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Bait
Deep in the marshlands of Florida, three teenagers stumble upon a terrifying discovery just a bike ride away from their homes.
Hanging out with Freddy was always exciting for Val and her younger brother Shane. As the resident troublemaker of their trailer park, Freddy oozed bad ideas that seemed great at the time. His distractions were just what the siblings needed after the sudden disappearance of their father six months ago.
On their way home from an afternoon spent roasting fire ant mounds in the marsh, the trio unearth a grotesque creature slinking along the wetlands. Their curiosity outweighs their fear as Freddy decides to take the creature home, where they are horrified to learn it has an appetite for warm-blooded animals.
Suspecting a link between the mysterious creature and a lone, strangely smelling RV in their trailer park, Val and her friends venture out to investigate. What they find sends them running for their lives.
But when Val and Shane’s deadbeat uncle brings trouble to their doorstep, they wonder if their grisly discovery could be used to their advantage.
What did the trio find hiding in the trailer at the edge of the swamp?
How could it help Val and her family when their lives are in danger?
Find out in this captivating new novel by Amazon best-selling author Trent Pettry.
Hanging out with Freddy was always exciting for Val and her younger brother Shane. As the resident troublemaker of their trailer park, Freddy oozed bad ideas that seemed great at the time. His distractions were just what the siblings needed after the sudden disappearance of their father six months ago.
On their way home from an afternoon spent roasting fire ant mounds in the marsh, the trio unearth a grotesque creature slinking along the wetlands. Their curiosity outweighs their fear as Freddy decides to take the creature home, where they are horrified to learn it has an appetite for warm-blooded animals.
Suspecting a link between the mysterious creature and a lone, strangely smelling RV in their trailer park, Val and her friends venture out to investigate. What they find sends them running for their lives.
But when Val and Shane’s deadbeat uncle brings trouble to their doorstep, they wonder if their grisly discovery could be used to their advantage.
What did the trio find hiding in the trailer at the edge of the swamp?
How could it help Val and her family when their lives are in danger?
Find out in this captivating new novel by Amazon best-selling author Trent Pettry.
- GenresFiction
Unknown Binding
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About the author
Trent Pettry
9 books17 followersAuthor Trent Pettry is a best-selling writer living with his wife and children in Salt Lake City. Growing up, he split his time between consuming sci-fi and fantasy stories, escaping into epic RPG adventures with friends and family, and exploring the forest behind his childhood home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Trent draws many of his story ideas from his own dreams, brilliantly combining them with his life experiences to create the richly detailed worlds and relatable characters he’s known for. A graduate of the University of North Carolina and former US Navy sonar technician on a nuclear fast-attack submarine, he currently works as a professional in the IT field. When he’s not busy at work or plotting out his next novel, he can be found spending time with his family or working on his many other creative endeavors.
Trent draws many of his story ideas from his own dreams, brilliantly combining them with his life experiences to create the richly detailed worlds and relatable characters he’s known for. A graduate of the University of North Carolina and former US Navy sonar technician on a nuclear fast-attack submarine, he currently works as a professional in the IT field. When he’s not busy at work or plotting out his next novel, he can be found spending time with his family or working on his many other creative endeavors.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 4, 2025
This was ok. The story moved extremely quick, which rendered characters that were not fleshed out enough, and, despite having a promising concept, it all just felt very rushed. At about seventy pages, it needed to expand in itself, in order to take its time to explore the creature and Shane, Val, and even Nikki quite a bit more. It felt more like a young adult story, which is not my particular preference, either. I’m curious to see more of Trent Pettry’s offerings, because this left me unsure if this author is a good match for me.
August 15, 2023
Little Octopus, Big Trouble...
BAIT by Trent Pettry
No spoilers. 3 1/2 stars. Shane and his sister Val watch as their friend Freddy sets fire to a mound of fire ants...
The kids were messing around at a clearing in the middle of marshland...
Freddy was always scheming to do something off the rails...
Afterward, they started down the sandy trail toward home when suddenly, Val's tire ran over something that looked like...
A little octopus...
The thing stank like dead fish. It seemed agitated and tried to wrap a tentacle around Freddy's finger...
Freddy decided to keep the strange critter. He put it into a jar, screwed on the lid, and named the vicious little thing Butcher...
As they rode their bikes to their trailer park homes...
They passed an old trailer back in the trees that, strangely, smelled just like Butcher...
The kids agreed to stop and investigate, but they should have kept on going all the way home... and stayed there!...
This was a good little short story. It was sort of a coming-of-age tale about the mischief that three children, left to their own devices, get into.
I would have liked to rate this story 4 stars, but it needed a few more pages to answer some questions left dangling.
BAIT by Trent Pettry
No spoilers. 3 1/2 stars. Shane and his sister Val watch as their friend Freddy sets fire to a mound of fire ants...
The kids were messing around at a clearing in the middle of marshland...
Freddy was always scheming to do something off the rails...
Afterward, they started down the sandy trail toward home when suddenly, Val's tire ran over something that looked like...
A little octopus...
The thing stank like dead fish. It seemed agitated and tried to wrap a tentacle around Freddy's finger...
Freddy decided to keep the strange critter. He put it into a jar, screwed on the lid, and named the vicious little thing Butcher...
As they rode their bikes to their trailer park homes...
They passed an old trailer back in the trees that, strangely, smelled just like Butcher...
The kids agreed to stop and investigate, but they should have kept on going all the way home... and stayed there!...
This was a good little short story. It was sort of a coming-of-age tale about the mischief that three children, left to their own devices, get into.
I would have liked to rate this story 4 stars, but it needed a few more pages to answer some questions left dangling.
September 10, 2022
Bait was an outstanding and fun read. Short and to the point, the author created a great creature feature.
The writing was outstanding and outside of the prologue being in present-tense, the rest of the story was solid third-person, past-tense. Being a novella, the narrative, of course, was brisk with no endless exposition, the pace fast. The characters were likable and the story top-notch, just like all of my favorite creature-features in the past. His writing is up there with Hunter Shea, Greig Beck, and Bentley Little. I really enjoyed his previous monster trilogy and Bait continued in the same tradition and style (with a different and real-time inspiration). I kept wanting for more even as I closed the last page with a huge smile on my face. Highly recommended!
The writing was outstanding and outside of the prologue being in present-tense, the rest of the story was solid third-person, past-tense. Being a novella, the narrative, of course, was brisk with no endless exposition, the pace fast. The characters were likable and the story top-notch, just like all of my favorite creature-features in the past. His writing is up there with Hunter Shea, Greig Beck, and Bentley Little. I really enjoyed his previous monster trilogy and Bait continued in the same tradition and style (with a different and real-time inspiration). I kept wanting for more even as I closed the last page with a huge smile on my face. Highly recommended!
October 12, 2022
Enjoyable
I like short reads and this one was no exception. I liked the trio of Val, Shane and Freddy. They find a cute, but aggressive, little creature that they think is an octopus. What else will they find?
Read to find out :)
I like short reads and this one was no exception. I liked the trio of Val, Shane and Freddy. They find a cute, but aggressive, little creature that they think is an octopus. What else will they find?
Read to find out :)
October 9, 2023
Bait is unpredictable, fast-paced, and a bit of spooky fun. This novella's 80 pages make it the ideal length for a brief evening reading session. Though I didn't particularly enjoy it, I also didn't despise it. Although I wish there had been a little bit more to it, even though I wasn't aware that was the goal of this book, it was brief and had a nostalgic feel to it. Although that is also not really my preference, it seemed more like a young adult story. I wish it had been a bit longer and delved a little further, because it left me with far too many unanswered questions.
"Even Tank Dixon, a Marine Biologist with the Crystal River Conservatory, couldn’t classify the cephalopod-like creature with a taste for small, warm-blooded animals."
"Even Tank Dixon, a Marine Biologist with the Crystal River Conservatory, couldn’t classify the cephalopod-like creature with a taste for small, warm-blooded animals."
December 29, 2022
I think this could have had a little bit more to it but I very much enjoyed this short tale! Quick and had a nostalgic vibe to it even though I don't know that was the intention behind this book. Never the less its was a fun time!
October 11, 2023
I enjoyed it! All I kept asking myself was why are they going back to the trailer?? lol
It was fast paced and an easy read for a short novella but I wanted to know more about what happened to Butcher or to Lloyd.
It was fast paced and an easy read for a short novella but I wanted to know more about what happened to Butcher or to Lloyd.
September 18, 2022
A very interesting story that has the possibility of becoming a series.
October 25, 2022
Bait
This book was a fast read and kept my curiosity until the end ..,is there a sequel
also i figure that was how her dad died but still shocking to find that out at the end
This book was a fast read and kept my curiosity until the end ..,is there a sequel
also i figure that was how her dad died but still shocking to find that out at the end
October 29, 2022
A horrific little novella that's an appetizer for a later longer read, its still packed with terror and.. creepiness!
August 9, 2023
3.5*
I enjoyed this short read quite a bit, but I wish it had been a little longer and delved a little deeper, as I feel it left me with too many questions.
I enjoyed this short read quite a bit, but I wish it had been a little longer and delved a little deeper, as I feel it left me with too many questions.
September 15, 2022
I'm not typically a horror fan, but I couldn't stop reading this book! A fun, quick, and super creative read that will keep you turning the page. Hoping for a sequel!
November 26, 2023
A Great Short Story Creature Feature
For fans of monster-fic, Bait is perfect. Great characters that serve as much more than monster kibble, a fascinating monster that is unique, and a darn good story.
If it had been any longer a lot of questions would have been answered and would have made a good foray as cosmic horror.
Anyway, Bait gets a thumbs up from me.
For fans of monster-fic, Bait is perfect. Great characters that serve as much more than monster kibble, a fascinating monster that is unique, and a darn good story.
If it had been any longer a lot of questions would have been answered and would have made a good foray as cosmic horror.
Anyway, Bait gets a thumbs up from me.
September 25, 2022
This gave me Stranger Things vibes, but more for adults than kids.
October 27, 2022
Fast moving but came out ok at end except for something I'm sure you'll be able to figure out by the half way point. This was perfect for Halloween!
October 27, 2022
Bait
A short creepy novella. Lots of slime, so I wouldn't recommend reading this while eating! Fun, fast paced, entertaining read.
A short creepy novella. Lots of slime, so I wouldn't recommend reading this while eating! Fun, fast paced, entertaining read.
March 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. So much so, that I was sad to have it end and hope for a follow-up.
June 8, 2023
Fun little novella
September 18, 2023
Interesting - Very short, but the author wrote well
December 26, 2023
that was just weird
November 6, 2022
Every so often, I check out Amazon kindle genre freebies, seeing what’s out there. The goal is, typically, to find books like these. Well written, well edited fun reads that don’t read like freebies. Which is to say they read like they might be free on a promo, but their quality would warrant someone to potentially spend money on them.
So yeah, this one worked out nicely.
A multi-tentacled creature feature set in a trailer park in Florida. A bunch of young kids in the lead, the way these stories tend to go, if only for that nice nostalgia cherry on top.
Dynamic, fast-paced, creepy fun. At 80 pages, this novella is perfect for a one sit read on a dark evening. Fun was had. I'm even going to (uncharacteristically) update this one. Take the bait. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
So yeah, this one worked out nicely.
A multi-tentacled creature feature set in a trailer park in Florida. A bunch of young kids in the lead, the way these stories tend to go, if only for that nice nostalgia cherry on top.
Dynamic, fast-paced, creepy fun. At 80 pages, this novella is perfect for a one sit read on a dark evening. Fun was had. I'm even going to (uncharacteristically) update this one. Take the bait. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
October 5, 2023
This book was interesting. The beginning was kinda slow but definitely picked up. Not the ending I was hoping for but I think that I might check out more of this authors work seeing as I am now interested in his writing style. Definitely got some creepy elements which I think is a step in the right direction for spooky season.
October 18, 2024
Three teens living in a trailer park stumble across an unusual, foul-smelling creature with tentacles.
They later discover that this creature morphs into other recognizable forms in order to bait and lure its prey.
I wasn’t a fan of the writing style as it read very stiff. The dialogue and the way the characters interacted felt unrealistic.
They later discover that this creature morphs into other recognizable forms in order to bait and lure its prey.
I wasn’t a fan of the writing style as it read very stiff. The dialogue and the way the characters interacted felt unrealistic.
January 23, 2023
This was an interesting read. A bit far-fetched, and left me with questions. Definitely some horror, but not horrifying. It was an okay read.
October 10, 2023
I enjoyed this book a lot! For this being such a short novella, it was so fast-paced and held my attention to the very end.
December 3, 2023
"Popping, crunching, and slurping sounds followed."
My interest was peaked when I discovered (just in time for spooky season) this eerie novella that was set in the marshlands of Florida, however, I was disappointed. The idea of a neighborhood kid trio stumbling upon a mysterious creature that eats humans alive was very interesting, but I think this could've been executed differently for a better result. It was short and to the point, but I wanted just a bit more!
"Now free from confinement, a swarm of massive tentacles erupted from the debris."
My interest was peaked when I discovered (just in time for spooky season) this eerie novella that was set in the marshlands of Florida, however, I was disappointed. The idea of a neighborhood kid trio stumbling upon a mysterious creature that eats humans alive was very interesting, but I think this could've been executed differently for a better result. It was short and to the point, but I wanted just a bit more!
"Now free from confinement, a swarm of massive tentacles erupted from the debris."
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews