Matt Shaw

Roe V. Wade is NOT a political book. It is Matt Shaw's idea of a possible future based on current trends. When Roe V. Wade was overturned in 2022 the idea that life begins at conception or near conception as well as the push to block contraceptives is paving the way towards a future that may look like the one depicted in this book. The cost of living has soared, and jobs are scarce.

Civil rights have fallen by the wayside as more and more of the things we count as permanent and irrevocable have been cut down. Segregation, Gay Rights, Women's Rights, all of these things are gone. The only thing that has any rights are the unborn children, but their rights come at the cost of the women who bear them.

It doesn't specify the year or exact location, but it's assumed to be in the US and a possible near-ish future.

Roe V. Wade opens on a scene showing Cate Hart, she is heavily sedated and living "her best life" (I say with irony), she is bound to a bed in an institutional room with other women, all sedated and bound to beds carefully monitored to make sure that the unborn children that they have been gestating are "kept healthy". All their bodily needs taken care of through tubes, they are constantly sedated and for the most part have nothing to do but wait until they are taken to the delivery room.

In this future, women showing any little sign of hesitancy or found "breaking the rules" are drug kicking and screaming to this institution that the outside world knows as a "birthing center" where hesitant mothers are taken and "pampered" until the day they give birth. No one asks what happens to the mothers and children afterwords, but it's not given thought. However, because this place which is subsidized by the government and makes it's employees sign NDA's no one ever talks.

This book looks upon the life of Cate and her husband Jack, who have just discovered that even after Jack's vasectomy, Cate became pregnant. They find out on Christmas and it wasn't a present either of them wanted. Cate's previous pregnancy was a very hard one and she was told she shouldn't have any more children. Work is very hard and the cost of living has soared out of control. However, because of the laws Cate and Jack must put a brave face on and make sure everyone believes that this is a wanted child. We follow the path that brought Cate to the "Birthing Center" where we first see her.

Then there is Claud who is a brand new worker at this institute which has many different rooms and wings, his job is to simply push the various gurneys with women from one area to another. It's the first week of his new job, of which he was grateful to get because jobs are very scarce in the future. Claud is finding out quickly that there are things he sees at his new job that don't sit well with him, but because he has signed an NDA and is grateful for the work, he sucks it up. He comes home to his young wife Lauren, whom he met in high school and married out of college.

Claud and Lauren hope to earn enough to buy a home and raise a family. Each day Claud becomes more and more distant as he has to choke more and more of his unease and disgust about his word down. When Lauren finds out that she is pregnant she is happy and hopeful, while Claud is secretly horrified because of the things he has seen but cannot speak of while at work.

This book scared the fuck out of me. It paints a future that I want no part of and can still see happening if things go the way they are. It isn't about pro-life, or pro-choice, it's about how far will we allow the rights of women be stripped away for the rights of an unborn child. How many other rights will be stripped away from other groups once the US gets used to the loss of reproductive rights, what rights of privacy will we become accustomed to losing?

Matt Shaw is a great horror writer, his books are thought provoking and gruesome. He often writes from multiple non-connected character's POV and has had many unique storylines. I highly recommend his work if you are interested in horror and aren't too squeamish.

However, this particular book is his take on how the future is looking. It isn't pretty.… (mere)

My review will be for the eBook that I borrowed on the with Kindle Unlimited in the Kindle App on my Amazon Tablet.
I really like the cover art for this eBook and it was one of the reasons why I wanted to read this eBook and i'm glad I read this book.🎃
I really like the theme of the book that the short stories were based around Halloween, I really liked how this book is written, how descriptive it is for the gory scenes, the theme of the short stories & the way the Ebook ending.
This particular book is well written, it was fun to read and I enjoyed reading it.
If you are a fan of Matt Shaw's books, the you will understand his sense of humour, he does write gory books, but that isn't the only reason that I like his books, I like & appreciate his imagination, ideas.
I think Extreme Horror writers/authors are very creative, they have a dark & vivid imagination, they have a dark sense of humour, which I appreciate because I have a dark & vivid imagination & a dark sense of humour myself 😊
Buy the paperback or eBook, read it and form your own opinion, before you judge a Extreme Horror writer/author for what they write about because it's fictional.

𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 (𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏/𝟐/𝟑 & 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟒/𝟓/𝟔):
I liked the creepy atmosphere, the slasher horror vibe this short story has when the man was outside late at night, on the woman's front porch and he kept saying "Trick or Treat" it was creepy he has unknown intentions, it reminds me of the horror film The Strangers which was based on real life murders, so that makes it even more creepy.
I would happily read more Extreme horror or Extreme Horror anthologies if the theme was based on or around Halloween, the spooky season.
This is one of my favourite Matt Shaw books so far.
The trio of murderers, after breaking into homes are seeking to record the victims skull fracturing and their neck cracking after they throw their victims out of their bedroom windows, they record what they are doing for their own sick pleasure, amusement and enjoyment.
They like the way it sounds, it's macabre.
I really enjoyed this book, the ending of the book was unexpected, it fits with the themes of the short stories in this eBook.
My favourite Short Stories were: Between Dead Trees part 1, Pieces, Pest, Come PLay With Us & Evil LIttle Things
I highly recommend this book, if you like gory, Extreme Horror books. 💀

𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬:
I liked this short story, I haven't read a short story about a fictional murderous cult on Halloween before so it was unexpected and one of my favourite short stories.
I've read true crime books about real-life cults that were murderers though.
The intentions of the people at the event were unknown and sinister, I didn't know what to expect which I liked about this story.
It reminds me of The Purge, people's willingness to participate in The annual Purge or their urge to kill that everyone has.
Everyone has that type of darkness within themselves, but not everyone shows it.

𝐏𝐞𝐬𝐭:
I don't like Clowns, but this short story was at least funny, I like dark humour and I have a dark sense of humour.
I think his friend did send him the woman's underwear & hired the Clown to stalk him, until it drove him crazy.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐬:
I really like the plot of this short story, the escalation of violence, gore, and gory scenes is one of my favourite aspects of Extreme Horror, I like that the "𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞" is a Live streamed for everyone to watch and enjoy for their own sick, pleasure, amusement and enjoyment.
I guess i'm weird if I like enjoy reading Extreme Horror books about fictional characters being tortured, mutilated, murdered 😅 👍😊

𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
Well I guess i'm a sick fuck then, because I love Chucky, the character, the Child's Play horror films and the actor-(Brad Dourif) that voices his character.
I really liked the story, it was funny to me that the woman was creeped out by the Chucky replica doll, it does look realistic.
prefer the Chuck doll from the Bride of Chucky film.
This story was fun to read.… (mere)

My review is for the ebook.
The eBook is (92 pages) so it's a quick read, depending on fast you read books or eBooks.
This book is fictional, but some of themes/scenes in the book made me feel uncomfortable to read specifically: the victim shaming of the domestic violence victim/the victimization and murder of the domestic violence victim as well, it was hard to read that.
It made me feel sick to read about the sexual abuse and the trauma that it caused to the children that were sexually abused by their dad, so it was understandable that one of the children committed suicide in such as horrific way.

𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧
𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐦
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞

The beginning of this book is bleak, depressing and disturbing that the two boys that are siblings are being sexually abused by their father.
I'm not sure if the son of the man that died is one of the abused children, or if he is the father that is sexually abusing his two sons but he is watching the Channel X streaming service obsessively.
It reminds me of the film Videodrome that was made by David Cronenberg, there is a particular scene that shows a woman being tortured.
Over time the main character becomes obsessed with extreme content that has no boundaries, limits, it is uncensored, raw and disturbing, graphically violent and sexual in context.
People become desensitized to various types of violence overtime until violence is normalized or it seems ordinary.
I wasn't expecting what Steve Chappo did to his boss Samuel but i'm sure a lot of people have thought of doing something similar to their boss, especially if they are a merciless, unforgiving, tyrant.
I'm not saying what Steve Chappo did to his boss Samuel Chastain was the right thing to do, but it was justified due to what Samuel said about Steve and his drunken, abusive, incestuous behaviour but he did for himself & on behalf of all his coworkers, for his son & as a act of defiance and revenge.
It's not surprising the boy killed himself, due to being sexually abused, there is only so much abuse a person can stand until it drives them insane, and they either self-harm, numb their pain with drugs, alcohol or sex, kill themselves or go on a murderous rampage and start by killing their abuser(s)
Sadly it's understandable and relatable.
The Channel X streaming service seems like it's illegal, it reminds me of the Red Rooms on the Deep Web, where the torturer/host is paid to torture, maim, murder people on camera, while it is live-streamed and the audience pays to view it. Live-streamed Snuff.
They gleefully want to watch a man or woman being tortured, mutilated, maimed, an murdered for their sick pleasure, they also choose which implements of torture that will be used and how the victims should be tortured/murdered.
I don't know if the Red Rooms truly exist but if they do, it's a terrifying concept, there is no limit to human depravity, cruelty, sadism or sexual deviancy and perversion.
There is a darkness that dwells deep within all of us, no matter how hard you try to resist, to suppress/repress it, it's always there, lingering within your soul.
I like there are multiple characters in the eBook, it makes it interesting to have multiple storylines happening simultaneously.
Channel X has a subliminal influence on the people streaming any film or tv series on the free service, whenever there is static on the screen.
It affects them emotionally, they inexplicable feel & express pent up anger/rage and either harm themselves by committing suicide or they commit gruesome, sadistic murders.
It's affecting everyone that signed up for the free service and is watching any film or tv series on the free streaming service, everyone except Rudy, because he keeps forgetting to register to use the free streaming service.
Everyone except Rudy will be subliminally influenced by Channel X.
I'm curious who created the free streaming service and if they are observing people that are streaming content on the free streaming service whenever there is static on everyone's screen.
I like the part of the eBook about Rudy and Jason, it would be fun to read a novella about people killing each other just so they could kill their competition so they would be next in line for a promotion.
I'm fine with reading gory, fucked up Extreme Horror or Splatterpunk books, but I don't want to read about domestic abuse or sexual abuse of children.
I like this book, but it would still be a good book/eBook without the sexual abuse of the two children, victim shaming of a victim of domestic violence then being subjected to more violence towards the domestic violence victim. Wtf? Why?
It's not necessary and doesn't add anything important to the story, it just reminds me of the corrupt, abusive sexist, misogynists, rapists & murderers that some Police officers are in England.
It's disgusting.
The overall plot of this book is unique and I like it, I liked how unhinged the characters were, they acted out their fantasies and supressed rage/anger. Everyone is capable of cruelty, sadistic violence, sadism, murder, weather they like it or not or admit that.… (mere)

My review for this book will be for the ebook/kindle version of the book that I am currently reading on my Amazon Tablet.
It's been awhile since I have read any extreme horror books, but I did like the book Sick Bastards by Matt Shaw.
I like his writing style, plus I have a dark & vivid imagination so that always helps.

This eBook includes the following stories by Matt Shaw:
𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧
𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 '𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦'
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐓𝐇

𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐫:
I like the way the sadist/serial killer describes torturing his victims, the way he describes his sadistic need to hear his victims scream in agony while he cruelly and sadistically tortures them.
I haven't read any book that is from the perspective or point of view of a sadist that is a serial killer before so it's interesting.
There are some spelling or grammatical errors sometimes in the writing, so no to be a bit nitpicky but the book needs to be proofread,and checked for spelling and grammatical errors.
I like the plot of the book, it's interesting that there is possibly a copycat killer, that is copying the crimes of the psychopath, and his "dolls"
The psychopath wants his "dolls" to be found, to be seen, he wants the admiration, attention, infamy, notoriety and for the general public to be shocked, disgusted or afraid of what he has done.
I like the intertwined plot about the serial killer, the family that moved into a new house and who they suspect is the serial killer and may be responsible for Ryan's coworker Vanessa disappearance
(death in absentia-missing but presumed dead)
The neighbours son Thomas seems like he is more than justa True Crime fan, he seems like is obsessed with True Crime, he is a Hybristophile-(they admire, idolize, romanticize, sexualize, fetishize serial killers, but not all Hybristophiles have romantic & sexual feelings towards serial killers)
They believe the serial killer didn't do anything wrong, they don't care about the victims, or feel any empathy, sympathy towards the victims of serial killers that are living or dead or their family members and friends.
There is a very fine line between being a respectful True Crime fan, a collector of Murderabilia and being a Hybristophile, and being a disturbed, depraved, sick Ghoul that would profit & benefit from the deaths of various people to create a profitable True Crime book that you can earn blood money from. Confirmation bias is the reason why the wrong man was accused and tortured due to Mike, his son Thomas and probably Ryan believing that Graeme Reynolds was the murderer, even though he wasn't, he was just a ordinary, obsessed stalker, pervert.
The ending of the story is inconclusive, it still doesn't explain who the torturer is, who the secondary fingerprints belong to on the parcel that was sent to the bank, or what happened to Vanessa. I enjoyed reading this short story, it's one of my favourites so far.

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐧:
I've never really been a fan of Clowns, they creep me out, there is something eerie, creepy, disturbing about them.
They were originally believed to be evil and to eat children.
I don't like the original Pennywise (portrayed by Tim Curry) or the horror film Clown made by Eli Roth either. Both creeped me out.
I didn't know there would be a story about a Clown 😬
I think I have Coulrophobia (fear of Clowns)
The Clown in the story is pathetic, weak, a people-pleaser that would do anything to avoid any type of confrontation, he doesn't have a backbone and never stands up for himself.
His roommate is trying to help him albeit in a harsh, unforgiving way to make him toughen up and stop him being such a pussy about everything.
I was expecting the Clown to be evil, sadistic and murdering children.
I like the plot of this story, I think the psychopath roommate has weird opinions about children and they believe that what they are doing is justified in some way.
I'm confused about if the roommate is a real person, or the entertainer that is a Clown is schizophrenic and hallucinating them.
The roommate did drive his van, kidnapped a child that was abandoned by their mother, it was a opportunistic crime. The entertainer didn't know about the deaths of the children, or the macabre artwork until he told his roommate about it.
Does the entertainer have a fractured psyche and the roommate is a "alter" personality due to DID (Dissociative identity disorder) and he doesn't remember kidnapping, murdering the children and painting images of their corpses as artwork.
There are 20 victims so the roommate is a serial killer.
The plot for this story is a little bit confusing 🤨🤔

𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲:

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥:
𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠:
𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 '𝐀𝐬𝐲𝐥𝐮𝐦'

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟖𝐓𝐇:… (mere)