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Handyman
A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STANDVinny Fowler is on the verge of having the life he’s always wanted. After fighting tooth and nail, he’s found love, formed a family, and carved out a lucrative career in construction. But while the future looks promising, the darkness from his past still haunts him.
When Vinny is assigned to help remodel the home of an elderly brother and sister, it seems like just another project. But he soon notices that the siblings have more interest in him than the task at hand. Little does he know that the job he thought was finished is just beginning, and what it entails will transcend the horrors of his upbringing. Will the evil he must face swallow him up, or could the darkness in his past be the key to his survival?
This volume contains 15 interior illustrations.
This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
When Vinny is assigned to help remodel the home of an elderly brother and sister, it seems like just another project. But he soon notices that the siblings have more interest in him than the task at hand. Little does he know that the job he thought was finished is just beginning, and what it entails will transcend the horrors of his upbringing. Will the evil he must face swallow him up, or could the darkness in his past be the key to his survival?
This volume contains 15 interior illustrations.
This book contains graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2025
81 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Aron Beauregard
72 books3,385 followersAron Beauregard was born and raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island. He's been writing horror since the 6th grade and has now released over 25 books. An avid supporter of horror art and illustration, Aron has made it his standard to hire illustrators for every book that he puts out under his brand AB Horror.
His writing is dark and without boundaries. Known for creating a stir, his work has gone viral on several occasions. He's won the Splatterpunk Award twice after garnering four total nominations. As an independent artist, Beauregard's book "Playground" has achieved #1 Bestseller status under the category of horror on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Additionally, his work has been translated to multiple languages.
To get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books and merchandise, film news, and so much more, visit his website:
www.ABHorror.com
To subscribe to his free newsletter, join the AB Horror Maggot Mailing List at:
https://aronbeauregard.substack.com/
His writing is dark and without boundaries. Known for creating a stir, his work has gone viral on several occasions. He's won the Splatterpunk Award twice after garnering four total nominations. As an independent artist, Beauregard's book "Playground" has achieved #1 Bestseller status under the category of horror on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Additionally, his work has been translated to multiple languages.
To get the latest updates about upcoming releases, signed books and merchandise, film news, and so much more, visit his website:
www.ABHorror.com
To subscribe to his free newsletter, join the AB Horror Maggot Mailing List at:
https://aronbeauregard.substack.com/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 22, 2025
“Vinny knew the spare moment crucifixion was probably what God wanted most.”
This is one of the most psychotic books I have ever read, I seriously didn’t want it to end.
This is one of the most psychotic books I have ever read, I seriously didn’t want it to end.
April 1, 2025
This is the longest, most complex novel I have read from Aron Beauregard and probably the goriest. There are a few very memorable scenes of self harm, murder, incest, horrible accidents, and bizarre occult/paranormal activity.
The story includes esoteric practices rooted in dark magic aspiring to compete with the devil, a meat mobile built upon years of murder, a house built with human flesh and bones, a scary fucking weasel, a nasty incestuous brother and sister trying to open up another dimension, and plain old horrible human suffering.
If you are in the mood for all of that this book is for you. This is my favorite Aron Beauregard book so far.
The story includes esoteric practices rooted in dark magic aspiring to compete with the devil, a meat mobile built upon years of murder, a house built with human flesh and bones, a scary fucking weasel, a nasty incestuous brother and sister trying to open up another dimension, and plain old horrible human suffering.
If you are in the mood for all of that this book is for you. This is my favorite Aron Beauregard book so far.
February 16, 2025
This book was insane. It deals with crazy, rich, incestuous siblings who deal with dark magic/rituals.
Vinny, a man who was raised by his murderous father.
And Sara, a woman who lost her husband and son.
This book talks about losing people you love and grief.
But it also has the INSANE, GORY, DISTURBING, WILD SHIT that Aron always conjures up in his stories. I loved this story so much!
Vinny, a man who was raised by his murderous father.
And Sara, a woman who lost her husband and son.
This book talks about losing people you love and grief.
But it also has the INSANE, GORY, DISTURBING, WILD SHIT that Aron always conjures up in his stories. I loved this story so much!
February 24, 2025
Another excellent novel from splatterpunk master Aron Beauregard, Handyman is a testament to his evolving style while still delivering the relentless bloodbath his fans crave. Having followed Aron’s work for years, it’s been thrilling to watch his writing develop, and Handyman is a prime example of his ability to balance raw, unflinching brutality with deeper, more introspective themes.
While this book is every bit as vicious and visceral as The Slob series and Playground (mind your triggers), it also serves as a powerful character study, exploring generational trauma, grief, and the struggle to break cycles of abuse. Beauregard masterfully brings protagonists Vinny and Sara to life, making their journey as compelling as the carnage that unfolds around them. And as always, he crafts villains so detestable that watching them suffer is as satisfying as the gore is relentless.
With Handyman, Beauregard proves once again why he’s one of the best in the game. It’s brutal, thought-provoking, and utterly unputdownable. Highly recommended!
Guidelines For Book Reviewing:
1. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever review a book you didn’t finish. It’s ridiculous. If you couldn’t get through it, that’s on you. Who knows? Those last ten pages might have been incredible.
2. Meet the art where it’s at. If a book isn’t your style, fine. But don’t tank its rating just because it didn’t cater to your preferences. Ask: does it succeed for the audience it’s meant for? If the answer’s yes, rate it accordingly.
3. Remember: you’re not a professional critic. You’re a reader with an opinion. Critics follow certain rules and standards. If you’re going to critique, maybe study those—it’ll make your takes sharper and more respectful.
4. Be kind. Writing is hard, and for most authors—especially independent ones—it’s not even their full-time job. Many are grinding away at day jobs while putting everything into their art. These are people, not faceless creators. Mind yourself. Your words have weight, and careless negativity helps no one.
5. Remember, Goodreads is kind of terrible. It’s the Yelp of book reviewing—a lot of people with a lot of opinions, not all of them informed. Be cautious with your words because they do affect people.
6. And finally: never, ever, ever, ever review a book you didn’t finish. Ever.
While this book is every bit as vicious and visceral as The Slob series and Playground (mind your triggers), it also serves as a powerful character study, exploring generational trauma, grief, and the struggle to break cycles of abuse. Beauregard masterfully brings protagonists Vinny and Sara to life, making their journey as compelling as the carnage that unfolds around them. And as always, he crafts villains so detestable that watching them suffer is as satisfying as the gore is relentless.
With Handyman, Beauregard proves once again why he’s one of the best in the game. It’s brutal, thought-provoking, and utterly unputdownable. Highly recommended!
Guidelines For Book Reviewing:
1. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever review a book you didn’t finish. It’s ridiculous. If you couldn’t get through it, that’s on you. Who knows? Those last ten pages might have been incredible.
2. Meet the art where it’s at. If a book isn’t your style, fine. But don’t tank its rating just because it didn’t cater to your preferences. Ask: does it succeed for the audience it’s meant for? If the answer’s yes, rate it accordingly.
3. Remember: you’re not a professional critic. You’re a reader with an opinion. Critics follow certain rules and standards. If you’re going to critique, maybe study those—it’ll make your takes sharper and more respectful.
4. Be kind. Writing is hard, and for most authors—especially independent ones—it’s not even their full-time job. Many are grinding away at day jobs while putting everything into their art. These are people, not faceless creators. Mind yourself. Your words have weight, and careless negativity helps no one.
5. Remember, Goodreads is kind of terrible. It’s the Yelp of book reviewing—a lot of people with a lot of opinions, not all of them informed. Be cautious with your words because they do affect people.
6. And finally: never, ever, ever, ever review a book you didn’t finish. Ever.
August 23, 2025
my New favorite!
the absolute craziness that is this masterpiece! I love a good story line with my extreme gore and this hit the nail on the head .
the absolute craziness that is this masterpiece! I love a good story line with my extreme gore and this hit the nail on the head .
July 30, 2025
One of my favorite authors for a reason 🙌🏻
May 26, 2025
It is not a secret that Aron Beauregard is one of the most well-known authors in the extreme horror and splatterpunk genres right now. Sometimes that makes me not rush to read his books until the chaos has died down about them. That was the same with this one, but I had heard some good feedback about the audiobook, so I dove in.
This is without a doubt my new favorite Beauregard book. It is horror with heart, a nice visceral punch to the gut. The blood-soaked pages leaving you with feeling emotional and disgusted.
The main character is a man that is shaped by an abusive past but still pulls you in with his charm as tragic as it is and for me personally, I was rooting for him the entire time. I have a little bit of the darkness myself so I could relate to that with him. And the fact that he so badly wants a normal life where he can fall in love and have a family just made me want to protect him. Beauregard has a way of dragging you along with him, the ups and downs felt throughout every scene.
Of course, there are characters within that I hated. I'll just call them the twins - they embodied cruelty and awkwardness and grossness every time they had a scene. I won't dive into how icky they get but let's just say it is full of cringe and I said "ugh.. why" quite a few times. Haha.
I appreciated this book as it is not just gore for the sake of gore - although it has its fair share of it - but there are the undertones of genuine human emotion, including pain and grief. And I am a sucker for that being in the extreme horror books I read. Suffering, survival and revenge - we have it all with Handyman.
Happy reading!
This is without a doubt my new favorite Beauregard book. It is horror with heart, a nice visceral punch to the gut. The blood-soaked pages leaving you with feeling emotional and disgusted.
The main character is a man that is shaped by an abusive past but still pulls you in with his charm as tragic as it is and for me personally, I was rooting for him the entire time. I have a little bit of the darkness myself so I could relate to that with him. And the fact that he so badly wants a normal life where he can fall in love and have a family just made me want to protect him. Beauregard has a way of dragging you along with him, the ups and downs felt throughout every scene.
Of course, there are characters within that I hated. I'll just call them the twins - they embodied cruelty and awkwardness and grossness every time they had a scene. I won't dive into how icky they get but let's just say it is full of cringe and I said "ugh.. why" quite a few times. Haha.
I appreciated this book as it is not just gore for the sake of gore - although it has its fair share of it - but there are the undertones of genuine human emotion, including pain and grief. And I am a sucker for that being in the extreme horror books I read. Suffering, survival and revenge - we have it all with Handyman.
Happy reading!
July 5, 2025
After a traumatic past Vinny has done well for himself. A partner and a daughter, working in construction. We start with some fuckery with some other characters which do end up crossing paths with Vinny. On a side job for a pair of rich siblings he is pulled to the side to be asked if he can do another job which he doesn’t seem to keen to do. Will the siblings get what they want?
This was different! Watching Vinnys journey was heartbreaking. However I did thoroughly enjoy the muscle car scene 😂 with only his dad to be a role model he’s always wanted to know about his mother. Safe to say he finds her in a situation no one wants to find themselves in 😂 I love how it all played out. It may be a longer story but it doesn’t feel that way! With some odd themes mixed in I kinda digged it. Felt like I knew Vinny better than even his daughter did. I could feel the anger radiating out of him at points, the despair. All of it. If you want a well developed story that doesn’t let up on the storyline let this be the one you pick up! Wish I had read this sooner. The cover is magnetic. And loved the images inside the novel too as it really helps paint the picture of what you are reading.
Pros:
💀 Excellent character development
💀 Intriguing storyline
💀 Easy to read
💀 Stunning cover
💀 Gorgeous images inside
Cons:
💀 May be a bit too wild on the bizarre scene for me
This was different! Watching Vinnys journey was heartbreaking. However I did thoroughly enjoy the muscle car scene 😂 with only his dad to be a role model he’s always wanted to know about his mother. Safe to say he finds her in a situation no one wants to find themselves in 😂 I love how it all played out. It may be a longer story but it doesn’t feel that way! With some odd themes mixed in I kinda digged it. Felt like I knew Vinny better than even his daughter did. I could feel the anger radiating out of him at points, the despair. All of it. If you want a well developed story that doesn’t let up on the storyline let this be the one you pick up! Wish I had read this sooner. The cover is magnetic. And loved the images inside the novel too as it really helps paint the picture of what you are reading.
Pros:
💀 Excellent character development
💀 Intriguing storyline
💀 Easy to read
💀 Stunning cover
💀 Gorgeous images inside
Cons:
💀 May be a bit too wild on the bizarre scene for me
July 17, 2025
Omg! This is a silly, disgusting, depraved extreme horror!
Let me set the scene of my listening experience....my partner really doesn't like extreme horror, so I can only listen with headphones on and therefore whilst running on the treadmill. The faces I was pulling would've been hilarious! Because let's face it, some of the scenes in this were absolutely gross! 😬🤢
Let me set the scene of my listening experience....my partner really doesn't like extreme horror, so I can only listen with headphones on and therefore whilst running on the treadmill. The faces I was pulling would've been hilarious! Because let's face it, some of the scenes in this were absolutely gross! 😬🤢
February 23, 2025
2.5 score in reality as it's middle of the road territory. Whilst "The Handyman" has a few good themes, scenes and characters it's a bit of a miss overall for me. The revenge aspect of the book was incredibly good and the set pieces at the building site and Len's. The main villains were also super creepy. Just didn't hold together quite as well as some of his other work for me.
May 4, 2025
Handyman is like an extreme horror Goosebumps book, complete with a cast of creepy characters, a great twist on retro horror aesthetics, and some unforgettably creative modern gore scenes like nothing I’ve ever read before!
I highly recommend the audiobook, Chuck Brugee’s performance is one of the best in the genre and there are some cinematic touches that really transform it into a unique experience.
I highly recommend the audiobook, Chuck Brugee’s performance is one of the best in the genre and there are some cinematic touches that really transform it into a unique experience.
May 9, 2025
Yet another triumph from Aron, Handyman kicks off by immediately sending shivers down your spine, and causing you to eye the shadows around you with suspicion and fear. An incredibly exciting and sinister beginning grips you in its demon like claws from the get go!
Beauregard’s books read like King books, in that you are immediately drawn in, and “just...one...more...chapter” hooked, right until you're almost done, and you don't want to be, and then you start slowing right the way down, so that you draw the ending out for as long as possible. And those are my favourite kind of books!
The slick narrative flips from past to present seamlessly and effortlessly, grotesque hallucinations and sinister flashbacks slowly revealing dark truths whilst clawing their hooks deeper into you.
Some uncomfortable subject matter alongside
addiction, past trauma and the impacts on the present. Dark disturbing feelings that get out of control, quickly, scarily, and horrifyingly..
Short, sharp chapters stuffed with depravity, intrigue, tension, gore, with disturbingly genius scenes of horror, such brutally brilliant visuals, so much intricate detail...and kills that will blow your mind. There is also so much emotion in this story!
As always, Aron doesn't just bring the gore and depravity, he brings the deep, dark, emotions and underlying connotations too. Aron’s books are always sick, twisted and depraved, but they go so much deeper than all that, they really make you feel for the characters and their predicaments
Despair, desperation, determination, guilt, trauma, grief, and a flicker of hope shining through into a dark pit of despair. A broken man's horrific past, and sad decline into a broken future. A passion for violence, once subdued, now brought terrifyingly back to life.
Such an intense, powerful, sick and utterly unputdownable read! I'm pretty sure I'm forever gonna be haunted by the Meat Mobile!! And I'll never be able to use the toilet the same again!
Why worship the Devil when you can BE the Devil.
Beauregard’s books read like King books, in that you are immediately drawn in, and “just...one...more...chapter” hooked, right until you're almost done, and you don't want to be, and then you start slowing right the way down, so that you draw the ending out for as long as possible. And those are my favourite kind of books!
The slick narrative flips from past to present seamlessly and effortlessly, grotesque hallucinations and sinister flashbacks slowly revealing dark truths whilst clawing their hooks deeper into you.
Some uncomfortable subject matter alongside
addiction, past trauma and the impacts on the present. Dark disturbing feelings that get out of control, quickly, scarily, and horrifyingly..
Short, sharp chapters stuffed with depravity, intrigue, tension, gore, with disturbingly genius scenes of horror, such brutally brilliant visuals, so much intricate detail...and kills that will blow your mind. There is also so much emotion in this story!
As always, Aron doesn't just bring the gore and depravity, he brings the deep, dark, emotions and underlying connotations too. Aron’s books are always sick, twisted and depraved, but they go so much deeper than all that, they really make you feel for the characters and their predicaments
Despair, desperation, determination, guilt, trauma, grief, and a flicker of hope shining through into a dark pit of despair. A broken man's horrific past, and sad decline into a broken future. A passion for violence, once subdued, now brought terrifyingly back to life.
Such an intense, powerful, sick and utterly unputdownable read! I'm pretty sure I'm forever gonna be haunted by the Meat Mobile!! And I'll never be able to use the toilet the same again!
Why worship the Devil when you can BE the Devil.
May 15, 2025
Handyman was my first taste of Beauregard’s writing, and I’m honestly kicking myself for not picking up his books sooner because this is a dark masterpiece!
This book plunges headfirst into the abyss, following an incestuous elderly couple dabbling in dark rituals, Vinny- a man with a loving family haunted by his serial killer father, and Sara- a nurse reeling from devastating loss. This is an unrelenting descent into depravity and from the first page, it gripped me with an overwhelming sense of dread that never let go.
Despite its deeply disturbing content, I couldn’t tear myself away. The story sunk its claws in and dragged me through a fever dream of madness! Some scenes are seared into my memory for how visceral and grotesque they are- one involving a decapitated head, another set in a truck lined with flesh and rotting corpses. This isn’t for the faint of heart; if you have any lingering sensitivities, leave them at the door!
With that said, beneath all the blood and rot lies a surprisingly compelling narrative. The characters are vivid, some you’ll loathe and others you’ll root for with unexpected intensity. At its core, this is a brutal tale of grief, trauma and the desperate pursuit of redemption. Vinny’s struggle to break free from his horrific past is genuinely moving, even as the horrors around him escalate.
The kill scenes were absolutely SAVAGE in the best way. Reading about how the Handyman tore his enemies apart was grotesquely mesmerizing and a masterclass in splatter horror. The illustrations also sprinkled throughout the book were grisly visual treats that perfectly complemented the story’s tone.
If you’re craving something unapologetically evil and super unsettling, Handyman delivers on every front. Seasoned extreme horror fans must pick this up!
This book plunges headfirst into the abyss, following an incestuous elderly couple dabbling in dark rituals, Vinny- a man with a loving family haunted by his serial killer father, and Sara- a nurse reeling from devastating loss. This is an unrelenting descent into depravity and from the first page, it gripped me with an overwhelming sense of dread that never let go.
Despite its deeply disturbing content, I couldn’t tear myself away. The story sunk its claws in and dragged me through a fever dream of madness! Some scenes are seared into my memory for how visceral and grotesque they are- one involving a decapitated head, another set in a truck lined with flesh and rotting corpses. This isn’t for the faint of heart; if you have any lingering sensitivities, leave them at the door!
With that said, beneath all the blood and rot lies a surprisingly compelling narrative. The characters are vivid, some you’ll loathe and others you’ll root for with unexpected intensity. At its core, this is a brutal tale of grief, trauma and the desperate pursuit of redemption. Vinny’s struggle to break free from his horrific past is genuinely moving, even as the horrors around him escalate.
The kill scenes were absolutely SAVAGE in the best way. Reading about how the Handyman tore his enemies apart was grotesquely mesmerizing and a masterclass in splatter horror. The illustrations also sprinkled throughout the book were grisly visual treats that perfectly complemented the story’s tone.
If you’re craving something unapologetically evil and super unsettling, Handyman delivers on every front. Seasoned extreme horror fans must pick this up!
February 5, 2025
I guess I get the honor of the first Goodreads review.
I was generously gifted an arc from the author. First time that happened.
I've read several previous titles by Beauregard. I've always considered them to be my equivilent of noremal women who read steamy romances. Love doesn't make me stay up night to finish a book. Brutal violence does.
The best way to put my personal feeling towards this is to compare it to the first time I saw Terrifier 2 after watching the All Hallows Eve and Terrifier so many times since the first one's inception. I always loved the ride, but not a lot of plot and deeper meaning. I go to Everett from that.
It feels like every criticism I've ever had about his books (never written in any review) was fixed in this title. His writing skill has improved dramatically since his earlier titles (the oldest I've read is The Slob).
The focus was on a single character for the most part instead of multiple characters that have too much equal weight to each other which made it hard to really care about any individual. I personally had a wild ride during Wedding Day Massacre, but I still loved every second.
I also didn't care for the heavy detailing of the traps in Playground. Perhaps this is just because I have a difficult time envisioning things that don't exist. At least there was pictures, and I have to admire the creativity. Personally, if an extreme horror/splatterpunk doesn't have at least ONE unique or memorable kill/torture scene, it's not worth reading.
The main character was fleshed out well. This was one of the few characters I hoped would make it out okay. His backstory is one of the most unique ones I've ever read, and the journey he goes on through the book is bizarre and fantastically brutal and gory.
Look man, there isn't a world where I could predict Can't say the author isn't creative.
To date, this is definitely my favorite Beauregard title yet. He went far above my expectations. I haven't been this hooked on an extreme horror title since Full Brutal last year.
If you love any of his other titles, I think you'll like this one. It is a bit longer than his other titles, most if I'm not mistaken, but at about 350 pages I'm not gonna act like it's Ulysses-level long. The book is less violent PERCENTAGE wise. The number of scenes that are just brutal and vile is similar to his other, shorter titles.
Final note: I loved the drawing of the duckies.
I was generously gifted an arc from the author. First time that happened.
I've read several previous titles by Beauregard. I've always considered them to be my equivilent of noremal women who read steamy romances. Love doesn't make me stay up night to finish a book. Brutal violence does.
The best way to put my personal feeling towards this is to compare it to the first time I saw Terrifier 2 after watching the All Hallows Eve and Terrifier so many times since the first one's inception. I always loved the ride, but not a lot of plot and deeper meaning. I go to Everett from that.
It feels like every criticism I've ever had about his books (never written in any review) was fixed in this title. His writing skill has improved dramatically since his earlier titles (the oldest I've read is The Slob).
The focus was on a single character for the most part instead of multiple characters that have too much equal weight to each other which made it hard to really care about any individual. I personally had a wild ride during Wedding Day Massacre, but I still loved every second.
I also didn't care for the heavy detailing of the traps in Playground. Perhaps this is just because I have a difficult time envisioning things that don't exist. At least there was pictures, and I have to admire the creativity. Personally, if an extreme horror/splatterpunk doesn't have at least ONE unique or memorable kill/torture scene, it's not worth reading.
The main character was fleshed out well. This was one of the few characters I hoped would make it out okay. His backstory is one of the most unique ones I've ever read, and the journey he goes on through the book is bizarre and fantastically brutal and gory.
Look man, there isn't a world where I could predict Can't say the author isn't creative.
To date, this is definitely my favorite Beauregard title yet. He went far above my expectations. I haven't been this hooked on an extreme horror title since Full Brutal last year.
If you love any of his other titles, I think you'll like this one. It is a bit longer than his other titles, most if I'm not mistaken, but at about 350 pages I'm not gonna act like it's Ulysses-level long. The book is less violent PERCENTAGE wise. The number of scenes that are just brutal and vile is similar to his other, shorter titles.
Final note: I loved the drawing of the duckies.
July 28, 2025
While it wasn’t one of my favorites by Beauregard, it still was an interesting and gory ride. It has screenplay potential.
October 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. It is exactly what I want from extreme horror, filthy, gruesome, and completely unafraid to get disgusting. If you are not into gore or rough, uncomfortable topics, I would say steer clear. This book does not hold back.
I liked how much focus there was on the main character’s past. It is not just gore for the sake of it—there’s a real effort to get inside his head and show how trauma and PTSD have shaped him. The reveals about what he has been through come in at just the right moments, so you are always wondering what really happened and how much worse it is going to get. I ended up properly invested in his story, not just the nasty bits.
As for the writing, Beauregard is exactly what you would expect if you have read any of his other books: straightforward, quick, and never fancy. No wasted words, no padding, and definitely no sugar-coating. He just tells it how it is and lets the horror speak for itself. The nasty parts hit even harder because there is nothing getting in the way.
I am pretty desensitised when it comes to horror, but I will admit there were a few moments in this one where I actually scrunched up my face. It was that disgusting. But honestly, that is what I want out of this genre, and it is what Aron does best. He knows exactly how to make you uncomfortable in a way that feels right for the story, not just for shock.
The pacing worked for me. It never dragged, the tension builds well, and when things get rough, it always suits the scene. I thought the ending landed well too, and I finished the book feeling satisfied and just a bit grossed out - in a good way.
So yes, big warning: if you do not like extreme violence, body horror, or nasty subjects, give it a miss. But if you are an extreme horror reader looking for something brutal that still gives you a character to care about, this is definitely worth it. I enjoyed every uncomfortable minute.
I liked how much focus there was on the main character’s past. It is not just gore for the sake of it—there’s a real effort to get inside his head and show how trauma and PTSD have shaped him. The reveals about what he has been through come in at just the right moments, so you are always wondering what really happened and how much worse it is going to get. I ended up properly invested in his story, not just the nasty bits.
As for the writing, Beauregard is exactly what you would expect if you have read any of his other books: straightforward, quick, and never fancy. No wasted words, no padding, and definitely no sugar-coating. He just tells it how it is and lets the horror speak for itself. The nasty parts hit even harder because there is nothing getting in the way.
I am pretty desensitised when it comes to horror, but I will admit there were a few moments in this one where I actually scrunched up my face. It was that disgusting. But honestly, that is what I want out of this genre, and it is what Aron does best. He knows exactly how to make you uncomfortable in a way that feels right for the story, not just for shock.
The pacing worked for me. It never dragged, the tension builds well, and when things get rough, it always suits the scene. I thought the ending landed well too, and I finished the book feeling satisfied and just a bit grossed out - in a good way.
So yes, big warning: if you do not like extreme violence, body horror, or nasty subjects, give it a miss. But if you are an extreme horror reader looking for something brutal that still gives you a character to care about, this is definitely worth it. I enjoyed every uncomfortable minute.
February 28, 2025
Damn!!
In my opinion, this is hands down the best outright Horror novel that Aron has wrote. I'm used to him writing in an almost Adult comic book type of way. While it's usually gory as heck and breaks just about every taboo, there is always a playful side shining underneath. Not so much with this one. I can definitely relate to the journey that he just took me on. But to say more than that here would be giving away some of the secrets.
In my opinion, this is hands down the best outright Horror novel that Aron has wrote. I'm used to him writing in an almost Adult comic book type of way. While it's usually gory as heck and breaks just about every taboo, there is always a playful side shining underneath. Not so much with this one. I can definitely relate to the journey that he just took me on. But to say more than that here would be giving away some of the secrets.
February 12, 2025
A hard-core gore infested book full of bodies and desecration of bodies. Vinny is an awesome character and the challenges he faces through life with whether his dad or Blanch and Alfred. This book is full of depravity and not for the weak minded individuals who can't stomach this kind of horror. Thanks Aron for another great read!
May 10, 2025
First book I finished this year 😅…this was fun! Lots of AB gore 😀
August 5, 2025
I was genuinenly very bored throughout the first 200 pages.. Only then the carnage starts. Once it did, it was atleast a bit enjoyable.
October 19, 2025
The storyline was actually surprising for a splatterpunk book. I was so intrigued to see if the world was going to end or not 😂
February 6, 2025
This is by far my favorite of Aron’s works to date. Elements I often find missing in this genre—such as well-rounded characters with real development, mystery, and intrigue—are present in abundance here. This is a story. It’s not just a collection of gore or gross-out tactics meant to make you recoil; it’s a true, compelling, and deeply emotional narrative. I can feel the humanity in this one. Beauregard has always been an author to watch, but this book takes the cake.
Currently reading
September 17, 2025Wow this b ook is insane so far, I am about 150 pages in and I have to say after the first somewhat confusing part wondering where the book was going, lets just say so far it has went awesome. We got serial killers, dreaming of necro, sadistic father figure and weird brother and sister combo
February 21, 2025
Fantastic book that has a lot more going on than it seems. Love Arons work, and this might be my favorite so far. 😍
September 2, 2025
Just finished Handyman, and let’s just say… "Aron Beauregard really "nailed it. " 🪚🔨 Blood, guts, and zero structural integrity. My kind of renovation.
Forget open-plan living! This book was pretty much open-plan organs. Aron Beauregard turned home renovation into a blood sport, and I was here for it. 🔨🩸
Now, I’ve seen this thing floating around more than a severed head in a horror swamp, and curiosity finally got the better of me. I figured, I’ll just grab the sample, have a little sneak peek while I wait for Playground: Children of Divorce... "Yeah, right, who the hell was I kidding?
By the second chapter, Aron had me in a choke hold, with a grip so tight whispering, "You’re mine now, sucker..."and so this was how I ended up with the handyman.
I bought the Kindle version, AND I bought the paperback because why not? Those damn illustrations had me hooked (check out the following slides)
Not gonna lie, this was probably one of the longest and most goriest novels I've read that aron has written, to the point it stands to rival the first Aron novel i read - Wedding day masacre.
It was a novel that was jampacked with moments you'd likely not forget anytime soon that you'd think the devil himself wrote this.
But no, it all comes from the crazy, unhinged mind of Aron Bearegard, and that's not all. There's a tale within a tale consisting of an actual meat mobile, put together from years of brutal slayings, a house made from human flesh oh and did I forget to mention two twin siblings hellbent on making contact with another world?
This isn’t your average renovation story where you slap on some fresh paint and call it a day. There's blood and lots of it. There's also violence, the most unhinged kind, but I lived for it, feeling like the cat that got creamed!
If you like your horror bloody and your stomach just a little queasy, you need a handyman in your life
⭐ Gore Factor: 10/10
⭐ Humour Factor: 8/10
⭐ Home Renovation Tips Learned: 0/10 never accept jobs from creepy siblings
This book blew my mind! It made me sick to my stomach, but in a good way! 😍
Forget open-plan living! This book was pretty much open-plan organs. Aron Beauregard turned home renovation into a blood sport, and I was here for it. 🔨🩸
Now, I’ve seen this thing floating around more than a severed head in a horror swamp, and curiosity finally got the better of me. I figured, I’ll just grab the sample, have a little sneak peek while I wait for Playground: Children of Divorce... "Yeah, right, who the hell was I kidding?
By the second chapter, Aron had me in a choke hold, with a grip so tight whispering, "You’re mine now, sucker..."and so this was how I ended up with the handyman.
I bought the Kindle version, AND I bought the paperback because why not? Those damn illustrations had me hooked (check out the following slides)
Not gonna lie, this was probably one of the longest and most goriest novels I've read that aron has written, to the point it stands to rival the first Aron novel i read - Wedding day masacre.
It was a novel that was jampacked with moments you'd likely not forget anytime soon that you'd think the devil himself wrote this.
But no, it all comes from the crazy, unhinged mind of Aron Bearegard, and that's not all. There's a tale within a tale consisting of an actual meat mobile, put together from years of brutal slayings, a house made from human flesh oh and did I forget to mention two twin siblings hellbent on making contact with another world?
This isn’t your average renovation story where you slap on some fresh paint and call it a day. There's blood and lots of it. There's also violence, the most unhinged kind, but I lived for it, feeling like the cat that got creamed!
If you like your horror bloody and your stomach just a little queasy, you need a handyman in your life
⭐ Gore Factor: 10/10
⭐ Humour Factor: 8/10
⭐ Home Renovation Tips Learned: 0/10 never accept jobs from creepy siblings
This book blew my mind! It made me sick to my stomach, but in a good way! 😍
August 14, 2025
This book led me to a startling realization about Aaron Beauregard.
You see, Handyman demonstrates that Beauregard really does have a mind for horror on par with greats like Stephen King and Paul Tremblay. He knows how to craft interesting lead characters and villains that mirror them, highlighting their flaws and traumas as depraved reflections. He’s really good at metaphors, themes, and a lot of other more subtle aspects of horror literature.
The only thing is that he’s not subtle about them at all.
I think he COULD make a subtle, eerie atmospheric horror piece, but instead, he slowly turns all his characters into absolute psychopaths, quipping action stars, or some combination of the two, takes an already out there premise and mixed in a million other insane plot threads, literally tells you the themes and metaphors directly and beats you over the head with them for the rest of the book, and stretches the medium to its absolute limit with stuff like illustrations, QR codes, and even a fucking coin flip to decide how one book ends. And y’know what? I respect it. I’ve even grown to like it.
Maybe it’s just Stockholm syndrome at this point, but I really do think there is something admirable about the way Aron Beauregard rejects all genre conventions, and even medium conventions and just does whatever the fuck he wants. Sure, a lot of the writing does feel immature, but I do find myself impressed with a lot of his characters and themes, even if he doesn’t really give us the chance to interpret them for ourselves.
Handyman is great, it’s an insane, ever tonally inconsistent ride that offers a lot of fun and has just enough heart to never feel mean-spirited. Highlights include a necrophiliac protagonist, a child-killing sex wolverine, and a sentient toilet who’s honestly the MVP of the story.
You see, Handyman demonstrates that Beauregard really does have a mind for horror on par with greats like Stephen King and Paul Tremblay. He knows how to craft interesting lead characters and villains that mirror them, highlighting their flaws and traumas as depraved reflections. He’s really good at metaphors, themes, and a lot of other more subtle aspects of horror literature.
The only thing is that he’s not subtle about them at all.
I think he COULD make a subtle, eerie atmospheric horror piece, but instead, he slowly turns all his characters into absolute psychopaths, quipping action stars, or some combination of the two, takes an already out there premise and mixed in a million other insane plot threads, literally tells you the themes and metaphors directly and beats you over the head with them for the rest of the book, and stretches the medium to its absolute limit with stuff like illustrations, QR codes, and even a fucking coin flip to decide how one book ends. And y’know what? I respect it. I’ve even grown to like it.
Maybe it’s just Stockholm syndrome at this point, but I really do think there is something admirable about the way Aron Beauregard rejects all genre conventions, and even medium conventions and just does whatever the fuck he wants. Sure, a lot of the writing does feel immature, but I do find myself impressed with a lot of his characters and themes, even if he doesn’t really give us the chance to interpret them for ourselves.
Handyman is great, it’s an insane, ever tonally inconsistent ride that offers a lot of fun and has just enough heart to never feel mean-spirited. Highlights include a necrophiliac protagonist, a child-killing sex wolverine, and a sentient toilet who’s honestly the MVP of the story.
April 20, 2025
𝑵𝒐𝒘, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰'𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒚.
To anyone who thinks that splatterpunk is just pages and pages of the most over the top gratuitous violence, you're mistaken, especially in the case of HANDYMAN. Yes, it's a wild tale of incestuous siblings who dabble in dark magic. It's also the tale of Vinny, a tortured man raised by a soulless, murderous father and Sara, a woman who is adrift after losing her husband and son. But most of all, it's about losing people you love and how grief becomes a vise, until it slowly erodes the very foundation of everything you once believed in.
I loved Vinny Fowler's character. He's on the verge of having the life he's always yearned for--he's got a beautiful family, and he's made a name for himself in the construction business. His happiness is almost enough to blot out the tortured memories of his past. But if you were a witness to the things Vinny endured at the hands of his father, you'd be sobbing softly in a padded cell somewhere. This dude has grit and determination, and I deeply admired him for that.
Everything changes for Vinny when he is assigned to help remodel the home of an elderly brother and sister. He soon notices that this project is much more than a simple remodel and that the siblings have taken an interest in more than just his handyman skills.
While the storylines of Sara and Vinny converge in a realistic way, Sara's character took a backseat for me because I was so focused on Vinny. The atrocities he was subjected to were just unbelievable, and the fact that he was able to be a functional adult was shocking.
Visceral, bleak, and somber, this is a story I won't soon forget. I purchased a hardcover from the author directly. Highly recommended.
To anyone who thinks that splatterpunk is just pages and pages of the most over the top gratuitous violence, you're mistaken, especially in the case of HANDYMAN. Yes, it's a wild tale of incestuous siblings who dabble in dark magic. It's also the tale of Vinny, a tortured man raised by a soulless, murderous father and Sara, a woman who is adrift after losing her husband and son. But most of all, it's about losing people you love and how grief becomes a vise, until it slowly erodes the very foundation of everything you once believed in.
I loved Vinny Fowler's character. He's on the verge of having the life he's always yearned for--he's got a beautiful family, and he's made a name for himself in the construction business. His happiness is almost enough to blot out the tortured memories of his past. But if you were a witness to the things Vinny endured at the hands of his father, you'd be sobbing softly in a padded cell somewhere. This dude has grit and determination, and I deeply admired him for that.
Everything changes for Vinny when he is assigned to help remodel the home of an elderly brother and sister. He soon notices that this project is much more than a simple remodel and that the siblings have taken an interest in more than just his handyman skills.
While the storylines of Sara and Vinny converge in a realistic way, Sara's character took a backseat for me because I was so focused on Vinny. The atrocities he was subjected to were just unbelievable, and the fact that he was able to be a functional adult was shocking.
Visceral, bleak, and somber, this is a story I won't soon forget. I purchased a hardcover from the author directly. Highly recommended.
February 28, 2025
I was over the moon excited for this story, the cover alone had me losing my damn marbles! While there were many aspects of this story that I really enjoyed, in the end I just didn't love it.
Handyman at its core is a great book. The writing is awesome as always, the violence and depravity when it comes up is cranked to 11, the characters are well developed, but my interests simply do not align with the target audience this book was made for. I'd like to be VERY clear about this. For the vast majority of horror readers, this may very well be a five stars across the board horror novel. It's got all the making for pure greatness. There were a few questions I had throughout, sure, some stuff was a little confusing, but my real issue was... see the end for a spoiler. I wanted more Vinny. More of his story. More of his father. In a sense, what I expected was everything I got in the flashbacks to Vinny's troubled past. The deep dives into his life were amazing and had me glued to the book.
I love Aron's writing. I'll buy every signed deluxe copy he ever releases.
Unfortunately for me, handyman was a miss.
SPOILER AHEAD. ITS A SPOILER GUYS DON'T KEEP GOING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED.
Where I was expecting some sort of deranged lunatic serial killer using the guise of handyman to conduct brutal killings, I got a haunted house story. It's not a bad haunted house story. It just went a bit too far into the realm of ridiculousness for me.
Handyman at its core is a great book. The writing is awesome as always, the violence and depravity when it comes up is cranked to 11, the characters are well developed, but my interests simply do not align with the target audience this book was made for. I'd like to be VERY clear about this. For the vast majority of horror readers, this may very well be a five stars across the board horror novel. It's got all the making for pure greatness. There were a few questions I had throughout, sure, some stuff was a little confusing, but my real issue was... see the end for a spoiler. I wanted more Vinny. More of his story. More of his father. In a sense, what I expected was everything I got in the flashbacks to Vinny's troubled past. The deep dives into his life were amazing and had me glued to the book.
I love Aron's writing. I'll buy every signed deluxe copy he ever releases.
Unfortunately for me, handyman was a miss.
SPOILER AHEAD. ITS A SPOILER GUYS DON'T KEEP GOING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED.
Where I was expecting some sort of deranged lunatic serial killer using the guise of handyman to conduct brutal killings, I got a haunted house story. It's not a bad haunted house story. It just went a bit too far into the realm of ridiculousness for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
WOW! THIS NEEDS TO BE MADE INTO A MOVIE! STAT!
This book was an absolute Mind F*ck of a story with brutal scenes that you can't tear your eyes away from. It's like watching a train wreck with many people tied to the tracks, and all you can do is rubberneck.
Aron Beauregard is a master at his craft. The story of the Handyman was a brilliant one! I think this is my new favorite Aron Beauregard book so far.
Vinny is a family man with a dark past. Two elderly siblings want to use this darkness for their collective scheme to rule the world, and that's what the story is about. There is so much going on in this story as Aron twists and turns the steering wheel. Where we end up, only he knew. And wow, I'm amazed at how brilliant this tale was. I loved every minute of this listen. Also, on a side note, the narrator did a fantastic job! The metronome device was a cool add-on in the audio.
If this were turned into a slasher flick for the big screen, it would be a mix of Hellraiser and Terrifier. I really liked the tribulations that Vinny had to go through. It kind of reminded me of All Smiles Until I Return, another brilliant story by Aron Beauregard.
Overall, I give this tale 5/5 stars! I think this goes up there with my favorite stories of all time! I think I like this one more than Modern Hysteria, and I didn't think Aron could top that one in my eyes, yet he has! I'm always in awe at this man's talent!
This book was an absolute Mind F*ck of a story with brutal scenes that you can't tear your eyes away from. It's like watching a train wreck with many people tied to the tracks, and all you can do is rubberneck.
Aron Beauregard is a master at his craft. The story of the Handyman was a brilliant one! I think this is my new favorite Aron Beauregard book so far.
Vinny is a family man with a dark past. Two elderly siblings want to use this darkness for their collective scheme to rule the world, and that's what the story is about. There is so much going on in this story as Aron twists and turns the steering wheel. Where we end up, only he knew. And wow, I'm amazed at how brilliant this tale was. I loved every minute of this listen. Also, on a side note, the narrator did a fantastic job! The metronome device was a cool add-on in the audio.
If this were turned into a slasher flick for the big screen, it would be a mix of Hellraiser and Terrifier. I really liked the tribulations that Vinny had to go through. It kind of reminded me of All Smiles Until I Return, another brilliant story by Aron Beauregard.
Overall, I give this tale 5/5 stars! I think this goes up there with my favorite stories of all time! I think I like this one more than Modern Hysteria, and I didn't think Aron could top that one in my eyes, yet he has! I'm always in awe at this man's talent!
June 25, 2025
Aron Beauregard’s Handyman is a full-length extreme horror novel that is both disturbingly gory and deeply moving. Aron has a singular talent for twisting both your guts and your emotions, employing provocative characters and vivid horrors to tell stories of incredible impact. That being said, Handyman exceeded my expectations.
This is a wonderfully complex story with a definitive human element, elements of the occult, and vile horrors that will astound and upset your sensibilities. The profound graphic nature of the horrors herein is upsettingly and fittingly integral, as one expects form this incredible author. But will you, nil you, you will be moved to thoughts and feelings alongside being horrified to your toes.
Handyman is one part poignant tale of regret, grief, and determination, one part twisted tale of vile and gruesome occultism, and wholly a compelling read. It will test both your intestinal and mental fortitude—it really got to me—and I cannot recommend it enough, but extreme horror readers only, please.
A Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2025/06/25/handyman/
This is a wonderfully complex story with a definitive human element, elements of the occult, and vile horrors that will astound and upset your sensibilities. The profound graphic nature of the horrors herein is upsettingly and fittingly integral, as one expects form this incredible author. But will you, nil you, you will be moved to thoughts and feelings alongside being horrified to your toes.
Handyman is one part poignant tale of regret, grief, and determination, one part twisted tale of vile and gruesome occultism, and wholly a compelling read. It will test both your intestinal and mental fortitude—it really got to me—and I cannot recommend it enough, but extreme horror readers only, please.
A Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2025/06/25/handyman/
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