This Book Will Kill You

by Alexander Gordon Smith

This book will kill you.
This book has already killed you.


You were a deadthing the moment you read these words. You were a deadthing when you opened the first page. You were deadthing when you saw the cover. You were deadthing the very instant you discovered this story even existed, the very instant you heard somebody whisper its name.


Because if you know about the book, then she knows about you.
 If you know about the book, then she sees you.
 She’s watching you right now, can you feel her there? She’s sitting right behind you. You started to read, and her eyes peeled open and her lips peeled open and she saw you and she’s grinning her moon-yellow grin because she knows there’s nothing you can do to stop her. 
She’s already killed you. 


This book has already killed you.


So it doesn’t matter if you read on or not. There’s nothing you can do to change things now. One day very soon she’ll let you see her. You’ll turn your head and she’ll be there, sitting beside you. Or she’ll open her mouth and let you hear her dusty voice, and you won’t be able to unhear her, you won’t be able to make it stop. One day soon she’ll reach out and scratch her crackboned finger down your cheek, or you’ll wake to find her birdnest body pressed against yours, her fingers worrying themselves beneath your skin.


There’s nothing you can do to stop her, not now, not ever. But if you want to keep reading then who am I to stop you? Maybe you’ll find something I didn’t. Maybe you’ll find a way to make her unsee you.


Maybe.


She’s closer now, I think you must have felt that? She’s right there, her forehead is almost touching the back of your head, her bulging eyes are almost touching the back of your neck. She wants you to turn around, she wants you to see her.
 Don’t. Not yet.
You’re dead. She’s already killed you. This book has killed you. But don’t turn around yet. You might have a few hours left—days maybe, if somebody else starts to read this book as well, weeks if the whole world starts reading. But if you see her now, the rot and the horror will eat you up fast.


She sees you. She is on her way.


Don’t turn around, deadthing. 
Don’t stop now, deadthing.


Just read.


Genres: Horror

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2019

About the author

Alexander Gordon Smith is the author of the Escape from Furnace series of young adult novels, including Lockdown and Solitary. Born in 1979 in Norwich, England, he always wanted to be a writer. After experimenting in the service and retail trades for a few years, Smith decided to go to University. He studied English and American Literature at the University of East Anglia, and it was here that he first explored his love of publishing. Along with poet Luke Wright, he founded Egg Box Publishing, a groundbreaking magazine and press that promotes talented new authors. He also started writing literally hundreds of articles, short stories and books ranging from Scooby Doo comic strips to world atlases, Midsomer Murders to X-Files. The endless research for these projects led to countless book ideas germinating in his head. His first book, The Inventors, written with his nine-year-old brother Jamie, was published in the U.K. in 2007. He lives in England.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/alexan...

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and fun and creepy! I could not read this book at night or by myself. It would be a great read aloud for teens. A love how gross it is and how personal it feels when you are reading it. This author is a favorite of mine, so I had to buy this book. The cover is pretty cool too!

[Eli Megibben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book! Creepy and unsettling escapism. I listened to the book as an audio production that was released serially through the No Sleep Podcast (Staring with S18 E11 released 11 Sept 2022 and ending with S18 E20 released 13 Nov 2022) and thought it worked especially well as an audiobook that kept me excited every week for the next installment.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's watching you.
That thing tugging at the corner of your peripheral, that's her. She's the breath prickling every hair on the back of your neck, that creaking, crackling sound behind you, but don't turn around. Not yet. Read the book. Keep reading. Try and find a way to make her unsee you.
Not that it really matters.
Because this book has already killed you.
Good luck.

[Mau · Rating 4 out of 5]

You need to listen to the audio adaptation from The NoSleep Podcast, such an eerie story, haunting and horrifying

[Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to the audio adoptation of this on the ns-podcast was an experience

[Elysya Scerbo-pasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio production of this book by the Nosleep Podcast. It's broken into 10 parts across Season 18 in episodes 11 through 20 (Part 8 was released as a special, separately, not as part of an episode). It really drew me in, and I found myself looking forward to each part up until the very end.

Tommi is an interesting character to follow as reality deteriorates around her - you're sympathetic to her reactions and relationships with her family, friends, and the world around her. Her written voice as a character is strong and compelling.

I appreciated the short stories within the main story, each a Creepypasta with a different type of horror.

The plot was interesting to follow as Tommi tries to piece together the clues and understand what it is she is facing. The horrors themselves are quite spine-chilling, a mix of psychological, supernatural, and body horror.

The podcast produced the book very well, and I genuinely enjoyed the ride. If you enjoy horror I definitely recommend giving it a read or a listen.

[Lisa Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST READ!!!!!

I don't reading online or via kindle. I prefer books. But this had me hooked reading! Such a great story and I don't expect anything less from this author. Never ceases to amaze me!!!!

[Jean Franks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book won't kill you

Have Never read a book like this, it sort of takes your breath away. Not an easy read , I don't mean in a bad way it's like the scariest rollercoaster or the fastest car. Am waiting for the next.

[Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander Gordon Smith’s Witch Nightmare is Incredible!

I wasn’t too sure of this, but I was quickly captivated by this story. This is like a surrealistic nightmare that just gets in under your skin. It’s very effective, creepy and smartly written. I highly recommend this!

[Kate Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

So scary!!

This book is creepy in a wonderful way. Fast paced and exciting. You won't be able to put it down!

[Princess Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Like the others this book does not disappoint.
Thank you so much for another fantastically well written book.
It was an absolute gem in my eyes.

[Catana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creepy. Loved the way it was written

[Birdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun paranoid ramblings of a teenage mind gripped in paranoia and fear.

[Ben Mayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the writing style of this book. It was a very twisted and made you question whether the protagonist was going insane or in supernatural danger.

[Michelle jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much

[Pamala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the NoSleep Podcast adaptation of this.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty creepy moments in this one. Figured out where it was going and was let down when it got there, but I really enjoyed the journey.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I, like others, listened to this story through The NoSleep Podcast. I loved this book. It's honestly so good and I'm glad the whole thing was out when I started to listen!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite stories! What a fabulously creepy read. Another fantastic read by Mr. Alexander Gordon Smith.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book last year through the No Sleep Podcast and loved it, so I had to give a reread this year.