When We Join Jesus In Hell

by Lee Thompson

Home, he thinks, Where the heart bleeds freely. A hell of a boxer, he earned the nickname 'Fist' back in the day. But during the past eight years, he's transformed into somebody he no longer knows—a weak, pitiful, and passionless office drone. Barely hanging onto the last thread of his self-respect, he returns home one night to discover Hell has truly crossed its threshold. And Hell has lessons to teach him through what fragments remain. Slivers of dark light. Knowledge in blood. Forgiveness, clarity and redemption in commitment.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Novella, Short Stories, Thriller, Thriller Suspense, Crime

118 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

“Lee Thompson knows his horror-noir. He fuses both genres together in the turmoil of terror, tragedy, blood, guilt, and lost chances at redemption.”–Tom Piccirilli, author of THE LAST KIND WORDS

Lee Thompson is the bestselling author of the Suspense novels A BEAUTIFUL MADNESS (August 2014), IT’S ONLY DEATH (January 2015), and WITH FURY IN HAND (May 2015). The dominating threads weaved throughout his work are love, loss, and learning how to live again. A firm believer in the enduring power of the human spirit, Lee believes that stories, no matter their format, set us on the path of transformation. He is represented by the extraordinary Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary. Visit Lee’s website to discover more: www.leethompsonfiction.com

Some of my favorite authors: Clive Barker, Donald Westlake, Peter Straub, Stephen King, Greg Gifune, Lee Thomas, William Faulkner, Robert Dunbar, John Gardner, Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, John Connolly, Jack Cady, Tom Piccirilli, Brian Hodge, Douglas Clegg, Jack Ketchum, Lee Child, James Lee Burke, and Cormac McCarthy.

"10 out of 10 Stars... GOSSAMER: A TALE OF LOVE AND TRAGEDY will blow you away my friends. It is that good." -- Peter Schwotzer/Famous Monsters of Filmland.

"WHEN WE JOIN JESUS IN HELL is as crazy as its tormented protagonist. Hard as nails.” – Jack Ketchum

"The voice of the deputy feels authentic: brooding, soulful, haunted. In fact, there’s a heartfelt quality to the whole grim book. Even some of the most grisly moments manage to be poetic and full of emotion, and the author’s literary influences echo loudly. At times, the mood evokes Piccirilli or Braunbeck or Gifune combined with Sherwood Anderson."-- Robert Dunbar, author of WILLY, THE PINES, and THE SHORE

“Thompson’s voice is his own — strong, hypnotic, and unsettling. Nursery Rhymes 4 Dead Children is a bleak fucking book, and therein lies its danger. So beautifully-constructed is Thompson’s prose, that the reader is often caught off-guard, mesmerized by a turn of phrase or a descriptive passage, until the book grabs you by the balls and rips them right off, breaking your heart and your psyche in the process.” — Brian Keene, author of GHOUL, DARK HOLLOW and THE RISING.

"I’ve said it many times and believe it more everyday, Lee Thompson is not only the next big name at Delirium Books but in the genre." – Shane Ryan Staley at Darkfuse Publications.

"The Dampness of Mourning is a riveting Thriller..." Midwest Book Review.

"Lee Thompson’s prose is electric!" — Bob Freeman, author of DESCENDANT.

"Like a dark Twilight Zone meets Alfred Hitchcock Mystery." -- Lee Thompson, author of NURSERY RHYMES 4 DEAD CHILDREN.


http://leethompsonfiction.com

Reviews

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this novella during an online Meet the Author event put on by the publisher Darkfuse.

The story starts off with our protagonist named Fist drunkenly making his way home late at night. During his walk home he is musing about the state of his life and marriage. Fist used to be a boxer, (hence the nickname), but gave it up at the height of his career to become the father he believes his family wanted and needed-a man with a stable job, bringing home a paycheck,and home every night. The idea of what a man(and his family) loses when he gives up who and what he IS soon becomes a moot point as Fist walks into his bedroom and his life changes forever.

What follows is one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I have ever read.

I don't want to spoil the story, so I will just say that this is one novella that is going to stick with you. At times, it is actually difficult to continue reading because the pain of Fist is just too much to bear. I'm not ashamed to say that this novella made me cry, it was THAT powerful.

This is another effective work by Mr. Thompson and one you won't soon forget. I know I won't.

[Ɗẳɳ 2.☊ · Rating 2 out of 5]

★★☆☆☆½

Kudos to author for branding this work with one of the most offensive titles that I’ve ever come across. How could that not pique my curiosity? And kudos for that opening gut-punch, which left me seeing red, and filled me with a white-hot, seething rage. But all too soon that rage began to fizzle and flicker, when the story veered off course by choosing to hitch its wagon to the crazy train. Which led to the inevitable disaster of a third act, where it completely derailed; obliterating all of my initial enthusiasm. In the wake of the crash and confusion that followed, it totally lost me, along with a couple of stars.

With solid writing and a powerful opening act, this novelette appeared to be heading, quite comfortably, into my Goldilocks zone. But sadly, it failed to maintained that initial trajectory. Oh, what could have been.

“The only light burning was in their upstairs bedroom, while outside a quiet street shrouded with elms sighed, surrounded by so many similar houses bearing so many similar mundane lives. He’d been searching for a way out of it, to find something more, but he didn’t tell anyone because to search for any kind of meaning seemed unmanly, un-American. And he hated thinking he had to hide it from his wife because they used to share everything; they used to be best friends.

That broke his heart most of all and he had no idea how to get back to the way things once were.”

Be careful what you wish for, buddy.

[Paul Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated after reread.

When We Join Jesus in Hell is an intense, dark and powerful read that will leave a big impression and wrench your emotions all over the place. A novella that will awaken feelings you never thought could exist.
 
Fist is an ex-boxer who at the height of his career, packed it all in to be the man his family needed him to be and avoided the injuries that were sure to come. He settles into an ordinary if not boring life but that all changes in absolutely stunning fashion when he comes home one night to his family, a little bit the worse for wear and finds an intruder in his house. Life can change in an instant, hell visits few but for those it touches, things can never remain the same. To say more would give the game away, enough to say that a quote from the bible is not something you’d usually see in the review for a piece of horror fiction but this is fitting, I think. 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied'.

Highly recommended this is a heart-breaking tale of love lost and vengeance, and you travel every excruciating minute of Fist’s journey as he seeks retribution. A devastating and remarkable piece of fiction with the first paperback edition released in January 2015.

[Gregor Xane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this thing is one of the best titles ever conceived of for a work of horror fiction. Frankly, that was 99% of why I bought this book. I didn't read the ad copy for it or any reviews. I just liked the title and knew the author had a good reputation.

All right.

Now, this isn't a long piece, so I can't say much about it without spoiling it for folks. I'll just say four things:

1) It quickly rose to a level of 'holy fuck!' that I wasn't quite ready for (which, of course, in hindsight is a great thing)
2) It went on a detour of sorts that I couldn't have been more pleased with
3) The writer's voice is unique and immediately compelling
4) I've already purchased two more books by Mr. Lee Thompson because I was so impressed with this novella (and the bonus short story included with this edition)

Highly recommended!

[Jon Recluse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a rare occurence when words fail me after reading a story....When We Join Jesus in Hell is one of those stories. A visceral exploration of the human heart. Of love, loss and vengence. It reopens old wounds in your soul and creates new ones. You'll need to find a quiet place to regain your composure after this one. I am loathe to admit it, but this book made me cry. Lee Thompson is an author to watch and a very dangerous man. Highest recommendation.

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fist, the point of view character in this short novelette, comes home from the bar slightly inebriated. He thinks it best to sleep on the couch, changes his mind and goes to the bedroom he shares with his wife. As he enters the room he first thinks his wife is being unfaithful with another man. He quickly changes his mind when the noises he hears are not the sounds of love, and then sees the knife at her throat. He has worse yet to discover.

Thus begins this grim tale of revenge. The intruder escapes through the window leaving behind his wallet. Fist examines the wallet and discovers that the man who has just killed his wife is named Jesus.

We follow Fists journey as he tracks Jesus in order to seek retribution.

The body count climbs as we delve through the hallucinatory voyage filled with death,blood and the occasional Gecko.

A powerful book.

This is copy 88 of 150 signed numbered copies and signed by Lee Thompson.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow--A novella both gut-retching and somehow beautiful at the same time. The thoughts going through the mind of the main character are so poignant--quite in contrast with the devastating circumstances that he finds himself in. This is a story that will haunt me for a long, long time. Lee Thompson creates a setting that you actually FEEL. While the story was truly unsettling, his writing style is one that will keep me coming back for more. Highest recommendation!

[Andrew Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd previously read a couple of novellas penned by Thompson. I really enjoyed It’s Only Death but I thought With Fury In Hand was only average. As for this one, well frankly I found it disappointing.

It's another quick read as we follow Fist, a former boxer, who returns home to his wife and daughter only to encounter a nasty surprise. By now I know what to expect from this author, it’s going to be intense and violent from here in. And I don't mind that as long as there’s enough plot and substance to frame the nasty bits, but here all I found was… well, lots of nasty bits. It was all darkness with no lighter shade. There were no surprises – the whole thing was pretty much flagged from a few pages in – and not a single character with a redeeming feature. Even this might have been workable but there wasn't even much of a plot to accompany all the carnage. It all became a bit monotonous to be honest.

Now I know others will point to the descriptions of grief and how Thompson’s depiction of a tortured man tugs at the heart strings - but I don't buy it. I think this is a one dimensional tale that bears no resemblance to his best work.

In looking for a positive I'd say two things: it's quite short and I finished it.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ex-boxer comes home from his dead end job to find that his wife is not alone in their bedroom. What happens after that is what you need to read the book to find out.

For such a little novelette, this book has a pretty high body count. And no one is safe: not children, little old ladies, or even small animals. The story is bloody and violent, but the book wears its heart on its sleeve and manages to somehow also be a heartbreaking, tragic, and deeply emotional tale of loss, regret, and whether or not vengeance actually solves anything. The writing really left me unnerved throughout, my eyes constantly bugging out as the story moved to darker places with every page and nervous to find out what happened next. The most recent Kindle edition also includes a great little short story called "Beneath The Weeping Willow," about a broken family seen through the eyes of an autistic young boy, that is just as powerful and packs a wallop of an ending.

[Wayne Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Brutally brilliant.

Hell in reality can be worse than the imagined Hell of Christian belief/mythology.

this is a short read but it grabs you my the short hairs and takes you on a grimacing ride of terror and retribution from the beginning. Even the smaller short story at the end will leave you sighing and thinking, oh, WTF?!

If you can stomach it...this is a great read.

[Adam Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is the first thing I've read from Lee Thompson. It won't be the last.
Such a powerful, gut-wrenching read.

[Ms. Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lee Thompson has an obviously fertile imagination. His stories are "thinkers" and have an emotional impact that stay with you long after you've read the book. That's a sign of a good writer connecting with his/her audience.

For me, When We Join Jesus In Hell captured my attention, knocked me over with emotion, but left me out in the cold with realism.

The backstory of Fist and his wife, their happiness, his fighting, their family, well, it worked. What did not work was the fact that Fist came into the situation as if it was all over Why the hell did he keep walking toward the intruder? before it had even begun. Like he had snapped before he even came home. Where was the slight relief that his wife was not in the wrong before the vengeful rage hit him? I couldn't get past this and it made me analyze the rest of the story for more inconsistent characters.

I don't want to spoil anything, and honestly, this is a good story that you should read. Hell, I recommend you read it just for the sake of saying you read it.

*3 Farewells*

[Lee Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savage, heartbreaking and brutal.

A hero by the name of Jack Ketchum just read this and sent me a blurb...

"WHEN WE JOIN JESUS IN HELL is as crazy as its tormented protagonist. Hard as nails."

-- Jack Ketchum

[Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When We Join Jesus in Hell may be the most brilliant piece of short fiction I have read in ages. At slightly less than 60 pages it is too long for a short story and not long enough for a novella. In the old days we might have called that a novelette. Yet Lee Thompson's whopper of a modern tragedy is one of those tales that will keep you up at night and inhabit your brain for a very long time. Thompson's protagonist is barely together from page one but an incident happens that sends him into a vendetta of nightmare proportions that doesn't let up and dares the reader to try and catch their breath occasionally. The work is all at once bleak, intense, and emotional. My highest recommendation. I'm keeping Lee Thompson in my sights for more good reading.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! A fast and furious revenge novel that grabs you and will not let go. Once I started reading, I absolutely could not put it down - I had to finish, to see the story to the bitter end. I haven’t rooted for a protagonist like “Fist” that hard in a long time. Lee Thompson kicks ass with this novel and gets straight to the heart of the reader, albeit a dark and vengeful heart.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title story just wasn't my bag. Sorry....a lot of people loved it so give it a whirl. If you're really digging the first 20 pages, stick with it. Much more of the same follows to the bitter end.

The short story at the end of this was much better, in my opinion, thus the 3 stars to average things out.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the title fool you - this is not a hymn.

But you should still read it.

Now let us pray.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much going on in this novella. I read it once for the story. You have to do that because this one is going to rip you apart as you follow Fist from the shattering opening scene through one harrowing pivotal scene after another. I then read it again for all of the rest of the story. The symbolism. The literary references. The structure. The landscape as we progress becomes more surreal, the characters more symbolic and archetypal, as we drop from one level to the next and finally into the fire created by his own regret.

Choices. It is all about choices. How some choices, once made, can't be undone. We follow Fist as he carries his dead (both figuratively and literally like Faulkner's characters in As I Lay Dying) to their final resting place and himself to his revenge and, he hopes, redemption. Along the way he meets people that are not necessarily bad, just conflicted like himself. He also meets monsters, some human some not, a fascinating character ("The Artist") that I think of as a reflection of the novelist himself, and in the end, his own personal demon.

Emotionally wringing, this book will take its toll on you. From its devastating first few pages to what is the most gut wrenching final sentence that I have read in a long time. It will leave you shaken and numb. This novella is what dark fiction is all about.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

When We Join Jesus In Hell is an emotional punch to the stomach with a couple of knees to the face for good measure. The word 'Hell' is mentioned in the book's description a few times, and I like to think that that is exactly what this novella is. A sudden decent into grief, rage, vengeance, and then, finally, Hell.

I don't want to go into the plot because it moves quickly and there are a few surprises along the way that will ruin it if I even begin with the set up. One thing I can tell you, however, is that the characters breath with life, the atmosphere is thick, and the prose is lyrical and full of symbolism. It's really quite a startling read that will draw you into its grim, darkly painted world.

Once there, it will no let you go. When We Join Jesus In Hell will haunt you long after you've read it. I finished it almost a month before writing this review, and I still think about it. Highly recommended.

[Adela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great horror!

[Kaisersoze · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good many people whose opinions I respect immensely have done nothing but praise this very short novella (novelette?) by Lee Thompson, and after reading the first few pages, I thought I could see why. Opening with a heinous crime that no parent or partner could read without feeling disturbed, When We Join Jesus in Hell never lets up its frenetic pace, as POV character Fist goes on a grief-fueled rampage of revenge, even as his mind unravels and he slides increasingly further into madness.

Lee Thompson is hell of a writer insofar as the chances he takes with his narratives (at least that's what I'm gleaning from the two books of his I've read), and his unusual style of prose that flows disarmingly easily - even while describing horrific scenes.

And yet (here we go!) I never really warmed to Fist after that opening scene. His insistence on approaching Jesus even while he started to slide the knife into his wife's neck simply did not sit right with me, and I could not help but feel he could have prevented what happened next had he reacted differently. In fact, all of the characters seemed disconnected from reality to me, so that some of their decisions had me frowning in disbelief, even as I wondered whether Fist could be considered a reliable narrator, especially given his fragile mental state.

So, yeah, When We Join Jesus in Hell - despite being fantastically titled - was just a decent read for me, and one that did not come anywhere near hitting my "special" button.

The short story following it, BENEATH THE WEEPING WILLOW, was a risky take on a crumbling family, told from the POV of an autistic child. It was also cleverly written in the second-person, present-tense format, which based on my usual tastes, should have really annoyed me. However, in this instance, it worked a treat. So I guess I'm siding with this review from Edward Lorn in saying I found the short to be better than the titular novella. Go figure.

All in all, I'd still recommend this to any reader looking for something dense to digest. Don't be put off by my rating; I'm told I'm hard to please.

3 Reasons to Check on my Sleeping 2 Year Old Daughter for When We Join Jesus in Hell.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis: Home, he thinks, is where the heart bleeds freely. A hell of a boxer, he earned the nickname 'Fist' back in the day. But during the past eight years, he's transformed into somebody he no longer knows—a weak, pitiful, and passionless office drone. Barely hanging onto the last thread of his self-respect, he returns home one night to discover Hell has truly crossed its threshold. And Hell has lessons to teach him through what fragments remain. Slivers of dark light. Knowledge in blood. Forgiveness, clarity and redemption in commitment.

Review: The first chapter has one of the biggest gut punches I've ever seen in such a short horror thriller. Fist, a man down on his luck, enters his home one night to find his wife and daughter being raped and murdered by a man named Jesus. Swearing revenge on the loathsome fiend, Fist descends into a blind fury of madness with the bodies of his wife and daughter traveling with him in the back of his car as he hunts down the man that killed them. It's incredibly unsettling to say the least, especially when Fist starts to hallucinate having conversations with their corpses as they rot away in his car all while vowing to avenge them. A disturbing thriller about the despair of taking action for your loved ones after it's already too late.

***

If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most gut-wrenching stories I've ever read. The main character is so broken by the events of the beginning of the book that right from the start you get a sense that there will be no happy ending.
As the story progressed I felt as though I was being pulled down into the hellish abyss with Fist, a genuinely distressing experience.
Some of the images and characters in the story have stayed with me long after finishing the book.
To say this book packs an emotional punch is an understatement. Brilliant storytelling by an incredible author.

[Mindi]

Much like The Girl Next Door by Jack Ketchum, I found this novel so disturbing that I'm not sure I can actually rate it and say I "liked" it. It is very well written, and I'm sure I'm going to be thinking about it for a really long time, but I cannot say that I enjoyed the experience of reading it.

Fist, (who gets his name from his boxing career when he was younger), comes home one night after one too many and walks into a nightmare. There is a stranger named Jesus in his home, and in a single night Jesus has destroyed any remaining happiness in Fist's life. Jesus escapes before Fist can kill him, but now Fist is left with nothing but pain and an overriding and all consuming need for revenge.

This entire novella is agonizing to read. Fist's mind breaks after what he has witnessed, and we the reader are consumed by his agony and regret. There is no possible outcome that could make anything right in this story, and the inevitable ending is almost a relief.

The second story in this small collection, Beneath the Weeping Willow, is easier to read, but still haunting in its simplicity. I enjoyed this one more, but that isn't to say that the first story was bad. It's gut wrenching, but incredibly hard to finish.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of you know by now I'm a big fan of Lee Thompson. I have quite a few reviews around here from his epic Division series. When We Join Jesus in Hell is a notable departure from his Division mythos, but it is a testament to Thompson's awesome, dark imagination.

When We Join Jesus in Hell is a great read, but it is also a tough read. It is brutal and heartbreaking. It won't be for everyone, but for those of you who appreciate dark, unapologetic, and emotional stories, it will leave its mark and make you a fan as well.

If you've been wanting to check out Thompson's work, When We Join Jesus in Hell is a great stand alone place to start.

[11811 (Eleven) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congrats to the author on the Jack Ketchum blurb. It was well earned. This disturbing stroll through the ghetto is unique from any other revenge story I've read in the past. It is dark and depressing and I enjoyed every bit of it.

[Brett Talley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark. Chilling. Disturbing. Heartbreaking. A trip through grief and torment and vengeance. A great piece.

[Maxine Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this short novella is one of the best books I've read in a long time. In a few short pages you're transported into Fist's world of devastation and his attempts at some small and heart-wrenching sort of redemption for a life of inadequacy. Brutal and beautiful.

[David Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best Novellas I have ever read. To say this story was profound and full of life lessons, is an understatement. Anytime a story can make you reflect on your own life and make you look at life a little differently, it definitely is a good thing.

[Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5