The Sick Place: A Splatter Novelette

by Bryan Smith

ONLY ON KINDLE!

After a dark web facilitated hookup gone wrong, Rebekah Parker finds herself in desperate need of medical help after consuming tainted flesh of the forbidden kind. Directions from a mysterious old man lead her to The Sick Place, where the sexy nurses have rotting flesh and vampire teeth and the doctors are only there to turn mere discomfort into endless, mind-bending agony. Because while The Sick Place is a hospital, it is not the kind that exists to mend injuries and cure ills. Instead, it is the kind that can only exist in a haunted town located at one of the uncharted outer edges of Hell, where the mortal world bleeds into the land of the Damned.

Check in at the front desk and never mind the corpses in the waiting room. We’ll be right with you...

Genres: Horror

41 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 12, 2025

About the author

Bryan Smith is the Splatterpunk Award-winning author of more than forty horror and crime books, including 68 Kill, the cult classic Depraved and its sequels, as well as The Killing Kind, Slowly We Rot, The Freakshow, and many more. Bestselling horror author Brian Keene called Slowly We Rot, "The best zombie novel I've ever read."

68 Kill was adapted into a motion picture directed by Trent Haaga and starring Matthew Gray Gubler of the long-running CBS series Criminal Minds. 68 Kill won the Midnighters Award at the SXSW film festival in 2017 and was released to wide acclaim, including positive reviews in The New York Times and Bloody Disgusting.

Bryan also co-scripted an original Harley Quinn story for the House of Horrors anthology from DC Comics. He has worked with renowned horror publishers in both the mass market and small press spheres, including Leisure Books, Samhain Publishing, Grindhouse Press, Death’s Head Press, and more. His works are available wherever books are sold, with select titles also available in German and Italian.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun idea, but I really struggled with what the actual point of the story was. Didn’t really have a specific focus on anything, but just rode on the overarching premise. And that made all attempts at any plot points seem unimportant, which strained my interest even for such a short story. It boasted some good body horror, but that was about it. I think if this established and explored some of its plot points, it would have resulted in a much better experience.

[Brian Bowyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast, Vivid, and Intense!

THE SICK PLACE is a violent, fantastic novelette from a master at the height of his craft. If you're not reading Smith, you're missing one of the best to ever do it. Highly recommended to all fans of great horror!

[Mike Prewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and horrific hospital horror

This was an ok short story. It lacked in the vampire aspect but is made up by the hospital setting. It's definitely something you can read in a day or two.

[Alenna Burleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this story we follow multiple people. A woman who has just consumed flesh with another girl, is having severe stomach pains and needs to be seen immediately. A man who is sick and suffering needs help as well. And another woman who needs a different kind of help with a man.

When they all go to the hospital it isn’t what it seems. Doctors that should be helping are sitting and laughing at the patients. When a patient begs for water they eventually hand him a drink but it’s not water.

This was a really good short story. For it being only 41 pages i thought it had a decent amount of depth to certain characters that I really enjoyed seeing.

The gore was done fantastic. I enjoyed the plot it was interesting and fresh. Such a good book to read for halloween.

My only “issue”would be I would really like to see this as a longer story. I think it would work really well to see this book expanded on even if it was just by another 100 pages I think it has so much potential. Other than that this was a very solid read and a fun time!!

[LJ🥀👻 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this book and I would like to formally request a refund for my sanity. This book is foul. Like… aggressively foul. The kind of horror that doesn’t just cross the line; it sprints past it and never looks back. And Jacob?? Someone give that man a break. A blanket. A therapist. Literally anything. It’s chaotic, disturbing, and weirdly hard to put down, which honestly feels like a personal betrayal. You’ll be horrified, slightly nauseous, and still turning the pages like, “it can’t get worse than this”… it can. If you’re into horror that makes you question your choices, your stomach, and your faith in humanity; congrats, this is for you. I need to go read something wholesome now. Or stare at a wall. Either works.

[Paige Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little disgusting novelette! It's perfect for spooky season too. The Sick Place may look like a hospital on the outside but inside there is a sinister staff awaiting your arrival to help make you worse and not better...

Highly recommend picking this one up! Be advised of gore and excrement if that's not your cup of tea.

[minaal · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 ⭐️ — What the actual fuck? This book was beyond disturbing, and I was hoping for some sick torture chamber but this was worse? Mind you this is the first horror text I have ever read. Three stars because it was truly disturbing. I feel like I stumbled upon things middle aged redditors read.

[Brett Grossmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bryan smith…so you know the story will center on powerless men and dominating beautiful women that are psychotic.

[squidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one was so entertaining lol

[Zach King · Rating 4 out of 5]

short poop filled read. wish we got more background on the cannibal murders

[LADY BUGG · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a really good idea for a story. Enjoyed it.

[Karm Barter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t even know what the fuck I just read lol. I was excited for a cannibal with a tummy ache and then it all went to shit. Tons happened yet nothing happens at the same time. It wasn’t for me

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

I didn't mind the gore. I just didn't care for the lack of plot. So this book just wasn't for me.

[The Yeti Reads and Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebekah Parker likes to indulge in the taboo. Cannibalism is her kick. After meeting a date from the dark web and indulging in eating her raw flesh, soon after she regrets her decision of consuming raw flesh as her body begins to rebel. Desperately she searches for a hospital, but what she finds is not a hospital; it's The Sick Place.

Wow. What starts out as a tale of cannibalism gone wrong turns into something you are not prepared for. Smith again weaves a twisting macabre tale that will have you wanting more, and believe me, I want more. 41 pages of twists and turns with horrific scenes of violence, and I loved every minute of it. Wait till you meet Nicole. YIKES. Check it out!

4 severed fingers out of 5