Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Bug Collector

Rate this book
Joey has a very unique paraphilia that has ruined his health, destroyed his once handsome looks, and made him an outcast, a pariah. Now, this horrifying fetish threatens his very life, placing him in the hands of a profoundly disturbed and angry woman with a serious grudge.




From the twisted imagination of Wrath James White comes a tale of extreme horror, extreme violence, and revenge taken well beyond the extreme.

73 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

85 people are currently reading
3053 people want to read

About the author

Wrath James White

123 books1,083 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
367 (26%)
4 stars
499 (35%)
3 stars
355 (25%)
2 stars
130 (9%)
1 star
59 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews
Profile Image for Dead Inside.
87 reviews4 followers
July 18, 2025
“Reading that fucked-up shit helped me forget about my own fucked-up shit, you know?”

This book is very messed up, but I enjoyed it. It made me laugh, it made me disgusted, It even made me sad.
Profile Image for Kiera ☠.
312 reviews123 followers
October 29, 2024
4.5/5 (rounded up for GoodReads)

This was disgusting, horrific and absolutely fucking vile and I LOVED it. I’ve been chasing this kind of extreme horror for months and nothing has really quite scratched the itch like this. I saw Wrath’s video on TikTok asking readers if they prefer violence in their extreme horror or if they just want it to be disgusting? He noted this one was disgusting. I ran to my kindle and bought it immediately.

The characters were strong and with a surprising amount for 73 pages. A man with a ‘bug catching’ kink aka catching as many STI’s he can meets his match in an old ‘friend’. Do yourself a favour and skip the reading snacks on this one and buckle up buttercup.
Profile Image for rebecca karet.
93 reviews
July 20, 2025
My emotional progression over the course of the book: 😳😬😆🤣🤣🤣😨🤢🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤢😷😵😵😵🫣

It was a fun (?) read. My 1st extreme horror book that made me question my values while laughing at the roll in-the-trash dumpster dive of pestilence vibes. I felt multitudes. No regrets reading it.
Profile Image for Sarah ♡ (let’s interact!).
712 reviews295 followers
January 29, 2025
Considering how extreme, gross-out, and disgusting The Bug Catcher is - the story is actually very well-written. Check the trigger warnings for just about everything you could imagine. If you aren’t a reader of extreme horror/splatter-punk, then please avoid.
I ended up really liking the character of Tina, you can empathise with her struggles and her losses, and are rooting for her to take her revenge here.
I’m definitely curious to check out more of this author’s work now.

The main character, Joey’s unique and highly disturbing sexual fetish has ruined his health, and robbed him of his once good-looks. He isn’t technically homeless, but is choosing the life of a vagrant to chase his sickening desires. How much further could his disturbing fetish go? Well, it might finally cost him his life at the hands of a woman he had once been with/used, who is out for his blood.

4 Stars
Profile Image for Erica Hart.
Author 14 books84 followers
November 15, 2024
Absolutely gross, but gut wrenchingly sad. Brilliantly brutal and packs a punch to the gut.
Profile Image for Horror Bookworm Reviews.
535 reviews189 followers
November 19, 2024
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
The Bug Collector by Wrath James White
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

Living on the streets of Las Vegas is a man who has a fetish for collecting bugs. These are diseases that are acquired for the sole purpose of destroying beauty, health and humanity. One of the collateral damages that the bug collector has used, is Tina. Taking matters into her own hands she kidnaps the bug collector. Duct taped and strapped to a chair in an abandoned warehouse, she begins her unique revenge.

With its up close and personal view on infectious organisms, The Bug Collector by Wrath James White uses sores, blisters and bloody lesions to make its infected point. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital warts, The Bug Collector causes a bone-deep ache with its unusual type of paraphilia. These greatest hits within the STD community are all here to capitalize on the liquid rot and decay that Wrath has created. The trigger warning bar is set at an all-time ruptured testicle high.

The appeal of The Bug Collector is the presents of transgression, the confrontation of taboo subject matter and the experience of visceral discomfort. The sense of realism is a well-crafted unpleasant experience by way of flirting with death. Wrath brings round after round of ground and pound brutality. After bathing in this river of pus, coagulated semen and a garden variety of yeast infections, a cleansing shower will be needed.

Of all the years of reading Wrath James White, I’m really digging his most recent works of terrifying twisted kinks. Each and every book guarantees many slack-jawed moments of sadistic shock. When Wrath leaves his butane torches, straight razors and apple peelers lying around the house, you know urine for a nasty-ass reading experience. Just remember, death isn’t as satisfying as torture.

Purchasing The Bug Collector is reminiscent of a time you entered an independent video store to rent a romantic comedy, but kept eyeing the beaded curtain located in the far back corner. If you like the stuff that Monica J. O’Rourke and Suffer The Flesh is made of, you’re gonna dig this. Favorite quote from The Bug Collector…”we trade viruses like baseball cards.” A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
Profile Image for Lia's Haunted Library .
285 reviews40 followers
January 4, 2025
This book is absolutely disgusting. It will make your stomach churn, your skin crawl, and your gag reflex activate—but it’s so brilliantly written, I almost forgot how revolting it was.
The story follows a man obsessed with collecting STIs (yes, you read that right) and the horrifying consequences of his actions: he’s confronted by someone whose life he destroyed—collateral damage in his grotesque obsession.

Yes, the story is gross. The imagery around STIs and what they do to the human body is incredibly graphic, but it serves a purpose beyond shock value. It’s not just about the gore—it’s about the consequences of our actions, the ripple effects on others, and finding purpose even in the worst circumstances.

The kidnapper’s perspective is captivating; she wants to know why our main character is the way he is. She’s a victim of his recklessness, and while her actions are extreme, you can’t help but understand her pain and her need for justice, which makes the end even more satisfying. Wrath James White masterfully balances the horror of both of our characters situations with a glimpse of humanity that leaves you questioning your own morality.

What really struck me is how the story also touches on larger social issues, like the start of the AIDS epidemic, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. It’s a raw, visceral commentary on the uglier sides of humanity and the systems that perpetuate suffering.

And at its core, it’s a deeply human story. By the end, you’re not just horrified—you’re invested. You want to understand both characters, their pain, their motivations, and how their stories unfold.
Profile Image for That Horror Chick.
34 reviews43 followers
April 7, 2025
This book was disgusting, horrific and absolutely vile. And I loved every bit of it! It is not often that a book gives me the chills, but The bug collector definitely managed to do that! And it wasn’t because of the violence, but simply because it was so disgusting. The whole idea of someone collecting Sexual Transmitted Diseases is such a good base for a Splatterpunk novel. Considering how gross this book was, the story is also very well written! It was a very quick read, with only 73 pages. It took me just over an hour to read the whole thing.
Profile Image for Veronica ☠️.
381 reviews31 followers
February 4, 2025
Joey is a collector. Not your average collector. He likes to collect different types of STIs for his personal satisfaction, and he doesn't care where he gets them. From an early age, Joey was abused in awful ways, and he learned to eventually cope or "like" it, eventually making it his hobby. One day while he's sleeping under a bridge, comes a beautiful women with an angry glare

Tina is very popular amongst her clients and is the best in her business. She makes a lot of money for her and her pimp but she wants out. She has clients of all kinds but a particular freaky client, intrigues her. Little does she know that this client will make her life a whole lot worse.

Once again, Wrath doesn't disappoint. This was filthy, yet I laughed at the descriptions. It was vile yet hard to put down. The revenge part of this story was great! Tina's got a sad story in this and you feel for her and root at the end. At times, I felt conflicted because you feel bad for Joey. It's a kink he can't seem to shake, and he doesn't mean harm. But on the other hand, he's grown and knows what he's doing is wrong. I loved it
Profile Image for Mrs. Scary Ghost.
69 reviews
January 16, 2025
5 stars because the writing was so descriptive that you could almost smell and taste the pus.
Profile Image for Neey⛤.
24 reviews8 followers
July 31, 2025
Too gross, too good. You'll feel like throwing up but won't be able to put this book down.

I mean it when I say it's hard to phase me and I kept getting disappointed by many books labelled as "horror"
but OH DEAR, this one actually made me cringe and curl up in a ball.
Profile Image for Thomas.
48 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2025
First off let’s start with the obvious. I can’t believe this was the first book to log in for 2025.

A backstory of this gem is that I have two work colleagues who are avid readers and for the sake of making a book club between us interesting we want to read things that well… allow me to explain. An Instagram book page suggestion, a banter of texts, my dumbass thinking this should be our first book, convincing our friend to read it and a waste of 3 dollars, and TA-DA! our first book club has been born.

Oh boy. This fucking thing.

Full disclosure for real, if you’re looking for extreme horror be advised of the trigger warnings the author lists. There’s a lot and they are really gross. Some may even be traumatic or re-traumatizing , and for the life of me why anyone would willingly write this out for pleasure is pretty ignorant in my eyes. Aye. I digress.

But for real this book is dumb as shit.

So turns out splatterpunk and extreme horror are not my thing and if it’s yours well… umm... keeewwwllll.

This book is pretty gross. And that’s about it. That’s all I can really muster up. The plot is pretty stupid and the writing is pretty bad. The hyper violence and gross out portions are very comedically written. “And then the poopy blood soaked…” I mean that’s not a direct quote but then again maybe it is?

Side note, my first roommate was into some bizarre horror movies that he insisted I watched. All of that training has led me to this. Thanks man.

I’ve read tamer books write worse stuff than this, so I think going for the most gross out kind of language really doesn’t make it scary or compelling at all, just kind of boring.

Also, true story. He dedicated this to his mom. Aw!

Look, splatterpunks of the world if this is your thing well it’s all yours, but in the meantime I’m going to google how to give yourself amnesia.

Happy new year!!
Profile Image for Eloise Blaise | Bibliophel.
91 reviews3,565 followers
June 12, 2025
Idk idk. Was it disturbing? Yes. Is it the most graphic horror I’ve read? Nah, idk why I was expecting to experience the most depraved horror. Don’t get me wrong, description of bodily substances were so strong, but it kinda lost its pace in the second half. I’m not really sure what the gender angle was supposed to provide? Also kinda thought her pov was unnecessary…
Profile Image for Gareth Is Haunted.
407 reviews96 followers
February 26, 2025
A book of extreme kinks, I mean extreme, extreme kinks and most certainly not for the faint-hearted.

This book was recommended to me by a friend, that friend is now going to be hunted down and tortured. Reading this has ruined my appetite and I need to eat.
Wrath James White has a sick imagination, but even so, this was an enjoyable yet short read.
Well written and with well-developed characters (considering the short length of this story). Urgghh I can't write anymore, I think I want to throw up.

Turns out this isn't a review, just me trying to hold my food in. Try this book, you might like it 😬
Profile Image for Gohnar23.
823 reviews25 followers
March 18, 2025
Books read & reviewed: 1️⃣1️⃣0️⃣🥖4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣


╔⏤⏤⏤╝❀╚⏤⏤⏤╗


5️⃣🌟, Gotta catch them all, sexually transmitted diseases eddition, And that would just have to say the cover is absolutely GORGEOUSSSSSSS 🥰 🤩 🥰 🤩 🥰
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗

(Bulk review March 18 Since i read 7 books today, all of it's pretty short so it's not really that revolutionary review #2)

Well the bug collector is basically just a short story About a guy who Has a kink On collecting as many sexually transmitted diseases To ever exist Who meets this girl Who treats him badly And kind of kills him at the end. I left the story telling that the author is going for in here and Honestly he's just misunderstood He doesn't want harm Or mean any harm to anyone at all He just wants to live life To the fullest embracing his kink of (gotta catch them all sexually transmitted diseases Edition) He is like that one character from "Dead inside" Which is another disturbing book That talks about alienation, These characters are just misunderstood they're not really "Bad" in a way

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Date Read: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Book Length: 24k words: short n sweet 🎂 🧁
Disturbingness scale: GOTTA CATCH EM ALL out of 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ potatoes 🥔: 5️⃣8️⃣

My 24th read of splatterpunk march ✨

✧・゚: *✧・゚:*Pre-Read✧・゚: *✧・゚:*

THE COVER IS SO FUCKING GORGEOUS AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭🎉🎉🎉🎉😉🌟🟣💜🟪
Profile Image for lolly Storm  sparrow.
103 reviews4 followers
February 21, 2025
A clever premise. I enjoyed the journey; some scenes were heinous. I felt the end was a little predictable, although the execution was brutal.
Profile Image for Lizzy.
229 reviews7 followers
September 3, 2025
Please don't ask me about this, the REAL ones already know... going offline not responding to messages
Profile Image for Honey Dy.
269 reviews14 followers
April 22, 2025
I thought I was prepared. I thought I'd seen it all.
But nothing — NOTHING — could have prepared me for my first experience with Wrath James White.

Going in blind, I had no idea that Joey, a man whose grotesque paraphilia has destroyed his body, shredding his somewhat successful life to pieces, dragging me down equally into his world filled with filth, decay and pure sheer body horror.

In all my naivety, I assumed (or rather hoped) that this would be about something minor. Bugs, maybe? Some weird little quirk? I can handle that!

But oh, no, there's a reason why bookstagrammers say this book will give your gag reflexes a run for their money because I got hit by a tidal wave of bodily fluids (of all kinds), self mutilation, and depravity.

There were moments when I had to physically put the book down and breathe to keep from vomiting.
Moments where my face twisted into a grimace so sharp it could cut glass.
Moments where I thought, "This can not get worse."
(It got worse)

And yet... I COULDNT STOP READING. I COULDNT LOOK AWAY.

Like some wretched human being willing to participate in a read that was sicker than anything I've ever read, I kept turning pages, almost DARING Wrath to make me feel sicker than I already was.

Note to self: Never again will I underestimate how deep extreme horror can get. If you let it, it will dig its claws into your guts and twist.

Oh, and for the love of everything holy — eat NOTHING before, during, or after. That's my warning if you ever decide to read this book ⚠️🤮🙏💀
Profile Image for Feral Queen .
94 reviews3 followers
April 22, 2025
DISTURBING - GROTESQUE - EXTREME

or in a single word: YUCK 😂

If books had smells, this one would reek of disease, regret, and possibly puss and sweat smeared orgy sheets.

This novella is not for the faint-hearted, but for those who can stomach its content, it offers a unique and thought-provoking experience.
Profile Image for Ian.
537 reviews84 followers
October 11, 2024
‘Simply rotten to the core!’

A short, very extreme horror tale that combines outrageous sexual depravity with rotten, disease-ridden pestilence to, quite literally, fill in all the holes written into the story.

A really good read and unique idea if you like this sort of thing, otherwise perhaps best to avoid at all costs.

Tina- all power to you, babe- digging ya style!!

‘Enjoyed’ it - but now for a nice quiet game of chess.

Rating: 3.7 disgustingly obscene bright stars.
Profile Image for Erk.
271 reviews3 followers
July 23, 2025
NOT👏 FOR👏 EVERYONE!

This was so freaking hardcore, the dumpster scene had me questioning, then the torching of one’s testicle???, then slice a nipple so bad that you could rip your chest muscle off. Slicing eyelids, ripping lips off, just a few torcheres things. All that gore without the “sexual tension” 😉 because there was alot of that. Tina’s thought at the end was hardcore, but who doesn’t want “taking down all the cheating husbands and sadistic, misogynistic tricks with viruses and infections.”

Anyways read your triggers, and don’t go in blind.
Profile Image for Mandee Myers.
25 reviews
July 27, 2025
This was so well written and interesting, tf? Absolutely my favorite Splatterpunk writer now. I actually felt for these people! Read it in about an hour or two. So many feels and ick. 💕
Profile Image for Matty.
169 reviews19 followers
January 4, 2025
Pure nastiness! Story can be seen as a look at bad habits and their impact on the individual and others. Joeys addiction can be compared to an individuals addiction to drugs or alcohol. Ultimately it can lead to death and along the way it causes destruction to others around.
Profile Image for Silent_Twin.
70 reviews23 followers
September 30, 2024
Let me start off by saying I’ve read very extreme splatter books such as cows, Zola, mique Watson etc.

This book had me questioning if I could make it through on page 4.

I ams so glad I did, this is the best story of feminine rage that has ever been written.

Please check your triggers ✨
Profile Image for Satnin.
4 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2025
Well DAMN. This book is absolutely NOT for the faint hearted. Its own distasteful sensation. It’s DEPRAVED, HORRID, VILE, REPULSIVE, OBSCENE, GUT WRENCHING, to say the least. A doomed paraphilic in the hands of a raging vengeful woman that’ll make you question your overall sanity.
Profile Image for Elle.
396 reviews125 followers
August 7, 2025
3.75/5 stars.

And here I was thinking that this book was actually about bugs.. I should’ve known better.

I thought the psychology behind this was interesting. Everyone was pretty unlikable. This was very gruesome and covered some dark topics.

CW: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Profile Image for STEPH.
521 reviews64 followers
September 1, 2025
I feel like I need a bath after reading this—dirty, repulsive, and foul.

There’s one book that reminded me of this novella: Lovesick! Yes, that one had the same effect on me. You know that unclean, soiled feeling? Exactly. Ew.

It was OK. The descriptions of bodily torture and degradation are vivid, and if you’re not used to this genre, it’ll definitely gross you out. So think twice before delving into WJW’s writing.
Profile Image for Greg.
775 reviews42 followers
October 6, 2024
4/5 Yuck just yuck. So a “Bug Collector” is an individual who fetishizes collecting sexually transmitted diseases. However collecting them for yourself generally entails sharing the ones you already have as well. Joey our titular Bug Collector shared with the wrong hooker. Tina has her hands on Joey and plans on cutting her revenge out on him one slice of flesh at a time.

This is a disgustingly gruesome piece of extreme sexual horror that will test your gag reflex. I don’t know what was more disgusting the things Joey was doing to collect his diseases or the righteousness that Tina delivers.

Strong stomachs only in these pages but if you can handle extreme horror I always have fun with Wrath.
Profile Image for Megan Bittick.
51 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2025
I bought this thinking it was an insect horror story.

Read it after the trigger warnings anyway, and I will be reading the Bible next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 364 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.