What do you think?
Rate this book
#VanDeath
From the author of Man, F*ck This House (And Other Disasters)
Two feuding #VanLife influencers must put aside their differences in order to survive when they are stalked by a masked killer in a remote stretch of Death Valley.
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all “smash that subscribe button” to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures.
But it’s all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn’t know Morgan’s trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn’t know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they’ve also got fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying.
When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into taking a last-minute trip. He’s secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
Two feuding #VanLife influencers must put aside their differences in order to survive when they are stalked by a masked killer in a remote stretch of Death Valley.
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all “smash that subscribe button” to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures.
But it’s all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn’t know Morgan’s trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn’t know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they’ve also got fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying.
When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into taking a last-minute trip. He’s secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
298 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2026
About the author
Brian Asman
39 books394 followersBrian Asman is a writer, actor, and director from San Diego, CA. He’s the author of the forthcoming thriller #Vandeath, as well as Man, F*ck This House (and Other Disasters), Good Dogs, Our Black Hearts Beat as One, I’m Not Even Supposed to Be Here Today, Neo Arcana, Nunchuck City, Jailbroke, and Return of the Living Elves. He’s published short stories in Weird Tales, Punk Goes Horror 2, Waterborne, American Cannibal, The Dark Waves of Winter, DreadPop, and Pulp Modern, as well as comics in Tales of Horrorgasm.
Several of his works have been optioned for film and television. A film he co-wrote and produced, A Haunting in Ravenwood, is available now on VOD. His short “Reel Trouble” won Best Short Film at Gen Con 2022 and Best Horror Short at the Indie Gathering.
Brian holds an MFA from UCR-Palm Desert. He’s represented by Dunham Literary, Inc.
Find him on social media (@thebrianasman) or his website www.brianasmanbooks.com.
Several of his works have been optioned for film and television. A film he co-wrote and produced, A Haunting in Ravenwood, is available now on VOD. His short “Reel Trouble” won Best Short Film at Gen Con 2022 and Best Horror Short at the Indie Gathering.
Brian holds an MFA from UCR-Palm Desert. He’s represented by Dunham Literary, Inc.
Find him on social media (@thebrianasman) or his website www.brianasmanbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
Read
May 5, 2026I received this ARC through NetGalley.
Out September 22,2026
This had a really strong concept that pulled me in right away. Feuding van life influencers stuck in a survival situation with a masked killer? I was immediately in.
There’s definitely tension, and the pacing can feel fast, which kept me curious enough to keep going. But there were also a lot of moments that felt longer than they needed to be.
I did feel some character pull, but I was more invested in figuring out what was happening than I was fully attached to the characters themselves.
Overall, this was an okay read for me. It kept my interest, but it also felt like it overstayed in places, and that held it back.
I’d still recommend it if you like survival horror, messy relationship dynamics, and that influencer/social media angle mixed into something darker.
Out September 22,2026
This had a really strong concept that pulled me in right away. Feuding van life influencers stuck in a survival situation with a masked killer? I was immediately in.
There’s definitely tension, and the pacing can feel fast, which kept me curious enough to keep going. But there were also a lot of moments that felt longer than they needed to be.
I did feel some character pull, but I was more invested in figuring out what was happening than I was fully attached to the characters themselves.
Overall, this was an okay read for me. It kept my interest, but it also felt like it overstayed in places, and that held it back.
I’d still recommend it if you like survival horror, messy relationship dynamics, and that influencer/social media angle mixed into something darker.
September 30, 2026
TW/CW: Language, cheating, toxic relationships, blood, gory scenes, violence, mental health (in negative view), toxic family relationships
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to be: beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all “smash that subscribe button” to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures. But it’s all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn’t know Morgan’s trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn’t know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they’ve also got stalkers: fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying. When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into taking a last-minute trip. He’s secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 260
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. The influencer lifestyle
3. Bloody deaths
4. Felt like a real movie slasher
5. Liked the author's nite at the end of book
What I Didn't Like:
1. Saying that mental disorders make you a killer
2. Some parts dragged
3. All the dumb things they kept doing
4. Tasers always being portrayed as killing weapons
5. Ending was lackluster
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Morgan wants to break up with Jasper because she's "dating an overgrown man-child who thinks he’s Daniel Boone and harbors few ambitions beyond summiting yet another mountain." I get what she kind of means but from the moments we've gotten from his perspective and from her perspective I don't really see it but you can break up with anyone for any reason so if that's what she wants. She is kind of soft cheating on him though with the app and looking at other men.
I'm annoyed that Jasper does not want to call the police after the second run in with the van. I find that odd. Just because the police wouldn't be able to get to where they are for a long time doesn't mean that they can't make a report about what the van looked like just in case something like this happens in the future or the police are able to find the van. So I wouldn't listen to Jasper on this one I would definitely 100% call the police to inform them of the incident of road rage. I think Jasper is being ridiculous I do think he suffers from hero complex. Plus the police would also be able to tie in if something happened but they're also was a person creeping around where they were staying and now there's a weird van on the road following them, trying to run them off the road...yeah I'd be calling.
Okay now I see what Morgan is talking about with Jasper. He completely talks her out of calling the police saying that if they run into the van again he will just get the license plate number. Not only that but she wants to turn around and call it because this is too weird. He talks her out of calling the police only because he lost all their money when he did a crypto scam and now they're broke and he doesn't want her to know. What a piece of crap. He's willing to risk their safety and lies because he messed up. Please, can we throw this man away?
It's not a tattoo gun it's a tattoo machine.
Omg *rolls eyes* now the photographer, Cary is going to be riding with them in their van but sleeping outside and they have 3 nails in their tired. What is it going to take for Morgan to actually tell Jasper to kick rocks? She never signed the contract. It's just Jasper on the line for this deal. He's putting her into some real uncomfortable moments. It makes me mad that no one ever listens to the women. If it's so important to Jasper let him go himself.
See, Morgan tells Jasper how Cary was acting weird and she's hoping that he'll act more normal and Jasper tells her that he's harmless. Please how would he know that Cary is harmless when they literally just met this man? None of them know anything about him but Jasper living in this bubble of being a man telling a woman who he supposedly loves that she is wrong. He tells her to ignore her gut feeling but if Jasper had just an ounce of uncomfort Morgan would be expected to go along with it.
Say yeah I know you can't drive on a donut for very long I mean I've seen people drive on a donut for like a month driving on the freeway definitely not safe but the situation they're in right now I feel like they could push the donut driving till they get to somewhere else. Also what are the crazy chances that there would be this exact expensive Mercedes van in this Podunk town?
It's driving me up the wall how many times Morgan is being the rational one and Jasper is shooting her down and telling her to not overthink everything. I wish that Morgan would get some balls and leave this loser. I wish you would call her friend to come and pick her up and leave the situation because everything is weird. This whole scenario is off.
Omg! Jasper is so insane. He said it was the wind that knocked on their door!! Now he comes back saying it was a coyote. Morgan believes him. I'm so frustrated at both of them. We find out the killer is under the van which makes sense because Jasper says before there is no where to hide outside but he doesn't look under the
There has to be two killers doing this because one is with Morgan and the other one is over here with Jasper plus there's no way that this woman who's the killer would be able to tackle two grown men and bounce right back up. Sorry I just don't believe that.
No no! Why are we not just staying at the police station? Look I get that they're not there right now but that doesn't mean they're not going to come back. They literally left a sign said they were just responding to an emergency right now that doesn't mean they won't be back. Why not just stay there and see what happens? I understand that Jasper is in despair but why is driving around aimlessly so much better? You have no idea where you're going and it's night time too.
Okay so rather than go to the truck stop they decide they're going to go to the wooded people who they met randomly and already seemed questionable. Why are you doing this? Why are you going to these Backwoods people you don't know??
Yeah, that's what I thought. It's the camping people they went to see earlier. Oh there it is - the female killer is bipolar and that's why she kills. Everytime.
Why are they keeping Jasper alive? They already tried this before and he got loose. There is no reason to keep Jasper alive. It actually makes more sense to kill him so all of them can go find Morgan to kill her.
Hahahhaha again the idea that a taser can knock people out.
Omg the killers have turned human skin into seat covers. I guess you get bored on the road and need to pass time.
The ending with the killers death was just too easy. I wanted more of a fight. More of a showdown. Plus somehow he was able to give the viewers a hint at where they were going despite not having great service through out the trip.
Final Thoughts:
What have I learned from this book is that even if you have working phones people will still react stupidly to situations that might save their lives.
I don't think I've ever been in complete disbelief and shock at a character not following their own gut feeling but constantly letting another person guide their internal direction so terribly. I'm actually embarrassed for Morgan - a fictional character at how many times she let Jasper guide them into a horrible situation over and over while she believing him. The blind faith she had in him was on another level. May I never find that kind of love. I was reading this book and I was like yelling at it. I was like there's no way a character could be this dumb. I know this is a slasher but even in slashers two times out of five they're going to do something smart. But Morgan oh my God Morgan I don't think she knew what caring about her own life meant.
I will say this this author nailed the frustration and anger you feel when watching a slasher. So he got that down.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to be: beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all “smash that subscribe button” to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures. But it’s all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn’t know Morgan’s trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn’t know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they’ve also got stalkers: fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying. When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into taking a last-minute trip. He’s secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
Release Date: September 22nd, 2026
Genre: Horror
Pages: 260
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. The influencer lifestyle
3. Bloody deaths
4. Felt like a real movie slasher
5. Liked the author's nite at the end of book
What I Didn't Like:
1. Saying that mental disorders make you a killer
2. Some parts dragged
3. All the dumb things they kept doing
4. Tasers always being portrayed as killing weapons
5. Ending was lackluster
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
Morgan wants to break up with Jasper because she's "dating an overgrown man-child who thinks he’s Daniel Boone and harbors few ambitions beyond summiting yet another mountain." I get what she kind of means but from the moments we've gotten from his perspective and from her perspective I don't really see it but you can break up with anyone for any reason so if that's what she wants. She is kind of soft cheating on him though with the app and looking at other men.
I'm annoyed that Jasper does not want to call the police after the second run in with the van. I find that odd. Just because the police wouldn't be able to get to where they are for a long time doesn't mean that they can't make a report about what the van looked like just in case something like this happens in the future or the police are able to find the van. So I wouldn't listen to Jasper on this one I would definitely 100% call the police to inform them of the incident of road rage. I think Jasper is being ridiculous I do think he suffers from hero complex. Plus the police would also be able to tie in if something happened but they're also was a person creeping around where they were staying and now there's a weird van on the road following them, trying to run them off the road...yeah I'd be calling.
Okay now I see what Morgan is talking about with Jasper. He completely talks her out of calling the police saying that if they run into the van again he will just get the license plate number. Not only that but she wants to turn around and call it because this is too weird. He talks her out of calling the police only because he lost all their money when he did a crypto scam and now they're broke and he doesn't want her to know. What a piece of crap. He's willing to risk their safety and lies because he messed up. Please, can we throw this man away?
It's not a tattoo gun it's a tattoo machine.
Omg *rolls eyes* now the photographer, Cary is going to be riding with them in their van but sleeping outside and they have 3 nails in their tired. What is it going to take for Morgan to actually tell Jasper to kick rocks? She never signed the contract. It's just Jasper on the line for this deal. He's putting her into some real uncomfortable moments. It makes me mad that no one ever listens to the women. If it's so important to Jasper let him go himself.
See, Morgan tells Jasper how Cary was acting weird and she's hoping that he'll act more normal and Jasper tells her that he's harmless. Please how would he know that Cary is harmless when they literally just met this man? None of them know anything about him but Jasper living in this bubble of being a man telling a woman who he supposedly loves that she is wrong. He tells her to ignore her gut feeling but if Jasper had just an ounce of uncomfort Morgan would be expected to go along with it.
Say yeah I know you can't drive on a donut for very long I mean I've seen people drive on a donut for like a month driving on the freeway definitely not safe but the situation they're in right now I feel like they could push the donut driving till they get to somewhere else. Also what are the crazy chances that there would be this exact expensive Mercedes van in this Podunk town?
It's driving me up the wall how many times Morgan is being the rational one and Jasper is shooting her down and telling her to not overthink everything. I wish that Morgan would get some balls and leave this loser. I wish you would call her friend to come and pick her up and leave the situation because everything is weird. This whole scenario is off.
Omg! Jasper is so insane. He said it was the wind that knocked on their door!! Now he comes back saying it was a coyote. Morgan believes him. I'm so frustrated at both of them. We find out the killer is under the van which makes sense because Jasper says before there is no where to hide outside but he doesn't look under the
There has to be two killers doing this because one is with Morgan and the other one is over here with Jasper plus there's no way that this woman who's the killer would be able to tackle two grown men and bounce right back up. Sorry I just don't believe that.
No no! Why are we not just staying at the police station? Look I get that they're not there right now but that doesn't mean they're not going to come back. They literally left a sign said they were just responding to an emergency right now that doesn't mean they won't be back. Why not just stay there and see what happens? I understand that Jasper is in despair but why is driving around aimlessly so much better? You have no idea where you're going and it's night time too.
Okay so rather than go to the truck stop they decide they're going to go to the wooded people who they met randomly and already seemed questionable. Why are you doing this? Why are you going to these Backwoods people you don't know??
Yeah, that's what I thought. It's the camping people they went to see earlier. Oh there it is - the female killer is bipolar and that's why she kills. Everytime.
Why are they keeping Jasper alive? They already tried this before and he got loose. There is no reason to keep Jasper alive. It actually makes more sense to kill him so all of them can go find Morgan to kill her.
Hahahhaha again the idea that a taser can knock people out.
Omg the killers have turned human skin into seat covers. I guess you get bored on the road and need to pass time.
The ending with the killers death was just too easy. I wanted more of a fight. More of a showdown. Plus somehow he was able to give the viewers a hint at where they were going despite not having great service through out the trip.
Final Thoughts:
What have I learned from this book is that even if you have working phones people will still react stupidly to situations that might save their lives.
I don't think I've ever been in complete disbelief and shock at a character not following their own gut feeling but constantly letting another person guide their internal direction so terribly. I'm actually embarrassed for Morgan - a fictional character at how many times she let Jasper guide them into a horrible situation over and over while she believing him. The blind faith she had in him was on another level. May I never find that kind of love. I was reading this book and I was like yelling at it. I was like there's no way a character could be this dumb. I know this is a slasher but even in slashers two times out of five they're going to do something smart. But Morgan oh my God Morgan I don't think she knew what caring about her own life meant.
I will say this this author nailed the frustration and anger you feel when watching a slasher. So he got that down.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 26, 2026
This book was pretty wild. Jasper and Morgan are a couple, and successful #Vanlife influencers who are not as compatible in real life as they appear online. They definitely have their issues behind closed doors. They need money so they take a Granola sponsorship and head to a remote area in Death valley. Well that's when things go completely off the rails. They are being followed and stalked by a masked killer. These characters were annoying yet their actions are relatable. This was a fast paced, creepy, fun, and gorier than expected read. It's a perfect “Spooky season” book.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
September 15, 2026
When I saw this one was an influencer slasher story, I knew I had to snag for my September Libro picks! This was a fun and fast paced book that was filled with chaos and destruction. It ALMOST gave me Jeepers Creepers vibes in the sense that the couple is being chased down and hunted by a deranged, faceless person in a black truck. ALMOST. Then the book went into a different direction than I was expecting! The fight for survival was tangible and I found myself trying to telepathically scold Jasper for not just LISTENING to Morgan from the get go 🤣 If you’re look for an anxiety inducing, quick read, then look no further my friends!
Thank you Libro.fm and Blackstone Piblishing for my alc of #Vandeath!
Thank you Libro.fm and Blackstone Piblishing for my alc of #Vandeath!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Brian Asman goes full slashery goodness in this novel that's filled with twists and, especially in the latter half, non stop action.
Jason and Morgan are van life influencers and they've been successful. But their relationship is strained at the moment and they can't find a way to get back on track. Morgan is contemplating leaving him and is unsure about continuing their lifestyle while Jason lost most of their money in a crypto scam unbeknownst to her.
When a granola company offers them a collab deal, he convinces Morgan to take it. They pick a beautiful but remote spot for the deal and this might be what gets them back to how they used to be.
Except for the masked killer who has disabled their van and always seems to be one step ahead. Things are going to get bloody of course!
No good slasher would be complete without the whodunit aspect and as the killer is revealed, it takes an even more horrific turn. Not giving anything away but it's not what you originally thought.
Tense, violent, full of pulse pounding action, I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Jason and Morgan are van life influencers and they've been successful. But their relationship is strained at the moment and they can't find a way to get back on track. Morgan is contemplating leaving him and is unsure about continuing their lifestyle while Jason lost most of their money in a crypto scam unbeknownst to her.
When a granola company offers them a collab deal, he convinces Morgan to take it. They pick a beautiful but remote spot for the deal and this might be what gets them back to how they used to be.
Except for the masked killer who has disabled their van and always seems to be one step ahead. Things are going to get bloody of course!
No good slasher would be complete without the whodunit aspect and as the killer is revealed, it takes an even more horrific turn. Not giving anything away but it's not what you originally thought.
Tense, violent, full of pulse pounding action, I highly recommend it. I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Morgan and Jasper really said, “Our relationship is collapsing, our finances are cursed, strangers online are too invested in our bathroom setup, let’s drive into Death Valley for a granola sponsorship.” Incredible. No notes. That is the exact kind of decision-making that gets you hunted by a masked killer and also roasted in the comments section.
These two are #VanLife royalty, which means they’ve turned sunsets, cramped storage, and pretending not to hate each other into a full-time job. Online, they’re soulmates with matching vibes and probably a suspiciously clean cutting board. In real life, Morgan is emotionally halfway out the window and Jasper has been doing crypto crimes against their bank account. Their relationship has the energy of two people smiling for a thumbnail while silently deciding who gets the portable stove in the breakup.
Then Jasper books this Death Valley promo shoot because apparently the answer to marital collapse is sponsored granola in a remote volcanic crater. I kept wanting to tap him on the shoulder like, sir, your wife is on dating apps, your money is imaginary now, and you are being followed by a black van. Maybe postpone the brand partnership.
What makes this so fun is that everyone is awful in a way that feels extremely 2026. The followers are weird. The parasocial vibes are rancid. The content grind has turned their actual lives into a hostage situation with better lighting. And then the masked killer shows up like, “Great news, I’m here to make this worse.”
The desert is its own little psychopath. No service, no help, no shade, just vibes and dehydration. Death Valley in this book feels like the universe saying, “You wanted authenticity? Here’s some rocks and terror.” Every time they tried to problem-solve, I was like, yes, please continue arguing while the murder van circles. Very productive.
I did end up caring about Morgan and Jasper more than I expected, which was rude because I was fully prepared to enjoy them as influencer piñatas. But underneath all the curated nonsense, there are two people who started with something real and then let ambition, fear, money, and the internet turn it into a haunted Airbnb on wheels. That part landed.
The slasher chaos is nasty and fun, and once things start going sideways, they go sideways with commitment. I love a horror book that understands sometimes the scariest thing in the room is a masked killer, and sometimes it’s finding out your partner invested your future in sketchy crypto.
I’m giving #VanDeath 4 stars. It’s messy, bloody, mean in the right places, and weirdly heartfelt when it sneaks up on you. I will never look at a van tour, influencer couple, or rustic granola collab the same way again.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Truly appreciate the opportunity to experience Death Valley content creation without getting murdered, dehydrated, or asked to smash that subscribe button.
These two are #VanLife royalty, which means they’ve turned sunsets, cramped storage, and pretending not to hate each other into a full-time job. Online, they’re soulmates with matching vibes and probably a suspiciously clean cutting board. In real life, Morgan is emotionally halfway out the window and Jasper has been doing crypto crimes against their bank account. Their relationship has the energy of two people smiling for a thumbnail while silently deciding who gets the portable stove in the breakup.
Then Jasper books this Death Valley promo shoot because apparently the answer to marital collapse is sponsored granola in a remote volcanic crater. I kept wanting to tap him on the shoulder like, sir, your wife is on dating apps, your money is imaginary now, and you are being followed by a black van. Maybe postpone the brand partnership.
What makes this so fun is that everyone is awful in a way that feels extremely 2026. The followers are weird. The parasocial vibes are rancid. The content grind has turned their actual lives into a hostage situation with better lighting. And then the masked killer shows up like, “Great news, I’m here to make this worse.”
The desert is its own little psychopath. No service, no help, no shade, just vibes and dehydration. Death Valley in this book feels like the universe saying, “You wanted authenticity? Here’s some rocks and terror.” Every time they tried to problem-solve, I was like, yes, please continue arguing while the murder van circles. Very productive.
I did end up caring about Morgan and Jasper more than I expected, which was rude because I was fully prepared to enjoy them as influencer piñatas. But underneath all the curated nonsense, there are two people who started with something real and then let ambition, fear, money, and the internet turn it into a haunted Airbnb on wheels. That part landed.
The slasher chaos is nasty and fun, and once things start going sideways, they go sideways with commitment. I love a horror book that understands sometimes the scariest thing in the room is a masked killer, and sometimes it’s finding out your partner invested your future in sketchy crypto.
I’m giving #VanDeath 4 stars. It’s messy, bloody, mean in the right places, and weirdly heartfelt when it sneaks up on you. I will never look at a van tour, influencer couple, or rustic granola collab the same way again.
Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Truly appreciate the opportunity to experience Death Valley content creation without getting murdered, dehydrated, or asked to smash that subscribe button.
October 12, 2026
Wolf Creek, but influencer culture & Death Valley, USA.
As an Australian who actually visited the real Wolfe Creek Crater in Western Australia as a kid, I couldn’t help thinking about the 2005 horror film starring the fabulous John Jarratt while reading this. My family loved camping and exploring the outback, although unlike Morgan and Jasper, we were in my dad’s Land Cruiser, not a van. Thankfully, our visit was well before the film came out! While Wolf Creek is fictional, it was loosely inspired by real Australian crimes, including the Ivan Milat case. But I digress! I got a laugh out of the film actually being referenced in #VanDeath, given I’d been drawing those parallels myself.
Take the isolation and unforgiving landscape of Wolf Creek, shift it to Death Valley in the opposite hemisphere & throw in two influencers whose picture-perfect #VanLife is anything but. I really enjoyed the satire around influencer culture, particularly the disconnect between what people present online and what’s actually happening behind the camera. Morgan and Jasper’s relationship is a mess, their finances aren’t much better & their supposedly idyllic lifestyle quickly becomes a nightmare.
There’s plenty of tension, questionable decisions & an increasingly sinister situation unfolding in the desert, but that ominous ending was a particular highlight. I love when a horror novel leaves you with a lingering sense of dread rather than wrapping everything up too neatly.
A very entertaining 4⭐️ read!
As an Australian who actually visited the real Wolfe Creek Crater in Western Australia as a kid, I couldn’t help thinking about the 2005 horror film starring the fabulous John Jarratt while reading this. My family loved camping and exploring the outback, although unlike Morgan and Jasper, we were in my dad’s Land Cruiser, not a van. Thankfully, our visit was well before the film came out! While Wolf Creek is fictional, it was loosely inspired by real Australian crimes, including the Ivan Milat case. But I digress! I got a laugh out of the film actually being referenced in #VanDeath, given I’d been drawing those parallels myself.
Take the isolation and unforgiving landscape of Wolf Creek, shift it to Death Valley in the opposite hemisphere & throw in two influencers whose picture-perfect #VanLife is anything but. I really enjoyed the satire around influencer culture, particularly the disconnect between what people present online and what’s actually happening behind the camera. Morgan and Jasper’s relationship is a mess, their finances aren’t much better & their supposedly idyllic lifestyle quickly becomes a nightmare.
There’s plenty of tension, questionable decisions & an increasingly sinister situation unfolding in the desert, but that ominous ending was a particular highlight. I love when a horror novel leaves you with a lingering sense of dread rather than wrapping everything up too neatly.
A very entertaining 4⭐️ read!
September 14, 2026
“He loved that she got it. The novelty of nature. How no place is ever quite the same, because it’s changing and you’re changing with it, a continual metamorphosis, and each moment is a secret shared with something infinitely older than you.”
Okay. First of all…if some random person in a van started harassing me and trying to run me off the road on a back road somewhere I would be turning the fuck around and going home IMMEDIATELY. And Jasper is a whole damn piece of shit for pushing to keep going. MULTIPLE TIMES. Even though Morgan was clearly scared and uncomfortable with the whole ordeal.
This book was fast paced and absolutely does not let up which made it such a quick and easy read. The gore was abundant (as it should be) but what surprised me was how much heart it had.
I really enjoyed watching Morgan and Jasper deal with not only the horrors happening around them but also the strain within their actual relationship. It added an emotional layer that I really appreciated.
Okay. First of all…if some random person in a van started harassing me and trying to run me off the road on a back road somewhere I would be turning the fuck around and going home IMMEDIATELY. And Jasper is a whole damn piece of shit for pushing to keep going. MULTIPLE TIMES. Even though Morgan was clearly scared and uncomfortable with the whole ordeal.
This book was fast paced and absolutely does not let up which made it such a quick and easy read. The gore was abundant (as it should be) but what surprised me was how much heart it had.
I really enjoyed watching Morgan and Jasper deal with not only the horrors happening around them but also the strain within their actual relationship. It added an emotional layer that I really appreciated.
October 18, 2026
#VanDeath is a slow -paced, horror novel that takes the picture-perfect world of social media influencers and turns it into a nightmare. Morgan and Jasper are a popular van-life couple whose seemingly perfect relationship is falling apart behind the scenes. When a trip to Death Valley puts them in the path of a mysterious masked killer, their personal problems quickly become the least of their worries.
It does offer some commentary on online fame and the pressure to maintain a perfect image. It may not reinvent the slasher genre, but it makes good use of its premise and delivers a fairly enjoyable ride for horror fans.
It does offer some commentary on online fame and the pressure to maintain a perfect image. It may not reinvent the slasher genre, but it makes good use of its premise and delivers a fairly enjoyable ride for horror fans.
July 24, 2026
VanDeath
by Brian Asman
“Still, this isn’t the best part.
For the hunter, the best parts are, in order:
—The look of fear in their eyes.
—The coppery smell of blood mixed with fear-sweat.
—And finally, the moment, that singular, blessed moment, when they know all is lost. When they realize the sand in the hourglass of their life has dwindled to just a handful of grains.”
So an influencer couple with their relationship on the rocks, decides to take a brand partner deal and load up their van to go camp and get content in Death Valley. OH, and they have stalkers. What could possible go wrong?!
I need to scream from the mountain tops about this book! This was probably the most well-rounded and solid horror book I’ve read yet this year. It is a heart pounding and anxiety inducing page turner. Sitting at over 250 pages, I couldn’t turn them fast enough to see what would happen next.
There are so many moments where I air punched out of excitement or anger, so many times I audibly said WTF and HOLY SHIT. It has the perfect creepy factor alongside the will to survive. Idk if that makes sense but trust me.
This book needs a film adaptation asap. This books needs to be read by the world asap. This is one of those books that will live rent free far after you’ve finished, in the best ways possible. This is one of those times where I wish I could read a book again.
VanDeath releases on 9/22 but can preordered now!
*arc from NetGalley
by Brian Asman
“Still, this isn’t the best part.
For the hunter, the best parts are, in order:
—The look of fear in their eyes.
—The coppery smell of blood mixed with fear-sweat.
—And finally, the moment, that singular, blessed moment, when they know all is lost. When they realize the sand in the hourglass of their life has dwindled to just a handful of grains.”
So an influencer couple with their relationship on the rocks, decides to take a brand partner deal and load up their van to go camp and get content in Death Valley. OH, and they have stalkers. What could possible go wrong?!
I need to scream from the mountain tops about this book! This was probably the most well-rounded and solid horror book I’ve read yet this year. It is a heart pounding and anxiety inducing page turner. Sitting at over 250 pages, I couldn’t turn them fast enough to see what would happen next.
There are so many moments where I air punched out of excitement or anger, so many times I audibly said WTF and HOLY SHIT. It has the perfect creepy factor alongside the will to survive. Idk if that makes sense but trust me.
This book needs a film adaptation asap. This books needs to be read by the world asap. This is one of those books that will live rent free far after you’ve finished, in the best ways possible. This is one of those times where I wish I could read a book again.
VanDeath releases on 9/22 but can preordered now!
*arc from NetGalley
August 29, 2026
Note: This review originally appeared at FanFiAddict.
Brian Asman introduces a new horror slasher villain to the canon with the Dust Devil, a masked, desert camo-wearing, knife-wielding psychopath who targets a particular type of influencer in #VanDeath.
Asman kicks things off in grand fashion, with a viscerally brutal opener that puts readers right in the thick of things with its short-lived second-person POV and braces them on what to expect of the violent thrills ahead. It’s a terrific, blood-soaked segment of 100% pure slasher goodness, made all the better with its sense of immediacy. Of course, Asman has to take his foot off the gas soon thereafter to introduce us to our central characters, van life influencers Jasper and Morgan.
Jasper has just squandered their entire life savings on a cryptocurrency scam (is there any other kind?) but plans on making it up to Morgan by asking for her hand in marriage. I mean, how could she say no, right?! Morgan, meanwhile, is surfing Tinder to see who else is out there, intent on ditching Jasper and, more importantly, this whole goofy van life thing she’s grown increasingly sick of. Both are young, and their relationship together is the longest either has ever had. Although they seem a bit young for a midlife crisis, both are definitely going through it.
Morgan gets sucked into one last ride when Jasper, in the hopes of recovering their lost funds, signs a sponsorship deal with Granular, the brainchild of some techbro kids hellbent on being, get this, “granola disrupters,” whatever that’s supposed to mean. All they have to do is wear some merch and eat some granola during some staged photo and video ops, with Granular providing them the cameraman and the #VanLife couple the location. Jasper picks a place far off the beaten path – the massive Ubehebe crater in Death Valley. I had to look it up and, yeah, I gotta admit, it is pretty ‘grammable, and yes, a few real-life YouTubers have picked it as a scenic spot to hike and mine for clicks. As far as I know they’ve made it back home safe and sound, free of any Dust Devil troubles.
Jasper and Morgan – or Jorgan, if you’re nasty – aren’t so lucky. Their trip to the crater involves being nearly run off the road by a black van, learning about various reports of missing hikers, and encountering a handful of red herrings and suspects-cum-victims while being terrorized by the Death Valley Demon. Asman crafts several chilling encounters, racking up the body count and removing Jasper and Morgan’s options, driving them into various dead ends with a chess master’s proficiency. One extended sequence involves trapping the couple in their own quarter of a million-dollar van while the Dust Devil toys with them from the outside. This a multi-chapter affair reminded me a lot of Stephen King’s Cujo, not to mention various other slasher stories where the good guys find themselves on the back foot and being toyed with and terrorized. It’s a great moment, and one of the book’s more memorable sequences, of which there’s a few. Asman keeps things tense and tightly-wound, refusing to ever let our leads catch a break and mercilessly snuffing out every single minor hope they have of being rescued or finding safety. It’s pretty brutal seeing every plan they have to counter the Dust Devil’s increasingly sadistic cat-and-mouse games dwindle into hopelessness, be cut off (sometimes literally!), or just plain fail due to awful, dumb luck.
While the Dust Devil presents as a highly effective, and exceedingly nutso, killer, it is – of course – Jasper and Morgan that are the book’s true beating heart. Both are fundamentally flawed, imperfect human beings, and they’ve hurt one another in secret ways. They each want different things for themselves and their future, and whether or not they can find a common middle ground to reignite the spark that impassioned them as a couple is central. Presuming one of them doesn’t first get hacked to death in the desert, in the most brutal of fashions, of course. Asman brilliantly humanizes both characters, making both equally sympathetic. We get their different points of view, their competing concerns, and their hopes. What works best about their dynamic is that we understand both of them so well. Their wants and desires, for themselves and for their future, whether it’s together or apart, are simply understandable. Lesser authors would perhaps feel compelled to pick a side here, or make one character stand-offish or shrewish, wanting readers to side with one or the other. Because Asman takes his time to flesh them out and give equal merit to both, we want to see them succeed together.
Less surface-level, but certainly providing food for thought, is the gimmicky nature of the influencer’s working life here in late-stage capitalism, with all its shiny, new, ten-dollar buzzwords, attention-grabbing hashtags, out there ideas to capture people’s attentions, and brand appeal necessities. The fact that Jasper and Morgan are challenging themselves, questioning whether or not their career choice is not only financially stable but one that even makes sense, let alone allows them happiness anymore, instantly makes them less vapid and more familiar than your typical social media hustler. Neither really want to sell themselves with the Granular brand, nor do they want to pose for all these fake moments amidst nature’s towering, powerful reality, but money’s money and bills don’t pay themselves.
Asman finds the humanity beneath the glossy, picture-perfect, and entirely false narratives built between social media superstars, the brands that employ them, and their followers and hangers-on. Is it morally good, sustainable, and ethically responsible to traverse an incredibly expensive gas guzzling van into Earth’s furthest removed locations simply to create clickable content to help hustle some techbro’s latest goofy-ass, probably society-destroying, bullshit in an ever-dwindling, increasingly vapid attention economy that is ultimately contributing to the scarcity of real-world resources and collapsing ecosystems? Are Jasper and Morgan victims of their own success, or is the Dust Devil a Luigi Mangione-style folk hero to be for the social media age? OK, maybe that last bit is going to a smidge too far, but still… I’m just saying, if you’re a big-time social media content creator, maybe keep an eye out for a black van following you around, yeah?
Brian Asman introduces a new horror slasher villain to the canon with the Dust Devil, a masked, desert camo-wearing, knife-wielding psychopath who targets a particular type of influencer in #VanDeath.
Asman kicks things off in grand fashion, with a viscerally brutal opener that puts readers right in the thick of things with its short-lived second-person POV and braces them on what to expect of the violent thrills ahead. It’s a terrific, blood-soaked segment of 100% pure slasher goodness, made all the better with its sense of immediacy. Of course, Asman has to take his foot off the gas soon thereafter to introduce us to our central characters, van life influencers Jasper and Morgan.
Jasper has just squandered their entire life savings on a cryptocurrency scam (is there any other kind?) but plans on making it up to Morgan by asking for her hand in marriage. I mean, how could she say no, right?! Morgan, meanwhile, is surfing Tinder to see who else is out there, intent on ditching Jasper and, more importantly, this whole goofy van life thing she’s grown increasingly sick of. Both are young, and their relationship together is the longest either has ever had. Although they seem a bit young for a midlife crisis, both are definitely going through it.
Morgan gets sucked into one last ride when Jasper, in the hopes of recovering their lost funds, signs a sponsorship deal with Granular, the brainchild of some techbro kids hellbent on being, get this, “granola disrupters,” whatever that’s supposed to mean. All they have to do is wear some merch and eat some granola during some staged photo and video ops, with Granular providing them the cameraman and the #VanLife couple the location. Jasper picks a place far off the beaten path – the massive Ubehebe crater in Death Valley. I had to look it up and, yeah, I gotta admit, it is pretty ‘grammable, and yes, a few real-life YouTubers have picked it as a scenic spot to hike and mine for clicks. As far as I know they’ve made it back home safe and sound, free of any Dust Devil troubles.
Jasper and Morgan – or Jorgan, if you’re nasty – aren’t so lucky. Their trip to the crater involves being nearly run off the road by a black van, learning about various reports of missing hikers, and encountering a handful of red herrings and suspects-cum-victims while being terrorized by the Death Valley Demon. Asman crafts several chilling encounters, racking up the body count and removing Jasper and Morgan’s options, driving them into various dead ends with a chess master’s proficiency. One extended sequence involves trapping the couple in their own quarter of a million-dollar van while the Dust Devil toys with them from the outside. This a multi-chapter affair reminded me a lot of Stephen King’s Cujo, not to mention various other slasher stories where the good guys find themselves on the back foot and being toyed with and terrorized. It’s a great moment, and one of the book’s more memorable sequences, of which there’s a few. Asman keeps things tense and tightly-wound, refusing to ever let our leads catch a break and mercilessly snuffing out every single minor hope they have of being rescued or finding safety. It’s pretty brutal seeing every plan they have to counter the Dust Devil’s increasingly sadistic cat-and-mouse games dwindle into hopelessness, be cut off (sometimes literally!), or just plain fail due to awful, dumb luck.
While the Dust Devil presents as a highly effective, and exceedingly nutso, killer, it is – of course – Jasper and Morgan that are the book’s true beating heart. Both are fundamentally flawed, imperfect human beings, and they’ve hurt one another in secret ways. They each want different things for themselves and their future, and whether or not they can find a common middle ground to reignite the spark that impassioned them as a couple is central. Presuming one of them doesn’t first get hacked to death in the desert, in the most brutal of fashions, of course. Asman brilliantly humanizes both characters, making both equally sympathetic. We get their different points of view, their competing concerns, and their hopes. What works best about their dynamic is that we understand both of them so well. Their wants and desires, for themselves and for their future, whether it’s together or apart, are simply understandable. Lesser authors would perhaps feel compelled to pick a side here, or make one character stand-offish or shrewish, wanting readers to side with one or the other. Because Asman takes his time to flesh them out and give equal merit to both, we want to see them succeed together.
Less surface-level, but certainly providing food for thought, is the gimmicky nature of the influencer’s working life here in late-stage capitalism, with all its shiny, new, ten-dollar buzzwords, attention-grabbing hashtags, out there ideas to capture people’s attentions, and brand appeal necessities. The fact that Jasper and Morgan are challenging themselves, questioning whether or not their career choice is not only financially stable but one that even makes sense, let alone allows them happiness anymore, instantly makes them less vapid and more familiar than your typical social media hustler. Neither really want to sell themselves with the Granular brand, nor do they want to pose for all these fake moments amidst nature’s towering, powerful reality, but money’s money and bills don’t pay themselves.
Asman finds the humanity beneath the glossy, picture-perfect, and entirely false narratives built between social media superstars, the brands that employ them, and their followers and hangers-on. Is it morally good, sustainable, and ethically responsible to traverse an incredibly expensive gas guzzling van into Earth’s furthest removed locations simply to create clickable content to help hustle some techbro’s latest goofy-ass, probably society-destroying, bullshit in an ever-dwindling, increasingly vapid attention economy that is ultimately contributing to the scarcity of real-world resources and collapsing ecosystems? Are Jasper and Morgan victims of their own success, or is the Dust Devil a Luigi Mangione-style folk hero to be for the social media age? OK, maybe that last bit is going to a smidge too far, but still… I’m just saying, if you’re a big-time social media content creator, maybe keep an eye out for a black van following you around, yeah?
October 18, 2026
✨AUDIOBOOK REVIEW✨
Thank you @blackstonepublishing for the gifted audiobook...this is my honest review.
🎧 8 hrs 51 min | 🗣️ Joe Hempel | Zura Johnson
Psychological | Horror | Suspense
✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
🚐 Roadtrip
🐭 Cat & Mouse
🤳 Influencer culture
🌵 Atmospheric
🛟 Survival horror
🩸 It goes there
🫖 THE TEA
Two VanLife influencers with a picture-perfect online brand and a completely crumbling relationship take a high-stakes trip to Death Valley, only to find themselves fighting for survival in the desert.
💭 MY THOUGHTS
This story and amazing cover art instantly reeled me in, and I love the idea of exploring VanLife influencers whose lives are falling apart behind the scenes. The atmospheric writing and stalker energy definitely delivered, and I could easily picture this as a wild movie or TV miniseries.
That said, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I am usually all for a ‘love to hate them’ toxic character, but Morgan and Jasper weren’t that type of characters, but they were not likeable either. It was just an endless loop of bad decisions, miscommunication, and secrets from one another until I genuinely stopped caring about their survival. 😬
🎧 WHY THE AUDIO?
I really enjoyed the audio production. The narrators did a good job of bringing these characters to life. It felt like a very cinematic performance.
⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 3🌟
The graphic horror elements pushed right up against my comfort zone, though not to the point I wouldn’t finish. I just wasn’t as invested in the characters or their well-being. However, you shouldn’t let my rating deter you if it sounds fun. I know many horror fans will and have enjoyed it, so this is a just a case of not every book is for everybody.
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
#audiobookreview #influencerlife #audiobooks #bookstagram #horrorbooks
Thank you @blackstonepublishing for the gifted audiobook...this is my honest review.
🎧 8 hrs 51 min | 🗣️ Joe Hempel | Zura Johnson
Psychological | Horror | Suspense
✌️ VIBE CHECK ✌️
🚐 Roadtrip
🐭 Cat & Mouse
🤳 Influencer culture
🌵 Atmospheric
🛟 Survival horror
🩸 It goes there
🫖 THE TEA
Two VanLife influencers with a picture-perfect online brand and a completely crumbling relationship take a high-stakes trip to Death Valley, only to find themselves fighting for survival in the desert.
💭 MY THOUGHTS
This story and amazing cover art instantly reeled me in, and I love the idea of exploring VanLife influencers whose lives are falling apart behind the scenes. The atmospheric writing and stalker energy definitely delivered, and I could easily picture this as a wild movie or TV miniseries.
That said, it was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I am usually all for a ‘love to hate them’ toxic character, but Morgan and Jasper weren’t that type of characters, but they were not likeable either. It was just an endless loop of bad decisions, miscommunication, and secrets from one another until I genuinely stopped caring about their survival. 😬
🎧 WHY THE AUDIO?
I really enjoyed the audio production. The narrators did a good job of bringing these characters to life. It felt like a very cinematic performance.
⭐ FINAL VERDICT | 3🌟
The graphic horror elements pushed right up against my comfort zone, though not to the point I wouldn’t finish. I just wasn’t as invested in the characters or their well-being. However, you shouldn’t let my rating deter you if it sounds fun. I know many horror fans will and have enjoyed it, so this is a just a case of not every book is for everybody.
DeAnn @deannsreadingriot 🖤
#audiobookreview #influencerlife #audiobooks #bookstagram #horrorbooks
October 26, 2026
Two #vanlife influencers take a trip to Death Valley. Due to problems in their work and professional relationship Jasper is desperate to make this trip work. He loves Morgan who isn't too keen on a collaboration with a granola company and she also might no longer be in love with him either. Too bad that's not the only thing they have to worry about. Almost immediately upon entering the desert a mysterious black van tries to run them off the road. Soon they're stranded in the desert and running for their lives.
I loved the setting of Death Valley. It's such a large place yet the feeling of isolation makes it seem much smaller. Your options are limited and dangers are everywhere. The black van is so creepy and just the sight of it is chilling.
There are some pretty gross moments but they didn't bother me. Reading the book feels like you're watching a movie. I kept thinking of what I would do in the situation. Jasper and Morgan did none of the things lol but they did respond well to a specific situation. There was a moment where I paused in reading because I knew what was coming up and I wanted the character to be safe for a second longer.
Despite their flaws or issues Jasper and Morgan are likeable and easy to root for. Death Valley adds to the horror as it fills your imagination with possibilities, none of them good. I need more outdoorsy horror! There is an unbelievable element to the story and yet I was looking for it. I was happy when what I thought might happen did. Perfect horror magic.
I loved the setting of Death Valley. It's such a large place yet the feeling of isolation makes it seem much smaller. Your options are limited and dangers are everywhere. The black van is so creepy and just the sight of it is chilling.
There are some pretty gross moments but they didn't bother me. Reading the book feels like you're watching a movie. I kept thinking of what I would do in the situation. Jasper and Morgan did none of the things lol but they did respond well to a specific situation. There was a moment where I paused in reading because I knew what was coming up and I wanted the character to be safe for a second longer.
Despite their flaws or issues Jasper and Morgan are likeable and easy to root for. Death Valley adds to the horror as it fills your imagination with possibilities, none of them good. I need more outdoorsy horror! There is an unbelievable element to the story and yet I was looking for it. I was happy when what I thought might happen did. Perfect horror magic.
September 29, 2026
I live in a small town in the Hill Country of Central Texas. Although the town is small (less than 1800 people) it is on a main highway that starts at the Mexican border in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and ends at the Canadian border in North Dakota.
So, I see a lot of folks traveling North to South or vice versa, in RVs, motorcycles and vans from my front porch. Occasionally, if I'm sitting out there w/hubs and we see a travel van heading either way, one of us always yells 'VAN LIFE!', which is the hint that OTHER one of us has to make up an imaginary story about the travelers riding in that van.
That meant, when I saw the premise of this book, I knew it would be a must read for me, and Brian Asman is really one of the most readable guys out there. I couldn't WAIT to hear his story about these two van lifers.
Jasper and Morgan are van life influencers, who have developed a large following by, at first, following their dreams of being out in nature together, but when we meet them, they are at a bit of a crossroads, with each of them harboring second thoughts and regrets about where they have ended up.
They are offered a collaboration with a new brand, and head out to a super remote location in Death Valley to shoot the campaign. It's fun and nicely paced, giving 'road trip gone terribly wrong' vibes all the way through, when creepy things start happening one after another.
Ticks a lot of boxes and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Brian is always on my 'must read' author list.
So, I see a lot of folks traveling North to South or vice versa, in RVs, motorcycles and vans from my front porch. Occasionally, if I'm sitting out there w/hubs and we see a travel van heading either way, one of us always yells 'VAN LIFE!', which is the hint that OTHER one of us has to make up an imaginary story about the travelers riding in that van.
That meant, when I saw the premise of this book, I knew it would be a must read for me, and Brian Asman is really one of the most readable guys out there. I couldn't WAIT to hear his story about these two van lifers.
Jasper and Morgan are van life influencers, who have developed a large following by, at first, following their dreams of being out in nature together, but when we meet them, they are at a bit of a crossroads, with each of them harboring second thoughts and regrets about where they have ended up.
They are offered a collaboration with a new brand, and head out to a super remote location in Death Valley to shoot the campaign. It's fun and nicely paced, giving 'road trip gone terribly wrong' vibes all the way through, when creepy things start happening one after another.
Ticks a lot of boxes and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Brian is always on my 'must read' author list.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
...𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐨𝐝.
And then Brian Asman decided to throw a masked killer, a remote stretch of Death Valley, and a pair of feuding #VanLife influencers into the mix. Needless to say, I was having a f*cking fantastic time.
Morgan and Jasper have built an entire online following around their picture-perfect relationship and adventurous lifestyle, but behind the curated content and “smash that subscribe button” bullsh*t, everything is falling apart. When a sponsored trip goes horribly wrong, they find themselves stranded in the desert with a killer on their heels, a cameraman who may be losing his mind, and absolutely nowhere to run. What follows is a wonderfully chaotic blend of survival horror and slasher mayhem, with the unforgiving desert proving to be every bit as terrifying as the person hunting them.
I had so much fun with this book! The horror elements are exactly what I wanted, and the influencer angle adds an extra layer of realism to this seemingly wild setup. There’s something very appealing about the ugly side of the influencer lifestyle and realizing that some experiences are better left undocumented. The pacing kept things moving, the tension stayed high, and the whole thing had that gleefully unhinged quality that makes horror such a damn good time. If you like slashers with a fresh premise and a healthy dose of dark humor, #VANDEATH absolutely deserves a spot on your fall TBR. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for this early copy that will publish September 22, 2026.
And then Brian Asman decided to throw a masked killer, a remote stretch of Death Valley, and a pair of feuding #VanLife influencers into the mix. Needless to say, I was having a f*cking fantastic time.
Morgan and Jasper have built an entire online following around their picture-perfect relationship and adventurous lifestyle, but behind the curated content and “smash that subscribe button” bullsh*t, everything is falling apart. When a sponsored trip goes horribly wrong, they find themselves stranded in the desert with a killer on their heels, a cameraman who may be losing his mind, and absolutely nowhere to run. What follows is a wonderfully chaotic blend of survival horror and slasher mayhem, with the unforgiving desert proving to be every bit as terrifying as the person hunting them.
I had so much fun with this book! The horror elements are exactly what I wanted, and the influencer angle adds an extra layer of realism to this seemingly wild setup. There’s something very appealing about the ugly side of the influencer lifestyle and realizing that some experiences are better left undocumented. The pacing kept things moving, the tension stayed high, and the whole thing had that gleefully unhinged quality that makes horror such a damn good time. If you like slashers with a fresh premise and a healthy dose of dark humor, #VANDEATH absolutely deserves a spot on your fall TBR. Many thanks to Blackstone Publishing for this early copy that will publish September 22, 2026.
October 15, 2026
This is a fast-paced read about a couple, Morgan and Jasper, who are "Van Life" influencers. They're both getting weary of the lifestyle and there are tensions in their relationship, but agree to go on a sponsored trip to Death Valley. Morgan and Jasper love hiking and nature so the remote, isolated location wouldn't ordinarily bother them. However, Morgan seems to have a stalker and they barely get started before they're run off the road. They decide to continue on the trip, but this is just the beginning of the horrors they will face. The story allows you to get to know Morgan and Jasper both before and during the trip, and neither are perfect. However, I liked them both and as the tension heats up in the story, I was fearful for their survival but also rooting for them to stay together as a couple.
There are some great moments between the two, but this is a horror novel and not a romance, so be prepared for violence and plenty of gore in this book. I admit to skimming through parts of the more grisly descriptions just like I would look away during gruesome scenes of a slasher film. This doesn't mean I didn't like the book! It is creepy from beginning to end, but is a perfect October read and I enjoyed the "wild ride."
There are some great moments between the two, but this is a horror novel and not a romance, so be prepared for violence and plenty of gore in this book. I admit to skimming through parts of the more grisly descriptions just like I would look away during gruesome scenes of a slasher film. This doesn't mean I didn't like the book! It is creepy from beginning to end, but is a perfect October read and I enjoyed the "wild ride."
October 1, 2026
You know, I've read a lot of books this year and this was.....certainly one of them.
Maybe I'm being unfair. I think any book that had to follow the banger that was my last read would have a hard time. But there were some *issues* with this one, and they are issues I have with pretty much all slasher stories. Everything always works so perfectly conveniently for the killers, they're always two steps ahead and the victims never deviate from the expected move (why didn't Jasper look UNDER the van on that first night? Who thinks someone is knocking and goes looking around but doesn't look UNDER THE VAN??? What would the killer have done if he had? Just, like, wave? "oh, hey, you...uh...weren't supposed to see me. LOOK! COYOTES!). Why would hikers leave their sat phone and first aid kit in the van? Why did cell service work for the killers but not anyone else? If TASERs can kill, why wasn't that used, like, way earlier?
HOWEVER, I did have some fun with this. The Death Valley setting was pretty cool, Cary the Cameraman was likably obnoxious (oof, poor Cary), the Dirt Bike Bros were a fun if brief appearance. And it was bloody and intense which, really, is why we read slashers.
Maybe I'm being unfair. I think any book that had to follow the banger that was my last read would have a hard time. But there were some *issues* with this one, and they are issues I have with pretty much all slasher stories. Everything always works so perfectly conveniently for the killers, they're always two steps ahead and the victims never deviate from the expected move (why didn't Jasper look UNDER the van on that first night? Who thinks someone is knocking and goes looking around but doesn't look UNDER THE VAN??? What would the killer have done if he had? Just, like, wave? "oh, hey, you...uh...weren't supposed to see me. LOOK! COYOTES!). Why would hikers leave their sat phone and first aid kit in the van? Why did cell service work for the killers but not anyone else? If TASERs can kill, why wasn't that used, like, way earlier?
HOWEVER, I did have some fun with this. The Death Valley setting was pretty cool, Cary the Cameraman was likably obnoxious (oof, poor Cary), the Dirt Bike Bros were a fun if brief appearance. And it was bloody and intense which, really, is why we read slashers.
September 22, 2026
Ummm… EWWW. 🤣
This was a nasty, bloody, wild ride and I LOVED it.
Truly, this is what nightmares are made of. Brian Asman really said, “What if #VanLife… but make it absolutely horrifying?” and honestly, I was here for every disgusting second. 😂
Between the masked killer, the middle of nowhere Death Valley setting, the unraveling relationship, and the whole parasocial influencer nightmare situation… this one gets DARK. And GROSS. And I mean that as the highest compliment. 👏🏼
Morgan and Jasper are the picture perfect #VanLife couple with a million followers but behind the scenes, their relationship is falling apart. When a last minute trip to Death Valley goes horribly wrong, they find themselves stranded in the desert and being hunted by a masked killer. Now they’ll have to put their differences aside if they want to survive.
If you like bloody horror, survival horror, masked killers, influencer nightmares, and things getting progressively more WTF… add this one to your list. 🚐🔪
This was a nasty, bloody, wild ride and I LOVED it.
Truly, this is what nightmares are made of. Brian Asman really said, “What if #VanLife… but make it absolutely horrifying?” and honestly, I was here for every disgusting second. 😂
Between the masked killer, the middle of nowhere Death Valley setting, the unraveling relationship, and the whole parasocial influencer nightmare situation… this one gets DARK. And GROSS. And I mean that as the highest compliment. 👏🏼
Morgan and Jasper are the picture perfect #VanLife couple with a million followers but behind the scenes, their relationship is falling apart. When a last minute trip to Death Valley goes horribly wrong, they find themselves stranded in the desert and being hunted by a masked killer. Now they’ll have to put their differences aside if they want to survive.
If you like bloody horror, survival horror, masked killers, influencer nightmares, and things getting progressively more WTF… add this one to your list. 🚐🔪
October 25, 2026
There are influencers for everything, apparently including #vanlife. In this case we have Morgan and Jasper. They love hiking and nature so living in a van is just a natural extension of that. I loved that this book was so fast paced. Books like this are the ones I really get into and I really just devour them in one sitting. There were so many amazing characters along the way and I appreciated that. The writing style was fantastic and it was easy to be absorbed with. This is a slasher book, and it does not shy away from that at all. One thing that caught me by surprise was the ending. I really felt like it was a little lacking and expected it to be a little different, but overall I still did really enjoy the book.
September 30, 2026
This basically felt like the book version of an over-the-top slasher. This is not a bad thing. Was it wildly unrealistic? Yes. But I didn't read a book called Vandeath for the realism. I picked it because it sounded out-of-pocket and entertaining. My expectations were met. Much fun was had.
I did think the leads were kind of idiots but that's of a thing in slashers. If people made smart decisions, the story would be pretty short. I did like how central Morgan and Jasper's relationship was to the story. It added an emotional element that I enjoyed. Overall, I liked VanDeath and will have to check out the author's other work at some point.
I did think the leads were kind of idiots but that's of a thing in slashers. If people made smart decisions, the story would be pretty short. I did like how central Morgan and Jasper's relationship was to the story. It added an emotional element that I enjoyed. Overall, I liked VanDeath and will have to check out the author's other work at some point.
October 19, 2026
despite loathing 'influencer' culture with all of my soul and neither liking nor caring about either of the protags as characters i still had a wild time with this and found myself absolutely filled with a sick, nasty anxiety multiple times throughout the book which i think says volumes about the quality of brian's writing. def recommend if you wanna be Real Stressed Out, but in like, a fun way.
4/5.
4/5.
September 11, 2026
I’ve enjoyed Brian’s writing the last couple years, especially his take on the haunted house (plus that awesome zombie elf story), so I had a pretty good feeling I’d enjoy his version of a slasher à la Jeepers Creepers and this van life trend. The main characters really shine in this one — feeling especially human in a way that kind of reminds me of Adam Cesare’s work. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a super fun slasher. And most of the time, that’s plenty for me.
September 16, 2026
ARC from Netgalley and the publisher.
Solid survival slasher and I had a good time reading this one. The writing was cinematic and it played out like a movie in my head.
Solid survival slasher and I had a good time reading this one. The writing was cinematic and it played out like a movie in my head.
September 2, 2026
First and foremost I’d like to thank NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing for the amazing opportunity of listening/ reading this book early with ALCcopy. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
A influencer couple is put up against a killer who hunts them while they are on a job. Secrets will come to light and blood will soak the sand…
Overall this book was a nice little side trip from what I usually read. Was it ground breaking? No, was it hard to guess what was going to happen? No. That ending had me rolling my eyes a bit lol
3.5 stars
A influencer couple is put up against a killer who hunts them while they are on a job. Secrets will come to light and blood will soak the sand…
Overall this book was a nice little side trip from what I usually read. Was it ground breaking? No, was it hard to guess what was going to happen? No. That ending had me rolling my eyes a bit lol
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
#VanDeath
Brian Asman
09/22/2026
Blackstone Audio
Morgan and Jasper are #VanLife influencers whose picture perfect life is anything but perfect behind the camera. Their relationship is cracking, Morgan is secretly looking for a way out, and Jasper has managed to make a mess of their finances. Then a sponsorship deal sends them into the middle of Death Valley, where their dream trip quickly turns into a nightmare when a mysterious black van appears, their own van is disabled, and a masked killer known as the Dust Devil begins hunting them. What follows is a deadly game of survival in one of the most unforgiving places imaginable, with nowhere to run and plenty of secrets between the people who are supposed to trust each other.
This book was a banger and I needed this unhinged slasher fun in my reading life. (Only in the book world does a sentence like that make sense.) Slasher? CHECK. Death Valley? CHECK. Influencer culture getting dragged? PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Add in dual POV's, relationship drama, creepy masked killer, nasty kills, enough twists to keep me happily suspicious ALL at a pace that will give you whiplash? HELL YES. Asman throws all these ingredients together and somehow serves up exactly the kind of chaotic, bloody ride I wanted. I was invested, entertained and absolutely here for the mes.
Brian Asman
09/22/2026
Blackstone Audio
Morgan and Jasper are #VanLife influencers whose picture perfect life is anything but perfect behind the camera. Their relationship is cracking, Morgan is secretly looking for a way out, and Jasper has managed to make a mess of their finances. Then a sponsorship deal sends them into the middle of Death Valley, where their dream trip quickly turns into a nightmare when a mysterious black van appears, their own van is disabled, and a masked killer known as the Dust Devil begins hunting them. What follows is a deadly game of survival in one of the most unforgiving places imaginable, with nowhere to run and plenty of secrets between the people who are supposed to trust each other.
This book was a banger and I needed this unhinged slasher fun in my reading life. (Only in the book world does a sentence like that make sense.) Slasher? CHECK. Death Valley? CHECK. Influencer culture getting dragged? PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Add in dual POV's, relationship drama, creepy masked killer, nasty kills, enough twists to keep me happily suspicious ALL at a pace that will give you whiplash? HELL YES. Asman throws all these ingredients together and somehow serves up exactly the kind of chaotic, bloody ride I wanted. I was invested, entertained and absolutely here for the mes.
June 25, 2026
Sometimes the camera lies. Morgan and Jasper, popular influencers (#vanlife), are actually frauds. On the brink of a collapse, both financially and relationship wise, they agree to take a trip to Death Valley. They think this may get them out of both slumps. What they can’t have even fathomed is that things are gonna get way worse….fighting for their lives in the middle of nowhere.
Wow!! What a ride this one is. This rockets you out of the cannon in the prologue, with gore and fear as immediate companions and really never lets up for the entire book. This story is fast paced, action packed and filled with tons of gore and OMG moments. I enjoyed the creepy backroads/desert vibe that plays up the isolation and mixes in off the beaten trail backwoods side characters. The suspense and build up is intense and made me white knuckled almost the entire time, I never knew what was coming next. Horror fans PLEASE grab this up. It’s so absolutely wild!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy, it’s a privilege. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Wow!! What a ride this one is. This rockets you out of the cannon in the prologue, with gore and fear as immediate companions and really never lets up for the entire book. This story is fast paced, action packed and filled with tons of gore and OMG moments. I enjoyed the creepy backroads/desert vibe that plays up the isolation and mixes in off the beaten trail backwoods side characters. The suspense and build up is intense and made me white knuckled almost the entire time, I never knew what was coming next. Horror fans PLEASE grab this up. It’s so absolutely wild!
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the advanced copy, it’s a privilege. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 20, 2026
#VanDeath is a fast and furious joy ride that I could not look away from. I’m not always huge on slashers but this one is FUN and it had me feeling like I was being stalked through the desert by masked assailants (in a good way.)
This is my first book from Asman, and I loved the mixed media sprinkled throughout in the form of podcasts snippets, as well as the characters (who were mostly terrible people, but still!) I can’t wait to check out more!
Without giving too much away, check this one out if you love or hate camping, deserts, and edge of your seat slashers!
**Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the eARC of this title!**
This is my first book from Asman, and I loved the mixed media sprinkled throughout in the form of podcasts snippets, as well as the characters (who were mostly terrible people, but still!) I can’t wait to check out more!
Without giving too much away, check this one out if you love or hate camping, deserts, and edge of your seat slashers!
**Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the eARC of this title!**
September 7, 2026
The life of an influencer seems horrifying on its own, but when putting your life on the internet for thousands of fans is not the most horrifying thing, it's even more terrifying. Brian Asman crafts a frightening influencer horror with
#VanDeath
where simple choices and mistakes can cost you your life.
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to be: beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all "smash that subscribe button" to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures.
But it's all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn't know Morgan's trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn't know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they've also got stalkers: fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying.
When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into a last-minute trip. He's secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
Putting things on social media is my least favorite part of marketing anything, trying to get peoples attention to whatever you are promoting, let along make it your entire life and identity. So, the life of #VanLife social media influencer sounds horrifying on the surface. This is before having to deal with the type of people that follow you, comment about you, and even stalk you because you put your life on the internet. However, Asman takes this life and dials it up to 11 with #VanDeath.
Asman puts a couple on the teetering of epic breakdown into a position of terrifyingly having to fight off those horrors of social media influencing that have taken things a bit too far. A couple who is nearly forced into a marketing agreement to fight for their relationship and financial future, only for it to all go horribly wrong along the way.
All the terrifying moments that take place in #VanDeath are balanced by holding onto the hope of saving their relationship and being able to grow as a couple. This hope made everything happening worth fight and had me rooting for the couple. Each have their own failures and secrets, but in the end surviving a few nights in Death Valley while being terrorized is something worth fighting for.
Asman builds suspense with a few twists and turns, as well as a few red herrings that will have you thinking you have figured it out, only to have the story go a new direction. The mystery behind who was in black van could be multiple people, and by the time all is revealed I still had no idea who it was. The blend of mystery and horror was wonderful.
The lives of Morgan and Jasper were only enhanced by reading this #VanDeath via both physical and audiobook. The narration by Joe Hempel & Zura Johnson put us in the drivers seat and immersed us in the horrors, while picking up a physical copy is always a great thing as well.
#VanDeath is a terrifying trip into Death Valley where the horrors of social media influencing for one couple are the least of their worries. Brian Asman delivers a horrifying story filled with gruesome terror as well as a glimpse of hope for the future. I'll tell you what, #VanDeath doesn't make me want to get in a van and share my life on the internet, that's for sure.
#VanDeath hits bookstores everywhere on September 22, 2026 from Blackstone Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by Joe Hempel & Zura Johnson, is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of #VanDeath from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to be: beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all "smash that subscribe button" to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures.
But it's all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn't know Morgan's trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn't know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they've also got stalkers: fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying.
When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into a last-minute trip. He's secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
Putting things on social media is my least favorite part of marketing anything, trying to get peoples attention to whatever you are promoting, let along make it your entire life and identity. So, the life of #VanLife social media influencer sounds horrifying on the surface. This is before having to deal with the type of people that follow you, comment about you, and even stalk you because you put your life on the internet. However, Asman takes this life and dials it up to 11 with #VanDeath.
Asman puts a couple on the teetering of epic breakdown into a position of terrifyingly having to fight off those horrors of social media influencing that have taken things a bit too far. A couple who is nearly forced into a marketing agreement to fight for their relationship and financial future, only for it to all go horribly wrong along the way.
All the terrifying moments that take place in #VanDeath are balanced by holding onto the hope of saving their relationship and being able to grow as a couple. This hope made everything happening worth fight and had me rooting for the couple. Each have their own failures and secrets, but in the end surviving a few nights in Death Valley while being terrorized is something worth fighting for.
Asman builds suspense with a few twists and turns, as well as a few red herrings that will have you thinking you have figured it out, only to have the story go a new direction. The mystery behind who was in black van could be multiple people, and by the time all is revealed I still had no idea who it was. The blend of mystery and horror was wonderful.
The lives of Morgan and Jasper were only enhanced by reading this #VanDeath via both physical and audiobook. The narration by Joe Hempel & Zura Johnson put us in the drivers seat and immersed us in the horrors, while picking up a physical copy is always a great thing as well.
#VanDeath is a terrifying trip into Death Valley where the horrors of social media influencing for one couple are the least of their worries. Brian Asman delivers a horrifying story filled with gruesome terror as well as a glimpse of hope for the future. I'll tell you what, #VanDeath doesn't make me want to get in a van and share my life on the internet, that's for sure.
#VanDeath hits bookstores everywhere on September 22, 2026 from Blackstone Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by Joe Hempel & Zura Johnson, is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of #VanDeath from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
October 21, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🚐 want to live the van life
🗺️ love to travel
👀 enjoy nail biting suspense
🔪 like to read slashers
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to be: beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all “smash that subscribe button” to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures.
But it’s all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn’t know Morgan’s trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn’t know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they’ve also got stalkers: fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying.
When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into taking a last-minute trip. He’s secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a fun read! It had me on the edge of my seat during every single encounter with that black van! The story starts off introducing us to Morgan and Jasper with alternating POV chapters, which I really enjoyed. It helped me to better understand each character and their motivations and how they handle problems. Both of them are strong and determined, so I enjoyed watching them figure out to fight back against the person stalking them through the desert! The prologue was pretty gory, so I was actually expecting more of that throughout the novel, but it wasn’t too bad (for those who dislike gore!). The storyline was written so well, and I never felt lost or thrown for a loop. Brian has done a great job creating this world built around a pretend platform where Morgan and Jasper are van life influencers, and I enjoyed the ride!
🚐 want to live the van life
🗺️ love to travel
👀 enjoy nail biting suspense
🔪 like to read slashers
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Morgan and Jasper are the couple everyone wants to be: beautiful, successful, and constantly mobile. Their #VanLife content has captured the hearts and minds of a million online followers, who all “smash that subscribe button” to watch as the loving couple documents their outdoor adventures.
But it’s all a sham. Their relationship is on the rocks. Jasper doesn’t know Morgan’s trolling the dating apps. Morgan doesn’t know Jasper blew all their earnings on shady crypto investments. What started as a fun way to share their love of nature has turned into a grind. Plus, they’ve also got stalkers: fans whose parasocial obsession with the couple verges on the terrifying.
When Jasper gets a contract to shoot a promo for an upstart granola company at the Ubehebe Crater, a gorgeous but remote section of Death Valley, he talks Morgan into taking a last-minute trip. He’s secretly hoping this trip will not only solve their financial woes but also help them reconcile. But things go wrong immediately. A mysterious black van runs them off the road. Their cameraman seems like a lunatic. And soon, they find themselves stranded in the desert, pursued by a masked killer. Can Morgan and Jasper put aside their differences long enough to survive both the killer and the desert itself?
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a fun read! It had me on the edge of my seat during every single encounter with that black van! The story starts off introducing us to Morgan and Jasper with alternating POV chapters, which I really enjoyed. It helped me to better understand each character and their motivations and how they handle problems. Both of them are strong and determined, so I enjoyed watching them figure out to fight back against the person stalking them through the desert! The prologue was pretty gory, so I was actually expecting more of that throughout the novel, but it wasn’t too bad (for those who dislike gore!). The storyline was written so well, and I never felt lost or thrown for a loop. Brian has done a great job creating this world built around a pretend platform where Morgan and Jasper are van life influencers, and I enjoyed the ride!
October 4, 2026
3.5/5 rounded up. Thank you to LibroFM and Blackstone Publishing for the ALC in exchange for my review.
This was basically non-stop slasher chaos and I was STRESSED. Very Jeepers Creepers meets Wolf Creek with even some Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed in. There was plenty of tension, violence and enough anxiety to keep me on my toes. Brian Asman absolutely nailed the tension because I was constantly waiting for shit to hit the fan. The horror and gore was done perfectly.
My biggest issue was the plot got a little convoluted. I think this would have worked better for me if it had been a little more pared back. The flashbacks also felt oddly placed and sometimes pulled me out of the story.
I really enjoyed the narrators though, and I loved getting both the FMC and MMC POVs. I would recommend consuming this book in audiobook form because it was really well done.
Overall, a bloody, chaotic, anxiety-inducing road trip from hell. Just maybe one with a few too many detours.
This was basically non-stop slasher chaos and I was STRESSED. Very Jeepers Creepers meets Wolf Creek with even some Texas Chainsaw Massacre mixed in. There was plenty of tension, violence and enough anxiety to keep me on my toes. Brian Asman absolutely nailed the tension because I was constantly waiting for shit to hit the fan. The horror and gore was done perfectly.
My biggest issue was the plot got a little convoluted. I think this would have worked better for me if it had been a little more pared back. The flashbacks also felt oddly placed and sometimes pulled me out of the story.
I really enjoyed the narrators though, and I loved getting both the FMC and MMC POVs. I would recommend consuming this book in audiobook form because it was really well done.
Overall, a bloody, chaotic, anxiety-inducing road trip from hell. Just maybe one with a few too many detours.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews