Field Trip

by Harrison Phillips

It was supposed to be a fun, yet educational trip. It was a chance for the students to get out of
the classroom and into the field, to study the local wildlife and ecology, deep in the forests of
Snowdonia.

For the students, they saw it as a chance to party.

But there’s something waiting for them, out there in the woods – a parasite that wants to take
control of their minds, to make them do terrible things they wouldn’t normally do.

As blood is spilled and the bodies begin to stack up, it is left to just a handful of the students to
try and stop this invisible threat that wants them all dead.

Genres: Horror

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2023

About the author

Harrison Phillips is an English author of horror, sci-fi and fantasy. His literary influences range from Clive Barker and Stephen King, to Jack Ketchum and Edward Lee. He was born and raised in Birmingham, England, where he still resides with his long-suffering wife, their two daughters, and a schnauzer named Minnie.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reading this author. The story started off kinda slow, but when the action starts it doesn't let up. Some teachers and students take a trip they're stranded. The story also has some drama between characters that is interesting to see unfold. The gore and sex scenes are very descriptive and well some. This was a fun slasher.

[Diana | Indie Book Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of teachers and a group of students head off to the National Ecological Education Centre for an educational trip. Instead of learning, they end up fighting to survive.

Things start off a bit slowly, but when it picks up, it REALLY picks up. People are dying in mysterious, mind-blowing ways and others are being wiped out at an alarming rate by someone at NEEC. I enjoyed this one. I’m a huge fan of slashers and this one hit all the marks. I loved the environment and how the victims were taken out, even those that weren’t chased down. When it’s finally revealed who is behind the grisly deaths and what may be to blame, it’s far too late. The last half of the book had me flying through the pages, which led to a surprising ending.

If you enjoy slashers, don’t pass this one up. Phillips offers some descriptive scenes with each victim, and he shows no mercy towards any of them.

"His face held a terrified grimace, his eyes wide and bloodshot, as if he'd died mid-way through the worst pain imaginable."

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

College student, Alice and six of her friends and classmates are going on a field trip, led by Professor Thomas, and Mrs. Newman, to the National Ecological Education Centre - or NEEC. When the group arrives at isolated nature center, they are greeted by Professor Langdon, who tells them, "this site was founded some twenty years ago, as a place for students - like yourselves - to come and explore the surrounding woodland, to learn about the vast array of wildlife that call the forest their home."
As the group settles into their cabins, the two maintenance workers, Mateuz and Pawal, find a bloody dog in the woods, which they bring back to the center for Professor Langdon to look over. This turns out to be a grave mistake - for as friendly and well-behaved as this dog seems, inside it lurks a blood-thirsty parasite, causing extreme violence in the affected.
Back at the center, while the Professor examines the dog, it suddenly starts growling viciously, and attacks Pawal, savagely tearing his arm open. The dog continues to go ballistic, until suddenly it... explodes; blood, guts and bone fragments filling the room and drenching the three men. Little do they know, they've just been infected by the same parasite, transmitted by blood.
Later that day, the group is scheduled to attend a lecture with the Professor, who seems to be behaving a little strangely... Shortly into the lecture, it starts storming outside and the center loses power. Mateuz, having lost control of his own mind by now, intentionally blows up the maintenance shed, igniting the generator inside, and spreading to all the vehicles nearby.
Now, the group is trapped at the isolated nature center, in a brutal storm, with no power, no phones, and no way out. Worst of all, trapped with the parasites among them, quickly spreading from person to person as their minds change, causing them to act on the bloodlust they feel coursing through their bodies.
Soon, it becomes very apparent to Alice and her friends something is horribly wrong with the staff at NEEC; can she and her friends find a way to escape before they themselves are infected?
-----------------
I love this author, and this one was no different. Very quick read, fun, entertaining and to-the-point, with lots of gore. No complaints from me.

[Rachel M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great slasher filled with blood, gore, sex and all kinds of twists! A group of teenagers go on a field trip with 2 of their teachers. When they arrive of course they want to party, not really taking notice of a deadly parasite taking control of people and animals. This is like a fight for survival without knowing who you’re running from!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Her stomach had been torn wide open, her intestines leaking out of her like a bowl of spilled spaghetti, slathered in some macabre sauce.”

Grab this book if you’re looking for a horrifyingly bloody story with a fair amount of body horror!

This was actually such a well done & refreshing take on the “sleepaway camp slasher”. The characters were interesting and you couldn’t help but hope some of them would survive.

There are also some invasive creature elements to this tale, so fans of Nick Cutter’s “The Troop” will likely enjoy Harrison Phillips’ take on parasitic entities influencing humans.

Kind of hopeful that maybe there’s a Part II in the works… 🤞🏼

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to D&T Publishing for providing a review copy.
If you love a good slasher, you'll definitely enjoy Field Trip. It takes about halfway through for the action to really ramp up, but once it does, it doesn't stop. The first half of the book is taken up by characterization and teenage shenanigans, but I enjoyed that part as well. Field Trip would make an excellent movie! I'm looking forward to reading more titles by Harrison Phillips.

[Samantha Hawkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Field Trip" by Harrison Phillips. I was sent my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alice and a group of friends are on their way to the NEEC, the National Ecological Education Center. Their plan is to study hard during the day and cause a little mayhem in the evening, but it doesn't take long for this story to go completely off the rails. Suddenly, everyone begins to act very erratically, saying and doing things they'd never say or do otherwise. This trip was supposed to be fun and lighthearted, but within moments, it turns into a suspenseful bloodbath.

I really enjoyed this story. It had great character interaction and a solid build-up of suspense. I was constantly wondering where the story was going. While this is definitely a slasher story, it's not your average one, and it has a twist I never expected that I thought was incredibly creative.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is no camp site horror, this is a parasitic gore fest of tremendous proportions!

A group of students and their teachers head into the woods for an ecological study trip in Snowdonia. An infectious parasite takes hold, as one by one their minds succumb.

What starts as a ‘teenager in the woods’ story takes a quick and rapid turn. The visual imagery is gruesome and with the horror emanating from a parasitic infection, has an uncomfortable air of reality. Think Scanners, but on visual steroids! A fast-paced page turner.

The cover of Field Trip by Harrison Phillips shows a blood soaked man holding a dripping machete. The top of his head is missing; matter is splattered behind him.

[Kalaya Stutesman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored the concept of this book, absolutely heart shattering and brutal in the best ways. the only reason this isn't a 5 star is the Constant focus on Zoe's inappropriate relationship with her teacher ..... It adds nothing and I could not give less of a fuck, why did we need a whole chapter about it
.... also it's the most we see out of a lot of the teenage cast (minus maybe Alice and Sarah) and that is sooo disappointing tbh.
also I had no idea Harrison Phillips was british so when I noticed one british thing I Kept Noticing Them, it was weird

[AnxiousCloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Night of the Freaks by Harrison this is completely different style, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a nice slow burn building upto the gore and violence which I sometimes like. The story was great and another ending that packed a punch. Loved it!

[Dremel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks D&T Publishing for sending this out for review.

Cabin Fever meets Scream. In short while drawing comparisons, that would be my best shot.
The story starts with a fun gory chapter giving the reader a taste of what’s to come. Then you follow a group of late teens and a couple of their teachers out to an educational wilderness center for a few days of learning. Although an ‘extreme horror’ book, most of the action starts at about the 2/3 mark. This might be a turnoff to some people but it shouldn’t. The surprise character arc makes the inevitable carnage at the end that much better and actually gives it emotion.

I’m excited to read more from Phillips!