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Year of Blood #1
Disco Deathtrap
It's New Year's Eve 1980, and the students of DeAngelo High School are lacing up their skates for the All-Night New Year's Lock-In at the Rollerville Roller Disco. Some of them just want to skate and dance the night away to the pounding disco music. Some want to pull a few pranks and have a few laughs. For others, like Dan Parsons, tonight is a chance to move on and forget about his ex-girlfriend, maybe even flirt with Denise, that cute girl behind the snack counter. It seems like nothing can go wrong.
But there's a massive blizzard raging outside, thick snow and ice are piling up against all the doors. There are those rumors that Rollerville was built over part of the old graveyard next door, and someone out there is watching. Also, a strange homeless man in the parking lot says that tonight will be the start of the so-called "Year of Blood."
A night of skating and New Year's fun is about to turn into a night of violence and bloody mayhem in Disco Deathtrap.
But there's a massive blizzard raging outside, thick snow and ice are piling up against all the doors. There are those rumors that Rollerville was built over part of the old graveyard next door, and someone out there is watching. Also, a strange homeless man in the parking lot says that tonight will be the start of the so-called "Year of Blood."
A night of skating and New Year's fun is about to turn into a night of violence and bloody mayhem in Disco Deathtrap.
294 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2016
32 people are currently reading
1539 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Roubique
8 books242 followersCameron Roubique is a horror author. His books include Frankie Graves, Golf Curse, Disco Deathtrap, and Kill River.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 20, 2018
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE: To see a video review, click HERE. To read a quick, written review, scroll on!
After reading (and loving) KILL RIVER and KILL RIVER 2 , I had high-hopes for DISCO DEATHTRAP, Roubique's sophomore novel. I wasn't disappointed! DEATHTRAP proved to be just as entertaining as Cameron's other books, if not more so. This book is darker, bloodier, and even more intense. I'd say the KILL RIVER books are better rounded when it comes to characters and plot, but this was pure fun, through and through. Highly recommended!
OVERALL, 4.5 STARS
After reading (and loving) KILL RIVER and KILL RIVER 2 , I had high-hopes for DISCO DEATHTRAP, Roubique's sophomore novel. I wasn't disappointed! DEATHTRAP proved to be just as entertaining as Cameron's other books, if not more so. This book is darker, bloodier, and even more intense. I'd say the KILL RIVER books are better rounded when it comes to characters and plot, but this was pure fun, through and through. Highly recommended!
OVERALL, 4.5 STARS
March 9, 2018
4.0 Stars - Old School Horror at its Best!
Video Review: https://youtu.be/JUzcf6e7X4s
A group of teenagers locked all night inside a roller skating rink, built over occupied graves... what could possibly go wrong?
As you may be able to guess from the synopsis, this author is a huge fan of 1980s slasher movies. Filled with plenty of gore and teenage carnage, Disco Deathtrap reads like the book version of one of those classic horror films.
While this is a newer publication, this novel takes full advantage of readers' nostalgia for "old school" horror. Set at the end of the disco era, the story incorporates so many fun elements of that time period. The soundtrack in this novel was perfect, with references to the Bee Gees classic hit, "Stayin' Alive", and other popular disco songs.
The novel follows a lot of different teenagers, which meant there were a lot of people and names to remember. While this was a bit overwhelming at first, having a large number of characters in a horror story tends to result in a high body count.
Despite the ages of the characters, this is definitely an adult horror novel. As one should expect from a slasher, this one was incredibly gruesome and bloody. Seriously... there was SO much blood!!! The book contained some very disgusting stomach churning scenes, which, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed.
Written for pure entertainment, this is the kind of horror story that doesn't take itself too seriously. Some of the scenes were a bit ridiculous and over the top (in the best possible way). Fast paced, intense and action-packed, I flew through this story in just a few sittings because I simply could not put it down.
I would highly recommend this novel to any horror buffs, particularly anyone who shares the author's love of classic slasher movies!
I received a copy of this book from the author.
Video Review: https://youtu.be/JUzcf6e7X4s
A group of teenagers locked all night inside a roller skating rink, built over occupied graves... what could possibly go wrong?
As you may be able to guess from the synopsis, this author is a huge fan of 1980s slasher movies. Filled with plenty of gore and teenage carnage, Disco Deathtrap reads like the book version of one of those classic horror films.
While this is a newer publication, this novel takes full advantage of readers' nostalgia for "old school" horror. Set at the end of the disco era, the story incorporates so many fun elements of that time period. The soundtrack in this novel was perfect, with references to the Bee Gees classic hit, "Stayin' Alive", and other popular disco songs.
The novel follows a lot of different teenagers, which meant there were a lot of people and names to remember. While this was a bit overwhelming at first, having a large number of characters in a horror story tends to result in a high body count.
Despite the ages of the characters, this is definitely an adult horror novel. As one should expect from a slasher, this one was incredibly gruesome and bloody. Seriously... there was SO much blood!!! The book contained some very disgusting stomach churning scenes, which, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed.
Written for pure entertainment, this is the kind of horror story that doesn't take itself too seriously. Some of the scenes were a bit ridiculous and over the top (in the best possible way). Fast paced, intense and action-packed, I flew through this story in just a few sittings because I simply could not put it down.
I would highly recommend this novel to any horror buffs, particularly anyone who shares the author's love of classic slasher movies!
I received a copy of this book from the author.
August 7, 2021
More ‘Year of Blood’ please!
Cameron? I’m waiting!!!! We need more of your stories.
Cameron Roubique writes fun, slasher books. He is the kind of author you go to if you are looking for a 1980s slasher in book form. These are not deep, multi-faceted stories. Rather, they are a guilty pleasure and a whole lot of fun!
Out of the three storylines (including Golf Curse and Kill River 1-2-3), I think I may have enjoyed this one the most. Although I figured out who Death was early in the novel, I still found it a hoot to read through. Cameron does this cool thing where he includes a soundtrack at the end of his books. This adds an extra “signature” to his work. I also like how he tied this story to Golf Curse, the history of the town, and the year disco died (the timeline may be off a year or two, but you get the jist.)
Hoping we have another Year Of Blood in 2021 from Cameron Roubique!
Cameron? I’m waiting!!!! We need more of your stories.
Cameron Roubique writes fun, slasher books. He is the kind of author you go to if you are looking for a 1980s slasher in book form. These are not deep, multi-faceted stories. Rather, they are a guilty pleasure and a whole lot of fun!
Out of the three storylines (including Golf Curse and Kill River 1-2-3), I think I may have enjoyed this one the most. Although I figured out who Death was early in the novel, I still found it a hoot to read through. Cameron does this cool thing where he includes a soundtrack at the end of his books. This adds an extra “signature” to his work. I also like how he tied this story to Golf Curse, the history of the town, and the year disco died (the timeline may be off a year or two, but you get the jist.)
Hoping we have another Year Of Blood in 2021 from Cameron Roubique!
July 8, 2019
Release Date: September 26, 2018
Genre: Slasher Horror
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Another nostalgic 80's horror slasher novel from Cameron Roubique! I first started reading his books because I was in the mood for horror and the cover for Kill River caught my eye. Then I read it, fell in love with the way he transported me back to the 80's where horror was it it's prime, and have been anxious for more since. Disco Deathtrap is NOT Kill River. If you choose to read this in hopes that it will be a replica of that book you will be disappointed. Sure, his writing is the same (I feel like he writes like a more mature version of R.L. Stine), and the characters and their actions are similar to those in the former books, but the story is MUCH different. This book is much more gory. The killer is revealed in a shocking twist (whereas readers didn't really know who the killer was in Kill River), and favorite character we were rooting on may or may not be story survivors. A couple of the kills in this book had me saying "Aw Man!". Try not to be too disappointed if you feel this way too! That being said, I'm personally glad it's not an exact replica of Kill River because honestly, it would get old after a while. We as readers want to see different things from authors and Cameron SLAYS both series.
Disco Deathtrap is truly everything an 80's horror fan is looking for in a novel. I truly hope Cameron continues to write these books because he has made a fan out of me. If you are a genuine horror fan, one that enjoys slasher novels with lots of blood and gore, you won't want to miss this one. Cameron is a unique and talented author that is easily becoming one of my favorites in the genre.
Genre: Slasher Horror
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Another nostalgic 80's horror slasher novel from Cameron Roubique! I first started reading his books because I was in the mood for horror and the cover for Kill River caught my eye. Then I read it, fell in love with the way he transported me back to the 80's where horror was it it's prime, and have been anxious for more since. Disco Deathtrap is NOT Kill River. If you choose to read this in hopes that it will be a replica of that book you will be disappointed. Sure, his writing is the same (I feel like he writes like a more mature version of R.L. Stine), and the characters and their actions are similar to those in the former books, but the story is MUCH different. This book is much more gory. The killer is revealed in a shocking twist (whereas readers didn't really know who the killer was in Kill River), and favorite character we were rooting on may or may not be story survivors. A couple of the kills in this book had me saying "Aw Man!". Try not to be too disappointed if you feel this way too! That being said, I'm personally glad it's not an exact replica of Kill River because honestly, it would get old after a while. We as readers want to see different things from authors and Cameron SLAYS both series.
Disco Deathtrap is truly everything an 80's horror fan is looking for in a novel. I truly hope Cameron continues to write these books because he has made a fan out of me. If you are a genuine horror fan, one that enjoys slasher novels with lots of blood and gore, you won't want to miss this one. Cameron is a unique and talented author that is easily becoming one of my favorites in the genre.
January 6, 2019
After four students from DeAngelo High are killed in a drunk driving accident, an English teacher and a gym teacher team up to organize an all-night lock-in at Rollerville Roller Disco on New Year's Eve 1980 to prevent losing more of their students. Sadly, they would've been safer anywhere other than Rollerville, which is rumoured to have been built over a cemetery. With a blizzard piling snow against all the emergency exits and a chain on the front door, there is nowhere to run once the slaughter begins.
I'm a huge fan of '80s slashers and I'm always looking for books that have a similar plot and style to the movies that I love. Disco Deathtrap perfectly captures that '80s slasher feeling and reads like a VHS horror flick you rented from Blockbuster. I enjoyed every minute of it and can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading. I had been in a bit of a reading slump before I started Disco Deathtrap and I'm so happy that it brought me out of it!
Other slasher novels I've read have had one-dimensional, stereotypical characters, but Cameron Roubique spends a lot of time introducing and fleshing out the large cast of characters before the action starts so I really cared about them when bad things started to happen. Another pet peeve of mine is when novels have a lot of characters and they're too similar and it's hard to tell them apart, but each character in Disco Deathtrap has enough unique characteristics to easily differentiate them from each other.
Obviously, since I'm a slasher fan I'm also a huge fan of gore and Disco Deathtrap has TONS of blood and guts. There's also a real '80s feel with lots of references to songs playing at the roller rink, fashion, etc.
If you're a fan of '80s slashers, definitely check this one out. I can't wait to read his other books, Kill River and the sequel, Kill River 2. Hopefully Cameron Roubique will be writing more "Year of Blood" books like he mentions in the Afterword of Disco Deathtrap.
I'm a huge fan of '80s slashers and I'm always looking for books that have a similar plot and style to the movies that I love. Disco Deathtrap perfectly captures that '80s slasher feeling and reads like a VHS horror flick you rented from Blockbuster. I enjoyed every minute of it and can't remember the last time I had this much fun reading. I had been in a bit of a reading slump before I started Disco Deathtrap and I'm so happy that it brought me out of it!
Other slasher novels I've read have had one-dimensional, stereotypical characters, but Cameron Roubique spends a lot of time introducing and fleshing out the large cast of characters before the action starts so I really cared about them when bad things started to happen. Another pet peeve of mine is when novels have a lot of characters and they're too similar and it's hard to tell them apart, but each character in Disco Deathtrap has enough unique characteristics to easily differentiate them from each other.
Obviously, since I'm a slasher fan I'm also a huge fan of gore and Disco Deathtrap has TONS of blood and guts. There's also a real '80s feel with lots of references to songs playing at the roller rink, fashion, etc.
If you're a fan of '80s slashers, definitely check this one out. I can't wait to read his other books, Kill River and the sequel, Kill River 2. Hopefully Cameron Roubique will be writing more "Year of Blood" books like he mentions in the Afterword of Disco Deathtrap.
September 29, 2020
This wasn't really mine. I don't know, for some reason I had the impression that there was some kind of supernatural entity involved but in the end it was "only" a slasher. But I really appreciate and must give credit to the author, since he obviously worked very meticulously and carefully constructed a name, face and story to each of his characters and gave the story a great buildup. Too bad it really wasn't what I enjoy reading.
April 18, 2021
This book was awesome! I love 80's slashers and nobody writes them like Cameron Roubique. I will read anything he writes and I know it'll be perfect storytelling, his writing just flows and hooks me instantly everytime. I loved everything about this gnarly read! 5/5 Disco skulls 💀
August 31, 2020
Solid 4.25 stars for me.
I’m a huge fan of Roubique’s Kill River series, and Disco Deathtrap didn’t disappoint, either. I found this one less grounded than Kill River, but still a ton of fun.
I saw the twist coming from a mile away, unfortunately, but that still didn’t stop me from audibly gasping when it turns up in the plot.
Initially I felt that the story was moving a bit too slow, but once it gets going it really gets going, and doesn’t stop until the very end.
If you’re a fan of the goriest slashers, this book is for you. I found it super uncomfortable in some parts (Cameron has a great knack for describing some gnarly stuff) and there were a couple of times I just had to stop reading for the night because it was pretty heavy.
All-in-all a great time. There’s just something about these 80s-themed slashers that make me so nostalgic.
I have 2 main issues with the book, hence the 4.25 rating:
1. There is an abrupt shift in writing quality when the Year of Blood section starts. It almost feels to me like Cameron wrote this part of the book first, and then penned what is actually at the beginning of the book. I have no way of knowing if that’s the case, but that shift was very apparent to me. It clears itself up after that first Year of Blood section, but it’s weird, and took me out of the story a bit.
2. There’s a overturned school bus-wide plot hole with who the killer is and their ability to be in more than one place at once. Their abilities also border on the supernatural at times, for a book that has no real supernatural elements.
Those are minor complaints for just how fun the book was, though.
I’m a huge fan of Roubique’s Kill River series, and Disco Deathtrap didn’t disappoint, either. I found this one less grounded than Kill River, but still a ton of fun.
I saw the twist coming from a mile away, unfortunately, but that still didn’t stop me from audibly gasping when it turns up in the plot.
Initially I felt that the story was moving a bit too slow, but once it gets going it really gets going, and doesn’t stop until the very end.
If you’re a fan of the goriest slashers, this book is for you. I found it super uncomfortable in some parts (Cameron has a great knack for describing some gnarly stuff) and there were a couple of times I just had to stop reading for the night because it was pretty heavy.
All-in-all a great time. There’s just something about these 80s-themed slashers that make me so nostalgic.
I have 2 main issues with the book, hence the 4.25 rating:
1. There is an abrupt shift in writing quality when the Year of Blood section starts. It almost feels to me like Cameron wrote this part of the book first, and then penned what is actually at the beginning of the book. I have no way of knowing if that’s the case, but that shift was very apparent to me. It clears itself up after that first Year of Blood section, but it’s weird, and took me out of the story a bit.
2. There’s a overturned school bus-wide plot hole with who the killer is and their ability to be in more than one place at once. Their abilities also border on the supernatural at times, for a book that has no real supernatural elements.
Those are minor complaints for just how fun the book was, though.
Read
January 3, 2025A huge disappointment - based on the cover and title I expected this to be a horror comedy, but it wasn't funny, the horror wasn't effective, and everything was just a mess, and far too long. Why was this nearly 300 pages? 0 stars for me.
April 23, 2018
I was not looking forward to writing this.
So, this is definitely not an easy review to write. Cameron Roubique's first book, Kill River, is without a doubt my favorite horror novel ever. I've read a lot of horror novels, most have been terrible, others have been good, but when I read Kill River, everything in it just clicked. Characters that felt like real, normal people (you have no idea the books I've read where the characters talk and behave so unrealistically), dynamic chase scenes and struggles with the killer, said killer was mysterious and menacing and ominous, a unique setting, and two of the most likable characters (Cyndi and Stacy) that I've seen in any horror novel. Cameron took the classic slasher story and made it his own while staying true to it in a very humble way that thoroughly thrilled and entertained me, and it worked so smoothly in my eyes that I treasure that book and started to look forward to more from this talented author.
As soon as Cameron's second book came out, I had to have it. A good cover art, not as good as Kill River's, but a much better title, it's just so catchy and good. The story started out good and continued as such, as I expected it would, setting up the characters, the location, the ambiance. Sure, there were drawbacks: the two main characters, Dan, who I saw as obnoxious and whiny, and Denise, who was just bland and boring (and creepy in being an adult trying to hook up with a kid), especially when compared to Kill River's Cyndi and Stacy, and also the overuse of the animosity between Dan and his ex-girlfriend Mary Anne (it was the most recurring plotline for the first half of the book), which only added to the annoying traits of them both. But there were many other characters who were more interesting with their own interactions and personalities, and kept me invested, and this book also has a lot of character variety in terms of personalities, ethnicities and even body types (how many times do you see, say, chubby people in horror stories? This book had one and they were one of the most likable characters), and being a “minority” myself, I always appreciate that sort of variety in general, but especially in horror. The story reached a high note during a certain chapter, in which had to be the best end of a chapter Cameron had written at that point, it flowed like a charm. I was thrilled, I knew I was in for a great slasher experience now, similar to the 1980 slasher movie Prom Night, only better.
And then the next chapter came in and I was crestfallen. I was completely taken by surprise in the worst possible way. To me the story had reached a high point and then immediately afterwards and very abruptly it took a very steep nosedive and it was so jarring. I won't spoil exactly what happened (at least not in this review), but the events that transpired after that brilliant chapter end set up a very dour and sour tone for me, the thrill and the excitement was all gone, and they stayed gone till the book ended, it just never recovered, and it made it a chore to continue reading. It did not help that the action and chase scenes lacked the dynamic thrill that Kill River's ones had, I guess partially because the location of the killings, the roller disco, was a surprisingly small building (and, bizarrely, it had no windows at all), so it limited the action. Also, the deaths were not thrilling or engaging or shocking, because 99% of them were basically the exact same thing, there was a distinct lack variety in that regard (with the exception of one single death, every other one is basically the exact same).
But the biggest negative I have with this book is the killer, who's a gigantic step backwards from Kill River's hulking, mysterious menace. Not only is it extremely easy to figure out who the killer is from early on, this killer was also very... well, this killer was utterly infuriating in every imaginable way. Nothing about this killer makes any sense whatsoever, so let me point out the things that were downright bizarre to me, because remember, this killer is supposed to be a normal person, but then nothing they do is humanly possible: They have the strength of Bane from Batman’s rogues gallery; they can see perfectly in the dark; they always wore roller skates and had perfect traction, while other characters were slipping and sliding on wet and/or uneven surfaces to be made easy prey for the killer, the killer just rolled so smoothly that you'd think they were floating; this killer can also even keep up with a motor vehicle on two feet of snow during a blizzard. While wearing roller skates. Yeah, you try pondering how that can possibly work. And when the killer's identity is finally revealed, the killer's behavior really goes quite over the top in the cheesiest way, and their motivation behind the murders had me groaning out loud in frustration and making me think I was watching an inexplicably superpowered version of the villain of a cheap Lifetime Channel movie. I just simply could not take this killer seriously at all. I expected a slasher villain, not a psychotic, vapid mix of a tornado and a food processor given superpowers when the plot demands it. And to add insult to injury, sharp-eyed readers will notice something that happens in the book which creates a very significant plot hole; namely put, unless the killer also developed intangibility like the character Kitty Pryde from the X-Men, on top of their already numerous inexplicable superpowers, then they should never have been able to commit a single murder in the first place. Plainly put, the killer ended up ruining the whole book.
Most of my reviews here in Goodreads have been very negative, just one star. What's consistent in them, at least in ones where I read more than one book from the same author, those authors wrote bad books from the very start and continued to do so. Cameron didn't. As I pointed out at the start of this review, Kill River is my personal favorite horror book, and I have been a horror fan since the very young age of three (I am currently in my mid thirties). As such, this book was a huge disappointment, starting off quite well and then suddenly turning into the complete opposite of everything I liked with Kill River. I originally didn’t give this book a rating, but I felt I may as well just go ahead and put this in the big pile of one star books as well. Everything good about it is rendered obsolete by the second half of the book, with a bizarre over-the-top execution, several happenings that make no sense, and one of the single worst killers I’ve ever seen in this genre, I had to force myself to finish this book, and after the excellent Kill River, this book was more than a letdown. It doesn’t even feel like a slasher book, it’s more over-the-top gorn porn than anything. My apologies to the author for my harsh words, but I’ve never been one to sugarcoat things, plus I promised to give my honest opinion. I just simply prefer when he goes the humble and more makes-sense route than the over-the-top and inexplicable route, and this book was definitely more oriented towards the latter, unfortunate for readers like me, but at least some people did get enjoyment out of it and support the author, and that’s what matters.
So, this is definitely not an easy review to write. Cameron Roubique's first book, Kill River, is without a doubt my favorite horror novel ever. I've read a lot of horror novels, most have been terrible, others have been good, but when I read Kill River, everything in it just clicked. Characters that felt like real, normal people (you have no idea the books I've read where the characters talk and behave so unrealistically), dynamic chase scenes and struggles with the killer, said killer was mysterious and menacing and ominous, a unique setting, and two of the most likable characters (Cyndi and Stacy) that I've seen in any horror novel. Cameron took the classic slasher story and made it his own while staying true to it in a very humble way that thoroughly thrilled and entertained me, and it worked so smoothly in my eyes that I treasure that book and started to look forward to more from this talented author.
As soon as Cameron's second book came out, I had to have it. A good cover art, not as good as Kill River's, but a much better title, it's just so catchy and good. The story started out good and continued as such, as I expected it would, setting up the characters, the location, the ambiance. Sure, there were drawbacks: the two main characters, Dan, who I saw as obnoxious and whiny, and Denise, who was just bland and boring (and creepy in being an adult trying to hook up with a kid), especially when compared to Kill River's Cyndi and Stacy, and also the overuse of the animosity between Dan and his ex-girlfriend Mary Anne (it was the most recurring plotline for the first half of the book), which only added to the annoying traits of them both. But there were many other characters who were more interesting with their own interactions and personalities, and kept me invested, and this book also has a lot of character variety in terms of personalities, ethnicities and even body types (how many times do you see, say, chubby people in horror stories? This book had one and they were one of the most likable characters), and being a “minority” myself, I always appreciate that sort of variety in general, but especially in horror. The story reached a high note during a certain chapter, in which had to be the best end of a chapter Cameron had written at that point, it flowed like a charm. I was thrilled, I knew I was in for a great slasher experience now, similar to the 1980 slasher movie Prom Night, only better.
And then the next chapter came in and I was crestfallen. I was completely taken by surprise in the worst possible way. To me the story had reached a high point and then immediately afterwards and very abruptly it took a very steep nosedive and it was so jarring. I won't spoil exactly what happened (at least not in this review), but the events that transpired after that brilliant chapter end set up a very dour and sour tone for me, the thrill and the excitement was all gone, and they stayed gone till the book ended, it just never recovered, and it made it a chore to continue reading. It did not help that the action and chase scenes lacked the dynamic thrill that Kill River's ones had, I guess partially because the location of the killings, the roller disco, was a surprisingly small building (and, bizarrely, it had no windows at all), so it limited the action. Also, the deaths were not thrilling or engaging or shocking, because 99% of them were basically the exact same thing, there was a distinct lack variety in that regard (with the exception of one single death, every other one is basically the exact same).
But the biggest negative I have with this book is the killer, who's a gigantic step backwards from Kill River's hulking, mysterious menace. Not only is it extremely easy to figure out who the killer is from early on, this killer was also very... well, this killer was utterly infuriating in every imaginable way. Nothing about this killer makes any sense whatsoever, so let me point out the things that were downright bizarre to me, because remember, this killer is supposed to be a normal person, but then nothing they do is humanly possible: They have the strength of Bane from Batman’s rogues gallery; they can see perfectly in the dark; they always wore roller skates and had perfect traction, while other characters were slipping and sliding on wet and/or uneven surfaces to be made easy prey for the killer, the killer just rolled so smoothly that you'd think they were floating; this killer can also even keep up with a motor vehicle on two feet of snow during a blizzard. While wearing roller skates. Yeah, you try pondering how that can possibly work. And when the killer's identity is finally revealed, the killer's behavior really goes quite over the top in the cheesiest way, and their motivation behind the murders had me groaning out loud in frustration and making me think I was watching an inexplicably superpowered version of the villain of a cheap Lifetime Channel movie. I just simply could not take this killer seriously at all. I expected a slasher villain, not a psychotic, vapid mix of a tornado and a food processor given superpowers when the plot demands it. And to add insult to injury, sharp-eyed readers will notice something that happens in the book which creates a very significant plot hole; namely put, unless the killer also developed intangibility like the character Kitty Pryde from the X-Men, on top of their already numerous inexplicable superpowers, then they should never have been able to commit a single murder in the first place. Plainly put, the killer ended up ruining the whole book.
Most of my reviews here in Goodreads have been very negative, just one star. What's consistent in them, at least in ones where I read more than one book from the same author, those authors wrote bad books from the very start and continued to do so. Cameron didn't. As I pointed out at the start of this review, Kill River is my personal favorite horror book, and I have been a horror fan since the very young age of three (I am currently in my mid thirties). As such, this book was a huge disappointment, starting off quite well and then suddenly turning into the complete opposite of everything I liked with Kill River. I originally didn’t give this book a rating, but I felt I may as well just go ahead and put this in the big pile of one star books as well. Everything good about it is rendered obsolete by the second half of the book, with a bizarre over-the-top execution, several happenings that make no sense, and one of the single worst killers I’ve ever seen in this genre, I had to force myself to finish this book, and after the excellent Kill River, this book was more than a letdown. It doesn’t even feel like a slasher book, it’s more over-the-top gorn porn than anything. My apologies to the author for my harsh words, but I’ve never been one to sugarcoat things, plus I promised to give my honest opinion. I just simply prefer when he goes the humble and more makes-sense route than the over-the-top and inexplicable route, and this book was definitely more oriented towards the latter, unfortunate for readers like me, but at least some people did get enjoyment out of it and support the author, and that’s what matters.
January 10, 2026
"Some places just don't belong to the living, some places belong only to death."
This is my second book by this author and I love how once again, I felt like I was in a B-horror movie from the 80s. It was hard to keep up with all of the characters though, and they were pretty generic, but I was still invested in their crazy and bloody New Year Eve's night. There were some creative kills and I liked the twist/killer reveal at the end!
I enjoyed the afterword at the end, the author seems like a funny person and his love for horror and slashers shines throughout the novel.
"I don't want to find your frozen body outside tomorrow morning looking like Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining."
This is my second book by this author and I love how once again, I felt like I was in a B-horror movie from the 80s. It was hard to keep up with all of the characters though, and they were pretty generic, but I was still invested in their crazy and bloody New Year Eve's night. There were some creative kills and I liked the twist/killer reveal at the end!
I enjoyed the afterword at the end, the author seems like a funny person and his love for horror and slashers shines throughout the novel.
"I don't want to find your frozen body outside tomorrow morning looking like Jack Nicholson at the end of The Shining."
Read
August 3, 2025fun, exactly what is says on the tin: watching an 80s slasher movie
December 15, 2023
What a fun surprise! I loved it. Action packed, slasher drama, filled with suspense and just a heckin' bloody time. Recommend for a New Year's read.
June 10, 2020
This was a surprisingly good read. Really easy to get into and a real page turner. For someone who went to high school in the 80’s, I enjoyed this thoroughly. I loved all the 80’s horror. Especially he slasher films. This was a very good entry into that genre.
October 27, 2020
You had me at 80s horror slasher... Loved it!
July 6, 2020
On New Year's Eve 1980, the students of DeAngelo High School attend a lock-in at Rollerville Roller Disco in attempt by the school to keep their students safe on this raucous holiday. Rollerville was built only the year before next to the Hart Hill Cemetery...and according to some...the contractors didn't build 'next to' the cemetery, but on it. "The living had taken what was once a place of death and made it a place of their own. On January 1st, 1981, death took it back." So begins this thrilling story told from multiple POVs over the course of a disastrous night when a scythe-wielding fiend in a black cloak and rotting skull mask begins reaping the disco dancing teens.
Disco Deathtrap is the perfect slasher story. It's full of fun late 70s/early 80s throwbacks and it even has its own playlist. I have already purchased the rest of Roubique's work and look forward to reading the Kill River trilogy and Golf Curse which is another book set in the same world as Disco Deathtrap. I am officially a huge fan and Roubique has become an 'automatic buy' author for me. On a personal note, I read this book as a buddy read with my mom who graduated from high school in 1979. She fully endorses this book, loved the characters, and the overall *feel* of it.
Disco Deathtrap is the perfect slasher story. It's full of fun late 70s/early 80s throwbacks and it even has its own playlist. I have already purchased the rest of Roubique's work and look forward to reading the Kill River trilogy and Golf Curse which is another book set in the same world as Disco Deathtrap. I am officially a huge fan and Roubique has become an 'automatic buy' author for me. On a personal note, I read this book as a buddy read with my mom who graduated from high school in 1979. She fully endorses this book, loved the characters, and the overall *feel* of it.
January 22, 2020
Reading a Cameron Roubique novel is like reading a slasher film. And I love horror films. Even the really cheesy ones.
I picked this up because I enjoyed reading the Kill River series so much this summer, and it did not disappoint. Disco Deathtrap had all the things that I enjoy in a slasher and I could easily imagine it translated to film.
First of all, I love the setting. As someone who grew up in a small town in the 90's, our roller rink (Rollerama II -- What happened to the first one? No one knows) was a place that I frequently hung out with friends. Next, I loved that we got some background on the killer and their motive toward the end of the story (and that it wasn't what I was expecting at all). Finally, I liked the variety in the cast. We got glimpses into different age ranges and different cliques, rather than just sticking with one "final girl" throughout.
While the writing wasn't the most consistent, the ride was well worth the read. 3.5 stars
I picked this up because I enjoyed reading the Kill River series so much this summer, and it did not disappoint. Disco Deathtrap had all the things that I enjoy in a slasher and I could easily imagine it translated to film.
First of all, I love the setting. As someone who grew up in a small town in the 90's, our roller rink (Rollerama II -- What happened to the first one? No one knows) was a place that I frequently hung out with friends. Next, I loved that we got some background on the killer and their motive toward the end of the story (and that it wasn't what I was expecting at all). Finally, I liked the variety in the cast. We got glimpses into different age ranges and different cliques, rather than just sticking with one "final girl" throughout.
While the writing wasn't the most consistent, the ride was well worth the read. 3.5 stars
July 9, 2021
Should old acquaintance be forgot....
Disco Death Trap is a master New Year's Eve slasher that I will NOT soon forget. Written by the king of the 80's slashers Cameron Roubique, DDT pits teen angst, roller rink madness, young lover quarrels and brutal death scenes into 280 pages of packed in enjoyment. As with his Kill River series, Cameron manages to hit us with round characters that don't last very long, but give us so many reasons to smile. The garb, lingo, nostalgia and soundtrack kept my pulse bumping on high with every page I read. I wish there were more stars to give, as this book marked a giant smile on my face. One that will return every time I lend my ears to that dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen....
Disco Death Trap is a master New Year's Eve slasher that I will NOT soon forget. Written by the king of the 80's slashers Cameron Roubique, DDT pits teen angst, roller rink madness, young lover quarrels and brutal death scenes into 280 pages of packed in enjoyment. As with his Kill River series, Cameron manages to hit us with round characters that don't last very long, but give us so many reasons to smile. The garb, lingo, nostalgia and soundtrack kept my pulse bumping on high with every page I read. I wish there were more stars to give, as this book marked a giant smile on my face. One that will return every time I lend my ears to that dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen....
November 24, 2020
This took me back to my 80s childhood of hanging out at the skating rink, so I absolutely loved it! Everything he described fit perfectly with my local rink, so I was completely sucked into the Disco Deathtrap world while remembering all the little details from back in the day. I read this in a day, it was such fun bloody mayhem! It was clearly written with slasher clichés in mind, the "why don't they just do ___ instead of running up the stairs" is creatively addressed, and as usual for Roubique, there is a playlist to Rock With You.
April 23, 2019
3.75. Fun, twisted little tale. Well written, keeps you interested. A tad predictable (easy to do though when most everyone is dead ha). A little twisted too, but in a good way. One thing though, to all the morons who didnt, TAKE OFF YOUR SKATES! If someone is chasing me around a roller rink, trying to kill me, dressed as death, I think I would have taken them off ASAP. A little unrealistic too, one person mowing down that many people, and in the end they are a tiny little thing. Then again, rage is a great motivator.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2024
Part of this is me and the fact that I've been reading a lot less horror than I was when I put this on my list. I read the author's Kill River trilogy and while they were flawed, I liked them quite a bit. This I mostly felt was half baked, with a large cast of undifferentiated characters rolling around in a hastily defined plot. All of this will work for some people, particularly those who are so deep into the genre that they've run through everything else but I will not be returning to this series.
June 15, 2019
I enjoyed this blast from the past in the roller skating aspect not the murder aspect. It made me recall childhood roller skating parties when I was a kid which was sooo cool. I loved the cover too. 8 definitely want to read another book from this author.
February 17, 2020
An absolute favorite. This is going on my "reading calendar" for a re-read every New Years Day.
June 1, 2020
More like 3.75. It reads exactly like an 80s horror flick....low-budget. So basically it was awesome.
December 30, 2024
Men should in fact NOT be allowed to write about women's reproductive health....
NOT GOOD.
Not good at all.
NOT GOOD.
Not good at all.
October 11, 2023
Cameron Roubique can do no wrong! I love each and every one of his extremely nostalgic 1980’s horror movie style slasher novels with all my heart and I mean that.
If you want a self published love letter to 80s horror look no further!
I love that Roubique always makes sure we have enjoyable main and side characters to get us even more invested in the adrenaline fueled night(s) of horror that he is going to put us through with each novel. It just really adds value to the whole story when I care that my peeps are being chased down by a masked murderer.
Again, props for always creating such appealing settings for these slasher novels as well. In this one the high school kids are locked down in a roller rink for a night of skating to ring in the new year. I grew up in my local skating rink so I’m imaging this all going down in my own stomping grounds and it’s just creating this extra tension because I was able to put myself in that setting so easily. I felt that way about the Kill River trilogy as well.
I’m sold hook, line and sinker when it comes to Roubique’s novels and you should be to! Give them a shot, they’re shorter novels and there is nothing to lose!
If you want a self published love letter to 80s horror look no further!
I love that Roubique always makes sure we have enjoyable main and side characters to get us even more invested in the adrenaline fueled night(s) of horror that he is going to put us through with each novel. It just really adds value to the whole story when I care that my peeps are being chased down by a masked murderer.
Again, props for always creating such appealing settings for these slasher novels as well. In this one the high school kids are locked down in a roller rink for a night of skating to ring in the new year. I grew up in my local skating rink so I’m imaging this all going down in my own stomping grounds and it’s just creating this extra tension because I was able to put myself in that setting so easily. I felt that way about the Kill River trilogy as well.
I’m sold hook, line and sinker when it comes to Roubique’s novels and you should be to! Give them a shot, they’re shorter novels and there is nothing to lose!
May 22, 2023
“It's starting, the year of blood.” quote from Disco Deathtrap
Disco Deathtrap was a light 230-page read typical of the classic slasher movies of the 80s. Was it graphic (just), gory (yes), or cheesy (absolutely) but, it was a fun read.
It's News Year’s Eve 1980 (and just like the synopsis) the students of DeAgnelo high school are headed to an all-night New Year’s Eve party at the local roller rink. Dancing, food, fun, and a chance to make out with your special someone ...I mean what could go wrong.
Well in a word, everything. It’s December, a snowstorm has just started and the kids from DeAngelo are packing a bus headed to Rollerville. Everyone is excited, and the night is full of promise. No one is thinking about the rumors that Rollerville is next to and partially built over a graveyard. As they arrive and alight the bus no one notices that someone is watching or that the blizzard will literally have them trapped and snowed in.
Some students will use this outing to prank their fellow classmates, some are looking to get wasted while others have something more sinister in mind. The staff at Roller-ville aren’t all that happy about spending their New Year’s Eve with a bunch of high school students, but it’s a chance to make some extra money.
Dan Parson (however) just wants to have a good time with his friends and forget about his bad breakup with his ex. He starts to flirt with Denise who works the counter at the rink and even though she’s older Dan soon realizes that she likes him (despite his age), so the night looks promising. Little did he know he would be in for the surprise of his life.
As the night moves on people are disappearing, which would soon culminate into a frenzy on the rink floor and kids scramble to escape a crazed killer.
Would Dan and his friends escape? Would they put the pieces together to figure out who the killer is and the real motive? They’re running out of time, as the bodies continue to pile up on the rink floor. Will they make it out alive, well you’ll just have to find out with this quick read.
Disco Deathtrap was a light 230-page read typical of the classic slasher movies of the 80s. Was it graphic (just), gory (yes), or cheesy (absolutely) but, it was a fun read.
It's News Year’s Eve 1980 (and just like the synopsis) the students of DeAgnelo high school are headed to an all-night New Year’s Eve party at the local roller rink. Dancing, food, fun, and a chance to make out with your special someone ...I mean what could go wrong.
Well in a word, everything. It’s December, a snowstorm has just started and the kids from DeAngelo are packing a bus headed to Rollerville. Everyone is excited, and the night is full of promise. No one is thinking about the rumors that Rollerville is next to and partially built over a graveyard. As they arrive and alight the bus no one notices that someone is watching or that the blizzard will literally have them trapped and snowed in.
Some students will use this outing to prank their fellow classmates, some are looking to get wasted while others have something more sinister in mind. The staff at Roller-ville aren’t all that happy about spending their New Year’s Eve with a bunch of high school students, but it’s a chance to make some extra money.
Dan Parson (however) just wants to have a good time with his friends and forget about his bad breakup with his ex. He starts to flirt with Denise who works the counter at the rink and even though she’s older Dan soon realizes that she likes him (despite his age), so the night looks promising. Little did he know he would be in for the surprise of his life.
As the night moves on people are disappearing, which would soon culminate into a frenzy on the rink floor and kids scramble to escape a crazed killer.
Would Dan and his friends escape? Would they put the pieces together to figure out who the killer is and the real motive? They’re running out of time, as the bodies continue to pile up on the rink floor. Will they make it out alive, well you’ll just have to find out with this quick read.
November 27, 2019
Horror films from the 80's are some of my favorites of all time. There is just something about them that doesn't exist in today's horror films. Disco Deathtrap by Cameron Roubique is a love letter to those slasher films from the 80's.
This has all the makings of a classic 80's slasher flick. The social gamut of high school teenagers, from nerds to grunge kids to jocks to class clowns. A unique setting for the murder and mayhem to take place, a roller rink during a blizzard. And last but not least a seemingly unstoppable psycho killer.
Cameron does a great job at writing believable and relatable characters. I found myself getting attached to these kids who I knew were most likely going to bite the dust before the story ended.
Once the killing starts it is a frenzied blood bath that will quench the thirst of any lovers of violence and gore. I will say that some of the kills did become a bit repetitive for me, there is a lot of throat cutting, but there are a ton of gruesome deaths throughout the book.
There are of course the classic horror tropes here that can be found in any great slasher flick and they are executed (pun intended?) with great care. For me it was predictable who the killer was before the big reveal but I don't know if I can really hold that against the story as that is something that happens in almost every slasher flick.
Overall I really enjoyed my first foray into Cameron Roubique's work. It is filled with campy horror goodness that puts a smile on ones face. If you are a lover of 80's slasher films then I highly recommend reading Disco Deathtrap.
This has all the makings of a classic 80's slasher flick. The social gamut of high school teenagers, from nerds to grunge kids to jocks to class clowns. A unique setting for the murder and mayhem to take place, a roller rink during a blizzard. And last but not least a seemingly unstoppable psycho killer.
Cameron does a great job at writing believable and relatable characters. I found myself getting attached to these kids who I knew were most likely going to bite the dust before the story ended.
Once the killing starts it is a frenzied blood bath that will quench the thirst of any lovers of violence and gore. I will say that some of the kills did become a bit repetitive for me, there is a lot of throat cutting, but there are a ton of gruesome deaths throughout the book.
There are of course the classic horror tropes here that can be found in any great slasher flick and they are executed (pun intended?) with great care. For me it was predictable who the killer was before the big reveal but I don't know if I can really hold that against the story as that is something that happens in almost every slasher flick.
Overall I really enjoyed my first foray into Cameron Roubique's work. It is filled with campy horror goodness that puts a smile on ones face. If you are a lover of 80's slasher films then I highly recommend reading Disco Deathtrap.
November 5, 2022
Disco Deathtrap is the slasher from hell. Bloody and over the top, I'm honestly a bit surprised my book didn't start oozing blood as I was reading.
I love the 80s slasher vibe, especially in a book. I thought this one definitely delivered on that front, but I wish I got to learn more about the characters. There were so many, most of them "cannon fodder", that I don't feel like I got a good read on any of them. I got a little lost in places trying to remember which character was which, who did what, and who died where.
I would have liked tonsee the villain elaborated on a bit more. I don't really understand how the uncle played into the killing or how the villain was able to overpower all the people like they did, given the stature of the person. I was left with a lot of questions about the murderer and their execution of the Rollerville Massacre.
The book was a fun, disco-filled horror read though! If you're looking for a bloody good time, give Disco Deathtrap a go. Just remember to watch out for your fingers!
I love the 80s slasher vibe, especially in a book. I thought this one definitely delivered on that front, but I wish I got to learn more about the characters. There were so many, most of them "cannon fodder", that I don't feel like I got a good read on any of them. I got a little lost in places trying to remember which character was which, who did what, and who died where.
I would have liked tonsee the villain elaborated on a bit more. I don't really understand how the uncle played into the killing or how the villain was able to overpower all the people like they did, given the stature of the person. I was left with a lot of questions about the murderer and their execution of the Rollerville Massacre.
The book was a fun, disco-filled horror read though! If you're looking for a bloody good time, give Disco Deathtrap a go. Just remember to watch out for your fingers!
December 18, 2023
A 24 inch disco ball glittering red and purple hung over the rollerskating rink. The centre piece. The local high school was having an overnight party. The snow outside was piling up at a steady rate. Putting a strain against the emergency doors. Roller skating, some trying to put their initials on the Pac-man machine, the DJ banging out tunes on vinyl, star wars t-shirts, Pepsi getting guzzled. A party night of fun. Just before midnight New Years Eve, the countdown had started, lights off, darkness, Juicy Fruit gum flying out of a mouth as a long curving blade stabs through the throat, down the stomach, slimy warm stuff slippery through the fingers as the sausage intestines stumble out onto the soft rink. More bodies popping, organs exploding, coppery blood mixed with shit. Somebody wearing a skull mask, black cloak is going to fuck up the whole class of students. Hiding, panicking, the fear as bad as the killing, wondering are you next. Locked inside, nobody can get out.
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