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My Corpse Has a Heartbeat
Turner Blake loves his wife and children just as much as he enjoys killing people. Balancing date nights and birthday parties with chainsaw chases and shooting sprees is no easy task, but he thinks he's found the perfect system.
When mysterious notes threaten to expose him, he must leash his addiction or risk losing those closest to him. Turner soon realizes old habits die hard as his sanity and his family's safety spiral out of control.
MY CORPSE HAS A HEARTBEAT puts you in the mind of a killer at a crossroad. Deeply disturbing and darkly funny, this unfiltered narrative is as morally fractured as the man telling it and the society that continues to listen.
When mysterious notes threaten to expose him, he must leash his addiction or risk losing those closest to him. Turner soon realizes old habits die hard as his sanity and his family's safety spiral out of control.
MY CORPSE HAS A HEARTBEAT puts you in the mind of a killer at a crossroad. Deeply disturbing and darkly funny, this unfiltered narrative is as morally fractured as the man telling it and the society that continues to listen.
- GenresHorror
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2025
113 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Nick Roberts
31 books2,459 followersNick Roberts is a native West Virginian and a doctoral graduate of Marshall University. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild. His works include Anathema, The Exorcist's House, It Haunts the Mind & Other Stories, and Mean Spirited. He currently resides in South Carolina with his family and is an advocate for people in recovery from substance use disorder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 21, 2026
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Big things come in small packages. This is true of wedding rings, dynamite, lottery tickets, checks, and a balls-to-the-wall novella that starts at 10 and cranks the volume up from there.
With one of the most shocking endings I’ve read, as we’re trapped in the mind of a serial killer in the throes of a full on berserker mode, this novella rips from start to finish.
Nick Roberts knows how to write — not in the pompous, literary, prosaic, vainglorious sense — he just knows how to put a story together that I want binge. He steps a bit outside of the supernatural lane he’s paved for himself, but it’s a welcome departure, and one I wouldn’t mind seeing more of as he tests the waters of his creative reach.
I’ll read anything he puts out, but this one will stick in my head for a while. If I was a corpse, this would definitely give me a heartbeat too.
Big things come in small packages. This is true of wedding rings, dynamite, lottery tickets, checks, and a balls-to-the-wall novella that starts at 10 and cranks the volume up from there.
With one of the most shocking endings I’ve read, as we’re trapped in the mind of a serial killer in the throes of a full on berserker mode, this novella rips from start to finish.
Nick Roberts knows how to write — not in the pompous, literary, prosaic, vainglorious sense — he just knows how to put a story together that I want binge. He steps a bit outside of the supernatural lane he’s paved for himself, but it’s a welcome departure, and one I wouldn’t mind seeing more of as he tests the waters of his creative reach.
I’ll read anything he puts out, but this one will stick in my head for a while. If I was a corpse, this would definitely give me a heartbeat too.
January 2, 2026
"Do what you love and love what you do. Even if it’s fleeing a crime scene dressed like Rocky Balboa wearing a Devil mask with a nail in his heel."
January 7, 2026
So good. Still gathering my thoughts, but this is one helluva read. It starts off feeling a bit like Dexter, but it goes a totally different direction and has a VERY satisfying ending! Very unpredictable too, especially with that unreliable narrator! Nick Roberts makes us all work harder.
December 21, 2025
What a ride! This had a "You" vibe to it, being told from the serial killer's POV including the frequent inner dialogue. And it was awesome.
I found myself going back and forth between rooting for Turner as the hero (think Dexter) and but then thinking this guy is super sick and twisted. He was the perfect combo of both.
Make you sure you have time to sit down and read this entire book because you are literally not going to be able to put it down.
Another hit from Nick Roberts - loved it!
I found myself going back and forth between rooting for Turner as the hero (think Dexter) and but then thinking this guy is super sick and twisted. He was the perfect combo of both.
Make you sure you have time to sit down and read this entire book because you are literally not going to be able to put it down.
Another hit from Nick Roberts - loved it!
December 21, 2025
This started out as an entertaining story from the serial killer's perspective. A Dennis Raider-esque killer who wants to take care of his family and keep up his killer hobby. I was roped in quickly then started to lose interest. It just started to be so repetitive. Things take a turn, but not exactly a unique turn and it didn't save the story for me. Maybe if it was shorter or structured differently it would have stayed an interesting read.
Side note, I wish I knew the moment Nick Roberts discovered the word 'Anathema,' it must have been a magical moment for him, I swear that word pops up in all his books! And obviously he even has a book with that word as the title. Not a criticism or anything, its a fun word, just something I keep noticing.
Side note, I wish I knew the moment Nick Roberts discovered the word 'Anathema,' it must have been a magical moment for him, I swear that word pops up in all his books! And obviously he even has a book with that word as the title. Not a criticism or anything, its a fun word, just something I keep noticing.
December 22, 2025
Hey Nick? Are you okay? I’m just checking.
It’s always cool to get the killers pov and kind of get into their heads. This was really fucked up. Wish I could sugar code it but that’s what it is.
It’s always cool to get the killers pov and kind of get into their heads. This was really fucked up. Wish I could sugar code it but that’s what it is.
December 31, 2025
If your favorite part of American Psycho is when the ATM machine tells Patrick Bateman to "feed me a stray cat," then you're probably going to love this book.
I read a lot of Nick Roberts this year, and this is my new favorite. It wasn't as scary as some of his others but it was majorly disturbing and, more important, a total blast. If I could offer this dude some serial killer advice: he really needs to learn some patience. Like, sure, kill the kid who kicked your child, but do it six months later, not the very afternoon that the incident occurred.
I read a lot of Nick Roberts this year, and this is my new favorite. It wasn't as scary as some of his others but it was majorly disturbing and, more important, a total blast. If I could offer this dude some serial killer advice: he really needs to learn some patience. Like, sure, kill the kid who kicked your child, but do it six months later, not the very afternoon that the incident occurred.
January 7, 2026
Dark as hell loved it
December 22, 2025
I loved this! This one feels wildly different from Nick Robert’s other work, deliciously unhinged in the best way. I’ve always been a fan of his writing style, but what really impressed me here is how effortlessly he proves he can pivot genres and still absolutely nail it.
The pacing is fast, the humor is dry and razor sharp, and the wit lands perfectly without undercutting the story. It was fun in a way that felt intentional, not gimmicky. The Batman references were an unexpected bonus and had me grinning more than once.
And honestly? The fact that this dropped early (accidentally) I’m very grateful for. A standout read that shows just how versatile Nick Roberts really is.
The pacing is fast, the humor is dry and razor sharp, and the wit lands perfectly without undercutting the story. It was fun in a way that felt intentional, not gimmicky. The Batman references were an unexpected bonus and had me grinning more than once.
And honestly? The fact that this dropped early (accidentally) I’m very grateful for. A standout read that shows just how versatile Nick Roberts really is.
December 28, 2025
Once again Nick Roberts has both massaged my brain with his writing while simultaneously making me wonder if I’m the person that inappropriately laughs at the wrong times.
There were a few giggles in this book. Actual giggles like I was a high school girl reading about shimmering vampires. But following those giggles was a mash of unhinged rage, shark decapitation, viscera splattering, and a clown in a cubby hole.
What happens when the family man living next to you in the cookie cutter neighborhood? He goes to his sons lil league games, he reads bedtime stories to his little girl, he has random sex with his wife whenever the time is available and he kills without judgement? That’s what we find out in this book. My Corpse Has A Heartbeat is about the average dude who has some not average hobbies.
I was amazed at the way Nick Roberts was able to bring such a character to life. I was rooting for this man - like genuinely rooting for him to have it all and this is a man who murders because the kid was a douche bagging his groceries! But it’s inevitable, you just LIKE the dude. I loved how personality was brought into play with every character in this story ( the children weren’t traumatized messes, they were your average spoiled well loved kids ) and how Laya wasn’t the bitch wife who makes the husband kill.. it actually speaks on how much he loves his wife & that alone was refreshing! But the way he brought humanity to a man who was clearly lacking in that sense is brilliant.
I will never miss a book by Nick but this was a welcomed surprise that I can not wait to see how others feel about. Definitely 5/5 would recommend.
There were a few giggles in this book. Actual giggles like I was a high school girl reading about shimmering vampires. But following those giggles was a mash of unhinged rage, shark decapitation, viscera splattering, and a clown in a cubby hole.
What happens when the family man living next to you in the cookie cutter neighborhood? He goes to his sons lil league games, he reads bedtime stories to his little girl, he has random sex with his wife whenever the time is available and he kills without judgement? That’s what we find out in this book. My Corpse Has A Heartbeat is about the average dude who has some not average hobbies.
I was amazed at the way Nick Roberts was able to bring such a character to life. I was rooting for this man - like genuinely rooting for him to have it all and this is a man who murders because the kid was a douche bagging his groceries! But it’s inevitable, you just LIKE the dude. I loved how personality was brought into play with every character in this story ( the children weren’t traumatized messes, they were your average spoiled well loved kids ) and how Laya wasn’t the bitch wife who makes the husband kill.. it actually speaks on how much he loves his wife & that alone was refreshing! But the way he brought humanity to a man who was clearly lacking in that sense is brilliant.
I will never miss a book by Nick but this was a welcomed surprise that I can not wait to see how others feel about. Definitely 5/5 would recommend.
January 7, 2026
My Corpse Has a Heartbeat gets under the skin quickly. Nick Roberts writes characters with such care they feel undeniably alive. Their thoughts are natural, their actions believable no matter how vile, and their pain seeps into you as if it were your own. You don’t simply witness what happens to them. You live it beside them, and that makes what follows almost unbearable. The immersion is relentless, dragging you deeper with every page. I felt like I knew them. Like I was reading an account of something I once lived through. Like I was keeping their awful secrets for them. Like I was complicit. The horror is emotionally destructive, forcing you to sit with dread, grief, and full-body anxiety. Roberts builds you up only to dismantle you completely before you realize what’s happening. This is another powerful, unsettling story from a writer who knows exactly how to put his readers in a literary chokehold in all the right ways. His monsters feel so real, so human even when it feels impossible to believe they are, that you may even find yourself mourning them if/when they fall. Brilliant.
December 23, 2025
Absolutely devoured this book. Thanks for another banger, Nick!! Had me giggling and cringing all throughout lol WHAT AN ENDING.
Absolutely love the way he flipped a switch at the end and his other personality took over. It was so eerie. This is very different from his other work and I really enjoyed the direction he took this story!! Loved the pop culture references as well 🔪 🍆
Absolutely love the way he flipped a switch at the end and his other personality took over. It was so eerie. This is very different from his other work and I really enjoyed the direction he took this story!! Loved the pop culture references as well 🔪 🍆
December 28, 2025
There are not many books that make me say "oh my gosh, what the fck, wow" etc out loud while reading... BUT, this book. That is it. That is the review. Incredible job done, F*ck-O.
January 7, 2026
Damn! What a wild ride! So dark, disturbing, and funny! Loved this style of writing coming from Nick Roberts.
January 5, 2026
This author use to be a clever humorous horror writer,now he’s just cranking out crap as fast as his hands can type and it SHOWS, for this level of gore foul language and useless sex scenes (which he obviously used as filler on a less than 200 page book but to be honest if it had been longer I absolutely wouldn’t have been able to finish this junk) you need the book to either be good or funny this book was neither , it makes me sad to see an author I loved so much turn into a machine that just cranks out book after book instead of taking the time to write a quality novel , I think this is my last purchase from nick
January 9, 2026
This was wild.
An absolute you never know what’s going on with someone!
The ending got me.
An absolute you never know what’s going on with someone!
The ending got me.
January 6, 2026
1/4/2026 - 1/5/2026
4
totally didn’t expect that to go in the direction it did. when ryan got shot, my jaw literally dropped. poor guy fr. match made in heaven, that couple who killed and ate kids. he’s like an extra immoral dexter, the way he’s able to kill a kid and his dads bc he “accidentally” tripped his son and cause him to have a broken ankle. his descent into madness after his wife and children got murdered is legit crazy. like he essentially got shot in the face, chest and stomach, and was able to murder their captor and his ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD!! like fr what was the reason. yeah he went crazy and devolved into a monster (lowkey already one, but i’m making a point) he fr went cray, also he’s lowkey unique with the way he’s killing ppl. dropping weights on their ankles, making their children drop an axe into their leg and then lighting them on fire, using razor wire, tying a noose around their neck and then dragging them with the car. he cray cray but imaginative so that’s a plus. he truly loved his family and that’s the worst part. awesome read!
4
totally didn’t expect that to go in the direction it did. when ryan got shot, my jaw literally dropped. poor guy fr. match made in heaven, that couple who killed and ate kids. he’s like an extra immoral dexter, the way he’s able to kill a kid and his dads bc he “accidentally” tripped his son and cause him to have a broken ankle. his descent into madness after his wife and children got murdered is legit crazy. like he essentially got shot in the face, chest and stomach, and was able to murder their captor and his ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD!! like fr what was the reason. yeah he went crazy and devolved into a monster (lowkey already one, but i’m making a point) he fr went cray, also he’s lowkey unique with the way he’s killing ppl. dropping weights on their ankles, making their children drop an axe into their leg and then lighting them on fire, using razor wire, tying a noose around their neck and then dragging them with the car. he cray cray but imaginative so that’s a plus. he truly loved his family and that’s the worst part. awesome read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2025
This was a very surprising one from Nick Roberts! I've read almost all of his books and they all have so much heart and emotion. He writes characters that feel so real and relatable, even when they're placed in very dark situations.
THIS story, however was something completely different. I think the word that best describes this one is, "mean." He wasn't pulling any punches with this story and it went places I really didn't think it would go. I say all this as the highest praise because it felt like he nailed something that I hadn't seen him do before.
This book was not at all what I was expecting but I really really enjoyed it. The main character is such a douche and I loved NOT rooting for him. I definitely recommend this for any horror fan who loves an unhinged main character. Nick Roberts is one of the most reliable horror writers out there and this just further proves his consistency in top notch storytelling.
THIS story, however was something completely different. I think the word that best describes this one is, "mean." He wasn't pulling any punches with this story and it went places I really didn't think it would go. I say all this as the highest praise because it felt like he nailed something that I hadn't seen him do before.
This book was not at all what I was expecting but I really really enjoyed it. The main character is such a douche and I loved NOT rooting for him. I definitely recommend this for any horror fan who loves an unhinged main character. Nick Roberts is one of the most reliable horror writers out there and this just further proves his consistency in top notch storytelling.
December 27, 2025
The chaos! The gore! But I could not stop reading haha.
December 30, 2025
what the f*ck did I just read? I need more people to read this book so I can talk to someone about it! Took off a star because some parts felt a little slow. That ending though, god damn!! Talk about going out with a bang!
January 2, 2026
This book has solidified for me how much I enjoy NR and consider him one of my favorite current authors.
Now that may seem surprising after seeing a 3 star rating but this was merely because the subject matter/POV didn’t work for me. Ive found that I need a character I can root for, or at the very least relate to (in their imperfections too) but this main character was too far gone.
Now that may seem surprising after seeing a 3 star rating but this was merely because the subject matter/POV didn’t work for me. Ive found that I need a character I can root for, or at the very least relate to (in their imperfections too) but this main character was too far gone.
January 18, 2026
do not pmo
December 24, 2025
Turner Blake loves his wife, loves his kids… and also really loves killing people....
Nick Roberts has done it again, and at this point I’m convinced he’s incapable of writing a bad story.
This book was SHARP, UNFILTERED, MORALLY COOKED, and IMPOSSIBLE to put down.
It’s the kind of book where you catch yourself laughing ALOT (and this was in the first few chapters already) because Turner has got to be the funniest family man, come serial killer character I've ever had the pleasure reading about.
Told completely from Turners POV you get to hear the thoughts inside his head...from the lady at the supermarket making commentary on his purchases to the teenage bagger who bags up his groceries, and his thoughts as he ponders his next kill...Nick, I really lost my shit this time 🤣🤣🤣
Oh and as a side note, always remember to get on nicks good side cos god knows what his bad side looks like...oh wait, I know what Nick's bad side looks like if Turner is any indication!
Another absolute banger from my favourite indie horror mastermind 🙌🙌🙌
Nick Roberts has done it again, and at this point I’m convinced he’s incapable of writing a bad story.
This book was SHARP, UNFILTERED, MORALLY COOKED, and IMPOSSIBLE to put down.
It’s the kind of book where you catch yourself laughing ALOT (and this was in the first few chapters already) because Turner has got to be the funniest family man, come serial killer character I've ever had the pleasure reading about.
Told completely from Turners POV you get to hear the thoughts inside his head...from the lady at the supermarket making commentary on his purchases to the teenage bagger who bags up his groceries, and his thoughts as he ponders his next kill...Nick, I really lost my shit this time 🤣🤣🤣
Oh and as a side note, always remember to get on nicks good side cos god knows what his bad side looks like...oh wait, I know what Nick's bad side looks like if Turner is any indication!
Another absolute banger from my favourite indie horror mastermind 🙌🙌🙌
December 28, 2025
What a wild ride.
December 23, 2025
Get ready to spend some time with Turner Blake, who is keenly aware of his thirst for killing and the façade he must wear to conceal the monster within. And that’s not the only thing he conceals. Turner balances life as a serial killer, a father, a husband, and the HOA neighborhood patrol. Haha.
The first-person narrative puts you directly in Turner’s mind, offering a front-row seat to the killer’s psychology, the absurdity of his crimes, and his hilarious moral philosophy. The present tense provides an immersive, cinematic experience as Turner navigates his double life in ten parts (Think of it like a Netflix series.)
I couldn’t help but find some satisfaction living vicariously through Turner as he killed some of the jerks and assholes that stumbled across his path. I’m not sure what that says about me. Lol.
Clocking in at around 180 pages, this is a fast-paced, hilarious, and brutal ride that’s hard to put down.
The first-person narrative puts you directly in Turner’s mind, offering a front-row seat to the killer’s psychology, the absurdity of his crimes, and his hilarious moral philosophy. The present tense provides an immersive, cinematic experience as Turner navigates his double life in ten parts (Think of it like a Netflix series.)
I couldn’t help but find some satisfaction living vicariously through Turner as he killed some of the jerks and assholes that stumbled across his path. I’m not sure what that says about me. Lol.
Clocking in at around 180 pages, this is a fast-paced, hilarious, and brutal ride that’s hard to put down.
December 30, 2025
This didn’t feel like your typical Nick Roberts’ book, but it also felt just like Nick Roberts at the same time.
My Corpse Has A Heartbeat is absolutely unhinged and I loved every minute of it!
My Corpse Has A Heartbeat is absolutely unhinged and I loved every minute of it!
January 12, 2026
Nick, are you ok?
Read
January 3, 2026This book was a great reminder of why I like to read books written by female authors. If you want a testosterone drenched book focused on nothing but erections and killing then this book is for you. Otherwise heed my advice and steer clear of it.
December 22, 2025
𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 "𝐦𝐞". 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭...𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐭...𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.
Nick Roberts' latest offering thrives on the razor-sharp cunning of Turner Blake, a protagonist who prides himself on being three steps ahead. This guy isn’t just clever; he’s strategic in a way that's deeply unsettling. He's the kind of character who makes you grudgingly admire his intelligence while quietly questioning your own moral alignment for doing so. It's as if Nick dropped this dubious creation into existence then let him maneuver through the story with calculated precision. For the reader, there's an intense amount of dark humor in watching him outthink nearly everyone in his path. But someone out there has figured out this mild-mannered husband and father of two is a killer and has forced his hand.
The tone of the novel walks a deliciously thin line between macabre and wry, and I found myself constantly gasping at the absolutely outlandish things Turner would think, say, and do. He lacks both the moral compass and likability of Dexter Morgan, yet there’s a faint, sarcastic smirk embedded in the narrative that I found appealing, as if the story itself knows exactly how twisted it’s being and dares you to look away. If Edgar Allan Poe were alive today, tapping away at a laptop and brooding over modern anxieties, he might very well be writing something like this; morally murky and unafraid to linger in uncomfortable places. You will definitely appreciate the plethora of pop culture references that were drawn upon but not imitated that give the story a modern sense of brutality.
What ultimately made this a five star read for me was the author's refusal to recycle himself. He has never written the same book twice, and I've read them all. His writing style is impressively diverse, and he can shift technique, characterization, and tone all with confidence. There’s no sense of a borrowed plot or redone trope as every revelation feels unflinchingly deliberate. While absolutely shocking in many places and much darker than its predecessors, Nick proves he’s not interested in regurgitating familiar stories; he’s dissecting them and stitching them back together into something smarter and far more disturbing. This book is available now in paperback and KU.
Nick Roberts' latest offering thrives on the razor-sharp cunning of Turner Blake, a protagonist who prides himself on being three steps ahead. This guy isn’t just clever; he’s strategic in a way that's deeply unsettling. He's the kind of character who makes you grudgingly admire his intelligence while quietly questioning your own moral alignment for doing so. It's as if Nick dropped this dubious creation into existence then let him maneuver through the story with calculated precision. For the reader, there's an intense amount of dark humor in watching him outthink nearly everyone in his path. But someone out there has figured out this mild-mannered husband and father of two is a killer and has forced his hand.
The tone of the novel walks a deliciously thin line between macabre and wry, and I found myself constantly gasping at the absolutely outlandish things Turner would think, say, and do. He lacks both the moral compass and likability of Dexter Morgan, yet there’s a faint, sarcastic smirk embedded in the narrative that I found appealing, as if the story itself knows exactly how twisted it’s being and dares you to look away. If Edgar Allan Poe were alive today, tapping away at a laptop and brooding over modern anxieties, he might very well be writing something like this; morally murky and unafraid to linger in uncomfortable places. You will definitely appreciate the plethora of pop culture references that were drawn upon but not imitated that give the story a modern sense of brutality.
What ultimately made this a five star read for me was the author's refusal to recycle himself. He has never written the same book twice, and I've read them all. His writing style is impressively diverse, and he can shift technique, characterization, and tone all with confidence. There’s no sense of a borrowed plot or redone trope as every revelation feels unflinchingly deliberate. While absolutely shocking in many places and much darker than its predecessors, Nick proves he’s not interested in regurgitating familiar stories; he’s dissecting them and stitching them back together into something smarter and far more disturbing. This book is available now in paperback and KU.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews