Lights, Murder, Action

by Ashlynn Mills

It's all an act. It's not real. The blood is fake. The murders are scripted. It's all pretend. That is until it's not and I no longer know how to go back to just acting like the bad guy I'm not really supposed to be. Then I'm forced to make a different kind of movie, and the praises from the cameraman are enough for me to ignore the chain around my ankle. They’re enough for me to overlook the bodies falling around me, and they’re enough for me not to care about going back to how things were. I'm his star, and as long as he's filming, I want to be sure to always put on the best show for him.

172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2026

About the author

Ashlynn Mills is a Latina from Texas who currently resides in Missouri with her family running a farm. She enjoys reading and writing all genres about people falling in love.

Reviews

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slasher movie to real dark romance, featuring Sterling and Hayden, and is part of the multi author series.

Sterling is acting in a slasher movie and forms an unlikely bond with one of the cameramen. Sterling doesn’t want to admit what he is craving until Hayden shows him what it could be like. What Sterling doesn’t know is Hayden has been planning making Sterling his for a very long time, he knows what Sterling truely needs and soon Sterling becomes addicted to Hayden’s praise and wants to remain the star of Hayden’s twisted indie films. It doesn’t really count if the camera is rolling, right?

Wow. Just wow! I cannot stress this enough, check the CW, I didn’t but I never do and I got a lovely stabby surprise. Hayden and Sterling are seriously a perfect toxic match. They explore their attraction to each other with some very unhinged side quests. Great read!

Things to expect in this book are:
Multi author series
MM dark romance
Check CW!
Horror actor x Cameraman
Slasher movie set
Psycho / Stalking
Insta-obsession
Possessive & jealous
Secret admirer
Hidden cameras
Props swapped for real
Secret toxic relationship
Spicy times
Non con Somno
Praise kink & cum play
Blood play & Knife play
Wall s*x & s*x toys
Unhinged role play
Being outed
Kidnapping
Graphic unaliving
Calls him my little star
HEA

[Sara Husser · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎬He's lucky to have me and doesn't realize it. If I didn't watch and protect him, no one would☠️

"I have the tendency of trying to make it as authentic as possible, always feeling like I'm taking a little bit of that person with me after the movie is done filming."

"Now I hope for each weapon I pick up to be real. It's not normal to think that way, and it's not normal to sneak into the prop room to smell the blood on the blade either."

"He's lucky to have me and doesn't realize it. If I didn't watch and protect him, no one would."

"You're as delicious as I thought you would be. I know I said I was going to wait, but you were perfectly begging for more with those sl**** noises and how much you subconsciously wanted to show me your body."

"He was made to envoke fear into people's eyes and to have someone else's blood covering his skin. He was made to do it all for the camera too. For my camera."

"I needed to show him that he was safe with me. That he could let go here and be free. Even if I'm not the good person I'm pretending to be. Stepping stones and all that."

"You like being my little star, don't you? Getting to film you during all your best moments is such a privilege. So many others would take it for granted, but not me."

"There are times I still need him to be closer, to have a part of him overlapping me until his skin almost feels fused to mine, like we're one person."

"I'll give him the whole f****** world, punctured and bleeding, so he can roll around in it on camera."

"He's my cameraman and I'm his star. We were always meant to cross paths and create magic together."

Everything I have read by this author has been amazing. I have also read multiple books in this series, and they have been fantastic. I love how all these stories are all unhinged. This story was wild, spicy, and deranged. This storyline was amazing and very unique. I was engaged until the very end. The spice was super spicy and so hot 🔥🔥🔥🔥.

This story follows Sterling and Hayden. Sterling is a horror actor. He loves what he does, and he gets so into character that sometimes that line blurs for him, and the darkness sinks in. Hayden is one of the cameramen on set filming. He is also completely obsessed with him. He stalks him, records him while he sleeps, and watches him sleep 🤣. He believes they're meant to be, and Sterling just needs to catch up. Hayden befriends him, and they build a quick and intense friendship that eventually turns heated fast 😏. Meanwhile, on set, the props are being replaced by real weapons. This makes Sterling want to act out the killer scenes even more. He also has a stalker sending him gifts. I wonder who this stalker could be 🤔😂? Eventually, Hayden and Sterling make their own intimate movies, which turn a bit 🩸. Hayden is trying to unleash who Sterling really wants to be. He just needs a push or two. They have a few tiffs and some obstacles against them. What will Sterling think when he finds out all of Hayden's secrets? Will Hayden be able to keep his little idol? Can Sterling accept who he was meant to be?

This couple is so deranged, debauched, and unhinged. And I'm so here for it all! Hayden was so manipulative and did some heaving psychological coercion. But he knew what he wanted and he was a patient man 🤣. Sterling seemed lost in himself. He was scared to voice what he wanted. He felt safe and could always open up to Hayden. Their chemistry was off the charts 🥵🥵. The spicy scenes were spicing hard and kinky 🔥🔥🔥. Hayden was so deranged when he was watching and playing with Sterling while he slept 😏😂. I love how these two fed off the darkness in each other. Sterling likes the action of killing while Hayden likes to watch the killing and film. These two loved to make their own movie collection 😉. I loved seeing Sterling come into himself and be more confident. Hayden was so sweet and would give the world to Sterling. He would also give him some actors to fim in their movies 😁. The ending of this book was bloody amazing 🩸🩸☠️. I recommend anything by this author. ☠️🩸🔪🪚🎬 🎞 🎥✨️

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Murder, Action was dark, twisted, completely unhinged… and I honestly could not look away.

Set on a slasher movie production, this story blurs the line between performance and reality in the most disturbing and addictive way possible. Sterling, a horror actor craving something darker, and Hayden, the cameraman who has been obsessively watching him for far longer than Sterling realizes, are an absolutely toxic perfect match.

I really loved how psychological this felt. The tension constantly builds as Hayden slowly pulls Sterling deeper into his world, and the whole “camera always rolling” aspect made everything feel unsettling in the best way. Their dynamic is obsessive, possessive, messy, and somehow incredibly intimate despite how unhinged they both are.

The filming aspect also made this stand out from other dark romances I’ve read. Watching the line between acting and reality completely disappear created such an intense atmosphere, and I genuinely never knew how far things were going to spiral.

This definitely isn’t a light read, and seriously — check the CWs because this book does not hold back. But if you enjoy morally grey characters, psychological tension, toxic devotion, and dark romances that fully commit to the chaos, this one absolutely delivers.

✨ Horror actor x cameraman
✨ MM dark romance
✨ Slasher movie set
✨ Insta-obsession
✨ Possessive & jealous MMC
✨ Secret toxic relationship
✨ Psychological tension
✨ Stalking & hidden cameras
✨ Praise kink
✨ Blood play & knife play
✨ Morally grey characters
✨ HEA

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was dark, unsettling, and completely impossible to look away from. The line between performance and reality blurred more and more as the story went on, and it created this intense atmosphere where I genuinely never knew how far things were going to spiral.

Hayden and Sterling are absolutely unhinged together, but somehow they work perfectly as a pair. Their dynamic felt obsessive, toxic, and weirdly intimate in a way that fit the story so well. I really liked that the focus stayed heavily on the characters and their twisted connection rather than relying purely on shock value.

The whole filming aspect also gave the story something different from other dark romances I’ve read. It felt disturbing, addictive, and strangely hypnotic watching Hayden slowly lose sight of what’s real and what’s become part of the “show”.

Definitely not a light read, but if you enjoy dark, character-driven stories with morally grey characters and a lot of psychological tension, this one delivers - as you would expect from Ashlynn ;)
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sterling is used to playing a fake villain — scripted blood, staged murders, all pretend — until suddenly it isn’t. Pulled into a real nightmare, he becomes trapped and controlled, clinging to cameraman Hayden’s praise as the only thing that still feels good. Chained, surrounded by real violence, Sterling fixates on performing for Hayden, blurring fear and devotion as he becomes the “star” of a show he can’t escape.

This is a very dark romance built on the intense obsession between Sterling and Hayden, and that fixation drives every moment of their twisted connection. I found myself struggling at times with just how dark every character was — it became hard to tell who was worse, which added to the unsettling tone of the story. I do enjoy dark romance, but this one pushed the limits for me. Still, the obsessive pull between the leads is undeniable, and the story delivers exactly the kind of disturbing, emotionally charged intensity it promises. This was an MM story with mature content.

** Please note the trigger warnings **

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a read please make sure that you read the triggers before starting this book as it is really dark. I honestly didn’t know how to describe the main characters so I chose to read some reviews to see what they wrote and they wrote unhinged and that is the main characters they are unhinged. There is so much going on in this book stalking kidnapping murder it’s all so twisted and fast paced. I am a huge fan of Ashlynn Mills and this book didn’t disappoint they were times when I had to stop reading just to regroup to get my head straight Sterling has these feelings, these thoughts and doesn’t know where to put them but Hayden knows and he tries to help him along the way I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s twist and turns in this book but it is so good and I’m super excited for the next Book from this author
I received ARC from the author and this is me choosing to leave my honest review.

[Guardian.angel54 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this slightly unhinged dark read and let me tell you why ...
This wasn't like a lot of other books that I've read in that the two MCs sort of slowly circle around each other before they actually come together. I've really got to hand it to "cameraman Hayden". He watches and stalks and crosses all kinds of ethical boundaries and shows a crap ton of restraint and patience in reeling in his target. Sterling is actually sweetly naive when it comes to the dark urges he feels and he definitely needs Hayden to give him the encouragement to let himself go. Their relationship is dark and unhinged but that's what makes it so delicious and hot 🔥🔥🔥
Ashlynn Mills is a favorite author for a very good reason and their ability to write dark, morally grey men that find their equally morally grey counterpart is just one of those reasons. Heed the trigger warnings but this is truly fantastic read and I highly recommend it.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ashlynn Mills always takes the reader for a ride. And at her best, it’s a dark, twisted, dangerous one. In Lights, Camera, Action, she gives us maybe her most toxic tale yet. There is nothing sane about Hayden or Sterling, and maybe that’s what makes them the perfect pair. The actor and his cameraman making shows to die for. This book is very dark, with instalove, stalking, possessive MC, and plenty of blood. So, be sure to read the warnings. While unconventional, the relationship between the two main characters was well done. Loved the way Mills played up the yin/yang aspect of their relationship and how they complement one another. The book still has plenty of spice, but it’s very character driven vs story driven, which I enjoyed. The premise was unique in a genre that sometimes feels repetitive. Mills continues to be a one click author for me.

[Syd Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this dark and unhinged romance! Please check trigger warnings for this book before reading! Hayden and Sterling had me saying “what the?!” and “oh Hell.o!” several times in this book. Sterling can’t understand these urges that he has but Hayden knows about them and it willing to help Sterling figure out his true calling in front of the camera. This book a lot; love, steam, tension, tension, drama, chemistry, miscommunication, deep connections and an HEA that will have you wanting more from these men. Ashlynn did a fantastic job with this book and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.

I received an ebook copy of this book and I am voluntary leaving an honest review.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sterling likes to put himself in the mindset of the character he is playing on the big screen but when fantasy is blurred into reality, Sterling is not pretending. Cameraman Hayden, is working on Sterling's latest film, but he has his own secret project he is working on.
This had tension oozing from page one and I loved every minute. Knowing what Hayden's wish was from the start, made it a quick read as I wanted to know when it would reach that final crescendo.
The graphic scenes enable you to clearly imagine what was going on. Some of my favourite scenes were when they were on the movie set and the details made me feel that I was there watching them make the movie.
If you like dark then pick this book up

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Murder, Action is part of the multi author In The Spotlight series. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the whole series. Please read the trigger warnings before you start as this book is wonderfully dark. This is the story of Hayden and Sterling. This is such a good dark and twisted story. We get stalking, tension, drama, miscommunication, chemistry, steam, and love. I loved all the twists, turns, and darkness that Ashlynn Mills is so good at writing. I can't wait to see what Ashlynn Mills writes next. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.
received a free review copy

[Rea · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love fast-paced books with an unhinged, obsessed MC, plus some stalking and a little blood, this is the perfect read. It was really interesting and got straight to the point, which I loved — no dragging things out, just straight into the story.

Sterling and Hayden were the perfect match for each other. They’re both twisted in their own ways, both carrying a dark side. The difference is one hides it better, while the other kind of denies it and keeps it tucked away until it starts slipping out. That dynamic made them so good together, because they understood each other in ways no one else really could.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐

I enjoyed this fast-paced story of horror actor Sterling and obsessive cameraman Hayden. And I appreciated their unique dynamic. Something was missing for me, though, which is probably a personal preference thing. When it came to the unaliving aspect, there seemed to be a certain amount of carelessness involved. Typically with this type of story, there's mention of how the unalivers avoid detection. Not the case here, and I found myself repeatedly thinking of the various ways they were opening themselves up to getting caught. However if that isn't something that would bother you, then I definitely recommend checking out this addition to the In the Spotlight series.

[Vanessa V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Okay, this book would make an amazing slasher movie somebody please turn this into a film immediately 🔪🔪🔪

This wasn’t a romance between two red flags this was two full psychological breakdowns falling in love 😂

Unhinged is honestly the only way to describe Hayden and Sterling.

The way Hayden fed into Sterling’s darkest desires and slowly dragged him over to the bloody side was chef’s kiss.

I really wish we got more after Sterling fully accepted who he was and embraced his role because I was not ready for their chaos to end.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st person POV Dual
MM
Plot 3.5/5
Spice 3/5
Actor/ camera man
So much stalking
Making "movies"
Coercion
Mind games


A great addition to the In The Spotlight series!

Hayden is bat crap crazy.... Manipulative, underhanded and obsessed! Stalking and filming Sterling with and without him knowing... Lord have mercy! Not that Sterling is the picture of well adjusted sunshine either, that man has a couple screws loose as well and takes someone like Hayden to unleash him completely!

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sterling and Hayden story was intense, twisted, unhinged, and I loved every moment of it.
As always I was grateful for the trigger warnings as this story is not for the faint-hearted and I always like to know what I should expect and if it has some of my hard limits.
They had an interesting dynamic and chemistry, a few hiccups along the way, some danger and adrenaline, but also some miscommunication and a bit of stubbornness.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you start reading a book by Ashlynn, you know in advance that she is going to take you on an emotional rollercoaster.

The characters are dark, yet you will still come to love them.

This book, too, will not disappoint you. No matter how dark Hayden and Sterling are, and sometimes even messed up, they get under your skin.

🖤Thank you to the Author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC🖤

[Crystal Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights Murder Action is one of multi authors and it can be read as a standalone but why not read them all. You should read the trigger warnings in front of the book before you start reading the book. This is story of Hayden and Sterling. I love how Ashlynn Mills keeps us guessing what is going to happen next with the charters. They are misunderstanding, theirs stalking and some other things. I got a advanced copy of Lights Murder Action by Ashlynn Mills

[Mandy Tunstill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Brilliant

OH...... WOW........ Lights, Murder, Action by Ashlynn Mills is Absolutely Brilliant I could not put it down its so dark, twisted and unhinged love...love..... Sterling & Hayden together their chemistry is so steamy, hot and intense both of them are crazy and so possessive of each other full of twists and turns you're in for for one hell of a ride I Love it so much and recommend it Fantastic.

[jaz! · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️
(ARC)

I wanted to like this book way more than I actually did. If you are looking for a smutty, over-the-top, quick romance with blood, murder, and unhinged characters, I would def say to give this one a try, but for me personally, it wasn't my favorite. It was fine, and I managed to enjoy it enough to finish it, but I wasn't really connecting or vibing with either of our two main characters or their relationship, so it was hard for me to actually care about them other than surface-level enjoyment. I think that this book will work for a lot of people, but it wasn't my cup of tea this time.

[Kassandra Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a bit odd for me, I liked it for the most part but idk, something felt off. Which probably means the story did what it should have. Because of the content. Felt like I was watching some creepy-thriller-chiller movie from the 80s with some big name English actors.

I’d recommend if you like these tropes, but definitely check the CW.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sterling is a horror movie actor and plays the villain well, not realizing there's something inside him drawn to it. He also doesn't realize he has a stalker, a cameraman named Hayden who sneaks in his room at night, films him and has hands on action. He is driven towards violence by accidents and mishaps, steered by the cameraman who wants them to be together. It's menacing, a slice of madness, a looming future you can't look away from. It's not just a dark romance but genuine bloody horror.

[Amanda Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Murder, Action is part of the multi-author In The Spotlight series and can be read as a standalone. I do recommend checking the trigger warnings if you have any, this is a dark and twisted read about Hayden and Sterling. The chemistry between these two is just fantastic, I could not put this down.

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure exactly how to describe Hayden and Sterling. They are twistedly unique in their own rights. This entire book is about them together and their hot complementary chemistry. We do not shy away from the blood and gore so be warned! And it is all of course caught on camera! A seriously dark ride of read!

[Traci S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
This was a fun escape of a read. I love horror movies and Hayden and Sterling had that creepy vibe I really enjoy, it’s definitely a page turner. I appreciated the toxic, obsessive dynamics between these two and thought the premise was super clever and deftly executed. This was a fast paced, twisted, and wonderfully entertaining read!

[Mary *~* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars. That was absolutely delicious. So good. I spent a third of the book drooling like a dog. Woof!
This author really knows how to bring the heat, even when the MCs are just thinking about each other. The way MC1 was desperate for MC2 was .. phew *fans self* everything.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was some real cray cray love. Next level crazy. Very entertaining and a page turner. If you love dark romance that's full of murder and that psychotic love...this is for you. Not for the faint at heart.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fran Rosey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i absolutely love it. great characters. everything about this book is amazing. with one mc just going for what he wants and one fighting himself on what he wants, makes a very great plot. plenty of heat and very mild angst, this is a must read. cant wait for more keep up the great work.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so wonderful. If Ashlynn Mills writes it, I will be there for it! 🖤🖤🖤

[quickbookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars, Rounded Up.