I was incredibly bored by the story and thought it was a strange choice for how the author switched from 3rd to 1st person as we alternate from the past to the present.

I appreciate how the author showed how cruel kids could be but I couldn't help but root for their demise.

Overall, this one wasn't for me and my taste.

A Gritty, Fast-Paced Thriller with a Sinister Edge

Wicked Jenny is the kind of book that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Matt Hilton crafts a pulse-pounding thriller laced with psychological darkness, small-town secrets, and a protagonist who’s more haunted than heroic. It’s a chilling ride—taut, atmospheric, and just twisted enough to keep you second-guessing everyone on the page.

The titular Jenny is an enigma—a ghost story, a warning, a legend that refuses to die. As the story unfolds, Hilton blurs the line between folklore and reality, and that’s where the novel really shines. The tension is palpable, and the pacing rarely falters. You can practically hear the wind howling through the pages.

What keeps this from being a perfect five-star read is that a few character motivations feel a little underdeveloped, and some plot threads wrap up a bit too neatly. But overall, it’s a gripping read with a cinematic quality that would translate perfectly to screen.

Fans of dark thrillers with a supernatural tinge—think Sharp Objects meets The Blair Witch Project—will find Wicked Jenny a compelling addition to their shelves. Just don’t read it alone at night.

I really wanted to like this more than I did. The premise had promise—creepy folklore, dual timelines, some good old-fashioned horror vibes—but it just didn’t land for me.

The pacing was slow, especially in the beginning, and I never felt fully pulled into the story. The characters felt flat, and the way the women were written left a lot to be desired. I kept waiting for some emotional depth or meaningful development, and it just… wasn’t there.

There were some atmospheric moments that worked, and I can see how fans of horror rooted in local legends might enjoy that. But for me, it lacked the heart and complexity I’m usually looking for. I wanted more: more connection, more impact, more care in the storytelling.

2.5 stars (rounded up here) because it wasn’t a total miss, but it didn’t resonate with me the way I hoped.

I enjoyed the exploration of guilt and how our decisions have an impact on us. It's mad how seemingly small decisions we make can come back to haunt us, and this book definitely has moments where it can depict that well. This has got a spooky vibe to it that is definitely a good time.

A decent read with a ghost, murder(s) and secrets between friends. It centers on a group of boys who found themselves in the midst of a murder mystery that rocked their town as young teens. 30ish years later there is another death, this time one of their friends. The group bands together to figure out why and how their past is coming back to haunt them after all these years.

The story is told in alternating POVs and flashbacks. The alternating POVs didn’t bother me much, however, the character voices weren’t very distinct. I enjoyed how the mystery was laid out through the use of flashbacks. Some of the supernatural events were a bit far fetched, but were a fun addition to the storytelling. I did end up guessing whodunit before the reveal but the twist was interesting!

I Know What You Did Last Summer, meets Scream. Present day told through the lens of middle age English men, with alternating time lines to lay down context around the mystery. It was a casual read with the ending picking up nicely. But for most of the book it was a push to get through. I did enjoy the imagery and tone that was set up for some of the more spookier scenes. For that I will give it 4 stars.

1988, a group of friends tease sisters . Later one of the sisters is found dead and the other beaten.
This is a creepy and eerie vibe with a shocking plot twist and the end!
Loved the two time lines as it keeps me on my toes!

I read a tad bit of horror every now and then, and this turned out to be a story that was better than I thought it would be.

The beginning is slow and after a few starts I got pulled into the story of Andy and his friends.

I don't typically like alternating timelines, but for this story, it made sense. I wish we had gotten a bit more background into Andy and his parents' relationship other than the ... obvious.

Parts of the story were confusing, but I thought there were some nice twists.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for an e-copy of WICKED JENNY to review.

I rate WICKED JENNY four out of five stars.

This was a quick read that I thought was decent. It centers on a group of boys who were embroiled in a murder mystery as young teens when it seems like the past is coming back to get them 30-ish years later. The book alternates between POVs and flashes back from past to present.

I didn’t mind the alternating POVs but I didn’t think the characters had very distinctive voices- I wish I had gotten to know them better. I liked the mystery and their quest to track down the person from their past that they thought might be responsible. I definitely had to suspend my disbelief at some of the supernatural happenings but I thought it was pretty cool, and the twist at the end definitely surprised me.

All in all, while maybe not super memorable, this was still a decent read overall. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

The supernatural water witch was a bit far fetched even for an avid horror reader as myself, but the book was truly entertaining. I feel like my younger self wants to go back in time and investigate weird stuff like frogs and ponds and what kinds of crazy stuff we could have gotten into. Also, Ginny Greenteeth is an excellent name!

Documenting the haunting repercussions of a violent event from the past, Wicked Jenny blends elements of psychological suspense and supernatural horror to eerie effect. Recommended!

I did not see the ending coming!! I really enjoyed it though! It has some murder, some supernatural elements and lots of twists. It's set in Europe, which I enjoy reading books set in other countries. I liked the back and forth in time, back when Poppy was injured, and Melanie was murdered to the present day with the boys grown up. I also noticed that this is the first in a new series. I'd be interested in reading more, to see where it goes.

This was not the book for me. I am glad that I gave it a try as on paper it sounded like something I would enjoy, but I could not click with the characters. Being a character reader I need to click with at least one to hole my interest, and I did not have one that I liked here. It was a little too descriptive for my liking as well.

Loved the connection from past to present. The rounded out what was happening in a holistic way that draws the reader in.

Interesting story, very well written and I am impressed by the way it pulled me into the story. I wasn’t sure I would like this one, but I was happily surprised.

I really enjoyed this book, I love a good folklore horror and this didn't disappoint, it had creepy vibes throughout and reminded me of Stephen King's Novels.
The storyline was gripping with lots of twists and turns, and the storyline alternate between past and present which I also enjoy, I loved the 80's vibe.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. The twist was good and unexpected. I really liked all the hints and strange happenings throughout. It had a fun paranormal feel without being too outside the realm of reality. The story reminded me of other coming of age stories with groups of boys like Goonies, the Sandlot and It but with more horror/thriller elements.

"Wicked Jenny" by Matt Hilton is a thrilling read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The story follows the enigmatic Jenny, a character with a mysterious past and a talent for getting herself into and out of dangerous situations. Hilton's writing is sharp and engaging, creating a fast-paced narrative filled with suspense and intrigue. The plot twists are well-crafted and keep the reader guessing, while the character development adds depth and complexity to the story. The novel's dark atmosphere and intense action sequences make it a compelling read. Overall, "Wicked Jenny" is a solid 4-star thriller that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

If the character in the first chapter was duplicated into other characters for the rest of the story, then it was a good idea for me to stop reading after the beginning.