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Follower Count
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 books23 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 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.
September 5, 2026
Follower Count was my first read by Huw Langridge, and I loved it! The premise pulled me in right away, I just had to find out how these events would unfold!
I really enjoy his writing style, it has a comfortable flow and the pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat. You're also hooked into the story immediately, the opening scene is very immersive.
The characters are all written well, with their distinct personalities and relationships, and their communication and decision-making all seemed realistic and believable. There was also one kill scene in particular that was so well written it really got to me.
Highly recommend this book, and the ending has a fun (and terrifying) twist!
I really enjoy his writing style, it has a comfortable flow and the pacing keeps you on the edge of your seat. You're also hooked into the story immediately, the opening scene is very immersive.
The characters are all written well, with their distinct personalities and relationships, and their communication and decision-making all seemed realistic and believable. There was also one kill scene in particular that was so well written it really got to me.
Highly recommend this book, and the ending has a fun (and terrifying) twist!
July 16, 2026
Find 500 social media followers daily or face a gruesome end…
Huw Langridge has created a super modern tech type slasher with an original concept that revolves around a challenge to find 500 social media followers daily or face a gruesome end. The ideas within the genre work well and really do nail the unnerving concept of social media and the whole anonymity behind it. Who really is sending that unwanted DM? And within the message is a very bold threat that forces those in jeopardy to go to extreme lengths to survive and hit the right number – this is both relatable to anyone who does use social media and of course high stakes.
The slasher/murder element feels fresh or even like we haven’t had a killer like this before which is comparable to the ‘Scream’ franchise or even ‘Final Destination’ – here we have a threat that is invisible until it isn’t and then strikes in creative ways. This story could easily open up into a series as the idea could be expanded. Much like any good horror, the pages turn quickly and there’s a consistent pace that builds and picks up along with the unpredictability that plays with the readers imagination. For anyone looking to take on a modern horror with lots of originality then this is the one for you.
‘I always knew social media was bad for you, but not like this, where using it is the only way to… live’
Huw Langridge has created a super modern tech type slasher with an original concept that revolves around a challenge to find 500 social media followers daily or face a gruesome end. The ideas within the genre work well and really do nail the unnerving concept of social media and the whole anonymity behind it. Who really is sending that unwanted DM? And within the message is a very bold threat that forces those in jeopardy to go to extreme lengths to survive and hit the right number – this is both relatable to anyone who does use social media and of course high stakes.
The slasher/murder element feels fresh or even like we haven’t had a killer like this before which is comparable to the ‘Scream’ franchise or even ‘Final Destination’ – here we have a threat that is invisible until it isn’t and then strikes in creative ways. This story could easily open up into a series as the idea could be expanded. Much like any good horror, the pages turn quickly and there’s a consistent pace that builds and picks up along with the unpredictability that plays with the readers imagination. For anyone looking to take on a modern horror with lots of originality then this is the one for you.
‘I always knew social media was bad for you, but not like this, where using it is the only way to… live’
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews