What do you think?
Rate this book
The Waiting Mortuary #1
The Waiting Mortuary: A Horror Novel
Welcome to The Waiting Mortuary where embalming is free whether you're dead or alive. Bash Trawler wants to find an easy summer job so he can get back to partying with his friends. When he discovers an advertisement in the local paper for night watch at a nearby funeral home he jumps at the chance to make quick money. But staying up all night watching corpses for an eccentric war vet turns into something out of his worst nightmares. Casey McClair wants to make the tennis team. Popularity has never come easily to her and she’s willing to practice into the late evening and follow all the rules of the game if it means she’ll finally find acceptance. But when she's kidnapped, she'll have to fight to survive a harrowing ordeal with a cold and calculated serial killer. Serial Killer X knows about pain. He's been through the worst of what humans do to each other. The thrill is in the fight and he'll make sure his victims know it. Three stories intertwine to tell the sickening tale of what goes on inside THE WAITING MORTUARY. What readers are ★★★★★ "Sick, twisted, thrilling, engrossing. I was unable to put it down! I loved it...especially the twist at the end!"
★★★★★ "The Waiting Mortuary has a lot of twists & turns & just when you think it's over...it grabs you again."
★★★★★ "My heart was racing for the entire last half of the book and it still didn't slow down for quite a while after I finished."
★★★★★ "All 3 characters are brought together with their own stories to tell in this intriguing book. It all comes together in a fast-paced story."
★★★★★ "One of my new favorites. Tense and well-paced, it's definitely something I would suggest to others."
★★★★★ "I loved this book. I was guessing until the end and the implications of the final pages chilled me to the bone! I look forward to more from this author!"
★★★★★ "The Waiting Mortuary has a lot of twists & turns & just when you think it's over...it grabs you again."
★★★★★ "My heart was racing for the entire last half of the book and it still didn't slow down for quite a while after I finished."
★★★★★ "All 3 characters are brought together with their own stories to tell in this intriguing book. It all comes together in a fast-paced story."
★★★★★ "One of my new favorites. Tense and well-paced, it's definitely something I would suggest to others."
★★★★★ "I loved this book. I was guessing until the end and the implications of the final pages chilled me to the bone! I look forward to more from this author!"
212 pages, Hardcover
Published April 27, 2023
48 people are currently reading
264 people want to read
About the author
L.V. Pires
16 books54 followersWith several books in the top 100 U.S. Horror Fiction and Horror Classics categories, award-winning novelist and short-story writer, L.V. Pires is the author of terrifying tales that are sure to keep readers up late into the night. Mystery and suspense climax into total terror in this author's latest releases, including THE WAITING MORTUARY, VIGIL BLACK, and DEATH WATCH.
For more information about this author or to join the mailing list, go to www.lisavpires.com
For more information about this author or to join the mailing list, go to www.lisavpires.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 1, 2020
A surprisingly good horror read about a 17yo girl who is abducted by a serial killer and tortured through having to fight for her life. A gritty, visceral story that features alternating pov's from "X", the killer, Casey, the tortured girl and "Bash", a classmate of Casey's who is drawn into the story via a Vietnam Vet mortuary owner who has definitely lost the plot on reality. A twisty final chapter leaves you thinking about what really causes serial killers to be the way they are, and sets up nicely the follow on book in the series.
** From update Wed 26th August: You know what REALLY pisses me off??? 🤬 When you receive an ebook from the author to find out it is ONLY A TASTER!!! 100% read of what I was given, but only about 10% of the complete book.
And you wanna know what's worse??? I reeally wanna find out what happens, so it looks like I'm parting with cold hard cash for the real book ...... but ONLY because it's under $AU2.
** From update Wed 26th August: You know what REALLY pisses me off??? 🤬 When you receive an ebook from the author to find out it is ONLY A TASTER!!! 100% read of what I was given, but only about 10% of the complete book.
And you wanna know what's worse??? I reeally wanna find out what happens, so it looks like I'm parting with cold hard cash for the real book ...... but ONLY because it's under $AU2.
August 7, 2018
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy. Story was told from 3 characters perspectives. The kidnapper/murderer, the victim, and a lazy teenaged kid. Casey is kidnapped and her tormentor makes her fight him to live. Bash is a 17 year old who likes to drink, has an ulcer, been lying to his parents about really working and finds himself working in a mortuary making sure the dead are really dead for a veteran of war who suffers from PTSD and runs the business. The stories of course all come together very well. It kept me intrigued to learn about each character and their internal fights.
November 17, 2024
WOW!!! after reading out of order! I got to the 1st book! And I'm in awe!! I freaking loved this book!
Casey!! Was kidnapped playing tennis late one night and her nightmare was started this child went through soo much, Dash Was just a little Dick! That thought he was an adult and didn't need his parents anymore! And boom he in the middle of a bunch of MESS!!!
I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK! from being to the end!
Casey!! Was kidnapped playing tennis late one night and her nightmare was started this child went through soo much, Dash Was just a little Dick! That thought he was an adult and didn't need his parents anymore! And boom he in the middle of a bunch of MESS!!!
I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK! from being to the end!
February 18, 2024
Almost perfect!
A little too much crime novel for my liking, but omg the gore! Just a pinch of spookiness and scary atmosphere, would've wished for more though.
The gore in this book is 🤌, almost too much for me, and that says a whole lot.
I wasn't very hyped on this book, but oh boy am I happy that I have the two other books by my side, cause this could easily become a favorite series of mine!
A little too much crime novel for my liking, but omg the gore! Just a pinch of spookiness and scary atmosphere, would've wished for more though.
The gore in this book is 🤌, almost too much for me, and that says a whole lot.
I wasn't very hyped on this book, but oh boy am I happy that I have the two other books by my side, cause this could easily become a favorite series of mine!
August 13, 2018
It didn't take long for The Waiting Mortuary to really pull me in. Told from alternating viewpoints, the pieces of the puzzle are slowly revealed. While you get a birds eye view of the very likable and relatable characters. (Heck, you even wind up feeling somewhat for the bad guy. Only somewhat though haha) While the answers to the mystery don't exactly blow you away, I can think of a few mystery loving teens I'll be recommending this to. As far as labels go, I'd call this teen and up YA since there are some disturbing themes. (Kidnapping, sex and partying, suicide. I think it's important to know what your teen is reading. There is no one size fits all. So its up to us to figure it out on a case by case basis at the very least.)
I received a free ARC of this book from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free ARC of this book from Hidden Gems in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2018
The Waiting Mortuary begins from the perspective of Casey, a strong-willed 17 year old girl. She's on her way to her car at night when she is kidnapped. The next chapter is from the perspective of 17 year old, Bash. His family discusses the news of the kidnapping, and that this is the 3rd in a series of recent abductions of teenage girls. Although Bash doesn't know Casey well, he has seen her around at school. The story then progresses, switching perspectives each chapter, between Casey, Bash and "X," who is Casey's abductor.
This book has some interesting takes on the genre and includes some twists and turns I didn't see coming, which is always a treat. As with any good horror book, the story was disturbing and "spine-tingling" (as promised in the subtitle). If you're a fan of horror, don't hesitate to give this book a try. You won't be sorry.
This book has some interesting takes on the genre and includes some twists and turns I didn't see coming, which is always a treat. As with any good horror book, the story was disturbing and "spine-tingling" (as promised in the subtitle). If you're a fan of horror, don't hesitate to give this book a try. You won't be sorry.
January 23, 2019
Casey wants to be a star tennis player but she’s not very good. Late night sessions on the tennis court turn into a nightmare in the blink of any eye. Kidnapped. Locked in some god forsaken hell hole.
Bash is a glutton for punishment. An alcoholic with an ulcer who just landed the weirdest job ever. Watching corpses in a low budget mortuary ran by a senile WWII vet to “make sure they’re dead”. He’s about to land himself in a fucked up situation that may cost him his freedom.
X the serial killer with severe mommy issues and even worse personal hygiene. He makes his victims “Fight or Die” but he’s severely underestimated Casey.
This book is one hell of a rollercoaster. Fast paced. No bullshit. Prepare for one twist of an ending. I finished it in 2 hours.
Bash is a glutton for punishment. An alcoholic with an ulcer who just landed the weirdest job ever. Watching corpses in a low budget mortuary ran by a senile WWII vet to “make sure they’re dead”. He’s about to land himself in a fucked up situation that may cost him his freedom.
X the serial killer with severe mommy issues and even worse personal hygiene. He makes his victims “Fight or Die” but he’s severely underestimated Casey.
This book is one hell of a rollercoaster. Fast paced. No bullshit. Prepare for one twist of an ending. I finished it in 2 hours.
January 19, 2022
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC of this book.
The book is told from three perspectives, which can be confusing when the book isn’t written well. The characters in this book are distinguishable, but that may be due to their drastically different circumstances. It is obvious who is and is not the killer for example. The three narrators are the killer, one of his victims, and a kid that somehow gets involved in everything despite pretty much just being an alcoholic.
Of the main characters, I didn’t care for Bash. He was lazy, he was pretty flat, and his main thing in life was hating his parents being parents so he drank a lot. The killer was interesting. He had an abusive background that made him sympathetic for a second, but not any longer than a second. His backstory got twisted real quick and went sexual for no obvious reason at all. It felt tacked on to make him more deviant than what he already was. The victim is a girl who really wants to be on the tennis team, but just has never made it. She doesn’t have any character building outside of being envious of one girl in school and wanting to play tennis. Then she is the victim.
The plot itself was wonderfully done. I was kept guessing until the very end how Bash ended up twisted up in the killing and kidnapping. It was made very clear that he was not the killer within the first couple of chapters, so it wasn’t the normal twists and turns that a book like this could take.
The ending was pretty awful though. The last chapter just didn’t need to exist. It felt forced and drastically changed how the story read. If you ignore the last chapter, then this book was pretty awesome. It was one that held my attention, was downright scary, and not overly gory despite the gore. It was well done. That last chapter though, it was bad enough to take off a whole star.
I got an ARC of this book.
The book is told from three perspectives, which can be confusing when the book isn’t written well. The characters in this book are distinguishable, but that may be due to their drastically different circumstances. It is obvious who is and is not the killer for example. The three narrators are the killer, one of his victims, and a kid that somehow gets involved in everything despite pretty much just being an alcoholic.
Of the main characters, I didn’t care for Bash. He was lazy, he was pretty flat, and his main thing in life was hating his parents being parents so he drank a lot. The killer was interesting. He had an abusive background that made him sympathetic for a second, but not any longer than a second. His backstory got twisted real quick and went sexual for no obvious reason at all. It felt tacked on to make him more deviant than what he already was. The victim is a girl who really wants to be on the tennis team, but just has never made it. She doesn’t have any character building outside of being envious of one girl in school and wanting to play tennis. Then she is the victim.
The plot itself was wonderfully done. I was kept guessing until the very end how Bash ended up twisted up in the killing and kidnapping. It was made very clear that he was not the killer within the first couple of chapters, so it wasn’t the normal twists and turns that a book like this could take.
The ending was pretty awful though. The last chapter just didn’t need to exist. It felt forced and drastically changed how the story read. If you ignore the last chapter, then this book was pretty awesome. It was one that held my attention, was downright scary, and not overly gory despite the gore. It was well done. That last chapter though, it was bad enough to take off a whole star.
January 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this! Each chapter is from a different characters POV.. the victim, the killer, and a teenage boy. All their stories connect in the end. Every chapter that ended, I couldn’t wait to read the next one. I was so drawn to finding out what would happen next. Loved it.
November 16, 2023
Received as an audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. What a fiery, intense and creepy as hell story that's brilliantly brought to life gorgeously by TJ. Clark; so mesmerizing dark I couldn't stop listening. For Casey, her life is tennis and her coaches rules make her once of the best but from the moment a serial killer targets her and pulls her into a sick game as Casey must battle a man that's both terrifying and tragic by his haunting past of she wants to finally learn her freedom. Even if that means becoming a sick as the man that abducted her. And there's Bash, a guy that wants just an easy life where he doesn't have to work too hard and what any odd man named Alfred offers easy money, Bash takes up the offer and gets himself roped into something that has himself questioning his own sanity. Watching the dead that come to Alfred's run down mortuary because he believes these people are still alive; and like the serial killer of this story, Alfred is just as tragic and makes Bash's situation as harrowing as Casey's; it's a brilliant twist of fate that ties these three people together in a great fashion that adds whole another complex thread to this story. And its ends as powerfully as it begins.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 4, 2018
This book kept me on edge all the time even though I had a strong suspicion regarding X from his first chapter on.
I didn't really like Bash, the male MC, not because he loved partying & alcohol, but because he was so stupid to think you can get quick and cheap money in a rundown mortuary.
Casey's character was very well written. I could have screamed at her when she had the TV in her hands but that made her just another tick morally stronger.
But the most interesting is the change in Bash and Casey at the end. What makes us good, what makes us evil?
I have requested an ARC for review purposes and this is my unbiased opinion.
I didn't really like Bash, the male MC, not because he loved partying & alcohol, but because he was so stupid to think you can get quick and cheap money in a rundown mortuary.
Casey's character was very well written. I could have screamed at her when she had the TV in her hands but that made her just another tick morally stronger.
But the most interesting is the change in Bash and Casey at the end. What makes us good, what makes us evil?
I have requested an ARC for review purposes and this is my unbiased opinion.
September 17, 2018
I hadn’t read any kind of horror novel in a really long time, so The Waiting Mortuary was an interesting change of pace for me. It was super creepy, and the scenes, emotions, and characters’ viewpoints were well described. The sights, sounds, and smells lingered with me and probably will for a while. The story is told through alternating points of view of the characters, and I was wondering how the individual stories would come together. Creepy to find out who the kidnapper was and his motivations for doing so! I was intrigued until the last page, especially as I wondered how Bash and Casey would get out of their individual plights – Casey’s especially. Excellent, really gripping read.
September 8, 2018
wow!!!
Holy smokes!!
The Waiting Mortuary pulled me in and spat me out like never before.
Gripping from the opening chapter, I breezed through the pages with great gusto, devouring each word as an ever thickening story grew before my eyes.
From the middle of the story onwards, I literally couldnt put it down. And my word....what a finish!!
I particularly loved the final chapter. I was left with a tingling sensation coursing through me. So brilliant, and clinched a 5-star rating.
Highly recommend!
Holy smokes!!
The Waiting Mortuary pulled me in and spat me out like never before.
Gripping from the opening chapter, I breezed through the pages with great gusto, devouring each word as an ever thickening story grew before my eyes.
From the middle of the story onwards, I literally couldnt put it down. And my word....what a finish!!
I particularly loved the final chapter. I was left with a tingling sensation coursing through me. So brilliant, and clinched a 5-star rating.
Highly recommend!
August 13, 2018
Wow, so very, very creepy! Dark doesn't even begin to describe this crazy thriller.
My heart was racing for the entire last half of the book and it still didn't slow down for quite awhile after I finished.
I liked the formatting of changing POVs between characters and trying to figure out how everything is finally going to intersect. And when it does...omg...holy crap...wow. 😲
Great story! This one will haunt me for a while.
My heart was racing for the entire last half of the book and it still didn't slow down for quite awhile after I finished.
I liked the formatting of changing POVs between characters and trying to figure out how everything is finally going to intersect. And when it does...omg...holy crap...wow. 😲
Great story! This one will haunt me for a while.
January 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this! It was kind of a sad story with the morgue owner, but overall it was fun. I wish we spent more time with the killer, though, and holy shit what an incompetent hospital. I don't love that Casey became a killer either. It just didn't fit with her character arc at all, and felt kind of forced to give a reason for the sequels. I might still check out book 2, because Casey is still fun to see win.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2018
This story is told in 3 perspectives the killer, they victim and the lazy teenage kid, this book was awesome not exactly what I expected but it was still really good, kinda leaves it open for sequel. I Requested this book from the hidden gems books website, In voluntarily chose to review all of the opinions expressed are my own.
January 20, 2021
The Waiting Mortuary is terrifying!
You can't turn the pages fast enough; everything just keeps running past your eyes and your stomach keeps clenching at every punch and stab. You wonder what will happen next or if the terror will ever end.
Don't miss this one and I am going to start the next one in the series.
Hurry up!
You can't turn the pages fast enough; everything just keeps running past your eyes and your stomach keeps clenching at every punch and stab. You wonder what will happen next or if the terror will ever end.
Don't miss this one and I am going to start the next one in the series.
Hurry up!
August 25, 2018
This was a great YA Horror story that I had a hard time putting down. It did take a bit to get used to the switching of POV's but once you get used to that it grabs you and doesn't let go. Suspenseful and action packed this is a must read for YA horror fans
August 28, 2018
Amazing horror, mystery to keep you gripped in the story until the end. Didn’t really have a job, until his mother figured out he was lying. Sebastian gets a job helping a mortician by watching the bodies at night, who supposedly move around. Not what you expect. Couldn’t stop reading.
August 13, 2018
Sick, twisted, thrilling, engrossing. I was unable to put it down! I loved it...especially the twist at the end!
September 25, 2018
Gory, scary, horrible...everything it promises on the cover!
March 2, 2019
Good book
I dot want to give anything away but this but really gets you thinking. Very well written I just wish it would go more I depth.
I dot want to give anything away but this but really gets you thinking. Very well written I just wish it would go more I depth.
February 19, 2020
You made me a believer.
August 24, 2020
Good Read
It was a good read with good twist. At first thought I knew the murderer just to be fooled. Highly recommend.
It was a good read with good twist. At first thought I knew the murderer just to be fooled. Highly recommend.
December 13, 2022
Where do I begin?!? The imagery, wonderfully developed characters, or the delightful twist at the end. Loved it!!! Read it , you wont be sorry!
September 3, 2023
Well exceed my expectations
I received this book for free, so j honestly wasn't expecting much, but the premises intrigued me. I was absolutely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Would recommend
I received this book for free, so j honestly wasn't expecting much, but the premises intrigued me. I was absolutely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Would recommend
August 26, 2024
2.5 stars. I felt so confused during the plot, but did have some interesting horror characteristics.
February 6, 2025
Creepy
I loved the horror gore and the twists that were in this story. I wanted more and more. It creeped me out.
I loved the horror gore and the twists that were in this story. I wanted more and more. It creeped me out.
October 10, 2023
I don't know how to explain the ending. Did Casey figure out who she is inside? Bash figured out his life after his ordeal. I feel like this story is missing something. I didn't expect the EMT. I want to know more about the EMT's life/ Easy read. It needed more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2019
Loved it!
Twists and turns with tons of nail-biting along the way. Great read that kept me flipping pages. Can’t wait for the next one.
Twists and turns with tons of nail-biting along the way. Great read that kept me flipping pages. Can’t wait for the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews