Schon mal darüber nachgedacht, wie schnell man sein Gesicht verlieren kann? Ein tiefer Schnitt, ein heftiger Ruck – und schon baumelt es dir vom Kinn runter …
Extrem-Meister Tim Miller in seinem Element. Man kann ihm vorwerfen, dass er einfach schreibt. Aber mit wenigen Sätzen beschreibt er seine Figuren lebensechter als mancher Hochliterat es auf vielen Seiten vermag.
Can we just take a moment to realize how awesome my wife is? When I told her I bought a audio book called "Rape Van" she laughed and said "Cool." Like yeah, this is what marriage is all about.
Anyway, let's talk about this book. Or Novella actually. It's not very good. Now that we got that out of the way let's discuss the good and bad.
Let's start off with the story itself. These two hippie looking mofos kidnap people in their van, sometimes rape them, and then kill them. Simple huh? This is backwoods, gore fest, over the top violence that you either can love or hate.
See I read a book a few years back titled "The Summer I Died" and I actually liked it. Same idea, same fucked up torture, same sexual violations. So why was it better? Because it had characters I can enjoy. Here? That's almost impossible to find.
Everyone is a piece of shit. No one is redemable. The people who are just die in mean spirited ways, which would be fine, if I cared when they died. I don't. They just get mulitated in terrible ways (rats eating you while alive, smashed in face while sucking a dick, bleach in the eyeballs) and yet I was yawning because anyone can make up great kills or most fucked up deaths, but I need characters to care about to let those deaths have meaning. This book failed to give that.
I give it a two because I did like the little twist, even if it was very predictable I still thought it was neat. They even address it here. I also liked a few of the kills.
However the rest of this book is just over the top, some really bad dialog, and the pacing is all over the place. The last few chapters turn into a action movie.
Overall it's a 2/5 and worth it only for die hard, backwoods, gore loving, horror fans. Everyone else stay far far away.
I am completely blown away with this author and believe me that is hard to do I've have read plenty of horror and extreme horror in my life time but none of them had ever freaked me out as much as the author Tim Miller has and I loved ever freaking twisted and horrific word of Rape Van Sssooo looking forward to reading more
Come enjoy your ride in the Rape Van, where many don't ever get out on their own. Rape Van is in my top three favorites from Tim Miller. There is so much intertwining with this story, that you can't help but love the road he takes with it. (If you read it, you'll know what I mean) what's the chances?! There's gore, brutal shit and just craziness happening throughout the story. Tim never ceases to amaze me. There is one character in particular that I need more of. It gives the story even more of the creepy factor when she's introduced. Three thing's I've learned from reading this book, 1- Don't get into creepy vans. 2- Everyone is crazy and 3- Maddie makes my child look like an angel
I adore Tim Miller's disturbing, twisted, and horrific writing style. His stories amaze me every time I listen to or read one, because I know he puts all he has into each one. Rape Van has it all! Extremely Horrific scenes that left my mouth agape, rewinding it just to be sure I heard correctly. Yep, I sure did.
It absolutely blows my mind what this author comes up with. Kudos to Mr. Miller for always bringing a fresh, albeit, terrifying, demented, picturesque, and graphic new story.
The narrator, Daniel Dorse, has a deep voice that just brings these characters to life. It was easy to follow the differences between the voices. I just turn the lights off, close my eyes and dive into the dark world as the story unfolds.
One of the most memorable scenes is when Maddie and Susie meet. A tender moment even for a psychopathic killer. Excellence!!
I am fairly new to the extreme horror genre of books, but Tim Miller is the PERFECT author to get my feet wet with!! This book is INSANE (in the best way possible)!!! Karma rears it's ugly head in Rape Van and it is BEAUTIFUL!!!
Please don't let the title of the book dissuade you from reading this book!!! I read it in one sitting and could not put it down!!! This book pushes all types of limits and doesn't even care ;-) Tim Miller has given us a story that will make you cringe and lock your car doors every time you see an old van driving down a highway...no matter where you are.
I LOVED this story. A perfect amount of horror, gore, and suspense!! I really hope that Tim continues with a sequel telling more of Maddie's story!! WELL DONE Tim Miller!!! I cannot wait to read more from you in the very near future!!!
OK...I need to say I thought I was twisted. No, turns out Tim Miller makes me look like Tinkerbell. This book is absolutely the twist of all twists. Two serial killers drive this van, that people commonly would refer to a rape van (hence the name), and pick up people and torture and kill them. The twist here, and this I will admit amused me, they pick up these two couples who get into a car accident, then get stranded at a house that has a friendly couple that takes them in. This couple who have this adorable quiet "granddaughter" are not at all what they seem! And the ending! Tim Miller all I can say is I am bowing down my friend! You are now the King of Twisted!
Really pleased I went with this book, I have read most of Tim Millers books, but this is my favourite so far. If you like blood and lots of gore, then this is for you.
This is, simply put, a god awful piece of trash. I know my trash. I have a penchant for depraved stories and books, and authors who specialize in the splatterpunk genre. This isn't good trash and it's not a work that I would recommend to anyone, whether it be a seasoned reader of splatterpunk or someone looking to dip their toes in that bloodied water, so to speak.
I'd love to say that this book could have had promise, but I think that would be too generous. I haven't read the authors other works (and doubt I will now) so I can't say if it's a problem with the author or the fact that his ideas weren't very well developed, but there's definitely a problem here.
Let's start out with the characters.
There's not a single character that's endearing in the slightest and there's little to no character development or character background in the book. The author employs the shameful trope of abuse as a backstory for the few backgrounds that are discussed, and they are simply mentioned in passing - save for one character's background which could have been extremely plausible but took a turn for the unbelievable and just plain laughable. Nearly all of the women in the book are portrayed with abuse as a backstory. Unfortunately it doesn't endear you to them in the slightest.
The book seems to be based sheerly on shock factor, which is of course a trademark in the splatterpunk genre... but this is not good shock. Yes, you'll cringe at some of the scenes with violence but many of them are just... too over the top to be believed.
The writing and editing is sloppy. Without going on a full grammar rant, that's all I'm going to say about it. I know that few people are rarely perfect when it comes to editing and grammar, but I feel as though there could have been a pronounced effort to do better.
I'll be honest in saying that I felt like I was reading the amateur novel of a boy in the 10th grade. But I feel like that's an insult to some sophomores who could probably do better in the writing department.
While the finish of the story on the whole was a little rough around the edges (see things I noticed at the end of the review), the pace was fast enough that the issues didn't detract from the story being told.
Some seriously messed up people in this book, none more so than that creepy little mistress of murder. She's enough to seed nightmares for months.
Horrific in some of its simplicity, Rape Van offers a twisted view into the lives of serial killers. It included some imaginative ideas and sadistic scenes. One wicked little ride that will likely scare the bejesus out of readers and turn stomachs of all but a hardened few gore veterans.
I would have liked more time spent with the victims, it felt a little rushed at times, which detracted from the impact of some of the scenes.
An easy read in one sitting, if you dare.
The first Tim Miller read for me, but it won't be the last.
A few things I noticed:
Pg 9 - ...Why did you do that?" Mar(t)in screamed. Pg 21 - Mar(t)in had gone completely hysterical... Pg 56 - ...I'll get in(it) in the oven... Pg 61 - chapter 6 needs to be on a new page. Pg 189 - The(y) did pull back some, at least.
THE VAN (RAPE VAN? I'm unsure what the title of this book officially is) is about a group of idiots who get into a car crash, get picked up by a group of serial killers, who get picked up by another group of serial killers. Even the book points out how ridiculous this premise is, so I'm inclined to give it a pass. Miller has a solid, no-frills kind of style that appeals to me, and he's never short on the gore. Of the extreme horror authors that are swarming Amazon, he's probably my favorite because he's the least pretentious (Matt Shaw, looking at you) and unflinching.
THE VAN is a quick read--a bit of junk food for your brain. You probably won't remember it a few days after you read it. One thing I wish authors would stop doing is letting the bad guy win and acting like the audience should be shocked. Some authors can pull that off as social commentary or whatever, but if you're churning these out month after month on Amazon, you probably can't. There's nothing wrong with writing something just for entertainment. Not everything needs to have a message.
I just happened to be on Twitter and this book popped up on my feed, so as a general horror fan from a very young age (cujo aged 8!) I went over to Amazon and purchased the kindle version.
It is my first dive into extreme horror as a genre of books.... I watch nasty films, nasty tv - I managed 12 minutes of Human Centipede and 8 minutes of a serbian film (I'm not even giving that capitals) and that was enough for me and never again. This story starts so positively then hits you like a hammer in the skull. Truly gag worthy in places but still I couldn't put it down. If you are easily offended or squeamish PLEASE don't, but why would you with a title such as this?! Just prepare yourself as reading these things is so much much more than watching.....
I finished it in just over an hour and I want a sequel!
This Tim Miller book escalated quickly right in the first chapter and set the tone for many of the horrific things that I would be exposed to throughout the story. There were a great deal of twists and turns that I hadn't seen coming. I enjoyed being shocked with each new discovery. Maddie was quite the character and even up to the end of the book kept me in a state of shock and awe. I would enjoy reading more about her in a future book.
Pretty well written for what it is.. just pure mayhem and a bit of the old Ultra-Violence. Decent plot and more than graphic enough to satisfy those that crave gruesomeness - liked the twist at the end. Not sure if I would have liked it more if it was shorter and a tad less repetitive ( killing wise) or longer with more character development. Good enough to give another one of the authors books a go.
As a fan of extreme horror I was a bit disappointed in this one. It wasn’t very imaginative and the dialog was just terrible. It was like the author wanted to put as much gore in a few pages as he could, but forgot to add a decent story along with it. It was really amateurish and needed a good editing too. It would have been 1 star, except Maddie was kind of awesome so she gets another star.
What a fucked up book! Very gory and graphic but I liked it! I wanted scary/gory and I got it! Pretty descriptive murder scenes, so if you have a weak stomach, stay away! It was a quick and easy read.
If you're into blood, guts, and brutal torture, this one's for you! I really enjoyed this fast-paced, non-stop book of gore! The kindle version is edited horribly, but it didn't take too much away from the story.
Extreme horror, not for the faint of heart. I liked the premise but extreme horror isn't usually my thing. I kind of want to follow what happens with the last character, but if there is a sequel, I'm not sure I can do another like this, definitely not right away.
This book was something else definitely Very interesting I enjoyed it tbh I love maddie she's amazing My uncle who passed away last year gave me this book and told me that maddie reminded him of me and now a year later i read this book and i love it
Tim Miller is one of the best and extreme horror and this is the proof Well narrated and highly recommended I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
I love this authors style! I've read a couple of Tim's books and this one really grabbed me. It's wrong, disgusting, and gory. It's right up my alley. This is not for the weak of heart. If you think you can handle check it out.
Andy and Bridget have learned the secret to a successful relationship, and that is to support each other’s hobbies. The couple have been supporting each other’s sadistic pastimes for years and it looks like it’s time to pay only the police are nowhere in sight. This is another great slasher horror from Miller. The concept is simple and brilliant but the characters are what really makes the book. Seeing life from a serial killer’s point of view is always an interesting perspective but couple that with a little devious double-crossing and add a really messed up child and you have a recipe for entertainment. Break out the popcorn but hold the sauce, this book contains Miller’s fabulous gore-factor.
Too short and the characters were too shallow. It felt like the entire premise centered around the plot and how grotesque it could be but I feel it would have been better to create deplorable people I could relate to rather than the most extreme caricature of depravity.
I discovered Tim Miller's books through Amazon as well as word of mouth in the world of independent horror authors that have caused a resurgence of Extreme Horror/Splatterpunk that has proliferated since the digital press took off. I have held back from reviewing Miller's novels because after each one I am usually at a loss of where to begin. I recently picked up one of his latest novels entitled 'Rape Van' which by title alone left me wondering how he got through Amazon's approval process. The book sat on my E-Reader and a print copy on my shelf. I read some of it..thought about it...read some more ..tried to look away.......yet it kept creeping back under my skin and upon finishing I knew it was time for a review.
If you are looking for literature or something classically written in the vein of Bram Stoker move on. There is nothing sophisticated about Tim Miller's writing. Yet it’s the reason his books have found an audience that has him moving up bestseller lists. Miller's writing is a lot like watching that horror movie that had next to no budget yet taking for what it is...it is nothing less than brilliant. Thoughts of such horror classics as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Devil's Rejects and The Hills Have Eyes come to mind yet Miller pushes way beyond the limits of those movies.
Rape Van is the story of psychopaths...multiple psychopaths and the path of murder and mayhem they cause. Each page drips in blood, torture and bodily evisceration...definitely not for those with a weak stomach. The story recycles multiple B-Horror cliches ….broken down travelers.....rural weirdos...bubbling law enforcement.....yet Tim Miller finds a way to make the story all his own and makes the B-Horror tropes and cliches worth revisiting. He also manages to create one of the most terrifying supporting characters I have ever read.
If you are a fan of brutal in your face Splatter-punk, Tim Miller is the way to go. Rape Van is full of WTF moments that make you question the sanity of the man who wrote such a novel. I guess the best way to describe it....its like a train-wreck....you just can't look away. You are left dreading what Miller will write next... yet in the deep, dark, forbidden recesses of your mind...you can't wait to read it!