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Dathan Auerbach

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Penpal Kindle Edition

by Dathan Auerbach (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

13,069 ratings

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In an attempt to make sense of his own mysterious and unsettling childhood memories, a man begins to reconstruct his past. As the games and adventures of his youth become engulfed by a larger story, he finds that it forms a tapestry of unbelievable horror that he never could have expected.

Each chapter completes a different piece of the puzzle for both you and the narrator, and by the end of it all, you will wish that you could forget what he never knew.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In an attempt to make sense of his own mysterious and unsettling childhood memories, a man begins to reconstruct his past. As the games and adventures of his youth become engulfed by a larger story, he finds that it forms a tapestry of unbelievable horror that he never could have expected.
Each chapter completes a different piece of the puzzle for both you and the narrator, and by the end of it all, you will wish that you could forget what he never knew.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008WVVKCQ
Publisher ‏ : ‎ 1000Vultures (August 12, 2012)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 12, 2012
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 254 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #18,739 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #100 in Horror Suspense
- #407 in Horror (Kindle Store)
- #792 in Horror Literature & Fiction

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13,069 ratings

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Dathan Auerbach

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Dathan Auerbach was born in the southern U.S. and has lived there for most of his life. In 2011, he began posting a series of stories to a forum dedicated to horror. After a KickStarter that raised over 1000% of its goal, he was able to release the revised and expanded versions of his story as the novel "Penpal."

For more information, visit www.1000Vultures.com

Customer reviews

13,069 global ratings

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Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with a quick pace that allows them to read it in one sitting. They describe it as a tragic yet fascinating story that creates a claustrophobic atmosphere and gives them goosebumps. The writing quality and readability receive positive feedback, with one customer noting the technical skill of the author. While some customers appreciate how the details add to the intensity, others find them confusing.

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Readability Writing quality Pacing Heartbreaking story Enjoyment Chilling Suspenseful story Detail

695 customers mention "Readability"660 positive35 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as brilliant and a must-read.

"Where to start? Wow. I loved this book! It was recommended to me on Goodreads and I was not disappointed...." Read more

"...thinking this was gonna be a book to gift to someone because it was that good...." Read more

"...I'd say it's just a great read, and an easy one. I read it in a few hours. And for only five bucks? Oh yah. Definitely get it. Worth every penny." Read more

"...There are a few run-ons, but well worth it when you consider how many popular books will start like 4 or 5 sentences in a row with the same word or..." Read more

622 customers mention "Writing quality"467 positive155 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its beautiful storytelling and technical skill, with one customer highlighting its well-structured sentences.

"...It's a simple enough story; a boy plays in the woods, something isn't quite right in the woods, boy is scared of the woods, mom doesn't want boy to..." Read more

"...The writing IS like something you'd see on a message board: casual, raw (as opposed to heavily edited), and as if a friend were relaying the story..." Read more

"...I'd say it's just a great read, and an easy one. I read it in a few hours. And for only five bucks? Oh yah. Definitely get it. Worth every penny." Read more

"...The writing is very down to earth, the scare is very real, the ending is one that's kinda...predictable enough to make you feel smart for being..." Read more

286 customers mention "Pacing"210 positive76 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a quick read that can be finished in one sitting.

"...I didn't mind the "powering up" in this book, because it was paced well enough to set up the cliff hangers/vital points, and I wasn't bored with it..." Read more

"...But it definitely gets your heart racing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'd say it's just a great read, and an easy one...." Read more

"...This novel was a quick read not because it was superficial or lacked substance, but rather because of its unrelenting intensity and building momentum..." Read more

"...It's a slow-burner in every sense of the word...." Read more

186 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"131 positive55 negative

Customers find the book heartbreaking, describing it as dark and tragic, with one customer noting the fearful gloom throughout the story.

"...because the narrative is devoid of any profane language, graphic violence, or explicit descriptions of sex...." Read more

"...this is one of the most terrifying and heart-breaking books I've ever read. I won't be forgetting this story anytime soon." Read more

"...The ending was extremely sad for me and I do think this book will stay with me for some time...." Read more

"I love Penpal. It is such a creepy, claustrophobic, and disturbing book...." Read more

135 customers mention "Enjoyment"118 positive17 negative

Customers find the book entertaining and engaging, with one customer noting it's completely captivating from cover to cover.

"...somewhat personal connection to the character but I think it's an enjoyable read...." Read more

"...It was such a fun, quick ride as I poured through each page to find out what event was going to occur next...." Read more

"If you’d like a quick, thrilling read, give it a chance! Each page had you wanting more so it was hard to put down. I ate it up!" Read more

"This was a book that I was really excited to read as it was grouped in recommendations via House of Leaves (which has been awesome)...." Read more

82 customers mention "Chilling"68 positive14 negative

Customers find the book chilling, with many noting it gives them goosebumps and creates a claustrophobic atmosphere.

"...but the story itself was pretty well-plotted and definitely give you the chills at points. For that reason, I would recommend it...." Read more

"...It sends chills up your spine. My complaint is that it's never explained how she was able to do this...." Read more

"...in my opinion, as simple as this story is, it is by far one of the most chilling, unshakable stories I have ever read...." Read more

"...The tale is at times compelling, and definitely chilling in parts but its overall melancholic tone is what meanders through the mind days and even..." Read more

1,245 customers mention "Suspenseful story"862 positive383 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's suspenseful story, with some finding it really good and intricate, while others find the plot unsettling.

"...The ending really made my heart race and I have rarely been so edgy during a book in my whole life...." Read more

"...Scariest book, no. But it definitely gets your heart racing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'd say it's just a great read, and an easy one...." Read more

"...The writing is very down to earth, the scare is very real, the ending is one that's kinda...predictable enough to make you feel smart for being..." Read more

"...His writing style is intelligent and articulate while simultaneously it feels casual like I am sitting around a campfire listening to a story being..." Read more

138 customers mention "Detail"56 positive82 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's detail level, with some appreciating how it adds to the overall intensity and keeps readers fascinated, while others find it confusing and hard to follow at times.

"...(save for one chapter where the set up was a little tough to follow, but still, it was good enough)...." Read more

"...-surprises that seem realistic, and plenty of them -neat observations about situations that seem ordinary at first, but upon closer inspection..." Read more

"...However, the writing was frequently pretentious and oftentimes didn't suit the situation in the novel...." Read more

"...This is a story that is beautifully told and rich in detail. You feel as though the author is sitting with you and telling you his story...." Read more

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JD
A Haunting Piece with an Indie Spirit
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015
Verified Purchase

Where to start? Wow. I loved this book! It was recommended to me on Goodreads and I was not disappointed. I love the way it became a book through Reddit and Kickstarter campaigns. Being only a little over 200 pages, I read it in the course of a few hours. I was glued to every page. I was only going to give it about 3 or 4 stars until I read the end.
It's a simple enough story; a boy plays in the woods, something isn't quite right in the woods, boy is scared of the woods, mom doesn't want boy to play in the woods. But what really got me, is the way you could really tell it was a first-time novel. Not going to lie, this book really needs a solid editor. There are some problems with the prose and structure with the book, but that doesn't deter from its ability to entertain the reader. There are a few mixed storylines that never really get connected or tied up at the end.
As the book progresses, the main character becomes more and more suspicious of the world around him. Having grown up on a small-time farm myself, I fully connect with his experiences as a child and felt like I had been watched all my life! Another presence becomes known in the book, but never really established. Each chapter is a different story in the boy's life. One chapter is about a love interest he has as a teenager. Again, this is a nice story, but doesn't drive the plot. It jumps back several years in the final chapter with the unknown presence makes a very large and unexpected move. The ending really made my heart race and I have rarely been so edgy during a book in my whole life.
At the very end, I felt somewhat confused, as if I had missed something or felt like it had been rushed. I was not dissatisfied with it but then on the next page, that was what brought it all to a screeching halt. It was a copy of a police report that would make you believe the entire story was true! WHOA! I couldn't sleep for hours. This book went from being an indie horror novel to being a confession straight out of a nightmare. I would love to see this book brought to the screen. It just begs to be adapted.
So, I know I have a somewhat personal connection to the character but I think it's an enjoyable read. I know some critics would tear it apart because of how it's written. I say again, it really needed some strong editing, but in a way, I think that's one reason I enjoyed it so much. It was so different and felt like the author was really putting everything he had into it. This felt like it might be his only shot so he better make it count. I don't know if this was a true story entirely but I envy the author's ability to cope with the trauma if it was. I hope to see more material from this author.
If you are a fan of horror, suspense and some childhood nostalgia, please read this book!

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Brooke Mauro
Like Dragon Ball Z in a way...
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
Before I begin this review, I'll say that I'm on the fence between 3 and 4 stars, but I am tempted to give the benefit of the doubt to the author, hence 4 stars.

I bought this book because of all the glowing reviews on here (Amazon). I also noticed that this author was someone who used reddit, and I am quite addicted to that site, so I figured that was another plus. I have enjoyed reading stories posted on forums by amateur or budding writers in the past, and I have even posted a handful of stories back in my teen years (on gamefaqs).

So I received my book and I immediately delved in. The beginning (first ~30 pages) was a little slow, but then it began to pick up a little with the suspense building. In fact, I really couldn't put the book down, because i really wanted to know where the author was going. The writing IS like something you'd see on a message board: casual, raw (as opposed to heavily edited), and as if a friend were relaying the story to you. I found these qualities charming, but some critics may find my assessment of "raw" to mean sloppy or in need of editing. Personally, I saw this being written by someone who was younger... Maybe 17-23 years old. It actually reminded me of my writing from when I was a teen.

The reason I said this book was like Dragon Ball Z is simple: you have episodes of DBZ where a good portion is the main characters powering up or bantering back and forth about who is stronger (with some action/suspense peppered in). Towards the end of an episode, you will have this pay off with 5 minutes of awesome story telling, a huge plot point comes up, and then you're left dangling on a cliff hanger, or something so vital to the story that you HAVE to watch the next episode.

This book was a lot like that. I will say that I didn't mind the "powering up" in this book, because it was paced well enough to set up the cliff hangers/vital points, and I wasn't bored with it (save for one chapter where the set up was a little tough to follow, but still, it was good enough). But by golly can this guy drop bombs at the end of a chapter. You start getting used to his little writing device. Build up with some story, then drop a "bomb" at the end. But you like that the author is doing this, and you begin to expect a bomb at the end of each chapter. If this was a musical score, each chapter would start at piano, and then gradually crescendo to a fortissimo. Then it drops back to piano again upon starting the next chapter. All the bombs are good, and it makes the story gripping, and has you turning the page.

Throughout this experience, you find yourself wondering, "how is he gonna tie this all together? What's gonna be that final nuke he drops on me to wrap this up?" But it never comes... I'm not saying that its a terrible ending, but it was somewhat lackluster, and you will probably find yourself saying the same thing. The pay off wasn't there, but the book was so gripping that you felt like the ride was worth it, like a roller coaster that was a little too bumpy in some places.

So I gave the 4 stars for the following reasons:
-The story seemed authentic by the style of the writing, but unauthentic because some of the actions or activities performed by the characters are not congruous with their age. This would have been [mostly] easily remedied by having the characters be a little older.
-You want to keep pressing on with the book because it is almost like a puzzle you're solving together with the author.
-the characters are likable and mostly believable.
-the writing is vivid enough to become a movie in your head. There is also a pretty emotional scene that had me misty-eyed. There are also a couple of laughs to be had.

it didn't get five stars because:
-the writing could have been a little more edited for smoother reading.
-the ending fell flat for the most part. You turn the last few pages hoping for that final, "oh shit" moment, and all you get is an, "oh, that's it" moment.
-the age incongruity thing mentioned above.

In spite of the drawbacks, I'd still recommend the book to anyone who is interested in tense, thriller novels. For most of the book, I found myself thinking this was gonna be a book to gift to someone because it was that good. But then the end came and I was like, "meh, it's good, but I wanted just a little more."

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Amazon Customer
Very Stephen King-ish
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
Verified Purchase
Wow. I had a recommendation for this book on Pinterest. So I said sure why not. "Scarriest book you'll ever read." Doubt it. I read Stephen King, it doesn't get scarier than him.
So I started this book and finished it in a few hours. And......wow. It's very Stephen King-ish. Like this would make an incredible movie. Dathan should be getting a call from Warner Brothers anytime. Scariest book, no. But it definitely gets your heart racing and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I'd say it's just a great read, and an easy one. I read it in a few hours. And for only five bucks? Oh yah. Definitely get it. Worth every penny.

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Kindle Customer
So good!!
Reviewed in Australia on May 14, 2023
Verified Purchase

This was such a page turner! I felt so sorry for the kids because they had lived their lives being stalked without even knowing. So well written. Such a sad ending.

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Jenny
So spannend!
Reviewed in Germany on May 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
Ich konnte dieses Buch nicht mehr aus den Händen legen. Habe es innerhalb von 2 Nächten durchgelesen! Super spannend und fesselnd. Der Schreibstil ist auch sehr gut und für jemanden dessen Muttersprache Deutsch und nicht Englisch ist, ist es sehr leicht verständlich!

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Beatriz Araujo Sardenberg
Different types of horror - check if it fits what you like. I liked it!
Reviewed in Brazil on March 19, 2025
Verified Purchase
Great book, keeps the angst level high all throughout. Very well written. To me particularly, I find the horror in the anxiety of the unknown, whereas when things are more gore or just very in your face horror (be it because of monsters, or very described horror scenes and villains etc) I think it loses a bit its capacity to create horror and angst in the reader. So, without giving details, there is a part of the book where I find that, for me, it loses its magic a bit. I thought of giving it 4 for that, but after having read it in a while, I can look back and see it is still one of the best horror books, if not the best one, I have ever read. I do recomend it!

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Marco Macrì
Ottimo
Reviewed in Italy on January 8, 2025
Verified Purchase
Ottimo

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Svetlana Frolova
Very good book
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on July 24, 2023
Verified Purchase
It will haunt me forever. Very disturbing, scary and sad book. I got so emotional reading last chapters. Very well written book. Probably not for a very sensitive souls . Finished it few days back, but still can’t stop thinking about it

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Haunting Piece with an Indie Spirit

4.0 out of 5 stars Like Dragon Ball Z in a way...

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Stephen King-ish

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars So good!!

5.0 out of 5 stars So spannend!

5.0 out of 5 stars Different types of horror - check if it fits what you like. I liked it!

5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book

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A Haunting Piece with an Indie Spirit

Like Dragon Ball Z in a way...

Very Stephen King-ish

So good!!

So spannend!

Different types of horror - check if it fits what you like. I liked it!

Ottimo

Very good book