Ned by David Sgalambro is a horror story with a touch of reality. New York City. A cold night in winter and a homeless man pushed beyond all reason. His very existence is about to be disrupted, changed beyond all comprehension and he must stand and fight. He must fight for the only real possession he has left and he must fight for his dignity. Revenge will be his and, in one evening of total and utter mayhem, he unleashes that revenge. Feel the pain of a broken man, feel the pain of his victim, the person who pushed Ned to his limits as we learn that revenge is not always best served cold.

Ned by David Sgalambro is a debut novel and is a cracking one. It is a very dark story, a tale of revenge that is delivered with horror. This is one of those gripping reads that grabs you, not by the hand, but by the throat and hangs on for grim life as it drags you on the scariest rollercoaster ride you will ever go on. It is a story that could happen on our streets today and a unique one at that, a real refreshment in a genre that tends to churn out much of the same on a regular basis. This book will change that as it attaches itself to you emotionally and you just have to keep on reading to see what will happen next. I traveled a whole gamut of emotions reading this book, and even found myself rooting for the bad guy at one or two points in the story. A truly great book, definitely looking forward to what Mr. Sgalambro has to offer us next!

A gentle giant turns into a monster when pushed past his limits in Ned by new author David Sgalambro. A mild mannered homeless man who can’t actually even remember his own name is confronted by neighborhood bullies and resorts to an almost animalistic effort at self-preservation. He now not only fears for his life, but is consumed by the desire for revenge. That is where innocent people become involved and only succeed in provoking Ned to greater anger. Singled out because of wearing leather jackets like the gang who tried to kill him, a group of young men on their way to play a gig in a village club suffers for the previous attack Ned survived. This begins police involvement in a search for bodies, the killer and a motive. What will it take to stop the murderous rampage?

Dark, compelling and a deep look into a wide range of psychological conditions, Ned is a truly horrifying story that demonstrates the explosive potential brought about by loss, the desire for revenge and the indifference of an uncaring society. David Sgalambro has created a strong character whom he almost lovingly reveals as the action proceeds in increasingly violent incidents. It is unusual to have the ‘bad guy’ be a sympathetic character, but you have to read this amazing book to understand how that is even possible. The real question becomes, ‘What is the meaning of humanity?’ when goodness and evil collide in one psyche. Ned can be considered deeply introspective as each reader asks what it would take to push them to the point of no return. Graphic and alarming, Ned makes you wonder just where you would draw the line.

I read horror during October. Found the cover disturbing and gave it a go. Absolutely loved it. Book captures the bleakness of a NY winter so well. The action ramps up and up and up until it reaches an all out bloody frenzy. Still can’t help but feel for the deranged homeless killer though. I absolutely loved it