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Kill Factor
Lemarcus escapes a mental ward to rescue his daughter from her psychotic mother, and another patient flees with him to assist. When he meets the other man’s beautiful, serial-killer sister, Lemarcus realizes the madness has only begun.
Fans of dark, transgressive fiction are sure to enjoy this strange novella.
Fans of dark, transgressive fiction are sure to enjoy this strange novella.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2023
6 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 30, 2023
This is a tense short novel, I enjoyed the storyline, and the characters were incredibly written with clever dialogue.
Overall, a very well constructed story, the ending was left open for a sequel I felt.
I recommend to readers of extreme horror.
It took me so long to read it because I've been so busy working six days a week! 🙄👎🏼
Overall, a very well constructed story, the ending was left open for a sequel I felt.
I recommend to readers of extreme horror.
It took me so long to read it because I've been so busy working six days a week! 🙄👎🏼
July 15, 2025
I really struggled with this story. I am a fan of ugly, violent gorefests. Like my bloodlust is at a really concerning level, so I love stories where that precious red fluid is all over the place. Now with splatterpunk and other more graphic and extreme stories, they can be so much fun, eliciting many different reactions from the reader. Like a strange art form, of sorts. However, sometimes authors get so wrapped up in trying to make a story so extreme and bloody, that everything else suffers. And that's what I got here. Almost no character development, a convoluted plot with a very mediocre conclusion, and a story that just left me searching for a purpose. It wasn't even the premise or characters that were a problem, but the way everything unfolded. I feel like if the book kept to Britney's ambitions (No spoilers) and the relationship between Austin/Lamarcus during and after their escape from the mental ward, merging the three midway, it would have been much better. Nothing having to do with cults or rituals or any of the unnecessary add-ons that were just pig-piled at the very end of this book. The story would've flowed much better and had more time to work with the more interesting plot points, helping them flourish. Not a terrible book, but, unfortunately, very flawed all around.
June 13, 2023
I’m a big fan of Brian’s writing style. Fast-paced, brutal, extremely visceral. KILL FACTOR is no exception. From front to back this is jammed packed with action, drugs, murder and sex. A killing spree and black magic wrapped into a story of a deviant family and those unfortunate enough to cross paths with them.
Do yourself a favour and go into this one as blind as you can. You’ll hop into a wild ride that will shock you, disgust you and take you on an emotional rollercoaster. When the ride is finally over you’ll be left stunned at what you just experienced but in the best way. Can’t wait to check out more by Bowyer!
Do yourself a favour and go into this one as blind as you can. You’ll hop into a wild ride that will shock you, disgust you and take you on an emotional rollercoaster. When the ride is finally over you’ll be left stunned at what you just experienced but in the best way. Can’t wait to check out more by Bowyer!
May 5, 2023
Hells yeah that was one awesome ride. This was my first time reading Brian Bowyer and it won't be my last. I just dug this whole thing. The story, the characters, the writing, it all just flowed. It was just a fucked up fun ride that pulled me in and just made me want to keep reading just to see what crazy shit was gonna happen next. I hope there is a sequel cuz that would fuckin rule. If you want a kick ass violent story that leaves you wanting more give this a shot. Highly recommend
March 12, 2023
I have no trigger warnings, yet there are a couple of scenes in this book (one in a basement with a pregnant woman, the other in a crack house with an 8 year-old girl) that truly disturbed me. It's been ages since this happened! Credit to Bowyer for writing such depravity. The characters are well crafted, grittty, realistic, three dimensional, though there's no point rooting for them (this is a Bowyer novella, after all - no simple heroes to cheapen the plot.) The narrative is typically fast paced and quite relentless, as we follow two guys escaping from a psych ward, and, bit by bit, trying to set some things right. The story bounds from one slaughterhouse to the next, as one of the guys has a sister who's a serial killer, as well as a whole family of such (though I'm not sure this is the right term for these people: there's magic involved, sacrifices are made, fetuses are eaten) - until 'Kill Factor' culminates in a rather subdued, though satisfying, finale. (It seems the author rips off his own 'Autumn Gothic' novel, btw.) Recommended!
August 10, 2024
Brian slays again with this engrossing story of psychopaths, black magic, alcoholism, innocence, grief, and friendship.
I just adore his writing. It's to the point, engaging as hell, and you just keep reading till the books are done.
The Winfields are organized crime family with a ton of money. When Austin, the head of the family's son, breaks out of a psych ward with Lemacrus, a patient, an alcohol fueled trip of murder leads them back to the mansion Austin grew up in. Austin's sister, a remoresless psychopath has her own story traveling around meeting and killing the kind people who cross her path. When Lemacrus reunites with his daughter and all of them end up at the mansion, it's a recipe for a blood-soaked ending.
It's a violent AF book that grabs you from the first chapter. Amazing 👏
I just adore his writing. It's to the point, engaging as hell, and you just keep reading till the books are done.
The Winfields are organized crime family with a ton of money. When Austin, the head of the family's son, breaks out of a psych ward with Lemacrus, a patient, an alcohol fueled trip of murder leads them back to the mansion Austin grew up in. Austin's sister, a remoresless psychopath has her own story traveling around meeting and killing the kind people who cross her path. When Lemacrus reunites with his daughter and all of them end up at the mansion, it's a recipe for a blood-soaked ending.
It's a violent AF book that grabs you from the first chapter. Amazing 👏
February 16, 2024
From six feet away, he watched her raise the gun from his chest to his face. “You’re wrong,” she said. “There is another side. That’s why I do what I do. I want to be a goddess in the afterlife.”
It was the last word he heard.
⚠️Extreme Horror
This one starts off a bloody mess, madness and mayhem. A blood and alcohol drenched, whisky-fueled fever dream of rage, anger, torment, murder and depravity.
🩸🩸🩸
E-📖
It was the last word he heard.
⚠️Extreme Horror
This one starts off a bloody mess, madness and mayhem. A blood and alcohol drenched, whisky-fueled fever dream of rage, anger, torment, murder and depravity.
🩸🩸🩸
E-📖
March 22, 2024
There is something cathartic about reading Brian's books. I can turn off all my pre-conceived notions of rules and good vs. bad and just immerse myself in mayhem.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you've read any of his other novels, you already know that. I enjoyed this one.
This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you've read any of his other novels, you already know that. I enjoyed this one.
March 14, 2024
Happy reprint day to this darkly funny fast read! The Koontz book mentioned is now on my TBR. Looking forward to the other five Bowyer books I bought!
March 13, 2023
This book was fantastic!
Kill Factor is a no-nonsense and fast-paced slaughter-fest.
If you need a gritty, dark and crazy horror book to read... look no further.
I will be reading a lot more of this author's work.
Trigger warnings are aplenty, including a scene of sexual abuse involving a minor...
Kill Factor is a no-nonsense and fast-paced slaughter-fest.
If you need a gritty, dark and crazy horror book to read... look no further.
I will be reading a lot more of this author's work.
Trigger warnings are aplenty, including a scene of sexual abuse involving a minor...
May 17, 2023
Gotta say, this is not my usual type of horror read, but I watched the author tell a harrowing story on YouTube called This Is What Happened To Tish (view it here), and I thought, Damn! I gotta read this guy!
I ordered up a couple of books, but this is my first blush with Bowyer's writing.
And man, I gotta tell you, this is a seriously dark, depraved ride. Like I said, not my usual type of read, but I've read all of Jack Ketchum's stuff, and Bowyer—at least with this novella—plays very much in Ketchum's sandbox.
If you're looking for characters to love, look elsewhere. You won't find them here. At best, you have one sixteen year old boy who's not quite as broken as the rest of the characters.
If you're looking for morally gray characters, look elsewhere. There's really not a gray character here. Everyone's soul is a blackened husk. Every life is held in disdain, and every death occurs with barely a blink of an eye.
Do I have questions? Sure I do! The opening scene hits the gas, and Bowyer rarely touches the brakes for the next 137 pages. It's pedal to the metal writing, and Bowyer's holding you by the throat through most of it so you can't get off the ride. And I wonder how half the deaths in this book can happen with virtually no consequence.
But honestly, this isn't the book to sit and reflect as you read the pages slowly, savouring each one. No, this is a blood and alcohol drenched, whisky-fueled fever dream of rage and anger and torment and murder and depravity. Yes...so much depravity.
I have one complaint. I would have loved to have seen some of the smaller bits teased in the text blown out into bigger scenes. Britney's little trinkets that she brings home to the family, as one example.
But if you like your horror sharp as a blade and fast as a bullet and full of depravity...yes, so much depravity...then feed this to your eyeballs.
Before Britney takes them home to mother.
I ordered up a couple of books, but this is my first blush with Bowyer's writing.
And man, I gotta tell you, this is a seriously dark, depraved ride. Like I said, not my usual type of read, but I've read all of Jack Ketchum's stuff, and Bowyer—at least with this novella—plays very much in Ketchum's sandbox.
If you're looking for characters to love, look elsewhere. You won't find them here. At best, you have one sixteen year old boy who's not quite as broken as the rest of the characters.
If you're looking for morally gray characters, look elsewhere. There's really not a gray character here. Everyone's soul is a blackened husk. Every life is held in disdain, and every death occurs with barely a blink of an eye.
Do I have questions? Sure I do! The opening scene hits the gas, and Bowyer rarely touches the brakes for the next 137 pages. It's pedal to the metal writing, and Bowyer's holding you by the throat through most of it so you can't get off the ride. And I wonder how half the deaths in this book can happen with virtually no consequence.
But honestly, this isn't the book to sit and reflect as you read the pages slowly, savouring each one. No, this is a blood and alcohol drenched, whisky-fueled fever dream of rage and anger and torment and murder and depravity. Yes...so much depravity.
I have one complaint. I would have loved to have seen some of the smaller bits teased in the text blown out into bigger scenes. Britney's little trinkets that she brings home to the family, as one example.
But if you like your horror sharp as a blade and fast as a bullet and full of depravity...yes, so much depravity...then feed this to your eyeballs.
Before Britney takes them home to mother.
November 4, 2023
My first Brian Bowyer book and really enjoyed it. Loved the matter of fact blunt style of writing and mean humour. Great characters, lots of fun, and Britany was amazing.
April 14, 2025
Just read this from Brian Bowyer, and unsure if I’m the first to dub him this but to me he is the Elmore Leonard of horror! His prose is lean and mean, with sharp, punchy dialogue that would play so well on an audio adap or cinema screen.
There’s not an ounce of flab in Kill Factor. Bowyer gets straight to the action and doesn’t let the momentum falter once. The main bulk of the book is an utterly demented road story full of twists and turns so harsh they’ll give you whiplash, and seedy, sadistic, insane characters to rival the worst of Rob Zombie’s rogues.
Highly recommended for hardcore horror fans, but definitely not for the squeamish. I loved every blood spattered page!
There’s not an ounce of flab in Kill Factor. Bowyer gets straight to the action and doesn’t let the momentum falter once. The main bulk of the book is an utterly demented road story full of twists and turns so harsh they’ll give you whiplash, and seedy, sadistic, insane characters to rival the worst of Rob Zombie’s rogues.
Highly recommended for hardcore horror fans, but definitely not for the squeamish. I loved every blood spattered page!
March 8, 2023
Get it now from Amazon or read on Kindle Unlimited!
April 27, 2024
A bloody alcohol doused brain explosion.
Bowyer did it again. He won't stop. He'll continue to take his readers on one wild ride after another.
For me, this story was as much about Britney as is was about Lemarcus. Britney is young, at time seems like she could want more than the the blood bath rampage she seems addicted to. Lemarcus seems like a bad guy, but, his true gold colors are revealed as his main quest is to save his daughter.
The story is wild. The plot takes off the rails twists and turns, shocking the reader. The characters are insane yet addictive, and the reader will find themselves hoping for the best for them despite their outrageous behavior.
I love Bowyer's voice. Love it. I will continue to devour his works. There is something completely centering about diving into an crazy world and losing yourself in a story, especially when the author's voice is so uniquely his own.
Bowyer did it again. He won't stop. He'll continue to take his readers on one wild ride after another.
For me, this story was as much about Britney as is was about Lemarcus. Britney is young, at time seems like she could want more than the the blood bath rampage she seems addicted to. Lemarcus seems like a bad guy, but, his true gold colors are revealed as his main quest is to save his daughter.
The story is wild. The plot takes off the rails twists and turns, shocking the reader. The characters are insane yet addictive, and the reader will find themselves hoping for the best for them despite their outrageous behavior.
I love Bowyer's voice. Love it. I will continue to devour his works. There is something completely centering about diving into an crazy world and losing yourself in a story, especially when the author's voice is so uniquely his own.
June 19, 2024
Bowyer's story is a wild ride from start to finish. The first chapter had me hooked and each subsequent chapter kept upping the ante! Almost everyone in the story is a psychopath but in varying degrees of brutality. Still... you root for the main character as he drinks and murders. Bowyer perfectly blends Splatterpunk and dark humor with many nods to horror's greats (King, Koontz, etc). If gratuitous violence doesn't bother you... pick this up.
January 24, 2024
Bower is one of my favourite authors, and he manages to weave drug and booze filled nightmares of extreme violence and gore, all set to a heavy metal guitar solo soundtrack in my mind as I read.
Kill Factor does not disappoint in that regard either. Its a wild ride.
Lemarcus wants to save his daughter from her psychotic mother, but to do so he has to escape. Another inmate, Austin facilitates this and they are off on a blood soaked adventure.
Many memorable but not always long-lived characters come and go, but when Lemarcus meets Britney, Austin’s sister, the chaos ensues.
Transgressive, raw and gritty, you will have a hard time putting this one down.
Kill Factor does not disappoint in that regard either. Its a wild ride.
Lemarcus wants to save his daughter from her psychotic mother, but to do so he has to escape. Another inmate, Austin facilitates this and they are off on a blood soaked adventure.
Many memorable but not always long-lived characters come and go, but when Lemarcus meets Britney, Austin’s sister, the chaos ensues.
Transgressive, raw and gritty, you will have a hard time putting this one down.
March 17, 2023
Lean, mean, extreme! Yesssss - the violence starts with the second sentence! I love everything about Brian Bowyer's transgressive writings about the intersecting of flawed characters, often addicts and/or sociopaths, making bad decisions and/or doing bad things, often in our home state of West Virginia. This book adds King, Koontz, black magic, science, and my favorite catch phrase from Autumn Gothic to the mix. Another 5 stars from me!
January 2, 2025
Well, well, wellll.....one of my final reads for 2024 ended up being a revelation.
This book literally had more kills in 138 pages than pretty much every single book I read all year in 2024 and yet...
I couldn't stop myself from laughing on almost every single page. What an amazing novella and what an amazing introduction to Mr. Bowyer, whom I will definitely be reading more of in 2025!
When Lemarcus makes a break for it from a mental institution with Austin, the bodies start piling up immediately. All Lemarcus wants is to rescue his daughter from his drug addled ex-wife, who is now holing up with some extremely unsavory and criminal elements.
But what about Austin's family? His extremely wealthy and mob-adjacent family runs the small town they live in and Austin offers Lemarcus and his daughter the opportunity to lay low until things clear out for the both of them. But at what cost?
Anyhoo, this is a RIDE. I sped through this, page after page; with unmitigated glee.
I can't wait to read more of his books.
This book literally had more kills in 138 pages than pretty much every single book I read all year in 2024 and yet...
I couldn't stop myself from laughing on almost every single page. What an amazing novella and what an amazing introduction to Mr. Bowyer, whom I will definitely be reading more of in 2025!
When Lemarcus makes a break for it from a mental institution with Austin, the bodies start piling up immediately. All Lemarcus wants is to rescue his daughter from his drug addled ex-wife, who is now holing up with some extremely unsavory and criminal elements.
But what about Austin's family? His extremely wealthy and mob-adjacent family runs the small town they live in and Austin offers Lemarcus and his daughter the opportunity to lay low until things clear out for the both of them. But at what cost?
Anyhoo, this is a RIDE. I sped through this, page after page; with unmitigated glee.
I can't wait to read more of his books.
January 17, 2024
this was just such a brutal plot. made me so upset, was good but just too hard and heartbreaking for me to enjoy. i’m sure other people would love this. read the triggers
February 12, 2024
Another fun ride from Bowyer! I always enjoy his stories and this was no different. This had a great mix of interesting characters and some gnarly kill scenes!
March 31, 2024
PHENOMENAL read. This is my second book by Bowyer and I loved it! He has such a creative mind and he truly stands out in this genre with his originality. I can’t wait to read more from him!
April 21, 2024
Solid book. Bowyer consistently writes very entertaining dark horror. This one is not for the faint of heart.
May 11, 2023
I don't know why, but I always burst out laughing every time someone gets taken out in a Brian Bowyer story. It just comes out of nowhere. I should know by now that rarely does anyone ever stand a flipping chance. Anyway, this was again, a brutally, tightly-written gem, packed to the absolute hilt in the extreme side of horror. Ramp up the Natural Born Killers vibe and you're kind of close. But only kind of.
Madness and mayhem with too many triggers to list.
Typical Bowyer.
Five stars.
Madness and mayhem with too many triggers to list.
Typical Bowyer.
Five stars.
November 10, 2023
I always have a good time with Brian’s stories. They may be sporadic but I love it. I find Brian’s writing to be simplistic and not at all confusing. His storylines and moving characters always leave me feeling excited and never bored. His characters always make me laugh in the way they carry themselves, and I never find his stories overly predictable, they usually leave me floored!
Check him out
Check him out
August 16, 2023
Just finished Kill Factor by Brian Bowyer that was another super edgy wild ride! My third book I've read by him and they just grab you by the throat and pull you right in! I loved it!!
March 24, 2025
Fast paced, action packed and extremely violent. Check TW.
July 20, 2023
the man is depraved.
December 28, 2024
Brian Bowyer’s Kill Factor is a no-holds-barred ride through chaos, survival, and raw human instincts. From the first page, this book grips you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Bowyer masterfully blends brutal action with deeply flawed, complex characters, making for a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is intense.
🚨 Spoilers Ahead! 🚨
The story opens with a shocking psych ward escape led by two unforgettable characters: Lemarcus and Austin. Both are running from their pasts—and the law—but find themselves drawn into a violent, unpredictable world. Bowyer’s knack for creating deeply human yet monstrous characters shines as these two form an unlikely partnership.
From the vivid descriptions of a blood-soaked psych ward to the grim realities of addiction and survival, the book’s atmosphere is gripping. The pacing is relentless, the dialogue crackles with tension, and every twist hits like a sucker punch.
Lemarcus’s desperate attempt to save Austin after a heroin overdose is raw, emotional, and unforgettable—a moment that showcases the bond between the two and the lengths they’ll go to for survival.
“Reality has some sharp edges. That’s why I drink.”
This book is not for the faint of heart—its graphic violence and dark themes may be too much for some. But for readers who crave high-stakes thrillers with unapologetic grit, Kill Factor is a must-read.
📖 Grab this book and prepare for one hell of a ride.
#KillFactor #BrianBowyer #ThrillerReads #AdrenalineFiction #DarkStories #HorrorThriller
🚨 Spoilers Ahead! 🚨
The story opens with a shocking psych ward escape led by two unforgettable characters: Lemarcus and Austin. Both are running from their pasts—and the law—but find themselves drawn into a violent, unpredictable world. Bowyer’s knack for creating deeply human yet monstrous characters shines as these two form an unlikely partnership.
From the vivid descriptions of a blood-soaked psych ward to the grim realities of addiction and survival, the book’s atmosphere is gripping. The pacing is relentless, the dialogue crackles with tension, and every twist hits like a sucker punch.
Lemarcus’s desperate attempt to save Austin after a heroin overdose is raw, emotional, and unforgettable—a moment that showcases the bond between the two and the lengths they’ll go to for survival.
“Reality has some sharp edges. That’s why I drink.”
This book is not for the faint of heart—its graphic violence and dark themes may be too much for some. But for readers who crave high-stakes thrillers with unapologetic grit, Kill Factor is a must-read.
📖 Grab this book and prepare for one hell of a ride.
#KillFactor #BrianBowyer #ThrillerReads #AdrenalineFiction #DarkStories #HorrorThriller
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2023
First of all, I love extreme horror and splatter punk, along with the whole genre of horror as a whole. However, this book had virtually no pacing. It felt like there was no buildup to any of the violence that happened. Also the book is marketed as a story about a man wanting to get revenge on his ex-wife in order to get his daughter back, yet there was a weird satanic cult undertone? Also, sexual violence involving children is almost never a good thing let alone when written poorly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews