🩸 Horror Fiction

Those Who Long

✍️ W G Tuttle
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$16.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A man plans his own funeral while still alive at a local funeral home.

The narrative centers on Thad E. Hadet, a man who visits the Will B. Still Funeral Home daily without working there or being related to the staff. He is not dying, yet he spends his time making arrangements for his own funeral. This unusual behavior drives the plot forward, creating a sense of unease through repetition and routine. The story explores the psychological weight of anticipating one’s own death. It avoids sensationalism, focusing instead on the stark reality of Thad’s choices. The setting provides a backdrop for examining how individuals confront their mortality. Tuttle uses this premise to question societal norms around death and preparation.

Key Themes
self-planned funeral mortality awareness funeral home rituals
Literary Context

Published in 2020 by Blurred Ink LLC, this work engages with American gothic traditions. It reflects contemporary anxieties about death and the commercialization of mourning. The setting in a town funeral home grounds the supernatural elements in everyday reality.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · H.P. Lovecraft · Thomas Ligotti
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Blurred Ink LLC 📅 2020 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781949637175

📝 Description: Those Who Long

Thad E. Hadet spends a significant portion of his days at the Will B. Still Funeral Home. He holds no employment there, nor does he share any familial ties with the staff. The premise avoids the cliché of terminal illness to explain his presence. Instead, Thad visits daily to organize his own funeral arrangements. This narrative focuses on the quiet, persistent act of preparing for one’s end while still alive. The work draws on traditions surrounding death and mourning in American culture. It examines the rituals that surround finality, such as burial customs and the social expectations placed on those who plan their own exits. The story is grounded in the mundane reality of a funeral home, using this setting to explore themes of isolation and self-determination. Thad’s actions challenge the typical narrative where death is an unexpected event rather than a scheduled appointment. This book suits readers interested in psychological horror and gothic fiction that focuses on internal dread rather than external monsters. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or supernatural thrills involving ghosts and demons. The story relies on atmosphere and character study. W G Tuttle presents a tale where the horror lies in the deliberate planning of mortality. The narrative does not offer easy answers or comforting resolutions regarding the nature of death.

💎 Our verdict on Those Who Long

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
W G Tuttle delivers a haunting exploration of mortality through the routine visits of Thad E. Hadet to a local funeral home. The narrative succeeds by avoiding clichés of terminal illness, instead focusing on the psychological weight of anticipating death while still alive. The setting provides a stark backdrop for examining how individuals confront their own finality. The story relies heavily on atmosphere and character study, creating unease through repetition rather than shock. It is best suited for readers of psychological horror and gothic fiction who appreciate internal dread over supernatural elements. By questioning societal norms around death preparation, the book offers a unique perspective on isolation and self-determination.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for readers who prefer psychological horror and internal dread over external monsters or fast-paced action. It appeals to those fascinated by the stark reality of mortality and the quiet persistence of preparing for one's own end. The narrative offers a compelling character study of Thad E. Hadet, whose deliberate planning of his funeral challenges typical views on death as an unexpected event. Those interested in gothic fiction that focuses on atmosphere and self-determination will find value here. It provides a thoughtful examination of isolation and societal norms without offering comforting resolutions, making it suitable for audiences seeking deep, unsettling reflections on the human condition rather than sensational thrills.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

W G Tuttle delivers a haunting exploration of mortality through the routine visits of Thad E. Hadet to a local funeral home. The narrative succeeds by avoiding clichés of terminal illness, instead focusing on the psychological weight of anticipating death while still alive. The setting provides a stark backdrop for examining how individuals confront their own finality. The story relies heavily on atmosphere and character study, creating unease through repetition rather than shock. It is best suited for readers of psychological horror and gothic fiction who appreciate internal dread over supernatural elements. By questioning societal norms around death preparation, the book offers a unique perspective on isolation and self-determination.

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