@Tawny I found it very tedious reading the main character’s listing of all brand name items he loved and lusted after, although it did show how he had more attraction to desirable ‘things’ than empathy for his fellow humans. The torture was mind-boggling though – it disgusted me so much I ended up throwing the book across the room and stopped reading about 75% of the way through – pre-Kindle days, fortunately!!! 😉
@Barbara and @Danial – Author Bret Easton Ellis published in 1991 and later made into a pretty tame-by-comparison film with Christian Bale as the yuppie psychopath. l hope you both enjoy the book and I’ll be interested to hear your verdicts! 🙂
@Jo I didn’t like the book but I don’t like censorship much either! My own thrillers get the thumbs down at times for the violence depicted and the disturbing themes I choose, but rather than censorship I prefer to warn potential readers about the nature of the content in the blurb – although some tender hearts still manage to download copies and be offended! 😉
I’d say Tampa. It was brilliantly written!! The subject matter was quite disturbing, but it also helped me understand the “why and reasonings” as to why young and beautiful teachers prey upon young boys for sexual relationships.
My strange answer to that is that there is a book I can recall the story of, but not the author or title. I guess it was so disturbing that my mind has censored it.
Agree with you on here – We Need to Talk About Kevin was horrific, and so was Rats and Slugs. Ewwwww. But the book that had the biggest emotional impact on my was Sophie’s Choice.
The End of Alice by A.M Homes. Trigger warning for paedophilia and child harm. Also Happy Like Murderers by Gordon Burn (it’s about Fred and Rose West, shudder).
I was going to mention Happy Like Murderers. I’ll never read another true crime book after that one. Very skilful writing though, to creep me out like that.
“Exquisite Corpse” by Poppy Z Brite. It’s about a homosexual serial killer, cannibal necrophiliac. Described as a serial killer love story that explores the seamy politics of victimhoodand disease.
Born Evil by Kimberley Chambers was pretty disturbing as a fiction novel. I read A Child Called It years ago and vowed I’d never read another book like it.
@Barbara for me it was way more than I can usually handle lol. Thankfully i have never experienced anything like that abuse but I still can never read about it. I started reading Olsen’s The Girl Before and stopped after 50 pages for same reason.
A friend lent me a book about Jeffrey Dahmer and i couldn’t finnish it – just too disturbing. Same for American Psycho. Reservoir Dogs took two attempts to watch (ear scene was the show stopper)
Although not the most disturbing book I have read, there is something a little disturbing about The Dolls by James Patterson in that there is a small grain of reality in it.
The bible,
i use those to start my wood stove
Lolita (?). It also happens to be one of my favorite books.
Looks interesting, I was looking for more dark and twisted ?
yeah, I know. That’s why I suggested Lolita.
1984
One of Karin Slaughters but i don’t remember which one. I know you are thinking they are all pretty graphic so take your pick.
Chris Carter
Totally agree they are all pretty disturbing ?
Johnny got his gun
American Psycho – I write some pretty dark, disturbing stuff, but I could not finish this rather twisted ‘celebration’ of all things psychopathic…
Yup, had a hard time reading this one. I had to put it down often, and cleanse my palate.
??
@Tawny I found it very tedious reading the main character’s listing of all brand name items he loved and lusted after, although it did show how he had more attraction to desirable ‘things’ than empathy for his fellow humans. The torture was mind-boggling though – it disgusted me so much I ended up throwing the book across the room and stopped reading about 75% of the way through – pre-Kindle days, fortunately!!! 😉
@William now I want to read it.
I need to read this now! Who is the author please?
It disturbed me so much I wanted to destroy every copy to stop others from being affected ?
@Barbara and @Danial – Author Bret Easton Ellis published in 1991 and later made into a pretty tame-by-comparison film with Christian Bale as the yuppie psychopath. l hope you both enjoy the book and I’ll be interested to hear your verdicts! 🙂
@Jo I didn’t like the book but I don’t like censorship much either! My own thrillers get the thumbs down at times for the violence depicted and the disturbing themes I choose, but rather than censorship I prefer to warn potential readers about the nature of the content in the blurb – although some tender hearts still manage to download copies and be offended! 😉
We Need to Talk About Kevin…. *shudders*
Some of Chris Carter’s and Shadow Man by Cody McFayden
Exquisite Corpse. So much more gruesome than American Psycho; I had to take breaks from reading it.
@Laura, yeah – THAT one!!!
Right now Chris Carter’s snow girls it’s really good but disturbing
Is this Chris Mooney?x
@Kelly yes sorry that’s what i.meant
No worries?. I’ve gone and ordered it!?x
Sophie’s Choice.
@CeeCee That was a tough one to get through
American Psycho
@Kim who is the author of this? ☺️
@Danial brett easton ellis
@Kim thankyou
Slugs bu Shaun Hutson
I’d say Tampa. It was brilliantly written!! The subject matter was quite disturbing, but it also helped me understand the “why and reasonings” as to why young and beautiful teachers prey upon young boys for sexual relationships.
@Barbara I really liked that book but it made you have internal arguments lol. Definitely one that I am hesitant to recommend.
@Tammy the writing was absolutely superb though, and I feel that helps level out the disturbing factor of the content.
@Barbara I agree.
Naked Lunch has some graphic moments.
Thanks everyone I will check these out ?
Chris Carter
unquiet souls by liz mistry
The Jamie Bulger story. I only got a couple of chapters in. Years ago. Cried myself out of tears and couldn’t keep the book in the house.
@Donna ???
So sad, I cried too. Also the documentaries are heartbreaking as well ?
My strange answer to that is that there is a book I can recall the story of, but not the author or title. I guess it was so disturbing that my mind has censored it.
White is the coldest colour by John Nicholl. Fantastic read though.
Rats xx
Stephen King, Pet Semetary
@Irene Totally agree.
Pet Semetary does stand out
Chris Crossed by @EM. Very disturbing but one of those books you can’t put down x
@Audrey Thank you… I think. ?
@EM you think correctly xxxx
Blood Meridian
This Little Piggy
Agree with you on here – We Need to Talk About Kevin was horrific, and so was Rats and Slugs. Ewwwww. But the book that had the biggest emotional impact on my was Sophie’s Choice.
The Wasp Factory
Girl Zero by A.A. Dhand.
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Human Remains by Elizabeth Haynes – I don’t think I’ll ever forget it!
This book sounds great ?
I suspect you will never, ever forget Colin, @Amanda….
No One Gets Out Alive by Adam Neville
The Hot Zone
Naomi’s Room
American Psycho… I tore it to bits and put it in a litter bin halfway through reading it… the only book I’ve ever considered as ‘evil’
I flung my copy across the room (as mentioned above) Seumas!
Carrie by Stephen King
The Gallows Pole
Five chimneys
Beneath the watery moon by Betsy Freeman Reavley!
Untouchable by @Sibel Because it is probably true to life somewhere. ? x
The End of Alice by A.M Homes. Trigger warning for paedophilia and child harm. Also Happy Like Murderers by Gordon Burn (it’s about Fred and Rose West, shudder).
I was going to mention Happy Like Murderers. I’ll never read another true crime book after that one. Very skilful writing though, to creep me out like that.
@Janet it’s such an excellently written book isn’t it? But so stomach churning…
It is. It conjures up their sordid lives and Fred’s malign influence so well.
“Exquisite Corpse” by Poppy Z Brite. It’s about a homosexual serial killer, cannibal necrophiliac. Described as a serial killer love story that explores the seamy politics of victimhoodand disease.
Disturbing… I loved it, lol.
@Chuck, me too.
@Wendy, I couldn’t get into her other books tho… ??♂️??♂️??♂️
Great thread!
I’d add another vote for Naomi’s Room. I don’t normally get disturbed by books but that’s one I wouldn’t want to return to.
@Rob novels ??
Graham Masterton’s White Bones or Broken Angels. Just ewwwwwwww!
Has to be the first Chris Carter book I read, The Crucifix.
Sickened and a memoir written by Fred and Rose West’s daughter.
Lines of Justice:Azdaja be @Lee. Also any book by @Rob, he’s sick (in the nicest way) ?
Thank you, @Dee. Cheers also for the sick tag – in the nicest possible way, of course.
Ha ha, thanks @Dee. I clearly need to up my game to compete with @Rob for the sick crown (in the nicest possible way)! ?
Hi @Lee, sick and twisted seems to be the way to go. According to @Dee, that is …
@Rob and yet she seems so innocent! ?
Don’t be fooled guys ??
I’m not. x
Beneath the Watery Moon by Betsy Freeman Reavley an amazing insight into mental health – brilliantly written and lingers forever in the mind. x
A Boy called it
Still can’t bear to read them…
The shining Steven King. Anything by him as a kid I read horror.
She’s come undone by Wally Lamb, was too young in retrospect bought to me as jibe when 13 as it was book about weight loss
Flowers in the attic series
Oh Yeh I like them. Virginia Andrews brilliant
@Lorraine
Me too
We need to talk about Kevin.
A child of the devil x
Born Evil by Kimberley Chambers was pretty disturbing as a fiction novel. I read A Child Called It years ago and vowed I’d never read another book like it.
The Butterfly Garden
@Monique good book!
@Barbara I still can’t believe I read it lol. I usually
Can’t read about that topic. I just loaned it to a book club friend as well
@Monique it wasn’t overly graphic, which was awesome because it left the rest up to speculation.
@Barbara for me it was way more than I can usually handle lol.
Thankfully i have never experienced anything like that abuse but I still can never read about it. I started reading Olsen’s The Girl Before and stopped after 50 pages for same reason.
A friend lent me a book about Jeffrey Dahmer and i couldn’t finnish it – just too disturbing. Same for American Psycho. Reservoir Dogs took two attempts to watch (ear scene was the show stopper)
Sophies Choice had me in floods for weeks
Best film was dual 1971. Anyone remember that.
@Lorraine yeah I do .
Yes. We saw it at school, all sitting round on the floor with sound of the projector whirling. Best most gripping film of my childhood
Under the Skin by Michel Faber. Hard to categorise and impossible to forget. One of the books I wish I had written.
Good stuff!!!
Although not the most disturbing book I have read, there is something a little disturbing about The Dolls by James Patterson in that there is a small grain of reality in it.
A bit dated but still terrifying. The Silence of the Lambs.
The Shining, without a doubt!
In cold blood by Truman Capote
Thai Girl. Read as a reviewer upon request. Gave an Ayn Rand kind of review.
Behind Closed Doors by BA Paris.
Good book
The torture garden by Octave Mirabeau
American Psycho
Rats by james herbert , had sleepless nights from reading it
I’m not sure if I can read about rats
@Amanda very good trilogy (lair,&domain being the others)
I read that book years ago frightened me so much I’ve. Ever read another James Herbert book
I really enjoyed all the Rats trilogy and most of James Herbert books that I have read
The Shining by Stephen King still gives me goose bumps
1. Lolita
2. Red Dragon
The dice man
Asbo can’t remember who wrote it x
Fiddleback by J.M. Morris
Second that! x