Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for providing me with this ARC.

Jenna is a woman suffering from severe anxiety for years and overall a big fan of horror movies and true crimes. She seizes the opportunity to spend a night in a horror-themed house in a small Montana town, unaware it used to be owned by a serial killer. Barely arrived, a new killing spree hits the city after 25 peaceful years. There is a new serial killer on the loose in the town. Nno one is safe. Besides being brutal murders, they all seem to be connected to those committed 25 years ago.
Jenna will have to collaborate with some locals to find out who the killer is before the killer finds them.

The plot is well driven and Stephanie Rose knows exactly how to bring plot twists, and she brings to her story very interesting and realistic characters. I was particularly attached to Jenna's character. The author was able to capture what it was like to live with anxiety, shyness and a limited social battery.

From the first chapter, I've been charmed by the writing style of Stephanie Rose. I enjoyed the way she sets up sets up a "quiet, not-so-quiet town" plot while also taking inspiration from 90s horror/slasher films. It's a race against time story. The killer's blows are so well described that you might feel like you are witnessing the crime scene, in the same way you witness crimes of the psychotic killer in slayer's movies.

This story is a huge hit for me. I highly recommend this novel.

Such a good book for spooky season! Graphic and detailed small town slasher, which are my favorite types of books. This is a quick read, easily read in 1 sitting

This is a bonafide, fun, twisty, bloody, and slasher inspired novel. If you're a fan of the genre, as I am, you'll absolutely love this book.

Jenna suffers from anxiety and depression to the point where she rarely leaves her house. But she loves all things horror, especially slasher films and books. Taking a chance to spend a night in a horror themed cabin in Montana, she gets much more than she bargained for. This small town was the home of a brutal massacre twenty five years earlier and, now, another killer is on the loose targeting people involved from a quarter century ago.

With the help of some people she'll meet in town, and with the slasher targeting them as well, it's a race to figure out who's behind the mask if they want to survive.

This is like reading a Scream inspired horror story and I mean that as a compliment. It's twisty, filled with red herrings, multiple characters, and a backstory about small town secrets coming back to haunt the residents. You'll be guessing until the end and it's a lot of fun horrific slashery goodness throughout. I highly recommend it.

🔪A small town with a dark past🔪
This was an ARC I received and was excited to jump in! I finished this on my lunch break so I wanted to give my review. I gave this book 3.5 stars. I am a huge fan of horror movies and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. At first I found it difficult to relate to our FMC but then she grew on me. I liked that you couldn’t really trust anyone in the book but you could also like them regardless. This was a fast engaging read! If you like slasher horror you should definitely pick it up. It releases on 3/3/26

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed the Horror elements of this book and thought it was an interesting read. Loved the movie or book quotes at the beginning of each chapter but was definitely put off by the underlying political views mentioned through the first chapter or two, this is a horror novel I don’t need the veiled political views included.

*** Spoilers ahead***

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with this arc!

This book was a very mixed bag for me. Some aspects that I really enjoyed were the representation of an anxious protagonist, the horror quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and how the pacing ramped up significantly towards the end. I really liked the idea of a horror themed rental house, and wish more of the book had actually taken place there.

There were many things I wish the book had done better. I felt like I wasn't able to envision any of the characters due to lack of descriptions for them. There really wasn't much character development at all, which can be typical in slashers, but still made it difficult to care when characters were killed off. I was able to guess the killers prior to the reveal, and their motivations seemed very lackluster. They mentioned that Jenna looked like the principal and also that there was a kidnapping or kidnapping attempt when Jenna was an infant, but neither of those plotlines got explained. We never found out why the Killers chose Jenna to frame or how they even knew she would be in town then. A few lines of dialogue could have explained these issues rather easily. Was Jenna somehow related to the principal and that's why she was targeted? Did the Killers just happen to know she was renting, or did they lure her there? These questions weren't answered satisfactorily for me.

Also, I had a few small gripes as far as some additional editing being needed, as sometimes the formatting was not correct. I was also a bit perplexed as to why the final girl in I Know What You Did Last Summer was listed as Julie Johnson, when her name is actually Julie James.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book if you want a fast paced slasher and don't mind secondary characters who are never really fleshed out.

Small Town Slasher is a fun and bloody throwback to the classic slasher formula. Stephanie Rose gives us Jenna, a horror-obsessed protagonist whose anxious, self-aware perspective feels like stepping inside the head of your Scream-fan friend during an actual killing spree. The imagery is vivid, the atmosphere is tense, and the character development is stronger than I expected for a slasher — I actually cared about who lived and who died.

While I did hope for something more original, the familiar beats still worked, and the pacing and gore kept me hooked. It’s not a reinvention of the genre, but it’s an entertaining, atmospheric read that horror fans will enjoy, especially around spooky season.

Final Note:
Thank you to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I 100% felt like I was immersed in a slasher horror!

This was my first time reading Stephanie Rose and I will absolutely be checking out more of her work now.

The first 30-40% of the book starts out slow but we are setting the scene, getting backstory and building friendships.
The rest of the book was action after action. As a self confessed horror fanatic whose favourite sub genre is slasher I could absolutely picture this being a film. There were great tense moments, the kills and the descriptions were fab and I loved the big reveal scene at the end.

I totally would have been like our FMC Jenna and using my horror movie knowledge to a) try and survive and b) workout who the killer is.
I was getting essence of Randy from Scream and Columbus from Zombieland with the rules and how to survive!

Did I figure out who was the killer… for the most part yes… can’t say anymore on the subject. But my horror movie knowledge absolutely helped me 😉

I don’t know if it was intentional by the author but some of the character names I felt like their names were nods to horror characters/actors/directors etc…

I read this over 2 days because, life 😂 but at 276 pages this is easily bingeable in a day!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Rating: 5 stars

Summary
Jenna loves horror movies and true crime, but struggles with agoraphobia and chronic illness. When she get the chance to stay at a horror-themed cabin for a night, she hopes that it’ll help her overcome some of her fears. Instead, she finds herself in the middle of a real-life slasher — will she survive?

My Thoughts
I am not going to lie, I walked into this book a skeptic and spent the first 30% wondering if it was for me at all but then the ball got rolling and I was blown away!

This book is literally a slasher film in book form, which is a novel concept that I’ve never seen executed before. Once I grabbed hold of the fact that it was essentially that, I was hooked. It allowed me to suspend my belief in a way that made this book intensely enjoyable and buy into what it was selling.

This book perfectly blends the camp of a 90s slasher with a traditional thriller. It does get a little gory and descriptive at times, but it works with the rest of the subject matter. Like a horror movie, it takes time to build up suspense before slowly building to a crescendo that leads to the final reveal.

This book also tackles several topics with a nuance we rarely see. It covers some of the ethical flaws that come with being invested with true crime, not taking a side but looking at the pros and cons of each. It also tackles anxiety in a way that, as an anxiety sufferer I really appreciate. It really hit the nail on the head when it comes to how irrational an anxiety disorder can be.

Recommended For
🔪Lovers of slasher movies
🔪People who don’t mind a bit of gore
🔪People who like their books with a side of camp
🔪Meta lovers

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book definitely had the feeling of a classic slasher. I did find it hard to connect with the characters at times, and sometimes the dialogue felt a bit more suited to a Young Adult book, and there wasn't much description to enable me to visualise the characters as I was reading, but overall it was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.

It's the kind of horror novel that doesn’t ask you to sleep with the lights on, but rather invites you to curl up with a blanket and a cup of tea while the bodies pile up politely in the background.

It’s horror-lite, with a cozy slasher vibe that’s more about bonding over trauma and being chased through the woods by a masked maniac without the deep terror and the tense atmosphere, in my opinion. Think Scooby-Doo meets true crime TikTok, with a dash of rural Montana and a bit of unresolved trauma.

The book tapped heavily into usual slasher tropes and the 90’s horror flick chicks vibes (think Scream and other young final girls movies alike) : the small town with secrets, the killer with a grudge, the spotty cell service, and the inevitable parade of true crime weirdos (guilty as charged). It’s a buffet of horror flick chicks clichés, and if you’re in the mood for something familiar and low-stakes, it delivers. This is the kind of read you pick up between heavier horror novels, when you want to keep the spooky vibes alive without needing to check your closet before bed.

That said, the execution doesn’t always match the ambition in my opinion. Dialogue often feels stiff, like it’s trying too hard to tick every box—trauma, neurodivergence, queerness, strong women, emotional breakdown, secrets, action, thriller —but without the nuance to make it feel organic. It’s inclusivity with good intentions, but the delivery sometimes reads like a checklist rather than lived experience.
The atmosphere also falls short of the eerie potential. The town’s dark past is mentioned often and could bring more depth to the locals by actually being used in the plot instead of just hinted, leaving the central mystery feeling a bit hollow.
The Bitter Butcher’s original massacre is the backbone of the plot, yet we get surprisingly little meat on those bones.
As the story progresses, especially past the 70% mark, things start to wobble. Plot holes, characters react in ways that feel more theatrical than believable, and the pacing loses its grip. There are moments where you can see the author reaching for something deeper or creepier, but it doesn’t quite land.
Still, Small Town Slasher has honestly its charm. It’s a light, spooky romp with a diverse cast and a love for horror that’s palpable. It’s not the kind of book I’d spotlight with a solo post, but I’ll be slipping it into one of my spooky recommendation lists on Bookshop.org and Goodreads for readers who enjoy horror without the heart palpitations.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Stephanie Rose for sharing the ARC with me.

I do recommend it if you’re into horror books or horror movies. I absolutely love slasher books and this novel didn’t disappoint. I loved that the book incorporated movie quotes at the start of each chapter as it added a nice touch and it was fun to see which movies were included. The kills are intense and creative. Such a great book from start to finish! The author did a great job building the suspense and intensity during the last quarter.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

This was such a cool story! I was hooked from the beginning and I really enjoyed how it progressed. This gives all the vibes of classic horror and thriller.

“If you were to ask me to name my favorite scary movie, I’m not sure I’d be able to answer. I love so many of them. But if we got serious and broke it up by sub-genre, hands-down, the answer would be slashers, and my all-time favorite of those has to be Scream.”

Small Town Slasher answers the question of how someone with debilitating anxiety and prone to panic attacks would handle a scary movie/slasher situation.

As someone who doesn’t normally pick up horror/slasher books, I really enjoyed Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose. The story follows Jenna, an introverted ’90s slasher and scary movie enthusiast, who decides to step out of her comfort zone and book a horror movie rental cabin in a small town. A decision she soon comes to regret upon discovering that her rental might’ve left a few important details out of their listing.

The story had great pacing overall—especially for a story that spans 24 hours. I loved getting to know Jenna’s character, and personally appreciated the disability rep we get with her character. The story also included a few quotes and references to popular and well-known scary movies that fans of the genre might enjoy.

I think this book would be enjoyed best by knowing as little as possible and maybe even skipping the book’s blurb and going in blind. Would recommend this to anyone who enjoys slasher stories or the Scream movie franchise.

If you are looking for a horror book that reads like an 80s slasher movie, Small Town Slasher is the book for you. From a cabin in the woods to a rising body count as the main characters try to survive, this book is packed with slasher tropes we all know and love.

Horror aficionado Jenna Willcot books a vacation at a cabin that promises an immersive horror experience. What she doesn’t realize is just how immersive an experience it will be as she gets drawn into a small town’s dark past and someone who drags that past into the light kicking and screaming.

The tension builds from the get-go as Jenna learns of the town’s history from locals-turned-friends. Stephanie Rose does a fantastic job of drawing the reader in and not letting go. The short chapters will keep the pages turning as you try to unravel the mystery.

You feel Jenna’s anxiety as the night progresses and more locals are found dead. The locals struggle to accept what is going on as they try to reconcile their past. Characters make decisions that are both frustrating and real. There are little nods to other horror properties that will tug at those nostalgic horror movie memories.

Will Jenna’s horror movie knowledge help her survive the night? If your a fan of slasher movies or looking for a fast-paced, edge-of-you-seat read, be sure to pick up Small Town Slasher to find out.

𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Small Town Slasher
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Stephanie Rose
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 3rd March 2026

If you like horror and slashers you’re going to love this one.

From the very first chapter I was invested. I really liked Jenna the MC and found her feelings so relatable.

Filled with creepy vibes which gave me the chills and on more than one occasion I actually felt sick. This doesn’t happen to me very often at all so it had to have been bad.

The mentions of very popular Horror movies, Authors and TV shows, also not forgetting the quotes at the beginning of every chapter just added to this book for me.

Did I guess who the slasher was … yes but it didn’t ruin a thing for me.

I’m just off now to watch Scream ….

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★ ★ ★ ★

If you’re a horror fan, then you’ll understand what I mean when I say that sometimes, it doesn’t matter if there is some cheesy dialogue or even a plot hole or two. What matters is if it’s fun. And this book was definitely fun. Plus, I felt a kinship with the MC. I’m autistic and have fibromyalgia, and I could see myself in several of her traits. This isn’t great literature by any means, but it satisfied my itch.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Small Town Slasher hooked me right from the start. Stephanie Rose really knows how to capture that eerie, small-town vibe where everyone knows each other but secrets are lurking under the surface. I loved how the suspense built with each chapter — I kept telling myself “just one more” until it was suddenly 2 AM.

The characters felt believable, especially the way their personal dramas tied into the bigger mystery. It wasn’t just about the slasher scares (though there were definitely some creepy moments), but also about how fear ripples through a community.

My only tiny gripe is that a couple of twists were a little predictable, but honestly, that didn’t ruin the fun for me. The pacing and tension more than made up for it.

If you’re into thrillers with a mix of small-town secrets, a dash of horror, and characters you can root for (or scream at), this one’s worth picking up.


📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Stephanie Rose and Death by TBR Books📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

An okay read, but not quite what I was hoping for. The 90s slasher elements are fun and well done, making the novel feel very much like a nostalgic horror movie, particularly the bad guy backstory. However, the characters choices and dialogue did not feel particularly authentic and I couldn't connect with them. A few simply didn't feel realistic at all. Later in the book there are so many characters I had trouble following the action altogether. The setup was also somewhat misleading, building up the concept of an awesome horror themed cabin in the woods to spend only a couple of chapters there.

Slasher fans will likely enjoy this book a lot, as will fans of splatterpunk and action-horror. Readers looking for more grounded horror with strong character development or a deeper story may not enjoy it as much.

Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Stephanie Rose’s “Small Town Slasher” is a bloody, nostalgic love letter to classic slasher films, packed with nods to classic horror movies and stories like Scream. With its snowy small-town setting, Friday the 13th backdrop, and gruesome kills, the book reads like a horror movie brought to life—complete with jump scares, gory set pieces, and a whodunit mystery at its core.

The story unfolds over a single, relentless 24 hours and follows Jenna, a disabled horror superfan who books a night at a horror-themed cabin to escape her day-to-day struggles with anxiety. But this cabin sits on cursed ground; 25 years earlier, “The Butter Butcher” slaughtered eleven people on the same land. On the anniversary of the massacre, Jenna finds herself caught in a nightmare as the killings begin again.

Jenna is a complicated protagonist. While I did enjoy how unique Jenna was as a horror story character as she is an anxious, horror-obsessed final girl whose hypervigilance and fears feel authentic and relatable. However, I did find her behavior to be contradictory at times, like her decisions don’t always align with her debilitating anxiety, which can make her harder to connect with. That said, her representation as a disabled, anxious heroine stands out in a genre that too often sidelines such characters.

The book’s biggest strengths are its atmosphere and references. Each chapter opens with a quote from horror movies or books, grounding the story in slasher fandom and giving horror fans plenty of Easter eggs. The kills are unapologetically brutal, and the mystery of who’s behind the mask keeps the tension high, even if some of the twists are predictable.

On the downside, the pacing can feel repetitive, especially in the first half when Jenna’s backstory as well as the history of the town itself is retold multiple times to different characters; there is a lot of info-dumping at the beginning that drags out the story a bit. This prevents the writing from always flowing smoothly, and the slasher formula—while fun—doesn’t offer many surprises for genre veterans. Still, for those who want a fast-paced, gory romp that celebrates everything great (and campy) about slashers, this book delivers.

Overall, “Small Town Slasher” may not break new ground, but it’s a fun, nostalgic, and gruesome read perfect for horror fans craving a modern slasher novel with a classic feel. If you love classic horror stories, this one will make your slasher heart very happy.

Creepy small-vibes, a dark past that won’t stay buried, and a main character you can’t help but root for, this one had me hooked from the first page. Just when you think you know what’s coming, the story flips and keeps you guessing. Horror, suspense, and a little heart all rolled into one addictive read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for providing an eARC prior to publication.

This was so freaking good! I think my favourite part of the whole book is the spooky movie and tv quotes that start each chapter! This is the ultimate slasher book but you end up rooting for and identifying with the characters

If you're looking for a horror novel that's as funny as it is terrifying, "Small Town Slasher" is the perfect pick. Stephanie Rose delivers a truly original story that feels like a love letter to the horror genre, filled with a gruesome comedy of errors that will delight fans.
The book follows Jenna, a horror fan with a panic disorder who, despite a series of increasingly bad omens, finds herself caught in the middle of a real-life slasher sequel. The author brilliantly uses familiar horror movie tropes to create a thrilling and bloody story that is never predictable. The result is a fast-paced and witty read that manages to be both genuinely suspenseful and darkly funny. But remember…a horror sequel throws out the rule book and it’s always bloodier than the original!

Thank you, Death by TBR Books, for providing me with a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #smalltownslasherdeathbytbrbooksnetgalley #NetGalley

I can’t resist a horror-themed adventure either. I would definitely be fooled into taking a trip to a small town in the middle of an active serial killing spree by too. Just know that if you want to get me to do literally anything for you, all you have to do is dangle a haunted Halloween, horror extravaganza experience in front of my face, and I’ll follow you blindly. My horror obsession is my sliced Achilles heel.

This is a neat little ode to the classic slasher. It is self-aware of its dependence on tropes. The slasher is literally called The Slasher after all. It leans into its sardonic usage of tried and true formulas. It taps into my propensity to fully relate to the anxious, neurotic, horror obsessed protagonist. Even though it is predictable and formulaic, it somehow feels nostalgically refreshing.

I did know who the killer was before we reached the halfway point, which is rare for me, but again, this book is nothing if not purposefully foreseeable.

If not for vines, this book would be boring and culturally redundant, but it does a very good job at tapping into nostalgia and bringing to life something that feels hauntingly cozy.

Loved it! It has my favorite trope, slasher, as it's main theme. The writing is perfect and lures you in to a zone of comfort, just to drag you out with the axciting twists and macabre turns of the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced readers copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Jenna loves horror. It's comforting to her because she can control her exposure and help regulate her anxieties. When Jenna discovers a horror-themed rental cottage in a small town in Montana, she gets out of her comfort zone and books a trip. Unfortunately for her, she lands right in the middle of a real life slasher!

“Small Town Slasher” by Stephanie Rose was a great read — it perfectly captures the feel of classic 80's slasher films. Jenna was a little annoying, but that's pretty normal for horror main characters. The plot was a little predictable, but that was probably because I consume a lot of horror content. I will definitely check out books by Stephanie Rose in the future.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #deathbytbrbooks for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR for the ARC.

Jenna, a girl obsessed with slashers, horror, and true crime makes an impulsive decision to leave her comfort zone to fly to Montana so stay one night at a horror themed cabin. Yes, she suffers from crippling anxiety, but she made her choice. It’s just one night, what could go wrong?

Where to start. It’s very difficult to imagine someone with crippling anxiety willing to travel for hours just to stay one night at a random location. Airports are like anxiety central. Ok past that, she realizes immediately a killer is on the loose when she gets there. Two ways to look at it: she already paid for it, and it’s just one night, what could possibly happen? Or; hell yeah immersive experience. Either one throws me off a bit. I’m not Jenna but I do have anxiety and im pretty immersed in the world of true crime. I would not stay there. Get me home now.

This book is very campy and im guessing, meant to be pretty cliche, especially when you factor in all the slasher movie/book references, and the quotes in the beginning of each chapter. But part way through it made me uncomfortable, mainly because of how murder is like, entertainment. I guess this comes back to my long time relationship with the true crime genre, especially now that ethical true crime is more prevalent. The way the victims are being portrayed and handled just didn’t sit well with that part of my brain. Again, most likely than not it was meant to be one of those slasher campy genres, and im just taking it too seriously.

The story was very fast paced, and although everything happened over the span on one night, things got a big confusing at times. A lot of the action is very repetitive, which tracks as that’s how slashers tend to be. Bad guy kills, people run and hide, bad guy shows up like magic, repeat cycle. The characters mostly felt very one dimensional and no one was particularly likable.

But with all that said, this can be a fun read if you’re into slasher horror. I’m guessing this just wasn’t for me, and that’s ok.

Pub date: March 3, 2026

I really wanted to like this, which is why the predictability was such a disappointment. I knew pretty early on exactly who was doing what and why and the book didn't hide it well. While this is a love letter to horror movies and books, instead of doing anything new or even giving new life to olds stories, it tells a rather straightforward tale and simply rattles off the names of horror greats in cinema and the literary world instead of paying them any homage. I didn't really feel anything for any of the characters and the whole backstory was very rushed for something that makes up the whole book. The author clearly loves horror but it seems as if she has yet to find her own voice to tell it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.

Small Town Slasher is a quick and fun read. I think any fan of slashers will find it enjoyable. I was very happy to read this close to Halloween as it set the spooky vibes.

I am giving it 3.5 stars rounded up. I appreciated how easy it was to read. I didn't find the main character particularly enjoyable. It is also hard to believe that someone bordering on agoraphobic would suddenly be able to make friends with anyone she talks with and invite them to stay with her. Maybe that is my own anxiety providing bias but it seemed the least realistic. I also wish we would have learned more about the Slasher than going over and over the anxiety of the main character.

Thank you to Death by TBR books and Stephanie Rose for allowing me to read this ARC.

Jenna is a horror movie/book fanatic who decides to visit Montana to stay in a horror-themed cabin (nope not me). What she doesnt know is it that itcis situated on the site of a massacre that happened 25 years ago!

25 years ago, the 'Bitter Butcher' killed 11 people. Now, a new spree is begining. Jenna is on the case along with some of the locals.

I knew fairly early on 'whodunnit' but still enjoyed how it played out. The begining of each chapter has quotes from slasher movies and there are mentions throughout of horror books aswell. This is a massive nod to the scream movies.

This book reads like a campy slasher flick. The story delivers some fun, if not particularly gory kills and the characters often make hilariously poor decisions that inevitably lead to their demise. If you're in the mood for something cheesy it’s an okay read.

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️

This book was fantastic! I can’t wait to rave about it all over my socials.

Horror fans, this one’s for you. What a perfect, chilling, addictive read!

I LOVED the quotes from films and books at the start of each chapter, they made me so excited. And any book that references Scream automatically has my heart. 🩸🎬

I had suspects early on (felt like Sherlock Holmes the whole time 👀) and I was genuinely obsessed. I read it SO fast — couldn’t stop thinking about it during the day when I couldn’t read.

It was a cinematic experience in my head. This needs to be adapted immediately!
Shudder? Netflix? Prime? Someone pick this up ASAP! You won’t regret it.

Stephanie, you’re incredible. When and how can I get another book from you?! Horror queen, you absolutely SLAYED. 👑🖤

Thanks to Death by TBR for this ARC!

This is a “read with the lights on” type of book. It actually spooked me. I think it can be hard for books to give the reader the same goosebumps that movies do - books can’t rely on lighting, music, and special effects to put their audience on edge. But this book had me hiding under the covers. If you are a horror movie fanatic and movies like Hush, Scream and Halloween really unsettle you - you have to read this book.

I think the dialogue was at times cheesy and stiff, and for me the scares peaked about midway the book and I would’ve liked the ending to be just as spooky. I also found Jenna’s horror movie obsession to be a little annoying at times, and I would’ve liked to see her grapple more with horror and true crime as sources of entertainment instead of being so consistently defensive.

But ultimately, this was a very intense, very unsettling read that I would highly recommend for horror fans. I also think it brings up some pretty interesting discussion points - like true crime as a form of entertainment vs education, and whether or not a rough childhood is a significant mitigating factor in determining guilt.

Jenna plans a trip to Montana to stay in a horror-themed cabin. She loves horror and thinks this will be a fun break from her regular life. Arriving in town, she finds out that the cabin has been built on the site of land where a murder took place. Also, her trip coincides with the anniversary of this massacre. Befriending her driver and her friends, they try to survive the night. This book had a lot of potential but some issues made it confusing to follow and other plots were never fully developed. I love the references to other horror books and movies quotes featured at the beginning of each chapter.

Small Town Slasher is a fast-paced, gory, twisty, and nostalgic love letter to classic slasher films such as my favorite, Scream. Stephanie Rose crafts a terrifying tale with heart and a unique protagonist in their latest release from Death by TBR Books.

Jenna is a spunky, disabled, horror fanatic who comes to rural Montana for a stay at a horror themed rental cabin. Jenna has struggled with severe anxiety for years, hardly ever leaving her house. This vacation will test her limits and, she hopes, open her back up to the world. But her dream vacation is built on a nightmare.

25 years ago the Bitter Butcher massacred 11 people in the small town of Marion, culminating his slaughter on the land where Jenna's vacation cabin now sits. Her arrival coincides with the beginning of a new massacre as a body is discovered outside town, the morning before her arrival. It quickly becomes clear that this is no isolated incident, as new killings occur, each with their own connection to the original massacre.

Jenna starts seeing slashers around every corner and must team up with locals Erica and Jamie. Together they will struggle to survive this killing spree while unearthing secrets connecting the town's shameful history to the slashers, past and present.

Stephanie Rose brings to life a slasher tale with 1990s VHS horror vibes. Small Town Slasher gives off real authentic slasher energy with creative kills and a creepy atmosphere. Rose clearly has an affection for the horror genre as the book seems to be filled with winks and nods to classic horror stories that I appreciated, but without going to far as to be gimmicky.

One of the main aspects that sets Small Town Slasher apart from other horror and slasher stories is the main character. Jenna Willcot, who is a disabled horror fan, has a real fresh and layered feeling to her. A truly unique take on the final girl trope and adding a level to the story that one would not normally expect. This allows us to have a new perspective while keeping things within the genre and written passionately.

While some may guess some of the twists and turns prior to getting to the point, others will find it more difficult. This is not uncommon in the world of slashers, but does not take away from the story. Also, a few background characters blur together or serve little purpose beyond body count. But these are minor gripes as Small Town Slasher was so much fun to read.

Stephanie Rose delivers both bloody kills and heartfelt moments, while balancing the brutality with an unexpected protagonist. Small Town Slasher has plenty of guys and gore, plus a modern twist on familiar slasher tropes. What Rose brings to the table is something a bit different while also paying homage to slasher lore.

Publishing on Capes and Tights during our Horror Week (October 27-31, 2025).

Small Town Slasher contains more than its fair share of mortal sins - clunky, exposition-laden dialogue, thin characterisation, and a silly, stretched-threadbare plot - but the clear enthusiasm the writer has for the slasher genre shines through, its pacing is nice and brisk, and it works well as a fun popcorn horror and love letter to the genre, flaws and all.

Very sadly, I was kind of disappointed with this.

I love a good slasher movie (the Scream franchise is one of my favorites), so I was really hoping to have a lot of fun with this book.

I did love how each chapter started with a quote from an iconic scary movie or book, I thought that was a really nice touch. (And it helped me add movies to my Halloween season watch list.)

I liked how we got a classic small town with some spooky history and suspicious characters, but this really didn't hit for me.

It felt flat and rushed. The whole story is supposed to take place in like a day (I believe), but the timeline still felt strange and unlikely.

It just didn't feel like the main character was really connected to the story at all. It was strange. Almost like she was photoshopped into a photo.

I also didn't find the main character to be very likable. She was kind of an annoying caricature and she also seemed kind of dumb. I know that this was purposefully following a lot of horror movie clichés, but she was just being straight-up irresponsible with her life. No girl is inviting random strangers over to her house upon first meeting them. That is how you get murdered. Literally and fictionally.

I don't know, I really had high expectations for this and wanted more from it. It was a super quick read though, so I'm sure plenty of people can have a fun little time with it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

"You did not just say that! Never say 'I'll be right back'. You people live in a fucking murder town and it's like none of you have ever seen a slasher."

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

After booking a night at a remote, horror-themed cabin, true crime aficionado Jenna finds herself trapped in a real, decades-long mystery with a local serial killer.

This was a fast read in a good way, the writing was very digestible and I found myself drawn into the mystery alongside Jenna and curious to find out what happened. The horror quotes at the beginning of each chapter were so clever, and I enjoyed all the winks and nods to classic movies along the way. This book definitely keeps you guessing along the way, as Jenna meets new friends in Marion, and it was sweet to see her connect with some of them over their shared love of true crime and how she looks to horror as a way to cope with the anxiety in her every day life. The way she uses her beloved movie lore to work her way towards being the iconic Final Girl is so fun as well - she really tries to use her knowledge the best she can to stay alive, and it works so well here.

I did enjoy that we got those moments of terror when it jumped to other POVs - that anticipation that something might happen (and then the relief when it didn't), but there were a few that got a little confusing when they had both the character & Jenna's POV as well. However, I did enjoy these inclusions, along with her audio entries - both were cool ways to break up the moments in the story. 

This feels like so many of the horror movies Jenna has a love for, from being unable to look away, to internally yelling at the characters when they make a poor decision. And while you may have an idea of who the killer is - the journey to unmasking them is half the fun. 

Tropes:
🔪 small town
🌲 anxiety rep
🔪 remote cabin
🌲 whodunnit

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, I leave this review voluntarily.

“Small Town Slasher” - Classic Slasher Movie Galore!

★★★☆☆ (3.5 But Goodreads still isn’t giving me half stars)

Honestly from the get go this felt like putting on a classic Slasher movie. It had all the tropes and thrills, decent kills and it gave us a main character that isn’t your typical Final Girl.
I did enjoy the touch of a horror/true crime obsessed main character with several disabilities and invisible illnesses because we don’t see them represented like this enough. The pace was good but I did feel like too much happened over the course of 24hrs.

Lessons learned, stay at home, stay cozy and stay safe!

As a lover of horror and especially a slasher this book was right up my alley. The murder scenes were very entertaining and still held a lot of variety between them.

Thats being said I do think the initial set up of the plot is a little too conventional how everything lays out, and I unfortunately clocked the slasher's identity right off the bat. It was still fun to see how the story unfolded but I wish there was a little more imagery overall.

ARC review ✍🏻

Thank you to Death by TBR books and Stephanie Rose for providing me with an arc of this book via Netgally in exchange for an honest review!

In this book we follow our MFC Jenna who is a horror fanatic with severe anxiety. She hardly leaves her house but suddenly finds a horror-themed rental cabin and decides to book a stay for one night alone. On her way to the town of Marion she finds out that this year it is 25 years since the Bitter Butcher massacred 11 people there. Immideatly upon arriving in town there seem to be a new massacre going on in town that may or may not be connected to the massacre 25 years ago.

This was a very nostalgic and fun read for me! I was definitly spooked and scared for the characters. I liked that each chapters started with a quote from a famous horror film. We also got som general references to horror as a genre through the book and it kind of felt like a love letter to horror from the author.

In the book our main character has severe anxiety, but she really enjoys horror and she likes to be scared by horror related things. It is mentioned that she has had a difficult childhood where she often was scared. Therefor the explanation that she likes to be scared by horror stuff is because she can control when and how she gets scared. This just made a lot of sense to me and I thought it was well written into the story.

I got a little confused sometimes because we were mainly following our main character and her perspective, but sometimes mid chapter we jumped to some other character without it being very clear to me. This might be something just I struggled with, but it was fine and I could for the most part understand who we where following.

I really enjoyed reading this book and gave it 4 stars!

TW: mentions suicide. A lot of focus on anxiety.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I loved it although I did predict the slasher from quite early on.

I related to Jenna the main character so much. I am also into horror movies especially slashers and true crime and also deal with anxiety/depression so I really connected with her.

There were a couple of things that I would love answered that didn't get answered which is why I didn't give it 5 stars but otherwise I loved everything else.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me the chance to read this. I definitely recommend it if you are a fan of horror movies especially slashers.

As much as I liked it (a tribute to all Slasher movies, you'll get plenty of references to the good ol’ films, kind of a copy of Scream, including the 1st season of the series; especially that one), I really hoped for something a bit more original and not just the same story retold with different characters and a different setting.

‘Small Town Slasher’ gets straight into the chase and we have a killer after their victim through the woods. Tall, hooded, masked, leather gloves, hunting knife and a sick tenderness right before he steals your life. With this intro I believe I had my expectations pinned on something else.

We got small town vibes, a creepy cabin in the woods with a dark past still haunting the present and beautiful snowy landscape to match the serene, yet mysterious, setting.

Without much delay, we're introduced to a cast of characters and victims that seem to connect to each other, a needed ingredient in any slasher book or movie. We obviously need the ‘whodunnit’ angle in there.

I always enjoyed movies/books/video games where the killer is charming and the kind of bastard you simply cannot hate, the type of sadistic arse who's toying with the victim’s mind in titillating ways. This book delivers. I was breathless, I was enthralled, I needed more and more of the chase, of the stalking, the thrill of the hunt, I simply could not put down the tablet.

The female main character, Jenna, is relatable to a certain degree, at least to me. The way she describes how she feels about horror and how fear helps her speaks to me on a deeper level. Not many people understand how one can get excitement or pleasure from such a thing, but it's too primal, too instinctual and raw to describe to those who think they revoked the hindbrain in their head. However, because she's also suffering from extreme anxiety, and seems to be an introvert, on multiple accounts she's fine with making friends, rather too easily and comfortably, which to me was far too contradictory for her personality.

The POV switches from Jenna's perspective to an omniscient narrator to describe events that happen where our protagonist isn't present. And yes, that includes we get to see things happening from the killer's perspective, albeit not fully 1st person narration probably because the author didn't want to give away who they were, but would've been great to have a 1st person POV of the killer (I'm sure it can be done without spoiling their identity).

Perhaps I've seen too many movies and read too many books, but I knew who the killer was before Jenna reached the rented cabin.

{SPOILER AHEAD]

Yes, I knew there was more than one killer and I predicted both of them. The most obvious giveaways– for Erica was when she said she wanted to go to the hospital to support Jamie while Kevin was in surgery; for Andy was when Jenna stumbled upon him in the gas station and we get a description of his scent and his injured wrist.

Many, many thanks to Stephanie Rose, Death by TBR Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.

Scream meets Halloween. A very good horror book, that was gripping from the very start. An easy recommended read if you're looking for this kind of book you'll be satisfied. My only critique is that the author puts a lot of their own personal politics and views in the book which I think detracts from the story instead of adding to it. If you are triggered by books like this do be forewarned I nearly quit on the book in two places. This could be an all-time favorite if the editor cleaned up some of the parts of the story that could easily be removed.

3.5:/5 Slasher book

Pros:
- scream level slasher. It’s one of us, but who?
- creepy scenes and brutal murders (there were a lot)
- a lot of characters but easy to follow
- small town

Cons:
- the killers were easy to spot
- the MC, Jenna was awful. (If I had a dollar for everytime she mentioned “the state of the world right now”)
- not enough of the plot was in the horror cabin
- Jenna’s random connection to the town? (If you want to call it that)

All in all, worth the read, definitely entertaining & spooky for Halloween coming up!

This was such a fun one to read! I picked it up right before Halloween and it was the perfect spooky-season choice, but honestly, if you’re like me and love slashers year-round, this one fits any time of year.

The story takes place over just twenty-four hours and wastes no time getting straight into the action. The story follows Jenna, a horror-obsessed woman with severe anxiety who decides she needs a break from reality. She books a stay in a horror-themed cabin, not realising it’s built on the site of a massacre. Twenty-five years earlier, a killer known as the Bitter Butcher murdered 11 people on that very land. Now it’s the anniversary, and Jenna suddenly finds herself living through her own real-life slasher.

I loved how fast-paced and cinematic this story felt. It drops you right into the chaos and keeps the tension high from the very first page. There’s also that perfect mix of interconnected characters and mystery that gives it a proper whodunnit vibe. The references to classic horror films and books were such a treat.

Jenna herself is a really interesting lead. As a horror lover, I totally related to her thoughts about how fear can be thrilling and strangely comforting. It’s something not everyone understands, but Stephanie Rose captures it perfectly. I did find some of her behaviour a little at odds with her anxious, introverted nature, but she’s still a character I rooted for and enjoyed following through all the chaos.

Overall, Small Town Slasher is fast, fun, and full of slasher energy. It’s gory, self-aware, and doesn’t take long to get your heart racing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Death by TBR Books and Stephanie Rose for the ARC!

Rating: 🙂/3
Source: #netgalley
Review: The horror movie quotes at the beginning of each short Cheetos chapter are perfection! Scream genre horror vibes with mental health substance. Great throw back to the slasher thrillers of the ages. Don’t overthink it, just go along for the ride. The negatives for me were the pacing and I didn’t really care for the characters but still a fun ride. I liked the last half better than the first because the pace picked up. Some good laughs at some of the breaking the fourth wall comments of the genre.
Format: 👩🏻‍💻

Thank you Net Galley and the Death by TBR for this arc for my honest review.
5 of 5 stars(1ST PERSON POV – Jenna/sometimes other victims povs)
Thriller – SLASHER
The lead character, Jenna, has severe anxiety which makes her want to stay inside of her house. But she is obessed with horrow things.To try to overcome her anxiety, she rents a horror themed cabin in a small town named Marion. A massacre happened in that town, 25 years ago. As soon as she arrives, a body is found. Is it a connection to the massacre that happened in the past or is it something totally different.
Will Jenna survive this small town slasher or is she doomed?

This was such a fun, bloody surprise! Think small-town secrets, final-girl energy, and just the right mix of heart and horror. It reads fast, feels cinematic, and gave me total “Scream meets romance” vibes. Perfect for spooky-season reading or honestly any time you want a little chaos and charm.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future

I love a book that has a small town feel, and this one also had the slasher element to it. Jenna was an alright character to follow, although I found her to be a bit too trusting, but I also understood her need for acceptance. I did enjoy her sarcasm, snarky comments, as well as her love of horror movies and true crime. I liked that there was a slow burn of getting to know Jenna, but there was no time wasted with the body count.

I thought I knew where the story was going as well as who The Slasher was, but then I also started second guessing myself as the book went on. I enjoyed the short chapters, as well as the horror movie quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and of course I loved the Scream quotes the most. The only minor complaint I have is that this was supposed to take place in one single day, which I found unrealistic given all the events. Overall, I did enjoy this bloody slasher and found it perfect for spooky season.

The story struggles with pacing and predictable twists. While there are occasional moments of suspense, overall it falls short of delivering a truly thrilling read.

Small Town Slasher delivered exactly what I was hoping for in a horror read with tension, atmosphere, and plenty of gore to keep things interesting. From the opening pages, the storytelling pulled me in and held my attention. I found myself genuinely invested in the characters and actually cared about who lived and who didn’t, which made the stakes feel real.

While the plot itself isn’t particularly original, it still manages to be an entertaining and satisfying ride. Stephanie Rose captures the essence of a classic horror setup and executes it with energy and style. The pacing was strong, the scenes vivid, and the balance between suspense and bloodshed felt just right.

This was a fun and engaging read that reminded me why I love the horror genre. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of Stephanie Rose’s novels in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!

I had such a good time with this book. The setting is so well built and full of tension, and the atmosphere kept me hooked all the way through. Some things weren’t totally for me, but the pacing was great and I really enjoyed the story. There were way more kills than I expected (in the best way possible), and it felt like a true slasher. Plus, I absolutely loved all the horror movie references as they made it even more fun to read!

A solid horror book that takes enough inspiration from popular slasher movies that I not only saw echoes of my favourite characters in them, but was also be able to guess some of the twists, but this was not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the book overall.

If there's a single notable flaw with this book, it's that the ending is rather abrupt, leaving me feeling a little disappointing that I didn't get to see the aftermath of Jenna's experience. The characters are all enjoyable but a few very interesting ones are taken off the board a bit too quickly for my taste.