5+⭐️
This book is SO intense. I found myself swallowed up, the pit of my stomach full of simultaneous intrigue, anticipation and dread. I was hanging on to every word until the end.

There is an intense looming darkness throughout, total Eyes Wide Shut vibes. A captivating story told by Kohl, a famous screen writer, while on the run from the law. He recounts his life-shattering obsession for unraveling the secrets of a mysterious symbol that has been haunting him for decades.

Memories of his past are blocked, while 3 hooded figures haunt his mind. Or are they truly following him? Do as they wish, and you will be rewarded.

Would you tango with the devil himself, to unearth your true greatness? “The monsters and demons needed liberation for genius to emerge”

An intense gothic psychological thriller, perfect for conspiracy fans. It will mess with your mind in beautifully dark ways. The number 11 may never have the same meaning. It begs the question, can evil things come from something created with good intentions?

“You shall decide what comes next… Make it count.”

Guys, this book was so beautifully written, it was a work of art. The author went to the depths of his fears, and poured it out in a journey for us, leading us through to the light. Read the Author’s Note at the End. I will be checking out his other books. And would love to see this as a 🎥 💕

Thanks to NetGalley, Greater Path LLC, and Kyle Rutkin for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Very dark and twisty! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Eleven. I found myself staying up way too late to keep reading because I was so invested in Kohl’s story. It was like a dark, new age version of Scrooge!

The Eleven was a great mystery that immediately had me hooked. While I think it lost me the closer we got to the end, I loved the setting and vibe of this book a lot. Definitely pick it up if any Hollywood/illuminati type story interests you.

'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' meets 'Eyes Wide Shut' in this twisted, psychological thriller about a screenwriter's perilous descent into an age-old Hollywood cult.

This book was very different and unique. I could not put it down and finished it in near enough one sitting.

I enjoyed the aspect of never knowing whether something was really happening or if it was a dream or a drug hazed moment but eventually everything made sense.

I definitely found that it started on a slow note but most certainly picked up in the middle of the book and it kept going right up until the end.

I rated this 3 stars!

A fantastically fast-paced noir-ish gritty look at the toxic allure of fame and the mystery of cults and conspiracies.

This advanced reader's copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

What initially drew me to this book was its stunning cover. The combination of the title and the design exudes an eerie vibe, leaving me curious about the story within. What truly piqued my interest, though, were the comparisons to "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" (a personal favorite) and "Eyes Wide Shut" (which utterly unnerved me). Even with these references in mind, I wasn’t prepared for the wild ride this book turned out to be!

"The Eleven" follows Kohl Reynolds, a screenwriter who created one of the most acclaimed film scripts, detailing his ascent to fame and the depths of his subsequent downfall. Many novels I've read about Hollywood portray the industry as a glamorous world sprinkled with a few dramatic plot twists. This book, however, explores a darker side of Hollywood, allowing readers to peer behind the curtain. With an unreliable narrator like Kohl, especially as his madness intensifies, we are left questioning what is real and what is merely a product of his drug-induced haze.

I started this book yesterday, and its fast-paced narrative had me racing to finish it by today—I simply had to uncover what was happening. There were moments when I genuinely believed Kohl was losing his mind and committing crimes without anyone pulling the strings, but I soon realized how mistaken I was.

By the end, I craved more clarity on certain aspects that felt unresolved (or perhaps I just missed something), but overall, the revelations were completely satisfying. If you’re in the mood for a story set in "Hollyweird," this book is perfectly timed with the current celebrity culture controversies. Plus, the cover is so lovely that I can't wait to add it to my shelf!

Thank you, NetGalley!

I like to go into my fiction reading having no idea what the book is about, even more so with a thriller. That said, for the first couple of chapters I was worried that it wouldn't be a story I was interested in... Hollywood, fame, missing starlet... Do not care. But it ended up really living up to the thriller genre!
The raw way of writing about Kohl's decent and the constant tension of not knowing where the story was headed or how things were going to end had me rushing through this book!
I often struggle with the ending of books like this, and it left me with a little bit of the "too cleanly wrapped up" feeling, but overall, such a great, emotional, tense, twisted story!

i really enjoyed this book. it had me guessing with each page and caught me off guard a few times as well. literally said ‘shit i should’ve seen that!’ out loud at one point. the mystery of it all was really well done that it felt like the ending cemented it, yet there’s room to question it, not in a forced way but in an over-analyzing way (a good thing). a star off because the ending felt unfinished, like it just needed a paragraph or two more to properly tie it all up. but still very much enjoyed it, especially how it all connected

Thank you to NetGalley, Greater Path LLC and DiedFamous for providing this copy in exchange for a review.

The Eleven by Kyle Rutkin is a quick read - not only because it's short, but because it's a real page turner.
Reminiscent of something like Under the Silver Lake, we follow a character who just lives his life until he suddenly gets pulled into the dark side of Hollywood.
While the characters stay somewhat surface-level, the mystery and cult aspects of this book make up for it and will leave you wanting more. The scope of the story is quite narrow, but could easily be expanded in a follow-up or, let's say, a movie.

I do have to mention that at least my version could have used some more proof-reading, as there are one or two spelling errors and especially an overuse of some words the author seems to be very fond of (like the word snickers).

Book Review: The Eleven by Kyle Rutkin

Rating: 5 Stars

As an avid reader and lover of mystery thrillers, I recently finished "The Eleven" by Kyle Rutkin, and I was hooked from the very first page. The novel follows the gripping story of Savannah Beck's disappearance and the subsequent media frenzy that ensues.

The protagonist, intern Conner Daniels, is thrust into the world of Hollywood secrets when he embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind renowned screenwriter Kohl Reynolds' cryptic email. Rutkin weaves a complex tale of heartbreak, fame, drugs, and hidden truths that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

One of the aspects that truly stood out to me was Rutkin's ability to create a vivid and atmospheric setting. The way he portrays the dark underbelly of Hollywood, with its secrets and shadows, is both haunting and captivating. The characters are well developed, each with their own secrets and motivations.

Moreover, Rutkin's writing style is nothing short of mesmerizing. His prose is engaging, evocative, and filled with suspense, making it impossible to put the book down. The plot twists are expertly crafted, leaving just the right amount of breadcrumbs for readers to follow along without giving away too much too soon.

And let's talk about that cover - it's simply stunning. The eerie, noir vibes perfectly capture the essence of the novel and draw you in from the moment you lay eyes on it. It sets the tone for the story beautifully and adds another layer of intrigue to the overall experience.

In conclusion, "The Eleven" is a masterfully crafted tale that seamlessly blends mystery, drama, and the secrets surrounding a longstanding Hollywood cult. Rutkin's ability to connect all the dots with an ending that feels both satisfying and surprising is perfection.

If you're a fan of atmospheric mysteries with a twist, I highly recommend diving into "The Eleven" - you won't be disappointed. It's a wild ride that will keep you guessing until the very end.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This was another DNF from me from my recent ARC TBR. The cover and the premise were more than enough to pull me in but the first person POV just threw me off and I did not like the narrator at all. Which I guess may have been the point with this character, but it just wasn't what I was expecting and not in a good way. DNF at 13%

The Eleven is a gritty story about the underworld of Hollywood elite! I really enjoyed this story and felt like the storyline was original and interesting. We follow a young reporter who is working for a TMZ type publication as he tries to get the story from a washed up famous actor accused of hurting his girlfriend.

I did get confused by all the characters and their connections to one another but that was likely more of a “me” issue than the book. I wish there would have been more in depth exploration of how the “cult” worked. But I felt this was a solid & interesting book! Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC. All opinions are my one.

Rutkin's books are my favorite popcorn thriller novels, at this point. Something about the multimedia format that they're presented in just speaks to my ADHD brain and has me devouring them.

This one was no exception, although I will admit I didn't like it as much as his others. It was a little bit too surreal for me- which is something I can't believe I'm saying, because I usually love surrealism. But in the context of this style of novel, it just didn't really work for me as much as the more 'grounded' storylines of his others.

Still, a fun read that I buzzed through!

This was a gritty, realistic read following the whisperings of the dark cult of Hollywood, and showcasing the non-existent limit people will go to live in fame and fortune.

This isn’t my usual read but honestly it was a good palette cleanser.

I found the storyline a little hard to follow; there is a lot of bouncing from past to present as well as multiple POV’s. If it’s your thing, you’re in luck. Otherwise just be sure to keep yourself reminded of who’s who and where you are in the timeline. For me personally it made the storytelling choppy and therefore left the plot muddled.

The characters’s personalities were unique but still felt flat. There was some attempt at character development but I was not overly impressed with said attempt. I did appreciate that there were multiple primary and secondary characters. It absolutely kept the plot realistic and allowed for more depth.

There are some refreshing and unexpected twists, that to me was the redeeming quality of the story. I felt like I absolutely had to stick it out just to see how all the loose ends got tied up. I can report that it is in fact worth to finish the story and it probably won’t end the way you think it will.

I appreciated that this was not a rainbow and sunshine type of story. The vibe stayed gritty and honest from start to finish, even if the writing was hard to follow most times.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this twisty thriller, screenwriter Kohl Reynolds unravels a dark conspiracy lurking beneath Hollywood's glitzy facade. Blending the allure of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' with the sinister undertones of 'Eyes Wide Shut', this tale follows intern Conner Daniels as he delves into Reynolds' shocking claims, risking his life to expose a century-old secret. If you're looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the end, this book is for you.

There's a fun story in here, but the characterisation and prose were both too weak to really latch onto.

There's a lot of heavy topics covered - drugs, cults, family trauma - but they never feel like they have the necessary weight attached.

Connor, a gossip column intern, is contacted by his idol (an infamous screenwriter) to tell his story. The only catch, this screenwriter is the main suspect in a missing person's case. Connor is drawn to this story because of the connection it has to his own life. He believes his idol has the answers he's been looking for his whole life.
This psychological thriller had me hooked from the beginning. I was addicted to the story and needed to know the answers as much as Connor did. The story started to lose me about half way, but mostly due to personal preferences about tropes within the story.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I recommend this to fans of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones and the Six.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I ended up staying up way too late just to finish it. I couldn’t put it down and the ending is perfect.

This book is described as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Eyes Wide Shut. I've never read Eyes Wide Shut so I can't comment on that, but this story definitely reminded me of Evelyn Hugo. I like the interview type of story telling. This book immediately grabbed my attention and kept it the whole way through. There were a few repetitive parts and some were a little too unrealistic. But I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to friends. I liked the plot twists! Thank you very much for letting me read and review this one early!

This book is described as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Eyes Wide Shut. I've never read Eyes Wide Shut so I can't comment on that, but this story definitely reminded me of Evelyn Hugo. I like the interview type of story telling. This book immediately grabbed my attention and kept it the whole way through. There were a few repetitive parts and some were a little too unrealistic. But I still enjoyed the book and would recommend to friends. I liked the plot twists! Thank you very much for letting me read and review this one early!