Erotomaniac

by Jon Athan

Ethan Miller is a hopeless romantic trapped in perpetual loneliness. He falls in love as easily as he falls out of it. And, when the love withers away, his relationships usually end in tragedy— bloody tragedy. He won't allow himself to miss his chance at true love again, though. So, when he meets a young, attractive waitress at a diner, Ethan dedicates himself to winning her heart— by any means necessary. Jon Athan, the author of Mason's Television and The Abuse of Ashley Collins , brings you a disturbing tale of erotomania, unrequited love, and extreme violence. This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: Horror, Splatterpunk, Fiction, Adult

170 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 2017

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A man crying at a 99-cents store parking lot is one thing. A man masturbating in a 99-cents store parking lot…Well, that was a whole ‘nother story.” For some reason, that particular passage really stuck out to me. So at the core of this story is the theme of love. Ethan cares so much for these women that he meets and loves them unconditionally. He wants to get married, have babies, and please his overbearing mother, but he keeps failing at it. I’m no relationship expert, but I think the issue here may be the voices in Ethan’s mind, his abusive mother, his sociopathic tendencies, and the fact that these women have no idea that he even exists until it’s too late for them. Now I had Urban Cowboy (Never seen it before.) on in the background as I read this book, both of which are very violent and degrading towards women. So this turned into sort of a wierd kinda Sunday for Peter Topside here, when it comes to forms of entertainment. I may need to read something by Jane Austin to even me out after this. But Ethan is a very disturbing character to follow, however he did have some strange level of charisma that kept my attention. And you felt terrible about the reprehensible acts that he commits to his victims, but as you learn more about his lifestyle and upbringing, you realize that he’s just a vastly troubled person who never got the help he needed. I’m not making excuses for anything he did, but I appreciated the depth that Jon Athan created here to avoid just having a boring, mysterious, mindless killer on the loose. There are no huge plot twists and the ending sequence I could see from miles away, but I liked how it was all put together. Fans of the Netflix show You will really take to this story.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan Miller has a strange relationship to women. He intends to marry his individual girlfriend and raise a family. But the situation soon turns different even bizarre. With his latest flame, Emmy, things get out of control. Will she survive his stalking and his "advances"? This is an extremely compelling psychological horror novel if there ever was one. What a deranged and disgusting male main character. I bet there are many role models for Ethan out there but thankfully hardly any as consequent as him. Intriguing, nail biting, nasty and mean. Couldn't put this story down. Highly recommended!

[JESSICA · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My love, my true love, is out there. Okay? She's waiting for me to find her. So... I just have to find her.” — Ethan

I really enjoyed this story. Very disturbing, gory, and vile! And I loved every minute of it!! Opening scene had me giggling (Hey, Don't Judge Me) remind me of the opening scene of my favorite french horror flick; "High Tension (2003) It's so disturbing, you can't help but laugh! {Muahahaha}

Ethan, 24, is an unhinged sensitive author with murderous tendencies. Basically, he is a hot mess, he's just looking for the love of his life. And when he feels there is no love (he don't break up - he kills) He meets Emiko in a diner and it's instant-love for him (but only he feels it) from there on, he makes a plan to make Emiko his. The only negative I have, Ethan needed to man up! All the excessive amount of crying (killed it for me) "I'm not a pussy - I just cry a lot!" This book is very disturbing and frightening. I use to have a stalker (this was before social media. Back in the late 90's) I simply said "Hello!" to him in line at a Starbucks. After that he made it his life's mission to wreck havoc on my life. Sending huge expensive bouquets of flowers to my work (each bouquet had a note with; "I" next bouquet "Miss" next bouquet "You") Appear at my favorite stores, restaurants, etc. Even showed up at this comedy club (where I was with my boyfriend) and made a huge scene, acting like I was cheating on him. I'm just glad he wasn't a serial killer. And wanted to kidnap me, etc.

Favorite Quote : "Psychos are going to be lining up to purchase this.” “They're not psychos.” Paul cocked his head back and responded, “Excuse me?” “The readers are not psychos. They just like the darker side of things. They enjoy the macabre like everyone else, they're just not afraid to admit it. Besides, I don't think you'd know a psycho if he sat across from you and looked you in the eye!"

[Mique Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Not as gory or sexually perverse as the title would suggest… yet, all Athan’s gifts are there still. The masterful pacing, the creepy characters, and the gory climax all made for an overall good horror experience. This would probably be more shocking for people who’ve never read a book from the POV of a stalker, though. I somewhat sensed a commentary on the pressures parents selfishly put on their kids (without any reflection on their end) that I thought added some layers to the character of Ethan … still I feel like the story could’ve leaned further into that. There wasn’t much to the character of Emiko beyond Ethan’s attraction to her, sadly. It’s overall pretty straightforward—there’s a mildly interesting reveal near the end, but yeah… not this author’s best, but still a good time.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hahahaha WTF. Funny, demented and vile. Ethan is a deranged horror author on a mission to find love. Lots of great quotes like this:

“Psychos are going to be lining up to purchase this.” “They're not psychos.” Paul cocked his head back and responded, “Excuse me?” “The readers are not psychos. They just like the darker side of things. They enjoy the macabre like everyone else, they're just not afraid to admit it. Besides, I don't think you'd know a psycho if he sat across from you and looked you in the eye.”

[David Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love extreme horror. Having read other books by this author, I was looking forward to some sick thrills - in part, I got what I wanted.
The book is based around a man with incredibly low self esteem, desperate for a partner to please his overbearing mother. What he does to obtain this goal is pleasingly disturbing, involving lots of blood and violence, portrayed in a non glorified way, and with a commentary of sorts as to his thought processes. Unfortunately, this is also where things start to go wrong...
The book is called Erotimaniac, is obviously for an adult audience, and has warnings prior to the beginning telling you of possible triggers. Why then, does this feel in places like its aimed at an audience that are not capable of understanding psychotic episodes? One example of this is the main character hearing a voice talking to him during a break. It is blatantly obvious that there is nobody actually talking to him, yet the author still felt compelled to say so in the narrative, giving the story a condescending aspect. This happens a few times during the story and it would have been better if we were allowed to 'think' for ourselves. The actual plot is pretty good. Imagine a hybrid of Psycho meets Misery and you are in the area, albeit amped up a few notches. I enjoyed the book as a whole, but the 'simplified' aspect of the writing, mixed with an incredibly cheesy ending, ruined what could have been so much better. As I can't give half stars, this is a 4 but it is really more like a 3.5

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect this book to be so good! Jon Athan knocked it out of the park with this one.

Erotomaniac has probably one of the best written main villains I’ve read - at least from a psychological standpoint. Instead of focusing on creating a pure evil character, Athan shows a depiction of a lonely stalker suffering from some pretty intense mental conditions. This book feels very real and believable, making the horror elements hit harder.

Fantastic read! The climax towards the end was wild and I didn’t see it coming. This seems to be one of Jon Athan’s less talked about books so definitely give it a read if you’re a fan.

[salma zaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

I was a little Apprehensive reading the book but it just got better and better. It's not so disturbing that it will warp your mind,just disturbing enough to make u think. A change from my usual read but well worth it.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a raw, disturbing and emotional look into a lonely psychopath's twisted mind. It's violent, it's gruesome, it's sick and it's sad. (Sound somewhat familiar Athan? You kind of wrote your own review -- LOL!)

[Adam Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was quite sad. I was hoping things would work out all right for one of the main characters but, as Athan has established, no one gets out alive. The key word here is fun though. Not brilliant but fun and entertaining.

[Livvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated R

This book was fucked up but I liked it . It wasn't really what I was looking for in a good stalker story It was more about the killer and his life then the victim. It was great tho and about as close to unique as you can get with a classic.

[Nelli Lakatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I'll find someone who understands me, he thought, even if it takes me until the day I die.”

Wow I’m speechless! The ending!
This book was brilliant and insane, a whole other level to stalker novels. This was not as gruesome in my opinion as Jon Athan other books I read so far but wow it left me speechless. It was so good, amazing writing and story! I couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read another book by the author!
Highly recommend this book!

[Risshan Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good as always

“Mom, he did it again!” That part made me laugh out loud.
Really fun book and the ending just got crazier and crazier. Love me a crazed love obsessed stalker story!

[Bebi Goat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ethan embodies the type of person that I absolutely despise and have a fear for my life - which like, amazing that Jon Athan pulled that off.

The gore was lovely as always but surprisingly sparce and relatively tame, the true horror revolved around Ethan's actions and mind.

The first half of the book was incredibly disturbing to me - kudos to Jon Athan for that! It's unfortunate that I can say I have been stalked by three separate men, 2 complete strangers, and it is terrifyingly accurate. It really felt like I was reading the stalker's perspective.

The second half was a lot of fun. I did not think we would have seen his family at all but I am so glad we did. Their addition to the narrative gives so much context and meaning for Ethan while also being hella entertaining.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really really good. Super fucking creepy. I dealt with a stalker a few years back at this place I worked at, turns out he had a rep for doing that and when he got confronted about it he told everyone we were dating. It was a wild 3 years of that guy's shit. Reading stalking books always gives me the creeps. Are you being watched right now? How long have they been watching? How far will they take the stalking? Thankfully I never got hurt but for most people it doesn't end that way. Leave it to Jon Anthan again to give me the fucking creeps. Thankfully in the safety of my own home with no stalkers... I think?

[CARLEEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOT A TYPICAL STALKER

This non-leased psycho Ethan makes you appreciate typical stalkers. 😱 Once he sets his sights on you; you love him and he loves you NO willing participation needed.

This story is a lot less violent than what I'm used to for a Jon Athan novel but just as twisted, sick, vile and disgusting.

[ALLEN KEINERT · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stuuuuupid ..........

Stuuuuupid.
Boooooring.
Sophomoric.
Retarded.
Get your GED and take writing classes then try again.
Or simply get a real job you can handle.

[Richard Longmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

When we meet Ethan, he's finishing up a session of love-making. But something his partner says doesn't sit well with him. It's clear she's not the right one for him. And if that's the case, she can only be one thing. A succubus like mommy taught him about. Oh well, better to rip the band-aid off fast.

Shortly after disposing of his last attempt at love, he finds himself once again enamored with the beauty of another. But their first moments together were awkward and unsuccessful. Well, a real man doesn't just leave it there, you know. A real man will go to any lengths for his woman. Even if she doesn't know that's she's his woman yet. That's what mommy said at least. So it's time to go out there and figure out where she is and make a better impression.

This is a short one, but it's exactly the length it needs to be. Dripping with misogyny - but not misogynistic, if that makes sense. The main character has determined that women are generally bad but he is always on the lookout for the perfect one. The needs of the woman are irrelevant, only his needs are to be considered. And since, he's always right, it's just a matter of time for the woman he finds interesting to realize that he's right.

Take an incel, throw in a sprinkling of schizophrenia, and you'll have a good idea of what we're working with. Its a tight tale, don't expect any side-stories or a perspective of someone trying to find the victims or police going for the killer. Everything revolves around Ethan. In the plot and in the novel itself.

Jon Athan is a very skilled writer and doesn't hold back. This is horrific in the true sense of the term. I'm a bit of an old school "Monster/demon/ghost/alien" kinda horror guy. I still found this to hit home, but if you're more into the "guy next door could be a serial killer" type of book, this will probably hit the spot. Just be sure you're good with how dark this is going to get.

[The Library of Thrills · Rating 3 out of 5]

📌
Ethan makes every "normal" stalker look like a bunch of helpless and innocent little lambs!

I was in the mood and psyched to read an extreme horror novel, so that's exactly what I did. This wasn't my first book by Jon Athan, so I'm familiar with his work and know what to expect from his books. So far, this author has never let me down and has always provided me with entertainment and good creeps through his books.

EROTOMANIAC was a fast-paced and entertaining read. I finished it in a single day.
This book reads very easily and fluently; the pages flew by one by one, and before I knew it, I had finished it. I would say that the title "Erotomaniac" is more on the violent, bloody, deranged side rather than the creepy, scary side, the kind that gives me body-chills, which I found a bit unfortunate. I would have preferred that this book disturbed and unsettled me more, but it sure as hell was entertaining.

The main character, Ethan, makes every "normal" stalker look like a bunch of helpless and innocent little lambs!
Ethan, was a serious mental case, but he managed to make me chuckle at times.
This was the part where I couldn't help but chuckle; those with morbid or dark senses of humor will understand. Simply read it.
NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
People who are sensitive should not read this.
•
•
“ He injected her upper arm, tied a belt
around her shoulder, then he sawed the limb. The
wet,
crackling sound of flesh tearing and the
crunching noise of bones cracking was like music to
his ears. The deranged man even bobbed his head
and occasionally wagged his finger as he listened to
the sounds of death.
•
I just couldn't stop imagining him sitting there waving his finger to the tune of breaking bones

Overall, this book was seriously fucked up, so, just the right read for me, I enjoyed it! I'm looking forward to reading more from Jon Athan.

3/5✨

[Amit · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think it's high time for me to reconsider the fact about reading Jon Athan's book again. This actually my no. 10 book of this author. Reading gore horror is one matter but reading very deeply serious mental disorganised tale is another matter that you should seriously take care of. Jon Athan makes me feel like that, his credit? Yes, but think twice before you seal the conclusion...

Before starting the review -
I WAS BORED TO DEATH AND IRRITATED BY THIS ONE...

Ethan a sociopath and a serial killer, disabled by mind always in the search for his true love. Eventually he met many women and did make love/sex with them but couldn't continue the relationship. What he does with those ex girlfriend of him is something you won't like to know. He met a pretty looking girl who was from Japan named Emiko. The main story begins from her name. Ethan stalked her always from this very day he laid his devil eyes on her. The next thing I could say without spoiling anything is Sick, mentally disorderly created tale to read. The ending was so lame there's actually nothing left for me to enjoy any single part of it...

Count mine 1...

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A psychotic stalker, stalks a woman and then has a one-way relationship with them in this bizarre story. And to top it off, chapter 18 was even more bizarre as the story wound down. This was a little different than the authors usual stories. This book, like his other book, comes with trigger warnings!

[Susan Hagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!!

So creepy!!!!
This author never disappoints, love, love everything he writes :)
Love the warnings , and can’t believe you receive anything other than WOW, THAT WAS FREAKING AWESOME!!

[Pyropatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

New twist on a stalker with only love and family on his mind. It starts with the internet and excels from there.

[daleen k vietmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Wow!!!! It was disturbing at the beginning and got worse page by page. Jon you are a unique talent. Keep it up.

[Ginnie Mays · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

This is the reason I started reading his books. This was really good. It didn’t just abruptly stop. We got a decent beginning, middle, and end.

[sometoesdiffer]

I am disturbed

[Ptit Ysr · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's "you" but disturbing and more gory

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Kalli Haney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read!

I enjoyed this book very much! The young man's level of delusion was the scariest part for me. This is a wonderful book that is quick to read.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

📱