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Under the Blade
Some campfire stories are real.
It’s been twenty-five years since Cyrus Hoyt’s infamous killing spree at Camp Forest Grove. A quarter-century since teenage counsellor Melanie Holden left him mortally wounded and escaped with her life.
Today, Melanie’s teaching career has bottomed out and left her with no choice but to return to the scene of the crime. Motivated by a lucrative publishing offer, as well as a desire to free herself from recurring nightmares, Melanie’s research into the murderer’s life brings resistance from all directions as she uncovers skeletons in Forest Grove’s past.
Because of Melanie, a long-held secret is about to be revealed—one that somebody is willing to kill for in order to protect. And Melanie is going to discover she has a lot more to lose than just her mind.
The stalk-and-slash suspense of Friday the 13th meets the small town mystery of Sharp Objects in this white-knuckle horror story of a final girl’s revenge.
It’s been twenty-five years since Cyrus Hoyt’s infamous killing spree at Camp Forest Grove. A quarter-century since teenage counsellor Melanie Holden left him mortally wounded and escaped with her life.
Today, Melanie’s teaching career has bottomed out and left her with no choice but to return to the scene of the crime. Motivated by a lucrative publishing offer, as well as a desire to free herself from recurring nightmares, Melanie’s research into the murderer’s life brings resistance from all directions as she uncovers skeletons in Forest Grove’s past.
Because of Melanie, a long-held secret is about to be revealed—one that somebody is willing to kill for in order to protect. And Melanie is going to discover she has a lot more to lose than just her mind.
The stalk-and-slash suspense of Friday the 13th meets the small town mystery of Sharp Objects in this white-knuckle horror story of a final girl’s revenge.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2014
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June 26, 2019
4 STARS.
Not what I expected.
Come on, you’re thinking FRIDAY THE 13TH, right? How can you not? But there is more to this story and it takes a direction you wouldn’t really expect. I’m going to do my best to write a spoiler-free review…
Melanie is the Final Girl, the one who survives the madman Cyrus Hoyt’s killing spree at Camp Forest Grove in 1988. She also manages to kill him. Or does she?
That’s how the story begins, and then it slows down to give you background information. In the end, necessary, so just bite on your teeth if you are getting bored until page 70. From there, the story flows well.
25 years later and Melanie is on her way back to Forest Grove, still traumatized but ready to face her worst fear – because she never saw Hoyt die – and get some background for her book about the infamous murders.
Let’s just stop there for a moment, shall we? What the fuck is this ‘facing your worst fear’ bullshit? If you are phobic about something, stay the hell away from it already.
Now, now, before you start arguing, let me use myself as an example. I suffer from arachnophobia. Those eight legged fuckers scare the hell out of me. Someone suggested I should hold a big spider in my hand…what for? I don’t care…no, that’s the wrong terminology. It wouldn’t make a difference if one spider doesn’t do me harm, it’s those small ones that launches a surprise attack on you while you are sleeping that scares me the most. It’s not about the size, it is a deep rooted fear for the species as a whole – I’m even more terrified of the ones I can’t see!
I was at a dinner a while back and one guy was telling us this story about one of the smaller African countries where a woman must pass a test before she can get married. They put her in a shack with no lights and no windows, with a stray cat. She must kill the cat with her bare hands.
“Yes,” I told the guy, “my wife did the same thing with me but she put me in there with her pet tarantula. Unfortunately, it drowned.”
Everybody just looked at me in silence, so I had to add
“I pissed myself!”
It is called irony for a reason, people.
“…he waited his whole damn life,
To take that flight
And as the plane crashed down
He said: Isn’t this nice.”
Alanis Morissette – Ironic
Man, I’m getting off track again.
From the moment of Melanie’s return, people start dying. Hoyt is back and he is more dangerous than ever…
Okay, this story takes a turn, which I’m not going to tell you about.
I liked the story. There was a time where I had to suspend my belief in reality – a strange thing to say with a supernatural story – but if you can go along with somebody who has broken or cracked ribs putting up a fight like that, you are in for a treat.
I’d like to read this author again sometime in the future. Solid horror story.
Not what I expected.
Come on, you’re thinking FRIDAY THE 13TH, right? How can you not? But there is more to this story and it takes a direction you wouldn’t really expect. I’m going to do my best to write a spoiler-free review…
Melanie is the Final Girl, the one who survives the madman Cyrus Hoyt’s killing spree at Camp Forest Grove in 1988. She also manages to kill him. Or does she?
That’s how the story begins, and then it slows down to give you background information. In the end, necessary, so just bite on your teeth if you are getting bored until page 70. From there, the story flows well.
25 years later and Melanie is on her way back to Forest Grove, still traumatized but ready to face her worst fear – because she never saw Hoyt die – and get some background for her book about the infamous murders.
Let’s just stop there for a moment, shall we? What the fuck is this ‘facing your worst fear’ bullshit? If you are phobic about something, stay the hell away from it already.
Now, now, before you start arguing, let me use myself as an example. I suffer from arachnophobia. Those eight legged fuckers scare the hell out of me. Someone suggested I should hold a big spider in my hand…what for? I don’t care…no, that’s the wrong terminology. It wouldn’t make a difference if one spider doesn’t do me harm, it’s those small ones that launches a surprise attack on you while you are sleeping that scares me the most. It’s not about the size, it is a deep rooted fear for the species as a whole – I’m even more terrified of the ones I can’t see!
I was at a dinner a while back and one guy was telling us this story about one of the smaller African countries where a woman must pass a test before she can get married. They put her in a shack with no lights and no windows, with a stray cat. She must kill the cat with her bare hands.
“Yes,” I told the guy, “my wife did the same thing with me but she put me in there with her pet tarantula. Unfortunately, it drowned.”
Everybody just looked at me in silence, so I had to add
“I pissed myself!”
It is called irony for a reason, people.
“…he waited his whole damn life,
To take that flight
And as the plane crashed down
He said: Isn’t this nice.”
Alanis Morissette – Ironic
Man, I’m getting off track again.
From the moment of Melanie’s return, people start dying. Hoyt is back and he is more dangerous than ever…
Okay, this story takes a turn, which I’m not going to tell you about.
I liked the story. There was a time where I had to suspend my belief in reality – a strange thing to say with a supernatural story – but if you can go along with somebody who has broken or cracked ribs putting up a fight like that, you are in for a treat.
I’d like to read this author again sometime in the future. Solid horror story.
January 14, 2020
Review originally published in SCREAM Mag issue #58
There is nothing better than a horror featuring a small-town mystery. I love the journey readers go on with the protagonist as they uncover secrets that have worked hard to stay buried. This story, UNDER THE BLADE introduces us to a strong character experiencing the aftermath of being the “final girl” in a brutal killing spree at Camp Forest Grove. Melanie Holden left her would-be killer wounded and struggling for life--she assumes he died at the scene of his crimes.
Years later, Melanie returns to where it all began and she begins to suspect the killer, Cyrus Hoyt might still be alive.
I’m usually not a big fan of slasher books because they typically emphasize the blood and carnage but very rarely develop characters I can invest in--therefore, the plots are often thin and underdeveloped, making it difficult to engage or care about what’s happening. It feels like being a mere observer to the events unfolding instead of an engaged participant.
UNDER THE BLADE is the gold standard of exception to the rule and stands out as a slasher-horror fest with a thriller’s unexpected plot twists and turns!
The ending will blow your mind because like other Serafini stories I have read, the author keeps his cards close to him and while he does leave his readers a few breadcrumbs to gather at the hidden meanings, nothing really quite prepares you when the truths are fully revealed. Recommended to fans of slasher movies but with interesting characters and a complex storyline/mystery.
There is nothing better than a horror featuring a small-town mystery. I love the journey readers go on with the protagonist as they uncover secrets that have worked hard to stay buried. This story, UNDER THE BLADE introduces us to a strong character experiencing the aftermath of being the “final girl” in a brutal killing spree at Camp Forest Grove. Melanie Holden left her would-be killer wounded and struggling for life--she assumes he died at the scene of his crimes.
Years later, Melanie returns to where it all began and she begins to suspect the killer, Cyrus Hoyt might still be alive.
I’m usually not a big fan of slasher books because they typically emphasize the blood and carnage but very rarely develop characters I can invest in--therefore, the plots are often thin and underdeveloped, making it difficult to engage or care about what’s happening. It feels like being a mere observer to the events unfolding instead of an engaged participant.
UNDER THE BLADE is the gold standard of exception to the rule and stands out as a slasher-horror fest with a thriller’s unexpected plot twists and turns!
The ending will blow your mind because like other Serafini stories I have read, the author keeps his cards close to him and while he does leave his readers a few breadcrumbs to gather at the hidden meanings, nothing really quite prepares you when the truths are fully revealed. Recommended to fans of slasher movies but with interesting characters and a complex storyline/mystery.
June 20, 2019
"He comes by firelight but you won’t see him…He waits in the dark and you’ll never hear him…Don’t know you’re dead until he has you…Cyrus Hoyt hacks through bone to kill you…"
This novel opened with an awesome scene just out of your fan favourite classic slasher movie: a camp counselor final girl fighting for her life against an unstoppable masked killer after finding the brutally murdered bodies of her friends scattered across the surroundings, two of them stabbed together, remindings about an old crazy man advising the teenagers about the psycho living in the woods and the girl escaping by a canoe with the killer jumping out from the lake trying to drown her...
It sounds familiar to me.
Then, Melanie is coming back to Forest Grove 25 years later to write a book about the killer and cope with her past... afraid about Cyrus Holt being still alive.
All elements pointed to a classic summer camp slasher slaughter-fest, instead storyline took an unexpected twist after something like 100 pages, becoming much more a mistery/ thriller like Riley Sager's Final Girls, a novel I've read last summer that was still good but pratically just disguised as a slasher/horror one.
I was totally wrong.
Just let say without spoilers that Serafini's Under the Blade is not going to be the classic slasher I was expecting to read, but with all its twists is an interesting and original bloody drenched take on that genre.
A good summer horror reading with great characters and twists, but absolutely not the one you are waiting for...
Try it and see yourself.
August 4, 2020
3.5 Stars
This was an entertaining slasher novel that blended together good characters with an engrossing plot. Likely taking inspiration from classic horror movies like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, Under the Blade took a familiar horror narrative and gave it a fresh spin. I especially loved the sections told from the killer's perspective, which is one of my favourite narrative devices. At times, I found the writing to be a bit weak, but the story made up for any shortfalls. I would recommend this one to a wide range of horror readers (as well as horror movie buffs) who love the slasher subgenre as much as I do.
Disclaimer: I received a copy for review from the author.
This was an entertaining slasher novel that blended together good characters with an engrossing plot. Likely taking inspiration from classic horror movies like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, Under the Blade took a familiar horror narrative and gave it a fresh spin. I especially loved the sections told from the killer's perspective, which is one of my favourite narrative devices. At times, I found the writing to be a bit weak, but the story made up for any shortfalls. I would recommend this one to a wide range of horror readers (as well as horror movie buffs) who love the slasher subgenre as much as I do.
Disclaimer: I received a copy for review from the author.
August 31, 2018
I have a video review of Under the Blade available on my channel, but if you prefer written reviews, read onward!
Slashers seem to be my thing these days because I can't seem to stop reading them. They're just such mindless fun! They're nostalgic, entertaining, bloody, and they never take themselves too seriously... well, almost never. I typically prefer when slashers stay light and breathe new life (and death) into the genre without being stoic or overly dark. Many don't get away with that. But along comes Under the Blade by Matt Serafini which balances the line between a classic fun slasher and a deeper, darker work.
The story opens up in the 1980s with Melanie, a counselor at Camp Forest Grove, fighting for her life after a serial killer named Cyrus Hoyt has murdered all the other councilors. She manages to kill him and escape, but not without scars. This all happens in the first chapter so that is not a spoiler! This novel is more about the aftermath of a slasher and how it would effect the final girl and the town the killings took place in.
So from there, the book fast-forwards 25 years to the present. Melanie is middle-aged and still trying to move on with her life. She lives in fear that the killer is still out there, tracking her down. When she is asked to go back to Forest Grove to write a book about her experience, she finds out she might be right about Cyrus Hoyt...
Under the Blade may start out as your classic camp slasher bloodbath, but it goes to some places I did not see coming. Serafini definitely has a lot more up his sleeve besides stalking and slashing, though there are enough kills here to satisfy gore fans. Besides that, Serafini infuses mystery and tension into the story which slowly escalates until its unpredictable and gripping conclusion.
I subtracted a star due to a single character (Trish) who is important to the story but annoyed me every chance she got. I believe she was meant to make me feel that way, but I had trouble getting through her scenes, hoping the narrative would shift back to Melanie soon. Other than that, I found this to be a dark slasher done right! Recommended.
Slashers seem to be my thing these days because I can't seem to stop reading them. They're just such mindless fun! They're nostalgic, entertaining, bloody, and they never take themselves too seriously... well, almost never. I typically prefer when slashers stay light and breathe new life (and death) into the genre without being stoic or overly dark. Many don't get away with that. But along comes Under the Blade by Matt Serafini which balances the line between a classic fun slasher and a deeper, darker work.
The story opens up in the 1980s with Melanie, a counselor at Camp Forest Grove, fighting for her life after a serial killer named Cyrus Hoyt has murdered all the other councilors. She manages to kill him and escape, but not without scars. This all happens in the first chapter so that is not a spoiler! This novel is more about the aftermath of a slasher and how it would effect the final girl and the town the killings took place in.
So from there, the book fast-forwards 25 years to the present. Melanie is middle-aged and still trying to move on with her life. She lives in fear that the killer is still out there, tracking her down. When she is asked to go back to Forest Grove to write a book about her experience, she finds out she might be right about Cyrus Hoyt...
Under the Blade may start out as your classic camp slasher bloodbath, but it goes to some places I did not see coming. Serafini definitely has a lot more up his sleeve besides stalking and slashing, though there are enough kills here to satisfy gore fans. Besides that, Serafini infuses mystery and tension into the story which slowly escalates until its unpredictable and gripping conclusion.
I subtracted a star due to a single character (Trish) who is important to the story but annoyed me every chance she got. I believe she was meant to make me feel that way, but I had trouble getting through her scenes, hoping the narrative would shift back to Melanie soon. Other than that, I found this to be a dark slasher done right! Recommended.
June 13, 2019
Under The Blade opens with a fantastically written scene straight from an 80s slasher film. As an avid fan of those movies, I was instantly hooked. However, what followed was something I didn't expect, more mystery than horror, and even though this was jarring at first, Matt Serafini did a great job of keeping my interest until the bizarre, bloody, and original climax. Overall, this was a fun read. A fresh new take on a classic genre. Perfect for your summer horror reading list.
January 8, 2019
"This place's got blood on its hands and it's the kind they don't talk about."
As soon as I heard about Under the Blade, I knew I had to read it. It's about a woman who was a final girl - many years later in life. The book is about how her life has turned out, and having to go back to the location where the massacre took place. It sounds reminiscent of Halloween (2018) and Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke, both of which I love.
Under the Blade wound up being more of a small-town drama than a horror novel, in my opinion. This is fine, but I was in the mood for a good slasher, and I ended up being disappointed. Most of the focus of the story is on relationships and family, and I didn't feel enough of a connection to any of the characters to be invested. It felt like a very long book since not much happened for a while. My beloved slasher gore eventually showed up, but it was a little late for me by then.
The wrap-up was a little far-fetched, and not really in a fun slasher way. There was a lot going on, and I think too much time was given to twists. This isn't a bad book; it just wasn't really what I was hoping for.
As soon as I heard about Under the Blade, I knew I had to read it. It's about a woman who was a final girl - many years later in life. The book is about how her life has turned out, and having to go back to the location where the massacre took place. It sounds reminiscent of Halloween (2018) and Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke, both of which I love.
Under the Blade wound up being more of a small-town drama than a horror novel, in my opinion. This is fine, but I was in the mood for a good slasher, and I ended up being disappointed. Most of the focus of the story is on relationships and family, and I didn't feel enough of a connection to any of the characters to be invested. It felt like a very long book since not much happened for a while. My beloved slasher gore eventually showed up, but it was a little late for me by then.
The wrap-up was a little far-fetched, and not really in a fun slasher way. There was a lot going on, and I think too much time was given to twists. This isn't a bad book; it just wasn't really what I was hoping for.
August 17, 2020
The book starts off as a direct visualization of a scene from Friday The 13th (pick whichever instalment you like). I literally thought: Why? Why are we copying Jason?
From that point, Matt Serafini paints a whole urban legend and backstory that completely moves in a direction the reader will not expect.
Here’s my issue, and I’ve mentioned it in my reviews of ‘Welcome To The Show’, ‘Night Terrors’, and ‘Leader of The Pack’..... Matt is a great writer and is very creative with his ideas. However, the delivery falls short. The plot always seems to be convoluted and filled with plot holes. I keep trying to read Matt’s books because I enjoy them immensely. There is SO MUCH potential here but I am always disappointed at the end of the story. Sigh... so much here to love. I just wish it would fall together better.
From that point, Matt Serafini paints a whole urban legend and backstory that completely moves in a direction the reader will not expect.
Here’s my issue, and I’ve mentioned it in my reviews of ‘Welcome To The Show’, ‘Night Terrors’, and ‘Leader of The Pack’..... Matt is a great writer and is very creative with his ideas. However, the delivery falls short. The plot always seems to be convoluted and filled with plot holes. I keep trying to read Matt’s books because I enjoy them immensely. There is SO MUCH potential here but I am always disappointed at the end of the story. Sigh... so much here to love. I just wish it would fall together better.
January 20, 2022
Truly amazing - I am grinning ear to ear thinking about this book! It can be a rare thing when you find an author who is as truly passionate about a subject who then goes on to write a book about it all. I can't imagine all the conflicting thoughts and looming imposter syndrome vibes that must be competing with this incredible story that you want to tell just right and stay true to the love of your subject while respecting it, its history, and the fans the entire time. Matt Serafini clearly loves slasher horror, all the elements that bring it together, and he gives us his love letter to the subgenre with UNDER THE BLADE.
Right off the bat the opening scene is pure slasher heaven. It's like we were thrown into a harrowing and bloody mystery with no prior knowledge of what has happened to lead up to this bloody climax of a night, but we are already deeply invested. Flash forward 25+ years or so, and the sole survivor of this massacre, Melanie Holden, still thinks about it every moment. She ends up going back to the scene of events that changed her life forever in lieu of a publishing deal and maybe she can finally get some closure. The town is not welcoming. And something, or someone, is lurking in the shadows, killing more along the way. It seems this town has lots of secrets... and they just might be connected to the madman who ravaged her friends decades ago.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Melanie is THE final girl and her journey on paper is one for the history books. Her GBF, Riley, is a lot of fun when he is around and I found myself really liking him. There are a few characters that made me wanna reach right in the pages and slap them - and that was the point. How Melanie was able to still move on and succeed with some of these characters constantly tearing her down is another testament to her strength.
The town is kind of like a character all in itself, full of a history that starts to spill its tainted secrets the further down the rabbit hole you go. Serafini really pulls out all the stops with the town, its own demons and skeleton-filled closets, and how it can all connect to this slashing maniac's past and potential present/future legacy. Corruption is thick as blood. Balancing out a couple different timelines, I think Serafini did an excellent job at keeping the pacing going while only revealing to us what we needed to know at precisely the best times. He's good at planting Easter eggs along the way but you will still never be ready for the bomb that drops at the end.
UNDER THE BLADE is a slasher, a mystery, and a haunting and powerful journey of self-discovery and reclaiming your own power. It is a tribute to all the slasher movies that have come before. But it is also something quite new and refreshing to the industry. And when told by someone with as much passion and love for the subgenre as Matt Serafini, you just know you are in for one hell of an awesome ride. If you love slashers as much as he does, you might even think this is a book written just for you.
It's that perfect.
Right off the bat the opening scene is pure slasher heaven. It's like we were thrown into a harrowing and bloody mystery with no prior knowledge of what has happened to lead up to this bloody climax of a night, but we are already deeply invested. Flash forward 25+ years or so, and the sole survivor of this massacre, Melanie Holden, still thinks about it every moment. She ends up going back to the scene of events that changed her life forever in lieu of a publishing deal and maybe she can finally get some closure. The town is not welcoming. And something, or someone, is lurking in the shadows, killing more along the way. It seems this town has lots of secrets... and they just might be connected to the madman who ravaged her friends decades ago.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Melanie is THE final girl and her journey on paper is one for the history books. Her GBF, Riley, is a lot of fun when he is around and I found myself really liking him. There are a few characters that made me wanna reach right in the pages and slap them - and that was the point. How Melanie was able to still move on and succeed with some of these characters constantly tearing her down is another testament to her strength.
The town is kind of like a character all in itself, full of a history that starts to spill its tainted secrets the further down the rabbit hole you go. Serafini really pulls out all the stops with the town, its own demons and skeleton-filled closets, and how it can all connect to this slashing maniac's past and potential present/future legacy. Corruption is thick as blood. Balancing out a couple different timelines, I think Serafini did an excellent job at keeping the pacing going while only revealing to us what we needed to know at precisely the best times. He's good at planting Easter eggs along the way but you will still never be ready for the bomb that drops at the end.
UNDER THE BLADE is a slasher, a mystery, and a haunting and powerful journey of self-discovery and reclaiming your own power. It is a tribute to all the slasher movies that have come before. But it is also something quite new and refreshing to the industry. And when told by someone with as much passion and love for the subgenre as Matt Serafini, you just know you are in for one hell of an awesome ride. If you love slashers as much as he does, you might even think this is a book written just for you.
It's that perfect.
July 6, 2019
That was one hell of a book, and it begs to be more widely known. Hell, it should be a bestseller. And, hey, we’re into July right now, and this book’s got everything you need to finish out your summer. Camp, cults, home invasion, a slasher, etc. You cannot go wrong if you enjoy any kind of horror. Read Matt Serafini!
September 9, 2014
The latest book from Matt Serafini is a trip down memory lane. It will take you back to the days of your favorite slasher from the 80s. At the beginning, we relive watching the typical camp slasher. The killing spree of the evil Cyrus Hoyt is only stopped by the final girl, Melanie Holden. Then we get a new spin on things. We get to see what happens to the people of the town when the killing stops. Then, years later, Melanie returns to the town of Forest Grove to help her recollect the events as she writes a book. And of course, the mayhem starts again.
I loved the town of Forest Grove and what happened to it following the massacre. It’s something you rarely get to see – the aftermath. A moratorium was drawn on all social events, and it became even more conservative. The dark history of the town is revealed piece by piece. Melanie Holden, the survivor of the original massacre, is our protagonist. The other major characters are the Chief of Police and his rebel wife, Trish. All have believable personalities, and there is an intriguing dynamic between the three. We also get to meet a diverse array of locals.
Cyrus Hoyt is a great monster. His physicality oozes Jason Vorhees, complete with a mask. His mask of choice is a welder’s mask. Unlike Jason, we do get some insight into his point of view and his thoughts, so he’s not a mindless killer. We learn the reasons behind his trail of violence.
There are some classic horror tropes like a creepy visit to a gas station, tight lipped locals, and, of course, a massacre at a camp. There is more than meets the eye though, and it far from follows the path you might expect it to go. There is a fair amount of gore, so gorehounds will not be disappointed. My favorite kills involved garden shears to the ankle and a gruesome shower scene.
It’s not a straightforward slasher. There are other threads going on that really expand the story and the threat. It’s a small town covering up a big secret and conspiracy is rich. With about 100 pages to go you get a pretty big reveal which leads to big anticipation for the final third of the book. Serafini does a great job with showing us something seemingly innocuous and having it later become important. You could call them twists, or just things falling into place in an unexpected way, but there was one particular example that made me smile. It was glorious; an “oh snap!” moment, for want of a better word.
Where the story ends up from where it begins is wonderful. The plot develops and takes you on one hell of a ride. I could go into more details, but it would be a shame to know more before you read it, and read it you should. This book gets a strong recommendation from me.
I loved the town of Forest Grove and what happened to it following the massacre. It’s something you rarely get to see – the aftermath. A moratorium was drawn on all social events, and it became even more conservative. The dark history of the town is revealed piece by piece. Melanie Holden, the survivor of the original massacre, is our protagonist. The other major characters are the Chief of Police and his rebel wife, Trish. All have believable personalities, and there is an intriguing dynamic between the three. We also get to meet a diverse array of locals.
Cyrus Hoyt is a great monster. His physicality oozes Jason Vorhees, complete with a mask. His mask of choice is a welder’s mask. Unlike Jason, we do get some insight into his point of view and his thoughts, so he’s not a mindless killer. We learn the reasons behind his trail of violence.
There are some classic horror tropes like a creepy visit to a gas station, tight lipped locals, and, of course, a massacre at a camp. There is more than meets the eye though, and it far from follows the path you might expect it to go. There is a fair amount of gore, so gorehounds will not be disappointed. My favorite kills involved garden shears to the ankle and a gruesome shower scene.
It’s not a straightforward slasher. There are other threads going on that really expand the story and the threat. It’s a small town covering up a big secret and conspiracy is rich. With about 100 pages to go you get a pretty big reveal which leads to big anticipation for the final third of the book. Serafini does a great job with showing us something seemingly innocuous and having it later become important. You could call them twists, or just things falling into place in an unexpected way, but there was one particular example that made me smile. It was glorious; an “oh snap!” moment, for want of a better word.
Where the story ends up from where it begins is wonderful. The plot develops and takes you on one hell of a ride. I could go into more details, but it would be a shame to know more before you read it, and read it you should. This book gets a strong recommendation from me.
September 25, 2024
3.5 stars
If you want something with a Friday the 13th vibe this was good with a twist ending
If you want something with a Friday the 13th vibe this was good with a twist ending
August 30, 2022
Looooooooooved this one! It felt like I was reading/watching a good old fashioned slasher with all the drama, gore, twists and turns! The only thing that bothered me a little was the fact that the author found it necessary to bring up how great the main character’s body was “for her age” several times. Why??? It didn’t really hurt the story for me it was just weird.
Other than that this was a good time!!!
Other than that this was a good time!!!
November 2, 2025
wow this book sucked!!!
July 13, 2018
Early on in the book, protagonist Melanie Holden discusses teaching the epic and claims that the "first line is a succinct explanation for the poem at large." The first line of Under the Blade is "The killer was coming back." I'm pretty sure that's no accidental connection.
Melanie Holden escaped the clutches of a slasher-style killer and local boogeyman legend, Cyrus Hoyt, who laid waste to a group of teenage counselors at Camp Forrest Grove, which will delight anyone who enjoyed a similar crime spree at Camp Crystal Lake in a certain movie from 1980. The Forrest Grove massacre occurred in 1988, and since that time Melanie has struggled to move on in her life in any meaningful way other than her career as a college literature professor. When her plans for tenure fall through, Melanie finally caves to peer pressure and heads back to Forrest Grove to write a tell-all book. When Melanie returns to the town from her nightmares, she learns that not only are her fears over never actually seeing Cyrus Hoyt die a little less irrational than they appear, but Cyrus Hoyt may actually be the least frightening monster in Forrest Grove.
Serafini sets off the slasher movie music in your head from page one, and he never lets up. Under the Blade is a non-stop thrill fest which will keep you up late feeling like you are watching a marathon of 80s horror movies. But what he does with the motifs of horror stories is unique and fairly brilliant. To avoid spoilers, just rest assured that the general theme of the slasher killer being a punisher of teenage sin is taken to new and wonderful places in this book. And Serafini's final girl should go down as one of the most fully drawn and utterly human final girls of all time.
Melanie Holden escaped the clutches of a slasher-style killer and local boogeyman legend, Cyrus Hoyt, who laid waste to a group of teenage counselors at Camp Forrest Grove, which will delight anyone who enjoyed a similar crime spree at Camp Crystal Lake in a certain movie from 1980. The Forrest Grove massacre occurred in 1988, and since that time Melanie has struggled to move on in her life in any meaningful way other than her career as a college literature professor. When her plans for tenure fall through, Melanie finally caves to peer pressure and heads back to Forrest Grove to write a tell-all book. When Melanie returns to the town from her nightmares, she learns that not only are her fears over never actually seeing Cyrus Hoyt die a little less irrational than they appear, but Cyrus Hoyt may actually be the least frightening monster in Forrest Grove.
Serafini sets off the slasher movie music in your head from page one, and he never lets up. Under the Blade is a non-stop thrill fest which will keep you up late feeling like you are watching a marathon of 80s horror movies. But what he does with the motifs of horror stories is unique and fairly brilliant. To avoid spoilers, just rest assured that the general theme of the slasher killer being a punisher of teenage sin is taken to new and wonderful places in this book. And Serafini's final girl should go down as one of the most fully drawn and utterly human final girls of all time.
August 28, 2018
Incredible.
I'll write a longer review later. For now, just know this has taken a spot in my top five of the year. "Slasher novel" only scratches the surface of describing this novel.
I'll write a longer review later. For now, just know this has taken a spot in my top five of the year. "Slasher novel" only scratches the surface of describing this novel.
January 26, 2024
3.5/5
Surprisingly, this featured really good character writing and dialogue. The people here were shockingly vivid and realistic. The prose otherwise was nothing special but was certainly functional.
The book definitely subverted pretty much every expectation I had. I went in thinking Friday the 13th and left thinking The Void. Don't read this if you're expecting something typical. It goes to great lengths to avoid that.
There's a pretty good, coherent theme that's interwoven with nearly every plotline in the book, about things with relatively innocent beginnings or good intentions getting distorted and perverted with time.
As far as negatives, the violence here, while befitting a horror novel, occasionally strayed into... uncomfortable territory. I'd have trouble recommending this to most people because of that.
Some of the concepts were a bit on the nose, and there's a pretty sloppy exposition scene at the end that was quite jarring.
Not all of the POVs were as engaging as others, but I still found myself interested no matter whose viewpoint I was supposed to assume.
For a book that I read for free, I'm happy with it. Certainly wasn't what I expected, entertained me, and made me think. Also made me uncomfortable.
Surprisingly, this featured really good character writing and dialogue. The people here were shockingly vivid and realistic. The prose otherwise was nothing special but was certainly functional.
The book definitely subverted pretty much every expectation I had. I went in thinking Friday the 13th and left thinking The Void. Don't read this if you're expecting something typical. It goes to great lengths to avoid that.
There's a pretty good, coherent theme that's interwoven with nearly every plotline in the book, about things with relatively innocent beginnings or good intentions getting distorted and perverted with time.
As far as negatives, the violence here, while befitting a horror novel, occasionally strayed into... uncomfortable territory. I'd have trouble recommending this to most people because of that.
Some of the concepts were a bit on the nose, and there's a pretty sloppy exposition scene at the end that was quite jarring.
Not all of the POVs were as engaging as others, but I still found myself interested no matter whose viewpoint I was supposed to assume.
For a book that I read for free, I'm happy with it. Certainly wasn't what I expected, entertained me, and made me think. Also made me uncomfortable.
August 25, 2021
5 stars, 5 stars, 5 stars!
Under the Blade has so many layers and is way more than just a mere slasher story -- there's much more to this than mindless kills. Don't get me wrong, buckets of blood and crazy kills can be so much fun, especially in a slasher book...but it was very refreshing that this was much more.
I also found the main character to be believable, relatable, and likable. There was one annoying character named Trish, but she didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.
Overall, I loved everything about this book: the characters, the twists and turns, and the ending. This was my first Matt Serafini read, and I honestly can't wait to read more of his work!
If you'd like to hear more of my thoughts on this read, you can check out my in-depth video review here: https://youtu.be/FzmrY5PunM4?t=668
Under the Blade has so many layers and is way more than just a mere slasher story -- there's much more to this than mindless kills. Don't get me wrong, buckets of blood and crazy kills can be so much fun, especially in a slasher book...but it was very refreshing that this was much more.
I also found the main character to be believable, relatable, and likable. There was one annoying character named Trish, but she didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book at all.
Overall, I loved everything about this book: the characters, the twists and turns, and the ending. This was my first Matt Serafini read, and I honestly can't wait to read more of his work!
If you'd like to hear more of my thoughts on this read, you can check out my in-depth video review here: https://youtu.be/FzmrY5PunM4?t=668
October 29, 2020
Woah. That was intense. And gross. I did love the throwback to some of my favorite horror tropes and the weird twists. While there were some cringey moments and some character choices that made me go..."huh?.." I really enjoyed this. A great Halloween read.
June 28, 2019
This book had a very strong start, very promising and kept on the pace the whole time. After about 50% it took a sharp turn into something I didn‘t expect at all but didn‘t disappoint me though.
Great read, kept me on the edge!
Great read, kept me on the edge!
August 31, 2019
Minor spoilers:
I’ve gotta give credit to Matt Serafini.
After the prologue, which is straight from a slasher fans wet dream, I thought that this was gonna be your average serial killer thriller. I was very wrong. Whilst there are many murders that will satisfy fans of the genre, the twists and turns made this novel so much more.
I always think its ballsy when a writer includes unexpected elements of the supernatural in their work. In this case it really worked. Imagine The wicker man crossed with Friday the 13th, throw in a side of possession for good measure, and it would look something like this book. The only issue I had is that towards the end the plot got slightly bogged down whilst Matt was trying to get his characters together for the endgame. Other than that this was a breath of fresh air. I’m impressed.
I’ve gotta give credit to Matt Serafini.
After the prologue, which is straight from a slasher fans wet dream, I thought that this was gonna be your average serial killer thriller. I was very wrong. Whilst there are many murders that will satisfy fans of the genre, the twists and turns made this novel so much more.
I always think its ballsy when a writer includes unexpected elements of the supernatural in their work. In this case it really worked. Imagine The wicker man crossed with Friday the 13th, throw in a side of possession for good measure, and it would look something like this book. The only issue I had is that towards the end the plot got slightly bogged down whilst Matt was trying to get his characters together for the endgame. Other than that this was a breath of fresh air. I’m impressed.
June 23, 2019
Starting this book I thought ok slasher novel it all felt very familiar. Then shortly in the twists start happening and what starts as a Friday the 13th knockoff becomes a roller coaster of turns and red herrings. The story will keep you turning the pages long into the night.
July 13, 2025
Which goth girl hurt you?
October 4, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the Goodreads: First Reads giveaway.
This novel plays through your mind like your favorite crap-fest of a guilty pleasure slasher flick. Ya know the one...that one horror film that you are almost embarrassed to admit that you own, (first on VHS and then later upgraded to DVD, then again to Blu-Ray) much less that you watch it at least once a year (usually around Halloween).
If "Friday, the 13th", "Halloween" and other little gems of horror history are your forte then "Under the Blade" is a perfect read for you. Serafini gives Cyrus Hoyt life as the unstoppable blood-crazed killer that haunts Melanie Holden's dreams after she is "the one that got away" all those years ago.
Serafini opens "Under the Blade" with the typical slasher flick scene, the one where Hoyt has murdered all the teens and Holden is fighting for her life as a 17 year old girl. Then he moves us forward to when Holden is in her 40s and still fighting her demons of that night.
Forest Grove provides an interesting backdrop to Holden's story as Serafini delves into the history of the town and it's residents as there is something much worse than the legend of Cyrus Hoyt that haunts this town. I LOVED being about to see how a town coped with a tragedy as you never really see that in the movies.
Mad man killed teens?! No drugs, no drinking, no parties, no dances! There, no worries! Ban everything fun and no one dies!
Serafini didn't take the easy cop-out as some of the beloved films did. He gives you a reason as to why no matter how fast our heroine runs, that our psychotic killer can walk and and still get the jump on her, how Hoyt has been stalking one place for so many years and even why he disappeared for awhile. He takes the time to spin, not just a cheap thrill horror story, but a well rounded novel that will be overlooked by snooty book aficionados that just can't see past the cheesy but eye-catching cover.
I was expecting a craptastic little horror story (that's why I entered to win!) but I got that and a bit more. I am a fan of this crazy blood-spattered book with its well thought-out back-story, creepy characters and good deaths. Serafini's writing was smooth and flowing, with details that mattered and dialogue that read like real life. He makes no apologies for the blood and death, which I was more than ok with. The flashback chapters added to the story, not distracted and were handled well, not saved to the last minute but not right in your face, interrupting Holden's story every couple of pages and dragging along.
P.S: The panty-sniffing cop as seen through the killer's eyes was one of the most disturbing things I have ever read. Thumbs up on that random creep factor, Serafini.
This novel plays through your mind like your favorite crap-fest of a guilty pleasure slasher flick. Ya know the one...that one horror film that you are almost embarrassed to admit that you own, (first on VHS and then later upgraded to DVD, then again to Blu-Ray) much less that you watch it at least once a year (usually around Halloween).
If "Friday, the 13th", "Halloween" and other little gems of horror history are your forte then "Under the Blade" is a perfect read for you. Serafini gives Cyrus Hoyt life as the unstoppable blood-crazed killer that haunts Melanie Holden's dreams after she is "the one that got away" all those years ago.
Serafini opens "Under the Blade" with the typical slasher flick scene, the one where Hoyt has murdered all the teens and Holden is fighting for her life as a 17 year old girl. Then he moves us forward to when Holden is in her 40s and still fighting her demons of that night.
Forest Grove provides an interesting backdrop to Holden's story as Serafini delves into the history of the town and it's residents as there is something much worse than the legend of Cyrus Hoyt that haunts this town. I LOVED being about to see how a town coped with a tragedy as you never really see that in the movies.
Mad man killed teens?! No drugs, no drinking, no parties, no dances! There, no worries! Ban everything fun and no one dies!
Serafini didn't take the easy cop-out as some of the beloved films did. He gives you a reason as to why no matter how fast our heroine runs, that our psychotic killer can walk and and still get the jump on her, how Hoyt has been stalking one place for so many years and even why he disappeared for awhile. He takes the time to spin, not just a cheap thrill horror story, but a well rounded novel that will be overlooked by snooty book aficionados that just can't see past the cheesy but eye-catching cover.
I was expecting a craptastic little horror story (that's why I entered to win!) but I got that and a bit more. I am a fan of this crazy blood-spattered book with its well thought-out back-story, creepy characters and good deaths. Serafini's writing was smooth and flowing, with details that mattered and dialogue that read like real life. He makes no apologies for the blood and death, which I was more than ok with. The flashback chapters added to the story, not distracted and were handled well, not saved to the last minute but not right in your face, interrupting Holden's story every couple of pages and dragging along.
P.S: The panty-sniffing cop as seen through the killer's eyes was one of the most disturbing things I have ever read. Thumbs up on that random creep factor, Serafini.
June 8, 2022
I wanted to like this book so badly. Summer camp slashers are my favourite genre of horror, and even though most of this book takes place 25 years after the summer camp slaughter I thought it would be right up my alley.
I just couldn’t get passed the final girl. Personally I think one of the most important aspects for a good slasher is that you care about the final girl. If I don’t care about them, then why should I care about what happens?
Melanie Holden feels like she was written by someone who knows what a woman is in concept but has never actually met one. She’s so unlikable. Not because she’s mean or petty (which she is) but because every facet of who she is as a person only exists to serve the plot of the book, outside of that there’s nothing.
This is a woman who has spent the last 25 years paranoid that the man who killed her friends is going to find her. She has the best security system, cameras, and locks on her door but jogs regularly, not so she can be ready for anything but to “keep up her physique” even though she gets “degrading but flattering” comments from “sleazy little students”.
She also decides to go back to where her trauma happened, not for closure or even herself, but to one up a younger woman who got a job she wanted. She goes on about how unqualified this woman is (she’s not) and how she’s a “tart” and then a few days later she’s out there trying to get a married man to leave his wife for her.
By the end of the book I knew nothing about Melanie that wasn’t part of the plot or something the villain could use against her except maybe that she has a cat, and what I did know about her didn’t have me rooting for her.
The plot was fine, theres more going on than your average slasher, but it would have had a much bigger impact with a better main character. There’s also just a lot in the book that wouldn’t have needed to be there if she was a well fleshed out person, like the completely chemistry devoid romance that’s somehow strong enough after like three days for an evil entity to use it to convince her to give up her autonomy? Was there nothing else that she wanted more or that motivates her?
I just couldn’t get passed the final girl. Personally I think one of the most important aspects for a good slasher is that you care about the final girl. If I don’t care about them, then why should I care about what happens?
Melanie Holden feels like she was written by someone who knows what a woman is in concept but has never actually met one. She’s so unlikable. Not because she’s mean or petty (which she is) but because every facet of who she is as a person only exists to serve the plot of the book, outside of that there’s nothing.
This is a woman who has spent the last 25 years paranoid that the man who killed her friends is going to find her. She has the best security system, cameras, and locks on her door but jogs regularly, not so she can be ready for anything but to “keep up her physique” even though she gets “degrading but flattering” comments from “sleazy little students”.
She also decides to go back to where her trauma happened, not for closure or even herself, but to one up a younger woman who got a job she wanted. She goes on about how unqualified this woman is (she’s not) and how she’s a “tart” and then a few days later she’s out there trying to get a married man to leave his wife for her.
By the end of the book I knew nothing about Melanie that wasn’t part of the plot or something the villain could use against her except maybe that she has a cat, and what I did know about her didn’t have me rooting for her.
The plot was fine, theres more going on than your average slasher, but it would have had a much bigger impact with a better main character. There’s also just a lot in the book that wouldn’t have needed to be there if she was a well fleshed out person, like the completely chemistry devoid romance that’s somehow strong enough after like three days for an evil entity to use it to convince her to give up her autonomy? Was there nothing else that she wanted more or that motivates her?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2022
This slasher is totally full of fresh ideas. It starts out almost like a Friday the 13th movie, but way more brutal, and is full of tons of twists. Don't wanna go into too much detail, because it might spoil the story.
October 5, 2014
Pitchforks, axes, and machetes - oh my...
This is the second book I've read by author Serafini. The first was "Feral," a gruesome, incestuous werewolf tale. It was poorly edited but still had strong underpinnings and a decent story.
I consider UNDER THE BLADE to be a better written story. It is still a gorefest but if you like down-and-dirty shock horror, you will appreciate this somewhat more traditional second offering. Twists, turns, and detours lead the reader down some scary paths, ending up at some surprising destinations.
Twenty-five years ago, Melanie Holden barely escaped with her life after being pursued by madman Cyrus Hoyt. So what in heck possesses her to head back to Camp Forest Grove, Connecticut? Well, she has reasons of her own plus she is planning on putting the past behind her and writing a true-life crime novel about her experiences.
A well thought out storyline and in-depth characterizations come together to make this a horror book you don't want to miss. Yes, it has some editing issues just like the author's first book but nowhere near as bad. If I could have, I would have rated this at 4 1/2 stars, taking off a bit for the editing issues. But I enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it to horror enthusiasts.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book I've read by author Serafini. The first was "Feral," a gruesome, incestuous werewolf tale. It was poorly edited but still had strong underpinnings and a decent story.
I consider UNDER THE BLADE to be a better written story. It is still a gorefest but if you like down-and-dirty shock horror, you will appreciate this somewhat more traditional second offering. Twists, turns, and detours lead the reader down some scary paths, ending up at some surprising destinations.
Twenty-five years ago, Melanie Holden barely escaped with her life after being pursued by madman Cyrus Hoyt. So what in heck possesses her to head back to Camp Forest Grove, Connecticut? Well, she has reasons of her own plus she is planning on putting the past behind her and writing a true-life crime novel about her experiences.
A well thought out storyline and in-depth characterizations come together to make this a horror book you don't want to miss. Yes, it has some editing issues just like the author's first book but nowhere near as bad. If I could have, I would have rated this at 4 1/2 stars, taking off a bit for the editing issues. But I enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it to horror enthusiasts.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 19, 2018
Oh My Twisted Serial Killing Crazy Paranormal Entity
So yea my kids and I have been trying to come up with new “Oh My ..” quotes like “Oh My Mama” is a Favorite. So that’s my enthusiastic reply to reading this book in a new “Oh My ..” format lol. I really had a mind bending time trying to figure out “whodunnit”. Which is a good thing since it happens rarely. Melanie is a Smart Single Survivor and an awesome MC! I am actually kinda in awe that this original story yet mash up of an 80’s campy horror slasher was kitted out in a new original way! A+ for Gore A+ for Plot A+ for Characters and Stars Galore for a new horror story that’s still classically horror and a joy to read in a way that really a horror fan can cheer and be joyful about.. ahh it’s like 4am and I haven’t slept because I couldn’t put this book down due to having to absolutely know what in the world happens in the end! So if my review is a little batty.. oops.. but it’s a GOOD READ! Totally recommendable by a 33 yr old Mom & Horror Fan!
So yea my kids and I have been trying to come up with new “Oh My ..” quotes like “Oh My Mama” is a Favorite. So that’s my enthusiastic reply to reading this book in a new “Oh My ..” format lol. I really had a mind bending time trying to figure out “whodunnit”. Which is a good thing since it happens rarely. Melanie is a Smart Single Survivor and an awesome MC! I am actually kinda in awe that this original story yet mash up of an 80’s campy horror slasher was kitted out in a new original way! A+ for Gore A+ for Plot A+ for Characters and Stars Galore for a new horror story that’s still classically horror and a joy to read in a way that really a horror fan can cheer and be joyful about.. ahh it’s like 4am and I haven’t slept because I couldn’t put this book down due to having to absolutely know what in the world happens in the end! So if my review is a little batty.. oops.. but it’s a GOOD READ! Totally recommendable by a 33 yr old Mom & Horror Fan!
July 14, 2016
Awesome! Totally original take on the slasher genre. This one starts where all those old 80s movies end, with the final girl defeating the giant killer. Thats the beginning and things just get worse and a hell of a lot bloodier from there!
August 14, 2022
I literally hate read this book.
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