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Monster #1
Monster
THIS IS AN EXTREME HORROR NOVEL. There is gore. There is bad language. There are scenes of a sexual nature. There are scenes of domestic abuse. But hidden underneath it all is also a chilling story. Please do not purchase this book if you are easily shocked, disgusted or offended. This book is not for you.
Teaming up together for the first time since 'ART', Michael Bray (Whisper) and Matt Shaw (Sick B*stards) bring you MONSTER; the haunting tale of a normal woman who wakes up to find herself part of a nightmare.
"He's there, standing in the doorway. Seven foot tall, a face hidden beneath a mask of stretched, rotting skin. He isn't saying anything. He's just watching me, his head cocked to one side as though judging me. I pulled on the restraints but they didn't budge. I was trapped. I was his prisoner. I asked him what he wanted but he just repeated my sentence in a childish voice. I asked him for a second time and, for a second time, he repeated me. When I screamed, he screamed, raising his hands to his ears and closing his eyes as though my panicked yelling scared him. Who is he? What does he want with me? I begged for him to let me go and he responded by repeating me - again - word for word. Frustrated I started screaming. He turned and ran from the room. He didn't go far though. I can hear him out there. I can hear his heavy, wheezy breathing. A couple of seconds went by and he stuck his head around the corner. He didn't move from that spot. He just stood there, watching me once more."
Teaming up together for the first time since 'ART', Michael Bray (Whisper) and Matt Shaw (Sick B*stards) bring you MONSTER; the haunting tale of a normal woman who wakes up to find herself part of a nightmare.
"He's there, standing in the doorway. Seven foot tall, a face hidden beneath a mask of stretched, rotting skin. He isn't saying anything. He's just watching me, his head cocked to one side as though judging me. I pulled on the restraints but they didn't budge. I was trapped. I was his prisoner. I asked him what he wanted but he just repeated my sentence in a childish voice. I asked him for a second time and, for a second time, he repeated me. When I screamed, he screamed, raising his hands to his ears and closing his eyes as though my panicked yelling scared him. Who is he? What does he want with me? I begged for him to let me go and he responded by repeating me - again - word for word. Frustrated I started screaming. He turned and ran from the room. He didn't go far though. I can hear him out there. I can hear his heavy, wheezy breathing. A couple of seconds went by and he stuck his head around the corner. He didn't move from that spot. He just stood there, watching me once more."
236 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2015
262 people are currently reading
969 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
529 books2,193 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
April 23, 2022
well… that was the most fucked up birthday party i’ve ever witnessed.
this was so devastating and just truly tragic. i obviously loved this book, but damn… this one hit hard.
🔪 minor spoilers ahead. 🔪
this book was honestly hard to read at times. i can handle gore, rape, torture, etc.
but damn, seeing a vulnerable, defenceless child repeatedly being hurt, and him not even being able to understand WHY he’s being hurt? my heart just broke every time, because i truly can’t understand how some people are able to hurt children.
there are different types of monsters in this world. there are some that are just born monsters, and some that are made into monsters because of certain tragic circumstances.
the father, Richard, is obviously just a straight up psychopath that has no empathy whatsoever.
his wife, Mary, obviously started out as a victim - the domestic abuse scenes were certainly difficult to read. her husband slowly turned her into a monster too by his horrendous actions.
the son, Andrew… well i mostly just feel sorry for him, because he didn’t deserve to be made into a monster at all.
some people should never, EVER, under any fucking circumstances, have children. that’s the moral of this fucked up story in my eyes.
the amount of sadness i feel for Andrew is truly unmeasurable. he was truly a victim in all of this.
“i realised he wasn’t the monster here. he wasn’t to blame for any of this. he was simply a product of his upbringing.”
the whole section of the book “how to make a monster”… that shit was fucked. once again, just so incredibly sad and depressing.
in typical Matt Shaw fashion, the ending was… well, i don’t even know what to say about that ending lol.
as i said already, this book hit me HARD... i don’t usually expect to cry when i read horror, but this book made me cry multiple times, so that’s saying a lot.
i’m debating between 4 stars and 5 stars, but i think i’ll just settle on 4.5 and round it up to 5, because anytime a book makes me feel any type of really strong emotions, doesn’t matter good or bad, i instantly like it more.
despite this being one of the most fucked up books i’ve ever read - i truly loved it.
this was so devastating and just truly tragic. i obviously loved this book, but damn… this one hit hard.
🔪 minor spoilers ahead. 🔪
this book was honestly hard to read at times. i can handle gore, rape, torture, etc.
but damn, seeing a vulnerable, defenceless child repeatedly being hurt, and him not even being able to understand WHY he’s being hurt? my heart just broke every time, because i truly can’t understand how some people are able to hurt children.
there are different types of monsters in this world. there are some that are just born monsters, and some that are made into monsters because of certain tragic circumstances.
the father, Richard, is obviously just a straight up psychopath that has no empathy whatsoever.
his wife, Mary, obviously started out as a victim - the domestic abuse scenes were certainly difficult to read. her husband slowly turned her into a monster too by his horrendous actions.
the son, Andrew… well i mostly just feel sorry for him, because he didn’t deserve to be made into a monster at all.
some people should never, EVER, under any fucking circumstances, have children. that’s the moral of this fucked up story in my eyes.
the amount of sadness i feel for Andrew is truly unmeasurable. he was truly a victim in all of this.
“i realised he wasn’t the monster here. he wasn’t to blame for any of this. he was simply a product of his upbringing.”
the whole section of the book “how to make a monster”… that shit was fucked. once again, just so incredibly sad and depressing.
in typical Matt Shaw fashion, the ending was… well, i don’t even know what to say about that ending lol.
as i said already, this book hit me HARD... i don’t usually expect to cry when i read horror, but this book made me cry multiple times, so that’s saying a lot.
i’m debating between 4 stars and 5 stars, but i think i’ll just settle on 4.5 and round it up to 5, because anytime a book makes me feel any type of really strong emotions, doesn’t matter good or bad, i instantly like it more.
despite this being one of the most fucked up books i’ve ever read - i truly loved it.
April 24, 2018
I'm a fan of Shaw but I haven't read anything by Bray before.
The book starts with a warning, by both authors, about how bad things are going to get. Knowing Matt Shaw's work, it had me intrigued.
Shortly into the story, I was getting this TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE vibe, but at 100 pages I thought to myself that it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
And then came the second part of the book. Within 20 pages, I felt like I had been sucker-punched repeatedly in the gut. I had to put the book down and do something "normal" for a few minutes, call it a mental time-out, before I could stomach the rest of the story.
This, my friends, is the book you need to read if you are wondering whether you might be a sociopath or not. If Part 2 can't evoke empathy from you, I doubt anything else will.
Mr. Shaw and Mr. Bray seem to feed off each other when it comes to pushing the boundaries, and these two sick fucks (compliment) can write a damn good story.
I can recommend this one only to those who have the guts for it, and even they might be surprised. Brilliant effort.
The book starts with a warning, by both authors, about how bad things are going to get. Knowing Matt Shaw's work, it had me intrigued.
Shortly into the story, I was getting this TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE vibe, but at 100 pages I thought to myself that it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
And then came the second part of the book. Within 20 pages, I felt like I had been sucker-punched repeatedly in the gut. I had to put the book down and do something "normal" for a few minutes, call it a mental time-out, before I could stomach the rest of the story.
This, my friends, is the book you need to read if you are wondering whether you might be a sociopath or not. If Part 2 can't evoke empathy from you, I doubt anything else will.
Mr. Shaw and Mr. Bray seem to feed off each other when it comes to pushing the boundaries, and these two sick fucks (compliment) can write a damn good story.
I can recommend this one only to those who have the guts for it, and even they might be surprised. Brilliant effort.
September 20, 2021
4 stars
Song: ring-a ring-a roses
I never put songs in my reviews so don't ask why the one & only time I do, I use that one.
Some people should never, under any circumstances reproduce. This book is what happens when they do.
⛔SPOILERS⛔If you're easily disturbed, might wonna sit this one out. And I'm sorry but this review is such a mess😭
Monster is a pretty simple story.
It's about a birthday party...or as this book so beautifully put it: "A deranged version of The Mad Hatter's Tea Party"
By putting rags over their mouths and tying them up to beds.
Which may or may not be a human with candles sticking out of his chest
A woman snatched for breeding purposes
Where the guests have long been turned into corpses
By far, this was the least gory and most devastating of the black cover series (that I've read). It came closest to making me cry, it was way too real. Too fucking tragic. Anytime I think beyond the horror and ridiculousness of that party but to the depth of the characters, my heart clenches.
The title gives you exactly what you need to know. this book is about all sorts of monsters. How one exists and the other is made. It was heartbreaking and just way too damn real, to the point where some of the situations in this book correlated to my own life. Fucked up but true. Some of the scenes affected me so much more, simply for the fact that I knew a monster once in my life, just as so many people did too.
Andrew was the birthday boy, the clueless offspring unfortunate enough to be conceived by two very deranged people. He was just a deformed, ape-like, man child who was utterly alone, abused by his father, only ever loved by his mother and yet not enough. God, I'm tearing up just writing this. He never even had a chance at a normal life, it was taken from him over and over again. Taking that into account, I don't know whether his mental deformities are a curse or a blessing. I think the worst part is he never had any idea that he was turned into a monster himself.
Probably super abrupt after that very emotional monologue n shit....but Andrew reminded me of this motherfucker:
Obviously, I can never review a book by this author without mentioning the ending. Matt Shaw said it much better than I ever will though...
My reaction to - that scene -
If ya'll want a beautiful visual representation of this book, taken from a movie adaptation I never even knew existed, then here it is:
WARNING: graphic image hidden in the spoiler. If you're easily disgusted or triggered, don't click.
Song: ring-a ring-a roses
I never put songs in my reviews so don't ask why the one & only time I do, I use that one.
Some people should never, under any circumstances reproduce. This book is what happens when they do.
⛔SPOILERS⛔If you're easily disturbed, might wonna sit this one out. And I'm sorry but this review is such a mess😭
Monster is a pretty simple story.
It's about a birthday party...or as this book so beautifully put it: "A deranged version of The Mad Hatter's Tea Party"
Two happy parents invite guests
By putting rags over their mouths and tying them up to beds.
Prepare a cake
Which may or may not be a human with candles sticking out of his chest
Have a present ready for their loving son
A woman snatched for breeding purposes
And of course set a beautiful dinner table
Where the guests have long been turned into corpses
"Where's his birthday card?"
"What?!"
"It's his party," she said, "you needed to bring a card. That's what you do at parties."
"Well did anyone else bring one?" I couldn't believe what she was saying.
"Of course not. They're dead."
"What about him?" I pointed to the unconscious body of the man lying on the table.
"He's the cake. Do you often get birthday cards from your cakes?"
By far, this was the least gory and most devastating of the black cover series (that I've read). It came closest to making me cry, it was way too real. Too fucking tragic. Anytime I think beyond the horror and ridiculousness of that party but to the depth of the characters, my heart clenches.
The title gives you exactly what you need to know. this book is about all sorts of monsters. How one exists and the other is made. It was heartbreaking and just way too damn real, to the point where some of the situations in this book correlated to my own life. Fucked up but true. Some of the scenes affected me so much more, simply for the fact that I knew a monster once in my life, just as so many people did too.
Andrew was the birthday boy, the clueless offspring unfortunate enough to be conceived by two very deranged people. He was just a deformed, ape-like, man child who was utterly alone, abused by his father, only ever loved by his mother and yet not enough. God, I'm tearing up just writing this. He never even had a chance at a normal life, it was taken from him over and over again. Taking that into account, I don't know whether his mental deformities are a curse or a blessing. I think the worst part is he never had any idea that he was turned into a monster himself.
Probably super abrupt after that very emotional monologue n shit....but Andrew reminded me of this motherfucker:
Obviously, I can never review a book by this author without mentioning the ending. Matt Shaw said it much better than I ever will though...
"People know I don't tend to beat around the bush with my endings. I like to make an impact, I like to make you sit up and question your morals and what you've just read. I want to get a reaction from you and this - this scene - gets a reaction."
My reaction to - that scene -
If ya'll want a beautiful visual representation of this book, taken from a movie adaptation I never even knew existed, then here it is:
WARNING: graphic image hidden in the spoiler. If you're easily disgusted or triggered, don't click.
March 29, 2023
The synopsis for this book begins with a warning and despite reading it I was unprepared for just how disturbing these contents would be. Please do take caution when reading this book and look up the listed trigger warnings (primarily sexual, domestic, and child abuse).
This was unnerving and disturbing, with stomach-churning contents and tension that run through the entirety of it. In short, everything I want a horror novel to be. Also, nothing I wanted to be reading about. I have read many weird and wild things but infrequently have I felt a physical revulsion and sickness quite like I did whilst reading this. It did not seem like shocks delivered for the sake of shocks delivered, however, and more just like a distressing story with, sadly, real-world comparisons. I genuinely don't know whether to applaud the mind that crafted something so deeply unsettling or to fear it!
My edition had the novella along with the screenplay and both were equally as traumatising to read. I don't think this is a story I will ever revisit but I can acknowledge how skilfully the author crafts tension and unease, stringing his readers along before pouncing with unsettling reveals.
This was unnerving and disturbing, with stomach-churning contents and tension that run through the entirety of it. In short, everything I want a horror novel to be. Also, nothing I wanted to be reading about. I have read many weird and wild things but infrequently have I felt a physical revulsion and sickness quite like I did whilst reading this. It did not seem like shocks delivered for the sake of shocks delivered, however, and more just like a distressing story with, sadly, real-world comparisons. I genuinely don't know whether to applaud the mind that crafted something so deeply unsettling or to fear it!
My edition had the novella along with the screenplay and both were equally as traumatising to read. I don't think this is a story I will ever revisit but I can acknowledge how skilfully the author crafts tension and unease, stringing his readers along before pouncing with unsettling reveals.
November 11, 2021
This is gonna sound super creepy, but sometimes when I’ve been the victim of disappointing books for a while I cut it off by reading a Matt Shaw novel 🤡 So this recommendation came in a very fitting time
But shit this wasn’t the normal gore I’m used to with him. This was fkn devastating. I can’t remember when I hated a character so much as Richard. There was especially one scene with a doll that just completely broke me.
The child abuse pictured in this book is one of the worst I’ve ever read and it's gonna stick with me for a good while.
DAMN YOU Matt Shaw, you're supposed to write bloody gory shit, not make my soul cry
But shit this wasn’t the normal gore I’m used to with him. This was fkn devastating. I can’t remember when I hated a character so much as Richard. There was especially one scene with a doll that just completely broke me.
The child abuse pictured in this book is one of the worst I’ve ever read and it's gonna stick with me for a good while.
DAMN YOU Matt Shaw, you're supposed to write bloody gory shit, not make my soul cry
October 15, 2022
Sad and fucked up!!! This is how monsters are made. Holy shit, that birthday party… 🎂🔪
This shit had me rolling: 🤣
“Where’s his birthday card?” “What?!” “It’s his party,” she said, “you needed to bring a card. That’s what you do at parties.” “Well did anyone else bring one?” I couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Of course not. They’re dead.” “What about him?” I pointed to the unconscious body of the man lying on the table. “He’s the cake. Do you often get birthday cards from your cakes?” she hissed.
This shit had me rolling: 🤣
“Where’s his birthday card?” “What?!” “It’s his party,” she said, “you needed to bring a card. That’s what you do at parties.” “Well did anyone else bring one?” I couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Of course not. They’re dead.” “What about him?” I pointed to the unconscious body of the man lying on the table. “He’s the cake. Do you often get birthday cards from your cakes?” she hissed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
Extremely Brutal,Terrifying and Disturbing!
I loved the way all the individual characters at the start of this book came together in the middle to create one amazing ending.
Well written by both authors.... and the warnings from both of them at the start of this book shouldn't be taken lightly.
It's hard to make the decision...WHO...exactly was the MONSTER???
Richard...Mary...Andrew or Christina....it could be all of them in their own way!
Shaw and Bray certainly do not hold back with the brutality here.
A great read for me 10/10...5 "monster" stars!!
I loved the way all the individual characters at the start of this book came together in the middle to create one amazing ending.
Well written by both authors.... and the warnings from both of them at the start of this book shouldn't be taken lightly.
It's hard to make the decision...WHO...exactly was the MONSTER???
Richard...Mary...Andrew or Christina....it could be all of them in their own way!
Shaw and Bray certainly do not hold back with the brutality here.
A great read for me 10/10...5 "monster" stars!!
June 1, 2021
What I love about this book is that it's about real life monsters (people). People are the worst right? Not only is this book very extreme, it kinda pulled on my heartstrings in a messed up kind of way. The whole book, my mind went back and forth... who should I feel sorry for? It's the kind of book that messes with your mind, and that's not only because it's gory, but because it actually has a story to it. Then some time after reading the book, I stumbled across the movie!!!!!! WOW! WOW! Re read finished May 31 2021
July 27, 2022
what a fucked up and disturbing read.
it’s to be expected when reading Matt Shaw’s books.
as disturbing and graphic as it was, i enjoyed it.
there’s a warning in the beginning of the book.
this book is not for anyone with a weak stomach or is easily offended.
so enter at your own risk.
it’s to be expected when reading Matt Shaw’s books.
as disturbing and graphic as it was, i enjoyed it.
there’s a warning in the beginning of the book.
this book is not for anyone with a weak stomach or is easily offended.
so enter at your own risk.
March 18, 2015
This is one of the best stories I've read in a while. You need to check it out now!
I've read things from Shaw previously so I already knew I liked his writing style.
This is my first read of Bray. I'm not sure who wrote what bits, but I think I can guess. There are some slight differences in style.
However, both authors write in such a way that it's just easy to read. Everything flows nicely. There is no work involved, it's just fun.
The story itself was deep! Gruesome at times, but don't let the gore fool you into thinking this is a splatter novel.
This was an intense psychological thriller as well as a brutal horror.
It pulled me in from the start, I really started to feel for the characters within the story.
I enjoyed every minute of this book and I definitely recommend it.
All reviews can be found at http://lennonslair.blogspot.co.uk
I've read things from Shaw previously so I already knew I liked his writing style.
This is my first read of Bray. I'm not sure who wrote what bits, but I think I can guess. There are some slight differences in style.
However, both authors write in such a way that it's just easy to read. Everything flows nicely. There is no work involved, it's just fun.
The story itself was deep! Gruesome at times, but don't let the gore fool you into thinking this is a splatter novel.
This was an intense psychological thriller as well as a brutal horror.
It pulled me in from the start, I really started to feel for the characters within the story.
I enjoyed every minute of this book and I definitely recommend it.
All reviews can be found at http://lennonslair.blogspot.co.uk
November 13, 2015
Wow! Just wow! I'm not sure where to begin. This was definitely disturbing and very intense. It was also painful and heartbreaking. It makes you really think about what a monster truly is. It sounds strange to say that such a dark and twisted story was amazing but it was. If you like extreme horror, this is a must read.
March 17, 2015
Ok WOW! I had to think it over awhile before attempting to write this review. I love horror, always have but I noticed quite frequently that either I was losing my imagination or the stories were starting to get bland. Then I downloaded "Monster"..... It's a combined piece of work between Matt Shaw and Michael Bray. This story catches your attention quickly. There was one point in the story where I was thinking "ok.... This is obviously going in this direction...." And quickly found out that not only did I NOT have any idea to where it was going but that I needed to sit back and shut up. This story veers from an insidious creeping up your spine to adrenaline rushing fear. Not unlike the toy mentioned in the book. Never before Abe I physically experienced the "fight or flight" response just from reading before. Good job guys. This was one hell of a ride!!
September 27, 2022
Well then … this book was as disturbing as they come. I went into this book blind as I’m trying to get through some of my tbr pile. At first I wasn’t really sure it wasn’t going to be very similar to Texas chainsaw massacre. Was I ever wrong . This is by far my favorite Shaw book to date. Not because of the brutality so much . And it definitely does not lack brutality . The story line itself was outstanding. No scarier Monster than the human .
March 29, 2015
All I am going to say about this novel is that it is one of the most depressing, bleakest and saddest stories I have ever read with a most truly disgusting individual in the way he abuses his family. It wasn't a true story, but knowing it does happen makes it a tough one to read, but it was well written.
May 9, 2018
The authors of MONSTER preface the book with a warning to the readers, cautioning them about the contents of the book. They really play it up: debating whether or not the story was too dark or too extreme and needed to be censored. It's ridiculous. If you've seen the first five minutes of the remake of The Hills Have Eyes 2, you've read this book. Matt Shaw really phones it in. He seems to be doing pretty well, popping out a book every month or so, and probably making a decent bit of cash too. So you'd think he'd be able to afford an editor. MONSTER is riddled with typos that should embarrass professional writers, like the misuse of "it's" and "its" in the same sentence, and a complete lack of knowledge on how quoting dialogue works. Also, it's almost impossible to get a sense of where this book is set until they explicitly tell you. All the characters use British slang and spellings, but it's set in Indiana. Okay.
Matt Shaw says in the introduction that he writes his endings to leave the audience reeling. That's true. Because I wasted three hours or so on one of the most underwhelming, anticlimactic, predictable endings I've ever read. It felt like he was written into a corner, so he just STOPPED. That's how abruptly it ends. And yeah, we all get it. "Who's the real monster?" Really original.
Also, it's Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, not NIcholas. Wikipedia is a thing. So is imdb. Do your research!
Matt Shaw says in the introduction that he writes his endings to leave the audience reeling. That's true. Because I wasted three hours or so on one of the most underwhelming, anticlimactic, predictable endings I've ever read. It felt like he was written into a corner, so he just STOPPED. That's how abruptly it ends. And yeah, we all get it. "Who's the real monster?" Really original.
Also, it's Patrick Bateman in American Psycho, not NIcholas. Wikipedia is a thing. So is imdb. Do your research!
December 23, 2020
Mich hat Monster sehr überrascht, positiv. Am Anfang hätte ich sicherlich nicht gedacht, dass ich am Ende ein paar Tränen verdrücke.
Ich mochte die Prota, wie sie versucht logisch und mit Verstand an die Sache ran zu gehen. Und wie der Klappentext schon andeutet, ist Andrew nicht das wahre Monster der Geschichte. Ich fand, für einen Extrem / Horror Titel erstaunlich viel Tiefe in der Geschichte.
Große Empfehlung.
Ich mochte die Prota, wie sie versucht logisch und mit Verstand an die Sache ran zu gehen. Und wie der Klappentext schon andeutet, ist Andrew nicht das wahre Monster der Geschichte. Ich fand, für einen Extrem / Horror Titel erstaunlich viel Tiefe in der Geschichte.
Große Empfehlung.
April 6, 2015
Creepy and sad
This book is definitely hardcore horror. At the same time, it's still quite good. This isn't supernatural horror, the characters and situations are actually possible. Most of the book is outrageous and unlikely. However, the background story is the kind actually seen on the news about abused children falling through the cracks. And that just makes the book that much creepier.
It also makes you angry when you see the treatment of Andrew, both as an adult and as a child. The fact is that statistically, handicapped children are much more likely to be abused than other children. At the end I wondered about the title of the book, and who truly was the monster in it. In the beginning it seems obvious. By the end though, it becomes painfully obvious who the real monster(s) is(are).
This book is definitely hardcore horror. At the same time, it's still quite good. This isn't supernatural horror, the characters and situations are actually possible. Most of the book is outrageous and unlikely. However, the background story is the kind actually seen on the news about abused children falling through the cracks. And that just makes the book that much creepier.
It also makes you angry when you see the treatment of Andrew, both as an adult and as a child. The fact is that statistically, handicapped children are much more likely to be abused than other children. At the end I wondered about the title of the book, and who truly was the monster in it. In the beginning it seems obvious. By the end though, it becomes painfully obvious who the real monster(s) is(are).
March 9, 2015
So as expected, this book pushes the limits. It is not for the weak at heart. It is actually brutally sad and disturbing all at the same time.
Imagination a lifetime of torture by a man you are for some reason so inexplicably tied to, seemingly because you have a child together, that oh yea had a massive deformity and brain damage, because said man tried to make you miscarry / beat you to death. What is a good scared sh**less wife to do? Endure.
What Shaw and Bray have put together here is a novel of such gruesome proportions that it actually has you questioning if this could happen. And my answer to that is Yes. I think sadly it could. Which makes this that much more brutal
A must read for extreme horror fans
Imagination a lifetime of torture by a man you are for some reason so inexplicably tied to, seemingly because you have a child together, that oh yea had a massive deformity and brain damage, because said man tried to make you miscarry / beat you to death. What is a good scared sh**less wife to do? Endure.
What Shaw and Bray have put together here is a novel of such gruesome proportions that it actually has you questioning if this could happen. And my answer to that is Yes. I think sadly it could. Which makes this that much more brutal
A must read for extreme horror fans
March 8, 2015
"My bubuh."
This book is nothing like I have ever read before. At times I was close to tears and other times I was close to throwing up. The ending tore my heart out. I just don't even know how to put into words how this made me feel. By far one of Matt's greatest, and Michael Bray's parts were incredible. For the first time ever I actually had to stop reading, compose myself and remind myself that it wasn't real. It was horrible and brilliant at the same time. If you like extreme horror, don't hesitate to buy this.
This book is nothing like I have ever read before. At times I was close to tears and other times I was close to throwing up. The ending tore my heart out. I just don't even know how to put into words how this made me feel. By far one of Matt's greatest, and Michael Bray's parts were incredible. For the first time ever I actually had to stop reading, compose myself and remind myself that it wasn't real. It was horrible and brilliant at the same time. If you like extreme horror, don't hesitate to buy this.
July 26, 2018
An emotional spiral
Wow I loved this read it in a day and a half! A complete emotional rollercoaster brilliantly thought up, it makes you angry, sad and you even feel a little empathy for a couple of the bad guys (BUT you DONT want to, you can't help it!!!) It defiantly without a doubt going to stick with me. For a long time.
Wow I loved this read it in a day and a half! A complete emotional rollercoaster brilliantly thought up, it makes you angry, sad and you even feel a little empathy for a couple of the bad guys (BUT you DONT want to, you can't help it!!!) It defiantly without a doubt going to stick with me. For a long time.
October 2, 2021
bro when will men stop thinking that the brutalization of women (and describing in detail men abusing women in every way possible) = horror :/ it’s not dark and edgy content for your extreme novel, it’s a serious topic, mate,,,
December 28, 2022
Kommen wir zuallererst zum Klappentext:
👹 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
Andrew durfte nie ein normales Kind sein - denn sein Schicksal wurde bereits im Mutterleib besiegelt.
Jetzt ist er ein blutgieriges Monster und versteckt sein Gesicht unter einer Maske verwesender Haut.
Doch Andrew ist nicht das wahre Monster dieser Geschichte.
👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
*TRIGGERWARNUNG*
Dieses Buch behandelt das Thema häusliche Gewalt in einer sehr extremen Darstellung.
Wer damit Probleme hat oder vielleicht dadurch getriggert wird sollte es am besten nicht lesen. Nichtsdestotrotz ist dies ein sehr wichtiges und leider immer noch aktuelles Thema.
*Triggerwarnung Ende*
Meine Meinung:
Ich fand, es war wieder ein gelungener Extrem Band. Die Autoren schaffen es, dass man mit den Charakteren mitfühlt, besonders bei den Gewaltszenen (wie oben erwähnt). Dadurch wird man für das Thema sensibilisiert.
Man lernt die Charakter sehr gut kennen. Der Schreibstil ist fließend und durchgehend spannend, auch wenn der Anfang etwas verwirrend bzw. lang war.
Eine Story die an Gewalt und Extremität nicht zu kurz kommt. Es ist mal kein krasser Ekelroman mit viel Sex, sondern einfach nur mit viel Gewalt und Brutalität.
Aufjeden Fall nichts für schwache Nerven!
Für mich ein 4,5 Sterne Buch. Einen halben Stern abzug, weil mir der Anfang ein bisschen zu lang war.
Ich kann es jeden Extrem Fan empfehlen :)
👹 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
Andrew durfte nie ein normales Kind sein - denn sein Schicksal wurde bereits im Mutterleib besiegelt.
Jetzt ist er ein blutgieriges Monster und versteckt sein Gesicht unter einer Maske verwesender Haut.
Doch Andrew ist nicht das wahre Monster dieser Geschichte.
👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
*TRIGGERWARNUNG*
Dieses Buch behandelt das Thema häusliche Gewalt in einer sehr extremen Darstellung.
Wer damit Probleme hat oder vielleicht dadurch getriggert wird sollte es am besten nicht lesen. Nichtsdestotrotz ist dies ein sehr wichtiges und leider immer noch aktuelles Thema.
*Triggerwarnung Ende*
Meine Meinung:
Ich fand, es war wieder ein gelungener Extrem Band. Die Autoren schaffen es, dass man mit den Charakteren mitfühlt, besonders bei den Gewaltszenen (wie oben erwähnt). Dadurch wird man für das Thema sensibilisiert.
Man lernt die Charakter sehr gut kennen. Der Schreibstil ist fließend und durchgehend spannend, auch wenn der Anfang etwas verwirrend bzw. lang war.
Eine Story die an Gewalt und Extremität nicht zu kurz kommt. Es ist mal kein krasser Ekelroman mit viel Sex, sondern einfach nur mit viel Gewalt und Brutalität.
Aufjeden Fall nichts für schwache Nerven!
Für mich ein 4,5 Sterne Buch. Einen halben Stern abzug, weil mir der Anfang ein bisschen zu lang war.
Ich kann es jeden Extrem Fan empfehlen :)
May 17, 2022
Every year, people go missing. No explanation, never found. Always in the same month. One crime lover is going to get closen than she ever could have imagined.
This is not for the faint hearted, but those who love extreme horror will love this book. Matt Shaw never disappoints, and Michael Bray writes just as disturbing.
Not sure I will ever look at a birthday party the same after this book...
This is not for the faint hearted, but those who love extreme horror will love this book. Matt Shaw never disappoints, and Michael Bray writes just as disturbing.
Not sure I will ever look at a birthday party the same after this book...
July 1, 2018
✨ Potential Spoilers ✨
I don’t review often, but I just wanted to come on here and say a few things. First, I love the horror, thriller, gore genre. No topic that’s considered taboo usually bothers me simply because while I know cannibalism and abducting and cutting up body parts do happen, they don’t happen as much as one would think. So reading about it doesn’t bother me. Second, I’m not squeamish in any way what so ever. I’m a huge fan of American Horror Story so I mean if you watch that show you know what it’s like to see a tv show push boundaries.
This book does push boundaries, it’s also well written. The characters are well thought out and understood. The warning on the front cover is what peaked my interest. There was also a warning within the book as well from both authors, although I feel as though the warning hyped up the book and then the actual story fell flat. The warning tells you if you’re squeamish and or don’t like certain taboo story lines to not go forward. Well I went forward and I didn’t find any of it the least bit scary.
I was hoping for a “sit at the edge of your seat, heart thumping, pulse racing and fear of the darkness around you” kind of story. It wasn’t like that at all. It was a quick read about an extremely abusive husband and a wife who did whatever she could so she couldn’t get hit but ended up getting beaten anyway, and a son who was born with mental issues probably from all the abuse the woman suffered while she was pregnant with him. Then the husband started bringing home teens and killing them because he couldn’t get enough satisfaction from
Beating his wife.
There is so much more to it but honestly it’s not much. It gets two stars from me bc I finished it quickly.
I don’t review often, but I just wanted to come on here and say a few things. First, I love the horror, thriller, gore genre. No topic that’s considered taboo usually bothers me simply because while I know cannibalism and abducting and cutting up body parts do happen, they don’t happen as much as one would think. So reading about it doesn’t bother me. Second, I’m not squeamish in any way what so ever. I’m a huge fan of American Horror Story so I mean if you watch that show you know what it’s like to see a tv show push boundaries.
This book does push boundaries, it’s also well written. The characters are well thought out and understood. The warning on the front cover is what peaked my interest. There was also a warning within the book as well from both authors, although I feel as though the warning hyped up the book and then the actual story fell flat. The warning tells you if you’re squeamish and or don’t like certain taboo story lines to not go forward. Well I went forward and I didn’t find any of it the least bit scary.
I was hoping for a “sit at the edge of your seat, heart thumping, pulse racing and fear of the darkness around you” kind of story. It wasn’t like that at all. It was a quick read about an extremely abusive husband and a wife who did whatever she could so she couldn’t get hit but ended up getting beaten anyway, and a son who was born with mental issues probably from all the abuse the woman suffered while she was pregnant with him. Then the husband started bringing home teens and killing them because he couldn’t get enough satisfaction from
Beating his wife.
There is so much more to it but honestly it’s not much. It gets two stars from me bc I finished it quickly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2015
Matt Shaw & Michael Bray reunited at last!
Since 1991 sixteen people have disappeared without a trace. The abductions are always at the beginning of August.
Christina Cooper has been following the case since the first disappearance, and searches for her own answers.
Today is August first, and Christina is about to learn more than she ever wanted to know.
There are some uncomfortable scenes, but they are necessary.
The characters wouldn’t be the same without them, and their actions wouldn’t have the same impact.
These guys managed to have me in tears reading an extreme horror novel! So IMO – they did everything right.
Full review posted on BBB.
Since 1991 sixteen people have disappeared without a trace. The abductions are always at the beginning of August.
Christina Cooper has been following the case since the first disappearance, and searches for her own answers.
Today is August first, and Christina is about to learn more than she ever wanted to know.
There are some uncomfortable scenes, but they are necessary.
The characters wouldn’t be the same without them, and their actions wouldn’t have the same impact.
These guys managed to have me in tears reading an extreme horror novel! So IMO – they did everything right.
Full review posted on BBB.
June 6, 2016
If you've not read anything by Matt Shaw be warned, it is graphic and gory.
****Warning there are spoilers below******
Richard, the father, is a wife beating bully who turns into an alcoholic wife beating bully and then he starts beating Andrew. My heart went out to Andrew and his mother. I wish she would have gotten the guts up to leave Richard. After he forced her to drink draino while carrying Andrew she should have went to a real doctor, not one of Richard's buddies, and then aborted Andrew. Even though Andrew is a monster, he's not the true monster of this story, his parents are.
The pages kept flying by and the horror mounting. This was a great read.
****Warning there are spoilers below******
Richard, the father, is a wife beating bully who turns into an alcoholic wife beating bully and then he starts beating Andrew. My heart went out to Andrew and his mother. I wish she would have gotten the guts up to leave Richard. After he forced her to drink draino while carrying Andrew she should have went to a real doctor, not one of Richard's buddies, and then aborted Andrew. Even though Andrew is a monster, he's not the true monster of this story, his parents are.
The pages kept flying by and the horror mounting. This was a great read.
July 24, 2018
Great book!
With the warning on the book I was expecting some kind of gory slasher book with more gore than story to it. It had good story, you really felt for certain characters. I loved that they explained what made the monster become that way. Yes, it is a very disturbing story but told well and the disturbing parts weren't really very descriptive. It was definitely a great read,a book I couldn't put it down.
With the warning on the book I was expecting some kind of gory slasher book with more gore than story to it. It had good story, you really felt for certain characters. I loved that they explained what made the monster become that way. Yes, it is a very disturbing story but told well and the disturbing parts weren't really very descriptive. It was definitely a great read,a book I couldn't put it down.
March 8, 2015
It's hard reviewing a book like this without giving anything too integral to the plot away. So I won't.
Yet another awesome collaboration between Bray and Shaw which makes you ooo,aaaahhh and eeeeeeewwww in all the right places, and occasionally a couple of the wrong ones.
Like the epic monster story Frankenstein, this story explores what makes a monster and who indeed is the worst monster.
Yet another awesome collaboration between Bray and Shaw which makes you ooo,aaaahhh and eeeeeeewwww in all the right places, and occasionally a couple of the wrong ones.
Like the epic monster story Frankenstein, this story explores what makes a monster and who indeed is the worst monster.
December 27, 2016
It could happen
I almost feel ashamed to say I 'enjoyed' this book. It is raw, gut wrenching, horror that could happen! It makes you feel bad for the bad guys yet still want them dead! I like Matt Shaw because his writing is so strong in details you can see every bit of the story. I think he is in writing what Rob Zombie is to movies. FREAKING AWESOME
I almost feel ashamed to say I 'enjoyed' this book. It is raw, gut wrenching, horror that could happen! It makes you feel bad for the bad guys yet still want them dead! I like Matt Shaw because his writing is so strong in details you can see every bit of the story. I think he is in writing what Rob Zombie is to movies. FREAKING AWESOME
September 9, 2018
Good book especially for TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE fans
If ya like the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE films than you will LOVE this book. The only thing is it's borrows much of the story from those filns.
If ya like the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE films than you will LOVE this book. The only thing is it's borrows much of the story from those filns.
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