What do you think?
Rate this book
Drudge
Jake Brown is what you might call a likely lad. Fresh faced, intelligent, and game for a laugh, if rather too agreeable. But when he heads down to Hartmouth for a solo summer holiday, he finds himself caught in a trap that no amount of toeing the line will free him from. Jake’s only hope is to embrace the darker side of his nature, a move that may well prove to have deadly consequences.
Book number three in the Hartmouth Horrors series of standalone novellas, this story packs a poisonous little punch.
Book number three in the Hartmouth Horrors series of standalone novellas, this story packs a poisonous little punch.
87 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2026
About the author
Jan Miklaszewicz
17 books59 followersBorn and raised in Plymouth, England, Jan is a father, a husband, and a former poet. Readers enjoy his work for its directness and sense of humour, as well as its smooth, free-flowing prose.
Unsurprisingly, much of his back catalogue is poetry, with four collections, two narrative poems, two anthologies, and an instructional guide for children to his name.
More recently Jan has pivoted to fiction, starting with a collection of offbeat shorts before moving into darker territory, conceiving the Hartmouth Horrors series of standalone novellas, and it is on this twisted fare that he will be focusing for the foreseeable future.
Unsurprisingly, much of his back catalogue is poetry, with four collections, two narrative poems, two anthologies, and an instructional guide for children to his name.
More recently Jan has pivoted to fiction, starting with a collection of offbeat shorts before moving into darker territory, conceiving the Hartmouth Horrors series of standalone novellas, and it is on this twisted fare that he will be focusing for the foreseeable future.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Drudge is the third book in the excellent Hartmouth Horror series. This is an early access review - the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Drudge may be an early contender for my favourite book of the year - yes, it is that good! Jan just keeps on putting out masterpiece after masterpiece; all the while experimenting with each entry. Every book in the series tries something completely different - whether that be focusing on a large cast of characters, a marriage with hints of some dark secrets, or a complete perspective shift. All the while keeping its signature tone and dripping atmosphere. This series is grotesque in all the right places - so, if you are a squeamish reader, consider yourself warned.
But what if you love grimy horror set in the UK? Then, you're in for a real greasy treat!
Jan is an absolute pro at mastering pace and prose. He conjures up the perfect, sickening atmosphere through the use of vivid descriptions and believable dialogue. If you are from the UK, like I said in The Devil in Mia review, he has this nailed down to a science! He carefully builds tension and stress throughout the book; he has you rooting for ordinary people that have found themselves in extraordinary situations.
What I loved too, was that the blurb was intentionally vague, but gave just enough of a hook to have you intrigued. I had no idea what I was going to find myself in as I went headfirst into the book - this is to say I'm glad I was left in the dark. (pun intended)
Drudge is a must buy for any horror reading fan.
Superb.
Drudge may be an early contender for my favourite book of the year - yes, it is that good! Jan just keeps on putting out masterpiece after masterpiece; all the while experimenting with each entry. Every book in the series tries something completely different - whether that be focusing on a large cast of characters, a marriage with hints of some dark secrets, or a complete perspective shift. All the while keeping its signature tone and dripping atmosphere. This series is grotesque in all the right places - so, if you are a squeamish reader, consider yourself warned.
But what if you love grimy horror set in the UK? Then, you're in for a real greasy treat!
Jan is an absolute pro at mastering pace and prose. He conjures up the perfect, sickening atmosphere through the use of vivid descriptions and believable dialogue. If you are from the UK, like I said in The Devil in Mia review, he has this nailed down to a science! He carefully builds tension and stress throughout the book; he has you rooting for ordinary people that have found themselves in extraordinary situations.
What I loved too, was that the blurb was intentionally vague, but gave just enough of a hook to have you intrigued. I had no idea what I was going to find myself in as I went headfirst into the book - this is to say I'm glad I was left in the dark. (pun intended)
Drudge is a must buy for any horror reading fan.
Superb.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hartmouth is fast turning into a place I only want to visit on paper. This latest offering from Jan Miklaszewicz – the third in the series – continues Hartmouth Horrors’ gruesome theme, this time with a seriously creepy character taking centre stage. It is not so much a fly on the wall view of the happenings, but an eye on the scene narration, as we see things from Jacob Brown’s perspective.
Poor Jacob, aka Jake, thinks he is going to sow his wild oats in ‘good old Hartmouth’ revisiting childhood haunts he frequented every year with Mum and Dad, but now as a grown up 21-year-old with all the freedom that will bring. How wrong he is, but then, anyone familiar with Hartmouth knows that was never going to happen.
It all begins quite innocuously, but in true Miklaszewicz style, the sinister culmination works its way through the pages, leading you ever deeper into the drudge that is promised in the title.
Jan is a wordsmith, a master of prose, and the book is an ‘easy’ read in many ways: his characters are realistic, their dialogue natural and believable, and his places evoke memories which every Brit who has ever visited a seaside town will be familiar with.
What’s not easy, and which fits the horror genre perfectly, is the content. The atmosphere of suspense is ramped up in increments by excellent pacing. The imagery Jan conjures up compels the reader on to find out what the hell is going to happen next, and yet revolts in equal doses.
Jan gives fair warning at the beginning of the book, and by the devil, he needs to…
Poor Jacob, aka Jake, thinks he is going to sow his wild oats in ‘good old Hartmouth’ revisiting childhood haunts he frequented every year with Mum and Dad, but now as a grown up 21-year-old with all the freedom that will bring. How wrong he is, but then, anyone familiar with Hartmouth knows that was never going to happen.
It all begins quite innocuously, but in true Miklaszewicz style, the sinister culmination works its way through the pages, leading you ever deeper into the drudge that is promised in the title.
Jan is a wordsmith, a master of prose, and the book is an ‘easy’ read in many ways: his characters are realistic, their dialogue natural and believable, and his places evoke memories which every Brit who has ever visited a seaside town will be familiar with.
What’s not easy, and which fits the horror genre perfectly, is the content. The atmosphere of suspense is ramped up in increments by excellent pacing. The imagery Jan conjures up compels the reader on to find out what the hell is going to happen next, and yet revolts in equal doses.
Jan gives fair warning at the beginning of the book, and by the devil, he needs to…
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Reading
Drudge is the type of psychological horror that even slasher diehards can appreciate. If I gave away the basic plot, you might think that you've seen that movie before. But I assure you that you haven't, not like this. The progression into the nightmare is steady and only continues to rise, in so few pages that it might seem impossible that everything communicated was actually there. The settings are nearly tangible, and the smells assault the brain. The author toys with the reader, allowing some hope, only to snatch it away. We need the protagonist to escape, and we need the antagonist, a vivid portrayal of a sociopath gone over the edge, to get what has to be coming ... we hope. It's all too real, and, even in the end, we can't be sure anything is really over.
Miklaszewicz has a true talent for blending realistic dialogue with inner monologue in a way that elevates the plot into less of a reading and more of a lived experience that comes naturally through the prose. This book is written in first person present, which, honestly, I've never been a huge fan of and have DNF'd books for. I stress that because Miklaszewicz executes it so well that it never reads like a script or like blocking, but actually turns words on a page into a virtual lived experience. Drudge is what stories are supposed to be.
Drudge is the type of psychological horror that even slasher diehards can appreciate. If I gave away the basic plot, you might think that you've seen that movie before. But I assure you that you haven't, not like this. The progression into the nightmare is steady and only continues to rise, in so few pages that it might seem impossible that everything communicated was actually there. The settings are nearly tangible, and the smells assault the brain. The author toys with the reader, allowing some hope, only to snatch it away. We need the protagonist to escape, and we need the antagonist, a vivid portrayal of a sociopath gone over the edge, to get what has to be coming ... we hope. It's all too real, and, even in the end, we can't be sure anything is really over.
Miklaszewicz has a true talent for blending realistic dialogue with inner monologue in a way that elevates the plot into less of a reading and more of a lived experience that comes naturally through the prose. This book is written in first person present, which, honestly, I've never been a huge fan of and have DNF'd books for. I stress that because Miklaszewicz executes it so well that it never reads like a script or like blocking, but actually turns words on a page into a virtual lived experience. Drudge is what stories are supposed to be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A horror story I wouldn't recommend eating before reading. Definitely don’t read it while eating. I followed the story cautiously, waiting for a nasty twist to lurk in every sentence. Unfortunately for me, it never disappointed.
This is a horror story that follows Jake as he tries to comprehend a confusing and hopeless situation he’s landed himself in. Set in the cozy locations of Hartmouth, familiar from previous books in the series, the story moves with a lazy, calm flow that is interrupted by sudden and deeply unpleasant turns.
As the scenes are written with cinematographic precision, the brightest ones will stay with me for a long time. Specifically, the way the author describes our hero’s dental struggles, and the way he was rid of them, creates persistent pictures in my head and uninvited tooth pain.
The horror is amplified by the hero spiraling into deeper and deeper misery due to his own decisions, starting with his choice to spend his first night in a friendly Hartmouth locations. It’s a chilling look at the weight of guilt the character carries - he requires a pretty convincing reason to finally start fighting for his life.
If you enjoyed John Fowles' "The Collector" for its darker, non-conventional elements, or if you’ve followed the previous books in this series, you will likely find this as unsettling as you want it to be.
This is a horror story that follows Jake as he tries to comprehend a confusing and hopeless situation he’s landed himself in. Set in the cozy locations of Hartmouth, familiar from previous books in the series, the story moves with a lazy, calm flow that is interrupted by sudden and deeply unpleasant turns.
As the scenes are written with cinematographic precision, the brightest ones will stay with me for a long time. Specifically, the way the author describes our hero’s dental struggles, and the way he was rid of them, creates persistent pictures in my head and uninvited tooth pain.
The horror is amplified by the hero spiraling into deeper and deeper misery due to his own decisions, starting with his choice to spend his first night in a friendly Hartmouth locations. It’s a chilling look at the weight of guilt the character carries - he requires a pretty convincing reason to finally start fighting for his life.
If you enjoyed John Fowles' "The Collector" for its darker, non-conventional elements, or if you’ve followed the previous books in this series, you will likely find this as unsettling as you want it to be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Flippin Hartmouth, man. Jan is back with his third installment in the horror series and he ain’t backwards in coming forwards in stepping the terror the frack up. Oh, poor old Jakey boy. Poor, unsuspecting bastard. Matey just wants a little break and a bit of fun. That’s not too much to ask, is it? Should’ve read the Yelp reviews first, I guess.
Drudge is an unmitigated masterclass in knife-edge tension, and both sides have been sharpened to finest cut. Jan always bangs it out of the park with dialogue and prose, and this is no exception. Stunningly fluid, arguably the strongest in the series so far (which is no small thing), Drudge keeps you on your toes, whilst strung up by your throat.
The antagonist is a grotesque, despicable git, for sure. But it is his words, his reactions, his mannerisms that truly unsettle the gut. Each interaction with Jake is tantamount to flipping a landmine and praying it doesn’t land on the pressure pad (or however they work), and that makes an incredibly unsettling, vulnerable and claustrophobic atmosphere.
No need to bang on endlessly; Jan never fails to deliver a twisted tale, which blends horror and humour to perfection. Unnerving as fuck and unputdownable, you are in for another Hartmouth Horror treat.Tighten that sphincter, my handsomes. You’re about to have your bowels loosened.
Drudge is an unmitigated masterclass in knife-edge tension, and both sides have been sharpened to finest cut. Jan always bangs it out of the park with dialogue and prose, and this is no exception. Stunningly fluid, arguably the strongest in the series so far (which is no small thing), Drudge keeps you on your toes, whilst strung up by your throat.
The antagonist is a grotesque, despicable git, for sure. But it is his words, his reactions, his mannerisms that truly unsettle the gut. Each interaction with Jake is tantamount to flipping a landmine and praying it doesn’t land on the pressure pad (or however they work), and that makes an incredibly unsettling, vulnerable and claustrophobic atmosphere.
No need to bang on endlessly; Jan never fails to deliver a twisted tale, which blends horror and humour to perfection. Unnerving as fuck and unputdownable, you are in for another Hartmouth Horror treat.Tighten that sphincter, my handsomes. You’re about to have your bowels loosened.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Drudge ARC Review
I was already a fan of Jan Miklaszewicz’s previous standalone Hartmouth Horrors, Eyes Wide Open and The Devil in Mia, so I came to this book, fairly or otherwise, with high expectations.
I’m delighted to say I was not let down.
Drudge is a first-person present-tense novella that has plenty to say about confinement and escape, and just as much about loneliness, conformity, and avoidance. Jan has a command of pacing and prose, along with a clever turn of phrase that always keeps you engrossed while grossed out.
Let’s be clear. This is a disgusting book, one that makes you feel unclean, that gets under your skin so deeply that no amount of scrubbing will ever cleanse. It also won’t do much for your appetite, I can promise you that.
But you get more from Drudge than just foul food and foul imagery. The novella’s strength is its intelligent flipping between restraint and overload. It’s a compact story. Character-driven. Precise. Half of the time alluding, the other half gorging you with gory details. There’s an art to making the extraordinary ordinary, almost routine until it’s not again. Jan Miklaszewicz has mastered that art.
I can’t recommend Drudge enough. Brilliant stuff.
Five mouldy Michelin stars!
I was already a fan of Jan Miklaszewicz’s previous standalone Hartmouth Horrors, Eyes Wide Open and The Devil in Mia, so I came to this book, fairly or otherwise, with high expectations.
I’m delighted to say I was not let down.
Drudge is a first-person present-tense novella that has plenty to say about confinement and escape, and just as much about loneliness, conformity, and avoidance. Jan has a command of pacing and prose, along with a clever turn of phrase that always keeps you engrossed while grossed out.
Let’s be clear. This is a disgusting book, one that makes you feel unclean, that gets under your skin so deeply that no amount of scrubbing will ever cleanse. It also won’t do much for your appetite, I can promise you that.
But you get more from Drudge than just foul food and foul imagery. The novella’s strength is its intelligent flipping between restraint and overload. It’s a compact story. Character-driven. Precise. Half of the time alluding, the other half gorging you with gory details. There’s an art to making the extraordinary ordinary, almost routine until it’s not again. Jan Miklaszewicz has mastered that art.
I can’t recommend Drudge enough. Brilliant stuff.
Five mouldy Michelin stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
You are thrown into an encounter where you have few viable options. Any action you take could be your last. What dark corners of your past, depths of your imperfect nature, will you draw upon to survive one more day, one more hour?
Jan Miklaszewicz's third offering in the Hartmouth Horror series compels the reader to witness the terror of just such an encounter. Drudge is a rapid-fire descent into hell on earth as told from the main character's perspective, and no mercy is given as the reader and Jake learn quickly that any mistakes will be dealt with in gruesome fashion.
As readers of Hartmouth novellas know well, each scene is written with unblinking clarity, at times evoking raw disgust or anger for a deeply immersive read. I cannot emphasize enough that the reader should NOT attempt to read Drudge while eating, and should also be prepared to experience acute loss of appetite for a time following.
Sharply written dialogue and haunting inner reverie will keep the reader engrossed as Jake navigates his psychotic surroundings and hears echoes of the past. The ending will shock you, and stayed with me for a long while.
I am already anxiously awaiting the next train into Hartmouth. Just be cautious about who you trust here in this cozy little seaside town.
Jan Miklaszewicz's third offering in the Hartmouth Horror series compels the reader to witness the terror of just such an encounter. Drudge is a rapid-fire descent into hell on earth as told from the main character's perspective, and no mercy is given as the reader and Jake learn quickly that any mistakes will be dealt with in gruesome fashion.
As readers of Hartmouth novellas know well, each scene is written with unblinking clarity, at times evoking raw disgust or anger for a deeply immersive read. I cannot emphasize enough that the reader should NOT attempt to read Drudge while eating, and should also be prepared to experience acute loss of appetite for a time following.
Sharply written dialogue and haunting inner reverie will keep the reader engrossed as Jake navigates his psychotic surroundings and hears echoes of the past. The ending will shock you, and stayed with me for a long while.
I am already anxiously awaiting the next train into Hartmouth. Just be cautious about who you trust here in this cozy little seaside town.
Review of advance copy received from Author
100 pages you never saw coming and yet, you couldn’t put it down.
If Hannibal Lector was a cross dresser, he would become Stella in this journey to whatever fuels your nightmares, be it clowns or men in dresses with mental health issues.
The style of writing is both comic and dare I say, crisp like the scrambled eggs that Stella cooked for her prisoner in the cellar where all the bad things happen always.
The characters are described so simply and yet their actions described in such a way that makes you cringe with horror at what this lovely ‘lady’ did with what lived inside his white lace panties.
At the end of reading this ‘little shop of horrors novella’, I am left to wonder if we all become what we live as I sure didn’t see that coming. Are we all reduced to an experience bringing THAT out inside us all?
Just wow. Not sure what else to say.
Def 5 stars hands down.
I now must go to the water and cleanse my soul and will from this day forward always think of this book when I hear the name ‘Stella’.
Ps I want a signed copy of the book by the person who wrote this to sit beside my possessed doll.
If Hannibal Lector was a cross dresser, he would become Stella in this journey to whatever fuels your nightmares, be it clowns or men in dresses with mental health issues.
The style of writing is both comic and dare I say, crisp like the scrambled eggs that Stella cooked for her prisoner in the cellar where all the bad things happen always.
The characters are described so simply and yet their actions described in such a way that makes you cringe with horror at what this lovely ‘lady’ did with what lived inside his white lace panties.
At the end of reading this ‘little shop of horrors novella’, I am left to wonder if we all become what we live as I sure didn’t see that coming. Are we all reduced to an experience bringing THAT out inside us all?
Just wow. Not sure what else to say.
Def 5 stars hands down.
I now must go to the water and cleanse my soul and will from this day forward always think of this book when I hear the name ‘Stella’.
Ps I want a signed copy of the book by the person who wrote this to sit beside my possessed doll.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unsettling, uncomfortable and absolutely unputdownable! This third in the Hartmouth Horror series is my favourite yet and I LOVE the first two.
I must admit that given the subject matter I thought Drudge was going to be a tough read. However, the tense, ticking clock situation and immediacy of the first-person, present-tense prose had me flying through the pages anxious and desperate to know the fate of our hapless young narrator.
Jake is a naive yet intelligent and likeable lad who held my sympathy throughout. The antagonist meanwhile is perhaps the most loathsome, sadistic creep ever conjured on the page. My hatred of him grew with each twisted, petty torture and my stomach turned at the effectively gruesome descriptions, as gross as anything I’ve ever read in splatterpunk.
Drudge is one of the best horror stories I’ve read in decades and one I’ll proudly recommend to anyone as a prime example of just how incredible indie books can be.
I must admit that given the subject matter I thought Drudge was going to be a tough read. However, the tense, ticking clock situation and immediacy of the first-person, present-tense prose had me flying through the pages anxious and desperate to know the fate of our hapless young narrator.
Jake is a naive yet intelligent and likeable lad who held my sympathy throughout. The antagonist meanwhile is perhaps the most loathsome, sadistic creep ever conjured on the page. My hatred of him grew with each twisted, petty torture and my stomach turned at the effectively gruesome descriptions, as gross as anything I’ve ever read in splatterpunk.
Drudge is one of the best horror stories I’ve read in decades and one I’ll proudly recommend to anyone as a prime example of just how incredible indie books can be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The antagonist in this third Hartmouth Horror volume does for home cooking what Atilla the Hun did for diplomacy. Suffice to say, I'll never be able to eat a plate of liver and onions ever again. This was a brilliant shift in gears. Drudge is Hartmouth horror stripped down to the bone with the nastiness turned up to 12. It reads like a car crash, lurching the hapless main character from one sickeningly believable nightmare scenario to the next. Much has been made of the banality of evil and the author gets it down pat here. The aforementioned antagonist is no mastermind, no otherworldly phantom, and thats what makes him so terrifying. He's just the kind of greasy, garden variety nutter that you do your best to avoid at all costs. The genius of Drudge is it puts you at his mercy. You are there trussed up and helpless, side by side with the main character. Excellent work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My God, where to start with this one? There’s this sense of dread that hovers in a thick cloud when you begin this book and through the author’s skill, page after page it lowers onto you. Covers you, consumes you, until you’re swimming in it. The whole situation is one of my greatest fears and Jan, with his ever amazing, silk smooth prose, handles it beautifully. The main character is real, a great down to earth guy, who’s balanced at the other end of the scale by a villain that’s set to be one of this year’s most terrifying.
You just never know what’s next, how it’s going to end, but I promise, once you start there’s no way you’ll put this thing down.
I predict this is going to huge in 2026 and for a long time to come. Read the latest in the Hartmouth horror series, read it as soon as you can. Five ‘handsome’ stars…
You just never know what’s next, how it’s going to end, but I promise, once you start there’s no way you’ll put this thing down.
I predict this is going to huge in 2026 and for a long time to come. Read the latest in the Hartmouth horror series, read it as soon as you can. Five ‘handsome’ stars…
Review of advance copy received from Author
Drudge is an excellent addition to the Hartmouth Horrors collection. Jan does it again, sharpening and refining his craft by shifting from the typical third-person perspective to a gripping first-person one. This creative choice immerses us directly in Jacob's mind, letting readers experience the horror right alongside the protagonist. It's a brilliant move that heightens the tension and intimacy.
Jan's dialogue has always been exemplary, but here he takes a fresh approach by dialing back spoken exchanges and leaning more heavily into internal monologue. I loved this shift; it keeps the storytelling dynamic and innovative within the series. You can see the author actively experimenting and evolving his technique with each installment, and it makes every story a fun, unpredictable dive into dread.
Highly recommended and can't wait for the next one!
Jan's dialogue has always been exemplary, but here he takes a fresh approach by dialing back spoken exchanges and leaning more heavily into internal monologue. I loved this shift; it keeps the storytelling dynamic and innovative within the series. You can see the author actively experimenting and evolving his technique with each installment, and it makes every story a fun, unpredictable dive into dread.
Highly recommended and can't wait for the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Here we go my handsome.
Believable characters, brutal and captivating.
I love me some Hartmouth Horrors, and I was so pleased to see one of these novellas in first person. It made the struggle of our MC so real and uncomfortable. Anyone that's grown up in a seaside in England will have met some of this cast. The ones lurking in the back of a 'spoons especially.
Something about Jan's descriptives made it so that I could practically smell what was going on. A vile, but overall satisfying experience.
I had the pleasure of receiving the ARC for Drudge (also learned a new word due to the title) and I read it in one glorious sitting. This was an easy 5* because Jan basically writes what I want to read. His prose are a joy, the pacing is perfection and I am honestly thrilled to have found this author.
Believable characters, brutal and captivating.
I love me some Hartmouth Horrors, and I was so pleased to see one of these novellas in first person. It made the struggle of our MC so real and uncomfortable. Anyone that's grown up in a seaside in England will have met some of this cast. The ones lurking in the back of a 'spoons especially.
Something about Jan's descriptives made it so that I could practically smell what was going on. A vile, but overall satisfying experience.
I had the pleasure of receiving the ARC for Drudge (also learned a new word due to the title) and I read it in one glorious sitting. This was an easy 5* because Jan basically writes what I want to read. His prose are a joy, the pacing is perfection and I am honestly thrilled to have found this author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a wonderful book Jan has written again. And when I say wonderful I mean bile inducing, and anxiety propelling, but its written words are once again a display of a master at work.
It lacked nothing, setting a more grim scene than I found the other books to date to be, but it fit the narrative perfectly. That grimness also means it worked its way up to a delightful conclusion. And, once again, when I say delightful, I mean adrenaline-filled, rage-driven madness.
The building of tension is exquisite and the finale brings with it something like a… dare I say… release?
Not to mention the psychological aspects of the book which have been, in my opinion as a psychologist, portrayed in a very believable manner.
The story grips you, takes you down to the bowels of hell and won’t release you until you come up gasping for air and sanity on the other end of it.
Loved it. Best one yet.
It lacked nothing, setting a more grim scene than I found the other books to date to be, but it fit the narrative perfectly. That grimness also means it worked its way up to a delightful conclusion. And, once again, when I say delightful, I mean adrenaline-filled, rage-driven madness.
The building of tension is exquisite and the finale brings with it something like a… dare I say… release?
Not to mention the psychological aspects of the book which have been, in my opinion as a psychologist, portrayed in a very believable manner.
The story grips you, takes you down to the bowels of hell and won’t release you until you come up gasping for air and sanity on the other end of it.
Loved it. Best one yet.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jan Miklasewicz shines the lens once more on another diabolical Hartmouth horror and this one is his most accomplished yet. In DRUDGE, young Jake pays a visit to the town of Hartmouth, a stroke of bad luck leaves him vulnerable, leading to a truly nasty, perhaps inescapable ordeal.
As with his previous entry in the series, The Devil in Mia, the horror and dark humour is at its best when Miklaszewicz is focused in on the interplay between two characters. Drudge is pitch perfect in this regard. I love this author's sense of humour, and I'm full of respect for the way he uses unease and escalating dread to push this narrative towards its much anticipated conclusion. There are some gruesome moments to be enjoyed along the way. Drudge is stylish, very dark, and immense fun.
As with his previous entry in the series, The Devil in Mia, the horror and dark humour is at its best when Miklaszewicz is focused in on the interplay between two characters. Drudge is pitch perfect in this regard. I love this author's sense of humour, and I'm full of respect for the way he uses unease and escalating dread to push this narrative towards its much anticipated conclusion. There are some gruesome moments to be enjoyed along the way. Drudge is stylish, very dark, and immense fun.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jan has done it again! The third entry in his Hartmouth Horrors series, Drudge, is a disgustingly creepy account of the worst holiday Jake Brown’s ever experienced. This book is so incredibly tense and clever, as well as being horrifically gross, and it’s really fun to see Jan write from a sole perspective, really allowing you to get into Jake’s head and experience the book with him.
Jan is one of my favourite authors, and I always look forward to a new Hartmouth Horror. Selfishly, I hope he continues for many, many years.
Thanks to Jan Miklaszewicz for the ARC.
Jan is one of my favourite authors, and I always look forward to a new Hartmouth Horror. Selfishly, I hope he continues for many, many years.
Thanks to Jan Miklaszewicz for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Hartmouth is going to need a trauma support group.
As a man, this dirty tale tugged at long-dormant fears I hadn't had for a long time.
I should send the author a nastygram for that, but I stayed the course and read through to the end.
Jacob is an everyman, his thoughts both familiar and believable. Poor ba$tard suffers alot... but you'll be hooked in too deep to put it down.
This story will prickle the flesh of men and women alike.
It's a mild and successful change (POV) from Hartmouth's already excellent format. I highly recommend Drudge.
As a man, this dirty tale tugged at long-dormant fears I hadn't had for a long time.
I should send the author a nastygram for that, but I stayed the course and read through to the end.
Jacob is an everyman, his thoughts both familiar and believable. Poor ba$tard suffers alot... but you'll be hooked in too deep to put it down.
This story will prickle the flesh of men and women alike.
It's a mild and successful change (POV) from Hartmouth's already excellent format. I highly recommend Drudge.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of beta reading "Drudge"—the third book of the Hartmouth Horror series—and I couldn't put it down. I literally read it in one shot.
This is the type of horror that real nightmares are made of. The stories that bother me the most are the ones that could actually happen. This is that.
All of Jan's books are bangers, but this one might be my favorite, so far—and if you've read any of his others, you know that's saying a lot. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Keep your eye on this one, coming in April!
This is the type of horror that real nightmares are made of. The stories that bother me the most are the ones that could actually happen. This is that.
All of Jan's books are bangers, but this one might be my favorite, so far—and if you've read any of his others, you know that's saying a lot. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Keep your eye on this one, coming in April!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Having read the first two books in this series gives me a deeper appreciation for the ending of this tale, but as a standalone, this story really struck a sweet spot for me.
Told from the perspective of the main character, the author skillfully unravels the humanity of this poor soul as his fate takes a cruel and torturous twist to an ending no one expects to see.
A quick read, I highly recommend this book as well as the others in the Hartmouth Series!
Told from the perspective of the main character, the author skillfully unravels the humanity of this poor soul as his fate takes a cruel and torturous twist to an ending no one expects to see.
A quick read, I highly recommend this book as well as the others in the Hartmouth Series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Wakey wakey, hands off snakey"
This is one of those reads where each page has a memorable line. The short story falls under 105 pages, making it a quick and disturbing read.
The story sticks with you, like a screwdriver jammed into the rough of your mouth.
-I received this story free from the author without compensation-
This is one of those reads where each page has a memorable line. The short story falls under 105 pages, making it a quick and disturbing read.
The story sticks with you, like a screwdriver jammed into the rough of your mouth.
-I received this story free from the author without compensation-
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gross.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hello handsome....
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews