Vampires and Monsters

Monsters #7

by J. Boote

Anthony Taylor is born into a troubled, toxic family. An alcoholic father who beats and abuses Anthony, his mother, and his two sisters. Especially his two sisters.
For years, this carries on until Anthony has had enough and decides it has to end. From then on, he is free to live his life however he sees fit.
But during all this time, Anthony has developed certain fetishes and kinks, that consume him, even more so when he reaches puberty. Soon, these fetiches overtake all other needs and desires in his life and he’ll stop at nothing to obtain them. And killing is just part of the fun; it’s what comes afterwards that Anthony seeks and enjoys—and to reach his own twisted climax.
Based on a true story.

Genres: Horror

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

J. Boote is the alter-ego of Justin Boote, author of horror and dark fiction. J. Boote writes primarily extreme horror, not for the faint-hearted or easily offended.

Reviews

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 rounded up)

“How are monsters made?” That’s the question at the heart of Vampires and Monsters—a brutal, disturbing exploration of nature versus nurture and how innocence curdles into monstrosity. This book is disgusting—in the best and worst ways.

We follow Anthony through a coming-of-age story warped beyond recognition into a horrible adult. What starts as curiosity and youthful exploration devolves into obsession, cruelty, and murder. Anthony, convinced of his own genius, becomes the embodiment of unchecked ego and rot.

J. Boote doesn’t shy away from anything here: sexual deviance, violence, psychological decay—every trigger warning applies. It’s uncomfortable, explicit, and often difficult to stomach, especially if you care about animals or children (seriously, don’t read this if you can’t handle that).

This book left me repulsed, fascinated, and questioning where humanity ends and horror begins. No wonder the series is called Monsters.

P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever read the word “ejaculated” so many times

[Sarah Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this series and am so grateful for the ARCs. #7 is brutal, disgusting, and just so good. After reading things based on actual events, I have to sit and try to wrap my head around the fact that this actually happened and there are people like this living among us. I couldn’t put this book down and I look forward to #8!

[Rachal Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the monster series, Anthony is full of rage as a young boy growing up with an alcoholic father, two sisters and a weak mother, once he escapes his family situation he is free to explore and carry out his desires and they are brutal.

[Emily | TheHauntedShelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is DARK.

We follow Anthony, The Gorleston Vampire, who is an absolute POS human being. The first half of the book serves as a coming-of-age story, where we see Anthony develop into the abhorrent adult he becomes. The second half of the book follows him on his rampage through his local towns, committing all sorts of atrocities whilst the authorities try to catch him.

I’ll keep this spoiler free, but this book has all of the darkest TWs, so please check them if you need to. As devastating as the story is, I absolutely couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day.

As always with this series, the book is based on a real case, in this instance, The Vampire of Düsseldorf. Once again, a reminder that humans are the real monsters.

*I was kindly gifted an ARC by the author*

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brutal and crazy that it’s based on true events.

[renee w · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There’s a man out there who has single-handedly brought complete and utter terror to the whole town. Everyone is panicking, scared to leave their homes, the police clueless and he won’t ever be stopped because of their incompetence and his ability to go undetected.”

Anthony is a nine year-old boy who has grown up in a house of horrors. He and his two sisters have grown up with an alcoholic father and a mother too scared to do anything about it. They have witnessed atrocities nobody ever should. When one day he suddenly finds himself able to make an escape so he does just that . And the Gorleston vampire has come to life…..

“A bonafide monster, striking fear and terror into the hearts of all those that lived in Gorleston and the surrounding villages. No one would be safe.”

As two detectives race against the clock to find out who is terrorizing their village, the bodies continue to pile up.

This is book 7 of the monster series. It can easily be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the entire series. This releases on September 1. If you have any trigger warnings this book is not for you! Thank you, Justin and fat 🐈‍⬛ for the early read.

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one was the closest story to the real criminal and this in turn made Vampires & Monsters the most shocking book in the series. Every single trigger is in here but Justin, as always, executed it with finesse and respect.

[Lesley Camphouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful to have beta read this one. Another hit in the Monsters series.

In this book, we follow Anthony, and boy... he's something, an actual piece of shit. Although not an actual vampire, he develops interesting habits and tastes. Anthony is a snotty, entitled asshole who's only interested in his own selfish needs. Oh, and he likes to ejaculate a lot.

As usual, I don't want to spoil anything, but trust me when I say this one doesn't disappoint.

[Corrina Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Monsters book 7, and I have been so looking forward to this instalment. As I do with every instalment. This is one of, if not my most favourite, extreme horror book series! Based on real life monsters and events, Boote puts a ton of research into every book, and then puts his own twisted spin on them, creating these deeply disturbing, eagerly anticipated nightmares for those of us who like to read about the darker side of life.

However, I found this the toughest read in the series yet! In fact I had to quit reading at 25% in and take a huge breather. But, after conversing with J Boote, I came back to it… and of course, Im glad I did.

It made for some very uncomfortable reading, made me feel absolutely sick to my stomach, and yet, it also ripped my heart out.

Like a car wreck, it's horrific and disturbing, but you can't look away, you just gotta keep flipping those pages and letting the horrors unfold, no matter how much you know they're gonna worm their way into your mind, and stick around!

Three young children who are living in absolute fear of their drunken, abusive father, one of them a young boy, but the oldest of the three, takes the abuse on board, and lets it fester, until it consumes him and starts to change him. He feels unbridled fury at what his father puts them through, but at the same time an underlying morbid fascination, one that eventually gets the better of him….

After being the brunt of a lot of bullying, he seeks solace elsewhere, but the pleasure and acceptance he seeks soon loses its excitement for him, and he has to move on to more extreme measures.

Whilst in prison, Anthony learns two things..
1. That he never wants to go back there, and
2. He has a terrifying and disturbing new outlook on life...and death!

His obsession spirals quickly out of control, almost as fast as the blood gushing from his victims. And he laps it up....literally. He begins to crave the notoriety his deeds bring, and when its not immediately forthcoming he takes desperate, drastic action. Like a drug, he needs to increase the high every time, making each killing more sick, twisted and horrific than the last…

This is another genius, gore soaked, chilling and extremely disturbing addition to the Monsters series, and I cannot wait for the next!

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books in this series NEVER disappoint. What a wild ride!

[Mellisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Anthony Taylor escapes a violent childhood, but the trauma twists into obsessive fetishes that come to dominate his life, turning murder into a means of satisfying his darkest compulsions.

Review: Another absolutely fantastic entry in the Monster Collection

Grim, disturbing, and genuinely horrifying - each story somehow manages to outdo the last. This is proper extreme horror, the kind that crawls under your skin and stays there.

I’m especially intrigued by Georgina. Would love to see her pop up again in future books… detective arc, maybe? You never know!

Now I’m just gutted I have to wait for the next story 😩

[Jenny McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justin Boote strikes again! -⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- I was so excited to see there was another story in the Monster series! And to be given the chance to read it early- YES!
This book really doesn’t disappoint. Anthony is a very messed up and a ‘insane beyond words’ Individual. Very clever but Jesus- is he disturbed.
This book had me gasping, squirming and pulling my face in disgust all the way through and the further you read, the more unsettling it becomes.
I really do find these books so intriguing as they are based on true crime events.
Strong stomach needed for this. But if these kinds of books are your thing, you are going to love this one!

[Claudia Rambles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthony grew up hating his father for what he did to his mother and sisters. One day, he decides enough is enough. But with it, a can of worms opens, and Anthony discovers he craves far more than revenge.
He pushes every limit, always looking for the next, darker thrill. With no care for the lives he destroys, he leaves a trail of blood behind him and soon earns the name The Gorleston Vampire.
Depraved and unhinged, he’s like an adult trapped in puberty, ruled by desire and driven by pleasure.

Disgusting, infuriating, and shocking, this book delivers graphic scenes that will churn your stomach.
Trigger warnings are essential here and be prepared… the list is long.

If you’re looking for a dark and brutal read, this series has you covered.
… and all seven books are available on Kindle Unlimited. (and they’re all based in real cases)

This review and more here:
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[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made me disgusted and yet intrigued. the fact that Anthony was considered a vampire who raced dead kids after he killed and drank there blood was so fucked up. I couldn't stop reading. but to find out that most if not close to all of it was true there really is monsters out in this world that do this horrid things. shakes me to my core. Definitely not for the faint of heart

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, intense read

[Nicole Rubbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony never stood a chance. Raised by an abusive, alcoholic father and a mother who refused to see the truth, his childhood was nothing but pain and failed escapes.

Adulthood offered no salvation. Instead, Anthony’s broken mind twisted into dangerous obsessions—fetishes that soon crossed the line into crimes that put him behind bars. Prison should have contained him, but isolation only fed his darkness. Locked in solitary, his cravings grew sharper, more perverse, more deadly.

Now, released into the unsuspecting quiet of a small town, Anthony is free at last. But freedom for him means terror for everyone else. To the locals, he’s just another stranger. In reality, he’s a nightmare in human skin—one driven by urges no cage could cure.

Justin Boote returns with another chilling descent into the mind of a predator, crafting a relentless story of trauma, obsession, and the monsters born from them.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even for an extreme horror book, this story has just too many ejaculations! (Even Boote himself notes how he's never had to write the word "ejaculation" so often before lol) And it's all based on fact: the main character, a real SOB, a true monster with too many fetishes to count and far too many victims to enumerate properly, is based on the Vampire of Düsseldorf, a serial killer and serial rapist active in 1920s Düsseldorf.

The first half of "Vampires and Monsters" reads like the vilest, the sickest, the most depraved coming-of-age tale you'll ever read: this is the story of Anthony as a young boy, facing physical abuse by his monster of a father, who's forcing himself on his mother and young sisters and making him watch; as a teen, learning to enjoy bestiality and discovering other perverted forms of sexuality entirely on his own; and as a grown-up, assaulting and sexually abusing women, men, and children. The second half of the book finally brings in the cops assigned to his case as Anthony is branded the Axe Killer and later the Gorleston Vampire; and the chase begins! Though that Anthony fella is one lucky POS...

The book is a standalone, same with all the Monsters books, but connections to the previous stories do crop up from time to time. Centered around the Northgate Hospital for the Criminally Insane, the events in these books are all based on real stories, and several times they gave me heart palpitations - especially when Boote allows the cops to get sooo close to the bad guys or the victim is sooo close to escaping... and then, close but no cigar!

It should be obvious this is recommended for veteran extreme horror readers, since there's something awful happening almost on every page. Won't mention any triggers, for exactly that reason. If you enjoy clean prose and horrific imagery, this is a book you simply cannot miss!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Yessss! Installment number 7 of the Monsters series by J. Boote! Vampires and Monsters does not disappoint! Like the other stories in the Monsters series, this book was based on a real person who did unspeakable things. This is a splatterpunk book that doesn't hold back on the details.

This book focuses on a young Anthony Taylor, who was born into a horribly toxic family with an alcoholic father. He, his sisters, and his mother were helpless under his wrath until one day he decided he had had enough. As an escape, Anthony explored specific interests that soon developed into depraved and horrific fetishes that only worsened when he came into puberty. Letting his desires take control, nothing will stop him from getting what he wants.

Anthony’s character was based on Peter Kurten, also known as The Vampire of Düsseldorf. I love how Boote fashions his stories after real people. I think this makes them even more terrifying and savage. He did a fantastic job of capturing the mind of this monster. I loved the depravity and his repulsive fetishes. You KNOW Boote is doing his job when I gag or have to pause a moment to regain my senses! Great job!

Thanks to J. Boote for gifting me an eARC of Vampires and Monsters. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Carrie Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒅.

The latest installment in a series that's inspired by true cases, VAMPIRES AND MONSTERS features Anthony Taylor, the product of a toxic, abusive upbringing. He's forced to endure beatings from his alcoholic father, and then he's forced to witness the sexual assault of his mother and younger sisters. He's angry and powerless, but instead of awakening a desire for vengeance within him, his father's actions awaken something so much worse.

The prolonged exposure to violence has hardwired his brain, and while he should have a healthy curiosity about sex and relationships as a teenage boy, normal isn't appealing to Anthony. The trail of depravity that he carves out is almost unprecedented in its ferocity. The title comes from Anthony's appetite for blood and violence that go unchecked until he's finally caught. The story is inspired by Peter Kürten, dubbed the Vampire of Düsseldorf, who was a serial killer and serial rapist actively hunting in the 1920s. Many thanks to the author for the early copy. Look for this one on September 1, 2025.

[Kymber Jost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampires and Monsters is the 7th book in Justin Boote’s Monsters series, which is now available on Amazon. At first I was sympathetic for Anthony…He was only 9 years old and endured the verbal abuse of his alcoholic father, while being forced to watch the physical abuse & rape of his mother (& later that of his two younger sisters) by his father.  Sadly, Anthony is just one of many that endure this unthinkable type of abuse.  But for Anthony, it turned him into a Monster himself. At a young age, he was drawn to inflicting pain on others and later the taste for human blood. This need to kill became an obsession and took over his mind. He didn’t care if his victims were men, women, children, old, or young…Anthony was truly evil. As the author addresses at the end of this book, it’s based on a true story.  As I finish another book in J. Boote’s Monsters series, I’m reminded there is evil in this world and it walks amongst us often as someone we might like and/or trust.  On a side note, I like how the author ties in previous characters, including the infamous Northgate Mental Hospital, in this new book.  You will be captivated by this latest novel. Don’t wait…get your copy now.  

[Rica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we are once again with another vile disgusting monster in the 7th installment of the monster series. To preface this review I want to make those aware, every single last trigger you could think of…. Well it’s here in this book. EVERYTHING. You’ve been warned.

We’re following Anthony Taylor this go around, who grew up in a poor family of 5 that consist of 2 sisters, his battered mother and his sociopathic, abusive drunkard of a father. A father who has a twisted sense of making his son a man. Anthony is forced to endure watching the abuse of his mother and 2 sisters with trying to escape. On one of his hiatuses he goes to the woods where he learns exactly what kind of monster he is going to turn into, by taking the life of a smaller child.This sends Anthony down a rabbit whole of dark fetishes. What makes matters worse is he gets away with it. This empowers Anthony’s to indulge more and more until the Gorelston Vampire is created. Just how far do you think Anthony is willing to explore those fetishes? Are you ready to find out?

Thanks again as always for another seat gripper Mr. Boote!

[K D Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony and his sisters really love each other despite their bickering. They’re bonded by trauma. A trauma that makes itself known at tea time everyday when he comes home from work.

That trauma leads Anthony to do horrific things though still a child himself. This book delves into the psyche of how a monster is borne. It thrusts the ideology of nature vs nurture into the fore.

Anthony becomes more and more unhinged as he ages. The second half of this book opens up into a game of cat and mouse and I really enjoyed this part of the book. This part read like a gritty TV series.

There is some really heavy subject matter in this book so I urge you to check your triggers with this one and I mean really check your triggers. There were some parts of this book that I found incredibly difficult to read. This book evokes unrelenting horror and depravity. This book is written incredibly well and credit must go to Justin for his depiction of this true crime story.

[Paige Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much. It is very dark so be warned. These can all be read as standalone but I encourage readers to read them in order. Some of these books have re-appearing characters and makes it even more fun for the reader by reading this way but it's not required by any means, just a personal preference. This is the 7th installment in the series and might just be the darkest yet.

Vampires and Monsters follows Anthony. Anthony grows up in a very abusive and sad environment that ultimately shapes him into the monster he becomes as the story progresses. As the previous stories this one is based on a true story and person. The research that Justin puts into these novels is very well done and you can see how much he continues to grow as a writer as the series continues with each book release.

Highly recommend. Check your TW's!

[Josette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this extreme horror book I felt as though there is nothing worse than a person who has no empathy or compassion for living persons. Of all the books in this series, this book was truly horrifying. Why, do you ask? I think it is because Anthony had no particular ‘type’ of victim. He had no problem attacking and/or murdering any human. He had no discernible taste; only that the person be breathing. The author has developed a way of writing that draws one into the depraved story of a ruthless predator. I have read many books by this author and this one provided another look into what might drive a person to become so disconnected from humanity that the person can observe his crimes as an experiment. Anthony did the things he did just for the pleasure of knowing he could commit these crimes and get away with them. Even the ending left me wondering, is he for real?

[Janelle Halstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so very good. Disgusting and disturbing in the most possible ways. I had a hard time getting through some of it and I usually don’t. I read everything, no tiggers, but there were parts that were very hard to read especially knowing this was based on a true story. I absolutely loved Boote’s author’s note at the end telling the true facts, his real name and some addition details.
Ready for the next Monster book!! 📕 I have read them all and will continue to keep up with them. Please don’t ever stop writing these. I also need to be kept informed of the little spin off series you are writing.

Thank you so much for writing something we can sink our teeth into (see what I did there 😂) and allowing me an ARC Justin Boote!!

[Rhian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come again?

Another Monsters installment from the pen of Mr Boote. And this one.... this one is a doozy.

We follow Anthony's decent into pure depravity. His home life is horrific, and somewhat inevitably he begins his path to horror. We follow him through his young life into adulthood with increasing violence to meet his needs.

Nothing is off the cards with this one. When you think he cannot get worse.... he does.

Please check the triggers, children ✔️ animals ✔️ blood ✔️ SA ✔️ and many more.

And in Justin's usual style, we then hear the true story inspiration for this monster. Given the change in era's this one does need you to leave your disbelief at the door else it just doesnt work.

But if you do that, you will love this next level horror.

On to the next! 😁😁

[Casey thelittlebookdragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

would first like to say a huge thank you to Justin for sending this to me to read.

once again I have not been disappointed, this continues the monsters series and is just as brutal as the others previous of not more so!
this book is so close to the real life story that it makes it that much more disturbing.
I went through a full range of emotions reading this and I could not put it down, Justin has a way of drawing you in with his writing and not letting go until you have finished, it had me disgusted and emotional all at the same time.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for the next instalment....even if it does give me trauma.

[Goose go Honk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride this was.

I have to say I really liked this one. I did jumped from reading half of number two to this one because of how good I heard this book being, let’s say it didn’t let me down.

I started off feeling sorry for Anthony and his life but my word did I start to hate him. His journey of just spiralling was a good read like a really good read.

I am now gonna have to read the rest of the series because shame on me for jumping a head. I just wanted to read this one so bad since I know quite a lot about the vampire of Düsseldorf which this book is inspired off.

Straight up 5/5 would give more it won’t let me add more stars

[Margaret Hamnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stuff with the dad making the kids watch was tough to read and then of course the daughters god! I did not expect the animal incident. Fully expected the blood stuff but was then horribly surprised with what I thought would be the finale kill. The butt stuff was bad but what was done with the burnt feet goop was spectacularly revolting. I genuinely do not know how Mr Boote did it but I nearly wet myself at that ending. So bloody funny. He definitely did it though, somehow more disgusting than the last one.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony is forced to tolerate and bear witness to the abuse meted out by his alcoholic father. At home he seeks to protect his sisters, but away from home his dissociation from morality mutates; his acts increasing in severity as he seeks the ultimate high - and ultimate recognition.

This is extreme-extreme, there is little respite in the intense imagery which is once again amplified by the knowledge that this is based on a real case.

The research that goes into the books in this series is astounding and the resulting reader impact, profound.