Such an Odd Word to Use
Secrets don’t hide, they echo
by Carl Goodwin
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Pub Date 9 Oct 2025 | Archive Date 31 Mar 2026
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Description
A hidden Clerkenwell refuge, a watchful neighbour — and a narrowing gap between paranoia and perception.
After years on the move, Mark hopes for peace in a secluded Clerkenwell house once used as a music studio. Hidden behind Georgian terraces, it feels like the perfect retreat... until small disturbances begin to ripple beneath the surface. A glance held too long. A neighbour who knows too much. Watchers who linger.
A routine planning request triggers something deeper, that seems too coordinated to be pure chance. As unease grows, Mark begins to suspect the house holds more than memories. But in an age of constant surveillance, what separates paranoia from perception?
Such an Odd Word to Use is a quietly unsettling psychological mystery novella (31.5k words) for the digital age, where even silence may be scripted.
A Note From the Publisher
Tone: quiet, slow-burn psychological suspense; literary tilt; novella length (31.5k words).
Content: no graphic violence; atmosphere over action.
Reviews: Please post on NetGalley / Goodreads.
Tone: quiet, slow-burn psychological suspense; literary tilt; novella length (31.5k words).
Content: no graphic violence; atmosphere over action.
Advance Praise
Selected for LoveReading’s “Indie Books We Love”.
“An atmospheric novella… creating an unsettled feeling that lingers after the final page.”
— LoveReading
Selected for BookLife's “Editor's Pick”.
“Smart slow burn of a London mystery, with lively puzzles and literary heft.”
— BookLife Reviews
Marketing Plan
- Launch: 9 Oct 2025
- Reader discovery: StoryGraph giveaway, NetGalley DRC (this listing), LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
- Retail pages: Author Central + Editorial Reviews.
- Promotion: Amazon Ads + eBook platforms
- Trade & local: proofs to 12 bookshops.
- Email/web: carlgoodwin.com buy box; ConvertKit to collect subscribers.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781917523639 |
| PRICE | £5.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 162 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 5 members
Featured Reviews
“Everything felt veiled in stillness. As if the house itself was holding its breath.”
Carl Goodwin has written a brooding and subtly sinister book.
Following a move to a new home, the owner begins to feel he is being watched or even trapped in his home.
Is he being followed? Who are the people seen outside his front door at all times of day? Why are some of his neighbours acting strangely ? And does his house hold a secret ?
With an increasing sense of paranoia and general mistrust towards the local community and even technology, how will the situation ever be resolved?
A short novel with a palpable sense of growing fear and confusion.
The outcome may not be what is expected but this is an intelligent reflection on what could happen on anyone’s doorstep with an ever increasing society of isolation .
Reviewer 400203
What a creepy read! That said, this was a great read. I enjoyed the characters, setting, and the gripping plot. Readers will enjoy this one!
Jennifer H, Reviewer
Thank for the advanced copy of such an odd words to use published date 9th of October. A dream house turns into a nightmare in this unsettling read that will make you glad your neighbours aren’t that bad. Really enjoyed this great we book the characters and settings were great
Valery E, Reviewer
Such an Odd Word to Use is an intriguing read, and I was immediately struck by the author’s strong command of language. Carl Goodwin writes with clarity and intention, and the prose itself is genuinely impressive. That said, the story felt more like a character study than a plot-driven novel, which may appeal to some readers more than others. I found myself appreciating the depth of observation even when the pacing slowed. Overall, it’s a well-crafted book with thoughtful writing, best suited for readers who enjoy immersive, introspective character work. I’m glad I tried it.
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