I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

What a fun book! I read and really enjoyed Lindy Ryan’s “Bless Your Heart” a couple of years ago, so when I read the synopsis for this one, I knew I had to check it out. I’m a huge fan of the “Scream” movies, so this was an automatic yes for me.

Jill is a horror author who just moved to suburban New Jersey. She’s hoping to fit in with the new PTA moms and make some real friends. But then a plastic face-masked serial killer starts slashing their way through town, one overly made-up mom at a time. The police are incredulous. The moms are indignant. And Jill slowly gets wrapped into the killer’s murderous spree making her think she may either be the final victim or the last woman standing.

The book is super fun and was a quick read. I flew through it. Ryan clearly loves the slasher genre, and it shows. The book is full of nods to classic horror tropes, and if you’re a fan of movies like “Scream,” you’ll catch all the little winks and references scattered throughout.

I enjoyed the characters and the story. Jill is a solid protagonist. She’s self-aware, funny, and knows her horror. She’s not some clueless final girl stumbling around in the dark. She knows the rules. She knows the patterns. And watching her try to navigate a real killer while also dealing with writer’s block and judgmental PTA moms is entertaining. The secondary characters are fun too. The moms are ridiculous in all the right ways. Overly concerned with appearances, and obsessed with status. Perfectly primed to be slasher victims.

The kills are inventive. Ryan doesn’t hold back. Each one is creative and over the top in a way that feels very true to the slasher genre. If you’re squeamish, this might not be for you. But if you enjoy a good horror kill, you’ll have a great time with this.

One thing I really appreciated is the humor. Ryan balances the macabre with just enough comedy to keep things from feeling too heavy. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is exactly the right tone for a story like this. It’s self-aware without being annoying about it. It’s campy without feeling cheap.

Now, I will say I wasn’t surprised by the reveal. But to be clear, I watch and read a ton of slasher books and whodunnit mysteries. Hiding the killer from me is a tough job at this point. I’ve seen most of the tricks. So the fact that I figured it out early doesn’t mean it’s predictable for everyone. And honestly, even though I assumed I knew who the killer was, I still enjoyed the ride. The fun of this book isn’t just in the mystery. It’s in the characters, the kills, the humor, and the sheer ridiculousness of it all.

I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy in tandem, and I have to say, Stephanie Németh-Parker’s narration was perfect. She voiced all the characters well. She hit all the beats and kept the pace moving. If you’re an audiobook person, this is a great one to listen to. She really brings the story to life.

If you love the slasher genre, and if you grew up on “Scream” and “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” or if you enjoy stories that mix humor with horror, then this is absolutely worth picking up. It’s fun, it’s fast, and it knows exactly what it is. Sometimes that’s all you need.