🩸 Horror Fiction

The Right Thing: a novella

✍️ Kelsey Kupitz
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$6.00
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A novella about a woman confronting her past after a missing child case mirrors her history.

The narrative focuses on Astrid Fletcher, a woman whose life is disrupted by a phone call that revives painful memories from fifteen years prior. Her best friend Peter disappeared in a forest near her childhood home, and now another child has vanished on the same date. This parallel event forces Astrid to confront the secret she has kept hidden for over a decade. The story examines how past trauma influences present reality. It uses the framework of a missing person case to explore guilt and denial. The setting remains tied to the forest where the original disappearance occurred. The tone is dark and introspective, prioritizing emotional resonance over plot mechanics.

Key Themes
childhood trauma repressed memory missing persons
Literary Context

Published in 2021 by Independently Published, this novella fits within the contemporary independent horror market. It appeals to American readers interested in gothic fiction and supernatural tales that focus on psychological depth rather than gore.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti · Silvia Moreno-Garcia · The Haunting of Hill House
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Independently Published 📅 2021 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798594705906

📝 Description: The Right Thing: a novella

Kelsey Kupitz presents The Right Thing, a novella that explores the lingering effects of childhood trauma and guilt. The narrative centers on Astrid Fletcher, who receives an unexpected phone call late at night. This communication triggers memories she has spent years attempting to forget. The story takes place fifteen years after her best friend Peter disappeared in the forest near her childhood home. On the exact same date, another child vanishes from that same wooded area. Astrid’s long-kept secret becomes central to understanding what occurred during those original events. Readers follow her as she questions what they found in the woods and what truly happened to Peter. The text operates as a twisted fairytale, blending supernatural elements with psychological horror. It draws on gothic traditions of haunted landscapes and repressed memory. The structure relies on Astrid’s internal monologue and recollections rather than external action sequences. This work suits readers who enjoy slow-burn psychological thrillers grounded in emotional weight. Those seeking fast-paced action or traditional jump scares may find the pacing deliberate. The novella format allows for deep immersion into Astrid’s fractured psyche. Kupitz qualifies as an independent author focusing on dark fiction. The book does not offer easy resolutions or clear answers regarding Peter’s fate.

💎 Our verdict on The Right Thing: a novella

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Kupitz delivers a potent examination of guilt through Astrid Fletcher’s internal monologue. The novella excels in creating an atmosphere of dread without relying on jump scares or external action. By tying the narrative to a specific wooded setting, it effectively evokes gothic traditions of haunted landscapes. The structure supports a deep immersion into psychological horror, making it suitable for patients readers who value emotional depth over plot mechanics. While the lack of clear answers may frustrate some, it enhances the unsettling tone. This work is best suited for aficionados of dark fiction who appreciate nuanced explorations of trauma and memory.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a deep, immersive dive into the fractured psyche will find value in this novella. It appeals to those who prefer slow-burn psychological thrillers grounded in significant emotional weight rather than rapid action sequences. The book is ideal for audiences interested in how past trauma influences present reality and the lingering effects of guilt. Those who enjoy narratives that function as twisted fairytales, blending supernatural elements with intense introspection, will appreciate the deliberate pacing. It offers a unique perspective on denial and hidden secrets, providing a compelling exploration of the human mind under the pressure of unresolved past events.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Kupitz delivers a potent examination of guilt through Astrid Fletcher’s internal monologue. The novella excels in creating an atmosphere of dread without relying on jump scares or external action. By tying the narrative to a specific wooded setting, it effectively evokes gothic traditions of haunted landscapes. The structure supports a deep immersion into psychological horror, making it suitable for patients readers who value emotional depth over plot mechanics. While the lack of clear answers may frustrate some, it enhances the unsettling tone. This work is best suited for aficionados of dark fiction who appreciate nuanced explorations of trauma and memory.

🏛 Books from this publisher Independently Published

The Walking Worm
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Matthew Cowdery
The Walking Worm
$12.99
78
Read →
You'll Do As You're Told
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Craig Wesley Wall
You'll Do As You're Told
$14.99
78
Read →
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jon Ridan
La Sincronicidad de los Dioses
$11.99
78
Read →
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Syl Emerald
Forever Your Blood: Christabel Kane I
$19.00
81
Read →
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Shane Terry
John Hopkins: At the heart of England
$17.32
78
Read →
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nick Razer
Skinheads VS. Goth Vampires
$15.99
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Black Portrait ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Larry Decker
Black Portrait
$6.00
86
Read →
Entre mareas muertas y susurros de la noche: Volumen 2 ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Teresita Marin
Entre mareas muertas y susurros de la noche: Volumen 2
$6.00
86
Read →
Relatos Z Las fases del apocalipsis: recopilatorio de historias y guia sobre el genero zombi ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ivan de Los Angeles Company
Relatos Z Las fases del apocalipsis: recopilatorio de historias y guia sobre el genero zombi
$6.00
86
Read →
Tiempos Funestos y otros diez relatos entre tinieblas ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Jordi Clavero
Tiempos Funestos y otros diez relatos entre tinieblas
$6.00
86
Read →
The Crossroads: Nevermore ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Raven Sloane
The Crossroads: Nevermore
$5.99
86
Read →
The Valley of the Lost: A Lost World adventure ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
William Meikle
The Valley of the Lost: A Lost World adventure
$5.99
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist