Go Down Hard

by Ali Seay

What if a victimized woman decided to be a silent guardian angel for other women and turn the tables on predatory men? What if she stumbled into the hunting grounds of a cocky serial killer while looking for her own private murder den? What if a confident killer met his match in the form of a jean-clad, whiskey-swigging stranger in an hour glass-shaped package - and she made him want things - things he’s far too superior to want?

When predator meets predator, the only question is: Is the attraction they feel to bed one another... or kill one another?

Meg isn’t expecting to catch Jack red-handed with his most recent victim. Jack isn’t expecting Meg to come busting through his front door while chasing her current prey. Now that each recognizes a fellow killer, what urge will win - kiss or kill?

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Novella, Romance, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary

136 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2020

About the author

ALI SEAY lives in Baltimore with her family and the ghost of a geriatric wiener dog who once ruled the house. She’s the author of Go Down Hard, The Death Doula, and To Offer Her Pleasure, among others. Her work can be found in numerous horror and crime anthologies. When not writing, she hunts vintage goods, riffles through used bookstores, and is always down for a road trip. Visit her at aliseay.com

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as introductions to an author's work go, GO DOWN HARD by Ali Seay is love at first sight! This book checks all the boxes--stick with me, I'm about to make up a bunch of words to express my feelings:

1. Short, buzzy-bingey chapters. Man, I am a *huge* fan of short chapters. I've said it before but it's worth repeating, nothing makes me keep turning pages faster/longer than 2-3 page chapters. Chuck Wendig's Miriam Black series is told this way and it completely spoiled me. I love it. I crave it. I want more of it. This book is a great example of why short chapters are so addictive.

2. Back and forth POV. We have two protagonists and they each tell their story in an alternating narrative. The first time this was a mega-homerun for me was GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn. It's a style that is particularly effective in a story where both characters are equally dynamic and unpredictable and are interacting with each other. Such is the case with this book.

3. Flashbacks. The female protagonist is a little bit more emphasized, taking center stage each time the narrative takes a trip back to Meg's traumatic childhood. Our other main protagonist, Jack, is just as damaged as Meg but everything from his past is either implied or communicated firsthand but not really explored or developed as much as Meg's which ends up being really important later on. In fact, I think this was intentional and it worked. For reasons. You'll see.

4. Entertaining as hell. This book. I read it in a few hours without really setting it down unless I had to live my life. This is what horror is all about and why I can't enjoy other genres as much. There is zero time given to useless or boring exposition. Everything is a thrust forward. The dialog is sharp, witty, delicious. Nothing could have drawn me out of my headspace while I was reading GO DOWN HARD. Literally rapt with attention the whole time.

5. THIS STORY! You know, I don't need to tell you anything. I think you should just go in blind. Skip the back of the book, don't read other reviews, just jump in and enjoy yourself. You don't need me or anyone else to explain or entice or convince...just go. BUY. Have fun and then let's discuss.

6. Lastly: STABBY, SLASHY, KILL, KILL, KILL!! Sexy. Sultry. HOT! Tense. Suspenseful.

Big props to Grindhouse Press for consistently publishing books I want to read.
And props to Ali Seay--because now we love you and need more books, so....
Stay tuned for a big Night Worms Book Party post. Pretty sure this book scored fives across the board.

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a blast with this one. There is nothing more beautiful when two serial killers meet while on the job. Jack and Meg had such wonderful chemistry, and each of their individual characters were so much fun to explore. Each coming from these traumatic upbringings, evolving into these truly nasty and bloodthirsty people. I loved each of their stories, the playful banter, and complete psychology of how they sized up their victims, including each other. I know this is going to sound shallow, but the sexual tension they built up was intense. I envisioned the finale with both of them massacring each other while simultaneously in the throws of passion, but sadly no. A boy can dream, can’t he? Even if sick and deranged like that? Anyway, I loved the writing style, brevity of the book, the jumping back and forth between the viewpoints of our two main players, even with the flashbacks incorporated in, and everything about the story. The was an extremely enjoyable first experience with Ali Seay.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brutal and gleefully fun novella! I highly recommend it if you’re up for something like that.

Things start off when a man named Jack spies a beautiful woman moving in next door - through his binoculars. Ugh, yes. He’s a perv and he has some mommy issues. But it’s worse than that, actually, as we find out soon enough. I felt so bad for his dog. Evil men do not deserve the love of a dog, never mind one as devoted and sweet as a labrador. Nope. Dogs and their innocent ears should not be subjected to such deviant goings-on. Anyhow, this dude is a genuine creeper doing what creepers do while his unsuspecting new neighbor sets up house not realizing she’s being seen as prey.

Or not.

Meg is nobody's victim and she has moved out to the boonies for a damn good reason. She feels those creeper eyes on her immediately and she’s prepared to deal with them when the time comes.

“The thing about predatory men was they hardly ever entertained the thought of predatory women.”

And then one dastardly turn of events happens followed by a whole helluva lot of action, adventure, gruesomeness and some perfectly placed black humor. I thought it was all delightful but be warned the flashbacks to a traumatizing life-altering event in Meg’s past are painful to read.

These people are all kinds of messed up so you’ve been warned but if you’re the kind of person who laughed like a maniac at the scene in Clive Barker’s Hellbound Heart where Julia is chasing a naked man around an empty room sticking him with a knife as he flails away, just flat out refusing to keel over quickly, this book was made for you as well as for me!

CW and it's a doozy, trust me on this, it's HORRIBLE: A 12 year old is gang raped by a bunch of boys and then relentlessly harassed and bullied by this same pack of wolves.

[Ayden Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women can be badass serial killers, too! Watch out cause Ali Seay is coming in hot with this novella from Grindhouse Press. The synopsis in itself is appealing with a serial killer moving in next door to another serial killer. The question is will they be murder buddies, lovers, or just kill each other.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣... 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙.”

This is definitely my type of romance where danger is sizzling just below the surface and I love it. This book just builds and builds with so much tension. The main guy character, Jake, would best be described as a nice mix of Dexter and Joe Goldberg. When he stands there all lean with that coy smile the danger is palpable in the room oh uh … shakes head .. I mean the book. *starts shuffling around and dropping things.. clears throat* There are also the flashbacks that tell how these characters came to be which I gained more connection from. I loved the flashbacks but I also appreciated that they weren’t overly wordy because I was constantly eager to get back to the main story. Lastly, I enjoyed some of the classic horror cliques thrown in there. I was giggling while reading, thinking back to Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s movie home and car graveyard or even House of Wax. I just loved everything about this book! It was so much fun! 5 ⭐️

[Mindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a feeling early on that I would probably really enjoy this novella, and once it got going I found it almost impossible to put down. This one is all killer and no filler. We get just enough background on both of the main characters without the present day story getting bogged down. Then suddenly the story speeds up like a freight train, building in momentum until I felt as if I was holding my breath while I read.

Meg has just moved into a house way out in the middle of nowhere, with only a single neighbor to worry about. She worries very little about what she does, but since she is a serial killer, she needs to make sure that she doesn't make any mistakes. After she botches her first kill in the new house she learns that the man who lives nearby, Jack, is a killer as well, and suddenly both Meg and Jack are very interested in each other. The only problem is they can't decide if they are drawn to each other for romance or possibly their next kill.

I love books that put you in the mind of horrible people and then force you to root for them. Meg is a vigilante of sorts, so it's not hard to understand her proclivities given the hand she was dealt as a child, but she's still a murderer, and one who absolutely relishes the kill. Jack is in a similar situation. Raised by a mother who ruined him for living any sort of a normal life, Jack can only find sexual gratification through killing. However, Meg is an enigma to him, a killer just like himself, and so he can't decide what his true feelings are for her. Once the two meet up at Jack's house for a dinner date the pair get to decide which way to take their relationship. This is when the book truly becomes exciting.

I cannot recommend this one enough. It's such a quick read, and there is so much story packed into such a slim volume. Pick this one up and read it all in one go.

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well HOT DAMN! This book was one hell of a rollercoaster ride and I adored every single second of it! I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews so I had very high expectations for this book and it smashed every single one into glorious smithereens. This book is blood and guts and gore and terror and sultriness and I lapped up every second of it! The story had me gripped in its claws from the very first sentence and I mean, how could it not? One serial killer meets another and instant attraction happens and then a fight to death? YES PLEASE CAN I HAVE SOME MORE?! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see how it would all play out. And holy hell the ending does NOT disappoint, it was bloody fantastic and literally had my jaw dropping, it was tense and wild and while I did see the final show down coming, I didn’t expect it to be so bloody damn brilliant. This book is one hell of a horrifying and thrilling ride and definitely not for the faint of heart because you’ll be having heart palpitations the whole way through!

[Hail Hydra! ~Dave Anderson~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A flicker of shadowy movement in the yard caught her attention. Was this the ‘killer won’t die’ moment? The hand popping up from the grave scene?

[Richard Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what a game of cat and mouse would be like if there were no mouse? Just two cats. Two cats with an arsenal of baseball bats, bear mace and a variety of gardening tools at their disposal. Thanks to Ali Seay, we need wonder no longer!

Meg is a fighter. Protector of women who have been wronged by men. Spurred into action by a traumatic event from her past, she now takes great pleasure in hunting down men who have gotten away with terrible deeds and making them pay the price for their actions.

Jack is a psychopath. He likes to hurt women. To hear them scream. He lives alone in a remote home with a cage in the basement and an assault course of death in his garden. He likes to chase his prey, relishes their fear, feel the rush of being a hunter.

Both are predators. When a chance encounter begins in violence they immediately see each other for the killers that they are and the attraction is instantaneous and all-consuming. The question then becomes, will their common ground be enough to see where the budding relationship is headed, or are they destined to give in to their baser natures and ensure they are the ones that become the hunter and not the hunted.

‘Go Down Hard’ splits its time equally between the two leads, each chapter focusing on one before switching to the other. The pair make for an interesting couple to centre a story on. One is consumed by rage caused by past events and the other simply acting on impulses and desires that they have always had. The nature versus nurture separation of the two makes a fascinating contrast whilst the actions of both characters, and the pleasure they both derive from what they do connects them.

Neither Meg nor Jack are particularly sympathetic leads and Seay walks a fine balance between offering explanations for their actions while avoiding justifying or condoning them. Both are great characters to base a story around, however, as their actions are so impulsive and their thought processes are so alien that the book is wildly unpredictable as a result.

The action itself mirrors the characters, in that sometimes a shocking set piece will come seemingly out of nowhere whereas other times, a scene will build up, only to take an unexpected left turn into another direction. Some scenes are brutal, sometimes satisfyingly so, but equally, there are some difficult to read passages that are not for the fainthearted.

Switching easily between grindhouse-like exploitation splatter and a deep dive into the minds of two unpleasantly compelling characters, ‘Go Down Hard’ was a thrilling ride, able to entertain, appal, and distress you in an instant. It is a tightly paced, unputdownable page-turner with two great characters to anchor the action. I’m truly excited to see what Ali Seay follows this up with.


You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror

[Lia's Haunted Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this thinking it’d be a standard “creep in the woods stalks his next victim” kind of story—and in some ways, it is. But Go Down Hard takes that setup and twists it into something a lot more satisfying.

Jack, our friendly rural neighbor, is indeed a serial killer. He likes hearing women scream, but don’t worry, he’s not a rapist. There are apparently standards in the killer world. Meg moves in next door-ish (it’s a spread-out, farmland kind of situation). She’s smart, sharp, and also a killer.
But Meg’s kills come with purpose. She’s been a victim before, and as she puts it, “she got funny in the head.” Now she’s a twisted guardian angel with a modern Robin Hood energy, taking out the kinds of men who hurt women. So when these two cross paths, you just know there’s going to be a showdown—and trust me, it delivers.

The tension is delicious. I read the last 80% sitting up straight (I usually read lying down). That’s how into it I was.

Also, important note: there is a dog. A very good boy. He survives.

[Paul Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the hype, I was reluctant to read this. I was a fool.
I never picked this book up because the summary made it sound like a romance between two serial killers. No matter how much attention it got, I would go to order it and read the summary and it just didn’t appeal to me.
This book is fast paced, witty, well written, has fascinating characters, and is a bloody good time. I really didn’t want it to end
My main concern with this book is that a few of my online Bookstagram friends have said that Meg is their hero and they wish they were just like her. I’m glad they don’t know where I live.
Don’t be like me, buy this book and read it before they turn it into a movie. This would be great on the big screen.

[Ben Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this book was a LOT of fun. It immediately sets us up with our two main characters and throws us into the action. I like how the story switches back and forth between the perspectives of Jack and Meg, giving us insight into their background and motivations. I definitely was rooting for Meg the whole time and, despite them both being serial killers, I felt more empathy for her character. Jack is also painted in broader strokes and not given the same character development, but I wasn't too bothered by for what this is.

I love the whole killer vs killer premise, and when Meg and Jack finally meet you have no idea how the story is going to go. Sure they're attracted to one another, but they also want to kill each other. This makes for great underlying suspense as you never know when things are going to pop off.

I also love the stripped down nature of the book, especially in the second half: two characters at odds in a confined setting using whatever objects are around them to survive. I think it allows for more creativity, dark comedy, and tension in the final act (which, without spoiling anything, is GREAT). There's plenty of violence, as to be expected, but there's also humorous moments I did not expect. I actually laughed out loud at the scene where Jack and Meg meet for the first time.

I tried not to say "fun" too many times in this review, but that's my main take away. It's one of those stories that has some genre tropes but manages to elevate beyond with grim humor and shocking surprises. Based purely on feeling, and not actual plot details, it makes me think of cross between Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Green Room, or The Nice Guys and Don't Breath. Does that make sense? Probably not haha.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this with the wrong idea that it was a dark romance, so I'm left feeling somewhat confused by my reactions and expectations. This isn't a dark romance at all, so my rooting for Jack for a good portion of the novella was extremely misplaced. Maybe. I don't know anymore. Part of me is worried (not enough) that I still wish he'd won.

It was great though--very fast paced, with an interesting backstory on both characters, and the triumphant serial killer was a true badass bitch.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go Down Hard isn't the first foray into messed-up romance by Grindhouse Press, and Ali Seay sure knows how to deliver on an attention-grabbing premise in her horror debut. Go Down Hard is hardly Seay's first published work though. She is actually a highly prolific erotica author who has appeared in over 150 anthologies under the pseudonym Sommer Marsden, and even earned a mention in Oprah's O Magazine as one of 15 writers known for delivering the best erotica for women by women. While this particular book does have an eye toward some sexiness of its own (I mean, hell, the title alone is one heck of a double entendre!), it is most certainly a keen horror story first and foremost.

Meg has just moved into an old home out in the sticks. Her closest neighbor, in an otherwise deserted stretch of woods, is Jack - a prolific serial killer. As fate would have it, though, Meg just so happens to also be a serial killer, and when these two cross paths, sparks most definitely fly! The question is, are they destined to be lovers, or the cause of each other's doom?

Seay crafts an intriguing meet-cute of the savagely violent kind, one that's fraught with a delicate tension over the course of its 160-some pages. This is a quick, punchy, and surprisingly brutal novella, one that blessedly doesn't overstay its welcome.

We get to know a good deal about Meg and Jack as their stories unfold, including their sordid histories of self-discovery as serial murderers, mommy issues, and kinks. They both have some pretty neat tics that I found interesting - Jack, for instance, enjoys keeping the women he abducts in a farmhouse cage before setting them loose to hunt in the woods, but he's also very environmentally conscious, always sure to recycle and grocery shop with reusable bags. Meg is a killer of men who sees herself as something of a vigilante, only going after predatory douchebags with records of crime against women. Both are intriguing hunters, and while both are understandably wary of the other, their own peculiar psychologies make them intimately aware of, and aroused by, one another. Although they've only just met, they know and understand each other incredibly well, and Seay does a masterful of showing how they're two sides of the same coin.

One of the more surprising aspects of Go Down Hard is the current of black humor running throughout, and I found myself laughing a few times despite the dark turn of events Seay winds us through. The author is aware of the absurdism of the situation and leans into it, clearly having a good time with the material, and her enjoyment and affection for these characters and their quirks is infectious.

Equally surprising was the relative lack of murders committed by these two serial killers. Seay keeps us to a really tight timetable here with the story unfolding, largely, over the course of a day-plus, so we really only get two murders, one each for Meg and Jack, before we're off to the races in a rather surprising and sudden climax. Over the course of the story, though, we do get plenty of flashbacks and reminiscing over early crimes to help remind us of the stakes and further define these two characters, as well as satisfy some of the more bloodthirsty readers among us. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded a smidge more present-day violence, but once things ramp up in the end, it's a real powder keg!

Go Down Hard is a great horror debut for Seay, and based on its wild premise alone, I'm excited to see what she comes up with next. Her Marsden works have made her erotica royalty, and I'm hopeful she finds an equal amount of success and prolificness in this corner of fiction, too.

[Alex | | findingmontauk1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME! That is one word to describe Go Down Hard by Ali Seay. But there is really is so much greatness in just over ~150 pages. The story is super fast paced with short chapters. There are 2 POVs and we go back and forth easily... and at first we are not sure who we are rooting for. You have two serial killers. One is a woman who gives me serious Dexter vibes as she kills the deserving. The other is a man who has such charisma, machismo, and confidence. But what happens when these two MEET each other?? It's insanity in the best way - I need MORE of this story, MORE of these characters, and I am SO ready for more from this author!

5 AMAZING stars - and thank you to Grindhouse Press and Ali Seay for giving Night Worms the opportunity to add this to a #NightwormsBookparty!

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really adore this novella!

I promise to have the full review ASAP

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5. I had SO MUCH fun with this revenge/Murder/serial killer read! Review on Sci Fi and Scary in a couple weeks

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come

[Uptown Horror Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story where we see two serial killers - one made by nature and the other made by nurture (or lack thereof) cross paths and test eachothers mettle.

The book has two amazing characters who each would've been great in their own stand-alone novels, but we actually get a Two for One special as fate brings these two together and we watch as they play the deadliest game of "Fuck, Kill, Marry" ever and they have to decide whether they're going to fall in love and form a power couple or fight to the death and see who comes out on top.

This story has fantastic writing and great prose, with a bunch of quotable lines like,

"They'd torn her, and taken something from her that was supposed to be hers to give."

"His face thrummed in time with his pulse. The wound in his hand a bizarre backup to the main act."

Loved this book and its a shame that Ali Seay only has one book out at the moment, because I would love to read more from her.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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[Escapereality4now · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Go Down Hard”, by Ali Seay, was a wild ride!!

“Go Down Hard” is a story between two
characters, Jack and Meg. Meg is a serial killer who preys on predatory men while Jack enjoys the screams of female victims he hunts for sport. When fate brings the two killers together, they play the deadliest game.

“Go Down Hard” consists of short chapters that go back and for between both characters. The reader gets to know about their back stories and issues. Meg’s story was the most heartbreaking, with her past turning her into a real badass.

The writing was brilliant. Seay was able to give the reader a good backstory and then kept it moving at a consistent pace. It made me really anxious and was completely binge worthy. The climax just jumped out and overall the book was just so much fun.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, well written read. I just wished it was longer. I’m looking forward to seeing what Ali Seay comes out with next.

[Nina The Wandering Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to know what happens when two attractive serial killers cross paths in a bloody meet-cute and find themselves drawn to each other like reckless moths to dangerous flames? Honestly, I wasn’t sure I did, until this book fell into my hands (thank you Grindhouse Press) and instantly made up my mind.
•
GO DOWN HARD, with its clever double entendre of a title, lead me to believe I was in for some sexy serial killer kink. Instead I became a very interested spectator to a thrilling game of cat and mouse ripe with sexual tension.
•
The story is about Meg, a serial killer who preys on predatory men, and Jack, a killer who enjoys the pained screams of the female victims he hunts for sport. When the two meet, there’s an instant spark and neither knows whether to kiss or kill.
•
Seay’s writing is absolutely captivating, pacing the story in such a way that you get a proper knowledge and backstory for both killers, leaving you anxious and ready for the climax when it jumps out at you like a jack-in-the-box!
•
Basically, I freaking loved it! If you’re looking for something dark, gritty, witty, and suspenseful, GO DOWN HARD will have you turning pages with eagerness to see whether our protagonists will give in to carnal lust or blood lust. You can get your hands on this excellent novella Nov. 13th!
•
(Special thanks to Grindhouse Press, Night Worms, and Ali Seay for this early copy in exchange for an honest review!)

[exorcismemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go Down Hard is a solid debut novella! I loved the setup of two serial killers accidentally meeting in the midst of murdering, and realizing they might be into each other. I enjoy both horror and romance books, and this was a good blend (authors, I would love to read more non-paranormal horror/romance books!). I had fun reading this, and it wrapped up in a way that was satisfying to me.

Content notes - drugging, sexual assault, rape of a minor, abuse (please note that there is a rape scene, but it's not sexually charged, which I appreciated)

[Octavia (ReadsWithDogs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯."⁣
⁣
Thanks to Grindhouse Press and @night_worms for my copy of Go Down Hard!⁣
⁣
This book was bloody fun! ⁣
I love a good serial killer story and 𝐆𝐨 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝 was an excellent distraction from the election.⁣
Meg's a vigilante who kills abusive assholes and chases one directly into her new neighbor Jack's house...only to find him with a dead body of his own. It's a fun serial killer meet-cute with blood, humor, and sexual tension galore! I was a little nervous when the story started heading into a romantic direction, but very pleased with the ending! ⁣
Honestly my own complaint with the story was that it ended. I want more please!⁣
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⁣
⁣
If you're a fan of Chelsea Cain's Heartsick series, or other female serial killers you'll love this!⁣
Definitely go grab a copy November 13th! ⁣
⁣

[Ashley (spookishmommy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miriam Black meets Joe (from You) in this incredibly fucked up story about what happens when predator meets predator. Go Down Hard was a non stop fun (if you're into messed up love stories like moi). Not only was this book completely messed up, it also had me feeling things. Meg was totally relatable in some aspects. I could feel her pain in her flashbacks and it broke my heart!

Thank you Grindhouse for the early copy.

[Erin Talamantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this cat and mouse, lust filled, serial killer horror book was good.
However, the execution fell flat.
The pacing is super odd. This novella is only 155, but the only action happens in the last 55 pages. That’s way too slow for a novella in my opinion. Because of this odd pacing, there was no tension, no atmosphere, and no build up.
The tone is also weird. The past chapters for Meg are super serious and deal with heavy subjects (cw: sa, rape), but the rest of the book has this weird comedic undertone. I would’ve preferred a more serious book with more cat and mouse tension.
Jack is a knock off/ Walmart version of Norman Bates with his mommy issues.
The author definitely wanted the reader to root for Meg, but I didn’t find her that likable.
The ending was super predictable, I would have liked a more punchy ending.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay… this one was my bad. I picked this up assuming it was a romance, and it isn’t. There are romantic elements, but no HEA - ergo, not a romance.

It is a novella about two serial killer neighbors who begin a cat and mouse game with each other, though.

It was short (136 pages), with quick, fast paced chapters and two very compelling main characters. Jack has some serious mommy issues (who he may have inherited his killer tendencies from) and Meg is a woman seeking revenge on all evil men for a past assault.

I think this could have been an awesome romance - I love when both the hero and heroine are dark killers.

CW: there are chapters that detail Meg’s gang rape as a teen. They aren’t overly descriptive but they’re difficult to read.

[Sara Tantlinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consumed this one pretty quickly -- Seay's brilliant pacing makes it hard to put the book down. I also applaud the author's switching between characters; it felt very fluid, and I loved the echoes we would see between Jack and Meg throughout the different chapters. At the core of this book of two killers is the heartbreaking story of Meg -- sure, the dark humor and sharp writing make the book an incredibly engaging read, but it doesn't dismiss how poignantly the author gives us Meg's background. The trauma there reflects experiences of way too many girls and women in society; women who society so often fails. Meg's revenge and coping feels all too real, and it's through her empowerment and will to survive that we really see the heart of the story, and it's what made me love the story so much. I really cannot wait to see what Ali Seay does next!

[John Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came out of nowhere for me, but I’m glad it made its way to me. Killer vs killer. Predator versus predator. Their instincts causing desires to burn within them.

This book is just the right type of fun. I enjoyed the multiple pov switching between chapters, and the brisk length of them kept me turning page after page chapter after chapter. This is book is an absolute blast from start to finish and the simple premise is executed excellently. I’m hear for this and need more from this author ASAP.

Violence, a predator vs predator premise and great dialogue elevate this book to something that I would highly recommend

[Keely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine hiding a darkness within yourself for most of your life that can only be satisfied with blood. Then imagine that you unexpectedly walk in on your new neighbor to learn that they have the same unsatiable need. What would you do? Form an odd and improbable alliance, or have you just met your number one enemy?

Meg has suffered a horrible trauma at a young age at the hand of a group of school boys, one of them having been a friend of hers. The residual effect is that Meg now seeks out men that fit a certain persona and rides the world of them. Jack on the other hand, grew up with a freaky over-bearing mother that I like to categorize as "Normas". Jack now has a need within him to invite women to his home and hunt them. The paths of these two characters cross after Meg's current victim gets away from her and the chase leads her to Jack's house where he has just finished taking care of his latest victim. The relationship that ensues leads you to believe there maybe a relationship blossoming between out two serial killers, albeit perhaps only sexual and ends with a game of cat and mouse that only one can win.

This was such a fun read! I read Go Down Hard in one sitting and while I was able to predict what was going to happen early in this short novel, I enjoyed every bit of it. I gathered that the author wanted it to feel like one of the two main characters was more justitified in growing up to be a serial killer but, it really didn't work for me, in other words, I wasn't really surprised, disappointed or relieved with the final outcome of the story. This didn't take away any stars off of my final rating as it was just an overall satisfiying and original story. I will absolutely be on the look out for more from this author!

Thank you to the author and Grindhouse Press for the review copy!

[Zakk Madness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ain’t no party like a Night Worms party! #NightWormsBookParty, Go Down Hard edition.

I didn’t know a single thing about Ali Seay’s Go Down Hard when it dropped in my mailbox other than it was dressed in a striking cover and delivered from a solid press, Grindhouse.

Color me happy when I learned it was a predator meets predator type yarn, which are always a bit of fun. Especially when a smidge of humanity can be extracted from a type of character that doesn’t normally express genuine humanity.

I enjoyed this read, it was a great distraction from the electoral chaos. Both main personalities, Jack and Meg, are interesting and fun, although Meg steals the show with a rather deep backstory delivered in a brief amount of time. And the “Will they, or won’t they” game Jack and Meg play with each other works on multiple levels. Reminiscent of Killborn & Crouch’s Serial, but with a little more depth and a lot more personality.

Solid dialog, solid gore, Ali Seay, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. Go Down Hard, entertainment value 4/ 5

Thank you @night_worms for another fun book party opportunity, thank you Grindhouse Press for another quality read.

Zakk is a big dumb animal!