The Dreadful Objects

by Chris Cooper

When his reclusive uncle commits suicide in a mansion full of curiosities, Jamie Lawson is left to clean up his dusty estate. As Jamie peels back the layers of his uncle’s life as a semi-famous horror author, he discovers an eerie connection between his uncle’s works and real life tragedies. Now, he must uncover the truth behind his uncle’s books while trying to rebuild his life in a new town. But, the bizarre facts he uncovers may just threaten his new life and everyone in it.

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2018

About the author

Chris Cooper has been an engineer, technology blogger, college professor, and novice coffee roaster. He lived and worked in Japan, where he developed an obscure obsession for fountain pens, and currently lives in Ohio with his partner and Australian Cattle Terrier. Both enjoy going for walks. The Dreadful Objects is Chris’ debut novel.

Reviews

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great book to curl up with on a cold, spooky night. Even though it contains some heavier subjects like death and suicide, it does so in a way that retains a light cozy feel, like a cozy mystery for horror fans! I'd recommend this to anyone who doesn’t want to read something too dark, or for someone who is new to horror and doesn't want to start out with something scary.

If you want a more in-depth review, you can watch my video review HERE.

[Mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did a little poking around on the internet today because I wanted to know if the way I felt about certain books was just me, or if it's actually a thing. Basically, it is and it isn't. I now know that there is a subgenre called cozy mysteries. The reason I was looking for this type of information is because some books just feel cozy to me. This one doesn't fall under the cozy mystery category, but it still gives me this sense of comfort or the feeling you get when you visit home. Once you get a little bit into the novel it starts to feel familiar and inviting. John Bellairs made me feel that way as a kid, and so whenever I find a book like that as an adult I get a wave of nostalgia.

I think I would classify this novel as a paranormal mystery. Jamie Lawson is just getting by in life when one day he receives an large inheritance from his uncle. T.J. Lawson was a successful horror writer who committed suicide inside his dusty mansion Turner House just before finishing his popular horror trilogy. Jamie moves into Turner House in order to decide what to do with the enormous mansion, but he soon discovers that his uncle's suicide may be due to suspicious circumstances, and that while the house is packed with artifacts and collectibles, two items that are locked in glass cases may hold the key to figuring out why his uncle killed himself. The more he digs into the mystery, the crazier the story becomes, until Jamie and his friend Sarah find themselves in a dire situation.

I was immediately drawn in to this story. Jamie, Sarah, and the other characters in the novel are well written and down to earth. I found myself really rooting for them, and wanting them to solve the mystery. Turner House is an absolute treat and a horror lovers dream. It reminded me of Guillermo del Toro's writing house that is brimming with collections and curiosities. It's creepy at first, and then oddly comforting. For most of the book I had no idea where Cooper was taking the story. Then near the end I had an idea, but was pleasantly surprised when he added touching details that I didn't expect. This book is classified here as horror, but I would not recommend it to anyone who reads horror regularly and is only looking for straight horror. This is a mystery foremost, with paranormal elements, and once I realized it wasn't horror, I allowed myself to get swept up in the story and enjoyed it immensely.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This was an well written, well plotted story that walked the line between supernatural suspense and horror. I frequently get tired of the overused trope of a haunted house so I was happy to find a novel offered a fresh, new and interesting perspective on those classic tales. I found the characters likeable and the narrative held my attention throughout this quick story. Not really scary, instead I found this book emotional and enjoyable with a smart ending.

I received a copy from the author.

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He was reserved on the outside but housed all sorts of demons within."

The Dreadful Objects was such a fun read. This book is about a guy who inherits his horror writer uncle's home following his death. I enjoyed the descriptions of the home, and I would love to live in the creepy old house with all the horror props.

The story is very mysterious, and even though it was a little slow, I was dying to find out the answers to the questions I had. I was not disappointed in the resolution, and the answers were worth a small wait.

The only reason this is a 4⭐ read instead of a 5⭐ is because after the slow burn story, the ending felt a little bit too rushed. That being said, I really liked the direction this story went in, I just wish certain aspects would have been fleshed out a little more. The storyline ended up being unexpected, which was refreshing, but I just wanted more information.

I really liked this book, and I can't wait to read more from Chris Cooper!

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dreadful Objects is a blend of paranormal/suspense/horror/cozy mystery to me. And I love all those genres separately so you can only imagine how much I enjoyed this perfect blend. The protagonist of this story, TJ, receives a call from a stranger telling him that his uncle has passed away and that he is now the sole heir of all of the inheritance, estate, etc. TJ's uncle was a famous horror author who killed himself and shortly after TJ moves in to his uncle's home he finds himself caught in the middle of a paranormal mystery.

The writing is clean and purposeful and it was hard for me to have to put the book down for even a minute. The descriptions of the house give me ALL the spooky and cozy (yes, I am using those adjectives together) vibes and it just sounds like a really cool house in which to live.

This book is not your typical horror trope of a haunted house, but a house with haunted/haunting elements that form together as pieces of a larger paranormal puzzle. Readers who are tired of the same old spooky house story will feel relieved and refreshed to know this story is not like most.

This one gets 4.5 stars from me and I am eager to start reading something else by Chris Cooper! I recommend this to anyone who loves a good atmospheric blend of paranormal/horror/cozy mystery!

[Roger Hyttinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows our main character Jamie Lawson who has been in a major rut and has been unable to move on with his life, following the death of his girlfriend a year earlier. He then learns that his uncle, a famous and quite wealthy horror author, has committed suicide and has bequeathed Jamie all of his possessions including a couple of million dollars and a big, creepy and spooky mansion, filled with macabre horror memorabilia.

From the cover, I thought that this might be a haunted house story, but it wasn’t. It was more about haunted objects, which made me think of the television show a few years back entitled Warehouse 13.

So Jamie inadvertently discovers that the events in his uncle’s horror books actually happened in real life. Now that might not seem all that surprising except that all of the events that took place in the books occurred after the books were written.

Jamie decides to dig a bit to see if he can discover further connections and learns that two items that are locked in glass cases appear to be linked with real-life deaths and might hold the key to figuring out why his uncle killed himself. As Jamie puts together more pieces of the puzzle, he begins to realize that the mystery may be even stranger than he’d initially thought and may, in fact, be paranormal in nature (hint: it is)

I’ve read a ton of haunted house novels, so I found the idea of haunted objects to be a refreshing change of pace from the usual haunted house trope (though I have to admit that I do have a soft spot for haunted house stories). I also really enjoyed the vivid and vibrant descriptions of the house and all of the spooky off-the-wall objects contained therein, which I felt added to the richness and the atmosphere of the story.

Though this novel is classified as a horror novel and it is a bit on the scary side, true horror fans may be tad disappointed. It’s true that the story is dark at times and definitely tells a suspenseful, spooky tale, but it does so in a more lighthearted way. As such, I felt that this novel might be better placed in the cozy mystery genre (or perhaps the cozy horror genre, if there is such a thing).

All in all, this was a twisty, wildly entertaining story with relentless pacing, rich, lifelike characters and a brilliant ending which made this novel a real page-turner for me. It’s a wonderfully mysterious thriller that I had a difficult time putting down right until the surprising and utterly satisfying conclusion. Recommended!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I won this book in a Goodreads drawing and was under no obligation to leave a review.

This review originally appeared on my book review blog at rogersreads.com

[Stefanie Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been intrigued by the description of this project on Kickstarter I decided to back this book.Ever since I have been semi patiently waiting to get to read it. I am so glad the time finally came. I started the book and finished it in just over 24 hours. I liked the way the novel built on it's self and progressed. I was eager to learn with Jamie about the mysteries that filled his uncle's life and a few of the lines on loss and grief really struck a chord with my own feelings and experiences on those particular troubles. The settings were rich and vivid and had me daydreaming about what a good mini series this might make. The only real reasons I did not give this book a higher rating was that the female characters, while clearly supporting, didn't feel as fleshed out to me as I would have liked to feel 100% invested in them and their relationship to Jamie. Also, the ending seemed a bit.. rushed or stunted somehow but the resolution was solid and satisfying.

This is great, reliable (but not predictable) read that will not disappoint you if you like a good supernatural story. I think it would be best enjoyed in the Fall with your windows open, candles lit, and some hot tea but.... don't wait that long. ;)

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will admit I waited a little while to read this book due to having some bad experiences reading first time authors. And it's not always their fault I suppose, maybe they couldn't afford an editor or didn't have anyone to read the book beforehand to suggest some edits or whatever. But I was pleasantly surprised when reading The Dreadful Objects. I chose to read it in October due to the premise. The book is told from Jamie's point of view after inheriting his uncle's estate. His uncle was a famous horror author and throughout the book you get snips of two books his uncle had previously written. So it's almost like you are reading three books in one. All in all it was different and interesting. I would shelve this book as a cozy mystery although at times it was much darker than one would think of a normal cozy mystery. I really liked it, it was a great Halloween season read and a great first novel from Chris Cooper. You can only go up from here and lucky for you, you didn't start on the bottom.
I won this book from the Giveaways at Goodreads.com

[SB Senpai Manga · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you do if you could make anything you want become real? All you have to do is write out your request. Jaime faces this question after he inherits his uncles home and millions of dollars. His uncle was a successful horror writer that had committed suicide a short time ago and Jaime is trying to figure out the mystery of his death and why it surrounds his books. Already this sounds similar to the Goosebumps movie, that being said I was interested in the mystery and was trying to give multiple theories whilst I was reading it. I also like how relatable the characters were, even reading Jaime and Sarah’s scenes together were pretty cute. I definitely didn’t find this scary, but it was enjoyable and highly engaging. However, around the end it did get a little too goofy for me. Definitely not bad and it has some great stuff, but it’s not high on my list.

[Adam Shore · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Mr Cooper (hey, are you my mortgage bank?!?!) isn't writing for a program like Twilight Zone, he should be. This book wasn't high on horror, thrills or even suspense but it does pull you into the lives of the characters pretty quickly. I found myself drawn in nearly immediately; which rarely happens for me.

I thought i knew what was going to happen, then something different occurred and i thought i was on to it but like an alpine pass, the switchbacks kept coming. It's not what i expected, didn't go how i expected and left me feeling a sense of loss in the end. I'd say that makes it a pretty darn good book in my world.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I wasn't sure what to expected in this book, but was pleasantly surprised to find an almost cozy, slightly eerie novel about mysterious circumstances. The characters took paths that I didn't expect and the story twisted repeatedly, but that kept it all very fun.

I would file this story under cozy Halloween reading. It isn't a genre I've experienced before, but I think it would be great for a mid-October fireside read, perhaps with a warm cider. It was easy reading and accessible. I think it might be good reading after Shirley Jackson and before Washington Irving as a nice pallet cleanser.

[Katherine Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story. I was hooked very early on, and didn’t want to put the book down (don’t pay attention to my reading dates - I wasn’t actually reading during most of that time!). The storyline and mystery were unique and captivating. I agree with previous reviews that the ending felt rushed (I could have easily read another 50+ pages), but I can accept the ending as is. I’m left wanting a little more, but that doesn’t detract from the story as a whole. I am excited to read more from this author, and definitely think this debut novel is a fantastic starting place.

[Tobyann Aparisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What a fresh new idea and characters that you really enjoy! The scenery is richly described and the book flows very nicely. This book has everything a reader would want adventure, mystery, angst, intrigue and a surprising ending that keeps you guessing until the very end. I look forward to reading more from this author, I really enjoy his writing style and found this story to be a true page-turner. A great read!

[Linsey Knerl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a simple read with a pleasant writing style and likable characters. While not truly dark (it was more a mystery than a horror read for me), it had some nice twisty-turns that kept me wondering. Quick scenes without endless description or dialogue were appreciated. I didn't see the end coming, at all, which I suppose was a good thing. Fave it four stars because it was truly an enjoyable book, but just not quite "scary" enough for what I was hoping.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this horror novel, with its excellent characterizations and emphasis on the dangers of changing the past and/or future. Jamie is a great protagonist who readily elicits my empathy, and I suffered his struggles and character growth right along with him as he literally reexperienced certain periods of his life. The novel, although there's lots of grief and sorrow, left me with optimism. That's not often in the horror genre!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable story that overall is well written and keeps readers turning the page. I too agree the ending could have provided more, however the book does provide a satisfying read. Recommended at 4 stars.

My thanks to goodreads and the giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain a copy of this book.

[Holly L'Heureux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and normally I am not the biggest fan of thrillers or horror but I LOVED this book. It was an adventure from beginning to end. The characters were so fun and developed so well throughout the novel, the events were so entrancing, I loved it so much. I can not give it enough praise. When I got to the end I just wanted more.

[Joshua (ithildins) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is a great mystery/suspense novel that takes its time investing in the characters before pulling you into the truth of the mystery, at which point, it doesn't let you go because of the endless possibilities. When anything can happen, your imagination will race with excitement and terror just as much as Jamie and T.J.'s did.

[SUE · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good book. When a book takes place in an old, old house it is always interesting. Beware of the typewriter. Toward the end, it seems like I missed something because I found myself going back and forth trying to figure out the ending.

[Carolyn Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

This is not a typical horror story, but it is an extremely well written piece of speculative fiction involving the blurring between fact and fiction as a writer's work comes to life, and trying to find a way to undo the damage.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG

This book is fantastic!! I thought I would read it for a Halloween story. But it is too good for just one part of the year. Loved the twists.

[Janice M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Very well written and addictive. Once the plot starts flowing, it is a captivating read full of resets and do overs. Really fun read.

[Jonathan Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy story about grief and regret that takes a while to get started but pays off with some good twists.

[Michael Malloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book.

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to call this a "supernatural thriller", but then I think, wait - it's a "horror mystery"...whatever category I choose, it is still a very interesting, well-written and scary story! The descriptions and actions were perfect for this tale, the characters were believable and the end result is I would like to see more convoluted tales from this author. Kudos!