Only recently, Roger Huntington was operating out of Berlin, where he was part of a shadowy organization tracking down killers. Now he's back in his hometown where the brutal murder of his late best friend's father has left the local police with more questions than answers--a murder that echoes the torture he and Tooth suffered in Skinny Man's basement so many years ago.
Wading through the dark memories hanging over the town--his sister's death, his mother's eroding sanity--he must confront the possibility that a new killer is lurking in the shadows. Partnering with his old friend, Sheriff Teddy, the man who once saved him from death, Roger now delves back into the madness of an evil world that refuses to leave him alone in the hopes of bringing peace both to his community and himself.
But the world isn't fair, and Roger is about to face his darkest days yet.
I am the author of the novels The Summer I Died, Ratings Game, Born to Bleed, Salticidae, Undead World of Oz, Hissers and more. I hope to learn a lot from the readers on this site, and get some good book recs in the process. Thanks!
OMG! Screaming, crying, throwing up. I loved this book so much. I had been impatiently awaiting its release for so long and it lived up to my wildest dreams. Ryan C Thomas doesn’t again. I LOVE ROGER. I can’t get enough of him and these books. This installment in his saga is the best since the first. The Summer I Died left an impact on me like no other book. The second one was great, the third one wasn’t as great, but still loved cause it’s Roger, but this one picked it right back up. These books make me gag, think “wtf am I reading!?”, they make me cry, they make me laugh. I just love them. Ryan can write about Roger for an eternity and I’ll gobble up every bit of it.
I loved this book. I’ve loved every book in this series. I enjoyed book one so much that it inspired me to start writing myself. Roger’s journey has been a crazy one to say the least. I don’t think anyone could have predicted the twists and turns his story has taken. This new one felt like we were getting back to the old Roger. Book one Roger. Only now he had the experience to handle things better. It’s a crazy story. It’s filled with action. It’s filled with some extremely gross stuff, but it’s done well. That horrible stuff is essential to the storyline and it doesn’t feel at all done for just gross out factor. You take it for what it is and you hope the gross guys get their comeuppance. I’d highly recommend this book to extreme horror readers and normal horror readers alike. Hell, I even think it would be enjoyed by Thriller readers, but you do owe it to yourself to read the first three as well or you’ll be pretty lost. 5/5 give me more. I’m ready.
I’ve waited so long for this book. And it didn’t disappoint. Maniac necrophiliacs and well served justice. The way he writes and describes things…..I will have nightmares for days and I am not mad about it. The undulating sex pit. The golden unicorn dick mask. Blood and gore. Roger finally finds his niche….CANT WAIT for the next one!!!!!!!! Let the saga continue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Man, was that disappointing. First book in the series: incredible. Second and third: good. This one? Just doesn't hold up. But I'm dedicated to Roger's journey and will absolutely be reading the next; I hope it can recapture some of the earlier entries' glory.
Tooth’s last monologue to Rodger lowkey made me tear up lowkey, pretty sure this is the last of the saga so I’m actually pretty sad about finishing it. The books are disgusting as hell but like I think that’s the uniqueness of it, I’m gonna miss you Rodger Huntington saga 💕💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow, what a wild ride! This is an excellent new entry in the Roger Huntington series, a direct sequel to the last book (which I wasn't all that crazy about, though I loved the first two). It picks up exactly where we last saw Roger: going back home from Berlin, Germany, to unearth what exactly happened to Tooth's dad, who was found murdered. Roger and his friend cop Teddy (now a Sheriff himself) start digging, and discover another new low for humanity, when they stumble upon a sort of a fetish group up in Canada. And this group's fetish is deadly - in more ways than one!
Roger is no longer a victim, as in the first two books; since the third book, he's a deeply traumatized version of Dexter, the "serial killer killer," showing some attitude but carrying also a very deep sense of humanity, empathy, and compassion. He's no psychopath, but he's cursed with the power to attract all kinds of psychopaths and messed up situations - and surviving them. The metaphysics haven't been precisely worked out just yet, - but Roger’s life since his twenties has been a constant struggle to secure a place for himself devoid of the insanity, the torture, and the carnage he's experienced first-hand during the summer he died inside.
I always enjoy Roger's more or.less imaginary banter with Tooth, his dead friend. This volume thankfully brings it back, along with conversations with the Skinny Man. The book also powers up the gore machine, throwing Roger and Teddy right into the sickest and most perverted neighborhood of hell! That said, the story's also character-driven, with lots of entertaining dialogue, fast-paced, with very strong thriller vibes (since it's about a murder investigation, after all).
What I was not at all prepared for was the ending. It hurt. Roger is definitely a psychopath attractor; no doubt about it after this part of the story. And though he's no superhero, it seems that his life is pushing him to become one. Perhaps all those snarky comics references (the best being when Roger drops the X-Men reference of "Remy and Rogue" lol) are to blame!
I highly recommend the book both as an awesome addition to the series, and a good point for new readers to join the fun. The book is not a standalone, but it's not impenetrable to newcomers either! Pick it up and treat yourself to some terrific extreme horror fiction by a master storyteller of the genre!
Roger just can’t catch a break, and things just get increasingly worse for him. It got better and better and I was incredibly engaged with each new chapter. I’m very sad about how much loss Roger has to live with and what happened in this one was a hard blow. I liked how Roger accepted his fate and the way he described his complacence with himself. Mayhap we will get another?
A fantastic addition to the Roger Huntington saga. It keeps the tone of “Born to Bleed” and “Scars of the Broken” while calling back to “The Summer I Died” in both obvious and subtle ways. The writing in the buildup to the conflict especially mimicked that of “The Summer I Died,” which was a great choice by the author. It took the right amount of time to build characters up before throwing them into the main conflict. There was plenty of guts and gore, as well as tense character exploration.
The fast pacing of the second half worked great, although the final conflict felt a bit rushed, which carried through to the ending. I would’ve liked a bit more elaboration in some of the final scenes.
If this is where Ryan C. Thomas chooses to end the series here, it feels like a satisfying conclusion. However, he left the door open for more installments, which I would certainly be interested in reading.
There are some books you enjoy, some books you recommend, and then there are a rare few that stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. Suffer to Survive is one of those books. Not only is it an outstanding finale, but it also serves as a fitting conclusion to one of the most memorable horror sagas I have ever read.
When I first picked up The Summer I Died, I expected an extreme horror novel. What I got over the course of four books was something much deeper. Ryan C. Thomas created a story about survival, trauma, friendship, grief, guilt, and the lasting scars left behind by unimaginable violence. By the time I reached Suffer to Survive, I wasn’t reading to see who would die next. I was reading because I genuinely cared about Roger Huntington and the people around him.
This novel places Roger at his absolute breaking point. Physically battered, emotionally exhausted, and haunted by years of bloodshed, Roger is forced to confront not only the monsters hunting him, but the darkness growing within himself. One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how introspective it became. Beneath the violence and suspense lies a character study of a man who has spent years surviving horrors that would have destroyed most people. Roger begins questioning whether he is cursed, whether death follows him, and whether he has become something far darker than he ever intended. Some of the internal monologues in this novel are among the strongest writing in the entire series.
The supporting cast is also excellent. Scott ended up becoming one of my favorite characters in the book. Watching his relationship with Roger evolve throughout the story was incredibly rewarding. What begins as a rescue mission develops into something much more meaningful, and some of their scenes together carry a surprising amount of heart. The emotional bond that forms between them gave the novel a layer of humanity that balanced the brutality perfectly.
The return of James Fountain was another highlight. Ever since his introduction earlier in the saga, he has remained one of the most intriguing figures in Roger’s world. Here, he feels almost larger than life, operating in the background, moving pieces across the board, and reminding readers that Roger’s journey may never truly be over. Likewise, Katrin and Craig proved to be welcome additions, bringing continuity from the previous novel while helping Roger find something he has been missing for a very long time: genuine companionship.
What surprised me most about Suffer to Survive was how emotional it became. There are scenes in this book that genuinely affected me. Not because of the gore or violence, but because of the relationships. There is a particular sequence involving Teddy’s family that hit me harder than almost anything else in the series. Ryan C. Thomas understands that the true weight of death is not found in the act itself, but in the people left behind. Those moments elevated the novel from a great horror story into something much more powerful.
The final act delivers exactly what a reader wants from a series finale. The tension is relentless, the confrontations feel earned, and the emotional stakes are higher than ever. There are callbacks that longtime readers will immediately recognize, moments that mirror events from earlier books, and a sense that Roger’s entire journey has been leading to this point. The violence is savage and uncompromising, yet it never feels empty. Every action carries consequences. Every victory comes at a cost.
What impressed me most is that Ryan C. Thomas resisted the temptation to give Roger a perfectly happy ending. Instead, he gave him something far more believable. Roger remains scarred. He remains haunted. He remains a man carrying the memories of countless losses. Yet by the end, there is hope where there was once only despair. There is friendship where there was once isolation. There is purpose where there was once aimless suffering. Most importantly, there is the sense that Roger has finally accepted the weight of his past without allowing it to completely define his future.
Looking back on the entire Roger Huntington Saga, I can honestly say it is one of the most memorable horror series I have ever read. From the horrors of The Summer I Died to the psychological trauma of Born to Bleed, the mysteries and revelations of Scars of the Broken, and finally the emotional culmination found in Suffer to Survive, this saga never stopped evolving. It constantly found new ways to challenge its characters and surprise its readers.
When I closed the final page, I didn’t feel like I had simply finished a book. I felt like I was saying goodbye to characters I had spent a long time traveling alongside. Roger Huntington’s story is one I will remember for years to come. Few horror novels have managed to make me feel fear, suspense, sadness, hope, and genuine emotional attachment all at once. This series accomplished exactly that.
Suffer to Survive is a brutal, heartbreaking, and ultimately rewarding conclusion to Roger Huntington’s journey. If you’ve made it this far into the saga, Ryan C. Thomas delivers an ending that honors everything that came before it.
An unforgettable finale to an unforgettable series.
It was alright, I feel like this series just got more ridiculous and unbelievable as it continued. Whatever is the most impossible crazy thing that could happen is what happened. The writing is still high quality so I can’t diss it for that but the story lacks.
idk yall I had to read it because I have an annoying need to see where a series goes but I just wasn’t amused. all that over tooth’s dad? kinda bullshit. I am intruiged to see where the next chapter goes now that roger has finally accepted whatever fate he’s been thrust into.
It took me less than a day to finish this novel. It was a fast, easy read. It picks up right where Scars Of The Broken left off, with Roger Huntington returning to his home town to look into the murder of his friend Tooth's father. His investigation reconnects him with Officer Teddy, the cop who saved his life in The Summer I Died. Together, they travel north into Canada looking to connect the dots they've uncovered, and encounter another group of depraved sickos.
Pros: I really enjoyed the banter between Teddy and Roger. Their conversation and friendship is real and natural. Tooth is still well represented here, which I loved. There is a line near the novel's end that speaks of them being one now, and that's evident and well written as Roger moves ahead in life, embodying his friend's courageous qualities and realizing them as his own. I was plenty shocked. Ryan C. Thomas is the only author I've read that makes me clap my hand over my mouth and say "holy shit!" over an unexpected turn of events. There certainly was one of those in the death of a major character. There's plenty of gore too, all fantastically described. As a lover of horror films, I enjoy and catch all of the references he makes to them. The ending leaves the door open for more Roger Huntington, and I would love to read about where his life takes him next.
A lot has happened since we last heard from Roger Huntington-COVID and the rollout of AI assblasters if we're talking about the biggies, so I was curious to see what America's favorite "serial killer who tracks down serial killers" was up to. This is a direct followup to "Scars of the Broken" (my personal favorite with the saga), so we're still in 2016 or 2017. If you didn't like "Scars", then you probably won't like "Suffer" because it obviously follows the same timeline and utilizes the same characters.
The first entry, TSID, that made Roger a splatterpunk anti-hero is also referenced a lot, but through telekinesis. We absorb Roger's thoughts and hilarious post-punk worldviews with these passages, and much needed clarity is provided for Roger's supernatural abilities. I felt that this new adventure had a far more serious narrative with some deeper meaning.
All of these ideas intersect with part 4, which finds Roger taking on some sickos in the backwoods of Quebec! Disturbing, mysterious and funny as hell. Worth the wait.
Been a while since I read a good extreme horror/splatterpunk novel. I LOVED The Summer I Died and have enjoyed both prior sequels, this being no different. I love how all these books really try and tackle themes of trauma and mental health and how living and surviving through something can really change and shape a person. The ghosts we live with and carry. The people we lose and how we cope with our demons. Both externally and internally. This is maybe the most personal of all the sequels since the original, and we really see Roger sort of come full circle in the most nihilistic of ways… but always with that glimmer of light at the end of a brutal and bloody tunnel.
Fans of this series should enjoy the fourth installment in the Roger Huntington Saga. Not for the faint of heart. Recommended for the right audience.
Ahhhh I’m already mourning there’s no 5th book. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a series this intense! I got attached to Roger as a character after the first book and read the series back to back and now I’m left with post book sadness. Please bring us another journey for Roger! I need to know what’s next for him and his new girl. The most intense horror series I’ve found to date with a strong story line! Loved all these books, I couldn’t put them down!🖤
Roger's story continues and it just keeps getting better! This book literally made my stomach turn a few times. The gore and brutality was definitely kicked up a notch on this one and I thank the author greatly for that! There are so many twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat and exhausted. I can't wait to see what else could possibly be throw Roger's way.
getting through the nihilism and depravity in these books genuinely feels like mental torture sometimes, but the character work is too delicious to ever put them down.. roger huntington could return for his 50th book and i’ll still be sat. amazing and heartbreaking as always, no notes; undoubtedly my favourite saga.
For those who love sick horror stories, this series is an absolute NEED. The ending of this series ties everything off in an extremely bitter sweet way. The entire end lines up with the full theme of the books. Things aren’t good and will never be just because you want them. Take the good moments in and never forget it can change in an instant.
My jaw DROPPED at two different parts in this book. To say I was shocked was an understatement. Roger always stands on business to protect anyone and I admire that so much.
I hadn't read the first three in the series for a while. I had forgotten the savagery that he writes with. The first instance in the book and I chuckled to myself because I knew this ride was going to be wild. I was 100% not let down. Another great book in the series!
I’m still speechless at how deeply a book can shock and captivate you. I love every single installment in the series, but the fourth book is even more emotional than the others. I desperately need a fifth part right now — the Roger Huntington Saga has to continue!
Book 4 of this series. This book I think is more depraved than the first 3 combined. Especially since this book has a lot of scenes of corpse desecration and necrophilia. These scenes were a little hard to read. I hope I didn't give any spoilers, so I'll go for now hoping there will be a book 5.
I didn’t expect this book to make me feel something. On its surface it’s a bloody romp though the Canadian woods akin to Wrong Turn and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But it’s deeper than those. It’s a story of coping and accepting eventuality. Well done!
“because life is mostly shit, no matter where you are. It is never going to work out how you want it to. It’s full of misery and pain and disappointment, location be damned. To survive it, you’ve got to make peace with suffering.”
Absolutely 5 stars all day ! Ugh I need more roger ! I want book 5 now ! This one is my favorite in the series hands down it's just mental and emotional and messed up and just a fucking smashing good read ! If you haven't read these books then your absolutely missing out !