Frankie Graves Part One

Year of Blood #3

by Cameron Roubique

Frankie Graves may look like an ordinary greaser teenager, but anyone close to him will tell you that something's not right about him. Maybe it's the unsettling, faraway look in his eyes. Maybe it's the way he obsessively flicks his deadly sharp switchblade open over and over. Or maybe it's because all his greaser friends feel like he's a ticking time bomb waiting for the day when he'll explode in a frenzy of violence and mayhem. That day turns out to be the Fourth of July, 1958, and the people of Hartfield won't know he's coming for them until it's too late. Frankie Graves Part One mixes all the bloody fun of an '80s slasher movie with the rock'n'roll greaser style of the '50s. Slasher fans rejoice, old school horror is back!

Genres: Horror

296 pages, Paperback

Published May 26, 2023

About the author

Cameron Roubique is a horror author. His books include Frankie Graves, Golf Curse, Disco Deathtrap, and Kill River.

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Video Review: https://youtu.be/O1gEf94XYdE

As a huge fan of this author's previous work, I was excited that is publishing a new novel. If you already love their Slasher books, you won't be disappointed. If you've never read this author before, this is a great place to start because it's very representative of their work while offering an independent entry point.

I love the concept behind this particular novel. As an obsessive fan of the musical Grease, I love the 1950 settings which creatively blended into the plot of a 1980s Slasher movie.

This story was really fun with a great setup for the second half of this duology. As with this author's previous books, this one is filled with nostalgic references, fun dialogue and a good amount of slasher action.

I will admit that my tastes have evolved over the years since I first started reading this indie slasher. I've grown a preference for more literary horror stories and it's unfair to compare such different kinds of narratives. Instead I just want to enjoy this story for what it is intended to be… a fun slasher flick… in book form.

I would recommend this book (and all the author's backlist) to anyone who loves these kinds of movies and wants to experience similar stories on the page.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the author.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[David Sodergren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah, I loved this book. Absolutely adored it, especially the extended backstory that unfolds over the first hundred pages or so.

The ending gives us Roubique’s most ambitious set-piece yet, incorporating doo-woo music, fireworks, mass murder, and car chases.

Superb.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wild and grisly ride - grabs you and won’t let go!

Another heart-stopper by Cameron Roubique, only this time it transports the reader back to the 50s, to a time of greasers and hot rods and sock hops. This is “Grease meets Halloween at Hell House”, and it’s a gory mashup that’ll keep you flipping the pages in spite of yourself. And waiting impatiently for… dunh-dunh-dunh… Frankie Graves Part Two!!

[Mylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally!

I am elated that Cameron put out, not just one, but two, new books for the Year of Blood series. As soon as I found out they were out, I scooped them up. I have been impatiently waiting for new material from this author. He just has a unique style that makes his books a blast to read.

However, this is not my favorite of the series. It was good, but I wasn’t as engaged as I had been to the other books.

Here is the thing though…. Cameron has a specific style where the story begins very slowly and then ramps up. This is what happens here once again. I sort of muddled through 1/3 of the book and then when the story takes off, it really just takes off. Now, I am dying to read the rest of Frankie’s story. It is an experience I haven’t had with very many authors. It’s almost like it is not fair to rate it at first blush, because over time the whole mythology grows in your mind and you end up loving the tale. Does that make sense? So, if I had to rate this at the halfway point, it would get a 2 star rating, but once the whole story takes shape and it has time to stew in your brain, it becomes a 5+star book.

So, although this isn’t my favorite of the series, I have a strong suspicion that my rating will evolve as I get through Part 2. For that reason, I am going to rate this a 5 star now to save myself from having to go back to edit my rating when I am done the second part. I certainly hope that Cameron keeps putting out stories as he is just a hidden gem of an author.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great slasher novel from Roubique and another solid entry into the expanding Year of Blood Saga.

I will say this is probably both Roubique's slowest moving novel but his most fully realized one. It takes a good chunk of the novel for things to kicked into overdrive, but he doesn't waste any pages if that makes sense. He sets the world, he builds the characters and the relationships, and he sets the scene for the murderous rampage we all know is coming. Frankie Graves is a great character, though as the novel progressed I do wish we'd spent more time with him during the kills instead of the assortment of secondary characters (aka victims).

I felt the end was a little rushed and anticlimactic. I did expect a bit more from the 4th of July massacre, and the cover did make me expect it to be set at a drive-in, but the action unfolds so cinematically that I couldn't help but imagine it in movie form. And that's definitely a movie that I'd watch, much like I would adaptations of all Roubique's works.

I was considering a 3 for this novel, since I can't do 3.5, but when I saw there was a sequel already out I needed to jump it to a 4. I'm stoked to spend more time with Frankie and the survivors of '58 and I'm already positive Roubique will deliver like he always does.

A great slasher read for fans of the genre, even if it's a bit slower paced and methodical than usual. The Year of Blood continues to ramp up and deliver the chills and kills and I'm all the way here for it.

[Kasey Loftis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cameron Roubique is an auto-buy author for me. I loved his Kill River and Year of Blood books previously, so when I saw these were out a few years ago, I bought them immediately. Being a mood reader though, it took a little time to get to them...And now that it's been a couple of years since the release of both Frankie Graves books, I'm wondering what happened to Cameron cause no new books and he seems to have disappeared from IG.

Anyways, I loved the 50's setting, and the nostalgic throw back to greasers, drive ins, sock hops, diners, old cars...There's just not enough movies and books that show the fun parts of the 50s. Unfortunately, this is not my favorite Year of Blood book, and I felt this one was a bit slow. Although all of his books have been awesome, there have been times that they drag a little. There is a part 2, so I'm hoping a couple of things will be tied up in the second one...like all the deal with the "other side" and the thing that crawled down his throat. In typical Roubique fashion, the deaths were a bit gruesome. I loved the ending and beginning of part 2 where he is in the lake...so now I am excited to see what part 2 has in store.

[SpookyxSpice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stayed up all night finishing this, curious to see how we get to the massacre on the synopsis I was not expecting the rich horror backstory elements. We have witchcraft, curses, dead people and Salem connections all in the 50s greaser setting. Trigger warnings include suicide and attempted suicide.

I couldn't help but feel bad for Frankie right up until he snaps. The kills are inventive and gory, a delight for horror readers.

Really enjoyed this story and with the epilogue and set up for Part Two, I'll no doubts be following up with Frankie Graves again.

[Seth Andurzz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Might be Cameron's best yet! Less of a traditional slasher since it's more backstory and setup than anything (think like if we got a movie that was dedicated to Jason as a kid at camp, that ended with his death & the creation of the legends surrounding Crystal Lake). Can't wait to read the sequel where I'm sure the proper slashing will begin! Also the 50s setting was really refreshing. Love this mans books

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you creeps read the Frankie Graves books by Cameron Roubique yet?? I’ve been shouting about this duo from the rooftops ever since I read it, and I’ll never stop! Great characters, violent deaths, generational trauma, black magic . . . this slasher duology has it all! 💀

I loved it so much that it made my top ten books of 2023.

[Thomas Or Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roubique's best novel yet.

Frankie Graves Part One is a slow burn slasher that builds up the characters before the mayhem starts. Frankie starts off as a good kid who slowly becomes a homicidal maniac after years of trauma, abuse, and bullying. It's sad, tragic, and horrifying. Really looking forward the next book in Frankie's saga.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another instant classic by Mr Roubique. The 50s setting combined with the brutality of 80s-era slasher horror made for a very fun read, and I loved revisiting locations around Hartfield twenty years in the past. I'm very glad Part Two has already been published, I gotta know what Frankie gets up to!

[Jason Kron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is nuts. I enjoyed the uniqueness of a slasher that took place in the 50s. There was a long set-up, as is often the case with slashers, but I liked how this had a scary prologue of sorts before going into that.

[Ryan Sasek · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy Cameron has released a new novel. Big fan of all his work. If you haven’t read him the Kill River series is great. Disco Deathtrap may be my favorite of his. I’m even more excited that we get Frankie Graves part 2 on June 23rd. Check him out!

[Paul Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid slasher

Roubique continues to be the premiere voice in retro slasher fiction. In Frankie Graves we have a multifaceted villain with a real edge. Can't wait to read part 2!

[Andy Hatchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Very entertaining read and perfect book for summer. Possibly his best yet.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I needed to get out of a reading slump!