Violent Nights

by Ryan M. Howard

A trio of middle schoolers forms a sinister secret society.
Their first order of business?
Ritual sacrifice, of course.

Thirteen-year-old Charmane “Charm” Wilson just saved a boy’s life—but broke about a dozen laws doing it. So as she’s hailed a hero by local law enforcement, Charm knows that if the whole story ever got out, her own life could be in peril.

True, being swept up in a murderous plot wasn’t entirely her fault. However, Charm’s drastic choices while navigating the unthinkable were hers and hers alone. Now she must cover her tracks or risk being exposed, arrested, vilified—or maybe even worse.

VIOLENT NIGHTS is a twisted thriller about the lies we tell and the perceptions they lead to.

Which lies will you believe?

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains graphic violence and some profane language. Reader discretion is advised.

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 17, 2023

About the author

A lifelong dork, Ryan is a Southern California native who is proud to have been a pizza delivery driver for most of his adult years. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV, reading, and trying to write stories. VIOLENT NIGHTS is his first book.

Reviews

[Tiffany Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started me down a path but ended in a very different conclusion. I love the way the book was set up with chapters that were broken down by time frame and told by the Charm as the narrator then led to the truth as the story continues and pieces of the story falls apart and the real story is revealed.

The character development was well done through the eyes of Charm and made more sense as you read along. The way the reader is given tidbits about Charm throughout the book and then it all comes together in the end. I bought into the misleading “truth” given by Charm until it became clearer. Looking back I should have realized that the book stolen from the library had a connection as well as the lady who had taken care of her as well as her mother.

The way that it all ties together in the end was well done. The reason for Billy’s death seemed juvenile but when you are talking about 12/13 year olds it fit as well as 2 out cast friends becoming a pack- I believe some jealousy was at play here as well as cheerleader friend who was moving on. I think that Charm was telling HER truth through the other characters instead of theirs.

I think this is a great read and my only complaint is the length - I wanted more!! Thank you NetGalley & Ryan Howard for an ARC in return for my review! Keep Reading and find your next adventure through books!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

After saving a middle school classmate from a grisly fate at the hands of her best friend and their new friend, Charmane “Charm” Wilson is called upon by law enforcement to give her formal statement regarding the horrific events that unfolded.

All she has to do is tell the truth. Something that is easier said than done because Charm isn’t quite the hero that those around her believe her to be…

Told in a non-linear fashion, from start to finish, Violent Nights was utterly engrossing. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop until I had completely finished the novel. The story never seemed to drag and each chapter left me eager to read more. It was unsettling, atmospheric and also reminded me of a recent true crime case involving children.

My only criticisms would be how mature the lead children characters sound-closer to adults than middle schoolers-and how the ending went from completely unexpected to almost unbelievable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ryan M. Howard for providing me this compelling eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was in the mood for something easy and Violent Nights fit the bill. It's a very quick read...I ended up finishing this in a couple of bours. The tone and pacing definitely fit the Middle Grade/YA genre.

The main character, Charm, is supposed to be an unreliable narrator (at least that's the vibe I get), but it fell a bit flat for me there. I also get Slenderman vibes and feel like the story is a play on that scenario but it didn't flesh out well...at least not for me.

While I didn't love this one, I didn't hate it either. With all that in mind, this would be a good Spooktober Read for anyone looking for a slightly scary and non-gory read.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Rachel Dalton (relisedreads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Best friends Charm and Maggie-Lynn have always been obsessed with serial killers. It’s something that they have kept secret knowing that it would take the right person to be the third person on their group. That’s why Maggie-Lynn is so excited when she meets Tildra. Tildra has a goal to be a serial killer and she knows just how to do it and not get caught.

Charm ends up baking out of the plan at the last minute and saves her classmate, Billy. Everyone thinks she’s a hero. But as she tells her story to law enforcement, not everything adds up to Tildra being a criminal mastermind.

…Right. This is a middle-grade/YA book that focuses on middle schoolers performing a ritual sacrifice. And it very much reads as if it was written by a hyperactive middle schooler. Charm is supposed to be an unreliable narrator, but for the most part this felt like when a kid tells you a story full of “and then this happened and then this happened.” The incompetent cops, Charm’s father in general, and the backstory of Charm’s grandma were just a few things that were so over the top it felt like a parody.

I’m pretty sure this is supposed to be based off the girls who tried to sacrifice their classmate to Slenderman a few years ago. I think theirs a fine line for true crime fans between being serial killer obsessed and being so anxious about the world they assume everyone is going to kill them. The girls in this came across as an over the top version of the former.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC to me.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tarinda was browsing the True Crime books at the local library while ditching summer school she met Maggie lynn another eighth grader who was so happy to meet yet another girl who liked TC.She told TarinDa she couldn’t wait to introduce her to her friend Charmaine as they have been looking for a third to complete the triangle but for what? It is the what of the story that first blew my mind it is toll from two different points of view the vent while it’s happening and then go to survive the event explaining what happened but are they telling the truth and what consequences do the laws bring? This book is phenomenal and I do mean that in every sense of the word any preconceived notion‘s of thriller endings you may have throw them out the window because you have never seen an ending like this one. Not only was I captivated by this awesome story and the authors storytelling but once things started going haywire at the end I was just left amazed. This was a great book and one book I definitely definitely recommend to any YA fan. With the authors great storytelling and the whopper of a story I don’t believe any true fan will be disappointed this is a really good book! A definite five star read! Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[trin · Rating 4 out of 5]

• i received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

this was the author's first book, and it was incredibly good for a debut novel. i really enjoyed it! it was a very quick read for me & i really enjoyed the pace of the story overall & all of the events that occured in the story were very detailed. i also really enjoyed the past & present timelines.

even though is was a short story, i wish we learned more about each of the characters & their personalities since i didn't feel 100% connected to the characters.

i overall really enjoyed & highly recommend for anyone looking for a quick, YA mystery, thriller read! •⁠‿⁠•

[Maya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was a total mindfck! I couldn’t stop reading, the writing was so good, the story as well. So many things happening and the twists all the way. Highly recommended! Thanks for Netgalley for allowing me to read this book!

[Ashley Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that escalated quickly.
The end was a shitshow, and I loved it. Jesus fucking christ. It was a very fun read throughout, but the ending had me quacking. I feel like I'm gonna need to process this one for a bit, haha.

[Faye Drawdy]

Was NOT excepting that! This book was definitely worth the read. The pacing was good, the story itself was amazing, overall it was just the perfect short read for the spooky season.

[LZW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow…so chose this book based on synopsis & cover art-it did NOT disappoint! Didn’t not see the ending coming AT ALL (and I usually do with horror books). Loved the children’s world that was built, the characters of a small town fleshed out so well…literally had me hanging on in the end with the explosion of reactions! Will definitely keep an eye on this author!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! The writing had me keep coming back to it when I had to adult. I usually have quite a few books going at once so I don't get 'bored', but that was not an issue with this book at all. If I didn't have a bad RA flare while reading this, I would have gotten it done in a few hours as I excited to see where the story went. This story was well thought out and planned. The ending was perfect.


I thought Charm would get away with it all. I really did. I thought Billy would just submit to Charms story. I am so glad that wasn't the case. It's about time the story was told different then waiting until the 'weaker' character was an adult & telling the story.


This book was provided for free by NetGalley to review.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huge thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for this title. This was a debut novel from Ryan M. Howard, and I cannot wait to see what else he comes out with!

Violent Nights was a fast-paced thriller story with horror-esque aspects woven in throughout. There are dark academia vibes, betrayal, drama, brutal violence, and atmospheric tension throughout. The way in which the author weaves the past and current events into the story is flawless and easy-to-follow.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a solid murder mystery!

[misa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gaslight gatekeep girlboss, Charm did no wrong in my eyes.

Initially, it was hard to keep up with the story and I was pretty bored until 30%. Being a short story, the events were structured in a detailed yet concise way but didn’t hook me until the girls were actually going through with the murder.

The illustrations at the beginning of each part were so pretty and a very nice touch. However, the ‘plot twist’ was one I predicted from the beginning and wasn’t expanded on. It seemed to have been thrown in for the shock factor, but the style of the writing made it impactful to the story nevertheless.

A superb debut novel.

[Pao Salguero · Rating 4 out of 5]

GO READ IT RIGHT AWAY. Y'all when I tell you this book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time I mean that I literally fell off of it because I couldn't believe what kept happening. Howard does an excellent job at throwing a new factor that has you questioning everything after you think you've figured it all out. The amount of twists and turns that took place in this book had my mind blown. It was truly an incredible experience.

I gotta admit that I am slightly terrified of Howard's genius in writing this book because like... where did this idea come from? Like what in the actual heck? Y'all the fear and CONCERN I felt for the children involved in this book was unmeasurable. My little faux profiler *insert Criminal Minds fangirl moment here* brain was going haywire. The different facets that kept being introduced to our main characters were astounding, especially the one and only Charm. Now, SHE is something else all right.

Lastly, the ending of this INCREDIBLE book still has me reeling. Never in a million years could I have figured it out. And y'all not to toot my own horn or anything *toot* but I'm pretty good at figuring out endings. If you're someone who loves unexpected and chaotic endings, then this book is ideal for you.

All in all, my recommendation is that you go and read this book RIGHT AWAY. This is Howard's debut and he's coming in with a BANGER of a book. Trust me on this. It is a must-read and one you'll never regret.

[RSB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violent Nights is just as promised: A twisted tale of lies and perceptions. I love how the author used the narrator’s voice to contribute to the reader’s internal struggle of who and what to believe.

It’s shocking to find that there are three girls who all share a fascination and obsession with murder and serial killers to that degree. But is any one of them more sadistic than the other? Is one just interested, but not up for it when the chance comes to finally partake?

There are twists and turns, and even a silent battle between two detectives and their differing methods, which I thought really added a lot to the plot.

The story jumps back and forth along the timeline, which wasn’t as confusing as I worried it might be. It actually helped the pacing and kept me glued to the pages as more information was revealed.

I realized how sucked into the convincing mistruths I had been when I realized I had forgotten who the true victim was. Messed with my mind for sure, which is something I need from a dark thriller. Excellent debut novel. I would love to read more from this author.

Highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alecia Hefner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well Violent Nights took me on a bit of a roller coaster ride. 3 girls obssesed with murder and serial killers decide to make a cut of their own. They choose a young man that 2 of them have known their entire lives. Tilda is the new girl who truly seems to be unhinged. She has masterminded the plan of how Billy will be killed. So together Tilda, Charm and Maggie-Lynn begin a cult of their own making and lure Billy to the old cemetary for him to meet his doom and what the girls call The Monster Gods. Charm decides that she wants to be a hero instead and turns on her friends but that isn't where anything ends. Detectives question both Billy and Charm believing that Charm is the hero of the story until Billy flips the script and that is where the carnage begins.
This was a quick read and it is definetly in the realm of middle school YA..

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #ViolentNights in return for a fair and honest review.

[Tiaunna Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Ryan Howard for the opportunity to read this book early for an honest review.

So much going on and I could not look away!

From page one I got major "The Craft" vibes randomly throughout the story and was drawn in. I did not want to stop reading until I found out what happened. There was blood, gore, murder, and a twist I did not see coming. The writing was great and kept me on my toes and as I tried to figure out a bloody "who done it" scenario.

It was a quick read, but one that was interesting from the first page. There was something going on during every part and chapter, and I was not bored with the story, nor did I feel it was drawn out with too much detail. It was to the point and captures the readers' attention.

Overall I was very pleased, shocked, and yearning for more!!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young girl saves young boy, killing friends in the process.
It's a great hook and honestly a decent read if not a bit lacking.
Everything fell apart dramatically in the last chapter or so and I felt like it could have ended better.
Charm is telling her version of events, confident Billy will stick to his. Only Billy doesn't and all hell breaks loose.
I would have liked this more if they had discovered Charm was a descendant of the Bender family and essentially got away with almost murder and murder via self-defense, leading to an epilogue of her in a new town possibly finding a new victim.
Nowhere did it indicate Charm was behind the whole thing and it was this revelation that sent the book into the stratosphere for me. I enjoyed it up until this point. It sadly missed it's potential.
I received a copy via NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

[Molly Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an absolute privilege to read this thrilling page turner! I read the entire novel in under two hours and could not put it down. It’s a perfect quick and spooky read for fall. The illustrations and cover art are incredible and really add value to the novel as a whole.

Violent Nights definitely lives up to the title and showcases how lies can be deadly. Howard incorporates several unexpected twists that kept me intrigued the entire way through. The first half of the novel reminded me of The Slenderman Murders, which I already knew the details of, so I felt like part of the plot was spoiled for me. However, the second half of the book kept me engaged with several unexpected twists in the plot. I also appreciated that Howard included a content warning since this novel is geared towards YA/Middle Grade readers. Overall, a great and engaging YA thriller!

[Lori Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Ryan M. Howard and NetGalley for the opportunity to review Violent Nights. I’m honestly surprised that the book was not longer, it was well written and had three compelling young girls that decided they wanted to take their love for true crime to the next level. Our main character Charm is our narrator and we have the story told to us primarily through her eyes. Initially this seems reasonable although it doesn’t take long before we realize she is still not being completely honest. I think the interaction between the girls and their captive victim Billy all play a tad farcical but not too badly when taken with the fact that these girls are only 12-13 years old. I don’t think I would recommend it for that age group because it does get a bit intense at times but certainly young adult and older adults will enjoy the feel of a beginner slasher in the making style book.

[Amanda S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well written and had a great story line. It was a bit chaotic for my taste though. Then ending was all over the place.

I was drawn into this story. As a true crime fanatic myself, I felt I could relate a little to the fascination these young girls had with it. I think all of us that are drawn to it always feel a little bit like weirdos just like these girls did. At first I bought into the lies that Charm was telling. She got in over her head and changed her mind. Isn't that how serial killers get away with it though? They are charming and manipulate the situation to benefit themselves. I enjoyed this part of the story tremendously. The ending was a bit chaotic and just didn't really fit with the vibe of the rest of the story, which is why this was just a 3 star read for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Judy Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me on a wild ride I was not anticipating.

Thrillers typically are not my go-to genre, as I usually find them overly predictable and prone to excessive elements. However, this book was a refreshing change of pace. It offers plenty of violence and bloodshed to satisfy both horror readers like myself and thriller enthusiasts seeking a more intense read.

That being said, it did have some clunky dialogue, which is to be expected with a debut, in my opinion.

And the "teenagers" we follow felt more like pre-teens, and their actions often seemed juvenile and nonsensical.

I would highly recommend this book to those who want just a little bit more out of their thrillers.

~

I want to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, twisted, and spooky (it’s not the cold weather sending chills down my spine tonight). My first thought when reading the blurb was the Slenderman stabbing, or even some of the crime shows I watch when kids are the culprit. But this ended up so much more dark and twisted, and I loved every moment of it. The way Charm can switch so easily between her attitude and personality, is astounding, and really gives you insight into her character as a whole. The real story that we get to see, in between the glimpses of Charm’s very sanitized statement, is pure nightmare fuel. Although these are just kids, it really makes you wonder how well you really know the people in your life, and how many are secretly like Charm, while presenting a kind and sweet face to the world. Cannot recommend enough for horror lovers that don’t mind a bit of gore!

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charm Wilson and her two friends have been caught up in an attempted murder. When she and her friends create a secret society, they decide a sacrifice is needed. Charm, however, saves the boy’s life and is called a hero. Despite her new title she must hide the truth at all costs to not be vilified like her friends.

“Violent Nights” by Ryan M. Howard is a creepy book about lies and friendship or lack thereof. It reminds me a lot of the real Slenderman stabbing case which added to the creepy factor of the book that kids can do really awful things like murder. I loved the added parts of weird and childish acts from the characters such as the “Lazy doodles”. I ended up really liking the book even though it was slower paced. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Louisa Cascione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please check trigger warnings before reading this book as there are some graphic scenes. Violent Nights is about a group of middle schoolers planning to kill a fellow classmate. What can go wrong right? I was not expecting the twists or the ending of this story! I really appreciated how the author kept me guessing about the ending up until the last page. The novel is told in the present and past tense to give readers more information and try to decipher what is true and what is a lie. Thank you NetGalley and the author, Ryan Matthew Howard, for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of Violent Nights in exchange for my honest review!

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Violent Nights starts off with 13 year old Charm sitting down in her kitchen with her family, her classmate's mother and two detectives to relay the events leading up to her ending up in the cemetery and how she saved her classmate, Billy. It switches back and forth from past to present and we also get a couple other characters perspectives. It just felt really drawn out and the climax of the book was ridiculous to me. This wasn't scary or a thriller to me. It was a drama about how people want to be perceived and the consequences of lying.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Alyssa Berman · Rating 4 out of 5]

You should not read this if you have children of a similar age with a similar interest in everything horror. This was wildly unsettling, but I couldn’t stop reading.

The idea that kids this age have that much accessibility to everything that happens here is scary. I can genuinely say I didn’t like, nor was I rooting for a single character in this book. Well maybe Billy… but I still loved this.

This was a spooky, occult, dark academia vibe that I couldn’t get enough of.

Also. Get Wrecked Shelley.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read this eARC.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best debut books I have read this year.
When i started the book I was like, wtf???? because it was kinda boring and i was literally dragging myself through the book for good 20 to 30 percent of it. But than as I kept reading, i reached the end of the book and i was like, wtf???? Because there was a lot of blood shed all of a sudden.... Also, yeah Sherry you did throw you fiat up the horse's ass!!!! It was a good book overall, for sure!

[kasey · Rating 1 out of 5]

First I would like to thank Net Galley and Ryan Howard for this arc.

This was an interesting read. With it being YA I wasnt expecting it to be quite as DARK as it was. This is not just a heroic journey of a girl who stopped a murder. This was going into the mind of someone who desperately needed help. ( Honestly ever character in this book needed help)

Due to the amount of murder and the thoughts on the main character I do not agree with this book being labeled as a YA novel.

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pretty okay start for me. It wasn’t anything to write home about and that’s why I wanted to give it 4 stars. The reason I gave it five was because of the ending. It was a roller coaster and I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved the story and I really loved the ending. Overall it was a great book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.