Splatterfest

by Robbie Dorman

This year's Splatterfest will be a real killer. Horror film convention Splatterfest is a haven for the goriest, grimiest, and weirdest horror films in the world. This year it's bigger than ever in a special location, the Kalman compound, the site of a cult massacre. The spotlight is on the premiere of Midnight Star, a film about the cult and its gruesome end. Thousands are attending, including horror fanatic Stephanie Watts. Steph is working the event, using the opportunity to meet her favorite stars. Guests include legendary directors, renowned scream queens, and infamous movie monsters. It's not all fun and games, however, as Steph sees the ugly side of Hollywood, filled with spite and backstabbing. Despite the hiccups, everything is running smoothly. But then the celebrities start dying. Looking like accidents at first, Steph finds connections to the long-dead Midnight Star cult, and suspects murder. Someone is targeting the stars, and it may be one of their own. As the death count rises, Steph must find the killer before it's too late. If she fails, Splatterfest will live up to its name.

Genres: Horror

314 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2020

About the author

Robbie Dorman believes in horror. Conquest is his first novel. When not writing, he's podcasting, playing video games, or petting cats. He lives in Texas with his wife, Kim.

Reviews

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

For something titled Splatterfest. The lack of gore is surprising. There are kill scenes, but they're not splattery. My bad. I assumed this book would be bloody. That's on me. Not the book.
A big horror convention is happening. It's taking place at an old property where a cult lived, and died. Big name actors and directors start dying. Then you have a murder mystery on your hands.

I loved Gary, who owns a video store that he's trying to keep the store alive even in 2020. He was just a good guy. His two workers, Dan and Steph, on the other hand.... She wasn't the smartest. I felt like she was Scooby doo trying to unmask the bad guy.
The story, was excellent. Written well. And it's a great idea. If you can't visit a horror convention, the next best thing is reading about one.
Even though the actors and stars were fictional, I still enjoyed them and some of them with their not so sweet attitiudes

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robbie Dorman's love and knowledge of slasher films appears full force in Splatterfest as Steph and her friends throw an unforgettable horror convention to try to save their struggling indie horror video store.

Since I'm unfamiliar with horror conventions, I wish the author had spent some more time among the crowds at the convention so I could feel what a real experience at a horror con might be like.

But all in all, quick fun read! It was entertaining puzzling out what movies, monsters, and scream queens Dorman might be referencing throughout.

[Christopher Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blast! So much fun, especially if you have ever been to a Con or have a working knowledge of 80s horror. It was great to match up the actor/director characters with their living counterparts. The pace is perfect and I breezed through most of the book in one evening. The kills were inventive and the characters jumped off the page. My third Robbie Dorman and I have loved them all.

[Norman Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise of the story and all of the insider references to classic horror movies, but unfortunately the big bad of the story was as predictable as Jason being killed by a pretty girl and coming back for the sequel.

[Chris Wroblewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun book.

It reminded me of classic 70's and 80's slasher movies especially with the cult compound setting

I just wish it was a little bit gorier but others it was a blast even if I figured out the Killer before the book was over.

[Reneethereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book anyone who loves horror movies will appreciate the callbacks to horror movies

[Kyra Frye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story is good but the excessive use of “but” & “and then” is a bit much.