The Rotting Within

by Matt Kurtz

Fleeing an abusive boyfriend, Kenzie Moore and her two small children seek refuge at the Sunrise Bed & Breakfast, a secluded inn run by her estranged grandmother, Shirley. While there, Kenzie and her children promise to follow one simple rule: stay away from the third floor, where its bedrooms house a pair of reclusive old women. Though the inn seems an idyllic place to start anew, Kenzie quickly discovers something malevolent not only lives under its roof, but moves within its walls.

When Shirley is called away and the kids are mysteriously stricken ill, a torrential storm further isolates the family and brings forth something out of the darkness, something whispering for Kenzie to “kill the children.”

It all culminates in a terrifying game of cat and mouse, where Kenzie must battle both new and old demons while trying to prevent

Genres: Horror, Novella, Horror Thriller, Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller, Dark

202 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2020

About the author

Author of THE ROTTING WITHIN, A DARKNESS UNSEEN, KINFOLK, and SHOCK WAVES, the 2024 Imadjinn Award Winner for Best Horror Novel.

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so thankful to be surrounded by friends who recommend great horror. My Night Worms business partner, Ashley (spookishmommy on Twitter & Instagram) recently read this one and based on her reading experience, I knew I had to read it immediately. I'm going to review this one for SCREAM Mag because it reads like a horror movie. Intensifying dread, jump scares (yes, books can have those), a perfect set-up, explosive climax, shocking conclusion.
4 stars because I have questions, which I'll highlight in my full review for SCREAM.
Sidenote: GRINDHOUSE PRESS is awesome.

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't too sure what to make of this when it started off, but the story quickly took shape. Following Kenzie, Tim, and Lilly as they ran from their abusive, lecherous stepfather. And why not shack up with an estranged grandmother that runs a strange little hostile, right? Be the first place that I escaped to. And from there, the children develop strange illnesses, creatures and other unworldly entities are seen, all partnered with a criminal staying at the inn, and the aforementioned stepfather hunting the family down. Like not too much happening all at once...joking. But the book finds its flow and maintains a good pace, after the first few chapters. You genuinely care about the welfare of the family and, putting yourself in Kenzie's position, desperately want this poor woman to catch a break and get out safely with her kids. Each spooky occurrence is enough to rattle you, and the finale of the book is just jam-packed with action and suspense. I did feel that some of the internal logic was off at times, especially when Kenzie went for a morning jog, leaving her children is the suspicious facility with a strange man lurking about, who had already revealed he was wanted by the law. And I really wanted some more from their history with Paul, the stepfather, too. That would have amped up the climax even more. But Kurtz had a solid outing here and I was very happy to have a chance to read through this story.

[Ashley (spookishmommy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what? I'm going to say it. After turning the last page (figuratively since I read this on my kindle) I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The Rotting Within is TENSE from the first page until the very last. This book had everything I could've asked for. Pulse pounding, nail biting and SCARY. Why did I make this my before bed book? I could NOT put it down even though I knew nightmares were imminent.

[Mindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, I haven't been this excited about a book in a while. Probably the last time I was this excited was when I read KILL CREEK by Scott Thomas. I truly did not want to turn off the light after reading this one. And I read the bulk of it in a frenzy of flipping pages and audible gasps until well past midnight. THE ROTTING WITHIN is one of the few horror books I've read that is truly scary.

I've said that books were going to make my top lists for a given year in January before, but I don't think I have ever meant it this much. And this book wasn't even on my radar until my friend Ashley said that she just finished reading it, and it was so good she was going to buy a physical copy. Here's the thing...Ashley never does that. So that little piece of knowledge combined with Ashley's impeccable taste had me immediately rushing to buy the paperback. This book is one of the best recommendations I've ever had, so a very heartfelt thank you goes out to Ashley for this one. I hope I can discover something amazing and return the favor soon.

I wasn't sure which subcategory of horror this book is, and I'm not going to ruin the surprise for anyone reading this. I will say there are a couple of blink-and-you-miss-them homages to one of my absolute favorite book/movies of all time, and that made me so overjoyed. All at once I was sure I knew what I was getting into, but Kurtz anticipates that and takes you on a much wilder ride than you could ever expect.

I'm not going to rehash the basics of the plot. I will say that a mother (Kenzie) and her two young children (Lilly and Tim) move into a bed and breakfast that is run by Kenzie's grandmother, Shirley. The small family has never met Shirley before, but they immediately like her and fall in love with the large Victorian house that serves as the B&B. There's only one rule for the three of them now that they will be living with Shirley; stay away from the 3rd floor where two elderly female tenants live permanently.

Anytime you have characters in a large house, and one character tells the others never to go into a certain area of the house, you know that area is the best freakin' part of that whole house, and that the people who have been warned are never going to comply. It's like a big red button that says "Do Not Push". That's the central element of the story and the reason everything goes apeshit. That forbidden area of the house is probably why you picked up a book. Never in the history of horror has a person listened and stayed out of an area that is declared off limits. And so of course, Kenzie, Lilly, and Tim all make sure to check out that area as soon as possible.

The book starts off tense for one reason, you settle in a little bit, and then all of a sudden everything is going crazy and I could practically feel myself holding my breath. Kurts knows exactly how to ramp up the tension to eleven. Take a violent storm, add in a power outage, and a sincerely creepy presence that makes your entire body tense up every time it appears, and you have one hell of an amazing horror novel. Seriously, I could sit here and gush about this one all day. Instead, I'm going to say to any person who loves horror that you need this book. Trust me. This book is everything a horror lover is always seeking and desperately wishes to find.

[Kiera ☠ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all… I need this to be made into a movie IMMEDIATELY. This was probably the most unnerving thing I’ve read all year. The atmosphere in this was top notch. From the old creepy woman, to the setting, the creature, the real life villains, it checked every box.

As a mother this book took me for a rollercoaster of emotions and kept my anxiety on 100 for the entirety of it. The ending was show-stopping honestly. I thought I knew where Kurtz was going with this and was SHOCKED when I got hit with the twist at the end. It was everything I wanted without even knowing it.

If you’re thinking of reading this book just do it. You will not regret it. It gave me The Shining, Burnt Offering Vibes but with a modern twist. Cannot say enough good things. READ. THIS. BOOK.

[Uptown Horror Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Attention to all horror authors out there:

THIS.......is how you write a damn supernatural horror novel. Take some notes from Matt Kurtz.

I always tend to stay away from stories about haunted houses and witches and all of that type of stuff, but the cover of this book intrigued me, so I decided to give it a try and Im so happy that I did.

I originally wrote about 6 paragraphs gushing over this book, but I decided to delete it all and keep this review simple and just tell all of you to go out there and read this book. The suspense and creepiness is unlike any movie you will watch or any other book you will read and if you love fucked up endings you're in for a treat.

Im giving this book 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

For in-depth video reviews, please subscribe to my YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/UptownHorrorRev...

PS: I need a sequel 😈

[Weevil Dead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Rotting Within! I felt like I was a part of this story the whole way through. It was fast-paced and so descriptive, Kurtz's writing places you right in the action. The tension in this story was crazy. From the first page to the last I just felt like something really wrong was happening. My jaw was clenched and I was afraid for Kenzie this entire novel, it seemed like everyone was out to get her. From the way the characters smiled and touched, the way they stared a second too long, to the setting of the story (deep woods in Texas), I was so uncomfortable, my skin was crawling. A simple sound of a neighbor entering their apartment down the hall made me jump. I never do that!

Kurtz had great nods to horror classics sprinkled in his novel, which I enjoyed very much.  I would love to read a continuation of this story, or an origin tale of its mysterious women. This book has everything: creepy old women, Tannis Root, good cooking, an Anthony, no cell reception, Texas, a man in a tank top making an omelet, lightning, and tea.  This is a perfect novel for all horror fans. Please do not make the mistake thinking that this will be a light read. It is heartbreaking, disturbing, and scary as hell. It will be on your mind all day, and night.

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to The Sunrise Bed & Breakfast. A quaint small scale guesthouse located within a wooded scenic area located off the beaten path. With no where else to turn from an abusive relationship, Kenzie and her two young children Lilly and Tim take shelter at The Sunrise via invitation from her grandmother. Thinking they have finally found solace, the close knit family soon discovers a hidden unnatural darkness that dwells within the walls of the establishment.

The Rotting Within by Matt Kurtz is a story of a mother's love for her children and to what lengths she is willing to go for their protection. Kurtz is a master at creating a false sense of security for the reader, then initiates hair-raising foreshadows that’s equivalent to a rumbling of distant thunder. The creepiness factor is off the charts in this novel. Not since Josh Malerman have I witnessed the beauty of descriptive authorship. It takes true talent to narrate what you may or may not have seen lurking in candlelit shadows. Fear of isolation, ghastly images along with the creeks and groans of an age old property all become factors in choosing a desperate option to fight or flight.

This novel undoubtedly made a major impression on me. From a parents worse nightmare to a unbelievably terrifying unearthing, The Rotting Within is a haven for the disturbed. This is one that will remain with you for a time to come. Definitely one of the top novels of 2021. A strong Horror Bookworm recommendation.

https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

[Aiden Merchant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book covers are important. They draw you toward a story before you even know what it is. The same goes for music. I fell in love with many bands as a teenager simply because their CD cover caught my interest. This crutch (I guess we’ll call it) has helped me find a bunch of authors I really love to read now. It sucks that bad covers with good stories are getting skipped, but that would be branching off from my point here. I’m starting with all of this because The Rotting Within has an awesome cover that made me want to read the book. Though I’d heard of Matt Kurtz before, I had not yet read him. The cover of his last book did nothing for me, and so I would shrug off the posts I saw promoting it. When you have SO MUCH reading material available to you, authors need to do something special to stand out. A cover can make or break a release. For The Rotting Within, I’m willing to bet it drew in a lot of new readers for Kurtz, which is great because he is a damn fine reader (as I’ve now discovered).

The Rotting Within has a familiar structure - a family gets stuck in a house during inclement weather and bad stuff happens - but horror tropes exist for a reason. Personally, I’m a fan of the “stuck due to weather” approach, even if it is done all the time in horror. In this particular case, there’s more to the formula, of course. Kenzie is a young mother with two children who has just got in touch with her long lost grandmother, a woman who owns a B&B hundreds of miles away. After reaching a breaking point with her abusive boyfriend, they flee to the B&B and put their trust in this stranger who shares blood with them. Things seem good enough in the beginning. They have a place to stay with someone you’d think you can trust. There’s shelter, food, and a source of income. Oh, and solitude! Kenzie doesn’t want to be found by her ex, and hopes that the location of the B&B will help hide them. You can probably guess that the pretty picture won’t last. What’s more to the mix is there are strange things that exist inside and outside the house. And it sure doesn’t help that the two permanent tenants upstairs seem to have secrets …

Though there were some weak spots, I had a lot of fun with The Rotting Within. The beginning reeled me in with ease, setting the stage for a good time. The locale was my cup of tea (I love secluded homes!). The suspense of the storm rolling in and the promise of danger riled me right back up again in time for the action packed finale. I even liked the ending, which was a gut punch. Of course, there were also things that faltered for me along the way. This wouldn’t be a proper review if I didn’t mention them. My biggest complaint was I still had questions regarding certain things when the book came to an end. I also found Kenzie’s inner dialogue to be frustrating enough that I didn’t like her character (for reasons beyond her poor parenting and judgment). The funny thing is she thinks in the same way I do. I overkill stuff in my head also, which is what she does throughout this book. Turns out that this kind of inner dialogue is just as annoying on paper as it is to personally experience it.

Bottom line, Matt Kurtz has caught my attention with The Rotting Within. I want to read more of his work and I will read more of his work. If you’re looking for an exciting short novel to read over a stormy weekend, I know just the title to recommend!

***

Highlights: Exciting beginning and end … classic horror structure … well stocked with mystery, action, and tension

Shadows: Leaves some things unexplained … Kenzie’s inner dialogue comes like overkill

FFO: Stormy weekend reads … secluded locales and danger … horror that can be violent, but doesn’t come in too hot and heavy

Takeaway: The Rotting Within finds a great balance between light and hardcore readers of horror with its classic tropes and mystery. Kurtz is not only a fine writer, but one that seems to understand ways to get inside your head to roost.

Would I read this author again? Yes

***

REVIEW BY AIDEN MERCHANT
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[Justin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's something terrifyingly fun about guessing why characters are told to stay away or out of a setting in scary movies and/or horror novels. It's a ghastly guessing game as to who or what's hidden there. In Matt Kurtz's THE ROTTING WITHIN, it's the third story of an old bed & breakfast. There's a good reason to keep out.

The further I get into the genre, the less I like knowing about a novel going in. I only need enough to hook me and then after that, I'll find out on my own. Here's the hellevator pitch: Kenzie and her two young children go to stay with her grandmother at a B&B in an attempt to get a fresh start. Her grandmother welcomes the family to live there as long as they'd like, but warns them to stay off the 3rd floor- there's two tenants that live there and they don't like to be disturbed.

This was one of those reads I didn't want to put down! As creepy things start happening, the tension ramps up to a finale that had me reading well past bedtime. While a good portion of the novel is spent building the mystery of what is or isn't happening, there are sudden bursts of horror mixed in that will satisfy most gore hounds and help to move the story along. The way Kurtz writes makes it very easy to picture what's happening and there's some pretty gross (awesome) details included.

There are a few minor things that kept this from being a perfect read for me and I fully realize that some will disagree:
- I'm not a writer, but I'm willing to bet it's hard to know how much information to provide about the things that go bump in the night. Show or tell too much and you risk normalizing the thing and it's not as scary. That said, I never really understood Roman or Anthony; not much is explained about either.
- I saw part of the ending coming as it was happening (but not all of it). It was still great!
- There's a thread that ran the entire length of the novel that ended fairly abruptly near the end. Seemed like it was going to be a much bigger deal.

Overall, THE ROTTING WITHIN is an eerily entertaining read that oozes dread until the climax- then the vein opens!

4 out of 5 stars

*I was provided a copy of the novel for review by the author

[Richard Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt Kurtz’s second novel, following his 2018 debut ‘Kinfolk’ is another in a long line of consistently strong releases from Grindhouse Press this year, and Kurtz has cemented his place among horror titans also published by Grindhouse, such as Bryan Smith, C.V. Hunt and Kristopher Triana, with his new book, ‘The Rotting Within’.

Kenzie Moore lives with her two young children and an abusive boyfriend. When her home life becomes too much to bear she decides to escape, taking her children and seeking refuge in a remote guesthouse ran by her grandmother, whom she has never met.

Upon arrival, the situation seems idyllic. Kenzie and the kids have somewhere to stay, and Kenzie agrees to work for her grandmother to earn their keep. Things, however, may not be as perfect as they first appear. Who are the mysterious women on the third floor, and what is the strange whispering they can hear when the lights go out? With her enraged former boyfriend trying to track them down, and a sinister figure stalking Kenzie at the guesthouse, Kenzie must face the horrors waiting for her on the third floor, for the sake of the family she has fought so hard to keep together.

When doing my research for this review I found that Matt Kurtz spent as a film director and screenwriter before transitioning to short stories and novels. This past experience comes through in a big way in ‘The Rotting Within’. The book feels very cinematic and Kurtz’s vivid descriptions and strong grasp of pacing make it easy to visualise what’s being presented. It makes the book all the scarier that the stakes for the lead, Kenzie, are so high.

Kurtz sets a lot of different things in motion in the story and it makes for an unpredictable and sometimes chaotic read. The mysterious occupants of the third floor and abusive ex are an ever-present concern, but hints at other supernatural goings-on and the questionable motives and actions of other secondary characters mean you never know where the true threat lies until things crash together in a frantic, action-packed finale where all the threads combine in a neat and satisfying way.

While I did have some problems with the book, they were largely minor and more down to personal preference than actual issues with the story itself. There were some interesting secondary characters who are side-lined for large portions of the book, and one particularly promising and vital side story builds up tension, only to fizzle out in the final pages. I also felt the ending was signposted a little too heavily too early on, lessening the impact when it came, but slight concerns aside, these did little to impact my overall enjoyment.

Tense, scary and unpredictable, with a killer ending, ‘The Rotting Within’ is a story about a mother’s fight to protect her family, wrapped in an atmospheric and genuinely disturbing horror package. Highly recommended.


You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...

[Roxie Voorhees · Rating 3 out of 5]

TITLE: The Rotting Withing

AUTHOR: Matt Kurtz

SYNOPSIS: Fleeing an abusive boyfriend, Kenzie Moore and her two small children seek refuge at the Sunrise Bed & Breakfast, a secluded inn run by her estranged grandmother, Shirley. While there, Kenzie and her children promise to follow one simple rule: stay away from the third floor, where its bedrooms house a pair of reclusive old women. Though the inn seems an idyllic place to start anew, Kenzie quickly discovers something malevolent not only lives under its roof, but moves within its walls.

When Shirley is called away and the kids are mysteriously stricken ill, a torrential storm further isolates the family and brings forth something out of the darkness, something whispering for Kenzie to “kill the children.”

It all culminates in a terrifying game of cat and mouse, where Kenzie must battle both new and old demons while trying to prevent.

PUBLISHER: Grindhouse P

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐½

I sat with this one for a bit and stewed over it. There were elements I really enjoyed and then there were others I felt were stuffed in to fill space. The first monster kill at the BnB was rad and I really enjoyed the intensity.

Ultimately, Matt has an awesome talent for disturbing, but with that, I feel this could have been cut and trimmed and been more of a powerful narrative. I will definitely be seeking out other work by Matt Kurtz.

Thank you Matt Kurtz for a copy of THE ROTTING WITHIN in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle {Book Hangovers} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!
Review coming soon.

[Overlook Hotel · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 75%.Tried really hard to continue.

[Ali Seay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy! Gross! Creepy some more! I loved this book. It was good scary fun. I'll be checking out Matt Kurtz's other books ASAP.

[Red Lace Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sunrise Bed & Breakfast offers sanctuary for Kenzie and her children, but the secluded inn harbours more than she bargained for. Told never to venture to the third floor where two women have took up permanent residence, the single rule is hard to follow as something stirs in the walls, the malevolent force stemming from the very place Kenzie was told not to go.

(WARNING: This review contains minor spoilers.)

Unsettling from the onset, The Rotting Within follows Kenzie as she tries to outrun an abusive relationship with her two children, refuge sought at her estranged grandmother’s B&B. Upon arrival, the only request is that they stay away from the third floor that’s home to two elderly residents. Creepy, right? Kurtz drew me in with the intrigue of forbidden places and mysterious crones, his writing taking well known tropes – the most notable being the old house deep in the woods, as well as the storm that cuts out the power – and adding a cinematic flare that made everything all the more tense. While there were supernatural elements at play, Kenzie’s struggles began with a very real type of abuse, her flesh and blood at risk. Not only did she have to persevere in being a responsible mother attempting to give her kids a better way of life, she was quickly overwhelmed by a sinister plot outside of her control.

It was predictable with its creaking floors and skulking shadows, but I nevertheless enjoyed it. The issues I had didn’t quite detract from the positive experience, but they were present. For starters, I couldn’t quite get my head around Kenzie’s blind trust and overall lack of caution when it came to strangers. Maybe she was doomed to be at the mercy of terrible people, but I just had to question her glaring naivety. Another personal complaint is that I felt the subplots didn’t have satisfying resolutions, but were abruptly snuffed out after being built up. I would’ve preferred more information in general when it came particular aspects, but as said, the atmosphere did its job in capturing and holding my attention.

In conclusion: Despite being short, The Rotting Within was packed with quite a few story threads, perhaps too many to properly tie up. It followed a single mother as she fled from an unsafe environment and took shelter with a family member she’d never met. Even though there was nothing distinctly fresh, I really liked the sense of foreboding and how ghastly the villains of the story were. I was also a big fan of the ending – yes, I’d seen it before, but it was still gloriously evil. An example that if written competently, familiar concepts can still work.

Notable Quote:

It wasn’t the rumble of thunder that pulled Tim awake but the heavy breathing over his shoulder.

© Red Lace 2022

Blog ~ Twitter

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Blake Blanco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rotting Within; is a story with aspects of familial horror. It follows the story of a mother and two children who are attempting to escape a twisted and abusive boyfriend. When Kenzie reaches out to her maternal grandmother, things begin to look up.

Kenzie's relationship is quite questionable; her boyfriend is abusive but, when things take an even stranger turn, Kenzie knows that it's time to leave. She loads all of their belongings into her vehicle, and they take off. The children are concerned, but at the same time, they are excited to begin anew. The possibility of meeting an unknown grandmother lifts their spirits.

When they arrive, things are everything they could hope for, but Lilly notices something strange from a third-story window. Not only is the house larger than anything they're used to, but there is a "strange" atmosphere surrounding the home of their grandmother. They soon find out that there are some third story residents, but their appearances are few and far between. You see, they've been residents for quite a while and, the matron of the home holds them in high regard, almost in a familial sense.

The home just so happens to be a bed-and-breakfast, and it's always open for business. It seems the type of place with no questions asked, who wouldn't want a place to stay, where your matters remain private. A young man arrives looking for shelter during a time where Kenzie's curiosity is beginning to peak. He pays in cash, but there is an air of mystery surrounding him. After he checks in, they begin to form a bond and, they build trust between one another.

Soon after, the children begin to fall ill, and it's unexplainable. Shirley reaches out to one of the third story residents for assistance, and this is where things have started to turn up a bit. Strange discoveries around the bed-and-breakfast, and"strange" behaviors among the residents.

The excitement and the horror quickly pick up around the final third of the book, where someone goes missing without a trace, and things get out of hand pretty quickly. It comes naturally for Kurtz; the scares just hit you and leave you thinking.

The whole final portion of this book is entertaining; when you find out what has been taking place, it just blows you away. The revelation of the past and what has been taking place pulls every piece together. Then the ending is perfect, you will not see it coming, and if you do, you may be just a little deranged.

The cast in this book are well developed, and they each add their respective weight to this book. My favorite character is "Anthony" his design kept me digging further into the story and, before I knew it, the book was over.

This book is well written, and I enjoyed the writing. I look forward to getting into more of Matt Kurtz's work.

A huge thank you goes out to Matt Kurtz and Grindhouse Press for the copy of The Rotting Within for review consideration.

[Reia Pande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was it perfectly written? No. Did it scare the shit out of me? Heeeell yes!

[Nina The Wandering Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

In hopes of escaping an abusive boyfriend, Kenzie Moore and her two children move in with Kenzie’s estranged grandmother who runs the Sunrise Bed & Breakfast. They are told they can stay as long as they’d like on one simple condition: stay away from the third floor.

I couldn’t put this book down. There’s a lot here to draw the audience in: a single mother on the run, a Victorian house turned inn nestled in the woods, mysterious boarders, a vicious evil hiding in the walls, a constant sense of dread. I especially appreciated the story taking advantage of many people’s fear of old age through “the old crone” trope with its many grotesqueries. With a masterful use of tension building on the part of author Matt Kurtz (bravo) and a startling ending that will leave your jaw on the floor, The Rotting Within did not disappoint. In fact I’m not sure how anyone will sleep after reading it!

Basically, everyone needs to stop what they’re doing and add this to their reading list. I guarantee you’re in for a good scare.

[RB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was raised by strong women and have never been a fan of the damsel in distress. I've never experienced that, and it's a trope that needs to die. Our main character is the paradigm I seek from now on.

That being said, the ending is crushing. I hated it in the best way. The whole book evokes dread and leaves you to stew. Malaise for daaaayyyysss.

[Kelsea Yu · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTF JUST HAPPENED 😱😱😱

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! Kept me holding my breath all the way through to the end. Just a very entertaining and creepy ride!

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cool(?) twist, badly written characters

I could see this storyline making a good horror film and the horror scenes kept me reading. By the end I was skim reading and the characters were flat and written poorly and I didn’t care for any of them

[Thaydra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library while I was in-between books. It was a random pick up off the shelf and I will admit it was purely based off of the title and cover.

I am glad I did. It was suspenseful the entire time. It was short enough to not get too bogged down with fluff, although there was room for a little more back story on the older women. And although I guessed the ending prior, it was still fun enough to keep me going all the way through to the end.

If you are looking for a quick, creep factor read I would recommend it. I also agree with another reviewer I saw who said that this would make an excellent premise for a movie.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rotting Within is disgusting, mysterious & in general, reminds me of everything I love about the horror genre. Matt Kurtz provides readers with so much tension, from beginning to end -- you won't let out that breath you didn't know you were holding until you reach the end 😉.

Plus! One of my favorite things in the genre is stories that shine a light on the villainous side of humans -- which we get in The Rotting Within with Kenzie's abusive boyfriend that she is fleeing. While supernatural ~scaries~ are happening, there's still the fact that Paul can show up at ANY point & y'all -- that's TERRIFYING.

If you're a fan of the horror genre, please do not sleep on Matt Kurtz. He's a phenomenal human & an excellent writer.

[Tara Losacano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book! There were some seriously creepy moments and I also couldn't wait to find out exactly what was going on. And that ending..holy shit!! Such an awesome read and I definitely give this book 5/5 old lady skulls💀

[Erin Talamantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living with an abusive boyfriend, Kenzie decides enough is enough and whisks her two children away to safety. The safe place she takes them is a bed and breakfast inn run by her estranged grandmother.
When they arrive, everything feels really good. They have a warm place to stay and Kenzie is going to help around the inn as a sort of payment. They aren’t the only ones staying at the inn either. There are two mysterious old women living on the third floor, which is off limits.
Everything seems to be turning around for Kenzie and her children, but there’s something living inside the inn. Something that doesn’t have good intentions.
Then the children fall very sick and a storm is brewing outside. And now, Kenzie will not only have to protect her children from dangers outside the inn, but inside as well.

Okay, so I have a lot of feelings about this book. There are some things I really loved about this book and some things I didn’t really love.
Let’s start with what I did enjoy.
This book reads like a movie. It’s extremely intense and has really good buildup. It feels like you’re watching a movie and I think it would be a really excellent one at that.
The moment the book started I was tense. The anxiety that came with Kenzie leaving her abusive boyfriend was nerve racking. Even when they got to the inn, I wasn’t satisfied.
The tension didn’t fade away, especially when you learn that he’s not the only danger that Kenzie will need to be on alert for. I knew that there was gonna be more, obviously, but I just couldn’t shake the anxiety the entire time.
Isolation always adds a level of anxiety for me. I’m not someone who likes being away from civilization. Probably because I’ve watched and read so many stories like this, that I know nothing good happens when you’re isolated like this.
Now, I don’t think this book is necessarily “scary.” I didn’t find myself looking over my shoulder while reading or getting jumpy. I just felt myself on edge and more nervous than anything.
I will say that this plot isn’t exactly new or unique, I’ve definitely seen it done before, but I don’t think that detracts from it. I still liked it and felt myself enjoying it.
But I did figure some stuff out before it was revealed, I’m pretty sure that’s just because I’ve seen this before, so I just assumed that was where the story was heading.
Now, let’s talk about what was a miss for me.
First, the unanswered questions. Omg I feel like there were things touched on in this book that didn’t get addressed at all. Unfortunately, I can’t get into specifics because that would give you spoilers, but I would have liked some explanation. Particularly with several characters, including the two old women. I feel like I would have liked more of their backstory, but I wasn’t really given that much on them.
The ending.
I did not like it.
Now, I’m super particular about my endings and I just did not like this one, it was a little too obvious and it just irritated me. I’m sure some people would love this ending, but I’m just not one of them.
Overall, I did enjoy the book despite the criticisms that I have. It was a fun read and I don’t regret picking it up, I would love to read some other work from this author.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rotting Within by Matt Kurtz jumped out immediately at me because of the fantastic cover art and the bleak and gothic-like synopsis. Although it didn’t take place in a castle, it did take place in an old Bed and Breakfast. It had a contemporary gothic feel. Brooding atmosphere and building mistrust and dread.

The characters and relationships were very realistic and believable, especially that of the children, Lilly and Tim. Sister and brother who’ve seen too much in their young lives and can’t quite trust the adults in their lives.

Ultimately this felt like a tale about generations. Generational abuse in both Kenzie and her grandmother Shirley. Generational sickness in Kenzie and her mother. I asked myself, would Lilly inevitably end up in an abusive relationship when she got older? Would it be hard for her to trust? Most likely...

This is also a story about betrayal...it seems everyone was betraying the children especially. Not even Kenzie seemed to have the best in caring for her children. She trusted way too easily, which could be why she found herself in one bad relationship after another. However the bright light of hope was in Lilly and Tim. They trusted each other and could rely on one another even though they were children.

Myrna, the visible antagonist, gave me extreme, abusive schoolmarm vibes right away. I loved how her character was written. Her dialogue was so awkward and abrasive. It really went along with her character development. I wanted to yell at Kenzie not to let that woman touch her children!

I enjoyed this very much. Seems like it could make a great movie too. I can picture the Sunrise in my head...5 stars!

[Barby Helena Messorem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really quite nerve wracking, primarily from the jump. The bed & breakfast is disturbing yet somehow cozy atmospherically, Kenzie is easy to root for, and her children seem to be your typical adolescents spiced up with a bit more intelligence than you would normally see at their age.

When Kenzie leaves behind her abusive boyfriend, Paul, she finds herself running to the homestead and business of her great grandmother, Shirley. They don’t know one another, but they are about to. And family is family- so Shirley doesn’t seem to resent the fact that Kenzie and her kids need a temporary place to stay.

Lilly and Tim, as priorly stated, seem a bit smart for their age. This leads them into questioning certain things around the inn- and when more and more evidence starts popping up, it becomes safe to assume the inn may be hiding some dark secrets. Particularly involving the two old crones dwelling upstairs, Myrna and Lucille.

And that’s where I stop giving little hints away- four stars, most definitely. I have to admit some of the descriptions go on for a bit too long, but the story itself is so intriguing and original it has a way of keeping you enticed. I wish I knew more about the “animal,” but that didn’t take too much from the explosion of an ending. This reminds me of an endearingly horrific piece of haunted folklore- and it hits way closer to home (or lack thereof) than might’ve been expected.

Weird and wonderful.