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Rideshare
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.
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.
- GenresHorror
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2026
About the author
James Kaine
16 books350 followersJames 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.
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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
March 17, 2026
After learning all-star horror authors James Kaine and Timothy King were coauthoring Rideshare I marked my calendar and downloaded immediately upon release. And man, was it worth the wait.
He's here! So buckle up for Charlie the rideshare driver. That's if you dare to learn the four twisted confessions Charle hears from the four separate passengers as he shuttles them to their final NYC destination.
Be prepared for extreme gruesome violence, sexual depravity, and homicidal rage.
In my opinion, the way Kaine and King tie everything together in the epilogue can only best be described as sheer creative genius. I am still chuckling as I write this review.
Please note: Readers can vote for their favorite story through June 15, 2026. Information listed at end of book.
He's here! So buckle up for Charlie the rideshare driver. That's if you dare to learn the four twisted confessions Charle hears from the four separate passengers as he shuttles them to their final NYC destination.
Be prepared for extreme gruesome violence, sexual depravity, and homicidal rage.
In my opinion, the way Kaine and King tie everything together in the epilogue can only best be described as sheer creative genius. I am still chuckling as I write this review.
Please note: Readers can vote for their favorite story through June 15, 2026. Information listed at end of book.
January 23, 2026
ARC REVIEW
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
March 30, 2026
Kaine is an insta-read for me and I absolutely loved Kings Seven rabbits so when I saw they were collaborating for this story I knew I wanted to read it. This story has such a unique setup since it's told as mini-stories within a larger story. We get to watch multiple characters as their lives unravel and lead to pretty gruesome ends. The characters come from various walks of life but the one thing they seem to share in common is their rideshare driver.
I had such a good time with this and the ending definitely hinted that there could be more stories like this which I really hope is the case. I also liked how by the end there is a way for readers to get involved with the story. How exciting is that! Such a bloody good time and I definitely recommend checking this one out.
I had such a good time with this and the ending definitely hinted that there could be more stories like this which I really hope is the case. I also liked how by the end there is a way for readers to get involved with the story. How exciting is that! Such a bloody good time and I definitely recommend checking this one out.
February 9, 2026
ARC review! 4.5⭐️ rounded up.
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I genuinely love James Kaine and Timothy King. Amazingly, Seven Rabbits was one of my top 10 favorite books of ALL TIME and still remains in my top 10. That being said, this book's concept was well thought out and extremely interesting. I read this book in two days but in less than 8hrs.
Charlie drives for a rideshare app. His job is to pick up passengers and bring them to their destination. While picking up each person, we learn their story of horror from their point of view. A man that has to decide to kill those closest to him, a girl who will do just about anything for good sex, a man that struggles with grief so much that he touches on doing unspeakable things, and a man with a very particular appetite.
Rideshare is a horror but also touches on the human psyche and how emotions can clarify or fog our thinking. This book gave me satisfaction.....up until the end. I understand why the authors did what they did (I'm not going to say) but it felt "unfinished" to me because I wanted that decision to be told TO ME. I know this review sounds weird right now but it will all make sense when you read it....because you all should ABSOLUTELY read it.
It was good....REAL good....and I'd love to know your thoughts as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves blood, guts, gore and frankly? a bit of smut too....do with that review what you will and thank you to the authors for allowing me to be part of your ARC review team for "Rideshare".
Charlie drives for a rideshare app. His job is to pick up passengers and bring them to their destination. While picking up each person, we learn their story of horror from their point of view. A man that has to decide to kill those closest to him, a girl who will do just about anything for good sex, a man that struggles with grief so much that he touches on doing unspeakable things, and a man with a very particular appetite.
Rideshare is a horror but also touches on the human psyche and how emotions can clarify or fog our thinking. This book gave me satisfaction.....up until the end. I understand why the authors did what they did (I'm not going to say) but it felt "unfinished" to me because I wanted that decision to be told TO ME. I know this review sounds weird right now but it will all make sense when you read it....because you all should ABSOLUTELY read it.
It was good....REAL good....and I'd love to know your thoughts as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves blood, guts, gore and frankly? a bit of smut too....do with that review what you will and thank you to the authors for allowing me to be part of your ARC review team for "Rideshare".
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
February 12, 2026
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. 🤩
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. 🤩
February 2, 2026
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!!!
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!!!
January 17, 2026
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.
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.
January 23, 2026
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an amazing read! Taking seemingly separate stories linked only by Charlie to an unbelievable ending.
I want more!
Can't wait until the winner Demon is!.
Received as an ARC, with no expectation of a positive review.
I want more!
Can't wait until the winner Demon is!.
Received as an ARC, with no expectation of a positive review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy
Rideshare by Timothy King and James Kaine is a novel that connects four short stories through a rideshare driver. Charlie the driver is our entry point into the stories. Once he picks up a passenger there is some banter back and forth, then we get the story of the passenger and why they are taking the ride.
This is a dual author novel, with each writer contributing two stories to Rideshare. You can feel the enthusiasm of two horror writers trying to outdo each other. When the characters make a sadistic smile you can almost imagine the authors making the same smile as they gleefully write the mayhem and gore.
The horror covers a lot of ground because the stories are based on the seven deadly sins. There is body horror, supernatural horror, grief horror, and psychological horror. The trigger warnings are addressed up front and basically say all of them. The material is graphic and disturbing.
The best way I would describe Rideshare is like the anthology films Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow, where the stories are loosely tied together until the end and there are small vignettes between each story.
The pace changes depending on the story, but the book as a whole moves at a steady pace. I did consider The Life and Times of Edward Callahan the slowest paced story, but it was also the best.
The authors did something fun with the best story by letting the audience choose. At the end of the book there is discussion about which story might be the best, along with a QR code that readers can scan to vote. The authors plan to reveal the winner in a year.
The stories tend to jump quickly into the horror and skip over some of the psychological elements that I enjoy. The book is not very interested in exploring what makes these characters commit such depraved acts. There are no gradual levels of depravity. The book immediately jumps to the extreme.
The ending of the book is devilishly fun. The characters talk in a very tongue in cheek way about all the horrible events. The tone manages to be both horrifying and hilarious.
Rideshare will be published on March 15, 2026 by Horror House Publishing.
Why did I read Rideshare by Timothy King and James Kaine?
I am part of the Haunted Minds Book Club run by horror author Nick Roberts. Both Timothy King and James Kaine are members of the group. They made a call for street team members to read Rideshare early.
I was already familiar with James Kaine and had purchased his book My Pet Werewolf. I was not familiar with Timothy King’s work before this.
I had also already bought tickets to AuthorCon VI where both authors were attending. I was not able to read the book before the event, but I did take a picture with them and bought a book from each author.
This is a dual author novel, with each writer contributing two stories to Rideshare. You can feel the enthusiasm of two horror writers trying to outdo each other. When the characters make a sadistic smile you can almost imagine the authors making the same smile as they gleefully write the mayhem and gore.
The horror covers a lot of ground because the stories are based on the seven deadly sins. There is body horror, supernatural horror, grief horror, and psychological horror. The trigger warnings are addressed up front and basically say all of them. The material is graphic and disturbing.
The best way I would describe Rideshare is like the anthology films Tales from the Crypt and Creepshow, where the stories are loosely tied together until the end and there are small vignettes between each story.
The pace changes depending on the story, but the book as a whole moves at a steady pace. I did consider The Life and Times of Edward Callahan the slowest paced story, but it was also the best.
The authors did something fun with the best story by letting the audience choose. At the end of the book there is discussion about which story might be the best, along with a QR code that readers can scan to vote. The authors plan to reveal the winner in a year.
The stories tend to jump quickly into the horror and skip over some of the psychological elements that I enjoy. The book is not very interested in exploring what makes these characters commit such depraved acts. There are no gradual levels of depravity. The book immediately jumps to the extreme.
The ending of the book is devilishly fun. The characters talk in a very tongue in cheek way about all the horrible events. The tone manages to be both horrifying and hilarious.
Rideshare will be published on March 15, 2026 by Horror House Publishing.
Why did I read Rideshare by Timothy King and James Kaine?
I am part of the Haunted Minds Book Club run by horror author Nick Roberts. Both Timothy King and James Kaine are members of the group. They made a call for street team members to read Rideshare early.
I was already familiar with James Kaine and had purchased his book My Pet Werewolf. I was not familiar with Timothy King’s work before this.
I had also already bought tickets to AuthorCon VI where both authors were attending. I was not able to read the book before the event, but I did take a picture with them and bought a book from each author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
January 10, 2026
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!
January 29, 2026
ARC Review
Always remember, Choices have Consequences!
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.
Always remember, Choices have Consequences!
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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 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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
April 8, 2026
The book follows Charlie, a New York City rideshare driver who has learned that every rider carries a story. Each of the four passengers we meet has a story to tell, and each story is as dark as the next.
This is an absolutely perfectly put together anthology that ties together in the final chapter, and the way they brought it together was just perfect.
The pacing and the way each story is told is like something from an anthology movie or TV sow; it reminded me a lot of The Twilight Zone, but so much darker. And believe me This one gets really dark.
This is a serious contender for my Favourite read of the year so far.
This is an absolutely perfectly put together anthology that ties together in the final chapter, and the way they brought it together was just perfect.
The pacing and the way each story is told is like something from an anthology movie or TV sow; it reminded me a lot of The Twilight Zone, but so much darker. And believe me This one gets really dark.
This is a serious contender for my Favourite read of the year so far.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!!!
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!!!
March 23, 2026
Writing a short story collection is relatively easy; successfully using a framing device to bring the stories together is much more difficult. I enjoyed the British horror movie anthologies of the 1960s and 70s, like “Tales from the Crypt,” in which the audience learns at the end the thread that ties the individual stories together. Authors James Kaine and Timothy King employ a similar framing device in their collection, “Rideshare.” The effort isn’t quite successful, but the individual stories make up for a misfired ending.
“Rideshare” comprises four novelette-length stories about four different individuals who take a rideshare from the same driver at various locations in the New York City area within a few days of each other. Each story begins with a brief prologue that describes how the main character wound up taking the rideshare. The book also has an epilogue that explains the relationship among the four stories. These stories follow a familiar general formula that’s common in British anthologies and this type of fiction in general: bad things happen to bad people. The protagonists here aren’t diabolically evil as much as weak. Their weaknesses, in the Shakespearean tragic tradition, lead to bad results.
The first story in the collection, “The Life and Times of Edward Callahan,” is the longest and best in the book. Callahan is an 80-year-old ailing industrialist whose recent birthday party did not go well. Four of his five children followed their lifelong pattern of disappointing him in various ways, while only his youngest daughter showed Edward the love and attention he sought. As a result, he consults his financial advisor about changing his will to leave everything to his youngest daughter. (Why his lawyer isn’t involved is one of life’s great mysteries.)
As the story progresses, Edward learns more about his children. Each subsequent revelation calls into question what Edward thought he knew about them. The authors do a brilliant job of using dialogue in ways that can misdirect Edward (and the readers). This story is as carefully crafted as an Agatha Christie mystery, leading to a fitting conclusion. “Edward Callahan” has supernatural elements, as do all the stories in “Rideshare.” Although the story would have worked without the supernatural element, the occult events power the story and give it a bit of a “Twilight Zone” feel.
“Arioch” is the story of Max, a grieving widower, who lost his wife and daughter when their car was struck by a drunk driver. Unfortunately, through a series of prosecutorial blunders and technicalities, the killer was only convicted of reckless driving and given a one-year sentence. As the story begins, the killer’s formal sentencing is the next day, and Max is in a bar, drowning his sorrows. There, Max meets the title character, a defense attorney who befriends him. Before the night is over, Ari provides Max with a gun and sneaks him into the courthouse. There, Max waits in hiding in a room right behind the courtroom where the sentencing will occur. The immediate results of Max’s trip to the courthouse are predictable; the story’s twist ending is not. Reader sympathy is automatically on Max’s side, but the authors give his character even greater depth by examining his grief and despair in detail. This added attention to character makes the story’s ending even more poignant.
“Sugar Baby” is the weakest story in the collection. The title character is Sarah, an attractive young woman who signs up for a website for women to act as companions for wealthy men. Of course, that companionship usually involves more than just going out to dinner. In return, the men often lavish gifts on their sugar babies. Sarah’s usual “date” is not what you might expect to find on this type of website. Instead, he’s a rugged, handsome man who knows how to please Sarah in bed. Sarah eventually discovers she has a previously unrevealed mean streak. Sarah’s newfound sadistic nature leads to a bad ending for some of the other men she knows. The story has a surprise ending, but it’s pretty much borrowed from a popular 60-year-old thriller. I thought the authors spent too much time discussing Sarah’s sexual activities in graphic detail, and not enough on explaining the changes in her character to make them fully plausible.
The last story in “Rideshare” is the simplest, but it’s gruesomely compelling. The story’s perfectly apt title is “Hunger,” and it’s about a wealthy recluse named Terry Lawrence. Terry’s favorite pastime is gourmet dining, and he indulges himself as much as he can. However, one morning, he wakes up with an insatiable appetite. He soon consumed all the food in his luxury apartment, but was still hungry. So, Terry eats some rather disgusting, rotten meat from the trash (you won’t want to read this story if you’ve just eaten), followed by other items not intended as food. This is the type of story that people are ashamed to admit they enjoy reading, because it’s quite disgusting… but fascinating in its own way.
“Rideshare” contains an epilogue after the fourth story. That epilogue ties the four stories together and explains some previous events that readers will probably have guessed, anyway. I found this epilogue to be overly silly and completely ineffective. Unfortunately, I can’t discuss it in any greater detail without revealing some spoilers. However, the book ended on a sour note for me.
I also wanted to comment on the sex (in “Sugar Baby”) and violence in “Rideshare.” Each story contains multiple gruesome murders described in graphic detail. I have no problem with graphic violence, but these descriptions seem unnecessary here. The gratuitous descriptions of sex and violence cheapen the book to appeal to hardcore gore fans. Further, those who are more squeamish about the descriptions of sex and violence might be advised to select some other reading material.
“Rideshare” is a tough book to rate. Three stories in the collection range from very good to excellent, and all three depend on some brilliantly precise plotting and language selection. Much modern horror eschews such care in writing in favor of cheap shocks. I applaud the authors here for some excellent writing. On the other hand, “Sugar Baby” is a dud with an unoriginal ending, and the epilogue is a big letdown. Viewing the book as a whole, I’m giving “Rideshare” a solid four-star (B+) rating. Despite a few bumps along the journey, I really enjoyed being taken for a ride by these authors.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through BookSirens. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
“Rideshare” comprises four novelette-length stories about four different individuals who take a rideshare from the same driver at various locations in the New York City area within a few days of each other. Each story begins with a brief prologue that describes how the main character wound up taking the rideshare. The book also has an epilogue that explains the relationship among the four stories. These stories follow a familiar general formula that’s common in British anthologies and this type of fiction in general: bad things happen to bad people. The protagonists here aren’t diabolically evil as much as weak. Their weaknesses, in the Shakespearean tragic tradition, lead to bad results.
The first story in the collection, “The Life and Times of Edward Callahan,” is the longest and best in the book. Callahan is an 80-year-old ailing industrialist whose recent birthday party did not go well. Four of his five children followed their lifelong pattern of disappointing him in various ways, while only his youngest daughter showed Edward the love and attention he sought. As a result, he consults his financial advisor about changing his will to leave everything to his youngest daughter. (Why his lawyer isn’t involved is one of life’s great mysteries.)
As the story progresses, Edward learns more about his children. Each subsequent revelation calls into question what Edward thought he knew about them. The authors do a brilliant job of using dialogue in ways that can misdirect Edward (and the readers). This story is as carefully crafted as an Agatha Christie mystery, leading to a fitting conclusion. “Edward Callahan” has supernatural elements, as do all the stories in “Rideshare.” Although the story would have worked without the supernatural element, the occult events power the story and give it a bit of a “Twilight Zone” feel.
“Arioch” is the story of Max, a grieving widower, who lost his wife and daughter when their car was struck by a drunk driver. Unfortunately, through a series of prosecutorial blunders and technicalities, the killer was only convicted of reckless driving and given a one-year sentence. As the story begins, the killer’s formal sentencing is the next day, and Max is in a bar, drowning his sorrows. There, Max meets the title character, a defense attorney who befriends him. Before the night is over, Ari provides Max with a gun and sneaks him into the courthouse. There, Max waits in hiding in a room right behind the courtroom where the sentencing will occur. The immediate results of Max’s trip to the courthouse are predictable; the story’s twist ending is not. Reader sympathy is automatically on Max’s side, but the authors give his character even greater depth by examining his grief and despair in detail. This added attention to character makes the story’s ending even more poignant.
“Sugar Baby” is the weakest story in the collection. The title character is Sarah, an attractive young woman who signs up for a website for women to act as companions for wealthy men. Of course, that companionship usually involves more than just going out to dinner. In return, the men often lavish gifts on their sugar babies. Sarah’s usual “date” is not what you might expect to find on this type of website. Instead, he’s a rugged, handsome man who knows how to please Sarah in bed. Sarah eventually discovers she has a previously unrevealed mean streak. Sarah’s newfound sadistic nature leads to a bad ending for some of the other men she knows. The story has a surprise ending, but it’s pretty much borrowed from a popular 60-year-old thriller. I thought the authors spent too much time discussing Sarah’s sexual activities in graphic detail, and not enough on explaining the changes in her character to make them fully plausible.
The last story in “Rideshare” is the simplest, but it’s gruesomely compelling. The story’s perfectly apt title is “Hunger,” and it’s about a wealthy recluse named Terry Lawrence. Terry’s favorite pastime is gourmet dining, and he indulges himself as much as he can. However, one morning, he wakes up with an insatiable appetite. He soon consumed all the food in his luxury apartment, but was still hungry. So, Terry eats some rather disgusting, rotten meat from the trash (you won’t want to read this story if you’ve just eaten), followed by other items not intended as food. This is the type of story that people are ashamed to admit they enjoy reading, because it’s quite disgusting… but fascinating in its own way.
“Rideshare” contains an epilogue after the fourth story. That epilogue ties the four stories together and explains some previous events that readers will probably have guessed, anyway. I found this epilogue to be overly silly and completely ineffective. Unfortunately, I can’t discuss it in any greater detail without revealing some spoilers. However, the book ended on a sour note for me.
I also wanted to comment on the sex (in “Sugar Baby”) and violence in “Rideshare.” Each story contains multiple gruesome murders described in graphic detail. I have no problem with graphic violence, but these descriptions seem unnecessary here. The gratuitous descriptions of sex and violence cheapen the book to appeal to hardcore gore fans. Further, those who are more squeamish about the descriptions of sex and violence might be advised to select some other reading material.
“Rideshare” is a tough book to rate. Three stories in the collection range from very good to excellent, and all three depend on some brilliantly precise plotting and language selection. Much modern horror eschews such care in writing in favor of cheap shocks. I applaud the authors here for some excellent writing. On the other hand, “Sugar Baby” is a dud with an unoriginal ending, and the epilogue is a big letdown. Viewing the book as a whole, I’m giving “Rideshare” a solid four-star (B+) rating. Despite a few bumps along the journey, I really enjoyed being taken for a ride by these authors.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through BookSirens. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Buckle up—this ride is dark, twisted, and absolutely unforgiving 🩸
The collaboration between James Kaine and Timothy King does not disappoint. We follow our driver, Charlie, down a dark road with four very different passengers, catching glimpses into their lives as everything begins to unravel.
This book had me smiling as it all tied together, weaving in characters inspired by ancient stories in the most unexpected ways. Sick and twisted in the best way, the revelations will leave your jaw on the floor. Disturbingly exquisite from start to finish.
The collaboration between James Kaine and Timothy King does not disappoint. We follow our driver, Charlie, down a dark road with four very different passengers, catching glimpses into their lives as everything begins to unravel.
This book had me smiling as it all tied together, weaving in characters inspired by ancient stories in the most unexpected ways. Sick and twisted in the best way, the revelations will leave your jaw on the floor. Disturbingly exquisite from start to finish.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I knew I wanted this book the moment I saw James Kaine took part in writing it. I've read most of his books by now, and find them generally easy, enjoyable reads. The fact that Timothy King wrote this book with him is an added bonus. While I haven't read any of his books yet, I have some on my TBR list.
Unfortunately, I'm going to be one of the few naysayers with this one, because it wasn't one of my favorites. While I really like the idea of Rideshare, and the underlying theme, the writing just didn't entirely jive with me. A lot of the writing felt melodramatic and oftentimes clunky, and many of the stories within were a little too predictable. With collections like these, I like to take each story, rate it, and then give an overall average rating for the book as a whole. So, here we go.
The Life and Times of Edward Callahan:
(3 Stars)
An elderly man who's beyond wealthy, feels all of his kids except one are ungrateful, selfish brats. When he has a death scare, he's offered a path back to youth, if he's willing to make a few sacrifices to get it back.
The storyline isn't bad, but it seemed drawn out because it was predictable. Still, I think if the writing were a little tighter, I probably would have rated it higher. It just felt too long, without anything making me excited to read it.
Arioch:
(2 Stars)
A man sits drinking in a bar the night before an important court date, when a stranger comes and convinces him that revenge might be the best course of action to his woes.
This was my least favorite of all the stories. While it wasn't the longest read, the buildup to the actual "horror" felt long. Nothing about any of the characters kept me interested and again the writing just felt a little clunky. It was definitely the most predictable out of all the stories, and by the first quarter of the carnage, I was trying to stop myself from skim reading because it all felt like more of the same.
Sugar Baby:
(3.5 Stars)
A young man sits in his apartment with a beautiful woman who tells him her story of falling down a dark path she never thought she'd go down. Is she looking for a shoulder to cry on? Or maybe a victim of her own?
This wouldn't normally be my favorite type of storyline, but the writing was refreshing compared to the previous two, and I finally found myself settling into the book a little more. You know something bad is bound to happen by the end, but it still tugs you along until you reach the crescendo.
Hunger:
(3.5 Stars)
A gluttonous man hires a new personal chef, and after the best meal he's ever tasted, he finds that he can't stop hungering for more. Nothing satiates him, and his cravings continue getting evermore "unique."
I liked this one as much as the last one, if not a little more. I figured I still knew where it was going, but the smooth easy writing made it a more enjoyable ride getting there.
Ride Requests:
(2.5 Stars)
This rating is for the story that's going on between each story. A Rideshare driver named Charlie is picking up each of his fares along the way, until it reaches the Epilogue where everything meets its end. I really love the idea of this overarching thread, but so much of the dialogue felt melodramatic to me in these scenes. Three out of the four people who got in the car almost felt like the same person because they were over-the-top jerks to the Rideshare driver, and Charlie just felt off as a character as well. By the Epilogue, I already knew where things were going to the point where it didn't feel as clever anymore, and things started getting repetitive. And again, the dialogue just wasn't that great in the end scene either.
Overall, the book averaged out to 2.9 Stars, rounded to an even 3 Stars. I also really love that the authors are letting their readers vote in the end. I think this is such a cool concept. Unfortunately, the stories in the collection just never fully resonated with me.
Unfortunately, I'm going to be one of the few naysayers with this one, because it wasn't one of my favorites. While I really like the idea of Rideshare, and the underlying theme, the writing just didn't entirely jive with me. A lot of the writing felt melodramatic and oftentimes clunky, and many of the stories within were a little too predictable. With collections like these, I like to take each story, rate it, and then give an overall average rating for the book as a whole. So, here we go.
The Life and Times of Edward Callahan:
(3 Stars)
An elderly man who's beyond wealthy, feels all of his kids except one are ungrateful, selfish brats. When he has a death scare, he's offered a path back to youth, if he's willing to make a few sacrifices to get it back.
The storyline isn't bad, but it seemed drawn out because it was predictable. Still, I think if the writing were a little tighter, I probably would have rated it higher. It just felt too long, without anything making me excited to read it.
Arioch:
(2 Stars)
A man sits drinking in a bar the night before an important court date, when a stranger comes and convinces him that revenge might be the best course of action to his woes.
This was my least favorite of all the stories. While it wasn't the longest read, the buildup to the actual "horror" felt long. Nothing about any of the characters kept me interested and again the writing just felt a little clunky. It was definitely the most predictable out of all the stories, and by the first quarter of the carnage, I was trying to stop myself from skim reading because it all felt like more of the same.
Sugar Baby:
(3.5 Stars)
A young man sits in his apartment with a beautiful woman who tells him her story of falling down a dark path she never thought she'd go down. Is she looking for a shoulder to cry on? Or maybe a victim of her own?
This wouldn't normally be my favorite type of storyline, but the writing was refreshing compared to the previous two, and I finally found myself settling into the book a little more. You know something bad is bound to happen by the end, but it still tugs you along until you reach the crescendo.
Hunger:
(3.5 Stars)
A gluttonous man hires a new personal chef, and after the best meal he's ever tasted, he finds that he can't stop hungering for more. Nothing satiates him, and his cravings continue getting evermore "unique."
I liked this one as much as the last one, if not a little more. I figured I still knew where it was going, but the smooth easy writing made it a more enjoyable ride getting there.
Ride Requests:
(2.5 Stars)
This rating is for the story that's going on between each story. A Rideshare driver named Charlie is picking up each of his fares along the way, until it reaches the Epilogue where everything meets its end. I really love the idea of this overarching thread, but so much of the dialogue felt melodramatic to me in these scenes. Three out of the four people who got in the car almost felt like the same person because they were over-the-top jerks to the Rideshare driver, and Charlie just felt off as a character as well. By the Epilogue, I already knew where things were going to the point where it didn't feel as clever anymore, and things started getting repetitive. And again, the dialogue just wasn't that great in the end scene either.
Overall, the book averaged out to 2.9 Stars, rounded to an even 3 Stars. I also really love that the authors are letting their readers vote in the end. I think this is such a cool concept. Unfortunately, the stories in the collection just never fully resonated with me.
March 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
The perfect collection on bedtime stories for the sick and the twisted, tied together with the messy little bow called "Charlie".
Okay, I'm not going to lie, I did have some issues with this one at first. And you are probably thinking, "then why did you rate this so high?" and you would be totally valid in your initial opinions. I was definitely not valid in mine regarding this book. My mistake for not trusting James Kaine to deliver another masterpiece. That's my bad.
This turned out to be one of those "trust the process" types of reads. The first of four stories took up about 40% of the book and the whole time, I couldn't stop stressing about the damn Uber. Why is this book titled "Rideshare" without a glorified taxi? A stupid thing to concern myself with, I know, but it consumed me nonetheless.
After we wrap up Edwards story and begin shifting to the next, in comes Charlie with his Uber car. When I tell you that I could physically feel myself relaxing because the case of the missing transportation was solved, understand that I am deeply embarrassed for overreacting. Also, understand that I am not sorry. Am I ridiculous for wanting the title of the book I am reading to match the contents of the story? I don't think so.
But please don't get me wrong, I loved Edwards story so much. Especially the little plot twist at the end. My flabbers were certainly gasted. But I do wonder if it would have served the story better if one of the shorter stories stepped up to the plate first. It definitely would have served my mental state better but we don't need to go there.
Moving on, I enjoyed all four of the stories. They each brought something unique to the table while still delivering all of the juicy gore.
I will say, this is not the goriest or most f*cked up book I have ever read. It was nestled right in that little sweet spot of not overdone but also the right amount of detail to make you gag in the best ways. (Well, depending on who you ask.)
On another note, Timothy King is a new author for me personally and I can definitely see the hype. With as much as I love James Kaine as an author, I almost couldn't tell who was writing what. If it weren't for the song references and football mentions, I would have never guessed whose writing I was reading. Lol.
But seriously, I think it needs to be mentioned how flawlessly everything blended together. It was like two puzzle pieces that meshed perfectly. If these two ever tackled another book together, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up.
And on that note, I am excited to read more from Timothy King in the future.
All in all, I did love this book. I especially like how the stories could be read as standalones for the perfect little read before bedtime. Honestly, the little kid in me who loved reading "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" was living for this book. It was everything adult me didn't know I needed.
I definitely recommend to those who enjoy blood and guts. If you are someone looking to relive your favorite childhood spooky stories on an adult level, this is the book for you.
I do want to urge any future readers to keep reading and not to worry about the damn Uber like I did in the beginning lol. It will all come together in the end, I promise.
I do not recommend for the squeamish. If you are someone who cannot handle a soft splatterpunk, I would probably avoid this read.
The perfect collection on bedtime stories for the sick and the twisted, tied together with the messy little bow called "Charlie".
Okay, I'm not going to lie, I did have some issues with this one at first. And you are probably thinking, "then why did you rate this so high?" and you would be totally valid in your initial opinions. I was definitely not valid in mine regarding this book. My mistake for not trusting James Kaine to deliver another masterpiece. That's my bad.
This turned out to be one of those "trust the process" types of reads. The first of four stories took up about 40% of the book and the whole time, I couldn't stop stressing about the damn Uber. Why is this book titled "Rideshare" without a glorified taxi? A stupid thing to concern myself with, I know, but it consumed me nonetheless.
After we wrap up Edwards story and begin shifting to the next, in comes Charlie with his Uber car. When I tell you that I could physically feel myself relaxing because the case of the missing transportation was solved, understand that I am deeply embarrassed for overreacting. Also, understand that I am not sorry. Am I ridiculous for wanting the title of the book I am reading to match the contents of the story? I don't think so.
But please don't get me wrong, I loved Edwards story so much. Especially the little plot twist at the end. My flabbers were certainly gasted. But I do wonder if it would have served the story better if one of the shorter stories stepped up to the plate first. It definitely would have served my mental state better but we don't need to go there.
Moving on, I enjoyed all four of the stories. They each brought something unique to the table while still delivering all of the juicy gore.
I will say, this is not the goriest or most f*cked up book I have ever read. It was nestled right in that little sweet spot of not overdone but also the right amount of detail to make you gag in the best ways. (Well, depending on who you ask.)
On another note, Timothy King is a new author for me personally and I can definitely see the hype. With as much as I love James Kaine as an author, I almost couldn't tell who was writing what. If it weren't for the song references and football mentions, I would have never guessed whose writing I was reading. Lol.
But seriously, I think it needs to be mentioned how flawlessly everything blended together. It was like two puzzle pieces that meshed perfectly. If these two ever tackled another book together, I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up.
And on that note, I am excited to read more from Timothy King in the future.
All in all, I did love this book. I especially like how the stories could be read as standalones for the perfect little read before bedtime. Honestly, the little kid in me who loved reading "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" was living for this book. It was everything adult me didn't know I needed.
I definitely recommend to those who enjoy blood and guts. If you are someone looking to relive your favorite childhood spooky stories on an adult level, this is the book for you.
I do want to urge any future readers to keep reading and not to worry about the damn Uber like I did in the beginning lol. It will all come together in the end, I promise.
I do not recommend for the squeamish. If you are someone who cannot handle a soft splatterpunk, I would probably avoid this read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"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.
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.
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