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Masks
Edward Stitch, once infamous as the "Gentleman Butcher," was a meticulous serial killer whose reign of terror ended on death row. Or so the world believed. In truth, Edward was coerced into a secret government program known as the Mask Programme. A bomb implanted in his skull ensures his compliance, turning him into a weapon under the codename "Mr. Stitches.
When a fellow operative escapes, Edward is thrust into a dangerous mission to bring them back. But his assignment uncovers a hidden war, a rebellion brewing against the shadowy program that controls him. Captured by a resistance leader, Edward learns the horrifying the Masks are pawns in a decades-long experiment creating something far worse than killers.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Edward must navigate a world of lies, monsters, and betrayals, where every move risks his life—or his freedom. But as he descends deeper into the Programme’s nightmarish secrets, Edward realizes there’s something even more dangerous than the horrors he’s his own thirst for revenge.
Twisting, relentless, and brimming with darkness, Masks is a high-octane thriller where the lines between predator and prey blur—and no one escapes unscathed.
When a fellow operative escapes, Edward is thrust into a dangerous mission to bring them back. But his assignment uncovers a hidden war, a rebellion brewing against the shadowy program that controls him. Captured by a resistance leader, Edward learns the horrifying the Masks are pawns in a decades-long experiment creating something far worse than killers.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, Edward must navigate a world of lies, monsters, and betrayals, where every move risks his life—or his freedom. But as he descends deeper into the Programme’s nightmarish secrets, Edward realizes there’s something even more dangerous than the horrors he’s his own thirst for revenge.
Twisting, relentless, and brimming with darkness, Masks is a high-octane thriller where the lines between predator and prey blur—and no one escapes unscathed.
132 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 6, 2025
15 people want to read
About the author
Jim Horlock
22 books30 followersJim Horlock was raised in the grounds of Victorian-era asylum and ghosts have followed him since. He now lives in Wales, where he explores his obsession for all things dark and strange by writing dark, strange fiction. You can find his stories with The NoSleep Podcast, Flame Tree Press, Crystal Lake Publishing, Endless Ink, Eerie River Publishing, and in many other places.
Jim is a cryptid enthusiast, a dungeon master, and greatly appreciates weird noises from the woods. He enjoys a good hat.
Jim is a cryptid enthusiast, a dungeon master, and greatly appreciates weird noises from the woods. He enjoys a good hat.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 9, 2025
This one was super interesting, it wasn’t what I normally read but it was still really good! I enjoyed the plot and the story line, the characters weren't likable just because of circumstances going on in the book, but I was engaged the whole time, and It was an easy story to follow. This is definitely splatter id say’ just because some of the scenes can be pretty graphic but I will say it was well done! It was a fast read, and it was good! I liked it!
So if you like splatter, serial killers in a government facility then this is for you!
So if you like splatter, serial killers in a government facility then this is for you!
March 21, 2025
For what is horror, really, than a story about evil of one sort or other?
—Halloween director John Carpenter, Fangoria magazine, March 2001
Critics of horror have long asserted that the genre glorifies evil. The argument contains at least a small kernel of truth; unique among storytelling forms, horror—in all its various iterations—almost uniformly places its narrative emphasis, not on the hero, but the villain. Saying that such a perspective glorifies evil, though, ignores a more obvious fact: that identifying with the villain allows the audience to safely and vicariously indulge sentiments of anger, revenge, violence, and other anti-social feelings that would be unacceptable to express in real life.
While this inversion of classic protagonist/antagonist roles may trouble pundits, dyed-in-the-wool horror hounds know the villain in any dramatic work, whether it be Shakespeare or Star Wars, is often not only the most compelling character—the one with the sharpest outfits, the best dialogue and the coolest gadgets—but perhaps the most important as well. The old adage holds true: any hero is only as good as their villain. After all, who would Theseus be without the Minotaur? Batman without the Joker? Dr. Loomis without Michael Myers?
One person who understands the true value of villains is Welsh author Jim Horlock, whose debut Grendel Press novel, Masks, explores the multi-faceted archetypes of the cinematic slasher amid the fast-paced backdrop of a sci-fi thriller.
Prolific serial killer Edward Stitch has been unwillingly drafted into a clandestine government project called the Mask Program. Detained with a group of other infamous mass murderers, Edward, known by his code name ‘Mr. Stitches’, is held in a secret maximum-security facility and released periodically by his captors on ‘missions’ to designated target areas with orders to slaughter whomever he finds in any way he chooses. To ensure the compliance of their killers, the Mask Program’s coordinators have outfitted each with personalized face-coverings that, if removed, will detonate bombs hidden within.
At the novel’s onset, Edward has just completed a routine killing spree in an apartment complex and is extracted by one of the Program’s paramilitary Spectre Teams. Once safely back at the facility, however, he’s approached by Dr. Leibling, the Program’s morally dubious head psychologist, with an unprecedented offer: to hunt down one of Edward’s fellow inmates, a supercharged, nigh-indestructible maniac dubbed Mr. Beast, who has somehow disabled his mask’s explosive, killed the Spectre Team sent to remove him, and escaped into the city.
Thus begins a deadly game of pursuit, with Edward following Mr. Beast’s trail of devastation, but all is not what it initially seems. Once Edward finds his quarry, it’s revealed that Mr. Beast is an ex-military man searching out his former comrades in an underground resistance movement intent on dismantling not only the Mask Program, but the totalitarian future government responsible for its creation. With the clock ticking, can Edward subdue Mr. Beast before his own bomb is detonated? Or will he join the resistance and gain answers to the questions he’s always had about his own mysterious past?
If Masks were a film, its high-concept Hollywood studio pitch would be ‘Freddy Vs Jason meets The Cabin In the Woods meets Suicide Squad’. The plot is a horror lover’s dream, speeding ahead at breakneck pace, rife with gory mayhem, fisticuffs, explosions, twists, turns, betrayals and surprising revelations. Horlock’s clear love of the genre shows on every page; his gleeful deconstruction of the various movie slasher sub-types is a self-referential wink-and-nod Easter Egg hunt allowing true fright flick fans a chance to imagine a world where Freddy, Jason, and Michael coexist alongside true-life monsters like Bundy, Gacy, and Dahmer. But the central idea of the Mask Program is only the outermost layer of a highly complex scenario that unfurls as the novel progresses, and each successive chapter divulges more about Edward and his fellow killers. Intriguing questions are raised that an entire series could be built upon—are Edward and the other Masks simple sociopaths, undead monstrosities, age-old creatures of myth, or some strange combination of each?
As a lead, Edward cuts a compelling figure. In traditional terms he’s wildly unsympathetic, and his nonchalant, unrepentant attitude about his heinous crimes could, in a lesser writer’s hands, alienate readers, but Horlock shrewdly balances Edward’s violent tendencies with a caustic, oftentimes laugh-out-loud sense of pitch-black humor. Readers are so firmly entrenched in his perspective that it would’ve been easy for the supporting cast to fade into the background, but careful attention has been paid to each killer in the Mask Program—the brutish Mr. Beast, the ninja-like Miss Malice, and the enigmatic Mr. Shadow, who just may be the first slasher of all.
For all of its entertaining high-octane horror hijinks, however, more serious ruminations exist beneath the novel’s surface. Horlock takes a deliberate stab at social commentary with the revelation of the Mask Program’s function as assassins of the government’s political enemies. Questions are also aimed directly at the reader: why are we as an audience drawn to movies, images and stories that terrify and disturb us? Is it merely the rush of the experience, or the fact that we can, at least temporarily, relate with the monster, the madman, the Devil, and in doing so find a hidden source of strength?
Whether one fully enjoys Masks will ultimately depend on an individual’s opinion toward slasher films. Devotees of the subgenre will likely derive more entertainment bang-for-the-buck from Horlock’s creation than those who aren’t, but the page-turning roller-coaster thrill-ride aspect of the novel should appeal to a wide cross-section of readers regardless of their cinematic tastes.
Masks easily earns a 4 (Out of 5) here onGoodreads. I wish more books, horror and otherwise, were this exciting.
—Halloween director John Carpenter, Fangoria magazine, March 2001
Critics of horror have long asserted that the genre glorifies evil. The argument contains at least a small kernel of truth; unique among storytelling forms, horror—in all its various iterations—almost uniformly places its narrative emphasis, not on the hero, but the villain. Saying that such a perspective glorifies evil, though, ignores a more obvious fact: that identifying with the villain allows the audience to safely and vicariously indulge sentiments of anger, revenge, violence, and other anti-social feelings that would be unacceptable to express in real life.
While this inversion of classic protagonist/antagonist roles may trouble pundits, dyed-in-the-wool horror hounds know the villain in any dramatic work, whether it be Shakespeare or Star Wars, is often not only the most compelling character—the one with the sharpest outfits, the best dialogue and the coolest gadgets—but perhaps the most important as well. The old adage holds true: any hero is only as good as their villain. After all, who would Theseus be without the Minotaur? Batman without the Joker? Dr. Loomis without Michael Myers?
One person who understands the true value of villains is Welsh author Jim Horlock, whose debut Grendel Press novel, Masks, explores the multi-faceted archetypes of the cinematic slasher amid the fast-paced backdrop of a sci-fi thriller.
Prolific serial killer Edward Stitch has been unwillingly drafted into a clandestine government project called the Mask Program. Detained with a group of other infamous mass murderers, Edward, known by his code name ‘Mr. Stitches’, is held in a secret maximum-security facility and released periodically by his captors on ‘missions’ to designated target areas with orders to slaughter whomever he finds in any way he chooses. To ensure the compliance of their killers, the Mask Program’s coordinators have outfitted each with personalized face-coverings that, if removed, will detonate bombs hidden within.
At the novel’s onset, Edward has just completed a routine killing spree in an apartment complex and is extracted by one of the Program’s paramilitary Spectre Teams. Once safely back at the facility, however, he’s approached by Dr. Leibling, the Program’s morally dubious head psychologist, with an unprecedented offer: to hunt down one of Edward’s fellow inmates, a supercharged, nigh-indestructible maniac dubbed Mr. Beast, who has somehow disabled his mask’s explosive, killed the Spectre Team sent to remove him, and escaped into the city.
Thus begins a deadly game of pursuit, with Edward following Mr. Beast’s trail of devastation, but all is not what it initially seems. Once Edward finds his quarry, it’s revealed that Mr. Beast is an ex-military man searching out his former comrades in an underground resistance movement intent on dismantling not only the Mask Program, but the totalitarian future government responsible for its creation. With the clock ticking, can Edward subdue Mr. Beast before his own bomb is detonated? Or will he join the resistance and gain answers to the questions he’s always had about his own mysterious past?
If Masks were a film, its high-concept Hollywood studio pitch would be ‘Freddy Vs Jason meets The Cabin In the Woods meets Suicide Squad’. The plot is a horror lover’s dream, speeding ahead at breakneck pace, rife with gory mayhem, fisticuffs, explosions, twists, turns, betrayals and surprising revelations. Horlock’s clear love of the genre shows on every page; his gleeful deconstruction of the various movie slasher sub-types is a self-referential wink-and-nod Easter Egg hunt allowing true fright flick fans a chance to imagine a world where Freddy, Jason, and Michael coexist alongside true-life monsters like Bundy, Gacy, and Dahmer. But the central idea of the Mask Program is only the outermost layer of a highly complex scenario that unfurls as the novel progresses, and each successive chapter divulges more about Edward and his fellow killers. Intriguing questions are raised that an entire series could be built upon—are Edward and the other Masks simple sociopaths, undead monstrosities, age-old creatures of myth, or some strange combination of each?
As a lead, Edward cuts a compelling figure. In traditional terms he’s wildly unsympathetic, and his nonchalant, unrepentant attitude about his heinous crimes could, in a lesser writer’s hands, alienate readers, but Horlock shrewdly balances Edward’s violent tendencies with a caustic, oftentimes laugh-out-loud sense of pitch-black humor. Readers are so firmly entrenched in his perspective that it would’ve been easy for the supporting cast to fade into the background, but careful attention has been paid to each killer in the Mask Program—the brutish Mr. Beast, the ninja-like Miss Malice, and the enigmatic Mr. Shadow, who just may be the first slasher of all.
For all of its entertaining high-octane horror hijinks, however, more serious ruminations exist beneath the novel’s surface. Horlock takes a deliberate stab at social commentary with the revelation of the Mask Program’s function as assassins of the government’s political enemies. Questions are also aimed directly at the reader: why are we as an audience drawn to movies, images and stories that terrify and disturb us? Is it merely the rush of the experience, or the fact that we can, at least temporarily, relate with the monster, the madman, the Devil, and in doing so find a hidden source of strength?
Whether one fully enjoys Masks will ultimately depend on an individual’s opinion toward slasher films. Devotees of the subgenre will likely derive more entertainment bang-for-the-buck from Horlock’s creation than those who aren’t, but the page-turning roller-coaster thrill-ride aspect of the novel should appeal to a wide cross-section of readers regardless of their cinematic tastes.
Masks easily earns a 4 (Out of 5) here onGoodreads. I wish more books, horror and otherwise, were this exciting.
January 3, 2025
My first new read of 2025 was this sly horror novella, and I’m so happy about it!
I wasn’t sure quite what I was in for going in. Perhaps something like ‘Terrifier’, from the cover? A little ‘Suicide Squad’ with the premise?
In truth, this is a book written by someone who clearly loves the slasher genre and while winking openly at his influences (I see you, Mr Shape), is utterly unafraid to make it his own. I finished the book in two hours and was genuinely sad that it was done.
Mr Stitch is one of the most villainous protagonists I’ve ever seen, with the viciousness of The Joker (pick your favourite), the politeness of Leslie Vernon (look him up) and an entirely engaging pitch-black humour that had me audibly laughing (which worried my husband when I told him why). Edward is a serial killer who’s philosophical, artistic, creative, and he lets people go if they’re polite. What a nice fellow. No really, I genuinely like him. I do hope he’d like me.
The slow rise of tension and world-building is gripping, as Our Hero learns more about his situation and the world he’s trapped in. From the mask, to a physical cell, to an obligation… his prisons just become larger, and he’s not the kind of chap to accept that. The plot twists and turns as the ethics of his situation become increasingly questionable, and when it arrives, the bombastic ending feels entirely justified.
The captive killers aren’t the Baddies here. Those who would ‘save’ us - the military, the scientists - are definitely not Good. This is a worryingly plausible futuristic satire-world, which incorporates moral questions so expertly that we can’t fault Edward for acting as he does. Well, maybe his methods.
Huge fun, clever and joyful in its revelry of ‘buckets of gore’ horror, I’m so glad this book landed in my lap like a bloody gift. It knows Why Horror Is, and I’m applauding.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
I wasn’t sure quite what I was in for going in. Perhaps something like ‘Terrifier’, from the cover? A little ‘Suicide Squad’ with the premise?
In truth, this is a book written by someone who clearly loves the slasher genre and while winking openly at his influences (I see you, Mr Shape), is utterly unafraid to make it his own. I finished the book in two hours and was genuinely sad that it was done.
Mr Stitch is one of the most villainous protagonists I’ve ever seen, with the viciousness of The Joker (pick your favourite), the politeness of Leslie Vernon (look him up) and an entirely engaging pitch-black humour that had me audibly laughing (which worried my husband when I told him why). Edward is a serial killer who’s philosophical, artistic, creative, and he lets people go if they’re polite. What a nice fellow. No really, I genuinely like him. I do hope he’d like me.
The slow rise of tension and world-building is gripping, as Our Hero learns more about his situation and the world he’s trapped in. From the mask, to a physical cell, to an obligation… his prisons just become larger, and he’s not the kind of chap to accept that. The plot twists and turns as the ethics of his situation become increasingly questionable, and when it arrives, the bombastic ending feels entirely justified.
The captive killers aren’t the Baddies here. Those who would ‘save’ us - the military, the scientists - are definitely not Good. This is a worryingly plausible futuristic satire-world, which incorporates moral questions so expertly that we can’t fault Edward for acting as he does. Well, maybe his methods.
Huge fun, clever and joyful in its revelry of ‘buckets of gore’ horror, I’m so glad this book landed in my lap like a bloody gift. It knows Why Horror Is, and I’m applauding.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
June 14, 2025
I received a free ARC for an honest review. I would like to say that at first, it started kind of slow. The storyline is super different and interesting; however, for me, it was missing something. (But that might just be because I never reviewed a book like this before) This does not mean I did not enjoy the book; I did.
I found this book easy to read and follow—that’s the best part of books. I think it's unnecessarily complicated when writers make their books hard to follow. Also, the writer uses lovely language features, you can tell the writer put a lot of effort into the language plus the book.
If you love dark, horror, gory books. A perfect book for any horror fan. I’m glad I had the chance to read this book because it's something what I would not have looked at before.
I LOVE THE COVER!
Instagram review account - https://www.instagram.com/sophiebookr...
I found this book easy to read and follow—that’s the best part of books. I think it's unnecessarily complicated when writers make their books hard to follow. Also, the writer uses lovely language features, you can tell the writer put a lot of effort into the language plus the book.
If you love dark, horror, gory books. A perfect book for any horror fan. I’m glad I had the chance to read this book because it's something what I would not have looked at before.
I LOVE THE COVER!
Instagram review account - https://www.instagram.com/sophiebookr...
May 9, 2025
I'm going to have to put this in my top reads of 2025. It's Suicide Squad but a hundred times more brutal. It's gory, but not grotesque. A brilliant story where the protagonist is a serial killer known as The Gentleman Butcher or Mr. Stitches.
My favorite line that explains Mr. Stitches is:
"He decided he was searching for the beauty in murder, to make art out of the most transgressive and transcendent medium possible."
A top secret facility that houses the most deadly of killers that are more than human. You don't get to meet all of the subjects, but my favorite part is that you do get to read dossiers on them, so even though they don't have a part in the story, you still get to know them.
I'm so enthralled with these characters and this world that I would be ecstatic to have this become a series.
Highly recommend this unusual serial killer story!
My favorite line that explains Mr. Stitches is:
"He decided he was searching for the beauty in murder, to make art out of the most transgressive and transcendent medium possible."
A top secret facility that houses the most deadly of killers that are more than human. You don't get to meet all of the subjects, but my favorite part is that you do get to read dossiers on them, so even though they don't have a part in the story, you still get to know them.
I'm so enthralled with these characters and this world that I would be ecstatic to have this become a series.
Highly recommend this unusual serial killer story!
January 20, 2025
The book is about a covert government program that implants a bomb in peoples’ skull to get compliance. Edward Stich, a serial killer on death row, was taken for the program and uses the codename "Mr. Stitches”. After a mission went bad, he found out what he is actually involved in. All of the people they take are killers and forced into doing their bidding. They are given instructions which need to be followed. It is all very cold. His cell is almost bare. We see Edwards handywork right at the start. Be prepared for a little gore and murdered people. The idea is awesome -program killers to kill people for you. Edward goes out for revenge and things go from bad to worse. This is a horror story, so beware. I received an ARC copy and this is my honest opinion.
June 16, 2025
Masks
The author kindly sent me a copy of his book to read & review & whilst this isn’t my typical read it was great to dive into something different!
Edward is a serial killer, he’s been held by the government in a lockdown facility with other mass murders. They’re all made to wear masks with bombs fitted & go on murder spree missions, if they’re refuse then the bomb will go off!
This reminded me of suicide squad but a bit more brutal/gore. Edward also really reminded me of deadpool with his funny, sarcy comebacks & no F’s given whilst on his murder spree’s 🤣
It was a fun read! I’d recommend for anyone that likes suicide squad/ joker/deadpool vibes but make it more horror! Thank you for sending me it!
The author kindly sent me a copy of his book to read & review & whilst this isn’t my typical read it was great to dive into something different!
Edward is a serial killer, he’s been held by the government in a lockdown facility with other mass murders. They’re all made to wear masks with bombs fitted & go on murder spree missions, if they’re refuse then the bomb will go off!
This reminded me of suicide squad but a bit more brutal/gore. Edward also really reminded me of deadpool with his funny, sarcy comebacks & no F’s given whilst on his murder spree’s 🤣
It was a fun read! I’d recommend for anyone that likes suicide squad/ joker/deadpool vibes but make it more horror! Thank you for sending me it!
January 4, 2025
This is a rather fun take on the slasher genre from a writer who clearly knows it well.
Featuring a group of masked mass killers who are sent on individual missions by a shadowy organisation, it focuses on Edward, AKA Mr Stitches, who is brutally efficient and remorseless but considers his work an art form. Each are forced to wear a mask while on missions and all is not as it seems.
Edward is a well developed character and there’s great pace to the story without it being simplistic. There’s actual depth to the world as well, which gives a well-rounded narrative overall.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Featuring a group of masked mass killers who are sent on individual missions by a shadowy organisation, it focuses on Edward, AKA Mr Stitches, who is brutally efficient and remorseless but considers his work an art form. Each are forced to wear a mask while on missions and all is not as it seems.
Edward is a well developed character and there’s great pace to the story without it being simplistic. There’s actual depth to the world as well, which gives a well-rounded narrative overall.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2025
Jim Horlock’s Masks is a visceral, mind-bending dive into the darkest corners of identity and human nature. Blending brutal horror with sharp psychological insight, this book grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. The characters are complex, the tension is unrelenting, and the twists are utterly shocking.
Horlock masterfully explores the masks we wear—both literal and figurative—and the horrifying consequences of stripping them away. This is extreme horror at its finest: brutal, intelligent, and unforgettable. If you love stories that challenge your limits and haunt your thoughts long after, Masks is a must-read.
It’s also giving suicide squad which I loved!
Horlock masterfully explores the masks we wear—both literal and figurative—and the horrifying consequences of stripping them away. This is extreme horror at its finest: brutal, intelligent, and unforgettable. If you love stories that challenge your limits and haunt your thoughts long after, Masks is a must-read.
It’s also giving suicide squad which I loved!
August 16, 2025
I can see no reason to not give this 5 stars. Fast-paced but not rushed, we follow Edward a.k.a. 'Mr Stitches' during what I refer to as his deployment' and we learn about the masks. The masks that allow a facility specializing in 'type-sixes' to turn dangerous criminals and murderers into, well basically, killing machines.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Mr. Stitches and the other (!) masks too, while the story develops and you learn more about the facility and the backstory of the type-sixes and their masks. Also, I loved the excerpts about the subjects.
I wish there was more!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Mr. Stitches and the other (!) masks too, while the story develops and you learn more about the facility and the backstory of the type-sixes and their masks. Also, I loved the excerpts about the subjects.
I wish there was more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
I am so pumped after reading this. I could not put it down. I absolutely loved it.
It's high octane, gory, imaginative, descriptive and just a thrill. The little twists just kept coming and I was on the edge of my seat.
Not to mention I love a book that makes me root for the "bad guy" and that's what Masks does.
Surely to win over fans of shows like The Blacklist and comics like The Suicide Squad this book will have you craving more and more. I cannot wait for more from this universe.
Well done sir! Well done!!
It's high octane, gory, imaginative, descriptive and just a thrill. The little twists just kept coming and I was on the edge of my seat.
Not to mention I love a book that makes me root for the "bad guy" and that's what Masks does.
Surely to win over fans of shows like The Blacklist and comics like The Suicide Squad this book will have you craving more and more. I cannot wait for more from this universe.
Well done sir! Well done!!
January 5, 2025
I fully admit I went into this book thinking it was going to be a Suicide Squad knockoff. Boy was I wrong!!! It was exciting from page one. I read it all in one sitting. The characters were extremely interesting and being a huge fan of horror and crime this book did not disappoint. The story begins with a brutal crime and takes you into the mind of the killer, Mr Stitches, to only to make you suddenly rooting for him. From page one to the end I was invested in what was going to happen and wanted Mr. Stitches to get his revenge. Definitely worth reading. There is some gore but if you're a true fan of the horror genre you'll LOVE it!! Definitely going to read this authors other books. Already following him on Amazon.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
January 14, 2025
This is an incredibly enjoyable read! I wasn’t totally sure what I was getting myself into when I chose this book, especially with the very cool cover. The characters don’t disappoint. There are several and each with their unique way of experiencing and expressing themselves in the world around them. This book is entertaining in many ways and it definitely lives up to and exceeds the cool cover.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 20, 2025
Went into this book blind!
This was a first read for me by this Author and it won't be the last
Feels like a suicide knock off at first and then you get more into it and it's like wow, even better!
I couldn't put this book down
Do yourself a favor and pick this book up !
If you enjoy horror and gore this is it
If you enjoy psychological things into the mind of killers
Also it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a first read for me by this Author and it won't be the last
Feels like a suicide knock off at first and then you get more into it and it's like wow, even better!
I couldn't put this book down
Do yourself a favor and pick this book up !
If you enjoy horror and gore this is it
If you enjoy psychological things into the mind of killers
Also it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 21, 2025
This book is a very fun read, with a lot of gory action. The story follows a serial killer who is being used as an asset by a secretive government agency. It kept me reading and did not take too long to get through, a great choice for a weekend or a quiet evening. It also had some turns I did not see coming. My only complaint is that I would have liked a more definitive ending for the protagonist.
I received a free ARC of this book and am giving this honest review voluntarily.
I received a free ARC of this book and am giving this honest review voluntarily.
February 23, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up for goodreads
As much as I love guts and gore and that fun stuff I just couldn’t get into this book I had to force myself to finish it.
Mask focuses on a group of masked serial killers who are sent on individual missions by a secret government agency. Mostly focused on Edward(Mr. Stitches)
If you like slashers, guts, gore brutality, serial killers, and secret government agencies, this could be your read
As much as I love guts and gore and that fun stuff I just couldn’t get into this book I had to force myself to finish it.
Mask focuses on a group of masked serial killers who are sent on individual missions by a secret government agency. Mostly focused on Edward(Mr. Stitches)
If you like slashers, guts, gore brutality, serial killers, and secret government agencies, this could be your read
February 13, 2025
I received a free ARC of this book and I am leaving an honest and voluntary review. A sadistic killer held captive and used by an organisation to carry out their dirty one. This is one killer's quest for the truth but what really lies behind the masks? This was an interesting concept with some dark and gory imagery. I just felt at the end I was wanting more. Hopefully this isn't a stand alone!
June 8, 2025
At first, I felt like the book was kind of slow, but then it started to pick up and I devoured this book. This was the first book I read from this author and I can’t wait to read more books from this.
If you enjoy horror and gore, psychological thrillers, then you should definitely give this book a read.
If you enjoy horror and gore, psychological thrillers, then you should definitely give this book a read.
October 10, 2025
📚 Book review 📚
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, this book took me on one hell of a ride... Was not what I thought was going to happen!
And is it bad that I kinda love Mr Stitch? 🙈
Definitely recommend you read this! It's one hell of a time! Tis a bit gory but I not gratuitous!
Can't wait to read more of your books
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Well, this book took me on one hell of a ride... Was not what I thought was going to happen!
And is it bad that I kinda love Mr Stitch? 🙈
Definitely recommend you read this! It's one hell of a time! Tis a bit gory but I not gratuitous!
Can't wait to read more of your books
June 27, 2025
I loved it, read it in two days (only had about 20 pages left on day two though). such a quick read, cause I just wanted to know what happens. its got a bit of a suicide squad feel to it and I would 100%recommend.
January 21, 2025
This book has one of the most intriguing premises that has me in suspense but also triggers my inner conspiracy theorist. Loved it.
January 21, 2025
This was a different read for me. The writing was good, but the plot was a little too out there, with too much gore. And I found no one to root for in this one.
February 3, 2025
I really enjoyed the character and storyline for this book. I was definately rooting for the bad guys to win.
March 30, 2025
5 / 5 ⭐
Jim Horlock has done it again. Fantastic short horror novel. Binged every page. Thoroughly looking forward to what he brings out next.
Jim Horlock has done it again. Fantastic short horror novel. Binged every page. Thoroughly looking forward to what he brings out next.
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