This All Ends Horribly

by Mike Salt

What happens when a haunted house story starts in the third act and you walk into everything at its worst?

This book.

This book happens.

Genres: Horror

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2024

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t have a very good experience here. I am a huge fan of extreme horror and splatterpunk and all that jazz, but this story just never found its footing. A strong majority of the book consisted of this group of friends being trapped in a house. And they’re all going through these horrible experiences which may or may not actually be happening. There is no character development, so I never felt invested in anyone, leaving me uncaring for their safety. And the nonstop barrage of events and imagery just came across as just bloated and random. As if it was a ‘let’s toss it all at the wall and see what sticks’ type of situation, much like The Cabin in the Woods. The violence was fine and this sure is an extreme horror, but there was no focused point of the story. There were also a bunch of formatting issues in the Kindle version, which were a little distracting, too. I didn’t totally hate the book, but it needed a ton more developmental editing to establish what it actually wanted to accomplish.

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was phenomenal! Who knew Mike Salt was writing an extreme horror book, yeah not me either! This All Ends Horribly is a story about friendship, grief and the battle between good and evil. This was my first experience with Mike Salt's writing but I've just ordered some of his back catalogue and can't wait to get stuck in!

What happens when a group of friends return from a break in Disneyland and go into their friends home, which while they've been gone has turned into the gateway to hell. What happens after this would test anyone's will, even the most sound of mind individual. Think about your worst nightmare, what does it involve? Losing a limb? Eyeballs wrenched out? You can tell I've read too much splatterpunk of late.

The storyline and the writing was next level. The descriptions, the vivid imagery, wouldn't be out of place on the small screen. I could totally see this being adapted by shudder. Entranced. Edge of your seat stuff.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a story to keep you up at night, look no further.

Mike Salt has written a terrifying and extreme horror story (prepare yourself for blood and guts galore) with a seriously scary plot.

“How would they explain the dead bodies? How would they explain their house being splattered with blood and ancient torture weapons?”

A group of friends returns from a trip to Disneyland and are thrown into a waking hellscape nightmare. Bodies will pile up, readers will be on the edges of their seats.

I love how Mike can really draw you into the story, I had to turn the lights on to keep reading, as some scenes were so shocking and scary. Some moments actually gave me a visceral reaction to what had been written; I yelped and cringed when some of the brutal moments were occurring.

Can’t wait to see what Mike writes next! If you enjoyed this story, I’d recommend reading Leigh Kenny’s book “Cursed” and/or watching “The Box” movie.

P.S. SCAN THE QR codes in the story!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

MAN! This one was as terrifying as it was bloody. This all ends horribly is a fantastic extreme horror story narrated by the one and only Hempel...what's not to love about that?

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike Salt decided to try his hand at writing extreme horror and... well, you guessed it: it ended horribly! Brilliant jump scares, lots of scary scenes, deeply unsettling situations, creepy monsters. Some chewing, and more than enough skin peeling, and there's even a series of very short hair-raising videos from a home camera - the chilling descriptions of what they showed were genius!

Kudos to Salt, however, for the original premise: I loved how the cursed item and the haunted house tropes were combined to produce a story unlike any other, full of terrifying moments. In fact, I loved everything about this book: the dialogue, the characters, the pacing, and the ending. It is a page turner for sure! Plus there's a series of QR codes embedded in the narrative: if accessed, they provide much needed background to the story via instagram videos, youtube podcasts, news articles, and a (very funny) chat screenshot with some easily recognized names! We also learn that the upcoming BoH movie flopped (say what?!).

Apparently, the QR codes reveal that the story in the book is indeed part of something greater, and prepare the ground for... a sequel?! I think. Well, I for one can't wait to see where this awesome tale is going - Mike Salt nailed it once again!

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, well, well… look who decided to step over to the dark side and throw his hat in the splatter ring. 😎

I must say, I figured it would be good, but I wasn’t expecting this book to blow me out of the water the way it did!!! Mike Salt absolutely KILLED IT. There is a SOLID chance he’s about to give some seasoned splatter writers a run for their money. 🫣

It was gory, gag worthy, creepy as hell, and had all the extreme elements that a newbie would enjoy as well as the most experienced extreme horror reader. 😏

Creatures. Ghosts. Clowns. It felt like an acid trip at times with an ending that was absolutely genius. 🤌🏼

I would love nothing more than to see more of this type of writing from Mike because damn, he really nailed it. 👏🏼

Ps: there’s QR codes throughout the book and it’s the most unique feature I have ever found in a book and you NEED to scan them because 10/10. 🤩 It’s not promo like I thought. 🤪 So seriously, scan them. 😂

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still processing what the actual f I just read but my god…This was one hell of an adventure! First of all, I just want to mention the QR codes throughout the book. What a clever idea! Scan the codes, trust me. Just do it.

This book was CREEPY AF and had some truly vivid and haunting images that are for sure going to give me nightmares out the ass but on bath salts.😳🫨🫣

The CLOWNS really did me in on this one. Fckk. And the ending?! The ending was BRILLIANT. Extreme horror readers be sure and add this one to your list🤯😈

This All Ends Horribly will be released on May 4th.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This All Ends Horribly did exactly as it claimed! IT ENDED HORRIBLY - but I LOVED IT. Honestly, this was just so dark and twisted and creative. Mike Salt's voice when writing always keeps me entertained. I stay glued to my chair as I devour his words and explore all of the hopelessness that he shares with readers in his plots.

This All Ends Horribly is a foray into splatterpunk and as someone who greatly enjoys that particular subset of the horror genre, it did a great job. It was grotesque, hard to read, and challenging to process. It was so much fun as someone who has read some of his other stories. This one threw more buckets of blood on the walls and made everything seem so much more bleak. Also, something so unique that was included as a part of this story is the use of QR codes at the start of each chapter. There is an entertaining subplot that develops as you explore each of the codes. This was some classic fun that was so clever.

Absolutely check out this story, because it was so good!

[Mallory McCartney · Rating 4 out of 5]

listened to the audiobook and the narration was great!! an unhinged splatterpunk book! I loved the concept of this

[Mickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved Mike's Linkville series, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read this one, and I was not disappointed. It was a great extreme horror filled with gore and fear. If you like movies along the lines of One Missed Call or Friend Request, this one is definitely for you.

I loved the QR codes at the beginning of every chapter. These all led to news articles, Facebook messages, Instagram posts, and podcasts, and it was a nice added touch. I particularly liked the Instagram videos from the beginning of chapter 12, because as I was watching them waiting for something to happen, my upstairs neighbour made a dropped something which made a loud noise and I'm pretty sure I'm now currently writing this from my grave.

I also just wanted to thank @mike_salt for popping a random scary clown in there. One of my absolute worst fears, and now I am going to be checking under my bed tonight. So thank you and fuck you very much 😭😅😂

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story takes off with blistering speed, going from zero to a hundred in the space of a few pages, and never letting off the pedal until it… well… ends. Horribly (for the characters, not the reader). Absolutely no one is safe for even one second. It’s like one big elongated scream and I loved it.

[Ashley92 · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

This was my first experience with Mike Salt and my first time reading splatterpunk and I'm glad I decided to start with this one as it felt like a great gateway into the genre.

The story follows a group of friends who return home from a fun trip to Disney only to walk into their biggest nightmare. After short introductions to the characters, this book throws us right into the action and what follows is a non-stop rollercoaster.

Initially, as a reader I was just as confused as the characters about the stuff that was going down. What did they walk into? What is real and what isn’t? This really helped with the immersion and made me experience the same kind of dread the characters did.

Salt does a great job at keeping me entertained throughout the whole novel. The writing is very visual and reads as if I'm watching a horror movie. A few scenes actually had me squirming at how gruesome they were and I could easily imagine them happening. This is great because I expect a book like this to evoke some kind of reaction and sense of unease when reading.

The story itself is very fast-paced and constantly jumps between the characters POVs. These jumps even happen mid-scene which adds to the feeling of watching a movie. Especially since more often than not the scenes end on a cliff-hanger that made me want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen to them next.

One of my favourite aspects of this book were the QR codes. Each chapter opens with its own QR code and when you scan them you're shown a little inside into the lore behind what is happening to our group of friends. This can be anything from a news article to a podcast entry and from a Facebook chat to an Instagram profile. Actually having to scan them gives an extra dimension to the story and I love how this creates a story within the story where you sort of have to put the puzzle pieces together. I could clearly see how much thought, creativity and love went into creating all of this which ultimately was my main reason for rating this 5 over 4 stars.

The only downside was that there's a bit of an abrupt ending, but at the same time that feels very much in line with the whole cinematic feel of the story. Plus this also opens up the possibility for a sequel which is teased at the very end. I'm definitely here for whatever Salt writes next and I hope there'll be more stories set in this universe because I feel there's a lot left to explore.

[Heather Dugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was pedal to the metal, teeth gritted down masterpiece of a haunted house story. But it was so much more. I've read most of Mike Salt's books, and his writing skills were excellent for this. I want more to this story. 5 nearly demand it. The characters were spot on and you felt the emotions and struggles they met. The scan codes on this book, do not pass them up. They add so much to the story.

Also I gave given it 5 stars because it deserves much more. Thank you, Mike, for a peek in your demented mind. Can't wait for the next book!

[Elanah Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

I picked this one up afterpay my husband read it in his book club and im so glad I did. My first experience reading an extreme horror book and I loved it!

Such a fantastically written book

[P.D. Alleva · Rating 5 out of 5]

The salty one strikes again. The terror and suspense start with the first line and never let up until the final page. If you’re looking for a fast paced blood curdling wild ride through hell and back, TAEH has all the gore, goods, and more. Great characters, vivid descriptions, and demons that give new meaning to the all too familiar kitchen tool, the potato peeler, make this horror book a must read.

[Heather Duvall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus christ mike!
i usually hate extreme horror but this was good. i actually gagged.
The formatting on kindle was a little weird but overall i loved it.

[Rachal Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun book and the QR codes add to the experience making it feel realistic

[Allia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mike Salt gave me the ARC of this book, he warned me that it was nothing like what he had written before. He was dipping his toes into splatterpunk.
And while this is true, this book screamed Mike in the best way possible. It carried the essence of who he is as a writer and why we stand by his books and threw it all into this new genre while still keeping his trademark supernatural elements.
Despite being splatterpunk, it was rich with story and mystery. The plot was well thought out, and the gore side of it added to the story instead of being the plot. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to dip their toes into splatterpunk for the first time.
On top of a thought-out plot and likeable characters, the book was interactive, giving you scannable QR codes taking you to fun articles, podcasts, instagrams and fb post screenshots that all add to the dimension of the book. This book was fun and unputdownable.
Stellar debut into a new subgenre for Salt.

[Mike Salt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I understand if you read this backwards, and have someone twisting your ear in counterclockwise rotation at the same time... you'll be annoyed and it'll hurt.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most fun, immersive slasher story I've ever read! I did realize till the Acknowledgements section that this was Mike's first attempt at splatterpunk. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

At the start of the book, you're literally thrown into what seems to be a murderous, haunted house. There was absolutely no fluff, not a lot of backstory. Instead, all of those pieces are given to you throughout the book, in the form of QR codes at the start of each chapter. Each code takes you to a news story, social media post, YouTube video, podcast clip etc that provides a little more insight to what is going on and how long it's been happening. It was absolutely genius and it really made me feel like I was seeing this happen in real time. I felt like I was going down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories about these incidents, which really elevated the reading experience.

The gore was crazy and constant, but still felt like it was necessary to the story. No, there wasn't character development, the kills were brutal, and almost everything offensive that could have been done to these people had happened. It was a simple slasher plot but honestly, that's what I wanted. I've only read one of Mike's other books so far and that one had more layers and depth, but this one for me was just FUN. Am I depraved for enjoying this so much? Probably. Will I highly recommend this for a quick, fun experience? 100%. This book was like almost every horror/slasher movie combined into one horrifying house (with nods to Saw, The Ring, Seven, It...all rolled into one and then some).

He does include a disclaimer before the start of the book, and list of content warnings at the back, so if you're sensitive to anything, please check those out!

[Toni | Dark Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This All Ends Horribly is Mike Salts first venture into Splatterpunk and I have to say he has totally nailed it, this is full throttle Splatter from the first page to the last!

The story follows a group of friends who have been away on a holiday to Disneyworld, they are just arriving home not knowing the utter nightmare they are about to walk into. While they were away a mysterious package has been left on their doorstep which has turned the house into a portal to hell.

This book has everything! Entities, torture and full on gore, I will never be able to look at a potato peeler in the same way again. This is a really good example of how you can fit a lot of story into short book, it is full on carnage all the way through. It gave me Hellraiser x 13 Ghosts on acid vibes, and 1 loved it!

As well as the gore this one had some really creepy imagery as well. There were a point in the story where the characters were looking at the property’s CCTV footage to try and figure out what was going on, and as they were watching what had just happened, nothing had actually happened as they thought it had. I found that really creepy.

Another unique thing with this book was at the beginning of each chapter there was a QR code, make sure to scan these.

They give a plot background and a sub-plot via images, social media feeds and news articles etc

Loved this book, easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me and I hope we see more Splatterpunk from Mike Salt really soon!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what a horror book would look like if you completely skipped all the plot building, subtle foreshadowing, character development, and went right into the violence, gore, and death?

This. This is what would happen.

A mysterious box is left on the porch of a home, the deliverers hopeful that the recipients will be more lucky than them and open the package right away.

Three days later, a group of friends arrive back home after an amazing vacation. When all they want is rest after a long week, they're met with the worst nightmare they could possibly imagine.
Not gonna lie, I missed all the act one and two plot stuff. I want to know the rules of the game. I want to see if an entire group of people can make it out alive. It was hard to get connected to the characters because we were barely introduced to everyone before the 💩 hit the fan.

BUT I read the plot of the book and went in knowing that it would skip a lot and basically get right to the bloodshed. And it didn't disappoint there. I'm going to be more careful with potato peelers now 😣

It was a quick listen, and (as always) Joe Hempel made it come to life.

Yet another horror book to make me wary of strange boxes 🤣📦

[Sammi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This All Ends Horribly
Written by Mike Salt
Will throw you right into the thick of it from page one, and that’s exactly how it happened to the unfortunate individuals this story is about. With that being said; they did not know what was in store for them and neither will you. So brace yourself, for a bloody insane glimpse into the realm of the supernatural. What I will tell you, is this book was written in a way that there is plenty of depth to the gore and bloodshed. It has plenty of descriptive details without going over the top for shock value. It was done perfectly in my opinion. Mike Salt has a way of writing that will have you completely in thralled and hanging on to every detail but also leaves room for your imagination to run wild. You will find unique QR codes throughout the book that will add even more details to the storyline and will peak your interest in the backstory. So you definitely don’t want to miss these juicy tidbits of information. Make sure you scan them all. This is down right bloody awesome and quite brilliant how it was all put together. I’m looking forward to more of the story in book two.

[Jessica Knauf-Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This All Ends Horribly” has been such a fun read. This book has horror, gore, humor and even an immersive interactive element. Each chapter contains a QR code leading to different news articles, police reports, wanted posters and even Facebook posts relating to the story. This allows the reader to personally feel involved in the story in a unique way that’s not really seen a whole lot. I really enjoyed the supernatural elements in the plot that sets it apart from being just a blood and guts story, which can be easy to do in the splatterpunk genre. The storytelling is phenomenal and makes you want to read the entire thing in one sitting because you have that immediate urge to find out what’s going to happen to the characters. I cannot wait to see what more Mike Salt has to offer in the genre as this story definitely sold me. Amazing writing and addictive plot line!


I received this book as an ARC read.

[M.J. Mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This all ends horribly. This all starts horribly. Hell, this all MIDDLES horribly. Every damn page is horrible, and I loved every second of it.

Salt drops you right into the heart of the action, with a brilliantly over-the-top orgy of despicable atrocities at every turn. There are multiple players in this game of splat and mouse and, although the main part of the novella is short and only set over a couple of hours, you somehow get to know each character and care about their fate. The quick characterisation is the second most impressive thing about This All Ends Horribly.

The most impressive thing about the book is that it is relentlessly gruesome without it dampening the effect in any way. If you’re expecting to stop for a breather, it isn’t going to happen. There’s no need to build suspense where we’re going - this is a brutal, frantic, gruelling read, and Salt is the captain of a ship that’s taking a nosedive straight to hell.

[BookNerdsBrainDump · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Snack-Size Review] This All Ends Horribly, by Mike Salt

Quick Bite: Couldn’t get into it.

What It’s About: A group of people who’ve clearly been through something horrific pass the curse onto a group of friends, who arrive home from vacation to a nightmare.

A Word From The Nerd: I think this book is probably a great spooky-season quick read. It skips all the usual ramping up, and heads straight into the part where everyone is running around getting eviscerated and whatnot. But I’ve been in kind of a slump lately, and wanted something that would really engage all the parts of my brain, and unfortunately, this one just didn’t do it. I only got about 30% of the way through, and realized that I didn’t know anything or care at all about any of the characters. In fairness, I don’t think it was you, Mr. Salt, it was me.

The Nerd’s Rating: THREE HAPPY NEURONS (and some whisky, hold the beard crud.)

[Ashley Protus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This All Ends Horribly" by Mike Salt is an electrifying horror novella that grips you from the start and never lets go. The story follows a group of friends who return from a holiday to find their home has become like a horror movie massacre scene thanks to a mysterious package left on their doorstep.

Mike Salt excels at creating an atmosphere of dread, quickly transitioning the characters from vacation bliss to unrelenting horror. The concise, 142-page story is packed with suspense and terror, making every page count. The characters are relatable, and their friendship adds depth to the nightmare they face.

Salt’s storytelling is tight and effective, blending ordinary life with the horrific in a compelling way. Fans of his previous works will not be disappointed. "This All Ends Horribly" is a must-read for horror enthusiasts looking for a fast-paced, chilling experience.

[Samm · Rating 5 out of 5]

•Mike, what the fuck!?! This was insane! Bat shit crazy. I wanted something quick and entertaining and a little fucked up and This All Ends Horribly absolutely hit the fucking spot. The gore was top notch. The Big Bad (no spoilers here) was SO FUCKED UP and demented. Listen, we love generational curses and hauntings in this house. I loved that we didn't find out any of the "why" until the literal end of the book. Fuuuuck. I have nothing bad to say. This was creepy and sad and that very first spooky moment with Loki in the bathroom got me. That was it, it was over, I knew we couldn't put this one down without finishing it.
•
•If you want something fast and creepy that's going to suck you in (pun fully intended), read this book immediately!

[Kimberly Hess Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book is absolutely everything you would expect and I was honored ro read it!

It is unique and when you read make sure you do the QR codes or you will.totally miss parts of the story!!

Mike Salt did perfect combination from gore, uniqueness, creepy and juat over all great scary and leaving you wanting more.

I will read anything this author writes and he is absolute genius! If you are true splatterpunk you need to read this and if you are not read triggers before moving forward.

Kudos! Love this book great job!!! Cannot wait to read the next book!!! 5⭐️ hands Down thanks for letting me read this book!

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book. I’m not even sure where to start! You are sucked in from the beginning. A simple pit stop at home leads to death and destruction by….. well, you’ll just have to read it to find out! This would be a GREAT book for someone looking to test the waters of the splatterpunk genre. It is a great paranormal horror as is. I highly recommend this book! The ONLY reason I didn’t give it 5-stars is because I felt like the characters lacked depth. They seemed a little flat to me. Not a big deal, but I want to be honest with my feedback. With all of that being said, I’m will definitely be reading more books by Mike!