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Killer Trail: Dreh dich nicht um
Win a free print copy of this book!
10 days and 16:21:17
25 copies available
U.S. only
Provoziere niemals einen Serienkiller.
Jade geht mit ihren besten Freundinnen Stef und Zoe wandern. Auf dem Bones Hollow Trail trieb früher ein Serienkiller sein Unwesen, aber der wurde längst gefasst – oder? Als Stef sich den Knöchel verletzt, bleibt den dreien nichts anderes übrig, als einen zwielichtigen Einsiedler um Hilfe zu bitten. Doch als die Situation außer Kontrolle gerät, ist der nicht das einzige Problem. Denn plötzlich sind sich die Freundinnen nicht mehr sicher, ob sie einander überhaupt trauen können.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Backstabbers features a Girls Adventure Trip gone bad. Some of us may have been on a few bad Girls' Trips ourselves, but trust me, not like this.
Or at least I hope not...
We're following 3 besties: Jade, Zoe and Stef. Jade is our narrator, and it's quickly clear that each of the women has their own role within their tight knit friend group.
Zoe is the sun the other two revolve around. Not necessarily because she's a shiny embalm of all that is good, but more because she's such a powerful force that steam rolls over everybody else, regardless of their thoughts or opinions.
Jade is our pragmatic one and Stef is light and carefree, the epitome of being along for the ride. Somehow though, despite their vastly different personalities, the trio has stuck together through thick and thin for many years.
They love traveling together and their latest trip has brought them to the Pacific Northwest for a 3-day hike on Washington's Bones Hollow Trail. For the experienced hikers in the crowd, be prepared to be annoyed.
During their hike they've been listening to a True Crime podcast. Yes, you read that right. Without headphones whilst walking the splendor of nature on a hiking adventure they've been blasting a True Crime podcast on the trail.
The podcast has put them on edge, as it's discussing a serial killer known to hunt on the Bones Hollow Trail; the very trail they're currently traversing.
Meanwhile, Zoe has the great idea to do a little bushwhacking to find the location of a waterfall that she insists isn't far from the trail. While trying to make their way there however, Stef ends up badly twisting her ankle. She can't put any weight on it, so her friends need to assist her if they have any hope of getting out of there.
Zoe insists returning to the trail, an uphill battle through uncut terrain, would be futile. She asserts they continue moving forward. She says eventually, they'll reach a road.
Though they don't come across a road, or the waterfall, they do come across a cabin, and it looks like someone is home. That's when the real nightmare begins.
Backstabbers is a great debut. It's fun and intense in the same ways a B-Horror flick is fun and intense. I had moments of real frustration with the characters, but I believe that's the intent of the author and it did add to my enjoyment.
I love those moments in the midst of a Horror movie, when you're screaming at the characters, don't go in there, why are you going upstairs, don't drink that, and on and on.
This novel had those moments in spades. It felt very cinematic to me. I could picture everything unfolding perfectly in my mind, and seriously, I think this would make a very fun movie.
I had the pleasure of Buddy Reading this one with a friend and we both ended up having fun with it. We were definitely laughing at all the terrible decisions being made. I mean from the very start I'm like, what are these girls doing??
But let's get real, if they only made good choices, it would be a short and boring book. So, cheers to bad choices!!
It's also very fast-paced. After they discover the cabin it's pretty intense from there forward. It's full of twists, and though so of them were pretty wild, that's what I'm here for.
I think if you're looking for the ultimate Girls' Trip gone bad, this one is a great choice. As Travel Horror goes, this is a ton of fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously either, and I always appreciate that.
Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I hope Eliza Jabore stays in this lane, because I could definitely do with some more of this!
Backstabbers features a Girls Adventure Trip gone bad. Some of us may have been on a few bad Girls' Trips ourselves, but trust me, not like this.
Or at least I hope not...
We're following 3 besties: Jade, Zoe and Stef. Jade is our narrator, and it's quickly clear that each of the women has their own role within their tight knit friend group.
Zoe is the sun the other two revolve around. Not necessarily because she's a shiny embalm of all that is good, but more because she's such a powerful force that steam rolls over everybody else, regardless of their thoughts or opinions.
Jade is our pragmatic one and Stef is light and carefree, the epitome of being along for the ride. Somehow though, despite their vastly different personalities, the trio has stuck together through thick and thin for many years.
They love traveling together and their latest trip has brought them to the Pacific Northwest for a 3-day hike on Washington's Bones Hollow Trail. For the experienced hikers in the crowd, be prepared to be annoyed.
During their hike they've been listening to a True Crime podcast. Yes, you read that right. Without headphones whilst walking the splendor of nature on a hiking adventure they've been blasting a True Crime podcast on the trail.
The podcast has put them on edge, as it's discussing a serial killer known to hunt on the Bones Hollow Trail; the very trail they're currently traversing.
Meanwhile, Zoe has the great idea to do a little bushwhacking to find the location of a waterfall that she insists isn't far from the trail. While trying to make their way there however, Stef ends up badly twisting her ankle. She can't put any weight on it, so her friends need to assist her if they have any hope of getting out of there.
Zoe insists returning to the trail, an uphill battle through uncut terrain, would be futile. She asserts they continue moving forward. She says eventually, they'll reach a road.
Though they don't come across a road, or the waterfall, they do come across a cabin, and it looks like someone is home. That's when the real nightmare begins.
Backstabbers is a great debut. It's fun and intense in the same ways a B-Horror flick is fun and intense. I had moments of real frustration with the characters, but I believe that's the intent of the author and it did add to my enjoyment.
I love those moments in the midst of a Horror movie, when you're screaming at the characters, don't go in there, why are you going upstairs, don't drink that, and on and on.
This novel had those moments in spades. It felt very cinematic to me. I could picture everything unfolding perfectly in my mind, and seriously, I think this would make a very fun movie.
I had the pleasure of Buddy Reading this one with a friend and we both ended up having fun with it. We were definitely laughing at all the terrible decisions being made. I mean from the very start I'm like, what are these girls doing??
But let's get real, if they only made good choices, it would be a short and boring book. So, cheers to bad choices!!
It's also very fast-paced. After they discover the cabin it's pretty intense from there forward. It's full of twists, and though so of them were pretty wild, that's what I'm here for.
I think if you're looking for the ultimate Girls' Trip gone bad, this one is a great choice. As Travel Horror goes, this is a ton of fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously either, and I always appreciate that.
Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I hope Eliza Jabore stays in this lane, because I could definitely do with some more of this!
June 12, 2026
May this kind of friendship never find me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It had all the ingredients for a nice twist on the classic slasher, but unfortunately it did not work for me.
The story in itself is entertaining, and I liked the "lost in the woods" setting, but the characters are underdeveloped, and a little annoying to be honest.
The collective obsession with true crime podcast had me rolling my eyes after a while. It felt like a weak motivation for the characters behaviour, but it might just be me.
Overall, I hoped for a better execution of the classic tropes.
Thank you Ballantine for this ARC.
The story in itself is entertaining, and I liked the "lost in the woods" setting, but the characters are underdeveloped, and a little annoying to be honest.
The collective obsession with true crime podcast had me rolling my eyes after a while. It felt like a weak motivation for the characters behaviour, but it might just be me.
Overall, I hoped for a better execution of the classic tropes.
Thank you Ballantine for this ARC.
February 10, 2026
I read somewhere that this was Yellowjackets meets Heathers, sadly it’s not. It’s a straight by the numbers slasher, complete with women who fall over, rely on men to come to their rescue, and stop mid serial killer attack to bicker about things 12 year olds would argue about. Full of ridiculous dialogue and unbelievable decisions from every character. I feel backstabbed by the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an early look at this one.
June 16, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Review
What an incredibly entertaining read, perfect for the summer season! Backstabbers was a tense, creepy, and ridiculously fun thriller that came very close to earning a full five stars from me!
Backstabbers was so close to being a five-star read for me, largely because of how incredibly entertaining it was from beginning to end. The atmosphere was fantastic—there's something inherently creepy about a group of friends venturing deep into the woods in pursuit of a serial killer, and the novel fully leans into that tension. The isolated setting created a constant sense of unease that kept me eagerly turning pages.
What made this one especially fun, though, was just how outrageously bad some of the characters' decisions were. Nearly every choice felt like the exact opposite of what any reasonable person should do in real life, and somehow that only made the story more enjoyable. Instead of frustrating me, their questionable judgment added to the chaos and suspense, creating plenty of moments where I found myself shaking my head while simultaneously being completely invested in what would happen next.
This isn't a book that asks you to overanalyze every decision or demand perfect realism. It's a wild, suspenseful ride that embraces its premise and delivers plenty of thrills along the way. If you enjoy atmospheric survival thrillers, dangerous wilderness settings, and stories where characters repeatedly make the kinds of choices that have you yelling at the pages, Backstabbers is a highly entertaining read that's well worth picking up, at least it was for me!
What an incredibly entertaining read, perfect for the summer season! Backstabbers was a tense, creepy, and ridiculously fun thriller that came very close to earning a full five stars from me!
Backstabbers was so close to being a five-star read for me, largely because of how incredibly entertaining it was from beginning to end. The atmosphere was fantastic—there's something inherently creepy about a group of friends venturing deep into the woods in pursuit of a serial killer, and the novel fully leans into that tension. The isolated setting created a constant sense of unease that kept me eagerly turning pages.
What made this one especially fun, though, was just how outrageously bad some of the characters' decisions were. Nearly every choice felt like the exact opposite of what any reasonable person should do in real life, and somehow that only made the story more enjoyable. Instead of frustrating me, their questionable judgment added to the chaos and suspense, creating plenty of moments where I found myself shaking my head while simultaneously being completely invested in what would happen next.
This isn't a book that asks you to overanalyze every decision or demand perfect realism. It's a wild, suspenseful ride that embraces its premise and delivers plenty of thrills along the way. If you enjoy atmospheric survival thrillers, dangerous wilderness settings, and stories where characters repeatedly make the kinds of choices that have you yelling at the pages, Backstabbers is a highly entertaining read that's well worth picking up, at least it was for me!
March 24, 2026
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, hear me out, this was kind of terrible. The dialogue was awful, the characters said and did ridiculous things, there was so much repetition… it almost read like a terrible movie script, BUT I couldn’t put it down. If you are in it for a quick, hooked immediately, potato chip type of read, it’s a worthy thriller. The twists and turns are somewhat obvious, but you also can’t tell what direction the author is going, so you’re constantly guessing. The whole plot idea about backstabbing friends is a unique play on a thriller, I just wish it had been a teensy bit more realistic and less annoying middle school vibes. For god sakes these girls are almost 30. Act like it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Okay, hear me out, this was kind of terrible. The dialogue was awful, the characters said and did ridiculous things, there was so much repetition… it almost read like a terrible movie script, BUT I couldn’t put it down. If you are in it for a quick, hooked immediately, potato chip type of read, it’s a worthy thriller. The twists and turns are somewhat obvious, but you also can’t tell what direction the author is going, so you’re constantly guessing. The whole plot idea about backstabbing friends is a unique play on a thriller, I just wish it had been a teensy bit more realistic and less annoying middle school vibes. For god sakes these girls are almost 30. Act like it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 17, 2026
Rating: 3 ⭐️
Backstabber is a debut suspense thriller that will likely appeal to readers who enjoy the survivalist tension of Taylor Adams and the interpersonal suspense of Heather Gudenkauf.
The story follows Jade and her longtime friends, Zoe and Stephanie, who venture into a remote forest after becoming fascinated by a series of murders discussed on a cold case podcast. Years earlier, a serial killer murdered a dozen women in the area, and what begins as a reckless adventure quickly turns into something much more dangerous when the women discover a secluded cabin occupied by a deeply unsettling stranger. As the situation escalates, Jade begins to question whether she can trust the people she’s known for most of her life.
My favorite aspect of the novel was the growing sense of paranoia. The question of who Jade could trust kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed the uneasy dynamic between the three friends. The isolated setting also created an effective atmosphere, and Eliza Jabbour clearly knows how to build tension.
Where the book struggled for me was in the pacing and characterization. Several storylines felt as though they were introduced and then left behind, and I never felt like I got to know the characters deeply enough to become fully invested in their fates. By the time the big reveal arrived, it didn’t land with the impact I was hoping for because the emotional groundwork hadn’t quite been established.
That said, I think Jabbour is a talented writer. My takeaway was less that the execution failed and more that this may not have been the story she was most interested in telling. There were moments and character threads that felt more compelling than the central mystery itself, and I found myself wishing the novel had explored those elements further.
Overall, Backstabber is a solid debut with an intriguing premise, but it ultimately didn’t come together as strongly as I had hoped. Unless you’re a dedicated suspense reader who enjoys wilderness thrillers, podcasts, unreliable friendships, and mounting paranoia, this one may be easy to skip. Still, I’ll be interested to see what Eliza Jabbour writes next.
Backstabber is a debut suspense thriller that will likely appeal to readers who enjoy the survivalist tension of Taylor Adams and the interpersonal suspense of Heather Gudenkauf.
The story follows Jade and her longtime friends, Zoe and Stephanie, who venture into a remote forest after becoming fascinated by a series of murders discussed on a cold case podcast. Years earlier, a serial killer murdered a dozen women in the area, and what begins as a reckless adventure quickly turns into something much more dangerous when the women discover a secluded cabin occupied by a deeply unsettling stranger. As the situation escalates, Jade begins to question whether she can trust the people she’s known for most of her life.
My favorite aspect of the novel was the growing sense of paranoia. The question of who Jade could trust kept me turning the pages, and I enjoyed the uneasy dynamic between the three friends. The isolated setting also created an effective atmosphere, and Eliza Jabbour clearly knows how to build tension.
Where the book struggled for me was in the pacing and characterization. Several storylines felt as though they were introduced and then left behind, and I never felt like I got to know the characters deeply enough to become fully invested in their fates. By the time the big reveal arrived, it didn’t land with the impact I was hoping for because the emotional groundwork hadn’t quite been established.
That said, I think Jabbour is a talented writer. My takeaway was less that the execution failed and more that this may not have been the story she was most interested in telling. There were moments and character threads that felt more compelling than the central mystery itself, and I found myself wishing the novel had explored those elements further.
Overall, Backstabber is a solid debut with an intriguing premise, but it ultimately didn’t come together as strongly as I had hoped. Unless you’re a dedicated suspense reader who enjoys wilderness thrillers, podcasts, unreliable friendships, and mounting paranoia, this one may be easy to skip. Still, I’ll be interested to see what Eliza Jabbour writes next.
May 30, 2026
This is a book that you cannot take too seriously. When I started it I had a good feeling that it was going to be a solid thriller. Unfortunately it didn’t stay that way.
If I didn’t know differently I would have thought that these characters were teenagers and not
Age 20s, early 30s. 3 best friends since school head off hiking through the Washington State Bone Hollow Trail on an adventure. It doesn’t take long before one of them is injured and they need to find help. No mobile service and miles away from roads, they stumble across a cabin and a man who offers to help them.
Ok, now there is something else that you need to know, the area is infamous for a serial killer who preyed on women in the area, who may or may not have been caught. And these girls are listening to a true crime podcast about it as they walk. What the??
First of all, why go hiking there. Second of all, do not trust this man. Yes they need help but they admit to be feeling uncomfortable around him and yet they go inside and drink with him…. Oh no
These girls are incredibly frustrating and make some monumentally ridiculous decisions. Get out of there!! but no, these girls, particularly 2 of them are real mean girls. Why anyone would be friends with them is beyond me.
Thanks Ballantine for my copy of this book to read. Some parts worked better than others for me. I can see that some people absolutely loved this and others hated it.. I am somewhere in the middle.
If I didn’t know differently I would have thought that these characters were teenagers and not
Age 20s, early 30s. 3 best friends since school head off hiking through the Washington State Bone Hollow Trail on an adventure. It doesn’t take long before one of them is injured and they need to find help. No mobile service and miles away from roads, they stumble across a cabin and a man who offers to help them.
Ok, now there is something else that you need to know, the area is infamous for a serial killer who preyed on women in the area, who may or may not have been caught. And these girls are listening to a true crime podcast about it as they walk. What the??
First of all, why go hiking there. Second of all, do not trust this man. Yes they need help but they admit to be feeling uncomfortable around him and yet they go inside and drink with him…. Oh no
These girls are incredibly frustrating and make some monumentally ridiculous decisions. Get out of there!! but no, these girls, particularly 2 of them are real mean girls. Why anyone would be friends with them is beyond me.
Thanks Ballantine for my copy of this book to read. Some parts worked better than others for me. I can see that some people absolutely loved this and others hated it.. I am somewhere in the middle.
February 18, 2026
I enjoyed this book so much! It’s stressful, frustrating, (girls, you make terrible choices), and had me on the edge of my seat. The perfect popcorn horror book! I absolutely loved how this was a different take on the podcast element and had so much fun with Jade’s inner podcast dialogue. Also, the wilderness was the perfect backdrop for this tense non-stop ride.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
June 14, 2026
*2.5 Stars*
I wanted to like this book because the synopsis sounded interesting, but as I read, I started to feel frustrated. For the first time, I actually hoped some of the main characters would be killed off early. Zoe and Stef treat Jade badly. They leave her out of their plans and often abandon her during their trips. Just when I thought they couldn’t treat her any worse, they did. Jade was the only one who seemed reasonable and tried to get them out of trouble, but by then it was too late. Some of the twists caught me off guard, but many were easy to guess since the book often felt like a guide on what not to do when being chased by a serial killer. Overall, I struggled to finish this book, and when I got to the conclusion, I rolled my eyes and thought, "Why am I not surprised?"
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the opportunity to review Backstabbers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I wanted to like this book because the synopsis sounded interesting, but as I read, I started to feel frustrated. For the first time, I actually hoped some of the main characters would be killed off early. Zoe and Stef treat Jade badly. They leave her out of their plans and often abandon her during their trips. Just when I thought they couldn’t treat her any worse, they did. Jade was the only one who seemed reasonable and tried to get them out of trouble, but by then it was too late. Some of the twists caught me off guard, but many were easy to guess since the book often felt like a guide on what not to do when being chased by a serial killer. Overall, I struggled to finish this book, and when I got to the conclusion, I rolled my eyes and thought, "Why am I not surprised?"
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the opportunity to review Backstabbers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 2, 2026
This one is SO good! These three friends are something else, doing all the things you should never do, starting with going into the woods. And of course, nothing goes right for them after that. It is one nightmare after another, and oh hey let’s listen to a true crime podcast as our survival guide while we are out here. I mean, really. It would almost be a comedy of errors if people weren’t dying or fearing for their lives. You could smh at these gals, but their stupidity was entertaining, and then we get to the end, and man I did not see that last scene coming. But I sure did enjoy it, a LOT, so I don’t know what that says about me, but I also don’t know that I care?
The audio for this was fantastic as well, Brittany Pressley narrates, need I say more? This one is out today, make sure it is on your list!
Thank you to Bantam Books #partner for the gifted copy and to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.
The audio for this was fantastic as well, Brittany Pressley narrates, need I say more? This one is out today, make sure it is on your list!
Thank you to Bantam Books #partner for the gifted copy and to PRH Audio for the ALC to review.
February 18, 2026
Besides the fact that I never want to travel with friends ever again, I loved this book! What a great debut novel. I absolutely hated how dumb these girls were, but I think that may have been what made it so compelling. A total binge read. And that ending bumped me up from 4 stars to 5! Wow!
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!
May 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own!
2.75⭐️. Backstabbers by Eliza Jabore had a really strong setup, but overall this one just was not fully for me. Three friends stranded in the woods while paranoia, old friendship issues, and the possibility of a killer nearby start closing in should have been exactly my kind of book. There were definitely some creepy and entertaining moments, especially once the cabin was introduced, but I never felt as invested or tense as I wanted to.
My biggest issue was that the book read very YA to me, and that style usually does not work for my personal taste in thrillers. The dialogue and friendship drama often felt younger than I expected, which made a lot of the tension fall flat for me. Instead of feeling like a brutal survival slasher, it leaned more into messy friendship dynamics with horror layered on top.
I will say the ending was probably my favorite part. Things finally picked up, the tension got stronger, and I liked the direction everything went in by the end. There were enough interesting moments throughout to keep me reading, but I kept waiting for the story to fully pull me in and it never quite got there.
Overall, not a bad read at all, just not the type of thriller I personally connect with. I think readers who enjoy YA survival horror with friendship drama and slasher vibes will probably have a much better time with this one than I did.
2.75⭐️. Backstabbers by Eliza Jabore had a really strong setup, but overall this one just was not fully for me. Three friends stranded in the woods while paranoia, old friendship issues, and the possibility of a killer nearby start closing in should have been exactly my kind of book. There were definitely some creepy and entertaining moments, especially once the cabin was introduced, but I never felt as invested or tense as I wanted to.
My biggest issue was that the book read very YA to me, and that style usually does not work for my personal taste in thrillers. The dialogue and friendship drama often felt younger than I expected, which made a lot of the tension fall flat for me. Instead of feeling like a brutal survival slasher, it leaned more into messy friendship dynamics with horror layered on top.
I will say the ending was probably my favorite part. Things finally picked up, the tension got stronger, and I liked the direction everything went in by the end. There were enough interesting moments throughout to keep me reading, but I kept waiting for the story to fully pull me in and it never quite got there.
Overall, not a bad read at all, just not the type of thriller I personally connect with. I think readers who enjoy YA survival horror with friendship drama and slasher vibes will probably have a much better time with this one than I did.
May 29, 2026
Rating: 3.75⭐️
I loved the premise of this book, it was tense and the creepy wood setting of a serial killer’s hunting grounds was perfect. It felt very claustrophobic at times! However, the chapters were too long which worked against the tension, shorter chapters would have helped the tension and pace. Still a great debut and I would recommend.
I loved the premise of this book, it was tense and the creepy wood setting of a serial killer’s hunting grounds was perfect. It felt very claustrophobic at times! However, the chapters were too long which worked against the tension, shorter chapters would have helped the tension and pace. Still a great debut and I would recommend.
June 1, 2026
This book wasn't for me. If you like fast paced action and typical horror movies than this book would definitely be for you. I wanted to have fun but this wasn't it for me.
June 10, 2026
Głupota bohaterek jak i przypadkowość odpowiednich wydarzenia starannie obniżyła ocenę dla tej książki (bo planowałam trzy lub wyżej)
Ale przez to ile tutaj jest głupot, absurdu i fakt że bohaterek nie da się polubić odwiódł mnie od wystawiania pozytywnej oceny.
Gdybym miała wybór pomiędzy takimi koleżankami jak w tej książce a samotnością to wybrałabym to drugie.
Ale przez to ile tutaj jest głupot, absurdu i fakt że bohaterek nie da się polubić odwiódł mnie od wystawiania pozytywnej oceny.
Gdybym miała wybór pomiędzy takimi koleżankami jak w tej książce a samotnością to wybrałabym to drugie.
June 16, 2026
I give a 3.5. I thought it turned a little childish toward the end and it just ruined the vibe of the book for me.
May 15, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I have mixed feelings
Okay time to put my thoughts together, honestly, I was drawn in from the beginning ! Three girlfriends go on a hike together to cross another adventure off the list, only they end up taking a detour to see a waterfall only to end up possibly living their last day alive.
This one gives the final girl(s) in the best way possible, I did find myself urked at some of the characters asking and shaking my head - hence why my mixed feelings. The dialogue between the characters really give young adult/ teenager, but I was able to look past that. The emotion that evoked from this one really is what allowed me to lean into the 4 stars instead.
But if you're looking for a suspenseful book from the first chapters to end, then THIS is the one for you!! fast paced, suspenseful, enjoyable read!
I have mixed feelings
Okay time to put my thoughts together, honestly, I was drawn in from the beginning ! Three girlfriends go on a hike together to cross another adventure off the list, only they end up taking a detour to see a waterfall only to end up possibly living their last day alive.
This one gives the final girl(s) in the best way possible, I did find myself urked at some of the characters asking and shaking my head - hence why my mixed feelings. The dialogue between the characters really give young adult/ teenager, but I was able to look past that. The emotion that evoked from this one really is what allowed me to lean into the 4 stars instead.
But if you're looking for a suspenseful book from the first chapters to end, then THIS is the one for you!! fast paced, suspenseful, enjoyable read!
Want to Read
March 31, 2026thank you so much to Ballantine for access to this ARC
June 12, 2026
I loved this book! From chapter 1 I was hooked and invested in the (weird?) friendship among the 3 girls and in their obsession (or at least one of them was truly obsessed) with finding out the location of a notorious serial killer in the middle of the woods, if he is still alive and who is he.
I enjoyed the weird, and somehow toxic, friendship, their motivations, their background as to why they became friends in the first place and all the tea that is about to be spilled.
There's a podcast on a hunt for a serial killer the girls keeps listening to, and the podcast element is VERY present in this story, so that it is a trope who only readers who don't mind podcasts might enjoy here. The serial killer story is fascinating, in my opinion. I personally liked everything about it, from chapter 1 till the conclusion.
Jabore's writing is enganging and very descriptive, but not to the point to being wordy and boring. I absolutely loved the setting, the ambience, the descriptions of the landscape and the cabin and all of it, really. I was so invested that I could place myself right behind those girls witnessing everything they did from a short distance.
I loved the tropes and even enjoyed the clichés of such a typical fight-for-survival thriller.
We follow the story through the eyes of only one of the girls, and I empathised with her very easily. All characters are very flawed here, so up to a point, I can say they all read in a more realistic way. Easier, that way, to root for or hate them.
There are also some quite gruesome, violent, bloody, and graphic scenes here, which I also loved.
This story might not please everyone because of the consistent podcast elements, or the toxic friendship among those girls, or the choices for the twists, but there is one thing no one can complain about: the pacing. In my opinion, this book has a great pacing. It's never too slow (and when it is there's a point to it) or too hectic. This is a perfect thriller for readers who are into fast-paced stories with flawed characters fighting for their survival.. I enjoyed this book so much that I wanted it to be longer.
This was FUN.
Thank you, NetGalley and Ballentine, for this eARC.
I enjoyed the weird, and somehow toxic, friendship, their motivations, their background as to why they became friends in the first place and all the tea that is about to be spilled.
There's a podcast on a hunt for a serial killer the girls keeps listening to, and the podcast element is VERY present in this story, so that it is a trope who only readers who don't mind podcasts might enjoy here. The serial killer story is fascinating, in my opinion. I personally liked everything about it, from chapter 1 till the conclusion.
Jabore's writing is enganging and very descriptive, but not to the point to being wordy and boring. I absolutely loved the setting, the ambience, the descriptions of the landscape and the cabin and all of it, really. I was so invested that I could place myself right behind those girls witnessing everything they did from a short distance.
I loved the tropes and even enjoyed the clichés of such a typical fight-for-survival thriller.
We follow the story through the eyes of only one of the girls, and I empathised with her very easily. All characters are very flawed here, so up to a point, I can say they all read in a more realistic way. Easier, that way, to root for or hate them.
There are also some quite gruesome, violent, bloody, and graphic scenes here, which I also loved.
This story might not please everyone because of the consistent podcast elements, or the toxic friendship among those girls, or the choices for the twists, but there is one thing no one can complain about: the pacing. In my opinion, this book has a great pacing. It's never too slow (and when it is there's a point to it) or too hectic. This is a perfect thriller for readers who are into fast-paced stories with flawed characters fighting for their survival.. I enjoyed this book so much that I wanted it to be longer.
This was FUN.
Thank you, NetGalley and Ballentine, for this eARC.
June 9, 2026
Sometimes I just need a thriller, and Backstabbers sounded like a fun one. In Eliza Jabore’s debut, three friends are hiking Washington State’s Bones Hollow Trail, the same area that used to be a serial killer’s stomping grounds. When one of them twists her ankle, the friends have no choice but to take refuge in an isolated cabin with a man who seems almost too eager to help them.
As you can imagine, this does not turn out to be a good idea.
Backstabbers has popcorn thriller vibes, while also borrowing from the horror/slasher genre and wilderness survival stories and utilizing the current trend of podcast-as-plot-point. It’s an engaging, exciting read. It requires you to suspend your disbelief quite a bit, but what thriller these days doesn’t? Jabore’s writing is cinematic and propulsive, full of urgency and atmosphere, with lush, vivid descriptions of the Washington wilderness that made me want to visit immediately. I liked the complicated, dysfunctional dynamic between the three friends, although it was only ever explored in a surface-level way.
I did want more character development out of Jade, Stef, and Zoe; we only ever really learn who they are in relation to each other – and none of them are very likable or sympathetic as a result. And the ending was a bit too out there for me, even in a book that was already incredibly over-the-top.
Backstabbers reads a bit YA, the dialogue is not great, everyone makes ridiculously bad decisions – but if you don’t take the book too seriously and read it as a satirical, fresh take on slasher horror, you’ll probably have a good time with it like I did. Thanks to Bantam for the complimentary reading opportunity.
As you can imagine, this does not turn out to be a good idea.
Backstabbers has popcorn thriller vibes, while also borrowing from the horror/slasher genre and wilderness survival stories and utilizing the current trend of podcast-as-plot-point. It’s an engaging, exciting read. It requires you to suspend your disbelief quite a bit, but what thriller these days doesn’t? Jabore’s writing is cinematic and propulsive, full of urgency and atmosphere, with lush, vivid descriptions of the Washington wilderness that made me want to visit immediately. I liked the complicated, dysfunctional dynamic between the three friends, although it was only ever explored in a surface-level way.
I did want more character development out of Jade, Stef, and Zoe; we only ever really learn who they are in relation to each other – and none of them are very likable or sympathetic as a result. And the ending was a bit too out there for me, even in a book that was already incredibly over-the-top.
Backstabbers reads a bit YA, the dialogue is not great, everyone makes ridiculously bad decisions – but if you don’t take the book too seriously and read it as a satirical, fresh take on slasher horror, you’ll probably have a good time with it like I did. Thanks to Bantam for the complimentary reading opportunity.
May 26, 2026
I think this was pretty well done it’s a story about three friends who end up going on a hike in the area where girls have gone missing and have ended up being killed by a serial killer. One in particular, Zoe has been obsessed with these killings and she’s really the mastermind behind everything. and Stef ends up twisting her ankle. When they end up coming to a cabin, they find more than what they can handle…. Now I don’t remember if it says how old they are in the beginning, but it does say later in the book that they’re almost 30. I would not have gotten that from the beginning. I do know they talk about traveling, which makes me think that they’re a bit older, but the vibes of the book definitely gives me younger. I thought they were like young college age.
I felt so bad for Stef and Jade. They’re pretty much along for the ride for whatever Zoe thinks up. Zoe to me is not a very likable character. She’s not a great friend.
I think the progression of this book is really good. I think it was well photo. I think it was well executed. There’s a couple things that did annoy me. I will say small things like a police detective, calling his magazine a clip. But other than that, I think it was really well done the pacing was good and I brought some nostalgia of horror thriller I’ll definitely read another book by this author. I really liked how the ending played out too and the epilogue it left me asking questions and I really liked that.
Thank you to Bantam Ballantine for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I felt so bad for Stef and Jade. They’re pretty much along for the ride for whatever Zoe thinks up. Zoe to me is not a very likable character. She’s not a great friend.
I think the progression of this book is really good. I think it was well photo. I think it was well executed. There’s a couple things that did annoy me. I will say small things like a police detective, calling his magazine a clip. But other than that, I think it was really well done the pacing was good and I brought some nostalgia of horror thriller I’ll definitely read another book by this author. I really liked how the ending played out too and the epilogue it left me asking questions and I really liked that.
Thank you to Bantam Ballantine for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 18, 2026
Thank you Bantam for my gifted copy!
I had ten minutes to finish the last three chapters before I had to leave for my dentist appointment, and let me tell you, it was only possible because of how fast my adrenaline was surging.
This book was the definition of breathless. I feel like I was racing through it, just trying to figure out how this trio of friends could made it out of this insane sh*tshow alive. Because it really was a sh*tshow. Even I know you don’t go into the woods for three days with ulterior motives, and I have zero common sense, okay.
But then MEN in this book. Good thing I’m at the dentist because I want to grind my teeth to dust over how annoyed I am with them. There’s mansplaining, and there’s mandissmissing. Not one man believed a single woman in this story. The gaslighting was so frustrating, so spot on, so accurate. You can literally be black and blue, bloody and bruised, and a man will still question your motives.
I don’t want to say much - because this book is probably one of the most tense thrillers I’ve read this year. It needs to be the big book of summer. Especially if you love the PNW, serial killers, hiking, and grew up within a band of women. You know how toxic that can be then. Everyone’s true colors will show when put to the test. Backstabbing galore.
Read this. Now. ASAP.
I had ten minutes to finish the last three chapters before I had to leave for my dentist appointment, and let me tell you, it was only possible because of how fast my adrenaline was surging.
This book was the definition of breathless. I feel like I was racing through it, just trying to figure out how this trio of friends could made it out of this insane sh*tshow alive. Because it really was a sh*tshow. Even I know you don’t go into the woods for three days with ulterior motives, and I have zero common sense, okay.
But then MEN in this book. Good thing I’m at the dentist because I want to grind my teeth to dust over how annoyed I am with them. There’s mansplaining, and there’s mandissmissing. Not one man believed a single woman in this story. The gaslighting was so frustrating, so spot on, so accurate. You can literally be black and blue, bloody and bruised, and a man will still question your motives.
I don’t want to say much - because this book is probably one of the most tense thrillers I’ve read this year. It needs to be the big book of summer. Especially if you love the PNW, serial killers, hiking, and grew up within a band of women. You know how toxic that can be then. Everyone’s true colors will show when put to the test. Backstabbing galore.
Read this. Now. ASAP.
May 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐
Thank you Hachette UK for the advanced proof copy
I really wanted to love this book, especially after being promised a mashup of “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies meets Yellowjackets”
Unfortunately it fell slightly flat in a few areas. The twists were predictable, the outcome was satisfactory, but not groundbreaking. As an avid horror fan, I was left wanting more from an incredibly promising premise.
That being said, the novel shines with how it handles the relationship dynamic between the three main characters. I found myself relating to our lead, Jade, and experiencing every frustration that she suffered at the hands of her alleged ‘best friends’. The diva’s were gaslighting her like there was no tomorrow and I had to vent to my friend on how annoyed I was getting on Jade’s behalf.
Overall, an enjoyable read, I would recommend to anyone looking to dip their toes into horror. A few humorous moments sprinkled amongst the chaos. I would say that it’s worth picking up as a well paced, fun read.
Thank you Hachette UK for the advanced proof copy
I really wanted to love this book, especially after being promised a mashup of “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies meets Yellowjackets”
Unfortunately it fell slightly flat in a few areas. The twists were predictable, the outcome was satisfactory, but not groundbreaking. As an avid horror fan, I was left wanting more from an incredibly promising premise.
That being said, the novel shines with how it handles the relationship dynamic between the three main characters. I found myself relating to our lead, Jade, and experiencing every frustration that she suffered at the hands of her alleged ‘best friends’. The diva’s were gaslighting her like there was no tomorrow and I had to vent to my friend on how annoyed I was getting on Jade’s behalf.
Overall, an enjoyable read, I would recommend to anyone looking to dip their toes into horror. A few humorous moments sprinkled amongst the chaos. I would say that it’s worth picking up as a well paced, fun read.
May 16, 2026
Thank you Bantam and NetGalley for my gifted copy of Backstabbers. All opinions are my own.
This one had a lot of tropes / themes I enjoy in a thriller. It was okay! Once finishing and throughout reading I felt myself saying this has been done so many times before. There really wasn’t anything extra or a wow factor that I love in a thriller. I think a lot of readers newer to thriller genre will enjoy this one a bit more than seasoned thriller readers so I still recommend if you enjoy a slasher thriller and are newer to the twists and turns of thrillers.
Best friends for life Stef, Jade, and Zoe take on an infamous hiking trail where a supposed serial killer is out collecting victims. After the case was casted all over on a famous podcast the girls decide to hike the infamous trail themselves not truly understanding what they’re about to get themselves into.
This one had a lot of tropes / themes I enjoy in a thriller. It was okay! Once finishing and throughout reading I felt myself saying this has been done so many times before. There really wasn’t anything extra or a wow factor that I love in a thriller. I think a lot of readers newer to thriller genre will enjoy this one a bit more than seasoned thriller readers so I still recommend if you enjoy a slasher thriller and are newer to the twists and turns of thrillers.
Best friends for life Stef, Jade, and Zoe take on an infamous hiking trail where a supposed serial killer is out collecting victims. After the case was casted all over on a famous podcast the girls decide to hike the infamous trail themselves not truly understanding what they’re about to get themselves into.
June 11, 2026
I had very mixed feelings about this book.
Overall, the story itself was good, but the way the characters handled everything was where it lost me a little.
Throughout most of the book, I genuinely thought Jade, Stef, and Zoe were much younger than they actually were because of the dialogue and the way they spoke. Finding out they weren’t took me by surprise.
Zoe was absolutely unbearable from start to finish, and honestly, with friends like these, who needs enemies? This is the kind of horror where every single character makes infuriating decisions, which made it hard for me to take seriously at times, especially considering how obsessed Jade is with true crime.
As for how everything played out, it just didn’t quite work for me. That doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else, of course. I’m someone who lives, eats, and breathes horror, so I wanted a little more from it.
I will say, I really liked the ending. It genuinely made me think, holy smokes. It’s always satisfying when a horror novel sticks the landing, and this one mostly did, although it felt a little abrupt.
The serial killer element was fun. I enjoyed the whole cabin-in-the-woods atmosphere, and the overall vibe was strong. I just would have liked more exploration of the killer, their motivations, and a deeper look into who they were.
The promise was there. The intent was there. The story was there. It just didn’t fully come together for me.
If you’re looking for a slasher horror that’s a quick, easy read and doesn’t take itself too seriously, this might be one for you.
Overall, the story itself was good, but the way the characters handled everything was where it lost me a little.
Throughout most of the book, I genuinely thought Jade, Stef, and Zoe were much younger than they actually were because of the dialogue and the way they spoke. Finding out they weren’t took me by surprise.
Zoe was absolutely unbearable from start to finish, and honestly, with friends like these, who needs enemies? This is the kind of horror where every single character makes infuriating decisions, which made it hard for me to take seriously at times, especially considering how obsessed Jade is with true crime.
As for how everything played out, it just didn’t quite work for me. That doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else, of course. I’m someone who lives, eats, and breathes horror, so I wanted a little more from it.
I will say, I really liked the ending. It genuinely made me think, holy smokes. It’s always satisfying when a horror novel sticks the landing, and this one mostly did, although it felt a little abrupt.
The serial killer element was fun. I enjoyed the whole cabin-in-the-woods atmosphere, and the overall vibe was strong. I just would have liked more exploration of the killer, their motivations, and a deeper look into who they were.
The promise was there. The intent was there. The story was there. It just didn’t fully come together for me.
If you’re looking for a slasher horror that’s a quick, easy read and doesn’t take itself too seriously, this might be one for you.
May 26, 2026
2.5
I felt like I was living a horror movie as I read through this, sprinting through the woods as our trio continued to get more and more lost, walking right into the lair of a killer. This story had all the classic horror tropes that it felt a little too on the nose for my taste. We’re meant to believe that this trio are a very close knit friend group, but there was little groundwork to really showcase what brought this group together other than their annual trips.
I personally wanted more from our main trio, and also more backstory from our villains. It felt like we needed just a bit more to fully explain the story behind the Bones Hollow Hunter. The snippets of the true crime podcast throughout the novel didn’t do enough to give me the foundation for this serial killer other than we have three women hiking in his hunting grounds. If you’re looking for a fast-paced slasher, this fits the bill. Reading this during a classic summer thunderstorm did wonders for the vibes throughout.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I felt like I was living a horror movie as I read through this, sprinting through the woods as our trio continued to get more and more lost, walking right into the lair of a killer. This story had all the classic horror tropes that it felt a little too on the nose for my taste. We’re meant to believe that this trio are a very close knit friend group, but there was little groundwork to really showcase what brought this group together other than their annual trips.
I personally wanted more from our main trio, and also more backstory from our villains. It felt like we needed just a bit more to fully explain the story behind the Bones Hollow Hunter. The snippets of the true crime podcast throughout the novel didn’t do enough to give me the foundation for this serial killer other than we have three women hiking in his hunting grounds. If you’re looking for a fast-paced slasher, this fits the bill. Reading this during a classic summer thunderstorm did wonders for the vibes throughout.
Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2026
Listening to a true crime podcast about a killer in the woods while hiking in the woods, yep I admit I'd do it too lol. This is definitely fast paced and action packed, however the MC's do not act their ages and get on you're nerves with certain situations for sure. The ending also left me scratching my head and raising an eyebrow, I wanted more defined in a way. For sure enjoyed my time with this and look forward to more from Eliza.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2026
What a wild and fun ride this book was!! Three friends lose their way in the wilderness and stumble upon a serial killer’s hunting ground. The dynamic between the girls was toxic as years of pent up frustration with each other come to the surface at the worst time possible!
Lots of nonstop action with an ending you won’t see coming.
Lots of nonstop action with an ending you won’t see coming.
May 27, 2026
This book was making my heart race the entire time!
No one is safe when the Bone Hollow Hunter is out.
This was an action packed book that I just flew through.
I felt bad for Jade as her friends are awful! I don’t want to spoil it but what her friends were doing had my jaw on the ground.
Every time I turned the page. Some new and Wild was happening.
Also, I would love to know if other people heard the Apex song while Jeremiah was dancing. 😅
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
No one is safe when the Bone Hollow Hunter is out.
This was an action packed book that I just flew through.
I felt bad for Jade as her friends are awful! I don’t want to spoil it but what her friends were doing had my jaw on the ground.
Every time I turned the page. Some new and Wild was happening.
Also, I would love to know if other people heard the Apex song while Jeremiah was dancing. 😅
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Stand-alone
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