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Hard Luck Jenny: A Horror Novella
“You should pay your respects to Jenny.”
On a quiet road in the Scottish Highlands, Dennis Norris stops to use the bathroom in a quaint country inn. It’s been a long weekend, and all he wants is to use the facilities before continuing the five-hour drive home to his loving wife. But something seems off in The Rockarn Inn. The people there won’t let him leave.
Why is everyone so hostile towards him? What strange ritual has Dennis accidentally stumbled into? And just who is the mysterious Hard Luck Jenny everyone keeps talking about?
Soon, Dennis will find out. And the grim events of that long, desperate night will change his life… forever.
From David Sodergren, author of The Haar and Maggie’s Grave, comes a darkly comic anxiety-drenched folk-horror nightmare.
Hard Luck Jenny.
Love her. Worship her.
Die for her.
On a quiet road in the Scottish Highlands, Dennis Norris stops to use the bathroom in a quaint country inn. It’s been a long weekend, and all he wants is to use the facilities before continuing the five-hour drive home to his loving wife. But something seems off in The Rockarn Inn. The people there won’t let him leave.
Why is everyone so hostile towards him? What strange ritual has Dennis accidentally stumbled into? And just who is the mysterious Hard Luck Jenny everyone keeps talking about?
Soon, Dennis will find out. And the grim events of that long, desperate night will change his life… forever.
From David Sodergren, author of The Haar and Maggie’s Grave, comes a darkly comic anxiety-drenched folk-horror nightmare.
Hard Luck Jenny.
Love her. Worship her.
Die for her.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2025
55 people are currently reading
800 people want to read
About the author
David Sodergren
21 books3,012 followersDavid Sodergren lives in Scotland with his wife Heather and his best friend, Boris the Pug.
Growing up, he was the kind of kid who collected rubber skeletons and lived for horror movies. Not much has changed since then.
His best known books include the gory and romantic fairy tale The Haar, the blood-drenched folk-horror Maggie’s Grave, and the analog-horror fever dream Rotten Tommy. David also writes under the pseudonym Carl John Lee, publishing splatterpunk
novels such as Psychic Teenage Bloodbath and Cannibal Vengeance.
Growing up, he was the kind of kid who collected rubber skeletons and lived for horror movies. Not much has changed since then.
His best known books include the gory and romantic fairy tale The Haar, the blood-drenched folk-horror Maggie’s Grave, and the analog-horror fever dream Rotten Tommy. David also writes under the pseudonym Carl John Lee, publishing splatterpunk
novels such as Psychic Teenage Bloodbath and Cannibal Vengeance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
November 1, 2025
omg this book gave me the best kind of anxiety!!!! This was insane and had some seriously funny moments too😅 That ending broke my heart though💔 poor Dennis 💔
David never misses and I hope he never does💖 My fav horror author for a reason 🙌
David never misses and I hope he never does💖 My fav horror author for a reason 🙌
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August 28, 2025My new novella Hard Luck Jenny is out October 3rd 2025! It's pure awkward anxiety wrapped up in a darkly comic folk-horror cocoon. I hope you enjoy it.
January 27, 2026
A quick, entertaining read with a dark as hell ending! It kind of reminded me of the movie Dead End in a way.
January 18, 2026
Ooh, this was a skeevy affair. Our lead, Dennis, has some awfully shit luck. Like some of the worst I’ve seen. Just wanted to get home to his wife. And, by God, he was pulled into all sorts of horrific shenanigans. Our antagonist, Hard Luck Jenny, is nuttier than squirrel shit, too. The whole situation went from bad to worse, leaving the reader wondering what the bloody hell was going on. Plenty of intrigue, with some purposeful loose ends left open, but enough tightened up to bring this story full-circle. David Sodergren is one of my favorite authors. And the way he develops his stories, each unique in its own way, perfectly balancing the horror elements, character development, and each plot point is a sight to behold. Not an easy feat, but he always manages to do it. This is yet another strong showing from the author.
December 3, 2025
A hilariously horrifying nightmare, thank you David.
January 2, 2026
what a nasty book, i really enjoyed it!! it was genuinely disgusting and actually made me a little stomach sick by the end there. like what a sequence of events 😭
October 14, 2025
This gets five stars for making me feel dirty and disgusted , and for the great slam bang writing that Sodergren always delivers in his work. Turning that last page, mouth agape, I kept thinking to myself- what the fuck did I just read, and why, oh why, did I enjoy it so much! All kidding aside, David Sodergren is always a must buy, and he remains the only horror author who has ever received 5 stars from me for every book I’ve read by him. This is a sick, nasty tale that made me laugh out loud more than once, and I’m really not sure what that says about me. Lessons learned from this story- don’t go into strange countryside pubs to take a piss; take the wife’s advice and use the woods. And secondly, people are fucking crazy!
November 12, 2025
★★★
A strange and anxious story that captures discomfort better than most. From the opening scene there is a steady sense of unease, helped by the claustrophobic setting of a remote Highland inn and the unsettling behaviour of the people inside it. Sodergren is good at writing that creeping awkwardness where every conversation feels slightly wrong, and there are flashes of dark humour that make the tension worse in the best way.
It does lose its footing in the second half. The ritual and the town’s behaviour never feel properly explained, and the ending comes without much weight. Still, it moves quickly and has some sharp moments of panic and absurdity that stay with you. Not one of his best, but still recognisably his.
A strange and anxious story that captures discomfort better than most. From the opening scene there is a steady sense of unease, helped by the claustrophobic setting of a remote Highland inn and the unsettling behaviour of the people inside it. Sodergren is good at writing that creeping awkwardness where every conversation feels slightly wrong, and there are flashes of dark humour that make the tension worse in the best way.
It does lose its footing in the second half. The ritual and the town’s behaviour never feel properly explained, and the ending comes without much weight. Still, it moves quickly and has some sharp moments of panic and absurdity that stay with you. Not one of his best, but still recognisably his.
October 9, 2025
That ending was wild! Loved it! 😂
October 8, 2025
This is a an odd and grisly little gem. Loved it!
November 21, 2025
review to come.
December 28, 2025
Another winner from Sodergren. Really tense up until the point it goes mental. Loved it! Much shorter than his usual books but I do love a novella.
January 14, 2026
Quick, quirky, and gritty! Oh this makes me never want to pull over for a bathroom break ever again... that ENDING though... yikes! Love some folk horror with these comedic elements interspersed throughout as well.
January 1, 2026
This was my first book of the new year and it did not disappoint. Short, gory, and funny story about a man with some really bad luck after an encounter with “Hard Luck Jenny”after stopping at a bar for a quick pee. Fantastic Sodergren short story, well worth the read!
September 4, 2025
First, I want to thank David for an advance copy!
What can I say? Another 5 star book from Sodergren. This is just seeping with anxiety and dread and touched on so many of my own anxieties (and maybe made them even worse!)
Seriously a great and quick read that anyone that has ever experienced anxiety before should read!
What can I say? Another 5 star book from Sodergren. This is just seeping with anxiety and dread and touched on so many of my own anxieties (and maybe made them even worse!)
Seriously a great and quick read that anyone that has ever experienced anxiety before should read!
October 17, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This one was such a fun ride. It’s a short novella, and I flew through it in about a day. It follows this guy named Dennis who stops at a little country inn in the Scottish Highlands just to use the bathroom before heading home to his wife. He unknowingly walks into a wake for a man he doesn’t know, and things start to get weird fast.
There’s this woman named Jenny, the widow, and from there the whole situation spirals into something strange, uncomfortable, and darkly funny. Dennis finds himself trapped in this inn, playing along with locals who feel a little off. The anxiety and awkwardness in those scenes were spot on. I could feel how uneasy it must have been for him. And even though it’s a creepy setup, there were moments that genuinely made me laugh.
Sodergren really nailed that mix of offbeat horror and humor. The whole story surrounding Jenny, her family, and the town was wild, and I loved how it all came together. The eerie Highland setting added so much to the story, and I love how the author always packs so much into a short page count. As per usual when it comes to David Sodergren’s work, please check all triggers before just jumping in. If you’ve read his more intense books, this one is still in the same ballpark when it comes to unease and intensity, just told through a quicker, sharper story.
This one was such a fun ride. It’s a short novella, and I flew through it in about a day. It follows this guy named Dennis who stops at a little country inn in the Scottish Highlands just to use the bathroom before heading home to his wife. He unknowingly walks into a wake for a man he doesn’t know, and things start to get weird fast.
There’s this woman named Jenny, the widow, and from there the whole situation spirals into something strange, uncomfortable, and darkly funny. Dennis finds himself trapped in this inn, playing along with locals who feel a little off. The anxiety and awkwardness in those scenes were spot on. I could feel how uneasy it must have been for him. And even though it’s a creepy setup, there were moments that genuinely made me laugh.
Sodergren really nailed that mix of offbeat horror and humor. The whole story surrounding Jenny, her family, and the town was wild, and I loved how it all came together. The eerie Highland setting added so much to the story, and I love how the author always packs so much into a short page count. As per usual when it comes to David Sodergren’s work, please check all triggers before just jumping in. If you’ve read his more intense books, this one is still in the same ballpark when it comes to unease and intensity, just told through a quicker, sharper story.
January 11, 2026
dennis and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
October 4, 2025
Absolutely wild but I will eat up anything David writes, it’s always so good!
September 15, 2025
Review to come but HOLY. FUCK.
January 22, 2026
4.5
"Normally, fear and embarrassment were his default emotions, constantly jostling for supremacy. But in the face of this insanity, this torture, their weight lifted like the soul leaving a dead body, and in their place was a less familiar feeling… one that seemed to cloud his mind like an impenetrable fog. It was anger. It was fury. It was rage."
This was so hilarious and terrifying at the same time! Such an anxiety-inducing story that sometimes reminded me of Midsommar and mother!. I was cackling in my bed reading this, I was laughing so hard I cried 😂. I did not expect to be as invested in the story as I was, I loved seeing the main character descend into madness against his will. The people in this Scottish small town are insanely mad.
The ending was absolutely heartbreaking, I felt so bad for Dennis and it made me think of other bleak endings in horror movies/books.
I hope that Sodergren keeps using that kind of humor in his next stories, because it was perfectly catered to my taste!
"Normally, fear and embarrassment were his default emotions, constantly jostling for supremacy. But in the face of this insanity, this torture, their weight lifted like the soul leaving a dead body, and in their place was a less familiar feeling… one that seemed to cloud his mind like an impenetrable fog. It was anger. It was fury. It was rage."
This was so hilarious and terrifying at the same time! Such an anxiety-inducing story that sometimes reminded me of Midsommar and mother!. I was cackling in my bed reading this, I was laughing so hard I cried 😂. I did not expect to be as invested in the story as I was, I loved seeing the main character descend into madness against his will. The people in this Scottish small town are insanely mad.
The ending was absolutely heartbreaking, I felt so bad for Dennis and it made me think of other bleak endings in horror movies/books.
I hope that Sodergren keeps using that kind of humor in his next stories, because it was perfectly catered to my taste!
October 6, 2025
4.75 stars ⭐️ For only 105 pages this book packs a punch. Holy crap! This is cuckoo banana pants crazy! Nothing like being trapped and you can’t get out. So completely messed up. LOVED IT!
October 12, 2025
What a fun little chaotic story 😅
December 17, 2025
A well paced small town horror that reminds me of the movie “The Loved Ones”. I particularly loved the bleak ending.
October 23, 2025
David Sodergren delivers another horror story that makes me physically squirm as I’m reading it. His devilish details paint a picture that is sure to visit me in my nightmares. My only wish is that I knew what happened to the characters next.
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September 10, 2025*Huge thanks to David for the digital ARC of this one!*
Ahhhhhh, the novella.
In my opinion, often the perfect length for horror storytelling. 60-120mins of reading time, with a massive story packed in and not nary a room to breathe between pages, it grabs me, holds me (sometimes caresses me, oh la la, lol!) and won’t let go until the very – and often times – bitter end. Perfect.
Now, Sodergren has released a few novellas, both as himself and as Carl John Lee, but recently he’s been focused on the mid-length novels in his releases, so a return to the novella length had me excited. Double exciting (though also with a touch a sadness, I will admit), I had no idea what to expect with this one, as this was the first book of his own excluding ‘The Forgotten Island’ (and not counting Carl John Lee’s ‘The Blood Beast Mutations’) that I didn’t beta read. Though, saying that, we did message back and forth a bit about what he was working on and he’d mentioned a few things from this one.
So, with an open mind and an hour set aside to read this, I dove in and was blasted straight in the face.
What I liked: The story follows chronic urinator Dennis, who is driving on a rainy Scotland evening. He needs to get back home as he works in the morning. His frequent pee breaks mean he’s meticulously planned out his route, but when a downed tree forces a detour, he ends up in the middle of nowhere and accompanied by a bursting-at-the-seams-bladder. A few years prior, he had an accident while driving drunk, and ever since he’s remained sober. Which forces him to make a heavy choice, when he rolls into a small town and finds the only place open is a pub. But nature’s calling and he heads in.
Up until this point, the story is fairly straight forward, if not a touch silly in the set up. Dennis is on the phone with his wife and leaves the phone in the car as he heads in, but things really ramp up once inside.
Here’s where Sodergren shines with storytelling. You immediately feel like you’ve been in this pub. Even with scant details of the actual location, you vividly picture it in your mind. Same with the folks he interacts with. Like the bartender who is pissed off that Dennis orders ‘only a Coke.’ You feel like you’ve interacted with him before. And once in the bathroom, he runs into an older man who berates him for not being more respectful to Jenny, though Dennis doesn’t know who she is and can only assume it’s the gorgeous lass with the ram’s head adorning her head. And why should he be more respectful? It’s her recently deceased husband’s wake. Colin has died and Dennis finds himself in a bind. And as he tries to get free of the pub and make his escape, he discovers that the locals are nuts and just maybe he won’t be able to leave after all.
From that point on the novella is campy, riveting and filled with total chaos. Dennis tries to flee, Jenny and her family are having none of it and it mixes Ray Garton’s ‘The Folks’ with Dan Howarth’s ‘Last Night of Freedom’ fantastically.
The ending is a bit of gruesome fun, highlighting the insanity of the people in this small town, the pub itself and the mess Dennis has found himself in.
What I didn’t like: I’ve never been a fan of books where the interactions between characters are so far off the wagon that it makes me frustrated and Sodergren used that method here. While it works to showcase the complete lunacy of the people and place, every time Dennis interacted with someone I wanted to scream at my Kindle haha! So, while it fits the book and was purposeful by David, it completely annoyed me and at times pushed this book to the very edges of Bizarro fiction, which I really struggle with.
Additionally, I wished there was more about the ‘why.’ The why of this community being like this and why this is happening and at this particular moment, why it focuses on Jenny.
Why you should buy this: At this point do I really need to suggest why you should buy a Sodergren book? He’s one of the top Indie authors out there and his books are on every second or third IG and Tik Tok book post I see. BUT, if I was being forced to suggest why you should read this, I’d tell you that this novella is a rampaging ball of brutality and fun. Equal parts absurdity and carnage, David writes with such glee that you’ll zip through this one and find yourself sweating and breathless.
Another winner from Sodergren, an author you need to be reading if you’ve not read yet.
Ahhhhhh, the novella.
In my opinion, often the perfect length for horror storytelling. 60-120mins of reading time, with a massive story packed in and not nary a room to breathe between pages, it grabs me, holds me (sometimes caresses me, oh la la, lol!) and won’t let go until the very – and often times – bitter end. Perfect.
Now, Sodergren has released a few novellas, both as himself and as Carl John Lee, but recently he’s been focused on the mid-length novels in his releases, so a return to the novella length had me excited. Double exciting (though also with a touch a sadness, I will admit), I had no idea what to expect with this one, as this was the first book of his own excluding ‘The Forgotten Island’ (and not counting Carl John Lee’s ‘The Blood Beast Mutations’) that I didn’t beta read. Though, saying that, we did message back and forth a bit about what he was working on and he’d mentioned a few things from this one.
So, with an open mind and an hour set aside to read this, I dove in and was blasted straight in the face.
What I liked: The story follows chronic urinator Dennis, who is driving on a rainy Scotland evening. He needs to get back home as he works in the morning. His frequent pee breaks mean he’s meticulously planned out his route, but when a downed tree forces a detour, he ends up in the middle of nowhere and accompanied by a bursting-at-the-seams-bladder. A few years prior, he had an accident while driving drunk, and ever since he’s remained sober. Which forces him to make a heavy choice, when he rolls into a small town and finds the only place open is a pub. But nature’s calling and he heads in.
Up until this point, the story is fairly straight forward, if not a touch silly in the set up. Dennis is on the phone with his wife and leaves the phone in the car as he heads in, but things really ramp up once inside.
Here’s where Sodergren shines with storytelling. You immediately feel like you’ve been in this pub. Even with scant details of the actual location, you vividly picture it in your mind. Same with the folks he interacts with. Like the bartender who is pissed off that Dennis orders ‘only a Coke.’ You feel like you’ve interacted with him before. And once in the bathroom, he runs into an older man who berates him for not being more respectful to Jenny, though Dennis doesn’t know who she is and can only assume it’s the gorgeous lass with the ram’s head adorning her head. And why should he be more respectful? It’s her recently deceased husband’s wake. Colin has died and Dennis finds himself in a bind. And as he tries to get free of the pub and make his escape, he discovers that the locals are nuts and just maybe he won’t be able to leave after all.
From that point on the novella is campy, riveting and filled with total chaos. Dennis tries to flee, Jenny and her family are having none of it and it mixes Ray Garton’s ‘The Folks’ with Dan Howarth’s ‘Last Night of Freedom’ fantastically.
The ending is a bit of gruesome fun, highlighting the insanity of the people in this small town, the pub itself and the mess Dennis has found himself in.
What I didn’t like: I’ve never been a fan of books where the interactions between characters are so far off the wagon that it makes me frustrated and Sodergren used that method here. While it works to showcase the complete lunacy of the people and place, every time Dennis interacted with someone I wanted to scream at my Kindle haha! So, while it fits the book and was purposeful by David, it completely annoyed me and at times pushed this book to the very edges of Bizarro fiction, which I really struggle with.
Additionally, I wished there was more about the ‘why.’ The why of this community being like this and why this is happening and at this particular moment, why it focuses on Jenny.
Why you should buy this: At this point do I really need to suggest why you should buy a Sodergren book? He’s one of the top Indie authors out there and his books are on every second or third IG and Tik Tok book post I see. BUT, if I was being forced to suggest why you should read this, I’d tell you that this novella is a rampaging ball of brutality and fun. Equal parts absurdity and carnage, David writes with such glee that you’ll zip through this one and find yourself sweating and breathless.
Another winner from Sodergren, an author you need to be reading if you’ve not read yet.
December 4, 2025
David Sodergren is one of my favorite authors of modern horror. His work is unique, while also being a perfect blend of old-school horror with the new. Rotten Tommy is my favorite book by him so far, but I'm always eagerly excited for his next one.
On his way home after being with his mother, Dennis is looking forward to seeing his wife again, but when he needs a pee, he comes across a mysterious village where the locals welcome him not politely but with hostility. He has walked into a wake, feeling guilty, he tries to leave. But now he's here, the villagers won't let him go. He must first pay his respects to Jenny, but unfortunately for him, that might be a lot more than saying, 'Sorry for your loss'.
David Sodergren has written an equally hilarious and tense horror novella that will have you on the edge of your seat. This story's very much a village turned cult type of narrative where the story doesn't take itself too seriously but yet still manages to have a very unsettling finale.
Overall: Not my favorite work from this author by any means, but it was a lot of fun, despite how dark it got in places. 8/10
On his way home after being with his mother, Dennis is looking forward to seeing his wife again, but when he needs a pee, he comes across a mysterious village where the locals welcome him not politely but with hostility. He has walked into a wake, feeling guilty, he tries to leave. But now he's here, the villagers won't let him go. He must first pay his respects to Jenny, but unfortunately for him, that might be a lot more than saying, 'Sorry for your loss'.
David Sodergren has written an equally hilarious and tense horror novella that will have you on the edge of your seat. This story's very much a village turned cult type of narrative where the story doesn't take itself too seriously but yet still manages to have a very unsettling finale.
Overall: Not my favorite work from this author by any means, but it was a lot of fun, despite how dark it got in places. 8/10
August 31, 2025
Thank you David Sodergren for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
Where do I even begin with this book?! The first thing I have to say is the cover is GORGEOUS, it may even be my new favourite cover of his but anyway, let's get onto the story itself.
The blurb says the book is "anxiety-drenched" and it certainly was not wrong. My pulse was racing throughout this book, it almost felt like I was trapped in this hellish nightmare with Dennis (it's very safe to say that I'm glad I wasn't). Peppered throughout the story were bits of humour which was a nice touch too.
There are moments of violence and gore, which as usual, are well written. Without giving too much else away, I really enjoyed the ending, I thought it was a great way to end the insanity and chaos that took place throughout the book.
Whether you've read any previous Sodergren books or you're a first time reader of his, this book will be sure to captivate any fan of horror and is an absolute must read! (and if you haven't read any of his previous books, this book will make you want to delve in and read them all!)
Where do I even begin with this book?! The first thing I have to say is the cover is GORGEOUS, it may even be my new favourite cover of his but anyway, let's get onto the story itself.
The blurb says the book is "anxiety-drenched" and it certainly was not wrong. My pulse was racing throughout this book, it almost felt like I was trapped in this hellish nightmare with Dennis (it's very safe to say that I'm glad I wasn't). Peppered throughout the story were bits of humour which was a nice touch too.
There are moments of violence and gore, which as usual, are well written. Without giving too much else away, I really enjoyed the ending, I thought it was a great way to end the insanity and chaos that took place throughout the book.
Whether you've read any previous Sodergren books or you're a first time reader of his, this book will be sure to captivate any fan of horror and is an absolute must read! (and if you haven't read any of his previous books, this book will make you want to delve in and read them all!)
October 13, 2025
Just finished, nice quick read. Gosh this was horrific, an introverts worst nightmare. This is spoilers ahead.
Going into a bar, then learning its a wake oh no, then nobody letting him leave, and then the bride coming on to him, and oh my oh so messed up. It seemed like to me her previous husbands were people probably alot like himself, in that accidently being there. Curious how the other husbands died though.
Then oh no what happened to him at the end, just a ruined corpse kept alive for terrible painful sex stuff to try have a baby. I cringed back so much at those last few pages.
But then yea overall really good horror, really good at making you feel awful lol.
Going into a bar, then learning its a wake oh no, then nobody letting him leave, and then the bride coming on to him, and oh my oh so messed up. It seemed like to me her previous husbands were people probably alot like himself, in that accidently being there. Curious how the other husbands died though.
Then oh no what happened to him at the end, just a ruined corpse kept alive for terrible painful sex stuff to try have a baby. I cringed back so much at those last few pages.
But then yea overall really good horror, really good at making you feel awful lol.
January 3, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
It’s been a while since I read a Sodergren so I thought I’d pick up one of his newer releases and wow, I went into this blind and finished it in one sitting. It was dark, brutal, twisted and made me terrified to ever step into a pub that I don’t know.. because these people were another level of insane!
Poor Dennis. Literally wrong place wrong time. And look where it got him!
The ending was just… yeah.. no words!
Again, I absolutely loved it and it was set in a lil Scottish town which I love about Sodergrens books. I also love reading the afterword as they’re so interesting and go into detail how he came up with the story idea. Highly recommend this one!
It’s been a while since I read a Sodergren so I thought I’d pick up one of his newer releases and wow, I went into this blind and finished it in one sitting. It was dark, brutal, twisted and made me terrified to ever step into a pub that I don’t know.. because these people were another level of insane!
Poor Dennis. Literally wrong place wrong time. And look where it got him!
The ending was just… yeah.. no words!
Again, I absolutely loved it and it was set in a lil Scottish town which I love about Sodergrens books. I also love reading the afterword as they’re so interesting and go into detail how he came up with the story idea. Highly recommend this one!
January 26, 2026
3.75 This was messed up and sick but I couldn’t help but wanting to read it this author had quite a few books out and I say I have enjoyed most of the ones I’ve tried I’d recommend this author if you are after a short novella between longer reads it’s always nice to have a palette cleanser I’d recommend but please read trigger warnings his books do go into some tough topics
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews