly addictive and executed on a really good way.

Three siblings return to their family home after the death of their mother, and uncover graves at the house .

I wanted to love this story more but I didn’t really connect to any of the characters and found myself not really wanting to pick it up.

If you’re in the mood for a slow burn mystery with not too much excitement, this would be for you

Thanks to the publisher for my gifted ARC

A Creeping Plot..
When three siblings return to their childhood home, darkness awaits. The family matriarch has passed away and the old house is filled with sadness - but the discovery of graves behind the home is a shocking development. More shocking is that one of those graves is fresh. Who has something to hide and what exactly is it? A slow burn suspenseful mystery drenched in atmosphere with a creeping plot populated with a credible and authentic cast of characters and an underlying vein of menace. A solid mystery.

This is a dark mystery that started out with potential, but left me disappointed in the end. After the death of their mother, three siblings return to their childhood home, Teague House, to settle her affairs. After a lifetime of family disfunction, their troubles are compounded when remains are discovered on the property, including a fresh grave.

Throughout the book, I felt like there weren't enough significant/intriguing events happening to keep me invested. Also, there wasn't enough backstory for certain characters to make this a satisfying mystery. In the end, I was hoping for a creepier story or a more twisty outcome.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Thoughts are my own.

Three siblings return home after their mother’s death, only to uncover graves behind their childhood house, one of them fresh. Private detective Maddie Reed, drawn to the case for personal reasons, is determined to expose the truth.

Honestly, this book just didn’t do it for me. I went in expecting a creepy, suspenseful mystery, but I ended up feeling mostly bored. The pacing dragged, and by the time things actually started happening, I had already lost interest.

There was soooo much drama, way too much, and not the kind that added to the story. One character has marital problems, another has a dead wife, another has a dead sister… Just get to the mystery already! Instead of keeping me engaged, all the personal drama made the story feel even slower.

Most of the ending was predictable, which took away any real suspense. The big reveal of whodunit? Boring. It was anticlimactic, and, honestly, confusing. I just wanted it to be over. The buildup wasn’t strong enough to make it feel like a big moment, so it just kind of… happened.

Then there’s Maddie’s storyline, which felt completely unnecessary. It didn’t add anything important to the plot, and I honestly think the book would’ve been better without it.

Overall, What Remains of Teague House was a letdown. It had potential, but between the slow pacing, predictable twists, and unnecessary subplots, it just wasn’t for me.

Stacy Johns shocked the hell out of me with the ending of this book.

I had pieced together the mystery pretty quickly and was a little thrown off by the pacing toward the end. Until I read the epilogue. Holy smokes, what a good way to end it.

If you're looking for a good, quick mystery book to read, I highly suggest What Remains of Teague House. The setting is great, the characters are interesting enough to keep you entertained. I think having a little more background on Val and Russ and Phil from the 80s & 90s would have been nice. But the book is a treat.

What Remains of Teague House by Stacy Johns is a chilling novel set against the haunting backdrop of a dilapidated family home, this suspenseful tale unravels through multiple perspectives and timelines—a technique that can easily misfire yet is thrillingly executed here. With its fantastic narrative, chilling characters, and atmospheric tension, What Remains of Teague House captivated me from the very first page.

All families are complicated. But not all families have bodies buried in their backyard. One put there just that week...

When the Rawlins family matriarch unexpectedly passes, all three adult children rush home. What they find is a house bursting with grief, dark memories surfacing around each corner, and multiple bodies buried deep in the woods. The Rawlins want to believe the discovery points to a crime long past. But one of the graves behind Teague House is fresh, the earth disturbed just that week―and its inhabitant a local woman they all knew.

Is the youngest Rawlins sibling with something to hide somehow involved in her murder? Is his sister experiencing false memories of her late father digging near the graves? And why is the Rawlins aunt in such a rush to leave town after her sister's funeral? Enter private detective Maddie Reed, who has her own reasons for being curious about the bodies buried behind Teague House. Maddie sets out to unmask a killer. One she may have been hunting all her life.

As the three siblings—Elena, Michael, and Tara—navigate through layers of deception and betrayal embedded in their lineage, each character brings a unique perspective that enriches the overall story of What Remains of Teague House. Unlike some other novels attempting dual timelines and multiple points of view, Stacy Johns' skillful weaving of these elements added depth to the story rather than confusion.

What Remains of Teague House is set against two distinct timelines which truly enhances the suspenseful atmosphere. I was drawn into both timelines simultaneously as each chapter peeled back another layer of mystery surrounding Teague House's ominous history. The transitions between timelines are seamless; never once did it disrupt or disorient but rather illuminated connections hidden within familial bonds.

The characters that live within the pages of What Remains of Teague House are something special. Johns truly excels at the rendering of emotional authenticity, resonating deeply throughout the story. Additionally, the setting of the Teague House plays nearly as significant role as any character within this tale–an old house filled with echoes of the past. Johns paints a vivid picture immersing me fully in the walls of Teague House–almost transporting me to a location filled with chilling secrets.

Suspense builds steadily throughout the novel with unexpected twists I did not see coming. While the ending was not exactly as I would've hoped–seemingly a bit rushed and random, missing something overall–it did not ruin the novel. This novel read super easily and was fast paced, quickly turning each page with suspenseful enthusiasm.

Stacy Johns wonderfully melds elements of a psychological thriller with family secrets in What Remains of Teague House. While the ending wasn't exactly as I would've hope it doesn't take away from the overall reading experience. Johns have crafted a thrilling debut novel that left me eagerly awaiting their next novel.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was pretty good and I definitely liked the thrillery aspects of it but not all that much happened in the middle especially. tysm for the arc.

A great mystery full of darkness and great potential. I enjoyed it for the most part save for the middle act which was a bit too slow for me.

This is a mystery thriller that slowly unravels through an entire family’s pov along with a private investigator’s pov. So, yes there are a lot of people but it was quick to remember who was who. You find out early on there are bodies buried at the family home and are trying to figure out all the pieces right along with the characters.

The opening chapter gripped me and I ate it up. The story is fast paced and suspenseful at times which made for the quick read. I did figure out some of the mystery but a little twist I didn’t figure out. It was a very enjoyable read and I would read this author again.

What Remains of Teague House is a multiple POV thriller, which I always enjoy. We get the POVs of each of the Rawlins siblings and the occasional chapter from Aunt Phil and PI Maddie. When their mother dies, the Rawlins siblings are brought together. Shortly after arriving, dead bodies are discovered in the woods behind Teague House.

I love stories with multiple POVs. There are a few different characters in this book, however it’s still easy to follow along. The writing flowed well. One thing I noticed that I found interesting was the way all the POVs were in third person except Maddie’s. Her POV was the only one that I noticed that was first person. It doesn’t detract from anything, just an interesting note. Sadly, I’m a reader who is big on the ending. This book fell short in that department. I felt that with the pacing being a bit on the slower side, it left room for a lot of build up but the ending didn’t hold up to it. The ending felt a bit rushed, especially one the reveal happened. It also felt a bit random. I see where the author was trying to go with it; I’m just not sure it worked.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of What Remains of Teague House.

Murder mystery and family secrets.
This was a very entertaining murder mystery!

After their mother died, the three Rawlin siblings return home to take care of the funeral.
But then several bodies are found on their property. Police investigations, a private detective, and three siblings try to reveal the secrets of Teague House.

This story follows the three siblings as third-person POV, but also switches to a first-person POV for the private detective.

I found the switch of POV confusing at first. But it turned out to be a good way of separating the family drama of the Rawlinses, and the search of the private investigator.

The book started a little slow, but once the bodies were found, it really kicked off. More questions came up; who killed who, what secrets are hidden in the family, where did the victims come from?

Slowly, everything unravels until the truth finally jumps out.

This was a lot of fun! There are many hints hidden between the lines. Attentive readers are rewarded. I was constantly creating theories until the final reveal.

The characters were very realistic. I could really relate to the siblings' dynamics, being a child of 3 myself. Everyone had their flaws, charm, and secrets.

The most flawed characters stuck with me the most. Some of them really drove me up the wall, I wanted to shake them or knock them up the head. It's not hard to imagine, that people like this exist in real life.

If you love mysteries, and the unravelling of generations worth of secrets, I highly recommend this book! It's very entertaining, and the reveal is very much worth it.

I really enjoyed following the siblings relationship, great character development. I didn’t figure out who did it until the end. Would love to read a prequel to this story? I was curious about the past timeline and wanted more! Will definitely more from the author.

In *What Remains of Teague House*, a gripping family mystery unravels when three adult siblings return home after their mother’s unexpected death, only to uncover a chilling secret buried in their backyard. As multiple graves are discovered, one of them freshly dug, the Rawlins family is forced to confront the dark history of their family and the unsettling question of whether one of them might be involved in a recent murder.

With taut, evocative writing and intricate character development, this mystery explores the complexities of memory, guilt, and family ties. Detective Maddie Reed enters the scene, determined to uncover the truth—one that could unravel the Rawlins family forever. Fans of psychological thrillers and deep family dramas will be captivated by this suspense-filled page-turner, full of twists, secrets, and long-buried truths.

"What Remains of Teague House" by Stacy Johns is a gripping mystery novel set to be released in April 20252. This debut work showcases Johns' talent for crafting a complex, multi-layered narrative that keeps readers guessing until the very end.
The story revolves around the Rawlins family, a dysfunctional group brought together for their mother's funeral at their childhood home, Teague House. The somber gathering takes a dark turn when multiple corpses are discovered in the woods on the property, adding to the already troubled history of the house, which includes the father's suicide.
Johns employs multiple points of view to tell the story, allowing readers to delve into the minds of various characters, each harboring their own secrets. This narrative technique adds depth to the plot and helps maintain suspense throughout the novel. At the center of the investigation is private detective Maddie Reed, tasked with unraveling a mystery that spans decades3.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its character development. Johns has created a cast of "delightfully gray" characters, each with their own hidden agendas and motivations3. This nuanced approach to characterization adds realism and complexity to the story, making it more engaging for readers.
The atmospheric setting of Teague House itself plays a crucial role in the narrative, serving as a gloomy backdrop that enhances the overall sense of unease and mystery3. Johns skillfully uses the house and its surroundings to create a palpable tension that permeates the entire novel.
While "What Remains of Teague House" is Johns' first novel, it demonstrates a level of storytelling prowess that suggests a promising career ahead. The author's ability to weave together multiple storylines, maintain suspense, and create compelling characters is impressive for a debut work.
In conclusion, "What Remains of Teague House" is a sinister and engrossing mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and atmospheric setting, this novel marks an impressive debut for Stacy Johns and is certainly worth adding to your reading list.

A family with a large estate with a main house(Teague House) and cottage, the mother has just died and now the siblings come home to deal with her passing. The book opens with the death of the mother from her point of view, then each chapter is told from a different character. As the book unfolds the stories of this family spill out, with murders and past problems coming to light.

SPOILERS below:

The family finds a "pet cemetary" in the far back of their property. But upon further investigation human remains are discovered and this unlocks the unsolved murders of multiple people in the community. The unexpected cemetary was probably my favorite part of the book, it was interesting to discover why it was created and how this burial ground came to be.

Overall this story had a lot of layers and and some interesting characters to follow. There was a twist at the end that I was hoping for but that didn't happen. (darn!)

I definitely felt invested to finish this story and not put the book down. However I was a tad disappointed when the true "mystery" was revealed. I think I expected something more and the real murderer was not that surprising. I still feel this was a worthwhile read and I am interested to see what this author writes next.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good mystery thriller especially with sketchy families. The Rawlins are a family that needs some serious therapy and I wont get into the nitty gritty but man this book kept my attention till the very last page. I also love the cover I cant wait to own a copy of this book.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC! This started off so strong, with a good mystery and a gathering of siblings for a death. However, it rambled for far too long about things that really didn't contribute much to the overall plot. It was far longer than it needed to be, and would have benefited from more trimming down. I think 432 pages was far too many for telling this overall very simple story. I did enjoy some of the characters, but this is not likely a book I would recommend to my friends.

Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Sourcebooks for this copy of "What Remains of Teague House."

A modern-day gothic suspenseful thriller that had me suspecting everyone of being the killer of the dead bodies found in the family's pet cemetery.

I love books where people hide precious items and this one starts with Val, who lives with her sister Phyllis, checking on her lifelong treasures that she's hidden in a lockbox.

Val and her husband Russ built Teague House and Russ crafted hiding places into the house. The children Jon, Sandra, and Robby found most of them and hid some of their own items when they lived in the house.

The pacing was a little slower as author Johns built and explored the family relationships that are so crucial to the story. Parent and child, siblings, spouses: secrets, emotional pain, and unconditional love are all components of solving the mystery of the found remains.

OMG. WHAT A SURPRISE!!!! This book had everything, creepy house, creepy siblings an intense atmosphere. I wish this was a series. I read this book in 1 sitting. WOWOWOWOWOW