What do you think?
Rate this book
The Skull Serial Killer #5
Bleed V
From bestselling author Emerald O'Brien comes Bleed V, the fifth and final planned novel of The Skull Serial Killer Thriller series.
The survivors thought their nightmare was over.
But someone's been watching and waiting for a chance to become The Skull.
And this Halloween, they'll put on the mask one last time.
The survivors thought their nightmare was over.
But someone's been watching and waiting for a chance to become The Skull.
And this Halloween, they'll put on the mask one last time.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2026
About the author
Emerald O'Brien
35 books645 followersEmerald O’Brien is a Canadian bestselling author who grew up just east of Toronto, Ontario. She graduated from the Television Broadcasting program at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.
With over 30 novels published to date, she hopes to give readers some of what great books have given her, including subverted expectations, characters to root for, and time to get caught up in another world.
When Emerald is not reading or writing unpredictable stories packed with suspense, she loves baking, bonfires, binging Netflix shows, and spending time with family.
A horror movie enthusiast, Emerald can be found watching them at the movie theatre with her best friend or while cuddled up on the couch with her favourite snacks.
Get your free ebook, exclusive to Emerald's newsletter subscribers today: http://www.emeraldobrien.com/your-fre...
Connect with Emerald:
Website: http://www.emeraldobrien.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEmeral...
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/12257...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeremera...
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-OBrien...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emera...
With over 30 novels published to date, she hopes to give readers some of what great books have given her, including subverted expectations, characters to root for, and time to get caught up in another world.
When Emerald is not reading or writing unpredictable stories packed with suspense, she loves baking, bonfires, binging Netflix shows, and spending time with family.
A horror movie enthusiast, Emerald can be found watching them at the movie theatre with her best friend or while cuddled up on the couch with her favourite snacks.
Get your free ebook, exclusive to Emerald's newsletter subscribers today: http://www.emeraldobrien.com/your-fre...
Connect with Emerald:
Website: http://www.emeraldobrien.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEmeral...
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/12257...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writeremera...
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-OBrien...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/emera...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 20, 2026
Bleed V is the fifth and final book in the Skull Serial Killer Thriller series and it absolutely needs to be read in order. What a fantastic conclusion to this epic series. I was not expecting that ending at all to be honest, and kudos to Emerald for going in that direction, because that's what made it a 5 star for me ! It made it unpredictable, suspenseful, thrilling and just impossible to put down. As usual her writing is something to be savored, it will play out in your mind like a movie and I always want to take my time when I read her books. I went through all the emotions with this one!
I will miss these characters so much. I'm so freaking attached to Fox and her friends, and my heart is in a million pieces now that it's over. The setting of Auburn Hills is just eerie, atmospheric and leaves you with a constant sense of impending doom. This book is action packed from the start and doesn't let up until the end. If you love slashers this is definitely a series that needs to be added to your TBR! Don't miss Emerald’s author's note at the end it's so worth it and made me understand so much more of her writing and thought process.
Overall, this is definitely my favorite slasher series I've read and I can't recommend it enough!
I will miss these characters so much. I'm so freaking attached to Fox and her friends, and my heart is in a million pieces now that it's over. The setting of Auburn Hills is just eerie, atmospheric and leaves you with a constant sense of impending doom. This book is action packed from the start and doesn't let up until the end. If you love slashers this is definitely a series that needs to be added to your TBR! Don't miss Emerald’s author's note at the end it's so worth it and made me understand so much more of her writing and thought process.
Overall, this is definitely my favorite slasher series I've read and I can't recommend it enough!
Review of advance copy
•𝕓𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨•
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ♾️⭐️
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ: ʜᴇʟʟ ʏᴇꜱ!!!
💭𝕋ℍ𝕆𝕌𝔾ℍ𝕋𝕊💭
Again, I'm not going to shut up about this series and shout it out from the roof top that you ALLLL need to run and read. The 𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥 series does need to be read in order, and all 5 can be found on Amazon & KU! They are all very quick & fast paced page turners!
I don't remember the last time I read a book so fast! Amazon surprised me with this a few days early as it doesn't come out until Oct 1, 2026 and my butt was parked right away on the couch.
I truly did not know where Emerald was going to take this series through each book, let alone how she would conclude the series, but it was pure PERFECTION!!
I haven't fallen in love with a group of characters as much as I have with this series. Which truly says a lot because from a reader's perspective, it seems like it would be much harder for a writer to write characters we readers are so invested it for a slasher as opposed to romance.
𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘝 started off giving me chills from the very first sentence and had me sobbing by the last. I was guessing constantly what was going to happen, who is the killer(s), what is their motive, will or will not my favs survive?!
The author's note at the end of this one was extra special as not only did it make me cry, but it gave me a look into Emerald's mind and her thought process behind every decision and word written.
The way @writeremeraldobrien was able to pull every emotion out of me with this series and give each character not only their own realistic storyline, but depth on top of it, just amazes me.
This series has been a yearly re-read during spooky season and will continue to be for all the years to come.
Trust me, if you love slashers, spooky season, getting the chills, friendships, found family, relationships and serial killers.... put this series on your TBR immediately!
Thank you Emerald for trusting me to read and review this series for you. Who knew me scrolling FB, seeing this advertised, and applying to ARC read would lead me to finding my favorite series.
It's been an honor...IYKYK.
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ♾️⭐️
ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ: ʜᴇʟʟ ʏᴇꜱ!!!
💭𝕋ℍ𝕆𝕌𝔾ℍ𝕋𝕊💭
Again, I'm not going to shut up about this series and shout it out from the roof top that you ALLLL need to run and read. The 𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥 series does need to be read in order, and all 5 can be found on Amazon & KU! They are all very quick & fast paced page turners!
I don't remember the last time I read a book so fast! Amazon surprised me with this a few days early as it doesn't come out until Oct 1, 2026 and my butt was parked right away on the couch.
I truly did not know where Emerald was going to take this series through each book, let alone how she would conclude the series, but it was pure PERFECTION!!
I haven't fallen in love with a group of characters as much as I have with this series. Which truly says a lot because from a reader's perspective, it seems like it would be much harder for a writer to write characters we readers are so invested it for a slasher as opposed to romance.
𝘉𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘝 started off giving me chills from the very first sentence and had me sobbing by the last. I was guessing constantly what was going to happen, who is the killer(s), what is their motive, will or will not my favs survive?!
The author's note at the end of this one was extra special as not only did it make me cry, but it gave me a look into Emerald's mind and her thought process behind every decision and word written.
The way @writeremeraldobrien was able to pull every emotion out of me with this series and give each character not only their own realistic storyline, but depth on top of it, just amazes me.
This series has been a yearly re-read during spooky season and will continue to be for all the years to come.
Trust me, if you love slashers, spooky season, getting the chills, friendships, found family, relationships and serial killers.... put this series on your TBR immediately!
Thank you Emerald for trusting me to read and review this series for you. Who knew me scrolling FB, seeing this advertised, and applying to ARC read would lead me to finding my favorite series.
It's been an honor...IYKYK.
October 2, 2026
*I am not okay… I am not okay… I am not okay.*
Screaming. Crying. Punching the walls. Because WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??? 😭🔪
@writeremeraldobrien You made me wait a YEAR. A whole year of hoping you wouldn’t do the thing I begged you not to do.
AND THEN YOU DID IT.
Ten years after book four, Fox, Ryan and friends have finally had a chance to breathe. New jobs, kids, weddings. A decade of rebuilding lives that masked killers nearly destroyed. No running for their lives. No burying more people they love.
But peace apparently has an expiry date, and another Halloween means another fight to survive.
Let me tell you: THIS is how you write a finale. No pulling punches. Plenty of bloody murder. And absolutely nobody is safe. Nobody. Being a favourite won’t save you. Surviving the previous books won’t save you. Me practically begging the author apparently won’t save you either.
Am I emotionally equipped to handle that? Clearly fucking not. But that uncertainty makes every encounter terrifying. I wanted everyone to make it, and I couldn’t trust that anyone would.
This series has been an absolute joy to read over the last few years, which feels ridiculous to say while standing in the wreckage of my feelings. These characters are some of the best I’ve come across in a long time. I’ve watched them fight, lose people, pick themselves up and try to build something worth surviving for.
They became friends. So every time one didn’t make it, it hurt. I wasn’t just reading about the survivors’ grief. I was right there with them.
Part of me is absolutely gutted that it’s over. The other part wants to wrap whoever is left in bubble wrap and ban Halloween permanently. My heart cannot take another round.
Emerald, I love you and I hate you. Thank you for this series. Don’t ever do that to me again. I beg you. 😭
If you love slashers with multiple masked killers, a group of final boys and girls, Halloween chaos and characters you’ll get dangerously attached to, get this series on your TBR immediately.
Haven’t started? Go meet your new favourite people. Read the first four? Stop what you’re doing. It’s time to find out who makes it to the end.
Screaming. Crying. Punching the walls. Because WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??? 😭🔪
@writeremeraldobrien You made me wait a YEAR. A whole year of hoping you wouldn’t do the thing I begged you not to do.
AND THEN YOU DID IT.
Ten years after book four, Fox, Ryan and friends have finally had a chance to breathe. New jobs, kids, weddings. A decade of rebuilding lives that masked killers nearly destroyed. No running for their lives. No burying more people they love.
But peace apparently has an expiry date, and another Halloween means another fight to survive.
Let me tell you: THIS is how you write a finale. No pulling punches. Plenty of bloody murder. And absolutely nobody is safe. Nobody. Being a favourite won’t save you. Surviving the previous books won’t save you. Me practically begging the author apparently won’t save you either.
Am I emotionally equipped to handle that? Clearly fucking not. But that uncertainty makes every encounter terrifying. I wanted everyone to make it, and I couldn’t trust that anyone would.
This series has been an absolute joy to read over the last few years, which feels ridiculous to say while standing in the wreckage of my feelings. These characters are some of the best I’ve come across in a long time. I’ve watched them fight, lose people, pick themselves up and try to build something worth surviving for.
They became friends. So every time one didn’t make it, it hurt. I wasn’t just reading about the survivors’ grief. I was right there with them.
Part of me is absolutely gutted that it’s over. The other part wants to wrap whoever is left in bubble wrap and ban Halloween permanently. My heart cannot take another round.
Emerald, I love you and I hate you. Thank you for this series. Don’t ever do that to me again. I beg you. 😭
If you love slashers with multiple masked killers, a group of final boys and girls, Halloween chaos and characters you’ll get dangerously attached to, get this series on your TBR immediately.
Haven’t started? Go meet your new favourite people. Read the first four? Stop what you’re doing. It’s time to find out who makes it to the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an absolutely stunning, thrilling, and unexpected conclusion to the Bleed series. I'm going to miss these characters more than I can say. I'm not typically a reader who enjoys series and haven't been since I was a teenager, but this series is my exception. O'Brien crafts characters you'll root for, cheer for, cry for, and love with your whole self. I don't know if I've ever been more attached to characters and their stories than I have in Bleed, which is truly a testament to the artist that is Emerald O'Brien. Readers who have followed Fox and gang throughout the past four books will feel the instant onset of peace and dread intermingling the second you set foot in Auburn Hills again, and it doesn't let up for even a second of this nerve-shreddingly brilliant finale. I will be thinking about these characters, this world, and the author's message for years to come, and I wouldn't want it any other way. For me, there are no storytellers as unique and boundary-pushing as O'Brien and no characters so beloved as the ones within these pages.
October 11, 2026
Oh, boy! What a great series ender!
I have read this entire series as each has been released. Always awaiting the next book. Excited that these strange and curious Halloween killers, in skull masks, would continue their reign of terror on Fox and her friends. And continue they did! This was brilliantly written. An ending I never suspected. A definite finality to this disturbing and exciting series. Bravo.
I have read this entire series as each has been released. Always awaiting the next book. Excited that these strange and curious Halloween killers, in skull masks, would continue their reign of terror on Fox and her friends. And continue they did! This was brilliantly written. An ending I never suspected. A definite finality to this disturbing and exciting series. Bravo.
October 30, 2026
Bloody brilliant!
As much as I hate the Bleed series coming to an end, the finale was as perfect as it should be. O'Brien brings all the makings of a top shelf slasher story to life (and death) in these pages, taking the reader on a journey perfect Halloween and horror fans alike. If you haven't read the series yet, start at the beginning and take the thrill ride until the climax.
I'll just be sitting here, waiting for the movie this series rightfully deserves.
As much as I hate the Bleed series coming to an end, the finale was as perfect as it should be. O'Brien brings all the makings of a top shelf slasher story to life (and death) in these pages, taking the reader on a journey perfect Halloween and horror fans alike. If you haven't read the series yet, start at the beginning and take the thrill ride until the climax.
I'll just be sitting here, waiting for the movie this series rightfully deserves.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews