Slay Ride: You'd better watch out

by L.A. Birchon

You'd better watch outNominated for 'Best Horror' and 'Biggest plot twist I didn't see coming' in the 2024 Indieverse Awards‘Twas the night before Christmas and Nish needs to get back to his family home. But the last train out of London has been cancelled and his rail replacement bus has just broken down.

He’s stranded in a snow-bound village pub with a handful of fellow travellers and the inhabitants of Little Slaughter. It’s the annual murder mystery and the tables are made up for visitors.

With a roaring fire and generous hospitality, there’s nothing else to do. They might as well join in the festivities.

But nothing is quite as it seems and time isn’t the only thing they’ll be killing tonight.A locked-in holiday survival horror with a sense of humour, a perfect fireside read for fans of Brady Hendrix, Joe R Lansdale and James Herbert.

Genres: Horror, Christmas

192 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fun Scary Romp with Murderous Reindeer

So I am glad I read this! Its very entertaining and never in my wild dreams did I ever think that Santa's reindeer would try to kill people! But that is the very situation in this book. At first the story sounds kind of crazy but it actually makes sense once you get near the end. Its actually much better than it sounds.

I especially enjoyed the little equine touches the author added to the reindeer, the soft lips, the big black eyes, the little sounds, the sound of the hooves. I know deer are not horses but since I am horse crazy I will accept that. I could practically see the heavy thick bodies of these deer (which are described to be big like a draft horse). Great descriptions!

So as a thriller this was very good! You have a bunch of people trapped in this bar and then the murderous deer show up. And they want blood. And yes, they are those famous deer. The ones from the famous poem \ song. And a winter storm is raging outside - Which is apparently very rare for the UK to get a blizzard - and so the characters are trapped. As the story progresses there is tension and strife between the characters. And there are some secrets too.

I did find the end was a bit unexpected. That is what I had thought would happen didn't. But that is ok.

I think maybe the author had written too much equine into the deer because at one point I felt bad for the deer instead of for the humans.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this took me longer to finish than I thought (due to going back to work but I digress).

This was so FUN. Like extremely fun.
I was just smiling just enjoying the ride.
Twists and turns and ho-ho-ho's along the way.

I do love my quaint English pubs.

[John Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very surprised that this book was so good. If you’re a horror fan looking for a holiday inspired story, then i definitely recommend this. Well written and edited perfectly, which is high praise from a self published novel.

I went into this story with no knowledge of it which is exactly how i recommend you read it. Just know some reindeer aren’t feeling so jolly this Christmas.

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was definitely a wild ride. I'd say this book has a ton of potential. The changing POVs kept throwing me off, but the story itself was fun. I'm glad I read this for book club, because I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own.

Overall, it was interesting. A new take on a revenge story, and I wasn't expecting it to go where it did. I will say the Clue/Cluedo references did get a bit tired after a while, but it was easy to keep track of the villagers that way.

Would I recommend this book? Sure. It was a fun and slightly gory horror romp that really fits in with a spooky Christmas.

[Dallas Reeves · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just absolutely hated everything about this.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last train for the night has been cancelled and the replacement bus is stranded. So, the passengers and bus driver approach the pub until help can get the bus running again when a drunk man runs out of the pub and shouts for everyone to save themselves. The story follows Nish as he and the rest of the people ignore the warning, stay at the pub, and play a Cluedo murder mystery. During the game that becomes too real and dangerous, there is a horror outside that seizes the characters one by one. While everyone attempts to survive the night, Nish and Effie are determined to understand what's happening. The story is descriptive and features plenty of characters. The book also is written in the present tense so readers read the narrative in real time. This is a personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the characters. The story is complex and though visually descriptive, this is not a casual read.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.

[Drew- Pickleball Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I noticed this book was “Nominated for 'Best Horror' and 'Biggest plot twist I didn't see coming' in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.” It was good, but not that good! It has lots of pop culture references to movies. I get having the ones that were horror because one of the main characters was a horror fan, but other movies were included. That was fun. The plot twist was pretty good, but I’ve seen better this year.

Not a bad Christmas horror story, but overrated.

[Jerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining. Written well. Will look for more by the author.

[Trace · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 50%

Painfully boring. I couldn’t do it to myself.

[RaChelle Holmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read, but lost a star because I'm an American. Nope, wait, that's not fair, I just put the 5th star back - but there are idioms I surely did not understand. Received as a gift from Hidden Gems, it was a fun pick. Well done.

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the spirit of Christmas I'm giving this three stars but it really ought to be two. There is such potential here but it's squandered. The mystery at the heart of the book is just silly: really silly. The reader doesn't get to know any of the characters enough to care about their demise. The whole Cluedo scenario is never developed and too often a carefully built atmosphere is dissipated. It's a very frustrating book, as the premise and situation could have resulted in a really scary read.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jolly Holly read!

Pure coincidence that I finished reading this book the day before Christmas Eve ! Thoroughly enjoyed the twisting tale and the unexpected ending. If you're travelling Christmas Eve make sure you drive yourself!

[Lex Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such conflicting thoughts on this. There is no doubt that the author is talented and has an impressive style.

For the first quarter, I really really enjoyed it. An interesting premise, excellently written and with some great humour, I was completely engaged.

But I’m not sure what happened, I started to lose interest as it went on. Without spoiling anything, maybe it’s because we see the ‘things’ and they are described in such detail very early on, which made me lose some of the fear / anticipation whilst reading, so every time they were mentioned, the suspense was less? Maybe that’s just a personal thing though. But I ended up DNF on 68%.

It’s a weird thing to say when you don’t finish a book but I would actually recommend it as the style is fantastic - and if L.A. Birchon’s other stories are written in a similar vain, I’ll probably give them a go!

[Laci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went in expecting a fun, humorous, festive horror and ended up with a fast, slightly gory romp that had a lot of potential and kept me entertained the whole way through.

The story offers a fresh take on a revenge plot, and it genuinely surprised me with where it went. I didn’t always know what to expect, which made it even more fun. The Clue style references were clever at first and did help keep track of the villagers, though I will admit they got a bit old after a while.

The holiday setting really adds to the atmosphere : snowy roads, isolation, and Christmas cheer mixed with slasher energy worked really well. It’s quick, punchy, and easy to binge, especially if you’re in the mood for something festive but twisted.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Slay Ride is an interesting, fun, slightly gory horror read that fits perfectly with a spooky Christmas vibe.

[Mark Lucas-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slay Ride:

Not your usual cosy Christmas mystery. Nish an influencer promoter for an advertising agency is forced to take a train replacement bus on Christmas Eve as he attempts to return to the family home for the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately himself and several other passengers are become stranded in the village of Little Slaughter and become unwitting participants in Christmas murder mystery that is everything but a jolly, holly adventure.
Sharp, witty, macabrely funny with instantly recognisably characters.
This is one Christmas that will never forget, that’s if he lives through it!

[Robin Dickert · Rating 4 out of 5]

'‘Let me tell you about Christmas Eve in Little Slaughter.''

What a fun, action-packed ride! Set on Christmas Eve in a small English village pub with the halls festively decked and a cozy fire in the inglenook. They're having a murder mystery evening that is full of surprises and revelations. It's a bloody good time, and I love where it went.

'‘Every Christmas Eve, the whole village gets together. We have a murder mystery, a meal, a few drinks… Of course, this year we’ve got fewer players than we’d like.’'

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh, Christmas Eve in the country. Bus breaks down in a little town called Little Slaughter. The village people are dressed up as Clue characters. Free food. Free drink. Something's not right.?! Mysteries. Murder. Mayhem. Mutant reindeer. You get the picture? Not your typical holiday. Eight reindeer need eight people dead. Oh my........

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Hidden Gems.

[Erin Newton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was gruesome and incredibly fun. I didn't really understand the need for the whole Clue angle--though it was funny--I just didn't feel it was needed. The ominous beginning was well done and this book makes your heart race! Great Christmas horror. Spoilers ahead--but at the end...what if they just let Father Christmas remain alive? Would the reindeer and the curse have been over for good? Why the need to kill Father Christmas each time?

[Kandice Bentley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why aren’t more people reviewing and talking about this quick little novel?? Now this is the horror themed mystery/ horror novel I was looking for! This was so much fun! Well developed characters that you’re rooting for, a good story, lore, gore.. it has it all! The ending was perfect in my opinion. 4 Cluedo inspired, drunken ⭐️!!

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a strange and fun ride!

I have no idea what I was expecting, but I can guarantee nothing I pictured would’ve been what L.A. Birchon gave us. I really enjoyed this crazy story, it was funny, stressful, and heartwarming all at once. Def recommend for fans of thriller/horror who also like a dash of Christmas in their books around the holidays.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The homicidal reindeer were the best thing in this book. I was rooting for them and felt happy when they took out the people, especially Miss Scarlet and Reverend Green. The references to Cluedo went over my head though. Still had a fun time with this novella.

[Plus Size Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nish a British Indian twenty something is traveling home for his first Christmas since covid. Sadly, the weather isn't cooperating and after all trains have been cancelled, he finds himself on a bus out of London.

After a tire blows Nish and the other occupants end up in Little Slaughter. A countryside town that just happens to host a Clue themed survival game against Santa's monstrous reindeer.

This would be a great read for fans of Shaun of the Dead or dark horror comedy in general.
The author does a great job describing everything from the scenery to the dead bodies.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas with a twist

Definitely a wild ride. Very gruesome clued Christmas themed muder mystery. A fast paced story with a twist. Murderous reindeer, village pub, quirky characters, fun horror.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squandered potential. I tried but it took me three days to finish the first chapter.

[Norman Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty damn solid - most Christmas-themed horror has a hint-hint nudge-nudge kind of humor, and although this does have some humor, it really did a great job of building tension. Really fun read.

[Carl Tabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Great story, easy read and enjoyable.
Some great characters and little hints fill the story.
Would definitely recommend this book

[TeresaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good! Who knew I'd like Christmas horror stories?! The twist was good too; & I didn't guess it although I never do, so...

[Kayleigh-Ånn Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun comedy/horror if you're after a quick seasonal dose of something other than meet-cutes!

[Leland Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fun Holiday Horror Romp

I won’t give anything away, but this was a fun and quick read for the holiday season. A fun bit of escapism from the hustle and bustle.

[Deidre · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Fun romp, nothing super amazing, horror mixed with some dry humor, short and sweet, was a nice shift for mood for the holidays.