Something Happened

by Arthur Avalos

Family vacations can be a killer.
Jayson wants nothing but good relationship with his family. He longs for fun family time and bonding with those he grew up with, but all he has is one big dysfunctional mess. After experiencing one of the worst nights of his life, he spends the next few years wanting out, but how do you walk away from your family?
This year another family vacation rolls around, and he decides that this is the last one he will go on but, will this be the last one for all of them?
One night in the woods leads to one bloody mess.

Genres: Horror, Thriller

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

Arthur Avalos is a Chicago based Author and practicing therapist. He lives in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago with his two cats, dog and partner.

Arthur spends his time working on short stories, poetry and other forms of fiction writing. He is currently working on a short story collection and a book of poetry.

When he is not writing he is at the bookstore buying more books for his ever-growing home library with a TBR that he will most likely never get to.

Something Happened is Arthurs debut novel and The House Behind the Creek is his first published short story.

Reviews

[Arthur Avalos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my book and I’m so excited for you to read it. It’s a horror/thriller with a dash of slash !!! My cat and dog have read early copies of it and can’t stop meowing/barking about it !!! If you understood them you’d want to read it.

If you like indie authors and books !! You’ll love this one !!!

[Tiffany Sahulka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Happened - major psychological thriller/slasher is Arthur Avalos' debut novel coming April 09th, 2024. This slow burn thriller will keep you asking - what the heck is going on? Who is this person? Is it this person? Or is it that person? Or maybe, it's this person? What the heck is happening?! There is a ton of character building at the start and surrounds Jayson's family and complicated gay relationship - a family camping weekend away in the woods in a national park turns deadly. If you love a good twisty - turny, keep you on your toes slasher, you'll love this book!

A solid 4 stars for me! It was great!

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive been wanting to read this book so I was grateful to buddy read it with a friend to get me to pick it up. Im believe dysfunctional families are really the norm. We can’t escape them. And boy this family is dysfunctional with so many secrets and biases. Jayson is dealing with his family that truly hasn’t accepted his homosexuality. Maybe this family camping trip can fix things, at least a little or at least have Jayson find closure.

Holy hell breaks loose as there is a slasher with motives of their own. I felt like I was immersed into the story, especially as people were fighting for their lives.

This is the authors debut novel and it’s one that I think you will enjoy. There was some heartbreak in this novel. The family will never be the same.

I loved it.

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something Happened was absolutely terrifying! I don’t read a lot of horror or slashers and it’s because authors like Arthur Avalos are so good at what they do. Avalos was able to creep me out and keep me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. And all while telling an incredible tale! Another great read for Pride Month, especially if you like horror. 🏳️‍🌈

[Joshua Waselynchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such an enjoyable read. While I relate a lot to the main character Jayson, and his family struggles, especially with the coming out aspects of his story.
The fact this turned into vibes of a horror movie feel, I pictured this as a horror movie with all the different perspectives to figure out who was essentially torturing the family on the camping trip.
Definitely worth checking out.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️
Arthur Avalos hit his debut novel “Something Happened” out of the park. I was on the edge of my seat the entire book. There were so many twist and turns, it literally keeps you guessing and second guessing everything that happens. If you’re looking for a thriller that has a dash of slash and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book, I highly recommend Something Happened by Arthur Avalos. You can tell the author wrote this with great passion. The LGBTQ+ representation as well as multiple outlooks on mental health. I cannot wait to read more from this author. I hope there is going to be more books with the characters in the story in the future. Well done Arthur Avalos, well done!

[Hazel_Lee_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur Avalos’s debut novel, Something Happened, is an absolute thrill ride. From the very first page, I was hooked, sitting on the edge of my seat as each twist and turn unfolded. This story keeps you guessing—and then guessing again—until the very end. If you’re looking for a thriller with a touch of horror that won’t let you put it down, I can’t recommend Something Happened enough.

Avalos’s passion for storytelling shines through in every detail, especially with the authentic LGBTQ+ representation and nuanced takes on mental health. The suspense builds with each chapter, and I found myself staying up late to find out who was behind it all. For me, that’s the mark of a five-star read.

The mystery was brilliantly done. Each character was a suspect, and the true killer was a complete shock. Plus, the cliffhanger ending left me eagerly anticipating book two—I have so many questions! Arthur Avalos, you’ve set a high bar, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Carlos Negrete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur Avalos’s book “Something Happened” takes you on a journey of 1 family in 1 night. This thriller/horror story follows Jayson along with his two sisters, mother, father, best friend & his hopeful partner David. Jayson’s sister plans a camping trip with the family with each character reminiscing about things that happened in their past, one of which everyone remembers. The night at the restaurant.

Jayson’s sister gives everyone directions to a camp ground which is where certain events take place. There’s sadness, drama & murder. Things start to happen and nobody knows who’s to blame. What was once remembered as a great family trip when everyone was younger turns into a night of murder. This book will keep you wanting to turn every page so you can find out what that something was that happened.

[Cori (cori.readss) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arthur's debut novel is a psychological thriller, full of secrets, and a dash of slash.

I read this book a while ago but have had trouble writing an adequate review that does this book justice. This book had my mind working and not trusting any character in this story. There were times when I thought I had figured it out, but I definitely did not.

Jayson decided to go on this last family trip to let his family know it would be his last one. He wants to make the best decision for his life and happiness but this last vacation is more eventful than he was expecting.

The character development and backstories in this book were incredible and I felt like I was immersed in the story and felt for every single character. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves slashers/psychological thrillers. A definite 5-star read for me and I cannot wait to read Arthur's future work. He is now an auto-buy author for me!

[Lori Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to figure out the killer in this book was an absolute mind game! I thought it was everyone at some point while reading this horror/thriller. Some of the characters, especially the main character Jayson and his partner David, felt like friends I knew. Jayson's mom was sweet and relatable. Jayson's dad can go to hell in handbasket. Victor, the MMC's brother had a crazy backstory that I would love to know more about! The only criticism, since I love horror, is that I wish characters were "unalived" in a more gruesome, creative way. Otherwise, the twists were fabulaous, and the questions I am left with, have me wanting more.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just want to start off by saying the end of this book has left me curious to see how the next one will play out. Honestly, I loved everything about this book. It had me really questioning who exactly the bad guy was in this psychological thriller/horror book. It gives slasher vibes mixed with old-fashioned, psychological thriller movie vibes, and I loved everything about it. Honestly, it leaves you questioning so much and it really goes to show that everybody has their secrets and secrets always come to light in the end. it also goes to show that a family bond can be broken, but they can still come together to try to protect one another and that sometimes the closest family members aren’t those that are blood relatives. All in all this was a great story and I loved everything about it. I can’t say that enough because it was just that good.

[Sushil Dosanjh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing amazing book! Kept me hooked the whole time and I wanted to read more! And wow that ending!

[Danielle Lynn Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never had a book keep me on my toes quite like this one. This was a solid 4.5 stars for me.

As a mainly romance reader who has slowly been dabbling in thriller, I was thoroughly interested. It kept me asking all kinds of questions, kept me guessing, and kept surprising me. I knew I was going to love this book simply from the blurb, and it did not disappoint. I hated some characters, then loved them the next chapter, and that cycle continued. My little heart even broke at certain parts making me shed a tear, lol.

This was an amazing debut, and I can’t wait to read more of Arthur’s stories.

[Christie Cupcake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book just gets more and more intense as you read. Any book that keeps me up late at night to find out who did it is a five star read in my book!

Side note: I need the second book to come out like right now because I have questions that need answered!

[Mrs Moa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dysfunctional family go camping in the secluded woods….
…. said family is now down a couple of members.

A psychological thriller with a great premise. A family who really don’t see eye to eye but go on a camping trip together, all with their own personal agendas.


Finding themselves separated, someone is hunting them one by one and not all will survive.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book if you like horror and suspense books. I loved the characters. I was very well Witten.

[Mary Petrushko · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5
Fast paced, diverse, super suspenseful and MULTIPLE POVs. I really enjoyed this one! Definitely check it out! ESPECIALLY to help out an indie author.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that I couldn’t predict the ending with this book! The dysfunction made everyone a suspect at one time or another other. It’s a great read!

[Tricia Breinig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a mystery horror/slasher book that kept me guessing. This was like playing a game of clue and not being given any cards to start with. I loved that everyone was a suspect and the killer was a mystery up until the end. Also talk about a cliffhanger! Excited for book 2

[Emily Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This psychological thriller with a dash of slash really kept me guessing! I enjoyed the multiple POVs and middle of nowhere/campy vibes. I did struggle with the ending, I was left feeling unsatisfied in a way. But, I will definitely read more by this author! I had a fun time with this one!

[KorenaJo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! I would definitely recommend it. It had me guessing from Enrique at the gas station to secret love children!?! Who’s the killer 🤔 These people have secrets! Like life altering secrets. I’m here for the family drama. When an author makes me hate a character (Mr. Perez 🙄) I feel like they’ve done a good job! 4.5 out of 5 stars can’t wait for the next book by this author!

[Humberto Cazares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something Happened follows Jayson and his dysfunctional family’s camping weekend. Everyone had a different plan of what this they wanted this weekend to be. Someone however had very nefarious plans and things take a turn for the worst. Secrets start being exposed and for some, this might be the last time they see their family…alive.

A slow burn with multiple perspectives, this book did a great job with the set up at the beginning. At times, characters would repeat things they’ve already mentioned or that other characters had mentioned. It just started to feel repetitive.

Overall the book kept me on my toes which I love from a thriller. It had you guessing who did it up until the very end. So many misdirects that were very effective.

The author also handled mental health very well and I was glad it didn’t go in the direction I initially thought it was headed.

***SLIGHT SPOILER***

The big reveal was not as effective as it could’ve been.

I wish we had more time with killer and the rest of the characters. Everything felt rushed once the reveal happened. It just left me wanting to see everyone interact more with the killer.

ARC was generously provided to me by the author for an honest review.

[Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story centers around a dysfunctional family that is going on their annual family vacation. Seems like a pretty normal thing to do right? Well, the rub here is that everyone has their own motives for wanting or (in some cases) not wanting to be there and when things start to take a turn for the stabby, everyone is a viable suspect. From our main character, who recently had a horrific experience when he came out to his family, to the baby of the family who seems just a little too crazed to get the family back on good terms, motives and suspicion fly. Will anyone survive to tell the tale?

Highlights:
-We love a horror story with a purpose! This thriller does NOT breeze over the hard stuff and instead takes a hard look at family dynamics, honesty, and rejection.
-Multiple perspectives! Listen, this does not always work and sometimes more voices, just means more confusion, but that is simply not the case here. These voices are written so well and are given so much room to run, that I was thoroughly invested in everyone.
-The psychology of it all. I love a good book that forces you to essentially be in therapy with a character. A book that is gonna take me by the hand and lead me through someone else's drama? Sign me up! These characters all have so much to unpack, making the thriller aspect of this book somehow both the primary focus and less important than the character arcs.
-Character development! You know how in scary movies you die if you aren't a virgin? Well in this story, you might die if you don't grow as a person... or if it takes too long for you to do so.
-I was wrong so many times! Listen, I love a thriller, and do you know what I love even more than getting to shout "I KNEW IT!", the silent realization that I have been had!

This thriller is the whole package and I can not wait to see what Arthur writes next!

[Alma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! This was an easy book to get into. I appreciated the character building and it being written by multiple characters’ perspectives. I enjoyed knowing family secrets before the other family members. :)

The author did a wonderful job holding my attention with a well written story that I thoroughly enjoyed. And as a fan of Mr. King, the multiple references to his work made my heart happy! : )

Beautiful job on your debut, Arthur!! I look forward to reading more.

[ElyMay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel is a psychological thriller with a dash of slash!

If you like books that start off letting you know something happened, and have you guessing til the end, then this is the book for you.

All Jayson ever wanted was his family’s support. After his coming out dinner not going according to planned, he has to make a tough decision about his family. Deciding to cut off his family, this will definitely be their last vacation together.

I could not put this book down; I had to know what was happening! The who, what and why had me guessing til the end. And even when I thought I had it figured out, I didn’t!

What I loved most about this thriller was the characters. I felt like I knew each one. I loved and hated them and felt like I was in the story.

This was a 5 star read for me! Exactly what I’m looking for in a thriller and left me wanting more!

[Danielle Paquette-Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arthur Avalos's debut novel "Something Happened" is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing with its twists and turns.

It tells the story of Jayson as he's going on a family trip. Omg this family is so dysfunctional!! But I loved to discover everyone's secret. I couldn't put the book down.

The book features well-developed characters, multiple POV. It has LGBTQ+ representation and talks about mental health. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I can't wait to know what happens!!!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe this as a psychological thriller with a touch of slasher. The author did an excellent job building the suspense and attachment to characters early on. There was a lot of family trauma do unpack, so the action didn't really start till about halfway through for me. But, once it started, it didn't stop till the end. I was slightly confusing in the beginning but the author did a great job of tying up all the loose ends. This was a great debut novel and I will definitely be interested reading more from the author!

[Mariah📕🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mind is boggled….what a rollercoaster! Tons of character development which makes you fall in love with your special characters even more. I was so hooked into this book, at a pivotal moment something crashed in my home making me jump and have huge heart palpitations I had to remember I was reading a book and not actually in it! As a debut novel I am so impressed and cannot wait for the rest to come!

[Christopher Tantillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚 “Something Happened” by Arthur Avalos

📖 Genre: Psychological Thriller with a dash of slash

✨ TW: stalking, homophobia, death, mental health rep

This is the debut book from an indie author, and it’s so fun. It’s about a dysfunctional family who goes camping in the woods to patch up their various issues. Everyone is lying. Everyone has secrets. Everyone has a reason to hate the other. And then someone picks them off one-by-one. But who is it and why?

This was such a fun read. It’s part whodunit, part slasher (super light on the horror), part soap opera family drama. It’s full of characters that have their own issues and secrets and how they bleed into and ruin the relationships they have with each other. It’s very fast paced and written in a digestible way with short chapters. The reveal genuinely caught me off guard as I could not figure out who the killer was.

The only “issue” I had was the amount of POV characters. We have 9 POV’s, and it was hard to connect with any one character in the first 25% as we hop from POV to POV but don’t stay long enough with anyone specifically. This is more my preference and is not a knock against the book or writing style. I just prefer fewer POV characters. But it was a non-issue the further into the book we got and saw how much this family mis-communicates with each other.

This is, essentially, about how delicate family dynamics are. It’s about the line of loving your family despite how they can hurt or hold you back. The lies we tell vs the truths we don’t. It tackles some very important, interesting mental health issues that I wish we got to explore a little more in depth with some characters. But each character is very distinct from how their trauma has shaped the disintegration of this family. The ending, also, was fun. No spoilers here.

Recommended for fans of psychological thriller with an emphasis on the family drama and the more violent/horror elements as a mere backdrop to explore character dynamics. Check your TWs. I cannot wait to see what Arthur does next!

4.25 rounded up to a 5!

[David Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd been wanting to get to this one for ages and finally grabbed it during spooky season. But I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. I was just hoping for more Slasher action and less of what felt like filler information, a lot of which was repeated.

I wasn't really a fan of how many times the book title was repeated during the book either, as it got to the point where it was really cringy. I suspend belief a lot for books but the fact that every member of this family was readily available and willing to kill each other was maybe a little too far fetched and more time could've been spent gradually turning them that way as opposed to repeated back stories.

The ending, and I'm sorry to say this, was awful. There is no closure, no hint at wrapping things up and we have to rely that Arthur writes a sequel just to get answers that should've been in this book.

Now for the good stuff.

The representation in this book is amazing. Jayson (hate that spelling) is a character that I think a lot of people can relate to especially in the world we find ourselves in now, and it's nice that David is there for him and not just used as a method to torture him. Whatever happens with this narrative in the future, I say give them a HEA.

The setting was also perfect for a Slasher story. Nothing like an abandoned camp site to elicit Friday 13th vibes!

So yeah, overall not as good as I was hoping for and a little lacklustre, but brilliantly done in other areas. Unfortunately , I suspect that in trying to create a tension based cliffhanger, the author has actually crafted a story that people won't be invested enough in, to see how it all ends.