It Eats Your Hunger

by Joseph Murnane

Ren has a problem, and it’s not his heroin addiction.
Or that he’s wanted for murdering his step-father.
He’s being haunted by something far worse than the ghost of his dead sister.
When he hitches a ride with Lefty, Jersey, and Geena, a group of itinerant addicts on the run from their own problems, he starts to believe maybe things are looking up.

But there’s something wrong with Lefty. Something unnatural.

Something that wants to see them all dead.

Can Ren stop it in time, or will he end up torn apart on the side of the highway?

Or worse?

Genres: Horror

Audible Audio

Published October 2, 2024

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF at 20%. I like Joseph Murnane's style, but I just couldn't mesh with this story. Sounded good and I enjoyed the introduction, but I found my attention wavering after that. Ren was a good lead and I was genuinely curious to see how everything turned out. However, I just could not get there. This is in no way, shape, or form a reflection on the author's abilities or the book itself. This was just not a good fit for my particular preferences. I encourage others to check this out, as they may have a much better experience.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Eats Your Hunger by Joseph Murnane is a heavy read. With the caliber of his writing I was surprised to find this was a debut. This is a heart wrenching book that is deeply personal to author and it shows on every page. It’s a gritty, visceral portrayal of addiction and vagrancy.

In It Eats Your Hunger we find Ren still struggling with the overdose of his sister five years prior. He makes some big ol’ life decisions and ends up catching a ride with some other flawed characters. There’s a whole lotta drugs in this one with addiction being a major theme, which may be triggering for some readers. I absolutely enjoyed this ride of a story.

The characters are deep and raw. Ren is a broken man but it’s impossible not to wish the best for him. His grief is so heavy at times and it’s rough reading as life squeezes everything it can out of him. I also loved Geena, Jersey and even Lefty. Murnane doesn’t struggle with the characterization which is likely aided by his personal connection to this book.

At times the book is a bit jumpy with time changes for different characters in different chapters, but Murnane does an excellent job at connecting all the pieces into a harrowing crescendo.

This is a book that will stick with me for some time. I could definitely relate with many of the themes of the book and while some supernatural activity does influence the book, the human grief aspect is what makes this book shine.

This is a well paced book but isn’t overly gory or action heavy in the beginning. It’s definitely a book that if you stick with it, you won’t regret it. Highly recommend especially to those who appreciate grief horror.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph Murnane's "It Eats Your Hunger" is one of those surprising debut novels that feel as if they were written by an accomplished author, impeccably plotted and masterfully told, dripping with honesty and experience. Murnane gets humanity right: the characters are complex, flawed, their concerns, feelings and thinking, nuanced and multilayered. Murnane also gets addiction right: rather than moralizing about it or overcomplicating things by crowding the story with the ugliness of it, he simply portrays it as an integral part of the characters' life; addiction defines them, yet does not exhaust their narrative possibilities - thus allowing for glimpses of hope and love otherwise obliterated by a dry, bleak, blunt, corrupted everyday life. Finally, Murnane gets evil right: it's a natural force subject to no concession, has no compassion and allows for no negotiation - it just is, and it spreads masquerading as humanity's self-destructive tendencies and its propensity for self-annihilation. Probably for that reason, the characters' decisions are neither matters of deliberation nor spontaneous: the novel drives the characters to the edge, everyone carrying their past as the proverbial chains, without, however, hiding from it or asking for a medal for their survivor skills. And this brings in the ghosts and the monsters in the story. They too live under the light of day, and are, in a sense, equally broken as anyone else in the book. The realistic details are shocking, the violence brutal, the emotions heavy and deeply uncomfortable.

This review has gone long enough, but I can't resist mentioning the heart-breaking ending: after a series of overwhelmingly violent scenes, such an intense closure to an already harrowing book wiped me out!

If you enjoy Ben Young's stylish understanding of grief horror, Robert Essig's honest portrayal of violence, and Brian Bowyer's extraordinary grasp of atmosphere and mood, Murnane's book is a must-read. And if you don't, this book here is why you should!

[Mickey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soo I struggled with this one. The story itself was interesting, but for some reason, I just found I couldn't get into it. I don't know what it was, but I just couldn't connect with the story in the way I'd hoped. I felt myself feeling bored throughout the first 75%, and then it picked up.
It wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't for me. As always, this is just my personal opinion, so please don't let it put you off.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It Eats Your Hunger is a raw portrayal of addiction and all the horror, grief, and tragedy that can bring. The story follows Ren, a young man who is haunted by his past, his need for the needle, and the ghost of his dead sister. Through a series of events, he falls in with brothers Lefty and Jersey, and their friend Geena. It soon becomes clear that something is terribly wrong with Lefty that goes far beyond the drugs and alcohol he pumps into his body each day. Their paths collide with Ethan, a young boy, and his family on a cold, snowy night. What happens will change life as they know it for many of them.

Murnane writes with a bold authenticity, immersing the reader in the drug-induced hallucinations experienced by his characters, whose struggles are all too real. This is a beautiful debut, and one that shouldn’t be missed.

[Gage Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Eats Your Hunger is the kind of horror that takes up residence in your soul. It's Hunter S. Thompson, it's Kerouac, and it's Straub. It's shocking that this is Joseph's debut novel Many of the most seasoned writers couldn't pull off the level of raw grit and honest, saw-tooth prose this book punches with.

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning debut from a resounding and unique new voice. Joseph Murnane’s It Eats Your Hunger is brilliant, brutal, and beautiful. Like nothing else I’ve read before, it will entice you on a journey of terror, self-discovery and unflinching honesty. Then it’ll fucking eat you alive.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me harder than I expected and I still feel all the emotions after weeks of listening to it. The narration by Tom Jordan was superlative, breathing life into the characters and managing to highlight their differences and peculiarities perfectly!

I’ve never experienced addiction, either myself, friends or relatives so the fact that this book affected me so much is a testament to the author’s competence. I cannot believe this is a debut and I’m in awe about everything in this book. The characters are raw, genuine and multifaceted, the plot is so carefully crafted, that I could have never imagined how everything would come together so strongly and emotionally charged.

The author introduces us to different characters which are all plagued by addiction, and the way they are painted I thought was very thoughtful, because they are neither miserable, pitiful, hateful or less, but only human, and addiction is just another of our flaws, a coping mechanism. They all share this hunger which consumes them and urges them forward, hunger for a past that is gone, hunger for a different present or future and hunger for purpose, which is fed through addiction. At the same time, this hunger makes them a target for the evil lurking inside one of them, Lefty, and it wants their hunger.

Whilst I was confused at first, I did not imagine how everything would make so much sense, and again a result of the well crafted masterplan behind the story. The last part was so emotional, suspenseful and tense, but oh so beautiful. I’m not going to lie, I did shed some tears, but it was also the perfect ending for this story!

If you want a story that will stick to your heart, that will surprise you with wonderful imperfect characters, this is the one!

Thanks to the author for the audiobook and this is my honest opinion.

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Eats Your Hunger by Joseph Murnane
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a deep and dark grief/psychological horror book. This story deals with addiction, grief, loss and pain.
Ren is on a difficult life path, after dealing with the loss of his sister and trying to figure out what’s next for himself. Ren struggles with a journey of self destruction and dealing with lots of demons. This is an emotional and beautifully written story! It’s a fast read and kept me engaged the entire time!
This is the authors debut novel and all I can say is wow!!!

Thank you to Joseph Murnane for an audio copy of this amazing and deeply felt book! The narrator was excellent as well!

*The book is out now and is a must read!*

[Michael Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those stories that’s unapologetically human.
Joseph’s debut novel is insane to me—the writing is top-tier, the depth of the characters are top-tier, the dialogue is top-tier… shit, man, I’m tired of saying it. This shouldn’t be a debut—it’s too good.

This level of writing feels like it should be an author’s fourth or fifth book.

Joseph has a story to tell, and I’m here for it.

[David Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Eats Your Hunger by Joseph Murnane

5/5

What if Trainspotting had a baby with Requiem for a dream?

The boxing gloves on the cover of it eats your hunger are a subtle hint at the punch this book packs. It's raw, it's human, it's filthy, it's honest and it's filled with a level of sadness that can only come from having loved and lost.

There's as many warm human moments as there are scares and I just love that kind of balance.

Joseph is one to watch for sure!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.

I'm sitting on my bed, having just finished the book, and my mind is completely blown. The fact that this book is a debut is astounding. Joseph Murnane is a tremendous writer.
I'm about to get real personal here. 9 years ago, I was a heroin addict - I almost died, I went to jail, I almost lost everything. This book picked that scab a bit. But the bleeding felt GOOD, felt like a reminder of what I'll never go back to. Murnane's ability to humanize and make you empathize with the characters is extraordinary. This book is a beautifully rendered gut punch. Strong 5 stars

[Jyl Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one hell of a debut! It’s brutal, raw, emotional and beautiful. This book will eat you alive.

[Kate Reedwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Admittedly, I'm late getting to this one, and even later getting my review written, but I needed to think on it a bit in order to do this fantastic story justice.

It Eats Your Hunger is an absolutely breathtaking debut—a grief-soaked descent into emotional and psychological horror that left me gutted in the best way. Joseph Murnane doesn’t just tell a story; he immerses you in it, using prose that pulses with raw pain, beauty, and unsettling truth.

What makes this novel stand out is how it balances lyrical depth with haunting terror. It's not horror for shock value (though I'm still thinking of the rat king scene)—it's horror that lingers because it comes from something profoundly human: loss, longing, and the hunger grief leaves behind. The imagery is both visceral and surreal, echoing the chaos of sorrow in a way I’ve rarely seen done so well.

This book took my breath away. I’m honestly stunned it’s a debut—Murnane writes with the skill and confidence of a seasoned master. If you’re drawn to horror that dares to dig deep and leave a mark, It Eats Your Hunger is a must-read.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. Murnane is an auto-buy author for me now and I'm off to read Dead Rabbit next.

I read this book in a combination of Kindle version and audio. The audio narration by Tom Jordan is perfection. However you choose to read this book, you'll love it.

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Only if you focus on the wrong parts. See, I reckon it’s more important to keep going, get a little further every time. We’ll all sink eventually—that’s not something we can control.”

Damn. I’m honestly shocked this a debut. This book reads like the author has mastered their craft. Truly.

It’s a super heavy hitter and went way harder than I imagined it would. (I went in totally blind, no idea why I had preconceived notions, lol) — The characters are super complex and done amazing. The tone of the book is such a vibe. There were times I thought I was confused… then it came together, and that’s something I actually really love. No easy task for the author, but Murnane nailed it. The subject matter and story overall is pretty damn brutal. That being said, it’s beautiful at the same time.

It’s a complex book that I recommend taking your time with when reading, but I definitely recommend this amazing story.

[kasey culp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Ren grieving with the loss of his sister, mother and father while coping with his demons. Ren meets up with a crew of vagrants; brothers Lefty and Jersey and Geena. The four of them make their way through the highway fueling themselves on drugs and alcohol. But there’s something not quite right about one of the crews members and will the others figure it out before it is too late?

Tw: alcohol and drug use

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, honest review here… this story just wasn’t what I needed to read at this time.

It deals with complex grief, addictions, relationships, and so much more. It’s a little heavy for what I’m going through in my own personal life, but that’s not to say it’s a bad book.

It has fairly good pacing (action, then slower sections to build the characters and story, then more action), a number of interesting and complicated characters, and supernatural elements.

It’s just not for me right now.

[Rikki Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, gritty, and completely heart-rending. Never in my life have I wanted so desperately for two story lines to NOT converge; I loved every character too much.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an addict and an alcoholic (all cuz I don’t use anymore and have my demonic drinking urges in check doesn’t mean I’m not an addict, I accept that) this book got under my skin. It did so in the best way possible, which seems counterintuitive given the subject matter, but here we are. This is a heavy book, not in page count but in material, and I’m sure it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but its message is not only powerful but important.

I find it hard to classify what kind of horror novel this is. I’ve heard/read it described as “grief horror” and in many ways I suppose that’s apt and fitting. As much as this is a horror novel it is a sad story. Never to a degree that I found overwhelming or off putting, but everyone in this book needed a big hug and a shoulder to cry on. Yes, even Lefty. Maybe him most of all. The cast of characters are all shrouded in misery and pain, some of their own doing but mostly from the brutal world they all resided in or the families they were born into.

Body horror, road trip, creature feature, addiction story, all of these and more share the pages of It Eats Your Hunger. It’s as if Trainspotting had a fling with The Thing and then they had to travel home with each other ala Trains Planes and Automobiles, just all shrouded in a drug induced euphoria of nihilism. It was engrossing, engaging, heartbreaking, and most of all it kept me tearing through the punchy chapters with an earnest eagerness to see how it all turned out, even if it was clearly not going anywhere “good”.

Certain qualms I had with the book are inevitable with this style of story, meaning they’re good and expected. An oxymoron, I know, but still. Wanting to know more about the demon/entity is not a feasible thing to hope for given that the monster is, in essence, a culmination of many monsters. Addiction, loss, depression, shitty home life. Who knows where all these things come from, the true root of what is essentially pain and suffering. We just know it exists, it started somewhere and wound up here. Wanting to know what happened to certain characters, to follow them after the events of the book, is just a testament to Murnane’s writing and his ability to create characters I cared about and wanted to spend time with. They aren’t issues with the book, they are positive attributes of a writer that had me fully invested.

That being said, I did find the end to be a bit rushed. I wanted more from Lefty’s POV, the “real” Lefty. I wanted some form of cathartic explosion for him, to understand him as a person more and not a vessel. I wanted the same kind of catharsis for Jersey, and Ren, that delved a little deeper. I felt like we spent so much time with them, so much suffering with them, that I wished we’d gotten more of their inner selves and reckonings and realizations by the books conclusion.

Which does lead me to a curious thought the book stirred in me. There is hope in these pages, there is an understanding of recovery and possibility, which is incredibly important. But, equally important in a different way, no one gets to embrace it or be a part of it (despite the possibility of one character who departs the narrative before the end). It’s an upbeat ending in the sense of that “too-little-too-late” understanding but it’s also a big downer. It posits the theory that if you’re an addict you are doomed no matter what you do or what you try to do or who you try to save or what you realize about yourself or the world. You may find peace, but not while living. That’s heavy and very bleak, and perhaps is where the grief horror tag comes from, but as the addict I am I don’t agree with the notion. Which, admittedly, is perhaps just me in my feelings and taking the ending a little *too* much to heart given my own life and experiences haha.

For this to be Murnane’s first novel is a great achievement. It’s well written. It’s fast paced. It hits hard and hits often. It got under my skin, as I said, but more than that it made me feel. It made me happy and angry. It made me reflect on my own struggles and demons. It made me think and it made me glad to be alive. That’s a lot for a first novel, and for one as dark as this. I’ll be on the lookout for his future works.

4 out of 5 blood splattered bricks for me.

PS: Dennis the Dentist is such an absurdly fucked up, and wildly interesting, character that I wished we got much MUCH more of that fuckin loony tune haha.

[Rob Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Eats Your Hunger is a brutal telling of loss, grief, addiction, and self realization. Throughout the roughly 250 pages I felt all of the emotions. The story follows Ren as he battles his inner demons dealing with the loss of his sister, Winter, as well as his mother and father and most of the people he cared about.

This story has true "holy shit" moments throughout. There were many times where my heart rate picked up and I felt as though I couldn't read fast enough. It also had some truly beautiful trippy moments and captured emotions of characters incredibly well. Joseph's writing is beautiful and haunting. His words grab ahold of you and sink their claws into your flesh. This story has been stuck in my head for days now and I feel as though I will reflect on it often.

While I do not resonate directly with the themes in this book, it allowed me to become introspective of my own life. It made me feel like I knew what these people were really going through. There are times where this story just felt so unbelievably real. There are moments of serene highs and beauty that crash to the darkest depths of one's personal hell.

This is a debut novel by someone who will undoubtedly be making a name for himself in the world of horror. What an absolutely phenomenal way to begin one's journey as a published author. I couldn't be more excited for what Joseph puts out next!

[David Royce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A demonic journey into addiction

This is a powerful novel full of emotionally charged scenarios and extremely flawed characters.

Ren is a drug addict. After the brutal death of his sister, he's going off the rails of depression and hopelessness. When he meets a trio of wanderers like himself, it seems like a good fit. But one of them, Lefty, is a violent man but there's something much deeper and darker inside of him that leaves a bloody trail in his wake.

As this group of addicts attempt to gain some sense of normalcy, things are going to get horrific when Lefty's demon takes charge and none of them will ever be the same again.

This novel deals with addiction in a realistic way and the author takes us down that dark desperate path along with the characters. They're not portrayed as the evil dredge of the world. They are people with real emotions, real faults, and real real feelings.

The dark supernatural aspects of this book continue to build as it progresses. There will be bloodshed and mayhem as Lefty tries to fight off his entity but ultimately doesn't have the power.

This is a fantastic, emotional horror novel and I highly recommend it.

[Jillian Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is dark and it ends in the only way it can. IEYH can be hard to stomach at times— not in the splatter punk viscera sort of way, but in the “this is pretty ducking real, hallucinations and paranormal phenomena aside, this shit is really, really real!” kind of way. No one is safe from addiction. Its hunger has no bindings, it takes and takes. It has no limit, no morals, no comfort and it is always starving. Never satiated for long.

Personally, I feel like the chapters didn’t flow naturally. There was a lot of skipping about, but maybe that was intentional. Jittery and jerky, waiting for the next hit from the next score. I think the writing style was probably more successful in physical novel form, but the Audiobook voice actor did great! Even with the vague random events and shaky flow to the book, I knew where the ride ended from the first chapter… but I still strapped in. Wouldn’t recommend for those easily triggered by addiction, abuse, and assault. Might be too much for ya.

[Alexandra Nisneru · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thought that came into my head while immersing myself into the story was "raw emotion". Because this story has so much of it and you'll find it in its purest, uncut, uncensored shape of it. Just plain emotion caused by grief and all the fucked up attempts of trying to cope with it, to live on with the ghost of your lost loved one on a shoulder.
Even the monster feature, created to enrich the story, has its origin into the battle with our internal demons, that are nothing more than thoughts, feeling, sensations that are meant to bring us down on our knees.
Addiction to drugs and alcohol is one of those and it is described very deeply and intimately troughout this story, so if addiction is your trigger, maybe avoid this story, there is a lot of raw pain and sadness regarding grief and adiction and how these two can come to intertwine.
The biggest surprise was to find out that this is a debut novel, it doesn't read like it at all. The writing is mature and rich and exceptional and it stays proof to what Joseph is yet to achieve in his rising career.

[Meghan Mishalanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, and read it super fast. It definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat! I would describe the sub genre a psychological horror. It deals with addiction, fighting your own demons and cycles of trauma. The author brought each character to life in such a way that I’m still thinking about them, and wondering what they are doing now….
Since I’ve been talking about this book a lot now my husband wants to read it. I think there’s a wide variety of people who would enjoy this book, because almost everyone in America knows someone who has a “hunger” if they don’t have one themselves. Definitely looking forward to more works from this author.

[Angel Charlesworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this one down! Each chapter was more riveting than the last. Every character had their own dynamic personality and demons leading to one central theme: overcoming or being overwhelmed by grief and addiction. In the end each of them needed to choose save their inner child and overcome their struggles, or sink into the endless dark of their demons. This is not a story for the faint of heart but allows you to dig inside your own body, pull out your demons and decide your fate.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Joseph Murnane

Powerful, Emo, and Melodramatic

This story is so genuine raw it cuts thru your heart strings. The young writer is definitely a natural. I look forward to read more from him ASAP.
I highly recommend you read it.


Dysfunctional Family
Mental Health
Addiction/ Passing

[Pseudo Nym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a friggen ride man! It eats your hunger is a story so gut wrenching, with some scenes so vile, it’s left me a mess! Grief horror and monsters, is there a better combo? Also please do yourself a favours and read the acknowledgments. It gives the whole story a new vibe. Well done on this little masterpiece. It will stick with me for a long time.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel bad it took me too long to read this because of- life- but this book was incredible. And a debut at that! It settles in and sticks with you and I definitely cannot wait to read more by this author!!

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murnane weaves an enrapturing story about terribly flawed characters that your heart breaks for. It’s a bit of a slow start but the story really finds its footing a quarter of the way in and doesn’t slow down. This would be a book I’d revisit just to learn more about what I missed along the way.

[Axl Malton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book. Starts off strong and keeps you hooked throughout. The narrator was brilliant too! Will definitely read more from Joseph Murnane. Highly recommend!