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The Bucket List: An Extreme Horror
"The Bucket List" is a stand-alone, extreme horror story from the author of Whore, PORN and Sick B*stards.Jenny loved her husband more than life itself. When a sudden illness took his life, she felt as though her beating heart had been ripped from her chest and stamped upon; a feeling she felt again when she found his incomplete bucket list scrawled in the diary he'd been keeping ever since he was first diagnosed. So many wants and wishes that were left unfinished; a reminder of all the things he still had to live for.
Not wanting her husband to miss out, she decided the kindest thing would be to dig him back up from where he was buried and set about completing the list with him. She had no idea how she'd do it, she just knew she'd never stop trying until each and every item was ticked off.
"The Bucket List" is an extreme horror with dark humour laced throughout. If you're easily shocked or offended, this is not the title for you.
Not wanting her husband to miss out, she decided the kindest thing would be to dig him back up from where he was buried and set about completing the list with him. She had no idea how she'd do it, she just knew she'd never stop trying until each and every item was ticked off.
"The Bucket List" is an extreme horror with dark humour laced throughout. If you're easily shocked or offended, this is not the title for you.
- GenresHorror
95 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2026
About the author
Matt Shaw
552 books2,300 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 17, 2026
I wasn't a big fan of this one. I feel like it was a quick little story written just to get another book out. Just to be clear though, I am a fan of Matt Shaw so just goes to show not all books are always going to be for everyone!
March 8, 2026
Bucket List by Matt Shaw is one of those short horror reads that grabs your attention quickly with a disturbing premise and keeps the tension simmering throughout. The story centers around a twisted take on the idea of a “bucket list,” where the characters become tangled in a series of increasingly uncomfortable and morally dark situations.
What stood out most to me was how the characters react to the situation they’re put in. They feel very human in the sense that their choices are messy, emotional, and sometimes frustrating. You can see their fear, desperation, and curiosity pushing them forward even when the consequences are clearly dangerous. That tension between what they should do and what they actually do adds an interesting layer to the story.
At the same time, the book leans heavily into shock and dark themes, which is something Matt Shaw is well known for. While the concept is strong and definitely memorable, I did feel like the characters could have been explored a bit more deeply. Because it’s a shorter read, some moments move very quickly, and I would have liked more time to sit with the characters and their motivations.
Overall, I enjoyed the unsettling atmosphere and the bold premise. It’s a quick, disturbing read that will likely appeal to fans of extreme horror, even if it didn’t completely blow me away. Definitely an interesting one if you’re curious about darker, boundary-pushing horror.
What stood out most to me was how the characters react to the situation they’re put in. They feel very human in the sense that their choices are messy, emotional, and sometimes frustrating. You can see their fear, desperation, and curiosity pushing them forward even when the consequences are clearly dangerous. That tension between what they should do and what they actually do adds an interesting layer to the story.
At the same time, the book leans heavily into shock and dark themes, which is something Matt Shaw is well known for. While the concept is strong and definitely memorable, I did feel like the characters could have been explored a bit more deeply. Because it’s a shorter read, some moments move very quickly, and I would have liked more time to sit with the characters and their motivations.
Overall, I enjoyed the unsettling atmosphere and the bold premise. It’s a quick, disturbing read that will likely appeal to fans of extreme horror, even if it didn’t completely blow me away. Definitely an interesting one if you’re curious about darker, boundary-pushing horror.
February 15, 2026
Jenny is devastated by the loss of her husband,, Kirk. The discovery of his Bucket List gives her purpose, a reason to go on, a way to mark his legacy. Wholesome. Until she grabs the shovel…
This is dark and hilarious and has so many clever twists you won’t second guess it. The dialogue had me snorting with laughter, even at the most inappropriate moments while Jenny’s spiralling grief remained unambiguously at the centre. And that ending!!!!
The imagery and setting is immersive, I watched the whole book play out in my mind. I hope this is on the cards for a film adaptation. It deserves to be.
This is dark and hilarious and has so many clever twists you won’t second guess it. The dialogue had me snorting with laughter, even at the most inappropriate moments while Jenny’s spiralling grief remained unambiguously at the centre. And that ending!!!!
The imagery and setting is immersive, I watched the whole book play out in my mind. I hope this is on the cards for a film adaptation. It deserves to be.
March 22, 2026
Summary: Jenny, devastated by her husband’s death, discovers his unfinished bucket list. Unable to accept that his dreams died with him, she digs up his body and obsessively sets out to complete the list alongside him. This is an extreme horror.
Review: Matt Shaw is one of the most brilliant extreme horror authors. How he can make the reader feel sorry for Jenny, even when she's doing the most disturbing things, is a true skill. If you haven't read any of Matt's work already, definitely have a read!
Review: Matt Shaw is one of the most brilliant extreme horror authors. How he can make the reader feel sorry for Jenny, even when she's doing the most disturbing things, is a true skill. If you haven't read any of Matt's work already, definitely have a read!
March 13, 2026
A short extreme horror with a disturbingly twisted premise based on a woman exhuming her dead husband to complete his bucket list. It’s a whirlwind journey with dark themes, uncomfortable moments and morally questionable situations. While the plot was intriguing, the story was just okay for me. It lacked character development and constant jumping between timelines and different POV made it feel disjointed. I also didn’t quite understand the ending!~⭐️⭐️
February 20, 2026
wasn’t expecting that!!
Yet another Matt Shaw book with a mad twist at the end!
The black cover books never fail to keep me on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next and everytime I think I have it figured out in my head he comes along and flips it on its head!
Loved it!
Yet another Matt Shaw book with a mad twist at the end!
The black cover books never fail to keep me on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next and everytime I think I have it figured out in my head he comes along and flips it on its head!
Loved it!
September 24, 2026
great concept, clerical errors
This book, however wonderful the concept may be, has a significant amount of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. I really did enjoy the story, but the way it was out of chronological order did cause some confusion. Please reach out if you would like my assistance with spellchecking and other writing errors. *just for clarity I do not mean the differential language from British to American English*
This book, however wonderful the concept may be, has a significant amount of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. I really did enjoy the story, but the way it was out of chronological order did cause some confusion. Please reach out if you would like my assistance with spellchecking and other writing errors. *just for clarity I do not mean the differential language from British to American English*
February 16, 2026
Follow the list
Never make a bucket list you want to do with your spouse. One wrong turn and you will have second thoughts about the outcome. Love, lust and murder await you. I love this author.
Never make a bucket list you want to do with your spouse. One wrong turn and you will have second thoughts about the outcome. Love, lust and murder await you. I love this author.
February 15, 2026
One of the weirdest books I have ever read, yet I had to finish. A true “horror “ story in fact a sick horror story
March 12, 2026
good story
It was a good storyline and only wish we had the ending for the main female character . Until we got to the end with Macy was the surprised.
It was a good storyline and only wish we had the ending for the main female character . Until we got to the end with Macy was the surprised.
Read
May 5, 2026Zero stars
May 7, 2026
Rounded up from 3 1/2 stars, I struggled with the ending and found it to be a bit disappointing but overall well written and engaging without being too disgusting ☺️
September 21, 2026
This was dark yes but definitely not extreme horror??? It was terribly sad more than anything.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews