The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan (ARC Review)

Title: The Handyman Method
Authors: Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Horror
Publisher: Gallery / Saga Press (Simon & Schuster)
Published: August 8, 2023

A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

A chilling domestic story of terror for fans of Black Mirror and The Amityville Horror .

When a young family moves into an unfinished development community, cracks begin to emerge in both their new residence and their lives, as a mysterious online DIY instructor delivers dark subliminal suggestions about how to handle any problem around the house. The trials of home improvement, destructive insecurities, and haunted house horror all collide in this thrilling story perfect for fans of Nick Cutter’s bestsellers The Troop and The Deep.

⤖ My Review ⬻

Having read Andrew F. Sullivan’s The Marigold last year, I had a vague inkling of what might await in The Handyman Method—although the addition of Nick Cutter in the collaboration added some mystery. I hesitated to set firm expectations, aiming to approach the book with an open mind despite my prior exposure to Sullivan’s work.

When first diving into The Handyman Method, I have to admit it posed a challenge for me—particularly during the initial two-thirds. While recognizing the deliberate setup for the looming horror reveal, I struggled against impatience, yearning for more gripping elements to seize my attention. Nonetheless, the authors did manage to plant smaller, unsettling horrors throughout the narrative, effectively evoking discomfort, yet leaving me hungry for learning what the larger horror would be.

Amidst my struggle, the intermittent social commentary on masculinity did hold my focus, adding an intriguing layer to the story. It was definitely satisfying when things in The Handyman Method really picked up for me, and I finished the latter part of the book very quickly once I made it to that portion of the story.

The concept I found to be interesting, and I wouldn’t mind learning more about the history if the authors were to write another book/s in the same universe. I found The Handyman Method to be interesting and think that other horror fans might find interest and satisfaction within its pages as well.

⤖ About the Authors ⬻

Nick Cutter is the author of the critically acclaimed national bestseller The Troop (which is currently being developed for film with producer James Wan), The Deep, Little Heaven, and The Handyman Method, cowritten with Andrew F. Sullivan. Nick Cutter is the pseudonym for Craig Davidson, whose much-lauded literary fiction includes Rust and Bone, The Saturday Night Ghost Club, and, most recently, the short story collection Cascade. His story “Medium Tough” was selected by author Jennifer Egan for The Best American Short Stories 2014. He lives in Toronto, Canada.

Andrew F. Sullivan is from Oshawa, Ontario. He is the author of The Marigold, a novel about a city eating itself. His horror tale The Handyman Method, cowritten with Nick Cutter, is forthcoming from Gallery Books in 2023. Sullivan is also the author of the novel WASTE(Dzanc Books) and the short story collection All We Want is Everything (ARP Books). Sullivan’s fiction and criticism have appeared in places like the National Post, Hazlitt, The Globe & Mail, The New Quarterly, PRISM, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Longform, and other publications. He now lives in Hamilton, Ontario.