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FOLLOWER COUNT - A SHORT HORROR NOVEL
HERE ARE THE RULES TO SURVIVE
GAIN 500 NEW FOLLOWERS EVERY 24 HOURS... OR DIE
DO NOT BUY FOLLOWERS
DO NOT FOLLOW MORE THAN YOUR FOLLOWER COUNT
THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR
When Henry, an events company worker, is found dead after going on a date, his colleague, Nicola receives a threatening message from an unknown user telling her she must gain 500 followers every 24 hours or die. She suspects it's just someone trolling her, but Henry's last post referred to gaining followers too.
Should she obey the orders she's been given? Or risk death at the hands of an unknown predator?
IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE, YOUR FOLLOWER COUNT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Content This short horror novel contains scenes which some readers may find upsetting.
HERE ARE THE RULES TO SURVIVE
GAIN 500 NEW FOLLOWERS EVERY 24 HOURS... OR DIE
DO NOT BUY FOLLOWERS
DO NOT FOLLOW MORE THAN YOUR FOLLOWER COUNT
THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR
When Henry, an events company worker, is found dead after going on a date, his colleague, Nicola receives a threatening message from an unknown user telling her she must gain 500 followers every 24 hours or die. She suspects it's just someone trolling her, but Henry's last post referred to gaining followers too.
Should she obey the orders she's been given? Or risk death at the hands of an unknown predator?
IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA AGE, YOUR FOLLOWER COUNT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Content This short horror novel contains scenes which some readers may find upsetting.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2026
About the author
Huw Langridge
11 books22 followersThanks to his English teacher at school, Huw Langridge realised that writing (and reading) was actually pretty fun, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s that he realised that he could bring out his own literary voice.
He grew up in London and, during his years working as a global IT troubleshooter for an oil exploration company, Huw travelled to a number of places that enabled him to find inspiration and tone for his stories. More recently he has visited many parts of the world working on an operations team delivering high-calibre investment conferences.
In 2003 Huw attended an Arvon Foundation novel-writing course at the residential retreat at Lumb Bank in Yorkshire. The course was tutored by Martyn Bedford ("The Houdini Girl" and "Acts of Revision") and Phil Whitaker ("Triangulation" and "The Face"). The guest author was Louise Welsh ("The Cutting Room"). Also in attendance was Ian Marchant ("Parallel Lines"). Huw has cooked for all of them, and was glad they survived.
Huw's first short story publication was the science fiction piece "The Ceres Configuration", published in Issue 4 of Jupiter SF Magazine, released in 2004. The story was described by Adrian Fry of Whispers of Wickedness as "A good old fashioned (yet high-tech) tale of approaching apocalypse, [which] served to remind me just what unpretentious science fiction can do when written by someone who clearly relishes every word."
Further published short works have appeared in The Ranfurly Review, Reflection's Edge, Jupiter SF, 365tomorrows and Supernatural Tales.
His short story "Last Train to Tassenmere" received an Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow's Year's Best Horror 2009, and featured in his collection The Train Set, released in 2012.
In 2010 he released his short story collection The Axiom Few, featuring three previously published stories and five stories new to the collection. His Axiom Few stories have received praise from a number of online SF review websites, such as SF Signal, SF Site and SF Crowsnest.
Since 2020 he has written four short novels that, in their own way, pay homage to the cosy catastrophies of John Wyndham. The Tolworth Beacon and its sequel The Tolworth Resonance, The Sapling Method and Hoodwink's Folly see a mundane suburban setting turned upside down by something far outside of the ordinary.
Huw gets his inspiration from music, travel and the seasons. He lives by the sea in North Wales with his wife and two children.
He grew up in London and, during his years working as a global IT troubleshooter for an oil exploration company, Huw travelled to a number of places that enabled him to find inspiration and tone for his stories. More recently he has visited many parts of the world working on an operations team delivering high-calibre investment conferences.
In 2003 Huw attended an Arvon Foundation novel-writing course at the residential retreat at Lumb Bank in Yorkshire. The course was tutored by Martyn Bedford ("The Houdini Girl" and "Acts of Revision") and Phil Whitaker ("Triangulation" and "The Face"). The guest author was Louise Welsh ("The Cutting Room"). Also in attendance was Ian Marchant ("Parallel Lines"). Huw has cooked for all of them, and was glad they survived.
Huw's first short story publication was the science fiction piece "The Ceres Configuration", published in Issue 4 of Jupiter SF Magazine, released in 2004. The story was described by Adrian Fry of Whispers of Wickedness as "A good old fashioned (yet high-tech) tale of approaching apocalypse, [which] served to remind me just what unpretentious science fiction can do when written by someone who clearly relishes every word."
Further published short works have appeared in The Ranfurly Review, Reflection's Edge, Jupiter SF, 365tomorrows and Supernatural Tales.
His short story "Last Train to Tassenmere" received an Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow's Year's Best Horror 2009, and featured in his collection The Train Set, released in 2012.
In 2010 he released his short story collection The Axiom Few, featuring three previously published stories and five stories new to the collection. His Axiom Few stories have received praise from a number of online SF review websites, such as SF Signal, SF Site and SF Crowsnest.
Since 2020 he has written four short novels that, in their own way, pay homage to the cosy catastrophies of John Wyndham. The Tolworth Beacon and its sequel The Tolworth Resonance, The Sapling Method and Hoodwink's Folly see a mundane suburban setting turned upside down by something far outside of the ordinary.
Huw gets his inspiration from music, travel and the seasons. He lives by the sea in North Wales with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 12, 2026
This was a great read from start to finish. Very clean and flowing prose, and executed so well.
There’s a killer on the loose, get 500 followers daily or get erased. Great concept and an ending I didn’t see coming!
Recommend
There’s a killer on the loose, get 500 followers daily or get erased. Great concept and an ending I didn’t see coming!
Recommend
July 5, 2026
A crazy an fun read
I enjoy everything I've read from Langridge and this is no exception. It starts with a typical silly internet challenge sent to your DMs, get 500 new followers on social media every day or die. Only it turns out its real and this social media basically controls everything.
Highly recommend this quick read that stays punchy and pulls you in. Plus like everything Langridge writes it has a great ending. You owe it to yourself to read this flawless tale.
I enjoy everything I've read from Langridge and this is no exception. It starts with a typical silly internet challenge sent to your DMs, get 500 new followers on social media every day or die. Only it turns out its real and this social media basically controls everything.
Highly recommend this quick read that stays punchy and pulls you in. Plus like everything Langridge writes it has a great ending. You owe it to yourself to read this flawless tale.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews