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Flypaper #1

Flypaper

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Raised in a nightmare-like existence he now recreates in his books, Nick Dawkins wants nothing more than to be left alone. Podunk USA should be far enough away, but for his most passionate fans, the end of the earth is still too close.

Danielle, a fan who manages to find him, shows up and his writer's block vanishes. He's inspired. Dreams he didn't know he had are on the brink of coming true.

He should know better. He's the teller of terror. There's no room in his life for fairytales.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2015

138 people are currently reading
770 people want to read

About the author

C.K. Vile

6 books17 followers

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5 stars
181 (21%)
4 stars
246 (29%)
3 stars
239 (28%)
2 stars
114 (13%)
1 star
50 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Zoeytron.
1,036 reviews898 followers
February 22, 2016
’The situation had crossed from Scooby Doo shenanigans into the realm of the sublimely disturbing.’

Flypaper is a perfectly apt title for this creepy tale in a numb3r of ways. Have you ever been stuck on someone, or know a person who is stuck on you? Lionel Richie penned the song "Stuck On You" back in the early 80’s. And we all know of that supremely annoying jingle about a Band-Aid being stuck on you. What if it was forever and ever and ever? That doesn’t even take into consideration the pest control strips. Beware, these are not all of the ways . . .

Nick Dawkins has been toting around some very nasty baggage from his childhood, and draws from this when he writes his horror stories. He has quite the fan base for the evil and shadowy worlds that he creates. A glimpse of the dark underbelly of the internet is teeming with them. Every once in awhile, one of those rabid fans breaks away and insinuates herself into Nick's life, taking love, devotion, and stalking to a whole new level.

Not to be missed is the night clerk at a reputedly haunted inn who has a peculiar predilection for peanut butter.

Looks like there are five of these in the series. This first one was free. I am sold enough to have already grabbed the second.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,370 reviews2,352 followers
February 29, 2016
3.5 Stars

FLYPAPER is a short dark suspenseful thriller about author Nick Dawkins and his crazy mixed up life.

He had a horrific childhood........He lives in Podunk U.S.A.........Everyone hates him........He wants to be left alone........His lunatic fans are relentless ........They are vicious........They are obsessed with him........With his dark stories........He ignores everyone........They still won't leave him alone........Weird stuff happens........Not nice stuff........He won't be fooled........He knows better........Then he meets Danielle.

"Why. Why couldn't he have one thing that wasn't a demented funhouse-mirror parody of a real relationship?"

FLYPAPER IS weirdness laced with humor and the bizarre making for a good "free" creepy read! Thank you C.K. Vile!

Profile Image for Chanda.
62 reviews
January 12, 2015
On the fence

I don't know how to rate this story. It is weird, odd, different to say the least. The over use of hyphenated words and phrases made the reading choppy. There was humor and bizarre psychosis . It was a good read overall but I won't read the follow up . It didn't hold my attention enough to continue to a second book.
Profile Image for Quirkyreader.
1,629 reviews10 followers
June 26, 2015
This was a very fast read. The question begs how far will an obsessive fan go to be one with their idol. After reading this I'm glad that celebrity eludes me.
Profile Image for Hlee.
351 reviews21 followers
June 8, 2015
A very quick read. Creepy, creepy.....did I mention creepy?! It all happened a little too fast, but definitely an entertaining read. With all these stalker-type books out there, this makes one think how scary this shit can be. Not sure if I'll continue the series, though......
Profile Image for Tere J.
266 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2016
This was a super quick read - because I read on Kindle app, not sure how many pages it really is, but mine read 200 and I use the large font. Anyway, I have a mixture of "what the Expletive did I just read?"... It's messed up (and I sure like me a messed up book).

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Very fast paced but that is unknown in book 1 is why he is so hated, and why the cult following? I don't know if I'd call it a psychological thriller - but it sure is effed up and disturbing - but it's not a mystery or shock on the crazy! I appreciated the humor/sarcasm. Seriously, when you're asking yourself how many red flags in a relationship it takes to walk away, let alone the differences between insane & intense, and dedicated vs obsessed! Pretty funny...

Not sure when I'll pick up book 2, I would have liked more info on who Nick was/is, that would make me more compelled to know why these crazy's are after him.
Profile Image for Courteney.
148 reviews3 followers
July 16, 2015
Wow, I can't even accurately describe how intense this book is. It was terrifying, sweet, intriguing, confusing, suspenseful, thrilling, and so many other things all at the same time; words fail me. As truly frightening as it is to say it after this particular read, I think I've found a new author to follow!
Profile Image for Kenya Starflight.
1,652 reviews21 followers
December 3, 2019
I'm not entirely sure why I picked up this book -- psychological horror isn't my bag, and an author name like "C. K. Vile" doesn't exactly promise a light beach read -- but somehow it piqued my interest. Despite not being hugely into horror, I do count Stephen King as one of my favorite writers, and this book seemed like the kind of thing he might either write or recommend. And while Vile isn't quite King caliber (but then, few authors are when it comes to horror), he's given us a macabre, creepy, and blackly hilarious story in "Flypaper."

Horror writer Nick Dawkins just wants to be left alone -- no small feat when you're a famous writer with freaky and obsessed fans who lives in a small town where everyone, including the local police, seems to hate your guts. Thankfully, he meets and falls for Danielle, a new arrival in town who seems like a breath of fresh air and sanity and who seems to brighten his life. But Danielle has her own agenda for getting close to Nick, and soon he realizes that she's not just any ordinary fan -- she's something far more frightening than anything he's spun in his stories...

The writing in "Flypaper" is good -- not masterful, but serviceable and capable of spinning haunting and macabre imagery in the mind. It also delivers a sharply and blackly funny tone at times, helping to leaven some of the freakier parts of the book and give a respite from the horror going on. It manages to build a nice sense of suspense as well, and build it to a shattering climax in a believable fashion. That takes talent.

The characters are a good balance between flawed and likable as well. Often horror writers make the mistake of making their protagonists so flawed and obnoxious you're rooting for them to die (which may be the point in the slasher genre, but still...). Nick is a flawed character with some dislikable traits, but he's shown to have a complex past and personality and a genuinely decent side as well. Danielle starts off likable, but her insanity is slowly revealed over the course of the story, giving us more and more of a disturbing picture. The minor characters are mostly there to serve specific roles, but most of them are enjoyable too -- even if I found Corpseflower's "internet hacker" speech to be forced and overdone.

If you like a creepy and macabre read with a dark sense of humor, "Flypaper" is right up your alley. It's an unsettling yet highly readable book that will keep you turning until the last page. Just be prepared for some graphic imagery throughout...
Profile Image for Amy.
92 reviews4 followers
April 2, 2018
I was very pleasantly surprised by how quickly this book grabbed my attention. From the very first sentence. I hate starting a new book only to spend the first chapter wondering if I'll make it to the last. I enjoyed the humor and appreciated the Stephen King references. I don't know why I let this one just linger on my Kindle for so long.

There were only two things that nagged at me. One, I couldn't understand why there were so many d$cks in town who seemed to feel hatred towards Nick. I could understand some annoyance or even mild dislike. I felt like I was missing key info to completely understand the history. Two, Danielle let her psycho side out a little too soon. I would have liked a little more build up but I understand the next crazy is right around the corner. Moving on to book 2 and hoping for more from the Sheriff.
Profile Image for Gary Sedivy.
528 reviews6 followers
June 27, 2017
This was a little too strange and not developed enough to be good. The main character is a writer who can't - writer's block don't ya know. He lives in a town where nearly everyone hates him - why? Who the heck cares. Then he bumps into a young woman who turns out to be straight out of 'Fatal Attraction'. But he falls for her - who saw that coming? She stays overnight, they have sex and she makes him breakfast which makes him throw up before he eats any of it. It gets weird from there.
You can see this one coming - she tries to kill him, and fails dammit. His writer's block is broken, but I don't care. (Fortunately that book won't be published.)
The ending means there will be a sequel - again, dammit. At least I know not to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kayla.
34 reviews8 followers
September 24, 2019
Well, this was an interesting read.

I enjoyed the main character enough, but had issues with other characters.
The "crazed fan", Danielle, was not fleshed out enough for me to envision her as anything but a semi-there character. I feel like something was missing to make her seem more human.

The plot and writing were decent enough to keep me reading, and I enjoyed it. So, 4 stars.

That said, I kinda like the ending and the fact it was open-ended. I feel as if the story could have stopped there. I'm not sure I'll pick up the second book.

There are some minor punctuation mistakes peppered throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for T.A..
Author 29 books31 followers
January 15, 2021
Intense and dark

The story starts as it means to go on. No introduction to the character just straight into the weird, horrifying and strangely amusing (maybe that’s just me?).

As a writer myself this story takes on an even more interesting twist, you want to make a living but doing so will bring strangers into your life. You can’t control who those people are or how they might react. This story takes it to the extreme.

I was worried it would not stand up to’Misery’ but this book takes the story of an obsessed fan in a similar but yet completely different tangent.

Worth a read and I will be adding the next book to my TBR pile.
Profile Image for Susan.
270 reviews8 followers
January 26, 2025
This was a creepy read, yet I found myself laughing at times. I suppose the humor helps make the creepy stuff a bit more palatable. The main character, Nick, isn't particularly likeable but I could understand parts of him. He's a writer who just wants to be left alone. That doesn't happen, naturally, as a fan, Danielle, manages to find him and insinuate herself into his life. Poor guy, he doesn't know what he's in for. I enjoyed this one but not enough to continue with the series. Mainly because I have so many other books I want to read and not enough time. Pick this one up when in the mood for something quick and eerie.
Profile Image for Ingo.
1,248 reviews17 followers
Want to read
February 1, 2020
Just (Feb 1st, 2020) looked for books about female stalkers, and saw this in a list, and checking, I already snatched this up - when it was free, informed by an email from Bookbub - more than 4 years ago ...
8 reviews
November 16, 2018
Good Read!

I am ready to read the next book! Interesting and different bit of insight into the obsessiveness of the fan culture.
Profile Image for k mandra.
178 reviews4 followers
April 13, 2023
I. Quit. This was ridiculous and I opted to not waste more time.
Profile Image for Angela Johnson.
Author 1 book5 followers
August 18, 2015
Flypaper by author C.K. Vile is listed as a dark psychological thriller. I would personally suggest that the author also categorize this as a horror suspense. And I say that with utmost respect. I grew up reading and loving the masterful works of the greats like Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Yes, I know, those are some big shoes to fill, but author C.K. Vile stepped right up and laced those bad boys up! His masterful ability to grab you and pull you into his twisted world of psychosis and mayhem is what horror junkies like me live for.

I almost didn't click the link when I saw it on the list of new thrillers available for free. To be honest, I thought “Flypaper? Ewww. What could this possibly even be about?” and then I read the book description and was intrigued. To think that I almost lost out on this gem of a book and the beautifully twisted mind of C. K. Vile is actually appalling. Let me just say now that if you are a fan of horror/psychological thrillers and are on the fence about picking up this book...don't be! You need this book in your library.

C.K. Vile tells the tale of famed horror writer Nick Dawkins who's childhood was his very own horror story. Obsessively pursued and harassed by his devoted legion of delightfully demented fans Nick chooses to leave the technologically overloaded mainstream society and move to a small town in the middle of nowhere. But in this age of social media and tech savvy is it really possible for anyone to truly escape from society? Especially one with compulsively psychotic stalkers...I mean fans? Vile's ability to weave humor and suspense into scenes of havoc is a rare gift to the reader.

The main character Nick Dawkins is the guy who has everything and nothing. Plagued by his own demons and the word around him this story brings you along for the emotional roller coaster of a ride that is Dawkin's unbalanced existence.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is Vile's ability to grab you by the hand from page one and pull you down the virtual rabbit hole of character Nick Dawkin's tumultuous life. I fell in love with his writing style and became an instant fan. I have no doubt that C. K Vile will become a household name in the mouth's of horror lovers worldwide. I can already see the movies in my head! A good book will do that to you.

Flypaper, the first installment in the series is a quick but entertaining read. Not for children or the faint of heart. If you are looking to add another author to your list of beloved horror/psychological thriller writers, I would highly recommend purchasing this book.
Profile Image for Jennifer Murphy.
96 reviews5 followers
June 14, 2015
Obsession + Certifiably Insane = Must Read Thriller!!!

This was an excellent read! It definitely surpassed my expectations. C.K. Vile did an amazing job rounding out his characters making them seem so real (some are bat-crap crazy and you can just feel the insanity dripping off them!); and even cooler, was the fact that as intense as the story gets at points it could still happen in the real world. People are stalked by crazy strangers every day all around the world.

First thing first, this book is not for children; nor is it for those with a weak stomach. The description of a "Dark Psychological Thriller" in the title really says it all. I have not read many books from this particular genre at this point - since I have been hooked on zombies and hauntings for at least a couple of years now - but after this I plan on reading many more "psychological thrillers" in the future. I love not knowing what is going to happen from one minute to the next; and feeling the raw emotion that jumps off the pages.

Hopefully, without giving away spoilers, I can give a quick description of the basic storyline...Nick is an author of many dark psychological thrillers himself, and over the years he has gained a kind of cult following that includes a number of the craziest fans out there. While some are just desperate to meet him, others spend their days wondering if they could gain Nick's writing skills by frying and eating his brain. No matter how hard he tries to keep his private life private someone always seems to find him. In "Flypaper" that person is Danielle, the queen of the crazies. At first, she seems like the perfect woman for Nick; but after just two dates her true colors start to show. The rest is a thrilling tale of desire and obsession.

So, if you are looking for a good thrill, then C.K. Vile's "Flypaper" is the book for you. The first and last pages are just as eventful and exciting as the chaos in the middle! It literally begins and ends with a bang!!! I know that C.K. Vile is going straight up towards the top of my favorite authors list! I can't wait to get started on book #2: "Flypaper: Opus."

Profile Image for Kris.
256 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2015
Flypaper is a strange little novel. It is creepy in a good way, not very long and has an aspect that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering how this is all going to end. It is the first book in what is going to be an ongoing series of stories about a writer, holed up in the woods in small town U.S. A. trying to write horror stories.

Nick Dawkins is not well liked by the locals except for the local grocers. He is a thorn in the side of the sheriff’s department. As the book opens, a crazed fan has invaded Nick’s sanctuary, not for the first time.
There is also a creepy group of followers who were kicked off the writer’s fan site due to the explicit and outrageous ideas and opinions they express about Nick as well as fandom that goes way beyond the average and on to the very scary.

A super fan manages to ensnare Nick and a number of things happen that get progressively more stalker-ish in nature. No spoilers but the end of this book opens the door to what will be the next.

I’m not sure if I will get the next book or not but it was just strange enough and eccentric enough that anything is possible!
Profile Image for Eden Royce.
Author 59 books370 followers
June 13, 2016
Flypaper is disturbingly descriptive. It starts out similarly to several Stephen King storylines: a popular writer goes to a remote location to escape his oppressive fan base.

In this case Nick is frustrated with the attention from his popularity and it is starting to show when he makes public appearances. He retreats to a small town to write, but continues to be uninspired. And the attitude of the townspeople is less than welcoming. Much less.

Then he meets Danielle and his muse returns, even though she says she is unfamiliar with his work. But Danielle has ulterior motivations, and as her mental state declines, her lies come to light.

Unfortunately for Nick, obsessions can get…sticky.

C.K. Vile does a great job describing the reactions of Small Town USA and the mob mentality of some Internet message boards.

Where I had trouble was Nick’s reaction to Danielle once she started showing signs of…well, not being stable. There were several times where I thought, “Why doesn’t this guy just put his house alarm on and ignore his phone?” But I suppose being ‘that into’ someone makes you do—or not do—some strange things.
Profile Image for Cynthia Rodrigues.
Author 1 book5 followers
December 7, 2015
Detailed review at: http://cynthology.blogspot.com/2015/1...

I found this book intriguing. The title was equally interesting. A flypaper is a sticky paper that proves to be the death of the fly when it lands upon its adhesive surface. You’d get the connection even more when you read the book. I don’t want to give it away here. It’s one of the most horrific themes in the book.

I liked the author’s style of writing. Real yet fast paced. One of the things that I liked was that this book touched extensively upon the life of a writer. I loved the characterization. The isolation of the people of Forest Down, the old worldly charm of Bonnie and Chuck Littleberry, who run the local grocery store, are just as memorable in their own way as Nick and Danielle. I also like CorpseFlower, the web admin of Nick’s site. Even as she dabbles with the macabre, CorpseFlower retains her sense of justice.
Vile also knowingly or unknowingly raises questions on the nature versus nurture debate. Both Nick and Danielle are a product of their upbringing. Yet both react to their past in radically different ways.

Do read this one if you can. Good stuff this!
Profile Image for Jagged.
1,075 reviews30 followers
August 1, 2015
"Nick, I want you to trust me. Now, give me your penis."

Well, this escalated quickly! And down the rabbit hole we go.

This was a very unusual read, and it developed in ways that I could never have imagined. That was good.
The only issue I really had with it was how unlikely it was that women were able to get the upper hand over Nick so easily in strength. He wasn't really able to defend himself, and I don't mean violently, but he wasn't able to restrain them or outrun them.

The character development was really good. The plot was very engaging and easy to follow. I read this fairly quickly. It's not a long read, but there is a lot jam-packed in here. I wouldn't really consider it a thriller, but it has some darker elements to it and it was very entertaining.

I liked the ending, but I just don't know that it captured me enough to continue. I may, because I did like this book and the characters. And I am a bit intrigued to see if the next book will be something entirely different, but I'm a little concerned that it will pretty much be a repeat of this one.
Profile Image for R.L..
Author 5 books48 followers
July 14, 2015
This was a story within a story about a writer who writes horror with a sense of humor. He has some crazed fans. Some break through the security measures he's set up. One in particular is a girl he falls for. She's written a story called "Flypaper". The author finds it terrible. I want tell more but I don't want to spoil it for the next reader. It this was a good story that kept me turning pages till the end. I really couldn't put it down. It's short at 199 pages but that's all that's needed. The author knows how to write a series. This book had a great ending. It wasn't a trick ending that isn't an ending like a lot of "series" writers are doing these days. It was an ending that made me want to purchase the next book, not because I have to, but because it's such a good premise I know the next in the series will be good, too.
Profile Image for Danielle.
21 reviews
November 22, 2016
Being as I found and read this book for free on Amazon, I was actually surprised and impressed that it kept my attention. While it was a short story, I read it rather fast (3 days) because I was interested enough to not just toss it aside. It was humorous, creepy, thoughtful, mind twisting and pleasing to my guilty pleasures. It had been my first "stalker" book but I was totally satisfied with the psychological aspects. the different things that go through a person's mind are horrific enough, but when they act out those thoughts and feelings, that's what becomes really scary and captures my interest. I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't predictable and it was unique. The author took a different approach with this story, and I would consider reading the second and third book. Thanks for using my name for a psychotic character though.. lol..which of whom was great and intriguing.
Profile Image for Katie Link.
63 reviews1 follower
February 26, 2015
Ummm...wow

I understand the thought behind the thriller aspect of the story. The concept of wonder and curiosity kept me clenched to my seat with wonder for a good 4 hours of reading time. The main character possessed the wit and charm and fascination for the concepts presented, but combined with the thrill left me somewhat short on being entirely sold on the first installment of the series. The last 1/4 of a book is what really helps to determine my feelings and although there is a continuation of this book with the thrill of having to watch your back because psychos loom in the future, I will need to pause the continuation of the story. It is a good read. There could be more to it to help my heartbeat faster, but you need to read it for yourself.
Profile Image for Jim.
36 reviews
November 10, 2015
I could have easily given two stars for this book, but wi only minor differences, it could have been worthy of four stars.

It's definitely dark and off-the-wall. It also includes a sufficient number of psychopaths to earn its classification of being a psychological thriller. That said, it leaves the reader wanting a bit more in the "thriller" department. Very little was thrilling or suspenseful because it all lacked the element of surprise, much of it was easily predictable and never once did I find myself uncontrollably say "don't go in there" out loud.

The best aspect of this book from my perspective was the ending... The other did an excellent job finishing this story while laying the groundwork for the multiple sequels. I'm just not sure I will spend my time reading any of them.
Profile Image for Nomagugu Chelsie.
47 reviews10 followers
December 3, 2015
This was a first for me, a popping of my dark psychological thriller cherry that is. And i have to say I'm absolutely dying to read the rest of this series. I loved the sense of humor in it and the way it was almost romantic but so simply ridiculous in its madness that you had no time to dwell on it being a love story within the madness.
It's Brilliant, and just so funny. From the pumpkin humping man to the old man smearing peanut butter all over himself. I love the way story is written. Its not so ridiculously detailed you're tempted to skip a few lines to get to the good stuff yet the picture is well painted so you don't miss the little details.
Great Read.
Profile Image for Edward Burton.
Author 1 book10 followers
February 4, 2017
Flypaper is an exciting psychological thriller about a horror writer who moves to a small reclusive mountain town to escape the trappings of fame. And he meets a girl, the love of his life or so he thinks. He eventually finds out she is an obsessed fan who's just a little bit whacko and will do anything to keep him in her life.

This was a fun to read novel. Vile's writing is succinct, easily digestible and keeps you biting your nails as you turn the pages. His fresh metaphors and his pacing are the strength of this novel.
Profile Image for Ronda.
322 reviews
June 3, 2015
I bought this book because it was free and I had no clue what I wanted to read next. I was pleasantly surprised. It grabbed me from the start and I finished it in one night - I stayed up way too late to finish it though. It reminded me of the early Stephen King books without all the gore - as a matter of fact the author mentions King in the book. It was a good psychological thriller and if you like those then I would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews

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