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'Twas the Night: A Novel – A Christmas Horror Mystery Where a Reporter Investigates Disappearances in a Village That Worships Santa
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26Yuletide cheer is served with a double dose of horror in Kevin Johnson’s gripping debut, in which a young reporter follows a string of disappearances into the middle of a terrifying Christmas cult inspired by our favorite holiday classics.
You better watch out. You better not cry.
It’s Christmas in the village of Yule, Maine.
In fact, it’s always Christmas in Yule. Here, Santa Claus isn’t a storybook figure. He’s an icon. A god. The villagers don’t just believe in him—they worship him. And the world is better for it.
Halley Belanger hates Christmas, and she doesn’t have much love for Santa either. But when a string of child disappearances across Maine seems to spare only the village of Yule, Halley—a sharp, skeptical reporter—decides to investigate.
What she finds is a town that guards its secrets with gingerbread smiles and a snow globe sheen. Outsiders aren’t welcome. She isn’t welcome. And something sinister is keeping the Christmas spirit alive.
As Halley digs deeper, she begins to uncover the horrifying truth behind Yule’s eternal cheer. Christmas comes at a grisly cost. And Santa Claus is no saint.
You better watch out. You better not cry.
It’s Christmas in the village of Yule, Maine.
In fact, it’s always Christmas in Yule. Here, Santa Claus isn’t a storybook figure. He’s an icon. A god. The villagers don’t just believe in him—they worship him. And the world is better for it.
Halley Belanger hates Christmas, and she doesn’t have much love for Santa either. But when a string of child disappearances across Maine seems to spare only the village of Yule, Halley—a sharp, skeptical reporter—decides to investigate.
What she finds is a town that guards its secrets with gingerbread smiles and a snow globe sheen. Outsiders aren’t welcome. She isn’t welcome. And something sinister is keeping the Christmas spirit alive.
As Halley digs deeper, she begins to uncover the horrifying truth behind Yule’s eternal cheer. Christmas comes at a grisly cost. And Santa Claus is no saint.
288 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
Kevin Johnson
1 book15 followersKevin Johnson grew up reading Goosebumps and roaming the horror aisles of the nearest Blockbuster Video. He studied Creative Writing at Florida State University and currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife and a rambunctious long-haired miniature dachshund named Pepper. ‘Twas The Night is his debut novel. You can find him on social media @bookevinjohnson.
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March 10, 2026I LOVE Christmas Horror stories! this one sounds fun!
** UPDATE ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! **
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
** UPDATE ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! **
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
✨ARC REVIEW✨
4.5⭐️ Definitely impressed with this debut. I can honestly say I’ve never read a story about a secluded village with a twisted, cult-like devotion to Santa Claus. And not about the festive Christmas cheer we’re all used to.
Clever writing that takes familiar holiday traditions and transforms them into nightmares that keep the tension building—think The Wicker Man meets Silent Night. If you’re looking for a dark, investigative horror this book is an absolute must-read that will make you look at Santa Claus in a whole new light. Well done.
4.5⭐️ Definitely impressed with this debut. I can honestly say I’ve never read a story about a secluded village with a twisted, cult-like devotion to Santa Claus. And not about the festive Christmas cheer we’re all used to.
Clever writing that takes familiar holiday traditions and transforms them into nightmares that keep the tension building—think The Wicker Man meets Silent Night. If you’re looking for a dark, investigative horror this book is an absolute must-read that will make you look at Santa Claus in a whole new light. Well done.
June 8, 2026
Ohhh I love Christmas horror.
This book takes place in a reality where Santa Claus is unquestionably real, and somehow his existence has become one of the few things that unites nations, cultures, and religions. Honestly, that premise alone sold me.
The story follows a journalist working for a small online publication who is desperate for the story that will finally put her on the map. While investigating a string of missing children, she follows the trail to an isolated town that is very clearly not interested in outsiders asking questions.
Once she gets there, things become much stranger than she expected. The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers, and while she does eventually find what she’s looking for, it comes at a cost.
This was just a really fun read. It balances mystery, horror, and Christmas weirdness in a way that kept me engaged the whole time. The worldbuilding around Santa and the holiday itself was probably my favorite part. It takes a familiar idea and twists it into something much darker.
I’m not even a Christmas person, which makes my love of Christmas horror a little confusing, but apparently this is one of my genres now. And books like this are exactly why.
This book takes place in a reality where Santa Claus is unquestionably real, and somehow his existence has become one of the few things that unites nations, cultures, and religions. Honestly, that premise alone sold me.
The story follows a journalist working for a small online publication who is desperate for the story that will finally put her on the map. While investigating a string of missing children, she follows the trail to an isolated town that is very clearly not interested in outsiders asking questions.
Once she gets there, things become much stranger than she expected. The deeper she digs, the more she uncovers, and while she does eventually find what she’s looking for, it comes at a cost.
This was just a really fun read. It balances mystery, horror, and Christmas weirdness in a way that kept me engaged the whole time. The worldbuilding around Santa and the holiday itself was probably my favorite part. It takes a familiar idea and twists it into something much darker.
I’m not even a Christmas person, which makes my love of Christmas horror a little confusing, but apparently this is one of my genres now. And books like this are exactly why.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This one felt like cracking open a cozy Christmas story and realizing way too late that something is very wrong under the wrapping.
Twas the Night takes the whole “what if Santa was evil?” idea and runs with it in a way that’s more tense than terrifying, but still unsettling enough to keep you hooked.
We follow Halley, a journalist digging into a string of missing children cases that all seem to point back to a remote town called Yule, Maine. And yeah, the second she gets there, it’s clear this place is off. The people, the traditions, the way everyone just accepts what’s happening… it all builds into this quiet, wrong feeling that never really goes away.
The central concept is honestly great. The town’s deal with Santa, sacrificing children to keep Christmas alive for everyone else, is dark in a way that should hit really hard. And there are moments where it does. Especially when the story leans into the folklore and the idea that Santa isn’t just a figure, but something much older and harder to kill.
Halley as a main character worked well enough for me. She’s driven, curious, and not stupid, which matters in a story like this. The reveal about her past adds an interesting layer, even if I wish it had been pushed further because there was more to explore there.
Tone-wise, this leaned more thriller than full horror for me. There are a couple of brutal moments, but it’s not constantly trying to scare you. It’s more about the tension and the unraveling of what’s really going on.
Where it lost me a bit was the back half. Once everything starts building toward the big confrontation, it drags. There’s a lot of setup that doesn’t really pay off in the way you expect, and the final stretch didn’t hit as hard as it should have given how strong the premise is.
I kept waiting for it to go deeper into the mythology. Like, really get into what Santa is, how he became this thing, and why the system exists the way it does. We get pieces, but not enough to fully sell it.
Overall, this had a killer concept and some genuinely creepy ideas, but it never fully commits to being as dark or as intense as it could’ve been.
Still worth picking up if you like:
isolated creepy towns, twisted holiday horror, folklore with a dark edge, and stories where something familiar gets turned into a nightmare.
Twas the Night takes the whole “what if Santa was evil?” idea and runs with it in a way that’s more tense than terrifying, but still unsettling enough to keep you hooked.
We follow Halley, a journalist digging into a string of missing children cases that all seem to point back to a remote town called Yule, Maine. And yeah, the second she gets there, it’s clear this place is off. The people, the traditions, the way everyone just accepts what’s happening… it all builds into this quiet, wrong feeling that never really goes away.
The central concept is honestly great. The town’s deal with Santa, sacrificing children to keep Christmas alive for everyone else, is dark in a way that should hit really hard. And there are moments where it does. Especially when the story leans into the folklore and the idea that Santa isn’t just a figure, but something much older and harder to kill.
Halley as a main character worked well enough for me. She’s driven, curious, and not stupid, which matters in a story like this. The reveal about her past adds an interesting layer, even if I wish it had been pushed further because there was more to explore there.
Tone-wise, this leaned more thriller than full horror for me. There are a couple of brutal moments, but it’s not constantly trying to scare you. It’s more about the tension and the unraveling of what’s really going on.
Where it lost me a bit was the back half. Once everything starts building toward the big confrontation, it drags. There’s a lot of setup that doesn’t really pay off in the way you expect, and the final stretch didn’t hit as hard as it should have given how strong the premise is.
I kept waiting for it to go deeper into the mythology. Like, really get into what Santa is, how he became this thing, and why the system exists the way it does. We get pieces, but not enough to fully sell it.
Overall, this had a killer concept and some genuinely creepy ideas, but it never fully commits to being as dark or as intense as it could’ve been.
Still worth picking up if you like:
isolated creepy towns, twisted holiday horror, folklore with a dark edge, and stories where something familiar gets turned into a nightmare.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When children begin disappearing across Maine—except in the always-festive town of Yule—skeptical reporter Halley Belanger investigates. What she finds is a secretive village that worships Santa Claus and hides something far more sinister beneath its holiday cheer. As Halley gets closer to the truth, she discovers that Yule’s Christmas spirit comes at a deadly cost.
Told in the third person, the novel primarily follows Halley’s perspective as she sets out in search of—and ultimately discovers—the mysterious town of Yule. Seeking refuge from a blizzard, she takes shelter in an Inn that is not open to the public, though the question of whether her hosts can be trusted lingers.
The story leans into its eerie premise with striking imagery, including towering nutcrackers and an unsettling army of snowmen, creating a distinctly haunting atmosphere.
The author excels at building a vivid setting, immersing the reader in both the sinister charm of Yule and the unsettling reinterpretation of the North Pole. Character development is another strength; as the narrative progresses, the emotional investment in Halley and those around her grows, making their fates compelling to follow.
While the plot unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner, the journey itself remains engaging—the intrigue lies less in what happens and more in how events come together. The horror elements are handled with restraint for much of the book, with blood and gore largely confined to the final quarter, which may appeal to readers who prefer atmosphere over constant intensity.
One lingering question centers on the story’s underlying mythology. The contrast between Santa’s benevolent role in the wider world and his apparent cruelty toward this town and his “elves” feels underdeveloped and somewhat inconsistent, leaving a noticeable gap in the narrative’s internal logic.
Overall, this is a well-crafted and atmospheric horror novel with strong setting and character work, even if its plot follows familiar beats. I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Told in the third person, the novel primarily follows Halley’s perspective as she sets out in search of—and ultimately discovers—the mysterious town of Yule. Seeking refuge from a blizzard, she takes shelter in an Inn that is not open to the public, though the question of whether her hosts can be trusted lingers.
The story leans into its eerie premise with striking imagery, including towering nutcrackers and an unsettling army of snowmen, creating a distinctly haunting atmosphere.
The author excels at building a vivid setting, immersing the reader in both the sinister charm of Yule and the unsettling reinterpretation of the North Pole. Character development is another strength; as the narrative progresses, the emotional investment in Halley and those around her grows, making their fates compelling to follow.
While the plot unfolds in a somewhat predictable manner, the journey itself remains engaging—the intrigue lies less in what happens and more in how events come together. The horror elements are handled with restraint for much of the book, with blood and gore largely confined to the final quarter, which may appeal to readers who prefer atmosphere over constant intensity.
One lingering question centers on the story’s underlying mythology. The contrast between Santa’s benevolent role in the wider world and his apparent cruelty toward this town and his “elves” feels underdeveloped and somewhat inconsistent, leaving a noticeable gap in the narrative’s internal logic.
Overall, this is a well-crafted and atmospheric horror novel with strong setting and character work, even if its plot follows familiar beats. I would rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It's very disappointing to have to give this a low rating, as Christmas horror is a particularly fun subgenre, and Kevin Johnson has come at it from an original angle. He has created a world where Santa is an accepted, universal reality and has (implausibly) been a source of global goodwill and relative peace. To the surprise of no one having picked up a horror novel, however, Santa may not be as jolly as he seems. We explore Santa's secret dark side through the eyes of Holley as she explores the mysterious, eternally Christmasy town of Yule.
Holley's journey comes with some satisfying twists and several scenes of festively bloody action. What it lacks, unfortunately, is solid characterization and mythology. In order to facilitate a twist, essential background of the POV character of Holley is withheld from the reader. As is often the case, this is frustrating, because our entire understanding of her motives and who she is falls apart at the reveal. While this could perhaps be forgivable with a strong stable of supporting characters, those are lacking here. We get only the barest outlines of characters: sarcastic gay man, hard-hearted evil village headwoman (with a tragic background), and cute dorky kid.
All of this would have been almost irrelevant if the overall story was fun, gross, or surprising. It's not. Save the aforementioned twist -- which is slightly surprising -- the rest of the story is quite basic with nothing being especially frightening or shocking. I was particularly surprised by the lack of any world building about a world with a recognized Santa. It seems almost irrelevant to have that bit of background, given that the book takes place wholly in a secret, Christmas cult village. Why pique my interest about Santa-inspired world peace if you're going to do nothing with it??
I like Johnson's big idea here, and love that he swung for the fences. I'd happily check out future work from him, but this was not a home run debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Willaim Morrow for the ARC. It was fun to experience Christmas horror in the spring!
Holley's journey comes with some satisfying twists and several scenes of festively bloody action. What it lacks, unfortunately, is solid characterization and mythology. In order to facilitate a twist, essential background of the POV character of Holley is withheld from the reader. As is often the case, this is frustrating, because our entire understanding of her motives and who she is falls apart at the reveal. While this could perhaps be forgivable with a strong stable of supporting characters, those are lacking here. We get only the barest outlines of characters: sarcastic gay man, hard-hearted evil village headwoman (with a tragic background), and cute dorky kid.
All of this would have been almost irrelevant if the overall story was fun, gross, or surprising. It's not. Save the aforementioned twist -- which is slightly surprising -- the rest of the story is quite basic with nothing being especially frightening or shocking. I was particularly surprised by the lack of any world building about a world with a recognized Santa. It seems almost irrelevant to have that bit of background, given that the book takes place wholly in a secret, Christmas cult village. Why pique my interest about Santa-inspired world peace if you're going to do nothing with it??
I like Johnson's big idea here, and love that he swung for the fences. I'd happily check out future work from him, but this was not a home run debut.
Thank you to NetGalley and Willaim Morrow for the ARC. It was fun to experience Christmas horror in the spring!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of ‘Twas the Night.
This story puts a dark twist on the classic Santa Claus myth by asking: What if Santa was evil?
The story follows Halley, a journalist investigating the disappearance of a large number of children. Her search leads her to Yule, Maine, a secluded town deep in the woods that she suspects is connected to the missing children.
Once Halley arrives, she quickly realizes that the residents of Yule are far from normal. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the town's horrifying arrangement: Determined to put an end to the cycle, Halley sets out to destroy Santa, only to discover that he's a much more formidable enemy than she anticipated.
For me, this felt more like a thriller with horror elements sprinkled in rather than a true horror novel. There were only a couple of gory scenes.
Unfortunately, once the story began building toward its big confrontation, it lost momentum for me. The author seemed to be setting up an intense showdown between Halley and Santa, but there was a lot of unnecessary filler along the way. Instead of increasing the tension, parts of the story felt drawn out, making the ending less impactful than I had hoped.
This had the potential to be a great horror take on Santa Claus, but I wanted the story to lean harder into the horror, and what made Santa become the person he is. Yes, we get some history of mythology but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. The premise was strong; I just don't think the execution fully delivered.
This story puts a dark twist on the classic Santa Claus myth by asking: What if Santa was evil?
The story follows Halley, a journalist investigating the disappearance of a large number of children. Her search leads her to Yule, Maine, a secluded town deep in the woods that she suspects is connected to the missing children.
Once Halley arrives, she quickly realizes that the residents of Yule are far from normal. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the town's horrifying arrangement: Determined to put an end to the cycle, Halley sets out to destroy Santa, only to discover that he's a much more formidable enemy than she anticipated.
For me, this felt more like a thriller with horror elements sprinkled in rather than a true horror novel. There were only a couple of gory scenes.
Unfortunately, once the story began building toward its big confrontation, it lost momentum for me. The author seemed to be setting up an intense showdown between Halley and Santa, but there was a lot of unnecessary filler along the way. Instead of increasing the tension, parts of the story felt drawn out, making the ending less impactful than I had hoped.
This had the potential to be a great horror take on Santa Claus, but I wanted the story to lean harder into the horror, and what made Santa become the person he is. Yes, we get some history of mythology but it wasn’t enough to keep me interested. The premise was strong; I just don't think the execution fully delivered.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
'Twas the Night is a holiday horror - a genre that I haven't explored before. On the surface, the story is about Halley, a journalist investigating a series of missing children. Her search leads her to the town of Yule, a village that seems almost cultlike in it's worship of Santa.
I rated this 3 stars because I thought the premise was interesting. I never really explored a holiday horror, and the idea of a world where Santa is an accepted real figure was intriguing. The book kind of lost that cool factor pretty fast though, and I was disappointed it wasn't really a focal point of the book. I get the book is about Yule, but Halley spends some time outside of it, and there are brief mentions of how Santa is a central part of daily life. Would just be cool to hear more about that part.
The characters were fine, some of the dialogue felt clunky. Like the conversation wouldn't really be happening if you were actually in the scene. Side characters felt a bit like a caricature or exaggerated.
Overall, I liked it but I wouldn't read it again.
'Twas the Night is a holiday horror - a genre that I haven't explored before. On the surface, the story is about Halley, a journalist investigating a series of missing children. Her search leads her to the town of Yule, a village that seems almost cultlike in it's worship of Santa.
I rated this 3 stars because I thought the premise was interesting. I never really explored a holiday horror, and the idea of a world where Santa is an accepted real figure was intriguing. The book kind of lost that cool factor pretty fast though, and I was disappointed it wasn't really a focal point of the book. I get the book is about Yule, but Halley spends some time outside of it, and there are brief mentions of how Santa is a central part of daily life. Would just be cool to hear more about that part.
The characters were fine, some of the dialogue felt clunky. Like the conversation wouldn't really be happening if you were actually in the scene. Side characters felt a bit like a caricature or exaggerated.
Overall, I liked it but I wouldn't read it again.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to William Morrow and Netgalley for an eARC of 'Twas the Night by Kevin Johnson. 'Twas the Night was such a delightful action-packed, bloody adaptation of a Christmas tale. All of the characters surrounding the main character of Halley were so memorable and made reading the novel such a breeze. I enjoyed the unique take on Santa Claus and was elated with how Halley's journey played out. The ending really left an exclamation point on what came before it and made me think long and hard about it once I was finished. For readers who love holiday horror, pick 'Twas the Night up at all costs.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A young reporter whose investigation of a series of missing children leads her to the village of Yule, Maine, preparing for their Christmas traditions. Halley and her investigation are very unwelcome, and it quickly turns horrifying and bloody.
This is a fun and entreating cast of characters, the story has lots of gruesome action, with a good twist. A dark, cold, and exciting Christmas story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, would be a great read for fans of horror around the holidays or anyone who would like to imagine a darker take on the Christmas story.
Thank you, Willian Morrow, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a fun and entreating cast of characters, the story has lots of gruesome action, with a good twist. A dark, cold, and exciting Christmas story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, would be a great read for fans of horror around the holidays or anyone who would like to imagine a darker take on the Christmas story.
Thank you, Willian Morrow, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I gotta say, I love a good creepy fun horror Christmas story, even if it's read in April!
This was a creative world that was created. So much of Santa's backstory is just accepted and this leans hard into the weird to make a truly great and horrifying version of Santa.
You can tell Kevin did his research on all things Santa as there was some great Santa origin knowledge that was dropped in here that was fascinating to research.
This book never really slows down too much. I think there are some threads kind of left to dangle and never be answered, but for the most part this story is tight and well done.
Really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!
This was a creative world that was created. So much of Santa's backstory is just accepted and this leans hard into the weird to make a truly great and horrifying version of Santa.
You can tell Kevin did his research on all things Santa as there was some great Santa origin knowledge that was dropped in here that was fascinating to research.
This book never really slows down too much. I think there are some threads kind of left to dangle and never be answered, but for the most part this story is tight and well done.
Really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, I will never look at Santa the same way.
This was an awesome, Christmas themed horror. I loved the terrifying monster that was Santa. This story was filled with absolute gory carnage. I found myself rooting for Halley, even when her chaos caused the death of a great character. There were some twists and turns throughout, which was a pleasant surprise. I’d love for there to be a second book, but I did also love how it ended. Not every story has a happy ending.
Read this around Christmas? Maybe Halloween for the creep factor? Or anytime really! It was a great read that included creepy scenes, a scary god like monster, with witty characters to boot.
Definitely recommend this one!
This was an awesome, Christmas themed horror. I loved the terrifying monster that was Santa. This story was filled with absolute gory carnage. I found myself rooting for Halley, even when her chaos caused the death of a great character. There were some twists and turns throughout, which was a pleasant surprise. I’d love for there to be a second book, but I did also love how it ended. Not every story has a happy ending.
Read this around Christmas? Maybe Halloween for the creep factor? Or anytime really! It was a great read that included creepy scenes, a scary god like monster, with witty characters to boot.
Definitely recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 👌
I have read A LOT of Christmas books, but nothing quite like this! As a thriller lover who let's Halloween bleed into Christmas for as long as possible, this totally checked all of my horror and Christmas loving boxes. Halley's backstory was horrifically creative. Mardi's as well! I mean good grief, the poor woman even until the end and even with all her attitude. I appreciated the dry humor lines between Halley, Bob and Barry. Santa has never terrified me, but if I heard this story as a child I would be petrified. This was a very enjoyable holiday horror.
I have read A LOT of Christmas books, but nothing quite like this! As a thriller lover who let's Halloween bleed into Christmas for as long as possible, this totally checked all of my horror and Christmas loving boxes. Halley's backstory was horrifically creative. Mardi's as well! I mean good grief, the poor woman even until the end and even with all her attitude. I appreciated the dry humor lines between Halley, Bob and Barry. Santa has never terrified me, but if I heard this story as a child I would be petrified. This was a very enjoyable holiday horror.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely love and adore Christmas horror. Holiday horror is not always something that people venture into, but I think Kevin Johnson did an awesome job executing this. Black Christmas is one of my favorite movies, and while the premise of this book is different, it gave those perfect vibes. The horror and suspense I felt while reading is not something that always happens for me. I would recommend this book to my book club, full stop.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I really like the plot of this book, I mean, Santa as a bad guy? I love books like this! This one was pretty good, just not cohesive in some parts. One second the main character is staying in the lighthouse, the next paragraph she's outside...what, why did she change her mind? Overall I liked the plot of this, not sure how I feel about the ending, but it was...fine.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Absolutely outstanding Christmas horror! What a FUN read!! I especially loved the tie-ins to the best and worst parts of the history of Santa Claus and his reindeer!
Amazing character development, I really came to love a few of them! I thoroughly enjoyed Kevin's writing style. I wouldn't change a single thing about this book if given the chance. Love to see a unique subgenre like this that you just don't find much of. Violent and bloody is exactly how I like my Christmas stories!
Amazing character development, I really came to love a few of them! I thoroughly enjoyed Kevin's writing style. I wouldn't change a single thing about this book if given the chance. Love to see a unique subgenre like this that you just don't find much of. Violent and bloody is exactly how I like my Christmas stories!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I really enjoyed this book. There were plenty of twists and turns.
I loved how the reactions from characters and the scenarios they were put in were not like scenes from a movie. You break an arm? It doesn’t magically heal so that you can use it again.
Also, it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. I was very thrown off when I felt tears in my eyes after a particular characters death.
I would definitely recommend this book to others.
I loved how the reactions from characters and the scenarios they were put in were not like scenes from a movie. You break an arm? It doesn’t magically heal so that you can use it again.
Also, it takes a lot for a book to make me cry. I was very thrown off when I felt tears in my eyes after a particular characters death.
I would definitely recommend this book to others.
March 19, 2026
This was wild with a capital W. I in no way shape or form could have told you how this novel was going to go, but I did know just from the description that I HAD to read it. Missing kids, a Santa Claus cult, and a weird ass town in Maine. This is a book where you just have to sort of buckle in for a ride of insanity. I won’t give away the plot but I definitely don’t want Santa to visit my house, okay? I think this is a strong debut and I can’t wait to see what the author does next. This will be out in October of 2026. If you’re looking for Christmas themed horror make sure to add this to your list.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a curmudgeon, and our main character here fits the bill. Halley is journalist investigating strange murders in an even stranger town. Yule, Maine is obsessed with Christmas, you could say they worship Santa even.
As Halley digs into the town’s history and the bodies pile up you’ll burn through chapters like it’s a Yule log.
Great debut, can’t wait to read more from Kevin Johnson.
As Halley digs into the town’s history and the bodies pile up you’ll burn through chapters like it’s a Yule log.
Great debut, can’t wait to read more from Kevin Johnson.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Christmas + horror?? Count me in!
Imagine if Santa Claus was an evil beast. Reading this book around Christmas time would be absolutely everything. I loved the characters and felt deeply for them(specifically Halley, Bob and Berry)
Imagine if Santa Claus was an evil beast. Reading this book around Christmas time would be absolutely everything. I loved the characters and felt deeply for them(specifically Halley, Bob and Berry)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC for review. To be published October 13, 2026.
2 stars
Santa goes evil in this debut horror which I’m sorry to say I did not love. It was silly, but blessedly short, so there’s that. If holiday themed horror is your thing maybe you’ll have a better time with it than I.
2 stars
Santa goes evil in this debut horror which I’m sorry to say I did not love. It was silly, but blessedly short, so there’s that. If holiday themed horror is your thing maybe you’ll have a better time with it than I.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC copy of this Novel #NetGalley.
I enjoyed this read but wasn’t completely drawn into it as much as I had wished to be. Christmas horror is something I enjoy. I just wish I was a little more captivated by this story.
I enjoyed this read but wasn’t completely drawn into it as much as I had wished to be. Christmas horror is something I enjoy. I just wish I was a little more captivated by this story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review from an advanced copy thanks to Netgally!
This book was so much fun and really sucks you into the plot at the very beginning! I loved the main character and her motivations! Thank you to Netgally for the advanced copy!
This book was so much fun and really sucks you into the plot at the very beginning! I loved the main character and her motivations! Thank you to Netgally for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A great addition to the festive horror subgenre. A taste of body horror with a high body count. It is also a relief to read a book that doesn’t wrap itself up in a single chapter.
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