What do you think?
Rate this book
Only Psychos
Who will survive the storm?
It was a blizzard for the ages. Two, massive snow storms strike back-to-back, causing
chaos in the Hudson Valley.
Anna, and her two children, are without power and the temperature is plummeting. Their
situation seems bleak, but a break in the storm gives them a chance at salvation. Anna flees her
home, hoping to find safety in a local hotel, but what she finds is madness.
Scott is a man on the run. His travel partner, Mary, is the quiet type, but that doesn’t
bother Scott. The severed pinkie he keeps in his pocket is all the distraction he needs.
Jackie and Beau, two young lovers, and budding porn stars, have left their simple lives
for ones of adventure. On their wild trek across the states, a blizzard puts a damper on their
plans, forcing them into an old hotel. An old hotel with a violent and disturbing past.
The snow piles up and more guests continue to arrive…but who will see the morning?
Will the secrets in the basement remain hidden or will the years of torment be unleashed?
There are no normal guests at the Elk Dale Hotel…Only Psychos!
It was a blizzard for the ages. Two, massive snow storms strike back-to-back, causing
chaos in the Hudson Valley.
Anna, and her two children, are without power and the temperature is plummeting. Their
situation seems bleak, but a break in the storm gives them a chance at salvation. Anna flees her
home, hoping to find safety in a local hotel, but what she finds is madness.
Scott is a man on the run. His travel partner, Mary, is the quiet type, but that doesn’t
bother Scott. The severed pinkie he keeps in his pocket is all the distraction he needs.
Jackie and Beau, two young lovers, and budding porn stars, have left their simple lives
for ones of adventure. On their wild trek across the states, a blizzard puts a damper on their
plans, forcing them into an old hotel. An old hotel with a violent and disturbing past.
The snow piles up and more guests continue to arrive…but who will see the morning?
Will the secrets in the basement remain hidden or will the years of torment be unleashed?
There are no normal guests at the Elk Dale Hotel…Only Psychos!
188 pages, Paperback
Published March 25, 2022
24 people are currently reading
1994 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 13, 2022
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
“I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time
For the wrong reasons and the wrong rhyme
On the wrong day of the wrong week
I used the wrong method with the wrong technique.”
WRONG – Depeche Mode
That song kept running through my head as I read the latest offering by Daniel J. Volpe – ONLY PSYCHOS. Many different characters will come together during a snowstorm to create, well, this cuckery.
Think of it this way: It is an amalgamation of bad people, with bad habits and bad intentions, in a bad place, with bad karma, on a bad night, with bad consequences.
Good night!
The mother who is trying to protect her children, the teenagers who became porn stars, the serial killer, the guy on the run, the sick family with dark secrets…all make for a wonderful Christmas movie for the whole family to enjoy in the middle of the night –
Riiiigggghhhhht.
My personal preference when it comes to horror is usually the non-supernatural kind, where the people are the real monsters and shit just gets as real as it possibly can. Volpe delivers this in spades in this semi-claustrophobic tale of chaos and slaughter, where nobody is safe and survival is not guaranteed.
Splatterpunk at its very best!
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
“I was born in the wrong place at the wrong time
For the wrong reasons and the wrong rhyme
On the wrong day of the wrong week
I used the wrong method with the wrong technique.”
WRONG – Depeche Mode
That song kept running through my head as I read the latest offering by Daniel J. Volpe – ONLY PSYCHOS. Many different characters will come together during a snowstorm to create, well, this cuckery.
Think of it this way: It is an amalgamation of bad people, with bad habits and bad intentions, in a bad place, with bad karma, on a bad night, with bad consequences.
Good night!
The mother who is trying to protect her children, the teenagers who became porn stars, the serial killer, the guy on the run, the sick family with dark secrets…all make for a wonderful Christmas movie for the whole family to enjoy in the middle of the night –
Riiiigggghhhhht.
My personal preference when it comes to horror is usually the non-supernatural kind, where the people are the real monsters and shit just gets as real as it possibly can. Volpe delivers this in spades in this semi-claustrophobic tale of chaos and slaughter, where nobody is safe and survival is not guaranteed.
Splatterpunk at its very best!
March 29, 2022
This one was very fast-paced, gruesome and some parts were just really disturbing.
The writing as always with Volpe is great, he's descriptive as ever here and creates a claustrophobic read
I just feel like I need to read something lighthearted after this because I feel unclean! 😆
There's a character in this who reminds me of Jason Voorhees in a way, so if you're into that sort of thing - you'll DEFINITELY have fun with this one; it's gore choked! 👅
This one is not for the faint hearted.
The writing as always with Volpe is great, he's descriptive as ever here and creates a claustrophobic read
I just feel like I need to read something lighthearted after this because I feel unclean! 😆
There's a character in this who reminds me of Jason Voorhees in a way, so if you're into that sort of thing - you'll DEFINITELY have fun with this one; it's gore choked! 👅
This one is not for the faint hearted.
July 6, 2022
There is a slew of psychopaths sneaking around a dark hotel during a huge snowstorm. The power is out, but knock, knock - the human monsters have all checked in and are attending to their agendas. Yes, there will be blood, and plenty of it. The handful of innocents must think fast if they are to save themselves. Get ready for some twists and turns. The ending leaves some open questions. Is there more gore to come? I sure hope so.
March 12, 2022
Daniel Volpe does it again! This book is brilliant and reads like a movie. I felt the dread building on every page and felt like I was right there, trapped at the Elk Dale Hotel with a bunch of weirdos during a raging snowstorm. I could smell and feel everything! Daniel’s writing is smooth and flawless as usual and the ending was perfection. A must read for Splatterpunk fans!
March 11, 2022
I loved the setup here! Several different characters ended up at the Elk Dale Hotel seeking refuge from a raging snowstorm. They had no idea of the hell that awaited them.
Talk about edge of your seat reading! Volpe nailed everything in this book. The dread just runs off the pages often leaving the reader to feel they are in this mess too. The descriptiveness had me seeing and smelling horrible things. Just when you think things are settling down you are blindsided with more twists. Excellent read that easily earned a spot in my top reads for this year.
Talk about edge of your seat reading! Volpe nailed everything in this book. The dread just runs off the pages often leaving the reader to feel they are in this mess too. The descriptiveness had me seeing and smelling horrible things. Just when you think things are settling down you are blindsided with more twists. Excellent read that easily earned a spot in my top reads for this year.
March 14, 2022
Hotel Hell
Daniel Volpe’s Only Psychos is a fast paced, entertainingly gripping, gory, and disturbing, in your face read.
The sights, sounds and smells of the hotel and guests were described to the most tiniest detail and, as far as I'm concerned, my senses felt the full assault.
With plenty amounts of blood and carnage, this book will thrill horror fans, especially those into splatterpunk.
I am now recovering from whiplash, which I got from that humongous twisted turn at the end 😳
Excellent book! This author has never let me down and has become a favorite of mine! If you do not know this author, you should remedy that. You won’t regret it!
Daniel Volpe’s Only Psychos is a fast paced, entertainingly gripping, gory, and disturbing, in your face read.
The sights, sounds and smells of the hotel and guests were described to the most tiniest detail and, as far as I'm concerned, my senses felt the full assault.
With plenty amounts of blood and carnage, this book will thrill horror fans, especially those into splatterpunk.
I am now recovering from whiplash, which I got from that humongous twisted turn at the end 😳
Excellent book! This author has never let me down and has become a favorite of mine! If you do not know this author, you should remedy that. You won’t regret it!
April 17, 2022
A storm rages inside a captive soul. Years have passed as neglect and brutality are dished out on a poor child. A storm rages leading a group of people to an old hotel. Both storms attack the souls seeking shelter, leaving a mess in their wakes. One by one guests go missing as the lights go out. Hunted by multiple psychos, each guest must face their destiny.
May 15, 2022
I love when the opening chapter or prologue of a book hits you right away, and this one left me feeling scared and sad for one of the characters straight off the bat!
During a huge snowstorm a right motley crew of people end up sheltering at the rundown Elk Dale Hotel, where the staff seem just a little... odd!!
Zeke has suffered years of abuse at the hands of his parents, there's nothing quite like a mother's love right? And this has caused a huge blood lust in him, so when the abused becomes the abuser, and he seeks his savage revenge, all hell breaks loose in the most gruesome and satisfying ways!
The guests at the hotel all come with their own personal stories, some innocent, some far from it, and knowing these stories at the beginning of the book, makes for a sense of dread and fear of what might happen as the story progresses and the characters come together.
Being in Scott's mind in particular was sick and scary as hell!!!!
Another excellent read from Daniel, a high octane, jam packed, brutal, depraved tale that made me feel emotional too! And that ending! Woah! What a fantastic twist!! 😲
5/5 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
During a huge snowstorm a right motley crew of people end up sheltering at the rundown Elk Dale Hotel, where the staff seem just a little... odd!!
Zeke has suffered years of abuse at the hands of his parents, there's nothing quite like a mother's love right? And this has caused a huge blood lust in him, so when the abused becomes the abuser, and he seeks his savage revenge, all hell breaks loose in the most gruesome and satisfying ways!
The guests at the hotel all come with their own personal stories, some innocent, some far from it, and knowing these stories at the beginning of the book, makes for a sense of dread and fear of what might happen as the story progresses and the characters come together.
Being in Scott's mind in particular was sick and scary as hell!!!!
Another excellent read from Daniel, a high octane, jam packed, brutal, depraved tale that made me feel emotional too! And that ending! Woah! What a fantastic twist!! 😲
5/5 🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
May 22, 2022
Wow, quite disturbing from start to finish, what a twist! Only Psychos is a fast paced thrill filled with sick characters and enough violence to satiate even the most blood thirsty readers.
March 16, 2022
Another amazing read from Daniel Volpe! Intriguing story, great characters, plenty of action and blood drenched scenes. Plus there’s a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming. If you like extreme horror this book is for you!
March 17, 2022
This book has a lot of storylines going on, but is easy to follow along. This is a great story set in the middle of a snow storm. The atmosphere is very creepy. I read this in 2 sittings, and already wanna read it again. The ending was great and unpredictable.
April 12, 2022
Volpe does it again. Sketchy people + Seedy Motel + Snow storm = an Awesomely brutal story that leaves you wanting more.
March 16, 2022
Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Severe snowstorms have developed into strong winds, freezing temperatures and power outages that blanket sections of small town America. This rare force of nature has induced a combination of unusual characters to gather and take shelter at a remote inn called the Elk Dale Hotel. As the brutal blizzard rages on, the guests must not only endure the harsh elements of ice and snow but also survive a night of carnage and predatory affliction.
Author Daniel Volpe does it again. Only Psychos brings together some of the most distasteful and evil characters in today’s fiction. From drug addicts to serial killers to amateur porn stars, this grisly collection of literary villains find themselves within four hotel walls constructed of domestic violence and a fondness for killing. The innocent and unknowing are ushered towards death rather than life. This common theme throughout the book develops into horrific hotel vacancies for the readers to experience first hand.
Volpe works his intellectual magic by placing the humanity aspect of his story at such a disturbing level one can’t help but feel the torment, humiliation and shame that is established early on. This pain and heartbreak adds a thick layer of brutal childhood memories coming from all damaged characters involved.
Tortured inflictions & human waste & rotting flesh, oh my! Daniel Volpe seems to have a kindred spirit with the tormented souls of the damned. Reservations for his readers at the Elk Dale Hotel comes with an isolated bouquet of trigger warnings and a severed pinky left on your pillow. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ bone-chilling winter storm Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Severe snowstorms have developed into strong winds, freezing temperatures and power outages that blanket sections of small town America. This rare force of nature has induced a combination of unusual characters to gather and take shelter at a remote inn called the Elk Dale Hotel. As the brutal blizzard rages on, the guests must not only endure the harsh elements of ice and snow but also survive a night of carnage and predatory affliction.
Author Daniel Volpe does it again. Only Psychos brings together some of the most distasteful and evil characters in today’s fiction. From drug addicts to serial killers to amateur porn stars, this grisly collection of literary villains find themselves within four hotel walls constructed of domestic violence and a fondness for killing. The innocent and unknowing are ushered towards death rather than life. This common theme throughout the book develops into horrific hotel vacancies for the readers to experience first hand.
Volpe works his intellectual magic by placing the humanity aspect of his story at such a disturbing level one can’t help but feel the torment, humiliation and shame that is established early on. This pain and heartbreak adds a thick layer of brutal childhood memories coming from all damaged characters involved.
Tortured inflictions & human waste & rotting flesh, oh my! Daniel Volpe seems to have a kindred spirit with the tormented souls of the damned. Reservations for his readers at the Elk Dale Hotel comes with an isolated bouquet of trigger warnings and a severed pinky left on your pillow. A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ bone-chilling winter storm Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
January 30, 2023
Another gnarly, brutal read by one of my favorite authors! I loved all the diverse characters and the anticipation of finding out what would happen to them. The only complaint I have is I WANTED MORE! I wish Only Psychos was longer bc I was loving it so much! And let me just say, Zeke was my favorite.. so chilling, but also intriguing! So 4.5/5 deformed skulls 💀
February 26, 2022
So I have reason to believe that this book is cursed, at least for me. Shortly after starting it my small northern Minnesota town had our own blizzard, bringing us knee high snow and causing me a lot of back pain after I had to shovel my long ass driveway just to get to work. Okay so maybe I’m reaching, but gosh darn it I believe in the magic that is Volpe’s writing!
An early review from Ronald Kelly summed it up perfectly. Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon must have been smiling down on this man as he wrote this. Only Psychos felt like reading the newest release from Zebra Books or Leisure Books, a modern classic splatterpunk story that sucks you in from the first line and barrages you with death blows as the cast is sliced and diced in rapid succession. What this story lacks in heart murdering is made up for with pure carnage, reminding us how fun extreme horror can be when done correctly. The words float off the page and drop you into the setting, having your toes start to go cold as you stand in the powerless motel, dim red lights as your only way of making your way to the front desk as you try to figure out how to survive the night. You’ll find yourself flinching as the body count rises before your eyes, and you might just catch a whiff of that sickenly sweet decaying smell from deep in the shadows.
Volpe has already proved that he has what it takes for the big leagues with the viral hit that is Left to You, but Only Psychos further proves that he’s a force of nature, an author that is here to stay for the foreseeable future. You better get on the Volpe train before it leaves the station and heads towards greener pastures. He won’t be staying indie for long!
An early review from Ronald Kelly summed it up perfectly. Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon must have been smiling down on this man as he wrote this. Only Psychos felt like reading the newest release from Zebra Books or Leisure Books, a modern classic splatterpunk story that sucks you in from the first line and barrages you with death blows as the cast is sliced and diced in rapid succession. What this story lacks in heart murdering is made up for with pure carnage, reminding us how fun extreme horror can be when done correctly. The words float off the page and drop you into the setting, having your toes start to go cold as you stand in the powerless motel, dim red lights as your only way of making your way to the front desk as you try to figure out how to survive the night. You’ll find yourself flinching as the body count rises before your eyes, and you might just catch a whiff of that sickenly sweet decaying smell from deep in the shadows.
Volpe has already proved that he has what it takes for the big leagues with the viral hit that is Left to You, but Only Psychos further proves that he’s a force of nature, an author that is here to stay for the foreseeable future. You better get on the Volpe train before it leaves the station and heads towards greener pastures. He won’t be staying indie for long!
May 28, 2022
I am so in love with Volpe. ❤🔥 His writing and stories just keep getting better and better! I was drawn into this one till the very end. Several stories that all come together in a hotel during a crazy snowstorm. The way this one ended leaves me to ask.....Is there going to be more? Another book to continue the story? Hmmmmm.......
Happy Reading and Splatter On.....
Happy Reading and Splatter On.....
March 14, 2022
This book is twisted, gory, intense, and gruesome! Everything I expect from extreme horror! Definitely not for the faint of heart!!!
May 2, 2022
Well slice me up and mash me with a meat cleaver, that was fucking insane 🤯❤️🔥
March 22, 2023
I can’t say much without spoilers, but read this book! It’s an absolute ride.
You know when you’re reading a story and you get that feeling in your stomach that the sh*t is really going to hit the fan?
Well, it does. In spectacular style!
The characters are well written, the author manages to make us feel empathy for the ’bad guy’ and the twist at the end was 🤌🏻
July 13, 2022
Well alright this was a awesome read. Daniel Volpe is a beast of a writer and he just keeps getting better. The way he sets up his characters and the story in this one had me turning pages after page trying to anticipate what was going happen next and I thought I had it all figured out until the end....Then I was like what the Fuck it was so good all I can say is I hope there is a sequel to this cuz I need one 😆😆. This is a solid 5 stars from me awesome story and tons of awesome brutal gory kills throughout.
January 11, 2023
I am always looking a good splatterpunk tale. Daniel J. Volpe delivered with “Only Psychos”.
Just Wow! I am at a loss for words.
A snow storm forces a people to stay at the Elk Dale motel. Each guest comes with their own personal story: porn stars, serial killers, drug addicts and children. Volpe did something impressive. He could inject humanity into these questionable individuals. Some felt shame; Others tormented by their demons.
Besides the guests, the motel staff was rather interesting. At this point, Volpe introduces the reader to Zeke, a family member of the motel staff. Zeke’s story is both heartbreaking and terrifying.
There is great care in the setting. Volpe brings Elk Dale motel to life with descriptions of smells and sights: decaying flesh, bodily fluids, human waste and bodily afflictions. The reader can feel the dingy, dark nature of the rooms. As well as the terror that occurs behind closed doors.
Volpe could flesh out characters and build a story without compromising the pacing. The story flowed at a fast pace from the first page to the jaw-dropping end.
Warning: This book contains themes that some readers might find offensive.
Extreme horror readers should check it out.
Just Wow! I am at a loss for words.
A snow storm forces a people to stay at the Elk Dale motel. Each guest comes with their own personal story: porn stars, serial killers, drug addicts and children. Volpe did something impressive. He could inject humanity into these questionable individuals. Some felt shame; Others tormented by their demons.
Besides the guests, the motel staff was rather interesting. At this point, Volpe introduces the reader to Zeke, a family member of the motel staff. Zeke’s story is both heartbreaking and terrifying.
There is great care in the setting. Volpe brings Elk Dale motel to life with descriptions of smells and sights: decaying flesh, bodily fluids, human waste and bodily afflictions. The reader can feel the dingy, dark nature of the rooms. As well as the terror that occurs behind closed doors.
Volpe could flesh out characters and build a story without compromising the pacing. The story flowed at a fast pace from the first page to the jaw-dropping end.
Warning: This book contains themes that some readers might find offensive.
Extreme horror readers should check it out.
February 27, 2022
Review to Follow.
February 5, 2023
'Sex, Death and downright, dirty Devilment - hey, the perfect storm!
Great story, a doomed hotel, colourful characters (bathed in red), lots of brutally 'explicit' action and, obviously, psychos galore - what could there possibly be not to like?
A fast paced extreme horror story that keeps the blood flowing from beginning to end.
On the downside - a little obvious and done before, plus a few loose ends left unaddressed.
Pure good fun on a trip into a parallel reality where what you see is most certainly what you get - enjoy!
Rating: 3.8 gruesomely grizzly bright red stars.
Great story, a doomed hotel, colourful characters (bathed in red), lots of brutally 'explicit' action and, obviously, psychos galore - what could there possibly be not to like?
A fast paced extreme horror story that keeps the blood flowing from beginning to end.
On the downside - a little obvious and done before, plus a few loose ends left unaddressed.
Pure good fun on a trip into a parallel reality where what you see is most certainly what you get - enjoy!
Rating: 3.8 gruesomely grizzly bright red stars.
March 13, 2022
Loved this book right from the start. Excellent horror read with a great twist at the end.
March 31, 2024
Bravo! I loved this twisted tale!!
April 14, 2022
What a wild ride. I wouldn’t expect anything otherwise from Daniel Volpe, who is quickly becoming one of my go to authors. This book is definitely extreme in some parts, but that’s what one comes to expect with Volpe’s work. This book feels like what would happen if you poked a bees nest and then got trapped inside the nest. It doesn’t matter where you turn, chaos will follow you. I strongly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of extreme horror, you will not be disappointed!
March 12, 2022
Absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Twisted, gripping and bloody delicious!
May 22, 2023
4.5*
With so many interesting characters, I would have loved their different stories had been fleshed much more out.
Nonetheless it was an entertaining pleasure to read as always
With so many interesting characters, I would have loved their different stories had been fleshed much more out.
Nonetheless it was an entertaining pleasure to read as always
October 3, 2023
Fast read novella filled with bloody goodness. Not for the squeamish. 4.75 🌟
April 3, 2022
I loved the build in this story. It was gruesome and intense and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It definitely left me needing more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews