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Swallow Me Whole
Lead Detective Ciara Johnson and Detective Reginald Bailey are on a mission to track down a group of vigilantes. At the first crime scene, the vigilante group leaves behind video evidence of the torture they put their victim through. At the second, they leave behind video evidence of their victim's depraved crimes.
CJ grows fixated on unmasking their identities and bringing them to justice, all while she battles her own demons. Bailey isn't so sure they should be caught; their known victims are child killers and pedophiles.
Although the partners disagree on the morality of the situation, they will protect each other at all costs.
E.T. presents a twisted Detective Crime Thriller infused with Extreme Horror & Splatterpunk.
This book contains disturbing themes and graphic descriptions of violence and torture. Reader discretion is advised.
CJ grows fixated on unmasking their identities and bringing them to justice, all while she battles her own demons. Bailey isn't so sure they should be caught; their known victims are child killers and pedophiles.
Although the partners disagree on the morality of the situation, they will protect each other at all costs.
E.T. presents a twisted Detective Crime Thriller infused with Extreme Horror & Splatterpunk.
This book contains disturbing themes and graphic descriptions of violence and torture. Reader discretion is advised.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2025
3 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
E. T.
1 book6 followersE. T. lives in Nunya with her cats and plans to adopt more fur babies in the future. She mainly writes in the genres of Splatterpunk, Thriller and Extreme Horror. As a late diagnosed AuDHD/OCD adult, she had trouble assimilating most of her life. Reading and writing became a form of escapism, and now she uses it to try and make reality a better place. Her goal is for others to feel seen and heard.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 15, 2025
I have to admit I don't typically read crime/mysteries, but this completely spins the genre on its head. It seamlessly blends crime with extreme horror elements, creating a brutal gore filled book you definitely shouldn't give to grandpa Joe for his flight next Tuesday lol
I've found that some EH books can lack plot or be written purely for shock value, but this could stand on its own if all those parts were removed or toned down. Each plotline was well developed and equally as intriguing as the others. The author didn't rely on gore to make the story, but it definitely helped turn this into something unforgettable and incredibly cathartic
The writing felt kinda gen z coded (in a fun way) but was also engrossing and very descriptive when it needed to be. It takes a little while to get fully into the extreme parts, but the pay-off was definitely worth it. Don't you just love torturing pedophiles?
I've found that some EH books can lack plot or be written purely for shock value, but this could stand on its own if all those parts were removed or toned down. Each plotline was well developed and equally as intriguing as the others. The author didn't rely on gore to make the story, but it definitely helped turn this into something unforgettable and incredibly cathartic
The writing felt kinda gen z coded (in a fun way) but was also engrossing and very descriptive when it needed to be. It takes a little while to get fully into the extreme parts, but the pay-off was definitely worth it. Don't you just love torturing pedophiles?
September 28, 2025
Crime thriller extreme horror! Swallow Me Whole follows Detective Ciara Johnson, aka CJ, and her partner Detective Reginald Bailey as they hunt down a group of vigilantes. They discover a video of a child killer and pedophile, Jeffrey, being tortured by two masked individuals. After receiving a video of the torture, his best friend Berthum had a panic attack and was hospitalized. Berthum's wife Maxine receives video evidence of Jeffrey's and Berthum's partnership and their depraved crimes against children. Berthum ends up missing and Detective CJ and Bailey rush to find the vigilantes.
This was a rollercoaster! I never thought I would be rooting for a Detective but reading CJ's backstory made me feel for her. CJ wants to uphold the law, but I can understand the vigilantes' perspective too. I wish there was a bit more background on certain characters (like Amir, Other, Blake, and Valencia) but E.T. did a great job with the pacing and moving the story along. Never a dull moment! Loved the gore and horror, it added to the story without being thrown in there for shock value. It ends with a cliffhanger and I really want to know what happens next! I usually only read standalone books, but will definitely be picking up book 2.
Thank you to E. T. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was a rollercoaster! I never thought I would be rooting for a Detective but reading CJ's backstory made me feel for her. CJ wants to uphold the law, but I can understand the vigilantes' perspective too. I wish there was a bit more background on certain characters (like Amir, Other, Blake, and Valencia) but E.T. did a great job with the pacing and moving the story along. Never a dull moment! Loved the gore and horror, it added to the story without being thrown in there for shock value. It ends with a cliffhanger and I really want to know what happens next! I usually only read standalone books, but will definitely be picking up book 2.
Thank you to E. T. for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 7, 2025
After seeing this book being talked about on Reddit, I knew I had to read it. I reached out to the author E.T. (Who is the absolute sweetest!) and received an ARC for free ahead of the publication date.
With this book E.T. managed to keep the EH reader in me as well as the police crime thriller junkie completely enthralled. From the start of the book I was hooked and wanted to ignore all other responsibilities to sit and read.
Throughout the book multiple POVs are woven together beautifully and left me feeling sad, disgusted, anxious, and hopeful in all the best ways.
I highly recommend picking this book up via Amazon on October 18th when it’s released. You will not regret it!
With this book E.T. managed to keep the EH reader in me as well as the police crime thriller junkie completely enthralled. From the start of the book I was hooked and wanted to ignore all other responsibilities to sit and read.
Throughout the book multiple POVs are woven together beautifully and left me feeling sad, disgusted, anxious, and hopeful in all the best ways.
I highly recommend picking this book up via Amazon on October 18th when it’s released. You will not regret it!
October 21, 2025
Extreme horror usually suffers from its characters being caricatures or one-dimensional, as they tend to focus more on the gore and absurdity of the situation the characters find themselves in. However, to my pleasant surprise, this book has a very well fleshed-out diverse cast, with the main character being the highlight for me. I found myself rooting for her and feeling connected to her numerous struggles and triumphs throughout the entirety of the novel. The entire cast all felt interesting and unique in their own ways, making their individual chapters really fun to read as you dive deeper into their backstories and reasons for doing what they do (I don't want to spoil lol).
The plot is also fun and interesting, though it takes a while to get into the meat of things, the payoff is very worth it. I wanted a little bit more from the ending, but it seems to set up for a potential sequel, fingers crossed!!
All in all, "Swallow Me Whole" is a wonderful addition, and for me in particular, a breath of fresh air in the EH genre, with its fun characters and twisty plot. Looking forward to future releases from this author!! Thank you to E. T. for the ARC in exchange for a review, I had a lot of fun !
The plot is also fun and interesting, though it takes a while to get into the meat of things, the payoff is very worth it. I wanted a little bit more from the ending, but it seems to set up for a potential sequel, fingers crossed!!
All in all, "Swallow Me Whole" is a wonderful addition, and for me in particular, a breath of fresh air in the EH genre, with its fun characters and twisty plot. Looking forward to future releases from this author!! Thank you to E. T. for the ARC in exchange for a review, I had a lot of fun !
October 6, 2025
Exteme horror meets detective / crime novel! I though this book was very well written and the story went CRAZY. A group of vigilante killers that target child predators? Badass.
September 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this. This was my first time getting an ARC. Extreme Horror is pretty much all I read, so this was a perfect fit. If you’re a fan of gore, but want the tone of a gritty cop show, read this! CJ is a great lead, and the pacing/setup of the book made it flow like a river of
gushin’ blood.
gushin’ blood.
August 27, 2025
Swallow Me Whole completely blew me away and is quite simply one of the best EH books I’ve read in a while.
E.T. manages to weave together a gritty detective mystery with some of the most unsettling EH I’ve read, and the found-footage angle gave it a raw, incredibly realistic edge that made it even creepier.
I was hooked on CJ and Bailey’s story right from the start. Following their story down a very dark rabbit hole that was brutal, heartbreaking, and impossible to look away from. Yes, it’s ruthless and graphic, but there’s so much heart and purpose behind the horror that it never feels empty, or gory for the sake of gore. The pacing is rapid, the twists keep you guessing, and the mix of crime, noir, and horror is perfect.
This is one of those books that is impossible to put down once you’ve started and will stay with you long after you’ve finished. If you’re into detective thrillers/ crime AND extreme horror that actually has depth, Swallow Me Whole is an absolute essential to add to your list
E.T. manages to weave together a gritty detective mystery with some of the most unsettling EH I’ve read, and the found-footage angle gave it a raw, incredibly realistic edge that made it even creepier.
I was hooked on CJ and Bailey’s story right from the start. Following their story down a very dark rabbit hole that was brutal, heartbreaking, and impossible to look away from. Yes, it’s ruthless and graphic, but there’s so much heart and purpose behind the horror that it never feels empty, or gory for the sake of gore. The pacing is rapid, the twists keep you guessing, and the mix of crime, noir, and horror is perfect.
This is one of those books that is impossible to put down once you’ve started and will stay with you long after you’ve finished. If you’re into detective thrillers/ crime AND extreme horror that actually has depth, Swallow Me Whole is an absolute essential to add to your list
August 23, 2025
When it comes to hit or miss genres I can think of none worse than extreme horror. As an avid reader of EH it always feels like a gamble of whether I’ll be reading an actual story (think Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum, books by Jon Athan, etc.) or if I’ll just be reading gore porn. That being said, E.T. absolutely knocked it out of the park. Somehow she found the perfect mix of a suspenseful detective thriller (which really does the genre justice with as many twists and turns as you’d hope) while still mixing in the more extreme elements of EH. While there are certainly things that might be a lot for some readers (trigger warning type stuff which you can’t really get into without getting into spoiler territory) for me it was an excellent read which I can’t recommend enough. So, if you’re a fan of EH, what are you waiting for?
Disclaimer: I was an ARC Reader so I got this book for free. Doesn’t make it any less awesome though
Disclaimer: I was an ARC Reader so I got this book for free. Doesn’t make it any less awesome though
November 14, 2025
Fun read from ET’s debut novel. Great job going through different POVs and timelines of the same story.
November 15, 2025
Very rarely do I find a book that keeps me engaged the entire time. I started it last night and spent this morning tearing through the last 300 pages of this book. I didnt even stop to pee.
An incredible book that left me craving more.
It's not often that I am left blankly staring into the abyss, allowing my brain to fully digest what I've read. This one is going to stick with me for a while, for a myriad of reasons.
Support this author.
An incredible book that left me craving more.
It's not often that I am left blankly staring into the abyss, allowing my brain to fully digest what I've read. This one is going to stick with me for a while, for a myriad of reasons.
Support this author.
August 24, 2025
Swallow Me Whole impresses in its detective and crime elements—as well as its extreme horror! I greatly enjoyed immersing myself in this story and unravelling the macabre front and center.
In E.T.’s debut novel, a welcome surprise was the found footage horror layer weaved throughout—where vivid detailing of gruesome video evidence prompt the reader to follow CJ and Bailey down a brutal, heartbreaking rabbit-hole. This novel is not for the faint of heart (in the best possible way, however). Although its subject matter is ruthless, it is not without purpose, and a strong beating heart keeps its pacing going with strong momentum.
I’d recommend Swallow Me Whole to horror fiction fans, as well as anyone interested in detective, crime, hard-boiled crime, thriller, and even pulp and noir. If you’re looking for an immersive and blistering read, Swallow Me Whole is sure to get you hooked and keep you hooked.
In E.T.’s debut novel, a welcome surprise was the found footage horror layer weaved throughout—where vivid detailing of gruesome video evidence prompt the reader to follow CJ and Bailey down a brutal, heartbreaking rabbit-hole. This novel is not for the faint of heart (in the best possible way, however). Although its subject matter is ruthless, it is not without purpose, and a strong beating heart keeps its pacing going with strong momentum.
I’d recommend Swallow Me Whole to horror fiction fans, as well as anyone interested in detective, crime, hard-boiled crime, thriller, and even pulp and noir. If you’re looking for an immersive and blistering read, Swallow Me Whole is sure to get you hooked and keep you hooked.
September 10, 2025
This is a well thought out story with three parts... Just as you are entranced in one line of thinking, boom your world opens up with a new persepective. The characters are captivating and you may not be sure whether to like/care for a character, and balancing that is a gift of great author. Could not put this story down and I need more!
For anyone just getting into EH, this is a great entry read. There is captivating detective mystery throughout the book and the "gore" parts are fitting to the story. It is not overdone.
For anyone just getting into EH, this is a great entry read. There is captivating detective mystery throughout the book and the "gore" parts are fitting to the story. It is not overdone.
August 30, 2025
After I finished Swallow Me Whole, I knew I needed a copy. Immediately. If you're into intense horror with a crime-thriller edge, this one's for you. It pulls you through every emotion, but what hit me hardest, in the best way was the representation of women of color in horror. Books like this are not easy to find, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it the moment it drops. And the cover alone is amazing!
October 14, 2025
Amazing, I was lucky enough to get an advance read. I could not put it down, smashed it out while on a plane. Loved the action and the suspense.
October 13, 2025
I was incredibly fortunate to receive this as an ARC from the author.
This book is detective thriller meets extreme horror, and it does not disappoint on either front.
I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering where the story was going next.
We follow CJ, a detective, and her partner, as they attempt to solve a missing persons case. As the story unfolds, it shines a light on the depravity of people, the nauseating lives that some lead, and how victims rarely see justice.
Fast paced and filled with twists and turns that will leave you gasping, wishing you could reach your hands through the pages and throttle someone.
This book had me mad, sad and, ultimately, vindicated. A rush of emotions that many extreme horror books don't create in me.
I am very much looking forward to whatever ET writes next!
This book is detective thriller meets extreme horror, and it does not disappoint on either front.
I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering where the story was going next.
We follow CJ, a detective, and her partner, as they attempt to solve a missing persons case. As the story unfolds, it shines a light on the depravity of people, the nauseating lives that some lead, and how victims rarely see justice.
Fast paced and filled with twists and turns that will leave you gasping, wishing you could reach your hands through the pages and throttle someone.
This book had me mad, sad and, ultimately, vindicated. A rush of emotions that many extreme horror books don't create in me.
I am very much looking forward to whatever ET writes next!
December 9, 2025
This book was so good! A blend of crime thriller, vigilante justice, and extreme horror that keeps you on your toes while you navigate its twists and turns. Who is justified in their actions when responding to a terrible series of events? There is a lot of gray area which makes this fun to read. I hope we get more books in this setting!
Overall grade: A
Overall grade: A
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews