What do you think?
Rate this book
Snatched
James is an upstanding member of the community. He is a History teacher and spends his free time running a soup kitchen, caring for the homeless.
He is also a homicidal psychopath with a God complex.
Suffering from a horrifying childhood rife with mommy issues and sexual deviancy, he believes that all prepubescent boys are inherently born evil. One captive at a time he takes it upon himself to purge that evil, utilising his many conditioning tools and devices, including photographic and video evidence of the child's murdered families.
They are all rechristened as Franco and feeling guided and looked out for by the spiritual hand of Providence, he will succeed in his calling.
He is an evolved being after all.
When this real life monster of a man starts succumbing to memory gaps and lapse's in his normally well thought out judgments, the spiralling of which leads to a jaw-dropping and shocking conclusion.
James could be your neighbour. James could be your co-worker. James could be your friend. How well can you really know anyone....
This is one of those 'it could happen' and 'it does happen' type stories that will stick with you long after you've tried to shake it off.
WARNING, this is a graphically extreme, hardcore psychological horror and is not intended for delicate dispositions.
He is also a homicidal psychopath with a God complex.
Suffering from a horrifying childhood rife with mommy issues and sexual deviancy, he believes that all prepubescent boys are inherently born evil. One captive at a time he takes it upon himself to purge that evil, utilising his many conditioning tools and devices, including photographic and video evidence of the child's murdered families.
They are all rechristened as Franco and feeling guided and looked out for by the spiritual hand of Providence, he will succeed in his calling.
He is an evolved being after all.
When this real life monster of a man starts succumbing to memory gaps and lapse's in his normally well thought out judgments, the spiralling of which leads to a jaw-dropping and shocking conclusion.
James could be your neighbour. James could be your co-worker. James could be your friend. How well can you really know anyone....
This is one of those 'it could happen' and 'it does happen' type stories that will stick with you long after you've tried to shake it off.
WARNING, this is a graphically extreme, hardcore psychological horror and is not intended for delicate dispositions.
106 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2017
28 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Ian Woodhead
127 books161 followersIan Woodhead is just past the age of forty. He lives in the north of England and is married to a wonderful woman. He has forgotten how many children he has. He had been writing for nearly twenty years but has only just gained the confidence to start showing his work. Ian finds it a little creepy writing about himself in the third person.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 2, 2017
Ian Woodhead is such a wonderful and intense writer!! I just get hopelessly sucked into every story I've read of his.
He's been around for a few years, has many many titles to his name and plays in all sorts of genres. Extreme horror, fantasy, sci-fi....
The guys got mad writing skills, that's for sure. Yea, I think we should all start addressing him as Sir Ian Woodhead ~ he's been Writer Knighted! :D
This go round it's a deep dark hardcore psychological extreme horror thriller. And it was oh so disturbingly good.
Snatched is the type of story that sticks with you, even after you try your damnedest to shake it off.
Told in first person from the point of view of our psychotic and delusional madman, James, which really gave Woodhead the power to subject us to every nasty, deplorable, and inappropriately humorous thought in his head (James's head, not Ian's....uhh hopefully EEECK!).
This really is the best perspective to go when telling such a story, you're trapped and dragged threw his sick and twisted head and it's very distressing because he's so nonchalant when going about all his heinous activities, even hums cartoon themes during....which makes it all the more unnerving.
James is one deranged maniac, suffering from delusions of grandeur and an elevated sense of self, he has fabricated an outlook to the world, one that not only has him convinced that he is an evolved human but also one that has convinced him that adolescent boys are born evil, and he's taken it upon himself to help such children. He must do all he can to eradicate that latent/simmering evil in boys, it's his calling. He not only kidnaps them and holds them captive, he also murders their families, using the props he's created from those graphically violent acts as more conditioning tools to 'evolve' the boy. Other tortures such as rape and sodomy are important measures he takes as well but he is methodical and calculating, he has certain ways of doing things and timing is everything to him.
All the boys are renamed Franco. IF a particular Franco just doesn't work out for whatever reason, or succumbs to his injuries/frights....they are disposed of in the garden (it's never looked so lush, which James takes as yet another sign he's on the right path) and the search for a new Franco begins...
He will NOT stop in his quest, he feels guided by the spiritual hand of 'providence', providence will not let him fail.
A highly intelligent, manipulative, and cunning guy which is the most dangerous kind of psychopath. To say he has no morals or conscience would be an understatement but yet he IS in tune enough to have blended well into his community, he is a history teacher and helps run a soup kitchen. He obviously looks down on people, they are all beneath him...but has managed to fake a few acquaintanceships.
It's one of his many hidden talents...
A sadistic narcissist through and through. He truly believes the dead families and even the child himself would thank him for his unwavering diligence and for having such strong convictions in the face of his many adversaries.
Well, James soon starts suffering himself, from memory gaps and fits of tempter. The absolute worst thing to happen to a conscienceless madman.
For the first time in years he begins flashbacking to his childhood, a childhood best left repressed, full of sexual abuse and mental anguish, and murder.
Some things will come to light, some unbelievably disturbing things, things best left in the dark.
OHHHH, and with that backstory Ian so gingerly sprinkled into this dark and morose tale, added many raw and emotional layers of depth and mystery. Backstory is key in these kinds of stories, the groundwork is very important. James has mommy issues.
A shocking ending that blindsides you, you do not see THAT coming. Yea, the last 3 or so chapters, you'll read with your eyes closed. It's still effective.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donning a pair of germ repellent sterile gloves, I managed to snatch a few repugnantly vile thoughts from our lunatic's sick head that do a pretty good job summing up the high regards he hold himself up in.
Generosity and good will were an intrinsic component of my personality.
It's one of my many hidden talents.
I imagined that my soul would resemble a metaphysical pulsing ball of billions of colours whereas the tramp's soul would likely look like a lump of sloppy dog-shit, clinging to the pavement after a heavy rainfall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wonder if this was a difficult book for Mr. Woodhead to write. It sure was difficult to read at times, I'd have to set my kindle down and either let the thoughts calm out or remind myself that it is just fiction. What makes it hard for this kind of story is that it can and does happen, it was written very realistically....like one of those unbelievably true crime documentaries where you just watch slacked jawed, tears welling up.
That's how I read this book. It really could happen, it has happened....
He held back ~ nothing. You were unfortunately stuck in this guys head and unfortunately he sees himself as a jokester at times. It really messes with your emotions, are you supposed to chuckle, is that wrong??
You can't help it, Ian has a way of just forcefully escorting you through it. You are truly at his mercy and if he wants you to giggle sob, you giggle sob. WE are not an evolved species after all, just your basic standard edition rehashed human folk.
This very well may be my all time FAVORITE read from Ian. It's hard to gauge though, them dino's tearing up that mall in Pterodactyl Mall or that whole city full of balmy nutters in Brutality are high up there too!! I really can't say, he writes so many amazing and varied books!
I very much appreciate receiving an ARC copy of this book from Mr. Woodhead. Any time, any place. Have your people get with my people. Well, I don't have people per say...just the voices. :D
He's been around for a few years, has many many titles to his name and plays in all sorts of genres. Extreme horror, fantasy, sci-fi....
The guys got mad writing skills, that's for sure. Yea, I think we should all start addressing him as Sir Ian Woodhead ~ he's been Writer Knighted! :D
This go round it's a deep dark hardcore psychological extreme horror thriller. And it was oh so disturbingly good.
Snatched is the type of story that sticks with you, even after you try your damnedest to shake it off.
Told in first person from the point of view of our psychotic and delusional madman, James, which really gave Woodhead the power to subject us to every nasty, deplorable, and inappropriately humorous thought in his head (James's head, not Ian's....uhh hopefully EEECK!).
This really is the best perspective to go when telling such a story, you're trapped and dragged threw his sick and twisted head and it's very distressing because he's so nonchalant when going about all his heinous activities, even hums cartoon themes during....which makes it all the more unnerving.
James is one deranged maniac, suffering from delusions of grandeur and an elevated sense of self, he has fabricated an outlook to the world, one that not only has him convinced that he is an evolved human but also one that has convinced him that adolescent boys are born evil, and he's taken it upon himself to help such children. He must do all he can to eradicate that latent/simmering evil in boys, it's his calling. He not only kidnaps them and holds them captive, he also murders their families, using the props he's created from those graphically violent acts as more conditioning tools to 'evolve' the boy. Other tortures such as rape and sodomy are important measures he takes as well but he is methodical and calculating, he has certain ways of doing things and timing is everything to him.
All the boys are renamed Franco. IF a particular Franco just doesn't work out for whatever reason, or succumbs to his injuries/frights....they are disposed of in the garden (it's never looked so lush, which James takes as yet another sign he's on the right path) and the search for a new Franco begins...
He will NOT stop in his quest, he feels guided by the spiritual hand of 'providence', providence will not let him fail.
A highly intelligent, manipulative, and cunning guy which is the most dangerous kind of psychopath. To say he has no morals or conscience would be an understatement but yet he IS in tune enough to have blended well into his community, he is a history teacher and helps run a soup kitchen. He obviously looks down on people, they are all beneath him...but has managed to fake a few acquaintanceships.
It's one of his many hidden talents...
A sadistic narcissist through and through. He truly believes the dead families and even the child himself would thank him for his unwavering diligence and for having such strong convictions in the face of his many adversaries.
Well, James soon starts suffering himself, from memory gaps and fits of tempter. The absolute worst thing to happen to a conscienceless madman.
For the first time in years he begins flashbacking to his childhood, a childhood best left repressed, full of sexual abuse and mental anguish, and murder.
Some things will come to light, some unbelievably disturbing things, things best left in the dark.
OHHHH, and with that backstory Ian so gingerly sprinkled into this dark and morose tale, added many raw and emotional layers of depth and mystery. Backstory is key in these kinds of stories, the groundwork is very important. James has mommy issues.
A shocking ending that blindsides you, you do not see THAT coming. Yea, the last 3 or so chapters, you'll read with your eyes closed. It's still effective.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donning a pair of germ repellent sterile gloves, I managed to snatch a few repugnantly vile thoughts from our lunatic's sick head that do a pretty good job summing up the high regards he hold himself up in.
Generosity and good will were an intrinsic component of my personality.
It's one of my many hidden talents.
I imagined that my soul would resemble a metaphysical pulsing ball of billions of colours whereas the tramp's soul would likely look like a lump of sloppy dog-shit, clinging to the pavement after a heavy rainfall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wonder if this was a difficult book for Mr. Woodhead to write. It sure was difficult to read at times, I'd have to set my kindle down and either let the thoughts calm out or remind myself that it is just fiction. What makes it hard for this kind of story is that it can and does happen, it was written very realistically....like one of those unbelievably true crime documentaries where you just watch slacked jawed, tears welling up.
That's how I read this book. It really could happen, it has happened....
He held back ~ nothing. You were unfortunately stuck in this guys head and unfortunately he sees himself as a jokester at times. It really messes with your emotions, are you supposed to chuckle, is that wrong??
You can't help it, Ian has a way of just forcefully escorting you through it. You are truly at his mercy and if he wants you to giggle sob, you giggle sob. WE are not an evolved species after all, just your basic standard edition rehashed human folk.
This very well may be my all time FAVORITE read from Ian. It's hard to gauge though, them dino's tearing up that mall in Pterodactyl Mall or that whole city full of balmy nutters in Brutality are high up there too!! I really can't say, he writes so many amazing and varied books!
I very much appreciate receiving an ARC copy of this book from Mr. Woodhead. Any time, any place. Have your people get with my people. Well, I don't have people per say...just the voices. :D
March 16, 2017
A deliciously depraved extreme horror short read (97 pages) by Ian Woodhead, Snatched opens the door to the inner workings of the mind of James, a seemingly upstanding pillar of the community, history teacher and soup kitchen volunteer, who has taken it upon himself to rid the world of the hidden evil within all young boys, by the means of kidnap, torture both physical and mental, and using any and all tools in his tool bag and items he finds in the homes he invades. He's also not averse to violating, mutilating and butchering members of his young victims' families, and even the odd homeless vagrant!
Flashbacks to James as a young boy reveal how he had no choice but to grow up to be the dysfunctional, psychopathic, broken man who believes that he is the next step in human evolution, and you won't see the twist, I assure you!
I would have given Snatched 5 stars, but there are a few grammatical errors and formatting inconsistencies: there are no page breaks between chapters, and a couple of chapter headings are not in bold type.
Flashbacks to James as a young boy reveal how he had no choice but to grow up to be the dysfunctional, psychopathic, broken man who believes that he is the next step in human evolution, and you won't see the twist, I assure you!
I would have given Snatched 5 stars, but there are a few grammatical errors and formatting inconsistencies: there are no page breaks between chapters, and a couple of chapter headings are not in bold type.
September 6, 2017
A terrifying and a terrific book from the start till the end
Wow what a terrifying, fantastic book. It left me wanting more... I couldn'nt put it down, a page turner from the beginning, it left me with my mouth wide open!! Not one chapter did I find boring I will definitely be looking for more of Ian Woodhead's books.
Wow what a terrifying, fantastic book. It left me wanting more... I couldn'nt put it down, a page turner from the beginning, it left me with my mouth wide open!! Not one chapter did I find boring I will definitely be looking for more of Ian Woodhead's books.
July 21, 2022
Another gruesome author
What is it about English authors that makes them fixated about assholes. This author has tried to outdo Matt Shaw in disgusting descriptions but has failed as a storyteller. Plot inconsistencies and diversions lead the reader to wonder where they are.
What is it about English authors that makes them fixated about assholes. This author has tried to outdo Matt Shaw in disgusting descriptions but has failed as a storyteller. Plot inconsistencies and diversions lead the reader to wonder where they are.
January 27, 2017
God Complex: is an unshakable belief characterized by consistently inflated feelings of personal ability, privilege, or infallibility.
Providence: the protective care of nature as a spiritual power.
Dissociative Disorders or State: are sometimes triggered by trauma and used as a coping or defense mechanism. While not losing one’s identity, the person experiences a mild to severe detachment from reality, immediate surroundings, daydreaming, loss of time or memories.
I like author, Ian Woodhead’s story which turned out to more of a horror/psychological thriller. Then if you are new to this author, his works fall into the extreme horror, splatterpunked, or depraved category. (So, warning this novel is not for weak stomachs for it has graphic violence and sexual content). I loved that for this story it’s entirely done in first person narrative because once you read it, I hope you will see that the title “Snatched” may have two different references. So, the main character James tells the story. There are other characters, that do speak, but you only hear them when James allows it. This is done to show off his “God Complex”, that no one else is important or matters.
Now as far as the graphic violence and sexual content, it is more told to you then shown. So, I found the story to be more disturbing than terrifying. Yet, in a sense some could look at this whole novel as terrifying just for the fact this person lives a normal life and could be your next door neighbor, mailman, teacher, family friend, but a psychopathic, child kidnapper in the end. It happens all over the world, every day. Plus, a lot of perfect research went into this story for all the mental disorders and then he shows the consequences of a dysfunctional family. Which then leads to the potential of a complete mental break down.
Meet James, he is a History teacher by day and a volunteer at a soup kitchen for the homeless on the weekends. His few friends think he is a great, up standing individual. They have no clue to what his real job is, which is snatching 10-year-old, little boys. Then he goes to work on conditioning and cleansing them from evil, by torturing and showing repeated horrific videos. This then severs their emotional attachment to their loved ones. Thus, creating a new Franco, his own personal and obedient slave. Though at times I found James needed them more for his loneliness, which he would never admit to. So, as he continues to fail with all the Franco’s that he has tried to dispel their demons, his garden continues to grow and flourish. Then one day while searching for the next boy who would meet his special criteria, which I won’t say to ruin the story, something startling happens. He awakens in the soup kitchen with no idea how he got there and the loss of time. He does give thanks to Providence though, because she continues to protect him. He then chooses to ignore it, because he thinks it was just a fluke. After careful searching, his co-worker Bennie practically hands James, the next 10-year-old little boy, his nephew, Donnie. Then long buried memories begin to surface, which leads to more triggered, dissociative states. James begins to make mistakes and chaos ensues. In James' world, this doesn’t matter because his “God Complex” makes him think he is unstoppable. So, the ending turns out to be shocking surprise for all, because James has another special ability that just may save him.
Reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com/
Providence: the protective care of nature as a spiritual power.
Dissociative Disorders or State: are sometimes triggered by trauma and used as a coping or defense mechanism. While not losing one’s identity, the person experiences a mild to severe detachment from reality, immediate surroundings, daydreaming, loss of time or memories.
I like author, Ian Woodhead’s story which turned out to more of a horror/psychological thriller. Then if you are new to this author, his works fall into the extreme horror, splatterpunked, or depraved category. (So, warning this novel is not for weak stomachs for it has graphic violence and sexual content). I loved that for this story it’s entirely done in first person narrative because once you read it, I hope you will see that the title “Snatched” may have two different references. So, the main character James tells the story. There are other characters, that do speak, but you only hear them when James allows it. This is done to show off his “God Complex”, that no one else is important or matters.
Now as far as the graphic violence and sexual content, it is more told to you then shown. So, I found the story to be more disturbing than terrifying. Yet, in a sense some could look at this whole novel as terrifying just for the fact this person lives a normal life and could be your next door neighbor, mailman, teacher, family friend, but a psychopathic, child kidnapper in the end. It happens all over the world, every day. Plus, a lot of perfect research went into this story for all the mental disorders and then he shows the consequences of a dysfunctional family. Which then leads to the potential of a complete mental break down.
Meet James, he is a History teacher by day and a volunteer at a soup kitchen for the homeless on the weekends. His few friends think he is a great, up standing individual. They have no clue to what his real job is, which is snatching 10-year-old, little boys. Then he goes to work on conditioning and cleansing them from evil, by torturing and showing repeated horrific videos. This then severs their emotional attachment to their loved ones. Thus, creating a new Franco, his own personal and obedient slave. Though at times I found James needed them more for his loneliness, which he would never admit to. So, as he continues to fail with all the Franco’s that he has tried to dispel their demons, his garden continues to grow and flourish. Then one day while searching for the next boy who would meet his special criteria, which I won’t say to ruin the story, something startling happens. He awakens in the soup kitchen with no idea how he got there and the loss of time. He does give thanks to Providence though, because she continues to protect him. He then chooses to ignore it, because he thinks it was just a fluke. After careful searching, his co-worker Bennie practically hands James, the next 10-year-old little boy, his nephew, Donnie. Then long buried memories begin to surface, which leads to more triggered, dissociative states. James begins to make mistakes and chaos ensues. In James' world, this doesn’t matter because his “God Complex” makes him think he is unstoppable. So, the ending turns out to be shocking surprise for all, because James has another special ability that just may save him.
Reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com/
January 30, 2017
Snatched is quite possibly the most extreme horror book that Ian Woodhead has written to date with some genuinely shudder inducing moments. In it we meet James, an ordinary, unassuming man who works in a soup kitchen at the weekends and teaches History during the week, but James has a secret, a horrifying secret all linked to a past full of abuse and depravity.
Ian has written this book in the first person narrative, which works really well and gives you a really good in-site into why he does what he does. Now I could write more about the story about what James did to who and how and when he did it, but I don't believe in spoiling books for other readers, but if you're an Ian Woodhead fan, do yourself a favour and get this book, and if you're not a fan, give it a try and if you like it he's got a long list of books for your enjoyment.
Ian has written this book in the first person narrative, which works really well and gives you a really good in-site into why he does what he does. Now I could write more about the story about what James did to who and how and when he did it, but I don't believe in spoiling books for other readers, but if you're an Ian Woodhead fan, do yourself a favour and get this book, and if you're not a fan, give it a try and if you like it he's got a long list of books for your enjoyment.
April 4, 2017
Brilliantly Twisted!
Seeing that this is the 1st book I've read written by Ian Woodhead, I was a bit concerned that his writing may be a little tame for my tastes. What I found however is that the man is just as twisted and deranged as I'd hoped. Every page is filled with the expectation of new tortures, new ways to make a person scream. This most definitely will not be the last narrative I purchase by this author. I've found a new love...the writing of Mr. Ian Woodhead
Seeing that this is the 1st book I've read written by Ian Woodhead, I was a bit concerned that his writing may be a little tame for my tastes. What I found however is that the man is just as twisted and deranged as I'd hoped. Every page is filled with the expectation of new tortures, new ways to make a person scream. This most definitely will not be the last narrative I purchase by this author. I've found a new love...the writing of Mr. Ian Woodhead
April 10, 2017
The premise is excellent. James has been kidnapping young boys to create the perfect child and disprove his mother’s beliefs that all little boys are evil. You can read my full review here... https://horrornovelreviews.com/2017/0...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews