Go To Hell

by N.R. Alexander

Alex is an aspiring novelist stuck in a tech marketing career. When his latest literary attempt proves to be just another failure, Alex runs into an old high school friend who claims to get anything he wants. His friend sees Alex's intrigue and confides in he has sold his soul. To the devil. Soon, Alex is confronted by the devil herself who makes him a tempting build a growth marketing campaign for Hell to acquire one million souls before Easter. Success would save his soul and give Alex partial equity in Hell. But failure could result in his eternal demise.

221 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2023

About the author

N.R. Alexander is a marketing tech consultant, writer, and author of the new novel Go To Hell. He has been writing since he was five years old. His first book chronicled the adventures of his paleontologist cat and was published in crayon. Now, much older and with more sophisticated word processing tools, he creates characters and worlds that test human interaction, emotion, and decision-making. He accomplishes this by setting up unique scenarios and driving them with humor or graphic details where appropriate (or inappropriate). N.R. Alexander currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA because it has an awesome library system.

Reviews

[Vier (Ri) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I got an e-copy of this book from and reviewed it for Feathered Quill.

**You can also read my author's interview here .

Alex Ometto’s dream is to be a successful writer. The problem is, he is not that great of a writer as he is a great marketing consultant - his day job. Though he is amazing at his day job, it does not really satisfy him and leaves him feeling empty. As the days go by, he gets more and more frustrated to be a published author. His girlfriend, Sara, would have been his best source of emotional support, as he does not have any close family members, but he cannot exactly remember when their conversations became strained and robotic. Plus, Sara is not particularly enticed by the stories Alex writes. It’s official - Alex’s life is completely falling apart.

One day, he receives a call from his best friend, Ernie, asking to meet. As if a blessing from the universe, Ernie eventually tells Alex that he has found the solution to everything, the key to life itself. But Ernie’s news is not philosophical or existential in nature. Alex would have grabbed the opportunity as soon as Ernie dropped this on him only if it was in the slightest bit believable. As it turns out, Ernie has made a deal with the devil, and now he gets everything he wants - as simple as that. He even showed Alex some proof but Alex is just too perplexed to even accept this as truth.

Now, curiosity just won’t let Alex sleep. After some time, he traces his steps back to the tattoo parlor where Ernie confirmed the devil does her business. In the attempt of wanting to “know” but not exactly “believe”, he finds himself a spot in purgatory in the afterlife. But this is not what Alex wanted; Now he has to trade his soul for a spot in Hell. Actually, it’s more than a spot - he gets half ownership of Hell - if he can gather a million souls to sign up for Hell before Easter. This might be a good plot to write, but Alex does not need his writer brain for this to work. He has to be the great marketing consultant one last time. With a special phone, a demon, another consultant, and a wrestler-turned-actor at his disposal, Alex has six months to complete this magic trick. But time slips through his fingers as he realizes this deal is not exactly what he thought it would be. Will Alex succeed and make it to Hell?

N.R. Alexander’s Go To Hell is a short but interesting read. It will take the readers to unexpected places, leaving them with confused emotions. It is fast-paced and alluring; This book just won’t let to be put down. Though there are certain points in the plot that need justification, it’s a good satirical comedy, in general. While the climax is questionable, the resolution is actually pretty good and ties everything in place.

Go To Hell is funny and exhilarating, but the storyline can still be improved for a more seamless reading experience.

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[Literary Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling stagnant in his successful career as a tech startup growth marketer, Alex is ready for a change and hopes to become an author. However, after his girlfriend gives him below-average feedback on his recently completed novel, he feels adrift until his friend Ernie demonstrates his new ability to get anything he wants. Ernie reveals that he made a deal with the devil, otherwise known as Lucy, a tattoo artist, and wants to share his experience with Alex. Unintentionally, Alex enters into a contract with Lucy and must now fulfill the terms or otherwise suffer an unwanted fate.

Go To Hell by N.R. Alexander is an entertaining paranormal thriller with dry humor injected into the ideas of good versus evil and knowledge versus beliefs. The author does an impressive job of retaining the reader’s interest in the story. This thrilling book offers a refreshing and irreverent take on the concepts and exciting characters to move the plotline along. It is a compelling and enjoyable read from start to finish.

Alex finds himself in a work contract with Satan and has six months to fulfill his end of the deal. If he fails, his soul is at risk of ending up in purgatory. The stakes are high, and I wanted to know what would happen to Alex, and this is what kept me coming back to this novel again and again. Alex’s character is brilliant, and although he comes across as aloof and seemingly lacking in emotions, readers may find themselves intrigued by his complex personality. While his hubris may create obstacles in the plot, it also adds depth to his character, making his journey all the more captivating. The story itself is entertaining, and the concept is a unique one that I enjoyed.

Overall, Go to Hell is a gripping paranormal suspense novel that gives readers a unique perspective on the traditional themes of good and evil. This intriguing thriller story is worth adding to your reading list.

[Tracey Morait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex works as a marketing consultant, but what he really wants to be is a published author. While he is enthusiastic and believes in his writing, his girlfriend Sara does not. The fact is, Alex isn’t a very good writer; he’s better off sticking to the day job, but he’s disillusioned, looking to seek answers for what he believes to be failures in his life and his relationship with Sara. When he meets up with his friend Ernie, who tells him he can get anything he wants because he’s done a deal with the devil, he is intrigued, but not entirely convinced, even when Ernie proves this in the restaurant. Then Ernie introduces Alex to Lucy. He does a deal that if he can market Hell to people while he's alive, he would be given some shares if he signs up a good number of people and not destined to linger in purgatory when he himself dies.

A good start, but as I read on I found the book lost its way. I thought the deal would involve Alex realising his dream of becoming a successful, published author, but that ambition was completely forgotten. It seemed his focus was primarily getting shares in Hell, yet not seeming to try too hard to succeed; in fact, none of that happens until the book is nearly over. I also failed to see the point in the naked scene with Nat, Brock and Maurice.

The book is merely an interesting piece of silliness, which will entertain some and irritate others. Overall, I was entertained, but because I found some aspects confusing, I could only award it 3 stars.

[Ailsa Mellor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing that drew me to this novel was the title and striking cover design. I was intrigued. I also was not disappointed. From the moment I started reading 'Go To Hell', I couldn't put it down. It is well-written, well-paced and left me wanting to know more. We first meet the author's protagonist, Alex Ometto, when he is a successful, albeit jaded tech startup marketer (and aspiring author), who ends up leaving his job, and, through his old school friend, Ernie, subsequently becomes an employee of Hell. After Alex signs a contract with Lucy (a female tattooist who is also the devil), he is assigned the task to sign up one million people to the afterlife but jeopardises his relationship with his girlfriend Sara in the process. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the dark, wry humour throughout, as seen in characters like Basil Bob, Hell's tempestuous and hilarious marketing director. While 'Go To Hell' is primarily a fantasy novel, it is also a novel about drive and ambition, success and failure and our universal desire and need to believe in something. Despite the slightly disappointing ending (I would like to have known what happens to Sara and Ernie) this is, all in all, a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining read with a deliciously unexpected twist in the final pages.

[Roger Chanels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell’s Marketing Agent’s Soulless Romp

Our hero Alex literally makes a deal with the devil, and it’s hard to know exactly how to feel about that. While his motivations aren’t particularly clear, he settles into the role after a few handwringing conversations and shaky moral justifications. Maybe the author is commenting on how easily marketers can lose themselves in their tasks at hand, while missing the bigger picture of what exactly they are selling? Similarly, his relationships with his girlfriend, childhood friend and new colleague are not really based on trust, and seem kind of skin-deep. Without giving too much away, a lot of stuff happens during his quest to fulfill his mission—mundane, supernatural, and everything in between. The language is nearly flawless, very simple, and quick to read. Despite constantly asking the little man in the book, “Now, why are you doing this again?” I found myself quickly moving from one page to the next, and I never lost interest. Overall, it’s fun to read, and a good story to have handy for filling the spare moments of your day.

[Athina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Go To Hell" is a wickedly funny tale that blends horror and comedy in a very interesting way. The story follows Alex, a struggling writer stuck in a mundane marketing job, who gets an otherworldly opportunity. When an old friend reveals he sold his soul to the devil, Alex is faced with a devilish proposition: create a marketing campaign to bring in one million souls for Hell before Easter, and he could save his own soul.
The book's genius lies in its unique mix of horror, humor, and suspense. The author has crafted a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, while delivering laugh-out-loud moments. Alex's journey from frustrated writer to reluctant marketer for the underworld is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
The book is a rollercoaster of supernatural thrills that doesn't take itself too seriously. With a plot that's as devilish as it is delightful, it is a must-read for anyone looking for a wickedly good time.

[Richard Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced page turner with a playful spin on a grave topic: life after death. I appreciated the supporting players as much as the main character, and how the author melded the bizarre with mundane. I can't say I had thought about what would exist at the intersection of digital marketing and the eternal battle between good and evil, but now I know. Without spoiling it, I'll say it's definitely more fun than you'd think.

[Ben Schindler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started the book at the airport and finished it by the sea, in both places did it make for a perfect little read. Not knowing what to expect it was easy to dive into the playful writing, colorful and comedic take on a generally heavy subject "life after death".
This is not a polished book, it takes turns and never feels too far out there to lose you, seriously looking forward to a series of books following these characters.

[Ashley Atchison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally finished my first book since having my baby and not impressed, lol. It was just a really silly concept and I felt like every exchange between Alex and Basil Bob was written by a high schooler. It wasn’t boring at least, it kept my attention. Just super silly.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! It is a fast-paced story with well-developed characters and plenty of twists and turns. It was fun to read and hard to put down.