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He Will Have the World
What if everyone you knew was an imposter?
Charlie knows there’s an invasion. He knows it; even if the psychiatrists and his husband don’t believe it.
They’re replacing people, living their lives. He doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know why.
But now, they’re after him.
Isolated on a flight, Charlie sees a flash of lightning strike the plane. But only Charlie sees the creature enter the plane.
It’s inside the passengers. Jumping between them.
Unable to trust the passengers—or himself—Charlie races to reveal the creature and save the passengers because they’re all replaced. Or worse.
With nobody on board believing him, and his own mind crumbling from within, how much will Charlie sacrifice to save everyone?
But what if the doctors are right? What if it’s all in his head?
Charlie knows there’s an invasion. He knows it; even if the psychiatrists and his husband don’t believe it.
They’re replacing people, living their lives. He doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know why.
But now, they’re after him.
Isolated on a flight, Charlie sees a flash of lightning strike the plane. But only Charlie sees the creature enter the plane.
It’s inside the passengers. Jumping between them.
Unable to trust the passengers—or himself—Charlie races to reveal the creature and save the passengers because they’re all replaced. Or worse.
With nobody on board believing him, and his own mind crumbling from within, how much will Charlie sacrifice to save everyone?
But what if the doctors are right? What if it’s all in his head?
- GenresHorror
373 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2025
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
David-Jack Fletcher
18 books56 followersDavid-Jack Fletcher's debut gay horror-comedy, The Haunting of Harry Peck, was published by Rack & Rune Publishing in February 2022 and became an international Amazon bestseller. *Unfortunately, Rack & Rune have shifted to Generative AI usage and he cannot support them anymore* Harry Peck is now in its second edition with Lethe Press. His 2023 multi award-winning novel, Raven’s Creek is available through all major retailers, published through his own press, Slashic Horror Press.
2024 saw the release of his vampiric lore-inspired novel, The Count, which became Aurealis-Award nominated (!!) and in 2025 Lethe Press released his short story collection, Hell is Other People, Truborn Press released his cursed teeth novel, Indentured, and a very personal novel, He Will Have the World, released November through Slashic Horror Press.
In 2025, he also helped to establish SQUIRM Books, a Young Adult queer horror press, and an imprint of Slashic. SQUIRM is run by the incredible Stephanie Sanders-Jacob and will begin publishing in April/May 2026.
In 2026, his novel Umbilical will release through Horrorsmith Publishing.
He is now searching for a home for his latest novel, Wires in the Gut.
David-Jack works as an academic, teaching across Media, Sociology, Cultural Studies, and related fields. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies, a Post Grad. Certificate in Editing and Publishing, and (soon) a Grad. Dip in Information Studies. He is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health, and aims to bring awareness to the intersections of these areas in his fiction.
For more information, visit his LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/djfletcher
2024 saw the release of his vampiric lore-inspired novel, The Count, which became Aurealis-Award nominated (!!) and in 2025 Lethe Press released his short story collection, Hell is Other People, Truborn Press released his cursed teeth novel, Indentured, and a very personal novel, He Will Have the World, released November through Slashic Horror Press.
In 2025, he also helped to establish SQUIRM Books, a Young Adult queer horror press, and an imprint of Slashic. SQUIRM is run by the incredible Stephanie Sanders-Jacob and will begin publishing in April/May 2026.
In 2026, his novel Umbilical will release through Horrorsmith Publishing.
He is now searching for a home for his latest novel, Wires in the Gut.
David-Jack works as an academic, teaching across Media, Sociology, Cultural Studies, and related fields. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies, a Post Grad. Certificate in Editing and Publishing, and (soon) a Grad. Dip in Information Studies. He is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health, and aims to bring awareness to the intersections of these areas in his fiction.
For more information, visit his LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/djfletcher
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 26, 2025
This is, by far, David-Jack Fletcher's best book - and that's saying something: his back catalogue has some terrific horror books already!
The story is essentially about Charlie's mental illness, specifically psychosis. The supernatural is involved organically into his struggle against himself and what seems to be his paranoid delusion of other people being replaced by mysterious, malevolent entities - the so-called "doppelgangers". His single hope draws on the love he harbors for his husband, a patient, well-meaning man who's been nothing but supportive and by his side at every turn. When things escalate, Charlie boards a plane to Perth, going back to the place where he was severely abused by his parents growing up. This proves to be the flight from hell, as Charlie witnesses a most upsetting event mid-flight: the moment an entity possesses a passenger. Mayhem follows, and the trip turns into a nightmare, as Charlie’s trying to convince everyone of what happened, while the entity is going through the passengers like a girl changes clothes!
The book reads like a supernatural thriller/mystery, taking place almost entirely on board, reminiscent of the Blood Red Sky movie (though with many more twists and complications). Charlie is a flawed character, tormented by his paranoia as well as the voice he's been always carrying with him, a sort of split personality whose parts coexist at the same time. The tension is kept sky-high throughout, the dialogue razor-sharp and the developments fast and unexpected. The ending takes things into a wholly different direction, blending the possession theme with cults and giving strong apocalyptic vibes.
The book is brimming with paranoia, claustrophobia, and ambiguity. The line between fact and reality is often blurred, allowing the reader to share in Charlie’s confusion. Dark and occasionally morbid, this is a beautifully done tale of queer psychological horror, grounded on the unreliable narrator device, though it's quite different from anything of this type I've read before. Highly recommended!
November 22, 2025
David-Jack Fletcher never disappoints. With his latest, we find a nuanced and empathetic look at mental illness that still manages to thrill and scare. Taking place on a plane, Fletcher capitalizes on the claustrophobic setting, amplifying every twist, fright, and emotion.
November 25, 2025
A page turner that will have you question what is real and what isn't along with the main character, this is a book I won't soon forget. It's intelligent, it's full of twists and turns and kept me wanting to read way up past my bedtime.
Set primarily on a plane for the majority of the book with interspersed pyschiatrist interview transcripts and snippets of what brought the main character, Charlie, to the point where he is, the plot is intriguing and muti-faceted. Charlie is a character facing many difficulties, both from his past and his present. He is convinced people are being replaced by dopplegangers in a plot to invade the world. Alongside that, he is convinced he sees some sort of creature on the plane during a flash of lightning entering another passenger. From there, things go downhill fast as Charlie battles with his mental demons as well as the perceived threat on board the plain.
The setting of the story is perfect and claustrophobic. There is nowhere to go for Charlie to escape what he sees, there is no one he feels he can fully trust. The way mental health is depicted in the story is scary in both how accurate it is and how it unravels as he struggles to determine what is real and what isn't. But the events, whether real or not are full of unsettling moments. There is gore, there is what seems like a brutal evil entity, there is grief and there is loss. It's a weird and terrifying ride no doubt.
This is at this point, my top read of the year and definitely one not to be missed in my opinion. David-Jack Fletcher is one of my favorite horror authors for a reason and this one I think is his finest work to date.
Set primarily on a plane for the majority of the book with interspersed pyschiatrist interview transcripts and snippets of what brought the main character, Charlie, to the point where he is, the plot is intriguing and muti-faceted. Charlie is a character facing many difficulties, both from his past and his present. He is convinced people are being replaced by dopplegangers in a plot to invade the world. Alongside that, he is convinced he sees some sort of creature on the plane during a flash of lightning entering another passenger. From there, things go downhill fast as Charlie battles with his mental demons as well as the perceived threat on board the plain.
The setting of the story is perfect and claustrophobic. There is nowhere to go for Charlie to escape what he sees, there is no one he feels he can fully trust. The way mental health is depicted in the story is scary in both how accurate it is and how it unravels as he struggles to determine what is real and what isn't. But the events, whether real or not are full of unsettling moments. There is gore, there is what seems like a brutal evil entity, there is grief and there is loss. It's a weird and terrifying ride no doubt.
This is at this point, my top read of the year and definitely one not to be missed in my opinion. David-Jack Fletcher is one of my favorite horror authors for a reason and this one I think is his finest work to date.
November 23, 2025
He Will Have the World
By David-Jack Fletcher
⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️/5
The farther into the book I got, the more I was like, “this writing style reminds me of someone.” Not an exact match, but one I could definitely see echoes of in the style.
Then it hit me: David-Jack’s prose reminded me of Chuck Palahniuk!
HE WILL HAVE THE WORLD is a psychological horror masterpiece, every bit as brilliant as Palahniuk’s FIGHT CLUB. But at the same time, it goes deeper, digging into the mental illness in a way that exposes everything, not just the facades people put on to face the world.
This is an excellent slow burn, one that holds the reader’s attention and keeps them drawn in with a fantastic story. The setting is intimate, the twists are brutal, and the ending is something no one wants—or maybe everyone wants?
One thing’s for sure—you’re gonna pay closer attention to people’s eyes…
By David-Jack Fletcher
⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️/5
The farther into the book I got, the more I was like, “this writing style reminds me of someone.” Not an exact match, but one I could definitely see echoes of in the style.
Then it hit me: David-Jack’s prose reminded me of Chuck Palahniuk!
HE WILL HAVE THE WORLD is a psychological horror masterpiece, every bit as brilliant as Palahniuk’s FIGHT CLUB. But at the same time, it goes deeper, digging into the mental illness in a way that exposes everything, not just the facades people put on to face the world.
This is an excellent slow burn, one that holds the reader’s attention and keeps them drawn in with a fantastic story. The setting is intimate, the twists are brutal, and the ending is something no one wants—or maybe everyone wants?
One thing’s for sure—you’re gonna pay closer attention to people’s eyes…
November 24, 2025
He Will Have the World
By David-Jack Fletcher
Publisher Slashic Horror Press
Published Date November 25, 2025
ASIN B0FTWKFZBH
Page Count 373
Triggers Mental illness, gaslighting, graphic body horror, creature possession, unreality spiral, panic, plane claustrophobia
Star Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating 💀💀
What Did I Just Walk Into?
A psychological horror fever dream trapped at 30,000 feet featuring one extremely stressed man, one extremely hungry creature, and about a hundred people Charlie probably should not have made direct eye contact with.
Here’s What Slapped:
The paranoia is top tier. Fletcher drags you into Charlie’s brain and refuses to let you back out. Every passenger suddenly looks suspicious, every flicker of light feels like a warning, and you start side-eyeing your own houseplants. The claustrophobic plane setting is perfection. The pacing is a slow burn but the kind that smolders until it finally explodes. The creature moments are pure nightmare fuel. The author balances empathy for mental illness with the rising dread of maybe Charlie is right or maybe Charlie is really not okay. The tension never lets up. I inhaled this book.
What Could’ve Been Better:
Nothing. Unless you wanted me to sleep. In that case the book absolutely failed.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Paranoia thrillers, doppelgänger stories, psychological unraveling, closed-door horror, unreliable narrators, possession creatures, and shouting at fictional characters to pay attention to the red flags in front of them.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
By David-Jack Fletcher
Publisher Slashic Horror Press
Published Date November 25, 2025
ASIN B0FTWKFZBH
Page Count 373
Triggers Mental illness, gaslighting, graphic body horror, creature possession, unreality spiral, panic, plane claustrophobia
Star Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating 💀💀
What Did I Just Walk Into?
A psychological horror fever dream trapped at 30,000 feet featuring one extremely stressed man, one extremely hungry creature, and about a hundred people Charlie probably should not have made direct eye contact with.
Here’s What Slapped:
The paranoia is top tier. Fletcher drags you into Charlie’s brain and refuses to let you back out. Every passenger suddenly looks suspicious, every flicker of light feels like a warning, and you start side-eyeing your own houseplants. The claustrophobic plane setting is perfection. The pacing is a slow burn but the kind that smolders until it finally explodes. The creature moments are pure nightmare fuel. The author balances empathy for mental illness with the rising dread of maybe Charlie is right or maybe Charlie is really not okay. The tension never lets up. I inhaled this book.
What Could’ve Been Better:
Nothing. Unless you wanted me to sleep. In that case the book absolutely failed.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Paranoia thrillers, doppelgänger stories, psychological unraveling, closed-door horror, unreliable narrators, possession creatures, and shouting at fictional characters to pay attention to the red flags in front of them.
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
November 25, 2025
With his recent collection Hell is Other People, and the wonderful, Indentured, David-Jack Fletcher has been quietly making a name for himself in the horror game. I devoured this Ebook over a few nights, throughly enjoying it. I won't spoil the surprises, but if you have a fear of flying and airplanes, be warned in advance--this will push you to the limit.
He Will Have the World is a propulsive, shocking, page-turner that also manages to deftly examine the nature of mental illness and unreality. David-Jack Fletcher’s gory, pulse-pounding puzzle-box of a book is a real treat that will keep you guessing up until the final page.
He Will Have the World is a propulsive, shocking, page-turner that also manages to deftly examine the nature of mental illness and unreality. David-Jack Fletcher’s gory, pulse-pounding puzzle-box of a book is a real treat that will keep you guessing up until the final page.
November 21, 2025
Talk about a page turner! I stayed up way too late reading because I could not put this book down. It had me sitting on the edge of my chair unable to turn the pages quickly enough. With plenty of WTF moments, brutal deaths, and twists that will keep you guessing until the end, I cannot recommend this one enough.
What is real? Who can be trusted? Who is a doppelgänger? Can MC Charlie even trust his own mind? Is this an episode of The Twilight Zone?
Huge thank you David-Jack Fletcher for sending me an ARC of this intense book
What is real? Who can be trusted? Who is a doppelgänger? Can MC Charlie even trust his own mind? Is this an episode of The Twilight Zone?
Huge thank you David-Jack Fletcher for sending me an ARC of this intense book
November 22, 2025
I have read most of David-Jack's other works, and I never thought this type of horror would interest me - but was I wrong! He has a way of conveying imagery and meaning through succinct storytelling, reminiscent of Hemingway, albeit with a gory, blood-soaked approach that Hemingway avoided. You will not know which way the story is going, nor will you be able to choose the ending. Overall, a fantastic piece of literary horror.
January 27, 2026
Great novel. Tightly written and really quite tense at times. But it's more than that. It digs deep into the psyche, the soul, and as a reader you genuinely feel every turbulent twist and shake along the way. You'll sympathise, you might even shed a tear. I came close, but more than anything, though, you'll wonder how this one is going to end. You'll think about it long after, too.
Seriously, go check out this well executed and original story. It's so worth your time
Seriously, go check out this well executed and original story. It's so worth your time
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews