A Honest Review of 'The Queen': Body Horror, Pacing Issues, and Nostalgic Aesthetic

THE QUEEN

by Nick Cutter

Gallery Books, 2024

★★★½✰

On a sunny morning in June, Margaret Carpenter wakes up to find a new iPhone on her doorstep. She switches it and is greeted by a text from her best friend, Charity Atwater. The problem is, Charity’s been missing for over a month. Most people in town—even the police—think she’s dead. 

Margaret and Charity have been lifelong friends. They share everything, know the most intimate details about each another…except for the destructive secret hidden from them both. A secret that will trigger a chain of events ending in tragedy, bloodshed, and death. And now Charity wants Margaret to know her story—the real story. 

In a narrative that takes place over one feverish day, Margaret follows a series of increasingly disquieting breadcrumbs as she forges deeper into the mystery of her best friend—a person she never truly knew at all…. 

Dear Readers,

Nick Cutter's novel, The Queen, features a striking cover that includes an unsettling insect alongside the face of a freckled young woman, all presented with the nostalgic aesthetic characteristic of 1980s paperbacks, complete with an element of wear. While I admire the cover, my feelings about the narrative are more mixed.

Although I am familiar with Nick Cutter's body of work, The Queen is my first experience with this particular author. I approached the novel with high expectations, which may have contributed to my disappointment upon finishing it. By the final page, I found myself yearning for a more satisfying conclusion. The question arises: what exactly was I seeking? The novel features a compelling protagonist, intricate descriptions, and suspenseful scenes filled with body horror—fulfilling the criteria for an engaging horror yarn, yet it still feels incomplete.

Horror tales have a better impact when they exclude contemporary technology. In The Queen, the inclusion of a mobile phone is integral to the plot, and the use of text messaging effectively establishes the story's framework. The narrative begins with significant immediacy—perhaps too rapid for my taste—before the pacing slows considerably. This alteration in pacing is one of my primary critiques, along with occasional inconsistencies in tone.

I did not find The Queen unworthy of my time. Despite my criticisms, I enjoyed reading it and intend to keep a hardcover edition in my collection. The novel has grotesque scenes that may appeal to body horror enthusiasts but could sicken other readers. Nick Cutter does not shy away from vivid descriptions, and the overarching story is both compelling and eerie, making it a page-turner. However, I perceive a certain dissonance within the narrative. While it may not be flawless, it is definitely worth reading. 

⁓B.J. Burgess

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