What do you think?
Rate this book
Not yet published
Expected 1 Mar 26"A taut, harrowing psychological drama with a darkly humorous and poignant voice and a captivating debut about the human condition, loneliness, and being pushed to the outskirts of society"—Jessica Thomas for IndieReader
"Loved it! Not your usual serial-killer story, but a compelling and elegantly told tale from a convincing narrator"— Reedsy Discovery Review, Elaine Graham-Leigh
"Those intrigued by unusual interpersonal dynamics, such as those in Gone Girl , will find Gutted an entertaining read"— BlueInk Review
"A fascinating heroine"— Foreword Clarion Reviews, Erin Nesbit
A disillusioned young woman. The world she's lost faith in. And the killer she comes to love. Sometimes abrasive, often at odds with others, but mostly just ill at ease, Elliott struggles to feel a sense of place or purpose in life. When a fateful night of insomnia leads to a chance encounter with Jason, a volatile relationship begins between them. Despite herself, Elliott finds Jason's steadfast acceptance of her invigorating and she lowers her guard, settling into the everyday comforts of their dynamic.
But as Jason earns Elliott's trust, she learns of his troubled past and a chilling detail—he's a serial killer. Yet the shock of the revelation fades. And while Elliott embraces their shared animosity towards a broken world, she gets caught up in his lifestyle, and her own instabilities ignite. Grappling with the truth of who she is and what she's capable of, will Elliott realize she's gone too far … or not far enough?
Gutted is a story of alienation, human frailty, and the choices that define us.
"Loved it! Not your usual serial-killer story, but a compelling and elegantly told tale from a convincing narrator"— Reedsy Discovery Review, Elaine Graham-Leigh
"Those intrigued by unusual interpersonal dynamics, such as those in Gone Girl , will find Gutted an entertaining read"— BlueInk Review
"A fascinating heroine"— Foreword Clarion Reviews, Erin Nesbit
A disillusioned young woman. The world she's lost faith in. And the killer she comes to love. Sometimes abrasive, often at odds with others, but mostly just ill at ease, Elliott struggles to feel a sense of place or purpose in life. When a fateful night of insomnia leads to a chance encounter with Jason, a volatile relationship begins between them. Despite herself, Elliott finds Jason's steadfast acceptance of her invigorating and she lowers her guard, settling into the everyday comforts of their dynamic.
But as Jason earns Elliott's trust, she learns of his troubled past and a chilling detail—he's a serial killer. Yet the shock of the revelation fades. And while Elliott embraces their shared animosity towards a broken world, she gets caught up in his lifestyle, and her own instabilities ignite. Grappling with the truth of who she is and what she's capable of, will Elliott realize she's gone too far … or not far enough?
Gutted is a story of alienation, human frailty, and the choices that define us.
ebook
First published May 29, 2023
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Anna Madorsky
3 booksAnna Madorsky was born in Leningrad. Part of the wave of Soviet Jewish émigrés, she grew up in Houston, where her fascination with the mind began to take shape. With a background in neuroscience and psychology, she explores the architecture of thought and feeling—how emotion becomes structure and how story becomes map. When she isn’t writing or educating, she composes music that has appeared in film and television. She enjoys the quiet comforts of life and hopes to leave the world a little more illuminated than she found it. Gutted, Dissolved, Then Finished is her first literary psychological thriller series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 5, 2023
I loved it!
The cover art grabbed me (and still does), and I am so glad I decided to dive in. The characters are compelling and I was drawn into their complexities immediately - especially the protagonist, Elliott. This book is wonderfully laced with tension, psychological turmoil, elegant storytelling, and an engrossing mood.
The pacing is perfect and keeps you in anticipation of what may or may not be coming next. Also, the way the inner worlds of the characters are woven through every part of the story adds real depth that is so refreshing for this genre. If you are looking for far more than just a stock, formulaic psychological thriller, Gutted will not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning and stayed hooked throughout the entire story. Truly unique approach, style, and voice here.
I absolutely recommend Gutted, and I hope there is more to come from Anna Madorsky.
The cover art grabbed me (and still does), and I am so glad I decided to dive in. The characters are compelling and I was drawn into their complexities immediately - especially the protagonist, Elliott. This book is wonderfully laced with tension, psychological turmoil, elegant storytelling, and an engrossing mood.
The pacing is perfect and keeps you in anticipation of what may or may not be coming next. Also, the way the inner worlds of the characters are woven through every part of the story adds real depth that is so refreshing for this genre. If you are looking for far more than just a stock, formulaic psychological thriller, Gutted will not disappoint. I was hooked from the very beginning and stayed hooked throughout the entire story. Truly unique approach, style, and voice here.
I absolutely recommend Gutted, and I hope there is more to come from Anna Madorsky.
July 7, 2023
I can’t remember the last time I finished a book the same day I started it. This is one of those books that grabs you immediately and takes you on both an emotional and cerebral ride. Anna’s writing style is intelligent, humorous, and thoughtful. I look forward to the next installment.
May 28, 2024
The moment I had the book in my hand and looked at the cover I felt I was instantly being drawn into a world of intense, fragile, complex emotion, sometimes deeply hidden, sometimes screaming to be released. While reading, there were moments I held my breath, begging characters to run away, while desperately clinging to the hope that an embrace would never end.
When the book was over I missed the characters for weeks afterwards! That’s a good book!
When the book was over I missed the characters for weeks afterwards! That’s a good book!
June 10, 2023
5 out of 5
I have a moderate to severe reading disability. If I cannot set aside a minimum of three hours to read, it is simply not worth the effort, so all of my reading is done in three-hour increments. And I have to take frequent breaks during these three-hour installments, otherwise I get headaches.
Often each paragraph often has to be reread several times.
With that said, I have read many books more than once, but Gutted is the only book I have read three times in a row.
All great novels have great opening lines: Anna Karenina, Scaramouche, Heart of Darkness, and Richard III.
Gutted is among them.
The first time I read this story, it struck me that Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment was an apt comparison.
Madorsky’s writing style makes Elliott’s moral travails palpable. Inevitably I cannot help but root for her choices, which would otherwise be abhorrent. Elliott’s discourse leads to many profound insights into the internal workings of battered and abused children, some of which hit me like a cold water-balloon to the crotch while taking an August nap in the backyard.
Needless to say, I love this story and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.
I have a moderate to severe reading disability. If I cannot set aside a minimum of three hours to read, it is simply not worth the effort, so all of my reading is done in three-hour increments. And I have to take frequent breaks during these three-hour installments, otherwise I get headaches.
Often each paragraph often has to be reread several times.
With that said, I have read many books more than once, but Gutted is the only book I have read three times in a row.
All great novels have great opening lines: Anna Karenina, Scaramouche, Heart of Darkness, and Richard III.
Gutted is among them.
The first time I read this story, it struck me that Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment was an apt comparison.
Madorsky’s writing style makes Elliott’s moral travails palpable. Inevitably I cannot help but root for her choices, which would otherwise be abhorrent. Elliott’s discourse leads to many profound insights into the internal workings of battered and abused children, some of which hit me like a cold water-balloon to the crotch while taking an August nap in the backyard.
Needless to say, I love this story and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews