Book Review of THERE USED TO BE PEOPLE HERE by Kennedy Cole + Author Q&A
Hi friends!!
It's time for another Book Review and Author Chat!
I am so excited to bring you this amazing debut horror novel There Used to Be People Here that released November 3rd, 2026, from Berkley, plus a Q&A with the author Kennedy Cole.
While There Used to Be People Here and my debut, The Tinsel Twist, are on entirely separate ends of the spectrum, I have had the distinct privilege of being debut day buddies with Kennedy. I am thrilled to bring you my review of There Used to Be People Here and the following interview with Kennedy.
The spoiler free book review...
I loved this book so much and could not put it down. I am so glad I got to read an advanced copy.
There Used to Be People Here gets a wholehearted rating of 5 stars, and I stand firmly behind every star. Here's my review that was posted on various review sites ahead of debut day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! I had to sleep on this before I wrote this review because There Used to Be People Here (TUTBPH) was just SO GOOD. It’s difficult to convey how amazing this book is in a vague way, but I try to keep my reviews spoiler free, because that’s part of the beauty of horror. The twists and turns that keep you up at night, not just because you’re terrified to sleep, but because you have to know what happens next and who is going to make it out alive. And I absolutely could not put TUTBPH down.
The intent of some horror is to terrify, and it gets stuck in the surface level jump scares and thrills, but really great horror is terrifying because it makes you think and reevaluate. And that’s what makes TUTBPH a great horror novel. It has so many layers below the initial body horror and creepy murders, that it makes you question everything you know to be true and whether or not the powers that be can be trusted.
TUTBPH manages to achieve this in a way that also endears the main characters to you. While you’re reading you will find yourself so scared for them because you love them and what they’re finding in each other so much that you don’t want anything bad to happen to them. And you get attached in spite of yourself, knowing full well they might not make it out alive.
On top of the luscious prose and page-turning plot, Cole has also naturally crafted commentary on racism and homophobia in the American South in the 1970s. Although as a Southerner myself, I might argue many people in tiny, backwoods towns (or anywhere really) still face a similar experience as Samuel and Harvey and this will resonate with a lot of readers. The commentary isn’t in your face. It’s baked into the character struggles and the story, especially through the eyes of Samuel, a Black detective (who I suspect is also neurodiverse) in a time when the South was barely desegregated. His badge and status doesn’t gain him any respect and really puts a target on his back by the white folk around him who feel threatened by his achievements. Cole leaves the reader and the main character questioning what’s more horrific: the outcome the monster brings or the world Samuel and Harvey have been living in already.
I am a fan of a lot of things that I would comp this book to, so it’s not a shocker that I love it. If you’re a fan of X-files, Supernatural, Sinners, Unsolved Mysteries, or any kind of police procedural media and can deal with the gruesomeness of body horror, then read this book. Warning: Chapter 1 isn’t for the faint of heart, so be prepared. If you can make it through that, you are in for an unstoppable ride that will make your heart pound, bring you to tears, and also, from time to time, make you laugh and feel all warm and fuzzy.
An absolutely amazing debut. I cannot wait to read what Cole writes next.
Q&A with Debut Author Kennedy Cole
Rosie: Thanks so much for participating in an interview on my blog! In case there are readers who aren’t familiar with you, let’s start off with a little bit about yourself, how long you’ve been writing, and what inspired you to write.
Kennedy: Hi! I’ve been writing since I was in fifth grade, when I first picked up a book self-published by a sixth grader and realized I—a child—could do the same. When I first started writing, I was in an extreme state of curiosity; I could not stop. I wrote every day, during school, after school, instead of sleeping, and repeat. I’ve been writing since then, though admittedly, no longer every day.
When I attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington for my BFA in Creative Writing, I discovered other passionate writers, and professors who shared my love for the craft, for the first time in my life. I worked with quite a few different publications during my three and a half years at UNCW, namely Lookout Books, Atlantis: A Creative Magazine, ONLY POEMS, and others. Lately, I’ve been working as a barista, and recently started as a Managing Editor with ChillSubs. Oh, and mentally preparing for my debut to release on November 3rd!
Rosie: Ah, I remember having a distinct similar experience as a child. I picked up In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes at a Scholastic Book Fair and when I realized she was 14 when that book was published my mind was blown and it was an epiphany moment for me!
I love that you took your passion for writing straight into college for a BFA! Since I do have a lot of writers who read my blog, can you talk a little more about your literary background prior to setting out on this path and your experience that led you to this book deal?
Kennedy: Before getting my two-book deal with Berkley, I’d unsuccessfully queried one other novel. I decided that after writing There Used to Be People Here my sophomore year at UNCW, that I would try querying again. After three months back in the trenches, I queried my agent, Alex Land, on the first day that she opened—and received an offer a few weeks later! Between August and October, I revised my debut using Alex’s notes while she compiled a list of editors to go out to on submission. We eventually took There Used to Be People Here to editors near the start of October, and had our first editor phone call one month later.
After an anxiety-induced week of waiting, I received a call from Alex while I was driving and managed not to swerve off road: Berkley had offered a six-figure, two-book deal. This was all during my last semester at UNCW, while I was juggling three internships, senior classes, a new relationship with my new fiancé, and the looming release of graduation. Long story short, my life changed very quickly and very unexpectedly. One of the best parts of getting my book deal was being able to stay in my college town and eventually move in with my fiance. I couldn’t be happier!
Rosie: Wow! That is all so exciting. Getting an agent and book deal can be so stressful, and I literally cannot imagine navigating that during such a hectic season of your life. There are so many decisions that come around the end of college and throwing a book deal in the mix is wild!
In that vein, there’s been a recent social media trend among authors discussing the “backup plan” or Plan A/Plan B for publishing. I interview a lot of authors who are in their late 30s and 40s, finally getting their start in publishing, but you’re fresh out of college. I’d love to get some perspective on if getting to debut at this point in your life has changed any of your plans you had for post-graduation or if this was the plan.
Kennedy: This definitely wasn’t the plan. I hadn’t hinged any of my life after college on whether or not I received a book deal before graduating; that would be reckless, and a little ridiculous. My true plan was to find a full-time job in the publishing industry, or a few part time jobs to help support the time I wanted to dedicate to writing. I most certainly still planned to write and pursue traditional publishing, but my goal as a student was never what actually came to pass. While I was querying and eventually on submission, my state of mind was consistently “let’s see what happens.” I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t much, much happier with how life turned out instead of my original plan.
Rosie: I totally understand that! I always tell people that being in publishing means that you have to be ready to pivot from your plans all the time becauase you just never know what's going to happen or when, so thanks for sharing a little insight into how things changed for you.
Let's talk a bit about TUTBPH now. It is horror, but it's also got a sci-fi feel. Do you write in other genres too? Or is horror—or genre mashups with horror—your bread and butter?
Kennedy: I wouldn’t call horror my bread and butter. When TUTBPH was first on submission, my agent and I marketed it as a thriller. My editor was the person who suggested pushing the book fully into horror, and though at the time I was surprised, I’m honestly really thankful that I’m an author in this genre. Horror is fun, in my opinion, and was even originally at the root of TUTBPH before my book deal. It took fully leaning into the genre for me to appreciate it as a genre I excel in. I like to say I enjoy speculative writing of any kind, whether that’s horror, sci-fi, fantasy, or whatever. I tend to gravitate more toward a story than its genre, anyway.
Rosie: I get gravitating toward the story first. It can make it difficult to classify after the fact, since publishers and stores want to know what shelf they're going to put a book on, but I think focusing on the story instead of what box it fits in is what makes a great book.
Diving a little deeper into the story and the process, I often think some of the ideas I have would be easier to write in the past because technology today causes a lot of plot holes. And I think that’s part of why Stranger Things was so successful because there was that element of “if they’re not near a phone, you have no clue where they are” and you can suspend belief a lot when you don’t have a cell phone in the picture.
Is that part of the appeal to writing a horror story set in the 70s? Or did something else appeal to you about that time period?
Kennedy: Hmm, that’s actually a really compelling point! Shamefully, I’ll admit not being near a phone/isolating my characters in that way was not the original appeal of setting the story in the 70s.
I do think that this decade in particular encapsulates a lot of the deeper themes I explore in TUTBPH. While of course, it’s still alive today, racism and homophobia were definitely more rampant and taboo during this decade than they are now. The “threat” of communism and fearing your neighbor was prominent. The 70s are also near to the desegregation of America, while also on the cusp of normalizing the Black and white blend happening in society. Placing Samuel as the only Black detective in a Mississippi police department is, unfortunately, something that “aligns” with not just the southern state, but also the time period. It makes more sense, in other words, to have this be the case in 1978 than say, 2026. I do think the Stranger Things appeal of outdated media and elements aids the horror, for sure.
Rosie: That makes total sense, and also makes a compelling point about how setting can have a profound impact on character development and themes in a story. Following up on that, how did you do your research for writing in the 1970s? Did you ask family? Google a ton? Watch documentaries?
Kennedy: I did a ton of Googling, to be honest. Mostly for the finer details like cars, popular toys, clothing items, guns, police offices, queer bars, etc. I also had the honor of interviewing a police sergeant/F.B.I. agent for developing the dynamics of the department and how Samuel’s character might have been treated as the only Black detective at the time. I also watched “buddy” films like Seven, Shawshank Redemption, and for research on Samuel and Harvey’s racial dynamic.
Rosie: That is amazing that you got to interview someone in law enforcement. You really did your due diligence, and it definitely shows in the writing. It's so immersive.
Since you mentioned Samuel, let’s talk about him. He is a Black man, who is a cop, in a small Southern town, right after the Civil Rights movement. Were you inspired by any particular figures in history for Samuel? And what do you hope readers take away from his character the most?
Kennedy: While I didn’t know this until after writing and naming Samuel, I later learned that a man named Samuel Battle was the first Black police officer for the NYPD. How amazing is that? It’s entirely a coincidence, but I can’t help but draw comparisons between these two Samuel’s, and feel like my character is representative of his history, in an inadvertent way.
All that to say, my hope is that readers are able to see themselves in Samuel. Besides being the only Black police officer in the Wenton Police Department, Samuel is also many other things; he’s thoughtful, quiet, considerate, brave, intelligent, and still growing, even at thirty years old. Throughout the story, Samuel struggles deeply with self confidence and worth, which he (incorrectly) believes hinges on what he does for others. I myself have dealt with anxiety and self doubt, as I’m sure the majority of people also have.
In the end, though, Samuel learns to love himself because of who he is, not because of what he does. And although the plot has its own ending (which I’ll leave for readers to discover), I think Samuel’s ending is also incredibly important.
Rosie: Wow! That is such a cool tidbit about Samuel Battle. Thank you for sharing that. I loved Samuel's character so much because he is absolutely so relatable in his struggles with self worth.
Samuel has some help throughout TUTBPH, even though he was very reluctant to accept it. So let's find out a little more about Harvey. He is a white man who is a cop, but is also hiding a part of himself (I’m not sure if it’s too spoilery to say what…), but he ends up being the perfect person for Samuel to end up in this mess with, despite some of their differences.
Was this a chicken or the egg scenario where you crafted Samuel’s character and then created Harvey or did they both kind of come to you fully formed, separately, and just worked?
Kennedy: Incredibly funny metaphor, so I’ll go with that! Samuel was the character who came to me more fully developed. As soon as I started writing him, I knew exactly who he was and what he was dealing with. Harvey, on the other hand, took some development for me to place him in the story.
So, I think you’ll be the FIRST to get the scoop on this, but in the first first draft, Cassandra (Samuel’s sister) was originally his wife. This was the case for about three chapters before I decided her character wasn’t working in that role. Cassie is confident, outspoken, and very headstrong; the opposite of Samuel, but in a much more impatient way than Harvey. As his wife, she wouldn’t be able to pull his character out of him as well as, say, a stranger.
So, that’s when I decided Harvey needed to be more than just his temporary partner. I swapped Cassandra’s character, leaned into this “secret” that you mentioned, and started using Harvey as a way to develop Samuel’s character, create a counterpart with their own arc to achieve, and add another layer to the story’s primary cast.
A gay layer. Tehe.
Rosie: Oh wow! Thank you for sharing that insider scoop. I can absolutely see how Cassandra could have started as his wife in an original draft, but I loved the dynamic with his sister and it worked really well. It's amazing how things change across drafts from initial ideas to publication.
Now is a good time for me to share this amazing art of Samuel and Harvey during a very tense and pivotal moment of the book. Peep the shadows for the full effect.
Art by Akkito on Instgram.
TUTBPH is out now, but I don’t want to get too spoilery. That being said, there are really two distinct villains in this book. There’s the horror villain, of course, but Samuel is also fighting against racism and white men who don’t really want him to exist, but definitely don’t want him to be a detective and don’t want him to be their superior. There are also white men who support Samuel, his partner Harvey, to an extent the police chief.
I know it’s dancing around spoilers, but can you talk some about that aspect of your work and having this double-edge sword for antagonists, so to speak.
Kennedy: Sure! I think a story is always more fun when there’s a complexity to the themes it explores. While the more “horror-y” villain is clearly written on the page, those elements of racism, micro aggressions, and pure bigotry are woven throughout this conflict (and I would say is the driving force behind the plot). Samuel and Harvey are clearly fighting a larger entity out of their control, but when it comes to the things that hit closer to home, those seem to hurt much worse, simply because of how tangible they are.
Sure, a parasitic hive mind is frightening, but what about being hated because of who you are? What about your job being threatened, simply because you don’t fit the memo? What about living in a historically racist town and being too afraid to fall asleep at night, unsure of whether you’ll be alive in the morning?
These are very real things, lived experiences by people in this country who look like me. I wanted to parallel the supernatural, speculative elements of the story with grounded horror, thus creating the novel’s ultimate dilemma. And I’ve always found everyday horror to be scarier to me, anyway.
Rosie: You're absolutely right. There's that phrase "stranger than fiction" that comes up a lot when things that happen in real life don't seem real because they're so wild, but "scarier than fiction" also applies to real life. I think sometimes even the most frightening fictional horror doesn't hold a candle to what we read in history books or witness day to day. TUTBPH definitely achieves what you set out to do, in my opinion, baking these lived experiences into the driving force of the plot.
So, what's next for you, Kennedy? Either for TUTBPH or a next book? Anything you can talk about?
Kennedy: I’m not confident that I can fully unveil the plot, but I will have a second book published with Berkley, and it won’t be a sequel. It’ll actually be the complete opposite of There Used to Be People Here: a dual POV narrative exploring a mother and daughter. It takes on themes of sisterhood, codependency, family, coming of age, and obsession. And yes, it is a horror. I’m SO excited to be able to say more!!
Rosie: Oh, that sounds AMAZING! I can't wait to find out more when you're able to share.
Where can we buy your book? If a local bookstore doesn’t have it, will readers be able to order it there if they don’t want to purchase through a corporate retailer?
Kennedy: Well, I do know you can purchase through a number of retail stores, like Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Bookshop.org, etc. I would hope that local stores will also stock, but I can’t 100% say for sure. My best bet (and yours) is to spread the word! And if you can, please please please request at your local library.
Rosie: I was able to find it at my tiny local BAM! that is one of those that doesn't have a fancy cafe or anything. It's just books and bookish accessories in a small store in my mall.
Where can readers find you online? Do you have a newsletter sign-up?
Kennedy: Instagram!! Please follow my Instagram! And my Substack, for my newsletter. Both handles are kennedyreadsandwrites. You can also find my website under the same name :)
Rosie: Do you have any upcoming virtual events or in-person book signings you’d like to tell us about?
Kennedy: I think by the time this is out, I won’t have any :’) BUT I will have spoken to S.A. Cosby in Winston Salem, which is super duper cool. I will say, I’m not having a book tour this year. Which, I’m totally not complaining about because…money. But maybe next time!
Rosie: The event with S.A. Cosby looked amazing. I totally understand not doing a tour. I only booked semi-local stores I could day trip to because traveling is so expensive right now. I hope I'm able to catch you at a future event though, and I'm sure there will be plenty of virtual opportunities come up for you in the interim!
For fun! What are you currently reading or if you could only recommend one book (horror or otherwise), what would it be and why?
Kennedy: I’m currently reading Wench by Erynne Rivers (and enjoying it!). If I could recommend a book it would HAVE to be Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (my favorite book of all time). Go in blind, if you can. It’s an absolute masterpiece of literature. I’ll always be obsessed with it.
Rosie: I have heard of both of those books (shout out to another 2026 debut book for Wench!) I'm going to have to add both of those to my TBR. Any parting advice for writers trying to pursue traditional publishing?
Kennedy: Keep going!! I know that’s simple and boring, but I mean it. You never know what’s right around the corner. Do it because you love it, and because you believe in yourself.
Rosie: Sometimes the simplest advice is the best advice, and I co-sign it 100% because this industry is so unpredictable. You never know when that door is going to open.
As a final question, what’s an unexplained mystery or phenomenon that intrigues you (or perhaps inspires your writing) the most?
Kennedy: Hmmmmmmm. In all honesty, I’m not really a superstitious person. I am a follower of Jesus (Christian, but I don’t say it much anymore because there’s a clear distinction), so maybe I’ll say the mystery of God. I believe God presents Themself differently for each individual; my relationship with God will never look exactly like another person’s. I do believe that every achievement I’ve accomplished I wholeheartedly owe to the Lord. I’m super thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given, and I know in my soul that I wouldn’t be here without my faith. I guess, in a way, God inspires my writing because I wouldn’t have this gift without Him.
Sadly, this wraps up our interview with Kennedy Cole. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed hosting it.
Please, check out There Used to Be People Here, a stellar debut horror novel that I will not stop yapping about. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.
Here are some places that you can follow Kennedy and keep up with what's coming next.
Link | Kennedy Cole on Instagram
Link | Kennedy Cole on Substack
Link | Kennedy Cole's Website
Let me know in the comments if you pick up There Used to Be People Here or if you've read it and what you thought! But don't just tell me. Leave a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and wherever you can! Reviews help authors immensely.
If you enjoyed this interview, check out my other book reviews with Author Interviews on my blog:
Link | The Masks We Wear by BD Carpenter with Author Q&A
Link | Mage Breaker by Sean R. Frazier with Author Q&A
Link | Silverweaver by Cee M. Taylor with Author Q&A + Excerpt
Link | The Ghosts of Reeser Morrigan with Guest Post by author Amara Lynn
I've got a lot more interviews planned in the coming months. I love doing these so much!
Until next time, friends.
Rosie
Link | Linktree for Rose
Did you enjoy this blog? Follow me on Blueksy (where I host WIPSnips daily) or Instagram for regular updates on my life and my writing, including my debut novel The Tinsel Twist, out now from Turner Publishing.
