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Trapped (The Konrath Dark Thriller Collective) Paperback – November 6, 2019
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It was supposed to be a harmless camping trip. Six wayward teenagers who'd run into trouble with the law, and their court-appointed guardians, Sara and Martin Randhurst. Three nights on a small, deserted island off of Michigan's upper peninsula. A time to bond, to learn, to heal.
Then Martin told a campfire story about the island's history. Of the old civil war prison hidden in there, and the starving confederate soldiers who resorted to cannibalism to stay alive. Everyone thought it was funny. They even laughed when Martin pretended to be dragged off into the woods.
But Martin didn't come back. And neither did Sara when she went in search of him.
Then the laughter stopped.
...TO DEATH
The group soon began to realize that this deserted island wasn't so deserted after all. And perhaps Martin's ridiculous story had more truth to it than anyone thought.
What's the most horrifying thing you can imagine?
This is a hundred times worse...
TRAPPED by J.A. Konrath
It starts where other horror ends...
If you are a more sensitive (or adventurous) reader, the Konrath scale rates specific categories from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to give you some idea if this is your kind of book.
TRAPPED by JA Konrath
Scary - 9
Violent - 10
Funny - 2
Sexy - 2
Crossover - Characters also appear in the Jack Daniels and Associates Mysteries
This novel was previous published by JA Konrath under the pen name Jack Kilborn. Joe got rid of Kilborn. May he rest in peace.
- Print length330 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 6, 2019
- Dimensions6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101706117205
- ISBN-13978-1706117209
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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From the Publisher
From J.A. Konrath - FOUR THRILLING SERIES, ONE STORY WORLD
Dark Thriller Collective
Twelve edge-of-your-seat thriller novels featuring police officer Tom Mankowski, molecular biologist Dr. Frank Belgium, and ex-military Fabler as they face psychos, evil scientists, and worse...
This series of complete--but connected--novels also ties in with the Jack Daniels Thrillers and the Codename Chandler series, taking readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
Jack Daniels Suspense
Twenty-two gripping suspense novels, and dozens of short stories, starring Chicago Homicide cop Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels, career criminal Phineas Troutt, private eye Harry McGlade, and too many serial killers to count...
This series of complete--but connected--novels also ties in with the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective and the Codename Chandler series, pulling readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
Codename Chandler Series
Join secret agent Chandler, psychotic spy Hammett, and brilliant recluse Fleming as they fight to save the world--while also fighting each other--in eight jaw-dropping action tales...
This series of complete--but connected--stories also ties in with the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective and the Jack Daniels Thrillers, taking readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
Timecaster Trilogy
Talon Avalon is a future cop who can forecast the past... and he's about to get in a buttload of trouble.
This trilogy of complete--but connected--novels also ties in with the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective and the Jack Daniels Thrillers, pulling readers into a rich, layered world where any character can pop up in anyone's book... and they do.
This Is The Good Stuff You've Been Looking For

WHAT MAKES GREAT HORROR
Checklist For Readers
- Scary
- Can't Put It Down
- Give You Nightmares
- Great Villains
- Freaks You Out
- Heroes To Root For
- Emotional Impact
- Fantastic Ending
Roller Coaster
Strap in tight, because this is going to be one helluva ride...
The Dark Thriller Collective
Thrills, Chills, & Suspense Galore
Do you like your thrillers on the Dark Side?
Do you like a few scares along with your suspense?
Do you like books that make you turn on the light and check to see if the doors are locked?
Do you like really morbid humor?
Welcome to the Dark Thriller Collective...
GRIPPING
You'll grip the book so hard you'll break your own fingers...
Editorial Reviews
Review
"It's the best piece of fiction I've read in several years. It simply NEVER lets up." - James Rollins, author of The Last Odyssey
"Fast and ferocious, this is a dangerous thriller that will take a bite out of you." - Jonathan Maberry, author of V-Wars
"Bring on the sequel!" - BookPage
"A startling novel, from its thrilling onset to horrific closing pages." - Michael Laimo, author of Dead Souls
"Oozes with stylistic violence." - Shots.uk
"A bloody, terrifying, hurtling assault across a landscape of non-stop mayhem. A guilty, guilty pleasure." - F. Paul Wilson, author of The Keep
"An absolutely relentless nightmare. Horror fans will be wiping blood out of their eyes with glee." - Jeff Strand, author of Pressure
"Fans of gross-out horror will love it." - Publishers Weekly
"You'll probably need a shrink when you're done." - Edward Lee, author of The Backwoods
From the Author
For the completists, or those with a bit of obsessive/compulsiveness, or the folks that just like my stuff and want to know how it all connects, I have a lot of recurring characters and intertwined series. If you need to know the best reading order, or how to make sure you haven't missed anything, check out the bibliography page on my website. You can also visit there to see when a new title will be released.
If you're just looking for a quick checklist, here are my main series.
These do not have to be read in any particular order, but I encourage you to read them all.
JACK DANIELS THRILLERS
#1-Whiskey Sour
#2-Bloody Mary
#3-Rusty Nail
#4-Dirty Martini
#5-Shot Of Tequila
#6-Fuzzy Navel
#7-Cherry Bomb
#8-Dead On My Feet
#9-Serial Killers Uncut (with Blake Crouch)
#10-Shaken
#11-Stirred (with Blake Crouch)
#12-Dying Breath
#13-Everybody Dies
#14-Rum Runner
#15-Last Call
#16-White Russian
#17-Shot Girl
#18-Chaser
#19-Old Fashioned
#20-Bite Force
#21-Jack Rose
#22-Witch Brew
Bonus #2.5-Lady 52 (with Jude Hardin)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 1 (Novella Collection)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 2 (Novella Collection)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 3 (Novella Collection)
Jack Daniels Stories Vol. 4 (Novella Collection)
Banana Hammock (Novella Collection)
THE KONRATH DARK THRILLER COLLECTIVE
#1-The List
#2-Origin
#3-Afraid
#4-Trapped
#5-Endurance
#6-Haunted House
#7-Webcam
#8-Disturb
#9-What Happened To Lori
#10-The Nine
#11-Second Coming
#12-Close Your Eyes
Bonus #4.5-Holes in the Ground (with Iain Rob Wright)
Bonus #5.5-Draculas (with Blake Crouch, Jeff Strand, F. Paul Wilson)
Bonus #6.5-Grandma? (with Talon Konrath)
TIMECASTER
#1-Timecaster
#2-Timecaster Supersymmetry
#3-Timecaster Steampunk
CODENAME: CHANDLER (with Ann Voss Peterson)
#1-Flee
#2-Spree
#3-Three
#4-Hit
#5-Exposed
#6-Naughty
#7-Fix (with F. Paul Wilson)
#8-Rescue
#9-Free
STOP A MURDER PUZZLE BOOKS
#1-How: Puzzles 1-12
#2-Where: Puzzles 13-24
#3-Why: Puzzles 25-36
#4-Who: Puzzles 37-48
#5-When: Puzzles 49-60
#6-Answers
Stop A Murder Complete Cases (Book 1-5)
MISCELLANEOUS
65 Proof - Collected Short Stories
The Globs Of Use-A-Lot 3 (With Dan Maderak)
EROTICA
Writing as Melinda DuChamp
MAKE ME BLUSH series
#1-Kinky Secrets Of Mister Kink
#2-Kinky Secrets Of Witches
#3-Kinky Secrets Of Six & Candy
ALICE series
#1-Kinky Secrets Of Alice In Wonderland
#2-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Through The Looking Glass
#3-Kinky Secrets Of Alice At The Hellfire Club
#4-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Vs. Dracula
#5-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Vs. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
#6-Kinky Secrets Of Alice Vs. Frankenstein
#7-Kinky Secrets Of Alice's Christmas Special
#8-Kinky Secrets Of Alice's New Year Ball
JEZEBEL series
#1-Kinky Secrets Of Jezebel And The Beanstalk
#2-Kinky Secrets Of Puss In Boots
#3-Kinky Secrets Of Goldilocks
SEXPERTS series
#1-The Sexperts - Kinky Grades Of Shay
#2-The Sexperts - Kinky Secrets Of The Pearl Necklace
#3-The Sexperts - Kinky Secrets Of The Alien
From the Inside Flap
Q: Did you always want to be a writer?
Joe: No. I wanted to be a model for husky pants. But then, when I was barely a teen, they stopped making husky sizes.
Damn those clothing designers for shattering my dreams.
Q: When did you decide to become a writer?
Joe: I mean, I'm not offended by the term "husky." Now they're called "relaxed fit" jeans. It's the same thing, but there's nothing sexy about being a "relaxed fit jeans" model. Husky sounds like you're owning those extra pounds, making them work for you. Relaxed fit sounds like you eat too much and are just plain lazy.
What was your question again? Ideas? I hunt through James Patterson's garbage, and steal what he tossed. When Patterson throws out ten pages, that's like fifty chapters.
Ha ha ha! Get it? Because his chapters are so short! I swear, the last Patterson book I read had more chapters than page numbers.
Actually, I just watch old Outer Limits episodes and appropriate the plots, like Alan Moore did with Watchmen.
Q: Who do you like to read?
Blake Crouch, Ann Voss Peterson, Jeff Strand, Henry Perez, F. Paul Wilson, Tom Schreck. Pretty much anyone I collaborate with. Because here's a dirty little secret: when you co-write a book with someone, you kind of have to read the stuff they wrote.
My absolute favorite author is Dr. Seuss. In fact, I tried my hand at writing a few Dr. Seuss-style children's books. Here are the titles:
HOW THE GRINCH STOLE MY WIFE
HORTON HATCHES A TERRORIST PLOT
ON BEYOND DONKEY PUNCH
MARVIN K MOONEY WILL YOU PLEASE DROP DEAD
THE CAT IN THE HAT GETS NEUTERED
GREEN EGGS AND E COLI
THIDWICK THE BIG HEARTED COKE DEALER
MR. BROWN CAN MOO, AND THEY PUT HIM AWAY
THERE'S A WOCKET IN MY POCKET, AND I BLAME CIALIS
BOOMER THE TUMOR
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to sell any of these. I think it may be some sort of rights-issue thing.
Q: What's a work day in the life of Joe Konrath like?
Joe: I wake up early and make some eggs.
Then the smoke alarm goes off, because the eggs are burning because I fell asleep again.
Then I spend ten minutes explaining to the firemen that show up how I'll be more careful next time.
I go back to bed, and the next thing I know, it's around noon. Time for lunch. I want to make an egg sandwich, but I'm out of eggs. And bread. And pretty much everything except some sort of fruit that's been in the refrigerator forever and might be a lime. Or not. It may not even be fruit. So I put it back and think about cooking some pasta but that seems like a lot of work for just lunch, so I go take a nap.
Around three I get up, ready to start my work day, but first I need to eat something. Do pizza places deliver at three? I make a few calls. Nope, no one delivers before five.
I check the fridge. The lime thing is still there, but it looks like it moved from where I saw it last. How odd. Did it move by itself? I'm really hungry, so I decide to give it a try.
It's not a lime, because limes don't have bones.
When I finish eating, I sit down at my computer and write my daily quota, thirty pages.
Q: What's next for Joe Konrath?
Joe:This Spring, Carson's will be releasing my signature scent, called Nocturnal Emission. Available in parfum, eau du toilet, cologne, and roll on. I like the roll on. It tickles my armpits. My goal is to make enough money to buy Nebraska. Then I'll rename it Joebraska, and invite all of my friends to visit. We're going to have a big party in the state capital, Joemaha. You can come, if you want.
Q: Do you want to talk at all about your books?
Joe: Nope. Not really.
From the Back Cover
If you want something to do for the next two years and insist on reading every Konrath novel, here are the order the author recommends:
WHISKEY SOUR
BLOODY MARY
THE LIST
RUSTY NAIL
AFRAID
DEAD ON MY FEET
DIRTY MARTINI
FLEE
ORIGIN
SHOT OF TEQUILA
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 1
TRAPPED
FUZZY NAVEL
CHERRY BOMB
SPREE
DRACULAS
DYING BREATH
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 2
HOLES IN THE GROUND
SERIAL KILLERS UNCUT
ENDURANCE
THREE
SHAKEN
STIRRED
EVERYBODY DIES
HAUNTED HOUSE
LADY 52
TIMECASTER
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 3
RUM RUNNER
WEBCAM
GRANDMA?
TIMECASTER SUPERSYMMETRY
LAST CALL
HIT/EXPOSED/NAUGHTY
DISTURB
WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI
WHITE RUSSIAN
JACK DANIELS STORIES VOL. 4
SHOT GIRL
65 PROOF
STOP A MURDER COMPLETE CASES
CHASER
BANANA HAMMOCK
THE NINE
OLD FASHIONED
SECOND COMING
BITE FORCE
CLOSE YOUR EYES
JACK ROSE
TIMECASTER STEAMPUNK
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Independently published (November 6, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 330 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1706117205
- ISBN-13 : 978-1706117209
- Item Weight : 15.5 ounces
- Dimensions : 6 x 0.75 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,717,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #9,981 in Serial Killer Thrillers
- #24,573 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)
- #64,757 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Joe Konrath has written over twenty novels in the Lt. Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels thriller series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but the order is: Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Shot of Tequila, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Dead On My Feet, Serial Killers Uncut (with Blake Crouch), Shaken, Stirred (with Blake Crouch), Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Rum Runner, Last Call, White Russian, Shot Girl, Chaser, Old Fashioned, Bite Force, and Witch Brew. More coming soon.
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
If you like your thrillers on the dark side, check out the Konrath Dark Thriller Collective, which includes the books The List, Origin, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Disturb, What Happened To Lori, The Nine, Second Coming, and Close Your Eyes.
Joe also wrote the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
He also wrote the sci-fi trilogy, Timecaster, Timecaster Supersymmetry, and Timecaster Steampunk. Even if you don't think you like sci-fi, give them a try. They feature Joe's well-known characters from his other series, and are insane.
With Ann Voss Peterson he wrote the Codename: Chandler thrillers, including Flee, Spree, Three, Hit, Exposed, Naughty, Fix (with F. Paul Wilson), Rescue, and Free.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp, also with Ann Voss Peterson. Those books are probably too spicy for you, so only the brave and bold should seek them out.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php
JA Konrath is the author of WHAT HAPPENED TO LORI BOOK 1 and BOOK 2, a gearshift duology meant to take thriller fiction to the next level.
Joe also wrote twelve novels in the Jack Daniels thriller series. They do not have to be read chronologically to be enjoyed, but the order is: Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, Cherry Bomb, Shaken, Stirred, Rum Runner, Last Call, White Russian, and Shot Girl. More coming soon.
Jack Daniels also appears in the novels Dead On My Feet, Dying Breath, Everybody Dies, Shot of Tequila, Flee, Spree, Three, Timecaster Supersymmetry, Banana Hammock, Lady 52, and Serial Killers Uncut. She's also in the novellas Floaters, Burners, Planter's Punch, Babe On Board, Racked, Straight Up, October Dark, Jacked Up!, Beat Down, Cheese Wrestling, Abductions, Watched Too Long, and Babysitting Money, and the collection Jack Daniels Stories.
Wow, that's a lot of Jack.
Other novels include the thrillers Origin, The List, Disturb, Timecaster, Afraid, Trapped, Endurance, Haunted House, Webcam, Grandma?, Holes In The Ground, and Draculas. Other novellas include Fix, Hit, Naughty, Exposed, Rescue, and Wild Night is Calling.
He also writes the Stop A Murder mystery puzzle series, where you become the sleuth and solve brain teasers to try and catch a killer.
And, finally, he writes erotica under the pen name Melinda DuChamp.
Joe writes a lot. You should probably read everything.
You can visit Joe and sign up for his newsletter at www.JAKonrath.com/mailing-list.php
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book exciting with deep plots and good twists, featuring a strong female protagonist and well-developed characters whose thoughts and histories are explored. Moreover, the pacing is fast, and customers consider it a guilty pleasure read, particularly suitable for Halloween. The writing quality and believability receive mixed reviews, with some praising the fantastic writing while others find it poorly written, and some find it unfathomable while others consider it unoriginal. The gore content is also mixed, with some appreciating the tons of gore while others find it disturbing.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book suspenseful and exciting, praising its deep plot and good twists, with one customer noting it's a nerve-wracking tight story.
"...As usual, he mixes frenetic action with super graphic descriptions of gore and fantastic characters...." Read more
"...I for one loved it. It was so intense and disgusting and horrifying and amazing. I watched a lot of horror movies growing up. They were my favorite...." Read more
"...And, if you love the fast paced, yet detailed, and gripping horror. Keep reading Kilborn...." Read more
"...The plot was tight and suspenseful. There were several twists and turns that I didn't see coming but that made sense in hindsight...." Read more
Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, particularly noting the strong female protagonist and the ability to see into their thoughts and histories.
"...frenetic action with super graphic descriptions of gore and fantastic characters...." Read more
"...Konrath can write. No question. He has a large cast of characters, and they were well-drawn...." Read more
"...Throughout the novel, there were some glaring plot holes and character flaws that were hard for me to overlook and kept me bewildered...." Read more
"...First version was much more believable. 2. The Spence character was a big plus in the original version...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a quick read that never slows down.
"...It is pretty quick to get with the action and once it starts it doesn't stop until the end...." Read more
"...And, if you love the fast paced, yet detailed, and gripping horror. Keep reading Kilborn...." Read more
"...This may be while the initial scenes seemed slow to me...." Read more
"...Seriously? Thank goodness for that! But fun! Fast-paced? Absolutely if you like this sort of thing. Which I do...." Read more
Customers find the book highly entertaining, describing it as a guilty pleasure and fun gruesome read, particularly suitable for Halloween.
"...and I fully expect it will finish with all the thrills, chills and scary fun from prior readings...." Read more
"...Seriously? Thank goodness for that! But fun! Fast-paced? Absolutely if you like this sort of thing. Which I do...." Read more
"...Though I found the book easy to read and entertaining (I don't know what that says about me, given how dark and horrific most of it was), much of it..." Read more
"...But it was a good, gory fun with a price I can't complain about...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's detailed and graphic content, with one customer noting how it creates vivid mental images.
"...The details are so well put you can smell the fear off the characters and feel the goosebumps tickle at you while they're running into the..." Read more
"...First version was much more believable. 2. The Spence character was a big plus in the original version...." Read more
"...This book is astonishingly detailed and filled with fully-developed characters...." Read more
"...The visuals are powerful. The pace is unrelenting. The characters are placed into unique and frightening situations...." Read more
Customers have mixed reactions to the book's gore content, with some appreciating the tons of violent scenes while others find it disturbing.
"...Where'd that come from?" What I didn't like was the gratuitous violence. I'm not against violence...." Read more
"...As usual, he mixes frenetic action with super graphic descriptions of gore and fantastic characters...." Read more
"When I first started reading this book, it seemed like a slasher movie in print and it was actually a little boring...." Read more
"...I for one loved it. It was so intense and disgusting and horrifying and amazing. I watched a lot of horror movies growing up. They were my favorite...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some praising the fantastic and well-read prose while others find it poorly written and difficult to read, noting several spelling errors.
"...you can sympathize with some you just want to hate but he's great at writing both and he's equally as good at making the reader like who he wants..." Read more
"...Really well done. You did not seem to hold back on the torture and pain inflicted on these people...." Read more
"...The events following Martin's disappearance are so disturbing, so graphic, and so unfathomable that you will be looking over your shoulder for a..." Read more
"...I can't say enough about how Jack Kilborn's writing is so addictive, I feel like a junky needing to get my next fix...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the believability of the book, with some finding it unfathomable and unoriginal, while others appreciate its uniqueness.
"...Martin's disappearance are so disturbing, so graphic, and so unfathomable that you will be looking over your shoulder for a long time!..." Read more
"...Each had a hook to make him or her memorable and distinctive. I really liked Sara, the heroine...." Read more
"...n't actually seem to be the main evil in the story, so the theme seemed a bit confused to me and the ending not altogether realistic or satisfying,..." Read more
"...Sarah is smart, strong and caring and finds another problem every time she turns around...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2012You could make a good case for it. Afraid was the single most twisted and disturbing book I've ever read...and then I read Trapped. Both versions actually (more on that later though). Trapped is even more brutal than Afraid if you can believe it.
Martin and Sara run a center for troubled children. The center is running out of funding and will soon be closed down so the two decide to take the remaining kids in their care to Rock Island on Lake Huron for one last group gathering. They also try to work on their own problems. But they don't know anything about problems until the group starts disappearing one by one by one.
Trapped is like a scary campfire tale on steroids. Kilborn/Konrath took the boogeymen on the deserted island and hapless campers theme to the extreme with this one. He puts his characters through so much torturous hell that I probably can't even get into it here without Amazon pulling my review ;) But that would spoil the fun! You should really experience the wonderful depravity he puts his characters through for yourself.
As usual, he mixes frenetic action with super graphic descriptions of gore and fantastic characters. Some you can sympathize with some you just want to hate but he's great at writing both and he's equally as good at making the reader like who he wants them to like and hate who he wants them to hate.
In the kindle format there are two versions. The actual published copy comes first then, as a bonus, the original version that the publisher refused to publish! I read them both in short order. He even asks in his afterward to read them both and, if leaving a review, write up the one you liked better. In short, I liked them both although I liked the version that made it to print more. There are a few reasons of that, not the least of which is how the reworked version ties into Afraid more directly than the original which only hints at it. Both cool but I liked the stronger ties better. I also though some of the character's back stories in the released version were done a little bit better. They made more sense, weren't as extreme which I think made for a better read. While the two versions have different endings, they're the same in theme and I liked them equally. The only thing I didn't like about the published version was the addition of a certain character that wasn't in the original one. While I didn't mind it when reading the published version, I think the original version made more sense without the character. I won't spoil anything though.
Anyway, I'm officially a die hard Kilborn/Konrath fan. After reading and loving The List, Afraid and now both versions of Trapped, he's got me hooked!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2014Alright, Trapped. Where do I start with this book? First it definitely is not for everyone. I for one loved it. It was so intense and disgusting and horrifying and amazing. I watched a lot of horror movies growing up. They were my favorite. My favorite villain from a horror movie? Pinhead. He has always been my favorite. Why? He is all about the pain and suffering. You do not want to get in his way as it will be terrible for you. Sure Jason and Freddie and Michael Meyers and all of the others are bad, but Pinhead...Pinhead is just amazing. That is like this book. The way people are killed....boy when reading this book I just though Jack Kilborn was not holding back. But then I get to the end and read that this was a toned down version of the story! His editors didn't like all of the violence so he toned it down. This book that I just read was not as bad as it originally was? Mind blown. The unedited first draft of the original story is included with the ebook, and I will have to read that one day just to see how different it is. I cannot imagine it being crazier than this book, though from reading some of the other reviews it seems like some things work out better story wise in the original draft.
So Trapped. Amazing. Really terrifying the ways that people are tortured in this book. Imagine the worst things you can think of and somehow make them worse. At least that is what this was for me, and it just kept going with new and different ways to get these people. There was a lot of cringing and if it would have been a movie there would have been looking away until it is over. It is a book though so you just have to keep reading. This is the story of a couple, their baby boy (who btw is like the best baby ever and for most of the book never cries or anything), and 6 kids from their youth detention center camping on this island full of crazies. There is a mad doctor testing out procedures on people who come to the island trying to make someone completely evil. He has had a couple of successes, but mostly failures who the failures just live on the wild as feral people. They hunt, kill and eat people. If you are squeamish you probably don't want to read this book. If you don't like violence you don't want to read this book. If you are at all unsure if you want to read this book you probably don't want to. It is pretty quick to get with the action and once it starts it doesn't stop until the end. So if you do start it and it is too much but you think it might get better? It doesn't. The violence is there throughout. They are all hunted and tracked around the island by the feral's, some being captured and tortured by them or the doctor and his successes. Oh Lester, one of the successes. He was amazing in a horrible way. His pet, his teeth, just him in general. You don't want to get in his way. And subject 33...wow. Just wow. Really they make the characters wish they were dead, but apparently prior people were kept alive for up to weeks at a time being tortured the entire time. That is what you are getting into with this book. Absolutely amazing.
So you have all of these people who end up split into different groups or by themselves. Sara, the adult lady in charge, did get on my nerves at some points. She is so 'must save everyone even if they are raving psychopaths and trying to kill me I don't really want to kill them'. It was just like dude! Do you want to get out of this? It is literally kill or be killed. Your choice, but if you don't want to live you might want to kill yourself. It will be better for you. She wants to save all of "her kids" and it just was annoying. I was yelling at her a lot, like if you die because you are stupid you won't be able to save anyone!! She was bad especially in the end scenes when she is trying to save everyone. It is like dude, they are messed up now, leave them. Seriously you need to get over your everyone can be saved thing. Everyone can't. I don't even know how you expect to get someone who is evil and actively trying to kill you back to somewhere where you think you might be able to get them help. That just makes no sense. At all. She was annoying, but it just added to the story.
I was loving the book, then we get towards the end and it almost got to be too much, too far, but the author was able to hold on and make everything work out. I will admit I did read the ending to the original story since the note at the end said they were different. I did prefer that ending, the original one, but the one you got was fine as well. Really well done. You did not seem to hold back on the torture and pain inflicted on these people. I don't see that often and it was just once horrific scene after another. Great, great read if you like that kind of thing. Definitely a terrifying, gruesome story. This was the first story by this author that I have read, but it definitely won't be the last.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Top reviews from other countries
- MeReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2011
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
What I like about this author is that whilst his stories are extremely far-fetched, he captivates you with his writing, and you can actually believe you're right there with the characters. I liked the style of this book. Rather than tell the story of each character before any action happens, he breaks up the action with a little background of each one. That sometimes came as a much needed breather from the violence and gore.
I really found myself cringing at a lot of parts here, and I got so immersed. Almost every scene was left with a cliff-hanger before cutting to another character's situation, and I really wanted to know what was going to happen.
Great escapism, and a great read! I haven't read the original version yet, I'll read something else before I do that so as not to get too familiar with it.
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HobbitReviewed in Germany on July 25, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Brutal, ultrabrutal...Kilborn!!!
Dieses Buch sprengt Grenzen in etlichen Belangen. Wer sich durch die rsten 20-30 Seiten nicht abschrecken läßt, die einen schon vermuten lassen, man habe es mit einer Standard-Teenie-Slasher-Geschichte zu tun, der wird mit einem extrem harten und gleichzeitig qualitativ und spannungsmäßig weit über dem Durchschnitt liegenden Leseabenteuer belohnt.
Ein Buch vor dessen Verfilmung man sich jetzt bereits fürchten sollte!
- Brittany NoftleReviewed in Canada on March 1, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Great horror novel!
This novel is one of the more grotesque horror novels I've read, and in some spots suspension of disbelief is necessary. What separates this from being a total "torture porn" novel is likable characters to root for and overall being very well-written. If you're looking for something gorey and people being terrorized (but not being totally helpless), this is for you.
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S.E.Reviewed in Germany on June 28, 2013
5.0 out of 5 stars Horror Pur
Dieses Buch verursacht Gänsehaut pur! Definitiv nichts für schwache Nerven! Schlaflose Nächte inklusive ( aber nur, weil man das Buch nicht aus der Hand legen kann). Absolut fesselnd!
- Sue K.Reviewed in Canada on May 4, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely riveting
This is a very scary, disturbing story! It is not a subject matter that will appeal to everyone but I loved it. After reading several of the books in this series, J.A.Konrath is definitely one of my new favorite authors. I look forward to the next book.