Assignment 432: An extreme horror novella

by Tom Stearns

Sisson does not know who he works for.
He doesn’t ask questions. He does as he is ordered.
It does not matter how old you are, how rich or poor, if They want you killed, raped, framed or worse, Sisson will come for you.
Assignment 432 appears to be a straightforward job for Sisson.
It proves to be far more than that.

A violent and disturbing horror from the warped mind of Tom Stearns.

not for the easily offended.

Genres: Horror

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2023

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert - Vacation until Jan 2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Multitasking...

ASSIGNMENT 432: An Extreme Horror Novella
by Tom Stearns

No spoilers. 4 stars. Sisson was a special operative, getting his assignments from various people known only as...

ONE...

If someone paid enough money, they could arrange to have a person murdered, raped, or made to disappear...

That was Sisson's job, and he did it well. He wasn't bogged down by relationships or love, and he was good at multitasking...

On assignment 432...

It had only taken Sisson 33 seconds to pick the apartment door lock. He assumed that two women living alone would have beefed up their security measures, but no...

Sisson's target of 432 was Angela...

Janet, Angela's fiancé, was a gold star lesbian. She was working late at the office that night while Angela snored away in their bed...

Sisson had no feelings for either of the women. He was hired to break the couple up, and this was stage 1 of 6 in his plan...

Sisson began busily scattering fake evidence of infidelity about the apartment...

He never thought about what he was doing because he had lost count of the many relationships he had shipwrecked...

Meanwhile...

While waiting for assignment 432 to simmer, Sisson took another assignment to keep busy multitasking with his workload...

On his next assignment...

Sisson didn't like the woman's husband, who was bound to a chair. If Sisson had his way, he would have preferred to rape the man...

But...

His assignment required him to rape the woman in front of the man. The woman was innocent. Her husband was the monster...

However, Sisson's assignment was to break the man, not destroy him...

After that assignment was completed...

Sisson, who never allowed himself feelings of love, found himself infatuated with one of the lesbians of assignment 432...

As Sisson contemplated this new development, he got a call from ONE...

Angela, the target of assignment 432, and the object of his affection, was missing...

This was a good story. It was more psychological than horror, and the protagonist was mentally in his own lane, so I never saw that climax coming.

Warning to some readers: This is an extreme (horror?) story with blood, mutilation, and graphic rape as part of the storytelling.

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Sisson is a phantom, of sorts. He influences, antagonizes, and even hurts people for money. He does whatever his mysterious employer instructs him to do. No questions asked, whether it involves sexually assaulting minors, framing people for infidelities, etc, he does what is needed. And he lives a very shallow life, just working without a sense of purpose or self. He begins to short circuit and takes one job too far, and things begin to catch up to him. Now this was a good premise, bringing a lot of intrigue and mystery, leaving the reader with tons of questions. I would have liked a lot more clarity with certain aspects of the book, unless this is planned as the first in a series, which it didn’t appear to be. So I would have preferred a slightly longer outing to make it all feel more complete. There are also some grisly segments here, so reader beware. But Sisson is a really interesting character. I just wish that I had some more time with him to enjoy what he brought to the story. Overall, a decent read.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

A depraved and gentle gruesome short story.

Sisson was an enigma, I wanted to know more about how he became who he was. His character development felt a bit off- going from sociopath to having false memories and feelings about a stranger. I almost wondered if he wasn’t who he thought he was and was actually in a relationship with Angela in the past and had been brainwashed by The Organization.

The story started out strong, but the ending (in my opinion) felt too short. I had hoped for a more solid resolution for Angela at least.

[Overlook Hotel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It's just the ending I have an issue with, it felt rushed.

Still a good read, I think at some point I felt sorry for Sisson 🤧

[Paige Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally would have liked to learn more about Sisson's past leading to this "employer" he works for. This was a very engaging quick read nonetheless. Sisson lacks empathy and tortures his "jobs" in very brutal demeaning ways. He makes a grave error taking one job past it's intentions and finds himself on the receiving end of things. While this wasn't my favorite read, I do think it was well-written. If it could have been a tad longer and had that insight into Sisson's life before these events took place, I think I would have rated it higher.

[Crystal Gehris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I found the storyline quite enjoyable and more intriguing than many other extreme horror books I’ve read. The plot was well-crafted and kept me engaged throughout. However, there were certain elements, specifically those involving children, that I found excessively graphic and unsettling. While I understand that extreme horror is meant to push boundaries, these particular scenes crossed a personal line for me. The level of detail in these parts was too much for my comfort. I realize that this is a hallmark of the genre and that not every story will resonate with every reader. Despite this, I can appreciate the book's ability to evoke such a strong response, which is a testament to the author's skill in crafting a truly provocative narrative.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again we enter the dark world of Tom Stearns. Definitely not pulling any punches with this one we meet Sisson. We don’t learn a lot about him, other than he does his job well. Perhaps a little too well for his “victims”. A prequel would be interesting to read. The subject matter is very dark and this book is not for the sensitive or squeamish. If you like your horror on the extreme side alongside excellent storytelling this is for you.

[Margaret Hamnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the most depraved book I’ve read for a long time. Sisson has no morals and no limits and will do anything for money. This character was crafted so well that even though he is an awful human being he still seems rational and at times his reasoning really makes sense.
This went by so fast but packed in so much nasty it was so satisfying.
I think personal demons is still my favourite book of this author’s but this one is right up there behind it.

[Elaine Plumridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared once you start reading you have to finish it

There was a macabre realism to this story. Could there really be people like Sissons in the world?- I think the answer is yes - quite possibly!. All the characters have a vulnerability about them, which makes them appealing and appalling in equal measure. There are no conclusions to the story- and it leaves you wanting to know more about Sissons, Angela, & the mysterious ONE.

[Megan Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

definitely something

Overall I enjoyed the storyline and found it intriguing compared to many other extreme horror books. However, certain aspects that I will not go into detail on that had to do with children were too much and too detailed. I get that it’s an extreme horror story but it crossed a personal line for me. But I guess that’s the point with this particular genre and not every story is meant for everyone.

[Frankie Yates · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this to start with, reading about Sisson, how he works, the things he does and how flawlessly planned every step is. I just didn’t enjoy how this turned into a love story. Taking this man from psychopath, to head over heels in love with a lesbian and having false memories about her because of collages he made. It just felt a little bit much.

[Brianne J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read for the first half, lost me in the second. Rushed ending without much closure. This was recommended to me as Extreme Horror but it felt more like Extreme Rape Porn. Plus I gotta deduct points for the scene where a man knows just by looking at a woman's asshole that she had anal sex twice several years ago. That's not how female anatomy works!

[M. Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good extreme horror novella. I do wish it was a little longer. The plot of the book is good. The main character isn't a good guy but the author does a good job of making you feel sympathy for him.

[Megan Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sick and twisted. Idk why I finished it 😂💀

[🥰 · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely the most fucked up thing i’ve ever read but i kind of liked it?

[Spyder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can deal with extreme to an extent. I don't care for the use of children in these kinds of stories though. I do appreciate the karma though.

[Izabel Nutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Horrifying in the best way, creepy how it could easily be a real part of everyday life and a fitting ending where the people he went after got revenge.
Cliffe hanger when it comes to the girl.

[Brianna Noelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.
DNF @ 37%

[marisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

it’s giving “i want to be the nabokov of horror” when will men realize that graphic depictions of violent sexual assaults of women is really not their story to tell! be original for gods sake

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t read this. But it was well written.

[MR ALEXANDER DICKINSON · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good example of a good book ruined by the addition of the elements that make it an ‘extreme horror’. In this case the anti-hero’s speciality is the rape of adults and children as a means to either send a message or disrupt a relationship. It adds nothing to the story except for the shock factor, which in other examples from this genre is all there is to them.
The story of an unhinged and deluded hitman is a good one, and a nice alternative to the ‘one last job’ trope.