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It was supposed to be a relaxing vacation in a small town. Now, they're on the run from religious fanatics.

When five friends are invited to a religious celebration in a small, isolated town, they are initially showered by the townsfolk with gifts and attention. As the days go by, however, it becomes clear that the community is not as innocuous as it initially presented itself. Mysterious, robed figures violently beat people who express different opinions, strange rituals take place in the church at night, and armed gunmen patrol the town perimeters – all under Prophet Martin’s orders.

What was supposed to be a relaxing trip for the outsiders turns into a struggle for survival, with the entire town zealously following Prophet Martin’s command – to find and kill the sinners.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2021

151 people are currently reading
465 people want to read

About the author

Boris Bacic

54 books465 followers
"Boris is my favorite author on Nosleep, he's always killing it with his stories!"
"The security guard series is the best one ever!!"
"I love the subtle connection between each story."
"Like R.L. Stine, but better."
"I want to see this book as a Netflix mini-series!"
"No one can scare me like Boris."

Both traditionally and self-published, Boris is a prolific writer whose horror novels often find themselves on the #1 bestselling ranks. With the books he has published, he is quickly becoming a big name in the horror community.

His stories have been narrated by famous YouTube and podcast narrators, including MrCreepypasta, CreepsMcPasta, DrCreepen, etc. His book, Tales of a Security Guard, is currently in the works to become a short film.

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5 stars
188 (38%)
4 stars
156 (32%)
3 stars
90 (18%)
2 stars
34 (7%)
1 star
16 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Carol.
3,779 reviews138 followers
December 19, 2022
The scariest part of this is that it's supposed to be fiction, but you could see the possibility of this actually happening.... especially in light of some of the things that have been in our news in the last few years. The five friends that came to this small town to "celebrate" soon found that they were more like a walking, breathing "Christmas dinner" for the townspeople. They were treated like royalty to begin with...but that soon changed. The local cult had plenty of creepy, scary, nasty red flags that soon turned into full-blown all out, no holds barred, evil. Religion is just one of the platforms used by cults in order to justify mass murder, torture, and mayhem, being carried out in the name of whatever "God" they are serving. This story explores the depths of depravity to which the leaders are willing to take it in order to keep control. This little group of friends had some seriously bad luck, and the ending?? ...not what I expected, and it did leave some questions unanswered. I have read other books by this author and have found that this is something that he does quiet a lot, but I still love his books and this one was no exception.
Profile Image for Megan Cisneros.
51 reviews2 followers
December 11, 2022
Interesting premise, weirdly sexualized writing though that detracted from the story.
Profile Image for Bri .
116 reviews
September 15, 2024
So much of this book gives off a misogynistic and icky vibe. A perfect example of this is when the author described the female characters soaking wet shirt clinging to her bra and abs while they are literally running for their lives. A super high stress situation and the author chose to describe her white bra and perky breasts. Really don’t understand that. That’s just one example of the many I could give. Also there was a lot of grammatical errors and sentences that just didn’t make sense due to mistakes. The ending was really weird too. The whole book itself was just so odd in a not amazing way.
Profile Image for Shelly Reynolds.
702 reviews18 followers
July 12, 2022
"No, this place was too dangerous to be left alone. The world had to know what was going on here."

So, this was the last book I read in the Horror in Small Towns series. They are all stand-alone books so they can be read in any order. I've enjoyed the series a lot!

I'm a sucker for cult horror. And on the surface, Noah's Reach seems like a Utopian place - everyone living in peace, working for the benefit of each other, all lending a helping hand to bring prosperity to the town, and praise to their leader, Prophet Martin. Until you do something not to his liking.

While the book took a little while to get to the down and dirty of this town, it's designed to shock you when that Eden-esque image is totally blown apart by the horrors that take place there.

Our story revolves around a group of friends, one of whom is a member of The Disciples of God, who find themselves at "The Gathering", an annual meeting of members - some who live there, and other's who reside in the "sinner's world" - where they share meals, activities, praise and worship. All seems peaceful, until.....

As the horrors unfold, the group realizes there may be no way out of Noah's reach -not alive anyway. Will their desperate plan to take down the Prophet and expose the sick, twisted town to the world work? Or will they find themselves forever held hostage, or worse - dead? Are they all on board with the plan, or has the Prophet claimed one or more of them as his own already?

As with all of the other books in this series, and the other books I've read by this author, the ending will completely shock you!

I definitely recommend this series!!
1,536 reviews13 followers
January 28, 2024
I really, really love Boris Bacic's books, but sometimes the testosterone-laden misogynist crap gets to me. For example, while a guy an and girl run for their lives away from a community of murderers, Bacic thinks it's relevant to describe what the girl's breasts look like. Or in life-threatening situations, the girlies always cry while the boys are oh so courageous. This same kind-of thing almost ruined this book for me, since the smutty sex talk by the characters made me wish all of them would die, and that was halfway through chapter 1. Luckily, some of the characters had redeeming features, and the torture and violence were so awful that I eventually managed to care about what happened to them. Through most of the second half, readers are drawn into an entertaining game, trying to guess which of the characters will escape the cult. The similarities with the Jones Town case are horrifying and draws us in even further.
Profile Image for Wendy.
679 reviews57 followers
September 16, 2024
What a f'd up place! Really makes me never want to join or even associate with a cult 😆
Profile Image for John Morris.
1,012 reviews79 followers
October 15, 2021
Prophet Martin loves (some of) you!

Most Western citizens are afraid of militant Islamists but, fundamentalist Christians can be just as scary. Religion is the fig leaf that cultists, of whatever faith, cling to in order to justify mass murder, torture and mayhem, carried out in the name of their God. This story explores the depths of depravity to which the leaders of an evil cult will sink, in order to maintain complete obedience and control over their disciples. The book may have been fiction but, there was an element of truth in the story. A frightening tale and a warning about a possible dystopian future. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Beverly Laude.
2,260 reviews44 followers
May 15, 2021
Five friends decide to join their friend, Catherine, on a religious retreat called The Gathering. After driving many hours, they arrive at a remote location full of idyllic beauty. But, things start to happen that makes them reconsider their first impressions.

As is often the case in horror books, human monsters are much, much worse than the supernatural ones. This book is full of tension, emotion, and pure terror. The author has once again written a book that will entertain as well as frighten the reader.

Recommended for all horror fans.
Profile Image for Alex.
193 reviews5 followers
November 23, 2022
4.5 stars

Don’t join a cult moral of the story always
Profile Image for Shannon Casey.
127 reviews4 followers
October 11, 2021
If I could make this 4 1/2 stars I would. The plot was very enjoyable and the cult had plenty of creepy red flags that turn into full-blown evil before your eyes. Though the characters were a little bit underdeveloped, probably due to the number of them the story was following, there were some that I didn't like (which is fine, even welcomed) and some that I thought held some deeper feelings. This group of friends had some seriously bad luck, and the ending what not what I expected. I'm still trying to process the ending to decide what I believe. Faith or con? Take a read, decide for yourself.
Profile Image for myreadingescapism.
1,289 reviews16 followers
July 30, 2025
The first half of this book felt like a cheesy horror.. the second half was better but didn’t offer it up to make me like the book anymore. Subpar.
4 reviews
September 17, 2021
I just couldn’t stop reading.

We spoke in Facebook messenger and I have officially finished reading every one of your books from Amazon. I wrote you and told you that the first book a rid of US made me sort of feel a silent hill kind of feel.Thank you for an entertaining time. You are a very talented author. I will continue to look for more of your work. Sincerely I Donna Landry Tosh
12 reviews
September 17, 2021
Entertainment For Sure...

I really was surprised by this book .I started to read early evening next thing I knew it was 2 am .Forced self to put down .Dragged self into work and at lunch break was reading again and the min got off today picked it right back up.Great story.Wraps you up and pulls you in.Praise be to Prophet Martin😊
211 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2022
Not sure how I feel

I almost stopped reading. For the first half of the book the language is terrible. Much swearing, much sex. I skipped pages because of it.
The second half was better. Almost like two different books. The suspense grew, I started to get invested. I read to the end.
There are a lot of mistakes that distracted from the story but I think I liked it.
Profile Image for ❤ArtfullySinful❤ .
736 reviews49 followers
December 8, 2025
“It’s a reunion for special festivities that we have once a year in Noah’s Reach. It’s called The Children’s Gathering.”

Salvation, loyalty and religion can tie together a deadly concoction when the wrong person gets a hold of people's beliefs. Prophet Martin, worshipped by men, women and children alike, has built himself a following over a thousand strong. Noah's Reach, a self sustaining town built deep in the Oregon Woods is safe from the contamination of outside life and sinners. No Internet and with most members choosing to never leave, holds its own rules, laws and orders. Torture and beatings are common ways they transform sinners and members who find their loyalty slipping. If you step out of line, you can face death and for the entire town to witness. Nobody escapes once the gates close, and even if you never intended on membership it just might fall into your lap. Ethan, Tyler, Alice, Mandy, and Henry find this opportunity through his girlfriend Catherine, as she brings them along to the festival for Disciples of God. As everyone around them is so sickenly friendly it's easy to keep your guard down as everything dark is kept easily from their prying eyes. Seeing first hand the devotion Catherine has for her religion, it's getting harder and harder for Henry to make her leave it behind. Knowing she lives outside the town, gives him slight hope she'll eventually leave, but as the days blend together everything is becoming much more clear.

“The Gathering is the most wholesome, peaceful experience you will ever have.”

With escape hanging dangerously close, Martin is seemingly one step ahead of them as he captured them and subjects each person to torture. Maddy managed to escape the nightly church sermon with Tyler's keys as she needed medication from her headache. Arriving at the gate and unable to pass through to the car, she begins to have serious doubts about the sadness of this group. When Ethan, Tyler and Alice are captured, the young couple is linked up to an electrocution box where they have to pres the buttons to either be shocked or shock the other person. Trying to be the hero, Tyler originally was taking the shocks before he decided he couldn't die here. Instead, he shocked Alice to bear death before an amused Martin strolls in, laughing as e separated the two love birds. Ethan is still struggling with the death of his fiance Zoe two years prior, as she was the love of his life. Killed by a drunk driver, he's get to move on or find any happiness since she was extinguished from his life. Beaten, starved and with little left, the appeal preached by Martin is sweeter than anything else in his life and he finds himself quick to watch to join. During the Baptism, he sacrifices his life for a bullet meant for Martin and quickly finds himself a loved and accepted brother into the family.

“You have no idea what hell it is like to go through every single day, knowing what you had and what you could have had, only to have it taken from you. Ever since that day… since Zoe’s accident, I was already dead.”

When Catherine pulled the trigger on Martin before ending her own life, everyone is shocked to see him standing, wounded, but not dying. When the Sherrif came for a routine inspection, he brought a long the few people who wanted to leave. This includes Tyler and Alice, but he was never going to let them truly leave. A member himself, they were executed just out of town with the others who threw away their loyalty. Maddy went along with Miguel, the town person willing to dacrife anything for his freedom. When they hit the trip wire, her leg was amputated and they left her behind to slowly bleed out and die, still calling out for her mother who passed when she was thirteen. With only Henry and Ethan left alive, the prophet ordered to let him go where he would spend the next four years trying to get the world to believe him. Grieving the loss of his friends, he never got over the pull and found himself returning to Disciples of God, where he's welcomed in with open arms.

“They’re torturing us there! They said that Purgatory was to help us find our faith, but they lied!”
Profile Image for William (Mr. Bill) Turner.
438 reviews7 followers
December 9, 2022
The Gathering -- Horror!

This book takes you into the heart behind the scenes of an organization that is believed to be nothing more than a benevolent group of like-minded individuals. Beware! If it looks like a cult, acts like a cult, and has a cult leader, then it is probably a cult.
A group of friends looking for a fun weekend based on the invitation of one of their friends find themselves way over their heads in an isolated community that is far more sinister than anyone could have imagined.
This story deals with many religious themes and misappropriation of ideas and religious writing. Don't be confused. All deceitful teachings have a little bit of truth in them.
This is not my favorite Boris Bacic book, but it lives up to the sub-title 'Horror in Small Towns' and will keep you entertained.
Profile Image for Echo Bennett.
184 reviews11 followers
June 13, 2023
A group of friends go to a religious retreat/celebration in a small town. They are treated like kings and queens. Everyone welcomes them warmly. But, even at the onset things seem a little bit too good to be true. Soon these friends are in a fight for their very lives.

If you like books about evil cults, then this needs to become a part of your TBR. Aside from feeling a little bogged down by overly sexually charged characters at the beginning of the book and some overused words (like timbre), it was very well written. It has Jonestown vibes and is a scary read because of its realism. Cults do exist and charismatic cult leaders can brainwash men and women to do things they normally wouldn't do if they were in their right mind.
Profile Image for Matthew Cole.
68 reviews
June 8, 2023
Excellent. I really enjoyed our 6 main characters because each person felt real and completely different. Even though their was a lot of differences, you can definitely see their friendship working because it felt real. I think most of us have those friends where you think “how did we become friends” or “how are we still friends” haha. Boris really made me like (and dislike) our characters… so when things finally start to take a turn, I’m rooting for everyone and hoping that nothing happens to them.

I really would love to know more about Prophet Martin though thanks to that wild ending.
Profile Image for Richard K. Wilson.
754 reviews130 followers
April 30, 2024
Once again.....a boring, slow snoooooooze fest!

I cannot believe that I even finished this audiobook. I guess I was HOPING for a somewhat horror novel....but it ended with no such luck. Once again, I tried this author with no luck, and I can say I will NOT read anymore by him. With a small description of a person getting their head bashed in by someone with a cudgel does not make a book a Horror Novel. And if I had to hear the words or terms of 'Prophet Martin' or 'One of The Devoted' I was going to puke.

Skip it....In my opinion. Cannot recommend at all.
1.5 Snoooooores
37 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2023
amazing

I rarely find horror in a book that keeps me motivated to keep reading it. This book is SO dang good. It kept me captivated from beginning to end! I’ve read these really expensive horror books, and super famous horror authors, and I prefer this book over all of them! Hoping I can find another to keep me captivated like this now. It’s not easy for me. I get bored of most of them about halfway through!
Profile Image for Annemarie .
958 reviews22 followers
December 6, 2024
This was a bit slow off the mark but did pick up.
Cults are frightening things and people often don't realise what they have stumbled into until it's too late. Leaders like Martin who use force, deprivation and torture to indoctrinate their followers, do exist. The leaders are usually extremely charismatic and the brainwashing is so complete that followers would, and have, died for them.
You never hear of anyone "leaving" a cult, only "escaping" from one, and for good reason.
984 reviews12 followers
October 18, 2021
Four friends are invited to a religious gathering. They are made to feel welcome. Who is Prophet Martin? Why are people drawn to him? Is it a facade. The four friends make some gruesome discoveries and find that they are the victims of a dangerous cult from which there is no way out. Gut-wrenching book.
848 reviews4 followers
March 9, 2023
The Gathering is part of Horror in Small Towns 4 stars

Wonderfully frightening, but not another hack and slash. The idea of cu!it's taking away your choice and abusing the members by the leader... frightening
because you hear of them on tv and newspapers. The author is great, but give me imaginary horror.
Profile Image for Christina Collins.
Author 4 books8 followers
March 13, 2023
I have never read a book like this and if no one has read this book? I suggest you do it now because wow! I didn't expect the outcome. It left me in awe and slightly disturbed. Many characters within this story I liked and became sadden at each outcome. Overall, I'm serious everyone, FANTASTIC BOOK! Please take a moment and read this story. I promise you all, none of you will be disappointed.
Profile Image for Emziethebookworm .
469 reviews14 followers
August 6, 2025
What did I just read on my kindle like I wasn't expecting half of the stuff in the gathering at all.
Had me hooked from when they entered and boy the ot was really good.
I did feel bad for the characters as they shouldn't of went through all that but the ending had me on the edge of my seat wasn't expecting it at all.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,783 reviews72 followers
April 28, 2021
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
Profile Image for Tarek von Bergmann.
7 reviews
December 4, 2021
Blessed be the Prophet!
I finally made it all the way to the end, and what a painful journey it was!
Don't get me wrong, the books concept os alright, but the writing style as a whole is just god awful many of times.
Profile Image for Sharon Hobbs.
2 reviews
November 26, 2022
This is a great book. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and has you cheering while cringing at the same time. It is a definite must read. Hard to put down once you start. I would definitely recommend this book. The twists and turns are simply amazing. Well put together.
55 reviews
June 8, 2023
Engrossing

If you're looking for a casual horror beach read, this isn't it. Full of surprises and vivid characters, the story goes into some very unsuspected places. I'll watch out for more from this author.
Profile Image for TacoFan.
673 reviews7 followers
August 3, 2024
Well first of all, why would they even go there? I would've been suspicious before that, but seeing a huge gate that locks people in? Nope. I don't understand why they had to stay. Wayyy too creepy there!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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