Camp Death

by Jim Ody

The place had a gruesome past that nobody wanted to talk about…Camp Deathe is now a great place to spend the summer. Ritchie soon finds a group of outsiders like himself. Teenagers who ignore the organised activities, and bunk off in the old abandoned cabins deep in the woods. The cabins that have a history.The campfire monster stories were meant to just scare them. Nobody expected them to come true. Then one of the teenagers disappears in the middle of the night.Something is watching them. It hides in the woods and hunts at night.Ritchie will have to uncover the secrets of the camp, and understand his own problems in order to survive.Camp Death is Book 1 in a new series brought to you by Question Mark Horror. For fans of Point Horror, Christopher Pike & Nicholas Pine.Check out Book 2 - The Brood Book 3 - My Friend Peter by Jim Ody will be released in 2022.

Genres: Horror, Young Adult

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 30, 2021

About the author

Jim spent 10 years writing music reviews and interviewing bands for a rock music website. He also contributed lifestyle and comedic features and poems to a number of websites.

Jim writes Horror, YA and Dark Mysteries that often end with his trademark twists! He doesn't believe in being restrained by genres and looks to blur the lines between them.

He has had eighteen novels, and well over a dozen short stories published, and re-published by Question Mark Press, Question Mark Horror, Hambrook Press, SpellBound Books, Wolfgang Press, Limitless Publishing, Zombie Cupcake, Crazt Ink, and Bloodhound Books.

Obsessed with writing, Jim has releases planned throughout 2025 and 2026. These include ...From The Stars, Little Miss Evil 3: The Last Evil, a Release of Mr Watcher and a spooky novella.

He's also the author of the comedy/crime caper ...Just South of Heaven written under his pen name Caper Juggins.

Reviews

[M.L. Rayner · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off. I don't read YA books. I mean never... This was a statement I was always rather proud of growing up. All I can say now is, WHAT THE HELL WAS I MISSING!
In just a short time, Jim Ody has captured my imagination of how exciting it once was to be with a group of friends dealing with a mysterious adventure. The main story follows a young lad called Richie and his sister as they are swindled into joining there parents on a woodland holiday camp. And as typical of such camps, the parents ditch off the kids in order to get some alone time. We follow Richie as he is thrown into a cabin with a bunch of mischievous lads and finds an surprising friendship with a girl. But this cabin retreat has a gruesome past for these young campers. And stories are whispered amongst friends of its past. Something lurks within these trees. Dare you find out what it is for yourself?

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I'm doing this thing this year that I'm trying to read more authors from the FB group BOH. So I stumbled across this author. I got a few chapters in before I realized it was YA. My fault. It clearly says it's YA on Amazon. So I'm already thinking the best rating I'd give this one is 4 stars. Which is still a good rating, it's just not my typical type of read. The story is about families at a camp, and we follow the story of a teen boy. Other than the intro, it takes a while for anything to happen. I'm almost 50% into the book, and I'm thinking I'll drop the 4 stars to 3.5 stars for being so slow.
It was still entertaining, just not my type of read. Coming of age teen stuff. I'm too old to relate, I guess. The writing is good, it flows and is super easy.
Then the last chapter happened. Actually, it was a single sentence on the last page that changed my mind to where I couldn't give this book any less than 5 stars. I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Also, I already downloaded Question Mark Horror #2 Ouija which is also written by a BOH author. I want to find the others in the Question Mark Horror series. The hard thing is they're written by different authors. Yes, this book is so great that I'm reading more YA. That's super rare for me

[Yvonne (the putrid Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp Death was my first story by Jim Ody but it certainly won’t be my last.  I have really enjoyed checking out these point horror-type stories making a resurgence.  From the prologue, I was intrigued and a little freaked out.  A cracking storyline with a hard-hitting writing style.  The story follows Richie, a boy still trying to find himself.  Themes of unrequited teenage love, angst, and social awkwardness are relative to the problems of today’s teenagers.  What I particularly enjoyed about this one was just how Jim Ody was able to transport me to the centre of the story, like in the middle of a perfect storm I anticipated the danger that would ensue. 

Ritchie is forced to go on a summer trip with his parents and his sister.  The back and forth between Richie and his sister was reminiscent of sibling interactions in every home.  I think we can all relate to how older siblings made us feel but know that when push came to shove they’d be there for us.  Immediately, you can tell that something isn’t right about Camp Deathe, the organisers, the kids, and the surroundings scream creepy.  You know something dirty is going to hit the fan.

What happens when you visit an abandoned part of the camp?  Well, as all horror movies can attest to – it’s not going to be good news and Richie finds out too late.  Ody had many questions spinning in my mind and I had to keep reading to find out the answers.  It only takes one decision for life to crumble all around us, one bad, awful decision.  I found that the author had a way of making me care for a character that at times was pretty unlikeable.  I guess really, what teenager is? 

I really enjoyed this walk back in time to many evenings spent reading point horror with a torch under the duvet scared witless.  It gave me vibes of the 80’s slasher horror.  The pace is always trucking along and never felt bored, intact I felt like I was in a race to the finish. 

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the absolute pleasure of reading this book, it definitely had me hooked from the first page! This is the first book in the question mark horror series and what a way to start it!!

I'd say this book is more for mature YA and adults, it's not like goosebumps... it's scarier than that! I have been getting more into this genre of books and am so glad that I got the chance to read this one , Jim certainly knows how to set the setting just right for maximum spookyness ! , we met all the characters quite early on which means we get to know them all a lot better throughout the book. I am certainly glad that I never got sent to a summer camp went I was younger!

Ritchie and his sister Sophie (best name ever) , are sent to summer camp, while their parents are staying in a hotel type place they have to stay at the camp.... which locals have named camp death due to its past. The book is brilliantly written with enough suspense , intrigue and mystery to keep you managing to find time to read more and more of it. I would highly recommend this book it is truly brilliant...and no I didn't guess the ending of the book !

[Elli Toney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This casual read quickly became one that I couldn't put down.

I got so involved with the characters, I didn't want it to end. In fact, after it was over, I found myself wanting to pick it up and read more then I was kind of bummed when I remembered it was over.

The way he described the dynamics between siblings and friends in their teenage years, just took me back. Such an interesting and engaging little story, I love how Jim Ody's books are such puzzles, he adds so many twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end! I did not see that ending coming and this story was way more than I expected.

I know this is directed for a YA audience, but I just loved it. It was nostalgic. Whether you are an oldie like me who grew up on Christopher Pike and R.L. Stein or an actual YA, give it a try!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA & horror are not my thing, but I was asked to BETA read this by the author & was thrilled to be able to do so. This is part of the QMP Horror stable alongside Ouija.
Ritchie & his sister, Sophie, are unexpectedly taken by their parents to summer camp. It isn’t quite what they are expecting when they get there; their parents are staying in the main building, more like a hotel, & they are staying in wooden cabins with others their own age. Sophie is 18 & has been having problems, Ritchie is 16 & is a typical hormonal teenage boy.
Camp Deathe has been nicknamed Camp Death by the locals, due to incidents in its past when there had been some horrific deaths caused by an apparent madman & an unidentified beast.
Toby is an older boy, the son of the owner, who is employed as a counsellor supposedly looking after the welfare of some of the attendees. He has other ideas & allows those in his care to meet at an out of bounds part of the camp, where it is rumoured that the previous atrocities happened. He takes an instant dislike to Ritchie & sets out to make his stay memorable, starting with scary campfire stories about the beast.
The pace ramps up after these stories, with various teaser threads being dropped & the ‘campers’ splitting off into cliques. I’m not going to say anymore as it would be too easy to spoil the plot but suffice it to say, it’s a cracking read. And , yes, I know it’s a cliché, but I didn’t see the end coming. Enjoy !

[Niko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read! I enjoyed the story and though some was predictable to me (as an adult) I think this is a great YA story

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Death by Jim ody.
Book 1 of a new point horror type series.
Absolutely brilliant. I loved it. Had me guessing. Creepy and spooky. Great plot and characters. Can't wait for book 2. 5*.

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp Death is the first novel in the newly established Question Mark Horror range, a selection of Young Adult Horror books in the tradition of Point Horror and Goosebumps. As a teenager I didn’t have access to Point Horror but having read Camp Death, I’m dying to give them a try now! I did, however, love Goosebumps as a kid so when Zoé dangled this particular carrot in front of me, I just couldn’t resist.

I’ve really been rekindling my love for horror this summer, reading Grady Hendrix, Stephen King and Jack Ketchum, listening to Chuck Wendig and watching Fear Street on Netflix, and a nice little slice of YA horror was just what was missing in my collection. Camp Death was just so much fun. I thought it would be more of a slasher kind of thing, but it’s a really subtle and modest sort of creature horror, well suited for younger teenagers, but definitely enjoyable for the more mature reader as well.

Have cabins and camps always been this creepy or did horror flicks and novels create that vibe? I wouldn’t know but the creepiness is real and Jim Ody knows how to take advantage of that to create an ominous atmosphere in a typical horror setting, but hey, it’s a trope cos it works and it’s one I can’t get enough of!

Secrets and mystery, the claustrophobic feeling of being watched, creepy sounds in the dark, a bit of innocent teen romance, it’s all there, and there’s some humour to boot. I especially loved it when one of the characters was reading (and praising) another novel by Jim Ody.

Overall, I had a great time with Camp Death. It’s short and sweet, very entertaining throughout and boy, what a wicked ending, I loved it when the venom is in the tail! If you’re looking to add to your YA horror collection, or to the collection of the teenaged bookworm in your life, do check out this fabulous first Question Mark Horror title.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

my 4.5* review of camp death. I love the idea of a relaunch of a point horror type novel. This has all the humour and references you expect from Jim's books with the right amount of creepiness. I really enjoyed this and would have found it terrifying as a teen

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and to Zoé of Zooloo’s Book Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

This is the first in Question Mark Press’ new YA horror series – Question Mark Horror – which older fans who remember Point Horror and Goosebumps will love just as much as new YA readers!

Jim Ody takes a very familiar horror format – teens isolated in cabins in the woods, and campfire stories of an old massacre and a monstrous beast – and presents a creepy campfire horror tale, full of the terrors of teendom (hormones, bullying, impending independence from childhood innocence) and the more visceral fear of being eaten by monsters in the dark.

Ody’s characterisations and the relationships between the characters work really well, and the plot is really well-written too and had me hooked from beginning to end.

In fact, my only criticism is actually something of a strength! There is so much fantastic material here – Ralph and the urban ‘criminals’; the strange hotel vs. cabin set-up; Ritchie’s dad’s investigation; the legend of ‘crazy’ Oscar and his killing spree – that I felt there was enough for a larger novel. I loved everything in this book, but felt it had had to be pruned and squished down a bit to accommodate the restrictions of this format… a large story zip-tied and locked in a smaller box.

I thoroughly enjoyed the chills of watching Ritchie and his friends being terrorised by someone, or something, stalking in the woods, and got a special thrill from the nostalgia it conjured as the YA horror books of my own teenage years got a modern update into the world of texting and diversity. But I would also read the hell out of a version of this book that was double the size, with more of the fascinating details from the behind-the-scenes action.

Actually, I will just happily read whatever Jim Ody writes next! And I can’t wait for more from this QMPHorror range.

Happy reading, guys, and, look, just close the curtains and go back to sleep; I’m sure there’s nothing out there, in the dark, waiting…



'“Of course,” Toby began, “in these woods there have been sightings.” He looked over at his captivated audience. “Some sort of snarling beast.”
“What sort of beast?” Carl asked with a hint of suspicion. Every camp had a legend of a beast.
“The rumour is that it stands like a man but looks like a wolf… but nobody knows for sure as no man has seen it and lived to tell the tale.”'

– Jim Ody, Camp Death


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Blog]::[Youtube]::[Twitter]::[Instagram]::[Pinterest]::[Bloglovin]

Let me preface by saying that I used to love reading teen horror when I was growing up. Point Horror and Fear Street were my go-to books back in the 90s, and “Camp Death” made me nostalgic about my younger days.

The author did a great job in setting up the eerie atmosphere of the Camp. As soon as Ritchie enters the Camp, you get to meet the rest of the cast, and it was interesting to see how Ritchie interacted with them. The story got intense as soon as Ritchie enters the woods, referencing other famous horror movies like the Blair Witch Project. The author also creates a haunted setting where something supernatural lurks in the woods. You feel that there is always a tense moment throughout the tale where you wonder what will happen to Ritchie and his friends.

Moreover, I liked how the author mixed things up and didn’t focus only on the horror. We also see the characters participating in the rowing race or Jason’s conflicting relationship with his father. I liked Ritchie in the lead and thought the author wrote the characters nicely. He tried to get over his feelings for Kelly, and it was interesting to see how he reacts with Claire and forms a friendship with Jason. Moreover, the author ends the story in a shocking cliffhanger that I did not expect. The ending made the book even more memorable and made me look forward to reading the next book, “Ouija,” in the series.

Overall, “Camp Death” is a thrilling young adult horror novel that makes you feel like watching a classic camp horror movie, but with a twist.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camp Death by Jim Ody is book one in the new YA Question Mark Horror series. I love horror. It’s no secret that this genre is in my top five, so when I had the opportunity to read this one, I had to. I’m excited to announce that this novella is awesome.
Fast-paced and intense, this story wraps you in and doesn’t let go. Novellas work when they immediately capture your attention, and that happens with Camp Death. I really enjoy how the back story is slowly uncovered. There is an air of creepiness that follows you through this book, which really allows the read to immerse themselves into the story. It was much more creepy for me because of this.
This gave me some nostalgia because it reminds me of some of the horror movies that started my love for horror. That is possibly why I loved this story so much.
Ritchie is an excellent main character. I remember teenager life, and Jim Ody captures those teenage years, perfectly. This gives the story a bit of believability, because this is how teenagers would likely respond in this situation.
Overall, amazing story. I highly recommend giving this one a try!
Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series of horror aimed at the YA market and a novella from the pen of Jim Ody who has written a lot of full length novels in this genre and it shows. Well written with a complex but easy to follow plot that had me guessing, and wrongly, all the way through.

Briefly, when Richie’s parents decide to take him and his sister Sophie on holiday they don’t tell them where they are going. When they arrive at Camp Deathe Richie and Sophie are sent off to dormitories whilst their parents move into a spa hotel. Camp counsellor Toby, an objectionable boy and the owners son, takes a dislike to Richie and starts to bully him. Toby instills fear into the kids in his dormitory by telling tales of other children murdered in the old camp, which is now out of bounds.

The characterisations are great, the kids all have different personalities and act the way you would expect kids that age to; full of bravado, boys showing off to the girls but underneath scared. A fast paced read with an undertone of something supernatural running throughout the book. Tense rather than super scary, with a massive last minute reveal that I was completely in the dark about. A good 4.5⭐️ read.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camp Death is a mature YA horror novel set in England. It's very reminiscent of the old Christopher Pike novels, and it reminded me a little of Goosebumps (especially Welcome to Camp Nightmare), although a little more adult than that.
The story follows Ritchie and Sophie as they, along with their parents, take a vacation to a place called Camp Deathe. Ritchie's parents think it will help Ritchie get over his breakup with a girl named Kelly. But there's more than meets the eye at Camp Deathe.
With mysterious disappearances and rumors of a beast lurking in the woods, the vacation at Camp Deathe may just, in fact, lead to death.
I found this to be an enjoyable horror novel. I really liked how easy it was to read, and how it all ended. I had my suspicions about certain things, and I'm glad I was right about at least one of them.
This is a fun little horror novel that will appeal to fans of the genre. I'd recommend it to teens 16+ who enjoy spooky reads.
4 stars!

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 4 out of 5]

 I loved reading Jim Odys books in the past and this was no disappointment. What a brilliant, short horror… From the prologue I was intrigued and hooked.

This is so much more than just straight up horror it focuses on the teens, family, romance and friendships alongside the horror. Loved the whole thing. He made a very eerie setting. Parts had me holding my breathe and turning the pages for fun. Thrilling. Suspense filled. Tense. Creepy. Scary. Spooky. Dark. Heart pounding read. Another not to read alone at night without the lights on.

A camp I would never want to attend… Horror stories emerge about the camp from the past. Some altered… Some true. But what’s the true story here? Are they safe? Is this just a twisted game? Very spooky. The title says it all. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.

[Shelly Neinast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never judge a person by their appearance

Great little YA story. Needed more creature exposure sooner in story and with more action with the kids. Definitely like reading a goosebumps tale.

[Jen]

It's been quite a while since I tucked into a horror themed book, even longer still since I fitted into the YA age group, but neither fact was enough to deter me when it came to the opportunity to read these new novellas from Question Mark Horror. Camp Death is book one in the series, written by Jim Ody and centred around a holiday park which is part adult spa retreat and part summer camp, allowing adults some respite from family life and the teenagers ... well, as it turns out, some unexpected counselling and a short dose of object fear to boot. Because. Camp Deathe (an unfortunate and yet fitting name) is no ordinary campsite and has a very dark and tragic history. Think Camp Crystal Lake only with a more beastly vibe.

This is a quick and pacy read and one which draws you in from a very tense and heart pounding opening. It's almost a short sharp shock but one which certainly grabs the attention and made me very curious about what might be to come. From here on in we meet out story's main protagonist, Ritchie, a teenager who is suffering from a broken heart and is in no mood to engage with the ethos of his new holiday accommodation. Just as well as he is not going to have the normal activity based experience and his stay is going to be far from comfortable. Jim Ody careful creates a mini camp within a camp, a rag. tag bunch of teenagers who sneak off to abandoned cabins and do all of the things every self respecting, soon to be victim in a good horror story would do. You know, all of the things that you know instinctively are going to lead them to big trouble.

I liked the character of Ritchie. He, and his fellow camp mates, felt very real, the author capturing that awkwardness of teenage hormones and tense friendships perfectly. That need to showboat, to prove their standing amongst a bunch of people they will likely never see again. There is always a ringleader, in this case their camp counsellor, Toby, an objectionable oik who also happens to be the owners son. The archetypal spoilt kid who likes to bully, cajole and basically do anything other than encourage wholesome and creative activities. He is the kind that grates on your nerves, but one that keeps you reading in the hope that he gets his comeuppance. Each of the kids that surround and seemingly worship him are a brilliant blend of hormones, fear and stupidity, the exact type you expect to follow Toby blindly into danger. It all rings true.

Now this is a horror tale, so it would be pretty dull if it was all just about a dodgy summer vacation. There is an undercurrent to this novella, a backstory which is slowly uncovered, and not just the camp's questionable history. There is something else, a dark shadow, a creeping, stalking presence which can be felt throughout book and which helps to build the tension to a very surprising but fitting conclusion. You'll feel a range of emotions as you read from amusement, to anger and back again, alongside the tension and suspense that will draw you to the edge of your seat on numerous occasions. This is a brilliant story, definitely well suited to the YA market, and it kind of put me in mind of a cross between Friday 13th and another, very popular teen movie from my youth that I cannot mention for fear of spoilers. But it was a good one, and so was this novella. I wish I'd had books like this in my horror obsessed youth. Gets a thumbs up from me.

[Samantha Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read with a bit of everything. Didn’t figure out what was going on until the final few pages which was refreshing as I’m normally quite quick at figuring out where a plot is going.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

Not a bad read. Just confusing at times with things being kept vague. Then, at the end, it was really rushed.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

They say never judge a book by its cover, and to that I say, "Bull ____." Prior to reading Camp Death by Jim Ody, I have never heard of the author before, but suddenly this cover kept popping up in various Facebook groups. Some folks might say there's nothing special about the cover, but for me, there's something about it that called to me. I didn't even bother to read the synopsis before grabbing it, so when I started to read it, I was going in totally blind with zero expectations.

Based on title and cover, I thought I was going to be reading a summer camp massacre like Friday the 13th, but after reading the prologue, I realized I was about to read a creature feature. Even better. By the end of the prologue, we know there was one survivor, a girl. You know from this that we will be meeting this stranger again.

Jump two years into the future, and Ody introduces us to our central character, Ritchie, a sixteen year old boy suffering his first heartbreak. We also learn he has a troubled older sister (she's eighteen), although it's never clear what kind of trouble she's going through -- at first. We learn later on what her problem is. It's been decided by their parents that it would be best if they got away from a few days. As a family. Their destination? Camp Death. Actually, it's Camp Deathe, but some smart aleck as crossed out the final "e". We also learn that they will only be spending time as a family at mealtimes; all other times, the kids will be at camp why the parents stay in a hotel on the same grounds. Ritchie admits that if he had known this was going to be the setup, he would have put up more of a fuss, but since they're already there, they might as well make the best of it. Campers being campers, we know we're in for a bunch of spooky stories, and we learn this is the very same camp where, two years prior, there was a massacre. We're not told there was a survivor, but we, as the reader, already know there was. But who is it? Ritchie's sister Sophie, or fellow campers Becca and Claire? Knowing Sophie is troubled, you immediately jump to the conclusion that it's her. But is it? You'll just have to read to find out. And is the Beast still around? Ritchie keeps catching a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye, but he can never see clearly what it is. When Toby, the head counselor for Ritchie and his crew, disappears, we assume that the beast got him. And this is where we learn that there's more going on that we had at first thought.

I admit to being caught up in the story, but this is where it starts to fall apart for me as well. For one, I was expecting a higher body count and less angsty teen drama, but we soon learn that we have a number of unreliable narrators here, which means you really can't trust what you've read so far. I hate unreliable narrators for that very reason. How much is true, and how much is a creation of their own minds? So what could have been a 5 star read has now dropped to a 4. Also, the ending did not work for me. It came totally out of left field, totally jumping the shark, which further contributed to the downgrade. As a reader confronted with a compelling mystery, part of the fun of reading something like this is to piece together the clues to find out who or what is responsible for the events that have occurred. It also raises questions that are never answered, especially where the parents are concerned. When you realize you're dealing with unreliable narrators, you can no longer do this. You also no longer sympathize with the characters because you no longer trust them and the things they say and do.

The book, for the most part, was well written, but it would have benefitted greatly from being turned over to an editor for basic grammar and punctuation. Throughout, the use of commas would have been beneficial, as without them, the reader sometimes stumbles over sentences and needs to backtrack and re-read to understand what the author is actually saying in a particular instance. This happened often enough as to lose another point from me. Again, I know this isn't an issue for many folk, but for this reader, it is.

Overall, Ody has created a compelling tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat because you want to know what's going on. I tend to overanalyze books and movies, or so my friends say, and maybe I'm overthinking things here. But if the unreliable narrators aren't a problem for you, and you can deal with the punctuation issues, I would definitely recommend picking up this one. However, if these things are an issue, I would recommend passing on this one to avoid the frustration you're bound to feel by the end of the book.

[Gordon Mcghie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first Question Mark Horror title (though I did review Ouija at the start of the two books one tour campaign). Both Camp Death and Ouija are YA horror titles which fit nicely into the Point Horror space in the reading lists. I have long been a fan of horror fiction but I was just a bit too old to have enjoyed Point Horror as I was growing up; jumping straight into King, Herbert, Laymon and Hutson and catching Peter James in his pre-crime days.

If I had grown up reading the YA fiction then I know I would have inhaled the Point Horror titles and would absolutely be all over the Question Mark Horror books too, they are nicely pitched creepy titles which don’t take the scare too far but still leave readers unsettled – particularly if their imagination fills in the extra details.

Camp Death, actually Camp Deathe, is a summer resort deep in the woods where families can spend some quality time away from the hustle and the bustle and where parents can fill their children’s days with activities so they get a break from parenting. Sounds ideal. However, the camp which Ritchie and his family arrive at has a dark history and the kids in the know will try to terrify the new arrivals with tales of death and a strange beast which is said to roam the woods around the cabins.

As is the case when any group of kids are thrown together there are dominant characters and they have their hangers-on. The other children scrabble for attention and try to raise their position in the pecking order and rivalries and jealousy are such good triggers for incidents. The other inevitable when you have a group of boys and girls is that attractions will form and for young teenagers this is an awkward period of self awareness and the early discoveries of future freedoms. In short – Ritchie meets a girl he likes but there is a bigger boy also trying to catch her eye.

Realising Ritchie is a potential rival sees a concerted effort to undermine Ritchie in the eyes of the group. This begins as snide asides but soon escalates to a dangerous attempt to leave him alone, bound and at the mercy of the mysterious “beast”. Though for readers the existence of the beast isn’t rumour and campfire stories, we have been witness to the damage it can do.

This is classic horror fare and Jim Ody does a great job of keeping the tension and suspicion going through the story and I confess I did not see that ending coming! The story deals with bullying, self awareness, family stress and one other two (spoilerish) themes – all areas which I felt my younger self would have benefitted from reading more of when I was in my formative years.

Both Camp Death and Ouija herald strong starts for the Question Mark Horror series and I look forward to seeing what they may bring for us next. If you enjoy a chilling tale then this has death, monsters and rivalry where the good guy getting the girl is not guaranteed.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jim’s work for a little while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that he has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Camp Death’ and I was immediately intrigued. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for what proved to be an interesting read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Camp Death’ even if it did occasionally scare the doo doo out of me but more about that in a bit.

‘Camp Death’ is the first book in the Question Mark Horror series. A major selling point for me was the fact that this book was being billed as perfect for fans of the ‘Point Horror’ series of books. Back in the day and more years ago than I care to admit to, I was a huge fan of ‘Point Horror’. So as you can imagine, it didn’t take me long to get into ‘Camp Death’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that I was going to seriously enjoy this story and I would find it increasingly difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. To say that reading ‘Camp Death’ became addictive is a bit of an understatement. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The book isn’t that long and I managed to finish reading it within the space of a couple of hours. I found ‘Camp Death’ to be a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

‘Camp Death’ is really well written. Jim certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and draw you into what proves to be a compelling and creepy tale. For me the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Camp Death’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Jim’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Camp Death’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jim’s work in the future. ‘Camp Death’ certainly gave me the heebie jeebies but I loved every minute of it. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short while ago I kicked off this tour reviewing Ouija and now it’s time to help close it with my review Camp Death.
I must say that if you have teens who love horror but aren’t ready for the full-on adult novels yet, this pairing is a must for them. Or maybe you are an adult who likes milder horror or a bit of nostalgia. Either way, these books are sure to give you some goosebumps and scares along the way and a whole heap of fun.
Camp Death cleverly uses the common horror trope of a Summer camp but unusually in the UK and the parents are close by. Like most Summer camp stories, there are stories about monsters and murder in years gone by and this time it’s the tale of a ravenous, murderous beast haunting the woodlands looking for its next feed. I love how the intensity is built by using drunken, campfire stories, confused teen tension and then snippets of what may (or may not) be the beast’s noises, footsteps, breathing etc without actually describing what he looks like. I love horror that plays on the imagination. I’m not normally scared by things I can see but the chills are formed here from what we cannot see which certainly raised the goosebumps on my arms.
The camp itself is really atmospheric and a classic setting for a teen horror. I loved the mystery around the previous events and I think this is likely to portray holiday camps in a realistic light and what teens may get up to when out from under the watchful eyes of their parents. When the night falls the camp becomes a different place and small but vivid descriptions change the whole atmosphere of the setting perfectly.
Teens are complex creatures and in a short time Ody manages to sensitively portray a lot of teen angst and the different way in which it manifests. As an adult it’s easy to gloss over a lot of the feeling and thoughts faced by teens or to label then arrogant, cocky etc but thinking back to that age and it’s the most confusing time. Ody captures that well.
Very different from Ouija but equally as entertaining, nostalgic and creepy, Camp Death is a great throwback to teen horror such as Point Horror etc. and such a fun read. Highly recommend but I’m off to read something fluffy now to shake off the heebie jeebies.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer camps with gruesome goings on set in America are a dime-a-dozen, but since Camp Death is set in Devon (south of England) I just had to drop in for a visit! Published back in 2021, with the second Eerie Things title The Brood to be reviewed in my next roundup, it also features a teenage boy as a central character. Boy narratives have sadly all but disappeared from horror/dark fiction, so it was refreshing to spend time with Ritchie, who is a rather shy teenager and when the story opens is painfully regretting asking his best friend out on a date and is dealing with all the anxieties connected to this rejection. On one level Camp Death is reminiscent of the classic Point Horror, other RL Stine fiction or Christopher Pike but has more than enough fresh ideas to turn into a solid page-turner for any young teen. For the most part Jim Ody keeps much of the plot nice shrouded, including some particularly good twists, until close to the end. I was not convinced by the very end, which seemed like one twist too many, but the potential supernatural angle was nicely managed.

The action opens with Ritchie, his eighteen-year-old sister and their parents arriving at ‘Camp Deathe’ where the parents stay in a resort area and the teens are bunked in cabins. Initially dreading it, Ritchie soon finds a group of outsiders like himself and makes friends and finds himself attracted to a girl who seems to like him back. The story nicely captures the awkwardness of teenage hormones and kicks off when one of the camp leaders disappears and there is talk of a creature stalking the encroaching forests or a curse. Ultimately there is a lot more going on than you might initially think, which touch upon some very real subjects which were sensitively overseen. The banter between the teens was convincing and readers will have fun uncovering the secrets of the camp and understand his own problems in order to survive which are much more complicated than being rejected by his best friend at the start of the novel. AGE RANGE 11-14

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A subtle mix of genres and concepts, Camp Death is a great launch for Question Mark Press' young adult reads, throwing back to summer camp tropes which have scared young and old alike, for decades.

This 'camp' has a dark history, and is not, strictly speaking, a camp, more of spa for parents(who stay in a hotel) and a log cabin shared with complete strangers with issues , for the kids.

Teen Ritchie, and his sister Sophie, have been packed off here by their well meaning parents for the summer, surprisingly not deterred by the name (Camp Deathe) and blissfully ignorant of its past.

If only they had checked the Trip Advisor reviews*!

A non specific camp, in a non specific time period, means that the author can play fast and loose with the details and build the mythology in the mind of the reader.

Aimed at teens with a view to indulging their attention spans (it is a short novel which can be read in 2 hours) and tying in to the Point Horror and Fear Street trends, it is accessible without being too gory, atmospheric without being overly derivative, making frequent use of punchy dialogue.

As a parent of teens, I would perhaps comment that it often reads a bit like what an adult would expect a teen to say, and is slightly overly expositional. But I am a reader in  her mid 40's with an extensive history of reading horror from the age of 9 onwards, therefore I am not specifically the audience this book is aimed at. I can, however, see how the target audience would enjoy it.

Looking forward to reading more in the series!



'1 star, would not recommend, no sleep due to howling beast through the night and teens blasting music and being annoying, no internet and too far from the nearest police station/medical center'

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been many years since I last read any horror books, in fact thinking about it it was when I was a teen and was fascinated by James Herbert, Stephen King and Dean Koontz!

As I have recently read a couple of this authors books I decided to give this new series a go. It is mentioned that this series is similar to the Point Horror books. I have seen these but have not read them, so I don't know how they do compare.

The story itself definitely had that teen vibe to it, as I followed the story of Ritchie as he discovers that his family is going on a retreat. This is a camp that is called Camp Deathe, and as you can see from the cover the final "e" has been scrubbed out! So even before I got into the story there is a sinister look to the book.

The story was one that I really enjoyed, it does have a horror feel to it as I gradually got to hear the rumours of events from the past. The author has created a nicely paced story that is really intriguing and one that definitely kept me reading. This is definitely aimed at the teen market rather than the hardcore horror readers, but if like me, you haven't picked up a horror book in a while it does make a great genre switch option.

This does have that sinister, series atmospheric feel to it, movements and shapes blurred and fleeting. It all adds to a great read. It is one I really enjoyed and has left me already looking forward to the next book in the series, which also happens to be my next read.

This is a book that was a quick read, and one I would happily recommend.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in the series of Point Horror/Christopher Pike style young adult books by Question Mark Press. This is the brain child of Jim and its a great first book and if any indication of the rest, shows he is on to something.
Ritchie is a teenage boy, struggling with girls, his embarrassing older sister and parents who want to spend time together as a family. However their trip to a camp wasnt exactly his ideal way of spending his holidays. Especially when Ritchie and his sister find out they are staying with other kids while their parents go off to a luxury hotel.
Ritchie tries to make the best of his situation, makes friends, and goes off to the abandoned cabins. From there strange things start happening.
You can feel the teenage angst, and something that came across for me was written for boys, or from a male perspective at least. However there was a lovely message of friendship, and the love between siblings, despite how much they fight and bicker. It was captured perfectly.
The prologue draws you in to sinister goings on, and this undercurrent is ever present throughout the book.
As you would expect from Jim, there are lots of twists, that seem to come one after another, leaving you open mouthed as you read the final pages. I read this really quickly, only because I couldnt put it down, I needed to keep reading to find out the truth.
The second book in the series is Ouija by Zoe-Lee O'Farrell, and I cant wait to share my review for that on Sunday.

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5

I've read and enjoyed a couple of Jim Ody's books now, so I was definitely interested when I found out that he'd written a point horror type novel, I loved those when I was younger!

The story follows Ritchie, a troubled teen, who is forced to go on to a summer camp by his parents. From the off there's something not right about the place, rumours of deaths and disappearances are rife. Ritchie is talked into going to the old abandoned part of the camp, but he finds out too late what a mistake that was.

Camp Death really grabbed me from that first chapter, with a pulse pounding start along with a sprinkling of intrigue in there too.

Ritchie is a realistic and well-drawn character, full of teen angst and hormones. Not always likeable, but then again, what sixteen-year-old is? I say that as the mother of a sixteen-year-old myself.

Even though it was set in the present day, the book had a bit of an eighties/nineties vibe to it, which I really enjoyed.

As always with Jim's books, there's a bit of mystery wrapped up in the horror making sure you don't see the full picture until the very end.

I would say the pace wasn't quite as snappy as Jim's usual books, but that was just a minor issue.

Camp Death is a quick and creepy read that made me feel nostalgic while I was reading it.

[Chelle W (teaandplottwists) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ritchie’s parents tell him they’re going on a holiday he doesn’t expect to end up in some camp, segregated from his family. But at first things don’t turn out to be too bad – he makes friends with some other outsiders, and meets a girl. But then one of the teenagers goes missing, and it seems that the legend of the beast could actually be true……

This is a classic horror story with a creepy ‘cabins in the woods’ setting and the legend of a monster who goes around ripping teenagers apart. Quite a lot of the story I found to be about the teenagers themselves, and the hardships the teenage years bring, which is good as it means the age range this is aimed at will be able to identify with the characters.

I had my suspicions about some of the ending, but another part of it completely shocked me! if you’re an adult reading this then you may have come across stories similar to this before, but since it’s aimed at young adults, this is likely to be the first time they come across something like this, and could ignite their love of horror.

There are a few gruesome parts but nothing too much, and it’s most definitely appropriate for the younger readers from 13 onwards.

I’m excited about the whole new Question Mark Horror series, and this is a good start. So if you’re looking for a new Young Adult Horror series then check this out.