This was hard for me to review.

The Good:
The writing was fantastic, and there were some genuinely terrifying scenes towards the middle and end of the book. I love the book cover, and I happy I read it.

The Bad:
The beginning of the book was just too slow. It took me much longer than normal to finish this book, because of how disinterested I was in the beginning. The main character wasn't particularly likable, and I had a hard time caring about them or relating to them.

Overall:
Other people are going to love this, so don't let me review stop you from reading it. The author is a screenwriter by trade, and the book reads like a movie in your head. Great writing!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A terrifyingly cinematic horror novel. Paul is the host of a mildly successful podcast about a missing person which gains notoriety when the subject of his podcast is revealed to be not missing at all. After a tragic loss, Paul returns to his small hometown and revisits his haunted past and even more haunted childhood home. When Paul begins seeing his dead friends and loved ones and more people begin to die horrible deaths, Paul has an idea. He starts a new podcast to uncover the chilling history of 8114, his childhood home, which seems connected to every recent tragedy. Will he find out what's happening before it's too late or will he succumb to the darkness enveloping him? You'll have to read to find out!

After his "true crime" podcast goes awry, Paul Early is called home when a friend commits suicide inside his (Paul's) childhood home. To deal with this tragedy, Paul decides to...start another podcast. He sets about interviewing any willing person who knew his friend Kyle and/or whoever spent time inside his definitely haunted childhood farmhouse. As you can imagine, things get wild from there as Paul deals with some very real ghosts from the past (and present) while trying to get to the bottom of what exactly is wrong with 8114 and how to bring an end to this haunted narrative.

Unfortunately, this one didn't really land for me.

The actual horror scenes are quite well done and are indeed rather horrifying. Without going into tremendous detail, many of these scenes involve babies and/or children which is just tough to read, and it is otherwise a lot of descriptive body horror. So, your reading enjoyment (for the actual horror of it all) will likely depend on your own triggers, boundaries or preferences within the genre. For me, it was a bit much, but that may not be the case for another reader!

Otherwise, I really struggled with the characterization in this book. Paul is dislikeable, which is fine, but I had a hard time wrapping my head around how blasé he was about literally everything that was going on. So many truly horrific things happen yet he seems to feel the emotions of it for a few sentences and then has brushed it off by the time we reach the next page. The disconnect between the seriousness of events and the absurdly unserious attitude of the main character was jarring and caused the story to lose any emotional depth it was probably supposed to have.

Some of the writing overall didn't land for me, either. I simply don't believe people say and repeat each other's names nearly that much in actual conversation.

All in all, this one wasn't for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be a hit for other readers! Those who are looking for a quick, compellingly creepy read and can handle decent levels of body horror may have a great time with this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and CLASH books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

8114 comes out August 26, 2025 for those interested!

“here I was… on the outskirts of hell, holding an “admit one” ticket.”

This book has everything l love; haunted house, narrator returning home, mysterious death, unreliable narrator, history, cult, sacrifice…and so much more. It even has a main character named Paul which usually makes me feel like it is my story.
Unfortunately, I did not connect with the characters or the plot at all. I actually finished reading over a month ago and was hoping for it to click for me once it settled into my head, but alas, it just didn’t work for me.

Book was really good, nice short read to tackle that reading slump. I devoured this in less than a day! Amazing book!

A Gripping Descent into Small-Town Horror

Joshua Hull’s 8114 is a chilling exploration of memory, guilt, and the haunting grip of the past. Blending psychological horror with supernatural elements, Hull crafts a narrative that is both unsettling and deeply engaging.
The story follows Paul, a podcaster who returns to his hometown after a friend's tragic suicide in his childhood home. As Paul delves into the circumstances surrounding the death, he confronts not only the town's dark secrets but also his own buried traumas. Hull's background in screenwriting is evident in the novel's cinematic pacing and vivid imagery, drawing readers into a world where reality and hallucination blur.
While the novel's rapid progression keeps the tension high, it occasionally sacrifices deeper character development. Some secondary characters feel underexplored, and certain plot threads could benefit from further elaboration. However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling narrative.
8114 stands out for its atmospheric storytelling and its unflinching look at the scars left by the past. It's a must-read for fans of horror that doesn't just aim to scare but also to provoke thought and introspection.

If you liked The haunting of hill house series, you are going to love this book. It’s spine chilling and mysterious. Paul is trying to get to the mystery of a high school friend. He investigates the case and takes interview of his friends and locals but when the truth comes out, it turns his world upside down. Something sinister is going on in the house and everyone who gets close to the mystery are not able to make it out alive. When a friend commits suicide, it shocks him. The house is surely haunted and a sinister force is haunting Paul as well now. The book’s setting is really dark and creepy. It was so unsettling. Loved how the author has written the book. Added a perfect amount of horror, suspense, and mystery.

Thanks to the Publisher

8114 is an extremely well-written portrayal of a haunting as a sickness, or a parasite, or a natural disaster that can't be avoided, or all of those things. Watching firsthand as our MC Paul Early spirals into madness and faces his fate is a truly sorrowful and harrowing experience. Some of the story beats have perhaps been done before, but that didn't make 8114 any less enjoyable.

I could not get into this book at all even after a few chapters. The premise was interesting but it ended up boring me and I did not finish it.

I received an ARC of this book anddddd okay, what the actual haunted hell did I just read???
This book is lowkey like if Welcome to Night Vale and The Blair Witch Project had a podcast baby raised on true crime and huffing bath salts. It’s weird, gross, hella meta, and darkly funny, okay and also kind of a fever dream? But not the fun, first 2 weeks of covid lockdown learning tiktok dances and whipped coffee kind. (because did that actually happen?) More like “i think the gas line in my house is leaking and it's making me sick?” kind. Speaking from experience obvi.

I’ll be honest: this book wasn’t totally for me. The horror vibes were strong (loved that!), but the writing style was a bit too chaotic for my taste. it was like trying to follow a Reddit thread written by Edgar Allan Poe and a 2005 emo kid on Monster energy drinks. HOWEVER because of that I binged it.

Still, props to Joshua Hull for going all in. It’s bold, it's unhinged, and definitely not your average haunted house story. Just maybe don’t read it alone in your childhood bedroom. Or do. I’m not your therapist and I won't be help responsible for your problems after.

I would like to thank NetGalley and CLASH Books for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know what I was expecting going in to reading 8114, but it was not this. There was way more death, gore, body horror and dead children & babies than I could have even imagined; trigger warning - if you don't like any of those things, you will not like this book.

I had a little trouble getting into the book at the beginning, and thought I would probably give it 2-stars, but about halfway through it really picked up and got a lot better. The story follows Paul Early, a less-than-successful horror podcaster whose last podcast made a lot of people really upset. Then he gets a mysterious phone call asking him to urgently come back to his hometown, where he is instantly me by tragedy. One of his childhood best friends has died (in Paul's old house) and this stirs up a whole lotta bad stuff. The house, 8114, is "haunted" and now the ghosts are haunting Paul and everyone around him. This leads to an ever-increasing body count (in a lot of horrific manners of death). It is up to Paul to solve the mystery of his old house and put an end to everything.

It is a fast-paced novel, with a lot of good nods to iconic horror movies/books/writers. It is honestly like nothing I've ever read before; truly a unique breath of horror air. I would not recommend this book to most of my friends, as they don't like horror, and the trigger warnings would appall them. But die-hard horror fans with an iron stomach and zero qualms about dead babies will find it an enjoyable read. Three and a half stars, bumped up to 4!

Thank you to NetGalley and CLASH Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Joshua Hull book and won’t be my last. This is creepy horror done right. I know it won’t be for everyone but if you’re wanting to give horror a try, this would be a good one. I would definitely say it’s a wild ride and am looking forward to whatever comes next.

Firstly, I want to thank the publisher for giving me an opportunity to read 8114 in advance. I had read a review online that mentioned 8114 would be one of the best thrillers of the year. I knew I needed to read it myself. I'm a huge fan of thrillers, horror, and mystery novels. This book met all expectations. I found myself at the edge of my seat during most of the book. It's very dark and creepy, but in the best way. If you're a fan of Stephen King, Shari Lapena, and BA Paris, you will love 8114. Joshua Hull is an awesome writer, and I appreciate the fact the book was not predictable whatsoever. I will be purchasing a hard cover once it becomes available to the public. This is one of those books that I will re-read again, simply because I enjoyed it so much.

Thank at Clash books and Joshua Hull for the nightmares. This was definitely the scariest podcast book I’ve ever read and probably one of the creepiest books period. Paul has a failing career as his podcast goes belly up when he ruins the life of a kid he remembers from middle school. Dealing with this he receives word that one of his best friends committed suicide and it was on his childhood property. Determined to get to the bottom of what really happened Paul heads to his home town and begins another podcast one of the lore that surrounds his childhood property as he begins to be haunted things continue to become more sinister till the very end. This book will continue to haunt my dreams 5 stars

8114 by Joshua Hull marks the author’s debut full-length novel, and while it doesn’t quite reach the gripping heights of his film Glorious, it introduces a promising voice in horror fiction.

The book centers around a seemingly abandoned house, and creates an atmosphere of creeping dread and uncertainty. Hull excels at building tension, making the reader feel the same unease as the character caught within its strange confines. There’s some similarity to Glorious, in psychological terror intertwining with supernatural forces, although 8114 doesn't share any of the levity of Glorious.

I do feel 8114 struggles at times with pacing. While the buildup is effective, some of the revelations feel a bit too drawn-out, and certain characters could have been developed further to heighten the emotional stakes. Despite these issues, Hull’s strong sense of atmosphere and his knack for creating unsettling, strange worlds make 8114 an intriguing read. For a first novel, it’s a solid effort, with room for growth - I'll keep an eye out for more from this author!
3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and to Clash Books for the advance reader copy to read and review.

A book with a very horror movie vibe, with quick scenes that end abruptly and propel you into the next chapter. The tension is felt and present, and that keeps you interested, but there was something that didn't quite grab me. While it has powerful imagery and isn't above being disturbing, it sometimes seems to be trying to tell too many things at once, which dilutes the fear. I would have liked it to focus on one or two key elements and delve deeper into the characters' reactions. It's a disturbing read, but it doesn't always deliver the impact it promises.

Thank you so much, CLASH Books, for the ARC I read on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, I should have read this sooner. I was not sure what to expect when I started this other than a teen/YA horror. Something similar to Christopher Pike's works in the 90's. I was pleasantly surprised by how fun, scary, and original this was. The idea of a podcaster looking into their friend's passing is interesting enough, but mix in great haunted house creepiness and any fan of horror will love this. Highly recommend.

Tw/cw: Language, drinking, death by suicide, death of children/babies, gory scenes, violence, blood

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After returning to his hometown, Paul, the beleaguered host of a small-time podcast, discovers a longtime friend committed suicide in the dilapidated ruins of Paul’s childhood home. Desperate to find answers, Paul interviews friends and locals hoping to find closure. He finds himself in a chilling downward spiral of his memories and the land he grew up on. Has his past caught up with him or is there something far more sinister at play?
Release Date: August 26th, 2025
Genre: Horror
Pages: 214
Rating: ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Ummm that cover
2. Some real creepy stuff happens

What I Didn't Like:
1. 109 uses of 8114
2. Writing comes off dry at times
3. Writing style was clunky and confusing at times
4. Story takes too many odd turns that don't make sense

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

Yesssssssssss Unsolved Mysteries scares me too. Robert Stacks voice is so scary that even today I can't listen to it.

The weird voice that is talking to Paul seems do forced and out of place to me.

Why is 8114 mentioned so many times within a few paragraphs? I know where we are and don't need the location and title beatened over my head

Paul decides after a newly failed podcast to shoot his load and start a new podcast that he has zero idea if it'll be good or come to anything. It's like this guy doesn't learn. Plus after the issues he caused this Adam Benny he's willing to throw his friends story under the bus and try to get his family on the podcast. He's a horrible friend.

Paul could be the worse Podcaster. Why would he leave in him telling Matt that he doesn't have to hold the mic and chair squeaks.

So Paul says that him and Adam would sit at their two person lunch table and listen to music, but later when talking about his friends he says they've known each other their whole lives but started being friends in 7th grade.

I'm supposed to believe that a barn that was built over 200 years ago and has been abandoned for 10 years is still standing.

In the retelling of Mary and her baby sacrifice the husband hides at the top with her and let's her put the noose on the baby before even stopping her. Why would he let her get that far? Also how did he know about her plans and when they'd be there? Didn't she see him before she left? Even more amazing is that the husband burned Mary in the barn of hay and somehow the barn didn't catch on fire. What a magic barn.

WTH was with that weird interview with Matt? It was so odd. I don't understand why he didn't tell all of this to Paul when they had drinks or talked on the phone.

How did Paul grow up in this town and live in that house and never once heard this story of Mary?

God, Paul is just all around a terrible person. All he thinks about is himself and the podcast.

So difficult to get into this book. The things that Paul thinks are just so crazy considering everything that's happening. In the middle of Kyle's funeral in which he sees his dead friend Kyle and all the things that have happened up to this point he runs into Megan his ex girlfriend. What does he think after the agree to meet for drinks he starts thinking and pondering about what she would drink now as an adult. Like Paul why are you thinking about this? You're seeing dead people and weird things are happening to you but you're worrying about what your ex-girlfriend drinks now is an adult. It's so stupid. I can honestly see this being a worry someone would have who's having a normal day let alone a normal life someone's seeing dead people I think you wouldn't be wondering this.

Why wouldn't his ex want to sleep with him.. Duh that has to happen to further the plot for Paul otherwise we wouldn't have a story! It's just so odd because one minute Paul and Megan are talking about something and the next day wake up in bed together what a weird jump.

The next morning Paul wakes up and Megan is gone cuz she has to pick her kids up but somehow his arm it has a bandage wrapped around it so where did she get the bandage? Does she travel with them?

I was just saying how this book reminds me of Stephen King and here is reference to Pet

Somehow he must have given Megan his phone number cuz she sends him a text just another thing that we suddenly missed. Also the fact that they never agreed on a time to meet up for drinks and the only reason they went to the same location was because Paul was punched in the face by Kyle's father.

Also Paul is stupid too. So he gets these text messages from Rachel the producer who is called and left him voicemails and also left him text but he continues to ignore her just so he can text Megan's stupid stuff. I don't know how he's not seeing her text messages when he opens the text to text Megan back. Why is he ignoring his producer it must be important? I hate Paul he does stupid things don't be Paul!

Okay so everything that happened the next morning after him and Megan started having sex was just in Paul's imagination because of the Demons. That part was a little confusing. But he did say that they were tormenting him and so I imagined that's what he meant was happening.

Paul is so self involved. He starts thinking about how he's like ruined everything for people even saying I can't help but think about where all the people in my life would be if it wasn't for me and this fucking house. Would Kyle still be alive if we were never friends? Would Matt just be focused on soccer games and baseball tournaments and gymnastics? Would Megan still be married and happy? Would my mom still be alive? Some of that stuff doesn't make any sense because it doesn't have anything to do with Paul. What does Megan's marriage breaking apart have to do with Paul? He hasn't even seen her in 10 years. What does it even matter that Matt likes sports? How do these things link back to Paul?

Matt is dead and his family has been murdered by him. Paul is obsessed with finding out who was holding the camera recording what was happening because I guess in his mind it can't be possible that he stood the camera up while he was you know committing suicide. How would he even know there needed to be a camera man?

Honestly let's just add up what happened. You have a podcaster who failed at the podcast he was doing because the person was actually still alive and around. He returns home with this crazy story about a house. Also his friend has died in the barn. He just start another podcast based around this friend and now all these murders are happening. The police find him right across from a woman who just died. There is a VHS of his other friend who killed his family but the cop doesn't watch the tape all the way through because he saw enough, even though it might point to who was holding the camera or what really went on throughout the day. I get this is a small town cop but why wouldn't you watch the video through the rest of it in case there's evidence of something else happening? But then he lets Paul go even though Paul who has an alibi for Matt killing himself because it's going to add to his podcast.

Oh it's Megan that was holding the camera.

Final Thoughts:
This book had such a ripoff feeling to It;
• Person dies by suicide
• Person comes home
• Friends block out memories of bad stuff that happened at home
• Seeing dead people

I thought it was interesting that the author mentioned through Nancy about a real train accident that happened to the circus; the Hammond Circus train wreck in Hammond, Indiana.

I don't know if it's because I'm reading an arc but there was random words that were in bold and I didn't understand the significance of why they were. It was very distracting to the writing and honestly I feel like served no purpose.

I made it 85% (page186) before I just couldn't push myself to read anymore. I wasn't having a good time and I just didn't care. It did start to feel like I was in a crossover of a Stephen King book and the Sinister movie only those things are good.

For a book a little over 200 pages I'm surprised how much the author could fit in. Sadly all the characters felt so underdeveloped that I never really felt I knew anyone. It was just a collection of random people I didn't care were killed. I kept thinking how interesting this could have been if the author killed off Paul and Matt and Megan struggled to piece things together, kind of like a switch from who you think is the main character.

Still I love that book cover!

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Thanks to Netgalley and Clash Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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8114 - Joshua Hull

8114 is the debut horror novel by Joshua Hull,
A story which follows Equivocal, Paul Early, a small-time true crime podcaster who returns to his hometown after one of his best friends from high school is found dead in the ruins of Paul’s childhood home.

The more Paul investigates, the more disturbing details about the death are revealed.
Paul starts experiencing hallucinations, but what if the twisted visions he is witnessing are real?!
Wherever Paul goes death seems to follow, is he cursed, or is it his childhood home ‘8114’?

Most books that delve into themes of grief or trauma are generally going to hit for me, and ‘8114’ certainly did that.
A supernatural, psychological horror that had me swiping my screen left so fast that my thumb got a blister!

Loved it!

Paul Early is a disgraced podcaster when he gets a call from a longtime friend to come back to the small-town he grew-up in. Another friend committed suicide in Paul’s childhood home, and Paul decides to investigate the disturbing history and haunted grounds at 8114. Paul is an unlikeable and sometimes unreliable narrator, but keeps the reader engaged with this dark and unsettling horror read.