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Pure Hate
When he was in high school, Reed Cozen slept with his best friend's girlfriend, and that former best friend has suddenly shown up to pay him a visit. He never forgot Reed's betrayal, he never forgave him, and he is now the most wanted man in Philadelphia.
"The Pine Street Slasher" murdered half a dozen young gay men in the mid-nineties. "The Chaperon" brutally mutilated young couples in their beds at the turn of the millennium. "The Family Man" annihilated entire families without leaving any clues. None of these cases were ever solved. But Detectives James Bryant and Titus Baltimore believe all three serial murderers may be the same man.
They know his name, his next victim, they know almost everything there is to know, except how to stop him.
"The Pine Street Slasher" murdered half a dozen young gay men in the mid-nineties. "The Chaperon" brutally mutilated young couples in their beds at the turn of the millennium. "The Family Man" annihilated entire families without leaving any clues. None of these cases were ever solved. But Detectives James Bryant and Titus Baltimore believe all three serial murderers may be the same man.
They know his name, his next victim, they know almost everything there is to know, except how to stop him.
344 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2011
8 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Wrath James White
129 books1,186 followersWrath James White is a badass motherfucker who writes baddasss books for other badass motherfuckers. He is a J.F. Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a Bram Stoker Award nominee with over two dozen books in print.
Wrath is the author of RABBIT HUNT, THE BUG COLLECTOR, and such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST (now a major motion picture titled "Come Back To Me") SUCCULENT PREY, it's sequel PREY DRIVE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, and many others.
To follow his Substack, purchase books, get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books, merchandise, and more, go to:
https://linktr.ee/wrathjameswhite
Wrath is the author of RABBIT HUNT, THE BUG COLLECTOR, and such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST (now a major motion picture titled "Come Back To Me") SUCCULENT PREY, it's sequel PREY DRIVE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, and many others.
To follow his Substack, purchase books, get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books, merchandise, and more, go to:
https://linktr.ee/wrathjameswhite
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 24, 2021
This book was my first book from Wrath James White and it was a really good read. I really like the way he writes. I could relate to the characters and I was right there in the story the whole time. The story is basically a revenge story and yeah I'd say the killer gets his revenge in brutal fashion. The psychopathic serial killer in this book was really a unforgettable character big, intimidating, dark, full of pure hate, and straight up evil. This was a solid read. I will definitely be reading more Wrath James White in the very near future.
March 19, 2017
Pure Hate is not for everyone, that is for sure.
The story in the novel deals with a serial killer on a wild rampage that amasses an unbelievable amount of victims, with the main story dealing with the villain's process in getting revenge upon a former best friend.
Reading this novel was sort of like reading a novel that was one story wanting to be another. To me, the violence was graphically gratuitous and the sexuality crude, which took away from the overall impact the novel could have been.
Now, the protagonist and story were both interesting and to me, if the violence and sexuality in the novel had been handled a bit differently, this would have been a very different novel.
There are also blatant factual errors in the novel which sort of leaves one thinking an author should write what they know (for example, Glock handguns do not have a safety that can be switched to fire or safe, nor do they have a traditional hammer that can be cocked).
It is a very graphic and dark novel. Very.
The story in the novel deals with a serial killer on a wild rampage that amasses an unbelievable amount of victims, with the main story dealing with the villain's process in getting revenge upon a former best friend.
Reading this novel was sort of like reading a novel that was one story wanting to be another. To me, the violence was graphically gratuitous and the sexuality crude, which took away from the overall impact the novel could have been.
Now, the protagonist and story were both interesting and to me, if the violence and sexuality in the novel had been handled a bit differently, this would have been a very different novel.
There are also blatant factual errors in the novel which sort of leaves one thinking an author should write what they know (for example, Glock handguns do not have a safety that can be switched to fire or safe, nor do they have a traditional hammer that can be cocked).
It is a very graphic and dark novel. Very.
October 1, 2022
In my top 3 WJW books. This story is bat shit crazy, and is over the top with gore and sex. Very interesting story 3 serial kilers that are the same person. Very unique twist on a serial killer plot.
January 29, 2026
PURE HATE (2011) by Wrath James White
My Review 4.5 Stars
“Wrath James White is the premiere author of hard-core horror. Period. Edward Lee
This novel written by Wrath James White was originally published in 2011. It was reprinted by Madness Heart Press October 21, 2023. The book was a Buddy Read selection for January 2026 hosted by Splatterpunk Horror Book Club. This undertaking by the recognized master of hardcore horror found him authoring a serial killer thriller which was a change of genre from Wrath for this fan.
So, what was this serial killer thriller about? Frankly it was a unique premise, and to me a seemingly impossible feat. The description tells the reader that there have been three successive prolific serial killers preying on their victims in Philadelphia and yet no perpetrators had been identified or arrested for the despicable stomach-churning killings. Then abruptly the homicide detectives, police, and task force all know the killer’s name and address. But that is not the sensational mouth-dropping part of the equation. The authorities have established that this man is the murderer in the successive reigns of all three serial killers in their city. I would imagine this would even be hard to swallow for an everyday Joe. But for trained forensic profilers and FBI Special Agents it would be an incredibly hard pill to swallow. The victim profiles ranged from young gay men in the mid-nineties to young couples in their beds at the turn of the millennium. But then a serial killer who slaughtered and horribly mutilated entire families emerged. It is at this juncture that the killer not only dropped the ball but dropped his identity as well.
The genesis of this career killer who had been murdering and mutilating at an alarming rate for so long could be traced back to his teenage years when he was betrayed by his best friend.
Did anyone think I was saying that this is not first and foremost going to deliver hardcore horror fast and furious from the sound of the starting pistol to the final word before “The End”? I am most definitely not saying that at all. In fact, the blood, viscera, intestines, body parts, and gore galore is flying so fast that is why I deducted half a star. I felt like my focus and attention were on a treadmill and it would go from fast to supersonic but never pause for the reader to take a breath.
Wrath creates one of the most unstoppable humans killing machines in the main character of Malcolm that I have ever read. This monster is all black in the shadows and there is only the wicked shine of his platinum incisors to betray his presence. Malcolm doesn’t just kill a person; he demolishes the skin and bone that houses their life force. He rips out the arteries and organs that carries their life blood. Wrath is without question the most reliable purveyor of hard-core horror that I have ever read.
In a sense, the author also flexes his well-endowed intellect to introduce a puzzle for the reader to solve. How can it be that Malcolm was motivated to wear all of these faces? What motivated Malcolm as he murdered in a pattern with a specific victim profile to abruptly change his pattern and victim type?
I respected the author’s intelligence for wielding such a strong grip on forensics and psychology that he could offer up plausible solutions to some pretty tough questions. The most complex problems are almost always simple when we figure out the key to the puzzle box. And so was the answer to Pure Hate .
I would be remiss if I did not give the author kudos for character development. Wrath did a really good job with the main characters of Malcolm and Reed, but also the supporting cast of Homicide Detectives James Bryant and Titus Baltimore. This is in fact a really satisfying read and a well written and horrifying serial killer thriller. Perhaps because it was originally published 15 years ago there were deficits in the editing and formatting of the text and chapters of the novel. It is my opinion it made the novel more difficult to read, but no points were deducted. It was not my thought that the author was accountable.
I could go on about even less obvious aspects of this novel I enjoyed but I think it should suffice to say I think it is a helluva ride.
The accomplishments and honors that this author has garnered are too numerous to list. He is an absolute legend in the genre of Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror.
SAVAGE SERIAL KILLER THRILLER FROM THE PREMIERE AUTHOR OF HARDCORE HORROR
My Review 4.5 Stars
“Wrath James White is the premiere author of hard-core horror. Period. Edward Lee
“If Wrath doesn’t make you cringe, then you must be riding in the wrong end of a hearse.” – Jack Ketchum author of THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, RED, and OFF SEASON”
This novel written by Wrath James White was originally published in 2011. It was reprinted by Madness Heart Press October 21, 2023. The book was a Buddy Read selection for January 2026 hosted by Splatterpunk Horror Book Club. This undertaking by the recognized master of hardcore horror found him authoring a serial killer thriller which was a change of genre from Wrath for this fan.
So, what was this serial killer thriller about? Frankly it was a unique premise, and to me a seemingly impossible feat. The description tells the reader that there have been three successive prolific serial killers preying on their victims in Philadelphia and yet no perpetrators had been identified or arrested for the despicable stomach-churning killings. Then abruptly the homicide detectives, police, and task force all know the killer’s name and address. But that is not the sensational mouth-dropping part of the equation. The authorities have established that this man is the murderer in the successive reigns of all three serial killers in their city. I would imagine this would even be hard to swallow for an everyday Joe. But for trained forensic profilers and FBI Special Agents it would be an incredibly hard pill to swallow. The victim profiles ranged from young gay men in the mid-nineties to young couples in their beds at the turn of the millennium. But then a serial killer who slaughtered and horribly mutilated entire families emerged. It is at this juncture that the killer not only dropped the ball but dropped his identity as well.
The genesis of this career killer who had been murdering and mutilating at an alarming rate for so long could be traced back to his teenage years when he was betrayed by his best friend.
Did anyone think I was saying that this is not first and foremost going to deliver hardcore horror fast and furious from the sound of the starting pistol to the final word before “The End”? I am most definitely not saying that at all. In fact, the blood, viscera, intestines, body parts, and gore galore is flying so fast that is why I deducted half a star. I felt like my focus and attention were on a treadmill and it would go from fast to supersonic but never pause for the reader to take a breath.
Wrath creates one of the most unstoppable humans killing machines in the main character of Malcolm that I have ever read. This monster is all black in the shadows and there is only the wicked shine of his platinum incisors to betray his presence. Malcolm doesn’t just kill a person; he demolishes the skin and bone that houses their life force. He rips out the arteries and organs that carries their life blood. Wrath is without question the most reliable purveyor of hard-core horror that I have ever read.
In a sense, the author also flexes his well-endowed intellect to introduce a puzzle for the reader to solve. How can it be that Malcolm was motivated to wear all of these faces? What motivated Malcolm as he murdered in a pattern with a specific victim profile to abruptly change his pattern and victim type?
I respected the author’s intelligence for wielding such a strong grip on forensics and psychology that he could offer up plausible solutions to some pretty tough questions. The most complex problems are almost always simple when we figure out the key to the puzzle box. And so was the answer to Pure Hate .
I would be remiss if I did not give the author kudos for character development. Wrath did a really good job with the main characters of Malcolm and Reed, but also the supporting cast of Homicide Detectives James Bryant and Titus Baltimore. This is in fact a really satisfying read and a well written and horrifying serial killer thriller. Perhaps because it was originally published 15 years ago there were deficits in the editing and formatting of the text and chapters of the novel. It is my opinion it made the novel more difficult to read, but no points were deducted. It was not my thought that the author was accountable.
I could go on about even less obvious aspects of this novel I enjoyed but I think it should suffice to say I think it is a helluva ride.
The accomplishments and honors that this author has garnered are too numerous to list. He is an absolute legend in the genre of Splatterpunk/Extreme Horror.
SAVAGE SERIAL KILLER THRILLER FROM THE PREMIERE AUTHOR OF HARDCORE HORROR
December 9, 2016
Meine Meinung:
„Population zero“ von Wrath James White fand ich großartig und nun war ich gespannt, was sein neuestes Werk kann.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir sehr leicht. Wrath James White hat einen grandiosen Schreibstil. Er schreibt sehr flüssig und anschaulich und gleichzeitig auch sehr brutal.
Insgesamt ist das Buch unglaublich brutal. Besonders zum Anfang und zum Ende übertrifft der Autor sich noch einmal selbst und lässt eine Menge Blut fließen. Das Buch ist definitiv nichts für zartbesaitete, denn hier trifft es alle: Männer, Frauen und Familien.
Der Bösewicht der Geschichte Malcom ist ein Charakter, den man sich böser nicht vorstellen kann. Er verkörpert das Böse perfekt und wird so zu einem tollen Charakter. Aber auch die anderen Charaktere sind keine Unschuldslämmer, dennoch konnte man zu ihnen eine Verbindung aufbauen. Denn gerade dadurch wurden sie unglaublich interessant.
Die Geschichte ist unglaublich spannend. Das Buch ist ein wahrer Pagetuner und am liebsten hätte ich es in einem Rutsch gelesen. Es passieren so viele Wendungen, mit denen ich niemals gerechnet hätte. Das Buch raubt einem den Atem, weil es einfach so spannend ist, man möchte wissen, was noch passiert und wie es wohl ausgehen wird. Ein Buch mit solch einer Spannung habe ich schon länger nicht mehr gelesen und ich in mehr als begeistert darüber.
Fazit:
„Purer Hass“ ist ein unfassbar geniales Buch! Dieses Buch ist einfach nur der absolute Wahnsinn! Es ist super spannend, brutal, blutig, hat tolle Charaktere und einen tollen Schreibstil. Ich bin restlos begeistert!
„Population zero“ von Wrath James White fand ich großartig und nun war ich gespannt, was sein neuestes Werk kann.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte fiel mir sehr leicht. Wrath James White hat einen grandiosen Schreibstil. Er schreibt sehr flüssig und anschaulich und gleichzeitig auch sehr brutal.
Insgesamt ist das Buch unglaublich brutal. Besonders zum Anfang und zum Ende übertrifft der Autor sich noch einmal selbst und lässt eine Menge Blut fließen. Das Buch ist definitiv nichts für zartbesaitete, denn hier trifft es alle: Männer, Frauen und Familien.
Der Bösewicht der Geschichte Malcom ist ein Charakter, den man sich böser nicht vorstellen kann. Er verkörpert das Böse perfekt und wird so zu einem tollen Charakter. Aber auch die anderen Charaktere sind keine Unschuldslämmer, dennoch konnte man zu ihnen eine Verbindung aufbauen. Denn gerade dadurch wurden sie unglaublich interessant.
Die Geschichte ist unglaublich spannend. Das Buch ist ein wahrer Pagetuner und am liebsten hätte ich es in einem Rutsch gelesen. Es passieren so viele Wendungen, mit denen ich niemals gerechnet hätte. Das Buch raubt einem den Atem, weil es einfach so spannend ist, man möchte wissen, was noch passiert und wie es wohl ausgehen wird. Ein Buch mit solch einer Spannung habe ich schon länger nicht mehr gelesen und ich in mehr als begeistert darüber.
Fazit:
„Purer Hass“ ist ein unfassbar geniales Buch! Dieses Buch ist einfach nur der absolute Wahnsinn! Es ist super spannend, brutal, blutig, hat tolle Charaktere und einen tollen Schreibstil. Ich bin restlos begeistert!
March 1, 2015
Amazing book! Hate and Love are hopelessly entwined in this terrific read. Malcolm Davis is an unforgettable bad bad bad guy. All but indestructible and scary. Psychos usually kill for fun but when you combine years of bent up rage with an extremely powerful and intelligent character; a whole police force becomes his victim. A climax light years apart but just as memorable as The Grapes of Wrath! These are the grapes of Wrath James White's talent and deadly imagination.
October 6, 2023
Pure Hate is a book about just that Pure Hate and revenge. Malcom is wronged by someone he loves and vows to get back at them to make them pay. This entire story is told mainly through the eyes of a psychopath that is unlike any the police have ever seen before. The brutality and viciousness used by Malcom is abhorrent. Some scenes and situations actually made me cringe because they were so horrific. Wrath James White goes into extreme detail of how Malcom escalates, brutalizes his victims, ripping them apart, and how he likes it!
Officers Bryant and Baltimore are on the case to stop Malcom from terrorizing anymore victims. They cannot figure out how Malcom continues to stay one step ahead of them and have to piece together Malcom’s past to learn where he will be next.
With that said, there are multiple triggers in this book. If you are sensitive in any way and cannot handle severe brutality including sexual torture, this is not for you. This is definitely for the Splatterpunk and hardcore readers that enjoy gore everywhere.
This is a republished story from White’s existential catalog. There are some inconsistencies that ultimately it is the author’s choice whether to fix or not. Overall, it is a merciless tale of horror, revenge, love, hate, and a lot of gore. Coming soon from Madness Heart Press, go check this one out!
Officers Bryant and Baltimore are on the case to stop Malcom from terrorizing anymore victims. They cannot figure out how Malcom continues to stay one step ahead of them and have to piece together Malcom’s past to learn where he will be next.
With that said, there are multiple triggers in this book. If you are sensitive in any way and cannot handle severe brutality including sexual torture, this is not for you. This is definitely for the Splatterpunk and hardcore readers that enjoy gore everywhere.
This is a republished story from White’s existential catalog. There are some inconsistencies that ultimately it is the author’s choice whether to fix or not. Overall, it is a merciless tale of horror, revenge, love, hate, and a lot of gore. Coming soon from Madness Heart Press, go check this one out!
March 10, 2025
Pure Hate by Wrath James White is a relentless, blood-soaked descent into vengeance, depravity, and the darkest corners of human rage. Known for his extreme horror, White typically delivers brutally efficient storytelling with no excess fat—but here, at over 400 pages, the length is noticeable, and not always in a good way.
The novel follows a man consumed by hate and a thirst for retribution. His path of violence is unflinching, filled with White’s signature visceral, stomach-churning detail. However, the pacing suffers under the weight of the book’s length. At times, scenes drag, and subplots meander when they should cut deeper. White’s short, punchy style has always been one of his strengths, and while Pure Hate doesn’t lack for carnage, it could have been tighter, sharper—more of a precision blade than a sledgehammer.
That said, fans of extreme horror will still find plenty to love. The nihilistic atmosphere, brutal violence, and unfiltered savagery make this a punishing read, in the best (or worst) way. It’s just hard to ignore that Pure Hate might have hit even harder with 100 pages less.
⚠️ Not for the faint of heart. But if you’re here for Wrath James White, you already knew that.
#ExtremeHorror #WrathJamesWhite #Splatterpunk #PureHate #BrutalReads
The novel follows a man consumed by hate and a thirst for retribution. His path of violence is unflinching, filled with White’s signature visceral, stomach-churning detail. However, the pacing suffers under the weight of the book’s length. At times, scenes drag, and subplots meander when they should cut deeper. White’s short, punchy style has always been one of his strengths, and while Pure Hate doesn’t lack for carnage, it could have been tighter, sharper—more of a precision blade than a sledgehammer.
That said, fans of extreme horror will still find plenty to love. The nihilistic atmosphere, brutal violence, and unfiltered savagery make this a punishing read, in the best (or worst) way. It’s just hard to ignore that Pure Hate might have hit even harder with 100 pages less.
⚠️ Not for the faint of heart. But if you’re here for Wrath James White, you already knew that.
#ExtremeHorror #WrathJamesWhite #Splatterpunk #PureHate #BrutalReads
November 25, 2023
Malcolm and Reed go way back. Everybody was afraid of Malcolm, except for Reed. They form this interesting friendship until one day Malcolm finds out that Reed has betrayed him. From then, Malcolm goes on to live his life driven by pure hate, pure rage from the betrayal of his bestfriend and with that rage comes a series of insane deaths
Detective James Bryant and Titus Baltimore aren't so fond of each other but end up being the lead detectives on several of murder cases involving Malcolm. Bryant and Titus soon find out that they're not just dealing with any old serial killer, they're dealing with a monster.
This was great! Wrath really gives you everything! From plot, to character development, to crazy murders, even the small details of the neighborhoods adds so much to the story. There is a diverse group of characters which I truly appreciate and over all a great crime story! There is violence and some of the murders were 🤯🤯🤯 but I highly recommend this book if you're a lover of true crime. This will hit the spot!
Detective James Bryant and Titus Baltimore aren't so fond of each other but end up being the lead detectives on several of murder cases involving Malcolm. Bryant and Titus soon find out that they're not just dealing with any old serial killer, they're dealing with a monster.
This was great! Wrath really gives you everything! From plot, to character development, to crazy murders, even the small details of the neighborhoods adds so much to the story. There is a diverse group of characters which I truly appreciate and over all a great crime story! There is violence and some of the murders were 🤯🤯🤯 but I highly recommend this book if you're a lover of true crime. This will hit the spot!
November 24, 2023
Savage!
I don't count the books I read, but my Kindle does, and of the 291 books I've read so far this year, PURE HATE is my favorite. Wrath is a master of brutal horror. Highly recommended for fans of extreme fiction.
I don't count the books I read, but my Kindle does, and of the 291 books I've read so far this year, PURE HATE is my favorite. Wrath is a master of brutal horror. Highly recommended for fans of extreme fiction.
Read
January 18, 2026I will take yr shadow step
dark pure hate
y collect many soul
i will hunt yr by plusure
i know twinkl yr mind
its weak work yr breath done
its trade with evil
pure hate
with many power goal i will force yr ashe to land
nt lose my memore
of love and hate
i will hunt y
dark pure hate
y collect many soul
i will hunt yr by plusure
i know twinkl yr mind
its weak work yr breath done
its trade with evil
pure hate
with many power goal i will force yr ashe to land
nt lose my memore
of love and hate
i will hunt y
July 18, 2012
These two guy were friends; one a bully and one who wanted to be like the bully. The wanna be betrays the evil bully and from then on a switch flips in the bullies brain and every bad deed he does, is in preparation for what he has in store for the wanna be. At times the story was drawn out with the police detectives and there dialogue and a couple of things that happened in the story were just too convenient (the cop and the stripper). A semi-solid read.
December 22, 2013
Good book, let down by poor proofreading
January 21, 2014
Sick nasty gory I loved it !
October 16, 2016
Mega gut!
August 10, 2014
Very enjoyable, but not for the timid reader.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews