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The Cannibal Gardener
Edmund has a secret.
Besides working as a gardener at Harbo’s Garden Center, he has a separate existence on the dark web, where he is known as Raoul153. There he flirts with the notion of eating people. This idea comes from his grandmother, who tells him stories about the history of his ancient ancestors, the Cannibal Gardeners of New Guinea.
Surprisingly, many share his dark interest. Some even volunteer to be his main course.
One of the people he encounters on the dark web is someone he one day meets in real life. Her name is Denise and she isn’t one of his volunteers but is a force to be reckoned with. Her Goth sensibilities and morbid interests make her a perfect match for Edmund. Or so he thinks.
She’s not so sure.
And, oh, yes, there is a real cannibal on the loose for them to contend with, and he's bringing along a friend.
The Cannibal Gardener combines chilling, supernatural suspense with a love story and generous doses of humor from a master storyteller.
Besides working as a gardener at Harbo’s Garden Center, he has a separate existence on the dark web, where he is known as Raoul153. There he flirts with the notion of eating people. This idea comes from his grandmother, who tells him stories about the history of his ancient ancestors, the Cannibal Gardeners of New Guinea.
Surprisingly, many share his dark interest. Some even volunteer to be his main course.
One of the people he encounters on the dark web is someone he one day meets in real life. Her name is Denise and she isn’t one of his volunteers but is a force to be reckoned with. Her Goth sensibilities and morbid interests make her a perfect match for Edmund. Or so he thinks.
She’s not so sure.
And, oh, yes, there is a real cannibal on the loose for them to contend with, and he's bringing along a friend.
The Cannibal Gardener combines chilling, supernatural suspense with a love story and generous doses of humor from a master storyteller.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2020
5 people are currently reading
1907 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 21, 2021
Edmund spends his time split between working at the garden center and caring for his elderly grandmother. He moved in with her after his parents died, and since she cared for him when he needed her he has chosen to do the same now that she is the one who needs him. He enjoys her company and especially loves to hear her tell the stories of their ancestors. They are descended from cannibals she tells him, and he is fascinated by this. That may be what first sent him to the dark web. While grandma naps he often loses himself in grisly images and message boards for hours at a time.
Denise is a goth girl with morbid interests who happens to meet Edmund in person by accident. Neither of them intended their online personas to ever be revealed offline.
Milo is a serial killer/cannibal who hovers on the periphery of both their worlds and ends up being the catalyst for their meeting.
What ties them all together is a bit of old folklore and that was really my favorite part of the story, as I am a long time fan of folk and fairy tales, not the Disney type but the more gruesome variety.
This was a quick and gory read with a surprise ending that I was not expecting at all. I loved the old folklore that was tied to this story and coincidentally my computer wallpaper is a picture of Baba Yaga's house. If you like folk horror and Grimms' tales you'll want to read this book.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy under no obligation to write a review.
Denise is a goth girl with morbid interests who happens to meet Edmund in person by accident. Neither of them intended their online personas to ever be revealed offline.
Milo is a serial killer/cannibal who hovers on the periphery of both their worlds and ends up being the catalyst for their meeting.
What ties them all together is a bit of old folklore and that was really my favorite part of the story, as I am a long time fan of folk and fairy tales, not the Disney type but the more gruesome variety.
This was a quick and gory read with a surprise ending that I was not expecting at all. I loved the old folklore that was tied to this story and coincidentally my computer wallpaper is a picture of Baba Yaga's house. If you like folk horror and Grimms' tales you'll want to read this book.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy under no obligation to write a review.
April 23, 2022
Dark horror to to the fullest
An exciting tale of terror to the very end. It gave me chills down my spine with every chapter. Pawlowski has electrified the reader with bone chilling proof that ancient folklore can still have an effect on our present literature.
The characters were well thought out and the continuing twists and turns will drive the reader insane!
Good job Joe!
An exciting tale of terror to the very end. It gave me chills down my spine with every chapter. Pawlowski has electrified the reader with bone chilling proof that ancient folklore can still have an effect on our present literature.
The characters were well thought out and the continuing twists and turns will drive the reader insane!
Good job Joe!
Read
September 4, 2021This one is hard to rate. I'm giving it 3.5 rounded up. Let me explain.
This book held my interest, I enjoyed the characters, but in the end, I don't think they came together as they should've.
We have a few main characters. A gardener who is interested in his Gma telling stories about cannibal tribes from the homeland. He surfs the dark web and dabbles in cannibal stuff. Then there's a female, that not only does she surf the same websites, it turns out they run in the same circles and meet by chance. There's a butcher on the loose controlled by Lady Gaga.. (Oops, I mean Baby Yaga (who I intend to look into).
Each individual story is good. They didn't exactly tie together like I wished. I almost feel like one of the characters could have been left out completely. That's just me.
This book held my interest, I enjoyed the characters, but in the end, I don't think they came together as they should've.
We have a few main characters. A gardener who is interested in his Gma telling stories about cannibal tribes from the homeland. He surfs the dark web and dabbles in cannibal stuff. Then there's a female, that not only does she surf the same websites, it turns out they run in the same circles and meet by chance. There's a butcher on the loose controlled by Lady Gaga.. (Oops, I mean Baby Yaga (who I intend to look into).
Each individual story is good. They didn't exactly tie together like I wished. I almost feel like one of the characters could have been left out completely. That's just me.
September 15, 2023
I am kicking myself for letting The Cannibal Gardener sit on my (ridiculously, 4-digit long) TBR List (To Be Read) for as long as I did. This novel delivered on all the horror and squeamish discomfort it promised. For readers who enjoy paranormal and historical elements, delight in having their own sense of security in the Righteous Ways of the World shaken, and well-delivered gore, this exploration into cannibalism and flesh-lust is a must-read.
That said, readers should be aware that gore here is not for the faint of heart. The subject matter, cannibalism, is already one which pings our most primal fears. The idea of consuming human flesh twigs an evolutionary nerve in our psyche the wrong way; we are social beings, needing the survival of others to secure our own. Even in a case of hyper-evolution of the competitive drive as individuals seek to enhance evolutionary fitness, human culture has developed an universal anathema to indulge in killing and eating a member of our own species. An odd quirk of humanity, as one character in the novel, Denise, notes.
This nauseating subject is also what makes this novel such a good horror read. And it is indeed, all about cannibalism. The novel is an entanglement of its characters’ diverse stories, each one eventually weaving together with another until all come together at the end. Their disparate lives are connected by this ugly, bloody practice in some way. Edmund, Denise, Milo, and George are the primary protagonists of the novel. Each of them engages in the profane act in some sense and this draws them into an ancient goddess’ cruel net.
Aside from the lurid story itself, Pawlowski’s fast-paced prose, adeptness at storytelling, and nuanced character development is an major appeal. The novel flows at a pace which fuels the urgency of events and, yet also linger on the characters’ voices and inner dialogue. The resultant surge and lull allows the reader to feel the thrill of a mystery and immerse themselves in the interior world of the characters. This is in part achieved by allotting each chapter to a different narrator.
The prose is mature, as is Pawlowski’s authorial voice. It is consistent, succinct, expressive. It is also clear Pawlowski’s journalistic experience enhances his craft. Not only have his observations of human behavior led him to create fleshy characters (forgive the pun!), his decisions of what to reveal and when reflect a deep understanding of his audience. I also much appreciated his vocabulary; the novel’s language borders on the intellectual. I mean this as a compliment. Its precision delivers a sharp image of events to the reader, leaving well-placed gaps that each one may organically fill in with their own imagination.
I look forward to Pawlowski’s other horror fiction…
That said, readers should be aware that gore here is not for the faint of heart. The subject matter, cannibalism, is already one which pings our most primal fears. The idea of consuming human flesh twigs an evolutionary nerve in our psyche the wrong way; we are social beings, needing the survival of others to secure our own. Even in a case of hyper-evolution of the competitive drive as individuals seek to enhance evolutionary fitness, human culture has developed an universal anathema to indulge in killing and eating a member of our own species. An odd quirk of humanity, as one character in the novel, Denise, notes.
This nauseating subject is also what makes this novel such a good horror read. And it is indeed, all about cannibalism. The novel is an entanglement of its characters’ diverse stories, each one eventually weaving together with another until all come together at the end. Their disparate lives are connected by this ugly, bloody practice in some way. Edmund, Denise, Milo, and George are the primary protagonists of the novel. Each of them engages in the profane act in some sense and this draws them into an ancient goddess’ cruel net.
Aside from the lurid story itself, Pawlowski’s fast-paced prose, adeptness at storytelling, and nuanced character development is an major appeal. The novel flows at a pace which fuels the urgency of events and, yet also linger on the characters’ voices and inner dialogue. The resultant surge and lull allows the reader to feel the thrill of a mystery and immerse themselves in the interior world of the characters. This is in part achieved by allotting each chapter to a different narrator.
The prose is mature, as is Pawlowski’s authorial voice. It is consistent, succinct, expressive. It is also clear Pawlowski’s journalistic experience enhances his craft. Not only have his observations of human behavior led him to create fleshy characters (forgive the pun!), his decisions of what to reveal and when reflect a deep understanding of his audience. I also much appreciated his vocabulary; the novel’s language borders on the intellectual. I mean this as a compliment. Its precision delivers a sharp image of events to the reader, leaving well-placed gaps that each one may organically fill in with their own imagination.
I look forward to Pawlowski’s other horror fiction…
April 26, 2023
Baba Yaga Fans rejoice.
So thanks to Joe that I received a copy of the audiobook and here is what I think.
Some beautifully gory descriptions and characters that got me hooked quickly. I even fell asleep to it last night like a lullaby!
Anyway I had to start again this morning and cleared it in a couple of hours whilst I did my walk in my breaks luckily I work from home. Sometimes the gore could make the male of our species wince, it did me if you know what I mean.
A Cannibalistic fest with a twist to finish. I think I would enjoy the book more than the audio the narrator took a bit of getting used to despite the speed I listen to it. However I don't stay annoyed at them long enough for it to deter the story. In all honesty though she wasn't that good. The book 3.5 to 4 I guess the narrator 2. However defo try it out either way it's a carnival of blood and gore... If you like that sort of stuff?
So thanks to Joe that I received a copy of the audiobook and here is what I think.
Some beautifully gory descriptions and characters that got me hooked quickly. I even fell asleep to it last night like a lullaby!
Anyway I had to start again this morning and cleared it in a couple of hours whilst I did my walk in my breaks luckily I work from home. Sometimes the gore could make the male of our species wince, it did me if you know what I mean.
A Cannibalistic fest with a twist to finish. I think I would enjoy the book more than the audio the narrator took a bit of getting used to despite the speed I listen to it. However I don't stay annoyed at them long enough for it to deter the story. In all honesty though she wasn't that good. The book 3.5 to 4 I guess the narrator 2. However defo try it out either way it's a carnival of blood and gore... If you like that sort of stuff?
August 7, 2022
I recieved this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I honestly would not have selected this book at a store or the library. I'm glad I read it.
The book starts with giving us insight on two seemingly different lives One is a gardener with dark fetishes and the other is the butcher who acts on his own dark fetishes.
Spoilers below
Very interesting read.
The men's two worlds collide after the butcher takes the life of a purple haired girl.
Edmond lives a quiet live with his Grandam. She shares stories of their ancestors with Edmond about how they used to kill and consume their enemies. Milo occasionally visits the dark web to intrigue his dark fetishes.
Milo, on the other hand, acts on his dark fetishes. He has killed and consumed many people.
Overall, the character development was great. However, the ending didn't "wow" me.
The book starts with giving us insight on two seemingly different lives One is a gardener with dark fetishes and the other is the butcher who acts on his own dark fetishes.
Spoilers below
Very interesting read.
The men's two worlds collide after the butcher takes the life of a purple haired girl.
Edmond lives a quiet live with his Grandam. She shares stories of their ancestors with Edmond about how they used to kill and consume their enemies. Milo occasionally visits the dark web to intrigue his dark fetishes.
Milo, on the other hand, acts on his dark fetishes. He has killed and consumed many people.
Overall, the character development was great. However, the ending didn't "wow" me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2022
Thanks to the author/publisher for the goodreads
Obviously I expected cannibalism to be the main focus of this book… but I didn’t expect it to be the only thing written about. There were multiple characters, many of whom were cannibals or interested in becoming one, and it looked like they were all going to come together in some complicated tangle of characters but instead only a few of them met and the story was just over. I truly don’t know if this was supposed to just be an educational book on why some people get into cannibalism but I can’t say I would suggest reading this unless you want to learn about the history of eating people.
Obviously I expected cannibalism to be the main focus of this book… but I didn’t expect it to be the only thing written about. There were multiple characters, many of whom were cannibals or interested in becoming one, and it looked like they were all going to come together in some complicated tangle of characters but instead only a few of them met and the story was just over. I truly don’t know if this was supposed to just be an educational book on why some people get into cannibalism but I can’t say I would suggest reading this unless you want to learn about the history of eating people.
May 21, 2023
This book I got as a Goodreads Giveaway. Not to my liking. I love horror and blood and gore but not like this. It felt like a perverted chronicle of a madman. It left me feeling unclean after reading it. And I'm no saint, but ewww. The storyline was lacking any colorful form of description and was quite blah in that aspect. It kept bouncing from character to character like the writer had ADHD. The characters didn't align or come together at the end properly and it left the ending hanging with no closure on some characters. This is just my opinion. You may read it and love it. To each his own. The rest of his books sound much better, I might give them a try, maybe. #goodreads #giveaway
April 14, 2023
Okay. This was strange. It was really short and very peculiar and I liked it, but strange. I honestly have no idea who I would recommend this to, I'm the only person I know who wouldn't be ill over the descriptions. I really enjoyed how the author pulled together the many facets on myth and history and shaped them to fit the narrative. Obviously not all of it is true history but it is all based in truth and unknowns. I'll admit, I didn't see the end, as such, coming. I think I read it in an hour or two, so I do not advise reading before bed or right before you eat.
June 15, 2023
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway with the promising of reading a reviewing. It was an Ok book. It was a short and quick read. The characters themselves were interesting, or at least had the potential to be, but it felt like the author spent too much time on inconsequential details and not enough in the actual development of a coherent story that blended the primary characters together. There are moments of interaction, but their stories never really melded together, causing the over all feel of the book in the end to be disjointed and unsatisfactory.
April 25, 2023
Yeah, no.
I expected the main theme to be about cannibalism but not the entirety of the book. I feel like there was no plot and only different people with the obsession of other cannibals and eating people. I hoped there was some kind of conclusion or a coming together at the end, but no. Very boring in regards to the storyline.
Also, very graphic and detailed if the title didn't tell you that already.
I expected the main theme to be about cannibalism but not the entirety of the book. I feel like there was no plot and only different people with the obsession of other cannibals and eating people. I hoped there was some kind of conclusion or a coming together at the end, but no. Very boring in regards to the storyline.
Also, very graphic and detailed if the title didn't tell you that already.
October 7, 2023
"What a feast you will enjoy."
I'd rate this as a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.
It was interesting all the way through, the characters are all well written and have good backstories that let you get to know them and why they are the way they are. Throughout the book it is obvious that they will all meet but I feel like the meeting falls short. There's a lot of buildup and then the ending just comes pretty quickly and doesn't live up to the rest of the book.
I'd rate this as a 3.5 but I'm rounding up.
It was interesting all the way through, the characters are all well written and have good backstories that let you get to know them and why they are the way they are. Throughout the book it is obvious that they will all meet but I feel like the meeting falls short. There's a lot of buildup and then the ending just comes pretty quickly and doesn't live up to the rest of the book.
August 26, 2024
Won this in a goodreads giveaway a while back and finally got to it on my TBR. The characters’ developments were the best part honestly. It felt more like a character study though than anything with a solid plot. The ending was kind of a let down, and honestly, Edmund as a character was almost pointless in my opinion. Otherwise generally good read, don’t hate it. Didn’t love it either though.
July 27, 2022
More than thrilling!
I love books that twist facts and make us think beyond what we know to be true. Fans of James Rollins will love this author. I can't wait to get started on his other books!
I love books that twist facts and make us think beyond what we know to be true. Fans of James Rollins will love this author. I can't wait to get started on his other books!
April 24, 2023
This story definitely kept me on my toes! A spine-chilling horror at its finest with bloody details 👌 I'm a sucker for a good 'ol serial killer story, and the author, Joe Pawlowski did not disappoint. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it.
March 4, 2021
A shorter story with plenty of interesting characters. The ending comes with a twist you don't see coming.
March 15, 2021
Fascinating. Not much of a plot, but the research that went into this is fascinating and possibly true, but not in modern times.
April 16, 2023
I cannot say I enjoyed a single thing about the book, except the fact that I finished it.
November 15, 2022
Thank you to Mr. Pawlowski for the free book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I liked the beginning much better. The end got too weird for me. This book would be hard to recommend. It has a special niche of people that it would be suited for, and I'm not it. If you love gruesome books about serial killers, cannibals, and evil demons then this is the book for you.
I liked the beginning much better. The end got too weird for me. This book would be hard to recommend. It has a special niche of people that it would be suited for, and I'm not it. If you love gruesome books about serial killers, cannibals, and evil demons then this is the book for you.
August 7, 2024
it was decent until the end. tying the characters together felt rushed.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews