Killer Summer

by Wendy Dalrymple

She can still smell him.



She can still feel him.



But she can't see him.



Dani Kincaid is an average teen on the cusp of adulthood in late 1990s California. She has her friends, her family, her boyfriend, and a job at the local video store. But she also has a dangerous stalker in preppy classmate Matt Vickers, a textbook misogynist who will stop at nothing to have her by his side.



Twenty-five years later, Dani is still struggling to shake the past of the killer summer that turned her life upside down. She's changed her identity and moved to Florida, where the echoes of that awful summer continue to haunt every aspect of her life. Even though Vickers has been behind bars for a quarter of a century, Dani slowly begins to feel his terrifying shadow creep back into her life to finish what he began.



In a final girl showdown to end all showdowns, Dani is forced to face her past and stand up for herself and her freedom once and for all. But at what cost?



Killer Summer is a pink horror slasher splashed with hot magenta blood; a meditation on consent, independence, and the terrifying price that all women face, simply for being alive.

Genres: Horror

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Wendy Dalrymple loves to explore the beauty in horrific things.. When she’s not writing #pinkhorror or Florida Gothic horror, you can find her hiking with her family, painting (bad) wall art, and trying to grow as many pineapples as possible. Follow her on IG or TikTok @wendydalrymplewrites.
Www.wendydalrymple.com

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DID have fun with this. It felt like putting on your old school favorite slasher / horror movie. While the letterboxd star rating might be piss poor, it five stars in your heart because despite terrible acting and absurd plot lines, it's fun. What I'm saying it's a fun popcorn read that made me audibly laugh a few times.

The first half / part was whooping my ass left and right. It was an absolute bloodbath that went a mile a minute. Just full-blown crazy. By the time I hit part two, it unfortunately didn't keep that momentum, and the pace slowed. Rehashing things and relaying them in dialogue when our Final Girl was speaking to a friend which felt redundant. We KNOW what happened. We lived it with you, bestie.

Once we get towards the end-ish of part two, it picks right back up. Not as fast as part one, but it was enough to keep you turning the pages. There was some very absurd plot choices that made me laugh, but I was treating this like the story it was and not some sweeping classic lmao

Thank you to my besties at Mad Axe Media and Netgalley for the arc!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 90s (and 2023) slasher thriller was just what I needed to break out of my awful reading slump. The beginning reminded me of Alex Finlay’s Night Shift (a fave), but then you differ in plots. I loved the cat-and-mouse and the different time jumps. It just kept me excited and I could not stop turning the page.
Pub day is 5/12.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

*I received a ARC copy from Net Galley*

I devoured this book within 24 hours, actually it was more like 3 hours and I could not put it down. I’m a fan of horrors and especially serial killer/slasher flicks and this one really fits the mould. I love a strong final girl and that’s who our main character is. Think Sydney from Scream.

We start our story in 1998 when movie stores were still around, our girl Dani is being stalked by a customer.
For the first couple of chapters, my heart was pounding, bringing back that feeling of watching my first slasher flick. I knew what would happen, its simple serial killer moves but I couldn’t help but root for Dani. I wanted to know she was safe. The book is a great short horror and perfect for those summersweens!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re a fan of messy, fast-paced slasher stories, “Killer Summer” by Wendy Dalrymple is basically the book version of a late-90s horror movie. It’s short (just over 200 pages), super quick to read, and is filled with tension from the beginning to the end.

The story starts in 1998 with Dani, an 18-year-old working at a video store, who ends up with a seriously creepy stalker named Matt. When she rejects him, things escalate fast. Matt goes on a violent spree, killing people he thinks are “in the way,” including Dani’s boyfriend. It’s brutal and terrifying, especially because his obsession with her is so intense. What makes it even scarier is how realistic the situation feels; Dani knows something is wrong, but at first people don’t really believe her.

After a final confrontation, Matt ends up badly injured and in prison, and Dani spends years trying to rebuild her life. She even learns self-defense and tries to reclaim her trauma by writing a screenplay inspired by what happened to her. But 25 years later, things start getting creepy again because Matt has apparently escaped from prison and might be coming after her.

From there, the book leans fully into its slasher vibes. There’s a constant sense of dread because you never know when the next attack is coming. Dani is basically the classic “final girl,” and you end up rooting for her even when she makes some truly questionable decisions that will probably make you want to yell at the page a little.

The last quarter of the book is where everything really goes wild. There are multiple attempts on Dani’s life, and it turns out it’s not just the killer she has to worry about. There are also fanatics who idolize him and think Dani is lying, plus the possibility that other escaped prisoners might be helping him. Basically, nowhere feels safe.

There’s also a twist near the end about how Matt escaped prison and who exactly is hunting Dani that I didn’t fully see coming, which made the finale even more entertaining. And the ending itself is satisfying; Dani finally gets the chance to face her past and take control of her story. Also, shoutout to Dani’s aunt Lisa, who is an absolute badass.

Is the story perfect? Not really. Some parts are a little over-the-top, and the characters occasionally make classic horror-movie decisions. But honestly, that kind of adds to the charm. This book feels like watching a chaotic slasher movie where logic isn’t always the priority—entertainment is.

Overall, “Killer Summer” is a fun, creepy, slightly chaotic horror read with strong 90s slasher energy. If you like stalker thrillers, “final girl” stories, or quick horror books that feel like a guilty-pleasure movie, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A massive thank you is in order to #NetGalley for providing me with this Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of Killer Summer. In sincere appreciation for the opportunity to read this early, I am offering my completely honest and comprehensive review. My goal is to provide a detailed opinion so that other readers can accurately determine if this gripping, nostalgic thriller is the perfect fit for their reading preferences.-----My Rating: 4 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, ultimately giving it a strong 4-star rating. Killer Summer immediately transported me back to the late 1990s, offering a distinctly nostalgic vibe that felt very much like stepping into a classic 90s horror film—think slashers with a sharp, suspenseful edge. The author masterfully captured that specific cultural atmosphere and tension.

One of the book's major strengths is its pacing and length. Coming in at just over 200 pages, the narrative is tight, lean, and utterly compulsive. In fact, I found it so engrossing that I easily consumed the entire book in a single sitting—a true testament to the author's ability to keep the pages turning.
Plot and Setting

The story is bifurcated by two distinct timelines rooted in a traumatic past. The initial horror takes place in the late 90s, where the protagonist, Dani, suffers an unimaginable tragedy: the brutal murder of both her boyfriend and her co-worker. This event, and the shadow of the killer, defines the rest of her life.

Fast forward twenty-five years. Dani is still grappling with the psychological fallout of those horrific events. Her life is now characterized by a deep, paralyzing fear of attachment. She is terrified to allow anyone to get close to her, consumed by the fear that she will inevitably lose them, just as she lost those closest to her years ago.

The main driver of the present-day plot is a terrifying development: the killer from her past has escaped confinement. This news shatters the fragile peace Dani has managed to construct. She starts to feel—or perhaps smell—the killer's ominous return, convinced he is coming back to finish what he started and reclaim her life.


Final Recommendation

Without hesitation, this is a read I would enthusiastically recommend. If you are a fan of quick, high-stakes thrillers, especially those with a pitch-perfect nostalgic atmosphere and setting, Killer Summer is a must-add to your reading list. The blend of a compelling plot, sympathetic protagonist, and genuine 90s horror vibes makes this a truly enjoyable and memorable reading experience.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killer Summer takes the glossy nostalgia of late‑1990s California—video stores, sun‑bleached afternoons, the illusion of safety—and slices straight through it. At its centre is Dani Kincaid, an ordinary teenager on the edge of adulthood whose life is derailed by the obsessive, escalating fixation of Matt Vickers, a classmate whose entitlement curdles into something terrifying. The novel captures that creeping dread with unsettling precision: the way a girl can feel watched, cornered, hunted long before anyone else notices.

The story’s power comes from its dual timeline. Twenty‑five years later, Dani is living under a new name in Florida, still shaped by the trauma of that “killer summer.” Even with Vickers behind bars, his shadow lingers—proof that violence doesn’t end with a conviction, and that survival is rarely a clean escape. The tension builds beautifully as Dani senses him creeping back into her life, the past refusing to stay buried.

The book leans into slasher energy—bold, stylish, unapologetically pink—but beneath the aesthetic is a thoughtful exploration of consent, fear, and the exhausting vigilance women are forced to carry. Dani’s final confrontation is less about defeating a monster and more about reclaiming the parts of herself he tried to take. It’s cathartic, messy, and emotionally charged in all the right ways.

What stands out most is the novel’s empathy. Dani isn’t just a “final girl”; she’s a woman who has spent decades trying to outrun a story she never asked to be part of. Her resilience is the quiet heartbeat of the book, grounding the horror in something painfully real.

A sharp, stylish, and emotionally resonant slasher that blends nostalgia with modern commentary. It’s bloody, bold, and surprisingly tender—a story about survival, identity, and the price women pay simply for existing in the world.

With thanks to Wendy Dalrymple, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Willie Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Rounding Up

I love the ‘come-back killers’. You know, the ones that cause damage, go away for a while, then return years later with a grudge? Yeah, those are some of my favorites.

In "Killer Summer" we begin in 1998 with 18-year-old Dani Kincaid (and are immediately hit with a wave of nostalgia). Her stalker, Matt Vickers, turns murderous, gets caught and goes to jail, then comes back to finish the job 25 years later.

During Vickers’s incarceration Dani has changed her name and moved across the country in an attempt to escape her past and live a somewhat normal life.
However, Dani is not a normal girl. Her past trauma has affected her deeply, but she refuses to claim the Victim title.
She’s learned self-defense, carries protection, has a go-bag, a plan of escape, extra home security measures in place, and a secret arsenal hidden in her bedroom closet. (how cool!)

Is she paranoid, or prepared for the inevitable?


🤘 This was an entertaining read from start to finish!

It had more of a YA slasher/thriller feel, but I’m not mad at it 😁
I had fun with it. Plenty of gore and excitement.

Yes, it was a bit repetitive, had some holes, and may have seemed a little over the top and absurd at times, but hey! That's the genre and that's what makes it Entertaining 🤩

Start of your bloody summer with this killer good read!


🤗 Thank you NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the gifted eARC 🙏

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Killer Summer blends nostalgic slasher vibes with a story about survival, trauma, and the long shadow of violence. The sections set in the late 1990s were easily my favorite part of the book. They captured that classic teen slasher atmosphere perfectly—video stores, small-town friendships, and the growing dread of a dangerous stalker. Those chapters had strong Scream-like energy and felt immersive and tense.

The story then jumps forward twenty-five years, following Dani as she tries to live a new life after the events of that “killer summer.” While I appreciated the themes around consent, misogyny, and the way harassment continues to follow women even decades later, the pacing in the present-day timeline felt rushed compared to the slower build of the 90s storyline. The twist was also fairly easy to see coming, which took some of the suspense out of the later chapters.

One element I did appreciate was the commentary on modern “keyboard warriors” and online harassment, and how those voices can become another form of villainy in a survivor’s life.

Overall, this was an enjoyable slasher-inspired thriller with strong 90s nostalgia, though the second half didn’t feel as developed as the first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Netty’s Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of 90's slasher films, this one's for you!

The story follows Dani Kincaid, and it begins in the late 90's at a video rental store. She's a recent high school grad that's ready to move forward with her life. On her last night working at the video store, Matt Vickers walks in and she immediately gets the creeps. He's a usual at the store and gives off an uneasy, predatory vibe and always makes Dani uncomfortable. While he's there, she avoids him at all costs until her coworker checks him out and he's on his way. Dani thinks she's in the clear and finishes her shift for the night. What Dani doesn't know, is that her final shift will be the beginning of a lifetime of horror.

This was such a fun read! I loved the nostalgia in the first half and how it blended beautifully with the present. Wendy does a great job creating traumatic moments while splashing a bit of humor in between. Definitely gave "Scream" vibes and I am here for it!
A popcorn thriller that's fun (and traumatic? lol) from beginning to end.

Thank you so much to Net Galley, Xpresso Book Tours and Wendy Dalrymple for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
The year is 1998 and Dani Kincaid is 18 years old, working at a video store in California and looking forward to college. But she has a creepy stalker named Matt Vickers. When he asks her out and she rebuffs him, Vickers goes on a spree and takes everything from Dani. 25 years later, she's built a new life in Florida. But suddenly it seems she's being stalked again, somehow her new identity revealed. And word has it Vickers escaped from prison. But this time, she's prepared to fight back and end things once and for all.
This very much had the slasher vibes of a late 90s horror movie, with the lightness that keeps the book from being too dark, yet still full of horror. The plot being an obsessed stalker as the villain was different, as well as the way the final girl prepared herself for years. There were plot twists towards the end that I saw coming, but didn't see coming at the same time, some of which were more hokey than original or surprising, 3.5/5*

[michelle ࣪ ִֶָ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exciting premise that had a strong start, with fun 90s slasher vibes complete with characters working at a video store, but then it faltered during the time jump in part two. There were a few moments of repetitive exposition that just felt like a waste of time, and a main character who exclusively made questionable choices. I don't think she made one smart decision this entire time. There was one sequence towards the end of part one that just had me baffled at how she made so many wrong choices in a row. It was almost impressive. It was also a little too predictable for my taste. I figured out the second antagonist before we even got to the time jump, and then I guessed the related twist, too. The pace picked back up a little at the end, but there was still very little mystery or intrigue for me.

That all being said, I do think it had entertaining moments, especially part one. This wasn't my favorite of Wendy's, but I'm still a big fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC!

[Zoe Stott · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Killer Summer was such a tense and eerie read, with strong 90s slasher vibes that made it even more fun to read.

The story follows Dani, who was stalked years ago by a violent man. Now, 25 years later, she’s living under a new identity as a college professor—until strange things start happening and it feels like her past has found her again.

I was a bit unsure at first because it’s written in third person (I usually prefer first), but I ended up really enjoying it and found it easy to get into.

The book has some great twists and definitely keeps you on your toes. It has that classic slasher feel where there’s constant tension and the sense that danger is always close by, which added to the overall eeriness.

Overall, a really solid thriller with a creepy premise, good pacing, and a nostalgic slasher edge. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy suspenseful, stalker-style stories!

📅 Release date: May 12

[Read_with_Beans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Mad Axe Media for the ARC of Killer Summer by Wendy Dalrymple.

OMG – I came across Wendy Dalrymple’s work this year and have devoured almost all of her backlist, and was extremely privileged to be given an early copy of her newest book! Through her work, I discovered Mad Axe Media, which works with amazing horror authors whose work I have enjoyed.

If you loved the original Scream, you will love this book. Imagine if Drew Barrymore’s character hadn’t died, and you were able to catch up with her 25 years later as she struggles with the trauma she experienced and the creeping sensation that someone is watching her again. She knows the slasher from 25 years ago is in jail, but something still doesn’t feel right…

With a release date in May 2026, this is a perfect slasher addition to your summer TBR. You will not be disappointed with this slash, suspenseful book, and I promise it will make you want to read everything Wendy has written.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

📼ARC REVIEW📼

PUB DATE: 5/12/2026

“By nightfall, Dani was finished with her extra home security measures and surmised that even Kevin McCallister himself would be proud of her work.“

“Carving a stalker up into little bits was going to be difficult, but also exactly what she needed to move on with her life.“

“She wanted to see the light extinguish from his eyes, feel his last breath on her cheek. Only up close could she be certain that he was really, truly dead.“

💬 Yupppp. Wendy Dalyrymple is officially an auto buy author for me. I loved Bed Rot Baby and immediately signed up for this ARC as soon as I saw it. 90’s pink horror, California slasher, final girl vibes?! You already know I was first in line. I loved every second of this unhinged little ride. HIGHLY recommend 💞

Thank you @netgalley @xpressotours @madaxemedia @wendydalrymplewrites

[Bruno Britos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Ok, this book talks about Dani first in the 90's when a killer go after her and then in the present when her past comes back.

This book was fun and Dani is a amazing character where she has the attitude like "i will deal with this" so she's ready for his stalker ala Laurie Strode in Halloween 2018.

Even had a nice twist, but my main problem it's that this book is really fast, its only 200 pages so for me it looked like a novella, i wished we had more pages to have more scenes with other characters and go more in deph with the personality of everybody.

Also i really wished this was with more creative deaths, most of the times Dani sees people already dead.

But in the end i liked, had my fun and its so short that you can read in a afternoon, also i had a few laughs also.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for a honest review.

[elijahsreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading Bed Rot Baby I was highly anticipating the release of this as I love slashers so much.

I will say the 90s section did not disappoint! The section has great pacing, makes you feel like you’re running with her. The opening scene at the video store I need recreated in a movie asap.

Unfortunately it’s when we jump to 2023 where I felt the pacing faltered and I wish it felt more slasher-ery. Some character choices personally weren’t for me.

One thing I loved was the depiction of how media (especially right wing media) try to paint real victims as the villains and masterminds.

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an e -arc in exchange for an honest review!

this is a perfect cheesy campy 2000s slasher in book form! This would be the perfect quick book to read in the summer, because it's very reminiscent of classic slashers (think scream, Halloween, etc). I also really enjoyed the strong final girl aspect , and she was giving Sydney Prescott specifically in scream 3 which was fun

[Madame Strange · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Killer Summer” - “Welcome to Cool Flix!”

★★★★☆ (4,5)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC, I leave this review voluntarily.

Wendy knows how to capture nostalgia, set a mood, bring all the vibes and give her story the perfect setting and atmosphere to hook you from the start.
I’m a sucker for a slasher and a final girl that feels “real”. I literally couldn’t put this novel down and enjoyed it from start to finish. (Thanks for putting in the “Exhale” I did hold my breath a few times)

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be still my 90s girl heart!! Such a fun and nostalgic pink horror slasher. So many references—if you know, you know. I love that part of the story is set in a video rental store. Fast-paced and hard to put down; I definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the eARC! Pub date May 12, 2026

[JXR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic slasher story that feels very different to usual ones because here, the killer isn't mysterious, really, and he isn't supernatural, or phantasmal, or even particularly skilled. he is just absolutely obsessed and really, really creepy. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and it started out in a video store and VSH tapes it made it relatable. It is fast-paced and hooks you from the beginning.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC to review!

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!! Review to come! ☀️