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Death Cult
"This is a down 'n dirty, gritty, bloody horror novella which screams old school horror movie vibes and oozes a delightfully gory narrative." —Horror Reads
"I had 'holy shit' moments, moments of my jaw dropping, and with the level of excitement through brutality and vividly portrayed scenes I expect to experience, I felt pleasantly squeamish." —Beard of Darkness Book Reviews
Having just graduated from college, Jason and Eddie are ready to let loose and embark on a cross-country road trip. After some killer partying at a rock music festival in Nevada, they head out into the desert with girls and adventure on their minds. Their situation takes a dark turn, however, when they lose direction and find themselves at the entrance of a ghost town in the bowels of the sprawling desert. The residents turn out to be . . . a little off.
Meanwhile, Carrie has just found herself in the depths of a murky lair. Quick reflexes aid in her concealment, but she soon discovers the utter horrors that lurk within the dark recesses. Survival ultimately depends on her strength and cunning.
Tensions escalate as Jason, Eddie, and Carrie come to grips with their new chilling realities. All the while, a dark evil begins to reveal itself. For within this stretch of desolate landscape exists a cannibal death cult, and they have an insatiable lust for blood.
It’s kill or be killed—and as the bloodshed intensifies, so does the fierce will to live.
"I had 'holy shit' moments, moments of my jaw dropping, and with the level of excitement through brutality and vividly portrayed scenes I expect to experience, I felt pleasantly squeamish." —Beard of Darkness Book Reviews
Having just graduated from college, Jason and Eddie are ready to let loose and embark on a cross-country road trip. After some killer partying at a rock music festival in Nevada, they head out into the desert with girls and adventure on their minds. Their situation takes a dark turn, however, when they lose direction and find themselves at the entrance of a ghost town in the bowels of the sprawling desert. The residents turn out to be . . . a little off.
Meanwhile, Carrie has just found herself in the depths of a murky lair. Quick reflexes aid in her concealment, but she soon discovers the utter horrors that lurk within the dark recesses. Survival ultimately depends on her strength and cunning.
Tensions escalate as Jason, Eddie, and Carrie come to grips with their new chilling realities. All the while, a dark evil begins to reveal itself. For within this stretch of desolate landscape exists a cannibal death cult, and they have an insatiable lust for blood.
It’s kill or be killed—and as the bloodshed intensifies, so does the fierce will to live.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2024
25 people are currently reading
2009 people want to read
About the author
Janelle Schiecke
4 books149 followersJanelle Schiecke is an indie horror author based in New Jersey.
She's published three horror novellas:
The Clatter Man
Death Cult
Ghost Room
Her fourth horror novella, titled Spider, releases March 10th, 2026. She is also writing a sequel to The Clatter Man.
Despite the dark nature of her stories, Janelle lives a very happy and cozy life. When not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling with her family, reading with her cats snuggled up close, and watching horror movies.
Yes, she loves Shudder.
You can follow Janelle on her social media accounts below:
Twitter/X: https://x.com/J_Schiecke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janelle.sch...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janelle.schiecke
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/aMbPB
She's published three horror novellas:
The Clatter Man
Death Cult
Ghost Room
Her fourth horror novella, titled Spider, releases March 10th, 2026. She is also writing a sequel to The Clatter Man.
Despite the dark nature of her stories, Janelle lives a very happy and cozy life. When not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling with her family, reading with her cats snuggled up close, and watching horror movies.
Yes, she loves Shudder.
You can follow Janelle on her social media accounts below:
Twitter/X: https://x.com/J_Schiecke
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janelle.sch...
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janelle.schiecke
Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/aMbPB
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 28, 2025
Gosh, what a nasty cover. In the best paperbacks from hell tradition! Inside you'll find two young men, Jason and Eddie, looking out for adventure. In some remote Texan area they find their big moments: eerie motel in the desert, forebodings, cripples, fortune teller, some nasty cultists under the earth and an evil monster. Did I forget something? Of course the cultists are cannibals and the caves remind on a charnel house. Will some of the characters survive? This is some quintessential 80s horror summing up, strongly reminding me on Texas Chainsaw and also a good shot of Todd Keisling's Devil Creek. Not too sophisticated but very readable and compelling. Really recommended!
January 19, 2025
Death Cult is a fun novella and has it all. Cannibals, deserted towns, demons, portals to hell, and some solid writing. I particularly loved Jason and Eddie, our two main characters on a road trip when all it all goes to shit. Their dialogue is authentic, and you get to like them a lot.
The horror works well, and l love isolated ghost town setting and the underground caves. There are plenty of blood spilled and solid descriptions of gore. My only issue is the ending and how it concluded. It was a little far-fetched that could happen. If you read it, you know what I mean.
Other than that, it's a great short read. On Kindle Unlimited, so go check it out.
The horror works well, and l love isolated ghost town setting and the underground caves. There are plenty of blood spilled and solid descriptions of gore. My only issue is the ending and how it concluded. It was a little far-fetched that could happen. If you read it, you know what I mean.
Other than that, it's a great short read. On Kindle Unlimited, so go check it out.
July 31, 2025
A good dose of old skool horror wrapped up in heaps of violent bloody gore.
It kept me interested and on the edge of the sofa the whole way through.
Well written with strong characters and an extreme horror storyline.
Plenty of strong torture scenes that had me wincing and flinching.
I guess a gentle warning is hidden between the pages...STICK TO THE HIGHWAYS AND AVOID THE BACK WAYS ON YOUR ROAD TRIP!!! 👿🩸👿🩸👿🩸
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐'s
It kept me interested and on the edge of the sofa the whole way through.
Well written with strong characters and an extreme horror storyline.
Plenty of strong torture scenes that had me wincing and flinching.
I guess a gentle warning is hidden between the pages...STICK TO THE HIGHWAYS AND AVOID THE BACK WAYS ON YOUR ROAD TRIP!!! 👿🩸👿🩸👿🩸
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐'s
May 4, 2025
This is a short novel that brings me right back to some of the classic horror of the 70s and the 80s. The title kind of tells you what you’re in for already, but just to summarize in a bit more detail, it’s about some friends whose car breaks down in exactly the wrong small town, and they find themselves in the proverbial crosshairs of a cannibalistic cult.
And it’s a pretty wild ride. It moves at an impressively fast pace without ever feeling rushed and delivers some gore and scares in a way that hearkens back to classic movies like Texas Chainsaw (or some more modern offerings like the Saw franchise) and veers toward the extreme horror genre without ever becoming so over the top that the reader loses track of the characters or story behind all the violence, as happens a bit too often in the extreme subgenre.
It may not have the philosophical commentary and depth of character development I often look for in my absolute favorite novels, but that’s honestly not even a flaw here. This isn’t meant to be that kind of novel. This is meant to be a fun roller coaster of a horror novel you can read in a single sitting and that’s exactly what it delivers.
And it’s a pretty wild ride. It moves at an impressively fast pace without ever feeling rushed and delivers some gore and scares in a way that hearkens back to classic movies like Texas Chainsaw (or some more modern offerings like the Saw franchise) and veers toward the extreme horror genre without ever becoming so over the top that the reader loses track of the characters or story behind all the violence, as happens a bit too often in the extreme subgenre.
It may not have the philosophical commentary and depth of character development I often look for in my absolute favorite novels, but that’s honestly not even a flaw here. This isn’t meant to be that kind of novel. This is meant to be a fun roller coaster of a horror novel you can read in a single sitting and that’s exactly what it delivers.
January 25, 2025
This deliciously dark and dastardly novella packs one heck of a punch! If you love the old slasher movies, then this is for you. It has been coined as Jigsaw goes on vacation and it fits, but in my opinion is even better! I was terrified, grossed out, anxious, uneasy, horrified, tense, and shocked...and I loved every second of it! Do yourself a favor and read this book. It is such a fast read, you will fly through it! Cannot wait to see what Janelle Schiecke writes next!!!
December 5, 2025
Another great horror story by Schiecke!
The same way The Clatter Man captured the feelings of slashers like Candyman, this story captures the essence of The Hills Have Eyes. It's a story of isolation and cannibalistic terror.
The same way The Clatter Man captured the feelings of slashers like Candyman, this story captures the essence of The Hills Have Eyes. It's a story of isolation and cannibalistic terror.
January 2, 2026
This is a tale that brings the classic 80's horror movies back!! The darkness and disturbing atmosphere that surrounds this story is fascinating. I don't know how this author keeps doing it but she has a gift for horror in ways I haven't seen in such a long time.
I love how descriptive the horrific/disturbing scenes played out. The vivid imagination I had going on in my head was exactly what I want out of a great horror book. To bring the fear, the uneasy feeling in your stomach was such a rush and I'm giving firm handshakes to the author for being able to unleash that kind of horror in a book.
The pace was perfect. The writing was phenomenal. The length...just right! Highly recommend!!
I love how descriptive the horrific/disturbing scenes played out. The vivid imagination I had going on in my head was exactly what I want out of a great horror book. To bring the fear, the uneasy feeling in your stomach was such a rush and I'm giving firm handshakes to the author for being able to unleash that kind of horror in a book.
The pace was perfect. The writing was phenomenal. The length...just right! Highly recommend!!
January 20, 2026
Nothing like a good satanic, death cult to satisfy me on another boring Tuesday. And I'm always tickled to find another solid writer in the horror community. I liked everything in here, mostly the lead characters, being Carrie, Jason, and Eddie. Loved the dynamics between the three as a group and, at times, as duos. Playful when needed, serious when warranted, and all the pieces of their interactions fit in place like a well-made puzzle piece. The unsettling atmosphere was another highlight, as were the occurrences in the strange town and the underground cult activities. Well-placed horror elements and enough gore to keep your bloodlust intact, while not stepping into overkill territory. Again, I liked this quite a bit and am eager to see what else my fellow NJ horror author has in their arsenal.
March 10, 2025
I had just finished a read, then a friend recommended me a couple of books, and I chose to dive into this one. It's not every day that I stumble across something labeled as splatterpunk. So this one being described as splatterpunk (by the author) piqued my interest. I didn't come across any overtly counterculture themes, but I'll blame that on my head cold and concentration level (or lack of due my stuffy sinus situation). The story is interesting and there is some violence, and supernatural happenings (which just isn't my jam. This is still a good story, just not my preference). So if you're looking for a little bit of gore and some evil beasts, this might be the read for you
May 5, 2025
'Death Cult' is a wild, gory, 80s infused survival-horror thriller that rips from the moment you turn the first page. You can tell author Janelle Schiecke is an old-school horror fan as she gives us all the tropes you'd expect, but delivers them in her own unique style. She also gives you characters you care about, but never skimps on the bloody, brutal carnage. I read this one between books and it was the perfect shot in the arm I needed at the time. Looking forward to what Janelle Schiecke comes up with next.
July 15, 2024
A fast paced action packed Splatterpunk thrill ride. from Author Janelle Schiecke
July 15, 2024
Oh yeah! This is a down 'n dirty, gritty, bloody horror novella which screams old school horror movie vibes and oozes a delightfully gory narrative.
Two fresh out of college friends in the eighties decide to take a road trip before entering the rest of their lives. They get stranded in a small, extremely creepy town in the middle of the Nevada desert. There, they'll meet the locals and another young woman who is also passing through and also has car troubles...
This novella pulls no punches as this aptly named Death Cult sacrifices victims to a demonic entity in torturously gruesome ways. The author delivers these scenes with a relish and doesn't hold back.
As our trio of outsiders are put right in the hands of these cultists, it becomes nothing but survival and escape. But can they actually survive the horrors they find as they're trapped underground?
This was a lot of fun to read and the kills will make you shudder. It's told with a fantastic throwback vibe which keeps you reading until the very end and, despite the terrifying story, brought a smile to my face at how good this kind of in your face narrative can be. It's a really good story with a whole lotta' blood along the way. Of course, I highly recommend it.
Thank you to the author for the copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Two fresh out of college friends in the eighties decide to take a road trip before entering the rest of their lives. They get stranded in a small, extremely creepy town in the middle of the Nevada desert. There, they'll meet the locals and another young woman who is also passing through and also has car troubles...
This novella pulls no punches as this aptly named Death Cult sacrifices victims to a demonic entity in torturously gruesome ways. The author delivers these scenes with a relish and doesn't hold back.
As our trio of outsiders are put right in the hands of these cultists, it becomes nothing but survival and escape. But can they actually survive the horrors they find as they're trapped underground?
This was a lot of fun to read and the kills will make you shudder. It's told with a fantastic throwback vibe which keeps you reading until the very end and, despite the terrifying story, brought a smile to my face at how good this kind of in your face narrative can be. It's a really good story with a whole lotta' blood along the way. Of course, I highly recommend it.
Thank you to the author for the copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
April 12, 2025
This book is sooo good! As a long time horror fan, this gave me everything I want - a sinister setting, loveable main characters, a building sense of dread, chilling villains with a great climax to the story - and lots and lots of gore!
The writing is also extremely good, with chapters that inter-splice and do so much in creating tension as we go from scenes of horror to two of our character that are seemingly slowly getting manoeuvred towards the danger we know awaits.
Considering this book is only just over one hundred pages, Schiecke effortlessly brings this world and these characters to a level where we’re fully invested, without needing every little detail or explanation. The mystery of certain aspects brings an intrigue and we are left with questions to deliberate and draw our own conclusions on.
Lastly, the gore is frequent and fantastic - sickening, horrifying, and brutal, with excellent depictions that will affect even the most desensitised of readers.
If you’re a horror fan, I thoroughly recommend this book and will absolutely be searching out Schiecke’s other works!
The writing is also extremely good, with chapters that inter-splice and do so much in creating tension as we go from scenes of horror to two of our character that are seemingly slowly getting manoeuvred towards the danger we know awaits.
Considering this book is only just over one hundred pages, Schiecke effortlessly brings this world and these characters to a level where we’re fully invested, without needing every little detail or explanation. The mystery of certain aspects brings an intrigue and we are left with questions to deliberate and draw our own conclusions on.
Lastly, the gore is frequent and fantastic - sickening, horrifying, and brutal, with excellent depictions that will affect even the most desensitised of readers.
If you’re a horror fan, I thoroughly recommend this book and will absolutely be searching out Schiecke’s other works!
October 8, 2025
A short read but with enough creepy to keep you entertained.
January 29, 2026
Within all systems, therein lies a hierarchy. Even those of a biological nature. Fear is not exempt; dread holds a profundity, anticipatory & all consuming.
80’s horror films had a certain finesse of stalking you with dread, like the slow plod of an Imperator-class Titan. Embellish that feeling with some elements of early 2000’s horror, The Descent & Saw come to mind, here.
Foreshadowed torture devices are the ‘Dreadnoughts’ of the antagonists & Mrs Schiecke is a fluid conductor.
When it comes to shorter stories, conveyance is an irksome combatant. "Long-distance wandering hair" quickly closes this distance, much like “Hadoken.” footsies.
"Feels like we're living a godamn horror movie."
Godamned horror, you get. The existential dread is like a virulent flesh eating bacteria. Sloughing off your flesh before your very eyes.
It came before the screams...
80’s horror films had a certain finesse of stalking you with dread, like the slow plod of an Imperator-class Titan. Embellish that feeling with some elements of early 2000’s horror, The Descent & Saw come to mind, here.
Foreshadowed torture devices are the ‘Dreadnoughts’ of the antagonists & Mrs Schiecke is a fluid conductor.
When it comes to shorter stories, conveyance is an irksome combatant. "Long-distance wandering hair" quickly closes this distance, much like “Hadoken.” footsies.
"Feels like we're living a godamn horror movie."
Godamned horror, you get. The existential dread is like a virulent flesh eating bacteria. Sloughing off your flesh before your very eyes.
It came before the screams...
July 16, 2024
When I pick up a horror book, I expect to have moments like that in which I experienced when reading “Death Cult”! The story is one that pulled me in, and I am an epic fantasy freak that is obsessed with story, so instantly I knew I’d be along for this ride. I had “holy shit” moments, moments of my jaw dropping, and with the level of excitement through brutality and vividly portrayed scenes I expect to experience, I felt pleasantly squeamish. I have fond a new author to savor each and every one of her books to come and published currently. Pick THIS UP NOW!
September 18, 2024
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
It's the 1980's and some aimless youths have got themselves lost in the Nevada desert, when they see a motel. They stop. Big mistake. The motel is seedy. Their car won't start. There's rumors of a death cult just outside of town.
Connect the dots. It's sort of like an 80's horror movie, but not as titillating.
It's the 1980's and some aimless youths have got themselves lost in the Nevada desert, when they see a motel. They stop. Big mistake. The motel is seedy. Their car won't start. There's rumors of a death cult just outside of town.
Connect the dots. It's sort of like an 80's horror movie, but not as titillating.
February 27, 2025
Great read for horror fans!
This is a must read for anyone who enjoys gore soaked horror with detailed descriptions of the carnage - the shadowy cult members and their savage methods add to the fun setting of a middle of nowhere town in the desert - reads like a mix of an 80s satanic thriller and Cannibal Holocaust with an added dash of The Descent
This is a must read for anyone who enjoys gore soaked horror with detailed descriptions of the carnage - the shadowy cult members and their savage methods add to the fun setting of a middle of nowhere town in the desert - reads like a mix of an 80s satanic thriller and Cannibal Holocaust with an added dash of The Descent
May 29, 2025
Been meaning to read something from the author for a bit, so I grabbed a paperback to give it a go.
Two new friends are taking a cross-country road trip. They foresee booze, laughs, and some time with the ladies. Unfortunately, they get lost and end up in a small town, one with a bit of a sinister twist. It seems as if everyone is trying to lure them somewhere, and the eerie atmosphere builds. When they try to help someone in need, things take a turn. The chaos that ensues is exactly what you’d expect, oh, except for those things you don’t see coming. And it’s nothing short of your favorite horror classics and horror tropes.
To me this was like an epic amalgamation of horrors. The road trip, getting lost, the fateful warning that goes ignored, the car trouble. It’s The Descent meets Saw meets The Devil’s Rejects meets The Hills Have Eyes meets (very specifically) The Walking Dead S11E6 ‘On the Inside’ where there are feral humans living in the walls. Oh and on top of all that, it’s bringing you right into the heart of the good old 80s satanic panic. This was gruesome and gory, with some killer contraptions and traps, more cannibalism and ritualism. It also features a strong female fighting for survival, and two male best friends that give emotional beats to the piece. And although you hope for all three of them to escape together, they certainly end up having a devil of a time.
This felt like coming home and popping a tape in the old VCR. Like catching an old favorite on cable—I could see myself watching the screen with all its low budget grainy goodness. Like the kind of thing that would be getting its own legacy sequel in theaters right now.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-death-...
Two new friends are taking a cross-country road trip. They foresee booze, laughs, and some time with the ladies. Unfortunately, they get lost and end up in a small town, one with a bit of a sinister twist. It seems as if everyone is trying to lure them somewhere, and the eerie atmosphere builds. When they try to help someone in need, things take a turn. The chaos that ensues is exactly what you’d expect, oh, except for those things you don’t see coming. And it’s nothing short of your favorite horror classics and horror tropes.
To me this was like an epic amalgamation of horrors. The road trip, getting lost, the fateful warning that goes ignored, the car trouble. It’s The Descent meets Saw meets The Devil’s Rejects meets The Hills Have Eyes meets (very specifically) The Walking Dead S11E6 ‘On the Inside’ where there are feral humans living in the walls. Oh and on top of all that, it’s bringing you right into the heart of the good old 80s satanic panic. This was gruesome and gory, with some killer contraptions and traps, more cannibalism and ritualism. It also features a strong female fighting for survival, and two male best friends that give emotional beats to the piece. And although you hope for all three of them to escape together, they certainly end up having a devil of a time.
This felt like coming home and popping a tape in the old VCR. Like catching an old favorite on cable—I could see myself watching the screen with all its low budget grainy goodness. Like the kind of thing that would be getting its own legacy sequel in theaters right now.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-death-...
October 3, 2024
I won this Title in a Goodreads Giveaway. I liked this novella a lot. Its a quick read. It's a horror story, it's in the form of horror flicks from the 80's. It's about a town that people drive through and go missing. Sorta like a ghost town in the Bermuda triangle. The main story is about a Death Cult in the town. There is so much more to this Novella than just that. It's like 3 stories in one. I loved it. I would have gave it 5 stars, it was so good it just needed to be longer. If you like horror stories I highly suggest you read this one.
January 9, 2025
GNARLY 80s-INSPIRED SATANIC HORROR AT IT'S FKING BEST!
Damn I loved this short and brutal slab of retro-inspired horror badassery. It's The Hills Have Eyes meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre with a splash of The Descent, chock full of A TON of my favorite horror tropes.
Buds Jason and Eddie are on a cross-country road trip when their car breaks down at, you guessed it, a dusty ghost town in the middle of the Nevada desert. You get your creepy motel, complete with decrepit old lady whose breath smells like rotting meat. A freaky gigantic dude at the diner (Diner specialty? you guessed it: sausage!) with sawn-off foot-stumps encased in concrete blocks. (We never get ANY explanation for this horrifying dude, which I absolutely LOVED.) A sexy palm reader who, of course, lures the boys with her tantalizing cleavage straight into the aforementioned Death Cult. Inside the underground cult lair we get saw-bladed torture devices galore, a portal to hell, freak-o mutant cultists straight out of the Descent, and a ten foot tall fking demon who slurps human milk shakes!
THEN throw in absolutely badass Final Girl, Carrie, who fashions a kyoketsu-shoge (knife on a rope!) and goes full ham on the cultists, slicing and dicing like the boss ass bitch she is.
ALL THAT in just over 100 pages of undiluted pulp horror novella that you should READ RIGHT FKING NOW!
Damn I loved this short and brutal slab of retro-inspired horror badassery. It's The Hills Have Eyes meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre with a splash of The Descent, chock full of A TON of my favorite horror tropes.
Buds Jason and Eddie are on a cross-country road trip when their car breaks down at, you guessed it, a dusty ghost town in the middle of the Nevada desert. You get your creepy motel, complete with decrepit old lady whose breath smells like rotting meat. A freaky gigantic dude at the diner (Diner specialty? you guessed it: sausage!) with sawn-off foot-stumps encased in concrete blocks. (We never get ANY explanation for this horrifying dude, which I absolutely LOVED.) A sexy palm reader who, of course, lures the boys with her tantalizing cleavage straight into the aforementioned Death Cult. Inside the underground cult lair we get saw-bladed torture devices galore, a portal to hell, freak-o mutant cultists straight out of the Descent, and a ten foot tall fking demon who slurps human milk shakes!
THEN throw in absolutely badass Final Girl, Carrie, who fashions a kyoketsu-shoge (knife on a rope!) and goes full ham on the cultists, slicing and dicing like the boss ass bitch she is.
ALL THAT in just over 100 pages of undiluted pulp horror novella that you should READ RIGHT FKING NOW!
October 24, 2024
Ahhhhh!!! Death Cult had me screaming from page one! 😱 Hell I’m still screaming cause wtf…. This book is absolutely insane- Gritty, bloody, and gave me ALL the '80s horror movie vibes.🩸It's full of blood and guts, and it does not hold back. This was one of those reads where you wanna peek through your fingers but just can't stop! The writing? So vivid and descriptive, it felt like I was right there in the madness.
The pacing was on point too-short, sharp, and straight to the good stuff. I seriously couldn't put it down. Carrie's story? She's a straight-up badass who survived hell, and I'm BEGGING for part two. 🔥And let's talk about the cannibalism... Yeah, it's a lot, but I couldn't stop reading! 🤢I was gagging, but still flipping those pages.
If you're into blood, guts, and pure, insane horror, Death Cult is IT. 😈💀Just be ready for nightmares, because trust me-you'll get ‘em.
The pacing was on point too-short, sharp, and straight to the good stuff. I seriously couldn't put it down. Carrie's story? She's a straight-up badass who survived hell, and I'm BEGGING for part two. 🔥And let's talk about the cannibalism... Yeah, it's a lot, but I couldn't stop reading! 🤢I was gagging, but still flipping those pages.
If you're into blood, guts, and pure, insane horror, Death Cult is IT. 😈💀Just be ready for nightmares, because trust me-you'll get ‘em.
November 26, 2025
Eighties set horror story finds friends Jason and Eddie on a road trip adventure in the Nevada desert and running into that classic weird little town with a deadly secret. From the strange hotel owner to the weird old man at the diner they get plenty of warnings that something is not right in this virtual ghost town but in true horror trope fashion they stop in town anyway. What follows is a fast paced and delightfully gory horror story of a fiendish tourist trap, cannibal cultists and demonic creatures. Now Eddie, Jason and an adventure seeking woman named Carrie are in the gory fight of their lives.
Death Cult is a fun homage to eighties horror films with ill-fated folks venturing into a town with a horrible secret despite all the huge neon red flags advising they keep going. Author Janelle Schiecke seems to have a true love for horror stories, and it shows. She also has a really nice flow to her prose, and this novella reads quick and easy. Not to mention at 121 pages, it doesn't overstay it's welcome. Her leads Eddie and Jason are a likable duo and so we endear to them and if this bloody fun horror tale has a flaw, it's that we don't spend enough time to get to know Carrie and thus her reasons for coming to this town are hard to buy into. Knowing her better would have given her reasons for being there more weight and thus believability. We spend far more time with Jason and Eddie and Carrie is just as important to the story. Other than that, this is a blood-soaked, fast and fun read whose last act is a gore-splattered battle for survival that not only evokes eighties horror, but IMO also had echoes some of some of the extreme and over the top gory French horrors from the early 2000s. A very entertaining chiller from author Janelle Schiecke.
Death Cult is a fun homage to eighties horror films with ill-fated folks venturing into a town with a horrible secret despite all the huge neon red flags advising they keep going. Author Janelle Schiecke seems to have a true love for horror stories, and it shows. She also has a really nice flow to her prose, and this novella reads quick and easy. Not to mention at 121 pages, it doesn't overstay it's welcome. Her leads Eddie and Jason are a likable duo and so we endear to them and if this bloody fun horror tale has a flaw, it's that we don't spend enough time to get to know Carrie and thus her reasons for coming to this town are hard to buy into. Knowing her better would have given her reasons for being there more weight and thus believability. We spend far more time with Jason and Eddie and Carrie is just as important to the story. Other than that, this is a blood-soaked, fast and fun read whose last act is a gore-splattered battle for survival that not only evokes eighties horror, but IMO also had echoes some of some of the extreme and over the top gory French horrors from the early 2000s. A very entertaining chiller from author Janelle Schiecke.
July 14, 2024
An excellent piece of horror, gore and bloodlust dashed with some sultry entrées that will delight fans of the slasher genre!
The dialogues are vivid and emotive, which flow splendidly over the background of an obscure, well-crafted storyline.
Author J. Schiecke excels at the art of show vs. tell narrative: don't just tell your readers the characters are terrified, show them!
DC is the culmination of some long-time harbored gruesome notes that have been splashed over the pages of this novella for the author's —and your— enjoyment.
On a personal note, if Mrs. Janelle ever invites you to a BBQ, lie! Say it's laundry day.
More of this, please!
The dialogues are vivid and emotive, which flow splendidly over the background of an obscure, well-crafted storyline.
Author J. Schiecke excels at the art of show vs. tell narrative: don't just tell your readers the characters are terrified, show them!
DC is the culmination of some long-time harbored gruesome notes that have been splashed over the pages of this novella for the author's —and your— enjoyment.
On a personal note, if Mrs. Janelle ever invites you to a BBQ, lie! Say it's laundry day.
More of this, please!
October 4, 2025
Fun (well as fun as this type of story can be considered) little story. It was tight, quick, and unbloated, without pointless padding added just to lengthen the page count.
Centered around a small collection of characters caught up in a little corner of Hell, in a little corner of the country, in the middle of nowhere. There's a big play taking place and the big picture is unclear. The characters don't know exactly what they've stumbled into and the terror at their throats make escape a priority to finding out.
Centered around a small collection of characters caught up in a little corner of Hell, in a little corner of the country, in the middle of nowhere. There's a big play taking place and the big picture is unclear. The characters don't know exactly what they've stumbled into and the terror at their throats make escape a priority to finding out.
January 20, 2025
Great, but how do I wipe off all the splatter?
**No Spoilers**
I knew going in that the book was a gory, horror story. Duh! Death Cult!
I was ready for that. I did NOT, however, expect to connect with the characters. I loved the banter between Eddie and Jason, two college students on a well-earned road trip after their graduation. They talk as young men talk, about girls, adventures, and their hazy futures. It is a credit to Mrs. Shiecke to have captured them so well. They, in turn, captured me - a dirty trick to get me to care.
Cue the wild antics of the Death Cult. As I stated up front, there are no spoilers here. The book promises a splatterpunk experience and it delivers, mortally and supernaturally. Horror fans will love this book!
Now, how do I get the stains off my hands from where I was holding the book?
**No Spoilers**
I knew going in that the book was a gory, horror story. Duh! Death Cult!
I was ready for that. I did NOT, however, expect to connect with the characters. I loved the banter between Eddie and Jason, two college students on a well-earned road trip after their graduation. They talk as young men talk, about girls, adventures, and their hazy futures. It is a credit to Mrs. Shiecke to have captured them so well. They, in turn, captured me - a dirty trick to get me to care.
Cue the wild antics of the Death Cult. As I stated up front, there are no spoilers here. The book promises a splatterpunk experience and it delivers, mortally and supernaturally. Horror fans will love this book!
Now, how do I get the stains off my hands from where I was holding the book?
September 24, 2025
Classic 1980’s horror vibes. Loved the main characters Jason and Eddie. Quick read that kept me on my toes. Deserted & empty town, cults, cannibalism and the fight to survive.
October 19, 2025
This was one hell of a bloody good time. Looking forward to reading everything by Janelle Schiecke.
December 15, 2025
Wow, just wow.
Eddie and Jason hit the open road with girls and parties on their minds. Boy did they get it wrong!
A tribute to 80's horror Death Cult does not dissapoint. Another great story by indie horror author Janelle Schiecke that has you hooked until the very end.
Ryan D Haigh
Eddie and Jason hit the open road with girls and parties on their minds. Boy did they get it wrong!
A tribute to 80's horror Death Cult does not dissapoint. Another great story by indie horror author Janelle Schiecke that has you hooked until the very end.
Ryan D Haigh
February 23, 2025
This is a romp, although one of the character’s names, for personal reasons, took a little of the air out of it for me, at first. But, as I kept reading and long before reading the afterward, I did feel as if I were immersed in an 80s horror movie. I kept remarking to myself that it felt like a mix of Phantasm and Hellraiser, with an overall aura of The Prince of Darkness, and the dialogue lends just the right amount of “cheese” to provide that 80’s aesthetic. The only qualms I have are that, at times, it feels a little rushed and disconnected, the transitions coming so fast that I felt a little dizzy, although that would also appear to suit the overall aesthetic. And I had a little trouble imagining the setting in places, never getting a tight grasp on the overall layout of the den. But, having grown up in the desert, the place felt “right,” and I imagine there is something similar existing in some small town off the interstate, unknown to the world. Personally, I would have liked it more if it had been a tad more drawn out, but, again … 80’s movie. All in all, the story smacks. The descriptions are killer and you feel for the protagonists. DEATH CULT delivers as promised, and that kicks it up to a 5.
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