What a fantastic debut! Bottom Feeders is a complex, fast-paced novel. I would classify this one as a crime thriller, with one of the primary settings being the Reclamation Correctional Facility. It has a lineup of colorful, vibrant characters, and all the markers of a truly great story. I especially enjoyed all the twists at the end (with one I didn't see coming), and the clever way the author was able to connect all the various story lines at the end and still be coherent. I'll definitely be on the lookout for new titles from Mr. Roth!

Jerry Roth's debut novel, Bottom Feeders, is a creep-tastic journey into the horror genre that not only chills the spine but makes the reader feel icky and awestruck at the same time. From the very disturbing first chapter, Bottom Feeders takes hold and doesn't let go until the very end.

The story primarily takes place at Reclamation Correctional Facility and weaves a complex web of its occupants and the characters outside. All storylines fit together and address the common thread that is stitched tightly into this plot...Would you know the devil if you met him? What would you be willing to sacrifice for things to go your way?
New warden, Robert Deville, is tasked with walking in his well-liked predecessor's shoes. During his transition to the new job, he realizes Reclamation holds some very dark secrets. When he finds the previous warden's journal, the prison's grim past starts to unfold. Around each corner and in the darkest depths of Reclamation, darkness waits.

As this story started to unfold, it kept me guessing nearly all the way through. I found myself waking up in the middle of the night, not only with Bottom Feeders weighing on my mind and creeping me out from the shadows in my own room but to wake and find out what was going to happen next.

Jerry Roth's writing style is reminiscent of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. If Bottom Feeders is any indicator, Jerry Roth is poised to be an author that horror fans need to keep an eye on!

“Would you know the devil if you met him?” -Jerry Roth

This head-hopping thriller spins multiple POVs down a spiral of absolute madness, but the main plotline is centered around a mysterious journal that Robert, the new warden of the prison, discovers. I am not always a fan of the “main character finds a journal” motif, but Roth uses the technique to effectively build suspense and dread.

Each character’s POV provides Roth with unique opportunities to tackle a variety of horrific subjects and the ending is memorable.

Very memorable.

BOTTOM FEEDERS, the debut novel by Jerry Roth, made me realize that the world needs more horror stories set in prisons and correctional facilities.

I sentence you to read this novel.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for this site.

This has all the elements of great horror with an added bonus of a deep relentless mystery. Excellent character and plot development, unexpected plot twists, strong POVs, deep dark secrets, paranormal elements, suspense, three macabre storylines that intertwine, and weave together a fantastic lurid, detailed, horrific disturbing story with a distinctly powerful ending! Absolutely a story which deserves to be classified with high praise!

I’m certainly not the first to say it, but after that chilling first chapter, I knew I was in for a wild ride. Incorporating three plot lines might seem pretty ambitious for a debut novel, but Jerry Roth does it with such ease, combining well-rounded characters, vivid prose, and page turning suspense.

The rundown: ‘Domestic violence survivor Jenny Deville is still struggling with the trauma of her past when she begins to notice strange changes in her son’s behavior, including drawing disturbing images of local murdered children. Believing her abusive ex-husband could be the culprit behind the heinous crimes, she begins to investigate.
Meanwhile, her current husband, Robert becomes the new prison warden in town and after discovering the diary of the last warden, makes the discovering an inmate believed to be the Devil is imprisoned there.
There’s also inmate Gage who starts to hatch a revenge plan when his former partner in crime, Victor, shows up at the prison.’

While these storylines are each compelling separately, I couldn’t help but wonder throughout the book how in the world they were all connected. By the end, each of the plots intersect with some mind-blowing revelations I honestly did not see coming at all! If you’re looking for a horror novel with great plot development, descriptive writing, and a satisfying ending that will make you say, “hell yeah!” then definitely check out this book.