✨8114: Book Thoughts✨

8114 by Joshua Hull

Special thanks to NetGalley and @clashbooks for the ARC of this one!

If you’re thinking of picking this one up, buckle up for a wild ride! It’s got gore, unreliable narrators, a podcast element, and some CREEPY scenes.

Be sure to check your content warnings as well just because this one goes DARK at times.

The book follows Paul who returns home after a frantic call from his friend Matt. Their childhood friend Kyle went to Paul’s house and killed himself. Paul, having recently botched a podcast, decides to get to the bottom of Kyle’s mysterious death. But the more he digs, the more messed up the book gets. There are twists and death around every corner. He sees the ghost of his deceased friend. Paul also starts seeing shadow people behind his friends.

This book is fast paced and will begin messing with your mind from the first chapter! If you’re looking for something quick and dark, this book is for you. Paul is not a very likable main character. He reminded me a lot of Jack Sparks from the novel The Last Days of Jack Sparks.

Release date: 08/26/25
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8114 is a wild, fast-paced read. It was definitely a dark, paranormal tale but there was some good humor sprinkled in, as well. There were parts that were a bit confusing, though.

I'm a big fan of urban legends and oral horror stories, so the podcast element and the story were SO fun to read. Would love to re-experience this as an audiobook!!

Hull drops you right into the thick of it with this book, and definitely does not hold back. Some of the scenes were definitely creepy and dark, and there was an insidious feeling throughout the whole book. There were a lot of horror movie references, but you’d have to be very familiar with the movies to get them. The majority of this book was a running inner monologue for Paul, the MC. Which wouldn’t have been so bad, except that most of his thoughts are at the surface level and Paul is a horrible unlikable and insufferable character. It got to be very repetitive and annoying reading by about 2/3 into the book. It was also a bit distracting how the author used bolded and italicized words because there wasn’t really any rhyme or reason to it. The horror aspects, however, were very well done and very interesting. The author definitely invoked some strong feelings with his descriptions, but most of the horror scenes throughout the book were very similar to each other, which kind of lost the effectiveness as the book went on. I did really enjoy the base plot of this story and I can appreciate what the author was trying to do with this book. The twist towards the end was absolutely stunning and just so well done, but unfortunately it just couldn’t revive this largely uninteresting tome.

I will eat up a book with a podcast element. It just works for me all the time. Even better when the plot of the book is a winner too. This perfectly got the vibes of an urban legend. The psychological elements worked really well and the podcast elements gives that found footage vibe. This is such a great book!

I had the opportunity to read *8114* and was very excited based on the rave reviews it and Hull's other novel, *Mouth*, received. I knew that Hull was a Hoosier author and screenwriter; however, I didn’t realize that *8114* was set in Indiana, specifically just across town in Pendleton.

Hull describes numerous places in Pendleton, and I couldn't resist digitally mapping out some of the locations he mentioned. This added to my enjoyment while reading, as it provided a realistic visual for the setting.

The story alternates between standard writing and interview format (relating to the podcast in the story). Typically, I find it challenging to maintain interest in stories that use a non-traditional format (like interviews, journals, or text messages); however, this approach worked very well in this case.

I found the horror storyline fascinating, though I want to remain vague to avoid spoilers. I searched for any indication that it was based on a local urban legend. While it would be really cool if it were, the story's premise and historical details were intriguing enough to make me look into it.

The main character, Paul, is a podcaster who returns home at the request of a friend. As the story unfolds through Paul's perspective, it becomes difficult not to dislike him. His only redeeming quality is his realization of how self-absorbed he has been.

Hull is a talented storyteller, and this was an enjoyable read. The horror elements unfolded a bit slower than I usually prefer, but it was worth sticking with it until the end.

8114 by Joshua Hull is a dark, gripping psychological thriller that dives deep into the complexities of fear and obsession. Hull’s writing is intense and immersive, pulling you into a world where nothing is as it seems. With its sharp pacing and compelling characters, 8114 is a chilling read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

I read 8114 in a single day because I could NOT put it down. Since I finished, I can't stop thinking about Hull's ability to write such a haunted character, strangle the present with the past, and create truly horrific moments over and over again.
THIS is a writer I aspire to be like.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

This was a quick and fast paced, yet terrifying horror book.

If you know me, you know I love a good eerie book based in a small town.

Read this if you love:
* Spooky houses
* Ghost stories
* Haunting/possessions
* Podcast style/vibes
* “True crime” turned supernatural

The author does an amazing job at creating a haunting, creepy, and disturbing atmosphere. In few words, everything is so descriptive that it’s almost film-like. I could picture everything I was reading, almost as if I was watching a movie.


I really enjoyed the Afterword where the author tells us how the story was inspired by his childhood home.

I can’t wait to read more from the brilliant mind of Joshua Hull after reading this.


✨Thank you NetGalley & Clash Books for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

𝟖𝟏𝟏𝟒 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐥𝐥
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Paul returns to his hometown after hearing that his friend committed suicide…. In Paul’s childhood home ‘8114’.

This is the start of a psychological creepy, supernatural ride, I mean proper creepy…. I don’t tend to get freaked out by books as I feel I’m too desensitised but this had me cringing and my heart racing for the majority of the book.

I won’t go to into what creeped me out because I 100% recommend you read this and you will know EXACTLY what I mean.

If you’re after a book that takes a different take on a haunted house then this it for you.

100% if you like -
*podcast vibes
*haunted house trope
*unreliable narrators
*small towns

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓 ⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley & @clashbooks Clash for this eArc 🖤🫶🏻 I will be thinking about this book for a long while!

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This book is the first in a long time to give me nightmares!!! It had me absolutely cloaked in dread from the get go.

I found a lot to admire here, but I think I'm just not the right reader for it as I couldn't connect with it emotionally. I'd read another book by this author though.

A horror novel that investigates the mysterious suicide of a high school best friend in a haunted house. Sometimes the book scared me, and I didn’t know what was real and what was just my imagination. Then there was the little lullaby. I just kept thinking “This would sound so creepy when I’d actually hear it.”

Sometimes the book was a little complicated. I’m from Belgium so I don’t know all the references in the book.
But the story and the mystery? Loved it!

You would love this book when:
- You love horror
- You love horror stories
- A novel that would do great as a scary movie
- Dark humor
- Jumpscares

Hull gives us a terrifying story that scared me more than any book has in a long time. The vivid horrifying imagery of mold has stayed me since reading the very last page. I really enjoyed the relationships and history of the town. I will definitely be reading anything Hull comes out with in the future.

ABOUT
A terrifying horror novel investigating the mysterious death of a high school friend through an embattled podcast and hallucinatory hauntings at the abandoned house of his childhood.

READ IT IF YOU LIKE
- Supernatural horror
- Podcast media in books
- Returning to childhood home trope
- Pop culture references
- Dark humor
- Stephen King
- Gruesome description
- Film like book - cinematic

BRIEF REVIEW
This book had waves of horror throughout and luckily left me a little time to catch my breath between horrifying events. I loved it and will definitely read it again.

Have you ever gone into a horror movie anticipating the dread, the fear, the urge to make yourself as small as possible as if it makes you safer—and instead been sorely disappointed that the budget was spent on jumpscares and nothing else? That’s how it felt to read this book. 8114 has some pretty descriptive horror—I’d argue Allen has a talent for describing guts and rot and gore. But every other aspect of the book starts to fall apart:

The main character, a True Crime podcaster with the charisma of a shallow pond, comes home in disgrace when his poorly conceived podcast causes catastrophic damage. His redemption arc? Another podcast, this time about his creepy old house.

Hull piles on the lore heavy-handedly, using podcast conversations as a mechanism to paint a picture of 8114. But it’s a mess. The horror elements emerge with little fanfare (jump scare), at random moments, with the bare minimum plot devices to justify their presence. They’re clumsily constructed (there are some creepy songs that definitely need to be workshopped). Because the characters are flat, you don’t care what’s happening to them, even if the descriptions are stunningly vivid and deeply off-putting.

The way the story is written also becomes deeply distracting—emphasis is created using bold, italics, and capital letters. Mystery is approached with an ellipses…and another one…and another one. Paul’s internal monologue and external dialogue reads like a caricature of a teenage boy, and while he’s characterized as thoughtless, shallow, and self-absorbed, he’s also supposed to be forty-two years old.

An interesting premise, but a disappointing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and CLASH books for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

this wasn’t what i had anticipated - i expected a short and sweet horror, but i got disjointed over-description. it had good points, i like the idea of a haunted house with a vendetta - the haunting of hill house is one of my favourite books - but this one felt immature by comparison. i didn’t like paul or the other characters, and megan wasn’t a character at all really, other than the ‘one that got away’ trope. if you want a good haunted house story, go for the haunting of hill house by shirley jackson or she is a haunting by trang thanh tran.

!Spoiler warning ahead!
A face paced book that sounds like The corruption from The Magnus Archives is eating this book from the inside out?
If you are fan of eldrich horror and cannot get enough of your favorit abnormal podcasts? Try it in book form!
While the MC gets more and more unlikeable due to his obessesion with his podcast, the horror gets more real, but lets be honest? When isn´t a protagonist unlikea ble if they are so interested in their own glory?
While the book is realitivly short it is packed with story and the ending, while expected, does not dissapoint in the slightest!
So get your anti-mold spray ready and sit down for a few hours to get sucked in by 8114 and Pauls story!
And do not forget:
Clear your head.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

Wow! This book is a brutal descent into traumatic memories and the horrors that refuse to stay buried. It blends an investigative mystery with an unsettling atmosphere of haunted places and body horror, resulting in a story that feels both personal and universally terrifying. It digs into the ghastliness of a small town’s past while our MMC, Paul, must confront his own demons.

Paul, a struggling podcaster, returns home to find out his longtime friend has committed suicide in the ruins of his childhood home. The mystery of his friend's actions morphs into something more insidious. Paul begins seeing things that have his reality unrevealing and questions what he remembers from his past. This story completely twists Paul’s perceptions as he is dragged deeper into a slow-burning horror and secrets that feel disturbingly personal.

The book has perfect pacing and grotesque descriptions. The body horror is unsettling. The book doesn’t just rely on shock value to build an overwhelming sense of anxiety, the author makes each reveal feel like peeling back layers of Paul's mind. The house at 8114 is a manifestation of everything Paul has tried to leave behind. It is generational trauma that explores the psychological, while still delivering terrifying imagery. This is an absolute must-read.

Thank you NetGalley and CLASH Books for the opportunity to honestly review this book.

An interesting book revolving around the childhood house of Paul and what happened there over the years. To put this all out in the open, Paul starts a podcast where he interviews different citizens of his home town about what they remember about the building. The book sometimes felt kind of aimless and there were things happening without any real meaning behind them. Since it's a short book I didn't really mind that it dragged on a bit, though the ending was fun and had more action scenes in there. 3/5 stars