JK-LOL

by Patrick Barb

A tech-savvy troll hiding behind his image as a start-up guru and family-man finds his life thrown into chaos when his online personality seemingly spills over in the real world, attacking and killing those he’d harassed virtually in the past.

With the authorities closing in on him, as a trail of bodies with ties to his online harassment appears across the country from California to Mississippi, Ted Hideman must abandon the protective anonymity of the online sphere and desperately search for answers in the real world. With the unlikely ally of a cybercrimes-focused federal agent who's been trying to nail Hideman for years, the disgraced Silicon Valley wünderkind is brought face-to-face with the living embodiments of the vile, hateful speech he's posted for years.

Following in the tradition of Black Mirror and Barb’s recent sci-fi/horror novelette Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare, JK-LOL highlights the dark side of tech and the connectivity that it offers. It is a story about the ease with which technocratic capitalist society allows monsters to be made and to thrive.

Genres: Horror, Adult, Novella

126 pages, Paperback

Published January 14, 2025

About the author

Patrick Barb is an author of weird, dark, and spooky tales, currently living (and trying not to freeze to death) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His published works include the dark fiction collections The Children’s Horror and Pre-Approved for Haunting, the novellas Gargantuana's Ghost, Turn, and JK-LOL, as well as the novelette Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare. He is the editor and publisher of the anthology And One Day We Will Die: Strange Stories Inspired by the Music of Neutral Milk Hotel. His forthcoming works include the Killer VHS novella Night of the Witch-Hunter from Shortwave Publishing and his debut sci-fi/horror novel Abducted from Dark Matter Ink. His 2023 short story "The Scare Groom" was selected for Best Horror of the Year Volume 16. Visit him at patrickbarb.com.

Reviews

[inciminci · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's that ending that makes this book.
More thoughts to come.

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I had already reviewed this one!

It was a quick read that could have been a little longer but that still managed to be heavy and bleak. The main character wasn't particularly lovable, or compelling, Barb did a pretty good job at making him seem human while also not letting the reader forget what he did to get where he is, I thought it was a pretty good way to make the reader grapple with the desire for punishment/retribution VS the possibility of growth and healing.

There's something of a mixed media aspect to the story which I thought was handled really well.
There's a touch of the bizarre that I really enjoyed too, at times it got downright dreamlike which I liked.

In some regards it reminded me a lot of one of my all-time favorite novels, Mukbang by Fanie Demeule, it's a techno horror with a vein of dream logic and a snappy pacing that's dripping in human tragedy.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark and darkly humorous novella takes the trolls who hide behind their keyboards and turns the tables in a bloody brutal fashion.

JK-LOL is the online handle of a man who owns a successful tech startup and is a dedicated family man. But, under cover of online anonymity, he harasses the comment sections of websites, YouTube, and groups. His comments go beyond simple insults. They are so vile they attract the attention of the FBI.

After they arrest him, things are going to spiral out of control as bodies of people he's harassed online are found horrifically murdered. Now, he's a wanted man. But then things get REALLY strange.

This is a fantastic novella that brings to the forefront the consequences of "innocent" words and the effects they can have in real life. It's quite relevant in today's online atmosphere of hate posing as free speech with no thought about the real world suffering they can cause.

But this is a horror novella and it does a great job with the action, pacing, and body count. It's a wild fast paced read and I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Danger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkly funny, action-packed, twisty, turny, continuously fucked up. I really enjoyed this novella.

[Milt Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patrick Barb's "JK-LOL" (i.e. "Just Kidding - Laughing Out Loud") is a rather ambitious take on internet trolls and their disastrous online activity via posting annoying and inappropriate comments, insulting and deprecating users to the point of abuse and harrassment. Although it's marketed as a riff on the Jeckyll and Hyde story, I didn't get any such vibes at all, since the plot develops into its own thing very early on, several times going into unexpected directions. It's neither scary nor really humorous. I found it to be an action-heavy, fast-paced "cat and mouse" story (an FBI agent tasked with arresting the troll with the online handle "JK-LOL" once his real identity is revealed, and the troll evading capture), quite thoughtful, with a very sad ending. Perhaps I should mention that the novella seemed to be a very bleak and sad story overall, a depressing tale, due to the impact of cyberbullying perpetrated by the troll persona. That said, the issue of online trolling is not really analyzed or elaborated upon; it's mostly displayed, though mixed media formats (video transcipts and chats), in a rather sober and subdued way. Perhaps the revelation of who's really pulling the strings and why, was meant to show what the consequences of trolling may be in practice. However, I felt this message (if it was one) got lost amidst the chaotic chasing scenes of the last third of the book.

[Emma E. Murray]

My blurb for JK-LOL:
“I flew through this fast-paced, action-packed commentary on society’s inseparable integration with online spaces and the ominous anonymity that many seemingly normal people hide behind, allowing them to live a sadistic secret life. Full of twists, with plenty of visceral gory scenes throughout, this is just the quick, smart, and transgressive read so many are looking for.”—Emma E. Murray, author of Crushing Snails

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little horror novella about a horrible online troll JK-LOL that turns into much more! 🙌

It’s kind of scary how humans can get so engrossed in their phones and social media…I feel like something like this could one day happen! 🫣

Even though I saw that end twist coming, it still was a great read and I highly recommend it!! 👏

Thank you Patrick Barb and Madaxe Media for the opportunity to read the physical ARC in exchange for my honest review! I look forward to reading more from you! ❤️

TW: misogyny, bigotry, suicide, child death, police violence, harassment

[Adaliareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild fucked up ride of a novella. The ending was brutal! Check the TWs.

[Jonathan Gensler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barb lays down the meanest rollercoaster of a book in his novella JK/LOL. A modern riff on the classic Jeckyll and Hyde/split identity set-up, Barb launches out of the gate, full bore into the pure mean-spirited nature of our tenaciously online existence.

Don’t expect happy endings or safety on the other side, as what you’ll find in the shadows between these pages is humanity’s own darkness peering back at you, whispering to you, tugging on the worst impulses you may harbour in the wrinkles of your gray matter.

Barb won’t let you hide, so come along for the ride.

[Kyann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary as hell! Sinister with a palpable sense of "oh shit" most the way through. Never have I been more infuriated with a character, I literally wanted to punch Ted in the face, multiple times whilst reading...but I think that's part of what makes this read so great! We all know how utterly maddening dealing with internet trolls can be, how vile and awful a comment can feel when it's purpose is to do nothing more than fuck with people.

Barb has taken trolling to a whole other level and created a murderous monster, one that is absolutely unhinged and that has created monstrously good read. I love that this book makes us think about both the positive things about being so connected in this technological age but also the terror that can be unleashed and that at the core is wholly unpredictable.

I'm obsessed with the noir/mystery/true crime feel to this book, it's definitely horror at its best with the added perks of other genres. I also loved the way Barb writes about the characters family, pulling the reader into everyday life so that by the time the shits hitting the fan and slinging every which way, you're still sitting there realizing the very humanness of all the different characters. It reminds me of Shelley's Frankenstein in a way, humanity creates monsters, then we sit and wonder how they came to be, as if it wasn't us all along.

All in all, this was a quick read with depth, darkness, and humor. Perfect for the times we are living in, shining a light on just how horrific we humans can be, especially when armed with a keyboard. Patrick Barb has become one of my favorite horror authors!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times when horror matches the real world so closely that you begin to even wonder if it's fiction or not. That's JK-LOL. What happens when capitalism allows tech monsters to run free and create a wake of destruction in their wake?

Ted Hideman is a tech-bro and family man by day, but all other times, he's a notorious online troll that goes by JK-LOL. When brutal deaths start being linked to his online persona, he joins Bianca, an FBI agent, to find out what's really going on.

This Black-Mirror-esque story feels like something is off the entire time, which just adds to the complete immersive experience of Ted's saga. Patrick Barb's writing captures you immediately and leaves you with so many thoughts and questions about how we use technology and how we allow the tech giants to control all of it. You'll find yourself turning the page as quickly as you can because the story goes so many places. It's really hard to put this one down.

The characters were fascinating. It's always fun to read a story in which you don't really like any of the characters and you wish the worst on them, yet, you keep following them to see what happens. (There's a metacommentary in there somewhere.) The story is told from several POVs, yet I always longed to know what was going on in Ted's mind.

The story is quite twisty and short, so it's a great afternoon read. It would also be an excellent book for a book club who wants to discuss technology addiction, online bullying, or the ethics behind all the changes those big tech giants keep throwing up that no one asks for.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. The pacing was quick and engaging. I enjoyed the shifting perspectives, and the mixed media format. I felt the author had a clear message about internet culture, but it did not feel preachy at all.

My only qualm was the extreme violence, but again that may just be my own hang up. I think this will be well received by the horror community, and I am excited to read more by the author.

[Alex R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was looking forward to reading this book but I was disappointed by it. I liked the concept and the ending was cool but most of this book was just boring. The way Ted was "trolling" people online was the most uncreative and stereotypical trolling. I couldn't buy that what this guy was saying put him in the FBI's radar. I think this book would have been better if it was an actual novel with more character development. The whole thing just seemed under baked. 1.75/5

[Nikki C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't care for this book. I didn't understand what was going on and so I found myself extremely bored reading it, unfortunately. Just not a great fit for me.