Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this free eARC!

The Rawlins family has owned a large piece of land in the Pacific Northwest for decades. Russ built a large house from the ground up, with his wife Val, and their 3 children Sandra, Robby, and Jon. Russ died by suicide when the kids were relatively young, and when that happened Val stopped communicating with everyone, and her sister Phil moved into Teague house to take on responsibilities of raising the kids and tending to the house.

Fast forward about 30 years, and Val passes away and the three Rawlins children come back to Teague house for the funeral. While exploring the property, Sandra finds a body in the woods. The dead woman is Gayle, a local school teacher and political candidate whom has ties to the Rawlins family. The present starts to turn up a deadly past on the Rawlins’ land. And there’s so many twists and turns!

This was a real tight read. Fantastic characters. No one in this book is perfect, but all of the main characters are extremely relatable. I enjoyed this a lot, and I look forward to more from Stacy Johns in the future!

4 stars--I really liked it. This is a cut above most domestic suspense/crime novels. I especially enjoyed the characterization and the house itself, with its mysterious hidey-holes and vast woodland. And what a great cover!

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

I loved the setting and atmosphere. There's something both cozy and mysterious about a big family home in the middle of the woods. I also liked the multiple POVs. I love it when I learn things that other characters don't know yet.

The book was enjoyable enough, but I wanted more from it. I never felt like I was on the edge of my seat, itching to know what happened next. I was just waiting and I never felt excited by the reveals. The build-up to the ending felt slow, but the big reveal and action sequence at the end felt too rushed. I feel like because there were too many threads, not everything was fully fleshed out.

The premise of a sudden death becoming the catalyst of the Rawlins kids finding out family secrets that have literally been buried for decades initially got me interested, but unfortunately, the execution fell short of my expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What Remains of Teague House by Stacy Johns comes out on April 8, 2025.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book. Siblings reunite at their childhood home after the death of their mother. A body is found on their property and secrets from long ago start to unravel. By the halfway point it just felt like nothing was happening. This person doesn’t feel like confronting this person and this person finds a teeny tiny clue, possibly? None of the characters are likable and I felt like Maddie’s (the detective) entire storyline was unnecessary. It would have been more interesting with flashbacks to Val’s earlier life and how they even met Nate Belter. The setting was spooky and seemed like it wanted to be horror like Pet Sematary for a minute and then turned into some political suspense.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This murder mystery was very entertaining and kept me invested from the beginning.

Family secrets and suspenseful plot, this book was well written, I was also surprised by the unexpected twists.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press, Stacy John’s and NetGalley for the eARC. Opinions are my own.

Coming out 04/08/2025

This book will really appeal to fans of "Home is Where the Bodies Are" as it's a very similar concept. Told in dual timelines and through multiple POVs it's a decent enough story but nothing spectacular. It's obvious from the beginning who the killer is and by the time they get around to revealing the why you're not told a whole lot or at least nothing that makes it make enough sense.

What Remains of Teague House
Stacy Johns
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5

Three siblings reckon with the darkness hidden within their family after multiple graves are discovered behind their childhood home.

I loved the dual timeline / multiple POV.
It is not always done correctly in my opinion, but it definitely works here.

This read kept me entertained the whole time. The first couple chapters had me hooked & is well written.

If you are into thrillers and family secrets, this should be your next read!

Thank you to @poisonpenpress, @netgalley & @authorstacyj for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

#review #bookreview #netgalley #kindle #arc #reader #bookish #readmore #suspense #thriller #bookrec

A slow burn that packs a punch. I throughly enjoyed What Remains of Teague House. It was a fascinating journey and loved reading different perspectives from different characters and experiencing the mysteries of the Rawlins family.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚
4 ⭐️

| Thank you @poisonedpen for the gifted early e-copy! |

📖(𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥):
𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙨 • 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 • 𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩! • 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙖 • 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙨 • 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 • 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙑 • 𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 • 𝙙𝙮𝙨𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 • 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 • 𝙚𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘 𝘼𝙪𝙣𝙩 • 𝙪𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙛

🦴:
“𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚔𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚏𝚊𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.”

💭:
I’m having a hard time finding words for this one. 🫤😐🥸🙃😅

There was a lot to unpack in this book, but keeping track wasn’t hard to do.

The writing was good and the premise of the story was interesting, so I was invested.

❗️𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪.

The mystery surrounding this, as well as the bones found on the land of Teague House, was compelling.

I enjoyed the dual timelines giving us some backstory to the family’s lives. There wasn’t a whole lot of character development, so that helped!

The richness of the plot, combined with a few twists I didn’t see coming, made up for the lack of depth to the story.

#️⃣: #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookishfeature

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!!

This is my first book by this author, and I doubt will be my last. I absolutely loved the hidden family secrets embedded in the storyline. I wish there was more explanation to the how and why between the parents and the community, but overall a crazy end.

I didn't like it. The author tried different approaches to make it mysterious and suspenseful, but there was no depth or 'meat' behind any of the story arcs.
When you think about it, Val, the mother, although a bad mother, I felt like she was misrepresented as an almost malevolent being and not a human being with severe mental health problems. At least until the very ending.
The same goes for the aunt, who was also made to look odd and not a person to trust the narrative of, for seemingly minor reasons.
And the same for the siblings as well. If you analyze each character individually and their backstory, you'll realize they were simply.. fuc*ed!
It was trauma. Their father killed himself, their mother stopped talking, they were basically left to fend for themselves, at least the older ones.
I just couldn't understand why the author chose the who dunnit way when everyone was just, not normal, but average!
I won't comment on the ending, by that point I was already done with the book.
Don't recommend.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this novel, especially the examination of how family dynamics affect us and shape us as we grow. The writing was well done and the characters were nuanced.

#WhatRemainsOfTeagueHouse #NetGalley
Stacy Johns’ What Remains of Teague House is an atmospheric and haunting debut that intricately blends family drama with a chilling murder mystery. Set against the eerie backdrop of Teague House, this story dives deep into the Rawlins family’s secrets and the sinister events that unravel following a shocking discovery.
What I liked:-
1 Gripping Premise: The discovery of multiple bodies buried in the backyard, including one disturbingly fresh grave, immediately hooks readers. The idea of a family’s dark history manifesting in such a visceral way is both unsettling and fascinating.
2 Complex Family Dynamics: The Rawlins siblings’ relationships are fraught with tension, guilt, and lingering childhood scars. Each member is well-drawn, and their interactions feel raw and authentic. The layers of dysfunction keep the narrative emotionally engaging.
3 Engaging Mystery: The dual focus on the family’s buried secrets and private detective Maddie Reed’s personal motivations adds depth to the central mystery. Maddie’s investigation creates a compelling counterbalance to the family drama.
4 Sinister Atmosphere: Teague House itself is almost a character in the story. Its creaking halls and the ominous woods surrounding it amplify the tension and lend the novel an eerie, gothic tone.
Overall :- What Remains of Teague House is an impressive debut that deftly combines family drama with a chilling murder mystery. Stacy Johns weaves a tale of buried secrets, fractured relationships, and the lengths people go to protect—or destroy—those they love. With its eerie atmosphere and compelling narrative, this book will appeal to fans of gothic suspense and psychological thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“What Remains of Teague House” is a dark and twisty murder mystery that combines family drama and buried secrets into a suspenseful tale of deception and discovery. Stacy Johns weaves a dual-timeline story and multiple perspectives into an atmospheric story about the Rawlins siblings and their haunting return to their childhood home.

The story begins with the Rawlins siblings reuniting after the death of their estranged mother, who had remained mute for years following their father’s tragic suicide. As they return to their family estate, Teague House, their grief and simmering familial tensions are interrupted by a chilling discovery: a recently buried body on the property. As more bodies are uncovered, the siblings find themselves tangled in an investigation that unearths long-buried secrets and forces them to confront the darker sides of their family history.

The book’s strength lies in its richly drawn characters and their complicated dynamics. The Rawlins siblings are flawed and dysfunctional, each struggling under the weight of their past. The sister, empathetic and grounded, stands out as the most likable character, while one of the brothers—reckless and morally compromised—elicits both frustration and pity. The aunt, an eccentric and mysterious figure, adds intrigue, while a private investigator, with ties to one of the victims, provides an outside perspective that deepens the plot.

The dual-timeline structure, which alternates between the siblings’ childhood and the present-day investigation, adds depth to the story and reveals how trauma and unresolved grief have shaped each character. The private detective’s chapters, in particular, provide a unique lens on the unfolding mystery, connecting past and present in unexpected ways.

The pacing is a bit uneven, with a slow beginning that made it a little difficult to get invested in the plot. However, the story gains momentum after the discovery of the first body, pulling you into a whirlwind of shocking twists and revelations. While the mystery keeps you guessing, the ending feels did feel a bit rushed and slightly disjointed, with key explanations packed into the final chapters, leaving some threads feeling underdeveloped.

Despite these flaws, “What Remains of Teague House” succeeds in delivering a gripping and suspenseful story. The book excels in exploring the darker sides of family relationships, from generational rivalries to buried resentments, all while maintaining a chilling sense of tension. Johns’ ability to capture the messiness of family bonds against the backdrop of murder and mystery elevates the book beyond a standard whodunit.

Overall, if you enjoy murder mysteries with complex family dynamics, dual timelines, and plenty of twists, “What Remains of Teague House” is worth the read. Fans of small-town secrets and true-crime vibes will find plenty to savor here.

I have many mixed feelings about this book but I did overall enjoy it. I liked the different perspectives and story telling from different angles and people. But, for me personally I felt like I wanted a more fast paced mystery but this was much more of a “slow burn” for me. It eventually got there and in the end, I did enjoy it and would recommend to a friend.

I really enjoyed reading this and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Rating: 4/5

This book pulled me in right from the start. When the three Rawlins siblings return home after their mother’s sudden death, they’re not just dealing with grief—they’re unearthing decades of dark secrets buried behind their family home. The shocking discovery of multiple graves, including one that’s disturbingly fresh, sets off a chain of questions that no one wants to answer.

The characters feel raw and conflicted, especially as old memories resurface and trust within the family begins to crumble. The tension runs high, and the story isn’t afraid to show you just how messy and complicated these relationships are. The mystery itself keeps you guessing, and the introduction of private detective Maddie Reed brings another layer of intrigue, hinting that these crimes might be part of something bigger and more personal than anyone realized.

While the pacing lags a bit in the middle, the emotional intensity and the slow, careful unraveling of family secrets more than make up for it. If you enjoy stories that mix character-driven drama with a murder mystery’s creeping dread, you’ll find a lot to love here.

This story was so suspenseful and so full of twists and turns. A story full of family secrets. I was completely pulled in by the first few chapters and was caught by complete surprise till the end. I’m a thriller girlie at heart and this one was right up my alley!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: April 8, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

Do you like a good ol game of CLUE….I do and this was quite the fast paced murder mystery who-done-it read that I was ready to play along all the way to the end. We follow siblings who are attempting to get rid of the past and its secrets after their mother passes. This book played out like a show, it could probably be a really great show to be honest. I didn’t figure this one out until the ending which I thought was refreshing. This is just one of those books that I am going to give a vague review because you need to read it to experience it. Have this ready on your TBR for its release.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as Poisoned Pen Press

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦: Multiple POV, Timelines, Murder Mystery, Secrets, Infidelity, A Game of Clue, Siblings, Fast Paced

This book had so much promise! It took a bit for me to get into the story because of all the POV’s, but once the finger was found I was intrigued! I really wish we got more of the backstory with Phil and Val, those chapters were the most interesting. I didn’t find many of the characters likable, especially Denny. Overall it was a fine read with a good mystery but the ending was SO rushed & not very well explained.