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Carole Gill

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Circus of Horrors Kindle Edition

by Carole Gill (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

125 ratings

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What exactly is wrong with this circus?

There are demonic, flesh-eating clowns, murderous midgets, a fat lady with some peculiar tastes and an old man with one hell of a secret. Old Pa keeps a trunk with some very special souvenirs.

When a stranger joins up who has second sight, among other talents, the old man's son gets nervous. There are a lot of very strange beings, not to mention a succubus or two and some beings from hell. Welcome to a wild ride to damnation.

This book contains graphic violence, strong language and sex scenes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The 50 Best Indie Books of 2016
#34 CIRCUS OF HORRORS
***************************If you've read any of Ms Gill's books before, be prepared to be shocked. This tale is one of the darkest, twisted, sick reads I've read in a very long time. Her voice in this book is totally different from anything she's written. It took me awhile to get into the story and characters, but once I did, it just sucked me in further and further. I really don't want to go into the plot or characters too much, as the enjoyment of this story is the discovery that the reader makes as Gill unfolds the evil lurking everywhere.Fred Dodger is totally clueless to everything going on around him, he just knows something is off and not right. But he and his father have terrible secrets, some he's forgotten. At the end of almost every chapter, Gill slips in little clues about what Fred isn't seeing or acknowledging. Quite ingenious. All of the supporting characters from the clowns, to the midgets and Baby Alice have their own terrible, dark secrets. You can't help but feel sorry for them. Then along comes Joe and everything changes.I wasn't too happy with the cadence of the writing at the beginning, but the characters and plot were so strong, I just had to keep reading. I was thoroughly entertained in the most horrific way and I give this book 5 feathers. If you love true horror, this has to be on your TBR list.SAHARA FOLEY BOOK REVIEW5 FEATHERS.Holy Circus!!!!!! Talk about a book going in a direction that I certainly didn't see coming. I mean I knew something was off, but it was more off than I was thinking.
You first meet the crew from Fred Dodger's Circus, really they just travel around in a van and try to work wherever they can. They live off the land in the beginning, among other things that I'm not even going to tell you!
So there is Fred Dodger and his dad who goes by Old Pa, Fred takes care of his dad and his little group of misfits as best he can. There are the three clowns, Happy, Danny and Noble. The two midgets, Hank and Al and the fat lady, Baby Alice.
These are not your NORMAL people, and I'm not talking about them being characters in a circus! They all have some freaky stuff going on!
Then one night out of the blue this hobo named Joe wanders into their camp telling them stories of a circus they can join and never have to move again. Well, of course, this makes everyone happy. They soooo want a place that is home.
I'm going to put it mildly here, that circus is not a place you want to call home and if you read this book you will see all of the freak show (no pun intended) that is really going on! I think all horror fans would like this or just someone interested in crazy stuff.MELISSA MARTIN'S READING LIST BLOG.Carole Gill has hit the ball out of the park in this collection. Imagine all the circus horrors and madness you can think of, and see them leap off the page at you.LEE PLETZERSKOBE FICTION

From the Author

First, about this book. I write two kinds of horror as many of you know. This is the dark, contemporary, twisted horror I enjoy writing. I have no idea why, truthfully. Having said that, go watch the news sometime. For years I was caught up in serial killers and forensic journals. I find fascinating criminal profiling. I read loads of books. Books written by FBI profilers, detectives and forensic psychiatrists. I suppose I did this in order to understand, better human evil. .Why did Bundy look normal? Using him as an example, why did he do what he did? How many people suffered because of what he did to their daughters, sisters--girlfriends--friends? Look how many serial killers there are! It's shattering to think of all the people suffering because of their acts. .If you take that interest and you add to it my love of scary things, you can see where this novel came from. The thing is, I wrote about damaged people. I gave the clowns, in particular, horrendous childhoods so that they became what they did. I did not do that, however with one of the other characters who was a serial killer. .I hope readers find something more in here than a horror novel. My fiction always aspires to embellish characters and situations. Always..I write dark paranormal and Gothic romance as well as dark horror. The Gothic romantic fiction I write is combined with horror. This fiction is replete with tortured vampires, passionate sex and feeding. I believe vampires are wanton, highly sexual creatures and I depict them that way. Having said that, they are capable of deeply felt emotions. They are complex creatures. There are good and bad among them as there are among all beings..With regard to the horror, it tends to be contemporary. I have all sorts of monsters, some human and some human-like. Serial killers, monstrous beings inside, don't necessarily look like what they are. That to me, is most scary..My 8th book, a novel based on the infamous Blood Countess, Erzsebat Bathory and held absolute power in 16th Century Hungary has just been released by Creativia. She was a sexual sadist and predator. That book was a challenge to write, but I love challenges!Thank you for reading this. I hope you will check out my writing!

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01D575EPA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Creativia
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 17, 2016
Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 662 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 191 pages
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Customer Reviews:
125 ratings

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Carole Gill

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Carole Gill is published by Creativia. She writes dark Gothic romance as well as contemporary horror.

Preditors & Editors’ Readers’ POLL

#2 BEST HORROR NOVEL 2016

I, BATHORY, QUEEN OF BLOOD

BEST INDIE BOOK FINALIST

2016

CIRCUS OF HORRORS

Her acclaimed 4-novel series, The Blackstone Vampires:

2014 - Amazon Bestseller in Dark Fantasy - THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES OMNIBUS

2015 - Amazon Bestseller in Vampire Horror - THE BLACKSTONE VAMPIRES OMNIBUS

2015 - Amazon Bestseller in Horror Anthologies - HOUSE OF HORRORS

AWARDS:

eBook Festival of Words 2014

Best Horror: The House on Blackstone Moor and

Best Villain: Eco

Top 10 Books - 2013 - The House on Blackstone Moor

Aoife Marie Sheridan - ALL THINGS FANTASY

Publisher, Ultimate Fantasy Books

'

92 Horror authors you need to read right now,

Carole Gill - The Blackstone Vampires Series. ~Charlotte Books Examiner,

Justine: Into The Blood Book One - Blood and Passion Series is on sale at Amazon.

Book 2, Anat: Blood Princess, follows.

I, Bathory, Queen of Blood, a novel about the Blood Countess Erzsebat Bathory is her latest book. For dark horror fans there is, Carole Gill's House of Horrors and the novel, Circus of Horrors.

In 2000 she was selected by Northwest Playwrights of England for further development. Short stories and novels were what she preferred to write.

Her story, The Devil's Work is being broadcast web and television in the Fragments of Fear Program in 2016.

Blog:

http://carolegillauthor.blogspot.co.uk/

facebook author page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carole-Gill-Author/120405794703293?ref=ts

She is widely published in horror and sci-fi anthologies:

Fragments of Fear tv and YOU TUBE, 'THE DEVIL'S WORK'

Killing it Softly, Digital Fiction Publishing Corp.

Sideshow, published by PsychoPomp

After Armeagedon short story collection by Brian L. Porter (guest story by Carole Gill)

Rogues Gallery, The Illustrated Police News, Firbolg

Enter at Your Own Risk: Dark Muses Spoken Silences Firbolg

Vampires: Romance to Rippers an Anthology of Tasty Tales

A S Publications: Enter at Your Own Risk: Old Masters New Voices, An Anthology of Gothic Literature,

Fresh Fear: Contemporary Horror

Triskaideka Books' Masters of Horror Anthology One,

Triskaideka Books' Masters of Horror Damned If You Don't,

Sonar 4 Publishing's Ladies and Gentlemen of Horror 2010,

SNM's Bonded By Blood3 Languish In Lament,

Sonar 4 Publishing's Whitechapel 13, Anthology,

Rymfire's Undead Tales,

Rymfire's Zombie Winter,

Rymfire's Zombie Writing

Angelic Knight Press' Satan's Toy Box: Demonic Dolls and

Whitechapel 13, An Anthology of the Victorian Era

Sci Fi Almanac 2009 and 2010 and

Science Fiction Freedom Magazine, issues 1-4,

Sci Fi Talk's Tales of Time and Space.

Customer reviews

125 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book delightfully creepy and appreciate its vibrant characters. The pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as an exciting romp through the circus. However, the writing quality and language receive mixed reactions, with several customers finding it poorly written and one noting numerous obscenities throughout the book.

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Character development Pacing Writing quality Language

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them vibrant and quite likable.

"...Gill has created a veritable entourage of weird, wonderful and creepy characters, and the story centers around a man who is trying to protect his..." Read more

"...Enter cruel and cannibalistic clowns, demon spawns, and some real character twists. Overall the book was a "good" read...." Read more

"...and a refuge to the spectacles that operate in its world, the characters were vibrant and complex in their sins from the start...." Read more

"...Characters might have been interesting, but they spiraled down too quickly for me to really decide if I liked them or not...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, with one describing it as an exciting romp through the circus that captures its magic.

"...She captures the magic of the circus and what it means to work within such an environment extremely well...." Read more

"Definite Circus!..." Read more

"An exciting romp through the circus..." Read more

8 customers mention "Writing quality"5 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with several finding it poorly written.

"...If you are looking for a well written, imaginative yarn that will put a chill in your spine, definitely check this one out...." Read more

"...Dialogue was a bit off kilter, but that might be due to the time period; I let this slide...." Read more

"...This tale is one of the darkest, twisted, sick reads I’ve read in a very long time...." Read more

"...But such delightful, dark dreams! This is a must read." Read more

3 customers mention "Language"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the language of the book offensive, with one mentioning numerous obscenities throughout.

"...of Horrors is not for the fainthearted, and there are numerous obscenities throughout the book, but Ms. Gill has neatly tied her story into a..." Read more

"...on and that’s when the book goes from promising to downright gross and nasty...." Read more

"Wow the most insulting book I've read in years...." Read more

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ChunkiePandas
Most Definitely Not for the Fainthearted...
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2015
Verified Purchase

I must first point out, that horror is not generally a genre I read, but this book really was very good and the storyline was such that it kept me engrossed from beginning to end.
Ms. Gill has created a veritable entourage of weird, wonderful and creepy characters, and the story centers around a man who is trying to protect his father, but as we discover, he has some hidden secrets of his own.
Despite the utter depravity shown by the vast majority of the characters, I have to say that I found most of them to be quite likable (which surprised me immensely, believe me!). Ms. Gill has taken the sideshows and circuses of the depression era and reinvented them in such a warped and fascinating manner, I found myself unwilling to stop reading until I reached the conclusion. She has perfectly captured the sounds, sensations and shtick of the era, when it was acceptable to gawk at those who were different, in any way shape or form. No political correctness was required when you visited the sideshows and these flawed, abused and tragic characters come together in Circus of Horrors in such a way, as to have you genuinely interested in their lives and situations - and as the story unfolds, you just know things are going to go downhill, and fast.
Circus of Horrors is not for the fainthearted, and there are numerous obscenities throughout the book, but Ms. Gill has neatly tied her story into a macabre little bow, and if you are a lover of horror, I highly recommend it.

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Melissa 'Dog/Wolf Lover'
This was an awesome little creepfest!
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2015
Verified Purchase
Holy Circus!!!!!! Talk about a book going in a direction that I certainly didn't see coming. I mean I knew something was off, but it was more off than I was thinking.

You first meet the crew from Fred Dodger's Circus, really they just travel around in a van and try to work wherever they can. They live off the land in the beginning, among other things that I'm not even going to tell you!

So there is Fred Dodger and his dad who goes by Old Pa, Fred takes care of his dad and his little group of misfits as best he can. There are the three clowns, Happy, Danny and Noble. The two midgets, Hank and Al and the fat lady, Baby Alice.

These are not your NORMAL people, and I'm not talking about them being characters in a circus! They all have some freaky stuff going on!

Then one night out of the blue this hobo named Joe wanders into their camp telling them stories of a circus they can join and never have to move again. Well, of course, this makes everyone happy. They soooo want a place that is home.

I'm going to put it mildly here, that circus is not a place you want to call home and if you read this book you will see all of the freak show (no pun intended) that is really going on! I think all horror fans would like this or just someone interested in crazy stuff.

*Graphic violence, Gore, Sexual Situations* Just wanted to add that for the kiddie's, this isn't for the kiddie's :)

I really liked the book because it was so odd and the cover is so awesomely creepy!!!!!!

MY REVIEWS:
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1379190845

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Elle G.
:: 3.5 Bizarre Stars ::
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is certainly a dark and disturbing read. I originally picked this book up because of the creepy cover and thought it would be an awesome book to read right before Halloween but I have to say I found it quite bizarre. Although I really like the premise and I felt bad for some of the characters a lot of the book just dragged for me. I also didn't find it to be too original- kind of reminded me of other horror books and movies that I had read/seen in the past. Don't get me wrong though, there were some really good parts to the story too. Enter cruel and cannibalistic clowns, demon spawns, and some real character twists. Overall the book was a "good" read. Fans of gruesome horror may get a real kick out of this one. But those with a weak stomach this one may not be for you.

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Honey Bee
Mostly disgusting
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
I made it a policy to never give a book I got for free a negative review. I just finished Circus of Horrors and have changed the policy.

This book started out promising. You know that something creepy is going on from the very beginning and
it gets creepier with each chapter. But then, comes the explanation of what has been going on and that’s when the book goes from promising to downright gross and nasty.

Seems as the author couldn’t come up with anything original so she gave the book a rather clichéd ending. Can’t say more without giving away the ending, but trust me, it isn’t scary in the least. And one more thing, the “F” work is considerably overused. These aren’t nice people but still….

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Top reviews from other countries

Mark Tilbury
A highly recommended horror
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2015
Verified Purchase

This is a circus unlike any other you've heard about. It has clowns, lion tamers and trapeze artists mixed up with pure evil. Fred, His 'Old Pa' and his small band of circus acts meet Joe, who promises a better life. One filled with a big top, making big bucks. But at what price?

This is a dark and disturbing tale. The author's writing and vivid imagination grab hold of you from the first page. Some scenes are very graphic but needed due to the nature of the story.

Some horrors end up being clichéd and/or 'tacky'. Not Circus of Horrors. This is an excellently written book with a great collection of characters. I especially liked the ending. I didn't see it coming but it was very well done and explains why certain things happened earlier on in the story.

This was the first book by this author that I've read. I'll be adding more to my kindle. A highly recommended horror.

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Kindle Customer
Weird Characters with Unnatural Habits
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Shocking? Yes, it was. For these were no ordinary circus carnies. Difficult and troubled pasts had made them do things way beyond normal. Then, the introduction of an over-friendly conjuror escalates their sick behaviour even further, causing a deep division between the depraved carnies and their former self-appointed carer, Fred. He'd looked after them all in the past even though he disapproved of their cannibal ways.

Horror? Certainly! You'll find it in bucket-loads here. If horror is your thing, then you won't be disappointed. This is a really imaginative story with extremely diverse characters. Their actions certainly evoke disgust.

Scary? No, not really. The characters would certainly be scary if you came across them alone at night. However, I didn't feel afraid at any point. It flows well and is very readable but, for me at least, there is no edge-of-your seat tension, suspense, or scariness. That's only a personal requirement in horror for me though. For some it's not necessary. Either way, it's still a great read for those who love horror.

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Techno Hippy
Some great moments, but felt a little flat overall
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2016
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I found this book a bit of a mixed bag. It starts well with a trio of cannibal clowns, but loses it's way a bit. The scene is set well with a failing troupe of circus performers who have the fortune to meet a charismatic man who turns their fortunes around. Quite naturally things are not what they seem and this man interferes in their lives in a dramatic fashion. It's here that the book needed more work. This character should have felt more sinister than it did, and indeed to an extent this issues covers the whole story.

The elements are certainly there, and there are some intense horror moments, but they are an exception. These tended to be more limited to the more physical shock horror, but the story cried out for something more insidious. I feel that it needed more of an undercurrent to make the shocking moments a bit more fitting.

There's an interesting array of characters, but apart from a few exceptions they lacked depth, and some more development with them would have helped strengthen the plot. In some ways the number on offer fights against some of the more personal conflicts at play.

The biggest issues for me were the reveals. First you learn the secrets of two of the main characters, and they come out of the blue and make a big claims. To be honest they felt a little forced, and would have enjoyed greater impact as acts in themselves, rather than trying to force them to certain historical events.

Beyond this was the end reveal, and a change in circumstances. Again it felt too much, and wasn't really needed. With some more development the circus itself had all the horror the story needed, and the ramp up at the end could have been something more meaningful. That being said I did enjoy the choice at the end, although it didn't really fit with the characters behaviour throughout the book.

It's true that I had issues with the story, but the writing was solid, and it's a fast paced read. It has some bizarre moments, and I did enjoy it overall. Worth a look if you're searching for something a bit different. I should warn you that it's not for the squamish!

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DaemonGirl79
A truly disturbing tale
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2017
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I was drawn to this book by the cover. I hate clowns, but love scaring myself so I had high hopes.
If I'm honest,the title pretty much days it all. What you see is what you get. A ragtag bunch of waifs and strays who have come together over a period of time and made a sort of travelling freak show/circus set in 1930's America. The show is failing and is at a point where they don't know what to do for the best.
Fred,the owner, feels wholly responsible for them all. He's taken them under his wing and protected them for years.
Cannibal clowns, midgets, the obligatory fat lady, this has it all. Enter a stranger who offers them an answer to all their prayers.
But don't be fooled, nothing is what it seems.
The story it takes us on is full of murder, gore, explicit pornography and all round shocking gruesome behaviour.
Personally, I felt like it was quite a superficial storyline. I kept reading hoping for something meaty and gripping to come along and grab me. I feel with a bit more depth to it, it could have been great. As it is, it's a good horror story, more gruesome than scary. I would however read more from this author.

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J. Andrews
Secrets, horror and few hungry clowns
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 27, 2018
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Weird and intriguing. Full of odd characters, depraved and sick.
Fred with a few, very strange carny folk and his old dad who is mostly lost to old go from one place to the other until they meet the enigmatic Joe, who comes into their lives offering a stable yet permanent residence with his old circus; which they build up to a 'magical' show.
However Fred and his old Pa have secrets, a box full of secrets. Joe knows, Joe knows everything. The clowns who like to eat, the midgets and the fat lady-all once a happy family, now offered their wildest dreams for a price.

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Circus of Horrors Kindle Edition

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Most Definitely Not for the Fainthearted...

4.0 out of 5 stars This was an awesome little creepfest!

3.0 out of 5 stars :: 3.5 Bizarre Stars ::

2.0 out of 5 stars Mostly disgusting

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars A highly recommended horror

4.0 out of 5 stars Weird Characters with Unnatural Habits

3.0 out of 5 stars Some great moments, but felt a little flat overall

4.0 out of 5 stars A truly disturbing tale

5.0 out of 5 stars Secrets, horror and few hungry clowns

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Most Definitely Not for the Fainthearted...

This was an awesome little creepfest!

:: 3.5 Bizarre Stars ::

Mostly disgusting

A highly recommended horror

Weird Characters with Unnatural Habits

Some great moments, but felt a little flat overall

A truly disturbing tale

Secrets, horror and few hungry clowns