FOUR RIDES. FOUR PASSENGERS. FOUR DESCENTS INTO DARKNESS.Charlie has been a New York City Rideshare driver long enough to know everyone has a story. Each passenger that requests his car gets in the backseat with their own hopes, dreams and aspirations.
BUT MANY HAVE DEMONS.
Four of these people will share their tales with Charlie, each more harrowing than the last. From innocence lost to bloody vengeance, these are not the accounts of your average commuter.
THEY ARE CONFESSIONS OF HORROR BEYOND COMPREHENSION.
Each chilling account of corruption and depravity will make you an unwitting voyeur into the darkest corners of the soul, holding a mirror to atrocities you will never be able to unsee.
Masters of terror James Kaine and Timothy King join forces to take you on a ride you will never forget. Be at your spot, check the license plate and step in.YOUR DRIVER HAS ARRIVED.
James Kaine is a bestselling author, publisher and filmmaker born and raised in Trenton, NJ. An active pro member of the Horror Writer’s Association, he brings readers visceral, haunting tales of terror via his Horror House Publishing imprint.
Ted Tally, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon, called his book My Pet Werewolf "Twisty. Spooky. Shocking." and "Unputdownable."
BookLife by Publishers Weekly proclaimed his novel, The Dead Children’s Playground, “will chill readers to the bone.” The book, the first in his American Horrors anthology series, has been a #1 bestseller in U.S. Horror on Amazon and was the winner of the 2025 Books of Horror Indie Brawl. His works are being translated into multiple languages, bringing James’s cinematic style of scary storytelling to a global audience.
He resides in Hamilton, NJ with his wife, Jessica, their two children and an energetic Boston Terrier. When he isn’t writing he loves to read, travel, cook, watch movies and learn new skills.
For bookings, media inquiries and any other requests, send an email to james@jameskaine.com.
This was a lot of fun. I really like Charlie's laid-back nature, well, until the end of the book, anyway. I did figure out his role after his encounter with Edward. The book was really entertaining, and I think it would make a fabulous movie. If you are a horror fan, definitely check out this book! Know your triggers!
Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review
I have loved everything I’ve read from T King and so I went into this one both excited and interested to read from an author I wasn’t familiar with, James Kaine! A 4 part anthology style with a tenuous line connecting them all, this book was both interesting and very twisted.
Each story has its own vibe and has something for every horror reader. While the stories feel standalone, it all ties in together by the end and wraps up neatly. Definitely add this one to your shelf if you’re an avid horror fan that is ok with all the triggers!
My half point off is solely for my own personal preference in absolutely despising anything to do with food/binging/vomit and so one of the stories was very hard for me to get through. But I guess that’s what this genre is about.
This book is split into four stories. All four stories start with the characters getting into a cab, with Charlie as their driver. Each story follows a different character as they’re faced with a choice to make, and those choices lead to some pretty fucked up shit. (Seriously, Tim and James, what’s wrong with you boys? 😝) Edward – Edward is a wealthy businessman who, at the age of 80, realises that all but one of his children are ungrateful. He decides to cut them off, leaving his vast fortune solely to his youngest daughter. But when he’s diagnosed with heart failure, he’s offered a choice: he can become young again, but only if he does something terrible. Max – After a drunk driver kills his wife and daughter, Max is offered a chance to get revenge. Sarah – Sarah becomes a sugar baby, and her sugar daddy, Mo, is the best she’s ever had. But when she ends up pregnant, she expects him to pay for an abortion. He has other ideas. Terry – Terry is a food snob with his own personal chef. After being fed a delicious meal that includes the chef’s “special ingredient,” Terry becomes so hungry he’s in agony, and nothing he eats is able to satisfy him. Each of the stories is completely unique and brilliantly disturbing. And just when you think it can’t get any worse (or better, depending on how you look at it), it does. Edward’s story was my favourite, but I loved all four, and I desperately wanted more because it just wasn’t long enough. These are two of my favourite authors, so having them put their messed-up minds together was a stroke of genius. I really hope there’s more to come from both of them.
Wanna go for a ride?? Charlie is eager to be at your service as your personal Rideshare driver. In this story we follow 4 of his passengers and we dive into the depraving things they share about what kept them busy for the past few days.
Edward is a business man with 4 children and now that he’s getting older and starting to feel rickety he has to think about whom he will leave his inheritance to.
Max’s wife and kid got killed by a drunk driver and he uses his all consuming grief to take revenge.
Sarah, a young female, is being lured into the sugar baby lifestyle by her friend, but soon she’s getting the hang of it.
And last but certainly not least, Terry is a scrawny guy with a HUGE appetite.
When I stumbled across this unique collab of these two very talented authors James Kaine and Timothy King, I was more than thrilled and I just had to get the ARC. Rideshare is dark, disturbing and highly entertaining and I loved it.
The pace is fast while the stakes are high for the passengers! All characters are well developed and fascinating in their own way with Charlie as my ultimate favorite. 🖤 It would’ve been great to get to know him even better during the book.
The story flows perfectly and is super immersive. I saw every gory detail unfolding in my brain and when I knew where it was heading I found myself reading faster and faster to get to the final chapter where it all came together in an excellent ending. 👌🏼Well done authors, this was literally a wild ride.🔥
This brutal read releases on the 15th of March, but preorders are already available so make sure you get yourself a copy. 🤩
James Kaine & Timothy King sit at the very top of my horror favorites list, so finding out they collaborated on a book felt unreal. How I managed to get an ARC is beyond me—because trust me, I would’ve bought this the second it dropped anyway.
I crave character development. I want to sink into a world, feel its pulse, taste the fear, connect so deeply it lingers after I close the book. And that’s exactly what happens when Timothy King and James Caine join forces.
Charlie is a rideshare driver. Ordinary. Forgettable. Or so it seems. He picks up four passengers—four strangers, each carrying a past steeped in pain, violence, and unspeakable choices. As the rides unfold, so do their stories… and they are gruesome, intimate, and disturbingly detailed. You don’t just read them—you’re trapped inside them.
Charlie threads it all together, anchoring the horror with scenes that feel eerily mundane yet impossible to look away from. Every quiet moment hums with tension. Every turn of the page tightens the noose.
And the ending? It snaps everything into place in a way you will not see coming.
But here’s the truly unhinged part—you get to choose the ending. Yes. You.
Scan the QR code in the back of the book and decide how it ends. Choose who survives… if anyone does? ( Fair warning: the code only works for three months after release, so pre-ordering is a must.)
This book is bold, brutal, immersive, and completely one of a kind. I loved it so much that I’ll literally gift a copy to anyone who asks.
I can only hope this isn’t the last time these two authors collaborate—because this? This was pure nightmare fuel, and I want MORE!!!
Four Rideshare passengers, four depraved tales of horror and gore. Four stories that will test the limits of human capabilities.
An elderly business man given a second chance at life, and a chance to set his legacy right. A bereaved father finds a way to deal with his grief. A young woman looking for money and love goes further than she realises for her perfect relationship. A man who likes the finer things in life finds himself filled with an insatiable hunger.
The four stories are expertly tied together by Charlie, your Rideshare driver for the evening. He pins the whole tale with scenes that are somehow mundane and compelling all at once. When I heard that these authors were teaming up, I knew it would be something special. Their writing blends together seamlessly, creating a gruesome and complex world full of twists and wicked deeds.
The most unique part of this book? For the first few months after release, we as the readers get to pick the end! What a twist that was: scan the QR code in the back of the book to vote for your favourite ending, but be quick: this will only be live for the first three months of release. But trust me, you will want to pre-order this.
As it says in the start, all of the trigger warnings apply, but if you are a hardened lover of horror, this book will scratch that itch in your soul. A tour de force of depravity, and a masterclass in how to write a collab.
When I heard the premise of an interactive book where I got to possibly help pick the ending, I immediately joined the ARC group. Took me a few days to get started but once I began reading I finished it within 5 hours. I greatly enjoyed it. I thought I'd figured out pretty quickly what type of horror it was, and I SORTA did, but I was not expecting all the wonderful depravity I would come to find. And despite the trigger warnings section saying "all of them," I was able, even as the weak little spirit I am, to read right through and had a great time. 5 spooky stars from me.
4 stories of 4 rides each more messed up than the last. What a fun ride this was.
The last story got a little repetitive to me but over all the stories were all good. The second story was my favorite followed by the first then the third and then the fourth.
Highly recommend reading this! Thank you to James and Timothy for allowing me to participate in the ARC group!
4 different people, 1 rideshare. 4 different stories, connected through 1 driver.
At first, it feels like James and Timothy ease you into it, but make no mistake: there's plenty of violence, blood and gore in these stories. At the same time, I also found them to be heartbreaking, each in their own way.
The utter brilliance, however - and where this book shines most in my opinion - lies in the unique way all stories are connected to each other. Unexpected, disturbing, twisted and wicked.... I loved it.
Are you ready to take a ride with Charlie? I don't think you are, I thought I was. WRONG! This was one of the most intense books I have read in a long time. It is gory, bloody and terrifying. Four story's. Four lives that must take a ride. Story's of family deceit to an uncontrollable hunger. And everything in-between. Be careful the next time you order that Uber ride... you never know who is driving. I love both James and Timothy's writing, so when I saw this collaboration I knew it would be twisted, deranged and completely unhinged. And I was right.
Thanks to the authors for the ARC copy! This was another great one! What a great collab! Four unique stories tied up together with a depraved little bow!
Rideshare is a collection of 4 interconnected fables that each begins with our characters getting into a rideshare with driver Charlie.
Each Character recounts their Story to Charle. Each has been given a Choice that has landed them in the depths of brutality and depravity.
Edward is an elderly wealthy business man who has come to realise all of his children are spoilt, ungrateful and flawed. All bar his youngest daughter, when he is diagnosed with heart failure he decides that he is going to leave all of his money to his youngest and cut the others out of the will. Edward is offered a different option by a mysterious stranger - the option to become young again and live his life in his prime, but the price to pay is unthinkable.
Max - Max's life is in tatters after his wife and child were killed by a drunk driver. The drivers court case is tomorrow and it looks like he is going to get away with a slap on the wrist. A stranger offers him the opportunity to carry out his own justice, but is revenge the answer?
Sarah - is short of money and her friend tells her how she has been earning decent money as a 'Sugar baby' doing her thing 2/3 times a week for really good money. So Sarah decides why not! She meets her 'sugar daddy' and can't belleve her luck, he's sexy and the best she's had. Until she falls pregnant and things get really weird really fast!
Terry-loves the finer things in life, especially when it comes to food. He has gone through a list of private chef's who just aren't up to scratch. When the new Chef arrives he Cooks Terry the best meal he has ever eaten, adding his own special ingredient on top. After this Terry finds his hunger has become totally Insatiable which lands him in some very gross and gory situations.
This book was so much fun! The Stories were brutal emotional and depraved and loved all 4. This had me hooked from the very first chapter and I just couldn't wait to see what Mayhem was going to happen next!
Another exciting thing about this book is that we, the readers get to choose which story wins!
90 days from the release date the vote is open for you to pick the winner. A special announcement and a bonus epilogue based on the winning story will follow!
Terry's story is my winner, it was full of gross out and body horror and I Loved it.
These two are in "top favorites" for horror authors. My mind was blown when I found out they were doing a collab book. I was lucky enough to get an arc for this one. I am going to start this off by saying, I am not a big "short story" person. I want character development. I want to be sucked into their world with all the details. Most short stories are written well, but leave me wanting more. Tim and James did a fabulous job with the four stories. Charlie, the Rideshare driver, picks up four different people. As he picks them up you get to hear about their backstory that led them to needing a ride. Each backstory is very detailed and gruesome! You definitely get sucked in! The ending ties all the stories together in a way I feel you will not be expecting! The craziest part of it all....you get to pick the winning story! Don't understand what I mean? You will when this comes out! 4.5⭐ rounded up to 5.
I love a collaboration between two brilliant authors, and this one is definitely in the big leagues! The story is broken down into four individual snapshots of the lives of the rideshare passengers, giving you a front seat view of the horror and depravity that people can commit. Both of these authors are excellent visual storytellers, and that really comes through in this book. It's a fun story with interesting characters, and I really like the fact that you the reader gets to vote on how you want the story to end, for up to a year after the books release. All I need to do now is decide which way my vote lies!
These two authors did great with Rideshare. They came up with an original story and had me intrigued the whole time. The ending is another clever idea. It is up to the reader to vote for their favorite outcome. I don't want to spoil it, so pick this book up when it comes out!!!
First, I'd like to extend my thanks to Timothy King and James Kaine for allowing me to be a part of the Rideshare ARC team. These two horror-writing powerhouses sent their readers on the ride of their lives with this one.
Rideshare is a delightfully depraved, episodic horror novel that dives into the lives of four individuals who all share one similarity— their rideshare driver, Charlie.
Charlie drives around the traffic-heavy streets of NYC waiting for his phone to ding! in anticipation, prompting him to pick up the city's individuals— who you will quickly realize, come from all different walks of life. Charlie seemingly enjoys his job picking up new faces in different places. He's focused, poised, and seemingly friendly.
His riders are not.
Every person that hops into the back seat of Charlie's modest sedan has a story. They are tales of complete immorality and debauchery— stories that start off with simplicity, quickly spiral out of control.
An elderly man at the end of his life seeks to reverse time and fix his broken legacy.
A father is on the brink of collapse after the deaths of his wife and child.
A college student is desperate for money, love, and acceptance.
A pretentious foodie finds himself with an uncontrollable appetite.
Through a voyeuristic lens, the reader is given the opportunity to follow these four characters beyond their time in Charlie's car and into the intimate parts of their lives. Yet, bearing witness to their souls is anything but sweet.
The back seat of a rideshare has become the darkest space for a confessional.
Are any of the passengers better than the last? It seems that as the stories progress, the calamity grows— and so do the trigger warnings.
While this episodic horror splits in various directions, the epilogue ties it all together nicely. Yet, there's something more. You, as the reader, get to pick your favorite depraved tale— the ending you seek. We're involved here, collaborating together to find that unambiguous resolution! For three months after the release date— you have the opportunity to scan the QR code at the end of the book and vote for who you believe to be the most brutal of the passengers.
Rideshare is a ton of messed up fun. This can easily be turned into a series, and I truly wish it was longer. I'm never disappointed in anything Timothy King has to offer, and now, James Kaine is definitely on my reading radar. What a punchy, fast-paced, and disturbing collaborative effort from these two. I'm giving this book ★ ★ ★ ★½ stars rounded up for its freshness, creativity, and twisted violence.
**ARC Review** Author: James Kaine & Timothy King Book: Rideshare Book Rating: 4.5 Stars Genre: Horror
Thank you to James Kaine and Timothy King for giving me the opportunity to ARC read Rideshare. This was an extremely fast-paced story from page 1 that delivered everything the premise promised. I feel like I need to warn everyone at the beginning of my review to be aware of the trigger warnings if you decide to pick up the book.
Rideshare is a collection of four short stories that all weave together to tell a longer narrative. We are first introduced to the rideshare driver, Charlie, as he goes about picking up his fares for the day. Each person he picks up has a backstory that gets fleshed out throughout the book. The first fair is about an older, rich man who is coming to terms with the end of his life, and how he is going to split his fortune between his kids. The second story is about a man who wants to take vengeance on the drunk driver who killed his wife and child. The third story is about a young girl who discovered the sugar baby lifestyle. Lastly, we are introduced to a man who has a very distinguished palate, and he soon bites off more than he can chew.
Each story stands on its own, but the way that they all link together at the end is just perfect. Each scene, each character, is so well thought out and developed that you feel like you are in the car with Charlie, that you are sitting next to the other characters as they take their journey.
I’ve read multiple Kaine books, and this is my second King book, and they write excellent stories on their own. This coauthored work really showcases each of their strengths in such a way that it all flows seamlessly. Honestly, it would be hard to guess which parts of the stories they wrote, although I do have my own guesses.
If you are looking for a fun, fast-paced horror novel, filled with gore, sex, and depravity, Rideshare will be released in March, and preorders are available now. And as I warned before, this story will not be for the casual horror reader, unless you like movies like SAW or Final Destination. This will definitely make you second-guess your Uber ride the next time you need to take a quick trip.
The cruelty in this book is off the charts! It's rare to find a portrayal of the human condition so cruel and bleak, human desires, passions and sufferings displayed completely unvarnished and unfiltered. No sugar-coating in this one: greed, lust, wrath and gluttony are pictured in all their intensity and uncomfortability.
Predictably, this was a one-sitting read for me. The first story (the book is a four-story novel, the tales tied together through a shared character and an epilogue bringing everything to a head) hooked me in and I just couldn't let go. The writing is flawless, the pacing incredible - at least until the (awkward, for me) last few pages, about which I can't say anything without spoilers. Astute readers will catch on to what's really going on (behind the scenes, so to speak) immediately after the end of the first story, but there's even more to be revealed as the book moves toward its conclusion.
The premise is straightforward: a rideshare driver picks up his fairs, and every time a passenger gets in his car, we are shown their story: four passengers in total, each story getting darker and darker, small hints adding to the overall mystery driving (pun intended) the plot forward. First, there's a business man; second, a man grieving the loss of his wife and daughter; third, a young woman who got involved with the wrong person; and finally, a man who can't stop feeling hungry.
There's reason to think this is the first volume in what might be a series of similar rideshares. The epilogue implies it, the reveals in the end pretty much confirm it, and the story itself demands it. The precise ending, however, is up to the reader: voting for one's preferable ending is available, at least for the first three months after the book's release.
In short: this is a journey you don't want to miss! Highly recommended!
Rideshare is a solid piece of urban horror that finds its power in intimacy rather than spectacle. The story is framed around a rideshare driver and a handful of passengers so it taps into a familiar, everyday experience and slowly poisons it with unease. The confined setting, the forced proximity, and the casual nature of conversation create a natural gateway for horror to seep in. The structure of the book is set in episodes and works largely in the book’s favor and explores different shades of human darkness. In my opinion the strongest moments are psychological rather than explicit. That’s not to say there are not well executed moments of vivid gore.
There are just a couple things that make Ridesahre stop short of perfection for me. One is the limited character depth for Charlie. Being the driver Charlie, becomes more of a passive observer than a fully realized character. Which will not be an issue of course for some readers but I was just hoping Charlie would have more meaningfully change or reaction across the four rides. Another thing is the books overall cohesion. Of course being a set of 4 episodes, some storylines are stronger and resonated with me more than others. So honestly the only real limitation is depth rather than execution. The writing its self is well done and the story favors impact over long-form character development, but it feels purposeful not accidental.
Overall, Rideshare is a strong and engaging read that earns its impact through atmosphere and human darkness while setting its aim at readers who enjoy intimate, confession-driven horror. Rideshare works because it understands that the scariest journeys don’t always end in blood or spectacle, they end in knowledge.
"Rideshare", my fourth novel by James Kaine and first by Timothy King, is a four story, anthology-style novel centered around a rideshare driver, Charlie, and the stories he hears from his fairs. Over the course of the novel, four different passengers share their stories of extreme violence, brutal trauma, and terrifying experiences. In the end, all four passengers' stories connect in a rather...bleak way.
This book was amazing. For books that I love, I usually only read a few pages at a time each day to savor them. Unfortunately, I finished this book very quickly and was left wondering what will happen next. This book is violent, terrifying, and disgusting, in all the right ways. When I saw the content warnings, I thought there would be brutal violence and grossness for shock value but, while graphic, all of these...unsettling scenes propel the book forward and are a part of what makes this book great. James Kaine is fantastic and, now that I have read something by Timothy King (and am excited to read more by him), I know that these extreme topics are in good hands. The stories are very descriptive and, reflecting back on it, looke at the darkest corners of peoples' souls.
For everyone that has read this already, you'll understand what I'm about to say. I really enjoyed how one of the stories was semi-similar to Thinner by SK. The funny thing, from what Timothy said, is that connection was unintentional and bassed off a real person named Tarrare. Quite an interesting Wikipedia link.
Long story short, READ THIS BOOK. James Kaine has cemented himself as a quality author with everything he puts out and, now that I've been exposed to Timothy King's writing, I'm stoked to read more by him as well.
When the K2 Duo (Kaine and King) announced they were joining forces, I was excited, as they are two of my faves! These two have delivered a visceral, high-stakes emotional rollercoaster that has lingered with me long after the final page was read.
The story follows four different passengers as they hop into a rideshare with a driver named Charlie. When Kaine and King warn “all triggers are in this book,” they aren’t joking. It begins as routine rideshares, but it quickly devolves into a complex exploration of the human psyche and just how far and how dangerous,devious and depraved some are willing to go to obtain what they long for.
While each rider’s story initially feels independent of the others, Kaine and King expertly weave a devious and (quite) depraved web, slowly revealing the dark threads that connect the passengers. It is a fast-paced read that culminates in a penultimate ending that was rather unexpected for this reader.
For the final ending, the authors have included an “interactive twist” in which readers are encouraged to vote for the rider they feel is most deserving. To vote, simply scan the QR code at the end of the book, but hurry! It is only active for a short time after the release date.
Final Verdict – 5 Stars. It is a standout collaboration that showcases the best of both authors’ storytelling abilities. A haunting, emotional and well-crafted ride that you won’t regret taking. I hope this is the “beginning of a beautiful friendship,” and that we will be reading more of these collaborations in the future.
Charlie is a rideshare driver and he takes every request he gets. As passenger after passenger gets into his car we get to read stories of certain people he encounters. Each story crazy in its own special way.
Edward is a multi millionaire who has to decide what to do and who to gift his fortune too. But something may stand in his way as he realizes his children may not love him and only his money.
Sarah is a woman who is struggling to get by and finds a solid way to make money, but is the gig worth her sanity or life?
Max’s family was taken from him in an instant and he is depressed and decides to get drunk the night before his family’s killers conviction and meets someone who offers a helping hand.
Terry is a gluttonous prick who enjoys food but is so picky he’s went through hundreds of chefs. A new chef makes him the best meal of his life but at what cost?
All of these stories each have their own unique ending and each story all tie back to Charlie in some way or another. As you read through the four stories you begin to ravel together the weaving fabric of the stories. Seeing the connections and patterns. What do these four strangers have in common besides a rideshare driver? Well you’ll just have to read it to find out!
James and Timothy did great writing this book together and writing such interesting stories I really didn’t want to put the book down until the end. I went in completely blind and was a tad surprised by the ending. I think anyone who likes books where strangers stories cross or intertwine in some way should read this book!
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
Oh my god this wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be. It was so much better and I had such a hard time putting it down. I had to know how it all ended. There is a lot of death, gore and graphic details in this book. There us sexual themes in part of this so be warned. This is not a book for those with squimish stomachs. All the characters you meet you definitely will feel a Rollercoaster of emotions and want so many different things to happen. This book is full of Rage. That's one word I can think of as I read this book. Rage. Its all consuming and it takes over.
I was already a fan of both of these authors but with them writing this book or only concretes my Fandom even more. This book was such a wild ride from start to finish and I did not see the ending coming at all. Each story is different from the other but there is such a deep sense of rage in all of them. It was such a great read but there is definitely a lot to take in and a lot of triggers.
This is definitely going into my favorites pile once I get a physical copy of it. I just love the cover art. That's another big thong that drove me to this book. I wish there was more but with every great book thats what everyone wants. I really dont have anything negative to say about this book. Except I thought it was too short.
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for a book written by two of my favorite horror authors James Kaine and Timothy King Author. I finished this book a couple days ago, but have been trying to process everything I wanted to say. So, here is my review.
Charlie is a rideshare driver. He gets a ping on his phone, picks up his rider and takes them to their final destinations. Along the way we get to hear their stories and learn more about them. And, oh boy, those stories are........A LOT! The best part is, the ending isn't finished yet! We, as readers get to vote for the final ending!!! We only have a short time to vote, so read it and then go to the site and vote! Murder, mayhem, destruction, love, empathy, and fear are just some of the things you will find in these stories. They will make you laugh, cry, cringe and be disgusted. They will also make you realize just what literary geniuses these two men are and also just how depraved their amazing brains are!! James and Tim, you are both horror masters. You both weave a tale that sucks you in, keeps you entertained and leaves you always wanting more. Thank you for sharing it with the world. Trust me friends! This book is a must for any horror loving, splatter punk enjoying readers. There are a few trigger warnings, so if you are curious, look those up and ask, but for sure add this one to your reading list!!
What a killer concept for a dual-authored, absolute banger of a novel.
You follow a rideshare driver who keeps picking up passengers with hell of backstories. It made me ponder what dark histories people are casually hauling around with them. What insidious past are we unknowingly sharing space with every day? The sheer potential for human darkness is enough to send chills down my spine just thinking about it.
Enter good ol’ Charlie.
Charlie spends his nights ferrying riders to their destinations, seemingly, fulfilling the duties of Death itself. But instead of a scythe, he welds a Rideshare app. (that’s how it feels). Each pickup tells a new story (four total) and let me be clear: these tales are abhorrent, revolting, sexually depraved, and vile. In other words… delightful, if you’re into that sort of thing like me.
At first, you’ll wonder what these stories possibly have in common beyond Charlie chauffeuring them to their fates. Then the connective tissue is revealed. It’s absolutely not what you’re expecting.
After you finish, you will second-guess every rideshare ride from that point forward. Suggestion: delete your apps like I did. Consider taking the bus. Hell, imma start biking everywhere after reading this.
In a world of Uber and Lyft, Rideshare gives you another reason to be wary of entering a stranger's car.
We follow Charlie as he picks up four passengers throughout his shift. Eddie, a wealthy businessman with a family dynamic so tense you could cut it with a knife. Max, a grieving widow without his child drinking his sorrow as he waits for their killer's sentencing the following morning. Sarah, a college student looking for money from a sugar daddy and finds that it changes her. And finally Terry, a man with a love for his kimono and fine food just looking for something to quell his appetite.
These stories will make your jaw drop, yell at your book, and feel sick to your stomach. I love the trigger warning at the beginning (triggers? um... all of them) There's depravity galore. Intense moments. Asking yourself "how do the people in this book keep getting worse?!" And an ending that I truly was not expecting. There's also a fun bonus to complete when you're done.
I was so excited when I saw that James and Timothy were cowriting a book, and had very high expectations due to the quality of their solitary works. Thankfully Rideshare more than meets them. I seriously hope that they continue to create more in the future!
Summary: "Rideshare" is a brutal, episodic horror novel that follows a rideshare driver named Charlie as he ferries passengers across New York City. Each ride becomes a self-contained descent into human depravity, obsession, greed, and violence, slowly revealing that Charlie is far more than a passive observer. As the city changes—from Staten Island to Manhattan—so do the moral boundaries, culminating in a final reckoning that ties the rides together in a disturbing way.
Review: "Rideshare" is extreme horror done with intent. Kaine and King lean fully into shock, but there’s a sharp thematic core beneath the gore: money, entitlement, addiction, and the quiet cruelty people inflict on each other when they think no one is watching. Format is perfect—short, punchy chapters that feel like urban horror campfire stories. Each ride pushes further, making the book feel like a tightening noose rather than a random collection of shocks. Cynical, angry, and unapologetic. The book knows exactly what it is and never flinches. The trigger warning (“ALL OF THEM”) is not a joke. This is graphic, nihilistic, and often cruel.
Want to thank the author for ARC copy of the novel.
Last year marked the start of my James Kaine journey, and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a few of his books. It was also the year I was introduced to Timothy King and Seven Rabbits, which completely blew me away. So, when I saw these two teaming up, I knew I was in for something special and Rideshare did not disappoint.
This book follows four different people and their stories, slowly peeling back the layers to show just how dark and depraved humans can be, and how easily they can be exploited for someone else’s amusement. We meet the rich, the desperate, and the hungry — all very different, yet all inevitably finding themselves in Charlie’s sedan. He’s far chattier than most of his passengers would like, but at first, everything feels normal. Until it isn’t.
By the time it all clicked for me, I was completely hooked. I already knew it was going to be good, but this was really good. It takes a familiar mythological idea and drags it into the modern world, twisting it into something fresh, brutal and deviant and quite titillating in parts (iykyk).
This gem releases in March, so add it to your TBR lists already… and maybe don’t trust your next rideshare driver.
Have you ever gotten to choose the ending to the book you are reading?!?! Well now you can with Rideshare!!! Coming this March!!! Two great Authors and 4 great stories all tied together in the end.
You will never look at Rideshares the same again or some other things for that matter. Oh my.
If you have a love of things like Tales from the Darkside, Tales from the Crypt, the Twilight Zone, then step right up and open the door, take your seat and get comfortable. Tell Charlie all your dark secrets, don’t worry he won’t tell, he’ll take them to the grave.
You get four different tales of dark and twisted souls who have lost their way, one way or another. They all call for a Rideshare and Charlie is the lucky one to get the requests. For some reason they all feel the need to share their most unimaginable nightmares with him. Poor Charlie.
It all comes together, all four stories meeting at the end with you able to vote for the final ending!!! What ending will you pick? Don’t wait on this book, preorder it now!!! Out March 15th 2026!!!
It took me a few pages to figure out where this book was going, but once I caught on, I was hooked! Charlie is a Rideshare driver and this book highlights the tale of 4 of his riders. Each story is full of emotions, plenty of creepy moments and a bunch of gore. There are even a few nauseating moments, especially with the last passenger!
Each tale shows the reader that things aren't always what they seem and also highlights the fact that payback is not for the faint of heart! I always enjoy a book that shows a character's greed or revenge, then has their actions turn against them. The reveal at the end of the book was great, full of revelations and a bit of demonic humor.
Both of these authors are quickly moving up on my list of those that are automatic reads. They both have great character development and a quick pace to their stories.
If you are squeamish or bothered by deviant behavior, you might have some difficulty with a few scenes in the book. But, if you enjoy tales of demonic influence, greed, and retribution, you will love it! I love the unique aspect of the reader having a say at the final ending and I can't wait to see the reveal of the one that is chosen!