The Groomer

The Groomer
By Jon Athan
Narrated by Harry Roger Williams III

It’s been 2 months since I listened to The Groomer, and I still can’t get it out of my head or come up with an effective way to write a review for it. This audiobook is one of the most intense and brutal stories I’ve ever listened to. I want to give it a 1 star because of how torturous the scenes are. However, it’s written and portrayed so incredibly that it deserves 5 stars. Trigger Warning is too light a term for this audiobook.

First, I want to give you 2 quotes from the author at the end of this audiobook.
“I believe The Groomer is my most disturbing novel to date. So, I’m grateful that you made it to the end. I almost quit writing this book several times due to the nature of the subject matter, but I feel like it’s an important story.”
(MAPS/NOMAPS means minor attracted person/non-offending) “On social media, on public accounts, these people attempted to justify their actions and preferences. They painted themselves as the victims.” (Mr. Athan’s newfound anger towards this group founded the idea for The Groomer)

At the end of the audiobook, Mr. Athan’s asks us to answer a few questions in giving a review, so I’ll do that.
Did you enjoy the story? NO! But yes.
Would you like to read another story with similar themes and characters from me? G0d forgive me, but yes, I would.
Was it too disturbing, just right, or not violent enough for an extreme horror book? Too disturbing. Too violent and graphic. Too disgusting and grizzly. And that’s why I say I want to give it only 1 star. It’s also what made it so unique and engrossing enough to deserve 5 stars. The Groomer is a cautionary tale (albeit a brutal one) to parents on how evil the world can be with your children if you’re not paying attention.
Were you satisfied with the ending? Oddly enough, yes. It ended real. It ended like it should have. It ended real and raw.

The detail in this audiobook is beyond grizzly. I’ve never reviewed anything before with emotions as raw as this. I’ve read/listened to books that put you into the mind of the killer, but The Groomer takes it to a whole new level. This review deserves nothing less than 5 stars due to the superb writing, and realness of the story line, but mostly because of the emotions this story evokes from the reader/listener. The violent, torturous, deviant behavior against children depicted in this audiobook are sinister. The graphic details and intense depiction of scenes were nauseating, horrific, extreme, and overwhelming. I’m glad the author added his own chapter at the end to help us understand why he wrote the book. Did I enjoy it? No. (Yes.) Do I recommend this book? Absolutely not. (Yes.) I don’t regret listening to this book. It opened my mind and gave me a newfound appreciation for this genre. This is the best, worst, most graphic, and most terrifying audiobook I’ve ever listened to. I will most assuredly be listening to more of Jon Athan’s work.

5 malevolent and sick stars