Rainbow Filth

by Tim Meyer

Rainbow Filth is a weirdo horror novella about a small cult that believes a rare psychedelic substance can physically transport them to another universe.

Genres: Horror, Novella, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fiction, Short Stories, Drugs

104 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2023

About the author

Tim Meyer dwells in a dark cave near the Jersey Shore. He's an author, husband, father, podcast host, blogger, coffee connoisseur, beer enthusiast, and explorer of worlds. He writes horror, mysteries, science fiction, and thrillers, although he prefers to blur genres and let the story fall where it may.

You can follow Tim at https://timmeyerwrites.com

OR like his Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/authortimmeyer

Reviews

[Hunter Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take a trip to the anti-Oz and come back a very different person. Once again, Tim Meyer spins a spellbinding tale that you can't put down. If you're into high strangeness with a dash of the cosmic, Rainbow Filth just might be your new drug.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

RAINBOW FILTH is author Tin Meyer's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This is an unconventional trippy crime thriller of the epistolary Lovecraftian variety. Yes, I meant to string all those discordant words together.

The story is told in alternating transcrips of police interrogation recordings and first-person narrative. The style gives the book a unique flavor and adds to the page turning suspense. As the tale unfolds, the story becomes weirder and weirder mutating from police procedural to bananas ass cosmic horror.

Lick that Rainbow Filth. Become addicted to it.
Get lost in its worlds. It's the only way to truly see.

[Angyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun psychedelic book that makes for a great one-sitting type of read.

We are introduced to our main character, Adam, as he is speaking with a detective about an incident that has occurred, leaving a group of people missing and Adam as the primary suspect- being that he was found covered in blood. As he answers the detectives' questions, the true story starts to unfold and we learn of a rare psychedelic drug which causes users to *literally* travel to another dimension.

I wish we got a bit more from the story tbh. There is a lot up for interpretation and you don't get a lot of answers in the end. But, if that is something you can overlook in exchange for a wild, gory horror story, then I think you could really enjoy this!

[Stay Fetters · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A determined woman cannot be messed with, impeded upon, or derailed."

Are you ready to taste the rainbow?

I thought I was ready and I wasn’t. What a trippy and wild ride!

I have to change my rating because I'm still thinking about this book!

[Chanel Chapters]

You don’t want to know what’s at the end of the rainbow 🌈

3.5⭐️

[Just Another Final Girl Review (Brittany) Levely-Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

" It's funny to think about the chain of events, how things unfold, reflect on specific moments where you could have done things slightly differently. If you'd done A instead of B, how would things have played out?

Impossible to know for sure, but the thought is always there, haunting me like a spirit stuck in some earthly purgatory."

If someone ever asks you if you want an out of this world, eyopening experience. A reality altering trip, and ask if you have ever tried ‘Rainbow Filth’ im warning you to walk away, go and find a copy to read of Tim Meyer’s book Rainbow Filth and never go find that person who offered you that experience again.

"Anyway. You asked for the story, I'm going to give you the whole story. I want you to understand everything.

Maybe it will help."

Starts with transcript of interrogation Adam by police as he is currently the only suspect in the death of Professor Hauser and he won’t confess to a crime he hasn’t committed but sometimes the truth is not enough to save you.

He has already told his story apparently once but not been believed by officer and forced to retell

Being blamed for the crime but claims he is innocent Found covered in blood and his professor Hauser is missing

Genre:

Horror

Crime

Romance

Mystery

Subgenre:

Weird

Splatterpunk

Themes:

Truth

Story

Believing/to believe

Love/

Drugs

Secrets

Knowing/needing to know/ knowledge

Wacko/insane/mentally unstable

Character driven narrative

Protag:

Adam

PoV multiple

Story told from 3rd person

And 1st person from Adam

[Lenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaah I was genuinely enamored by this book; it masterfully achieved a seamless blend of brevity and the captivating complexities of its narrative, all within the constraints of its limited pages.
The central thread of the story revolves around a detective's interview with Adam, through which he intricately recounts the sequence of events. This approach gripped my attention, making it nearly impossible to put down as I was eager to uncover the subsequent developments.
The infusion of cosmic horror elements into the storyline was an unparalleled touch, lending an extraordinary dimension to the tale. It was remarkable how the author's evocative prose had the power to paint vivid mental imagery, effortlessly bringing every scene to life.
While the conclusion aligned perfectly with my preferences, what truly elevated the experience were the subtle yet deliberate suggestions the author interwove, hinting at concealed layers of intrigue lying just beneath the surface.
My only qualm revolves around the wish that the final segment of the story had been slightly more extensive, given its impressive nature and the desire to delve further into its depths. Nevertheless, this remains yet another triumph for Meyer. Without a doubt, I intend to persist in selecting his works for my reading list.

Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with an arc!

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does this book cover make your mouth water? It does mine, this was a rather strange and fun descent into absolute gory madness, I loved the lovecraftian elements and the prose was fantastically vivid, I enjoyed the format and thought the pacing was great, my only complaint was it was over too soon! Thankyou ghoulish books for the copy!

[Shrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trippy little novella!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book other than a bizarre trip - which Meyer absolutely delivers on. While the story is told in the context of a detective interviewing a suspect, it feels more like a campfire story to me. I imagine Rainbow Filth would make one heck of an audiobook or podcast feature. There doesn't seem to be any deep commentary and I didn't find the content especially disturbing. Just a fun and very interesting read.

Thank you for the opportunity to check this book out for free! I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Ferry Visser · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Rainbow filth' by Tim Meyer is terrifyingly good. It is an exciting story about college students, drugs and other worlds. It is also proof to me that this talented young author is experiencing tremendous growth and for me feels that one day he will be mentioned in the same breath as H. P. Lovecraft, Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe
For starters, the structure of “Rainbow Filth” provides an excellent tension buildup. The story is interspersed with a transcript of an interrogation. In this dialogue, information is appropriately presented throughout that makes the reader curious for more.
In addition, Meyer deserves credit for his use of ambiguity. There are some points in the story that may not be literally clear, but leave enough room for figurative interpretation. An example of this is Walter Bogie. There is a contradiction in his development when read verbatim. Overwhelmingly this is not the case, then this character a lurid embodiment of the subject matter, which Meyer brilliantly describes with terrifying lyrical precision. That gives this great novella literary depth.


And the world-building of this amazing novella is brilliant! Realistic and imaginative come together convincingly and consistently. I enjoyed the rainbow world because it is an original counterpart to the realistic world. And there is also room for darkness despite the sweetness and beautiful colors of this world, which makes for a blissful dynamic!
Furthermore, the world building is reminiscent of Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy (1). Meyer shows how the world is experienced by his characters. On the other hand, he also shows the underlying reality, which is hidden behind a veil. Page 71 states the following:

‘I’ve seen what happens when reality’s veil is lowered and what awaits us on the other side.’

In my experience, there is a connection between Schopenhauer's work and this masterful novella by Tim Meyer. There are several tangents between “Rainbow filth” and the ideas of the German philosopher. To the question of whether a comparison between the writer and the philosopher is dissertation-worthy, I answer resoundingly, YES!
Tim Meyer also develops, to my mind, a metaphysics of his own. In “The Sea the Stars” (2022), some clues can be found between the lines and in the visual descriptions. In this lurid upcoming classic, it literally says:

‘Our minds are limited to just this one world, the reality that has been built up all around us. Certain additives to our chemical makeup can change that, alter your perception of reality and take you to these other dimensions, you see, the worlds exist inside us.’ (p71)

If the development of this subject matter continues, then this talented author will stand between names like H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe.
And so to my mind, “Rainbow filth” by Tim Meyer is evidence of the development of a big name in the horror genre. The development of a metaphysical theme of his own and common ground with the work of Arthur Schopenhauer, combined with a colorful grim fantasy make Tim Meyer, for me, an author who belongs between Lovecraft, King and Poe.

1 Schopenhauer, A. (1997) De Wereld als Wil en Voorstelling. Amsterdam: Wereldbibliotheek

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow Filth is like any other Tim Meyer novel I've experienced - gory, fun, and horrific!

Rainbow Filth is told uniquely through transcripts of detective's interview of a prime suspect in a disappearance case. Our main suspect is being questioned in relation to the an entire group of people going missing. What follows during that interview gives an in-depth approach to other worlds and terrifying entities.

I really enjoyed this story from start to finish. This 104 page novella honestly flies by as you race to discover exactly what might have happened to this group of "explorers." Rainbow Filth is the newest psychedelic that the world should never experience. Some things weren't meant for the human mind.

I could go on and on about this because I really did love it, but instead you should absolutely get this book from Ghoulish Books and Tim Meyer ASAP!!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

“His head had been wrenched free from the shoulders, the flesh of his neck torn to rags, the cervical vertebrae that stuck out mangled and snapped most uncleanly, the jagged bone looking like broken, chipped teeth in a mouth full of blood.”

I do enjoy this author’s works most of the time, and loved the idea of this short story when I first heard about it.

My issue was that it was fairly slow going for such a low page count, and when it finally picked up steam it was basically over. The reader is left with questions and no answers.

Everyone has their own opinions though, so grab this story if you enjoy psychedelic exploration, cosmic horrors, and monsters from other planes of existence!

Thank you to the author & BookSirens for a copy.

[Diana | Indie Book Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this is told through a series of police interviews where Adam is suspected of murdering his girlfriend and a few others. The problem is there are no bodies. As Adam takes the detective further into the story, things just get stranger. The detective writes Adam off as a druggie and has a hard time believing anything he says.

I enjoyed the interview style of this book. It’s like the reader is sitting in on this and learning the details right along with the detective. It’s bizarre and so trippy but it absolutely grabs you. It all flows well but with all the buildup I had hoped there would have been more to the ending.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Antonio Jose Márquez (Pesadillas Recurrentes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,2/5 ✨

"Liz... she could still be out there, I guess, where the Rainbow ends."

(Review in English below text in Spanish)

Toma estos polvitos. Por aquí hay un atajo. Si quieres puedes. Si no lo has aprendido no es culpa tuya es porque no te lo han enseñado bien... Ataque tras ataque publicitario sobre cómo saltarse etapas del aprendizaje y la progresión en la vida. Pero esta vez el ofrecimiento parece que es real. Esta vez el ofrecimiento concuerda con la recompensa Puede que pruebe esta vez...

Dice el filósofo que uno nunca puede bañarse en un río dos veces, pero los protagonistas de este libro convierten este axioma en la búsqueda de una quimera con un resultado sorprendente.

Novela divertida y dinámica de las que se leen en una sentada no sólo por la extensión si no por el ritmo al que transcurre y lo adictivo de lo que nos cuenta. Narrada con un esquema muy concreto con capítulos cortos que comienzan con el diálogo entre el Detective MacDonald y Adam, un joven acusado de la desaparición de su novia y sus amigos, para a continuación ir dando paso a la narración de Adam.

Una investigación policial, una extraña secta, drogas psicodélicas... y un final espectacular en el que el autor gira hacia el terror cósmico y nos deja un final que seguro provoca diferentes interpretaciones entre cada lector ¿os parece una receta lo bastante atrayente?

¿Os apetecería su lectura?

Recibí una copia de revisión avanzada de forma gratuita y escribo esta reseña voluntariamente.

(In English below)



*****************************REVIEW IN ENGLISH***********************************

Take these powders. There is a shortcut here. If you want you can. If you haven't learned it, it's not your fault, it's because you haven't been taught it well... Attack after advertising attack on how to skip stages of learning and progression in life. But this time the offer seems to be real. This time the offer matches the reward. Maybe I'll try this time...

The philosopher says that you can never bathe in a river twice, but the protagonists of this book turn this axiom into the search for a chimera with a surprising result.

A fun and dynamic novella that can be read in one sitting not only because of the length but also because of the pace at which it passes and the addictive nature of what it tells us. Told with a very specific outline with short chapters that begin with the dialogue between Detective MacDonald and Adam, a young man accused of the disappearance of his girlfriend and her friends, and then give way to Adam's narration.

A police investigation, a strange cult, psychedelic drugs... and a spectacular ending in which the author turns towards cosmic terror and leaves us with an ending that will surely provoke different interpretations among each reader. Does this seem like an attractive enough recipe to you?

Would you like to read it?

I recieved an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[FantasyBookNerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Telling the story through a series of police interviews, Rainbow Filth tells the story of Adam, who stands accused of murdering his girlfriend and the group of academics that she is involved with.

Throughout the interviews, Adam recounts how he meets his girlfriend and the group she is involved with. How they experiment with psychedelics and how ultimately they become involved with a new psychedelic drug that can open the doors of the mind to higher planes of consciousness.

Mixing Huxley's The Doors of Perception with Russell's Altered States, Rainbow Filth is an effective little cosmic horror novel.

Throughout the book, the story begins quite innocuously with Adam meeting his girlfriend, becoming involved with her dodgy professor, who through his research has been searching for the drug, Rainbow Filth, which according to his long lost friend can open doors to higher planes of existence.

As more and more is revealed throughout the story, we obviously learn more about the events that lead up to the shocking conclusion.

On the whole, the medium of telling the story with Adam recounting the events is an effective method of telling the story. Obviously, it is something that is quite common as a trope, but Meyer uses it with good effect.

On the whole I generally enjoyed Rainbow Filth, but I was a little disappointed with the ending. I think one of the reasons I thought affected the ending was that there were a number of things mentioned throughout the book that didn't seem to go anywhere, and I was hoping that these things would be expanded on. I just felt that there could have been a different ending that I think could have been more satisfying.

However, I really enjoyed Tim Meyer's writing and will definitely be checking out more of his work.

(I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.)

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this, and I was not at all disappointed. If Tim Meyer's intention were to channel Lovecraft and come up with a story he'd have written had he been born in the 1990s, well, with 'Rainbow Filth' he nailed it! This is a terrific novella of cosmic horror, made to order for contemporary sensibilities, suspenseful, well-paced, blending first-person pov narration with police interview transcripts.

It's primarily told from the point of view of Adam, the character in the story who, having no clue what's actually going on, gets involved in a cult-like group of students. This group of students, led by a rather unethical professor, enjoy taking psychoactive substances and having experiences of all sorts with hallucinogens. Adam falls in love with Liz, a quite determined young woman belonging to this group, and slowly realizes that there's much more going on behind these trips (pun intended!). So he decides to get to the bottom of this, when his girlfriend gives him the cold shoulder after she comes back from a trip to Cambodia, where a rare psychedelic substance has been found.

When I finished the book, I felt I should remove one star because of the ending: I felt something very major went missing. But then I read again the last part of the story and realized that, indeed, something was left unsaid, but it had been hidden between the lines, so to speak. So this is a solid 5-star from me!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow Filth by Tim Meyer is a short horror novella involving drugs, college, relationships and their influence on Adam’s life. This is Adam’s account of what happened to his girlfriend, Professor Lewis Hauser and other followers told to Detective MacDonald. “We found you at the scene of the crime, blood all over your clothes.” My only disappointment was that the story was over so quickly. I want more. Thanks to Tim Meyer, Ghoulish Books and Booksirens for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Zakk Madness · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was nice finding my way back into the work of Tim Meyer. And can we give a nod to Ghoulish books who is killing it right now, with the Meyer/ Ghoulish pairing being smooth like butter… like a criminal undercover…

Yeah, I conjured BTS, I must be high. Maybe I’ve sampled a little too much Rainbow Filth. A full spectrum, reality expanding novella that is a romp from start to finish.

Where do we go from here?

Note: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. These are my honest feelings.

Zakk is a big dumb animal,
The Eyes of Madness.

[Karen Oldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told as a series of Police interview transcripts we learn how Adam Godfrey came to be suspected of the murders of Professor Lewis Hauser and his cult like student followers in this cosmic horror story.

Advanced Therapeutic Applications. That's what he called it. Psychedelics to improve the lives of people living with severe anxiety, depression etc. What he was actually trying to accomplish was much, much more sinister than anyone could have imagined.

Reading the story as if I was reading the transcripts of a police interview added a layer of tension that I quite enjoyed. It also allowed the story to feel more grounded in our reality than it may have otherwise. Yet it maintained favorite thing about cosmic horror: If you think you know what's going to happen, think you understand the rules, no, you don't.

I am a slow reader and I ripped through this book in about two hours. It was both easy to read and digest and fully engrossing. To paint such a clear picture in such a short book shows real talent and I will read more of the author's work in the future.

"Don't go looking for them. Whatever you do, don't fucking look for them."

[Kajsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a trip worth the name Trip! The pages flew by at such speed and when I had to take a break from reading my mind couldn’t let the story go. A man is interviewed by a police officer because he is suspected of murdering his professor and friends. The novella takes part both in the interview and the story about what really happened. It’s a story about finding a new kind of psychedelic drug that is way more than what the market can offer today. Maybe too much for the human mind to handle?

There is something about Meyers writing that just flows. It’s resonating with the novella and brings out the psychedelic feel that the students were so desperately looking for. I also like that he brings us back to the present with the dialogue with the detective. You need to feel the real ground under your feet sometimes during the read. I’m not in the need for psychedelic drugs but I would really like to read something else from Tim Meyer because he has talent as a writer.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Summer R Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, BookSiren, for the ARC, and thank you to the writer and publishers for all your hard work. This review is voluntary and happily left!

Strange, weird, and downright trippy is what this book is. Going between police recordings and the actual story, this book certainly keeps you hooked from the start. Reading this book, I honestly had no idea where it was going except it dealt with drugs and people taking them. Not only that, there was death. Continued to read, and things changed drastically. This certainly makes you question what's out there on the other side... you truly shouldn't open doorways to other worlds.

You don't get to actually meet the monster till near the end of the book, and not for very long. This book is mostly built up for the horrors the main character experienced and what all happened.

Im glad I was able to take the time and read this.

[Cat Voleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Rounded up from 4 1/2)

I had one big pet peeve about what was an otherwise perfect book, and that was the ending. I loved the EVENTS of the end, but not the formatting, which was styled differently than the rest of the book. It sucked to leave this immersive little world right after it hit its only sour note, but sometimes that's just how it goes.

In terms of plot, character, style and presentation, RAINBOW FILTH was everything I wanted and more. It was nasty, funny, existentially horrific, and more than a little absurd. It hooked me right away, and I felt like I just flew through this one.

I highly recommend if you're looking for some psychedelic horror that will make you feel grimy.

I received an ARC of this book for free and am leaving the review voluntarily.

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this novella, especially the police interview format intertwined with the first-person narrative of Adam explaining the horrific events. I got a feeling of a mystery story as Adam tries to unravel what happens when his girlfriend goes on a visit to Cambodia with friends and a college professor to discover some new drug, and dug these parts the most. The scenes which Adam recounts taking place on another plane of existence were creepy, but felt a little rushed. But I did really enjoy the descriptions of the otherworldly beings and the dread-induced feeling of the horror to come, mostly due to Meyer's use of the recorded interview format and giving us details of the inaudible transcription. I'd definitely love to read more from Tim Meyer.

[Brian Mcclain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a weird novella among weird novellas. Rainbow Filth is a trip where the characters go on trips of their own. And things are minimal enough that not much explanation is given, but that fits with the story. No one would expect a deep scientific explanation from any of these characters so there isn't one, but there is a lot of feeling and a lot of experiencing and a little bit of unsettling. What is Rainbow Filth? You learn what the characters think Rainbow Filth is, but that doesn't mean much. What it is -- is weird and leads weird people to do weird things.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is told from the point of view of Adam who is found covered in blood and is now the prime suspect in the disappearance and apparent murder of a college professor. Through this POV we learn the story of what happens when you take a trip to the Rainbow Filth.

I don't want to delve too deep into the plot to avoid spoilers but I will say that Rainbow Filth is a highly enjoyable, fast paced, frenetic trip of cosmic horror.

Thank you Book Sirens for the opportunity to take this wild ride.

[Cass (only the darkest reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolute blast.

Told through police interviews, we are following the story of a group of students and their professor who go missing while tripping on a mysterious drug. Adam is the sole survivor, and suspect, and is trying to work out exactly what he saw. The closer he gets to the truth, the more brutal it becomes.

It’s tense, fast-paced, and you could easily crush in one sitting.

I went in fairly blind, and since it’s only 100 pages, I suggest you do the same.

Thank you to Ghoulish Books and Book Sirens for a copy of Rainbow Filth.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam is being interviewed by the police after a group of students, including his girlfriend, and their unorthodox Professor have gone missing. As Adam has been found covered in blood they're fairly certain they have their man. What follows is a Lovecraftian nightmare.

The use of the police interview as a framing device works really well to slowly reveal the chaos behind the story. The cosmic horror only comes into play towards the end of the book, when it turns up, it really turns up

Another superb book from Ghoulish publishing

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Brooklyn Attic Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for letting me read an advanced copy of this novella!

Despite the fact I gave it 3 stars, I did thoroughly enjoy reading Rainbow Filth by Tim Meyer. The reason why I gave it 3 stars is because I felt like I was left with too many questions upon finishing this novella. It felt more like an awesome introduction to a bigger epic story.

Gave me Stranger Things/Hellraiser vibes! *2 thumbs up*

[Kayla Brabant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. My only complaint is that it ended a bit too abruptly for my particular tastes, but that by no means detracts from the story. And if that’s my only complaint, then it was a fine novella indeed. I think this was my first foray into the “weirdo horror” subgenre, and it was a fun trip, albeit not quite what I was expecting. I look forward to reading more of Tim Meyer’s work, and I’ll happily recommend Rainbow Filth to friends.

[ashtray · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ felt so slow for such a short story. the title and cover of the book are FIRE but the story itself was underwhelming for me. i hated the conversations with the detective. boring, took me out of the story, and the dialogue was borderline cringey. i feel like this story was rushed and cut short even for a novella. buddy wouldn’t accept the fact that his gf didn’t cheat. all the dialogue was bad honestly