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The Captive
A darkly comedic, cinematic horror about a revolutionary group who kidnap an heiress, only to discover she's pregnant with the antichrist, and she's about to give birth.
From Ned Beauman, the Man Booker Prize longlisted author of The Teleportation Accident and Clarke Award winning author of Venomous Lumpsucker. Perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix and Joe Hill.
Underground revolutionary group, The Nail, and their newest member, Luke have kidnapped 23-year-old heiress Adeline Woolsaw, whose wealthy parents run the Woolsaw Group, a vast outsourcing company. They run everything from prisons and hospitals to military bases – quietly suffocating the country with the help of powerful friends in government.
The Nail's plan: to use the kidnapping to draw attention to the Woolsaw Group and their terrible practices. But with Adeline bundled into their van, The Nail discover two things. The first is that she's just about to give birth. And the second is that this isn't a normal baby. In fact, it has devastating supernatural powers. Because the father of this baby wasn't a man, it was… something else. Something that her parents make human sacrifices to on an altar in the basement of their Highgate mansion. And all this time the Woolsaw Group has been preparing the ground for the Woolsaws' real aim: an infernal new kingdom that will rise with Adeline's son sitting on its throne.
From Ned Beauman, the Man Booker Prize longlisted author of The Teleportation Accident and Clarke Award winning author of Venomous Lumpsucker. Perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix and Joe Hill.
Underground revolutionary group, The Nail, and their newest member, Luke have kidnapped 23-year-old heiress Adeline Woolsaw, whose wealthy parents run the Woolsaw Group, a vast outsourcing company. They run everything from prisons and hospitals to military bases – quietly suffocating the country with the help of powerful friends in government.
The Nail's plan: to use the kidnapping to draw attention to the Woolsaw Group and their terrible practices. But with Adeline bundled into their van, The Nail discover two things. The first is that she's just about to give birth. And the second is that this isn't a normal baby. In fact, it has devastating supernatural powers. Because the father of this baby wasn't a man, it was… something else. Something that her parents make human sacrifices to on an altar in the basement of their Highgate mansion. And all this time the Woolsaw Group has been preparing the ground for the Woolsaws' real aim: an infernal new kingdom that will rise with Adeline's son sitting on its throne.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2025
35 people are currently reading
6172 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
April 1, 2025
ARC for review. To be published September 30, 2025.
2.5 stars
Billed as a ROSEMARY’S BABY for today’s world, (look, ROSEMARY’S BABY is a classic. ROSEMARY’S BABY is ROSEMARY’S BABY for today’s world, no updates needed. Even her outfits still look great.) a group of anti-capitalists kidnap a pregnant heiress, (they don’t know she’s pregnant) twenty-three year old Adeline Woolsaw, in order to expose the Woodsaw Group, who own pretty much everything.
However, when they take her she’s about to go into labor. Oh, and she’s really not that upset about being kidnapped. And this doesn’t seem to be an ordinary child (“He has his father’s eyes.” (“Rosemary’s Baby” joke.)). Fun and hijinks ensue.
Apparently Kit Burgoyne is a pen name for Ned Beaumont who has been “Booker-listed,” and I assume that means he’s actually been up for the award, versus just being eligible for the award, which I think just means your book was published in English and maybe you are from the UK, which means, imagine the dreck that is “Booker-listed.” Anyway, this was pretty standard caper mixed with horror, but nothing new here. Not a bad book, but not a great one, either, and got a little schlocky at the end.
2.5 stars
Billed as a ROSEMARY’S BABY for today’s world, (look, ROSEMARY’S BABY is a classic. ROSEMARY’S BABY is ROSEMARY’S BABY for today’s world, no updates needed. Even her outfits still look great.) a group of anti-capitalists kidnap a pregnant heiress, (they don’t know she’s pregnant) twenty-three year old Adeline Woolsaw, in order to expose the Woodsaw Group, who own pretty much everything.
However, when they take her she’s about to go into labor. Oh, and she’s really not that upset about being kidnapped. And this doesn’t seem to be an ordinary child (“He has his father’s eyes.” (“Rosemary’s Baby” joke.)). Fun and hijinks ensue.
Apparently Kit Burgoyne is a pen name for Ned Beaumont who has been “Booker-listed,” and I assume that means he’s actually been up for the award, versus just being eligible for the award, which I think just means your book was published in English and maybe you are from the UK, which means, imagine the dreck that is “Booker-listed.” Anyway, this was pretty standard caper mixed with horror, but nothing new here. Not a bad book, but not a great one, either, and got a little schlocky at the end.
October 6, 2025
‘Ned Beauman writes a horror novel under a pseudonym’ wasn’t on my bingo card for 2025. And I don’t think I would have recognised this as Beauman’s work, had I not already known. His instinct for social satire is intact, but the style is kinetic, action-heavy, and the language much more stripped back. Case in point: the first chapter immediately plunges us into what seems like the middle of a scene; a trio of activists are about to kidnap the heiress to a shady, highly profitable contracting company.
The Nail is supposedly a notorious, widely feared anticapitalist group. In reality, it’s mostly just veteran protestor Cam and a young couple, Luke and Rosa, trying their best to organise stunts on a shoestring budget. Miraculously, their plan to kidnap Adeline Woolsaw comes off, but they’re almost immediately in trouble: she is (unexpectedly) heavily pregnant, and they keep getting waylaid by freak events, like a hailstorm so severe it takes out a battalion of police.
I liked this a lot: the unusually thoughtful action scenes, the interplay between the activists and Adeline, the brisk pace. The idea isn’t original, but it feels like Beauman’s having a lot of fun with it. He manages to keep both Luke and Adeline surprisingly likeable despite both of them having to do quite a lot of unlikeable things.
As Beauman was at one point, infamously, snobby about the readers who enjoy his books, it’s particularly interesting to see him take the genre route. I wonder if the creation of a pen name for this project means there’s more to come in this vein. If so, I’ll be interested.
I received an advance review copy of The Captive from the publisher through Edelweiss.
The Nail is supposedly a notorious, widely feared anticapitalist group. In reality, it’s mostly just veteran protestor Cam and a young couple, Luke and Rosa, trying their best to organise stunts on a shoestring budget. Miraculously, their plan to kidnap Adeline Woolsaw comes off, but they’re almost immediately in trouble: she is (unexpectedly) heavily pregnant, and they keep getting waylaid by freak events, like a hailstorm so severe it takes out a battalion of police.
I liked this a lot: the unusually thoughtful action scenes, the interplay between the activists and Adeline, the brisk pace. The idea isn’t original, but it feels like Beauman’s having a lot of fun with it. He manages to keep both Luke and Adeline surprisingly likeable despite both of them having to do quite a lot of unlikeable things.
As Beauman was at one point, infamously, snobby about the readers who enjoy his books, it’s particularly interesting to see him take the genre route. I wonder if the creation of a pen name for this project means there’s more to come in this vein. If so, I’ll be interested.
I received an advance review copy of The Captive from the publisher through Edelweiss.
July 13, 2025
My heat wave read - more coherent thoughts when it cools tf down but for now: this book was a total blast.
November 22, 2025
4 ⭐️ audio
3.5 ⭐️ overall
RTC
3.5 ⭐️ overall
RTC
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May 3, 2025Capitalism breeds monsters. Quick and fun read for what it is, though admittedly a bit less fun compared to other Ned Beauman's novels. But then again, little is funny about the monster that capitalism is.
October 13, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
The Captive is a contemporary horror novel written by Kit Burgoyne (penname of Ned Beauman), published by Titan Books. A book that blends together social satire and horror, with a style that lands on the action-heavy side, resulting in a really entertaining novel that immediately plunges us into action and with a surprisingly well crafted cast of characters to complement the rest of the elements.
The Nail, a supposedly feared anticapitalist group (in reality, it's mostly veteran protestor Cam and a young pair, Luke and Rosa; working on a shoestring budget), has kidnapped 23-year-old Adeline Woolsaw, heiress to the Woolsaw Group, an outsourcing company that is quietly suffocating the country through their control of many public services. An attempt to put the attention on Woolsaw Group practices; however, they soon discover they are in unexpected trouble: Adeline is heavily pregnant, and the origin of the baby wasn't a man, but something darker her parents are involved. A premise that Burgoyne uses to deliver an exhilarating thriller with a fair share of supernatural elements.
Despite the fast-paced nature of this thriller, the complexity of the dynamics between the characters is one of the highlights, especially as Adeline opens herself more to the members of the Nail (especially to Luke); Cam being the "old expert" over the inexperience of Rosa and Luke, with Rosa being a more drastic with her actions, and Luke still with the innocence of a first time revolutionary.
It is true that the villains might land a bit on the cartoonish side, but it is also a narrative device to continue equating late-stage capitalism with the literal evil.
While the premise is not exactly original, you can see how Burgoyne had fun with the execution: we have a good number of well-thought action scenes that help the plot to advance, while they also introduce the supernatural elements to the narration. Sometimes the scenes can be a bit gruesome, but it helps set the tone.
The pacing is excellent, making this novel an authentic page turner that you will want to devour in a few sessions.
The Captive is an excellent horror novel, a proposal that might clash with some readers, but which delivers an excellent execution in a classic trope like the devil's baby while also focusing in more modern themes such as the evils of late-stage capitalism, all sprinkled with a fair share of humour and gore. A great read for me!
The Captive is a contemporary horror novel written by Kit Burgoyne (penname of Ned Beauman), published by Titan Books. A book that blends together social satire and horror, with a style that lands on the action-heavy side, resulting in a really entertaining novel that immediately plunges us into action and with a surprisingly well crafted cast of characters to complement the rest of the elements.
The Nail, a supposedly feared anticapitalist group (in reality, it's mostly veteran protestor Cam and a young pair, Luke and Rosa; working on a shoestring budget), has kidnapped 23-year-old Adeline Woolsaw, heiress to the Woolsaw Group, an outsourcing company that is quietly suffocating the country through their control of many public services. An attempt to put the attention on Woolsaw Group practices; however, they soon discover they are in unexpected trouble: Adeline is heavily pregnant, and the origin of the baby wasn't a man, but something darker her parents are involved. A premise that Burgoyne uses to deliver an exhilarating thriller with a fair share of supernatural elements.
Despite the fast-paced nature of this thriller, the complexity of the dynamics between the characters is one of the highlights, especially as Adeline opens herself more to the members of the Nail (especially to Luke); Cam being the "old expert" over the inexperience of Rosa and Luke, with Rosa being a more drastic with her actions, and Luke still with the innocence of a first time revolutionary.
It is true that the villains might land a bit on the cartoonish side, but it is also a narrative device to continue equating late-stage capitalism with the literal evil.
While the premise is not exactly original, you can see how Burgoyne had fun with the execution: we have a good number of well-thought action scenes that help the plot to advance, while they also introduce the supernatural elements to the narration. Sometimes the scenes can be a bit gruesome, but it helps set the tone.
The pacing is excellent, making this novel an authentic page turner that you will want to devour in a few sessions.
The Captive is an excellent horror novel, a proposal that might clash with some readers, but which delivers an excellent execution in a classic trope like the devil's baby while also focusing in more modern themes such as the evils of late-stage capitalism, all sprinkled with a fair share of humour and gore. A great read for me!
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April 20, 2025This book was a trip but it was SO fun lol
December 30, 2025
dude imagine your parents are devil worshipers and somehow acquired satan’s seed. fuck right off holy wow.
October 7, 2025
I was in fact, not captivated by any of this. Boring, yes. Horror? Where? In the room with us? 🧐
November 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Captive.
If there's one book I wanted to like very much, it was this.
I blame the blurb, if you're going to reference Rosemary's Baby, there better be fire, brimstone and devilish antics.
And there better be a devilish baby.
** Minor non-horrifying spoilers ahead **
The narrative is less horror and terror and more about the terrorist group, the Nail, trying to expose how powerful and dangerous the evil Wooslaw family is (they have no idea how evil they are).
We get background on how the group, Cam, Rosa, and Luke planned the kidnapping of the Wooslaw's daughter, Adeline, and how they ended up becoming part of the Nail.
Also, the way the characters speak doesn't sound realistic, the dialogue, their tone, their mannerisms.
The devil baby is barely mentioned, aka Percy, and when he makes things happen, its bad, its gross, but it's also....that's it?
Even his birth happens off-screen. Bummer.
The only interesting parts of the story is when Adeline talks about the deal her parents made with the devil (literally).
The altar, the bloodletting, the torture, the sacrifices....that's scary.
I wanted more of that, not discussions about how to plan a robbery, about the terrorists' background.
Poor Percy, aka Damien (from The Omen) is barely a character in the story; he's just a baby.
Okay, a baby with horrifying powers but still...he needs to be nursed and changed.
Not surprisingly, no one is likable, not even Luke or Adeline, and to make matters worse, a silly, needless romance develops between them.
🙄
For a privileged family bent on ruling the world by the devil's hand, Adeline's parents are unremarkably boring.
It's briefly mentioned that her dad inducted her mom into the 'family tradition' but as the years have gone by his demeanor and strength has waned. Why?
I wanted more exposition on the Wooslaws:
Who made the initial deal with the devil? How far back does the unholy pact go?
How did this start?
There was so much potential but the narrative focused on the drama around the dopey members of the Nail and not on Percy.
I guess he's not gonna rule the world.
Then why did I read this for? 😆
If there's one book I wanted to like very much, it was this.
I blame the blurb, if you're going to reference Rosemary's Baby, there better be fire, brimstone and devilish antics.
And there better be a devilish baby.
** Minor non-horrifying spoilers ahead **
The narrative is less horror and terror and more about the terrorist group, the Nail, trying to expose how powerful and dangerous the evil Wooslaw family is (they have no idea how evil they are).
We get background on how the group, Cam, Rosa, and Luke planned the kidnapping of the Wooslaw's daughter, Adeline, and how they ended up becoming part of the Nail.
Also, the way the characters speak doesn't sound realistic, the dialogue, their tone, their mannerisms.
The devil baby is barely mentioned, aka Percy, and when he makes things happen, its bad, its gross, but it's also....that's it?
Even his birth happens off-screen. Bummer.
The only interesting parts of the story is when Adeline talks about the deal her parents made with the devil (literally).
The altar, the bloodletting, the torture, the sacrifices....that's scary.
I wanted more of that, not discussions about how to plan a robbery, about the terrorists' background.
Poor Percy, aka Damien (from The Omen) is barely a character in the story; he's just a baby.
Okay, a baby with horrifying powers but still...he needs to be nursed and changed.
Not surprisingly, no one is likable, not even Luke or Adeline, and to make matters worse, a silly, needless romance develops between them.
🙄
For a privileged family bent on ruling the world by the devil's hand, Adeline's parents are unremarkably boring.
It's briefly mentioned that her dad inducted her mom into the 'family tradition' but as the years have gone by his demeanor and strength has waned. Why?
I wanted more exposition on the Wooslaws:
Who made the initial deal with the devil? How far back does the unholy pact go?
How did this start?
There was so much potential but the narrative focused on the drama around the dopey members of the Nail and not on Percy.
I guess he's not gonna rule the world.
Then why did I read this for? 😆
October 7, 2025
I find The Captive a tricky one to decipher my feelings on - I absolutely raced through the first third or so, devouring the pages so quickly I thought it might be a novella. However, by the end I was less invested.
I'm a big fan of genre blending, but in this case it doesn't always feel successful - the horror aspects felt merely glanced at, with scenes detailing the more arcane or supernatural events being both few in number and short in length. I think extra exploration here could have made the book truly chilling, and perhaps upped the stakes - although the reader is aware of the danger Luke is in, it feels a bit nondescript. At times, this could have been a standard thriller - but there too, it falls a little short: there is a lot more discussion between characters in grotty rooms than there is action. Likewise, the satire could have been sharper.
That said, I found this to be a mostly exciting read, and I was keen to see how the story developed - I just think there was the potential for more.
Thanks to Titan and Netgalley for the ARC.
I'm a big fan of genre blending, but in this case it doesn't always feel successful - the horror aspects felt merely glanced at, with scenes detailing the more arcane or supernatural events being both few in number and short in length. I think extra exploration here could have made the book truly chilling, and perhaps upped the stakes - although the reader is aware of the danger Luke is in, it feels a bit nondescript. At times, this could have been a standard thriller - but there too, it falls a little short: there is a lot more discussion between characters in grotty rooms than there is action. Likewise, the satire could have been sharper.
That said, I found this to be a mostly exciting read, and I was keen to see how the story developed - I just think there was the potential for more.
Thanks to Titan and Netgalley for the ARC.
October 17, 2025
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
The Nail, a revolutionary group with a vendetta against the Woolsaw Group, makes the ultimate play, or so they believe, when they kidnap the Woolsaw’s twenty-three-year-old daughter, Adeline, straight off the street. What they don’t realise is that Adeline is pregnant. Heavily pregnant. And as they make a run for it from the scene of the kidnapping, she goes into labour. This was never part of the plan. How had their detailed surveillance, their intricate planning, not raised the fact that she’s clearly nine months pregnant?! What becomes clear very quickly is that this is no ordinary newborn. Far from it. Because the Woolsaws are no ordinary family…
The Captive is a well-written horror debut from a Booker-shortlisted author (writing under a pseudonym), which I found entertaining throughout. The Nail is a small revolutionary group with cells scattered across the country. Leading the kidnapping of Adeline is old hand Cam, with two newer, much younger members in Luke and Rosa. And that’s it. A team of three with a handful of other people prepared to help as and when necessary, such as doctor Shirley (not his real name), who was one of my favourite characters. The Nail’s war against the Woolsaw family has been raging for some time, but with little effect. The Woolsaws control EVERYTHING. They’re responsible for so much death, so much destruction. But let’s face it, The Nail doesn’t even know the half of it…
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Captive is an intriguing supernatural horror that proves capitalism really does breed monsters of the very worst kind! The characters are all well-written, with something always going on to hold the reader’s attention. I would have liked a little more baby-related chaos. The child, named Percy by his mother (purposely done to make him as unscary as possible!), only uses his strange powers a handful of times. I was hoping for a little more. There were moments where it felt as though the satanic child had been completely forgotten, left at base with Shirley, the reluctant babysitter. All in all, I found The Captive to be a fun, entertaining read from start to finish. Interesting characters, a propulsive plot and a great, satisfying, blood-soaked ending. Recommended.
The Nail, a revolutionary group with a vendetta against the Woolsaw Group, makes the ultimate play, or so they believe, when they kidnap the Woolsaw’s twenty-three-year-old daughter, Adeline, straight off the street. What they don’t realise is that Adeline is pregnant. Heavily pregnant. And as they make a run for it from the scene of the kidnapping, she goes into labour. This was never part of the plan. How had their detailed surveillance, their intricate planning, not raised the fact that she’s clearly nine months pregnant?! What becomes clear very quickly is that this is no ordinary newborn. Far from it. Because the Woolsaws are no ordinary family…
The Captive is a well-written horror debut from a Booker-shortlisted author (writing under a pseudonym), which I found entertaining throughout. The Nail is a small revolutionary group with cells scattered across the country. Leading the kidnapping of Adeline is old hand Cam, with two newer, much younger members in Luke and Rosa. And that’s it. A team of three with a handful of other people prepared to help as and when necessary, such as doctor Shirley (not his real name), who was one of my favourite characters. The Nail’s war against the Woolsaw family has been raging for some time, but with little effect. The Woolsaws control EVERYTHING. They’re responsible for so much death, so much destruction. But let’s face it, The Nail doesn’t even know the half of it…
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Captive is an intriguing supernatural horror that proves capitalism really does breed monsters of the very worst kind! The characters are all well-written, with something always going on to hold the reader’s attention. I would have liked a little more baby-related chaos. The child, named Percy by his mother (purposely done to make him as unscary as possible!), only uses his strange powers a handful of times. I was hoping for a little more. There were moments where it felt as though the satanic child had been completely forgotten, left at base with Shirley, the reluctant babysitter. All in all, I found The Captive to be a fun, entertaining read from start to finish. Interesting characters, a propulsive plot and a great, satisfying, blood-soaked ending. Recommended.
November 5, 2025
Thank you to Soho Press for my gifted copy!
The Captive was nowhere near on my radar. I’ve never read or seen Rosemary’s Baby, though I am familiar with it. But when this showed up on my doorstep, the synopsis immediately grabbed my attention.
“Anti-capitalist guerrillas unwittingly unleash terrifying supernatural forces when they kidnap a pregnant heiress.”
This felt like a poignant read to start on the eve of a big Election Day. And finishing it after the victory of that Election Day has me feeling nearly euphoric. It’s just so appropriate for right now.
People are sick of billionaires. And this group of revolutionaries decides to kindle this fire by kidnapping the daughter of the two most profound and evil billionaires around. But? She doesn’t want to go back, and she has no interest in being a pawn. She wants to fight back against the establishment that raised her.
I mean, how awesome. This was such a fun and scathing read. And it had this brilliant humor, too.
I couldn’t get enough of this. And now it makes me want to read and watch Rosemary’s Baby. I recommend this!
The Captive was nowhere near on my radar. I’ve never read or seen Rosemary’s Baby, though I am familiar with it. But when this showed up on my doorstep, the synopsis immediately grabbed my attention.
“Anti-capitalist guerrillas unwittingly unleash terrifying supernatural forces when they kidnap a pregnant heiress.”
This felt like a poignant read to start on the eve of a big Election Day. And finishing it after the victory of that Election Day has me feeling nearly euphoric. It’s just so appropriate for right now.
People are sick of billionaires. And this group of revolutionaries decides to kindle this fire by kidnapping the daughter of the two most profound and evil billionaires around. But? She doesn’t want to go back, and she has no interest in being a pawn. She wants to fight back against the establishment that raised her.
I mean, how awesome. This was such a fun and scathing read. And it had this brilliant humor, too.
I couldn’t get enough of this. And now it makes me want to read and watch Rosemary’s Baby. I recommend this!
October 9, 2025
Do you think capitalism is evil? Must one sell their soul to rise to the top? Is there an impactful way to reach the rich and powerful (like maybe by kidnapping their daughter who, surprisingly, is about to give birth to Satan‘s spawn)?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to get your hands on a copy of this devilishly entertaining read! The author doesn’t waste any time catapulting readers into the gruesome action, and The Captive is always absorbing as it thrills and chills. It wasn’t the story I’d expected, but I’m pretty satisfied with the one I received.
I did want the baby to play a bigger part in the story, as he was a plot device that mainly sat on the periphery. The Captive was still an exhilarating thriller, but the minimal supernatural aspects didn’t fully shift this into horror territory.
I’d be remiss not to mention that there were definitely some large plot holes, but I won’t let that taint my blissful reading experience. I’m just going to shovel some dirt into those craters and pretend they were always just patches of bumpy terrain.
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to get your hands on a copy of this devilishly entertaining read! The author doesn’t waste any time catapulting readers into the gruesome action, and The Captive is always absorbing as it thrills and chills. It wasn’t the story I’d expected, but I’m pretty satisfied with the one I received.
I did want the baby to play a bigger part in the story, as he was a plot device that mainly sat on the periphery. The Captive was still an exhilarating thriller, but the minimal supernatural aspects didn’t fully shift this into horror territory.
I’d be remiss not to mention that there were definitely some large plot holes, but I won’t let that taint my blissful reading experience. I’m just going to shovel some dirt into those craters and pretend they were always just patches of bumpy terrain.
November 30, 2025
I liked this enough that I would watch a miniseries based on it. I really liked the premise of kidnapping a girl and then the girl was like yaaas thank you don’t take me back there 🤣. Also, Adeline was like… way too chill about the whole idea of birthing the antichrist. Wild.
December 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! Only thing was I think the romance inclusion should have been a loooooot slower and less matured than it was towards the end. Also for a book that is about an antichrist baby, there really wasn’t much of the antichrist baby.
A fun read overall!
A fun read overall!
November 3, 2025
A favorite contemporary author — genre-bending satirist Ned Beauman — writing a horror novel under a pseudonym??? Don’t mind if I do!
January 3, 2026
no me decido si 3.5 o 4 but it was really fun!!
September 24, 2025
I don’t feel the book we got was the one described in the blurb. It started great but then dwindled with little in the way of the supernatural, so it was more thriller than horror. I was expecting, and wanting, more than a small anti-capitalism cell planning some attacks against a UK version of the Umbrella Corporation, (no zombies, sadly)
I also didn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t think Luke or Adeline had anything particularly special about them, and I couldn’t stand Rosa.
Overall, I found the whole book very meh. I’m sure others will enjoy, i just didn’t. Rosemary’s Baby this isn’t.
I also didn’t connect with the characters. I didn’t think Luke or Adeline had anything particularly special about them, and I couldn’t stand Rosa.
Overall, I found the whole book very meh. I’m sure others will enjoy, i just didn’t. Rosemary’s Baby this isn’t.
October 9, 2025
I think if you liked the movie, Ready or Not, then you’d like this
not sure if the action was meant to be read in a looney tunes situation esque way but it sure did to me and I loved it
sudden catastrophic bloodied events and the revolutionaries are just like, huh .. that was lucky
strong start, lulls in the middle, ramps right back up by the last quarter
not sure if the action was meant to be read in a looney tunes situation esque way but it sure did to me and I loved it
sudden catastrophic bloodied events and the revolutionaries are just like, huh .. that was lucky
strong start, lulls in the middle, ramps right back up by the last quarter
June 4, 2025
I picked this book up hoping for a horror story. Instead it’s a very action heavy story about a militant group trying to take down The Woolsaw Group, one of those evil companies with their hands in everything and rich as Croesus. There’s a lot of talking, a lot of planning, a lot of talking about the Woolsaw Group, but not much actually happens for the first third of the book. There’s a moment with rain, a moment with caterpillars, but those are tiny blips in the midst of all the talking — or rather, all the book telling me that people are talking.
For example, when Adelaide decides to trust Nail, the resistance group, and to join them, Rosa — one of her kidnappers — expresses doubt. After all, what if Adeline changes her mind? Rather than answer the question, the author avoids it altogether, saying that Adeline explains her decision, tells them what her parents did, and even Rosa is convinced at the end. Great for Rosa, but as a reader, I’m not convinced. I would have liked to have seen how she won over her kidnappers, but nope. I just have to take the author’s word that it happened … just not in the book.
This is more a book talking about the evils of giant corporations than a thriller, and more a thriller than a horror. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it and was quite bored throughout. I kept waiting for something to happen, and when it did, it was over almost before it began with none of the supposed horrific moments — a demon child using his demon powers, the demon child’s birth, the death of the evil grandmother, the visits from the great evil one — actually having more than a sentence or two on page. It felt almost as if the horror elements weren’t the focus of the book.
But the talking and the telling sure were.
That said, the writing is good, the pace is a bit uneven with a lot of time spent on talking and so little spent on anything else. And the idea of a demon infant being mostly an infant, able to use their powers instinctively rather than deliberately is clever. Just not utilized well enough for me. I’m sorry, but this is a solid pass. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the arc.
For example, when Adelaide decides to trust Nail, the resistance group, and to join them, Rosa — one of her kidnappers — expresses doubt. After all, what if Adeline changes her mind? Rather than answer the question, the author avoids it altogether, saying that Adeline explains her decision, tells them what her parents did, and even Rosa is convinced at the end. Great for Rosa, but as a reader, I’m not convinced. I would have liked to have seen how she won over her kidnappers, but nope. I just have to take the author’s word that it happened … just not in the book.
This is more a book talking about the evils of giant corporations than a thriller, and more a thriller than a horror. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it and was quite bored throughout. I kept waiting for something to happen, and when it did, it was over almost before it began with none of the supposed horrific moments — a demon child using his demon powers, the demon child’s birth, the death of the evil grandmother, the visits from the great evil one — actually having more than a sentence or two on page. It felt almost as if the horror elements weren’t the focus of the book.
But the talking and the telling sure were.
That said, the writing is good, the pace is a bit uneven with a lot of time spent on talking and so little spent on anything else. And the idea of a demon infant being mostly an infant, able to use their powers instinctively rather than deliberately is clever. Just not utilized well enough for me. I’m sorry, but this is a solid pass. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the arc.
October 22, 2025
"And now Luke becomes aware of two things the he very much was not expecting.
The first is that Adeline Woolsaw is pregnant...
And the second thing is that she's shouting, "Go! Go! Come on! Go!" Urgency in her voice. Desperation.
As if she wants them to get away.
As if she doesn't realize she's being kidnapped.
As if she thinks she's being rescued."
Huge thanks to Hell's Hundred and Soho Press for my copy of THE CAPTIVE by Kit Burgoyne.
I honestly wasn't sure if this book was going to be for me, but by the end of the first chapter, I was absolutely hooked!
From the get-go, it's pretty clear Adeline isn't carrying a normal baby boy and the addition of this paranormal force really led to a story, much like an onion, with sooo many layers.
Despite this book being almost 400 pages, it also felt like a quick read! The pacing really kept the story moving and Burgoyne continued to build the intrigue throughout.
The first is that Adeline Woolsaw is pregnant...
And the second thing is that she's shouting, "Go! Go! Come on! Go!" Urgency in her voice. Desperation.
As if she wants them to get away.
As if she doesn't realize she's being kidnapped.
As if she thinks she's being rescued."
Huge thanks to Hell's Hundred and Soho Press for my copy of THE CAPTIVE by Kit Burgoyne.
I honestly wasn't sure if this book was going to be for me, but by the end of the first chapter, I was absolutely hooked!
From the get-go, it's pretty clear Adeline isn't carrying a normal baby boy and the addition of this paranormal force really led to a story, much like an onion, with sooo many layers.
Despite this book being almost 400 pages, it also felt like a quick read! The pacing really kept the story moving and Burgoyne continued to build the intrigue throughout.
May 30, 2025
3 out of 5 stars
The Captive is a comedic horror-thriller that hooked me early on and kept me curious with its wild premise and moments of sharp social commentary. There were definitely parts that kept me turning the pages, especially with how it tackled the idea of capitalism as the real monster.
That said, there were a few moments—mostly tied to certain characters—that gave me the ick, and overall, it didn’t always feel like the full-blown horror story I was expecting. The writing also felt a bit uneven in places, and I found myself wishing some sections were more developed.
Still, I’d recommend this one to readers who enjoy genre-bending stories with a satirical edge. If you're into books that mix dark humor, weird vibes, and social critique, this one might be worth the read.
**Thank you Netgalley and the publish for an advance copy for an honest review of the book**
The Captive is a comedic horror-thriller that hooked me early on and kept me curious with its wild premise and moments of sharp social commentary. There were definitely parts that kept me turning the pages, especially with how it tackled the idea of capitalism as the real monster.
That said, there were a few moments—mostly tied to certain characters—that gave me the ick, and overall, it didn’t always feel like the full-blown horror story I was expecting. The writing also felt a bit uneven in places, and I found myself wishing some sections were more developed.
Still, I’d recommend this one to readers who enjoy genre-bending stories with a satirical edge. If you're into books that mix dark humor, weird vibes, and social critique, this one might be worth the read.
**Thank you Netgalley and the publish for an advance copy for an honest review of the book**
August 16, 2025
I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This was a gripping, compelling novel that was hard to put down. I raced through this.
This novel is so fast paced. We see the pregnant daughter of a wealthy, powerful family abducted by kidnappers. However she’s been desperate to escape the family. When she gives birth in custody, the kidnappers see strange things happening and the dark and supernatural connections of the family start to come to the fore.
I would happily recommend this book, it was surprising. There were a few things I suspected that came to pass, but often I couldn’t predict what characters would do next. This book is violent, suspenseful and written with intensity. I really enjoyed this. The supernatural parts were really interesting whilst being juxtaposed with corporate greed and the evils of man.
This was a gripping, compelling novel that was hard to put down. I raced through this.
This novel is so fast paced. We see the pregnant daughter of a wealthy, powerful family abducted by kidnappers. However she’s been desperate to escape the family. When she gives birth in custody, the kidnappers see strange things happening and the dark and supernatural connections of the family start to come to the fore.
I would happily recommend this book, it was surprising. There were a few things I suspected that came to pass, but often I couldn’t predict what characters would do next. This book is violent, suspenseful and written with intensity. I really enjoyed this. The supernatural parts were really interesting whilst being juxtaposed with corporate greed and the evils of man.
August 28, 2025
Kit Burgoyne is Ned Beauman writing under a pseudonym, although no one seems to be making any secret of this, so I’m not 100% sure what the point is. The (excellent) NB books are at least genre adjacent, so a move into outright horror isn’t a complete swerve. This is schlockier than those, to be fair, but that’s also a big part of the enjoyment. And it is very enjoyable, and fast moving enough that at no point do you stop and go “hang on…”, which is some achievement in a book that mixes revolutionary anti-capitalism with The Omen. It’s a hugely fun romp (as long as your definition of “fun romp” includes devil worship, mass death, and human sacrifice, which I’m afraid mine does), with a healthy political / satirical edge (guys, what if capitalism actually was the devil?). Makes me wish Dennis Wheatley had turned out to be a pen-name of George Orwell’s.
October 8, 2025
I really like this book. Perfect for this time of year. Adeline is a 23 year old dad HH tee of extremely rich and powerful parents. One day when she is coming out of a dr. Appt she is kidnapped by Cam and his crew who are part of an organization called the nail trying to expose Adelines parents for what they are. They soon realize after the kidnapping that Adeline is very pregnant and goes into labor shortly after they snatch her. Cam, Rosa, and Luke have no idea what Adeline’s parents have done to her. She doesn’t want to go back but how does she move forward. Loved the characters and the story was definitely hard to put down. Took off a star because I feel like the author could have given more information to the reader and felt I would have liked to know more about the characters.
December 3, 2025
80/100 or 4.0 stars
I enjoyed the writing style a lot with this story. It propels the plot forward well and makes you want to keep reading, and this felt like a quick read even though it is almost 400 pages. The characters were fun to follow and learn more about, and the twists were done well too. I do think it does go on a little bit toward the 3/4 mark, but the ending is good. The horrifying elements to the story are told well and not too graphic for what is happening, but still would recommend looking up content warnings for this one. I would be interested in reading more by this author whether they use this pen name or their real name!
Thank you to NetGalley for provisding a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed the writing style a lot with this story. It propels the plot forward well and makes you want to keep reading, and this felt like a quick read even though it is almost 400 pages. The characters were fun to follow and learn more about, and the twists were done well too. I do think it does go on a little bit toward the 3/4 mark, but the ending is good. The horrifying elements to the story are told well and not too graphic for what is happening, but still would recommend looking up content warnings for this one. I would be interested in reading more by this author whether they use this pen name or their real name!
Thank you to NetGalley for provisding a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 17, 2025
This books was fantastic, fun, and I absolutely loved it. One of the best books I’ve read in a while. I gobbled this up in a couple days, the pacing was perfect and I didn’t want to put it down. Anti-capitalist sentiment plus spooky stuff is like my perfect combo. I can’t wait to read more by this author! I’m definitely going to look at his comedy work, but I certainly hope he writes more horror. I would even read more in this same universe. I read a lot of new releases because my father in law is a librarian, so I truly can’t express how refreshing this was after finding so many newly published books to boring, rote, and predictable
September 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for this ARC!
This is essentially a a story about amateur terrorists who kidnap a wealthy family's daughter to try and get people to take notice of all the wrongdoings this particular family does. What they get is a 2 for 1 special instead. And that extra little person also happens to be the antichrist!
While it's a fun read, I wanted MORE gore and guts! I also wanted more of the satanic cult rituals and apocalyptic events. I guess I wanted more chaos 😂
Would I recommend? Yes, if you are looking for a kind of lighthearted, dark horror book for a palette cleanser.
This is essentially a a story about amateur terrorists who kidnap a wealthy family's daughter to try and get people to take notice of all the wrongdoings this particular family does. What they get is a 2 for 1 special instead. And that extra little person also happens to be the antichrist!
While it's a fun read, I wanted MORE gore and guts! I also wanted more of the satanic cult rituals and apocalyptic events. I guess I wanted more chaos 😂
Would I recommend? Yes, if you are looking for a kind of lighthearted, dark horror book for a palette cleanser.
September 3, 2025
4.5
I have absolutely no idea how to categorise this book. It’s part horror and part terrifying insight into the 1%, although I’d like to think that although the 1% is evil - they’re not actually worshipping a devil.
This was one hell of a ride, albeit beyond ridiculous and gloriously gory at times, and I really enjoyed it.
I’m not going to try and analyse it, I’m not sure some plot points will hold up. But I am going to be recommending it as it was a blast.
I have absolutely no idea how to categorise this book. It’s part horror and part terrifying insight into the 1%, although I’d like to think that although the 1% is evil - they’re not actually worshipping a devil.
This was one hell of a ride, albeit beyond ridiculous and gloriously gory at times, and I really enjoyed it.
I’m not going to try and analyse it, I’m not sure some plot points will hold up. But I am going to be recommending it as it was a blast.
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