What do you think?
Woods Bay #1
Small Town Slasher
Woods Bay is a quiet Washington town known for the kind of beauty that makes it easy to forget what came before.
Jenna Willcot rarely leaves home, her world narrowed by years of severe anxiety. When she discovers that her partner, who tragically died in a car accident, secretly booked her a stay at a horror-themed rental cabin in Woods Bay, she can’t bring herself to cancel it. The trip feels like a final gift. A last push forward.
Twenty-five years ago, eleven people were killed on the very land where Jenna’s cabin now stands. The truth was never fully uncovered, and Woods Bay moved on the way small towns do: quietly.
Jenna’s arrival coincides with the discovery of a new body just outside town. Then another. As fear spreads and old secrets resurface, Jenna teams up with locals Erica and Steve to survive what’s unfolding and uncover what still lingers in Woods Bay.
Some places don’t let the past stay buried.
Woods Bay is one of them.
Jenna Willcot rarely leaves home, her world narrowed by years of severe anxiety. When she discovers that her partner, who tragically died in a car accident, secretly booked her a stay at a horror-themed rental cabin in Woods Bay, she can’t bring herself to cancel it. The trip feels like a final gift. A last push forward.
Twenty-five years ago, eleven people were killed on the very land where Jenna’s cabin now stands. The truth was never fully uncovered, and Woods Bay moved on the way small towns do: quietly.
Jenna’s arrival coincides with the discovery of a new body just outside town. Then another. As fear spreads and old secrets resurface, Jenna teams up with locals Erica and Steve to survive what’s unfolding and uncover what still lingers in Woods Bay.
Some places don’t let the past stay buried.
Woods Bay is one of them.
157 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Stephanie Rose
6 books185 followersStephanie Rose is a disabled, neurodivergent, and queer horror writer and editor who finds
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, Roadkill Revolution Tour, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.
A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.
comfort in the dark corners of storytelling. She is the author of Hiding Lies, Small Town Slasher, Roadkill Revolution Tour, and serves as editor of the Twisted Tales to Tell in the Night anthology series.
A lifelong Halloween devotee and unapologetic house goblin, she thrives on horror, true crime, and the delicious unease of the macabre. Music, especially dance and karaoke, keeps her heart beating just long enough to write another story. She lives in Washington with her partner and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
September 22, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
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…
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…
December 10, 2025
I love a good 80's slasher. In fact, a lot of my favorite movies are slashers or slasher adjacent so anytime I stumble across a slasher book i'm going to give it a try & let's just say this was...disappointing. To be honest it's just really not good. This did not work for me in any way, shape or form. The writing is really repetitive, pretty basic & it overall felt like I was reading something off of wattpad or tumblr.
The dialogue between characters felt awkward & if you consume a lot of horror/slasher media you can guess who the killer is pretty early on which takes out any & all suspense or fun in trying to figure out who it is. Also, could we really not come up with a better name for the killer? Like was the Slasher the best we could do, really?
Our mc, Jenna, is a walking contradiction...we are told like 16 times that Jenna has debilitating/crippling anxiety & a panic disorder & you simply could not pay me to believe any of that. I myself deal with anxiety & I never would've hopped on a plane by myself to go to a secluded cabin, called an uber & immediately become bff's with them & start running errands around town together & I definitely would not be inviting a whole group of people I haven't even met before to stay at the cabin with me after finding out a KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE.. (Respectfully, take my ass back to the airport so I can go home, where you'll find me on my couch, watching American Mary sipping on my CBD tea) This is not how anxiety works babe, at least not in my own personal experience. The representation of anxiety & panic disorders is just so unbelievable, it's almost comical.
There's too much filler. A lot of things don't make sense, plot holes on top of plot holes. I did like the setting of a secluded cabin & that it takes place on Friday the 13th but this did not deliver at all. Some of the kills were decent but this really adds nothing new to the genre/trope. It's the same rinse & repeat slasher book that keeps coming out.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
The dialogue between characters felt awkward & if you consume a lot of horror/slasher media you can guess who the killer is pretty early on which takes out any & all suspense or fun in trying to figure out who it is. Also, could we really not come up with a better name for the killer? Like was the Slasher the best we could do, really?
Our mc, Jenna, is a walking contradiction...we are told like 16 times that Jenna has debilitating/crippling anxiety & a panic disorder & you simply could not pay me to believe any of that. I myself deal with anxiety & I never would've hopped on a plane by myself to go to a secluded cabin, called an uber & immediately become bff's with them & start running errands around town together & I definitely would not be inviting a whole group of people I haven't even met before to stay at the cabin with me after finding out a KILLER IS ON THE LOOSE.. (Respectfully, take my ass back to the airport so I can go home, where you'll find me on my couch, watching American Mary sipping on my CBD tea) This is not how anxiety works babe, at least not in my own personal experience. The representation of anxiety & panic disorders is just so unbelievable, it's almost comical.
There's too much filler. A lot of things don't make sense, plot holes on top of plot holes. I did like the setting of a secluded cabin & that it takes place on Friday the 13th but this did not deliver at all. Some of the kills were decent but this really adds nothing new to the genre/trope. It's the same rinse & repeat slasher book that keeps coming out.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
September 28, 2025
I'm always in the mood for a slasher but I felt a bit disappointed by this one.
It has very good moments, a lot of tension, and many kills. The setting of the small town with a dark past works perfectly.
But the timeline and the characters didn't work for me.
The events are supposed to take place in a single day, with the main character / final girl arriving in the town in the morning just before the big massacre. She was supposed to spend just the night there, but who flies several hours just to spend one night away?
And as a result, she meets the locals only for a few hours before the events unfold, so none of them are properly developed as characters and they felt pretty flat.
Overall it's okay, but I expected more.
Thank you Death by TBR Books for this ARC.
It has very good moments, a lot of tension, and many kills. The setting of the small town with a dark past works perfectly.
But the timeline and the characters didn't work for me.
The events are supposed to take place in a single day, with the main character / final girl arriving in the town in the morning just before the big massacre. She was supposed to spend just the night there, but who flies several hours just to spend one night away?
And as a result, she meets the locals only for a few hours before the events unfold, so none of them are properly developed as characters and they felt pretty flat.
Overall it's okay, but I expected more.
Thank you Death by TBR Books for this ARC.
September 21, 2025
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.
Many, many thanks to Stephanie Rose, Death by TBR Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
‘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.
Many, many thanks to Stephanie Rose, Death by TBR Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review, reflecting solely my opinion.
April 23, 2025
✨Book Review: Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose ✨
Are you craving a book that will make your slasher heart happy? Look no further! This book is perfect for fans of Scream and My Heart Is A Chainsaw.
Small Town Slasher takes place over the course of 24 hours. It follows Jenna, a disabled horror fanatic. She needs an escape from the state of the world and books a vacation in a horror-themed cabin. But the cabin is built on a nightmare. Twenty-Five years earlier The Butcher murdered eleven people on the land where the cabin now sits. And sure enough, it’s the anniversary. Jenna finds herself thrown into the middle of a real life slasher.
I absolutely loved this book! It was a blast from start to finish. I loved the horror movie/book quotes at the start of each chapter. I also loved the anxiety/disabled representation. It was well done!
Be sure to pick this one up if you’re looking for
🔪 Slasher
🔪Fast-Paced and set over 24 hour time span
🔪Meta
🔪 Gory kills
🔪 Anxiety/Disabled Rep
🔪 Twisty Narrative
🔪 Short Chapters
Thank you so much to @stephanierosewriter for the early copy of this book! Be sure to pre-order on Stephanie’s website @deathbytbrbooks ! It comes out March 3rd, 2026!
Are you craving a book that will make your slasher heart happy? Look no further! This book is perfect for fans of Scream and My Heart Is A Chainsaw.
Small Town Slasher takes place over the course of 24 hours. It follows Jenna, a disabled horror fanatic. She needs an escape from the state of the world and books a vacation in a horror-themed cabin. But the cabin is built on a nightmare. Twenty-Five years earlier The Butcher murdered eleven people on the land where the cabin now sits. And sure enough, it’s the anniversary. Jenna finds herself thrown into the middle of a real life slasher.
I absolutely loved this book! It was a blast from start to finish. I loved the horror movie/book quotes at the start of each chapter. I also loved the anxiety/disabled representation. It was well done!
Be sure to pick this one up if you’re looking for
🔪 Slasher
🔪Fast-Paced and set over 24 hour time span
🔪Meta
🔪 Gory kills
🔪 Anxiety/Disabled Rep
🔪 Twisty Narrative
🔪 Short Chapters
Thank you so much to @stephanierosewriter for the early copy of this book! Be sure to pre-order on Stephanie’s website @deathbytbrbooks ! It comes out March 3rd, 2026!
November 9, 2025
The prologue started off really strong, and I was immediately intrigued especially since I love horror movies. I also liked the movie quotes at the start of each chapter, which was such a fun touch. I really wanted to love this book, but I found it hard to follow the dialogue between the characters it just felt so forced at times. The main character, Jenna, drove me absolutely nuts I couldn’t stand her, and I didn’t feel any real connection to the characters overall. There just wasn’t much depth to them for me.
We follow Jenna Willcot, a horror fanatic with severe anxiety who books a stay at a remote, horror-themed rental cabin in rural Montana to challenge herself. When she arrives, she learns the cabin sits on the site where, 25 years earlier, a serial killer known as the “Bitter Butcher” massacred eleven people. Now, on the anniversary, more bodies are starting to pile up.
Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Publication date : Mar 3, 2026
We follow Jenna Willcot, a horror fanatic with severe anxiety who books a stay at a remote, horror-themed rental cabin in rural Montana to challenge herself. When she arrives, she learns the cabin sits on the site where, 25 years earlier, a serial killer known as the “Bitter Butcher” massacred eleven people. Now, on the anniversary, more bodies are starting to pile up.
Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Publication date : Mar 3, 2026
August 31, 2025
I absolutely love slasher books and this novel didn’t disappoint. The gore, the chase,the face when they are like OMG!😱 This book had everything including a mystery of who did it! It had me engaged the entire time
I want to thank BookSirens for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review voluntarily.
I want to thank BookSirens for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review voluntarily.
November 24, 2025
Much to my dismay, this was terrible. Let me tell you why without spoilers (fingers crossed)
A chronically ill, anxious woman who is obsessed with horror finds a horror themed Air BnB so she books a flight and goes. When she arrives she learns the airBnB is on the land of a famous murderer and a copycat killer has just shown up in town on the day she flies in.
Ok first off, what anxious person impulsively books a flight for a ONE night stay in another state with no time to prepare? Not this one or any one I know.
Second, this character is not just obsessed with horror. She is obsessed with true crime. Major red flag that made me side eye this character immediately. She tries to explain away that true crime "helps her not be anxious" the typical explanation someone would give about loving fictional horror. No honey, don't try that shit with true crime. Those are real people and you chuckling and heheing about death is gross.
Third, the amount of grammatical mistakes within the first 100 pages was just unacceptable. Not just spelling errors, full on incorrect sentence structure and even the wrong character name being mentioned during a conversation. On this topic, the damn POV changes. We start out in 1st person POV with our main character then every time someone is going to be killed we switch to 3rd person POV from the POV of the person who will eventually die. Spoilers much????
Now onto the story telling. Me, you and everyone else knew who the killer was from the jump. If you read or watch slashers, this was the most predictable of them all. I HAVE seen it mentioned that this was on purpose and this book is meant to be a satire. If that is the case, then this book needs to stop taking itself so seriously and it needs to eb marketed better that way. The storyline was overall very repetitive, redundant, and just down right unreasonable. What socially anxious person becomes friends with there Uber driver to a point they run a bunch of errands with them around town instead of going to your cabin destination?
By repetitive, I mean that the exact same "have you never seen a horror movie, this is how you die" speech was given by the FMC twice to 2 different characters on page. Why am I reading this twice.
I am just overall disappointed by every aspect of this book. I was really looking forward to it as the premise had such promise. It fell flat in every way a book can.
A chronically ill, anxious woman who is obsessed with horror finds a horror themed Air BnB so she books a flight and goes. When she arrives she learns the airBnB is on the land of a famous murderer and a copycat killer has just shown up in town on the day she flies in.
Ok first off, what anxious person impulsively books a flight for a ONE night stay in another state with no time to prepare? Not this one or any one I know.
Second, this character is not just obsessed with horror. She is obsessed with true crime. Major red flag that made me side eye this character immediately. She tries to explain away that true crime "helps her not be anxious" the typical explanation someone would give about loving fictional horror. No honey, don't try that shit with true crime. Those are real people and you chuckling and heheing about death is gross.
Third, the amount of grammatical mistakes within the first 100 pages was just unacceptable. Not just spelling errors, full on incorrect sentence structure and even the wrong character name being mentioned during a conversation. On this topic, the damn POV changes. We start out in 1st person POV with our main character then every time someone is going to be killed we switch to 3rd person POV from the POV of the person who will eventually die. Spoilers much????
Now onto the story telling. Me, you and everyone else knew who the killer was from the jump. If you read or watch slashers, this was the most predictable of them all. I HAVE seen it mentioned that this was on purpose and this book is meant to be a satire. If that is the case, then this book needs to stop taking itself so seriously and it needs to eb marketed better that way. The storyline was overall very repetitive, redundant, and just down right unreasonable. What socially anxious person becomes friends with there Uber driver to a point they run a bunch of errands with them around town instead of going to your cabin destination?
By repetitive, I mean that the exact same "have you never seen a horror movie, this is how you die" speech was given by the FMC twice to 2 different characters on page. Why am I reading this twice.
I am just overall disappointed by every aspect of this book. I was really looking forward to it as the premise had such promise. It fell flat in every way a book can.
July 31, 2026
Yall are NOT going to want to miss this one! Stephanie showed us what the slasher genre is all about in Small Town Slasher! It gave me total scream vibes and I loved the podcasting aspect that was in the story as well! I cannot wait to see what happens in Woods Bay next 😍
August 22, 2025
As a huge Horror fan and Slashers being my favourite subgenre I was excited to receive an arc for Small Town Slashers. (Releases March 2026)
The opening prologue delivered a solid Horror movie style opening but unfortunately I really didn't like the main character of this book so it just ruined my overall enjoyment.
I found Jenna to be quite contradictory and ott... What do you mean you have deliberating anxiety but will still willingly stay in an isolated cabin with a murderer on the loose because it's better than sitting in the airport?
In true slasher style the kills were brutal and at times the whodunnit element gave Scream vibes.
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. I loved the snowy small town setting and that the date was Friday the 13th as of course this is an unlucky date.
Thank you to DeathByTbrBooks for an e-arc but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
The opening prologue delivered a solid Horror movie style opening but unfortunately I really didn't like the main character of this book so it just ruined my overall enjoyment.
I found Jenna to be quite contradictory and ott... What do you mean you have deliberating anxiety but will still willingly stay in an isolated cabin with a murderer on the loose because it's better than sitting in the airport?
In true slasher style the kills were brutal and at times the whodunnit element gave Scream vibes.
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. I loved the snowy small town setting and that the date was Friday the 13th as of course this is an unlucky date.
Thank you to DeathByTbrBooks for an e-arc but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
July 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this one. The mental health rep was fantastic and I love the idea of a horror cabin getaway. I especially love it because the main character is going on her own and she has mad, debilitating anxiety. Sounds like something I would do.
This was very formulaic as to the slashing portion of the story, but it was a fun ride and I did enjoy it. I kinda had part of the reveal picked but it didn't detract from the story at all.
I look forward to reading more of Rose's work!
This was very formulaic as to the slashing portion of the story, but it was a fun ride and I did enjoy it. I kinda had part of the reveal picked but it didn't detract from the story at all.
I look forward to reading more of Rose's work!
Read
March 17, 2025I loved this meta slasher. The characters were relatable and fun. The murders were gloriously gory, maybe too gory for some, but perfect for me. I'm happy to see that Stephanie Rose has written a second book, I loved Hiding Lies, but Small Town Slasher is my favorite.
August 8, 2026
This one gave me total ’80s-’90s slasher movie vibes and I’m all about it! I loved the quotes from slasher movies and books at the beginning of each chapter. They were such a unique touch! The news articles and podcaster bits were fun too! This was entertaining, bingeable and had some wicked brutal kills. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!
Did Not Finish
February 23, 2026DNF @ 31%
As a horror/slasher fan I was immediately drawn in by the premise and I really appreciated the horror references and the inclusion of a disabled main character. Unfortunately, I struggled with the execution. The main character’s actions often felt inconsistent with her severe anxiety, and many of her choices came across as illogical and pulled me out of the story. I also found the tone and heavy use of very current references (memes and political opinions) didn’t quite work for me personally. This ultimately felt like a case of the book not being the right fit for my reading tastes, and I think readers who connect with this voice and love modern, reference heavy slashers may have a better experience than I did.
Thank you to Netgalley and Death by TBR Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
As a horror/slasher fan I was immediately drawn in by the premise and I really appreciated the horror references and the inclusion of a disabled main character. Unfortunately, I struggled with the execution. The main character’s actions often felt inconsistent with her severe anxiety, and many of her choices came across as illogical and pulled me out of the story. I also found the tone and heavy use of very current references (memes and political opinions) didn’t quite work for me personally. This ultimately felt like a case of the book not being the right fit for my reading tastes, and I think readers who connect with this voice and love modern, reference heavy slashers may have a better experience than I did.
Thank you to Netgalley and Death by TBR Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
August 4, 2026
I was lucky enough to receive a gifted copy of this book.
Sɱαʅʅ Tσɯɳ Sʅαʂԋҽɾ is the perfect Summer slasher! It’s full of everything a great slasher read needs!
🔪Horror themed cabin {sign me up!}
🔪Serial killer {of course!}
🔪Gore galore {a must!}
🔪Short chapters that ooze the classic slasher vibes!
Woods Bay is calling you. Will you answer?
Sɱαʅʅ Tσɯɳ Sʅαʂԋҽɾ is the perfect Summer slasher! It’s full of everything a great slasher read needs!
🔪Horror themed cabin {sign me up!}
🔪Serial killer {of course!}
🔪Gore galore {a must!}
🔪Short chapters that ooze the classic slasher vibes!
Woods Bay is calling you. Will you answer?
January 20, 2026
A horror fan pushing herself out of her comfort zone travels to a rural, horror themed cabin and ends up in the middle of a massacre.
I liked this well enough. The idea of the horror themed cabin with all its hidden surprises was cool. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect with the characters, especially Jenna. Her actions often felt contradictory, and the dialogue involving her came across as stilted and unrealistic.
There were no big surprises when it came to the slasher reveal, but I imagine that was intentional.
Thank you NetGalley and Death By TBR for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this well enough. The idea of the horror themed cabin with all its hidden surprises was cool. Unfortunately, I didn’t really connect with the characters, especially Jenna. Her actions often felt contradictory, and the dialogue involving her came across as stilted and unrealistic.
There were no big surprises when it came to the slasher reveal, but I imagine that was intentional.
Thank you NetGalley and Death By TBR for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2025
first off, i'd like to thank netgalley, stephanie rose, and death by tbr books for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review!
sadly, this book didn't really do it for me. i wanted to like this book, since i am a fan of slasher novels, but the book was way too predictable in my opinion. i was able to guess the killer's identity very early on in the book, so the big "plot twist" at the end, revealing the killer, fell flat for me.
i was also heavily annoyed by the main character, jenna, the entire time. i thought maybe i'd relate/connect to the character due to also being disabled with an anxiety disorder, but found jenna to be grossly self absorbed and highly annoying: there was absolutely no character development.
i would maybe recommend this book to those who want to dip their toes into the horror/slasher genre, not for more seasoned horror readers who most likely would be able to predict the book.
(pub date for SMALL TOWN SLASHER is march 3rd 2026!)
sadly, this book didn't really do it for me. i wanted to like this book, since i am a fan of slasher novels, but the book was way too predictable in my opinion. i was able to guess the killer's identity very early on in the book, so the big "plot twist" at the end, revealing the killer, fell flat for me.
i was also heavily annoyed by the main character, jenna, the entire time. i thought maybe i'd relate/connect to the character due to also being disabled with an anxiety disorder, but found jenna to be grossly self absorbed and highly annoying: there was absolutely no character development.
i would maybe recommend this book to those who want to dip their toes into the horror/slasher genre, not for more seasoned horror readers who most likely would be able to predict the book.
(pub date for SMALL TOWN SLASHER is march 3rd 2026!)
November 3, 2025
3.75⭐️ - This was such a fun one to read! I picked it up right before Halloween and it was the perfect spooky-season choice, but 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. It 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 the entire time. There’s also that perfect mix of interconnected characters and mystery that gives it a proper whodunnit vibe. I really loved the references to classic horror films and books too.
As a horror lover, I totally related to Jenna’s 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.
Thank you to NetGalley, Death by TBR Books, and Stephanie Rose for the ARC!
The story takes place over just twenty-four hours and wastes no time getting straight into the action. It 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 the entire time. There’s also that perfect mix of interconnected characters and mystery that gives it a proper whodunnit vibe. I really loved the references to classic horror films and books too.
As a horror lover, I totally related to Jenna’s 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.
Thank you to NetGalley, Death by TBR Books, and Stephanie Rose for the ARC!
June 1, 2025
I think slasher fans will enjoy this read and love all the references throughout. I enjoyed the movie quotes from some of my all time favorites at the beginning of each chapter. The nods to the classics were great but maybe a little too much at some points to the point where this read was losing its originality.
The kills were gruesome and well written. It didn’t take away from the story, but if slashers are your horror movie of choice, you might guess what’s going on before the end.
I love an inner monologue and it was great to get into the head of the main character. With that said, some points were made too many times and felt redundant.
I thought the concept of a horror themed cabin was cool. I loved the atmosphere of that part of the book. The jump scares inside the cabin were fun.
The author did a great job building the suspense and intensity during the last quarter. I couldn’t wait to see how this would end.
Thank you to the author for the eARC!
The kills were gruesome and well written. It didn’t take away from the story, but if slashers are your horror movie of choice, you might guess what’s going on before the end.
I love an inner monologue and it was great to get into the head of the main character. With that said, some points were made too many times and felt redundant.
I thought the concept of a horror themed cabin was cool. I loved the atmosphere of that part of the book. The jump scares inside the cabin were fun.
The author did a great job building the suspense and intensity during the last quarter. I couldn’t wait to see how this would end.
Thank you to the author for the eARC!
April 16, 2025
Jenna scores her (and my) dream vacation spot, but the town the remote cabin resides in has skeletons galore. You’re in for a bloody good time with this adult slasher horror novel!
This was PERFECT! The kills are intense and creative. As someone with intense anxiety, I found myself relating with Jenna. Also, her reason for being so into horror really spoke to me as I’ve been through similar. I’m definitely going to pick up Rose’s other book.
This was PERFECT! The kills are intense and creative. As someone with intense anxiety, I found myself relating with Jenna. Also, her reason for being so into horror really spoke to me as I’ve been through similar. I’m definitely going to pick up Rose’s other book.
February 9, 2026
Slashers are my favorite horror movies and one of my favorite genres to read. I love the stalking. I love the trying to figure out who the slasher is and how to out smart them to kill them or to get away. Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose is an ode to slashers. Each chapter starts with a quote from a horror novel or movie. The story follows the classic slasher structure. A masked murderer is out to get revenge on the anniversary of the massacre that took place 25 years ago. Jenna, an outsider, is visiting on a mini vacation. She unknowingly rents a cabin that is the site of this massacre. She meets some townspeople and together they set out to solve the mystery and survive the night. It’s bloody. It’s gory. There’s a lot of good kill scenes. I’m a fan. Small Town Slasher publishes 03/03/26. Thank you NetGalley and Death by TBR Books for the digital arc
August 3, 2026
I’m a big slasher fan and was definitely excited for this one since it gave me 80’s slasher vibes from the summary alone. All the slasher troupes were there with this one and with the short chapters I was flying through it. With the little cliff hangers at the end of each chapter it leaves you wanting more and to keep turning the page.
I did feel like the writing made me feel like I was reading fan fiction and I almost DNF’ed it from that alone. There were also some multiple POV’s but it was mixed in with the main character’s, which made it confusing at times. It was also a little predictable but also kind of eh on who the killer was.
Overall, this one was ok for me. It was a quick, fast paced thriller but not the best slasher horror book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dead by TBR Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I did feel like the writing made me feel like I was reading fan fiction and I almost DNF’ed it from that alone. There were also some multiple POV’s but it was mixed in with the main character’s, which made it confusing at times. It was also a little predictable but also kind of eh on who the killer was.
Overall, this one was ok for me. It was a quick, fast paced thriller but not the best slasher horror book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dead by TBR Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review!
September 6, 2026
If a friend gifted me a horror experience, of course I would absolutely go! What a great friend!
At the beginning, I was a bit confused by the actions of some of the characters. I have never wanted to sit in the front during an uber ride by myself and while I have had an uber driver stop for gas, I’ve never befriended one and had them introduce me to people, eat at a diner, etc. I mean, I know it’s a small town so people tend to be a lot more relaxed but woah. But as I continued to read, it all made sense!
Jenna is a tough cookie. I do wish we got to learn a bit more about her. I related to Jenna’s anxiety and the countdown method. Been there, done that! I think Jenna and I would be friends, actually.
Overall, this is a fun, quick horror slasher. Don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy the ride. But be careful, you never know where the killer might be lurking.
At the beginning, I was a bit confused by the actions of some of the characters. I have never wanted to sit in the front during an uber ride by myself and while I have had an uber driver stop for gas, I’ve never befriended one and had them introduce me to people, eat at a diner, etc. I mean, I know it’s a small town so people tend to be a lot more relaxed but woah. But as I continued to read, it all made sense!
Jenna is a tough cookie. I do wish we got to learn a bit more about her. I related to Jenna’s anxiety and the countdown method. Been there, done that! I think Jenna and I would be friends, actually.
Overall, this is a fun, quick horror slasher. Don’t take it too seriously and just enjoy the ride. But be careful, you never know where the killer might be lurking.
September 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
As the title suggests, this story is a slasher with strong Scream vibes. There were lots of gruesome deaths even I was squirming through. Overall, the story kept me hooked and wanting to know more. I appreciate the fast paced short story but I would have also liked some more backstory to some key characters. I’d recommend to anyone who loves:
-Slashers and Gore
-fast paced/short story
Thanks so much to Death by TBR books for reaching out to me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
As the title suggests, this story is a slasher with strong Scream vibes. There were lots of gruesome deaths even I was squirming through. Overall, the story kept me hooked and wanting to know more. I appreciate the fast paced short story but I would have also liked some more backstory to some key characters. I’d recommend to anyone who loves:
-Slashers and Gore
-fast paced/short story
Thanks so much to Death by TBR books for reaching out to me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
June 30, 2026
This was a fun little slasher actually very perfect for summerween! I loved the little quotes from horror movies / books at the start of the chapters and the characters were fun! Some of the dialogue was a little cringy and the constant references to horror movies and real life was a little annoying but it didn’t deter from the story!! I guessed who the killer was about 50% of the way through but still a fun read if you want a slasher / scream vibe book.
November 22, 2025
DNF 10% ,
Usually I try to give books a solid 25% before I give up but yikes the writing is NOT good.
Usually I try to give books a solid 25% before I give up but yikes the writing is NOT good.
September 9, 2025
As a huge horror movie fan I really enjoyed this slasher read!
The main character reminded me alot of Randy from Scream with all her horror movie knowledge.
I also really loved the quotes from horror movies at the start of each chapter.
I did guess who the slasher was but I still enjoyed reading to the end to find out if I was right or not.
the haunted cabin air b&b was really cool!
Thank you to book sirens for sending me an arc copy to read and review.
The main character reminded me alot of Randy from Scream with all her horror movie knowledge.
I also really loved the quotes from horror movies at the start of each chapter.
I did guess who the slasher was but I still enjoyed reading to the end to find out if I was right or not.
the haunted cabin air b&b was really cool!
Thank you to book sirens for sending me an arc copy to read and review.
September 27, 2025
I was so excited to be approved fir this right at the beginning of spooky season. I am a huge horror movie fan, but I don't think I loved this book. It just wasn't for me. The main character drove me crazy and she was very contradictory. She suffers from crippling anxiety, but makes friends with multiple people in this new town and invites them to her cabin just a few minutes after meeting them? There was also many parts in the story I feel just didn't belong or had no reason. I also found it hard to follow along with at times, jumping from one person's perspective to another without any warning. The story didn't flow well enough together to keep me engaged or hold my interest. Unfortunately, this wasn't the Slasher read I was hoping for.
Thank you Netgalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Death by TBR Books for the ARC.
September 18, 2025
I really wanted to enjoy Small Town Slasher. The idea of a horror fan with anxiety confronting a real-life killer in a secluded cabin had real potential, and I appreciated the nods to classic slasher films throughout. Jenna’s inner monologue at times felt quite authentic, and there were a few genuinely tense moments.
However, the execution didn’t quite land for me. The pacing was uneven, with the first half feeling particularly slow and overly introspective. Much of the dialogue felt a bit forced, and I struggled to connect with the supporting characters — many of whom felt more like horror archetypes than real people. By the time the mystery began to unfold, I’d already guessed most of it, which took the edge off any suspense.
There are flashes of strong writing and a clear love for the genre here, but the story didn’t hold together well enough to keep me fully engaged. It’s not without its moments, but unfortunately it wasn’t the gripping slasher read I’d hoped for.
However, the execution didn’t quite land for me. The pacing was uneven, with the first half feeling particularly slow and overly introspective. Much of the dialogue felt a bit forced, and I struggled to connect with the supporting characters — many of whom felt more like horror archetypes than real people. By the time the mystery began to unfold, I’d already guessed most of it, which took the edge off any suspense.
There are flashes of strong writing and a clear love for the genre here, but the story didn’t hold together well enough to keep me fully engaged. It’s not without its moments, but unfortunately it wasn’t the gripping slasher read I’d hoped for.
September 16, 2025
I had to take a couple of days to think on this before I put my review. There were parts of this that I adored. I love meta horror. But these characters were just not for me. I didn’t find myself really liking any of them. I felt like some of the scenes didn’t make sense once the slashers identity was revealed. As far as the kill scenes, they were insane and definitely lived up to the slasher vibe. All in all, I don’t hate this book but I don’t love it either.
If you do like meta horror, you should definitely add this to your list. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out in March of 2026.
If you do like meta horror, you should definitely add this to your list. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this ARC. This will be out in March of 2026.
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