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Slasher Season #1
The Summer Fun Massacre
Surviving the massacre is just the beginning in this razor-sharp take on the summer camp slasher from horror master Craig DiLouie.
SUMMER 1983. A blood-soaked summer camp counselor is found staggering down a country road. The sole survivor of a horrific massacre, Mary tells a nightmare of a masked maniac wielding an old skinning knife. Arriving too late to help, her boyfriend Tom Bailey is plagued by guilt.
SUMMER 1992. The camp reopens as Camp Summer Fun. Now a sheriff’s deputy, Tom doubts this is a good idea, but the camp has been refurbished, the counselors hired, and the little campers are on the way. Responding to reports of a blood-curdling howl near the camp, he again arrives too late to save anyone except a single brutalized teen. The killer nowhere to be found.
Hoping to catch the killer and finally right his mistakes, Tom reconnects with Mary. She's convinced that the killer is not human but instead a rural legend known as the Hungry Hare.
The sheriff wants the case closed, but refuses to believe in folklore. Mary dreams of revenge for her friends. And Tom hunts for any traces of the real or fictional. But the murderer could be closer to home than anyone expects.
The Hare is coming and is so, so hungry…
SUMMER 1983. A blood-soaked summer camp counselor is found staggering down a country road. The sole survivor of a horrific massacre, Mary tells a nightmare of a masked maniac wielding an old skinning knife. Arriving too late to help, her boyfriend Tom Bailey is plagued by guilt.
SUMMER 1992. The camp reopens as Camp Summer Fun. Now a sheriff’s deputy, Tom doubts this is a good idea, but the camp has been refurbished, the counselors hired, and the little campers are on the way. Responding to reports of a blood-curdling howl near the camp, he again arrives too late to save anyone except a single brutalized teen. The killer nowhere to be found.
Hoping to catch the killer and finally right his mistakes, Tom reconnects with Mary. She's convinced that the killer is not human but instead a rural legend known as the Hungry Hare.
The sheriff wants the case closed, but refuses to believe in folklore. Mary dreams of revenge for her friends. And Tom hunts for any traces of the real or fictional. But the murderer could be closer to home than anyone expects.
The Hare is coming and is so, so hungry…
Audible Audio
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Craig DiLouie
65 books1,686 followersCraig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 619 reviews
August 9, 2026
**2.5-stars rounded up**
The Summer Fun Massacre features a unique take on the Tradition Slasher. In this book, we follow the police officer who arrives on the scene too late to prevent a tragedy.
For Tom, our MC, this kind of tragedy has struck twice in his life. Once in 1983, when the girl he was dating, Mary, ended up the final girl in a brutal Summer Camp slaying, and again in 1992, when another massacre occurs after the camp reopens. Tom is the 1st-officer responding to the scene.
That's pretty much all the massacre you're gonna get, the aftermath. We follow Tom in the days following as he deals with his complex emotions on both crimes and tries to solve them before they happen again.
I don't know, y'all. I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately, I feel like I am generously rounding up. I found it slow and boring; not a good match for my tastes, especially considering what I was expecting.
I wanted Summer Camp vibes and the massacre to be on page. Not a Summer Camp, named Summer Fun, that plays only a peripheral role in the story. I received zero 'camp' from this, and I'm salty about it.
I'm rounding up to 3-stars, not because I enjoyed the book, but because I believe others could. The writing is fluid, and Tom is well-developed as a character.
Even though I'm disappointed by the trajectory of the narrative overall, I do appreciate what DiLouie was doing here, switching up the perspective of a Traditional Slasher. I think that was a risk, and if he was comfortable going for it, I'm gonna support that.
I think that idea, to explore a different angle, and bring something new to the subgenre is a great idea, just for me, the content was dull as dirt.
At the end of the day, it lacked the fun and excitement I was looking for, and I feel like the title, though in a way, what the book is about, is sort of misleading. Fun was not had in my experience, and I needed more massacre as well.
With all this being said, just because this wasn't necessarily my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't work for you. I can be a picky-B, so take what I say with a grain of salt. If this sounds interesting to you, give it go. You could be finding a new favorite.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Run For It, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Even though this wasn't a win for me, could I be convinced to read the sequel? Yeah, most likely. Yes.
The Summer Fun Massacre features a unique take on the Tradition Slasher. In this book, we follow the police officer who arrives on the scene too late to prevent a tragedy.
For Tom, our MC, this kind of tragedy has struck twice in his life. Once in 1983, when the girl he was dating, Mary, ended up the final girl in a brutal Summer Camp slaying, and again in 1992, when another massacre occurs after the camp reopens. Tom is the 1st-officer responding to the scene.
That's pretty much all the massacre you're gonna get, the aftermath. We follow Tom in the days following as he deals with his complex emotions on both crimes and tries to solve them before they happen again.
I don't know, y'all. I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately, I feel like I am generously rounding up. I found it slow and boring; not a good match for my tastes, especially considering what I was expecting.
I wanted Summer Camp vibes and the massacre to be on page. Not a Summer Camp, named Summer Fun, that plays only a peripheral role in the story. I received zero 'camp' from this, and I'm salty about it.
I'm rounding up to 3-stars, not because I enjoyed the book, but because I believe others could. The writing is fluid, and Tom is well-developed as a character.
Even though I'm disappointed by the trajectory of the narrative overall, I do appreciate what DiLouie was doing here, switching up the perspective of a Traditional Slasher. I think that was a risk, and if he was comfortable going for it, I'm gonna support that.
I think that idea, to explore a different angle, and bring something new to the subgenre is a great idea, just for me, the content was dull as dirt.
At the end of the day, it lacked the fun and excitement I was looking for, and I feel like the title, though in a way, what the book is about, is sort of misleading. Fun was not had in my experience, and I needed more massacre as well.
With all this being said, just because this wasn't necessarily my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't work for you. I can be a picky-B, so take what I say with a grain of salt. If this sounds interesting to you, give it go. You could be finding a new favorite.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Run For It, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Even though this wasn't a win for me, could I be convinced to read the sequel? Yeah, most likely. Yes.
Did Not Finish
June 16, 2026dnf @ 39%
i loved the other book i read from this author, but this is another case of false advertising. i wanted a camp slasher, not a crime centric police procedural. i’m not in the mood for that type of story, so im calling it here.
— thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i loved the other book i read from this author, but this is another case of false advertising. i wanted a camp slasher, not a crime centric police procedural. i’m not in the mood for that type of story, so im calling it here.
— thanks to NetGalley, the author and Orbit books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
July 7, 2026
Damn I'm gutted about this. I was really looking forward to a fun, camp, slasher horror. However, what I got was a deputy finding himself investigating the aftermath of the slasher. And following on from that was more of a police procedural and lots of politics. And I'm really sad about it. Most of the slasher side of things was glossed over and by the end of the book, I was pretty much zoned out. So sad. The cover is so pretty.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
STARRED review in the May 2026 issue of Booklist and on the blog: https://raforall.blogspot.com/2026/05...
Three Words That Describe This Book: slasher w/new perspective, folk horror, duology
Honors the tradition and everything that is good about the summer camp slasher of the 90s (it is set in 1992 with flashbacks to 1983) but adds an important twist-- instead of being from the POV of the final girl (girls here because we have Mary from the 1983 massacre and Laura from 1992) it is from the deputy's point of view.
Let's examine this-- I loved what DiLouie did here. His last two books were with a similar idea. He took the cursed film and the cursed band tropes (in back to back books) and tried to make them fresh and new. He succeeded to a point. I liked them. But I did not love them. They were solid entries into the subgenres but they did not move the subgenre forward as a whole.
Here I am happy to report, DiLouie does just that. By taking the well trod summer camp/folk horror final girl slasher of the 80s and 90s and telling ti all from the perspective of the bumbling deputy-- the guy who always doesn't believe the girl, the guy who ignores the warnings and causes the disaster, etc... and gives him the voice and makes him involved in both the 1983 (as Mary's boyfriend) and 1992 (as the cop who finds the massacre victims and Laura), DiLouie has broadened the subgenre.
By having this book be about 2 massacres att he same camp it is also paying homage to the fact that this subgenre is ruled by sequels.
And, there is a folk horror reason here-- The Hungry Hare-- and rules behind how the massacres happen that enhance the story as well.
Finally, readers are promised that this is a dualogy and the second book is coming later this year!
I was very impressed and entertained like with Final Girl Support Group by Hendrix or I Was a Teenaged Slasher by SGJ-- books that honor what is best about the slasher trope but alter the perspective and to add something new and exciting that enhances every book in the subgenre. All three of these titles are written by people who know this subgenre backwards and forward, the stories are written with expertise and love with a commitment to giving readers something entertaining and new.
The SGJ comp is the best one because there are some supernatural things at work here, things that have rules, rules that make sense to fans of the slasher. But also, if you are new to the subgenre, this books is enjoyable and full on its own.
Also Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Fracassi
The nods to Scream and Friday the 13th are clear here as well.
Three Words That Describe This Book: slasher w/new perspective, folk horror, duology
Honors the tradition and everything that is good about the summer camp slasher of the 90s (it is set in 1992 with flashbacks to 1983) but adds an important twist-- instead of being from the POV of the final girl (girls here because we have Mary from the 1983 massacre and Laura from 1992) it is from the deputy's point of view.
Let's examine this-- I loved what DiLouie did here. His last two books were with a similar idea. He took the cursed film and the cursed band tropes (in back to back books) and tried to make them fresh and new. He succeeded to a point. I liked them. But I did not love them. They were solid entries into the subgenres but they did not move the subgenre forward as a whole.
Here I am happy to report, DiLouie does just that. By taking the well trod summer camp/folk horror final girl slasher of the 80s and 90s and telling ti all from the perspective of the bumbling deputy-- the guy who always doesn't believe the girl, the guy who ignores the warnings and causes the disaster, etc... and gives him the voice and makes him involved in both the 1983 (as Mary's boyfriend) and 1992 (as the cop who finds the massacre victims and Laura), DiLouie has broadened the subgenre.
By having this book be about 2 massacres att he same camp it is also paying homage to the fact that this subgenre is ruled by sequels.
And, there is a folk horror reason here-- The Hungry Hare-- and rules behind how the massacres happen that enhance the story as well.
Finally, readers are promised that this is a dualogy and the second book is coming later this year!
I was very impressed and entertained like with Final Girl Support Group by Hendrix or I Was a Teenaged Slasher by SGJ-- books that honor what is best about the slasher trope but alter the perspective and to add something new and exciting that enhances every book in the subgenre. All three of these titles are written by people who know this subgenre backwards and forward, the stories are written with expertise and love with a commitment to giving readers something entertaining and new.
The SGJ comp is the best one because there are some supernatural things at work here, things that have rules, rules that make sense to fans of the slasher. But also, if you are new to the subgenre, this books is enjoyable and full on its own.
Also Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Fracassi
The nods to Scream and Friday the 13th are clear here as well.
April 17, 2026
I went in thinking I was going to be reading a book about a Summer Camp gone wrong which it was, but I was thinking it was going to focus more on the camp activities and the horror of the camp. Bummer! I was thirsty for a good old fashion 80’s horror camp thriller! This one is more of a police detective book and the workings of the small town. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a tremendous amount of horror and disgust! But I wanted a little lightness and fun mixed in. There were way to many characters and just to much heaviness.
The book opens up with your typical one survivor and the sheriff to the rescue. There are a few chapters of gore and horror. But then it all goes down hill. It becomes small town politics, mayhem, police procedure and then the sex and romance breaks out! Like why?
I just find the book cover, the blurb and the whole story to be very deceiving! If you are looking for a true horror book this one you want to skip. I found myself not wanting to finish it, but I’m not one to DNF a book and I did want to find out who the red herring was!
THANK YOU NET GALLEY for an ARC COPY of this book. All opinions remain my own.
The book opens up with your typical one survivor and the sheriff to the rescue. There are a few chapters of gore and horror. But then it all goes down hill. It becomes small town politics, mayhem, police procedure and then the sex and romance breaks out! Like why?
I just find the book cover, the blurb and the whole story to be very deceiving! If you are looking for a true horror book this one you want to skip. I found myself not wanting to finish it, but I’m not one to DNF a book and I did want to find out who the red herring was!
THANK YOU NET GALLEY for an ARC COPY of this book. All opinions remain my own.
June 18, 2026
Not exactly what I was expecting, I was expecting straight 80's style slasher but it was more like 'Friday the 13th' combined with a police procedural. Don't get more it was still enjoyable. The one main problem I had was that the plot seemed to rely on the constant bullying by several of the main characters and the abject naivete of others, if I was reading this traditionally and hadn't been listening on Audible, I probably would have dnf'd instead of completing it, glad I finished it after all.
June 2, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
if you’re looking for a campy summer slasher, perhaps look elsewhere. this was 90% (boring) police procedural following the drama and politics of a small county sheriff’s office and 10% (honestly probably less than that) classic slasher.
i also was hoping for more of the folklore horror/mythical being aspect to be explored. i think that could have been such an interesting and fun aspect of this story, but it felt kind of pushed to the side and not as well developed as you would expect.
i did not like any of the characters. while tom was trying to do well in his own mind, a lot his actions and inner monologue just had me cringing. he was not a compelling main character, nor was he very likable. there is nothing wrong with unlikable protagonists (i honestly love to read about them), but tom was just boring and i found myself not caring at all.
the rest of the main cast is pretty much all police officers, and quite a lot of them. they were very similar in their descriptions and personality traits, so i had a difficult time keeping track of who was who.
also the women in this were very clearly written by a man and quite frankly, it gave me the ick. it felt like the women were very one dimensional and i did not like the way one of the female characters was handled at the end of this. on a similar note, the random sec scene was??? out of place and just odd and not needed?
i will say this was very easy to read and i flew through it in only a handful of sittings. i thought this had the bones of a good summer horror book, but the execution fell completely flat.
if you’re looking for a campy summer slasher, perhaps look elsewhere. this was 90% (boring) police procedural following the drama and politics of a small county sheriff’s office and 10% (honestly probably less than that) classic slasher.
i also was hoping for more of the folklore horror/mythical being aspect to be explored. i think that could have been such an interesting and fun aspect of this story, but it felt kind of pushed to the side and not as well developed as you would expect.
i did not like any of the characters. while tom was trying to do well in his own mind, a lot his actions and inner monologue just had me cringing. he was not a compelling main character, nor was he very likable. there is nothing wrong with unlikable protagonists (i honestly love to read about them), but tom was just boring and i found myself not caring at all.
the rest of the main cast is pretty much all police officers, and quite a lot of them. they were very similar in their descriptions and personality traits, so i had a difficult time keeping track of who was who.
also the women in this were very clearly written by a man and quite frankly, it gave me the ick. it felt like the women were very one dimensional and i did not like the way one of the female characters was handled at the end of this. on a similar note, the random sec scene was??? out of place and just odd and not needed?
i will say this was very easy to read and i flew through it in only a handful of sittings. i thought this had the bones of a good summer horror book, but the execution fell completely flat.
July 13, 2026
I went into this one craving a pulse-pounding, action-packed slasher to kick off my summer reading. What I got instead left me bored and yawning by the midway point.
Maybe it’s just me, but I love stories that drop me right onto the shoulder of the characters—deeply immersive, where I’m living the tension and terror alongside them. This felt more like a detached “slasher aftermath” recap than a gripping, in-the-moment horror ride. The premise had potential, but the execution never pulled me in.
Craig DiLouie’s style unfortunately isn’t clicking for me. After reading The Thirteenth Episode (which I also found pretty mediocre), I noticed the same pattern: he’s telling the story rather than showing it. There’s a lot of narration and summary where I wanted visceral scenes, raw emotion, and cinematic dread.
It’s possible fans of slower-burn, more reflective horror might enjoy this one, but if you’re looking for heart-racing summer slasher vibes, this might not be the right fit.
Maybe it’s just me, but I love stories that drop me right onto the shoulder of the characters—deeply immersive, where I’m living the tension and terror alongside them. This felt more like a detached “slasher aftermath” recap than a gripping, in-the-moment horror ride. The premise had potential, but the execution never pulled me in.
Craig DiLouie’s style unfortunately isn’t clicking for me. After reading The Thirteenth Episode (which I also found pretty mediocre), I noticed the same pattern: he’s telling the story rather than showing it. There’s a lot of narration and summary where I wanted visceral scenes, raw emotion, and cinematic dread.
It’s possible fans of slower-burn, more reflective horror might enjoy this one, but if you’re looking for heart-racing summer slasher vibes, this might not be the right fit.
July 16, 2026
I went into this book expecting a fast passed slasher book for my summerween reads. What I got was a lot of crooked cops, politics, and backstabbing. Sure there were deaths. It just wasn't what I expected. Slight let down.
July 28, 2026
2⭐️= Below Average.
Audio.
This was a bit of a letdown, as I was expecting your typical’ slasher movie’ set in a summer camp. What I got was the local sheriff trying to solve the crime. The blurb was a little misleading.
It was fairly easy to listen to but could have been a little more dynamic.
Audio.
This was a bit of a letdown, as I was expecting your typical’ slasher movie’ set in a summer camp. What I got was the local sheriff trying to solve the crime. The blurb was a little misleading.
It was fairly easy to listen to but could have been a little more dynamic.
July 18, 2026
Qué tal un buen slasher pero narrado desde la perspectiva del ayudante del sheriff , mientras intenta frenar al asesino. Y sí es una bilogía, así que toca esperar a la segunda parte.
La niña canta en voz baja: "El cazador tenía hambre, pero el pueblo le dijo que no". Tom sabe el resto. Todos los niños de Ledger crecen sabiendo eso. Comió algo prohibido en el lugar al que lo obligaron a ir. En el Bosque Susurrante, todos deben tener cuidado con el hombre que ahora caza como la Liebre Hambrienta. Una leyenda rural de la región del Panhandle de Texas.
Tom vuelve a señalar que los asesinatos son inquietantemente similares a la masacre de medianoche que ocurrió hace nueve años. La misma máscara, los mismos métodos y el mismo momento, el mismo resultado. ¿Acaso el asesino se enteró de que el campamento de verano reabriría y decidió regresar para repetir la masacre? ¿O se trata de un imitador? ¿Una imitación de un homicidio masivo que, a su vez, se inspiró en una extraña leyenda rural? Nunca atraparon al asesino.
La niña canta en voz baja: "El cazador tenía hambre, pero el pueblo le dijo que no". Tom sabe el resto. Todos los niños de Ledger crecen sabiendo eso. Comió algo prohibido en el lugar al que lo obligaron a ir. En el Bosque Susurrante, todos deben tener cuidado con el hombre que ahora caza como la Liebre Hambrienta. Una leyenda rural de la región del Panhandle de Texas.
Tom vuelve a señalar que los asesinatos son inquietantemente similares a la masacre de medianoche que ocurrió hace nueve años. La misma máscara, los mismos métodos y el mismo momento, el mismo resultado. ¿Acaso el asesino se enteró de que el campamento de verano reabriría y decidió regresar para repetir la masacre? ¿O se trata de un imitador? ¿Una imitación de un homicidio masivo que, a su vez, se inspiró en una extraña leyenda rural? Nunca atraparon al asesino.
July 15, 2026
It’s super weird that someone made the choice to market this book in a way that is so divorced from what it actually is. Sadly, it’s also not very good. I had to look up what Run For It Books (the publisher of this title) actually was, turns out it’s the horror imprint at Orbit books/Hachette. Run for what? The imprint’s name is equally as a bizarre choice as the marketing for this book.
April 24, 2026
The Summer Fun Massacre isn’t your typical slasher story. It picks up after the massacre has ended, with the final girl as the only survivor. Now, the small-town sheriff’s department has to figure out who the killer is. This isn’t the first time this small town has dealt with a massacre. In the summer of 1983, a young woman named Mary was found covered in blood, walking alone down a dirt road. She was the only survivor and claimed a masked killer with a skinning knife was behind it. Her boyfriend at the time, Tom Bailey, is now a sheriff’s deputy working on the new case. Mary thinks the same killer is behind both massacres, and she believes it isn’t human, but a rural legend called the Hungry Hare.
I really liked how this book blended slasher horror with a police investigation. The pacing kept me hooked, and I ended up staying up late just to read one more chapter and look for the next clue. The POV of the small-town sheriff who had never handled an investigation this big made Tom an unreliable narrator, and I enjoyed trying to see whether the clues he discovered would lead to anything other than a dead end. The conclusion left me with unanswered questions that I am hoping will be answered in the sequel.
If you enjoy police procedurals and slasher horror with supernatural elements, I recommend this book.
The Summer Fun Massacre is out June 16th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the opportunity to review The Summer Fun Massacre. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really liked how this book blended slasher horror with a police investigation. The pacing kept me hooked, and I ended up staying up late just to read one more chapter and look for the next clue. The POV of the small-town sheriff who had never handled an investigation this big made Tom an unreliable narrator, and I enjoyed trying to see whether the clues he discovered would lead to anything other than a dead end. The conclusion left me with unanswered questions that I am hoping will be answered in the sequel.
If you enjoy police procedurals and slasher horror with supernatural elements, I recommend this book.
The Summer Fun Massacre is out June 16th.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for the opportunity to review The Summer Fun Massacre. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 29, 2026
Another winner by Craig DiLouie. I really enjoy his books and the title/cover combo sold me. I am so stoked there's a follow up on the way!!
The gore was on point. I actually said "oh gross" several times and proceeded to read paragraphs to my husband. There was no way I was experiencing that alone. Ha Ha!
I liked the rural legend aspect a lot! Not sure I'm ever going to look at rabbits the same way ever again though 👀 YIKES! The Hungry Hare can stay far away from me thanks.
A great summer slasher! Definitely recommend. Thanks to HBG Canada for my gifted copy.
The gore was on point. I actually said "oh gross" several times and proceeded to read paragraphs to my husband. There was no way I was experiencing that alone. Ha Ha!
I liked the rural legend aspect a lot! Not sure I'm ever going to look at rabbits the same way ever again though 👀 YIKES! The Hungry Hare can stay far away from me thanks.
A great summer slasher! Definitely recommend. Thanks to HBG Canada for my gifted copy.
April 14, 2026
A series of mass murders dating back to the 1940s, but is the killer even human? I loved this book. Slashers are my favorite and this really did not disappoint. The gore factor was definitely there. And I’m so excited to see there will be a sequel because I needed more when I finished this.
Thank you to NetGalley for this awesome arc!
Thank you to NetGalley for this awesome arc!
July 4, 2026
actual rating: 3/5 stars
read for the tarot readathon 2026: knight of cups (read a book with a character going through emotional turmoil)
review to come.
read for the tarot readathon 2026: knight of cups (read a book with a character going through emotional turmoil)
review to come.
Did Not Finish
May 6, 2026Sadly, the title and synopsis led me astray on this one. While the book does throw you right into the slasher action, don’t let that fool you. This is not the campy, fun horror romp I was expecting.
The story quickly pivots to focus on the police investigation, making it much more of a procedural than a slasher. For readers who love that style, this might actually be a great fit. It just wasn’t what I was looking or hoping for personally.
I think this book absolutely has its audience. It just isn’t me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
The story quickly pivots to focus on the police investigation, making it much more of a procedural than a slasher. For readers who love that style, this might actually be a great fit. It just wasn’t what I was looking or hoping for personally.
I think this book absolutely has its audience. It just isn’t me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit books for this advanced reader copy. My review is voluntarily my own.
July 15, 2026
I LOVED THIS!
Like most of you, when I picked up this novel, I was expecting a campy slasher. I, however, was pleasantly surprised when this became more of a police procedural with the main focus being the who & why done it? I love getting into investigations and figuring out what the hell happened.
Excellent novel, easy to follow and enjoyable pacing.
Like most of you, when I picked up this novel, I was expecting a campy slasher. I, however, was pleasantly surprised when this became more of a police procedural with the main focus being the who & why done it? I love getting into investigations and figuring out what the hell happened.
Excellent novel, easy to follow and enjoyable pacing.
August 6, 2026
I went into Summer Fun Massacre expecting a full on slasher, dripping with campy ’90s nostalgia and enough bloodshed to make a VHS horror fan grin. Unfortunately, that’s not what this book delivers.
We get maybe five minutes of gory goodness before the story pivots hard into a tongue and cheek police‑procedural. From there, it’s nearly 200 pages of following the local deputies as they try and repeatedly fail to solve the case before it goes cold… just like the eerily similar massacre from the early ’80s. And the one before that. And the one before that. Because this town has a long, strange history of bodies piling up in the same patch of woods, stretching back to the ’60s.
Local legend blames a hare‑masked creature that burrows underground and rises every so often to feast on human flesh. Deputy Tom, however, is convinced the truth is far more human ... and far more personal. With ties to the ’83 killings and this fresh massacre happening practically under his nose, he’s determined not to let the killer slip away again.
I’ve yet to find anything by DiLouie that hits the same unforgettable high as Suffer the Children, though I keep hoping. I really thought Summer Fun Massacre might be the one ... but nope. It’s not a bad book, just not the book I was expecting. Instead of a slasherfest, we get the behind‑the‑scenes politics of small‑town policing and the slow grind of an investigation that may never find its monster.
If you’re looking for a procedural with a horror edge, this might work for you. But if you’re craving a blood‑splattered slasher romp? Adjust your expectations accordingly. Sigh.
We get maybe five minutes of gory goodness before the story pivots hard into a tongue and cheek police‑procedural. From there, it’s nearly 200 pages of following the local deputies as they try and repeatedly fail to solve the case before it goes cold… just like the eerily similar massacre from the early ’80s. And the one before that. And the one before that. Because this town has a long, strange history of bodies piling up in the same patch of woods, stretching back to the ’60s.
Local legend blames a hare‑masked creature that burrows underground and rises every so often to feast on human flesh. Deputy Tom, however, is convinced the truth is far more human ... and far more personal. With ties to the ’83 killings and this fresh massacre happening practically under his nose, he’s determined not to let the killer slip away again.
I’ve yet to find anything by DiLouie that hits the same unforgettable high as Suffer the Children, though I keep hoping. I really thought Summer Fun Massacre might be the one ... but nope. It’s not a bad book, just not the book I was expecting. Instead of a slasherfest, we get the behind‑the‑scenes politics of small‑town policing and the slow grind of an investigation that may never find its monster.
If you’re looking for a procedural with a horror edge, this might work for you. But if you’re craving a blood‑splattered slasher romp? Adjust your expectations accordingly. Sigh.
July 25, 2026
i went into The Summer Fun Massacre expecting a straightforward summer camp slasher, instead than following the massacre itself, the story begins in its aftermath, following Deputy Tom Bailey as he investigates the horrific events at Camp Summer Fun, it isn't another group of teenagers trying to survive a masked killer, it's a blend of police procedural, mystery and folklore.
June 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This one just wasn’t quite for me. It started out really strong, but I never fully connected with the characters, and the story started to drag a bit as it went on.
I also went into it expecting more horror, but it ended up feeling much more like a procedural thriller, which isn’t really my cup of tea. I kept waiting for a little more action, but it never really got there for me.
I can definitely see this working better for readers who enjoy slower, investigative thrillers, but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
This one just wasn’t quite for me. It started out really strong, but I never fully connected with the characters, and the story started to drag a bit as it went on.
I also went into it expecting more horror, but it ended up feeling much more like a procedural thriller, which isn’t really my cup of tea. I kept waiting for a little more action, but it never really got there for me.
I can definitely see this working better for readers who enjoy slower, investigative thrillers, but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
July 28, 2026
Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I went into summer fun massacre expecting a classic summer camp horror story, and while it definitely has the atmosphere for that, I found myself wishing there had been more of the actual summer camp horror and less of the aftermath. The setting was exactly what drew me in and I loved the nostalgic slasher vibes, but so much of the story focuses on what happened after the massacre rather than letting readers experience more of the terrifying events at camp.
I really enjoyed the writing, and I was invested enough to keep turning the pages, but I couldn’t help feeling like I wanted more scenes set during the camp massacre itself. I think that would have turned this book into a 4 star read for me.
I enjoyed reading this book and for people who are fans of the summer camp horror, you will still enjoy reading this, just don’t go in expecting it to be mostly about the gore. Honestly, I wanted a little more camp gore vibes but for a camp slasher in the summer, it was still good.
I went into summer fun massacre expecting a classic summer camp horror story, and while it definitely has the atmosphere for that, I found myself wishing there had been more of the actual summer camp horror and less of the aftermath. The setting was exactly what drew me in and I loved the nostalgic slasher vibes, but so much of the story focuses on what happened after the massacre rather than letting readers experience more of the terrifying events at camp.
I really enjoyed the writing, and I was invested enough to keep turning the pages, but I couldn’t help feeling like I wanted more scenes set during the camp massacre itself. I think that would have turned this book into a 4 star read for me.
I enjoyed reading this book and for people who are fans of the summer camp horror, you will still enjoy reading this, just don’t go in expecting it to be mostly about the gore. Honestly, I wanted a little more camp gore vibes but for a camp slasher in the summer, it was still good.
July 5, 2026
1.75
this book is definitely being heavily mismarketed. I thought this was going to be about a summer camp and killer on the loose and it really wasn’t. this was a police procedural with weirdly a lot of small-town politics. we follow from the perspective of one of the cops who is trying to find the killer and he was just such a boring and meaningless character. I really hate following from the POV of a cop anyway but this was just a pain to trudge through. I also hate how the women in this book were written so one dimensional and at some points I was confused on who was who because all the women were written the same way. I think this is my final time picking up a craig dilouie book. he’s not the author for me. the only reason this isn’t a one star is because the writing wasn’t a complete nightmare.
this book is definitely being heavily mismarketed. I thought this was going to be about a summer camp and killer on the loose and it really wasn’t. this was a police procedural with weirdly a lot of small-town politics. we follow from the perspective of one of the cops who is trying to find the killer and he was just such a boring and meaningless character. I really hate following from the POV of a cop anyway but this was just a pain to trudge through. I also hate how the women in this book were written so one dimensional and at some points I was confused on who was who because all the women were written the same way. I think this is my final time picking up a craig dilouie book. he’s not the author for me. the only reason this isn’t a one star is because the writing wasn’t a complete nightmare.
March 30, 2026
Fun, easy summer read. I was hoping for more of a slasher than cop procedural but it was still good. I’m intrigued enough to read the sequel and see where the rest of the story goes.
I received a free advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
BLURB:
Sheriff Tom Bailey investigates a massacre at Camp Summer Fun a decade after the infamous 1983 killings, forcing him to uncover the truth behind the legendary Hungry Hare in Ledger, Texas.
REVIEW:
This is an original slasher horror with 1980s/90s nostalgia. It’s mostly set in 1992, with flashbacks to a 1983 summer camp massacre that are slowly revealed. While the story has 2 Final Girls—Laura, the survivor of the 1992 massacre, & Mary, who survived the original killings—most of the story follows Sheriff Tom Bailey as he investigates what happens after history repeats itself. I was expecting a gory slasher survival horror, but this is more of a police procedural with small-town secrets, folklore horror, suspicious characters, & red herrings. With only 292 pages, short chapters, & straightforward writing, it’s a great summerween weekend or vacay read.
Told through Sheriff Tom Bailey’s POV in the 1992 timeline, I was immersed right away. The opening chapters see Tom respond to reports of screams coming from Summer Fun Camp. The lone survivor, Laura, tells him the counselors have been murdered by something monstrous, which triggers Tom’s own flashbacks of the 1983 massacre and triggers his investigation. As he reconnects with Mary, the original Final Girl, you’ll learn more about the “Hungry Hare” folklore & the town’s history of unexplained murders. With suspicious characters, including law enforcement keeping secrets & TONS of misdirection, I didn’t know who to trust or whether the killer was a copycat, a returned serial killer, or supernatural!
I managed to predict the big twist, and while it didn’t live up to the suspenseful buildup for me, I enjoyed the pacing & escalating stakes in the 2nd half. I didn’t realize this was Book 1 in a duology, but with a cliffhanger & unanswered questions, I would definitely read the sequel. If you enjoy retro slashers, police procedurals, & masked serial killer thrillers, add this to your list!
BLURB:
Sheriff Tom Bailey investigates a massacre at Camp Summer Fun a decade after the infamous 1983 killings, forcing him to uncover the truth behind the legendary Hungry Hare in Ledger, Texas.
REVIEW:
This is an original slasher horror with 1980s/90s nostalgia. It’s mostly set in 1992, with flashbacks to a 1983 summer camp massacre that are slowly revealed. While the story has 2 Final Girls—Laura, the survivor of the 1992 massacre, & Mary, who survived the original killings—most of the story follows Sheriff Tom Bailey as he investigates what happens after history repeats itself. I was expecting a gory slasher survival horror, but this is more of a police procedural with small-town secrets, folklore horror, suspicious characters, & red herrings. With only 292 pages, short chapters, & straightforward writing, it’s a great summerween weekend or vacay read.
Told through Sheriff Tom Bailey’s POV in the 1992 timeline, I was immersed right away. The opening chapters see Tom respond to reports of screams coming from Summer Fun Camp. The lone survivor, Laura, tells him the counselors have been murdered by something monstrous, which triggers Tom’s own flashbacks of the 1983 massacre and triggers his investigation. As he reconnects with Mary, the original Final Girl, you’ll learn more about the “Hungry Hare” folklore & the town’s history of unexplained murders. With suspicious characters, including law enforcement keeping secrets & TONS of misdirection, I didn’t know who to trust or whether the killer was a copycat, a returned serial killer, or supernatural!
I managed to predict the big twist, and while it didn’t live up to the suspenseful buildup for me, I enjoyed the pacing & escalating stakes in the 2nd half. I didn’t realize this was Book 1 in a duology, but with a cliffhanger & unanswered questions, I would definitely read the sequel. If you enjoy retro slashers, police procedurals, & masked serial killer thrillers, add this to your list!
May 11, 2026
I received an early copy from netgalley
I loved this book! It’s the story about a massacre that takes place in a summer camp. It then follows our main character, Tom, trying to figure out what’s going on in this small town and who the killer is. The more Tom discovers, the more he realizes that there’s more to this town than meets the eye. Meanwhile, the sheriff wants to close the case as fast as possible, even if they might not have the right suspects.
This novel is a great mix between horror and mystery. It starts off with a bang with all the horror possible. It then slowly turns into a mystery where Tom is trying to figure out what’s going on. It weaves in the horror elements expertly throughout. Though the pacing slows down to follow a mystery format, it’s never slow nor boring.
The last 20% of this book has you following Tom struggling to figure out what’s going on with an action pact ending. I thought this story was perfectly paced and flowed well. Though I know from very early on what was going on, it was fun to read Tom come to his own conclusions.
I would highly recommend this book.
I loved this book! It’s the story about a massacre that takes place in a summer camp. It then follows our main character, Tom, trying to figure out what’s going on in this small town and who the killer is. The more Tom discovers, the more he realizes that there’s more to this town than meets the eye. Meanwhile, the sheriff wants to close the case as fast as possible, even if they might not have the right suspects.
This novel is a great mix between horror and mystery. It starts off with a bang with all the horror possible. It then slowly turns into a mystery where Tom is trying to figure out what’s going on. It weaves in the horror elements expertly throughout. Though the pacing slows down to follow a mystery format, it’s never slow nor boring.
The last 20% of this book has you following Tom struggling to figure out what’s going on with an action pact ending. I thought this story was perfectly paced and flowed well. Though I know from very early on what was going on, it was fun to read Tom come to his own conclusions.
I would highly recommend this book.
July 25, 2026
4.25*
Un slasher que m'ho ha fet passar d'allò més bé.
Com tota bona història del gènere, hi trobem una massacre del passat que encara projecta la seva ombra sobre el present, i una nova cadena de morts que et manté enganxat fins al final. Però el que més m'ha agradat és la combinació d'uns personatges que acabes seguint amb interès, un bon grapat de girs sorprenents i aquella atmosfera vintage que tant m'agrada.
És una lectura molt àgil, amb bon ritme, moments de tensió ben construïts i aquell punt de diversió que busco quan agafo un slasher. Sense reinventar el gènere, l'autor sap jugar molt bé amb els seus tòpics i mantenir l'interès fins a l'última pàgina.
Si us agraden els slashers, els campaments d'estiu, els secrets del passat i les històries plenes de sorpreses, aquesta és una aposta molt recomanable.
Ja feia temps que tenia Craig DiLouie al radar, però aquesta novel·la m'ha acabat de convèncer. Sens dubte continuaré llegint-lo —sobretot després de descobrir que ja té altres llibres que em criden molt l'atenció.
Un slasher que m'ho ha fet passar d'allò més bé.
Com tota bona història del gènere, hi trobem una massacre del passat que encara projecta la seva ombra sobre el present, i una nova cadena de morts que et manté enganxat fins al final. Però el que més m'ha agradat és la combinació d'uns personatges que acabes seguint amb interès, un bon grapat de girs sorprenents i aquella atmosfera vintage que tant m'agrada.
És una lectura molt àgil, amb bon ritme, moments de tensió ben construïts i aquell punt de diversió que busco quan agafo un slasher. Sense reinventar el gènere, l'autor sap jugar molt bé amb els seus tòpics i mantenir l'interès fins a l'última pàgina.
Si us agraden els slashers, els campaments d'estiu, els secrets del passat i les històries plenes de sorpreses, aquesta és una aposta molt recomanable.
Ja feia temps que tenia Craig DiLouie al radar, però aquesta novel·la m'ha acabat de convèncer. Sens dubte continuaré llegint-lo —sobretot després de descobrir que ja té altres llibres que em criden molt l'atenció.
July 30, 2026
It was a fun read, and really bingeable, even though some parts of it were slower than others. It started off quite strong with some gruesome moments but then it drastically slowed down. And the ending was a little better. So the pacing was not the greatest unfortunately. However, the gruesome moments were really strong, and I wish the story had more of them. The male main character felt quite… slow at times. It took a long time for him to understand really simple and obvious things. The other characters were quite forgettable. And I did not like the super random sex scene thrown at my face. Despite that, it was a good time and I’m definitely adding the sequel to my anticipated releases’ list.
April 13, 2026
ARC copy review , not offered anything for my opinion
This book brings out “Camp slasher” and “creed falls massacre” vibes to start with, a true “80s slasher” that gives you Friday the 13th vibes. We open with a bloody scene, not the first time for our host city. A town of lies and folk lore, we start strong but lose our momentum. Shortly after our slasher scene we are in a whoddunit, but laced with bad cops and history of lies and corruption. There is a large section mid book that moved so slow it’s almost hard to continue.
Once the culprit starts to show itself we twist and turn thinking we figured it out, but really did we?
A good story of folk lore and starts strong with our slasher, but momentum lost in the bureaucracy of politics.
I definitely want to read part 2 that is teased about at the end of the novel just to see what happens next.
This book brings out “Camp slasher” and “creed falls massacre” vibes to start with, a true “80s slasher” that gives you Friday the 13th vibes. We open with a bloody scene, not the first time for our host city. A town of lies and folk lore, we start strong but lose our momentum. Shortly after our slasher scene we are in a whoddunit, but laced with bad cops and history of lies and corruption. There is a large section mid book that moved so slow it’s almost hard to continue.
Once the culprit starts to show itself we twist and turn thinking we figured it out, but really did we?
A good story of folk lore and starts strong with our slasher, but momentum lost in the bureaucracy of politics.
I definitely want to read part 2 that is teased about at the end of the novel just to see what happens next.
June 19, 2026
3.75 ⭐️ This story had so much going for it. Interesting plot, creepy/gory scenes, and a solid police investigation. It was dark and unsettling. Just the last 30 pages…nope, didn’t buy it…the plot twist was meh. Overall, very entertaining and I’d be willing to read the next in the series.
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