🩸 Horror Fiction

A True Horror Story

✍️ Taylor David Rhoades
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$5.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A writer's quest for publication turns into a kidnapping nightmare orchestrated by his publisher.

The narrative centers on Trent Krouse, an author struggling to get his manuscript published. His sister Liz facilitates a meeting with publisher Gilligan Hoss, hoping to break Trent's streak of failures. Instead of a contract, Trent faces abduction and torture. The story tracks Liz's efforts to locate him while he suffers. Rhoades uses this framework to explore the dark side of literary ambition. The text does not rely on supernatural elements but focuses on real-world threats within the creative industry. It offers a straightforward account of betrayal and survival without complex metaphors or extended philosophical digressions.

Key Themes
publishing industry kidnapping narrative sibling loyalty
Literary Context

Published in 2015 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, this work reflects the era of self-publishing accessibility. It targets American readers interested in modern horror and thriller genres that emphasize realistic stakes over fantastical elements.

Difficulty
● Easy
Recommended For Fans Of
Stephen King's industrial nightmares · Gillian Flynn's psychological tension · Tana French's procedural dread · True crime literature
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2015 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781519116093

📝 Description: A True Horror Story

Taylor David Rhoades presents a narrative rooted in the premise that his work is based on true events. The story follows writer Trent Krouse as he attempts to secure publication for his manuscript titled The One Who Tried To Run Away. After enduring numerous rejections, Trent receives assistance from his sister Liz, who arranges an interview with publisher Gilligan Hoss. This professional meeting quickly devolves into a nightmare when Trent is kidnapped and subjected to torture. The plot shifts focus to Liz as she desperately searches for her brother while he endures the ordeal. This volume appeals to readers interested in contemporary horror fiction that blends psychological tension with physical danger. It draws on the tradition of thriller narratives where professional ambition leads to personal peril. The book is suitable for those who enjoy stories about the publishing industry and the risks associated with artistic pursuit. It may not suit readers seeking historical gothic settings or supernatural entities, as the threat here is human and immediate. Rhoades structures the tale around the interaction between Trent and Gilligan, highlighting the vulnerability of creators in a predatory environment.

💎 Our verdict on A True Horror Story

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Rhoades constructs a tense framework that effectively bridges the gap between literary ambition and physical horror. By focusing on the interaction between the struggling writer and his captor, the text highlights the terrifying reality of human predation within professional settings. The narrative avoids supernatural crutches, relying instead on the raw fear of abduction and torture to maintain engagement. This approach suits readers who enjoy straightforward accounts of betrayal and survival in contemporary contexts. While it lacks historical gothic atmosphere, its immediate threat resonates with those who prefer psychological tension rooted in real-world dangers, making it a solid entry for fans of industry-focused horror fiction.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking visceral, grounded horror will find this narrative compelling as it transforms the familiar anxiety of professional rejection into immediate physical peril. Those interested in the dark underbelly of the publishing industry will appreciate the exploration of betrayal and power dynamics within creative pursuits. The book is ideal for audiences who prefer realistic threats over fantastical monsters, offering a straightforward account of survival without complex philosophical digressions. It appeals to fans of thriller narratives where ambition leads to personal danger, providing a tense examination of how artistic vulnerability can be exploited by predatory figures in positions of authority.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Rhoades constructs a tense framework that effectively bridges the gap between literary ambition and physical horror. By focusing on the interaction between the struggling writer and his captor, the text highlights the terrifying reality of human predation within professional settings. The narrative avoids supernatural crutches, relying instead on the raw fear of abduction and torture to maintain engagement. This approach suits readers who enjoy straightforward accounts of betrayal and survival in contemporary contexts. While it lacks historical gothic atmosphere, its immediate threat resonates with those who prefer psychological tension rooted in real-world dangers, making it a solid entry for fans of industry-focused horror fiction.

🏛 Books from this publisher Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Memento Mori
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Paul Holbrook
Memento Mori
$13.94
78
Read →
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Quinton Veal
Mona Livelong: Paranormal Detective II: The Case of The Powerless Witch
$12.00
78
Read →
The Manitou
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Jessie Cox
The Manitou
$10.50
78
Read →
The Phantom of the Opera
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Alexander Teixeira De Mattos
The Phantom of the Opera
$17.00
81
Read →
The Trial
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
David Wyllie
The Trial
$10.25
81
Read →
Prey Until Dawn
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Daryn Guarino
Prey Until Dawn
$50.00
78
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Ghost Stories ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
M R James
Ghost Stories
$5.99
86
Read →
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Charles Dickens
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
$5.99
86
Read →
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Russell Lee
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
$5.99
86
Read →
Carmilla ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla
$5.99
86
Read →
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mary Shelley
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus
$5.99
86
Read →
The Boats of the "Glen Carrig" ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
William Hope Hodgson
The Boats of the "Glen Carrig"
$5.99
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist