The Residency by C.D. Major
No Spoilers Book Review Some horror stories find their way back to the exact fears that unsettled you as a child. The Residency gave me that wonderfully creepy, familiar feeling while still creating a mystery entirely its own.
The Residency by C.D. Major is being promoted as a Gothic horror novel set on a remote Scottish island. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sarah Cullum, which was released on August 6, 2026. I could definitely feel the Gothic influence in the old wood, the classic-style house, and the unsettling history surrounding the residency. It just did not feel particularly Victorian, if that is what you imagine when you hear Gothic. The overall atmosphere felt much more like isolated-island folk horror, with a small community that clearly knows more than it is willing to say and an outsider slowly realizing she has stepped into something much bigger than she understands.
Ginny is a struggling artist and single mother whose career never became what she once imagined. When she is unexpectedly accepted into an all-expenses-paid artist residency, it feels like the opportunity she has been waiting for. She and her daughter travel to the remote island, but the strange rules, unsettling property, and locals who refuse to give her clear answers quickly make it obvious that the invitation may not be as generous as it first appeared.
The isolated community reminded me of The Wicker Man and the village scenes in An American Werewolf in London. Ginny is entering a place where everyone else seems to understand what is happening, but nobody is willing to explain it to her. The locals are withholding information, old secrets are being protected, and there is a constant feeling that the entire community has quietly accepted something dangerous.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere C.D. Major created. The story has a strange, visual creepiness that reminded me of the stories that genuinely frightened me as a kid. Some of the imagery brought back the same uneasy feeling I had watching The Witches when I was younger. It felt familiar in that sense, but the author still created her own mystery around art, isolation, and the secrets surrounding the residency.
The audiobook narration worked well with the setting and helped create that feeling of being cut off from the mainland with no clear idea who could be trusted. The mystery kept me interested, and the horror elements were disturbing without making the story unnecessarily complicated.
There were a few stretches where the pacing dragged slightly, but they never lasted long enough for me to lose interest. I could see where parts of the story were heading, but the way everything came together still felt satisfying. The writing was strong, the concept was effective, and the story delivered a genuinely spooky experience.
The Residency is a great choice for readers who enjoy isolated communities, sinister artwork, suspicious locals, dark secrets, and small towns where everyone knows something they are not telling you. It was eerie, engaging, and unsettling in a way that felt both familiar and fresh.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Author Note: Thank you to Bolinda Audio and NetGalley for providing this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
