A Deep Dive into What Remains of Teague House by Mara Johns

As an avid reader, I often find myself drawn to books that promise a blend of gothic suspense and family drama. When I stumbled upon What Remains of Teague House by Mara Johns, I was immediately intrigued. The cover beckoned me, and the premise of a creepy family estate filled with secrets felt like a perfect match for my reading palate. Spoilers: it did not disappoint, even as it left me with some lingering questions.

In this novel, we follow the Rawlins siblings—Jon, Sandra, and Robby—as they return to their childhood home, the foreboding Teague House, after the passing of their distant mother, Val. I could almost hear the creaking floorboards and feel the heavy atmosphere as they entered a space ripe with unspoken history. Imagine my glee when they discover a fresh grave in the backyard, followed by a whole cemetery of old bones. Cue the classic horror movie commentary! Johns does a fantastic job of setting a mood that’s vividly unsettling, and I could practically smell the musty curtains wafting through those foggy Oregon woods.

The multiple perspectives—sibling dynamics, a forthright aunt Phil, and the tenacious PI Maddie Reed—added depth and kept the narrative spinning. Maddie, with her troubled past and determination to uncover the house’s secrets, became my personal favorite. I was rooting for her hard. The darker corners of family trauma emerged throughout the pages, and I found myself reflecting on my own family dynamics. It even prompted a text to my sister about any buried family secrets!

However, I must candidly address the pacing. At times, it felt like Johns invited me to a thrilling soirée but left me waiting for the first hour without snacks. The family bickering dragged a bit before the bodies began to drop, and I found myself internally shouting for the plot advances. When the twists finally emerged, while juicy, some felt tossed together as if pulled from a hat. I craved more breadcrumbs, more “Aha!” moments that made me feel clever in unraveling the mystery.

Even so, Johns’ skill in exploring the messy intricacies of family dynamics shone through. The characters, with their flaws and gray complexities, resonated with me. Aunt Phil’s enigmatic stories provided delightful contrasts to the siblings’ struggles, injecting a potent dose of nostalgia into the narrative.

So, while What Remains of Teague House may have left some knots in its storytelling, it weaves a moody, compelling debut that’s perfect for those who appreciate a thrilling read with undercurrents of familial drama. If you love books that make you question your own family’s skeletons while holding a flashlight to the dark corners of a sprawling estate, you won’t want to miss this one.

I eagerly await Mahar Johns’ next installment. If her debut is any indication, I can’t wait to see what secrets lie ahead! For more musings on thrilling reads like this, check out my blog, where I uncover more gems from the literary world.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

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