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The Rotting
The police arrived, expecting little more than a domestic dispute. After all, petty crime was no stranger to Windsor Tower, the home of the Warrington’s desolate and destitute. But nothing could have prepared the responding officers for what they found… for the bloodshed that awaited them. A massacre; one which was slowly threatening to grow. News of the slaughter within Windsor Tower became national news, spreading like a plague, soon reaching Jennifer Davies, drawing her back to the home she had fled, the home of her childhood. She had her reasons for leaving, for abandoning her brother in search of a life free of her father’s rule. But it was her father, missing in the massacre's wake, that brought her back. Together with a stranger, Mike, a man somehow connected to the events, she will set out in search of clues, following the grisly carnage of Windsor Tower to the seedy underbelly of the town, uncovering a growing terror threatening far more than the town’s downtrodden. For there is something spreading and nothing can stop… THE ROTTING
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2022
31 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 10, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
Zombpoc and zombpoc adjacent stories are my thing so I've read a ton of them and the symptoms manifested by the people affected in this one are pretty close to that of some of the infected people in another book I'm currently re-reading so the unique factor didn't quite land. I can appreciate what Murphy was going for with this story but sometimes in trying to make the characters gritty and grimy it went into caricature territory that didn't quite fit the vibe of the rest of the story and it made it hard to take the whole thing seriously.
That being said I really enjoyed Mike's story arc which was just the right amount of gross and bleak.
Zombpoc and zombpoc adjacent stories are my thing so I've read a ton of them and the symptoms manifested by the people affected in this one are pretty close to that of some of the infected people in another book I'm currently re-reading so the unique factor didn't quite land. I can appreciate what Murphy was going for with this story but sometimes in trying to make the characters gritty and grimy it went into caricature territory that didn't quite fit the vibe of the rest of the story and it made it hard to take the whole thing seriously.
That being said I really enjoyed Mike's story arc which was just the right amount of gross and bleak.
May 14, 2025
This is Josh's debut novel, and what a novel it was. For a debut, this was really well written, great characters, good storyline, good continuity, and planty of blood and pus!!
Everyone knows the story of Windsor Tower, and everyone knows to avoid it….
The story kicks off with a brilliantly blood soaked opening chapter and builds that momentum steadily until the even more blood soaked ending!
Mike has just been dumped by his girlfriend, which leads to a drunken night out and him losing his job. He also discovers a rash which is making him feel strangely different….
Jennifer returns to the town she grew up in, but hasn't visited for almost a decade, in search of her abusive father. She enlists the help of her brother, and together they head to Windsor Tower…
One Eyed Pete is a homeless guy, well known in the area. Can he help the siblings find their father….?
We end up on a very bloody and gross journey in and around Warrington, in between the dreaded Tower and the lesser known Labyrinth, the underground tunnels where the homeless seek shelter and safety and so much more……
Full of action, blood, pus, massacres, cult worship, horror, cringiness, body parts, and rot!! Some of Josh's descriptions are so vivid, you can smell the rot as you read this, and several times I had to hold back on the vomit! 🤢 One description in particular really got to me, "wet, warm, chicken skin!" (you'll have to read it….😉) There was also a really good jump scare in there, just over halfway through, I do love a jump scare in a book, I think it takes a certain skill!! The culmination of this story was high adrenaline, fluid filled carnage! This was a really gross, entertaining trip. And the epilogue leaves it open nicely for a possible sequel?!
There's nothing more satisfying than scratching an itch, that feeling of relief, of satisfaction, that's exactly how I feel after reading this!
Everyone knows the story of Windsor Tower, and everyone knows to avoid it….
The story kicks off with a brilliantly blood soaked opening chapter and builds that momentum steadily until the even more blood soaked ending!
Mike has just been dumped by his girlfriend, which leads to a drunken night out and him losing his job. He also discovers a rash which is making him feel strangely different….
Jennifer returns to the town she grew up in, but hasn't visited for almost a decade, in search of her abusive father. She enlists the help of her brother, and together they head to Windsor Tower…
One Eyed Pete is a homeless guy, well known in the area. Can he help the siblings find their father….?
We end up on a very bloody and gross journey in and around Warrington, in between the dreaded Tower and the lesser known Labyrinth, the underground tunnels where the homeless seek shelter and safety and so much more……
Full of action, blood, pus, massacres, cult worship, horror, cringiness, body parts, and rot!! Some of Josh's descriptions are so vivid, you can smell the rot as you read this, and several times I had to hold back on the vomit! 🤢 One description in particular really got to me, "wet, warm, chicken skin!" (you'll have to read it….😉) There was also a really good jump scare in there, just over halfway through, I do love a jump scare in a book, I think it takes a certain skill!! The culmination of this story was high adrenaline, fluid filled carnage! This was a really gross, entertaining trip. And the epilogue leaves it open nicely for a possible sequel?!
There's nothing more satisfying than scratching an itch, that feeling of relief, of satisfaction, that's exactly how I feel after reading this!
July 28, 2022
Something rotten this way comes...
What is causing the tenants of Windsor Towers to become ill and violent? This was a fun read that checked all the horror boxes for me. It was a great story about addiction, abuse, and so much more. It was creepy at parts and doled out the gore in spades. I really liked the female protagonist as well. She was a tough, no nonsense character. I will definitely keep this author on my radar.
What is causing the tenants of Windsor Towers to become ill and violent? This was a fun read that checked all the horror boxes for me. It was a great story about addiction, abuse, and so much more. It was creepy at parts and doled out the gore in spades. I really liked the female protagonist as well. She was a tough, no nonsense character. I will definitely keep this author on my radar.
August 16, 2022
some fresh air in and oft stale genre
A pleasant surprise in the “infection” genre. A good, tight well-written read, with characters you get to know and hope they make it. Some nice twists and turns to keep it interesting. About as much as can be said without giving anything away. Highly recommend.
A pleasant surprise in the “infection” genre. A good, tight well-written read, with characters you get to know and hope they make it. Some nice twists and turns to keep it interesting. About as much as can be said without giving anything away. Highly recommend.
May 1, 2025
This was so gruesome and disgusting. It was the best horror I have read in a while. Reminded me of oldschool splatterpunk. I highly recommend it , if you are brave enough and have a strong stomach.
October 29, 2025
Body horror-thriller that will make your skin itch.
Some interesting characters and a real depth of the underlying narrative, the seeping goo takes the centre stage.
Some interesting characters and a real depth of the underlying narrative, the seeping goo takes the centre stage.
September 1, 2022
I liked this one, really really liked it. It's horrific, it's gripping and will keep you entertained for a few hours. Its obvious the author has talent, although this doesn't seem quite refined yet (completely normal for a debut) as there are a few typos (not enough to annoy!) And some characterisation and plot instances that would have benefitted from a more show-don't-tell approach and being interwoven throughout the book a bit more. Overall though it's fun, it's gory and I absolutely cannot wait to see what else the author has to offer.
August 6, 2022
I did not want to put this down. The main characters are so believable and relatable and the way the story flows from one chapter to the next had me turning pages quicker than I have done for a long time.
The lead protagonist is a headstrong female who is on a mission to solve just what is happening to the apartment block and town that she grew up in - and the affect it is having on the family members she left behind.
There's a grounded realism to the locations and the characters which gives you a healthy feeling of uneasiness when turning each page, as if you're living through this nightmare alongside them. A lot of the novel feels like a crime and a horror entwined and there were moments and specific lines that gave me chills - whether out of fear, disgust or emotion.
You really couldn't ask for anything more from an author in their debut novel. I can't wait to read whatever they have in store next!
The lead protagonist is a headstrong female who is on a mission to solve just what is happening to the apartment block and town that she grew up in - and the affect it is having on the family members she left behind.
There's a grounded realism to the locations and the characters which gives you a healthy feeling of uneasiness when turning each page, as if you're living through this nightmare alongside them. A lot of the novel feels like a crime and a horror entwined and there were moments and specific lines that gave me chills - whether out of fear, disgust or emotion.
You really couldn't ask for anything more from an author in their debut novel. I can't wait to read whatever they have in store next!
October 9, 2022
'The rotting has begun, dear girl, and we’re all going to take part.’
Wow, what a fantastic debut novel! The writing was great, even beautiful at times, particularly the death speech by ole' Mortimer. I really enjoyed the whole scene of the old mortuary and Mort to be honest. The characters were well written and Jennifer was a strong female lead, which I love. I only wish we had more backstory for Jennifer and George and what they endured from their father growing up. It seems like there's room for a sequel, and I hope there is because I need to see Keira get the karma she deserves. Could use a little extra editing for typos and small missing words, but it's not enough to take away from the story. This author has a lot of potential and I can't wait to seeing what else he's working on!
Wow, what a fantastic debut novel! The writing was great, even beautiful at times, particularly the death speech by ole' Mortimer. I really enjoyed the whole scene of the old mortuary and Mort to be honest. The characters were well written and Jennifer was a strong female lead, which I love. I only wish we had more backstory for Jennifer and George and what they endured from their father growing up. It seems like there's room for a sequel, and I hope there is because I need to see Keira get the karma she deserves. Could use a little extra editing for typos and small missing words, but it's not enough to take away from the story. This author has a lot of potential and I can't wait to seeing what else he's working on!
September 13, 2022
Good old fashioned gross out fun
There's an extremely small subgenre of horror cinema known as "melt" and I feel like Murphy's "the rotting" would fit in well if it ever finds itself as a feature film. Basically, something bad happens, people turn to mushy puddles, and it gets weirder and grosser from there. Murphy ups the ante on all those by utilizing an often forgotten horror trope in the modern era, that of the slaughter hungry hobo, and if you toss in a little Indy Jones and the temple of doom vibes you've got a pretty good handle on the rotting overall. I enjoyed it a bunch even if the first third or drags juuust a tiny bit. Well done, looking forward to more.
There's an extremely small subgenre of horror cinema known as "melt" and I feel like Murphy's "the rotting" would fit in well if it ever finds itself as a feature film. Basically, something bad happens, people turn to mushy puddles, and it gets weirder and grosser from there. Murphy ups the ante on all those by utilizing an often forgotten horror trope in the modern era, that of the slaughter hungry hobo, and if you toss in a little Indy Jones and the temple of doom vibes you've got a pretty good handle on the rotting overall. I enjoyed it a bunch even if the first third or drags juuust a tiny bit. Well done, looking forward to more.
December 31, 2022
For a self-published book, this was quite good. There are typos and grammar mistakes, but the story sucks you in enough that it’s easy to move on from them. The story is very well-written, the pacing is good, and the characters are developed. I really liked it.
The only problem I had was twice a female character pees after s€x. The way it’s written it’s clear the author doesn’t know that the urethra and the vaginal canal are not the same place. We do not pee from the same place we have s€x. I really liked this book, and I would love it if the author fixed this. If an author is going to write about any anatomy, they need to educate themselves on it.
The only problem I had was twice a female character pees after s€x. The way it’s written it’s clear the author doesn’t know that the urethra and the vaginal canal are not the same place. We do not pee from the same place we have s€x. I really liked this book, and I would love it if the author fixed this. If an author is going to write about any anatomy, they need to educate themselves on it.
June 9, 2024
Remarkable!!!!!🤗you
Remarkable is the first word to describe this book!!! The characters were so incredible and the right fit for the tantalising story!!🤗🤗🤗🤗 This story opens one's mind on how an apopalistic ending of the world could come!!!!🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
I would recommend this book to you and all my friends!!!!!!😉😉😉😉
The 5 Star ratting was well deserved!!!!!😃😃😃😃😃
Remarkable is the first word to describe this book!!! The characters were so incredible and the right fit for the tantalising story!!🤗🤗🤗🤗 This story opens one's mind on how an apopalistic ending of the world could come!!!!🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
I would recommend this book to you and all my friends!!!!!!😉😉😉😉
The 5 Star ratting was well deserved!!!!!😃😃😃😃😃
May 29, 2023
The author paints a grim picture of life in a northern town that many will recognise, I certainly do, and scratched through the surface to reveal the horror beneath. An excellent debut, well worth a read.
January 20, 2024
This is the authors first novel. Pretty dang good. Reminiscent of 80's horror, I enjoyed it. One warning to readers, it is definitely body horror with some grossness that entails. If you have a sensitive constitution this may not be the book for you.
July 30, 2022
Great book !
Really enjoyed it ! Great right through to the end ! Characters were real , alive and believable! The story was creepy , scary , and intense !
Really enjoyed it ! Great right through to the end ! Characters were real , alive and believable! The story was creepy , scary , and intense !
November 16, 2022
3.5 the concept was great with some brilliance showing through in the writing. The overall flow felt a little force hence my 3.5
August 22, 2022
Now that I have read this book and been scrubbed and fumigated, it's time to review. This is one disgusting, gross book of horror. The main character is a strong woman, perhaps a bit on the reckless side, but she has a mission to find her father and isn't put off by the horrific things around her. Those on the lowest rung in society are the first to succumb to the rotting, unfortunate for them. This touches on childhood abuse, drugs and just nastiness. The descriptions of the diseased are grotesque, and satisfying for a warped person that likes that kind of stuff (horror fans :) . I think the door is open for a second book, and I would read it if there was one. Well done.
June 19, 2024
Excellent debut novel, plenty of gore scenes to keep horror fans satisfied with a decent storyline, plus plenty of character development, will look forward to seeing from more this author. 🔪
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews