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Damienverse #4
The Housemates
Ten days, twelve competitors, two million pounds cash.
What at first appears to be a wonderful opportunity for Damien Banks turns out to be the worst nightmare he can imagine.
Trapped inside a house with eleven strangers, and a booming voice known only as 'The Landlord' controlling his every move, Damien will be forced to compete not only for the money, but for his life.
Let the games begin...
What at first appears to be a wonderful opportunity for Damien Banks turns out to be the worst nightmare he can imagine.
Trapped inside a house with eleven strangers, and a booming voice known only as 'The Landlord' controlling his every move, Damien will be forced to compete not only for the money, but for his life.
Let the games begin...
280 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2013
About the author
Iain Rob Wright
89 books1,562 followersOne of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the writer of more than forty books, many of them bestsellers. A previous Kindle All-Star and a mainstay in the horror charts, he is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.
To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit: www.iainrobwright.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
June 6, 2020
This was a gory romp into insanity!
What would you do for two million pounds in cash? Would you play an insane game of death defying tasks to win?
Damian Banks along with eleven strangers enter into what they think is a reality t.v. game show for the prize of two million pounds in cash. They all gather at a destination and then are blindfolded as the game show producers transport them to an undisclosed location. For ten days the game show contestants have to endure torturous tasks from a man called the "Landlord".
The building where the game show is supposedly broadcast has cameras in every room and the strangers are locked in as there is no escape. As the Landlord barks orders over an intercom system the contestants are put through psychological and physical torture against each other as the only way to win the game is to do harm to the other contestants.
When the contestants find out the real reason of why they have to endure the torturous tasks, it becomes an all out battle as they fight for their lives! Who will be the victor in this insane game? Who will make it out alive? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
This is my first book by this author and it was one of the most twisted gory books I have read in awhile.
The book reminds me of the Saw movies as the torture that was endured in those movies I would compare to what is inside this book! Five stars for one hell of a twisted ride!
What would you do for two million pounds in cash? Would you play an insane game of death defying tasks to win?
Damian Banks along with eleven strangers enter into what they think is a reality t.v. game show for the prize of two million pounds in cash. They all gather at a destination and then are blindfolded as the game show producers transport them to an undisclosed location. For ten days the game show contestants have to endure torturous tasks from a man called the "Landlord".
The building where the game show is supposedly broadcast has cameras in every room and the strangers are locked in as there is no escape. As the Landlord barks orders over an intercom system the contestants are put through psychological and physical torture against each other as the only way to win the game is to do harm to the other contestants.
When the contestants find out the real reason of why they have to endure the torturous tasks, it becomes an all out battle as they fight for their lives! Who will be the victor in this insane game? Who will make it out alive? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!
This is my first book by this author and it was one of the most twisted gory books I have read in awhile.
The book reminds me of the Saw movies as the torture that was endured in those movies I would compare to what is inside this book! Five stars for one hell of a twisted ride!
June 5, 2015
Some other reviewers have likened the premise of THE HOUSEMATES to SAW meets BIG BROTHER but I would add-on that there’s a little Agatha Christi’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE mixed in (no spoilers, just a reference).
The book delivers on desperation and gore while a group of strangers face their dwindling chances for survival. The hollow personas of the roommates match those you would expect to appear on reality television, making them seem less the cliché, but are further justified when the true nature of the book seeps into the open. The characters without POVs distinguished themselves convincingly and even proved memorable in certain respects, which is vital when the reader’s keeping track of eleven characters they’ll need to care about.
The protagonist was unbelievably decent, as in I had trouble suspending disbelief that he should be that decent. It felt like one of those cases of “having your cake and eating it too” where he’s supposed to have this everyman/last sane man/upstanding citizen vibe but is also a reformed bad boy can summon his dark, checkered past when it comes to posturing but not in life-or-death scenarios. That contraction made in his behavior – especially given his dire situation – did not humanize the premise but detract from it in ways that felt contrived and insincere.
The ending – without giving spoilers – was implausible and offered no surprises. Fortunately, it’s also rushed so about 95% of the book is suspenseful and even startling at times. I won’t go so far as to say the ending “ruined” the book for me. Truly, I didn’t. Despite being underwhelmed by the mad-dash wrap-up I was having a good time throughout novel and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
I give Wright the credit of being an effective storyteller who gets mileages from a premise some might have tired of and managing a few thrills along the way. His continuity editing; however, was sloppy. I noticed several instances of him miscounting contestants (such as the tally of votes against contestants or seven contestants are remaining but citing six have been eliminated), which felt like a lazy oversight considering how instrumental these figures are to the stories suspense/character fates and makes me wonder if Wright had written a previous draft where these numbers were accurate but didn’t double-check after rewrites.
Again, it was only few instances and – beyond that – the proofreading was fine.
Although I realize it sounds like I’m complaining a lot about this book and trying to talk people out of it I would recommend THE HOUSEMATES to readers who can handle violence and like a story that keeps you turning pages. There are a myriad of things I could praise about the story but doing so would ultimately spoil its gruesome charm and nasty tricks. It’s a decent, fast read despite its kinks and die-hards of such plots or part-time horror fans might genuinely be impressed.
The book delivers on desperation and gore while a group of strangers face their dwindling chances for survival. The hollow personas of the roommates match those you would expect to appear on reality television, making them seem less the cliché, but are further justified when the true nature of the book seeps into the open. The characters without POVs distinguished themselves convincingly and even proved memorable in certain respects, which is vital when the reader’s keeping track of eleven characters they’ll need to care about.
The protagonist was unbelievably decent, as in I had trouble suspending disbelief that he should be that decent. It felt like one of those cases of “having your cake and eating it too” where he’s supposed to have this everyman/last sane man/upstanding citizen vibe but is also a reformed bad boy can summon his dark, checkered past when it comes to posturing but not in life-or-death scenarios. That contraction made in his behavior – especially given his dire situation – did not humanize the premise but detract from it in ways that felt contrived and insincere.
The ending – without giving spoilers – was implausible and offered no surprises. Fortunately, it’s also rushed so about 95% of the book is suspenseful and even startling at times. I won’t go so far as to say the ending “ruined” the book for me. Truly, I didn’t. Despite being underwhelmed by the mad-dash wrap-up I was having a good time throughout novel and couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
I give Wright the credit of being an effective storyteller who gets mileages from a premise some might have tired of and managing a few thrills along the way. His continuity editing; however, was sloppy. I noticed several instances of him miscounting contestants (such as the tally of votes against contestants or seven contestants are remaining but citing six have been eliminated), which felt like a lazy oversight considering how instrumental these figures are to the stories suspense/character fates and makes me wonder if Wright had written a previous draft where these numbers were accurate but didn’t double-check after rewrites.
Again, it was only few instances and – beyond that – the proofreading was fine.
Although I realize it sounds like I’m complaining a lot about this book and trying to talk people out of it I would recommend THE HOUSEMATES to readers who can handle violence and like a story that keeps you turning pages. There are a myriad of things I could praise about the story but doing so would ultimately spoil its gruesome charm and nasty tricks. It’s a decent, fast read despite its kinks and die-hards of such plots or part-time horror fans might genuinely be impressed.
April 8, 2020
So Bad!
Seriously? This book actually exists and actually gets positive reviews?
The story is unoriginal and predictable. Whatever. It's the writing and the characters that are appalling. At least once per page I had to stop reading and laugh at how bad it all was. These people are meant to be adults caught in a life or death game but talk like a group of 11 year old boys playing Fortnite.
I've removed any other books by this author from my Want To Read list.
Seriously? This book actually exists and actually gets positive reviews?
The story is unoriginal and predictable. Whatever. It's the writing and the characters that are appalling. At least once per page I had to stop reading and laugh at how bad it all was. These people are meant to be adults caught in a life or death game but talk like a group of 11 year old boys playing Fortnite.
I've removed any other books by this author from my Want To Read list.
September 5, 2020
The Housemates has been best summed up by many others as "Big Brother meets Saw", and I think that's very fitting, so I'll echo that sentiment, too. While this is an installment in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone, which is what I did — and I'm glad I just went straight for the book with the premise that interested me most instead of insisting on starting from the beginning, because while I was engaged enough to finish this in one go, I have to say that I was annoyed by more segments than I enjoyed, and I have literally zero interest in ever spending another moment with this main character. Damien is one of the most aggravating, insufferable protagonists I've met in a long time, and if he had rolled his eyes one more time (I counted, I think, six? eye-rolls by the 5% mark!), I would have screamed.
For the other things I disliked here:
1) one-dimensional side characters
2) a very predictable twist ending
3)
4)
5)
6) because the book exists within a series following the same protagonist, everything feels extremely low-stakes because we expect Damien to survive so he can go on to the next book — which is precisely why horror books rarely function well within a series format
I'm sorry to rant so much, especially because I did some searching around online and have seen many mentions that this author is a really lovely person, and I hate to rant so vehemently about my introduction to his work, but this book positively infuriated me throughout most of the story and the payoff in the end did not feel like it was worth my time. I don't recommend The Housemates and I highly doubt I will be reading anything else from Iain Rob Wright in the future.
For the other things I disliked here:
1) one-dimensional side characters
2) a very predictable twist ending
3)
4)
5)
6) because the book exists within a series following the same protagonist, everything feels extremely low-stakes because we expect Damien to survive so he can go on to the next book — which is precisely why horror books rarely function well within a series format
I'm sorry to rant so much, especially because I did some searching around online and have seen many mentions that this author is a really lovely person, and I hate to rant so vehemently about my introduction to his work, but this book positively infuriated me throughout most of the story and the payoff in the end did not feel like it was worth my time. I don't recommend The Housemates and I highly doubt I will be reading anything else from Iain Rob Wright in the future.
September 12, 2014
As the many others who have come before me have said:
If Big Brother, Survivor, Fear Factor, and SAW movies 1-1,000,000,000,000 had a massive love orgy, this book would come flying out like a buttered up turkey.
Listen, you won't solve world problems reading this book. You won't acquire massive amounts of new super intelligent brain cells traversing the pages. You won't even be surprised by anything in the plot and will totally see the ending from light years away. However, all that aside, you will have a hell of a good time reading it. Sometimes the mindless and occasionally cheesy reads can be the best kind.
Jigsaw totally approved this message.
3 Ninja-Bunnehs-Wearing-Collars
If Big Brother, Survivor, Fear Factor, and SAW movies 1-1,000,000,000,000 had a massive love orgy, this book would come flying out like a buttered up turkey.
Listen, you won't solve world problems reading this book. You won't acquire massive amounts of new super intelligent brain cells traversing the pages. You won't even be surprised by anything in the plot and will totally see the ending from light years away. However, all that aside, you will have a hell of a good time reading it. Sometimes the mindless and occasionally cheesy reads can be the best kind.
Jigsaw totally approved this message.
3 Ninja-Bunnehs-Wearing-Collars
June 8, 2020
Well thank you very much, Mr Wright!!!
I was supposed to go to sleep ages ago, but I just couldn’t put this book down.
I haven’t enjoyed a read like that in a long time. Right from the very beginning this book had me hooked.
As always, IRW, did not let me down.
Highly recommended!
I was supposed to go to sleep ages ago, but I just couldn’t put this book down.
I haven’t enjoyed a read like that in a long time. Right from the very beginning this book had me hooked.
As always, IRW, did not let me down.
Highly recommended!
April 26, 2023
Uniquely provocative-
Unnervingly plausible-
The Housemates by Iain Rob Wright, steals you into blackness, confines you in a sadistic torture chamber, grinds you up then spits you out.
I loved it!
Unnervingly plausible-
The Housemates by Iain Rob Wright, steals you into blackness, confines you in a sadistic torture chamber, grinds you up then spits you out.
I loved it!
November 5, 2013
This was my first of Iain Rob Wright's novels, and right from the start, I was hooked. His pacing was perfect, characterization--outstanding! There are always those characters you hate, love, suspect right from the beginning, but IRW spins the story so that each "subtlety" of character has you constantly reconstructing and second guessing your original views.
As many readers already pointed out, the basic premise is a cross between a "reality TV show", and the "SAW" movies. If you love your horror with gore--but need a purpose behind it--you won't be disappointed in this one!
While reading some of the other reviews, I was excited to note that some of the characters can be found in other books. I can't wait to check out more from this tremendous talent, and urge everyone with like-minded tastes, to do the same. :)
Highly recommended!
As many readers already pointed out, the basic premise is a cross between a "reality TV show", and the "SAW" movies. If you love your horror with gore--but need a purpose behind it--you won't be disappointed in this one!
While reading some of the other reviews, I was excited to note that some of the characters can be found in other books. I can't wait to check out more from this tremendous talent, and urge everyone with like-minded tastes, to do the same. :)
Highly recommended!
September 11, 2020
I'm on the fence about how many stars to rate this book. It was entertaining, which is the goal, right? Basically, the story is a bloody version of Big Brother. I love that show, so that's cool to me. Based on the reviews, I was expecting the housemates to have to forgo much bloodier tasks and challenges. Once again, I was still entertained.
This is my first book by this author. Based on all the people who had recommended him to me, I expected something more. For example, I'm used to typos in books. I read a lot of Indie authors, I get it. Editing isn't cheap. But this is a big name author, and I found all the typos to be distracting. A few questions ended in periods and not question marks. Dialogue didn't always have the proper ". I hate being a stickler, but I'm just being honest.
The story itself was okay. If you wanna escape in a book that doesn't require much thought, then this book is perfect.
One last thing to add... There was so much slang, I'm assuming British ... Not knowing what some of them meant, pulled me out of the story. I highlighted side of them
This is my first book by this author. Based on all the people who had recommended him to me, I expected something more. For example, I'm used to typos in books. I read a lot of Indie authors, I get it. Editing isn't cheap. But this is a big name author, and I found all the typos to be distracting. A few questions ended in periods and not question marks. Dialogue didn't always have the proper ". I hate being a stickler, but I'm just being honest.
The story itself was okay. If you wanna escape in a book that doesn't require much thought, then this book is perfect.
One last thing to add... There was so much slang, I'm assuming British ... Not knowing what some of them meant, pulled me out of the story. I highlighted side of them
April 5, 2016
Damien Banks believes that he's been given a fantastic opportunity to compete for two million pounds cash against eleven others in a ten-day reality show competition. But soon the sinister voice of "The Landlord" fills him and his housemates with dread as they realize that the stakes have changed and that they are now competing for their lives.
Fast-paced and incredibly entertaining, I really enjoyed this story. The characters are realistic and relatable. I pictured each one in my mind and quickly decided which ones were decent and which ones were unscrupulous. Then, situations changed and created uncertainty as to which characters were trustworthy. It added nicely to the suspense. I admit, I was definitely rooting for Damien.
I enjoyed the ending, though wish that Wright had further elaborated and provided more post-competition details. Then again, the way it ended, I wouldn't be surprised to find the story continued in a sequel. We can hope, anyway! :)
Fast-paced and incredibly entertaining, I really enjoyed this story. The characters are realistic and relatable. I pictured each one in my mind and quickly decided which ones were decent and which ones were unscrupulous. Then, situations changed and created uncertainty as to which characters were trustworthy. It added nicely to the suspense. I admit, I was definitely rooting for Damien.
I enjoyed the ending, though wish that Wright had further elaborated and provided more post-competition details. Then again, the way it ended, I wouldn't be surprised to find the story continued in a sequel. We can hope, anyway! :)
January 29, 2019
Wow!! This was freaky, visceral and yet riveting in the extreme! I'm beginning to wonder just how twisted Mr Wright is because he comes up with some absolutes corkers of plots.
In a nutshell this IS Big Brother for Sociopaths! But who really are the sick puppies - the contestants, the Landlord or the viewers?
"Just as he had dreaded .... the other housemates were a predicable mixture of wannabe celebrities and those who just wanted to get rich quick. They were vain and inwardly focused – possibly even sociopathic in some cases."
"Damien understood their personalities. They were a product of society, a society obsessed with surface rather than depth."
The story is told from Damien's viewpoint and as per usual in the author's novels there is a little hint or two that connects with the author's other "worlds" and books of the series. I won't give a synopsis as the plot itself is very simple - the outcome however was brilliantly executed.
In a nutshell this IS Big Brother for Sociopaths! But who really are the sick puppies - the contestants, the Landlord or the viewers?
"Just as he had dreaded .... the other housemates were a predicable mixture of wannabe celebrities and those who just wanted to get rich quick. They were vain and inwardly focused – possibly even sociopathic in some cases."
"Damien understood their personalities. They were a product of society, a society obsessed with surface rather than depth."
The story is told from Damien's viewpoint and as per usual in the author's novels there is a little hint or two that connects with the author's other "worlds" and books of the series. I won't give a synopsis as the plot itself is very simple - the outcome however was brilliantly executed.
April 20, 2015
I suspect Iain Rob Wright likes reality TV about as much as I do. Watching a bunch of talentless nobodies hamming it up for the camera, all in effort to win some inflated cash prize is not my idea of entertainment. But add the threat of death to proceedings and I might be tempted to flip the channel ...
Wright crafts a very fast-paced and enjoyable read about a group of reality show housemates who quickly realise they've effectively been kidnapped and are being forced to compete against one another to stay alive. The first half of The Housemates sets the scene wonderfully well, depicting the chaos that unfolds exclusively through the eyes of one of the contestants. Wright even add a clever rationale for what is occurring beyond "You've been randomly kidnapped - ha ha HA!" that adds an interesting moral element to proceedings.
The second half, however, doesn't quite maintain the level of good will that has been established. The major twist is obvious from very early in the piece, and much depends on this coming off as a surprise. Worse, however, is when Wright literally loses track of how many characters he has left alive, as in two consecutive chapters he repeatedly refers to the wrong number of surviving housemates. Okay, it's just a mistake, but it's a doozy of one that needs swift rectifying. The ending, for mine, is also a bit rushed and convenient. But at the very last second, it does throw in a nice little aside that links another of Wright's novels to the events in this one. (In fact, there may have been reference to a second of his works, but as I've yet to read that one, I cannot yet confirm). I like this level of world-building - a la Brian Keene - and hope it's something Wright continues with.
All in all, The Housemates is a nifty little idea with a hell of an opening that loses some of its steam in the back half. It's still well worth a read though, especially for those who endure reality TV wishing someone would smack some sense into many of the contestants.
3.5 rounding up to 4 Self-Mutilations for The Housemates.
Wright crafts a very fast-paced and enjoyable read about a group of reality show housemates who quickly realise they've effectively been kidnapped and are being forced to compete against one another to stay alive. The first half of The Housemates sets the scene wonderfully well, depicting the chaos that unfolds exclusively through the eyes of one of the contestants. Wright even add a clever rationale for what is occurring beyond "You've been randomly kidnapped - ha ha HA!" that adds an interesting moral element to proceedings.
The second half, however, doesn't quite maintain the level of good will that has been established. The major twist is obvious from very early in the piece, and much depends on this coming off as a surprise. Worse, however, is when Wright literally loses track of how many characters he has left alive, as in two consecutive chapters he repeatedly refers to the wrong number of surviving housemates. Okay, it's just a mistake, but it's a doozy of one that needs swift rectifying. The ending, for mine, is also a bit rushed and convenient. But at the very last second, it does throw in a nice little aside that links another of Wright's novels to the events in this one. (In fact, there may have been reference to a second of his works, but as I've yet to read that one, I cannot yet confirm). I like this level of world-building - a la Brian Keene - and hope it's something Wright continues with.
All in all, The Housemates is a nifty little idea with a hell of an opening that loses some of its steam in the back half. It's still well worth a read though, especially for those who endure reality TV wishing someone would smack some sense into many of the contestants.
3.5 rounding up to 4 Self-Mutilations for The Housemates.
November 16, 2013
5 stars isn't enough of a rating for this book
Iain Rob Wright just got himself a new fan, I freaking loved this book could not put it down and didn't want it to end
Iain Rob Wright just got himself a new fan, I freaking loved this book could not put it down and didn't want it to end
August 6, 2022
SUBJECTIVELY AND OBJECTIVELY, LITERALLY THE BEST HORROR I HAVE EVER READ!!!!
Premise: in this book we follow a man by the name of Damian, who becomes one of 12 housemates in a horror version of Big Brother. All 12 housemates are placed into a house and have no idea what's going to happen except for the fact that someone will be eliminated everyday and that there will be challenges. However, they soon all begin to find out that there is more to this game then they realise. People start to die and everyone begins to realise that this game is more a game of literal life and death.
Let's talk about this book objectively.
Being someone who always wants to know the age rating and genre of every single book I read before I go into it, I was well aware that this book was an adult horror.
Knowing that it was a horror, I had certain expectations going in.
To me, a horror should do the following: gross you out, freak you out, make you convinced you're going to have a nightmare, and force you to want to leave the light on. This book ticked every single one of those objectives. So, based solely on an objective look of did this book fit the brief, my answer is 100%.
Iain Rob Wright, took every single opportunity that he could to gross me out and never ever failed.
Regarding freaking me out, he absolutely did this with every twist and turn that occurred in the story. Did he convince me that I was going to have a nightmare? Not necessarily. But I think that was more because I made the smart decision to read this book during the day. Had this been the last thing I read before I went to bed at night, for sure, I would have been convinced I would have had nightmares and I would have forced myself to leave the light on.
So, based on my own criteria alone, looking at it objectively, Iain Rob Wright deserves an overwhelming five stars!
But now let's take a look at this book subjectively, AKA emotionally.
This book is by far and away the single best horror that I've ever read.
I have been looking for the longest time to find a horror that has a game stitched throughout it. As someone who took a very, very, very long time to finally be able to watch the saw movies and then finally binge through them, the idea of reading a horror that had a game in it always intrigued me. The book I picked up before this book I thought was going to be that book, and I was incredibly disappointed when I found out it was not.
To then come across this book where we literally have housemates fighting in a competition to literally keep themselves alive was exactly what I was looking for. Now I am someone who has read an eclectic amount of genres and age ranges in my life. When it comes to horrors, I'd generally find them to be rather boring.
I mean, nothing really excites me about some guy grabbing a knife and stabbing people 50 times and reading about How the blood oozed out. I guess I'm just someone who prefers the excitement of sitting on the edge of my seat with a thriller as opposed to a horror.
If someone is going to die in an incredibly obvious way, and then we are left with five or so pages of how of descriptively describing how this person has died and getting a perfect image in our mind. To me, I find that to be incredibly boring.
But this book takes the excitement of a thriller with real consequences. And then while we are on the edge of our seat, continues to keep us there with the gross imagery.
We know from the off that someone is going to die every single day. But the way in which each person died was extremely creative and Iain Rob Wright needs to be credited for that.
I won't give away spoilers, but I will say that there is a twist that occurs at the end of the book.
For those of you who know what this twist is I'm sure you agree with me that it was one of the most insanely good twists that I've ever read.
While, for a lot of the book, especially with the games, I found myself cringing at just how disgusting the imagery was. When it came to the final twist, my jaw was on the floor!
If I were to be extremely nitpicky, I would say that there is one question that I have for Iain Rob Wright that I want to have answered because It just doesn't make sense.
But even with that question being unanswered at the time of me typing this review, the book still overwhelmingly deserves the five stars that I'm giving it.
My advice for any reader potentially considering picking up this book: know the genre that you are going into.
This is a horror. Not only a horror, but an adult horror.
Expect extremely graphic imagery. Expect extremely jaw dropping, terrifying ways in which people will die. But also expect for there to be a reason behind why this is happening. That actually makes the book makes sense.
It is one thing to have 20 people die in a book in the most Horrific and graphic way. But when the death doesn't make any sense, it can leave the reader with a lot of questions as to the motivation of the killer.
Please know that this book leaves no stone unturned. Because of this, it makes everything that is going on makes sense, and also has you on the edge of your seat as you're reading it the entire way through.
The words ‘unputdownable’ are thrown about a lot these days. But this book definitely was that and more for me. The idea of stopping reading this book at any point seemed to me to be an idea that was more torturous than anything that was going on in the book, which should give you an idea of just how gripping it actually is!
Thank you, Iain Rob Wright for writing the single best horror I have ever read!
An overwhelming five stars from me! I simply cannot wait to read more works from this incredibly talented author!
5 Overwhelming Stars!
xoxo
Premise: in this book we follow a man by the name of Damian, who becomes one of 12 housemates in a horror version of Big Brother. All 12 housemates are placed into a house and have no idea what's going to happen except for the fact that someone will be eliminated everyday and that there will be challenges. However, they soon all begin to find out that there is more to this game then they realise. People start to die and everyone begins to realise that this game is more a game of literal life and death.
Let's talk about this book objectively.
Being someone who always wants to know the age rating and genre of every single book I read before I go into it, I was well aware that this book was an adult horror.
Knowing that it was a horror, I had certain expectations going in.
To me, a horror should do the following: gross you out, freak you out, make you convinced you're going to have a nightmare, and force you to want to leave the light on. This book ticked every single one of those objectives. So, based solely on an objective look of did this book fit the brief, my answer is 100%.
Iain Rob Wright, took every single opportunity that he could to gross me out and never ever failed.
Regarding freaking me out, he absolutely did this with every twist and turn that occurred in the story. Did he convince me that I was going to have a nightmare? Not necessarily. But I think that was more because I made the smart decision to read this book during the day. Had this been the last thing I read before I went to bed at night, for sure, I would have been convinced I would have had nightmares and I would have forced myself to leave the light on.
So, based on my own criteria alone, looking at it objectively, Iain Rob Wright deserves an overwhelming five stars!
But now let's take a look at this book subjectively, AKA emotionally.
This book is by far and away the single best horror that I've ever read.
I have been looking for the longest time to find a horror that has a game stitched throughout it. As someone who took a very, very, very long time to finally be able to watch the saw movies and then finally binge through them, the idea of reading a horror that had a game in it always intrigued me. The book I picked up before this book I thought was going to be that book, and I was incredibly disappointed when I found out it was not.
To then come across this book where we literally have housemates fighting in a competition to literally keep themselves alive was exactly what I was looking for. Now I am someone who has read an eclectic amount of genres and age ranges in my life. When it comes to horrors, I'd generally find them to be rather boring.
I mean, nothing really excites me about some guy grabbing a knife and stabbing people 50 times and reading about How the blood oozed out. I guess I'm just someone who prefers the excitement of sitting on the edge of my seat with a thriller as opposed to a horror.
If someone is going to die in an incredibly obvious way, and then we are left with five or so pages of how of descriptively describing how this person has died and getting a perfect image in our mind. To me, I find that to be incredibly boring.
But this book takes the excitement of a thriller with real consequences. And then while we are on the edge of our seat, continues to keep us there with the gross imagery.
We know from the off that someone is going to die every single day. But the way in which each person died was extremely creative and Iain Rob Wright needs to be credited for that.
I won't give away spoilers, but I will say that there is a twist that occurs at the end of the book.
For those of you who know what this twist is I'm sure you agree with me that it was one of the most insanely good twists that I've ever read.
While, for a lot of the book, especially with the games, I found myself cringing at just how disgusting the imagery was. When it came to the final twist, my jaw was on the floor!
If I were to be extremely nitpicky, I would say that there is one question that I have for Iain Rob Wright that I want to have answered because It just doesn't make sense.
But even with that question being unanswered at the time of me typing this review, the book still overwhelmingly deserves the five stars that I'm giving it.
My advice for any reader potentially considering picking up this book: know the genre that you are going into.
This is a horror. Not only a horror, but an adult horror.
Expect extremely graphic imagery. Expect extremely jaw dropping, terrifying ways in which people will die. But also expect for there to be a reason behind why this is happening. That actually makes the book makes sense.
It is one thing to have 20 people die in a book in the most Horrific and graphic way. But when the death doesn't make any sense, it can leave the reader with a lot of questions as to the motivation of the killer.
Please know that this book leaves no stone unturned. Because of this, it makes everything that is going on makes sense, and also has you on the edge of your seat as you're reading it the entire way through.
The words ‘unputdownable’ are thrown about a lot these days. But this book definitely was that and more for me. The idea of stopping reading this book at any point seemed to me to be an idea that was more torturous than anything that was going on in the book, which should give you an idea of just how gripping it actually is!
Thank you, Iain Rob Wright for writing the single best horror I have ever read!
An overwhelming five stars from me! I simply cannot wait to read more works from this incredibly talented author!
5 Overwhelming Stars!
xoxo
June 18, 2022
One of the best books I’ve read this year
This book reminded me of the movie series SAW
Loved Damien
Just loved it. Fast pace read for me
This book reminded me of the movie series SAW
Loved Damien
Just loved it. Fast pace read for me
April 19, 2024
Well! I need a stiff drink after whizzing through this gem. This is a cracker of a horror book with an interesting plot and a good deal of gory bits. If you are very squeamish this is not for you.
A bunch of people enter a house together. Think the dark version of Big Brother. Each housemate has committed a “sin” but nobody knows which sin applies to whom. The house is controlled totally and housemates have little choice (or suffer the consequences) of partaking in the sick games on offer.
A huge amount of money is the prize but you have to survive first. This is where it gets really interesting. This is one of those entertaining books that doesn’t strain the brain. You want to keep turning the pages and it’s a good book if you’ve been in a reading slump. I read it in one sitting.
The tasks the housemates are given are very grim indeed. Mr. Wright has given us methods of suffering that I’ve never heard of in my life, and I’ve read a lot of dark books in my lifetime. I was utterly stunned at various points. If you are squeamish as I said you might want to sit this one out. His imagination never fails to thrill me.
I was totally hooked and loved the twists at the end. The last couple of chapters are brilliant, the whole book is just really good. Despite guessing “how” they were chosen to be in the house early on it didn’t spoil a thing.
There are no complex characters to dissect, plenty of mind-boggling scenes and a good amount of blood splatter. It’s horror entertainment for those who like to walk on the darker side of fiction. It would make a classic movie.
I really got into this and it’s simple yet powerful at the same time. Some scenes are so impactful and hard to ever forget. Where does Iain get these ideas from? He’s such a great writer. 4 solid stars from me and if you can handle the gory bits I highly recommend!
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Twitter (X) @bookishcats and on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer as Booklover Catlady.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
A bunch of people enter a house together. Think the dark version of Big Brother. Each housemate has committed a “sin” but nobody knows which sin applies to whom. The house is controlled totally and housemates have little choice (or suffer the consequences) of partaking in the sick games on offer.
A huge amount of money is the prize but you have to survive first. This is where it gets really interesting. This is one of those entertaining books that doesn’t strain the brain. You want to keep turning the pages and it’s a good book if you’ve been in a reading slump. I read it in one sitting.
The tasks the housemates are given are very grim indeed. Mr. Wright has given us methods of suffering that I’ve never heard of in my life, and I’ve read a lot of dark books in my lifetime. I was utterly stunned at various points. If you are squeamish as I said you might want to sit this one out. His imagination never fails to thrill me.
I was totally hooked and loved the twists at the end. The last couple of chapters are brilliant, the whole book is just really good. Despite guessing “how” they were chosen to be in the house early on it didn’t spoil a thing.
There are no complex characters to dissect, plenty of mind-boggling scenes and a good amount of blood splatter. It’s horror entertainment for those who like to walk on the darker side of fiction. It would make a classic movie.
I really got into this and it’s simple yet powerful at the same time. Some scenes are so impactful and hard to ever forget. Where does Iain get these ideas from? He’s such a great writer. 4 solid stars from me and if you can handle the gory bits I highly recommend!
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Twitter (X) @bookishcats and on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer as Booklover Catlady.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
October 16, 2023
What would you do for a Klondike Bar? How about… What would you do for a million dollars? How about even two?
As mentioned by every other review, but I complete agree with ; this is the story of Big Brother mixed with Saw. Get ready for Gore like no other and holding your limbs because you can feel the pain.
Ten days with 12 competitors ready to be on the next hit TV show and win a HUGE prize money award. Until…
“BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. EACH OF YOU HAD WRECKED LIVES IN PURSUIT OF YOUR OWN SELFISH DESIRES. YOUR SINS WILL BE EXPOSED. YOUR ONLY SALVATION WILL BE BY SURVIVING UNTIL THE END. ONLY THROUGH THE BLOOD OF YOUR COMPETITORS WILL YOU FIND ABSOLUTION.”
Absolute chaos. Madness is here and driving through the wall. Realizing the Reality TV shoe is a hoax, all competitors realize their life is on the line.
Would you go crazy? Would you create an ally? Would you sacrifice your own life? Would you cause problems? What would you do?
You never truly know until you are in the situation.
Damien has been the quiet guy since day one. What has he done? What have they all done? Damien will get picked on. Is he going to show his true self?
You have nothing left to do but question the outcomes with every page turn.
••••
Extra Notes:
- This was the PERFECT first book for Halloween and left me question so much if I was put in this scenario. I really don’t know what I would do!
-I knew there was a plot twist coming and I expected it a little but not to this extent! I want a book 2!
-There we’re a few typos and grammar issues that could have been edited better within the book. But nothing extreme😊
As mentioned by every other review, but I complete agree with ; this is the story of Big Brother mixed with Saw. Get ready for Gore like no other and holding your limbs because you can feel the pain.
Ten days with 12 competitors ready to be on the next hit TV show and win a HUGE prize money award. Until…
“BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. EACH OF YOU HAD WRECKED LIVES IN PURSUIT OF YOUR OWN SELFISH DESIRES. YOUR SINS WILL BE EXPOSED. YOUR ONLY SALVATION WILL BE BY SURVIVING UNTIL THE END. ONLY THROUGH THE BLOOD OF YOUR COMPETITORS WILL YOU FIND ABSOLUTION.”
Absolute chaos. Madness is here and driving through the wall. Realizing the Reality TV shoe is a hoax, all competitors realize their life is on the line.
Would you go crazy? Would you create an ally? Would you sacrifice your own life? Would you cause problems? What would you do?
You never truly know until you are in the situation.
Damien has been the quiet guy since day one. What has he done? What have they all done? Damien will get picked on. Is he going to show his true self?
You have nothing left to do but question the outcomes with every page turn.
••••
Extra Notes:
- This was the PERFECT first book for Halloween and left me question so much if I was put in this scenario. I really don’t know what I would do!
-I knew there was a plot twist coming and I expected it a little but not to this extent! I want a book 2!
-There we’re a few typos and grammar issues that could have been edited better within the book. But nothing extreme😊
January 2, 2014
Not many books have me bowing to the author... I grew up on Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Anne Rice, and you have to be a special kind of writer to obtain a horror bow from me. With doing this blog I've met so many great authors, but some just get to that point that is so far and away that you just have to bow to their special type of writing. A writer so profound, so intense that you are left speechless while reading. Speechless or writhing in your seat from fear or agonizing pain as your brain seeks to put together what is going on to the characters. Let's not hope this happens to me, my brain comments as I try not to speed read through one of the most horrifying and yet cripplingly imaginative books I've read.
I love horror, have always enjoyed the thrill of that adrenalin pulse I get when the characters are in danger. I thought this genre was almost dead and gone, and yet we have fabulous authors like Iain Rob Wright who has not so subtly suggested that no it is not, as he pushes you over the cliff.
The Housemates was, simply, A MA EFFING ZING! I could not put it down. I could not make dinner, or clean, or do anything for fear that I would get distracted too long and I would not find out about these characters who were in peril. Much like the Neverending Story, I felt my presence within the book, but THANK GOODNESS not for reals, because DAMN!!
When this starts you know the crap is going to hit the fan. I mean, how could it not? With a synopsis like that? But it starts out so creepy but uncreepy that I was wondering what is going to happen to make them worry for their lives. Then it happens... That one little detail. Then I started putting things together, as the other contestants do... and boy oh boy... I would have been pissed. Or dead. Probably dead.
The characters are fabulous, and although I had an idea about the twist close to the end, nothing really gave it away. Iain Rob Wright leaves little subtle clues but nothing that is in your face. However, I trust no one! But, even saying that, this ends SO WELL. I was floored by the ending. I had no idea!
Long review, short: If you enjoy horror, do yourself a favor and go get this. It's amazing.
I love horror, have always enjoyed the thrill of that adrenalin pulse I get when the characters are in danger. I thought this genre was almost dead and gone, and yet we have fabulous authors like Iain Rob Wright who has not so subtly suggested that no it is not, as he pushes you over the cliff.
The Housemates was, simply, A MA EFFING ZING! I could not put it down. I could not make dinner, or clean, or do anything for fear that I would get distracted too long and I would not find out about these characters who were in peril. Much like the Neverending Story, I felt my presence within the book, but THANK GOODNESS not for reals, because DAMN!!
When this starts you know the crap is going to hit the fan. I mean, how could it not? With a synopsis like that? But it starts out so creepy but uncreepy that I was wondering what is going to happen to make them worry for their lives. Then it happens... That one little detail. Then I started putting things together, as the other contestants do... and boy oh boy... I would have been pissed. Or dead. Probably dead.
The characters are fabulous, and although I had an idea about the twist close to the end, nothing really gave it away. Iain Rob Wright leaves little subtle clues but nothing that is in your face. However, I trust no one! But, even saying that, this ends SO WELL. I was floored by the ending. I had no idea!
Long review, short: If you enjoy horror, do yourself a favor and go get this. It's amazing.
September 12, 2013
Think of the reality show Big Brother mixed in with the movie SAW and you get this scenario. I hope there is a sequel because there was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end.
October 23, 2019
Big Brother meets Saw. A very good, twisted, dark, gory read.
Is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel.
Is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel.
September 9, 2016
My review for: The Housemates by Iain Rob Wright
Narrated by Chris Barnes
Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Narration Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shanna Roberson
Blurb taken from Goodreads:
TEN DAYS, TWELVE COMPETITORS, TWO MILLION POUNDS CASH. What at first appears to be a wonderful opportunity for Damien Banks turns out to be the worst nightmare he can imagine.
Trapped inside a house with eleven strangers, and a booming voice known only as 'The Landlord' controlling his every move, Damien will be forced to compete not only for the money, but for his life.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN...
Review:
This was my first taste of Iain Rob Wright’s writing and it did not disappoint. With an overall feeling of extreme creepiness, Iain sets the tone for one of the most sadistic games I have ever read. A gory, masterful tale of revenge and the ugliness of human nature. With twists and turns, Housemates keep me on the edge of my seat and my heart pounding. Different from anything I have read, I would definitely recommend this to any horror lover out there.
Iain’s dark sense of humor and ability to instill complete terror paired with the talented voice artistry of Chris Barnes is perfection. Chris has this uncanny ability to breathe life into the books he narrates and this was no exception. With narrating something so horrific, he easily conveyed the absolute terror and pain the characters must have been feeling as they fought each other to the death. His range of expressive voices and his interpretation of the characters made it impossible to put the book down. Hands down, he is one of my top three favorite voice artists. I can’t stress enough how talented this narrator truly is. Can’t wait for the next one, Chris Barnes!
Narrated by Chris Barnes
Book Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Narration Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Shanna Roberson
Blurb taken from Goodreads:
TEN DAYS, TWELVE COMPETITORS, TWO MILLION POUNDS CASH. What at first appears to be a wonderful opportunity for Damien Banks turns out to be the worst nightmare he can imagine.
Trapped inside a house with eleven strangers, and a booming voice known only as 'The Landlord' controlling his every move, Damien will be forced to compete not only for the money, but for his life.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN...
Review:
This was my first taste of Iain Rob Wright’s writing and it did not disappoint. With an overall feeling of extreme creepiness, Iain sets the tone for one of the most sadistic games I have ever read. A gory, masterful tale of revenge and the ugliness of human nature. With twists and turns, Housemates keep me on the edge of my seat and my heart pounding. Different from anything I have read, I would definitely recommend this to any horror lover out there.
Iain’s dark sense of humor and ability to instill complete terror paired with the talented voice artistry of Chris Barnes is perfection. Chris has this uncanny ability to breathe life into the books he narrates and this was no exception. With narrating something so horrific, he easily conveyed the absolute terror and pain the characters must have been feeling as they fought each other to the death. His range of expressive voices and his interpretation of the characters made it impossible to put the book down. Hands down, he is one of my top three favorite voice artists. I can’t stress enough how talented this narrator truly is. Can’t wait for the next one, Chris Barnes!
September 1, 2020
Wow.
The only thing more astonishing than how terrible and trite this book turned out to be is that 71% of the reviews on this site are four- and five-star reviews. Well, I hate to be the one to finally point this out, my fellow armchair critics of Goodreads, but this is not a good book. Not by any standard. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Poorly edited-- typos, misspelled words, missing punctuation, in some cases the wrong punctuation
Poorly written -- this is an actual sentence from the text: pg. 161 "Everybody else, surprisingly, was enjoying the hot tub in the garden, smoking fags and a new supply of alcohol from the newly reinforced pantry." (This sentence implies that they are smoking cigarettes AND the new supply of alcohol!)
Poorly executed -- anyone who doesn't see the ending coming from a mile away didn't read the first 200 pages. The writer actually has continuity errors and confusion over how many contestants are left standing for some of the events. Garbage dialogue, inconsistent characters.
Its only saving grace is that Wright has the decency to keep the plot moving creatively, making what could have been a tedious plot conceit moderately readable. This is the only reason I am granting a very-generous one star.
If all Wright books are this dumb, then I can't remove his other novels from my "to-read" list fast enough.
The only thing more astonishing than how terrible and trite this book turned out to be is that 71% of the reviews on this site are four- and five-star reviews. Well, I hate to be the one to finally point this out, my fellow armchair critics of Goodreads, but this is not a good book. Not by any standard. Not by any stretch of the imagination.
Poorly edited-- typos, misspelled words, missing punctuation, in some cases the wrong punctuation
Poorly written -- this is an actual sentence from the text: pg. 161 "Everybody else, surprisingly, was enjoying the hot tub in the garden, smoking fags and a new supply of alcohol from the newly reinforced pantry." (This sentence implies that they are smoking cigarettes AND the new supply of alcohol!)
Poorly executed -- anyone who doesn't see the ending coming from a mile away didn't read the first 200 pages. The writer actually has continuity errors and confusion over how many contestants are left standing for some of the events. Garbage dialogue, inconsistent characters.
Its only saving grace is that Wright has the decency to keep the plot moving creatively, making what could have been a tedious plot conceit moderately readable. This is the only reason I am granting a very-generous one star.
If all Wright books are this dumb, then I can't remove his other novels from my "to-read" list fast enough.
August 5, 2016
I was in the mood for some mindless fun and this fit the bill perfectly. I suspected it would after reading Wright's Final Winter. This is quite similar in a way (borrowed from several books and movies, whatever happened to genuinely original ideas), although the editing is much more on the level here, although note to author...vegetarians eat eggs, vegans don't. Agatha Christie has done it first and best as far as I know with the premise of strangers gathered in the same house and then eliminated one by one under messed up circumstances. The plot has been emulated all too often since and this time it's all for money, reality tv style competition...or is it. There is suspense and strong elements of torture porn, but the writing is solid and it makes for a quick (something like 4 hours) entertaining read genre fans might enjoy.
December 27, 2019
Oh my god that was the most brutal thing I’ve ever read. Semi spoilers ahead.
I don’t know if extreme horror is for me. I mean, I’m a big fan of movies like Saw and Cube, but this just made me squirm in all the (right? wrong?) ways. I was so on edge for the entire book. One thing’s for sure - Wright knows how to write a page turner.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this, although there were a few scenes that nearly pushed me over the edge and I had to stop reading for a while. Imagining myself in this scenario made me feel sick, and I felt really bad for most of the characters despite Damien’s semi-ambivalence.
Three things. Damien did NOT feel like a 23 year old. His voice was a lot more middle-aged. Second, I’d have liked there to be a twist with Harry (maybe he’d been the one to pay for Damien to be in there?). Lastly, I’m very confused as to whether this is a series or not.
I don’t know if extreme horror is for me. I mean, I’m a big fan of movies like Saw and Cube, but this just made me squirm in all the (right? wrong?) ways. I was so on edge for the entire book. One thing’s for sure - Wright knows how to write a page turner.
Honestly, I really enjoyed this, although there were a few scenes that nearly pushed me over the edge and I had to stop reading for a while. Imagining myself in this scenario made me feel sick, and I felt really bad for most of the characters despite Damien’s semi-ambivalence.
Three things. Damien did NOT feel like a 23 year old. His voice was a lot more middle-aged. Second, I’d have liked there to be a twist with Harry (maybe he’d been the one to pay for Damien to be in there?). Lastly, I’m very confused as to whether this is a series or not.
July 24, 2016
Get ready for the big show - 12 people, 10 days and 2 million pounds. Not a bad deal. The game is not it what it seems, however, and the challenges are going to be killer. The last one standing gets the cash. Not as easy as it sounds…really. Let the games begin.
I listened to this one on audio and it was excellent. The pacing was perfect and the action kept the story moving at a brisk pace. I have a hard time with some audio books because they are too complicated and I get lost sometimes. Not so with The Housemates, the narration was excellent and it was easy to follow and remain engaged in the action for the entirety. 4+ Stars. Highly recommended.
I listened to this one on audio and it was excellent. The pacing was perfect and the action kept the story moving at a brisk pace. I have a hard time with some audio books because they are too complicated and I get lost sometimes. Not so with The Housemates, the narration was excellent and it was easy to follow and remain engaged in the action for the entirety. 4+ Stars. Highly recommended.
October 4, 2017
1. Cover. It was what attracted me to get this book.
2. Damien. There's something about him that made me wanted to get to know him.
3. Gore + reality tv. The former, I watched a lot. Some could be mistaken as snuff film. The latter, not so much. Cliche for some but, refreshing for others.
4. Narrative. It hook me. Towards the ending it was a bit abrupt but, maybe a sequel? (I want me more Damien).
5. Exciting. The last time I felt like this was with Liar Games. That was ages ago.
And now it's time for me to go and stalk the writer.
2. Damien. There's something about him that made me wanted to get to know him.
3. Gore + reality tv. The former, I watched a lot. Some could be mistaken as snuff film. The latter, not so much. Cliche for some but, refreshing for others.
4. Narrative. It hook me. Towards the ending it was a bit abrupt but, maybe a sequel? (I want me more Damien).
5. Exciting. The last time I felt like this was with Liar Games. That was ages ago.
And now it's time for me to go and stalk the writer.
December 25, 2015
Game show, survival, killer instincts
This book had me from the beginning I couldn't put this book down. The book is about 12 people entering a game show competition for the grand prize of 2 million dollars but the games are a little too real and the people who lose don't come back. Read this book great author
This book had me from the beginning I couldn't put this book down. The book is about 12 people entering a game show competition for the grand prize of 2 million dollars but the games are a little too real and the people who lose don't come back. Read this book great author
August 31, 2023
What a brutal game of Big Brother Iain has crafted! The Housemates is a brutal tale of revenge and a warning that actions have consequences.
Damien is offered a chance at winning 2 million pounds if he agrees to be cut off from society with eleven others for ten days. Over those ten days, competitions will be held, and contestants will be eliminated from the game if they fail. However, there's a catch.....these contestants are playing for more than just money.
I couldn't look away from this and ended up reading it in one sitting. It was a ride from start to finish, and I really got caught up with the characters. At times, they did come out a little flat, though. I wish that they would've developed a little more outside of their videos, but I really felt for Damien. I saw the Traitor coming a mile away, but it was still a fun twist to read!
This is the first book that I'm reading in the series, and now I'm really curious how the other two before this one factor in. I'm definitely going to have to check them out and build this world even further!
Damien is offered a chance at winning 2 million pounds if he agrees to be cut off from society with eleven others for ten days. Over those ten days, competitions will be held, and contestants will be eliminated from the game if they fail. However, there's a catch.....these contestants are playing for more than just money.
I couldn't look away from this and ended up reading it in one sitting. It was a ride from start to finish, and I really got caught up with the characters. At times, they did come out a little flat, though. I wish that they would've developed a little more outside of their videos, but I really felt for Damien. I saw the Traitor coming a mile away, but it was still a fun twist to read!
This is the first book that I'm reading in the series, and now I'm really curious how the other two before this one factor in. I'm definitely going to have to check them out and build this world even further!
April 3, 2024
This was one giant, gory, torture fest and I loved it. Extreme body horror and literal blood and guts everywhere. It was just what I wanted to read on a dark and stormy night.
Twelve seemingly ordinary people enter a house for a chance to win a huge cash price. They soon find out their Big Brother style tv show is a lethal front for a Saw type escape room with the loosing challenger dying a grisly death. As the days drag on, more contestants die in increasingly disturbing ways with some of the most extreme torture I've ever read. What the fuck is a Spanish donkey? I gagged but am pleased an author was still able to surprise me.
My only complaint would be the 'big twist'. It was so obvious I was screaming it at the pages from the very beginning. Why didn't anyone else see it? I'm growing to love Iain Rob Wright's writing.
Twelve seemingly ordinary people enter a house for a chance to win a huge cash price. They soon find out their Big Brother style tv show is a lethal front for a Saw type escape room with the loosing challenger dying a grisly death. As the days drag on, more contestants die in increasingly disturbing ways with some of the most extreme torture I've ever read. What the fuck is a Spanish donkey? I gagged but am pleased an author was still able to surprise me.
My only complaint would be the 'big twist'. It was so obvious I was screaming it at the pages from the very beginning. Why didn't anyone else see it? I'm growing to love Iain Rob Wright's writing.
March 15, 2017
Wicked. This is like the reality show BIG BROTHER - but from Hell. Basically, 10 people are chosen 'at random' to participate in a Big Brother like competition for 2 million pounds. There will be challenges and voting, and cameras. Lots of cameras. Soon, though, it becomes clear that these people were all selected for a reason. Each participant has committed a crime for which someone wants them to pay. So, their victims have paid for these criminals/contestants to enter into this hell house where the elimination games do not end until someone dies, and the 'game' will only end when all but one is let alive. Except Damien doesn't belong here. He is not guilty of the crimes they say he did. so, he is willing to WIN/LIVE even if it means helping the others die, all while the people who have paid to get their revenge are watching on the ever present cameras....Also, one extra cool thing- the book ends with a nod to SEA SICK, another book by Iain Rib Wright! Very cool. This is a gruesome story, but told in such a way that you just have to keep turning those pages. --Jen from Quebec :0)
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