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FLEA
44 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
About the author
M.J. Mars
24 books172 followersMJ Mars is a geek, ghoul, and horror enthusiast living in Lancaster, UK. Her debut novel, The Suffering, was published by Wicked House in 2023. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find MJ playing pool, trying to skateboard (badly), or listening to rock music. She owes every success to her mis-spent youth.
Short story collection, We’ve Already Gone Too Far out now!
NEW! The Fovea Experiments, a second novel to be published by Wicked House, is out now. MJ is currently working on a sequel to The Suffering, and a series of novellas based around the short story, Jeff Through the Trees.
Join her on Twitter @MJMars, Instagram /mjmarsauthor, and her Facebook page, MJ Mars Author.
Short story collection, We’ve Already Gone Too Far out now!
NEW! The Fovea Experiments, a second novel to be published by Wicked House, is out now. MJ is currently working on a sequel to The Suffering, and a series of novellas based around the short story, Jeff Through the Trees.
Join her on Twitter @MJMars, Instagram /mjmarsauthor, and her Facebook page, MJ Mars Author.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 23, 2026
The Pestilent Perils series is comprised of two very different, but delightfully horrific short stories by M.J. Mars.
"Rat" is set in the Victorian Era, and centers around the crew of a clipper ship, the Cormorant, that encounters an abandoned prison vessel bound from England to Australia. The larger ship, the Tulketh Swain, appears completely empty upon inspection, but the Cormorant's kindhearted cabin boy begins to suspect that isn't the case. A dark presence seems to have followed them back aboard the Cormorant, and soon, its malevolent (and gruesome) intentions are made clear.
By contrast, "Flea" is set in contemporary times, and follows a world-weary police detective tasked with investigating a recent series of grisly murders in which the victims are found bearing unusual, telltale wounds, and appear to have been drained of blood. The case leads him to a top-secret laboratory conducting experiments of a truly diabolical nature.
"Rat" and "Flea" are quick reads, but Mars packs a ton of horror into the pages, building layer upon layer of well-paced, creeping dread. There's plenty of gore and body horror, too, and when these hit, they hit hard and fast. At the same time, Mars has crafted wonderfully developed main characters the reader feels connected to and cares about, a feat that's challenging enough in a novel-length story, never mind ones this short.
"Rat" and "Flea" also feature striking covers and beautiful interior designs that include fantastic illustrations. They're fun to look at, and even more fun to read, and I'm hoping she adds more installments to the Pestilent Perils in the near future.
"Rat" is set in the Victorian Era, and centers around the crew of a clipper ship, the Cormorant, that encounters an abandoned prison vessel bound from England to Australia. The larger ship, the Tulketh Swain, appears completely empty upon inspection, but the Cormorant's kindhearted cabin boy begins to suspect that isn't the case. A dark presence seems to have followed them back aboard the Cormorant, and soon, its malevolent (and gruesome) intentions are made clear.
By contrast, "Flea" is set in contemporary times, and follows a world-weary police detective tasked with investigating a recent series of grisly murders in which the victims are found bearing unusual, telltale wounds, and appear to have been drained of blood. The case leads him to a top-secret laboratory conducting experiments of a truly diabolical nature.
"Rat" and "Flea" are quick reads, but Mars packs a ton of horror into the pages, building layer upon layer of well-paced, creeping dread. There's plenty of gore and body horror, too, and when these hit, they hit hard and fast. At the same time, Mars has crafted wonderfully developed main characters the reader feels connected to and cares about, a feat that's challenging enough in a novel-length story, never mind ones this short.
"Rat" and "Flea" also feature striking covers and beautiful interior designs that include fantastic illustrations. They're fun to look at, and even more fun to read, and I'm hoping she adds more installments to the Pestilent Perils in the near future.
February 24, 2026
Well, I wasn't expecting to be SAD 😭
Flea made me extraordinarily itchy once I figured out exactly what was going on. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a huge (shall we say) intolerance for things with more than 4 legs, but this one really takes the cake.....
I really enjoyed Hendry as a character. For as short as this story is, MJ packed a lot of detail about him and I had a lot of sympathy for him and his situation. The poor fella really got put through the ringer, and had to make a hugely difficult choice because of it.
This was vastly different from Rat, the first book in this new series, but I'm really enjoying all the new ways that MJ is making me go BLEGH 😂
Flea made me extraordinarily itchy once I figured out exactly what was going on. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a huge (shall we say) intolerance for things with more than 4 legs, but this one really takes the cake.....
I really enjoyed Hendry as a character. For as short as this story is, MJ packed a lot of detail about him and I had a lot of sympathy for him and his situation. The poor fella really got put through the ringer, and had to make a hugely difficult choice because of it.
This was vastly different from Rat, the first book in this new series, but I'm really enjoying all the new ways that MJ is making me go BLEGH 😂
February 14, 2026
A classic tale of an experiment gone wrong and a detective has to find out what is going on. It's a short story that pulls your in from the first chapter. I won't spoil the story, but all I can say is, it's almost impossible to run away from something that can jump.
All I can say is that the deaths in this one are brutal. You will see fleas as more disgusting as you probably see them now. It's a short but brutal read. So brutal you might want to check the house to make sure you don't have any, haha.
All I can say is that the deaths in this one are brutal. You will see fleas as more disgusting as you probably see them now. It's a short but brutal read. So brutal you might want to check the house to make sure you don't have any, haha.
February 12, 2026
An experiment gone wrong and bodies piling up. Their cause of death so horrific to countenance. When personal connection provides the only leads, Hendry gets sucked into the case in every way.
Mj Mars has excelled herself in this latest instalment in the Pestilent Perils series. It satisfies yet leaves you screaming for more.
A bite size read to make your skin crawl.
Mj Mars has excelled herself in this latest instalment in the Pestilent Perils series. It satisfies yet leaves you screaming for more.
A bite size read to make your skin crawl.
February 24, 2026
This was a very short story, but full of emotions. I need this to be a full novel .... I have so many questions lol. A science experiment that has gone crazy wrong.
"We played God and created a monster. There are consequences to every action."
"Fleas accelerate 50 times faster than a space shuttle taking off."..... ummm what?
"We played God and created a monster. There are consequences to every action."
"Fleas accelerate 50 times faster than a space shuttle taking off."..... ummm what?
March 16, 2026
What happens when science plays god? The world is about to find out. After an “incident” at a local research lab, a detective must uncover the terrible secret harbored within its walls. He will wish he hadn’t tried to solve the case.
I hadn’t expected a story to have tension and a bit of sadness thrown in. I really enjoyed the story and could not wait to see where it was going.
I hadn’t expected a story to have tension and a bit of sadness thrown in. I really enjoyed the story and could not wait to see where it was going.
May 15, 2026
Don't waste your time
Don't waste your time reading this even as short as it is. In the beginning I thought it had potential but it quickly devolved into slop. I want my 15 minutes back!!!
Don't waste your time reading this even as short as it is. In the beginning I thought it had potential but it quickly devolved into slop. I want my 15 minutes back!!!
February 25, 2026
Omg 😭MJ Mars, this one was emotional. Great story, highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews