Much Too Vulgar: A Horror Novel

by Viggy Parr Hampton

“A brash, unapologetic, and often funny novel with a delightful nasty streak. I enjoyed the hell out of this one.”
—Ronald Malfi, bestselling author of Small Town HorrorDisturbed pre-med student Keely Rexroth is unable to take ‘no’ for an answer when she is denied entry into a prestigious research program. As her ambition curdles into dark mania, she embarks on her own curriculum of twisted experimentation, fighting to keep her secrets from a campus priest who is too perceptive for his own good.

If she can’t get what she deserves on her own merit, she’ll eliminate her competition.

This horror-thriller is a chilling mix of dark academia, psychological terror, gallows humor, and revenge fantasy that is perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Maeve Fly, Darkly Dreaming Dexter, and You.

"Viggy Parr Hampton’s Much Too Vulgar crackles with deftly crafted motives, intensely high stakes, and characters as sharply written as the scalpels they wield. Add to this a dose of black humor on par with Brett Easton Ellis and you’ve got yourself a horror novel you will not want to miss.” —Christa Carmen, Bram Stoker Award-winning and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of The Daughters of Block Island

“Much Too Vulgar is a delightfully fun roller-coaster ride through a depraved mind. Never before have I rooted so hard for the villain to come out on top! Viggy Parr Hampton has such an incredible way of painting a vivid world filled with characters you love to hate and hate to love. This was a fast-paced page turner that I couldn't put down! It crawled itself into my mind with each new word I read and it sits there still, well after I've finished. I can't recommend this book enough! It's so good!”—Angel Van Atta, author of In The Tall Trees

“Move over Dexter. Meet Keely. Part thriller, part savage satirical takedown of pre-med academia, Much Too Vulgar is rich with comedic terror. Viggy writes with a razor-sharp wit that would leave Carl Hiaasen’s jaw on the floor. I haven’t had this much fun following a character since Jeff Lindsay’s Darkly Dreaming Dexter. This is going to be the year’s can’t miss hit.” —Gage Greenwood, author of Bunker Dogs

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Dark Academia, Dark, Humor, Horror Thriller, Thriller

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Ghoul Von Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW/CW: Language, bullying, drinking, toxic family relationships, animal deaths (graphic), blood, gory scenes, death by suicide (mention), cutting, sexual assault, classism, c-word, toxic friendships, cheating

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Disturbed pre-med student Keely Rexroth is unable to take ‘no’ for an answer when she is denied entry into a prestigious research program. As her ambition curdles into dark mania, she embarks on her own curriculum of twisted experimentation, fighting to keep her secrets from a campus priest who is too perceptive for his own good.If she can’t get what she deserves on her own merit, she’ll eliminate her competition.
Release Date: October 22nd, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 300
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Loved the writing style
2. Main character is interesting
3. Unhinged female character
4. Book reads fast
5. Short chapters

What I Didn't Like:
1. Graphic animal deaths
2. Ending was a let down

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

I'm going to be honest I've skipped every section an animal was brutally cut up (so far 3 times). I just can't stand the suffering of an animal.

I can't even imagine the pain of cutting my body with paper. Papercuts are just terrible.

In one section Ani is mentioned to come through the door with no Starbucks and Keely is shocked, but the next paragraph mentioned she sits down her Frappuccino. Wasn't sure if she really did have Starbucks or was an error in the book.

Wouldn't Erica be able to recognize the smell on Keely as the smell she had the night before? Only because she mentions the smell that kind of woke her up including the hot breath on her face.

Keely drives me insane. She mentions she comes into the office every day on time but Ani is late every morning, so why doesn't she take the chair back she's there before this girl is and she's there after this girl leaves. I honestly think she just likes complaining to complain rather than actually do something about it. It didn't make sense that she'd rather ruin the nice chair then just take it back.

I don't understand why Keely is freaking out that they're going to find out that she killed some rats. It's not illegal to kill vermin. The most she'd get would probably be trespassing, but even that you would have to be caught in the act of actually trespassing. Erica just saying that she saw her there would be hearsay and just her word.

I would love to know how she was able to always get things down into the tunnels when she only had a ladder to climb down with. She couldn't be throwing things down the hole or they might break she carrying him down with one hand?

Keely saying that the service in the tunnels is even better than the service she has in her apartment plus a tunnel having Wi-Fi is insanity. I refuse to believe no one would come looking for Erica. She had a boyfriend and she had friends that she lived with. How would they not notice that she's missing? None of her stuff is gone and she didn't tell them where she's going, but they're just going to accept that she's gone. Just because your corresponding with the head of the lab and the college doesn't change that people on the basic level would notice that you're not there. Plus her parents would be wondering where she went. Her parents aren't just going to accept text message they're going to want to talk to her and hear her voice to know she's okay. And yeah I get that she sent out text to Tom and her roommate but these people wouldn't just take a text message at face value. Especially since she left all her stuff behind. Important stuff. She didn't even pack a bag or anything. Plus didn't she have a car. So she just left her car behind. Oh yeah her parents are gone till November on a dig. Once her parents get back though they'll be able to figure out what happened since her phone is on and pinged in the tunnels.

This is the oldest 20 year old. Erica has a facebook, twitter, and Instagram but she doesn't have tiktok or SnapChat. What is she 40?

Wow all of that and Keely's mom still isn't proud of her. She gets into the program and she just hangs up on her.

Final Thoughts:
This is one of those books where you have to suspend your sense of belief because there are things that happen in this book that couldn't happen in real life. The fact that Keely can just sleepwalk and no one notices her multiple times go into people's houses and she manages to make it out though they bumped up security seems outlandish.

How she's able to get rid of people and no one asks about Erica's disappearance. Or that no one even noticed the whole walk with Erica to the tunnels. I get that the college is less occupied because students are off but that doesn't mean that the college is totally barren. There's still people here.

Honestly I'm a little let down by the ending. We get this huge buildup about how Keely wants to get back at Erica for everything she's taken but when the time comes it just ends with Erica crawling into a trap. It felt like such a let down because I wanted more. This whole book is built around keely's angst and anxiety of Erica but then we're supposed to be okay with this mediocre moment between the two of them. I was hoping for a more grotesque ending. Maybe Erica would be pleading for her life as Keely as cutting off body parts.

Loved finding out in the authors notes that locations are real and the cuddler was real too.

IG | Blog

Thanks to the author for providing me with a gifted copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viggy knocked it out of the park with this devastating, immersive, and un-put-down-able novel. Get ready to meet your new favorite psychopath!

Keely has issues. We know this from the first few pages. Her thoughts go to very dark places and her appearance of normalcy is just an act. She loves mentally torturing people around her, using their weaknesses and flaws to manipulate and humiliate them.

But she's a very smart woman as well. Her goal is to be a surgeon. And she will do ANYTHING to get there, eliminating any obstacles trying to get in her way.

This novel takes place on a college campus (a real location) and contains dark academia, intense and horrific interactions, and a fantastic cast of characters.

Keely's mother is a character we never meet yet her presence is all over the story. Her mother is harsh at best and borderline abusive at worst. Keely wants to be the best in order to finally receive some praise from her oppressive mother and this is the driving force behind some of the most delightfully disgusting situations this book offers.

While tense and thrilling, this novel is also darkly humorous along the way and can elicit a laugh or two even through the bloodshed. And even though Keely is a psychopath, she's not an entirely bad person. You can't help but to cheer for her in certain instances and be disgusted by her in others. This keeps the narrative fresh and fast paced.

Dreadfully dark, tense, and psychologically terrifying, I highly recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book through Book sirens. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows Keely, a pre-med student desperate to get into medical school. She’s curious, relentless, and willing to cross ethical (and even legal) lines to hopefully get ahead.

The worst thing you can do while reading horror is say, “Oh, I relate to this character”—and yet here I am. No, I’m not out here murdering anyone, but I do know the feeling of competing with privilege, fighting for opportunities, trying to impress our parents, and never feeling “good enough.” Where Keely spirals into obsession, those of us in real life turn to therapy, stack our CVs with courses and experience, and cry when doors slam shut in our faces.

That’s what makes this story so good. It’s not just horror—it’s an unflinching look at the brutal world of academia. The pressure, the desperation, the way the system pits you against people with more resources or connections. And honestly? This book should be required reading for anyone in academia—PhDs, med students, or any competitive program. It captures the cutthroat, exhausting grind in a way that feels terrifyingly real.

[Stephanie Manzano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for allowing me to be an ARC reader for your book.

This book was interesting. It had a lot of WOW moments and shock value. It made you feel the different aspects of trauma the character felt and how that is affecting her as an adult. I did feel like there was a lot of moments where it gave a suspenseful moment but didn’t result in anything too big which was a downer for me. I did enjoy the rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions the main character portrayed which kept the story going. I didn’t see as much comedy in it personally but I did enjoy the medical references. Overall, it wasn’t a bad story but I do feel like the ending didn’t add up to the build up through the book.

I did receive this ARC for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paul Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading my first Viggy, I was excited to dive right into another. It eventually earned five stars from me, but only because she pulled together in the end.

Keely is a driven overachiever constantly seeking mother’s approval. She must succeed in med school for mom to notice, but first she must get a job at the Hughes lab. Except, all the positions are filled.

There is no liking Keely from the get-go. Sloppy stinking attire and grossly absent personal hygiene, it’s not easy to be her friend. And then she dissects a live squirrel on her kitchen table.

The lead character is obviously a sociopath as the author clearly establishes in the first chapter. But then the reader is hammered with evidence of the pathology over and over again. Unnecessarily repetitive. My star rating was covering near a 2.5.

Overlooking the heavy use of sociopathy, it’s a great thriller. Loads of interesting characters and dialog. Gruesome/macabre is evenly used. And there are several rather quippy lines that I highlighted for later.

Can recommend.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Much Too Vulgar" impressed me with its writing, but left me cold as a comedy. The irony is that I don't enjoy comedy in horror all that much, so the book turned out to be a riveting and engrossing tale of medical insanity for me.

I enjoyed it immensely, though at the start, I felt pity for the main character (and guilty for feeling it), and I cringed everytime she succumbed to the psychological pressures in her life; however, after some time, it finally dawned on me that she's actually a vindictive, paranoid, evil she-devil, and pity was inappropriate -then she slowly grew on me.

That said, she's downright unlikeable and what redeems her is the author's absolutely amazing writing style: nothing is left to guessing, every little thought is open to view, and this works wonders for this kind of supremely flawed character. Any other way to present her would have turned her cynicism, nihilism, and sarcasm from tragedy to plain comic relief, eliminating the horrific aspects of her actions in favor of sheer craziness.

I recommend the book to all lovers of morally and psychologically complex fiction, not just to horror fans.

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

** ARC RATING **

so, i had no idea what to expect with this book. this is my introduction to the author and all i can say is: W O W.

i don’t think i’ve ever read something more raw and brutal than i have with Much Too Vulgar. our FMC, Keely, is something else. she’s not one you can rely on, often times, i hated her. but that’s the point, right? i hated her and she angered me so many times though i still couldn’t help but to feel some sort of connection to her. the trauma she’s dealt, unchecked mental health, the pressure to be someone.. be perfect. (obviously nothing excuses her actions)

personally, i thought this book was a bit of a fun read. a break from MC’s who feel too much guilt in showing their flaws and tend to hold themselves back. this was a bit of a change to read through the journey of a pre-med student trying to (literally) carve her way. she’s raw, extremely flawed, filled with rage and very much delusional.

the contents in this story are not for the faint of heart. please read the trigger warnings and keep in mind that they’re not something that’s just mentioned, they’re described at a great length.

Viggy Parr Hampton takes you down a scary reality with this one. after all, nothings scarier than something that could very much happen to anyone no matter the time and place.

[cat ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meredith Grey in another universe

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been awhile since I’ve had a good binge read. Much Too Vulgar fulfilled that craving and then some. This story wasn’t at all what I expected it to be. I immediately felt a connection with Keely because of her dark sense of humor and well her snarky overall demeanor. I do want to say that I didn’t agree with her behavior and acts she committed throughout the book. I promise I’m not insane. 😅


Much Too Vulgar follows Keely, a young premed student at Georgetown. She’s been turned down for the prestigious research program she’s longingly desired to get into and has a personal vendetta against the girl who beat her out. Meanwhile, she struggles to have any type of positive relationship with her peers. In her spare time she performs her own experiments with wildlife she finds nearby. If you can’t handle animal death then skip out on this one. I will say that it doesn’t involve cats or dogs if that changes your mind.

I was hooked from the very beginning and couldn’t put this one down. I was so eager to finish and see how things would pan out for Keely. This was such a satisfying 5 star read and I cannot wait to see what this author puts out next!!

Thank you to BookSirens for this ARC. Much Too Vulgar is available now!

[Maggie C. Nolan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks so much to thr author, Viggy Parr Hampton, for the ebook ARC of MUCH TOO VULGAR through Booksirens! Publication expected October 22, 2024!

This was a bit of a tough one for me. I found myself putting it down a lot, and all told, it took me almost a month to finish it.

There are a lot of things about this book I enjoyed--it was definitely gross enough, and I am a huge sucker for narrations from MC's that have no redeeming qualities and who have huge egos. The ideas of being the best surgeon in the world and being a self-isolationist were very reminiscent of movies like EXCISION and MAY, and books like BOY PARTS and AMERICAN PSYCHO. I enjoyed Keely's constant lament of how annoying she found Airhead Ani, and how she tortured her for no real reason other than she annoyed her. I thought this book had a lot of funny, punchy one-liners, and since the author is also an epidemiologist, all of the medical chapters and surgery excursions felt very realistic. Which, to me, added to the fear factor.

The thing that held me up in this one, truly, was the writing style. I am not the audience for a story where everything is over explained, and the character's actions are never just left for the reader to interpret or for us to get to know the MC. In a lot of these scenarios, less is more, and often the author would tack on some more thoughts at the end of a perfectly adequate paragraph, like she didn't trust the reader enough to know what she meant or how Keely felt.

When we got to her killing actual people, I was really excited and felt like the story was finally grabbing me. The scene where she has Erica in the cage in the tunnels is real gross, tense, and lovely because you finally get to see Keely be truly unmasked in front of someone for the first time in the whole book. Erica trying to crawl away on broken legs and then getting killed by the booby trap made my skin crawl. But then it kind of just ends. After all the research and surgeries we saw Keely perform on the animals, I was excited to see the ultimate research project for her, and see her dissect Erica. But then she didn't! I'm not sure if we are supposed to infer that Keely didn't do anything else to Erica's body because she loved her, or if she was saving her for later. But that was disappointing as I thought it was going to all culminate there.

I liked the idea of the ending when Keely calls her mother and she still doesn't give her the praise she has always needed. But I wanted the interaction to be longer. I know that was the point--she cares so little that the convo for Keely is as short as it is for the reader. But I could have used a little bit more.

Since she was already rejected by one of the professors in the Hughe's program early on, i found it a little confusing that they would offer Keely Erica's spot, but it also makes for a better story, so that's a me thing.

The writing style is what kept me from really loving this, but I will definitely be on the look out for more of Viggy's work!

[Shrike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much Too Vulgar was a challenging and thought-provoking read for me.

Keely is a complex and tragic character. Her illness undeniably warps her perception of the world; however, mental illness alone cannot absolve her. I struggled to reconcile empathy and revulsion throughout this read and remain unsure what to think. Does her antisocial behavior make her truly irredeemable? Unworthy of love? I'll be ruminating on this one for a bit.

I was not at all surprised to learn that this book was crafted very intentionally over a period of years. Foreshadowing was one of the story's strengths. I was both horrified and satisfied as seemingly minute details clicked together to form a larger, bloodier picture.

I'm grateful for the chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Laura Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best horror books I have read in a long time! Makes you really wonder if growing up with parents who aren’t at all nurturing, really does play a role in decisions that are made in adulthood. I think we have all had similar feelings when it comes to groups, clicks, or people in general. But acting on certain impulses, I believe most of us can refrain.
This book kept me engaged just to find out what happened next. I cringed, laughed, and gasped throughout the whole book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. Keely is determined to make her dream of becoming a top surgeon a reality, but after being rejected from a prestigious program she takes unorthodox methods to hone her skills. This was an interesting concept and had a lot of good twists. The ending left me wanting more, so I hope there is a sequel.

[Stephanie Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a twisted book and oh so good!! 10/10

[Emma Clow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nasty and unhinged.

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-
Every Super Villain has an origin story, every Urban Legend retains a meaty core of truth. In his infamous graphic novel The Killing Joke writer Alan Moore gives the following statement to the joker: “All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day.” Much Too Vulgar shows that perhaps that line of thought is far too simplistic. Keely is a driven pre-Med student, for the love of science, and hunger for her Mothers approval, she pushes against every stumbling block the world seems to throw at her. Eventually though, the dominos of life( nature, nurture, circumstance and neurology etc.) pile up, and reach a tipping point. If one bad day can destroy a man, a life time of such days my destroy a person completely. Or, perhaps serve as the Forge from which they will be reborn.
Author VIggy Parr Hampton has crafted a delightfully dark and twisted tale. I found myself cheering Keely on as she stepped into her own, diving open arms into darkness, leaving muddy and bloody footprints the whole way. Hampton proves that she has the ability to deliver a story that stabs you in any number of vital organs, while also bringing you to joyful laughter. Her real world medical background helps add that crimson splash of visceral realism. In my minds eye, Keely's story plays out like a classic tale of horror from EC comics. There too, the blood and laugher flowed in equal measure. Once all the incisions have been made, and that last pool of blood has congealed, perhaps you, like me, will find yourself waiting expectantly for Kaylee's next experiment. Much Too Vulgar is due out in late October, I highly recommend snapping it up with the same fervor that Kalyee grabs Georgetown rats.

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keely is an aspiring medical student with a domineering surgeon mother who covets fellow classmate Erica's life; she's a lab assistant in a prestigious program, she's pretty, has friends, and is pretty much everything Keely is not. This book follows Keely's mental health spiral and grisly lab experiments, culminating in some wild twists.

As someone who enjoys medical horror and thrillers, I dug this. My only gripes: the animal torture. I had a hard time with that. Hampton's story is well written, fast-paced, and I highly recommend this for any fans of such things.

[Darth C · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.**

‘Much Too Vulgar’ by Viggy Parr Hampton is a horror-thriller that promises a chilling mix of dark academia, psychological terror, and gallows humor. However, despite the intriguing premise, the execution didn’t fully deliver for me.

The protagonist, Keely Rexroth, a pre-med student whose ambition spirals into obsession, is difficult to connect with from the outset. Her single-minded determination quickly turns unsettling, but I found her to be a largely unlikable character throughout the story, with few, if any, redeeming qualities. This lack of connection made it hard to stay engaged.

That said, I must give credit where it’s due: the author clearly has a strong understanding of the medical and scientific world. The detailed references to Keely's academic and experimental endeavors are both realistic and impressive, lending credibility to the character’s actions. This scientific accuracy stands out as one of the book’s notable strengths.

However, ‘Much Too Vulgar’ deals with some very dark and disturbing content, including graphic depictions of animal cruelty and an attempted sexual assault. While these elements serve the plot, they are difficult to read and should have come with a clear trigger warning. Readers sensitive to these topics may want to approach the book with caution.

The book is advertised as being perfect for fans of ‘Dexter’ and ‘YOU’, both of which are personal favorites of mine, but I found this comparison misleading. While the protagonist’s twisted mindset might align with those stories, the dark humor and gripping psychological tension that made ‘Dexter’ and ‘YOU’ compelling is largely absent here. The promised "gallows humor" felt flat, with juvenile pranks that missed the mark entirely.

There were moments, particularly toward the end, where the story managed to draw me in, but ultimately, the conclusion left me disappointed. Despite flashes of promise, the book struggled to maintain the suspense and engagement I had hoped for.

Overall, ‘Much Too Vulgar’ didn’t live up to its potential for me. While the scientific detail is commendable and the concept had promise, the lack of connection to the protagonist, absence of engaging dark humor, and the heavy, disturbing content without proper warning made it hard to fully enjoy. I give it 2 out of 5 stars.

[Nick Younker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jam: Much Too Vulgar
The Jam written by: Viggy Parr Hampton

I preface by saying: HOLY FROG-KING SCHUUUYT (censored for Lord Zon)!

[Feel free to decode the vocabs]

The story lives up to its shame. Hampton’s “Vulgar” is a masterclass. Maybe body horror, maybe sociopathy/psychopathy, maybe nature (the Jesuit, O’Meara?) vs nurture (the atrocious “Mother”), maybe pure evil. One thing’s for certain; those of us who have an inner dialogue and a low tolerance for stupidity, we’ve all had the same thoughts. There’s no “I would nevers,” nor is there any “don’t accuse me of that atrocity” buhl-chit (censored for Lord Zon). Freethinkers say this narrative in variations, inaudible, ALL. THE. TIME! Don’t try to imagine a world where you don’t. I do. You do. We all scream for we do’s.

TIME FOR ADULT SWIM: Let’s hit the high-dive! We begin with a cold (or hot) open and a natural blast of inner dialogue. The narrator: Keely “muth-argh-fungk-en” Rexroth (censored for Lord Zon). Can anyone say Patrick Bateman? Can anyone say Maeve Fly? Can anyone say Dark Anakin (pre-torch with the younglings)?

Rexroth is the one who should be paid attention to by those in her orbit, but appearance and lack of hygiene (maybe) holds her back, despite a 4.0 GPA and impeccable vocab skills. Seriously, this chick had me flipping pages in my handheld dictionary as quick as the wind could blow ‘em, AND dragged out the time it took me to read this unnerving, delightful jam.

The “body horror” accusation. Even though some lightweights might call it pure body horror, I dare you to watch “Contagion,” “Jaws” (the autopsy, and poor Robert Shaw’s Quint) or any episode of “The Walking Dead.” Read “Legion” and tell me you didn’t want the carp in the bathtub to die a miserable death. Med students routinely do labs on living and dead animals, learning universities that try to fix a condition, learn a condition, understand a condition or perfect surgical techniques. Even in the sacred halls of Jesuit Georgetown, real life, does this sh…yyyyyuht (censored for Lord Zon) take place. It’s real and an accepted practice among society, at least for now. The Big Murder Bill may change that, or Hoghead-RFK-TheSequel.

Rexroth wasn’t accepted in the Hughes summer lab program, passed over by amateurs with body images that likely attract prestigious donors. A Harvard rep showed up just in time to illustrate this point, that dumb bei…y-a-t…ch (censored for Lord Zon).

One part made me stop for the night, that poor rat and his “Puss-In-Boots” eyes pleading for its life. Got-dayim-nit it, Vig (censored for Lord Zon)! Break me, why don’t you? I have a puppy, you know!

Still, I couldn’t help myself. I woke the next morning and skipped brushing my teeth, skipped the bathroom freshening, just rolled over and picked that evil Kindle back up. Just 15 more pages and I’ll start my day. Just 10 more. 5 more. ETCETERA!

The interactions with Airhead and Erica were cathartic. Erica makes a brief cameo in the beginning and the middle before she gets sucked into a supporting MC role. Even though Erica was supposed to be the one with a “you had it coming” bullseye on her back, it was her interactions with Airhead I found most pleasing, a guilty pleasure that I may or may not have done myself. This is not an admission, nor should it be interpreted as such. Pya…ss off (censored for Lord Zon). Pleading the Fifth!

Long arc short, Rexroth was forced to do her experiments as an indie, just as Hampton was forced to publish this jam as an indie. Does art imitate life or life imitate art? No, Viggy is not Rexroth. She noted she’s more of an Erica in her closing statement and this is purely a work of fiction. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Hampton is a trained epidemiologist and did go to Georgetown and Emory, making her uniquely qualified as one of a handful of people capable of creating this jam in her imagination.

A few standout scenes drew parallels to popular culture. She enters an antique shop and the old shopkeeper, presenting as a tired old man looking to supplement his swag in retirement, maybe, tried to push a board game sale on her and instead denied her something she wanted most. It played out similar to “The Neverending Story.” And the scene [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS] where she referred to fingers as “digits,” it reminded me of the only time I ever heard it, in the movie “Dutch” when Dutch (Ed O’Neill) tried to give little Doyle a freebie punch and showed him how to make a proper fist. Even Keely’s last name, Rexroth, conjures up Clive Barker’s “Rawhead Rex” (shivers).
Of course, the most common parallel drawn upon was obvious: “The Exorcist.”

“That’s much too vulgar a display of power.” ~ Pazuzu possessed Reagan, “The Exorcist.”

Although most comparable scenes and talked about scenes in the novel were coincidental and necessary due to the location (again, Georgetown and the Jesuits), there was no evidence of the supernatural present in this jam. Unless you consider the Madame who guessed her name right. But that was negligible and possibly coincidental. Let it die on the vine. This story reads like true crime fiction. Serial killers, not that Rexroth became one, routinely experimented on animals before making their national debut on cable/network news.

If I keep talking, I’m gonna spoil the book for all youse knuckheads who’ve not paid the measly $2.99 to buy it, making this the Cliff Notes version. I refuse to do that to Vig, so I’ll be making my closing arguments now.

Viggy Par Hampton will seriously unnerve you, but so did William Peter Blatty. So did Chuck Palahniuk. So did Charles Bukowski. To not read this isn’t a disservice to her, it’s a disservice to you. The jam has excellent syntax, minimalist style and at 300 pages (I’m guessing the word count at 76K with a margin of error at +2K/-5K) I was uniquely satisfied from Alpha to Omega. Her style flowed so well it made me read fast, then re-read for clarity. I got waaaay too much into the story and immersed myself for days, making sure I understood every paragraph, sentence and word. Some chapter rereads were necessary, mostly ‘cause her style forced my brain to choke itself at times. I haven’t had a reading experience like this since Chuck Palahniuk’s “Fight Club.” Wait, wait… “Maeve Fly” had the same effect on me, but that’s a different review for a different day, and you’ll wait your turn!

My review store is now closing. Please exit through the gift shop… and READ THIS GOT-DAYAM-NED (censored for Lord Zon) BOOK! You’ll be a shoo-in for he11, guaranteed!

[Ziggy Nixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shallow cuts heal quickly, deep cuts heal slowly,
…and the ones you can’t see never heal at all.

Oh that was so gloriously and even disgustingly fvcked up! I can't say that Viggy Parr Hampton's "Much Too Vulgar: A Horror Novel" is necessarily my favorite read of the year (hey, she had plenty of chances to settle that argument by having wee animal zombies running around but no!), but I will definitely underline a few times that our main - oh what should we call her? Mayhaps the "chaotic trickster" as the interweb suggests? Well, let's just say our "focus" character Keely Rexroth, who hates people with a unbrideled and burning passion, is for sure my favorite villainous being of the year. She is the fuel that drives this insane joyride into her world - including what is obviously a very, very sick subconscious - and in doing so delivers an incredibly addictive and deliciously wicked performance! She is literally the stuff of nightmares and couldn't have been better portrayed.

I spent the day dissecting the sparrow that broke its neck on my window.

As I've learned during my own journey into the mental health side of caring for myself - which is an absolute dream in our socialized system, kids (my sessions AND medications are free, btw) - you can get any variety of help about the things that explain what is going on inside yourself, be it depression (check), severe anxiety (check), or biological reasons (was check, but for now, nope). But even if you come to a full understanding of what is going through that mystery box in your head, that still won't necessarily forgive what others have done to you or what you have done to others. So, yes, to answer the more sympathetic pundits, I do understand why Keely is so utterly damaged and broken, both from environmental and possibly as well genetic sources. I mean, if you want to define an antagonist in this story, her mother definitely qualifies as the Wicked Witch of All Directions. That though again does not justify what she - Keeley - sees as fully permissible carte blanche on her way to committing the increasingly shocking atrocities we experience!

No one has the power to help me… There’s no fixing me.

Now I've seen some folks compare Keely to the character of "Dexter" (never seen it) or even "Wednesday" (never seen it), but I'm betting the house that neither of these analogies are even close to what we witness here. There is absolutely nothing benevolent about what Keely thinks or does, even if - again - we feel compassion or empathy towards her as a human being (+/-). She has been "taught" if you will - as in tortured mentally, psychologically, and even, I suspect, physically ("Mother would lock me in the hall closet for some infraction or another.") - that she WILL be a surgeon of renown and that the world will bow at the altar of her greatness which includes a superior mental acuity unlike anyone ever before. Mind you, if she does not achieve all of these goals, she will have utterly failed in the eyes of the demon wearing her mother's skin (now there's someone we should have tried the exorcism on!). Never you mind what the poor child wants or even deserves, we are pushed with her into understanding this is her destiny… OR ELSE! I mean, who needs hygiene when you are, in effect, destined to be a god?

I slap a blank grin on my face, the kind of smile you see on serial killers in their mug shots.

But do note that if you are the type of person that needs to be warned about triggers in a book, this one probably can best be summarized as "all of the above." No, there's no 'death of the family dog' to mourn here, but if you don't like to see ANY of gods creatures harmed, well, run away very fast right now! There's mentions of self-harm ("I often wondered how long it would take them to find me if I slit my wrists in the bath."), suggestions of potential rape, and even, yes, the teachings of the Catholic faith to consider (seriously, sell the gold in a closet of the Vatican already and feed the hungry of the world for a year!). Keely also has a need for cutting herself which is never pleasant ("That night was the first time I split my own flesh with a pair of nail scissors… The relief was immediate, cleansing.") and naturally (?) some of the ending scenes will definitely leave one (= me) feeling shaken for some time to come! No I would NOT like some tea, thankyouverymuch!

My academic interest in ancient torture practices is really coming in handy.

VPH (noting she refers to herself as MPH, which means "Viggy" must be short for … Meviggia?) does an outstanding job of making this story as realistic as possible. The fact that she attended Georgetown, took part in the select program mentioned, and much more - including being all too familiar with the various Halls at the University as well as the far-too-famous-for-comfort "Exorcist stairs" - is comfortably apparent, although I'm not sure how I feel learning that (a) the steam tunnels under Healy Hall are real and that she knows about them as well as (b) there apparently was a Georgetown Cuddler at some point. Whether or not he (the Cuddler, not the author) suffered as well from somnambulism or just a need to "snatch at warmth wherever they can get it, consciousness and consent be damned" is unknown. But double-lock your doors anyway just to be safe.

If I’d known killing people felt this good, I might have tried it earlier.

I also have to say because I do complain about this a lot in my reviews, but the execution is from start to finish absolutely flawless. So if V/MPH reads this, she definitely needs to thank her review team because this was an absolute pleasure in that regard (yeah, we know about my OCD but not entirely why it's there)! Otherwise, all I can really leave you with is somewhat of a nervous laugh and a quick glance from side-to-side to check my escape routes, as this obviously intelligent mother of at least two wrote a book that just absolutely scared the shinola out of me! Great stuff! Mother would be proud…

I’ve worked so hard, sacrificed so much, practiced so diligently, killed so carefully—and Mother still isn’t proud of me.

[Lisa (the_epi_reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much Too Vulgar goes down a deep dark rabbit hole as Keely’s sanity unravels, and she is not a likable person. I tend to struggle with books that have a purposeful unlikable MC but I stayed invested in Keely’s story. Part of me wanted to hate her, but there were other factors that influenced how Keely acted and perceived the world. Does she need help? Hell yes. Much too Vulgar is a great read for fans of American Psycho or Maeve Fly. It was definitely more character driven, but included enough plot to keep me reading.

TW: Self-harm, animal abuse/experimentation, bullying

[Julia Boisvert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, as it was excitedly recommended to me by one of the workers while I was browsing the bookstore shelves. Unfortunately, I ultimately found myself let down by the character development and progression of the storyline.

The good:
Though I found myself repeatedly annoyed at the protagonist’s actions and progression of events in this book, it more or less kept me engaged (more so once Erica plays a bigger role). I generally enjoyed the read, especially once I was able to suspend my belief, and was intrigued by the premise of the story.

The bad:
Admittedly, I went in to this book mostly blind, expecting more of a psychological-horror angle rather than the gorier approach the story took. I don’t mind gore, and on the contrary find elements like body horror to be a very compelling literary device depending on how it’s being depicted. However, in my opinion, the gore in this story felt like it was being used as a shock/edge factor above all.
Similarly, I felt Keely wound up servicing the need of coming off edgy and disturbed more than anything- rather than providing any real depth or development to her character. Her motivations and background felt very flat and predictable to me, for example the trope of having a cold and distant mother that drives mental illness later in life (between this, her absent father, and her “airhead” friend it felt very reminiscent of MYORAR).
Though I understand the point is to have a twisted protagonist, her actions and thought process also felt very juvenile, as though trying to play the part of someone disturbed rather than conveying any real emotional complexity. Frustratingly this leads her to do a lot of unnecessarily risky things (yelling/stealing from the store owner, constantly openly threatening/harassing people, etc), to the point where it’s difficult not to acknowledge the plot armor given to enable her to continue on without getting confronted or found out.
Plot wise, as others have mentioned, the ending fell flat for me. I became very invested in the set up of events, but ultimately any development made throughout the story felt inconsequential by the last page. I was hoping to see the various plot points come together in a big way, though just as you’re reaching the climax of the book it’s cut short in an unsatisfactory way. I think the biggest instance of this is the lead up to Erica’s capture and rather insignificant death.

Overall, though I enjoyed the book, there were a few prevailing issues I had with the writing style and characters that prevented me from really getting into it.
Rant aside, I would rate this higher at a 2.5/5 if I could do half stars.

[Linda Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keely Rexroth is not a happy camper. Pre-med at Georgetown University, she is turned down for an appointment to a prestigious summer research program and told by the professor in charge that the program is full. However, by eavesdropping, she discovers that a special accommodation was made for another candidate, Erica, who is the antithesis of Keely. Angry and upset, Keely continues to work in the parish office where she has one co-worker “Airhead Ani,” whom she tortures with wickedly clever and mean-spirited practical jokes.

But Keely is not just another angry student carrying a grudge. No, she has deep-rooted insecurities fed over the years by the psychological and mental abuse exacted upon her by her mother. She has been brought up to believe that she has to be perfect and losing the research scholarship does not fit in with her expectations. Thus, she begins to decompensate, performing dissections of hapless rats and squirrels in her basement apartment under the guise that doing this is furthering her education. When the roommates who live upstairs question her about the strange sounds they’re hearing, Keely must seek out a different refuge wherein to perform her experiments. By chance, she finds the perfect place – the tunnels that lie under the University. Her unraveling escalates and becomes apparent to some of those around her as she neglects to perform even the most basic of hygienic routines. Some of these people reach out to her, realizing that she is desperately in need of help. Will she grab at the life line being offered to her? Or will she continue to seek revenge against those who she believes have wronged her? To find the answers to these questions, you’ll have to read the book! No spoilers here!

I have to say that I absolutely love Ms. Hampton’s writing. Her debut novel, A Cold Night for Alligators was a wildly entertaining read and, when offered the chance to read her second novel, I jumped at it. Much Too Vulgar is full of dark humor, but also is a serious exploration of the mind of a young woman in trouble. Even though some of the things Keely does are seriously off the wall, you find yourself rooting for her, hoping she’ll find a path out of the dark place she’s gotten herself into.

Much Too Vulgar is highly recommended for lovers of horror, dark humor, and novels that explore the psychology of madness. I loved every word of it!

[Kelsea]

I enjoyed Viggy Parr Hampton’s writing style and found it to be very vivid and immersive. Keep this in mind for the TW, as they are not just brief mentions, but are suuuper detailed.

This storyline is very unique, with our main character Keely bringing mixed emotions. She is a deeply disturbed person who commits revolting acts and is a character that you should not feel any sympathy for. While I wanted to hate her, it was hard to not feel empathetic towards her as it’s clear that she so desperately wanted to be loved and accepted by her cruel and emotionless mother, as well as by her peers though she won’t admit it. Keely is someone who is deeply struggling with her mental health (to put it lightly), but won’t acknowledge it due to the extreme perfectionism her mother instilled in her. While mental illness does not excuse her actions, she has spent her entire life trying to live up to her mother’s expectations which led to her dark spiral. Very conflicting emotions and it brings nature vs nurture into question.

When I read the description I figured this would be an unputdownable page turner, but for me personally it was a bit slow and sometimes repetitive. There were certain scenes throughout the book where I was expecting something exciting to happen but would then be kind of letdown. It did seem to drag on a bit and I would find myself surprised to look down and see that I still had so much time left in the book. While Much Too Vulgar fell in the middle of the scale for me, I will definitely check out Parr Hampton’s other books as I did really enjoy her writing style. I also liked the note at the end that shared some of the real life inspiration for this book and its location.

Thank you to BookSirens and Parr Hampton for this free ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lindsay Farassat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this twisted little novel, which reminded me a lot of the movie Excision as well as a little bit of American Mary. A disturbed woman wants to become a surgeon, but her bloodlust proves her undoing. You know, it's that kind of thing.

Keely's emotional disturbances, which stem from her mother's mental and physical abuse, are labeled by another character in the novel as schizotypal personality disorder, which I think fits her pretty well. She does not know how to emotionally relate to others, has delusions of grandeur, experiences distorted reality, and loses chunks of time. She forgets to bathe and otherwise groom herself, and likes to play mean jokes on and play games of mental torture with the people around her. A few people try to reach out and help her, but that ends up turning out pretty badly for them.

Keely becomes obsessed with trying to get into a scholarship program for pre-med students, which she feels was stolen from her by another girl, Erica. Erica is essentially everything Keely feels she is meant to become, so when Erica attempts to befriend her out of pity, she becomes weirdly obsessed with her. All the while, she is doing things like hiding out in abandoned tunnels and dissecting animals, and attempting to perform bizarre surgeries on them.

Her behavior naturally escalates to actual murder by the end of the book, and this is where my suspension of belief got a little challenged. Basically, when a priest working in the same building as her begins to suspect that she is incredibly disturbed, she poisons his tea and frames her coworker for it. And she GETS AWAY with it. Not only that, but she kills Erica as well and no one blinks twice because she made it look like Erica just ran off. At the end of the novel, she's just sitting pretty while her coworker gets arrested for murder, and it just seems like...it was way too easy. The evidence she planted seemed pretty obviously planted to me, but the police don't question it? Idk, it seemed off. And also, I wanted her to get what she deserved.

That said, I would definitely read a sequel about what happens with Keely after all of this.

[Kim Layman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa….I’m still processing what I just read. It was unhinged, crazy, and gory. Viggy gives us the antihero, Keely, who has only one thing in mind-get into the Hughes research program. It will guarantee her a spot in a prestigious med school program. She is determined, ruthless, and will do anything to get what she wants. Anything.

I found myself conflicted about Keely. On one hand, I found her loathe some, and completely unlikable. She’s cocky, ragey to an extreme, an unreliable narrator, and delusional-even if she believes every word she says. On the other hand, Keely’s inner dialogue, and comments to others, give a clear picture about why she is the way she is. It’s the sad story of a woman desperate to win her abusive mother’s approval, and someone who is broken emotionally. Keely’s inner turmoil is compulsive and dangerous-leaving her one step away from snapping .

The one thing that never endeared me to Keely was her constant and childish pranks she would play on her workmate, Ani. I’m guessing that Keely was jealous of Ani’s life, and the things she had, but eh, it was beneath her, even for someone like Keely. She didn’t really have anything to prove by torturing Ani, and that seems to be what Keely thrives on-most of the time.

Despite that hiccup for me, I enjoyed this book. I found myself engaged from start to finish. The writing was done well, the pacing and plot kept me wanting more, and the ending gave a chance for a sequel, which I think would be great. I will warn that there is lots of graphic descriptions of animal experiments in this book. So, tread lightly. Other than that, dive into the crazy world of ambition gone horribly wrong, and watch as Keely tries to achieve her dream.

I received this ARC from Book Sirens, my opinion is my own.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Imagine if you will, a mix of American Mary, a dash of Mean Girls, some splatterpunk and a whole lot of medical mayhem and you have Much Too Vulgar.

Loosely based on the author's experience at Georgetown, aka the school right near the fabled Exorcist stairs, the novel takes us inside the mind of Keely, a socially awkward medical student in training.

I honestly don't want to go into too much of the story, cause it may end up leading into spoiler territory. The book itself is very, very good, taking some unexpected twists and turns leading to the inevitable conclusion of the story.

For me, the biggest issue is Keely's narration itself. Obviously we are in her mind and that needs to match her attitude, but at times she becomes so unlikeable that it almost turns you off from continuing with the story. This lightens up towards the latter half of the book, and I don't blame the author for making her this way, as it truly does emphasize the effects that the world, and specifically Keely's mother, have had on her, but as a guy who loves to read splatterpunk and extreme horror, I am used to unlikeable characters, but at times it became to the point that I was just tired of it.

If you can get past that, there is a lot of fun to be had, from the aforementioned medical mayhem, some very funny moments, both intentional and unintentional. I can't say to put this at the top of your reading list, but I can definitely say I would recommend it, as it is more often than not a fun read and I will certainly be checking out some more of Hampton's work.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.



I am floored—just floored. Keely is an amazing horror protagonist. Each of her actions is incredibly full of aggressivity and selfishness, yet through her narration, they become justifiable by her madness. Keely is driven by this sickly, obsessive-compulsive desire to please her Mother. Her achievements and failures define her entire self-worth. She doesn't care or relate to people or animals, she completely forgoes hygiene and relationships, all in the pursuit of this constant-evading notion of success her mother has forced upon her since childhood.



Keely is a deeply traumatized protagonist, which makes her an amazing character to follow through a horror novel. I cannot recommend this book enough. I was constantly surprised by the events, and horrified by her actions, and yet you can't help but root for her in a way.
I support women's rights and women's wrongs lol

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a fun read. So I’ll preface this one by saying it has maaaaaaajor animal harm so please avoid if that’s something problematic. Also tw for self harm. This is a wild ride. In Much Too Vulgar we’re introduced to Keely Rexroth. Having a mother who’s made her feel inadequate since birth has left her severely struggling with life. She desperately desires to be a surgeon to impress her mother and is willing to achieve this dream at all costs. Her only friend is her neighbor, Roger, who cannot retain information due to a severe TBI.

Keely is very well executed. Similar to books like Maeve Fly it’s near impossible to not feel such empathy and hope for her while watching her make bewildering, harmful decisions. As the story progresses we get more detail about the contentious relationship with her mother which has left her so broken. It’s heartbreaking but Hampton also manages to make the book incredibly dark with a nice lining of humor to keep it balanced. The book definitely left me both horrified and saddened.

I found it well written. Hampton is probably one of the most effective writers I’ve seen to use smell as a major component of the book. So many scenes were rendered that much more vivid because I couldn’t help but smell what was happening. Combined with the vivid imagery within the pages it makes for an unforgettable read.

If intense books that showcase an individual grappling with madness are your vibe, then definitely give this one a read. Again, major trigger warnings for animal and self harm, so avoid if those are an issue. I definitely look forward to seeing what Hampton puts out in the future.

[A.J. Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychological horror is always a slow burn, and this one is no different. After all, madness never happens overnight. It's a gradual descent.

Georgetown sophomore Keely Rexroth has had med-school aspirations drilled into her since as far back as she can remember. That's the only result that could ever appease her mother. The woman has only ever shown her daughter disappointment, loathing, and unrelenting obstinacy toward her future being anything other than that of an esteemed medical professional. Nothing Keely does is ever good enough. So, when she stays the summer, working as a chaplain's aide rather than a Hughes Research Program member, the strain between the two women only intensifies. The brunt of which is wholly on the younger of the Rexroth women.

As Keely sees her dreams fading, from the "bad chair" beside "Airhead Ani," she takes matters into her own hands. She can start her own lab, do her own research. She already has her subjects; she just needs the requisite tools.

"Much Too Vulgar" keys in on the daunting pressures of parental neglect, perfectionism, and isolation that are all too common within higher education spheres. It's filled with dark, cynical wit and characters both pitiable and contemptible. It will leave readers questioning the thoughts behind the eyes of everyone they know.