Horror This One’s Gonna Hurt by Cody J. Thompson

As five friends travel through the isolated California desert towards a popular music festival, their trip is interrupted thanks to our modern world’s ever-evolving state of technology… Stranded and alone needing to recharge their electric vehicle. When the group of teenagers settle on a remote parking lot in the middle of nowhere, it isn’t only a charging station they find. They also uncover pure, unrelenting evil.

Hiding in the shadows is a maniac. Searching endlessly and without discrimination for victims to satisfy a hunger, viciously hunting down anyone that comes near.

As they fight for survival, the maniac works to outsmart and hunt them one by one, with a goal in mind that is so heinous and vile that the truth behind his actions will rattle the very foundation of the deepest caverns in hell.

As the heartfelt ties that bind the friends together unravel, they each will learn not only what it takes to love, but how to survive. While coping with past heartbreak, loss and abandonment, they must band together to get out alive. Or die one by one under the most excruciating circumstances imaginable.

TheBigThrill caught up to author Cody J. Thompson for a quick chat about his latest thriller, THIS ONE’S GONNA HURT:

Can you pinpoint a moment or incident that sparked the idea for this book?

I was discussing the advancement of electric vehicles, and expressed my concern why, on road trips, so many charging stations are set in the middle of nowhere. In kind of creepy areas. And the story took life after that.

Cody J. Thompson

A novel is such a major undertaking; there’s the writing of it, of course, then you’re spending months and months revising, polishing, and then promoting it. How did you know this was the book you wanted to spend the next couple of years on?

I really felt like this idea was somewhat fresh, and with the reality of electric vehicles becoming more popular and sought after than ever, I felt like now was the perfect time to create a terrifying tale based around newer technology that is becoming a part of every day life.

Were there any particular books, movies, or songs that were knocking around in your head while you were writing this one?

I listened to a lot of dark synth while writing this story. A lot of music with creepy vibes really allowed me to feel engaged to the characters and what was happening to them.

When you first created your protagonist for this book, did you see an empty space in crime lit that you wanted to fill? What can you share about the inspiration for that character?

Not an empty space. I just wanted to create a very original villain, with intentions that were shocking and horrifying.

Cody James Thompson is from San Diego, California. He is the author of thriller Bone Saw Serenade, published by Black Rose Writing. Previously, he wrote as a columnist with his work featured in San Diego CityBeat, San Diego Weekly Reader, The Westcoaster Magazine, San Diego Downtown News and he was the staff columnist for San Diego Uptown News writing about the beverage industry. With storytelling, he focuses mainly on thriller-inspired work. When he is not writing or reading, he spends time with his wife and their two pit bulls, cheers on his Golden State Warriors and San Diego Padres and can be found writing, producing and hosting the first and longest-running beer podcast in San Diego, Beer Night in San Diego.

To learn more about the author and his work, please visit his website.