Bobbie - Shop now
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$6.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ezra Blake
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Claustrophilia (The Dark Triad Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Ezra Blake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 159 ratings
Christopher Dour’s life was terrible before he was kidnapped.

He spent too much time studying the Providence Butcher's victims and not enough talking to living people. He was erotically obsessed with the idea of murdering Dr. Ivan Skinner, his medical school advisor. It was only a matter of time before he killed someone, possibly himself—but the Providence Butcher had other ideas. After all, the first time should be special, and Christopher was going about it all wrong.

Now those life-or-death decisions are out of his hands. He's breaking. What's worse, Chris has a lot in common with the Butcher. Nobody else has truly cared about him before. When he's not being tortured, he's being cherished. If Stockholm syndrome feels like love, then in practice, what’s the difference?

Chris can’t maintain his dignity, but can still cling to his shattered moral compass. Or he can let go, submit, and become the unspeakable. At least then he wouldn’t be alone.

Prepare to become an accomplice. Claustrophilia draws you in, ties you up, and asks some uncomfortable questions: are there taboos you'd never break, no matter how far you were pushed? Is it better to be tortured or ignored?

More pressing: if you had to choose, which limb could you live without?
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    356 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 14, 2018
  4. File size
    775 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07JFYGQQQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 14, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 775 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 159 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ezra Blake

Ezra Blake

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ezra writes.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
159 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written, with one noting how it keeps attention throughout. The pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a realistic killer obsession story.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thoroughly enjoyable, with one customer particularly noting how interesting it is to read from the serial killer's perspective.

"...between present and past was confusing at times but idk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book." Read more

"...Its always interesting to read from the serial killer’s POV rather than the victim’s and this book will definitely put in the headspace of the bad..." Read more

"Absolutely amazing. I am now a rabid fan of this author...." Read more

"...Yes it's dark very very dark BUT still captivating. Definitely not a true love story and there's no way out." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one describing it as an emotional t\u00f8rt\u00fcre and another noting how they were sucked into the story and characters.

"This has some of the most creative physical, mental and emotional tørtüre I think I’ve ever read...." Read more

"This book is literally the most disturbing book I have ever read...." Read more

"I am not okay, and that's a good thing, because it means it speaks to the heart of me, to the soul, to the part of me that still gets horrified when..." Read more

"...It was just so super interesting and I was totally sucked into the story and the characters...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well-crafted and realistic, with one customer noting it reads like Hannigram fanfiction.

"...They were grøtesque and creative and honestly written so well...." Read more

"...Wow. One of the best "new" writers I've encountered in all my 55+ years. Solid 5+ stars." Read more

"...4 stars for being well written and keeping my attention the entire time...." Read more

"...be right there with Christopher, and I like how it seems more real than just words on paper as well as how it's more realistic in a sense...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Barbara
    5.0 out of 5 stars it’s like silence of the lambs and a Hannibal mashup
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This has some of the most creative physical, mental and emotional tørtüre I think I’ve ever read. They were grøtesque and creative and honestly written so well.

    I hate 3rd POV but I think it was a good choice for this book because it has this air of cold disassociation, almost clinical which I really loved.

    Ivan certainly reminds me of Mad Mikkelson’s Hannibal character which I LOVED and I enjoyed the dynamic Ivan had with Chris.

    Chris reminded me a lot of the Mason Verger(?) from Silence of the Lambs where Hannibal had manipulated Mason enough to where he would mutilate himself to please Hannibal.

    The time jumping back and forth between present and past was confusing at times but idk, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Tiffany Tremayne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Grossed out
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book is literally the most disturbing book I have ever read. Its about a psychopath who likes to torture, kill, and eat people taking on a protégée. Ivan is that psychopath and he also happens to be an ex-surgeon who is now a college professor, teaching to med school students. Christopher is that protege, he is a student of Ivan’s and is working as a pathology’s assistant. Christopher suffers from homicidal ideation and necrophilia and hates himself for it. He hurts himself when his urges get too overwhelming and Christopher even tries to kill himself as a way to prevent himself from harming others. This doesn’t work and Christopher is then kidnapped and tortured by The Butcher aka Ivan.
    Now Ivan feels no remorse or empathy of any kind for the horrific acts he commits to others and that includes what he does to his own protégée. I won’t describe the torture methods that Ivan uses on Christopher because they’re just too disturbing and I felt sick to my stomach nearly the whole time I was reading this book. DO NOT READ THIS ON A FULL STOMACH!!!!! I’m being serious about this. I did use my Kindle Highlights on some of the disturbing bits so those that read this review on Goodreads can see those highlights and know that I mean serious business.
    Now despite all that, its still a good book. Its always interesting to read from the serial killer’s POV rather than the victim’s and this book will definitely put in the headspace of the bad guy.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lesley Lisle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Without question, one of the best.....snap. I am not even sure how to categorize this work...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Absolutely amazing. I am now a rabid fan of this author. Where the hell does one research to write something so believable...honest...biologically correct? It's a damn how-to.
    I am prepared to start at the very beginning again...I was honestly planning on it, then remembered it's got a Part 2... and 3!!!!
    This is not one to fly thru. Read it...every word. If you get distracted, read that paragraph over....or the chapter if need be.
    I am officially obsessed with my new found favorite author. Wow.
    One of the best "new" writers I've encountered in all my 55+ years.
    Solid 5+ stars.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Erin B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars There must be something wrong with me
    Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a book of manipulation and what in the heck. I was at the edge of my seat the whole book. Yes it's dark very very dark BUT still captivating. Definitely not a true love story and there's no way out.
    Helpful
     Report
  • iamltr
    3.0 out of 5 stars Hmm...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    First off, all the frigging trigger warnings for this one. I don't there was anything depraved left out of it.

    Well, what can I say, I liked this freaked up story enough to make it to the end. I needed to know what happens to Chris.

    Ivan was messed up but not sloppy. I did not buy that Ivan wanted Chris so much that he left his murdering ways behind. Also, this was not in any way a romance. The one who tortured was the owner and the victim had no choice but to accept it.

    I will have to say while the story itself was good, the way it was written was awful. There were paragraphs where I wasn't sure who was talking/thinking/doing. I also hated the way it was flipping in time from the second part onto the end. Mainly because of how hard it was to follow who was who, it did not make a lot of sense.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ely
    4.0 out of 5 stars Conflicted on the star rating
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I'll be honest, I'm pretty sure I need a psych eval after finishing this book. 4 stars for being well written and keeping my attention the entire time. The ending made sense but I was hoping for a completely different outcome for Chris's sake
    .
    Helpful
     Report
  • Connie Gonzalez
    5.0 out of 5 stars WTH did I just read?
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I am so…speechless right now. Let’s try and break this apart and digest what we just read, pun intended. After the first few chapters you are pretty aware of the fact that your mind and decision making skills are questionable to say the least - read a little further and you begin to contemplate whether you should start seeking therapy. Probably should if you have made it this far, honestly. Definitely should if you continue on down this twisted path as I did. And without a doubt if you find yourself on the page where it’s asking you to leave an honest review - at the end!

    As twisted and disturbing as this tale is, you have your general review points to cover. Did this book entertain me? Absolutely. It was a literary Joe D’Amato. It was brilliant and disgusting, thought provoking and deeply depraved. The pacing of the story was perfectly time. It kept you moving from one scene into the next with no time to question your sanity. The characters were so realistic that the intrusive thoughts of the characters could easily be confused as your own - there should be someone monitoring who has access to this thing SERIOUSLY! And the ending was climactic - to say the least.

    I’m not sure I’ve grown or gained anything by reading this, buuuut just to make sure, I’m going to read this again to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Abstract Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Conflicted would be a ginormous understatement
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If I could try and describe this book in one sentence it would be something like: ‘Being continuously torn between wanting to stop, finding you can’t, then being disgusted with yourself for still being curious to know how it ends’. If i could describe it in one word it would be ‘depraved’.

    In short, the book totally messes with your head. The levels of depravity is like nothing I’ve read yet. But whereas I prefer a more subtle mind play, more of a psychological threat of imagining the dark scenes, this novel focuses on the gore, the gruesome, and so graphic that more often than not the cruel torture scenes appeared almost crass with the MC’s never ending resilience to pain, humiliation, psychological torture and just pure black abyss of despair. I realised I prefer my darker reads to be such, where more things are left for the imagination rather than having to read through them and constantly cringe internally. I found myself on a never ending wave of horror. It just wouldn’t let off. Which makes the balance of a novel like this hard to bear. Especially when there is little done in the beginning to find an emotional connection with the MCs and instead you just find yourself feeling sorry for another human being in a purely humane way. Having said all of that though, I appreciate the nerve of the author going where they went with this book. The writing was really good, and that’s probably the one thing that kept me going in some of the darkest times when all I wished for was the end to this bloody book to just come already.

    The story has echoes of the obvious: Thomas Harris and the more gruesome TV series adaptation. I think that this had the potential to really stand on its feet even more if those echoes weren’t quite as loud. But it has plenty of original thought. The creativity is inspiring in the darkest of ways.

    Have I survived it? Yes I have. Would I want to read this book again? No, I wouldn’t. Do I respect the author’s bravery and creativity to put a book like this out there? 100%. I take my hat off to Ezra Blake followed by a round of applause for pure nerve and almost audacity to create something like this, and via great writing skill, really make the reader squirm in a variety of very conflicting emotions.

    This book got under my skin. And not in a satisfying way that left me contented. It left me reflective. Which still achieved the purpose of escapism.

    Do not go into this unprepared if you have any triggers at all. I don’t have any triggers, and yet.. at times I felt like this book maybe… almost carved a few even for a reader like me.
    Report
  • Sammi
    2.0 out of 5 stars Read the triggers
    Reviewed in Australia on October 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book took me 2 years to get through. It's.... a lot. I can't really explain it better than that.
    Report
  • Andrea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely disturbing in a very good way
    Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is absolutely Pitch Black. It is dark beyond description. If torture, both physical and psychological are triggering, this is not the book for you. If you have no triggers and enjoy seriously twisted stories, read this book.
    Report
  • Jan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Kudos for the author's creativity and courage for fearlessly write such a taboo story.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Well, I survived.
    Was it fun? Do I want to do this again?
    No and nope.
    That being said, I wouldn't miss it for the world!
    I've been mulling over for awhile about my rate. In one hand it deserves a high praise, in the other, it's been an experience I don't want to repeat, EVER again. Therefore, I'll eat 1 star. *pun totally intended*
    I can't fault the plot nor the writing for that. In fact, if the the writing was only good, it wouldn't have made such a powerful impression.
    Kudos for the author's creativity and courage for fearlessly write such a taboo story.
    I for one, thought I would be facing my hard limit here but it appears I have no boundaries.
    I'm seriously scared of myself.
    Report
  • Karl Pendlebury
    5.0 out of 5 stars Traumatically beautiful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The first thing I’ll say is that this book is one giant trigger warning. Not in the “bad things are said or done so be cautious” kind of way… more “I’ve just finished the book and have PTSD” kinda way.

    Still, it’s incredible. It’s beautifully written, it’s dark, it’s twisted and it’s wonderful.

    I feel a little concerned for myself knowing how much I enjoyed this book and the only solace is knowing I literally had to put it down a few times and go get some fresh air so obviously I’m not a complete psychopath.

    The characters are scarily human, not only in their vulnerabilities but also the fact they’re (very) far from perfect. Neither Chris or Ivan are model citizens and I think this also added to the beauty of this book. One is “clearly” the bad guy and yet they’re both bad guys and so I loved the fact I didn’t know who I wanted to “win”.

    If you are a fan of horror/thriller genres and you think you could stomach some of the extremely dark scenes taking place in this book, I cannot recommend it more!! I want a hard copy just to display on my bookshelf just to shine as a naughty little secret.

    Just when you think the worst has happened, it gets much, much worse!
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report