This Book is Full of Bodies

The Shutter House Prequels #1

by Rick Wood

I AM NOT ONE OF YOU.

At least that’s what you’ll tell yourself.

You’ll say I’m a monster. A sicko. A deranged killer.

But I am no monster, I am no sicko, and I am not deranged.

I am simply a man who happens to enjoy murdering people in the most violent of ways.

So don’t bother reading this if you have a weak stomach, get easily offended, or are simply not interested in the best way to dispose of a dead body.

(It’s pigs, by the way. They eat ANYTHING.)

My name is Gerald Brittle. I am a serial killer. And this is my memoir.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Dark, Fiction

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2019

About the author

Horror Author

Reviews

[Mort · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this turned out to be a nice surprise...

Edit: I wrote this review during chaos at home and had to leave the pc twice before I was done...
This is probably the first time I used the word 'surprise' three times in such a short review. Also, I changed the word exacerbate to exasperate...I've seen SHAUN OF THE DEAD enough times to know the difference...Hope the sentence makes more sense now.

After the start of a shitty week - by Wednesday, I'd abandoned the third book for the week - I came across this one. SHUTTER HOUSE has been on my radar for a while and, on a whim, I decided to pick this up with absolutely zero expectation of making it halfway through.
That might be the very reason why I ended up enjoying this one so much!

It had a very AMERICAN PSYCHO-ish feel to it. In fact, whether it was meant to or not, it was even amusing at times how exasperated the main character was by the behavior of those around him - the 'normal' people and their feelings.

This story reads as the memoir of a serial killer - Gerald Brittle.
And this is basically the story of how he got into killing in the first place:
Married - for show,
Wealthy - which he hides from his wife,
Psychopath (or sociopath) - I'm not exactly clear on this front, but maybe with just a touch of Asperger Syndrome* (or is this just another aspect of psychopathia?)

* Allow me to explain to those who are unaware of Asperger Syndrome -
the people suffering from it has great difficulty reading subtext or emotions on the faces of others. Their minds works very logically and they don't understand things like sarcasm.
Yep - Sheldon Cooper with Leonard standing in the background, holding up a piece of paper that says SARCASM...

This book is not full of action, the tension builds through the story, but it (surprisingly) didn't bore me.
The content is sick, not really gory, but it is fairly easy to dislike Gerry and his attitude toward others. Is it his fault, though, if he is incapable of feeling what 'normal' people does?
Judge for yourself.

Surprising five stars for me - I'm looking forward to reading SHUTTER HOUSE in the not too distant future.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The memoirs of an abusive, psychotic serial killer’

A rather quirky, action-packed ‘fun’ story told from the perspective of the obsessive and possessive sexual abuser and utterly heinous murderer himself.

The narrative keeps rolling along at a brisk pace and contains lots of excellent ‘inner dialogue’ which gives more reasoning and understanding going through the minds of Gerald and Flora, the two main protagonists, as the various situations and events take place. I found that the short chapters that detailed Flora’s predicament to be particularly engaging as they continued to read like poetic descriptions from someone finding themselves in a complete state of utter helplessness.

Although the story contained some holes, which could have added some extra spice, and events were a little too convenient and unrealistic at times, this prequel to ‘The Shutter House’ certainly entertained and possessed that magical sparkle that left me wanting to follow the adventure all the way to journey’s end. And what of that end? - well, it certainly didn’t disappoint and left much to ponder.

Lots to admire and enjoy here, particularly for readers who like escapades involving crazed psychopaths and sexual predators.

Rating: 5 stars - rounded up from 4.2, for sheer enjoyment value and the unusually strange delivery of the story that certainly worked well for me.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

This “voyeur” really enjoyed Gerald’s quirky and riveting memoir. I love reading from the POV of a psychopath and it was freaking hilarious, though I’m not sure if it was supposed to be. 👀

This was my first read by Rick Wood and it certainly won’t be my last. Excited to read Shutter House soon.

[KillerBunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first by Rick Wood but not my last. I had a fear that it would be exactly like the American Psycho book by Bret Easton Ellis, but I was wrong, very wrong, I think Rick Wood created the perfect image of a sociopath, I hate it when they're too likeable in series, movies and books, like Dexter. but I guarantee Gerald is not likeable, but he is fascinating for sure. I really loved the small part were we learn a bit more about Flora, her way of thinking. A well deserved five star !

[[[ Frankie ]] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come! For sure.

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was a ride and a half. The memoir of a serial killer that seems to have inclination towards his step daughter... It surely can't get any worse?? Right? RIGHT?

[J.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerald has never been what most people would consider normal. He is bad at detecting lies, understanding subtext and the feelings of others and even considers himself superior to other people.

One thing he does understand is the need to fit in. So he finds himself a wife, buys a modest house and meets with a group of friends that he can't stand every once in a while.

Then one day he loses his temper and commits his first murder. As he spirals down a dark path from there he decides to take Flora, his 16 year old step daughter, along with him.

A twisted tale of a serial killer that reminded me a bit of the 2006 TV show Dexter. If Dexter didn't have his foster father to show him the ropes of how to get away with murder of course.

This was my first Rock Wood read and I have to admit I'm impressed. He really managed to get into the head of a serial killer and psychopath.

While there were a few unrealistic aspects to the story (Gerald seems to be an unrealistically lucky guy) it was still a great book that I really liked.

Will definitely be checking out Shutter House soon to see how Gerald's story plays out.

[mr stuart keate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a prequel to Shutter House if you haven't read Shutter House yet. This author has extremely cleverly written the memoir of a killer but also gave insight into the victim's experiences throughout too which made it a difficult book with violence, horrifyingly brutal and shocking to read but said with this in mind. As the author forewarned this book is not for the faint hearted. It was so brilliantly written that I had to read to the end to find out the outcome. This book covers subjects that someone might not be comfortable with, but once you begin I found it extremely hard to put down.

Another brilliant book by this Author, looking forward to the next instalment. Five stars isn't enough it deserves more. Shocking but addictive.

[Patrick Elsey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to come back and write a review.

This is 14 year old edgelord crap that most people grow out of...here's a hint, if your character talks about how edgy your product is throw it away.

I can't stress this enough...the way the author describes 16 year old girls and what his character does to them I seriously worry about anyone of that age in real life

[Sharon Leung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and easy read

This was a great read. It was nice to read from a different angle and felt like you were listening to a story instead of reading it. Also with both characters prospective was equally compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed it and how it was captivating from the start. Definitely recommend.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gerald is not like us. In his memoir we become the voyeur; the ones who won’t stop reading, no matter what he divulges. His detachment and darkness is deeply disturbing; his entirely unconscious humour interjects at just the right time.

A really unique read. Check your trigger warnings. Lots of them in here.

[Rachael Maun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good book. Would have been 5 star if not for the spelling/grammar errors throughout

[Michelle Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

To add my two pennies which don't matter. (read the book and your understand)

I had not heard of Rick Wood but scrolling through Audible one day to find my next book I came across this book the sample alone had my attention. I love the first person view the way it is written is amazing. It feels like you are reading or listening to Jerry thoughs and opinions where us dear voyagers do not matter. I have brought Shutter house now to just to continue the adventure. Oh and dear Jerry you are jealous.

[barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Def not for the light of heart books iv'e read great follow up to Shutter House gets right into a mind of a killer who as far as he's concerned is a normal human being that we are all like him just governed by society .Very clever how it's written certainly not how books normally pan out gives you a totally new outlook on life the killers point of view .loved this book for it's individuality .

[Claire Arnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the easily offended!! A great read that pulled no punches!! It read like it was from a sick mind! Too often these kind of stories are pulled back sonas not to offend, this one seems to actively enjoy it! And not just for the sake of being offensive, but because it reads like it is written by a truly broken, horrifying and twisted mind!! I loved it!!

[Melanie (TBR and Beyond) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t read this whole book, I skimmed a lot of it. I really liked the author’s first novella but this just felt like a twisted, sick teen pedo fantasy. It was super cringe, porny and just no. A lot of people seem to like this one, no idea why. I signed up for a horror, not bad pedo fanfic porn.

[michelle Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book more than five stars. Epically brutal and unrelenting if you are not of strong disposition maybe this is not the book for you.

I really enjoyed it.

[Manders · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an American Psycho and Lolita mashup in the most godawful way possible.

Before anyone comes at me and says I'm too sensitive for this book or whatever, I read extreme horror and other extreme literature (eg: morally questionable) fairly often. This was just trash.

I really don't understand the other reviews saying that this is what American Psycho wishes it was. American Psycho at least has some thought and intellect behind it. This is some incel's weird misogynistic pedo murder fantasy.

The writing was extremely repetitive. Every other chapter the MMC is going on and on about how he's just the reader but without societal constraints. Dude's just autistic. Literally. He's not able to comprehend societal or interpersonal cues or emotions, so he just mirrors everything around him and masks around other people to be passable as neurotypical. He gets overstimulated easily and has meltdowns, among a variety of other characteristics... but I'm not trying to diagnose a fictional character right now.

For a book titled "This Book is Full of Bodies" there was only five murders. That was, in a weird way, disappointing.

I will say the ending tidbit with how the girl was able to get away was a nice touch, at least.

Overall, I recommend skipping this one.

[James Widdall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extreme horror novel portrayed as a memoir, think American Psycho but without the boring bits in it, aka this is what American Psycho could have been.

Gerald Brittle is a man who wears many masks; husband, step father, hard working at his job hut none of this is real. He is a billionaire who lies to his wife, who he hates, and has homicidal tendancies. Whilst having an ongoing affair with his 16 year old daughter Gerald finally gives into his wishes and starts his long path of murder.

This is a witty and humourous book filled with blood and gore amongst other heinous acts. We witness Gerald's decent into being the sort of person he wants to be all the while he is calling us out for being a voyeur for reading his book. Interlaced though this we get brief glimpses into his step daughters mind as that slowly fractures from what Gerald inflicts on her.

There are trigger warnings aplenty for this book and if you are easilly offend it is one to stear clear of. However if you want a funny blood filled book then this is well worth getting. The writing is crisp and contains all the satire that a character like Gerald would contain.

This sits at a lovely 4/5 and I'm excited to try some more of Rick Wood's books

[Litio Broie · Rating 5 out of 5]

No es el primer libro de este autor que leo, pero siempre me había parecido tan poquilla cosa que no me molesté en reseñar ninguna de sus obras... hasta ahora.
Es probable que Rick Wood intentase escribir su propio American Psycho, pero se parece mucho más a You, y eso es precisamente lo que hace que la historia sea más impactante: es mucho más realista. A estas alturas todos deberíamos saber que la historia que se cuenta en AP es falsa.
En cualquier caso y pese a que me ha llevado bastante terminar el audiolibro (narrado por el autor) he de decir que es una historia interesante, mucho mejor narrada de lo que esperaba y con un protagonista más o menos realista (pensad en Dexter). Ha sido una agradable sorpresa tras la que leeré o releeré otra vez las demás novelas del autor, al que probablemente pillase en un mal día. Lo mismo me pasó con Laymon y miradme ahora, fiel devota.
Respecto al gore, esto no es splatterpunk. Esperad un nivel incluso mucho más bajo que en American Psycho (nuevamente esto deja claro cuál historia está ocurriendo como el narrador la cuenta y cuál no). Hay sexo con una adolescente de dieciséis años, por si a alguien le incomoda.

[Elizabeth Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Rick Wood, and my first extreme horror novel. It won’t be my last.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A loss of appetite? Lasting psychological scars? Perhaps some rocking in a dark corner somewhere? I’m pleased to report that I experienced none of those things. But what that says about me I don’t know… *nervous laugh*

Written in the style of a memoir, this book was an entertaining insight into the mind of a psychopath as he gets a taste for murder. Obsessed with his sixteen-year-old stepdaughter, Gerald Brittle goes to more and more extreme lengths to keep his double life a secret from his wife, his “friends”, and, most importantly, society. But as Gerald discovers a new fixation everything he has so painstakingly woven together in his ongoing web of lies threatens to unravel.

Action, humour and a few twists, this book has everything you want in a horror.

Obviously, there are triggers, but this is a great read if you’re not easily offended.

[Melissa-Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would enjoy it because I like horror and thriller. I really wanted to like it but they lost me like 15 pages in. It had a lot of grammar and spelling errors which annoyed me. The narrator is presenting the story first past tense then present tense and not in a way that made it flow well. It sounds like someone telling a story and then remembered something else they wanted to mention that has nothing to do with the original story. The author couldn’t pick which one they wanted to present the story in. Then there are words that are being used that don’t make sense. I think the author meant to use a certain word but confused it with another. The summary sounded interesting, however, I think it was trying too hard to be gruesome and ended up more cringy especially with the paedophilic, rape fantasy aspect of it. Definitely was bored and forced myself to finish it. I basically skimmed it after. Wouldn’t recommend.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I love this author. I know I loved this book. this is a part 2 to the shutter house book he wrote about the rich seral killer. this book tells of the life he had with his wife and stepdaughter. How his wife and stepdaughter don't know how rich he is and what he really thinks about his family/fake life. It also tells how close he is with his stepdaughter. It even talks about what the stepdaughter thinks. How she fits in to this life that's turned in to a nightmare. I don't however like the fact that it gets pretty sexy, and it's directed towards a child. That ending though makes up for it a real wow factor that was perfectly done. This is not for everyone but if you like splatter punk/extreme horror than this is a little week but gets an honorable mention.

[Koda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was hard to read. Not because of it’s grotesque nature, but because the protagonist is annoying. I don’t know for sure if him constantly contradicting his unique morals was intentional or on accident. Some things didn’t make sense, but overall it wasn’t hard to understand after maybe rereading a few pages. I like the idea of a serial killer writing their memoir, and it was fascinating. Personally, I think the horrific experience could’ve been achieved still if it had less sexual assault, but the author did a good job at creating an uncomfortable atmosphere and I’m excited to read more from him.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very gripping, very realistic and very very clever.
I couldn’t put it down.
The way Rick gets across the mind of a serial killer is truly amazing. He’s done the best research and it has most definitely paid off in this book.
It’s not for the faint hearted or if you get triggered easily.
Rick is a genius. This is just another one of his books I could read over again. I felt as if I was there. I felt scared, I felt as if I was physically watching what was going on. It’s alarming but also shows what actually goes on in this world and we don’t always suspect or see who it is doing it.

[Stella Ofarrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delishishly Dark

I should of been outraged from the opening chapter, but i seriously couldn't put this book down until the last page.
With every twist and turn and revelation the pace keeps going taking your emotions on a roller coaster that at times leaves you holding your breath.

[Jacob Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was 2.5 ⭐'s.

I thought the beginning was quite good. Outside of the SA, I liked the writing. And laughed a few times out loud. However, the MC turned very repetitive, and it got boring. To the point by the end, I just wanted it to be over.

Recommend looking up the triggers if you decided to read.

[Lucas Dickinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my… this book is a bonkers ride. Think somewhere in between Dexter & American Psycho. That’s where this story kinda sits. It is also not the boring slog that American Psycho is. The main character is absolutely unlikeable bastard without a shred of human decency.
For the most part, this is a very fun read. Definitely written for horror fans by a horror fan. Definite recommend.

[Carol trainor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of bodies

Holy crap this was the most entertaining hysterically great funny book I’ve read in a very long time. I loved every single word . Of course I’m a woman between 45-60 u got that right

[Tracie XXEst · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5

This is a 3 out of 5 for me. It isn’t so much a horror book, frightening and suspenseful as it is a gore book. Just blood and yuck with a minor plot. It was ok. Not horrible but ok. Still gonna read the second book.