Shiny Happy Psycho

by Stacy Walsh

It's 2023, and the Carotid Killer has been captured, solving a decades-long mystery surrounding the Rockway murder shed. In 1993, Rockway, Missouri, "The Rockway Five" were a staple at the local high school. Madison, David, Kim, Dee, and Arthur seemed to have it beauty, brains, and, at times, a well-known and biting mean streak. The group garnered celebrity status in their high school life and legendary status in death.
Thirty years later, Jaydee Thomas feels intricately bound to the mystery surrounding the urban legend that has been passed through the halls of Rockway High since the grisly murder of two students from the elite group back in 1993. Is her fascination with the mystery due to being locked inside the shed in which it happened by her former best friend and her cruel sidekick, or is there another connection for Jaydee, a little closer to home? The Carotid Killer's prison journal may hold the clues as to which Shiny Happy Psycho is at the center of it all.

251 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2025

About the author

In the 1980s, Stacy heard her mom say a sentence that would transform into a dream and eventually become her reality. Her mom told her, "I could see you becoming a writer." This statement sparked a possibility in Stacy's mind that would take years to develop into her passion. Fortunately, with the unwavering support of family and friends, the dream she had envisioned years earlier finally came to fruition.



In addition to her love of writing and reading, Stacy has a particular fondness for horror stories, which she incorporates into her work. Her books are published through a small independent publishing company called Solstice Publishing, and they encompass multiple genres, including psychological thrillers, mystery, drama, and, of course, horror!



When she isn't writing or scaring herself unnecessarily, Stacy enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, exploring their home state of Kansas City, or traveling and finding new adventures together. She loves connecting with her readers and sharing her passion for books with them!
Find Stacy on Facebook at:
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Follow my Amazon Author page at:
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Or check out her website at:
authorstacywalsh.com

Reviews

[saretta🎧 ྀིྀི · Rating 4 out of 5]

penso sia il libro più inquietante che io abbia mai letto. l’autrice è stata davvero brava, è riuscita a trasmettermi una sensazione di ansia assurda, come se qualcuno mi stesse osservando. originale e intrigante, anche se un po’ difficile in inglese. non so se riuscirò a dormire stasera🥰
4.5⭐️

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way this book flowed. I really enjoyed the story. I will be checking on this author’s other books.

[Jaimie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met Stacy Walsh at a boozy bookfair in Kansas City last Fall. I purchased this book and one other of hers. I gave this 3 stars. It was okay. I figured out pretty quickly who the couple in the murder shed were. I mean I was kinda on the fence about the female but as soon as I got to half way through and that female I was on the fence about had a chapter then I knew for sure.

The story follows 5 Seniors back in 1993 which I loved that part of it because I also graduated in 93. And the death of 2 of them. We are tossed from past tense to present tense when we meet 4 more Sophomores from the same high school but in 2023. When Jaydee(2023) gets locked in the infamous "murder shed" by her bully she feels drawn to a spirit and decides that she needs to help this spirit rest so she is determined to solve this cold case from 30 year ago. But the problem is the town is very tight lipped about the events and, the investigation in general that produced no results. All the while through out the book we get a glimpse into the killers mind as we read journal pages from what the town calls the "Carotid Killer".

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shiny Happy Psycho is a horror novel for fans of old school horror. What works here is the pacing of the story and it slowly builds so you become invested in the story and while the characters here are often times annoying they fit the story perfectly. You know that bad things will happen to them, but it's okay. You don't like them anyway and it fits into the what the story is. Horror sometimes isn't about characters anyway. It's about the pacing and where it's all going.
It's clear that Walsh is a fan of horror and this book works because she doesn't play it safe and reminds us that trigger warnings aren't needed. All you need is a great story and if you happen to be offended by any of it stop reading. It's a horror novel so you already know that at times it's going to be unpleasant. By the end of the book I had already though I knew who the killer was and I was wrong! For that I have to rate this higher and look forward to reading more for Stacy Walsh.

[maltida · Rating 5 out of 5]

With sharp writing, psychological depth, and a twist filled journey through past and present, this book will keep readers hooked until the very last page. A must read for fans of suspense, small town secrets, and complex characters.

[Gracelyn Fitzgerald · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 - DNF, immature