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Text Message
"I HAVE YOUR SISTER! DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER!"
Mallory thought it would be a quick trip to the mall, one where she could get a last minute Christmas gift for her boyfriend. Little did she know a momentary slip in judgment would result in her little sister's abduction. Unable to call the police for fear her sister will be killed, Mallory has no choice but to play the awful game the sadistic kidnapper has designed for her, one that begins during the crowded midday hours, but won't end until long after the mall shuts down for the evening.
HIS MALL . . .
Mr. Campbell has been waiting a long time for the perfect game, one that is obviously stacked in his favor given that failure would result in his imprisonment. Such stacking doesn't really concern him, however, not when it is the fun of the hunt, and the ever-changing scenario, that gets his blood pumping. And Mallory seems to be the perfect girl for this, her sudden lack of compliance after the first few tasks he instructs her to perform in order to keep her sister alive quite different than what he is used to when dealing with his female victims. In fact, in all his years of playing such games, he has never before encountered a girl who will allow such horror to unfold upon the captured loved one simply so she can preserve her own dignity. It is quite refreshing.
HIS GAME . . .
Dan knew his security shift at the mall would be hectic, what with it being one of the last shopping days before Christmas and a blizzard predicted to hit the area during the afternoon hours. What he wasn't expecting was to be caught up in a horrific game of cat and mouse between a college girl named Mallory and an unknown serial killer that kidnapped and is torturing her little sister. Not that he actually realizes this is what is unfolding, his self-imposed quest to figure out what is causing the similarly aged college student to act so bizarre his only real concern. Well, that and staying under the radar of his boss Jerry who seems to have it out for him. Will he be able to help Mallory survive her ordeal once the reality of the situation becomes known to him, or will he fall victim to a serial killer that never intended for him to be a part of the game?
HIS RULES!
Mallory thought it would be a quick trip to the mall, one where she could get a last minute Christmas gift for her boyfriend. Little did she know a momentary slip in judgment would result in her little sister's abduction. Unable to call the police for fear her sister will be killed, Mallory has no choice but to play the awful game the sadistic kidnapper has designed for her, one that begins during the crowded midday hours, but won't end until long after the mall shuts down for the evening.
HIS MALL . . .
Mr. Campbell has been waiting a long time for the perfect game, one that is obviously stacked in his favor given that failure would result in his imprisonment. Such stacking doesn't really concern him, however, not when it is the fun of the hunt, and the ever-changing scenario, that gets his blood pumping. And Mallory seems to be the perfect girl for this, her sudden lack of compliance after the first few tasks he instructs her to perform in order to keep her sister alive quite different than what he is used to when dealing with his female victims. In fact, in all his years of playing such games, he has never before encountered a girl who will allow such horror to unfold upon the captured loved one simply so she can preserve her own dignity. It is quite refreshing.
HIS GAME . . .
Dan knew his security shift at the mall would be hectic, what with it being one of the last shopping days before Christmas and a blizzard predicted to hit the area during the afternoon hours. What he wasn't expecting was to be caught up in a horrific game of cat and mouse between a college girl named Mallory and an unknown serial killer that kidnapped and is torturing her little sister. Not that he actually realizes this is what is unfolding, his self-imposed quest to figure out what is causing the similarly aged college student to act so bizarre his only real concern. Well, that and staying under the radar of his boss Jerry who seems to have it out for him. Will he be able to help Mallory survive her ordeal once the reality of the situation becomes known to him, or will he fall victim to a serial killer that never intended for him to be a part of the game?
HIS RULES!
Unknown Binding
First published November 17, 2011
19 people are currently reading
474 people want to read
About the author
William Malmborg
22 books220 followersWilliam Malmborg is the author of the novels Jimmy, Text Message, Nikki's Secret, Dark Harvest, Blind Eye, Santa Took Them, Crystal Creek, Daddy’s Little Girl, The Girl Who Played with the Ouija Board, Josiah, He Sees You When You're Sleeping and the novellas Billy's Blade, Till Death Do Us Part and Don’t Go in the Cellar. Future works will include A Taste of Pain, The Murders at Bootleggers Burrow, and Gobble, Gobble.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 10, 2015
3.5 - 4 stars.
"I HAVE YOUR SISTER. DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER."
That is the text message Mallory receives from her thirteen-year-old sister's cell phone. She told her sister to wait for her at Spencer's Gifts while she shopped for her boyfriend. She thinks it's just a joke until she receives a photo of her terrified sister, a thick strip of duct tape over her mouth.
The abductor, Mr. Campbell, warns Mallory not to call the police. He then proceeds to make her engage in a series of acts purposely meant to humiliate her. For the entire day, Mr. Campbell toys with Mallory, subjecting her to his psychological torment. Whenever she refuses to obey his absured demands, Mr. Campbell reminds her how important it is to comply by sending her videos of her sister being mutilated.
Mr. Campbell, a psychotic serial killer, finds a way to keep Mallory in the mall after it closes. Things quickly go from bad to worse as Mallory realizes that there's more at stake than just her own life and the life of her sister.
I definitely found this story entertaining. I love the premise but it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. I didn't feel as though I was there in the mall, feeling Mallory's distress. Nor did the story play in my mind like a movie, which is a shame because it could have been good and suspenseful. And to be honest, I'm usually not aggravated by typos and errors, but there were just so many within this book that tended to disrupt the flow of the story.
I especially enjoyed the tidbits of information readers are treated to regarding Mr. Campbell's childhood. I think that would make a great companion story, one I would love to read.
Though it could have been better, this story was still very enjoyable. It's definitely worth reading if you enjoy psychological thrillers/horrors.
"I HAVE YOUR SISTER. DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER."
That is the text message Mallory receives from her thirteen-year-old sister's cell phone. She told her sister to wait for her at Spencer's Gifts while she shopped for her boyfriend. She thinks it's just a joke until she receives a photo of her terrified sister, a thick strip of duct tape over her mouth.
The abductor, Mr. Campbell, warns Mallory not to call the police. He then proceeds to make her engage in a series of acts purposely meant to humiliate her. For the entire day, Mr. Campbell toys with Mallory, subjecting her to his psychological torment. Whenever she refuses to obey his absured demands, Mr. Campbell reminds her how important it is to comply by sending her videos of her sister being mutilated.
Mr. Campbell, a psychotic serial killer, finds a way to keep Mallory in the mall after it closes. Things quickly go from bad to worse as Mallory realizes that there's more at stake than just her own life and the life of her sister.
I definitely found this story entertaining. I love the premise but it wasn't executed as well as it could have been. I didn't feel as though I was there in the mall, feeling Mallory's distress. Nor did the story play in my mind like a movie, which is a shame because it could have been good and suspenseful. And to be honest, I'm usually not aggravated by typos and errors, but there were just so many within this book that tended to disrupt the flow of the story.
I especially enjoyed the tidbits of information readers are treated to regarding Mr. Campbell's childhood. I think that would make a great companion story, one I would love to read.
Though it could have been better, this story was still very enjoyable. It's definitely worth reading if you enjoy psychological thrillers/horrors.
October 17, 2014
awesome, sick horror
loved it
loved it
September 6, 2013
I feel badly about reading a book that I like and not writing a review. I did the same with Jimmy by this author and now Text Message. I read the book some months ago and thought it was great. It is a tense thriller that incorporates commerce and technology. The place of terror, a mall. The object of terror, the cell phone. If Mallory doesn't do exactly what the maniac sending her texts tells her to do, he will kill Mallory's sister. Using the mall as a backdrop for the sinister deeds to play out there are lots of opportunities for Mallory to get help right? Wrong, it seems her tormentor can see her every move. What can she do? Where can she go? Where can you turn when you fear that next text message? I think that Malmborg is definitely a writer to watch.
January 9, 2012
4.5 Stars
I almost did not read this book. It is a new author for me. It is quite long and I wondered how in the world it could stay interesting considering the length. I decided to give it a shot anyway. I could always stop reading it, right? No I couldn't. Once I got into it, I didn't want to put it down.
This is quite possibly one of the most disturbing books I've read in a very long time. It is definitely not for the faint of heart.
The story revolves around a 13 year old girl (Jenna) being kidnapped in a crowded mall the week before Christmas. Her sister (Mallory) is sent text messages by the kidnapper forcing her to do humiliating things with the hope that by doing so her sister would be freed. While there are a couple of things that made me say "huh?" the story never drags. There is something happening constantly and you will wonder what will pop up next and how it would play out. I pretty much figured out who the bad guy was early on, though it did not detract from the story. Watching this person continue with his torments was not only creepy, but quite entertaining. You will find out (in detail) why he is the way he is. While it doesn't justify anything, it does explain it.
There were a couple of things that I did not see coming, one of which bothered me but was necessary for the story to unfold. And there was one thing that kept popping into my mind "Why don't they.... ?" I can't say what it is without giving spoilers so I'll leave that unsaid. It was one of the "huh?" moments mentioned above.
I mentioned this being disturbing. While I would definitely recommend this book, I would not recommend it to those who can't handle reading about certain things. Some descriptions are quite graphic and may offend some.
I am really glad I gave this a chance. Definitely a page-turner.
Now I need to go find some fluff to read....... maybe something about kittens or baby seals... LOL
I almost did not read this book. It is a new author for me. It is quite long and I wondered how in the world it could stay interesting considering the length. I decided to give it a shot anyway. I could always stop reading it, right? No I couldn't. Once I got into it, I didn't want to put it down.
This is quite possibly one of the most disturbing books I've read in a very long time. It is definitely not for the faint of heart.
The story revolves around a 13 year old girl (Jenna) being kidnapped in a crowded mall the week before Christmas. Her sister (Mallory) is sent text messages by the kidnapper forcing her to do humiliating things with the hope that by doing so her sister would be freed. While there are a couple of things that made me say "huh?" the story never drags. There is something happening constantly and you will wonder what will pop up next and how it would play out. I pretty much figured out who the bad guy was early on, though it did not detract from the story. Watching this person continue with his torments was not only creepy, but quite entertaining. You will find out (in detail) why he is the way he is. While it doesn't justify anything, it does explain it.
There were a couple of things that I did not see coming, one of which bothered me but was necessary for the story to unfold. And there was one thing that kept popping into my mind "Why don't they.... ?" I can't say what it is without giving spoilers so I'll leave that unsaid. It was one of the "huh?" moments mentioned above.
I mentioned this being disturbing. While I would definitely recommend this book, I would not recommend it to those who can't handle reading about certain things. Some descriptions are quite graphic and may offend some.
I am really glad I gave this a chance. Definitely a page-turner.
Now I need to go find some fluff to read....... maybe something about kittens or baby seals... LOL
June 26, 2012
Hmmm... sorry, may contain some spoilers below...
Text messages are so impersonal, but the game is very personal. And the author does a good job of getting you up close and personal by allowing you into the mind of Mr. Campbell, Mallory, and Dan – so that you can see through their eyes as the game unfolds.
Mr. Campbell (the victim turned hunter). While he’s not likeable, you do have moments of horror/pity as you learn what made him the man (and I use that word carefully) he is today. Dan (the unappreciated hero, protector, and another victim). Like Mr. Campbell a “victim” of his own willingness to help and sacrifice. Mallory. What can I say about Mallory – you’ll want to call her a victim too, but is she? I mean, she definitely is a pawn, player, prey in the game Mr. Campbell is playing. And she definitely views herself as the victim here, but as the story unfolds you realize very quickly that the real victim is Jenna. We never get to see inside Jenna’s head. We only get snippets (or rather brief texts and video’s) to see into Jenna horror situation through the eyes of Mr. Campbell. One text, two text, three text, one finger, two fingers, three fingers…
Once again, I’m impressed with the ending. The spiraling out of control; the mistakes; the mess and that final moment Mallory is finally able to see what I can only call Jenna’s revenge and realizes who the real victim is. How appropriate that Mr. Campbell – a victim turned hunter - would finally fall at the hands of Jenna who he has now made into the “victim turned hunter”. Her actions a mirror to the madness he created. I would have loved to get a peek back into Mr. Campbell’s head at that moment when he realized his downfall was coming. I would have loved to get peek into Jenna’s mind as she had her revenge. Although perhaps she would have had little to share – brief text messages of thoughts – kill, kill, die.
Text messages are so impersonal, but the game is very personal. And the author does a good job of getting you up close and personal by allowing you into the mind of Mr. Campbell, Mallory, and Dan – so that you can see through their eyes as the game unfolds.
Mr. Campbell (the victim turned hunter). While he’s not likeable, you do have moments of horror/pity as you learn what made him the man (and I use that word carefully) he is today. Dan (the unappreciated hero, protector, and another victim). Like Mr. Campbell a “victim” of his own willingness to help and sacrifice. Mallory. What can I say about Mallory – you’ll want to call her a victim too, but is she? I mean, she definitely is a pawn, player, prey in the game Mr. Campbell is playing. And she definitely views herself as the victim here, but as the story unfolds you realize very quickly that the real victim is Jenna. We never get to see inside Jenna’s head. We only get snippets (or rather brief texts and video’s) to see into Jenna horror situation through the eyes of Mr. Campbell. One text, two text, three text, one finger, two fingers, three fingers…
Once again, I’m impressed with the ending. The spiraling out of control; the mistakes; the mess and that final moment Mallory is finally able to see what I can only call Jenna’s revenge and realizes who the real victim is. How appropriate that Mr. Campbell – a victim turned hunter - would finally fall at the hands of Jenna who he has now made into the “victim turned hunter”. Her actions a mirror to the madness he created. I would have loved to get a peek back into Mr. Campbell’s head at that moment when he realized his downfall was coming. I would have loved to get peek into Jenna’s mind as she had her revenge. Although perhaps she would have had little to share – brief text messages of thoughts – kill, kill, die.
September 14, 2012
I loved the gore and the back story with the guy's freak show mom. The idea behind the book was original too, since texting is the thing to do now. I gave it four stars because, like Jimmy, I couldn't put it down, and read it quickly. Onto the next Malmborg book !!
p.s. Scraping the Bone probably won't take me long either, so get writing LOL
p.s. Scraping the Bone probably won't take me long either, so get writing LOL
March 26, 2014
This one starts right out of the gate. The constant guessing is a lot of fun for me in these books. There are some little things that bothered me slightly with the timeline of the story, but not enough to prevent me from recommending it. At times it is somewhat gory, but it just fits right in with the tale. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
December 7, 2012
♥ Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah
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Picture this: It's the week before Christmas. You're a young woman doing some last-minute shopping. Your 13-year-old sister is with you, but off in another part of the mall. Suddenly, you get a text message from her phone...
“I HAVE YOUR SISTER. DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER.”Mallory (our protagonist) believes it's a sick joke courtesy of her sister, but soon learns this is not the case. The man on the other end of the text message forces Mallory to degrade herself publicly in order to keep her sister from being harmed. And if Mallory refuses? She'll receive a photo or video of her sister being tortured at the hands of her captor.
For Mr. Campbell—the individual committing these acts—it's all a game; a game that he's been itching to play for some time now. He wants to see how far he can push Mallory; wants to see what lengths a person will go to in order to keep a loved one from being harmed. Once the curiosity wears off? It'll then be time for the real fun to begin... time for him to make the mall his hunting ground—with Mallory as his prey.
- - -
Text Message is the second novel by Malmborg that I've had the pleasure of reading. This book was, in some ways, similar to Jimmy... but also much, much different. It's similar in the way that they're both about individuals who are obviously mentally unstable. Individuals who have this insatiable need to put women in helpless, deadly positions in order to fulfill their own fantasies. The similarities pretty much end there.
*Possible spoilers ahead!*
Text Message is told in alternating 3rd person POVs. Mallory is the protagonist; our victim. Mr. Campbell is our antagonist. Then we have Dan, a security guard who ends up getting much too close to the deadly game going down between Campbell and Mallory. -- I really enjoy books with multiple POVs. I like the range it gives me. I like that I get to see the story unfold from more than just one angle. I like to get into ALL the characters heads, not just the protag. This was also a great tool in keeping the suspense up. While Mallory is doing mundane things such as hiding out in a bathroom, we get to see inside Mr. Campbell's demented mind, or watch Dan try to figure out why Mallory is acting so strangely. It makes for a very compelling read!
Something I very much enjoyed about this book is that, just like Jimmy, it's a book that doesn't apologize. It doesn't make excuses. It's gory, disturbing, and dark. PERIOD. Mr. Campbell is a truly damaged person. There is a good amount of back story given on him all throughout the book. You learn that his mother was a disgusting woman who did unspeakable things to her son. Mr. Campbell is not only mentally scarred, but physically as well. It's not put out there as an excuse, just a matter of fact. This man is evil and twisted, and there is definitely no question about that. And this guy knows he is sick. He knows he is evil. He admits to being a serial killer just like one would admit to having brown hair. It's just a part of who he is. He doesn't rationalize it. He doesn't excuse it. He doesn't have delusions about anything. He just enjoys killing people. It's almost comical, in a way. Now, I have to admit that I felt a pang of pity for him every now and then. I mean, the things he endured in his younger years were terrible. Then there were the moments when he just seemed so normal. I mean, I even laughed-out-loud at some of the crap going down in his brain. Not any of the torture stuff, promise. :P Anyway, Malmborg did a superb job at writing this villain.
My one and only problem lies with Dan. Quite honestly, I think the guy was useless. I don't think his character brought much to the story. His POV was interesting to have around, but aside from that he didn't seem to have a purpose. I especially disliked the inner dialogue. The guy's mind would constantly veer off to his experiences as a soldier in the desert. For example: There was a conversation Dan had with another security guard. Soldiering came up. Dan went on and on about brain damage and IEDs. This brought him to a rant about how a lot of soldiers were getting screwed out of medical care, etc. etc. What place does this have in this horror novel? None that I can see. The only time my mind would wander from the story is when Dan's would wander off on one of these mental tangents. I could've done without this guy altogether.
As for the plot, I was quite impressed. When I saw how LONG this book was, I was curious as to how it would stay suspenseful the whole time. I was afraid I'd get stuck. This was not the case. NOT EVEN CLOSE. Malmborg kept things going perfectly. The suspense began on page one and went on unerringly. I didn't get bored. I didn't have to put it down. Hell, I had trouble putting it down. This book kept me up til 4, 5 in the morning every night. I was peeved when I had to head off to work. I was peeved when I had to do anything but read this book. It's just one of those where you absolutely HAVE to know the outcome.
And what an outcome it was! The ending was unexpected, but fantastic. I fully expected Campbell to win his little game by finally capturing Mallory and killing her (and her sister Jenna as well) with all the wickedness of a serial killer. I won't go into specifics... but if you choose to read this novel, you'll truly be surprised. I was sickly delighted with the ending. Jenna ends up being the most interesting character of all. I wish we'd gotten some more interaction with her.
Completely unrelated to my actual review.. but I want to thank Malmborg for answering a question I have had for YEARS AND YEARS, literally. A long ass time ago, I watched a movie that I loved. It was a horror flick about killer robots. I could never remember the name of it. I searched and searched the internet trying DESPERATELY to find this damn movie, and had no success. Well, the movie was mentioned in this book! Chopping Mall. Thank you SO MUCH for unknowingly answering this question that's been nagging at me for literally over ten years. Ah, I freaking love you!
All in all, Text Message was a superlative piece of horror fiction. Malmborg did an impressive job at giving us yet another perfect glimpse inside the head of a truly sick individual. He has an infallible way of grabbing your attention and holding it until the very end of the story. This tale is packed with suspense. It's packed with gore. It's packed with all that is humiliating and demented. Not only that, but it's got unexpected twists and irony to boot. Just my kind of story! Text Message would make an excellent movie. I recommend this one to people who enjoy the darker side of fiction, horror novels, murder suspense, etc. It is NOT for the feint of heart!
*This book is absolutely not for people under the age of 18. Contains graphic violence, disturbing sexual situations, and an overall air of crudeness.*
- - -
Book source: For review from the author
Publisher: Self-published
March 10, 2014
Mallory and her sister Jenna are shopping in a Chicago mall. They separate whilst shopping and Mallory receives a text message from Jenna's phone. Mallory has a choice, ignore the message, phone the Police or play the game. She chooses to play the game and this rollercoaster of a thriller starts.
Text message is all about a sadistic game played within a shopping mall. It is a fast moving thriller set in a short time frame, less than 8 hours. I liked the structure when each new chapter was from the viewpoint of another of the 3 central characters within the same time frame. You get the actions and thoughts of Mallory, a security guard called Dan and Mr Edwards the sadistic game master. Although the pace is fast, there is plenty of back story on each character so you can get a handle on what drives each person. The tasks that Mr Edwards sets for Mallory to play are a sexy challenge and the punishment for failing is very sadistic.
I really enjoyed reading Text Message, it gave a lot of pleasure and I think it would make an exciting film. This is an entertaining read and the games Mr Edwards wants Mallory to play will make most men smile with desire. Women readers may find the games creepy or embarrasing though.
William sets the scene of the shopping mall very well and captures the mood of all the people working there. I have often wondered if things other than shopping is going on in the background within shopping malls. Now whenever I hear a text message notification sound, I will wonder if another game is taking place. Text Message is a very good read and I vote it the top score of 5 stars.
Text Message is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook of 658 KB and was written in 2011.
Text message is all about a sadistic game played within a shopping mall. It is a fast moving thriller set in a short time frame, less than 8 hours. I liked the structure when each new chapter was from the viewpoint of another of the 3 central characters within the same time frame. You get the actions and thoughts of Mallory, a security guard called Dan and Mr Edwards the sadistic game master. Although the pace is fast, there is plenty of back story on each character so you can get a handle on what drives each person. The tasks that Mr Edwards sets for Mallory to play are a sexy challenge and the punishment for failing is very sadistic.
I really enjoyed reading Text Message, it gave a lot of pleasure and I think it would make an exciting film. This is an entertaining read and the games Mr Edwards wants Mallory to play will make most men smile with desire. Women readers may find the games creepy or embarrasing though.
William sets the scene of the shopping mall very well and captures the mood of all the people working there. I have often wondered if things other than shopping is going on in the background within shopping malls. Now whenever I hear a text message notification sound, I will wonder if another game is taking place. Text Message is a very good read and I vote it the top score of 5 stars.
Text Message is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook of 658 KB and was written in 2011.
January 30, 2013
As if anyone needs another reason to fear the mall in this day an age this book gives you one. The author wastes no time getting straight into the action and horror as he grabs you imagination and makes you watch the most horrible Christmas shopping trip ever.
William Malmborg has the ability to imagine the worst sexual
serial killers I've ever read. The monster in this book got to me a little bit because his job is one that you are suppose to be able to trust but it is just where he needs to be to torture, control and kill.
This is a great book to read if you enjoy serial killer fiction or if you are looking for that great disturbing new read.
William Malmborg has the ability to imagine the worst sexual
serial killers I've ever read. The monster in this book got to me a little bit because his job is one that you are suppose to be able to trust but it is just where he needs to be to torture, control and kill.
This is a great book to read if you enjoy serial killer fiction or if you are looking for that great disturbing new read.
June 2, 2013
I had zero expectations upon grabbing this novel. Although it had an interesting premise, I doubted that it would be able to sustain throughout. I'm glad that I was wrong. Seldom, do you find a more meticulous, calculated killer. This was a well thought out, detailed & thorough ride. I was a bit biased (spoiler) when I discovered that the killer had an actual job, but once again it worked! The whole story worked! Masterful job. Highly recommend recommended read and I look forward to his next endeavor.
Read
July 19, 2012I downloaded this for free on my kindle. it's a very good book, there were a few points where I couldn't go on due to the gore and torture, but I persevered. you have to have a strong gut to read this!
January 28, 2014
I read 12% of this book and had to give up on it. I tried skipping forward and spot-reading and it didn't seem to get any better. I rarely give up on a book, but this was an exception.
September 10, 2013
Reading Text Message, I was strongly reminded (in a really good way) of another horror novel, In the Dark by Richard Laymon, which was about a woman who is being eerily manipulated by a series of strategically placed letters/messages by someone known only as Master of Games (or MOG), containing strange, creepy instructions and a wad of cash, promising more money if she follows the instructions exactly.
That was back in the early 2001. Now we're in 2013, and nobody writes letters anymore.
But they do write text messages.
And thus we're again confronted with the idea of a person being compelled to do things that are not only well outside of their comfort level, but also deeply disturbing and perverted and even criminal.
Text Message is the story of a beautiful young woman named Mallory and her thirteen year old sister, Jenna, who have come to the mall to do some Christmas shopping. The story begins with Mallory who has left Jenna at Spencer's so that she could shop alone at Frederick's of Hollywood so she could pick up some naughty lingerie as a surprise for her boyfriend.
And that's when all hell break's loose in the form of a text message to her cell phone with the following: “I HAVE YOUR SISTER. DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER.”
And thus begins Mallory's harrowing journey into the dark depths of her tormentor's sadistic and perverted imagination. From being forced to parade around in just a thong and corset in a lingerie store to soliciting the worst sex acts imaginable from strangers in a men's room, Mallory performs each of these tasks with helpless dread and fear for her sister's life, whose physical torture are gruesomely depicted with pictures and videos texted to her phone by their unseen tormentor.
This is the second book by Malmborg that I have read this past week. The first was Jimmy, a psychological study of a adolescent sociopath and his discovery of his own sadistic needs in the form of torturing young girls. Text Message seems to pick up where this book left off, as if to say here's what happens when that sociopathic kid grows up and gets a job at a mall. He stills wants to torture young girls but now wants to make a game of it.
Malmborg books (at least these two) are highly readable and compelling. I had a very hard time putting them down. I really wanted to know what happens to these characters, including the "villains".
I especially appreciated how the Tormentor in Text Messagewas not some genius mastermind, but rather a psychotic killer who is sometimes a victim of his own psychosis and need to feed his sadistic and perverse hungers.
I thought Text Message was actually better written than Jimmy, which, though compelling, was also in need of some Editing and some proofing; some of the dialogue in that book was incredibly flat and odd, and kind of took me out of the reading experience in some places.
In Text Message, though, it was like watching a horror movie, replete with me wanting to scream at the screen and tell Mallory "Don't do it! Don't go there!" or cringe every time someone did something stupid and made their situation worse. My one complaint is less about the story or characters, but about something else, which may contain some spoilers.
It has to do with the treatment of the character of 13 year old Jenna. Throughout the story, in order to get Mallory motivated to obey his commands, the Tormentor actually tortures the young 13 year old Jenna in some really depraved ways. Now this in and of itself isn't my problem, believe it or not. The Tormentor is evil, and he is doing evil things to an ostensibly innocent girl. The fact that she's thirteen makes the act even more deplorable and disgusting, but, again, these are the actions of an evil man.
My problem with this scenario is replete with **Spoilers**so be warned.
But I think the author may have sacrificed too much in order to let his victimized character get her revenge. In a way, I thought the torture in Jimmy was handled a bit more realistically than in Text Message, and as a result made the reader feel the loathing and physical trauma the young victims were experiencing. I didn't get that here in Text Message. I didn't feel her pain, so to speak. Maybe that's a good thing and a blessing in real life...but in a fiction, it leaves a peculiar void.
And I think part of the problem was in the editing of the book. Jenna's victimization was done entirely through the cell phone text messages and tiny video clips and pictures that Mallory's tormentor sent to her. But they were so passively done. Mallory's reaction to these are understandably awful and sad, but as a reader, I couldn't get there with her. First, I didn't know Jenna. She was just an unseen girl, so I had no description of her in my head, no idea about what kind of a person she was; in short, she was just a statistic to me. So when bad stuff started to happen to her, it didn't phase me as much as it probably should have, especially because it was all after the fact. The pictures of her rape and mutilation, all of it is after the fact. Perhaps this was done to lessen the blow, but it may have watered down the experience to the point where I had no empathy for the victim at all. Yes, we're supposed to cheer for Mallory, but we should also be allowed to fear for Jenna's life, too.
But other than that, I thought Text Message was a great thrill ride. And I look forward to reading more books by this author.
That was back in the early 2001. Now we're in 2013, and nobody writes letters anymore.
But they do write text messages.
And thus we're again confronted with the idea of a person being compelled to do things that are not only well outside of their comfort level, but also deeply disturbing and perverted and even criminal.
Text Message is the story of a beautiful young woman named Mallory and her thirteen year old sister, Jenna, who have come to the mall to do some Christmas shopping. The story begins with Mallory who has left Jenna at Spencer's so that she could shop alone at Frederick's of Hollywood so she could pick up some naughty lingerie as a surprise for her boyfriend.
And that's when all hell break's loose in the form of a text message to her cell phone with the following: “I HAVE YOUR SISTER. DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER.”
And thus begins Mallory's harrowing journey into the dark depths of her tormentor's sadistic and perverted imagination. From being forced to parade around in just a thong and corset in a lingerie store to soliciting the worst sex acts imaginable from strangers in a men's room, Mallory performs each of these tasks with helpless dread and fear for her sister's life, whose physical torture are gruesomely depicted with pictures and videos texted to her phone by their unseen tormentor.
This is the second book by Malmborg that I have read this past week. The first was Jimmy, a psychological study of a adolescent sociopath and his discovery of his own sadistic needs in the form of torturing young girls. Text Message seems to pick up where this book left off, as if to say here's what happens when that sociopathic kid grows up and gets a job at a mall. He stills wants to torture young girls but now wants to make a game of it.
Malmborg books (at least these two) are highly readable and compelling. I had a very hard time putting them down. I really wanted to know what happens to these characters, including the "villains".
I especially appreciated how the Tormentor in Text Messagewas not some genius mastermind, but rather a psychotic killer who is sometimes a victim of his own psychosis and need to feed his sadistic and perverse hungers.
I thought Text Message was actually better written than Jimmy, which, though compelling, was also in need of some Editing and some proofing; some of the dialogue in that book was incredibly flat and odd, and kind of took me out of the reading experience in some places.
In Text Message, though, it was like watching a horror movie, replete with me wanting to scream at the screen and tell Mallory "Don't do it! Don't go there!" or cringe every time someone did something stupid and made their situation worse. My one complaint is less about the story or characters, but about something else, which may contain some spoilers.
It has to do with the treatment of the character of 13 year old Jenna. Throughout the story, in order to get Mallory motivated to obey his commands, the Tormentor actually tortures the young 13 year old Jenna in some really depraved ways. Now this in and of itself isn't my problem, believe it or not. The Tormentor is evil, and he is doing evil things to an ostensibly innocent girl. The fact that she's thirteen makes the act even more deplorable and disgusting, but, again, these are the actions of an evil man.
My problem with this scenario is replete with **Spoilers**so be warned.
But I think the author may have sacrificed too much in order to let his victimized character get her revenge. In a way, I thought the torture in Jimmy was handled a bit more realistically than in Text Message, and as a result made the reader feel the loathing and physical trauma the young victims were experiencing. I didn't get that here in Text Message. I didn't feel her pain, so to speak. Maybe that's a good thing and a blessing in real life...but in a fiction, it leaves a peculiar void.
And I think part of the problem was in the editing of the book. Jenna's victimization was done entirely through the cell phone text messages and tiny video clips and pictures that Mallory's tormentor sent to her. But they were so passively done. Mallory's reaction to these are understandably awful and sad, but as a reader, I couldn't get there with her. First, I didn't know Jenna. She was just an unseen girl, so I had no description of her in my head, no idea about what kind of a person she was; in short, she was just a statistic to me. So when bad stuff started to happen to her, it didn't phase me as much as it probably should have, especially because it was all after the fact. The pictures of her rape and mutilation, all of it is after the fact. Perhaps this was done to lessen the blow, but it may have watered down the experience to the point where I had no empathy for the victim at all. Yes, we're supposed to cheer for Mallory, but we should also be allowed to fear for Jenna's life, too.
But other than that, I thought Text Message was a great thrill ride. And I look forward to reading more books by this author.
March 14, 2022
DNF. It was bad, really bad. I didn’t think torture porn could be boring. But it can be. Obviously!
October 30, 2022
Rather boring and long winded, good back story about why the guy is twisted, but that's it. Would make a better short story/novella.
June 30, 2014
A serial killer targets a young woman for his sadistic game, kidnaps her sister, and sends a text message with the chilling message: "I have your sister." Thus begins a game of cat and mouse, where the stakes are literally life or death.
Being a fan of horrific fiction, I was thrilled to begin reading this novel. I mean, one look at the premise told me it was right up my alley. It starts out fairly well, too.
Something fell apart about a third of the way through, however. It stopped reading like a psychological thriller and more like something I might have written during National Novel Writing Month. (Not knocking NaNoWriMo, of course -- just the prose I produce.) There was much more internal thinking of what to do next than should ever happen in a published work. And then... skip to the aftermath and what the next point-of-view character thought about what had happened.
In more adept hands, this could have been a masterpiece of horror. As it was, it was an interesting distraction from the mundane travels of a public transit commuter.
Now... the reason this novel gets two stars instead of the three one might assume from the review? GRAMMAR.
Mr. Malmborg really needed an extra pair of eyes on his manuscript. One of my biggest pet peeves in written works is related to the use of the incorrect homonym for a given context. One example is when the killer talks about causing another character "undo pain." (Thankfully he avoided the ultimate sin of saying something along the lines of "Your my sister." That would have made me stop reading entirely.)
The grammar issue wasn't constant, or -- again -- I would have stopped reading. However, when misused words cropped up, they were visual speed bumps, and it was often enough that I started grumbling each time. (Never a good sign.)
Note to "independent" authors: Spell check won't catch these kinds of errors. Have an extra set of eyes (or three) look at your work before you hit that "publish" button. Your readers will thank you. Or at least not gripe so much in reviews.
To sum up: Chilling premise, mediocre execution, and enough grammatical/word use issues to make me bring them up. I wanted to love this book. It had so much promise.
Alas...
Being a fan of horrific fiction, I was thrilled to begin reading this novel. I mean, one look at the premise told me it was right up my alley. It starts out fairly well, too.
Something fell apart about a third of the way through, however. It stopped reading like a psychological thriller and more like something I might have written during National Novel Writing Month. (Not knocking NaNoWriMo, of course -- just the prose I produce.) There was much more internal thinking of what to do next than should ever happen in a published work. And then... skip to the aftermath and what the next point-of-view character thought about what had happened.
In more adept hands, this could have been a masterpiece of horror. As it was, it was an interesting distraction from the mundane travels of a public transit commuter.
Now... the reason this novel gets two stars instead of the three one might assume from the review? GRAMMAR.
Mr. Malmborg really needed an extra pair of eyes on his manuscript. One of my biggest pet peeves in written works is related to the use of the incorrect homonym for a given context. One example is when the killer talks about causing another character "undo pain." (Thankfully he avoided the ultimate sin of saying something along the lines of "Your my sister." That would have made me stop reading entirely.)
The grammar issue wasn't constant, or -- again -- I would have stopped reading. However, when misused words cropped up, they were visual speed bumps, and it was often enough that I started grumbling each time. (Never a good sign.)
Note to "independent" authors: Spell check won't catch these kinds of errors. Have an extra set of eyes (or three) look at your work before you hit that "publish" button. Your readers will thank you. Or at least not gripe so much in reviews.
To sum up: Chilling premise, mediocre execution, and enough grammatical/word use issues to make me bring them up. I wanted to love this book. It had so much promise.
Alas...
March 22, 2013
This was a freebie I had gotten off of amazon and these are sometimes double edged swords. It's a win win for both author and reader because they broaden a writers fanbase and expose a reader to a new author they haven't heard of. There are good intentions here unless the book sucks.
Text Message's premise intrigued me. The set up is quite simple but how would this work over the course of three hundred pages? A lot could go wrong especially if the story quickly falls apart.I had to read this as soon as it hit my Kindle. As a fan of horror I wanted to see how this turned out. I wasn't dissapointed.
The story starts quickly and we're placed into the action as if we're Mallory. A simple text that states I have your sister and off we go. You don't get any warning, no backstory just bam! You get three vantage points and that provides the different angles to the story and just keeps it going full throttle. You have the terror and eventual anger from Mallory, you have Dan the wanna be hero who has the best of intentions but isn't all that smart and Mr Campbell the sick twisted freak that has kidnapped Jenna and is forcing Mallory to play a very sadistic game.
The book itself is a bit disturbing and I even winced a few times which quite frankly is a first for me. Given the subject matter of the book it certainly fits into the book's theme and isn't placed there just to shock people. While trying to humiliate Mallory we're right there with her experiencing it with her. We even learn why Me Campbell is the way that he is. That's what makes this book so good. The writing places you right into action so you don't feel as if you're simply reading a book but experiencing everything each character goes through.
As I read this the thing that really jumped out at me wasn't the mall but our belief that certain people who are supposed to protect us could in fact be the ones that hurt us. Thanks to Mr. Malmborg everytime I get a text I'm going to crimge. Text is a novel that I highly reccomend. I look forward to reading more from this talented yet twisted author.
Text Message's premise intrigued me. The set up is quite simple but how would this work over the course of three hundred pages? A lot could go wrong especially if the story quickly falls apart.I had to read this as soon as it hit my Kindle. As a fan of horror I wanted to see how this turned out. I wasn't dissapointed.
The story starts quickly and we're placed into the action as if we're Mallory. A simple text that states I have your sister and off we go. You don't get any warning, no backstory just bam! You get three vantage points and that provides the different angles to the story and just keeps it going full throttle. You have the terror and eventual anger from Mallory, you have Dan the wanna be hero who has the best of intentions but isn't all that smart and Mr Campbell the sick twisted freak that has kidnapped Jenna and is forcing Mallory to play a very sadistic game.
The book itself is a bit disturbing and I even winced a few times which quite frankly is a first for me. Given the subject matter of the book it certainly fits into the book's theme and isn't placed there just to shock people. While trying to humiliate Mallory we're right there with her experiencing it with her. We even learn why Me Campbell is the way that he is. That's what makes this book so good. The writing places you right into action so you don't feel as if you're simply reading a book but experiencing everything each character goes through.
As I read this the thing that really jumped out at me wasn't the mall but our belief that certain people who are supposed to protect us could in fact be the ones that hurt us. Thanks to Mr. Malmborg everytime I get a text I'm going to crimge. Text is a novel that I highly reccomend. I look forward to reading more from this talented yet twisted author.
December 11, 2013
I began reading this one around Halloween, but I didn't finish until this week, not far off from Christmas. I mention this because it was fitting for the setting of the story: a busy shopping mall at Christmas time during an oncoming snowstorm. The story is a great survival-thriller. We spend most of the time trading back and forth between the perspectives of the heroes and the villains of the story. This is a kind of story telling technique which worked well in JIMMY, especially when it came to understanding and exploring the inner workings of the story's villain, and we get a similar treatment here. William writes a GREAT psychopath. I'm not the biggest Dean Koontz fan in the world, but I was reminded of his style in the characterization of our monster: with a horrible background, he is just north of sympathetic, an awful mind you would never want to be in the same room with, and yet quirky and even a little comedic later in the novel. William also treats his heroes with respect in this story. Instead of simply beating them down with nastiness and misfortune, he really sets the stage for a terrifying predicament, and we are with the protagonist every step of the way as she struggles valiantly to overcome her peril, while making frustratingly human mistakes and suffering the consequences. I enjoyed book a lot. I've read three Malmborg novels this year, and I can say that you definitely notice his style progressively refining. I look forward to reading Dark Harvest
April 10, 2013
I love horror stories. I enjoy reading them, but a lot of times I'll download them and be horribly disappointed. This was not the case with this story. Text Message held me in its clutches until I finished it, and I was dying to get to the end, but disappointed when it was over because I wanted more. More from this story, more from this author. So I'll definitely be downloading more from Mr. Malmborg in the future.
Shopping malls are bright, cheerful places, especially at Christmastime. But what about when the lights go out? Better still, what about when a serial killer tortures and taunts you in a shopping mall filled with bustling people finishing their shopping, and all you can do is play his game, or risk the death of a loved one? Well, you play along, until you decide to stand your ground.
I loved that Mallory and Jenna weren't weak, useless female characters. They were strong, stubborn young girls with a will to live. Dan, the war hero, trying so hard to help... It was so wonderfully written that I'll be talking about it for days to come with my friends and family. I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good edge-of-your-seat torture tale with an ending you won't see coming. 5 stars!
Shopping malls are bright, cheerful places, especially at Christmastime. But what about when the lights go out? Better still, what about when a serial killer tortures and taunts you in a shopping mall filled with bustling people finishing their shopping, and all you can do is play his game, or risk the death of a loved one? Well, you play along, until you decide to stand your ground.
I loved that Mallory and Jenna weren't weak, useless female characters. They were strong, stubborn young girls with a will to live. Dan, the war hero, trying so hard to help... It was so wonderfully written that I'll be talking about it for days to come with my friends and family. I highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good edge-of-your-seat torture tale with an ending you won't see coming. 5 stars!
September 9, 2015
This is only the second novel I have read by William Malmborg, but it will definitely not be the last!
The story follows Mallory, a young woman, who finds herself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse at the mall during the holiday season. Her sister has been abducted, and is being tortured, by an unknown assailant. Mallory receives text messages depicting the horrors being inflicted upon her sister; to stop these atrocities Mallory must do whatever the messages say. What Mallory doesn't know is that these games are just foreplay for the main event. When the mall closes Mallory must survive a game designed by a twisted mind.
I really enjoyed the fast pace of this novel, as well as the originality of the premise. It was a hard novel to put down, as you want to see what Mallory will be forced to do next. The back story on the villain is horrible (but enjoyable) and although you do figure out who the he is early on, it doesn't detract from the overall story. The conclusion to the story is explosive and can not soon be forgotten; this is a book that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.
The story follows Mallory, a young woman, who finds herself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse at the mall during the holiday season. Her sister has been abducted, and is being tortured, by an unknown assailant. Mallory receives text messages depicting the horrors being inflicted upon her sister; to stop these atrocities Mallory must do whatever the messages say. What Mallory doesn't know is that these games are just foreplay for the main event. When the mall closes Mallory must survive a game designed by a twisted mind.
I really enjoyed the fast pace of this novel, as well as the originality of the premise. It was a hard novel to put down, as you want to see what Mallory will be forced to do next. The back story on the villain is horrible (but enjoyable) and although you do figure out who the he is early on, it doesn't detract from the overall story. The conclusion to the story is explosive and can not soon be forgotten; this is a book that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.
June 10, 2013
Today's Five Star Author, William Malmborg: To date, I have read Nikki's Secret, Text Message and Scrapping the Bone and I have to tell you, William Malmborg delivers. His stories are not for meek, but they are not so far out there that people will be offended or put off by reading them. What I love about Malmborg's work is that it is a little racey, a little raunchy and a whole lot of fun. The story lines flow. Once you start reading, you cannot stop. It's like opening up a huge bag of Dorito's and saying "I'll just have a few". Can't do it. You dive into one of his books and you will be reading until 4 am just to see what the heck Nikki's Secret is, or how is Mallory going to walk into that men's bathroom and do that thing? You just have to find out. Each book is a decadent pleasure, a pure delight that you can sink your teeth into and get lost in the process. Read this guy; if you like raunchy, sexy, a little crazy and a fabulous story.
May 19, 2015
What starts out as a routine Christmas shopping excursion to the local mall turns into a nightmare for Mallory when she opens her phone to check her text messages and finds the following: "I HAVE YOUR SISTER. DO EXACTLY AS I SAY OR I'LL KILL HER.” A game of cat and mouse ensues as Mallory is forced to commit numerous acts of humiliation in hopes of rescuing her younger sister from this unique breed of serial killer.
The strong opening hook of Text Message led me to believe that I had stumbled upon a hidden page-turner gem. However, about 25% into this book my interest waned significantly. This story reminded me of Richard Laymon’s, In The Dark, only without the follow through. After the 4th or 5th progressive act of self humiliation, the one-dimensional characters and the flat writing style, I grew bored. As a novella this concept may have worked. As a full length novel, not so much.
The strong opening hook of Text Message led me to believe that I had stumbled upon a hidden page-turner gem. However, about 25% into this book my interest waned significantly. This story reminded me of Richard Laymon’s, In The Dark, only without the follow through. After the 4th or 5th progressive act of self humiliation, the one-dimensional characters and the flat writing style, I grew bored. As a novella this concept may have worked. As a full length novel, not so much.
November 12, 2014
Everyone texts these days. Non stop. But imagine being separated from your sister in a huge shopping mall then getting a text from her phone......but it isn't her texting you. It's some nut job that is hell bent on taking you through one of the roughest journeys of your life and if you don't play his game your sister suffers!
This is a horror/thriller that doesn't let up on the thrills or the horror. It grips you from the start and moves at a very fast pace always leaving you wondering just what's round the corner and how the characters are ever going to get out of it alive.
Be warned though.....it can be quite graphic at times and will make you wish you weren't reading it while eating your lunch!
This is a horror/thriller that doesn't let up on the thrills or the horror. It grips you from the start and moves at a very fast pace always leaving you wondering just what's round the corner and how the characters are ever going to get out of it alive.
Be warned though.....it can be quite graphic at times and will make you wish you weren't reading it while eating your lunch!
January 27, 2014
For the first few pages I thought that the writing style was a little simplistic however I'm glad that I persevered as this was more than a fix for me relating to my hankering for more Richard Laymon type horror. The novel has its squirmy horrific moments (more than a few) but it never crosses the barrier into "Edward Lee" or "Wrath James White" type territory - not that I don't enjoy those authors when I'm in the mood to have my mind blown out on occasion.
Nothing supernatural here - this is horror of the human kind involving trying to survive an encounter with a twisted, deranged individual.
August 27, 2013
This was the work of a Master. Ok I'll admit this book was loaned to me by my son, who knows I like this sort of books and movies.... This would so make a great movie. It was intense, emotional. It had everything people who read the dark books are looking for.... I'm going to be buying more of Williams books.... It had me up until midnight last night and back at it first think this morning. I just had to finish it and see how it ended... The twists and turns were nothing like I expected. I'm in Awe.
February 21, 2014
More holes then Swiss cheese.
More holes then Swiss cheese.
I don't even know where to begin with this cat and mouse thriller that has more holes than Swiss cheese. Let's just say that phone technology is not used the way it could be in order to catch the villain from the first chapter. Also after the mall is closed and our villain revealed no one does something as simple as pull a fire alarm. Really?
More holes then Swiss cheese.
I don't even know where to begin with this cat and mouse thriller that has more holes than Swiss cheese. Let's just say that phone technology is not used the way it could be in order to catch the villain from the first chapter. Also after the mall is closed and our villain revealed no one does something as simple as pull a fire alarm. Really?
July 22, 2015
This book really goes there. It thrusts you into the action immediately. It is a truly disturbing horror story/thriller. The scenes of blood and gore are really detailed. It centers on a perverted serial killer with an insatiable need to torture women. The cat-and-mouse game he plays is crazy.This book is extremely graphic, unsettling and uncomfortable at times, but I really liked it. It has unexpected twists and a lot of action.
November 27, 2014
Disturbing and gory but I couldn't put it down
I read this book in one day because once the plot got a hold of me I had to know how it ended. I felt uncomfortable at times but still had to know what was gonna happen next. The ending felt rushed after all of the details leading up to it. But it was a satisfactory ending with everything working out the way it should , almost .
I read this book in one day because once the plot got a hold of me I had to know how it ended. I felt uncomfortable at times but still had to know what was gonna happen next. The ending felt rushed after all of the details leading up to it. But it was a satisfactory ending with everything working out the way it should , almost .
March 25, 2013
It was okay.. It moved at such a slow pace I found myself going back and reading something else then coming back to it. Once you found out who the stalker was.. (way too early in the book) it was all down hill from there. It wasnt horrible but I wouldn't want to read it again
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