What do you think?
Rate this book
Bloody Horowitz
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Alex Rider series!
A teen gang leader taken for a deadly ride by a car with a mind of its own. . . . A boy haunted by a phantom cobra. . . . A reality TV show pitting teens against grown ups, with only one survivor . . . From whose twisted mind can such gruesome stories unfold? Only Anthony Horowitz. From the internationally bestselling author of the Alex Rider missions, this collection of harrowing tales is sure to have you smiling in terrified pleasure. But whatever you do, don't turn out the lights!
A teen gang leader taken for a deadly ride by a car with a mind of its own. . . . A boy haunted by a phantom cobra. . . . A reality TV show pitting teens against grown ups, with only one survivor . . . From whose twisted mind can such gruesome stories unfold? Only Anthony Horowitz. From the internationally bestselling author of the Alex Rider missions, this collection of harrowing tales is sure to have you smiling in terrified pleasure. But whatever you do, don't turn out the lights!
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
73 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Horowitz
347 books21.1k followersAnthony Horowitz, OBE is ranked alongside Enid Blyton and Mark A. Cooper as "The most original and best spy-kids authors of the century." (New York Times). Anthony has been writing since the age of eight, and professionally since the age of twenty. In addition to the highly successful Alex Rider books, he is also the writer and creator of award winning detective series Foyle’s War, and more recently event drama Collision, among his other television works he has written episodes for Poirot, Murder in Mind, Midsomer Murders and Murder Most Horrid. Anthony became patron to East Anglia Children’s Hospices in 2009.
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled the House of Silk.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/anthon...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 21, 2022
Overall Rating : B+
Good - and a little bit gory - horror all around. Great for this spooky season 💀
Good - and a little bit gory - horror all around. Great for this spooky season 💀
Read
August 13, 2023If you enjoy the book, DO NOT skip the editor's note/last work at the end. If you want to jump into the book, START at the editor's note in the back. It is one of the more enjoyable editor's note I've ever read.
February 5, 2019
I got this book by accident. I loved Magpie Murders, so went to Libby and got on the waitlist for the first other Anthony Horowitz book I found, without reading anything about it. I had no idea it was a children's short story collection.
It is a collection of gruesome horror stories written for children who are drawn to the macabre. The first story is an ironic tale about a writer who wants to publish gruesome horror for children and nobody will publish it, because it's just a bad idea. The publisher's afterword is similarly tongue in cheek and amusing. All the stories in between are solid gross out horror tales with fun twists, all involving children or teens.
Ten year old Linda would have devoured this and probably given it five stars.
Middle aged Linda enjoyed it, but has to leave it at three stars, with a note that she is not the target audience.
It is a collection of gruesome horror stories written for children who are drawn to the macabre. The first story is an ironic tale about a writer who wants to publish gruesome horror for children and nobody will publish it, because it's just a bad idea. The publisher's afterword is similarly tongue in cheek and amusing. All the stories in between are solid gross out horror tales with fun twists, all involving children or teens.
Ten year old Linda would have devoured this and probably given it five stars.
Middle aged Linda enjoyed it, but has to leave it at three stars, with a note that she is not the target audience.
January 26, 2025
my girl was right this was scary as hell 😨😱
May 1, 2022
3.5 stars
December 31, 2022
First, I love horror. Second, I love the darker elements of fairy tales. (I read the original Pinocchio novel as a kid, and I am still haunted by it.) Third, I’ve loved everything I’ve read by this author. Part Shirley Jackson, part Stephen King, part Ray Bradbury, part Grimm’s Fairy tales. All with Horowitz’s superb writing skills and self deprecating humor. As for whether horror belongs in YA fiction, all I can say is I read Dracula and The Haunting of Hill House when I was in the 6th grade. I’ve turned out ok. At least, that’s what the voices in my head tell me.
July 30, 2013
Here’s another collection of tales of the macabre from one of my favorite horror writers, Anthony Horowitz! BLOODY HOROWITZ – the title lacks ingenuity, I know, but it doesn’t matter — features fourteen horror stories, most of which are not for the faint of heart.
Contrary to the title, the stories did not all feature blood and gore, only some of it. Many of them weren’t even at night — the most convenient setting if you want to scare someone. That’s what endears me to horror stories — the capability to scare me even when it’s a regular day, under regular circumstances. This book has many of these things. The book started and ended with (fictional) takes on publishing horror books for the consumption of children. It felt a little meta. The bit at the end is something Horowitz also used in THE COMPLETE HOROWITZ HORROR, a collection which I also loved.
Aside from the seemingly connected first and fourteenth story, you may also expect the following from this book:
-a frustrated writer who became obsessed with a real-life bestselling author to the point of committing murder (in hindsight, I think it mirrored the travails of publishing houses in dealing with thousands of manuscript submissions),
-a reality game show where, if you lose, you also lose your life (gruesome, the way they did it)
-an evil GPS that led bullies to their tragic fate (they kinda deserved it, you know)
-a teen haunted by a cultural fare he poked fun at (kids, never counter traditions with what you saw in the Discovery Channel, it might bring you doom)
-a futuristic familial setup which wasn’t really horrific, just a little violent (a robot nanny!)
-a poem about a child paying for the “sins” of his father
an exchange student of sorts who struggled with the supernatural…or was it just psychosis?
-a young lady auctioned off to bidders aiming to dismember her in different ways, so her parents could recoup their business losses (amazing parents, yay)
-death by a massage chair
-a music player sucking life out of you
-a slow painful death through a power kite (bratty kids, beware)
-a subway trip to a secret and tragic destination (it’s also in The Complete Horowitz Horror collection)
The stories tell readers that karma is a terrifying bitch, and that sometimes, even if you thought you escaped the horrors of what’s haunting you, you’re wrong. Pretty chilling, if you ask me.
I still get sucked by young adult horror books, and really, some of them go beyond the edge, and it makes me think if they are suitable for young adults in the first place (case in point: THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST series of Rick Yancey). I just think that young people, young readers at that, are more accepting, tolerant, and resilient, and I’m alright again — okay, back to reading.
I finished this book in one sitting while waiting for the rain to let up this Sunday afternoon. I hope it’s a sign I’m recovering from the reading slump. If not, then it’s simply the fact that horror books keep me engaged, reading slump or otherwise.
Contrary to the title, the stories did not all feature blood and gore, only some of it. Many of them weren’t even at night — the most convenient setting if you want to scare someone. That’s what endears me to horror stories — the capability to scare me even when it’s a regular day, under regular circumstances. This book has many of these things. The book started and ended with (fictional) takes on publishing horror books for the consumption of children. It felt a little meta. The bit at the end is something Horowitz also used in THE COMPLETE HOROWITZ HORROR, a collection which I also loved.
Aside from the seemingly connected first and fourteenth story, you may also expect the following from this book:
-a frustrated writer who became obsessed with a real-life bestselling author to the point of committing murder (in hindsight, I think it mirrored the travails of publishing houses in dealing with thousands of manuscript submissions),
-a reality game show where, if you lose, you also lose your life (gruesome, the way they did it)
-an evil GPS that led bullies to their tragic fate (they kinda deserved it, you know)
-a teen haunted by a cultural fare he poked fun at (kids, never counter traditions with what you saw in the Discovery Channel, it might bring you doom)
-a futuristic familial setup which wasn’t really horrific, just a little violent (a robot nanny!)
-a poem about a child paying for the “sins” of his father
an exchange student of sorts who struggled with the supernatural…or was it just psychosis?
-a young lady auctioned off to bidders aiming to dismember her in different ways, so her parents could recoup their business losses (amazing parents, yay)
-death by a massage chair
-a music player sucking life out of you
-a slow painful death through a power kite (bratty kids, beware)
-a subway trip to a secret and tragic destination (it’s also in The Complete Horowitz Horror collection)
The stories tell readers that karma is a terrifying bitch, and that sometimes, even if you thought you escaped the horrors of what’s haunting you, you’re wrong. Pretty chilling, if you ask me.
I still get sucked by young adult horror books, and really, some of them go beyond the edge, and it makes me think if they are suitable for young adults in the first place (case in point: THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST series of Rick Yancey). I just think that young people, young readers at that, are more accepting, tolerant, and resilient, and I’m alright again — okay, back to reading.
I finished this book in one sitting while waiting for the rain to let up this Sunday afternoon. I hope it’s a sign I’m recovering from the reading slump. If not, then it’s simply the fact that horror books keep me engaged, reading slump or otherwise.
September 9, 2013
This book was bloody good! I picked up this book on a whim and boy, am I glad I did. I loved every story in this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on the second addition of this book. As a substitute teacher, I am excited to tell some of my older students about this author and I just hope their library has a copy of his book on their shelf. I wished I could tell you about my favorite stories in this 300+ page book but then I would have to tell you about all fourteen stories and my review would be terribly long. I will tell you that in Bet Your Life, you really should know your trivia before showing up to be a contestant on that game show. I’m not sure if the audience really comes to watch the contestants win or not. Literally your lifelines save you and well, when they are gone….yep, game over. Oh, the story sheBay. That story was sad. No longer can you just sell items on ebay but sheBay and heBay have hit the computer waves. Yep, just like it sounds and you never know where you might end up. That’s what happened to Jennifer in this story. I love Darren Shan. He wrote the Cirque du Freak series which I read with my son, a great vampire series by the way for young teens. In The Man Who Killed Darren Shan, Henry’s a writer who feels he’s in the same league as Darren Shan as far as talent goes. Henry emotions get the best of him and things don’t turn out the way he had planned. There is The Cobra, My Bloody French Exchange, Are You Sitting Comfortably……(many more) and like I said they are each so good with unique twists and turns in each one that this is truly an excellent book. Yes, there is gore and violence but the stories are shockingly good!!
Ages: 9+
Ages: 9+
September 26, 2011
This book consists of lots of stories put into a book.
This book was a delight to read. Anthony Horowitz has an amazing ability to describe the characters and to really get your mind sucked into the book since it is amazing. When I was reading this in Project real, I didn't even hear the bell ring nor did I hear the teacher, a friend had to shove me because I was "in the zone" as my English teacher would say...
The story I liked the most was the one about these people from Texas that have to go to New York for work purposes, (they hated New York- the noise, building how people are so crowded etc...) and they decide to take the subway. The dad and mom of this family weren't the best at following instructions so they ended up taking any train towards Manhattan, and they were really unlucky because they took the X train- a train that comes once a day, only the government, doctors and people with the big D. (a sickness that makes parts of your body fall apart)
When they arrived, they only saw people that had pieces of body missing for example missing noses, arms, legs etc...
The "director" of that place greets them and explains to them that this place is a underground world for people that have the big D.
The government sends them food so they can survive but only people with the big D can go there and the poor McKinley family went there by mistake...
The "director" also told them that they cannot get out because- but at that moment the McKinley family ran up the stairs and went for the exit, went to their hotel and then to sleep.
The next day, the McKinley family woke up and, well how should I put this - They looked like monsters without noses, eyes, arms and legs...
This book was a delight to read. Anthony Horowitz has an amazing ability to describe the characters and to really get your mind sucked into the book since it is amazing. When I was reading this in Project real, I didn't even hear the bell ring nor did I hear the teacher, a friend had to shove me because I was "in the zone" as my English teacher would say...
The story I liked the most was the one about these people from Texas that have to go to New York for work purposes, (they hated New York- the noise, building how people are so crowded etc...) and they decide to take the subway. The dad and mom of this family weren't the best at following instructions so they ended up taking any train towards Manhattan, and they were really unlucky because they took the X train- a train that comes once a day, only the government, doctors and people with the big D. (a sickness that makes parts of your body fall apart)
When they arrived, they only saw people that had pieces of body missing for example missing noses, arms, legs etc...
The "director" of that place greets them and explains to them that this place is a underground world for people that have the big D.
The government sends them food so they can survive but only people with the big D can go there and the poor McKinley family went there by mistake...
The "director" also told them that they cannot get out because- but at that moment the McKinley family ran up the stairs and went for the exit, went to their hotel and then to sleep.
The next day, the McKinley family woke up and, well how should I put this - They looked like monsters without noses, eyes, arms and legs...
Read
June 6, 2011 Bloody Horowitz is a collection of short, scary stories by Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider books. It is a little dark and, at times, a little gory. But it also had me cracking up. From the forward (“Why Horror Has No Place in Children’s Books”) to the editor’s note at the end detailing all of the cuts they planned to make in the manuscript (before suspecting Anthony of being a serial killer), it’s pure dark humor. The first story in particular is a must-read for every Cirque Du Freak fan. It’s entitled, “The Man Who Killed Darren Shan.” There are also killer mp3 players, a GPS you should never listen to, and a game show you’d give anything to win. Not to mention that I’m NEVER going to ride the subway in New York.
I highly recommend this book for every library. It is the perfect book to give to every teenage boy who loves horror or the Alex Rider series.
Contains: Blood, violence, some themes that may be disturbing for children under the age of 13.
Reviewed by: Cherylynne W. Bago
I highly recommend this book for every library. It is the perfect book to give to every teenage boy who loves horror or the Alex Rider series.
Contains: Blood, violence, some themes that may be disturbing for children under the age of 13.
Reviewed by: Cherylynne W. Bago
July 6, 2011
This was an absolute delight to read. Anthony Horowitz delights the reader with 14 tales of horror. The first story is written as an introduction. I was a little puzzled by that particular tale because it was difficult to determine if it was a real introduction or not. By the end, I was certain that this was just a taste of what was in store. Most of the stories had twists I did not expect (some I was able to figure out as I read them). I think most readers will find this book enjoyable. The tales are twisted and frightening just enough. They are slightly more graphic than most children's tales but not so graphic that it needs a warning label.
There are some really interesting concepts in the stories, such as an ebay site where you can sell your children to the highest bidder. The stories could lead to some really interesting discussions.
My goal is to get my son to read the story about the horrible 14 year old who got exactly what he wanted (and his aunt and uncle did too). Like all good tales, there are some morals to these stories. Others, however, are just devilish fun.
There are some really interesting concepts in the stories, such as an ebay site where you can sell your children to the highest bidder. The stories could lead to some really interesting discussions.
My goal is to get my son to read the story about the horrible 14 year old who got exactly what he wanted (and his aunt and uncle did too). Like all good tales, there are some morals to these stories. Others, however, are just devilish fun.
January 3, 2021
What was I thinking? I read this author, and mostly like him, but he is not my favorite. But I was looking for a book in MY library, and not from the NH Consortium of Libraries, as those you have to wait on, to be pulled, quarantined, shipped, re-quarantined, then picked up, so I saw this author and reserved this book. Big mistake! It was a teen thriller, and if it is popular, then I worry about the state of our teens! Very dark and morbid, but I slogged through, (with heavy skimming) and decided that I guess it is better kids read something than nothing! I will pay on the second of the series, I don't need "More Bloody Horowitz"!
October 7, 2016
In all honesty, I did not like the book Bloody Horowitz by Anthony Horowitz. I didn't like it because it just had a bunch of different stories in one book. Anthony Horowitz spent one chapter per story which made it very hard to switch your mind over to new characters. Also, sometimes the characters will mix in my head and it will be hard to remember what they are like. Even though I didn't like the book, I kept reading it because I thought that in the end all of the stories would mix together. That didn't happen. All in all, I would not recommend this book.
May 26, 2015
This book is certainly not for the faint heart. Well it is not really good for anyone not into extremely brutal deaths and stuff like that. It was actually very good. It was a compilation of many short stories, however most of them ended the same way. This book was recommended to me and I would do the same. Anthony Horowitz nailed it i this book.
January 9, 2012
I just love Anthony Horowitz. I do. He never fails to provide spine-tingling twists and turns. I am amazed every time at how he is able to deliver an amazing story in just a few short pages. Never stop writing short story collections, my dear wonderful author. Your talent is truly one of a kind.
September 10, 2015
Ridiculous
January 6, 2020
its just a bunch of short horror stories not that scary but nothing is that scary really in these books :)
June 21, 2018
So deliciously dark...
I found this book at Ollie's and I am so, so, so glad that I did. First of all, let's be honest, the cover isn't all that appealing. A big bloodied knife with the blood-dripping title Blood Horowitz? Yikes! Anyone who sees you reading that will think you're a psychopath! In fact, this short story collection is intended for young-ish readers...meaning recommended 8 years+, though I would rather it be 10 or 11+. There's nothing horrifying about the stories, they're just very, very dark. And delicious. It's like a molten lava cake for your mind. So good.
This was just my style. I am so happy that I was on a book splurge and decided that for 1.99$ (US), it wouldn't hurt to add it to my pile.
There are 14 stories in total:
Why Horror Has No Place in Children's Books
The Man Who Killed Darren Shan
Bet Your Life
You Have Arrived
The Cobra
Robo-Nanny
Bad Dream
My Bloody French Exchange
sheBay
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Plugged In
Power
The X Train
Seven Cuts
Each story is roughly 30 pages long, some being slightly shorter, one or two longer. I usually favour reading shorter chunks at a time, but I have got to say that I had no problem devouring all 330 pages in less than 2 days. The length was perfect, the characters were perfect: their lives intricately thought-through and their individual personalities evident in each and every story.
I encourage you, if you have bought this, if you've just started, or even if you're just thinking about getting it, read the whole story. The beginning may seem to drag for a tiny bit, but for the most part, they pick up real fast and you don't want to have to re-read the beginning to understand the end. Push through those first 3 or 4 pages and you'll be glad you do.
The first and last stories and so clever and bold... They had me giggling! Horowitz, you're my hero!
My favorite story is sheBay. It's amazing. Just, go read it. I will never get over it. Never.
I found this book at Ollie's and I am so, so, so glad that I did. First of all, let's be honest, the cover isn't all that appealing. A big bloodied knife with the blood-dripping title Blood Horowitz? Yikes! Anyone who sees you reading that will think you're a psychopath! In fact, this short story collection is intended for young-ish readers...meaning recommended 8 years+, though I would rather it be 10 or 11+. There's nothing horrifying about the stories, they're just very, very dark. And delicious. It's like a molten lava cake for your mind. So good.
This was just my style. I am so happy that I was on a book splurge and decided that for 1.99$ (US), it wouldn't hurt to add it to my pile.
There are 14 stories in total:
Why Horror Has No Place in Children's Books
The Man Who Killed Darren Shan
Bet Your Life
You Have Arrived
The Cobra
Robo-Nanny
Bad Dream
My Bloody French Exchange
sheBay
Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Plugged In
Power
The X Train
Seven Cuts
Each story is roughly 30 pages long, some being slightly shorter, one or two longer. I usually favour reading shorter chunks at a time, but I have got to say that I had no problem devouring all 330 pages in less than 2 days. The length was perfect, the characters were perfect: their lives intricately thought-through and their individual personalities evident in each and every story.
I encourage you, if you have bought this, if you've just started, or even if you're just thinking about getting it, read the whole story. The beginning may seem to drag for a tiny bit, but for the most part, they pick up real fast and you don't want to have to re-read the beginning to understand the end. Push through those first 3 or 4 pages and you'll be glad you do.
The first and last stories and so clever and bold... They had me giggling! Horowitz, you're my hero!
My favorite story is sheBay. It's amazing. Just, go read it. I will never get over it. Never.
April 19, 2020
Had this been written by anyone other than Anthony Horowitz, I wouldn't have finished it. Or really, I wouldn't have picked it up to begin with. I love mysteries and thrillers, but am not a fan of horror or gore. While the writing was as great as I would expect, this collection of stories was far too gruesome for my taste.
July 3, 2019
Finished this about 2 weeks ago, picked it up on Thursday, finished Friday. The stories were amusing, with just the right amount of scary. It's similar to R L Stine, but with a bit more violence, but also with a bit more dark humor. A very enjoyable read!
April 27, 2018
Thank you Anthony. This is a really good book about a bunch deaths and horrors. Really good book. I had lots of favorites horror stories in this book, but my most favorite is the deaths of people.
July 12, 2019
Highly entertaining to read with an 11 year old.
November 4, 2021
A series of horror stories. Not particularly scary--sometimes a little gruesome.
January 21, 2022
A great book for those who like to let their imaginations go wild. There are so many creative horror stories in this book.
January 24, 2022
I took this book from my older brother when I was in elementary school and it genuinely traumatized me. 4/5
February 8, 2022
good and spooky
The stories had enough scare and enough messy parts to keep me entertained. The book was just the right length to get the most out of the stories
The stories had enough scare and enough messy parts to keep me entertained. The book was just the right length to get the most out of the stories
September 23, 2023
نه که واقعا درحد ۴ ستاره باشه، ولی خوندن دوبارش بعد ۸ سال منو برگردوند به زمانی که شاید زندگی بهتر بود. 🙃
December 19, 2023
read in 1sr grade, gave me life altering nightmares. Thank you!
January 5, 2025
Superb short stories. Everyone well written with a twist in the narrative that keeps you wanting to read the next. Highly recommended
January 15, 2025
read this when i was 8 and it fucked me up for the longest time tbh
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews