Neglected by his wife and haunted by his past, Scoot McDonald, a taxi driver, succumbs to his sex addiction and visits a brothel. He awakens the next morning in his taxi in an abandoned multistory parking garage, aching all over and bleeding internally. He tries to bury and forget his secrets, but he soon finds himself blackmailed into working for Vincent Luciano, the leader of a local crime syndicate. He refuses at first, but the truth concerning his night at the brothel turns out to be much more sinister than he had imagined... Using his taxi, Scoot is forced to drive Rocco Shapiro—one of Vincent’s leg-breakers—through a criminal underworld, collecting debts and punishing foes while attempting to hide his shocking secrets from his family. One bad decision leads to another in this horrifying novel by Jon Athan, the provocative author behind The Groomer and Lovesick. Hop in the cab and prepare yourself for a trip through a living hell. This novel contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
This was one awesome read!!!! The book starts focused on sex but eventually unravels into a brutal night of violence. I can't say that I particularly cared for Scott, but I did his 'partner' Rocco. Scott was wishy washy, to where Rocco was blunt and straight forward and very face value (what you see is what you get). Scoot was a mixture of emotions that didn't quite add up. Anyways, that didn't take away from the fun parts of blood guts and gore
Ok first off this is like the twenty something book that I have read from Jon Athan and my first written review of one of his books only because I just started writing reviews. Jon Athan is awesome and never fails in the brutality department and this book is no exception. The best thing about Jon Athan writing is how it plays like a movie.Bad decisions was just that a book filled with Scoots bad decisions an things take a shitty turn real quick. This book is just straight up brutal really enjoyed this book a lot. I don't want to say to much else just read the book. I really like his style. If you're looking for some fast paced graphically described scenes this book should do it.
Scoot used to be a respected cop, but after being caught abusing his power he is now a taxi driver. After his temptations lead him down the wrong path again, he is caught between a video he does not want his family to see, and gangstas. This will be a night like no other, a fight for survival, and Scoot reaching absolute new lows.
This was a different one of Jon Athan's, it followed a route I didn't expect. It was a wild ride, with some violent parts (extreme horror!). I'm not sure on the ending, it works but I feel I was expecting different. Not sure what though haha! Good book though, never disappointed with his books!
'A sad case of when serious sex addiction just happens to get tough.'
Bad Decisions - Just loved this extreme horror, all action, gangster 'collection' thriller.
Would have given it 5 stars, but the final big showdown with the boss and his cronies was just way OTT and just lacked any weighty credibility. Jon, you just got completely carried away portraying your fun acts of violence at this point, didn't you buddy? Poor old 'Scoot'- battered and bruised, but definitely not out.
Anyway, very enjoyable and highly recommended.
Right, gonna eat me some 'proper Indian' for dinner tonight, and of course, not forgetting that side order of...horse! - Lol.
Rating: 4.3 red hot stars of brutal, sadistic barbarity.
Bad Decisions was a wild, bloody, gory ride and I loved the pace that the story was able to keep, never getting stale for one second, but compared to Jon's other books there wasnt really a "hook" that made the book stand out from the rest in my opinion.
Scoot and Rocco were interesting characters in their own right, but it didnt make sense how the book opens up with Scoot as this emotionless stone of a man who is desensitized to violence and doesn't bat an eye as he watches this poor woman get beaten to death, then as the book goes on all of a sudden he becomes a blithering mess when he see's even the slightest bit of violence and torture.
Those are my only two complaints about the book.
1. Premise doesn't have a unique hook (in my opinion).
and
2. Scoots character traits are inconsistent.
Despite my criticism, I still think that this book is a must-read for any fans of splatterpunk/extreme horror.
Im giving it a 3.5/5
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“How much is a life worth?” Joaquin asked in a frighteningly calm tone. “A million? A hundred thousand? One thousand? One hundred dollars? Do you know the answer, boy? I know the answer, but do you know it?”
Scoot McDonald’s life is slipping by in the blink of an eye, and he’s powerless to save himself from his failing marriage and the disdain of his own two children. With a fifteen year old Daughter (Marisssa) and and ten year old son (Blake), his wife signs strictly stayed married to him to maintain the image to the world looking in and for their two children. Once a high flying police officer, his life fell to pieces following a scandal where he accepted the offer of a blow job from a prostitute to avoid a hefty police sentence. With his family nearly hating his guts, his life was becoming one bad decision after another, and he continued to spiral. Turning towards cam shows to blow through some steam, he accidentally spent close to $400 on a beautiful woman named Sammy, and found himself craving something more, something deeper. Following his deceit to his marriage, he found himself at a Brothel by the name of Vinny’s Inn, and found himself staring at starkly clad gorgeous woman, all vying for a chance to spend a night with him. Locking eyes with a beautiful woman named Krystal, he felt a deepened connection he hasn’t felt in years, as a spark of love flourished in his heart. Downing drink after drink of Champagne and Ecstasy, he fElf his control melting away as his decisions continued to be the wrong ones. Divulging himself with sickening fantasies, he was horrified when he awoke to extreme rectal pains, only to discover his wild night ended with being mounted by a horse while strapped down to a fence.
I’m here to make a statement: death is free when you fuck with Vincent Luciano.”
Following his downward obsession to sex, Scoot stumbles home the following morning to his wife Gina infuriated by his tardiness, and children that could barely care that their father was missing. Leaving behind a scarlet letter on his family from his shameful end to his police career, it was a miracle in itself that he still had them at all. As his continued to lie and drive the taxi from stop to stop, he encountered a truly ruthless man with an offer. One last night of horrid decisions, for a freedom from his actions at the brothel. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, he teams up with Rocco Shapiro, and they hit the town running to avenge those who took advantage of the organization during their pending police investigation. Out for blood, Rocco will teach Scoot all the evil in the world, was nothing compared to him.
”Life is worth nothing. People die for free every day.”
Scoot McDonald is an ex-cop turned taxi driver with an unrestrained and unchecked sex addiction.
He’s estranged from his family, though they all live together under one roof to keep up appearances. His wife, Gina, hates him— and his children barely give him the time of day.
Nights are spent locked up in the attic with his laptop— as he surfs the web for taboo pornography and drains his taxi driver earnings on webcam models.
But things go too far when Scoot makes an especially bad decision.
He decides to visit a brothel and engage in the unthinkable.
A night of sexual deviance, drugs, and drinking ultimately leads to blackmail from the brothel’s owner and head gangster, Vincent Luciano.
’You don’t fuck with Vincent Luciano.’
Luciano orders Scoot to aid one of his enforcers, Rocco, by driving him around the city to collect debts and accompany him on his escapades.
Little does Scoot know, a night of taxi driving turns into violent mayhem in the city’s gritty underbelly— with Scoot going from driver to a wicked accomplice.
There’s a lot of gore in Bad Decisions, and that’s what I came for. I stayed for the quick story line and jaw-clenching kill scenes. I wanted to read something that had a quick pace and didn’t require me to think too deeply. This was the perfect read for those reasons.
What I didn’t like was the main character. Scoot is all over the place and emotionally insufferable. I disliked him so much that Rocco, the murderous and psychopathic gangster, grew on me instead. Rocco was steady— the what-you-see is what-you-get type, and I enjoyed that. Scoot’s personality made for a funky storyline that really didn’t line up for me by the book’s end.
Bad Decisions is a ★ ★ ★ star read for me. It had a fairly decent premise with an alright execution— but had the gory parts I was looking for, and I guess a semi-understandable motive.
Guilt will drive you to do horrible things, sometimes.
I'm not sure how I feel about this read.. I guess it can be used as some sort of moral lesson.. Scoot the bent ex cop gets more than he bargains for when he gets bored of his hand and visits a brothel. Save a cowboy ride a taxi driver 🤷♀️
Scoot is just a taxi driver. His past life as a beat cop isn’t talked about, especially at home with his wife and kids. He knows his wife hates him (they haven’t had sex in years and she has actually said the marriage is all for appearances and for the kids) and although he loves his children very much he knows they do not care for him either. Scoot is lonely and would like the company of a lady and he’s totally over being ignored by his wife.
Scoot makes the decision to solicit a prostitute at a high end brothel that is deep in the crime syndicate ran by a notorious crime boss. Scoot goes in with a plan but as he continues to have an amazing time, he makes another bad decision and stays longer.. next thing he knows he comes to in his taxi, with a sore ass and no recollection of what happened. Once he finds out what he did, he has no choice but to go along with one of the worst enforcers in the city. Will Scoot survive the night? Will he get back to his family? How many more bad decisions can he possibly make?
Another brutal banger by Jonny Athan. I don’t normally like the mafia/crime/dirty cops etc type of tropes but of course Athan knocks it out of the park and keeps me invested. Scoot is such a character you feel empathy for but also you’re like “wtf are you doing my guy?” Some good brutal nasty scenes and an overall great story.
This was a great read, full of non stop action blood gore and violence. Scoot the main character has a bad time and makes.Things worse for himself with every decision he makes. A brilliant character that is described well that you can envision him and what he goes through. Which is some pretty bad, grotesque and evil stuff. Loved the storyline, not your typical plot but more exciting and has you on the edge of your seat. This definitely isn't for the easily offended or the squeamish. But any extreme horror fans will enjoy this. So I definitely recommend. In fact of go as far to say try any of Non Athan's books, as you won't be disappointed.
This storyline was a bad decision in my opinion. This poor man was doomed from the start and all the way through to the end of the story. I just kept waiting for his comeuppance and he did, somewhat take care of business in the end ...it was all rather moot. Neigh!
When I review a book, I do not regurgitate what can be found in the description from the author, nor do I give out any spoilers as this is unfair to the people reading a review. What I do write, is literally, what I thought about the book, how the characters worked for me as a reader and my own thoughts and opinions.
I enjoyed reading this book and read it in a very short space of time. It is an unusual storyline for which the author should be commended. I personally found it quite a page turner despite the level of violence because I was interested in how the book and characters would play out. It has to be remembered that this is a stand alone book so therefore there is not a huge insight in to the characters.
If violence is your favourite genre in books then this is absolutely a five star book which you will enjoy. How Mr. Athan manages to come up with the level of torture and horror that is contained through this book and keep it up is incredible.
I have taken a star off because there is a section in the book, relating to a horse, where I felt Mr. Athan crossed a line that is a step too far for me. I also believe that it added no value to the book whatsoever. If this book had been written without the horse this would have been, for me, a five star rating.
Jon Athan is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror writers. His books come with all kinds of trigger warnings, and I'm not sure what it says about me that 99% of his content hasn't bothered me at all.
Scoot McDonald is a disgraced police officer turned taxi driver with a dangerous sex addiction. His kids barely speak to him and his wife has shut him out, so he visits a local brothel one night. His hour of fun quickly turns into an all night, drug fueled binge. When he wakes up the next morning, he's disoriented and bleeding. He wants to forget the night ever happened, but he's blackmailed into working for a leading crime boss as an "Enforcer."
In true Athan fashion, the scenes are shocking and disturbing, and if you're looking for a happy ending, look elsewhere.
“The line between right and wrong was blurred in the criminal underworld.”
I really enjoyed this book it was brutal! I love Jon Athan writing style so much I always can feel like I’m in the book too with the characters. His storylines is always brilliant, brutal and gory. This was my third book by the author and I feel addicted to his books I just want to binge read all if them! If you didn’t read any books by Jon Athan before and you want to read a good horror book please try his books out they are so good! Now with this book I’m sure I found my new favorite horror author!
This is one of my favourite Jon Athan books I’ve read so far. I loved the pace of the story, the feeling that you were there for the entire night. The characters were super interesting and I was on edge the entire time, a lingering feeling that I knew everything was going to go wrong. I just wasn’t quite sure how. The ending was so bleak and depressing, but it pulled everything together so perfectly. I’d love a prequel about Vincent and Rocco. I find the underground brothel/trafficking books are the ones that disturb me the most.
Another great read from Jon Athan,it was brutal, full of gore and torture. I have read better from this author but none the less I really enjoyed the book. The characters were easy to bond with and understand,also a very good page turning plot and story....it makes you think twice about somethings in life that you may do!!! Sometimes we all make BAD DECISIONS!!! If you're a fan of Jon Athan then you'll like this book.
I've read quite a few of Jon Athan's books. They are always brutal. This title fits the book so well. The story starts out brutal. Scoot is one messed up person that makes a bunch of bad decisions. The content is very graphic. It takes place over a long night, and it has a lot to do with organized crime. The last word of the ending is awesome.
Bad Decisions was about just that: bad decisions. This book was fast paced and still shocking. As always, Athan kills it. It’s more thriller than horror but still has that great Splatterpunk vibe. Word of caution: don’t cheat on your spouse, especially at a brothel ran by a gangster.
Very violent but interesting storyline. I just cannot imagine how someone can think of stuff like this and make a story out of it. Read the book in one evening. Very good explicit writer, leaves nothing to the imagination
No human being should admit to reading this, but here I am confessing to this sin. This has to be the worst decision I've made in choosing a book to read. 🤣 but do listen to the last few seconds of the last chapter on audible. 🐎 🐴 🤣
A disgraced cop now a cabbie, has made a lot of bad decisions. Like all his books, this one also has trigger warnings. Some scenes that bothered me was the children in the restaurant, also the horse scene. There is plenty of violence, gore, and even language.
Good read but not one of Athan’s best. Plenty of over the top violence and some good characters but I wanted more from the plot. Still good but it’s not a five-star Athan read.
Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. The story started off strong and I was super into it and then it did a u-turn and just lost me. I had to call it quits about 2/3 of the way through.