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A rainy night. A storm incoming. A group of alcoholics trying to stay clean.

But staying clean is impossible when you have blood on your hands. Justice will always catch up with you.

Adam lost his entire life to alcohol, but tonight he is one year sober. While he never expects to ever again be happy, he is at least back in control of his life. That is until a ghostly face appears at the window and turns his world into a nightmare. Now the only people he can rely on are his fellow drunks, and some of them are keeping secrets.

163 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

259 people are currently reading
416 people want to read

About the author

Iain Rob Wright

163 books1,808 followers
One of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the writer of more than forty books, many of them bestsellers. A previous Kindle All-Star and a mainstay in the horror charts, he is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.

With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.

To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com

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5 stars
345 (40%)
4 stars
297 (34%)
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178 (20%)
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25 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
Profile Image for Steve Rufle.
194 reviews8 followers
November 18, 2024
This is the second book I have read from this author.

Really enjoyed the storyline and character development. I am looking forward to reading more from him.
Profile Image for Bill.
1,875 reviews132 followers
March 17, 2020
You’re only as sick as your secrets.

And we all got ‘em.

This group of alkies seems to have more than most.

It’s time to pay for them.

A very nicely done thriller by Iain Rob Wright. Perfect length, well crafted and expertly narrated by Aubrey Parsons. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this one.
Profile Image for Mickey.
805 reviews300 followers
June 25, 2023
"Everyone began talking at once, but Adam fixated on those flimsy wooden doors now hanging wide open. Outside, thick sheets of rain sliced through the darkness and assaulted the tarmac like machine-gun fire. A white face stated back at him from the car park. It had no expression."

I have been eyeing up books by this author for a while and finally took the plunge. Well, I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. This one was so good, right from page one. A brilliant read that is just one long chapter, which obviously meant I couldn't take breaks and had to read it all in one go. Right? Very excited to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Courtney Perry.
141 reviews25 followers
April 15, 2021
I read this from start to finish in about 3 hours....I was gonna head to bed but it got too good to wait until morning to finish! Love the writing style
Profile Image for Jon Von.
576 reviews80 followers
January 11, 2022
3.5 Entertaining AA slasher is well-paced with lots of action. Themes of recovery and addiction are incorporated in interesting and creative ways. It just all feels a little like a TV Movie. Wright usually excels with straightforward genre thrills. It’s a little hokey though. There is a moment when the main character literally has to take 12 steps through fire to survive where I was like, ok this is clever.
Profile Image for L J Field.
597 reviews16 followers
April 21, 2020
Adequate thriller

This novel was somewhat enjoyable, but purely pedestrian. The characters were pretty good, but the evil that assaults the “good guys” was pretty extreme and unbelievable..
Profile Image for Leigh Taylor.
58 reviews5 followers
March 23, 2023
I enjoyed this book for many reasons. I would like to acknowledge Iain Rob Wright's bravery in his honesty with his words before the story.
Profile Image for Mr Francy Reads.
747 reviews24 followers
October 13, 2023
GOOD BOOK, UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF IT AND THERE WERE SOME HORROR ELEMENTS BUT NOT AS HORRIFIC AS I’M USED TO WITH IAIN ROB WRIGHT.

PREMISE: Adam lost his entire life to alcohol, but tonight he is one year sober. While he never expects to ever again be happy, he is at least back in control of his life. That is until a ghostly face appears at the window and turns his world into a nightmare. Now the only people he can rely on are his fellow drunks, and some of them are keeping secrets.

THOUGHTS: Honestly, all in all I’m disappointed with the Iain Rob Wright books I’ve read this month. It’s not that the books have been horrible, it’s more that I’m used to the horrifically wonderful books like “The Housemates” and “ASBO” that he has written and the ones I’ve read this month just haven’t been at the same level. This, naturally includes “12 Steps”. While I did appreciate what Iain Rob Wright was doing and while I appreciate how it relates to his own personal story a lot, it’s just said that this book (as with the others I’ve read this month) haven’t held-up to the full-on Horror I’m used to from my favourite Horror author.
In saying that, as I said, this doesn’t make this book bad. It just makes it less than the others. I did very much appreciate the cross over with Dark Ride and highly suggest reading that one before this one.
I docked a star for the significantly lowered level of horrorness.

4 Stars!
Xoxo.
Profile Image for April.
2,201 reviews58 followers
February 14, 2020
12 Steps
By: Iain Rob Wright

This is my first book by this author, but it will defiantly not be the last.

A group of alcoholics are at there support meeting when the storm rolls in. Along with it someones past is about to catch up with them. Who in the group can be

trusted and who can't.

Will anyone live thru the night? The suspense starts at the beginning and goes to the very end. I found I was holding my breath thru a lot of this book, and shivering thru other parts.


The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Aubrey Parsons is great.



I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Bonnie Cook.
163 reviews5 followers
November 6, 2022
This book was straight up chilling. I had goosebumps and read all night into the morning because I couldn't put it down.
I have experience with family alcoholism and the stories of these characters were SO REAL! I felt pity for them and then cold fear for their lives.
Thanks to the author who kept me reading longer than any other book has. I will definitely be reading more from you.
Profile Image for William Bitner Jr..
600 reviews32 followers
December 5, 2019
12 Steps
By Iain Rob Wright

Genre - Fiction
Sub Genre - Suspense/Thriller/Addiction/Abuse
Pages - 158
Publication Information - Independently published, November 4, 2019
Reviewed by William C. Bitner, Jr. (https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres...)
Rating - 📙📙📙📙📙

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a great deal of admiration for Iain’s scope of work. He’s only one of the UK's most successful horror and suspense writers, and has over the years become one of my favorite authors. The first book I read by Iain Rob Wright was “The Picture Frame” back in 2015. I haven’t stopped being amazed at his skill, masterful wordsmanship and pure artistic ability to entertain with words since. I’m probably not alone when I say this book is a bit of a departure but not a complete exit from his usual writings. This is pure suspense and thriller, without the usual scary creature in the woods type characters, no demons or devils other than one’s own demons. And that is sometimes scarier than any demon you may come face-to-face with. As a 12 Stepper myself (sober 16 years) I read this book with some knowledge of the goings on at these types of meetings. It was personal and familiar as well as engaging and entertaining. One thing that is consistent with Iain’s writing even without the demons and devils is his ability to draw the reader into any situation and have the reader go along for the ride. I particularly like the idea that even though this is a standalone novella he is somehow able to bring other parts of his past books into the narrative without missing a beat or the reader really needing to have knowledge of that book. However, take my advice and read the book he mentions in this book, “Dark Ride” is a hell of a ride. A well rounded and complete piece of literature that will have you anxious for the next page. As always, I look forward to the next adventure Iain will take us on.

From the back cover: A rainy night. A storm incoming. A group of alcoholics trying to stay clean.But staying clean is impossible when you have blood on your hands. Justice will always catch up with you. Adam lost his entire life to alcohol, but tonight he is one year sober. While he never expects to ever again be happy, he is at least back in control of his life. That is until a ghostly face appears at the window and turns his world into a nightmare. Now the only people he can rely on are his fellow drunks, and some of them are keeping secrets…

About the Author: Iain Rob Wright is one of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the author of more than twenty books, many of them bestsellers. A previous Kindle All-Star and a mainstay in the horror charts, he is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.

With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.

Other books by Iain Rob Wright: Animal Kingdom, A to Z of Horror, 2389, Holes in the Ground (with J.A. Konrath), Sam, ASBO, The Final Winter, The Housemates, Sea Sick, Ravage, Savage, The Picture Frame, Wings of Sorrow, The Gates (Hell on Earth, Book 1), Legion (Hell on Earth, Book 2), Extinction (Hell on Earth, Book 3), TAR, House Beneath the Bridge, Escape!, The Peeling, Blood on the Bar, Dark Ride, Soft Target, Hot Zone, End Play and Defiance (Hell on Earth, Book 4).
Profile Image for Katrina.
257 reviews
January 22, 2023
12 Steps was a really good surprisingly page turner, that kept me on edge wanting to find out who did it!!!
Profile Image for Corey.
618 reviews4 followers
March 8, 2024
A dark and stormy night, strangers with dark secrets... an excellent recipe... but the taste left something to be desired.
Profile Image for Terry.
1,039 reviews34 followers
February 23, 2020
Audiobook review
This started of as a supportive group meeting the 12 steps of the title.
Some characters opening up & baring their souls for the other attendees.
Then all hell let’s loose. Attacked & terrified.
I don’t do spoilers but crikey what a meeting!
Narrator was really good. Is it wrong to feel relaxed by his voice while listening to mayhem? Just me then!
Profile Image for Jay.
564 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2020
This was a straightforward suspense that really worked for me. I liked how it was written and the little surprises that unfolded as the plot was laid out were nice. Nothing ground breaking, but it was well done.
Profile Image for Mylene.
313 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2019
Brave story

Iain is one of my favorite authors for suspense and horror. I read everything he writes. Although this was not near the top of my favorite novels, it was a brave undertaking, especially when you read the author’s forward.

Having an addiction, no matter the type, brings a world of hurt. The problem with many users or alcoholics is that they defend their usage/drinking by saying that they are only hurting themselves. That is a blatant lie and it was wonderful to read that Iain acknowledges that overcoming selfishness is one of the first steps to recovery. It does not make someone a “bad” person if they have an addiction. There is ALWAYS time to change and to evolve. None of us are perfect and it is time we stop acting as though we are. Give people a chance to overcome their demons. For the addict himself, it is recognizing that you can make a change for the better. It is about changing your habits, recognizing that the addiction’s negatives outweigh the positives, and learning how your actions affect others and what it can lead to without depending on “it won’t happen to me”. And for those of us dealing with an addict, be tough, supportive, and kind. Recognize that you cannot change an addict, they have to make the change themselves, and hopefully will not have to suffer tragedy before recognizing the need to abstain.

Side note: I loved the addition of Tasha (from Dark Ride) to the story.

Thanks for another great story, Iain.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,782 reviews72 followers
October 29, 2019
A rainy night. A storm incoming. A group of alcoholics trying to stay clean.
But staying clean is impossible when you have blood on your hands. Justice will always catch up with you.
Adam lost his entire life to alcohol, but tonight he is one year sober. While he never expects to ever again be happy, he is at least back in control of his life. That is until a ghostly face appears at the window and turns his world into a nightmare. Now the only people he can rely on are his fellow drunks, and some of them are keeping secrets.
Grab your copy of 12 STEPS now if you love flawed characters and escalating situations. An absolutely thrilling read you will be sure to love.

Wow!!! Ian Rob Wright has done it again.
This was such an amazing tale that is so relatable that you could see this actually happening in the world.
So many twists and turns keep you glued as once you start you can't put this one down.
The plot and story line are amazing and will grip you from the very start.
The characters are fleshed out so well and very relatable.
I can't wait to see what this author brings us next as I am needing another fix now!!!!
Recommend reading.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for sweetpeagjyahoo.com.
237 reviews1 follower
December 10, 2019
Who knew that 12 steps were so deadly

I don't know if I really enjoyed the book or just the different characters in it. I've been to plenty of AA meetings to support friends and family. I have to say that I heard so many excuses for why they drank and continued to drink. The wheels kept falling off the wagon. I've been to NA meetings also. Seems that a lot of them were about manipulative behavior and enablers. I've sat in meetings being terrified by a few people in them. The total creeper that makes your skin crawl because of the energy put off or the look in their eyes. That's some of the problems with the programs because you don't know what they are capable of. At times it feels like a "who has the hardest story or a one up manship. " I'm glad that I never went to this meeting though. Just imagine every nightmare scenario coming to life because someone wanted revenge so much. An interesting story that should scare people sober.
656 reviews4 followers
October 29, 2019
Iain Rob Wright does it again with a dark, tense horror story proving once more that he is a master of the genre. He builds the tension quickly and holds it there all the way to the end. I found this one hard to stop reading and stayed up much later than I intended as I was desperate to see what might happen next. I’ll not give away any spoilers to the story but be sure it’s a truly entertaining horror read. There are some scenes that the more squeamish might find hard to read but overall it’s fun horror. To top it off there’s the mystery of who or what the grotesque face Alex, the main character, sees through the window. This is a fast paced addictive horror tale that I’d happily recommend to all horror fans.
93 reviews1 follower
November 7, 2019
A TRUE PAGE-TURNER

I've been reading Iain's work for quite a few years now. And this book absolutely refused to be put down! I read it in just under 48 hours because I simply could not tear myself away from the page. If you're looking for a new read or a new author, look no further!

If you haven't read any of Iain's work yet, this is a great place to start! But I would urge you to take a look at the rest of his works too. Hell on Earth is an amazing series! Give it a look!

Thanks, Iain for this wonderful rollercoaster ride and for all of your hard work!
Profile Image for Ami.
2,368 reviews13 followers
October 25, 2019
Deep, dark, terrifying! I read it straight through and while I couldn't flip the pages fast enough I hesitated a few times due to the high tension and the fear of what might happen. Beware of the finale, it is a heartbreaker! Iain Rob Wright at his best. I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
36 reviews3 followers
December 13, 2019
Absolutely brilliant and gripping story with ordinary people, but with Iains writing it is not what you think and takes you on a rollercoaster of twists and turns and loved the way he incorporates other characters in to some of his new books, unputdownable keep the books coming.
6 reviews
December 17, 2019
Awesome as always

His books are terrifying but at the same time they give us something to think about. Life is only what we make of it and this story reminds us no one is without secrets they don't want to share
75 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2020
Brilliant!

Iain never fails to deliver. Another great fast moving , thrilling tale. Couldn't put it down with so much action packed narrative. Highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jemma Thompson.
38 reviews
April 28, 2021
I wasn’t that invested in this story. Unfortunately the characters seemed extremely one dimensional and there were a lot of cliches. None of the characters really stood out to me and I didn’t really care about any of them. Even though it’s a short book the pace felt very uneven, once the action started I got a little excited but that excitement soon dwindled as the action was pretty much what I expected but was hoping for a twist of some kind. For me, Costa’s motives were just laughable, if he’d just admitted violence got him off instead of pretending it was all about Katy and James, I would’ve been interested in learning more about him. Why was his murderous intent not aimed at his father? He seemed to absolutely dote on his mother, she admitted that his father just constantly used her for sex and nothing more so how was he able to team up with him so quickly? He killed a boy for freezing up in his first brush with combat but a father who treated his mother like a glory hole was ok? The mind boggles. I’m hoping other titles by this author will be much more interesting reads with at least one character I can invest in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sara ✨ Next Book Review Blog ✨.
2,119 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2020
******** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ********

Not the horror I'm used too but still pretty good

Like the headline says, this isn't quite what I expected from Iain Rob Wright but I still enjoyed the storyline. I'm actually not sure what genre this is placed in so my rating doesn't reflect that it isn't the normal horror-type of stories Iain Rob Wright writes. This is more a mystery and thriller read. I was fine with that since I enjoy all those types of genres. I think we get the gist of the story from the blurb and it sticks to that. Find out what or who is messing with them... attacking them... trying to kill them!

Aubrey Parsons is always enjoyable to listen too. I am happy he narrates this genre... his voice is fabulous for the creepy. I'm not sure I could see him on the romance side! He has this deep melodic edge to his voice that really pulls me in. I've listened to several of Aubrey Parsons's audiobooks and honestly I haven't heard one that I didn't enjoy!
655 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2020
Outstanding premise for the story with a lot of insight into the experience & arguments of alcoholism; Well-plotted: good characters; bits of humor with no punches pulled on violence & a very fast read. Reminiscent of the surrealism of a nightmare drunken night that can alter lives forever. Along with the reality that alcohol is also very often subtle, irresistibly seductive, & insidious, altering lives in many ways, on many levels. One of the biggest obstacles to healing alcoholism, IMO, is the assumption that most people are able to enjoy alcohol in moderation. I would be interested in seeing how those true numbers compare with the number of people who struggle with some level of addiction. The more honest conversations we have, the closer we will come to knowing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Michelle.
266 reviews
February 25, 2020
I listened to this book on Audible. Iain Rob Wright is fast becoming the master of stories about redemption, guilt and revenge and Aubrey Parsons (the narrator) is the master of bringing these stories to life.

I really enjoyed the flow of the storyline and the narration. The characters were brilliant and Mr Parsons brings them to life. His narration is certainly not boring. I enjoyed this book so much, that straight away I brought another book mentioned at the end (was which is slightly linked to this book). If you’re a fan of Iain Rob Wright, there are slight links to other books by him. Enjoy!
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