🩸 Horror Fiction

Corrupt

✍️ Penelope Douglas
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$45.95
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Stirring the Sheets ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Chad Lutzke
Stirring the Sheets
$9.99
78
Fire Tongue ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Sax Rohmer
Fire Tongue
$45.95
78
Peculiar Tales: Issue 2 ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Chris Wade
Peculiar Tales: Issue 2
$14.00
86
Killing Time ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Russell C Connor
Killing Time
$14.99
78
The Tide of Terror ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Stuart G Yates
The Tide of Terror
$41.99
78
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A dark thriller about revenge orchestrated by a man obsessed with his brother's girlfriend.

The plot hinges on Michael Crist’s calculated exploitation of Erika Fane’s vulnerability. He waits for her boyfriend to leave for the military before acting. His motivation stems from a past legal conflict where Erika sent his friends to prison. Now that they are free, he uses them as instruments of terror. The story examines how fear can be weaponized by those in positions of power. It does not offer redemption or easy resolutions. Instead, it focuses on the psychological unraveling of its protagonist.

Key Themes
psychological manipulation revenge and retribution stalking and obsession
Literary Context

Published in 2016 by Tantor Audio, this work reflects the contemporary trend of dark romance and thriller hybrids. It engages with modern anxieties about personal safety and the lingering effects of past legal judgments on current relationships.

Difficulty
●●● Challenging
Recommended For Fans Of
Tana French · Gillian Flynn · R.L. Stine
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Tantor Audio 📅 2016 🌐 English 📔 MP3 CD ISBN: 9798200654468

📝 Description: Corrupt

Penelope Douglas presents a psychological thriller centered on Erika Fane and Michael Crist. Erika views her boyfriend’s older brother as a terrifying figure, comparable to a scary movie she fears watching. He is a professional basketball player who seems indifferent to her presence. Michael observes Erika with intense focus, noting her fear when he enters a room. He claims to possess her mind even without physical intimacy. The narrative shifts when the boyfriend departs for military service. Michael finds Erika alone in his city at college. This situation triggers a dark plan rooted in past grievances. Three years prior, Erika testified against several of Michael’s high school friends, resulting in their imprisonment. Those men have now been released and are waiting for revenge. Michael orchestrates a scenario where these former classmates target Erika. He believes the opportunity is too good to miss. The story explores themes of stalking, psychological manipulation, and retribution. It draws on the tradition of the modern thriller with elements of gothic suspense. The tone is dark and intense, focusing on the power dynamics between the characters. This work suits readers who enjoy mature themes and complex moral ambiguities in romance-adjacent fiction. It may not appeal to those seeking lighthearted plots or clear-cut heroes. The narrative relies on the tension of impending doom rather than supernatural elements.

💎 Our verdict on Corrupt

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
This book delivers a dark, intense exploration of power dynamics and psychological manipulation. It excels in building tension through the calculated exploitation of vulnerability, anchored by a protagonist who orchestrates terror from the shadows. The narrative effectively merges gothic suspense with modern thriller conventions, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers. While it lacks redemption or easy answers, this absence serves the story's grim tone. It suits readers comfortable with mature themes and complex moral ambiguities in romance-adjacent fiction. Those seeking clear heroes or light plots may find it unsettling, but fans of psychological horror will appreciate its unflinching look at obsession and retribution.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking intense psychological unraveling and mature themes will find this book compelling. It appeals to those who enjoy complex moral ambiguities and the tension of impending danger without clear resolutions. The narrative offers a deep dive into how fear is weaponized by those in power, providing a stark look at stalking and retribution. Those interested in gothic suspense mixed with modern thriller elements will appreciate the focus on psychological manipulation. It is ideal for audiences who prefer dark, intense stories over lighthearted plots or easy redemptions. The exploration of obsession and past grievances creates a gripping atmosphere for fans of horror-adjacent fiction.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

This book delivers a dark, intense exploration of power dynamics and psychological manipulation. It excels in building tension through the calculated exploitation of vulnerability, anchored by a protagonist who orchestrates terror from the shadows. The narrative effectively merges gothic suspense with modern thriller conventions, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers. While it lacks redemption or easy answers, this absence serves the story's grim tone. It suits readers comfortable with mature themes and complex moral ambiguities in romance-adjacent fiction. Those seeking clear heroes or light plots may find it unsettling, but fans of psychological horror will appreciate its unflinching look at obsession and retribution.

📖 From the series “Devil's Night”

Corrupt
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Penelope Douglas
Corrupt
$55.99
78
Read →

✍️ More books by this author Penelope Douglas

Corrupt
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Penelope Douglas
Corrupt
$55.99
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Tantor Audio

Bathwater Blues
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Abe Moss
Bathwater Blues
$55.99
86
Read →
Dreams in Black Static: Eight Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Ambrose Ibsen
Dreams in Black Static: Eight Stories
$45.99
81
Read →
The Numbing
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Flint Maxwell
The Numbing
$35.99
81
Read →
The Messy Man
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Chris Sorensen
The Messy Man
$39.99
78
Read →
Night of the Mannequins
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Stephen Graham Jones
Night of the Mannequins
$32.99
81
Read →
Cursed by Death: A Graveminder Novel
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Melissa Marr
Cursed by Death: A Graveminder Novel
$45.99
79
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Corrupt ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Penelope Douglas
Corrupt
$55.99
78
Read →
The Girl Next Door ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Jack Ketchum
The Girl Next Door
$45.95
86
Read →
The Fury ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
John Farris
The Fury
$45.95
86
Read →
Rushed ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Brian Harmon
Rushed
$45.95
86
Read →
In the Shadow of Spindrift House ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Mira Grant
In the Shadow of Spindrift House
$45.95
86
Read →
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Yoko Ogawa
Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales
$45.95
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