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

A twisted discovery of secrets unveils itself after a death in the Rawlins family. As the siblings return to their childhood home to deal with the aftermath of their mother's passing, they all battle with haunting memories of their pasts. Add in the discovery of a graveyard in the backyard and the mystery takes off! Surprising connections hidden all throughout the book keep it engaging.

However, I felt like it was hard to get into the book for the first few chapters, and the ending revealed itself earlier than I had hoped!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the EARC and the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
‘What Remains of Teague House’ is a dysfunctional family thriller that combines mystery with generational trauma. When three siblings discover that their mother has died, they all descend upon their childhood home which happens to be an old house out in the middle of the woods. When they find a fresh grave with a thumb sticking out right next to what they’d grown up thinking was a pet cemetery, their entire family become suspects in multiple murders.
This was a fun read. I enjoyed the perspective switches and the overarching mystery. The dual timeline chapters between Phil and Val as young adults helped to give some context to Val and Phil’s contentious relationship. I thought that was one of the stronger points of the book and that Phil’s perspective was fascinating from a psychological standpoint. At points, you begin to question who among these characters is a reliable narrator because almost everyone has something to hide.
I thought the twist was good if a bit predictable. The ending felt a bit rushed after all the buildup of the story. Much like the hiding places all around Teague House, I would’ve loved for the information to come to light more slowly than it did in the final few scenes. I did appreciate the ‘why’ but I wish we’d gotten just a bit more of it. I wanted to know more about the group and how they came to be connected to the Rawlins family.
This was a fun read that had some pacing issues. Overall, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a thriller about a layered and very dysfunctional family with some bodies in the backyard.

This was a dark, spooky, and twisty read that was perfect to curl up with on such a cold, dreary day. Johns does an excellent job creating such an unnerving and mysterious atmosphere that you couldn't help but want to learn more about! The beginning was a bit slow and I was kind of confused about why such a big character showed up so late in the game, but if you can stick it out there are plenty of other great twists and shocks that make the rest of the story fly by! I figured out the ending pretty early on, but I really enjoyed the characters and plot development of this one and look forward to more from Johns! Thanks so much for the ARC!

What Remains of Teague House is a HAUNTING mystery that will keep you hooked from start to finish!

Perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects or Stacy Willingham’s Only If You’re Lucky, this story is brimming with intrigue, secrets, and shadowy characters. The tale begins with a family tragedy—the passing of the family’s matriarch—which forces the family to gather and make difficult decisions. But the drama doesn’t stop there. The discovery of bones on the family’s land adds a chilling layer of mystery that spirals into an ambitious and captivating narrative. Stacy Johns masterfully ties together every loose end, delivering a conclusion that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

Teague House itself feels like a character, steeped in secrets and haunting memories. From Sandy’s unsettling and terrifying dreams to Maddie’s relentless investigation into a missing person, the story pulls readers into a web of lies, red herrings, and startling revelations. Switching perspectives throughout the book adds an extra layer of depth, allowing readers to piece together clues while pondering the implications of each twist. The shifting viewpoints, combined with well-placed flashbacks from Aunt Phil’s perspective, create a dynamic and engaging narrative structure. Every discovery builds toward a shocking and exhilarating climax that will leave readers breathless.

The characters are a standout feature of this novel, each with unique and compelling personalities that enhance the story’s many mysteries. Stacy Johns’ skillful writing breathes life into these characters, making their struggles and secrets feel vivid and real. The interplay between past and present is seamlessly woven, adding richness to the narrative and keeping readers guessing until the very end.

What Remains of Teague House is a must-read for mystery lovers. With its expertly crafted plot, multidimensional characters, and spine-tingling atmosphere, this book firmly establishes Stacy Johns as a rising star in the genre. Don’t miss out on this thrilling tale!

Thank you, Net Galley and Poisoned Pen, for the advance read copy!!

I am a sucker for dual timeline books, and for books with multiple POVs, and WHAT REMAINS OF TEAGUE HOUSE had both. So of course we started on the right foot, and we proceeded with a deliciously confusing plot that I really really enjoyed. It is a sad story, at times, but that's okay. Just check your trigger warnings! Especially suicide and long term illness.

I really liked the writing style, jumping from one character’s thoughts to the other without really ever being in a neutral area. I loved trying to sort out what was ‘the truth’ and what was ‘the truth that characters were telling themselves’. And the epilogue just blew my mind. Of everything in the story, it absolutely was the last thing I was expecting. And it was GREAT. I literally shouted “WHAAAT?!” in the car with my parents.

A couple of things that I didn’t like / that didn’t make much sense to me were: (1) how much the plot is based on a coincidence that I find to be not too credible (the first victim found); (2) how late in the book one of the key characters shows up. Given how the story opens (the first chapter is from the mother’s point of view), among all the characters you are the person with most information at hand. Which is normally a great position to be in, because you can then try and guess who among the characters will solve it first. In this case, this very very important piece of the puzzle arrives extremely late, and I found it to be a bit unfair.

A very nice reading experience, nonetheless.

Note: I would rate the book 3.5 stars, if there was an option.