Peel

by David Viergutz

Samantha was comfortable with her life of habit and routine.

Until her workaholic husband, Richard, returns home late cradling a mysterious pendant like a precious treasure. Now, the curious object is all he cares about.

His priorities, gone.

Her needs, dismissed.

Their marriage, thrown away.

Richard’s once loving demeanor is replaced by an icy indifference to everyone and everything.

Seeking answers, Samantha follows Richard into the basement, but something else was waiting for her down there in the dark…

Genres: Horror, Novella

Unknown Binding

About the author

David Viergutz is a disabled Army veteran, a law enforcement veteran, a husband and a proud father. He's also a storyteller, an author of thrillers and horror novels that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
 
As a teenager, David would often be found dragging a backpack full of books to class, leaving his textbooks behind. He was always captivated by the worlds that authors like Nix, Tolkien, King and Patterson created, and he dreamed of one day creating his own.
 
Years went by and David found himself serving his country in the military, and later in law enforcement. The experiences he had during those years were both thrilling and terrifying, and they left a deep impression on him.
 
One day his wife sat him down and gave him the confidence he needed to start putting his imagination on paper. From then on, his creativity knew no bounds and he poured his heart and soul into his writing.
 
Now, David weaves tales of pulse-pounding realism and nightmare-inducing horror where his years in uniform have given him an unparalleled understanding of the criminal mind. Take the plunge and start reading David’s thrilling crime novels and terrifying horror adventures.

Reviews

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another short story with a hair raising plot!
It took a little bit to get to the action, but then it was packed with supernatural mayhem.

I’d love to know more about Richard’s job and the history of the object he brought home. The ending definitely threw me for a loop and had me completely shocked!

Such a fantastic short story, perfect for horror lovers.

[Jason Harlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time checking out this author's work, and this was pretty decent. My biggest gripe was that the two main characters were kinda oversold. I get the lady is a nervous wreck and a clean freak and the husband sucks and all that but that shouldn't take up seventy percent of the content. The monster in this was entertaining enough, and reminded me a bit of something I read from one of those 90's horror anthologies that I can't quite put my finger on. I appreciate this for not being unnecessarily long but I wish it were slightly more enjoyable in the beginning. This definitely didn't suck so it gets a 3/5 from me.

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super short novella, but felt like it took forever to actually get through it. I found it pretty boring throughout most of it, and by the time things started to really get going, it was over.

[read_comfy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if your husband suddenly became estranged? You realize the person who came back from work, just wears the face of your husband. But is precisely someone you don't know at all. Someone you are afraid of now. Would you leave? Or would you try to find your husband?
What happens when the person pretending to be your husband knows you know the truth?

This book spiked my eeriness to another level. From the start, it was haunting & bone-chilling. The concept of not suddenly recognizing a person you are so close to is soul-shattering. Living with a stranger, which you can't do about. The idea of this happening in reality to me - would give me a heart attack.
The book gives out very vivid details, the struggle, of fighting an other-worldly creature, the body picture & the will to survive. Loved every bit of it. I couldn't believe until this book, that I could read this fast.

[Jennifer Bourque (ButterflyReader77) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Thank you David Viergutz for my copy of "Peel". I absolutely loved it and I can honestly say it earned 5 stars all around. The story captured my attention from start to finish and once I started reading I couldn't stop.

"Peel" is one of those books that gets under your skin as it's creepy and definitely a contender for the horror genre. Those who like to read horror will not be disappointed as "Peel" is eerily disturbing and even a little grotesque in places, but not overly gruesome. The ending also concluded the story perfectly and I hope to read more books by this author.

[Tabitha Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peel was definitely a fun and intense read. I found myself reading it faster and faster as the action picked up. Even from the very beginning you can sense that the main character's husband, Richard, is going to be a big problem after bringing a relic home. He wasn't that great of a guy to begin with but this comes with its own set of problems. This is a great quick read with an amazing ending that leaves you wanting more.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Peel” by David Viergutz, is a short novella that takes place in a secluded country home over the span of only a few days. The heroine is plunged deep into terror by an unimaginable evil that is out to destroy her.

I found this novella to be a good quick read that caught my interest right from the beginning and kept me interested throughout the story. The problem for me was that I found the characters to be two dimensional. I realize that it’s difficult to build proper believable characters in a short novella; but I feel that characters are often the most important part of a story.

The author, David Viergutz, has caught my interest and I plan to read more of his books in the future.

[Rachel S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Y’all. Y’all. This book? THIS HORROR “NOVELLA”?! I just finished ‘Peel’ by David Viergutz. Absolutely incredible!

It gets so many good ratings so let’s get into it - Overall: Stars 5/5 + Narrator Daniel Dorse: Stars 4/5 (at first I wasn’t a fan but he grew on me & I realized he was a perfect choice by the end) + Intrigue 3/5 + Scare 3/5. It had everything - emotional drama, intrigue, moments you hold your breath & are glued to every word, & small gross out pieces *IYKYK* that are actual integral to the plot. Plus, an ending that will make you feel angry & satisfied all at the same time!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha is waiting for her husband Richard to come home. He is late and has not called to let her know where he is. But when he finally does arrive, his behavior is erratic and violent. This is an unnerving and creepy novella about an abusive marriage. It somewhat stressed me out, but I also felt compelled to keep reading to see how it ends. A huge thanks to David Viergutz for sending me a free digital copy of this novella.

[Teddy Reza · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason FB keeps giving me ads for free ebooks and this was one of them today! So thank you for giving out the book! 😊 I enjoyed it. It was an interesting little novella. Fast paced and short read. Definitely done in one sitting. Took me about an hour I believe. It was creepy and grotesque in all the right ways. I would read more from this author.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooo good! I have to read more from this author!

[Bonnye Reed]

Author gift

[Kriss Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Chris St.Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story that gave a great visualization to me. I could almost see the flesh being torn from the body. I listened to this on audiobook and the narration was very good.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another awesome find that I got for free in e-book for a newsletter sign up. Super glad I did and I’m still on a roll. If you are not checking out free e-book lists, or joining newsletters, you are missing out! And missing out on an easy way to support indies too.

This one centers around two army veterans and their semi-shaky marriage. Samantha, now a teacher, and the house-maker, struggles with her husband’s lack of communication and traveling for work. Richard, having a harder time reentering civilian life, has taken a job as a governmental artifact-procurer, which is otherwise classified. When one night in particular, he gets home hours late with no call, and a totally new demeanor, their marriage takes a plummet. And what’s with the artifact around his neck?

This novella does some interesting stuff with what it means to be a monster. If someone’s a heavy drinker, distant in a marriage, never home, has raised a hand in anger, does a demonic visage really change them into a monster—or does it show what they really are? Or, the reader can absolutely take the story at face value, because that option is also presented on a platter just in case you’re not feeling all deep. I really enjoyed that about it. It’s not not there, but if you just want a horror novella and nothing more, that’s just fine with the author too. And that’s super cool.

Somewhat gruesome, gross, and violent. The writing was good too!

Peel

[Myra Gabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard is a precise man and any deviation from routine worries his wife, Samantha. Richard travels a lot acquiring things. Until he comes home with a special necklace. Which changes him. The story gets pretty gory. But no one knows what they are capable of until pushed past the breaking point - especially Samantha.
It's a short read, but a good on. Recommended.

[Susan Stephens Ballain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give it a thumbs up ! I don’t usually delve too far into horror books but this was very captivating! It’s just one of those books that just keeps you wanting to read to the next page and on! I feel it was well written and had a strong female lead character, which I always like! And it had a good ending! 👍👍👍

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of David King you will enjoy David Viergutz. This is a unique novel. It kept me spellbound from page one to the very last word! The tension and relationships are beautifully written and will keep readers coming back for more. I got chills up my spine more than once. I can't wait to see what happens next. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the novel.

[Dragonglimer Lisa Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very creepy story. I remember reading this a year or so ago. Definitely not one to read in bed at night. I will probably be thinking the thing is lurking under my bed..lol
I really like David Viergutz writing, I have read a few of his books and they really deliver in the creepy factor.

[Danielle Yeager · Rating 4 out of 5]

This e-book provided by the Author to attract new readers (Thank You, David Viergutz!) is about a husband who returns from a work trip abroad to obtain an artifact. His wife soon discovers that he is a monster (who peels his skin off his body) that she must fight and escape. It is a short and fast-paced read, which I liked. The ending made me think that there could be a sequel...?

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lean, mean creature feature that manages to keep a tense atmosphere with just two characters and a single location. A great slice of terror!

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat.

When Samantha's husband is late coming home from a work trip, she begins to worry that something bad has happened in his travel. Once he's home, she realises that something is off, more than usual. Soon things take a turn for the weird and terrifying, leaving Samantha to wonder whether she'll make it out alive.

I picked this up because I'm trying to get through some novellas and short stories that I've had sitting on my kindle for a while. I've been on a huge horror kick for over twelve months now, so I figured why not. Even though this book is super short, I read it virtually in one sitting over an evening.

The story is super engaging, and Viergutz does an absolutely brilliant job of really building a thick, terrifying and oppressive atmosphere. I felt claustrophobic from virtually page one. We meet Samantha, a wife who knows that her marriage and home life isn't fantastic, but she's set in her ways, and it works well enough for her. One thing that really struck me was when Samantha was describing the not-so-great parts of her marriage. I've recently come out of a situation where parts of what she was experiencing really hit close to home for me, so I feel like this probably put me more into the story than it may have had I not had similar experiences. When the husband comes home, you can tell straight off the bat that things are not right, and Samantha doesn't question it at first, I'm not sure if it was deliberate or a plot hole, but her husband just appears in the bedroom, and she notices because of mud on the carpet. But there was no mention of her hearing him arrive home, no door closing, no human movement, she just notices mud and then *poof* he's there. So either it's a plot hole, which that's fine, or Samantha was really trying to keep her head stuck in the sand. Another thing that threw me out a little, Samantha pours herself a glass of chardonnay, but when the glass is spilled it's described as "crimson", chardonnay is a white wine. It's only the most minute detail and I honestly don't know how I even picked up on it, but it's just one of those things that irked me a little bit and I felt like I needed to mention. This didn't lower my rating at all, just an observation that maybe another round of editing could really make this shine even brighter than the jewel around Sam's husband's neck.

Viergutz's monster was terrifying. Such a simple concept, but absolutely terrifying. It did use some body horror and the shock of that to help it along, but honestly, he didn't ride that, he didn't need to. It added just the right amount of horror without going overboard on the shock value, that I legitimately found the monster terrifying. I could feel my heart start to race when Samantha is face to face with it for the first time. The way that Viergutz wrote it's mannerisms, it's movements, it's speech, it all culminated together to create this absolute nightmare creature, one that isn't so unbelievable that it became not scary. I'm still thinking about it now honestly, and I finished this book maybe two days ago?

For such a short story, Viergutz really did create this wonderful cacophony of isolation, oppression and horror that settles into your bones and gets stuck in your mind for days. If you're looking for a quick read that really packs a punch, I highly recommend this one, it was an absolute page turner that grabs you by the throat from page one, and doesn't let up until you're trying to scream through your crushed windpipe.

[Bella Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an editor, I feel like I'm more analytical when I read a story than another reader might be. But even with that in mind, I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would leave less than a five-star rating for this story.

Some of the reviews indicated the characters to be two-dimensional, but I found them to be entirely the opposite. Samantha and her husband, Richard, were once both in the military. They have rigid pasts filled with violence, physical activity, and situations that have left both of them with lasting emotional scars. Richard has self-medicated these traumas with aggression toward Samantha in the past, which Samantha noted he begged forgiveness for and never did again. Instead, he resorted to alcohol.

Now, with a job that takes him away more often than he is home, Samantha is left to spend her summers alone, away from the school where she teaches, with an alcoholic husband and her own OCD cleanliness. She's compulsory and extremely rigid in her actions, but she's has to be as a way to preserve herself.

But what accompanies Richard on the way home from his last business trip was something else entirely. It's a new type of monster, a new type of horror, one that doesn't frequent the page of many horror novels. It's a fresh take, a situation I was able to easily insert myself into and find very fearful.

Absolutely read this one. It's amazing.

[Dawn Campbell]

Peel Review Author David Viergutz
Samantha and Richard had a seemingly good marriage. Richard was away a lot of the time on business. Always prompt in returning. Never late. But this one time he was late! When he did get home, she found him to be in a fugue state and lovingly caressing a new pendant around his neck. From then on things went downhill. He wouldn’t tell her where the pendant came from or how he acquired it.
He became violent with her. Then his features changed, and he started to look like a vile monster. Her loving, caring husband was no longer. In his place he became a stranger. Samantha was a very strong woman in that she wasn’t going to let him take her life. She managed to evade his capture and finally came up with a plan that would work. She managed to catch him in the garage, driving the truck and nailing him to a wall. She then proceeded to empty gas all around, throw the match in and get out.
I am giving this a 5-star rating. I had to keep going, flipping pages like mad to see what came next!

[David Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but highly entertaining horror story!

I love horror stories, especially those that have unexpected twists. Recently I listened to Daniel Dorse narrate Peel, a short horror story by David Viergutz. This was my introduction to both the author and narrator, and I was super impressed by the end of the story and have begun looking for my next book by Mr. Viergutz, as well a looking for more books narrated by Mr. Dorse.

While Peel is a short story it lacks nothing in character interaction/development, story line, or the necessary elements in a good horror story, in fact its length serves to highlight the author’s ability to deliver a complete story without excess prose. The narration by Mr. Dorse really took the story to the next level, I found myself listening with great anticipation to know what was in store for Samantha and Richard.

[Winona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to an audio version of this one (1hr21minutes). If I had been reading it I might have DNFd.
Being a novella, the story itself was short. Some attempt was made for characterization but I didn't feel much for any of the characters. Samantha came over as whiny and annoying, and though personality change was mentioned in Richard, other than being a jerk for a few sentences he was pretty much a non-entity in the tale. Some mention was made about the necklace and it is inferred to be the cause of the conflict in the story but other than Samantha being annoyed by it in the early scenes of Richard coming home we learn nothing about it. The ending wasn't what I had expected but wasn't enough to save the rest of the story for me.
I didn't entirely hate it, but it was just okay.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick, scary, horror novella. It was just what I needed in between my dark romances. It is a story that could give you nightmares. Although, I slept like a baby, so I must have a bit of a dark side to me. In all honesty through, I was looking for a good horror story to read as the last several have been disappointments. After reading this short story, I do want to check out other books by this author.

Couple, Samantha and Richard are a normal married couple until Richard comes home from a work trip. I do have to say that Richard is someone that I did not care about what happened to him. The creature in this story is one that I would not never want to come face to face with.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story had a lot of potential, but I felt that by the time things started happening, I'd lost interest. The novelette is short and well-written, but the pacing was not well-thought out. It's supposed to be a sort of Lovecraftian creature feature; and, indeed, the creature is justifiably the centerpiece of the story, as far as the horror elements are concerned. But the author takes forever to get to it, choosing to spend an inordinate amount of time on rather boring marriage issues, which, in fact, end up playing no actual role in the story, since most of what's going on is left unexplained.

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audio book has nine (9) chapters at under ten (10) minutes each. My only issue is the use of a single voice over, his female voice is ridiculous.
While it is a short story the moments are tense. Once the intros are done a kind of Lovecraft atmosphere takes over and right down to the last moments there is a constant sense of dread. Like the ancient Gods of the Mythos, this story held a message for me every time the stories creature cried out the word PEEL.
This is a good story and well done and would greatly benefit from a real female voice as an opposite to the male voice, which wasn't a bad voice.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peel is quite the terrifying tale! There are only two primary characters but, that's plenty for the horror to unfold between them. It is so intense I had to put in down for a few hours before I felt comfortable enough to finish it (in the daylight, ;-). There are a few inconsistencies but, overall a good read. Warning: vulgar language.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.