Exquisite Corpse

By: Poppy Z. Brite

Narrated by: Joshua Saxon

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the author of Lost Souls, Drawing Blood, and Wormwood comes a thrilling and chilling novel that best-selling author Peter Straub says serves as a “guidebook to hell”.

To serial slayer Andrew Compton, murder is an art, the most intimate art. After feigning his own death to escape from prison, Compton makes his way to the United States with the sole ambition of bringing his “art” to new heights. Tortured by his own perverse desires, and drawn to possess and destroy young boys, Compton inadvertently joins forces with Jay Byrne, a dissolute playboy who has pushed his “art” to limits even Compton hadn’t previously imagined. Together, Compton and Byrne set their sights on an exquisite young Vietnamese-American runaway, Tran, whom they deem to be the perfect victim.

Swiftly moving from the grimy streets of London’s Piccadilly Circus to the decadence of the New Orleans French Quarter, Poppy Z. Brite dissects the landscape of torture and invites us into the mind of a killer. Exquisite Corpse confirms Brite as a writer who defies categorization. It is a novel for those who dare trespass where the sacred and profane become one.

©1996 Billy Martin (P)2020 David N. Wilson

Twisted AF and fun too

what a deliciously different type of book to hear from one of my favorite narrators it is raunchy, it is foul, it has erotic bits, it has comedy bits, it has that wonderful soothing dulcet tones of Joshua Saxon and most of all, it is a well thought out intelligent little read of just about 8 hours of listening pleasure!

the story of two serial killers during the AIDS crisis is quite unique in its lovely twist and turns of words and verbiage.

i highly recommend this listen to it alone so you can laugh out loud at the naughty bits and the guilty pleasure that you receive from empathizing with the serial killer as so deliciously played and portrayed by the wonderful calming tones of Joshua Saxon!

Blunt, Bold and Horrific

Fantastic narrator. Book is intense and keep you needing to know what happens next. Does not shy away from anything. And I mean anything. Not for the faint of heart. In your face horror that is horribly delightful.

my new favorite book

this book is grotesque but beautifully written. this is a book that with occupy your mind for a long time

A gory gay love story

if you like horror and gay fiction this is the book for you. I enjoyed the description of one of my favorites city New Orleans.

Extreme horror, thy name is Poppy Z. Brite

I came into this book not knowing what to expect, only that the author was highly recommended as one of the premier LGBTQIA wordsmiths out there. I have to say that I was not disappointed, and that this will not be the only title I read from Poppy.

Great book but not for weak stomachs

This book was beautifully written, yet pretty gruesome. Toward the end, I almost thought about stopping it but I obviously couldn't. I have started buying the hard copies of books I like and this one will definitely get a spot on my shelf! It's like gay meets horror and I very much enjoyed it.

Damn

Who knew that the grotesque could be so beautifully and eloquently written.
I am blown away by this book as well as the performance.
Definitely gruesome (I had to leave and come back several times) so be prepared but I def recommend!

Don’t listen to this book in the car with the windows down!

This is the first book I was embarrassed to be listening to. The descriptions of both body horror and homosexuality were very intense… I couldn’t bare the have anyone overhear me listening to this! That said, the descriptions alone made this book amazing! The plot is somewhat predictable, but did take a few surprise turns. Narrator was great! I usually listen on 1.5 speed and this worked fine for this narrator.

Delicately disgusting, sickening yet seductive

I'm a huge fan of the show 'Hannibal', have been since I first watched the film 'Red Dragon' (and subsequently gorged myself on all things Hannibal Lecter). I gotta say: this book is like an AU fanfic of that show.

I won't rehash the plot, but I will say, the book poses a fascinating character study. What would happen if two gay hedonist serial killers met up in a bar? The story builds to this inevitable encounter, paced perfectly with backstory and snippets of characters' lives before and after.

Mixed in with our dark characters are those of morally grey status, and one who might almost be considered 'innocent', if we ignore the fact he's a drug dealer. Surprisingly this couple is as compelling as the killers, almost acting as an opposing moral compass (though they, too, are twisted in other ways).

This is my first Poppy Z. Brite novel, and the first listening to Joshua Saxon. It's a match made in heaven (or hell, depending on perspective). When Saxon switched from an upper crust British accent to one more American, I thought another narrator had stepped in. The man has a way with words, regardless of who he's giving voice to, and he portrays every character superbly.

The book doesn't pull any punches. Gory, erotic, both at once; all sinful characters are portrayed as they are, without any moral condemnation one might expect. They're presented without justification or the usual baggage. What certainly was scoffed at in the mid-90s I find immensely refreshing in 2022.

Agree or disagree with the characters' actions all you wish, but one truth remains: you'll want to keep listening. I tend to listen to audiobooks on my nightly walks home from work and I've found myself slowing my step just to listen longer. I'm addicted to this story, and must hear how it all ends! Little over 2 hours left in the tale and I can honestly say I can't predict how it'll end.

Wow.

I’m still haunted by what I learned from this book. A new kind of fright. Written in a truly masterful and often poetic way that mixes such a sensuality with the unsettling terror. The Narrator is awesome. You chilled me and charmed me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Brilliant

I've read this book at least 6 times over the last 20 years and was delighted that an audio version was finally available. The writing is beautiful, grotesque, and like nothing else you'll ever hear - savour it just like Andrew savours his sandwich...

A must for horror fans, and especially LGBTQ+ horror fans.

Don't go into this book blind!

This book bounces from passion to cold exacting cruelty. The descriptions in the book will shock those unprepared. It is graphic, brutal, soul destroying and glorious

Jesus....

This book is something you'll never forget. The narration is some of the best I've ever heard, especially for Andrew. Loved it from start to finish, again, especially Andrew.

Not as gory as some of the reviews made out

Story is ok, some of the scenes are graphic and brutal but for horror fans it’s nothing special at all. It’s more like a gay porn horror than anything else

An absolute artist!

The author is a poet. I don't know of any other human who can so completely spellbind and mezmerise using only words like this.
if you're looking at this book, you hopefully know what you are in for. If not - take a chance!

Also, the narrating is SUPERB! No annoying breathing, the voices are Perfect, everything is flawless.

All in all, I have no complaints, save that it didn't go on for longer. I'm on my third listen now, and still as enraptured.

Exquisite

This was very dark and gory, but beautifuly written and even gut punching emotional at some points.

mot for the faint hearted

I adore poppy's working but be warned it is graphic! but this doesn't take away from the story.

Extremely graphic

Be warned, the descriptions are very graphic and for someone who reads lots of books about true crime, it was too much for me. Storyline is also a bit thin