Live, Laugh, Love... Kill

by D.E. McCluskey

Just because you have everything, it doesn’t mean you can't lose it all in the wink of an eye!

Stacy Crawford has a fantastic life.

She owns her own successful fashion company that is on the verge of being sold, at a huge profit, to a famous international fashion house. Her boyfriend is the strong, supportive type, she has the most amazing friends, and the best staff working for her.

Her moto of LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE has served her well... until now.

Stacy's belief in her world, as she emerges into the cutthroat world of fashion, is about to be tested... right to its limits.

Live, Laugh, Love... Kill is the latest book from DE McCLUSKEY - author of CRACK, THE BOYFRIEND, THE SEASON OF SECRETS, REBOOT, and ZOLA.

137 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

I love horror, and I love Christmas. Some would say that the two are not mutually associated, I would tell you different.

I started writing at Christmas, back in the days of yore. I was reading The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore to my daughter who was too excited to sleep. But, I used my secret weapon, my boring voice she was soon catching the right amount of zzzzz's... As I tiptoed out of the room, giving Santa the space he needed to do his bit, I thought to myself, you know what? I could write something like that...

So I did...

The good Behaviour Act was written, the first story in Interesting Tymes, my very first publication.

I live in sunny Liverpool in the UK with my partner and daughters, I used to work in IT but don't anymore, and am the happier person for it. I love football, music and film... I also enjoy long walks, pretty flowers, and gratuitous violence and nudity...

I can be found mostly on Facebook @demccluskey_author
or on Twitter @dammagedpro @demccluskey1

my website is www.dammaged.com

Reviews

[Steph's_Creepy _Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I was going a little mad reading this one! Think The Devil Wears Prada but the devil is fucking crazy!
The story was weaved so well that I couldn't tell if the MC was hallucinating or if she had actually cracked.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say a book written by DE with fashion at its core was on my bingo card, but this was a bloody good time.

The fashion industry is highly competitive and stressful, some might even call it cut throat. But let's be real...we shouldn't be slicing open throats... I'm talking to you Stacey!


Stacey has a really important deal on the line. But after she gets some less than ideal news she is sent into a spiral with devastating consequences. Fear not though because Stacey is determined to do whatever it takes to seal that deal even if it ends in bloodshed.

She's seeing things that aren't there and getting progressive more violent. There is no shortage of gore in this story. If I am completely honest I am still not certain about what was real and what was simply her delusions. What I can say with certainty though was that I had a blast reading this.


I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love DE and his works, his books are always unique that being said this book surely both messed with and blew my mind simultaneously

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Live, Laugh, Love…Kill by DE McCluskey
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a fun, wild, and intense, horror novella.
It left my mind spinning!! I could not stop reading this book. I had to know what was going to happen next, and how it would all play out in the end!!
Definite edge of your seat read!

Stacy Crawford is living her best life, with a successful fashion business and a great boyfriend. But the stress associated with an upcoming job merger seems to be getting to her. She begins having crazy nightmares, and horrible flashes of dead people. Stacy needs to figure out what is real and what is in her mind.

DE McCluskey is a definite must read author for me! His writing is fantastic and he always sucks me into his books!!

I was lucky to get an arc of this exciting and crazy book!!
** This book comes out February 26th!! Make sure to grab your copy!! 🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸

[S. Policar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love reading DE McCluskey's books. Just when you think you know what's going on, you realize you have absolutely no clue. Not one.

This book is no exception to that. I won't give away too much because really it would be a spoiler given how this was written. Just know it's a fun read for the gore lovers.

You're definitely not going to have all the questions in your head answered by the end, but I'm almost positive that's a deliberate move so the reader can't exactly tell the reality from the delusion.

I'm honestly glad I opted to toss this one on my tbr. While it's no "Reboot", which I think will forever be my favorite by DE McCluskey, I imagine this one will stick with me for a little while at least.

[Breanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Live Laugh Love Kill by D.E. McCluskey was a fun and unsettling read. At times, I felt like I was going a little crazy right along with Stacy, trying to figure out what was real and what was only happening in her head. The story does a great job showing how stress, everyday life, and a single piece of bad news can send someone into a dangerous spiral. It’s tense, confusing in the best way, and darkly entertaining, because sometimes that spiral doesn’t end quietly, it ends in blood.

[Kyrie Orledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well.
Just well. Lol.
If there’s one thing that Dave does it’s leave your jaw on the floor and make you feel like maybe you’re not quite as sane as you thought. I had no idea what to expect except what I’ve seen in ads on Facebook, but in the relatively short time I’ve been reading McCluskey’s books I’ve learnt to trust that I won’t be disappointed. This definitely kept me guessing and not knowing what was real and what wasn’t. Hats off sir!

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride! McCluskey does it again. I tend to enjoy his novela style work but it's because I have a small child and I need smaller books or chapters 😂
This was great, you keep trying to figure out if these flashes are the last, future, or just something messing with her. It all ties up in the end perfectly

[Kelly Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but detailed horror of what happens when that door slams in your face. 


We really dive into Stacy's life and motivations. The story is told in two parts and I much preferred the first Stacy over the second. I did find it fascinating to read the second Stacy's spiral down into madness. 


If you like a tale that gives you all the twists and turns at breakneck speed then this is the book for you.

[Lula Von Goth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC from DE McCluskey, the entire story is like a fever dream.
The writing flowed beautifully and really sucked you into the story.
It’s absolutely one I’m going to be thinking about for a long time.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an arc from the author and WOW what a trip! I wasn't always sure which bit were real life and which were in the mc's head, it definitely kept me on my toes. Another great read from a great author. Thank you for the opportunity D.E. McCluskey

[Sharon Marie Provost · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella was a hell of a ride. I really enjoyed the twists that left you questioning what really happened. It's always a good time to follow someone into madness with plenty of gore and violence to go around. DE's books are always a great go-to read for me.

[Erin Sterett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an absolute trip! It kept me guessing which way was up at every turn, but I was so here for it. DE McCluskey delivers yet another great read.

[AJRXII · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ermm...what the fuck have I just read 🤣

Total mental breakdown and not knowing what was real and what wasn't 🤣 MENTAL!!!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stacy s life seems perfect until it isn't. A scary ride through what is real and what may br false.