View Count Rising

by Sullivan Ledger

Rick Leavitt is a young, struggling filmmaker with big dreams but no direction. By day, he’s trapped in a soul-crushing job he despises; by night, he pours his heart into low-budget short films, hoping to break into Hollywood. When he meets Sergio, a charismatic and successful yet enigmatic producer, Rick is convinced he’s finally found his big break.

But Sergio’s productions are anything but typical. Behind the allure of success lies a twisted underworld of snuff films–gruesome, underground creations blurring the line between art and depravity.

As Rick becomes entrenched in Sergio’s world, the allure of fame, fortune, and millions of views proves impossible to resist. But the deeper he dives, the more he friendships, love, and the last fragments of his humanity. What starts as a desperate attempt to make a name for himself spirals into a waking nightmare of violence and betrayal.

Rick never imagined his pursuit of success would lead him here. Now, as the horrors he’s complicit in mount, he’s left to question whether he can escape–or if he even wants to.

323 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Thriller and Sci-Fi author / Webcomic creator from Los Angeles

Reviews

[mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really fun read! great premise that got me hooked, and its a tad of a slowburn at first but you really get to know the main character, Rick. i liked him from the start and thought he was well characterized! his spiral felt horribly realistic and tragic. i wanted to hate him at some point, and theres times i definitely hated his actions. but it was hard to fully hate him. he was just real interesting! i took a break from reading at about 75% done but im so glad i came back! the ending chapters were such a ride. i wasn’t too sure how it would all end. i’d think it’s going a certain direction then it’d swerve the opposite way! i dont really do reviews but i thought this book surely deserved a great one from me!