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The Peeling #1
Jeremy's Choice
TODAY THE WORLD GOT SICK...
The Peeling is a series of Novellas set in a world ravaged by a deadly plague. Each book follows the individual story of one of the survivors of this horrible new existence.
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BOOK 1: Jeremy's Choice
Being a security guard at a news station meant Jeremy found out about the peeling before anybody else. But that didn't prevent the deadly, unknown virus from infecting his wife. After years of neglect, unfaithfulness, and lies, is it finally time for Jeremy to do right by the woman he loves? Or is it too late?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Published author, Iain Rob Wright, was born in 1984 and lives in Redditch, a small town in the West Midlands, UK, with his loopy cocker spaniels, Daisy and Oscar, his fat old cat, Jess, his many tropical fish, and the love of his life, Sally. Writing is the passion that fills his life during the small periods of time when he isn't cleaning up after his pets.
Horror is his beloved genre, and his many inspirations range from Stephen King and Richard Laymon to J A Konrath and Brian Keene, as well as a whole host of other twisted minds.
Check out his official website for freebies, news, and updates
The Peeling is a series of Novellas set in a world ravaged by a deadly plague. Each book follows the individual story of one of the survivors of this horrible new existence.
---------------------------------------
BOOK 1: Jeremy's Choice
Being a security guard at a news station meant Jeremy found out about the peeling before anybody else. But that didn't prevent the deadly, unknown virus from infecting his wife. After years of neglect, unfaithfulness, and lies, is it finally time for Jeremy to do right by the woman he loves? Or is it too late?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Published author, Iain Rob Wright, was born in 1984 and lives in Redditch, a small town in the West Midlands, UK, with his loopy cocker spaniels, Daisy and Oscar, his fat old cat, Jess, his many tropical fish, and the love of his life, Sally. Writing is the passion that fills his life during the small periods of time when he isn't cleaning up after his pets.
Horror is his beloved genre, and his many inspirations range from Stephen King and Richard Laymon to J A Konrath and Brian Keene, as well as a whole host of other twisted minds.
Check out his official website for freebies, news, and updates
37 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2012
23 people are currently reading
508 people want to read
About the author
Iain Rob Wright
168 books1,828 followersOne of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the writer of more than forty books, many of them bestsellers. A previous Kindle All-Star and a mainstay in the horror charts, he is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
September 7, 2016
-Otro camino hacia el apocalipsis de la raza humana.-
Género. Novela corta.
Lo que nos cuenta. Jeremy, de 52 años y que muestra los primeros coletazos de la artritis, trabaja como guarda de seguridad en una pequeña cadena de noticias británica que emite 24/7. Hoy tiene más trabajo del habitual porque mucha gente busca respuesta en los periodistas cuando el gobierno no las da, y es que la plaga vírica conocida como “the peeling” (por su síntoma más evidente) está avanzando muy deprisa con terribles resultados. Primer volumen de la serie The Peeling, al que se añade el relato breve del diario de un infectado.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela corta.
Lo que nos cuenta. Jeremy, de 52 años y que muestra los primeros coletazos de la artritis, trabaja como guarda de seguridad en una pequeña cadena de noticias británica que emite 24/7. Hoy tiene más trabajo del habitual porque mucha gente busca respuesta en los periodistas cuando el gobierno no las da, y es que la plaga vírica conocida como “the peeling” (por su síntoma más evidente) está avanzando muy deprisa con terribles resultados. Primer volumen de la serie The Peeling, al que se añade el relato breve del diario de un infectado.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
May 10, 2019
Good for a quick read. I got the ebook and there were a LOT of typos!
March 26, 2013
I picked this up as a quick read, and I wasn't disappointed.
The Peeling is a new take on apocalypse fiction, with zombie books filling every corner of the Kindle store at the moment. IRW (sorry, it's a lot to write) does a great job with this short taster of a story. With the nature of "the peeling" the writer could easily go overboard with blood guts and gore, but hasn't, remaining restrained in the detail and leaving just enough to the imagination to make the illness a horrifying one.
"Jeremy's Choice", as you'd imagine, focuses on one character's story, and there are a quite a few other stories promised as part of this. The story was well-written and well-edited. It was easy for me as a UK reader to appreciate the locale, and it was refreshing to read some apocalypse fiction not set in the US.
I did a bit of a face-gurn at the source of the plague, but still, can't win em all and this was well written enough for me to still give it the full 5*
The Peeling is a new take on apocalypse fiction, with zombie books filling every corner of the Kindle store at the moment. IRW (sorry, it's a lot to write) does a great job with this short taster of a story. With the nature of "the peeling" the writer could easily go overboard with blood guts and gore, but hasn't, remaining restrained in the detail and leaving just enough to the imagination to make the illness a horrifying one.
"Jeremy's Choice", as you'd imagine, focuses on one character's story, and there are a quite a few other stories promised as part of this. The story was well-written and well-edited. It was easy for me as a UK reader to appreciate the locale, and it was refreshing to read some apocalypse fiction not set in the US.
I did a bit of a face-gurn at the source of the plague, but still, can't win em all and this was well written enough for me to still give it the full 5*
September 4, 2013
My first Iain Rob Wright story, and I liked it. As others have remarked, the Peeling is a pretty gross-out way to die, and pretty darn painful to boot.
I enjoyed the even shorter 2nd story in this novella. No spoilers on who the narrator is.
The series at this point is not about zombies. The people that get infected die a slow painful death, but they do not come back to life.
Reading this short story has gotten me interested in other titles by Wright, of which I have several on my Kindle. Within the next couple of weeks besides reading the 2nd Peeling short story
.
I will also try
I enjoyed the even shorter 2nd story in this novella. No spoilers on who the narrator is.
The series at this point is not about zombies. The people that get infected die a slow painful death, but they do not come back to life.
Reading this short story has gotten me interested in other titles by Wright, of which I have several on my Kindle. Within the next couple of weeks besides reading the 2nd Peeling short story
.I will also try
September 4, 2017
This book is quite disgusting in how The Peeling affects people. Although it was so horrific at times it was kinda funny the way the author writes it. I know for sure if I had seen in this in a movie I probably wouldn’t be able to watch it. I’m way to squeamish for what was described in the book.
It was competently written, but there were a two areas where the sentences just didn’t make sense. It didn’t appear to be a British vs. American thing far as I could tell. It wasn’t a matter of a word that I didn’t know, but the whole structure of the sentence. But two sentences in 30 pages isn’t bad. Probably better than I could do.
This book unfortunately appears to have DRM on Amazon, but it is available DRM free on Kobo and Smashwords. The weird thing is on Amazon the Omnibus version doesn’t have DRM either. So either Amazon didn’t properly label it, or they accidentally checked something wrong when creating the book.
It was competently written, but there were a two areas where the sentences just didn’t make sense. It didn’t appear to be a British vs. American thing far as I could tell. It wasn’t a matter of a word that I didn’t know, but the whole structure of the sentence. But two sentences in 30 pages isn’t bad. Probably better than I could do.
This book unfortunately appears to have DRM on Amazon, but it is available DRM free on Kobo and Smashwords. The weird thing is on Amazon the Omnibus version doesn’t have DRM either. So either Amazon didn’t properly label it, or they accidentally checked something wrong when creating the book.
August 21, 2020
Delightfully gorey
I love the Peeling stories and they always leave me wanting more. I imagine it in the manner of World War Z (the book, not the movie); individual experiences that collectively show the best and worst of humanity and what we become when faced with worldwide devastation.
I love the Peeling stories and they always leave me wanting more. I imagine it in the manner of World War Z (the book, not the movie); individual experiences that collectively show the best and worst of humanity and what we become when faced with worldwide devastation.
May 29, 2017
Fabulous as always.
Iain is one of my favourite authors, his books always take me to another world and I love his style of writing. This book is up there with the rest, I was hooked instantly.
Going to get book 2 of The Peeling now. Excited!! 😀
Iain is one of my favourite authors, his books always take me to another world and I love his style of writing. This book is up there with the rest, I was hooked instantly.
Going to get book 2 of The Peeling now. Excited!! 😀
February 22, 2021
A quick and disturbing read about a plague that brings most to a gruesome death.
With only a few words, the characters are brought to life and the situation is worrisome.
It highlights human behaviour at its worst and, sometimes, its best, but mostly, the former.
With only a few words, the characters are brought to life and the situation is worrisome.
It highlights human behaviour at its worst and, sometimes, its best, but mostly, the former.
June 4, 2025
I found The Peeling to be an interesting collection—most of the stories really pulled me in and had some great, creepy ideas.
That said, the last story, A to Z, didn’t really work for me.
I also noticed quite a few typos throughout the book, which was a bit distracting.
That said, the last story, A to Z, didn’t really work for me.
I also noticed quite a few typos throughout the book, which was a bit distracting.
September 21, 2017
Good
Keep up your good horror stories
They are interesting
Different stories
Interesting characters
Some Hope or no hope
Good writer
Keep up your good horror stories
They are interesting
Different stories
Interesting characters
Some Hope or no hope
Good writer
September 23, 2017
I have always liked Iain Rob Wright's works and this one does not let me down. Warning, extremely gory, like it should be.
March 9, 2018
It was a really nice little story, even though it's not a new consept. But like always I like Mr Write's presence in his writing. The characters feels real and believable.
March 16, 2019
A good example of how a story doesn't have to be 600 pages to be terrifying, a pervasive dread that left me going wow and ewe in equal portions!
February 5, 2020
The short stories were great but the A-Z of Horror Movies was stupid.
March 26, 2023
Good stuff. Unique stores with feeling as well as horror..
May 12, 2013
Update after reading the four books in the series.
Each independent book is more like an individual chapter of one larger book. Unfortunately, four chapters isn't enough. Each is told from the point of view of an individual dealing with the incredibly lethal plague known as "The Peeling". It is a detailed account of the fall of humanity - even if you survive the plague itself, you then have to be Leary of other survivors.
It is a shame that there wasn't more of this story. It was very good, and I would probably give the series as a whole a four star, but there was just too much missing from each independent book. Perhaps the author might someday compile them all, give some answers, and also an ending. That would truly be a great book!
.....................................
Original review for book 1
For some reason, even though there were no zombies in this story, it reminded me of 28 Days Later. Maybe it was because it was set in Great Britain. Maybe it was because the army trucks were everywhere with soldiers killing the infected. Maybe because the infected in this story seem just as gruesome and tragic. Good thing I liked that movie.
This book, at least 3/4 of it, is told from the perspective of Jeremy. Essentially a 'day in the life of'. The final 1/4 is told from the perspective of the Prime Minister who has the disease but in his possibly last day on Earth, he finds out who unleashed this plague, presumably.
I probably would have enjoyed it more if it were a bit longer detailing more of what did and will happen. Thankfully, I will get to learn more as there are three additional books. As Douglas Adams called one of his collections, it's a trilogy in four parts.
Each independent book is more like an individual chapter of one larger book. Unfortunately, four chapters isn't enough. Each is told from the point of view of an individual dealing with the incredibly lethal plague known as "The Peeling". It is a detailed account of the fall of humanity - even if you survive the plague itself, you then have to be Leary of other survivors.
It is a shame that there wasn't more of this story. It was very good, and I would probably give the series as a whole a four star, but there was just too much missing from each independent book. Perhaps the author might someday compile them all, give some answers, and also an ending. That would truly be a great book!
.....................................
Original review for book 1
For some reason, even though there were no zombies in this story, it reminded me of 28 Days Later. Maybe it was because it was set in Great Britain. Maybe it was because the army trucks were everywhere with soldiers killing the infected. Maybe because the infected in this story seem just as gruesome and tragic. Good thing I liked that movie.
This book, at least 3/4 of it, is told from the perspective of Jeremy. Essentially a 'day in the life of'. The final 1/4 is told from the perspective of the Prime Minister who has the disease but in his possibly last day on Earth, he finds out who unleashed this plague, presumably.
I probably would have enjoyed it more if it were a bit longer detailing more of what did and will happen. Thankfully, I will get to learn more as there are three additional books. As Douglas Adams called one of his collections, it's a trilogy in four parts.
May 19, 2016
I was hungry before I read this story. I'm not hungry anymore and probably won't be for a while.
This is the first book I've read by this author. It is truly horrific. The world has been hit with a virus called, "The Peeling", and it does pretty much as the title described. One character made journal entries describing the conditions of various body parts as he was dying. It was detailed and really gross.
The story focuses on England. People are sick and dying. No one knows what is going on. Is the media lying to the public? Is the military lying to the media? Are the politicians lying to everyone? No one knows. Different theories of how the disease began are given by various people, but, again, no one knows. Different countries are blamed, but no one really knows.
The story about Jeremy is just one man's tale of the toll of the disease on him and his family. The short story included at the end is the really disturbing part. People are told various things, but those things are contradicted by other things disclosed in Jeremy's story. I don't know the motivation of the man talking to the Prime Minister. Is what he told the Prime Minister the truth or is what was told in Jeremy's story the truth? You don't know.
I suppose I will have to read the other books in the series to find the truth, but I don't know if my stomach can take it (it can).
This is a very good apocalyptic story, as well as an unfolding mystery. The question is: Will anyone be alive when the mystery is solved?
This is the first book I've read by this author. It is truly horrific. The world has been hit with a virus called, "The Peeling", and it does pretty much as the title described. One character made journal entries describing the conditions of various body parts as he was dying. It was detailed and really gross.
The story focuses on England. People are sick and dying. No one knows what is going on. Is the media lying to the public? Is the military lying to the media? Are the politicians lying to everyone? No one knows. Different theories of how the disease began are given by various people, but, again, no one knows. Different countries are blamed, but no one really knows.
The story about Jeremy is just one man's tale of the toll of the disease on him and his family. The short story included at the end is the really disturbing part. People are told various things, but those things are contradicted by other things disclosed in Jeremy's story. I don't know the motivation of the man talking to the Prime Minister. Is what he told the Prime Minister the truth or is what was told in Jeremy's story the truth? You don't know.
I suppose I will have to read the other books in the series to find the truth, but I don't know if my stomach can take it (it can).
This is a very good apocalyptic story, as well as an unfolding mystery. The question is: Will anyone be alive when the mystery is solved?
June 2, 2013
Iain Rob Wright is an author I came across when my boyfriend and I were browsing on Amazon. We both got The Peeling Series. Since then I have heard many good things about Iain’s writing and my boyfriend has bought more books. I figure it’s time to catch him up before he becomes a bigger book-worm than me!
So, book one in the series is based on Jeremy’s experiences. The book is descriptive with great character development without getting boring with it. The way Iain describes the peeling, and what it does to people really puts the image in your mind.
I won’t go on about what happens in the book because I don’t want to spoil it for you, I would say read this book. Iain has taken the typical idea of a Zombie Apocalypse and has stretched the idea further with this horrible illness sweeping the globe. The people affected are still alive, still feeling pain. I think that is what steps this concept up from the whole zombie idea, we sugar coat zombies because they’re dead, not people anymore so it’s not a problem that they’re rotting or that we just go ahead and shoot them because they’re brain-dead. What if they could hear and feel everything?
Iain Rob Wright is definitely Mr Right for this genre!
At the end of book one, you get a segment from Samuel Lloyd Collins. This is written as a diary and he describes what he is going through as he struggles to make sense of how the virus came to be. It combines the horrific idea of The Peeling with humor and it does it really well.
So, book one in the series is based on Jeremy’s experiences. The book is descriptive with great character development without getting boring with it. The way Iain describes the peeling, and what it does to people really puts the image in your mind.
I won’t go on about what happens in the book because I don’t want to spoil it for you, I would say read this book. Iain has taken the typical idea of a Zombie Apocalypse and has stretched the idea further with this horrible illness sweeping the globe. The people affected are still alive, still feeling pain. I think that is what steps this concept up from the whole zombie idea, we sugar coat zombies because they’re dead, not people anymore so it’s not a problem that they’re rotting or that we just go ahead and shoot them because they’re brain-dead. What if they could hear and feel everything?
Iain Rob Wright is definitely Mr Right for this genre!
At the end of book one, you get a segment from Samuel Lloyd Collins. This is written as a diary and he describes what he is going through as he struggles to make sense of how the virus came to be. It combines the horrific idea of The Peeling with humor and it does it really well.
March 15, 2016
The Peeling: Book 1 (Jeremy's Choice) by Iain Rob Wright The Peeling: Book 1 (Jeremy's Choice) by Iain Rob Wright is a real horror story. The graphic descriptions of this disease, a deadly plague, were brutal to read. I gave it five stars.
Jeremy was the security guard at the radio studio. "Most days he just hung around in the doorway, half asleep, from nine in the morning till six at night. Then he went home to his wife -- unless he had somewhere else to be. That was why all of these people in the studio right now were such a thorn in his side; they forced him to concentrate & stay focused despite his weary mind's desire to shut off."
The studio took live calls & had to censor some of them because hate-filled people liked to spew their venom. "England like to act like all the whackos lived abroad in less civilized countries, but working in a news studio made it quite clear that there were as many nutjobs here as anywhere else. Maybe even more."
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Peeling-Book-Je...
Jeremy was the security guard at the radio studio. "Most days he just hung around in the doorway, half asleep, from nine in the morning till six at night. Then he went home to his wife -- unless he had somewhere else to be. That was why all of these people in the studio right now were such a thorn in his side; they forced him to concentrate & stay focused despite his weary mind's desire to shut off."
The studio took live calls & had to censor some of them because hate-filled people liked to spew their venom. "England like to act like all the whackos lived abroad in less civilized countries, but working in a news studio made it quite clear that there were as many nutjobs here as anywhere else. Maybe even more."
I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Peeling-Book-Je...
November 22, 2013
I love reading about pandemic (which sounds macabre...), especially when the deceased don't return as zombies. I find it fascinating to read about the isolation of the survivors and the constant thread of getting sick as well. It's also the most realistic end of the world scenario to me that could actually happen.
(Have you seen the movie "Contagion"? Absolutely brilliant!)
The Peeling is a novella trilogy about the same named pandemic that's going to kill more than half of the world population. "Jeremy's Choice" pictures the beginning of the pandemic and follows a security guard whose wife is already infected.
It had a great set-up and atmosphere and I look forward to read the other two parts in the series.
(Have you seen the movie "Contagion"? Absolutely brilliant!)
The Peeling is a novella trilogy about the same named pandemic that's going to kill more than half of the world population. "Jeremy's Choice" pictures the beginning of the pandemic and follows a security guard whose wife is already infected.
It had a great set-up and atmosphere and I look forward to read the other two parts in the series.
Read
March 6, 2013I read this book on my Kindle and I must say that I liked it from the very beginning and it delivered a lot more than I thought it would seeing that it was free. Of course, kinda short so that you buy the second one (which I did), this book kept you on the edge of your seat and you want to keep reading. I thought the characters were well developed and although Jeremy is flawed, I still felt as though he was a good character and I found myself rooting for him eventually. I can't wait to read the second and the third and fourth. Very nicely written in general.
June 15, 2015
Eeeewww! Loved it. I would have to go with suicide, for sure. As per usual, I did NOT expect that ending. At this point you would think I would learn to "expect the unexpected!" Having your skin melt off has got to be a grizzly way to die and a super grizzly way for OTHERS to WATCH you die too! Iain Rob Wright - you are seriously disgusting!!! I think I'm going to have to join Kindle Unlimited because I cannot get enough of his books. The only scary part? Running out!! Now THAT is a horror story!
November 5, 2012
The beginning of this book had me gripped from the get go.
It is quite gross, the Peeling itself is not a condition anybody should ever suffer and
I would suggest you do not prepare a sandwich or some such when you sit down to read this book.
But read and enjoy, that I would most definitely recommend.
I read the entire trilogy in three hours and it was more than simply worth it. Great stuff. I cant wait to read more by this author.
WaAr
It is quite gross, the Peeling itself is not a condition anybody should ever suffer and
I would suggest you do not prepare a sandwich or some such when you sit down to read this book.
But read and enjoy, that I would most definitely recommend.
I read the entire trilogy in three hours and it was more than simply worth it. Great stuff. I cant wait to read more by this author.
WaAr
July 14, 2013
I enjoyed the short stories in this novel but I felt that they were ideas for a good book. I didn't really feel that I had read a novel, rather that someone had come to me and said, 'I have a few great ideas for some apocalyptic novels, here are some snippets!'
I though that the first short story was by far the best and I wish that this had been developed into a novel. The book was enjoyable though and I would recommend for anyone who enjoys apocalyptic styled novels.
I though that the first short story was by far the best and I wish that this had been developed into a novel. The book was enjoyable though and I would recommend for anyone who enjoys apocalyptic styled novels.
November 12, 2014
Nothing I can say here can convince you why you should read this series by Iain Rob Wright other than they are amongst the best stories I have ever read in my 40 years of reading. Full of emotion. Full of fear. Full of sadness. Just superb.
This review was written before I started to take my reviewing seriously. I would need to re-read the book to give it a serious, detailed and fair review so the above review was what I posted at the time.
This review was written before I started to take my reviewing seriously. I would need to re-read the book to give it a serious, detailed and fair review so the above review was what I posted at the time.
November 1, 2016
This is my second delve into the world of Iain Rob Wright following SeaSick. It was a short read but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I expected it to be a zombie story but it was in fact about a flesh eating virus (should have paid more attention to the title)! Gory, relevant and a real page turner. Offering this as a free novella has done the trick and I'll be paying for the next few in the series!
July 20, 2013
Really enjoyed this book by new British author Iain Rob Wright. I especially liked that whilst each novella is a stand alone story and can be read alone, each is also part of the much bigger story of the book as a whole. Each novella is based on one character and their experiences as a survivor. I loved it!
January 31, 2013
This novella is 130 pages but the flow of the words make it fly by, in a good way. Jeremy has found himself in a world full of people who are sick and melting. This novella is not as gruesome as you would think. There are a few parts that made me cringe, but this book is very well written. I just wish there was a little more to Jeremy's life.
This is an enjoyable read for all horror fans.
This is an enjoyable read for all horror fans.
January 11, 2014
Jeremy's Choice is the first book of The Peeling. The Peeling is a plague that spreads quickly and starts with the sniffles. This is an intersting take on how different people react to the news that there is no cure to the painful disease they have.
Good writing, good storyline. Now on to Book 2.
Good writing, good storyline. Now on to Book 2.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews