Offline

Offline #1

by Kealan Patrick Burke

"What follows is the transcript from a series of screenshots emailed to the Columbus City Police on June 7th, 2011, and subsequently distributed to the media."

Everyone has a page...

In the last few years, social networking has exploded as one of the best and easiest means of keeping in touch with people. It increases your visibility, allows the creation of a profile that shows you to the world and lets them know everything about you.

Allows anyone to find you.

Written mostly as a series of Facebook instant messages and presented as a true-crime case, this short story by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke illustrates the ease with which innocent associations on the Internet can lead to tragedy...OFFLINE.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Novella, Thriller, Crime, Mystery

42 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2011

About the author

Hailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.

Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.

A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.

As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.

More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for producer Joel B. Michaels.

He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.

His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.

Kealan is represented by Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.

He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.

Reviews

[Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read, consisting of a Facebook conversation between a teenage girl called Mandy and a boy she has only met online, Josh.
The conversation starts off innocent enough between them both, but he slowly starts to slip in details of her life and she questions how he would even know any of this. But, he always seems to have a plausible answer.
Suddenly, Mandy and all her friends start to get sick and she confides in Josh about this. But will she ever meet Josh? And is everything as it seems with him?

I can always count on Kealan Patrick Burke for a creepy horror story with a satisfying conclusion. The ending wasn’t too predictable and the conversation between Mandy and Josh keeps you on your toes.
This definitely did not disappoint. I recommend it if you want a short, sharp scare!💀

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 Offline ★★★★★
#2 In the Flesh ★★★★★

This is one of Kealan's older titles, and it was really neat to see how much different the writing feels from his recent works, but it still has the same fun, suspenseful, and genuinely twisted vibe that I've grown to expect from all of his writing. It's a really quick story told through instant messaging records, and it's incredibly suspenseful — I guessed a handful of different possible endings while reading it, and even though I almost always guess a twist before it happens, I somehow totally didn't see this one coming.

Not a spoiler, but for anyone who needs to know, there's a content warning for brief use of the r-slur, f-slur, slut-shaming, and fat-shaming language.

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I personally love when horror incorporates modern technology. This short story is told entirely through Facebook messages, exploring the dangers of supposedly anonymous online communication. All the dialogue is written in internet shorthand, which was a bit annoying to read. Yet, despite the casual writing style, I still enjoyed this dark little story.

I would recommend Offline to anyone looking to read some ultra-modern horror.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little horror novella that reeks of early 2000s nostalgia and the dangers of strangers on the Internet. It's composed entirely of instant messages, meaning the characters always seem a bit reserved and emotionally distant but the overall plot and pacing are quick and impactful.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story consists of a series of conversations on Facebook. It's creepy, it's fun and it's
a quick read. Even with such a tight place in which to work, Mr. Burke delivers the goods! Highly recommended!

[Gregor Xane · Rating 3 out of 5]

After seeing the first page of this one, I continued reading thinking that I likely wouldn't care for it much. The overall approach Burke takes is epistolary and kind of gimmicky, two things I'm not fond of. But I read on because it looked to be a quick read.

Well, I'm glad to report that I liked it quite a bit despite my biases. I think it was the very last line that made it all worth while for me.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this novella to be a very unique concept--told through Face book conversations between two main characters. A very scary--yet realistically possible--scenario that will have you glued to every word. I did NOT see the end coming, and I think that it takes a truly great author to pull off something like that!

[Paul Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come

[Jason Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this story. I keep thinking back to it. It played up on a very real fear all on this site and trolling the net should have: you never really can be certain if those you're talking to are who they say they are.

A quick read that mimics online chat perfectly, Offline is yet another hit from Mr. Burke. 4.5 stars

[Georgia♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing but not awful. I was expecting a bigger twist but it didn’t really shock me. I didn’t really feel any suspense whilst reading this to be honest. I liked the chat room format but equally it’s nothing original.

[whimsicaltrash · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.9⭐s

[Andy Crow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but twisted 💀
It brought me back many memories of my conversations on Facebook back in 2009/10... Parallels, similarities, nostalgia.
Sadly, I didn't like the plot twist very much.
It's not bad, it just didn't impress me and was somewhat predictable.
It was still a fun and effective read.

[SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended this little gem. Innovative with many twists and turns.
A great read.

[Noah Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepily disturbing, Offline is a bite-sized slice of something quite impolite. And that's putting it lightly! Author Kealan Patrick Burke does so much with so little here, and it's impressive. Loved how it all came together. The twist was realistic. I could see somebody going to these sickening lengths. Easily. If you want to pay a quick visit to some speculative fic, read this.

[Bogdan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don`t understand why so much readers are hyped about this story.

The ideea, to show a dialogue in a internet application between several people, it`s not new, and here, you know that there will be something in the end, and there is, but it`s not very mindblowind, or surprisingly at the very least.

In some moments I had hoped that something apocalytic could be happening, but the answer is more simple and banal than that.

Maybe it`s only me, but I really wasn`t impressed by the subject and execution of this story.

[Kasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every single time I read a Burke story I get jolted by the ending. By now I sort of know to expect it but it still sneaks up on me, that “whoooa, he did it again” feeling. This is pretty short but builds momentum nicely as you get sucked into the meat of the story; an innocent chat between two teens, it sounds normal but you know something eerie is right around the corner and then Baaaam! This was both entertaining and creepy, very well done Mr. Burke.

[Иван Величков · Rating 3 out of 5]

Кратък разказ, който се състои само от фейсбук чат между момче и момиче.
Чел съм няколко подобни от други автори, но Бърк успява да разкаже история само с типичните за този вид комуникация кратки и накъсани изречения, съкращения и губещи и променящи смисъла си диалози. Плюс, отдавна съм склонен да му дам короната за майстор на обратите, които са няколко в този кратък текст и читателят постоянно не е наясно какво се случва.
Хареса ми, но, като изключим поредицата му за Майлстоун, произведенията му са ми малко пресилени, а ужасът, който успява да извлече от съвсем нормални ситуации, прекалено драматичен, това не прави изключение.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books like this! It's told by Facebook messages back and forth. It sure packs a great punch for a short story. I can't wait to read the second one.

[Alondra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

See, this is why I don't like online social media. People have too much access to YOU. Your pictures, activities, relationships, locale!

This is the extreme..... or is it? SMDH

[Inn Auni · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this is the reason you don't go around accepting friend's request because the profile picture appealed to your eyes. And also the reason you don't go around telling stranger anything personal thinking it may not come back to you. And if you must, use the video call option. If the other person decline to participate, then abort mission and block them. It's not worth it.

The story is okay. it deserve a 4 from me because it's different than what I usually expected in horror. Oh wait, I think someone posted something similar on Creepypasta.

[Anne (w/ an E) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely could see this happening and the end was a total surprise. Two of my criteria for a great story. I knew I had to read KPB and now that I have, I am going to actively search out a full-length book.

[Tanja L · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was essentially a transcript of Facebook conversations between a boy and a girl who don't know each other, and as such, it was pretty awkward and without much substance. At least you can say it was realistic. Of course, all is not what it seems, but the creepiness and the reveal didn't really blow my mind. At least it was a really quick read.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy

Creepy little story about some teenagers that get mysteriously ill. Well worth the short read! Written as an online chat, which was surprisingly well done to me. I love Burke, but was afraid I wouldn’t like this style. Absolutely check it out ;)

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and creepy story told via email. Did not see the ending coming at all. Very surprising yet believable.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! Great little story. If you have read Kealan Patrick Burke before you will really like this story. If you have not read his stuff this is a great place to start. Awesome story.

[Reeda Booke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This type of story is the reason I do not accept friend requests from people I don't know :)
Super creepy!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short tale of FaceBook terror. Excellent and entertaining as always from KPB!

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

this started off pretty well, was REALLY good and disturbing in the middle, and was.. pretty good in the end? idk maybe a different ending would’ve worked better but there were parts which were really well-written and disturbing

[Lars (theatretenor) Skaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this creepy ass story!! Gonna go read the sequel!!

[Bhargv]

🤯