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Kill Beth
A Gripping Psychological Horror Thriller from Best-Selling Author Jon Cohn
Fifteen years ago, theater director Mike O’Brien fled Seattle, leaving behind a tragedy too horrific to face. He swore he’d never go back. But when an estranged best friend sends him a mysterious script with a story he can’t ignore, Mike is drawn back into the spotlight - and back into the nightmare he thought he left behind.
As rehearsals begin, Mike’s grip on reality starts to slip. The shadows seem to move on their own. Cast and crew fall victim to horrifying accidents. And no matter where he turns, one chilling message follows Kill Beth.
The problem is… Mike doesn’t know anyone named Beth. And he’s not a killer.
But something - or someone - wants him to believe otherwise.
As paranoia sets in and the line between past and present blurs, Mike must confront a disturbing is he being haunted by his memories, or manipulated by something far darker?
⭐️ “Wildly original, psychologically dizzying, and a stellar new entry into Jon's growing library of brilliant horror.”
— Gage Greenwood, author of Bunker Dogs
⭐️ “Kill Beth is the best kind of thriller as it crawls under your skin like a hallucination.”
— Andrew Najberg, author of Gollitok
Perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay, Riley Sager, and Stephen King, Kill Beth is a mind-bending psychological horror novel that explores the terrors of memory, guilt, and the monsters we carry with us.
If you crave haunting thrillers with unreliable narrators, supernatural undertones, and a relentless descent into madness—this is your next obsession.
Fifteen years ago, theater director Mike O’Brien fled Seattle, leaving behind a tragedy too horrific to face. He swore he’d never go back. But when an estranged best friend sends him a mysterious script with a story he can’t ignore, Mike is drawn back into the spotlight - and back into the nightmare he thought he left behind.
As rehearsals begin, Mike’s grip on reality starts to slip. The shadows seem to move on their own. Cast and crew fall victim to horrifying accidents. And no matter where he turns, one chilling message follows Kill Beth.
The problem is… Mike doesn’t know anyone named Beth. And he’s not a killer.
But something - or someone - wants him to believe otherwise.
As paranoia sets in and the line between past and present blurs, Mike must confront a disturbing is he being haunted by his memories, or manipulated by something far darker?
⭐️ “Wildly original, psychologically dizzying, and a stellar new entry into Jon's growing library of brilliant horror.”
— Gage Greenwood, author of Bunker Dogs
⭐️ “Kill Beth is the best kind of thriller as it crawls under your skin like a hallucination.”
— Andrew Najberg, author of Gollitok
Perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay, Riley Sager, and Stephen King, Kill Beth is a mind-bending psychological horror novel that explores the terrors of memory, guilt, and the monsters we carry with us.
If you crave haunting thrillers with unreliable narrators, supernatural undertones, and a relentless descent into madness—this is your next obsession.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2025
127 people are currently reading
10209 people want to read
About the author
Jon Cohn
19 books393 followersJon Cohn is the award winning author of "The Island Mother." His latest novel, "Slashtag," is a horror-satire currently available on ebook, paperback, KU, and Audiobook! For more info visit www.slashtaginsider.com
Writer, Board Game Designer & Horror Fanatic
Jon has been a member of the games community since 2016, designing narrative-focused horror experiences like Grind House, and having the absolute joy of contributing to his favorite franchises like Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joncohnauthor.
He would also love to give you free stuff like stories, audiobooks, and games by signing up for his mailing list at joncohnauthor.com.
He lives in San Diego with his incredibly supportive wife Delaney, and two little monsters named Gizmo and Luna.
Writer, Board Game Designer & Horror Fanatic
Jon has been a member of the games community since 2016, designing narrative-focused horror experiences like Grind House, and having the absolute joy of contributing to his favorite franchises like Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joncohnauthor.
He would also love to give you free stuff like stories, audiobooks, and games by signing up for his mailing list at joncohnauthor.com.
He lives in San Diego with his incredibly supportive wife Delaney, and two little monsters named Gizmo and Luna.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 1, 2025
'Dig in crystals by the dozen
It’s easy when it's done with loving
Track Beth down, take it away
Make her suffer, make her pay.'
4.5 🩸🔪🩸
☠️ Everywhere Mike goes, the message “Kill Beth” appears. But the catch: he doesn’t know anyone named Beth, and he can’t imagine being capable of killing anyone.
☠️ Has a slow-burn horror feel to it. Dark, creeping and claustrophobic. Not for you if you prefer your horror fast-paced and heavily-action oriented. twisty and kept me guessing 👍
☠️ the novel explores how obsession with “what happened” or “what’s happening” can unravel a person. Love the spontaneous writing sessions in between chapters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s easy when it's done with loving
Track Beth down, take it away
Make her suffer, make her pay.'
4.5 🩸🔪🩸
☠️ Everywhere Mike goes, the message “Kill Beth” appears. But the catch: he doesn’t know anyone named Beth, and he can’t imagine being capable of killing anyone.
☠️ Has a slow-burn horror feel to it. Dark, creeping and claustrophobic. Not for you if you prefer your horror fast-paced and heavily-action oriented. twisty and kept me guessing 👍
☠️ the novel explores how obsession with “what happened” or “what’s happening” can unravel a person. Love the spontaneous writing sessions in between chapters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 22, 2025
“There is an internal clock in me, and the minute hand is made of pure anxiety.”
Oh my goodness, where do I start with this book?
I was so lucky to receive an ARC copy of this.
Everything I have read by Jon Cohn has just been so good. And this was no exception. The entire mystery of this story was just so well written. And as someone who deals with major anxiety as well as OCD, I related quite a bit initially to the main character, which always makes me even more invested in the story.
I didn’t expect a lot to catch me by total shock but the last bit of this book was just a total mind blower 🤯
I cannot wait till this officially comes out because I 100% need me a physical copy! 5/5 hands down.
Oh my goodness, where do I start with this book?
I was so lucky to receive an ARC copy of this.
Everything I have read by Jon Cohn has just been so good. And this was no exception. The entire mystery of this story was just so well written. And as someone who deals with major anxiety as well as OCD, I related quite a bit initially to the main character, which always makes me even more invested in the story.
I didn’t expect a lot to catch me by total shock but the last bit of this book was just a total mind blower 🤯
I cannot wait till this officially comes out because I 100% need me a physical copy! 5/5 hands down.
September 28, 2025
I had no idea what was going on half the time and I’m still thinking about it. I love how it is up for interpretation for each reader.
May 22, 2025
Thank you Jon Cohn Author for the privilege of being an ARC reader for this brain whipping, what in the world, wicked awesome Horror book! I am trying to review this book without spoilers, but it is very difficult because there are so many mind blowing parts I want to mention! I was going to do a review when I was halfway through but I couldn't control myself and kept reading until the end! Wow, this is the first book I have read from this author and now I want to read EVERYTHING he has written and all future books! A lot of time and work went into this book! Every page kept me enthralled! Release date is June 12th, 2025.
May 17, 2025
I finished reading this a few days ago and I can not stop thinking about it!!! I read this in one day and could not put it down. Slashtag by Jon Cohn was one of my favorite reads last year so I was beyond thrilled to get an ARC of Kill Beth. This book was absolutely amazing. The concept and storyline was unique and engaging. I absolutely love Jon’s writing style. The mentions of Slashtag thrown into Kill Beth were great little additions as well. This book kept me guessing throughout and the ending blew my mind!
June 11, 2025
Kill Beth is a psychological thriller with a blend of descent into madness and supernatural feeling. I'd give Kill Beth a solid 4 out of 5 stars for its scope and experience.
The strength of the book is in its portrayal of Mike's deteriorating mental state. As a director dealing with debilitating OCD and past traumas, Mike's world is a chaotic and terrifying place.
Kill Beth is a must-read for anyone who likes psychological thrillers that delve into the a true descent into madness with a little paranormal. It's a dark, unsettling journey for fans of the genre.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The strength of the book is in its portrayal of Mike's deteriorating mental state. As a director dealing with debilitating OCD and past traumas, Mike's world is a chaotic and terrifying place.
Kill Beth is a must-read for anyone who likes psychological thrillers that delve into the a true descent into madness with a little paranormal. It's a dark, unsettling journey for fans of the genre.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 11, 2025
Just finished this one and wow — I don’t think I’ll ever look at a theater stage the same way again 😶🌫️
There’s something so perfectly eerie about a story centred around a theatre. Its always dark, its always eerie, and theres always a back story, which is why people always talk about the theatre being haunted.
This horror is no different.
Set under stage lights, not only was there drama, there was tension, and that creeping feeling that maybe the real performance is happening off stage.
Told entirely in first person, as readers, we’re trapped right inside Mike O’Brien’s overactive, anxiety-riddled mind, making It both exhausting and brilliant.
This guy checks every door, every lock, every light switch — like, ten times — and somehow still manages to question reality at every turn.
His OCD tendencies make the tension feel real, because you never know if what he’s seeing is part of the haunting… or just his mind playing tricks.
Its a steady, yet slow pace burn with that unease slowly creeping and then it snowballs FAST, and once those nightmares start, oh..wham bam thank you mam, its one helluva ride, until you’re clutching the book thinking, “Please just let the man rest.”
It’s dark, claustrophobic, and deeply psychological — like being stuck inside someone’s brain as it slowly short-circuits. The first-person POV nails that descent into madness perfectly.
This one isn’t just horror — it’s a performance of paranoia, guilt, and obsession. 🎭💀
There’s something so perfectly eerie about a story centred around a theatre. Its always dark, its always eerie, and theres always a back story, which is why people always talk about the theatre being haunted.
This horror is no different.
Set under stage lights, not only was there drama, there was tension, and that creeping feeling that maybe the real performance is happening off stage.
Told entirely in first person, as readers, we’re trapped right inside Mike O’Brien’s overactive, anxiety-riddled mind, making It both exhausting and brilliant.
This guy checks every door, every lock, every light switch — like, ten times — and somehow still manages to question reality at every turn.
His OCD tendencies make the tension feel real, because you never know if what he’s seeing is part of the haunting… or just his mind playing tricks.
Its a steady, yet slow pace burn with that unease slowly creeping and then it snowballs FAST, and once those nightmares start, oh..wham bam thank you mam, its one helluva ride, until you’re clutching the book thinking, “Please just let the man rest.”
It’s dark, claustrophobic, and deeply psychological — like being stuck inside someone’s brain as it slowly short-circuits. The first-person POV nails that descent into madness perfectly.
This one isn’t just horror — it’s a performance of paranoia, guilt, and obsession. 🎭💀
September 15, 2025
You guys, I won a copy of Jon Cohn’s Kill Beth from a Goodreads giveaway, and let me just say, this book did NOT disappoint. I was so into it, I finished it in like, two days. My official rating is 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐.
This book is a total mind-bender. The suspense is next level, and the whole time you’re reading, you’re constantly questioning what’s real. The vibe is super spooky, and it really reminded me of the psychological horror in Stephen King’s The Shining. You know, that whole “are they losing their mind or is the house haunted?” thing? Cohn nails that same creepy, claustrophobic feeling.
My only small critique is that I wish the ending had a little more room to breathe. But honestly, that’s a tiny little thing. The rest of the book is so good that I barely even noticed.
If you’re looking for a thriller that will seriously mess with your head, you HAVE to check this one out. I’m so glad I got a chance to read it.
This book is a total mind-bender. The suspense is next level, and the whole time you’re reading, you’re constantly questioning what’s real. The vibe is super spooky, and it really reminded me of the psychological horror in Stephen King’s The Shining. You know, that whole “are they losing their mind or is the house haunted?” thing? Cohn nails that same creepy, claustrophobic feeling.
My only small critique is that I wish the ending had a little more room to breathe. But honestly, that’s a tiny little thing. The rest of the book is so good that I barely even noticed.
If you’re looking for a thriller that will seriously mess with your head, you HAVE to check this one out. I’m so glad I got a chance to read it.
July 2, 2025
ARC review! (I know I'm late... 😬)
Overall I really enjoyed the character's devolvement into madness (or was it just his realization he had been mad the entire time?). Regardless -- the story kept me captivated throughout, my only note is that I miss the puzzles like Slashtag had ha! Jon has a way of creating a completely unique story which is rare these days!
I did really love the convergence of the two novels - what will Jon's universe come up with next??
thanks so much for the opportunity to read the ARC!
Overall I really enjoyed the character's devolvement into madness (or was it just his realization he had been mad the entire time?). Regardless -- the story kept me captivated throughout, my only note is that I miss the puzzles like Slashtag had ha! Jon has a way of creating a completely unique story which is rare these days!
I did really love the convergence of the two novels - what will Jon's universe come up with next??
thanks so much for the opportunity to read the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2025
With Kill Beth, Jon Cohn has created a supernatural murder mystery that soars to the operatic heights of your favorite giallo. The narrative is equally interested in juicy theater backstage politics as it is in stacking bodies. Even more pressing is the story's exploration of how our sordid pasts can poison our futures, and how guilt and fear are specters every bit as threatening and dangerous as the ghosts we whisper about in our most feared legends.
May 31, 2025
I received this as an ARC from Jon Cohn and was so excited to read this as I LOVED his book Slashtag. As much as I hated the MC (which I presumed was written to be just that) it was an absolute fantastic rise, and the impromptu writing sessions were spectacular. The twist was not something I saw coming, but that made this book even more fun to read. I will forever be a Jon Cohn fan and if he has no more fans, I am dead. Lol
5/5 ⭐
5/5 ⭐
July 8, 2025
Brilliant. This book was a nonstop thrill ride with perfect pacing and even better prose. With an unreliable narrator and a cast of characters that all crawled right off the page, Kill Beth takes the cake for the best ghost story of the year.
Our narrator, Mike, has spent his adult life running from tragedy that has haunted him relentlessly and manifested itself in the form of OCD. As he returns to his old haunts to direct a production of a play his best friend wrote, the past comes to life in a terrifying way.
Dealing with grief and guilt, Mike finds himself losing time and touch with reality as Kill Beth descends into a paranoid fever dream of one man’s quest to lighten the burden on his heart while holding it all together.
This book moved itself into my top five without question. Jon Cohn consistently puts out incredible stories and this is no exception.
Our narrator, Mike, has spent his adult life running from tragedy that has haunted him relentlessly and manifested itself in the form of OCD. As he returns to his old haunts to direct a production of a play his best friend wrote, the past comes to life in a terrifying way.
Dealing with grief and guilt, Mike finds himself losing time and touch with reality as Kill Beth descends into a paranoid fever dream of one man’s quest to lighten the burden on his heart while holding it all together.
This book moved itself into my top five without question. Jon Cohn consistently puts out incredible stories and this is no exception.
September 2, 2025
This is the story of a playwright who also deals with OCD.
He sees a physiatrist via Zoom who suggests he writes down his feelings, well for some reason he keeps inputting the words "Kill Beth" in them. The problem is he doesn't know a Beth.
This is a psychological thriller at best, I would not say it's horror.
I really enjoyed the writing in this book, the author kept me captivated and wanting to find out who this Beth is. The slow decent of madness was a page turner for me, however I felt the ending was either rushed, or got muddled somewhere.
I would like to read more from this author.
He sees a physiatrist via Zoom who suggests he writes down his feelings, well for some reason he keeps inputting the words "Kill Beth" in them. The problem is he doesn't know a Beth.
This is a psychological thriller at best, I would not say it's horror.
I really enjoyed the writing in this book, the author kept me captivated and wanting to find out who this Beth is. The slow decent of madness was a page turner for me, however I felt the ending was either rushed, or got muddled somewhere.
I would like to read more from this author.
June 5, 2025
Kill Beth is by far the cleverest story I've read in years!
From the start, I felt a lot of connection with our main character, Mike, as I'm a milder form of his anxiety and OCD. Reading his descriptions of what he deals with felt really familiar to me, even if I couldn't completely relate to his extremes. And as the book went on and certain things about him were revealed, I felt a lot of empathy and a lot of sadness.
Despite everything that happened, Mike is just a regular guy who went through something extremely traumatic when he was young and dumb. He never fully processed things, so coming back to where it all happened so many years later was too much for him to handle, especially after things started to go dramatically wrong. In the end, my heart bled for him after knowing how far gone he really was.
On the lighter side, I really enjoyed learning about the production process of a play! I love going to see them, but I've never actually thought about what goes on behind the scenes and how it all comes together. Getting a glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak, was absolutely fascinating! Any time I get to learn something new makes me really happy, and you never know where that learning might come from.
Much like I'm Thinking of Ending Things, this story has me wanting to do a re-read with eyes that are aware of all the nuances to see how my awareness changes the story! I love that rereadability, and it's so satisfying to go back through and unravel everything!
This was a huge departure from what I'm used to from Jon, but it's a beautifully done book that completely caught me in its grip from start to finish. I'll never read another story that's so profound and heartbreaking like this was. There are few books in my life that have hit me so hard in the soul, and Kill Beth is joining that exclusive list.
From the start, I felt a lot of connection with our main character, Mike, as I'm a milder form of his anxiety and OCD. Reading his descriptions of what he deals with felt really familiar to me, even if I couldn't completely relate to his extremes. And as the book went on and certain things about him were revealed, I felt a lot of empathy and a lot of sadness.
Despite everything that happened, Mike is just a regular guy who went through something extremely traumatic when he was young and dumb. He never fully processed things, so coming back to where it all happened so many years later was too much for him to handle, especially after things started to go dramatically wrong. In the end, my heart bled for him after knowing how far gone he really was.
On the lighter side, I really enjoyed learning about the production process of a play! I love going to see them, but I've never actually thought about what goes on behind the scenes and how it all comes together. Getting a glimpse behind the curtain, so to speak, was absolutely fascinating! Any time I get to learn something new makes me really happy, and you never know where that learning might come from.
Much like I'm Thinking of Ending Things, this story has me wanting to do a re-read with eyes that are aware of all the nuances to see how my awareness changes the story! I love that rereadability, and it's so satisfying to go back through and unravel everything!
This was a huge departure from what I'm used to from Jon, but it's a beautifully done book that completely caught me in its grip from start to finish. I'll never read another story that's so profound and heartbreaking like this was. There are few books in my life that have hit me so hard in the soul, and Kill Beth is joining that exclusive list.
June 1, 2025
Did I love this? Yes
Did I get to read this early? Also hell yes.
In exchange for a honest review, absolutely.
This was amazing, maybe I am a bit biased, but I love Jons work, Slash Tag and Everything’s Temporary are very high on my top books of basically ever list.
So Kill Beth, right onto that list, and hopefully onto my shelf when it releases officially.
So lets talk real quick, 15 years ago, Mike was involved in a bad thing, and turned away from Seattle, vowing never to return, spoiler alert folks, he did in fact have to return.
Now, I can complain and say, creepy weird message from my BFF, no, you can call and we can talk before I run out to the place that basically haunts me, but then again, would I ?
Mike doesn’t and heads on out, and that’s when the troubles begin, haunted by something, not being able to sleep and seeing the same message over and over “Kill Beth” okay got it, but quick thing, Mike doesn’t know who TF Beth is??
This part of the story gave me big “pontypool” vibes just in the over and over type drilling behaviors that while seemingly just a mild annoyance, can drive you legitimately insane.
I honestly could not tell which way was up and I mean that as a compliment, I was Mike, I was loosing it as I turned each page, needing to find out what was happening to him, to ME?
This book had me leaned in, hunched over, and gasping, and I needed to know, what was going on with Mikes “spontaneous writing sessions” and was this him going insane on his own, or we were leaning a bit into someone having a helping hand with his slow building decent into madness.
Or truly is this a matter of a haunting past, in more ways than one..
LOVED IT
Did I get to read this early? Also hell yes.
In exchange for a honest review, absolutely.
This was amazing, maybe I am a bit biased, but I love Jons work, Slash Tag and Everything’s Temporary are very high on my top books of basically ever list.
So Kill Beth, right onto that list, and hopefully onto my shelf when it releases officially.
So lets talk real quick, 15 years ago, Mike was involved in a bad thing, and turned away from Seattle, vowing never to return, spoiler alert folks, he did in fact have to return.
Now, I can complain and say, creepy weird message from my BFF, no, you can call and we can talk before I run out to the place that basically haunts me, but then again, would I ?
Mike doesn’t and heads on out, and that’s when the troubles begin, haunted by something, not being able to sleep and seeing the same message over and over “Kill Beth” okay got it, but quick thing, Mike doesn’t know who TF Beth is??
This part of the story gave me big “pontypool” vibes just in the over and over type drilling behaviors that while seemingly just a mild annoyance, can drive you legitimately insane.
I honestly could not tell which way was up and I mean that as a compliment, I was Mike, I was loosing it as I turned each page, needing to find out what was happening to him, to ME?
This book had me leaned in, hunched over, and gasping, and I needed to know, what was going on with Mikes “spontaneous writing sessions” and was this him going insane on his own, or we were leaning a bit into someone having a helping hand with his slow building decent into madness.
Or truly is this a matter of a haunting past, in more ways than one..
LOVED IT
May 18, 2025
Jon Cohn's "Kill Beth" will mess with your head with its wholly unreliable narrator, the bizarre situations he finds himself in, the large cast (ghosts included), and especially its spooky ending! It grabbed my brain from very early on, on account of Mike, its OCD-troubled main character, a theatrical director with unresolved trauma and disturbing secrets. The story gets off the ground almost immediately, with Mike's "spontaneous writing sessions," an exercise he goes for on the suggestion of his therapist: the writing samples he comes up with develop into horrifying, weirdly rhyming, dark poems - where he keeps mentioning someone named "Beth". He has no idea who that is. And then the poems start insisting he has to "kill Beth".
WTF, right? That's the kind of mystery my mind can't let go of, and like a catchy tune you can't get rid of, I just had to keep reading till the necessary revelations. Well, by that point my head was spinning, since those anticipated reveals were quite powerful (a couple of them perhaps even too powerful for their own good, since they shake up the whole story). The book is ultimately character-driven, with lots of drama and suspense, an insider's grasp of theatre production, some "Slashtag" easter eggs, and several creepy moments leading to a freaky, shocking climax.
I eagerly recommend "Kill Beth" to horror fans who enjoy complex plotting, supernatural mysteries, urban legends, and nifty storytelling devices building on surprising reveals and biased narrators.
WTF, right? That's the kind of mystery my mind can't let go of, and like a catchy tune you can't get rid of, I just had to keep reading till the necessary revelations. Well, by that point my head was spinning, since those anticipated reveals were quite powerful (a couple of them perhaps even too powerful for their own good, since they shake up the whole story). The book is ultimately character-driven, with lots of drama and suspense, an insider's grasp of theatre production, some "Slashtag" easter eggs, and several creepy moments leading to a freaky, shocking climax.
I eagerly recommend "Kill Beth" to horror fans who enjoy complex plotting, supernatural mysteries, urban legends, and nifty storytelling devices building on surprising reveals and biased narrators.
June 13, 2025
This book is one truly insane read! The number of times my mind had to wrap itself around a new reality...the number of times I had to release a breath I didn't realize I was holding...the number of times I shouted, "whaaaaaaaaat?!?!?!?!?!" and went back several pages to reread stuff.
I honestly feel like I need to go right back to the beginning and stay up all night to read the whole thing over knowing what I know now. To put it succinctly, this is a total mindf*ck. Also, it's beautifully written. What I love about Jon Cohn's writing is that he goes deep. It gets emotional and vulnerable and super insightful down there in the dark.
I highlighted a couple of passages that hit me that certain way:
"At least with grand risks, we know the potential consequences and have a modicum of understanding that we only have ourselves to blame. But it's the regret and rage over the small moments which really haunt us because they feel so avoidable in hindsight."
"If anything, I am usually too punctual. There is an internal clock in me, and the minute hand is made of pure anxiety."
I mean, come on. I just can't. That is an INSANELY spot on illustration of modern life. I love Jon Cohn. I love his books. You should read them. Start with this one.
I honestly feel like I need to go right back to the beginning and stay up all night to read the whole thing over knowing what I know now. To put it succinctly, this is a total mindf*ck. Also, it's beautifully written. What I love about Jon Cohn's writing is that he goes deep. It gets emotional and vulnerable and super insightful down there in the dark.
I highlighted a couple of passages that hit me that certain way:
"At least with grand risks, we know the potential consequences and have a modicum of understanding that we only have ourselves to blame. But it's the regret and rage over the small moments which really haunt us because they feel so avoidable in hindsight."
"If anything, I am usually too punctual. There is an internal clock in me, and the minute hand is made of pure anxiety."
I mean, come on. I just can't. That is an INSANELY spot on illustration of modern life. I love Jon Cohn. I love his books. You should read them. Start with this one.
October 8, 2025
Jon Cohn’s Kill Beth is a taut, psychological horror that thrives in the shadows between guilt, paranoia, and the inescapable pull of the past. The novel’s theatrical backdrop heightens the tension turning the stage itself into a haunted mindscape where every rehearsal feels like a descent into madness.
Cohn masterfully blends supernatural suspense with psychological unraveling. The message scrawled everywhere Kill Beth serves not just as a chilling mystery but as a metaphor for guilt that refuses to die. Each page blurs the line between reality and delusion, forcing readers to question whether Mike O’Brien is being haunted by ghosts, memories, or his own fractured conscience.
What makes Kill Beth stand out in modern horror is its emotional weight. Beneath the jump scares and eerie imagery lies a portrait of trauma, regret, and redemption a story that terrifies because it feels human. Cohn’s prose grips like a spotlight that refuses to dim, illuminating the darkest corners of the psyche.
For readers who appreciate the atmospheric dread of The Haunting of Hill House or the slow burn unease of Bird Box, Kill Beth is an unforgettable descent into fear and forgiveness.
Cohn masterfully blends supernatural suspense with psychological unraveling. The message scrawled everywhere Kill Beth serves not just as a chilling mystery but as a metaphor for guilt that refuses to die. Each page blurs the line between reality and delusion, forcing readers to question whether Mike O’Brien is being haunted by ghosts, memories, or his own fractured conscience.
What makes Kill Beth stand out in modern horror is its emotional weight. Beneath the jump scares and eerie imagery lies a portrait of trauma, regret, and redemption a story that terrifies because it feels human. Cohn’s prose grips like a spotlight that refuses to dim, illuminating the darkest corners of the psyche.
For readers who appreciate the atmospheric dread of The Haunting of Hill House or the slow burn unease of Bird Box, Kill Beth is an unforgettable descent into fear and forgiveness.
May 28, 2025
I’m honestly still recovering from this book. Kill Beth is unlike anything I’ve read before—it’s sharp, strange, totally original, and genuinely disturbing in a way that creeps under your skin and stays there.
The story follows Mike, a theater director who comes back to his hometown of Seattle to direct a new play. He’s meticulous, a little closed off, and dealing with serious OCD and trauma. He also starts having these unsettling thoughts—random, violent, obsessive—and one name keeps showing up in his stream-of-consciousness therapy writing: Beth. The problem? He doesn’t know anyone named Beth.
From there, it becomes this slow, spiraling descent into paranoia, memory, and horror. The tension is constant. I kept thinking I knew where it was going—and then it would twist. Not in a cheap shock-value way, but in a “wait… did that really just happen?” kind of way. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there were scenes that genuinely made me gasp.
What I loved most was how intimate this book feels. It’s told so close to Mike’s perspective that you almost become trapped in his head with him. And the therapy writing sessions? Chilling. There’s this second-person voice that’s so eerie and raw, it felt like I was eavesdropping on someone’s darkest secrets. Or maybe even my own.
Jon Cohn’s voice as a writer is so fresh and confident. He somehow balances dark psychological horror with a weird kind of tragic beauty. There’s even a subtle thread of dry humor that makes the whole thing feel so human. He’s not just telling a horror story—he’s digging into grief, guilt, control, and what it means to be seen (or unseen) by the people around you.
If you love smart, character-driven horror with a truly original structure and voice, this one’s a must-read. Just… maybe don’t start it late at night like I did, unless you want to be up until 3AM questioning everything.
The story follows Mike, a theater director who comes back to his hometown of Seattle to direct a new play. He’s meticulous, a little closed off, and dealing with serious OCD and trauma. He also starts having these unsettling thoughts—random, violent, obsessive—and one name keeps showing up in his stream-of-consciousness therapy writing: Beth. The problem? He doesn’t know anyone named Beth.
From there, it becomes this slow, spiraling descent into paranoia, memory, and horror. The tension is constant. I kept thinking I knew where it was going—and then it would twist. Not in a cheap shock-value way, but in a “wait… did that really just happen?” kind of way. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there were scenes that genuinely made me gasp.
What I loved most was how intimate this book feels. It’s told so close to Mike’s perspective that you almost become trapped in his head with him. And the therapy writing sessions? Chilling. There’s this second-person voice that’s so eerie and raw, it felt like I was eavesdropping on someone’s darkest secrets. Or maybe even my own.
Jon Cohn’s voice as a writer is so fresh and confident. He somehow balances dark psychological horror with a weird kind of tragic beauty. There’s even a subtle thread of dry humor that makes the whole thing feel so human. He’s not just telling a horror story—he’s digging into grief, guilt, control, and what it means to be seen (or unseen) by the people around you.
If you love smart, character-driven horror with a truly original structure and voice, this one’s a must-read. Just… maybe don’t start it late at night like I did, unless you want to be up until 3AM questioning everything.
June 13, 2025
No spoilers because you have to see this story unfold for yourself. Kill Beth is gritty, immersive, and soaked in dread — the kind of psychological horror that doesn’t let up. If you love stories where you think you’ve got it all figured out only to realize you’re so far off it’s unsettling because if not .. then what… Jon is highly skilled in creating tense atmospheres with relatable and realistic characters—he pulls you in and you have to see how it ends. Definitely recommend.
June 11, 2025
Mike has moved back to Seattle to direct a play, but his anxiety and past ghosts will not leave him alone. “Kill Beth” is a tense and an anxiety inducing read. Mike’s character is incredibly well written, his anxiety and OCD tics are palpable and lend to the tension in the story, especially as misfortune begins to haunt the cast. “Kill Beth” is a fantastic read!
September 23, 2025
This book was sooooo good. Cohn is such a talented author, but this is 4 instead of 5 stars is because the ending was so rushed. I was considering giving it 3 stars because of how rushed and shoehorned the ending felt. It really just happened in like 2.5 pages and left me feeling disappointed after such an amazing 99% of the rest of the book. Otherwise, this book was good and fun and spooky and a quick read despite my dates of reading on this app.
June 25, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy.
I always know I'm gonna have a good time with a Jon Cohn book. Kill Beth is like a trainwreck you can't look away from. Is Mike haunted? Is he crazy? Is it both? I couldn't help but feel for him. The behind-the-scenes descriptions of how stage productions are put together was also very interesting. The pacing is great, everything revealed precisely when it needed to be. 4.5 stars
I always know I'm gonna have a good time with a Jon Cohn book. Kill Beth is like a trainwreck you can't look away from. Is Mike haunted? Is he crazy? Is it both? I couldn't help but feel for him. The behind-the-scenes descriptions of how stage productions are put together was also very interesting. The pacing is great, everything revealed precisely when it needed to be. 4.5 stars
June 26, 2025
A fantastically told story. A spooky theater kid's joy here. chef's kiss ending. there wasn't a moment I didn't enjoy.
September 10, 2025
This book reminds me of supermarket by logic! Had be gasping at the end! A good read, at times confusing but I guess that’s the point
September 6, 2025
Very entertaining. Has Stephen King vibes.
October 8, 2025
this was superb! anyone who is a fan of horror or theatre would love this! this was such a thought out mix of events that had me in goosebumps! the spontaneous writing is something I'm going to try out myself!
August 2, 2025
You’re spinning out now, completely a mess,
There's only one way out, and that's to KILL BETH.
I do not want to be crude nor show any disrespect to the author, Jon Cohn*, here… but his book "Kill Beth" was some serious "Sixth Sense" shit! Wowzers, talk about twists and turns and surprises and vibes and all of that! It's been a long time since I've read a book where I honestly could not tell you which parts were real and which parts were… imagined? An expression and/or symptom of deeper, underlying pyschoses? Honest to goodness hauntings happening with scary ghosts taking part? I mean, did any of this book actually, well, happen at all? (*many of you may recognize the name from his award-winning book "Slashtag"!)
There is no such thing as control. Just chaos.
Now I am no expert on performing plays, acting, or any of the necessary skills and traits that you might find in the theater, but Cohn gently takes our hand and walks us through a production that is taking place in Seattle, Washington. A production which has brought our director, Mike O'Brien, back home. However, this is no cheerful reunion as "home" represents a place for Mike of terrible memories (or are they?) where for most of the book we only know that "something bad happened in the past." Still, he couldn't say no to his best friend Nate Mulligan, who has written the play (or has he?) and was also in some way involved in the tragic event(s) of the past WITH Mike. In some way. Confused yet? You should be because it's gonna knock your socks off!
You’re going to look back at this week one day as the turning point in your life.
So along the way we have all kinds of strange events occurring around us, including a bizarre accident with a fake fireplace, a couple of run-in's with a questionably good-natured but "I take no shit" unhoused person, confusing gaps in time and misread bottles, and even what apparently is par for the course for theater productions, that is, a ghost. Or better said, a haunting. Which may or may not have happened. Seriously, you have to answer that for yourself. But the fact that the production is being conducted 4 floors below street level far, far away from the meager sunlight Seattle gets anyway only amps up the tension, as does the somewhat lacking housing that our cast is provided within walking distance of the center. I mean, nothing says "ok, it's about to get real" like paper-thin walls, bug-infested motel-like structures, creepy dark basements, and a cast full of their own quirks and egos.
Sometimes we just have dark thoughts.
And this is all happening while Mike is still dealing with the trauma of "the event" that eventually does get explained but I won't give it away here. He's even still face-timing his psychologist in NYC regularly, who has given him a strange - and convenient for our purposes - exercise of just sitting down at the computer, clearing his mind, and typing whatever happens to pop into his head. However, these "spontaneous writing" sessions turn more and more bizarre, morphing from what appears to be nonsense poetry to some pretty frightening slasher-worthy threats that should have immediately called for heavy doses of only the yummiest psychotropics. Seriously, if you don't begin to understand that Mike has a lot more going on in his head than just the obvious and almost debilitating OCD - he literally cannot move forward without constantly checking the stove knobs to make sure they're off and that the fridge is closed - then well, let me send you my list of lettered ailments as a teaching aid to ease you into it!
You have to fight that little feeling inside of you that wants to be miserable.
Along the way we are also left to wonder simply: who is Beth, you know, the girl we're supposed to kill because…? However, no one knows anyone named Beth and none of the characters present themselves with that moniker. Again, it's part of the delicious and utterly wackadoodle story here where we have to unravel not only what is happening right now but also something that may or may not have happened roughly 10 to 15 years ago. Or not. OK, I'll stop doing that because when I do it, it's obviously very annoying. But when Cohn does it, it's absolutely brilliant, as is the execution of this wonderful tale! And if you have your own horror bookclub, I highly recommend that you pick this book! If anything, the after-discussions will be an absolute riot!
The show cannot go on. Not this time.
Seriously, if you want to be able to (a) describe all of the aspects of the cover (which is also superb!), read this book. And (b) if you're looking for a story that may or may not be happening on our plane of reality or in the artsy back streets of Seattle or perhaps even just in someone's head while he's zonked out on lithium in an asylum in New York, then read this book. Trust me, you will NOT be able to guess what is coming up and the last few chapters may send you out to visit your own neighborhood provider of proper mental healthcare support and/or active substances. Me? I'm just wondering if re-reading this would change my entire perspective of what I've just read as I can't trust my thoughts or memories about same now at all. I mean, did I even read it … or did I imagine it all? At least I'm not seeing dead people, right?
There's only one way out, and that's to KILL BETH.
I do not want to be crude nor show any disrespect to the author, Jon Cohn*, here… but his book "Kill Beth" was some serious "Sixth Sense" shit! Wowzers, talk about twists and turns and surprises and vibes and all of that! It's been a long time since I've read a book where I honestly could not tell you which parts were real and which parts were… imagined? An expression and/or symptom of deeper, underlying pyschoses? Honest to goodness hauntings happening with scary ghosts taking part? I mean, did any of this book actually, well, happen at all? (*many of you may recognize the name from his award-winning book "Slashtag"!)
There is no such thing as control. Just chaos.
Now I am no expert on performing plays, acting, or any of the necessary skills and traits that you might find in the theater, but Cohn gently takes our hand and walks us through a production that is taking place in Seattle, Washington. A production which has brought our director, Mike O'Brien, back home. However, this is no cheerful reunion as "home" represents a place for Mike of terrible memories (or are they?) where for most of the book we only know that "something bad happened in the past." Still, he couldn't say no to his best friend Nate Mulligan, who has written the play (or has he?) and was also in some way involved in the tragic event(s) of the past WITH Mike. In some way. Confused yet? You should be because it's gonna knock your socks off!
You’re going to look back at this week one day as the turning point in your life.
So along the way we have all kinds of strange events occurring around us, including a bizarre accident with a fake fireplace, a couple of run-in's with a questionably good-natured but "I take no shit" unhoused person, confusing gaps in time and misread bottles, and even what apparently is par for the course for theater productions, that is, a ghost. Or better said, a haunting. Which may or may not have happened. Seriously, you have to answer that for yourself. But the fact that the production is being conducted 4 floors below street level far, far away from the meager sunlight Seattle gets anyway only amps up the tension, as does the somewhat lacking housing that our cast is provided within walking distance of the center. I mean, nothing says "ok, it's about to get real" like paper-thin walls, bug-infested motel-like structures, creepy dark basements, and a cast full of their own quirks and egos.
Sometimes we just have dark thoughts.
And this is all happening while Mike is still dealing with the trauma of "the event" that eventually does get explained but I won't give it away here. He's even still face-timing his psychologist in NYC regularly, who has given him a strange - and convenient for our purposes - exercise of just sitting down at the computer, clearing his mind, and typing whatever happens to pop into his head. However, these "spontaneous writing" sessions turn more and more bizarre, morphing from what appears to be nonsense poetry to some pretty frightening slasher-worthy threats that should have immediately called for heavy doses of only the yummiest psychotropics. Seriously, if you don't begin to understand that Mike has a lot more going on in his head than just the obvious and almost debilitating OCD - he literally cannot move forward without constantly checking the stove knobs to make sure they're off and that the fridge is closed - then well, let me send you my list of lettered ailments as a teaching aid to ease you into it!
You have to fight that little feeling inside of you that wants to be miserable.
Along the way we are also left to wonder simply: who is Beth, you know, the girl we're supposed to kill because…? However, no one knows anyone named Beth and none of the characters present themselves with that moniker. Again, it's part of the delicious and utterly wackadoodle story here where we have to unravel not only what is happening right now but also something that may or may not have happened roughly 10 to 15 years ago. Or not. OK, I'll stop doing that because when I do it, it's obviously very annoying. But when Cohn does it, it's absolutely brilliant, as is the execution of this wonderful tale! And if you have your own horror bookclub, I highly recommend that you pick this book! If anything, the after-discussions will be an absolute riot!
The show cannot go on. Not this time.
Seriously, if you want to be able to (a) describe all of the aspects of the cover (which is also superb!), read this book. And (b) if you're looking for a story that may or may not be happening on our plane of reality or in the artsy back streets of Seattle or perhaps even just in someone's head while he's zonked out on lithium in an asylum in New York, then read this book. Trust me, you will NOT be able to guess what is coming up and the last few chapters may send you out to visit your own neighborhood provider of proper mental healthcare support and/or active substances. Me? I'm just wondering if re-reading this would change my entire perspective of what I've just read as I can't trust my thoughts or memories about same now at all. I mean, did I even read it … or did I imagine it all? At least I'm not seeing dead people, right?
May 25, 2025
𝑵𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚, 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰'𝒎 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝑰 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑰 𝒂𝒎: 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒇*𝒄𝒌-𝒖𝒑 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.
In just under 200 pages, the author created a completely immersive fever dream world that I completely bought into. I didn't question a thing because I knew at the end, everything would be revealed. I haven't read 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒕𝒂𝒈 yet but know enough about it to recognize and appreciate the Easter eggs that were mentioned.
After a horrific incident fifteen years ago, theater director Mike O’Brien never planned to return to Seattle. But when his estranged best friend sends him a script he can’t ignore, Mike finds himself back in the city with a spotlight on his troubled past. Each chapter begins with a stream of consciousness journal entry that Mike's therapist instructs him to write. They are all nonsensical, touched with equal parts whimsy and foreboding. But one thread runs through them all: 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒉. Mike doesn't even know anyone named Beth. Is this another facet of his OCD presenting itself or something far more sinister?
Mike holds rehearsals during the day and battles nightmares and strange occurrences at night. Meanwhile, the 'horrific incident' that is alluded to began to worm its way into my brain, especially when Mike begins making more and more references to it. The production is beset by one tragedy after another, and the mantra of 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒉 reaches a frenzy as Mike begins hearing strangers utter it. He has no idea that while he is directing his friend's play toward its climax, the terrible events of his past are about to reach their own crescendo.
Just like EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY, this book will firmly take root in your head and refuse to vacate. Some of the revelations really took me by surprise, and if you haven't read this author yet, you need to remedy that! Thank you so much to the author for the early copy. Look for this one June 12, 2025.
In just under 200 pages, the author created a completely immersive fever dream world that I completely bought into. I didn't question a thing because I knew at the end, everything would be revealed. I haven't read 𝑺𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒕𝒂𝒈 yet but know enough about it to recognize and appreciate the Easter eggs that were mentioned.
After a horrific incident fifteen years ago, theater director Mike O’Brien never planned to return to Seattle. But when his estranged best friend sends him a script he can’t ignore, Mike finds himself back in the city with a spotlight on his troubled past. Each chapter begins with a stream of consciousness journal entry that Mike's therapist instructs him to write. They are all nonsensical, touched with equal parts whimsy and foreboding. But one thread runs through them all: 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒉. Mike doesn't even know anyone named Beth. Is this another facet of his OCD presenting itself or something far more sinister?
Mike holds rehearsals during the day and battles nightmares and strange occurrences at night. Meanwhile, the 'horrific incident' that is alluded to began to worm its way into my brain, especially when Mike begins making more and more references to it. The production is beset by one tragedy after another, and the mantra of 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒉 reaches a frenzy as Mike begins hearing strangers utter it. He has no idea that while he is directing his friend's play toward its climax, the terrible events of his past are about to reach their own crescendo.
Just like EVERYTHING IS TEMPORARY, this book will firmly take root in your head and refuse to vacate. Some of the revelations really took me by surprise, and if you haven't read this author yet, you need to remedy that! Thank you so much to the author for the early copy. Look for this one June 12, 2025.
June 29, 2025
Kill Beth follows 40-year-old Mike O'Brian, a traveling theater director with crippling OCD, brought on by an incident 15 years in the past. He's back in Seattle at the insistence of his best friend Nate, who’s sent him a script that he can’t pass up. As strange events begin to unfold during the play’s production, Mike is forced to question whether this is a second chance… or a nightmare repeating itself.
Mike is a genuinely likeable guy, and his OCD is thoughtfully portrayed and very believable, playing a pivotal part in the plot. This is an extremely fast-paced story that I was able to finish in two sittings, thanks to the short chapters, which are broken up with increasingly unhinged free-writing sessions that show Mike's deteriorating mental state. His sense of paranoia and panic translates well into something that can be felt by the reader.
It isn’t immediately clear what true reality is, and it isn’t fully revealed until the final pages. There’s a lot going on here, but the book strikes a perfect balance between focusing on the play and Mike losing his absolute mind.
Honestly, I don’t have much to criticize. This is a fun, fast, and eerie read—perfect for those who love a good unreliable narrator. It’ll have you asking, right from the first few pages until the last: Who the hell IS Beth?!
Mike is a genuinely likeable guy, and his OCD is thoughtfully portrayed and very believable, playing a pivotal part in the plot. This is an extremely fast-paced story that I was able to finish in two sittings, thanks to the short chapters, which are broken up with increasingly unhinged free-writing sessions that show Mike's deteriorating mental state. His sense of paranoia and panic translates well into something that can be felt by the reader.
It isn’t immediately clear what true reality is, and it isn’t fully revealed until the final pages. There’s a lot going on here, but the book strikes a perfect balance between focusing on the play and Mike losing his absolute mind.
Honestly, I don’t have much to criticize. This is a fun, fast, and eerie read—perfect for those who love a good unreliable narrator. It’ll have you asking, right from the first few pages until the last: Who the hell IS Beth?!
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