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Survivor
Clive Barrett is a fast learner. His first kills were amateurish, but Clive knows that practice makes perfect. Soon, he expects to be one of the most notorious serial killers operating in the UK. He expects to be number one.
There is just one problem: one of Clive's victims simply won't stay dead.
It turns out that one of Clive's early kills was more than just sloppy; it wasn't a kill at all. Now, improving his craft might just be the least of Clive's worries, because the woman he thought he'd murdered knows his name. She knows where he lives.
And she is coming for him...
There is just one problem: one of Clive's victims simply won't stay dead.
It turns out that one of Clive's early kills was more than just sloppy; it wasn't a kill at all. Now, improving his craft might just be the least of Clive's worries, because the woman he thought he'd murdered knows his name. She knows where he lives.
And she is coming for him...
210 pages, Paperback
First published August 14, 2014
95 people are currently reading
518 people want to read
About the author
K.R. Griffiths
17 books146 followersBorn the son of a wealthy philanthropist, Griffiths was orphaned by crime at a formative age, and subsequently raised by the family's kindly butler.
Nursing a bone-deep rage at the loss of his parents, Griffiths invested his inherited billions into extensive combat training and the development of sophisticated technology which he now uses to bring justice to the streets of -
No, wait. That's Batman. Sheesh. I always do this.
I was born in Wales, and lost myself in books as soon as I discovered them. That kid who hangs out in the library. Yeah, that was me.
I never wanted to be anything other than a writer/superhero and eventually I moved to London, finding work as a journalist and editor, before turning to writing horror and science fiction, and being continually amazed that people actually read it.
Nursing a bone-deep rage at the loss of his parents, Griffiths invested his inherited billions into extensive combat training and the development of sophisticated technology which he now uses to bring justice to the streets of -
No, wait. That's Batman. Sheesh. I always do this.
I was born in Wales, and lost myself in books as soon as I discovered them. That kid who hangs out in the library. Yeah, that was me.
I never wanted to be anything other than a writer/superhero and eventually I moved to London, finding work as a journalist and editor, before turning to writing horror and science fiction, and being continually amazed that people actually read it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 20, 2016
This is an awesome novel!!!
I contacted the author and I received a copy of this book in exchange of a honest review.
RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!
This is an excellent horror book and one of the best examples that I can think of saying this, it's that the novel didn't end as I'd expected and even as I'd like it, but even so, it was written so well and the use of the words were so precise that I reached to the conclussion that it is indeed a great horror story.
Don't let fool you that the author isn't too known (yet) or that the book is only 210 pages, since popularity doesn't make good writers and thick books doesn't make good books.
I always thought that if a story is really good, it will be good even in 200 or fewer pages. And if a story isn't any good, extending it to 500 or more pages won't change that fact.
However, don't think that because of being of 210 pages, you won't have character development since then you will be wrong. This book has a great character development, even on characters with few presence on the story.
I totally enjoyed the reading experience since the narrative style is so mature and well crafted that it doesn't anything to envy from books written by the big names on the business of horror novels. Yes, I do think that.
It's curious that there some mentions to the book of Jurassic Park due the "flawed science" of that a predator won't see you if you don't move, since a factor that indeed I think the author used was the "Theory of Chaos". You can't control the environment, and not matter how well you may do a plan, the chaos factor will provoke unexpected paths.
Survivor has the perfect title to the story and a totally professional cover denoting that this is indeed a professional material, don't ever doubt that.
The author is able to "vocalize" each character and that's not an easy task since the thinking of the characters are totally opposed, but you will feel the authencity of how each characters rationalize and how they react to each situation.
CREEPY SMART
What can be your initial expectation? Well, it's like American Psycho meets I Spit on Your Grave meets Death Proof meets Malevolence. But I am not saying that it's a copy of all that. I only want to help you to picture an initial overall expectation about what kind of horror story you will read, and maybe, just maybe some influences for it. At least, some of the horror films that came to my mind while reading the book.
However, this is really an original story, with a different development.
Just in case, while the most of the book is kinda restrained on gross scenes (but still with a lot of killing horror stuff, just avoiding to be too graphic on the descriptions, but still tough to cope), you will certainly will meet a quite explicit gore and splatterpunk climax.
So, be prepared!!!
I contacted the author and I received a copy of this book in exchange of a honest review.
RUN AND DON'T LOOK BACK!
This is an excellent horror book and one of the best examples that I can think of saying this, it's that the novel didn't end as I'd expected and even as I'd like it, but even so, it was written so well and the use of the words were so precise that I reached to the conclussion that it is indeed a great horror story.
Don't let fool you that the author isn't too known (yet) or that the book is only 210 pages, since popularity doesn't make good writers and thick books doesn't make good books.
I always thought that if a story is really good, it will be good even in 200 or fewer pages. And if a story isn't any good, extending it to 500 or more pages won't change that fact.
However, don't think that because of being of 210 pages, you won't have character development since then you will be wrong. This book has a great character development, even on characters with few presence on the story.
I totally enjoyed the reading experience since the narrative style is so mature and well crafted that it doesn't anything to envy from books written by the big names on the business of horror novels. Yes, I do think that.
It's curious that there some mentions to the book of Jurassic Park due the "flawed science" of that a predator won't see you if you don't move, since a factor that indeed I think the author used was the "Theory of Chaos". You can't control the environment, and not matter how well you may do a plan, the chaos factor will provoke unexpected paths.
Survivor has the perfect title to the story and a totally professional cover denoting that this is indeed a professional material, don't ever doubt that.
The author is able to "vocalize" each character and that's not an easy task since the thinking of the characters are totally opposed, but you will feel the authencity of how each characters rationalize and how they react to each situation.
CREEPY SMART
What can be your initial expectation? Well, it's like American Psycho meets I Spit on Your Grave meets Death Proof meets Malevolence. But I am not saying that it's a copy of all that. I only want to help you to picture an initial overall expectation about what kind of horror story you will read, and maybe, just maybe some influences for it. At least, some of the horror films that came to my mind while reading the book.
However, this is really an original story, with a different development.
Just in case, while the most of the book is kinda restrained on gross scenes (but still with a lot of killing horror stuff, just avoiding to be too graphic on the descriptions, but still tough to cope), you will certainly will meet a quite explicit gore and splatterpunk climax.
So, be prepared!!!
March 4, 2019
You won’t go out after dark when you read this
Awesomely good. Good read about a psycho serial killer who gets whacked (?) by supposedly dead victim. It will make you think twice about things that go bump in the night. No supernatural stuff, all human.
Awesomely good. Good read about a psycho serial killer who gets whacked (?) by supposedly dead victim. It will make you think twice about things that go bump in the night. No supernatural stuff, all human.
January 27, 2015
KR Griffiths's Survivor is an interesting take the serial killer story – told from the point of view of the killer. This gives us the opportunity to see how a person comes to be a serial killer.
We first meet Clive Barrett at work. Barrett is the perfect employee for his City bosses: quiet, successful, unassuming, he keeps to himself and doesn’t cause trouble. If anything the only problem is that he doesn’t join in enough, and in fact in these opening passages he is making his excuses and leaving his colleagues to their Friday night drinks. Barrett has other plans for his evening.
Barrett wants to be the most notorious serial killer the UK has ever seen. But there’s set to be a spanner in the works; one of his previous kills didn’t stay dead, and she wants revenge. Thus begins a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Barrett is a fledgling killer; he makes mistakes – the biggest of these leaving his new adversary alive. He tries to learn from these slip-ups. He has big plans. This is a completely different approach to the serial killer plot as I know it. The Dexter series of books is the only other story I know of that takes the serial killer as the main character. I haven’t read these but as far as I’m aware Dexter is already established as a very competent and deadly killer.
There is an awful lot of violence against women in the book. But it’s well handled. It can be easy for such stories to descend into misogynistic torture porn but Griffiths manages to avoid this.
So why only two stars? I don’t think we get enough into Barrett’s head – we don’t really understand why he’s a serial killer (unlike with, say, Dexter). Also the man is clearly a psychopath and it’s hard to have any kind of emotional connection to a character who himself is lacking emotions, even if it's just to dislike him. This is also my issue with Dexter and why I haven’t read it.
My main problem, though, is the ending. I found it deeply unsatisfying and unconvincing. I feel that Griffiths has sacrificed a realistic ending for the sake of a twist. And unfortunately I didn’t think the twist was that good. I won’t say what it is – you’ll just have to decide if you want to read the book!
For sake of clarity, I’m not comparing this book to the Dexter series, just using the latter as a reference.
I received this book as part of the GoodReads FirstReads scheme.
We first meet Clive Barrett at work. Barrett is the perfect employee for his City bosses: quiet, successful, unassuming, he keeps to himself and doesn’t cause trouble. If anything the only problem is that he doesn’t join in enough, and in fact in these opening passages he is making his excuses and leaving his colleagues to their Friday night drinks. Barrett has other plans for his evening.
Barrett wants to be the most notorious serial killer the UK has ever seen. But there’s set to be a spanner in the works; one of his previous kills didn’t stay dead, and she wants revenge. Thus begins a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Barrett is a fledgling killer; he makes mistakes – the biggest of these leaving his new adversary alive. He tries to learn from these slip-ups. He has big plans. This is a completely different approach to the serial killer plot as I know it. The Dexter series of books is the only other story I know of that takes the serial killer as the main character. I haven’t read these but as far as I’m aware Dexter is already established as a very competent and deadly killer.
There is an awful lot of violence against women in the book. But it’s well handled. It can be easy for such stories to descend into misogynistic torture porn but Griffiths manages to avoid this.
So why only two stars? I don’t think we get enough into Barrett’s head – we don’t really understand why he’s a serial killer (unlike with, say, Dexter). Also the man is clearly a psychopath and it’s hard to have any kind of emotional connection to a character who himself is lacking emotions, even if it's just to dislike him. This is also my issue with Dexter and why I haven’t read it.
My main problem, though, is the ending. I found it deeply unsatisfying and unconvincing. I feel that Griffiths has sacrificed a realistic ending for the sake of a twist. And unfortunately I didn’t think the twist was that good. I won’t say what it is – you’ll just have to decide if you want to read the book!
For sake of clarity, I’m not comparing this book to the Dexter series, just using the latter as a reference.
I received this book as part of the GoodReads FirstReads scheme.
August 25, 2014
I am a member of K R Griffiths' reader panel, so I received my copy of this novel for free.
After finishing the excellent Wildfire Chronicles, I was interested to see what direction Griffiths would take with his new, standalone novel. It is a serial killer novel, and goodness knows there are many of those around - but this story is told from the point of view of two people, neither of them maverick cops, which puts it into a much smaller and more exclusive category.
One of the people is Clive, the killer himself. Griffiths is very good at making Clive's twisted logic, and world view, believable. The second character (not a spoiler, as it's referred to in the blurb) is one of Clive's victims. He hasn't quite killed her, and she is out to get him.
The violence level of the book is quite high, as you would expect, but Griffiths handles it well. His descriptions of what his characters are feeling, physically and mentally, are both evocative and original. I particularly liked 'shawl of fire', used to describe broken ribs, which captures that pain exactly.
Like 'The Wildfire Chronicles', this is a fluent and engrossing read, and I found it hard to put down.
After finishing the excellent Wildfire Chronicles, I was interested to see what direction Griffiths would take with his new, standalone novel. It is a serial killer novel, and goodness knows there are many of those around - but this story is told from the point of view of two people, neither of them maverick cops, which puts it into a much smaller and more exclusive category.
One of the people is Clive, the killer himself. Griffiths is very good at making Clive's twisted logic, and world view, believable. The second character (not a spoiler, as it's referred to in the blurb) is one of Clive's victims. He hasn't quite killed her, and she is out to get him.
The violence level of the book is quite high, as you would expect, but Griffiths handles it well. His descriptions of what his characters are feeling, physically and mentally, are both evocative and original. I particularly liked 'shawl of fire', used to describe broken ribs, which captures that pain exactly.
Like 'The Wildfire Chronicles', this is a fluent and engrossing read, and I found it hard to put down.
July 17, 2018
A book which took too long to get going… But once it did, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
This horror thriller was a little bit of a weird read for me. The main reason being that, for me, it took way too long to get going. I got to around the half way mark and stopped reading. A couple of days later I picked it up again and loved it.
Although Clive is a dark and twisted killer, I quite liked him – he made me laugh. The author did well to make sure that Clive had both a false and accepted personality combined with his real and dark fantasies (which quickly become a reality). It was great to experience Clive. I began to like Clive most after his clever and witty moves outside the coffee shop!
If I didn’t stop reading this it would be a 4 star, but because I struggled to get into the story from the off, it has to be a 3 star.
This horror thriller was a little bit of a weird read for me. The main reason being that, for me, it took way too long to get going. I got to around the half way mark and stopped reading. A couple of days later I picked it up again and loved it.
Although Clive is a dark and twisted killer, I quite liked him – he made me laugh. The author did well to make sure that Clive had both a false and accepted personality combined with his real and dark fantasies (which quickly become a reality). It was great to experience Clive. I began to like Clive most after his clever and witty moves outside the coffee shop!
If I didn’t stop reading this it would be a 4 star, but because I struggled to get into the story from the off, it has to be a 3 star.
December 30, 2017
Wow! So I’m a huge mood reader. I can’t make lists bc I never follow them. I got the urge to read a thriller/horror so I tackled Amazon and just blindly picked a book. Which luckily landed me here!
I’ve never read this author and I’m glad I took a chance. It’s a very fast paced, action packed, gory game of cat and mouse.
I would love to get inside the head of the H and find out just exactly what’s made him this way. He is truly disturbed beyond all levels of disturbing! What made him hate women so much to want to hurt them so badly?! I get it’s just a book, but it’s so fascinating and with the twist at the end — I’d love a follow up!
A little over the top here and there, gross in some parts, paranoia in others.. overall great read!
I’ve never read this author and I’m glad I took a chance. It’s a very fast paced, action packed, gory game of cat and mouse.
I would love to get inside the head of the H and find out just exactly what’s made him this way. He is truly disturbed beyond all levels of disturbing! What made him hate women so much to want to hurt them so badly?! I get it’s just a book, but it’s so fascinating and with the twist at the end — I’d love a follow up!
A little over the top here and there, gross in some parts, paranoia in others.. overall great read!
March 24, 2020
I read Adrift which made me check out the author other work. Saw I had a sample og Survivor and decided to try it.
I liked it better than Adrift for the sole reason it is very fast paced. Besides being a quick read it is quite action packed.
It has been a while since i sped up my reading pace because the suspense was that high in a book.
I liked it better than Adrift for the sole reason it is very fast paced. Besides being a quick read it is quite action packed.
It has been a while since i sped up my reading pace because the suspense was that high in a book.
June 17, 2017
A gripping read
This book is to blame for a sleepless night, I couldn't put it down.
The characters are so well written that I completely lost myself while reading.
With a twist at every corner, it's a really gripping page turner.
This book is to blame for a sleepless night, I couldn't put it down.
The characters are so well written that I completely lost myself while reading.
With a twist at every corner, it's a really gripping page turner.
June 5, 2018
Brutal dark and oh so good
Brutal savage and twisted well written and engaging you long for a smattering of hope only to realise that it may not come
Brutal savage and twisted well written and engaging you long for a smattering of hope only to realise that it may not come
August 6, 2018
Loved this book, tea ended up being late as I couldn't put it down! Looking forward to more from this Author!
September 4, 2020
Non stop reading, I was hooked from page one!
February 25, 2017
Terrifying
Don't expect to sleeps without deadly nightmares. A truly shocking and terrifying experience, and only for those brave enough to try.
Don't expect to sleeps without deadly nightmares. A truly shocking and terrifying experience, and only for those brave enough to try.
April 23, 2015
I tried getting into this book, I really did. It sounded interesting and I REALLY wanted to like it. There was just too much wrong with the characterizations that I just couldn't identify with it, thus the enjoyment was sucked right out of it (for me).
The story premise was good. However, all the issues I have with the book wrap around to the adage, "Write what you know." The author's characterization of the female characters was not good (it was off-base and undeveloped), as was the characterization of the protagonist. When the book's POV was in that of the female characters, I seriously wanted to shake the author, asking if he'd ever met a woman before. It was weird: I didn't get a hint of misogyny, just the overall feeling that the author couldn't identify, not even one iota, with a woman. I almost gave him a pass for the protagonist, but as I got deeper into the story and was thinking about it, I just couldn't. How many authors have done volumes of research to add to their storyline, settings, characters, etc.? Yes, yes - it's fiction, but there needs to be some plausibility in order for the reader to identify with the book (and there is SO MUCH research, so many books, about serial killers that helpful facts and guidelines would have been relatively easy to compile).
Now, the rating... 2 vs. 1 star. Because the author used correct connotation and grammar and did have a good story concept, I rated it 2 as opposed to 1 star.
The story premise was good. However, all the issues I have with the book wrap around to the adage, "Write what you know." The author's characterization of the female characters was not good (it was off-base and undeveloped), as was the characterization of the protagonist. When the book's POV was in that of the female characters, I seriously wanted to shake the author, asking if he'd ever met a woman before. It was weird: I didn't get a hint of misogyny, just the overall feeling that the author couldn't identify, not even one iota, with a woman. I almost gave him a pass for the protagonist, but as I got deeper into the story and was thinking about it, I just couldn't. How many authors have done volumes of research to add to their storyline, settings, characters, etc.? Yes, yes - it's fiction, but there needs to be some plausibility in order for the reader to identify with the book (and there is SO MUCH research, so many books, about serial killers that helpful facts and guidelines would have been relatively easy to compile).
Now, the rating... 2 vs. 1 star. Because the author used correct connotation and grammar and did have a good story concept, I rated it 2 as opposed to 1 star.
December 11, 2016
I was introduced to K. R. Griffiths with the novella Last Resort and absolutely devoured it lol. So I thought i'd read Survivor before I got to his other 2 series. Well I was expecting a fun, horror tale. This is not what I got lol, but I will say it is like a documentary of serial killers at first. Which I don't really enjoy, but by the third act it gets extremely suspenseful and becomes a cat and mouse game. I did love the final act, I liked that he left it open for a sequel but What the female lead had to endure was mauling. I was really rooting for her, and the violence towards the women at times was hard to continue reading if your into the story. You hate to read that sort of thing but I did think it had a nice payoff. You see the Clive struggle for once towards the end and that was exciting to read. I overall did enjoy and if he produces a sequel I will read it as well.
January 6, 2015
I received a free copy of this novel direct from the author in return for an honest review.
The fact that I received it free and from the author in no way influences how I feel about this book ... it was absolutely brilliant and I loved everything about it. It sounds corny but I really couldn't put it down.
It is an exceptionally well told, well written story with really well thought-out characters. It was fast paced from the start with plenty of violence which is graphic but written in such a way as not to be gratuitous.
My full review can be found at http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/2014/...
The fact that I received it free and from the author in no way influences how I feel about this book ... it was absolutely brilliant and I loved everything about it. It sounds corny but I really couldn't put it down.
It is an exceptionally well told, well written story with really well thought-out characters. It was fast paced from the start with plenty of violence which is graphic but written in such a way as not to be gratuitous.
My full review can be found at http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/2014/...
November 6, 2014
I have been a fan of K.R. Griffiths from his Wildfire series and when he offered me a copy of this book in exchange for a review I readily agreed. Its not usually the kind of book that I am drawn to but I was able to read it and enjoy it, despite the fact that there was plenty of gore, just don't read it before you go to sleep if you are a bit squeamish like myself. It was one intense read that had me at the edge of my seat all the way through. It had me guessing until the end on how it would end and I could not have imaged the ending. I can't wait to see what K.R. Griffiths will come up with next.
November 27, 2014
Absolutely fantastic!! This was a real page-turner. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, and by the last chapter, I was nearly ripping my hair out, in anguish and fear! Talk about a wild ride?
After reading Wildfire Chronicles, which I went through as quickly as I could, because constantly I was wanting to know what happened next, I knew this author had a real skill to keep you wondering. But not just through one story, but every story!! I take my hat off to K. R. Griffiths. I will be watching for every book he releases, because I know in advance, they will not disappoint!
After reading Wildfire Chronicles, which I went through as quickly as I could, because constantly I was wanting to know what happened next, I knew this author had a real skill to keep you wondering. But not just through one story, but every story!! I take my hat off to K. R. Griffiths. I will be watching for every book he releases, because I know in advance, they will not disappoint!
March 5, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was quite an intense read, the violence and gore was really graphic to imagine as it was described. It was a suspenseful read. I thought the story progressed nicely and was well written. They characters were well developed. The only bad thing about it isn't the authors fault but mine, I had trouble with some of the words/language used, but again that was me not being familiar with it. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about serial killers or suspenseful book. It's worth your time!
May 1, 2015
This was just ok for me. The story itself was interesting and action-packed. I just felt like maybe the characters needed to be more fleshed out. The killer seemed just standard issue serial killer. WHY was he that way? What else was going on in his head? The only thing that felt original was the fact that he had a fish tank with no fish in it. THAT's a creepy detail that says a lot without having to say a lot. I guess I just felt like overall we didn't get a lot of back story or a lot of character development and just jumped right into people getting killed.
February 28, 2015
Survivor: A Horror Thriller
An individual with a normal job. A person that works in an office like anybody else, but outside the office, he's s serial killer. He gets thrills off killing prostitutes. But has he found his match with number four. She survived his first attack, but she fights back hard when she confronts him. She is definitely a survivor, but does she end his life and hers in the process?
An individual with a normal job. A person that works in an office like anybody else, but outside the office, he's s serial killer. He gets thrills off killing prostitutes. But has he found his match with number four. She survived his first attack, but she fights back hard when she confronts him. She is definitely a survivor, but does she end his life and hers in the process?
August 26, 2014
K R Griffiths sent me a copy of this book with a request for review, so here goes.
Wow! This book was thoroughly engrossing and the characters were great. The whole story was very detailed, descriptive, and wonderfully written. I had trouble finding a place to stop whenever I picked it up. I'm looking forward to reading more of his works. Pretty scary!
Wow! This book was thoroughly engrossing and the characters were great. The whole story was very detailed, descriptive, and wonderfully written. I had trouble finding a place to stop whenever I picked it up. I'm looking forward to reading more of his works. Pretty scary!
February 6, 2015
I'm a new fan of this author and can't wait to read the next novel
This was a very good novel. It is fast paced and is definitely a thriller. I give it five stars because I didn't want to put it down and when I did I couldn't wait to pick it up again! I'm a new fan of this author and hope to see more books soon. Can't wait.
This was a very good novel. It is fast paced and is definitely a thriller. I give it five stars because I didn't want to put it down and when I did I couldn't wait to pick it up again! I'm a new fan of this author and hope to see more books soon. Can't wait.
April 4, 2015
This book was just okay, luckily it was a quick read. The writing wasn't the best, and the author tended to over-explain, I guess to make sure I (the reader) understood the drama and terror of the situation.
July 25, 2015
A good entertaining story. I felt there was lots of room for character development that did not occur. I ending up feeling neither tremendously empathetic with the victim nor did I really loath the killer.
November 8, 2015
No!!!
I soared through this book, I couldn't put it down! I has to see what was going to happen next. The ending! No, I was hoping for something different but I was surprised. I love this Author! I am off to buy another one of his books
I soared through this book, I couldn't put it down! I has to see what was going to happen next. The ending! No, I was hoping for something different but I was surprised. I love this Author! I am off to buy another one of his books
October 21, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
I thought it was a very good novel. Lots of surprises, loved it!
I thought it was a very good novel. Lots of surprises, loved it!
May 23, 2015
Still currently reading this but I can already tell where this is going but I will finish and update this review.
September 30, 2014
Written from the killers perspective but it's not for the faint hearted!!
March 31, 2017
This is certainly gripping and fast paced, but a little slight. There are some good characters (the heroine Angie and friend Al in particular), and the denouement is satisfying, but it's more of a tasty snack than a meal.
April 12, 2017
Sick mind of serial killer
You get into the mind of a serial killer and a woman he already thought he killed. She want revenge, he wants her to stay dead.
You get into the mind of a serial killer and a woman he already thought he killed. She want revenge, he wants her to stay dead.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews