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Gutterbreed
Bi-polar has ruined Detective Jenny Ashton’s life, but when she gets the chance to use the disease for good, she takes it, even though it leads her into a world that shouldn’t exist, filled with monsters of the very worst kind.
Something lurks within the dark alleyways of Parkton, preying upon the Gutterbreed forever trapped there. A naturally evolved predator, one the town itself doesn't want – and one Ashton has already faced before.
Byron James knows these alleys and the Darkness they contain. He’s spent a lifetime walking them. A lifetime trying to escape. His skin is marked with the passage of his trespass – but he’s never encountered anything like this.
As Byron guides Ash deeper into insanity on the hunt for a killer, they discover far worse than Albert ‘Skinner’ Reynolds waiting for them in the dark. A growing nightmare festers in the shadows of Parkton, its madness eager for the real world.
Only Ash can stand in its way - but is this a battle she’s ready or willing to fight?
Something lurks within the dark alleyways of Parkton, preying upon the Gutterbreed forever trapped there. A naturally evolved predator, one the town itself doesn't want – and one Ashton has already faced before.
Byron James knows these alleys and the Darkness they contain. He’s spent a lifetime walking them. A lifetime trying to escape. His skin is marked with the passage of his trespass – but he’s never encountered anything like this.
As Byron guides Ash deeper into insanity on the hunt for a killer, they discover far worse than Albert ‘Skinner’ Reynolds waiting for them in the dark. A growing nightmare festers in the shadows of Parkton, its madness eager for the real world.
Only Ash can stand in its way - but is this a battle she’s ready or willing to fight?
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2020
16 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
Marty Young
30 books44 followersMarty Young (www.martyyoung.com) is a Bram Stoker-nominated and Australian Shadows Award-winning writer and editor, and sometimes ghost hunter. He was the founding President of the Australian Horror Writers Association from 2005-2010, and one of the creative minds behind the internationally acclaimed Midnight Echo magazine, for which he also served as Executive Editor until mid-2013.
Marty’s first novel, 809 Jacob Street, was published in 2013 by Black Beacon Books, and won the Australian Shadows Award for Best Horror Novel. His novel was also given an Honorable Mention in Shelf Unbound's Page Turner competition.
His short horror fiction has been nominated for both the Australian Shadows and Ditmar awards, reprinted in Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror (‘the best of 2008’), and repeatedly included in year’s best recommended reading lists. Marty’s essays on horror literature have been published in journals and university textbooks in Australia and India, and he was also co-editor of the award winning Macabre; A Journey through Australia’s Darkest Fears, a landmark anthology showcasing the best Australian horror stories from 1836 to the present.
When not writing, he spends his time in the deep dark jungles of Papua New Guinea as a palynologist, whatever the heck that is.
Marty’s first novel, 809 Jacob Street, was published in 2013 by Black Beacon Books, and won the Australian Shadows Award for Best Horror Novel. His novel was also given an Honorable Mention in Shelf Unbound's Page Turner competition.
His short horror fiction has been nominated for both the Australian Shadows and Ditmar awards, reprinted in Australian Dark Fantasy and Horror (‘the best of 2008’), and repeatedly included in year’s best recommended reading lists. Marty’s essays on horror literature have been published in journals and university textbooks in Australia and India, and he was also co-editor of the award winning Macabre; A Journey through Australia’s Darkest Fears, a landmark anthology showcasing the best Australian horror stories from 1836 to the present.
When not writing, he spends his time in the deep dark jungles of Papua New Guinea as a palynologist, whatever the heck that is.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 18, 2020
Gutterbreed is to my mind the definition of dark fiction. It takes a strong stomach to read, but you will be rewarded for your efforts, as the writing is filled with lyrical beauty. Employing his elegant style, the author manages to makes wrenching ugliness and utter despair gorgeous—no small feat.
The characters are, shall we say, memorable. Well okay, they’re weird, but fortunately, for all their faults the heroes are likable. The villains are skin-crawlingly villainous and pretty nauseating, but they’re supposed to be.
I’m intrigued with the world the author builds. The town of Parkton first appeared in Young’s 809 Jacob Street, where it provided a mysterious and creepy backdrop to the story. In Gutterbreed, Parkton actually becomes a character—in a very clever way. When I realized what the town was doing to and with the characters I wanted to cheer. I just love this original and interesting idea.
If I were an artist I would get a real kick out of illustrating this story. Since I’m not, I can only imagine what I might do, using the work of creep master Hieronymous Bosch as my inspiration. You probably know him. He’s the one who depicts all those images of hell with demons tormenting the fallen. (Shiver!)
Highly recommended if you have a strong stomach and like horror.
Warning: the story includes scenes of sexual sadism, so not for everyone.
I was given an advance copy by the author.
The characters are, shall we say, memorable. Well okay, they’re weird, but fortunately, for all their faults the heroes are likable. The villains are skin-crawlingly villainous and pretty nauseating, but they’re supposed to be.
I’m intrigued with the world the author builds. The town of Parkton first appeared in Young’s 809 Jacob Street, where it provided a mysterious and creepy backdrop to the story. In Gutterbreed, Parkton actually becomes a character—in a very clever way. When I realized what the town was doing to and with the characters I wanted to cheer. I just love this original and interesting idea.
If I were an artist I would get a real kick out of illustrating this story. Since I’m not, I can only imagine what I might do, using the work of creep master Hieronymous Bosch as my inspiration. You probably know him. He’s the one who depicts all those images of hell with demons tormenting the fallen. (Shiver!)
Highly recommended if you have a strong stomach and like horror.
Warning: the story includes scenes of sexual sadism, so not for everyone.
I was given an advance copy by the author.
May 20, 2020
You think Hell is bad?
Welcome to the world of the Gutterbreed…
There are plenty of novels on the market with alternative realities which are dark reflections of our world, but few are as relentingly nasty of Marty Young’s creation, Gutterbreed. This vicious 182-page tale of deprivation should come with a government health warning, as you’re unlikely to read anything as bleak this year. The shortish page length was surely to its advantage, as I doubt it could have kept either the pace or the intensity for much longer, without the reader diving for cover. Neil Gaiman, who is partial to a fantasy world himself, might have come up with something like this after a year of nightmares and bad trips! Note the trigger warning, so don’t say I did not warn you.
Gutterbreed might be unpleasant but do not let that put you off if you like bite with your fiction; it is also very good and a very fast paced pulpy read which jumps from character to character at lightning speed. It is populated with short chapters and a story which is predominately set over a very brief spell of time, probably an evening, but time moves differently in the alternative reality which piggybacks onto the city of Parkton, where all the killing takes place. The unrelenting pace also reminded me of the graphic novel format, which this story could easily be transferred to, possibly in a similar style to Alan Moore’s classic From Hell where the violence and gore can be ramped up to eleven.
I really liked the vagueness of the setting, was the city of Parkton in Australia, America or somewhere else? Much of how the supernatural element of the story worked was very vaguely described, but that style blended perfectly within the context of the novel. There are other worlds, very much like the Purgatory of the Bible, which are very close to where we exist, but on a slightly different plain of existence. In the context of this story there are glitches in time and occasionally those who are trapped in Purgatory can move between worlds. This is what happens in Gutterbreed, worlds which are not supposed to connect, but are forever parallel, bleed together and particularly in the town Parkton. At least, that’s what I think happened.
What does ‘Gutterbreed’ mean? A Gutterbreed is someone stuck in one of these various Purgatories, possibly forever, and they are presented almost like vagrants who are existing within their own bubble and are vaguely aware of others like themselves but can never meet or touch them. In this story somebody discovers a way of pulling Gutterbreeds from their own personal Purgatory into a connected dimension where there are no rules except death, pain and torture inflicted by them. This is the premise of Gutterbreed, and as the core plot is incredibly bleak the violence follows in spades, expect all kinds of rape, torture and brutality as all the inhabitants are nasty pieces of work and then some.
Although the plot jumps around many characters bi-polar Detective Jenny Ashton is the one you will get behind the most, after failing to catch a vicious serial killer and the death of her partner from the same botched operation she is put on gardening leave. However, her illness and mental fragility give her the ability to enter the alternative version of Parkton where she believes the murderer Albert ‘The Skinner’ Reynolds is still alive. Initially Ashton does not know where she is and thinks, she is losing her marbles until she meets the other good guy, Bryon James, who although he has his own agenda knows how Parkton works. The story is also seen from the Skinner’s point of view, as well as other various nasties.
It’s very dark and unrelenting stuff from beginning to end and although the violence is heavy it is convincingly pitched somewhere between comic-book and something more hard-boiled, but never quite straying into glorifying it. just. Something about the style reminded me slightly of the Alan Baxter novella Manifest Recall, it’s genuinely in your face, with the broken heroes Ashton and Byron being smashed from place to place. Having said that, the pair are vicious themselves, again reminiscent of Eli Carver, the tough guy in the Alan Baxter novella.
Gutterbreed is not going to be to all tastes, but the implication behind the title and the cover give you fair warning what you are letting yourself in for. This was very fine example of supernatural pulp trash which has its peculiar charms for those who want to keep things dark. It does not pull its punches and it all the better for it. And I haven’t even mentioned the hotel from hell. Or was it a motel? Avoid at all costs!
June 17, 2020
When Marty Young asked if I would be interested reading his new book, I jumped at the chance. He is a new to me author I couldn’t wait. I didn’t realize I was going to read one of the best books of 2020 so far this year.
Detective Jenny Ashton “Ash” is investigating a serial killer. When her partner Joe is killed, she carries all the guilt, grief and rage, and determination to hunt this evil down. On her way home from a bar, she stumbles into the dark alleys and runs into a disturbed person, Albert Skinner Reynolds-the proposed madman that was supposed to have died when Joe died. In confusion, Reynolds vanishes
Byron James is another main character and can exist in between worlds where the Gutterbreed live. “Lost souls trapped between one world and the next” They exist alone but together, never interacting, never seeing another soul. James is there because something is going wrong, something is happening that shouldn’t be.
Ashton finds away into the world of the Gutterbreeds by accident. As she is searching for Reynolds she finds herself in to the alley’s, into this terrifying world. She has a medical condition (which I won’t reveal) that suits her for this transition. Here James finds her and together they introduce the reader to the darkness and what must happen to survive and save the innocents from death that happen to those humans that stumble or are kidnapped into this foreboding world but also to find a serial killer.
I don’t want to reveal more, no spoilers. There are some very detailed reviews on GoodReads so I won’t reimagine the wheel, consider this an addition to those reviews. I cannot recommend this book more. This book deserves any award that it should receive. I am a new Fan and this is one book that will be on my re-read list. Go get a copy right now!
Detective Jenny Ashton “Ash” is investigating a serial killer. When her partner Joe is killed, she carries all the guilt, grief and rage, and determination to hunt this evil down. On her way home from a bar, she stumbles into the dark alleys and runs into a disturbed person, Albert Skinner Reynolds-the proposed madman that was supposed to have died when Joe died. In confusion, Reynolds vanishes
Byron James is another main character and can exist in between worlds where the Gutterbreed live. “Lost souls trapped between one world and the next” They exist alone but together, never interacting, never seeing another soul. James is there because something is going wrong, something is happening that shouldn’t be.
Ashton finds away into the world of the Gutterbreeds by accident. As she is searching for Reynolds she finds herself in to the alley’s, into this terrifying world. She has a medical condition (which I won’t reveal) that suits her for this transition. Here James finds her and together they introduce the reader to the darkness and what must happen to survive and save the innocents from death that happen to those humans that stumble or are kidnapped into this foreboding world but also to find a serial killer.
I don’t want to reveal more, no spoilers. There are some very detailed reviews on GoodReads so I won’t reimagine the wheel, consider this an addition to those reviews. I cannot recommend this book more. This book deserves any award that it should receive. I am a new Fan and this is one book that will be on my re-read list. Go get a copy right now!
August 8, 2020
Original and compelling Aussie horror. Gritty and well-written. I recommend this one.
September 2, 2020
Not for the faint of heart. Really, you want horror, you got it in this ripping read. Without giving anything away, this tale will shock you, grip you, and won’t let you go until it’s ready. I found myself on nights not wanting to read a chapter due to being frightened on what the antagonist was going to do next, but the protagonists of the book urge you to keep turning the pages. Such an original take on the theme and an expansion to the greater world of Parkton, introduced to us in the author’s first novel, 809 Jacob Street.
Read it if you dare.
4 and a half stars.
Read it if you dare.
4 and a half stars.
June 2, 2021
An enjoyable romp into Marty Young's netherworld. Good character development and some well sketched scary monsters. I'm pretty sure I've seen some of these characters loitering in the alleyways I frequent.
The pace in this was about right, and I found myself drawn along by the plot. The multiple character viewpoints were done well enough to take me into the thought processes of the main antagonists without losing track. I look forward to meeting the two main characters again.
I thought we could have seen a bit more of Baal, and learned more of what his role was in the whole shadow world. He sort of dipped in and didn't come back. Perhaps he will reappear in the next book.
That minor quibble aside, I really enjoyed this one.
The pace in this was about right, and I found myself drawn along by the plot. The multiple character viewpoints were done well enough to take me into the thought processes of the main antagonists without losing track. I look forward to meeting the two main characters again.
I thought we could have seen a bit more of Baal, and learned more of what his role was in the whole shadow world. He sort of dipped in and didn't come back. Perhaps he will reappear in the next book.
That minor quibble aside, I really enjoyed this one.
June 28, 2020
While I will review this on my booktube series, I must say this was even more impressive than the back jacket copy or summary. There were elements of Silent Hill and Hellraiser woven deep into a unique and very dark urban setting. Crumbling, rot and moss infected alleyways mirrored wonderfully in every character and I am glad there is more from Byron and Ash hinted at in the future.
April 16, 2021
*Note: I usually keep my books, but I am happy to send Gutterbreed along to someone who wants to read it. Shoot me a message - first come basis, and U.S. only due to postage costs. Note will be removed when book has been claimed*
Compared with others' reviews, I am very clearly in the minority in my thoughts and opinions of Gutterbreed. With that being said, this is hands down the worst book I have ever read . . . EV-ER. It's absolute garbage, and on top of it being filth, there are so many spelling (to include misspelling one of the main character's names), punctuation, and grammatical errors, that it's not even quality rubbish. I know mistakes happen, but authors and editors, take some pride in the product. I was disappointed re: Gutterbreed mainly because the premise / plot has SO much potential, but it was just dumbed down with violence, gore, rape, and a plethora of F-bombs. I'm no prude, but there's a way to include the darkest of themes and topics without being over the top, and this is not an example of that talent. 1 star from me, and that is generous.
I want to like this author; I may give another of his books a whirl, but I won't be continuing my journey with Ash and Byron.
Compared with others' reviews, I am very clearly in the minority in my thoughts and opinions of Gutterbreed. With that being said, this is hands down the worst book I have ever read . . . EV-ER. It's absolute garbage, and on top of it being filth, there are so many spelling (to include misspelling one of the main character's names), punctuation, and grammatical errors, that it's not even quality rubbish. I know mistakes happen, but authors and editors, take some pride in the product. I was disappointed re: Gutterbreed mainly because the premise / plot has SO much potential, but it was just dumbed down with violence, gore, rape, and a plethora of F-bombs. I'm no prude, but there's a way to include the darkest of themes and topics without being over the top, and this is not an example of that talent. 1 star from me, and that is generous.
I want to like this author; I may give another of his books a whirl, but I won't be continuing my journey with Ash and Byron.
February 5, 2023
what the heck did i just read?
Found on FreeBooksy, this was one wild ride, so VERY graphic and not for the faint of heart. Kept me turning pages, the concept is wildly frightening, and the book feels like the beginning of something. Will watch for continuation of this story.
Found on FreeBooksy, this was one wild ride, so VERY graphic and not for the faint of heart. Kept me turning pages, the concept is wildly frightening, and the book feels like the beginning of something. Will watch for continuation of this story.
June 2, 2021
Young's style is gritty, sensory and evocative. Be prepared for a journey into the stuff of nightmares. I found myself wanting to watch the protagonist's back, right up until the final page.
February 7, 2023
Very dark horror.
Not really my thing but well written
Not really my thing but well written
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews