SERIAL [Kindle Edition]

Jack Kilborn (Author), Blake Crouch (Author), J.A. Konrath (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The #1 Amazon Kindle Bestseller, downloaded over 250,000 times, now back in its original version…

Jack Kilborn (aka J.A. Konrath) and Blake Crouch turn their attention to the twin golden rules of hitchhiking:

# 1: Don’t go hitchhiking, because the driver who picks you up could be certifiably crazy.

# 2: Don’t pick up hitchhikers, because the traveler you pick up could be a raving nutcase.

So what if, on some dark, isolated road, Crazy #1 offered a ride to Nutcase #2?

When two of the most twisted minds in the world of horror fiction face off, the result is SERIAL, a terrifying tale of hitchhiking gone terribly wrong. Like a deeply twisted version of an “After School Special,” SERIAL is the single most persuasive public service announcement on the hazards of free car rides.

Beyond a thrilling piece of horrifying suspense, SERIAL is also a groundbreaking experiment in literary collaboration. Kilborn wrote the first part. Crouch wrote the second. And they wrote the third together over email in 100-word exchanges, not aware of each other’s opening section. All bets were off, and may the best psycho win.

SERIAL contains the short story, SERIAL, a Q&A with Kilborn and Crouch, author bibliographies, and excerpts of Crouch’s DESERT PLACES, Konrath’s SHAKEN, and their collaboration with F. Paul Wilson and Jeff Strand, DRACULAS.

*Note: SERIAL is an 8000-word short story. SERIAL is fully contained in SERIAL UNCUT. BAD GIRL + TRUCK STOP + SERIAL = SERIAL UNCUT.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 183 KB
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0045OUR0K
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (507 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,912 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

142 of 145 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ironic ending makes this a great novella, May 25, 2009

By 

Amy Y. "Tell me, what is it you plan to do wi... (FREMONT, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Serial (Kindle Edition)

This was a quick read- 3 chapters but had me riveted. Graphic content is probably not going to be for everyone. The story is about two serial killers and the tale is a cautionary one. Don't hitch a ride because the person who might pick you up could be a psychopath, and don't pick up hitchers because he/she might be a psychopath.

But what happens when one serial killer picks up another? An enticing freebie for the kindle!

I loved the collaboration effect- the two voices were distinct but not jarringly so and added interest to the writing. I wouldn't want to be in a car with EITHER of these serial killers!!

What it boils down to is if you like a bit of a thrill, can stomach the macabre and like to see a couple of very bad people get what's coming to them- you'll enjoy this quick and riveting read. If you have a weak stomach for mayhem and madness, don't bother downloading it.

One thing: I would love to see more from these authors as the characters really did come to life in a very short span of time and to me that signals good writing, even if the content isn't palatable to everyone.

88 of 96 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serial - Great short read!, May 31, 2009

By 

S. Lynn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Serial (Kindle Edition)

I don't usually read horror so tghis was a new experience. It was way more graphic than I am used to, but the authors' distant/3rd person writing styles made it ok.

I can understand why some people disliked the story, but the blurb is pretty clear about th ekind of book it is. They received fair warning.

The story was exciting throughout and very well-paced. Towards the end, I was on te edge of my seat wondering who would win/how it would end. Perfect ending in my opinion. I hope the authors collaborate again.

97 of 119 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars brilliant concept brilliantly poor execution, August 7, 2009

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serial (Kindle Edition)

I was attracted to this title solely because of the method of writing the authors employed. I was further intrigued by the story of dueling serial killers met on the road but sadly the promise of these two unique ideas utterly fail to be realized in this very short story. The plot runs so predictably after the initial introduction of the characters it could have been plucked from any 90's screamer film chosen randomly from your local blockbuster and the prose, while not completely wretched, seems underdeveloped and rushed. To top it off the authors spend almost as many words patting themselves on the back and shamelessly promoting their other works as they use on the entire story. The end result of which, for me, was a complete disregard of anything published by either author. In short, free is too high a price for this junior high level collaboration and I'd appreciate a refund on the minutes of my life I wasted hoping and waiting it would get better.