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The Venue
Amy didn't expect to be invited to Caleb's wedding.
And now, she doesn't expect to get out alive.
You’re invited!
Your childhood friend is having a wedding.
It'll be held in a secluded resort, high up in the Alps.
All expenses paid.
All travel arrangements provided.
The pinnacle of elegance and luxury.
He'd love for you to come celebrate with him.
Feel free to bring your husband or boyfriend or whoever you're seeing these days.
What’s that?
You had a falling out with the groom?
You never expected to hear from him again, let alone be invited to his wedding?
That’s okay.
That’s in the past.
By the end of the night, all will be forgiven.
Welcome to The Venue
The perfect place for the super-rich to get away from it all
…and get away with anything they want.
From the writer of INTERCEPTS and IN MY FATHER'S BASEMENT comes another gleefully violent read.
And now, she doesn't expect to get out alive.
You’re invited!
Your childhood friend is having a wedding.
It'll be held in a secluded resort, high up in the Alps.
All expenses paid.
All travel arrangements provided.
The pinnacle of elegance and luxury.
He'd love for you to come celebrate with him.
Feel free to bring your husband or boyfriend or whoever you're seeing these days.
What’s that?
You had a falling out with the groom?
You never expected to hear from him again, let alone be invited to his wedding?
That’s okay.
That’s in the past.
By the end of the night, all will be forgiven.
Welcome to The Venue
The perfect place for the super-rich to get away from it all
…and get away with anything they want.
From the writer of INTERCEPTS and IN MY FATHER'S BASEMENT comes another gleefully violent read.
294 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2020
937 people are currently reading
8330 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Payne
3 books859 followersT.J. Payne is the author of:
IN MY FATHER'S BASEMENT: A serial killer novel
INTERCEPTS: A horror novel
THE VENUE: A wedding novel
T.J. Payne writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story's intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne's work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human.
Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne's work.
Despite his gritty, dark work, Payne lives a very happy, non-murderous life. He married his high school sweetheart and together they enjoy exploring National Parks with their dog Frank (on leash and with plenty of poop bags, of course; he’s not a sociopath).
IN MY FATHER'S BASEMENT: A serial killer novel
INTERCEPTS: A horror novel
THE VENUE: A wedding novel
T.J. Payne writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story's intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne's work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human.
Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne's work.
Despite his gritty, dark work, Payne lives a very happy, non-murderous life. He married his high school sweetheart and together they enjoy exploring National Parks with their dog Frank (on leash and with plenty of poop bags, of course; he’s not a sociopath).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 730 reviews
February 19, 2025
Well this was an absolute hootenanny of a party! A true thrill ride! I’ve ready this author before, but this book was an all new experience. Now before you start reading it, some of the premise and events are far-fetched, so you’ll have to suspend disbelief a bit. But it is so much fun once you get into it, and the balance of seriousness with the lighter portions was masterfully done. Amy, Caleb, Lilith, and all the characters are written very well and all bring about their own levels of depth, disfunction, and individuality to this zany story. Candice, as the overbearing mother, had me in stitches, and Amy had some superb one liners throughout, too. She is a genuine bad ass and I enjoyed reading her as she had to evolve during the events of the book. And honestly, the premise and set-up of the venue itself is a great concept and was done justice here. There is a ton of action and violence, and a lot of it is done very creatively, most notably a wedding cake with poison frosting. Now there were a good deal of instances where I felt the author focused on the gore and not enough the story and character development. For example, I was anticipating a final showdown of sorts between Caleb and Amy, but what did eventually go on seemed very abbreviated and unsatisfying, after a ton of buildup. And I really, really wanted more background on Lilith and Caleb’s relationship. And even Lilith’s history, leading up to her nuptials, too. Both aspects were very underdeveloped, and could have rounded out the story much better. But, despite some flaws, this was a great read, and fans of horror, action, and comedy can all have a good time here.
October 18, 2020
Dear Mr. Hunt,
regarding your queries in a previous mail, I want to answer all your questions in this correspondence.
The Venue is located on a mountain in [UNDISCLOSED]. We can guarantee privacy and discretion.
Our staff is available twenty-four hours of the day, their only wish to serve you and keep you happy.
The chapel can easily seat fifty people and it is located inside the building, for your convenience.
You can expect all the luxury any five star hotel can offer and, in some cases, even more.
The reception can be in any color of your choosing and any flowers you wish to have will be supplied, even if it has to be imported from another country.
Our chef is one of the best in the world, and you can pick anything you wish to have on your special day. We have various poisons and toxins, if you are interested in surprising some guests.
Any weapon you wish to have will be supplied - the medieval period is very popular among previous guests. If you desire some distance from the chaos, long distance weapons will be supplied. But, should you choose to partake, we can provide any weapon, but we can't guarantee your safety.
We will provide a DJ who will play any of the songs you included on your list. He will work throughout the night - our security measures are well tested.
All the rules will be stipulated by you and we are willing to go the extra mile to meet any wish you may have for your special day.
Finally, cleanup will not be any of your concern, everything will be catered for in the contract.
I hope these answers are satisfactory. Looking forward to doing business with you.
Kind regards
[NAMELESS]
Ps. For security purposes, this email will delete itself in three...
two...
one...
(POOF)
-----------------------------------------------------
Wow, this author does his job so well, I loved everything about the story. It is sick and disgusting, for sure, but I'll be damned if I didn't love the ride.
The feeling in this book was almost like watching the movie MOTHER!
It starts off with a feeling that things are off, and BAM - mother-fucken' anarchy!
Some scenes will upset sensitive readers.
Recommended to fans of horror and thrillers.
Oh yes, and those who enjoy wedding stories.
regarding your queries in a previous mail, I want to answer all your questions in this correspondence.
The Venue is located on a mountain in [UNDISCLOSED]. We can guarantee privacy and discretion.
Our staff is available twenty-four hours of the day, their only wish to serve you and keep you happy.
The chapel can easily seat fifty people and it is located inside the building, for your convenience.
You can expect all the luxury any five star hotel can offer and, in some cases, even more.
The reception can be in any color of your choosing and any flowers you wish to have will be supplied, even if it has to be imported from another country.
Our chef is one of the best in the world, and you can pick anything you wish to have on your special day. We have various poisons and toxins, if you are interested in surprising some guests.
Any weapon you wish to have will be supplied - the medieval period is very popular among previous guests. If you desire some distance from the chaos, long distance weapons will be supplied. But, should you choose to partake, we can provide any weapon, but we can't guarantee your safety.
We will provide a DJ who will play any of the songs you included on your list. He will work throughout the night - our security measures are well tested.
All the rules will be stipulated by you and we are willing to go the extra mile to meet any wish you may have for your special day.
Finally, cleanup will not be any of your concern, everything will be catered for in the contract.
I hope these answers are satisfactory. Looking forward to doing business with you.
Kind regards
[NAMELESS]
Ps. For security purposes, this email will delete itself in three...
two...
one...
(POOF)
-----------------------------------------------------
Wow, this author does his job so well, I loved everything about the story. It is sick and disgusting, for sure, but I'll be damned if I didn't love the ride.
The feeling in this book was almost like watching the movie MOTHER!
It starts off with a feeling that things are off, and BAM - mother-fucken' anarchy!
Some scenes will upset sensitive readers.
Recommended to fans of horror and thrillers.
Oh yes, and those who enjoy wedding stories.
June 28, 2020
⭐ 3 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙨 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 ⭐
𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘣 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 '𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦'. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘣'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘦-𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵.
I guess that's one way to deal with all those annoying in-laws 🤔
It pains me to only give this book 3 stars. The writing is soooo GOOD! A great sense of atmosphere and doom. Some scenes are very well done, especially the creepy wedding ceremony. But the story line...... sigh..... It's a combination of a few generic ideas that have already been done. The last 30% of the book is absurd and the characters and the plot become unnatural and unrealistic. The ending is underwhelming.
I don't know. Maybe my hopes were too high since Intercepts was so brilliant.
TJ Payne has one more book that I haven't read yet and I still look forward to it.
(It may even be my first buddy read! Yay!)
𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘣 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 '𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦'. 𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘣'𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢𝘭𝘦-𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵.
I guess that's one way to deal with all those annoying in-laws 🤔
It pains me to only give this book 3 stars. The writing is soooo GOOD! A great sense of atmosphere and doom. Some scenes are very well done, especially the creepy wedding ceremony. But the story line...... sigh..... It's a combination of a few generic ideas that have already been done. The last 30% of the book is absurd and the characters and the plot become unnatural and unrealistic. The ending is underwhelming.
I don't know. Maybe my hopes were too high since Intercepts was so brilliant.
TJ Payne has one more book that I haven't read yet and I still look forward to it.
(It may even be my first buddy read! Yay!)
February 27, 2022
~ Quick Summary ~
A couple invites everyone that has majorly pissed them off to their wedding to repay them for their kindness.
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
🩸 Blood and Gore
🙂 Mindless read
🏃 Focus is the wedding and action. No character development or depth in the plot.
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The premise had me so intrigued! It was a quick and easy read.
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
Wow this was incredibly straightforward and almost humorous at times? Definitely not a book to take seriously at all.
Do not expect any depth in the plot or characters whatsoever. I felt the whole reason behind the wedding wasn't well developed. If the book had explored Caleb’s mind and past more: how he got so twisted leading up to the wedding then it could’ve worked, but no. We are given very surface level information only.
Even the action was not exciting to me. It was literally the couple running around killing people. I was hoping for there to be more suspense, tension and question as to whether the guests will turn on each other and what will trigger it. I wanted to explore the inner conflict. Yes they turned on each other eventually but it kind of just happened and briefly.
A couple invites everyone that has majorly pissed them off to their wedding to repay them for their kindness.
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
🩸 Blood and Gore
🙂 Mindless read
🏃 Focus is the wedding and action. No character development or depth in the plot.
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The premise had me so intrigued! It was a quick and easy read.
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
Wow this was incredibly straightforward and almost humorous at times? Definitely not a book to take seriously at all.
Do not expect any depth in the plot or characters whatsoever. I felt the whole reason behind the wedding wasn't well developed. If the book had explored Caleb’s mind and past more: how he got so twisted leading up to the wedding then it could’ve worked, but no. We are given very surface level information only.
Even the action was not exciting to me. It was literally the couple running around killing people. I was hoping for there to be more suspense, tension and question as to whether the guests will turn on each other and what will trigger it. I wanted to explore the inner conflict. Yes they turned on each other eventually but it kind of just happened and briefly.
July 12, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
A couple that slays together, stays together. Or at least that’s what I’ve always heard. My wife and I have yet to murder anyone so it’s difficult to say for sure, but that seems legit. It’s never too late to dream chase.
This was a wild ride. It definitely gave Ready or Not vibes, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It was hard for me to not picture Amy as Samara Weaving because of that, but I think they were drawn to be similar protagonists. Caleb and Lilith were despicably delightful, although I felt Caleb’s motives were much more realistic. Lilith was just a sociopath.
This was mindless fun. It won’t challenge any of your precepts or alter world views. It won’t reinforce moral codes or harden personal convictions. But it will keep you entertained, and it will make you smile with violent, gory delight.
And sometimes that’s just what we need…
A couple that slays together, stays together. Or at least that’s what I’ve always heard. My wife and I have yet to murder anyone so it’s difficult to say for sure, but that seems legit. It’s never too late to dream chase.
This was a wild ride. It definitely gave Ready or Not vibes, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It was hard for me to not picture Amy as Samara Weaving because of that, but I think they were drawn to be similar protagonists. Caleb and Lilith were despicably delightful, although I felt Caleb’s motives were much more realistic. Lilith was just a sociopath.
This was mindless fun. It won’t challenge any of your precepts or alter world views. It won’t reinforce moral codes or harden personal convictions. But it will keep you entertained, and it will make you smile with violent, gory delight.
And sometimes that’s just what we need…
March 16, 2022
Over the top, outrageous and beastly. Wedding day turned into a killing day.
The blurb caught me, it got me all worked up and I couldn’t let the day go without reading this book. For some sick and unexplained reason, I wanted the main character Amy, to lose. I don’t know. I don’t like her.
Nothing about the bloody killings or the craziness of it all surprised me. I was actually expecting a bit more ferity and ruthlessness, but we can’t have everything, right.
Overall, this was an OK book for me. Good reviews are piling up and that is good but it fell just a little bit short for my liking. I think I need to read another book from this author, maybe I’ll find something that could work for me.
The blurb caught me, it got me all worked up and I couldn’t let the day go without reading this book. For some sick and unexplained reason, I wanted the main character Amy, to lose. I don’t know. I don’t like her.
Nothing about the bloody killings or the craziness of it all surprised me. I was actually expecting a bit more ferity and ruthlessness, but we can’t have everything, right.
Overall, this was an OK book for me. Good reviews are piling up and that is good but it fell just a little bit short for my liking. I think I need to read another book from this author, maybe I’ll find something that could work for me.
August 18, 2022
this was fucked up….more please
May 3, 2022
The Venue was outlandish at times but tons of fun. The story was fast paced and full of violence and chaos...which is exactly what I wanted when I picked it up. 4 stars.
Recommended for anyone looking for a shallow yet action-packed read.
Recommended for anyone looking for a shallow yet action-packed read.
July 12, 2020
Bloody hell! Literally, bloody hell.
Do you have it in you to kill some random person if it meant saving yourself? What lengths would you go to, to survive?
It all begins with an invitation and ends in bloodbath.
You are invited to a lavish wedding at The Venue somewhere overseas, all expenses paid. The only thing you need to bring is your passport.
It is best not to ask questions at The Venue. Discretion is their profession. You will need to surrender your phones or any potential weapons. In return, they will make sure you have the time of your life.
August 2, 2023
This was a mindless, gory, battle royal-esq wedding massacre!
My actual rating is like 3.5 ⭐️ :
There was some cringey dialogue and internal monologues, and something that idk if I would *quite* call a plot hole, but a thing(s) happened that was never addressed in the end that was kinda annoying/jarring.
I was expecting so much more bc Intercepts is one of my favorite books, but I still had fun and read it in like two days. This was all action and no horror, which was fine, just not what I was expecting.
It’s like, all gore, no thoughts, just vibes.
My actual rating is like 3.5 ⭐️ :
There was some cringey dialogue and internal monologues, and something that idk if I would *quite* call a plot hole, but a thing(s) happened that was never addressed in the end that was kinda annoying/jarring.
I was expecting so much more bc Intercepts is one of my favorite books, but I still had fun and read it in like two days. This was all action and no horror, which was fine, just not what I was expecting.
It’s like, all gore, no thoughts, just vibes.
January 19, 2023
What a whirlwind of a book! I really just started to listen the audiobook yesterday and today I'm done! I even could have finished in one sitting if I had managed my time a little better.
The Venue is about Amy, her girlfriend and her parents, who receive an invitation to Amy's former best friend Caleb's high-end wedding reception in the Alps. Attracted mainly by the null expense Euro-trip, the clueless guests arrive at the venue, but it's a trap! Caleb and his bride Lilith are mad and angry at everybody who has ever done them wrong in the past and on their special day they want to do something about it. And they are having massive amounts of fun while doing something about it.
I really wanted to read something super fast-paced which would require minimum mental effort and this was the perfect book for that. Yes it is very very far-fetched, there are lots of plot holes and the characters as flat as can be but that's what I wanted. And I got it. Bonus points for the bridal couple which was as off the charts as can be.
The Venue is about Amy, her girlfriend and her parents, who receive an invitation to Amy's former best friend Caleb's high-end wedding reception in the Alps. Attracted mainly by the null expense Euro-trip, the clueless guests arrive at the venue, but it's a trap! Caleb and his bride Lilith are mad and angry at everybody who has ever done them wrong in the past and on their special day they want to do something about it. And they are having massive amounts of fun while doing something about it.
I really wanted to read something super fast-paced which would require minimum mental effort and this was the perfect book for that. Yes it is very very far-fetched, there are lots of plot holes and the characters as flat as can be but that's what I wanted. And I got it. Bonus points for the bridal couple which was as off the charts as can be.
July 5, 2020
The Venue, a horror book, was a solid 4 stars. Without giving away too much, The Venue centers around Caleb and Lilith’s wedding-a big event where their guests are flown to a remote location to enjoy the luxurious accommodations at The Venue-for free!
Right away, things seem very “off” to the invited guests-the having to give up their cell phones upon arrival, forced to wear monitoring bracelets and what’s up with the room full of weapon decor?! Things are only beginning for these “soon to traumatized” guests.
The Venue was a quick and fun read. It’s the type of book that you read quickly because you must see what’s going to happen next or who is going to survive. Highly recommend to fans of horror/ dark books. Be warned though-it’s a gory read.
Right away, things seem very “off” to the invited guests-the having to give up their cell phones upon arrival, forced to wear monitoring bracelets and what’s up with the room full of weapon decor?! Things are only beginning for these “soon to traumatized” guests.
The Venue was a quick and fun read. It’s the type of book that you read quickly because you must see what’s going to happen next or who is going to survive. Highly recommend to fans of horror/ dark books. Be warned though-it’s a gory read.
February 25, 2023
I love a good survival story! This was fun, campy, over-the-top, ridiculous, eat-the-rich horror with dynamic characters and heart. It was perfectly frustrating, funny, anxiety-inducing, and thrilling. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
October 16, 2024
4.75 stars!!!! This was BLOODY good!! It was fun, very entertaining and effing Bloody!!! It’s crazy and very unhinged. So damn good!!
March 14, 2023
This was exactly what I wanted, unhinged chaos. That was one wedding to die for 🤪
June 6, 2020
Audio 3.75 Stars
Story 3 Stars
If you like The Purge movies, you'll most likely enjoy this book. Not much depth or character development, but a lot of bloody action.
Story 3 Stars
If you like The Purge movies, you'll most likely enjoy this book. Not much depth or character development, but a lot of bloody action.
July 11, 2020
Wickedly entertaining. Battle Royale at a wedding.
June 3, 2022
whoa... I hadn't expected all that.
Well-written but I swear I read some pages with a hand over my eyes. Don't ask how I managed it. Intense and twisted once the carnage started.
Well-written but I swear I read some pages with a hand over my eyes. Don't ask how I managed it. Intense and twisted once the carnage started.
November 11, 2020
Had not expected so much from this book; in many ways, it reminded me of the movie "Ready or Not." I really enjoyed the book, well written, funny in places, horrific in places, but the ending was deliciously satisfying in a revengeful way. Did not mark this as a book I would recommend because it would not be for everyone. Recommended by a member of the Horror Aficionados Group when it was on sale for 99-cents on Amazon.
October 30, 2024
Wild!
Story 4.6/5
Narration 5/5
I had a great time listening to The Venue by T.J. Payne. I found this action-packed story well-written.
I knew this wedding was going to be bloody, and I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t give it five stars because I would have liked a bit more characters development. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fast-paced, violent, and humorous story.
Story 4.6/5
Narration 5/5
I had a great time listening to The Venue by T.J. Payne. I found this action-packed story well-written.
I knew this wedding was going to be bloody, and I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t give it five stars because I would have liked a bit more characters development. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fast-paced, violent, and humorous story.
August 24, 2025
Rabid dogs or a hungry bear would have been gentler, more civilized, in their killings. This was a fury he had never seen and could hardly believe existed in nature.
This was an okay read. Quick, fun, humorous, bloody, gory, and depraved. The concept was almost satirical in nature, but I didn't mind it. The characters were all pretty much insufferable. No one stood out to me, and I didn't connect with any of them.
The carnage was good enough for me. It kept me entertained, as well as the absolutely unhinged behavior of the bride. I neither loved it nor hated it. I think this is a book that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Read if you enjoy senseless violence and carnage. That's pretty much it.
This was an okay read. Quick, fun, humorous, bloody, gory, and depraved. The concept was almost satirical in nature, but I didn't mind it. The characters were all pretty much insufferable. No one stood out to me, and I didn't connect with any of them.
The carnage was good enough for me. It kept me entertained, as well as the absolutely unhinged behavior of the bride. I neither loved it nor hated it. I think this is a book that shouldn't be taken too seriously. Read if you enjoy senseless violence and carnage. That's pretty much it.
April 26, 2021
Giving this 3.75 stars
I was highly entertained during this entire book. The only reason it didn’t get a solid 4 star rating is because of the repetition in the last few chapters.
There were some occasional “cringe” moments that I thought should have been tossed out, but other than that, it was enjoyable.
I was highly entertained during this entire book. The only reason it didn’t get a solid 4 star rating is because of the repetition in the last few chapters.
There were some occasional “cringe” moments that I thought should have been tossed out, but other than that, it was enjoyable.
August 7, 2025
Revenge is a dish best served cold — and what better time to serve it than years later, when all the offenders gather to celebrate a wedding?
Caleb and Lilith invite those who once wronged them to a lavish, all-expenses-paid destination wedding at an exclusive Alpine resort known as The Venue, promising luxury and reconciliation. But once the guests arrive, the celebration quickly spirals into chaos — and takes a deadly turn.
This was a fast-paced, gory action-horror that I couldn’t put down. The premise was wildly entertaining, and the chaos kept me hooked from start to finish. While the character development wasn’t particularly deep, it still worked within the frantic pace and carnage of this twisted survival-meets-love story.
Please enjoy your SLAY. 💀💍
Caleb and Lilith invite those who once wronged them to a lavish, all-expenses-paid destination wedding at an exclusive Alpine resort known as The Venue, promising luxury and reconciliation. But once the guests arrive, the celebration quickly spirals into chaos — and takes a deadly turn.
This was a fast-paced, gory action-horror that I couldn’t put down. The premise was wildly entertaining, and the chaos kept me hooked from start to finish. While the character development wasn’t particularly deep, it still worked within the frantic pace and carnage of this twisted survival-meets-love story.
Please enjoy your SLAY. 💀💍
February 27, 2022
Gosh , what a gory page turner that was!😱
Totally over the top and I really enjoyed it.
Reminded me in parts of Hostage aand Saw films.
Not for the faint hearted.
Totally over the top and I really enjoyed it.
Reminded me in parts of Hostage aand Saw films.
Not for the faint hearted.
August 3, 2025
THE VENUE [2020] By T.J. Payne
My Review 4.0 Stars
"The Venue" (2020) is the second Group Read of the month on Splatterpunk Horror Book club for August 2025. I finished it tonight July 30th, 2025, having read it over three nights.
The premise is what drew me in because it was generally about vengeance but with the addition of interwoven "get even" aspirations. The wedding couple, or instigators, were a bit confusing when I tried to get a precise handle on exactly what they were hoping to gain from the expensive wedding extravaganza with a black hidden agenda.
This was a new-to-me author but naturally I was familiar with “Intercepts”. In my opinion this storyline and its supporting plot did not proffer anything “deep” but rather more of a violent romp for entertainment. Initially I did try to understand exactly what the gorgeous young couple wanted to achieve. It is clear that at the most basic level both wanted retribution of sorts. The fact that the carefully chosen guests did not commit offenses that were deserving of the death penalty hardly mattered.
The writing shined. I really enjoyed his crisp, clear prose. It drives home that if one is wealthy enough no personal goal is out of reach with perhaps the rarest of exceptions. I liked the story line despite my misunderstanding of the goals of the psychopathic bride and her pathetic lackey (but purty!) hubby. Best of all the ending was very pleasing despite the personal losses of the victor. No spoilers. I do believe most readers would enjoy this ambitious “romp and circumstance”.
The wedding guests were middle to upper middle class for the most part, and it was interesting to see their wide-eyed shock at what the uber wealthy enjoy every day. I do not mean this in any negative way. I would experience shock and awe myself. So, to recap, liked it! Read it you will likely enjoy it.
A COUPLE PLAN TO HAVE “MURDER AND MAYHEM” ON THE MENU FOR THEIR WEDDING CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION
My Review 4.0 Stars
"The Venue" (2020) is the second Group Read of the month on Splatterpunk Horror Book club for August 2025. I finished it tonight July 30th, 2025, having read it over three nights.
The premise is what drew me in because it was generally about vengeance but with the addition of interwoven "get even" aspirations. The wedding couple, or instigators, were a bit confusing when I tried to get a precise handle on exactly what they were hoping to gain from the expensive wedding extravaganza with a black hidden agenda.
This was a new-to-me author but naturally I was familiar with “Intercepts”. In my opinion this storyline and its supporting plot did not proffer anything “deep” but rather more of a violent romp for entertainment. Initially I did try to understand exactly what the gorgeous young couple wanted to achieve. It is clear that at the most basic level both wanted retribution of sorts. The fact that the carefully chosen guests did not commit offenses that were deserving of the death penalty hardly mattered.
The writing shined. I really enjoyed his crisp, clear prose. It drives home that if one is wealthy enough no personal goal is out of reach with perhaps the rarest of exceptions. I liked the story line despite my misunderstanding of the goals of the psychopathic bride and her pathetic lackey (but purty!) hubby. Best of all the ending was very pleasing despite the personal losses of the victor. No spoilers. I do believe most readers would enjoy this ambitious “romp and circumstance”.
The wedding guests were middle to upper middle class for the most part, and it was interesting to see their wide-eyed shock at what the uber wealthy enjoy every day. I do not mean this in any negative way. I would experience shock and awe myself. So, to recap, liked it! Read it you will likely enjoy it.
A COUPLE PLAN TO HAVE “MURDER AND MAYHEM” ON THE MENU FOR THEIR WEDDING CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION
May 2, 2020
This was like a Tarantino movie. Soooo much violence. I could literally see the gore in my mind's eye. But I liked the idea of hiring a company to stage a masacre. I would honestly pay to see a bunch of people get killed/tortured (rapists, animal killers, and child molesters. Mmm probably my abusive ex, too).
On the one hand, I wanted Caleb to get away scott-free (because I want to see a sequel). But I guess I'll just have to hope that the author makes a sequel with a whole new set of characters. Maybe in a castle?
On the one hand, I wanted Caleb to get away scott-free (because I want to see a sequel). But I guess I'll just have to hope that the author makes a sequel with a whole new set of characters. Maybe in a castle?
February 26, 2025
Entertaining Bloodbath Wedding
Wasn’t a huge fan of the author’s previous novel Intercepts but saw potential. Fortunately The Venue gripped me immediately and was a fun and exciting horror novel about the wedding reception from hell. It’s not perfect, and I had some quibbles here and there, but stayed up late and powered through this fast-paced and bloody matrimonial tale. Gory fun, plenty of action, and just a little bit of romance.
Wasn’t a huge fan of the author’s previous novel Intercepts but saw potential. Fortunately The Venue gripped me immediately and was a fun and exciting horror novel about the wedding reception from hell. It’s not perfect, and I had some quibbles here and there, but stayed up late and powered through this fast-paced and bloody matrimonial tale. Gory fun, plenty of action, and just a little bit of romance.
October 30, 2024
When you think you’re attending a glamorous, all expenses paid wedding in Europe… but it turns out the bride and groom just want to get revenge on people…
“Rabid dogs or a hungry bear would have been gentler, more civilized, in their killings. This was a fury he had never seen and could hardly believe existed in nature.”
Yup, I definitely enjoyed this violent story! I do wish there had been bit more info on the organization behind The Venue, it remains intriguing and ominously mysterious even at the end of the book.
“Rabid dogs or a hungry bear would have been gentler, more civilized, in their killings. This was a fury he had never seen and could hardly believe existed in nature.”
Yup, I definitely enjoyed this violent story! I do wish there had been bit more info on the organization behind The Venue, it remains intriguing and ominously mysterious even at the end of the book.
November 12, 2023
The hospitality industry stops for no one.
Luxury takes no vacations.
It would be another busy day.
Luxury takes no vacations.
It would be another busy day.
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