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The Camp
The perfect summer suspense thriller, evoking 1980s horror movies set at sleepaway camps but with a fresh twist, from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Babysitter and The Neighbors.
There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-charged nights. At Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack, there are stories about a creeping fog that brings death with it. But here, they’re not just campfire tales. Here, the stories are real.
Twenty years ago, a girl’s body was found on a ledge above the lake, arms crossed over her heart. Some said it was part of a suicide pact, connected to the nearby Haven Commune. Brooke, Rona, and Wendywere among the teenagers at camp that summer, looking for fun and sun, sex and adventure. They’ve never breathed a word about what really happened—or about the night their friendship shattered.
Now the camp, renamed Camp Fog Lake, has reopened for a new generation, and many of those who were there on that long-ago night are returning for an alumni weekend. But something is stirring at the lake again. As the fog rolls in, evil comes with it. Those stories were a warning, and they didn’t listen. And the only question is, who will live long enough to regret it?
There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-charged nights. At Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack, there are stories about a creeping fog that brings death with it. But here, they’re not just campfire tales. Here, the stories are real.
Twenty years ago, a girl’s body was found on a ledge above the lake, arms crossed over her heart. Some said it was part of a suicide pact, connected to the nearby Haven Commune. Brooke, Rona, and Wendywere among the teenagers at camp that summer, looking for fun and sun, sex and adventure. They’ve never breathed a word about what really happened—or about the night their friendship shattered.
Now the camp, renamed Camp Fog Lake, has reopened for a new generation, and many of those who were there on that long-ago night are returning for an alumni weekend. But something is stirring at the lake again. As the fog rolls in, evil comes with it. Those stories were a warning, and they didn’t listen. And the only question is, who will live long enough to regret it?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
473 people are currently reading
21569 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Bush
87 books1,100 followersNancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.
After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!
Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 259 reviews
November 4, 2025
Toot toot! Hot-Mess-Express rolling into the station...
Well, this wasn't quite what I expected and by quite, I mean, not at all. I felt way too disgruntled upon finishing it to write a review and now it's been days.
I remember practically nothing, apparently sucked out of my brain by the 'didn't enjoy it'-gods.
All I can say is, if you tell me you are giving me Summer Camp Horror, you better deliver me Summer Camp Horror.
The synopsis of The Camp had me frothing at the mouth. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver any of the vibes, nor enticing plot, that I was expecting.
I'm an atmopshere-girlie first and foremost. I've mentioned that numerous times. One of my favorite settings is Summer Horror, particularly Summer Camp Horror. I feel like that is what I was promised here, but it's not what I got.
There is nothing chilling about this, nor Friday the 13th about this and these are just things mentioned in the synopsis. I'm not inventing these comparisons on my own.
If I hadn't had that in my mind, there's a very slight chance I would have enjoyed it more, but honestly, I doubt it.
One of my biggest issues with this story was that it didn't seem to know what type of story it was trying to be. It couldn't figure out its own identity, so how the heck was I expected to?
There were way too many perspectives for my tastes, they just didn't seem necessary, as well as a whole host of ridiculous subplots that I couldn't have cared less about.
For example, you're following camp counselors from the past, camp counselors from the present, people from a commune located near the camp, there's a wacky surrogate subplot, a grown woman being accused of sleeping with a 15-year old boy and a cat that lives in a asylum that is giving total Doctor Sleep vibes...
I'm not sure what else to say. It's rare I'm at a loss for words, but this is one of those occasions. It was just so hard to track and even harder to care. There were so many characters involved; too many.
It did get a little easier once they were all in one spot, the camp, but I feel like that happened way too late in the narrative. By then, I had given up. I probably should have DNFed, but I kept wanting to figure it out; like, what's the point?
Honestly, it was pretty bad and not in a fun-Sharknado-bad sort of way...
As I always say though, and I do want to stress this, just because this book didn't work for me, does not mean it won't work for you. We all have different tastes and enjoy different things.
I'm not quite sure who I would recommend this to, but I would say probably not to huge Summer Camp, or Slasher Horror fans; like if Friday the 13th is your jam, this is not it.
Thank you to the publisher, Zebra Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even when books don't knock me out of the park, I still appreciate the opportunity to read and them and provide my opinion.
Well, this wasn't quite what I expected and by quite, I mean, not at all. I felt way too disgruntled upon finishing it to write a review and now it's been days.
I remember practically nothing, apparently sucked out of my brain by the 'didn't enjoy it'-gods.
All I can say is, if you tell me you are giving me Summer Camp Horror, you better deliver me Summer Camp Horror.
The synopsis of The Camp had me frothing at the mouth. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver any of the vibes, nor enticing plot, that I was expecting.
I'm an atmopshere-girlie first and foremost. I've mentioned that numerous times. One of my favorite settings is Summer Horror, particularly Summer Camp Horror. I feel like that is what I was promised here, but it's not what I got.
There is nothing chilling about this, nor Friday the 13th about this and these are just things mentioned in the synopsis. I'm not inventing these comparisons on my own.
If I hadn't had that in my mind, there's a very slight chance I would have enjoyed it more, but honestly, I doubt it.
One of my biggest issues with this story was that it didn't seem to know what type of story it was trying to be. It couldn't figure out its own identity, so how the heck was I expected to?
There were way too many perspectives for my tastes, they just didn't seem necessary, as well as a whole host of ridiculous subplots that I couldn't have cared less about.
For example, you're following camp counselors from the past, camp counselors from the present, people from a commune located near the camp, there's a wacky surrogate subplot, a grown woman being accused of sleeping with a 15-year old boy and a cat that lives in a asylum that is giving total Doctor Sleep vibes...
I'm not sure what else to say. It's rare I'm at a loss for words, but this is one of those occasions. It was just so hard to track and even harder to care. There were so many characters involved; too many.
It did get a little easier once they were all in one spot, the camp, but I feel like that happened way too late in the narrative. By then, I had given up. I probably should have DNFed, but I kept wanting to figure it out; like, what's the point?
Honestly, it was pretty bad and not in a fun-Sharknado-bad sort of way...
As I always say though, and I do want to stress this, just because this book didn't work for me, does not mean it won't work for you. We all have different tastes and enjoy different things.
I'm not quite sure who I would recommend this to, but I would say probably not to huge Summer Camp, or Slasher Horror fans; like if Friday the 13th is your jam, this is not it.
Thank you to the publisher, Zebra Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even when books don't knock me out of the park, I still appreciate the opportunity to read and them and provide my opinion.
July 11, 2023
Harley and her step-sister Marissa are going to be CIT (counselors in training) for the summer at newly renovated Camp Fog Lake which used to be Camp Luft-Shawk or Camp Love Shack as all the kids called it twenty years ago before it closed down due to a horrible tragedy taking place. Harley's aunt Emma also happened to be a couselor back then during the summer when there were so many secrets and lies and friends stopped speaking to one another after that fateful summer. Unfortunately, Emma cannot remember very much from that time since she was attacked shortly after being home from camp while babysitting that same summer and was left with a traumatic brain injury that has sadly left her childlike in many ways.
Emma doesn't want Harley to go to camp for fear of something bad happening again but Harley has ulterior motives for going (a certain boy) and nothing will change her mind. In the meantime there will be an unplanned reunion of sorts at the camp involving many people from Emma's past with coincidental ties to Harley's present camp experience that were completely unexpected. When fun campfire stories start turning ominous as strange events begin to happen, Harley decides she will play sleuth to get to the bottom of the mysteries of old Camp Love Shack not knowing she is in danger as well as many others because when the mysterious thick fog rolls in sometimes evil hides in it's mist and some may never be seen alive again.
This was another entertaining and enjoyable book for me by Nancy Bush which I'm so glad to have read. The book wasn't scary but it certainly had several mysteries going on simultaneously. I thought the novel was fast-paced with nefarious characters and some chilling crimes taking place. There were a great many different, colorful, characters within the complex story which I appreciated since it made the book very unique with intertwining subplots. Another fun treat for myself were the characters of Jaime and Emma from the previous book called "The Babysitter" being weaved back into this suspenseful novel.
Camp living, unruly teenagers, campfire tales, cults, heavy fog, brackish adults, unsolved mysteries, secrets, lies and murder, so what else could a reader ask for in a great mystery/thriller!
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this novel a rating of 4 CHILLING AND MYSTERIOUS 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
Emma doesn't want Harley to go to camp for fear of something bad happening again but Harley has ulterior motives for going (a certain boy) and nothing will change her mind. In the meantime there will be an unplanned reunion of sorts at the camp involving many people from Emma's past with coincidental ties to Harley's present camp experience that were completely unexpected. When fun campfire stories start turning ominous as strange events begin to happen, Harley decides she will play sleuth to get to the bottom of the mysteries of old Camp Love Shack not knowing she is in danger as well as many others because when the mysterious thick fog rolls in sometimes evil hides in it's mist and some may never be seen alive again.
This was another entertaining and enjoyable book for me by Nancy Bush which I'm so glad to have read. The book wasn't scary but it certainly had several mysteries going on simultaneously. I thought the novel was fast-paced with nefarious characters and some chilling crimes taking place. There were a great many different, colorful, characters within the complex story which I appreciated since it made the book very unique with intertwining subplots. Another fun treat for myself were the characters of Jaime and Emma from the previous book called "The Babysitter" being weaved back into this suspenseful novel.
Camp living, unruly teenagers, campfire tales, cults, heavy fog, brackish adults, unsolved mysteries, secrets, lies and murder, so what else could a reader ask for in a great mystery/thriller!
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this novel a rating of 4 CHILLING AND MYSTERIOUS 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
May 25, 2023
Twenty years ago a girl was murdered at Camp Fog Lake while Emma was going to camp there.
Now, twenty years later it has reopened. Emma’s niece Harley is going with her friend Marissa.
Emma knows the dangers there and is going to go keep an eye on them. Death and destruction occur and secrets and lies are revealed on this creepy, foggy lake.
Thanks NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC that will be released June 27, 2023!
Now, twenty years later it has reopened. Emma’s niece Harley is going with her friend Marissa.
Emma knows the dangers there and is going to go keep an eye on them. Death and destruction occur and secrets and lies are revealed on this creepy, foggy lake.
Thanks NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC that will be released June 27, 2023!
July 4, 2023
Not for me.
Here's Claire's Review, she pretty much says it all.
At first, I thought I was in a reading slump or something because nothing about this novel stuck. There were too many characters to keep track of and nothing about the story stood out. I ended up skimming through the novel.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Nancy Bush, and Kensington Books for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
Here's Claire's Review, she pretty much says it all.
At first, I thought I was in a reading slump or something because nothing about this novel stuck. There were too many characters to keep track of and nothing about the story stood out. I ended up skimming through the novel.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Nancy Bush, and Kensington Books for graciously sending me the ARC to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.**
May 31, 2023
The Camp was a pretty forgettable read for me. I struggled through most of it and it was very tempting to quit on several occasions. But since I got to the point of no return (56%,) I was forced to continue till the end.
I’m not going to offer my rendition of the story since I barely remember the plot. And the description doesn’t quite come close to what occurs in the novel.
There were numerous characters and I lost track of who’s who. Luckily, there were some carryover characters from Bush’s previous novel (The Babysitter. A 5 star read for me) that provided some context into Emma’s disability.
The novel is basically a whodunit. But with several tangential storylines, I struggled with the flow and direction of the narrative. And the lackluster ending really didn’t help boost its appeal. I just felt as though the author was forced to churn out another novel for the sake of churning out another novel. Two excruciating stars.
I received a digital ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
I’m not going to offer my rendition of the story since I barely remember the plot. And the description doesn’t quite come close to what occurs in the novel.
There were numerous characters and I lost track of who’s who. Luckily, there were some carryover characters from Bush’s previous novel (The Babysitter. A 5 star read for me) that provided some context into Emma’s disability.
The novel is basically a whodunit. But with several tangential storylines, I struggled with the flow and direction of the narrative. And the lackluster ending really didn’t help boost its appeal. I just felt as though the author was forced to churn out another novel for the sake of churning out another novel. Two excruciating stars.
I received a digital ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 9, 2023
Review coming soon.
May 27, 2024
Đọc quyển này ức chế quá!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ức chế vì:
- Biên tập ẩu!!!!! Tại sao nhiều POV của nhân vật như vậy mà không hề có chia chương, hay cách dòng, hoặc đánh dấu bằng kí tự đặc biệt? Đang đọc POV của nhân vật A thì ngay dòng sau đã thành POV của nhân vật B mà không hề có dấu hiệu báo trước, đọc một lúc mới nhận ra đang ở POV của nhân vật khác. Ôi trời ơi, đọc cuốn này mình tức không chịu được. Chưa bao giờ mình ức chế khi đọc một quyển sách vì cách biên tập như cuốn này.
- Quá quá nhiều nhân vật. Ôi chao, đọc các review của cuốn này thì đều điểm chung là chê ở số lượng nhân vật quá nhiều: những người từng tham gia trại hè, con của những người từng tham gia trại hè, vợ/chồng của những người tham gia trại hè, người yêu của con của những người từng tham gia trại hè, những người sống ở công xã, những người con cháu của người sống ở công xã, cảnh sát điều tra... Một mớ hổ lốn nhân vật không có sự lựa chọn khi đưa vào câu chuyện. Nhiều nhân vật phụ không đếm nổi làm câu chuyện trở nên khó theo dõi và cuối cùng là không biết tác giả muốn tập trung vào ai.
- Kinh dị ư? Không hề. Tưởng không khí trại hè kinh dị theo kiểu Thứ 6 ngày 13 nhưng không hề luôn. Truyện dài dòng lan man chẳng thấy sợ gì, tình tiết thì lòng va lòng vòng khó hiểu, tương tác các nhân vật hỗn độn không tạo ra được sự hồi hộp gay cấn.
- Điều tra? Có mấy đoạn điều tra qua điểm nhìn của thanh tra cảnh sát nhưng mà mình tự hỏi là có mạch này để làm gì vì nó chẳng giúp ích gì cho mạch chính ở trại hè, đã thế cũng vô cùng nhạt nhẽo vì người đọc không thể nào hứng thú nổi với vụ án mạng. Quan trọng là mình đang muốn đọc về bí ẩn ở trại hè chứ không phải một vụ án dớ dẩm không xảy ra ở trại hè.
- Bản chất bí ẩn đáng lẽ ra sẽ tạo sự tò mò nhưng do cách triển khai của tác giả và đường dây nhân vật vô tội vạ với cách xếp lung tung POV của nhân vật và nhảy dòng thời gian liên tục khiến mình không còn thấy tò mò, không còn muốn đọc truyện này.
- Hóa ra cuốn này là sequel của một cuốn khác cùng tác giả (The Babysitter). Đọc các review khác mình mới biết. Nhân vật chính của truyện là Emma bị một vấn đề gì đó về đầu óc và việc này xảy ra ở cuốn The Babysitter đó, không hề được giải thích gì ở cuốn này nên những ai như mình chưa đọc The Babysitter thì sẽ rất khó hiểu vì sao nhân vật Emma lại kì dị như thế và tại sao Emma lại ở trại tâm thần.
- Twist rất đỗi bình thường và chẳng khiến mình ngạc nhiên nổi vì nhiều nhân vật quá mình còn chẳng theo dõi được ai với ai.
- Kết truyện nhạt nhẽo đến độ mình chẳng thèm đọc nốt nữa.
Kết luận: Không có điểm gì để khen ở cuốn này.
Ức chế vì:
- Biên tập ẩu!!!!! Tại sao nhiều POV của nhân vật như vậy mà không hề có chia chương, hay cách dòng, hoặc đánh dấu bằng kí tự đặc biệt? Đang đọc POV của nhân vật A thì ngay dòng sau đã thành POV của nhân vật B mà không hề có dấu hiệu báo trước, đọc một lúc mới nhận ra đang ở POV của nhân vật khác. Ôi trời ơi, đọc cuốn này mình tức không chịu được. Chưa bao giờ mình ức chế khi đọc một quyển sách vì cách biên tập như cuốn này.
- Quá quá nhiều nhân vật. Ôi chao, đọc các review của cuốn này thì đều điểm chung là chê ở số lượng nhân vật quá nhiều: những người từng tham gia trại hè, con của những người từng tham gia trại hè, vợ/chồng của những người tham gia trại hè, người yêu của con của những người từng tham gia trại hè, những người sống ở công xã, những người con cháu của người sống ở công xã, cảnh sát điều tra... Một mớ hổ lốn nhân vật không có sự lựa chọn khi đưa vào câu chuyện. Nhiều nhân vật phụ không đếm nổi làm câu chuyện trở nên khó theo dõi và cuối cùng là không biết tác giả muốn tập trung vào ai.
- Kinh dị ư? Không hề. Tưởng không khí trại hè kinh dị theo kiểu Thứ 6 ngày 13 nhưng không hề luôn. Truyện dài dòng lan man chẳng thấy sợ gì, tình tiết thì lòng va lòng vòng khó hiểu, tương tác các nhân vật hỗn độn không tạo ra được sự hồi hộp gay cấn.
- Điều tra? Có mấy đoạn điều tra qua điểm nhìn của thanh tra cảnh sát nhưng mà mình tự hỏi là có mạch này để làm gì vì nó chẳng giúp ích gì cho mạch chính ở trại hè, đã thế cũng vô cùng nhạt nhẽo vì người đọc không thể nào hứng thú nổi với vụ án mạng. Quan trọng là mình đang muốn đọc về bí ẩn ở trại hè chứ không phải một vụ án dớ dẩm không xảy ra ở trại hè.
- Bản chất bí ẩn đáng lẽ ra sẽ tạo sự tò mò nhưng do cách triển khai của tác giả và đường dây nhân vật vô tội vạ với cách xếp lung tung POV của nhân vật và nhảy dòng thời gian liên tục khiến mình không còn thấy tò mò, không còn muốn đọc truyện này.
- Hóa ra cuốn này là sequel của một cuốn khác cùng tác giả (The Babysitter). Đọc các review khác mình mới biết. Nhân vật chính của truyện là Emma bị một vấn đề gì đó về đầu óc và việc này xảy ra ở cuốn The Babysitter đó, không hề được giải thích gì ở cuốn này nên những ai như mình chưa đọc The Babysitter thì sẽ rất khó hiểu vì sao nhân vật Emma lại kì dị như thế và tại sao Emma lại ở trại tâm thần.
- Twist rất đỗi bình thường và chẳng khiến mình ngạc nhiên nổi vì nhiều nhân vật quá mình còn chẳng theo dõi được ai với ai.
- Kết truyện nhạt nhẽo đến độ mình chẳng thèm đọc nốt nữa.
Kết luận: Không có điểm gì để khen ở cuốn này.
January 1, 2024
I needed a flow chart for all the characters.
July 2, 2023
I was drawn in by the creepy campsite synopsis but ended up not really liking the book, primarily because the storyline was convoluted and there were way too many characters to keep straight. Basically, there were some murders at this camp 20 years ago that were never solved. The camp is shut down but gets reopened under new management later; guests include new campers, new counselors, and alumni from that fateful summer. Weird things start happening again and we also find out that some folks are keeping secrets.
There were some likable characters in the book and I thought that Harley and Jamie in particular showed a lot of chutzpah. There were just so many characters between the original campers and the new batch that I constantly had to take myself out of the story to get straight on who was who and how they were related. There was also the relationship between the camp and the nearby commune that added even more characters and additional drama. There were some interesting twists throughout but honestly I wasn’t all that engaged by the time it was all said and done.
Overall, this wasn’t for me but did give off a creepy vibe. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were some likable characters in the book and I thought that Harley and Jamie in particular showed a lot of chutzpah. There were just so many characters between the original campers and the new batch that I constantly had to take myself out of the story to get straight on who was who and how they were related. There was also the relationship between the camp and the nearby commune that added even more characters and additional drama. There were some interesting twists throughout but honestly I wasn’t all that engaged by the time it was all said and done.
Overall, this wasn’t for me but did give off a creepy vibe. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2023
This was my most anticipated release of the summer… and it kind of let me down. It’s described as Friday the 13th meets Yellowjackets and I’m afraid I might have missed something.
The first thing I will point out is this listed as a stand-alone (at least on Goodreads) but as soon as I started reading it the character names and the name of the town Emma is from stood out to me from the only other Nancy Bush book I’ve read - The Babysitter. Yep. Same characters, same town, apparently not a part of that series? That was the first thing that kind of put me off… if I hadn’t read The Babysitter and known Emma’s backstory a new reader might not know or understand what caused Emma to be the way she is as an adult.
The camp/outdoorsy setting was the only connection I can make to Friday the 13th as The Camp devolves more into a nearby cult and religious zealots which I found a bit predictive and boring compared to what I assumed the book would be from the description.
I recently read another upcoming release with Friday the 13th vibes that I felt hit it out of the park but this one let me down big and left me confused and asking if I missed something in comparison.
The first thing I will point out is this listed as a stand-alone (at least on Goodreads) but as soon as I started reading it the character names and the name of the town Emma is from stood out to me from the only other Nancy Bush book I’ve read - The Babysitter. Yep. Same characters, same town, apparently not a part of that series? That was the first thing that kind of put me off… if I hadn’t read The Babysitter and known Emma’s backstory a new reader might not know or understand what caused Emma to be the way she is as an adult.
The camp/outdoorsy setting was the only connection I can make to Friday the 13th as The Camp devolves more into a nearby cult and religious zealots which I found a bit predictive and boring compared to what I assumed the book would be from the description.
I recently read another upcoming release with Friday the 13th vibes that I felt hit it out of the park but this one let me down big and left me confused and asking if I missed something in comparison.
July 17, 2023
This book sounded good in theory but the story is convoluted and poorly written. The editor that worked with Nancy Bush should be ashamed. The chapters are a meandering mess with uneven pacing, unclear transitions between past and present, and the most superfluous words (who says burgers with all the fixings and then lists teh fixings?).
There are periods of action and tension that are enjoyable but the same phrases, situations, and relationships are repeated over and over. Yes, I know who is married to who halfway in, you don't have to remind me.
The ending doesn't tie all loose ends, a major action happens outside of the story and the ending is just told to the readers in the epilogue.
I have enjoyed Nancy Bush's work with Lisa Jackson, but I am not a fan of her on my own.
I received an ARC for review; all opinions are my own.
There are periods of action and tension that are enjoyable but the same phrases, situations, and relationships are repeated over and over. Yes, I know who is married to who halfway in, you don't have to remind me.
The ending doesn't tie all loose ends, a major action happens outside of the story and the ending is just told to the readers in the epilogue.
I have enjoyed Nancy Bush's work with Lisa Jackson, but I am not a fan of her on my own.
I received an ARC for review; all opinions are my own.
June 28, 2023
Hmmm. Okay. I have a lot of thoughts about this one (unfortunately most of them aren’t good).
So. This is pitched as being Yellowjackets meets Friday the 13th — which it did not live up to?? Yes, they were at a summer camp and yes, there was a then and now aspect but those were the only ways they were similar? This was also said to be a modern slasher which it definitely was not???
Ultimately this book was way too long to be an effective thriller and all the action was in the last 100 pages (which is, coincidentally, the section I liked best??).
This also had waaaay too many characters, a few of whom were completely unnecessary (everything with the cop added exactly nothing to this story and shouldn’t have been in this book; I ultimately found myself skimming all of her sections because I found them so boring and irrelevant).
I also read a few other reviews when I’d first started this (and wasn’t connecting with it) that explained one of my biggest problems — apparently this is actually a sequel and I haven’t read the first book. Which is... not great.
This is not *marketed* as a sequel but some big questions that this never answers are covered in another book. So this should either *be* marketed a sequel or have briefly explained the backstory that was covered in another book. As it was, this book just always felt like it was missing something.
There was also a part in this book where Emma was about to explain her accident and her niece cUT HER OFF and said she doesn't need to explain herself to anyone. UM. WHAT ABOUT THE READER?!? If that information is going to be in a cOMPLETELY DIFFERENT BOOK, that should be mentioned upfront, not discovered from reading other disgruntled reviews.
This also did not switch back and forth from the past to the present, which I don’t think worked for this story. It had a few flashbacks but I think this should’ve been dual timelines and spent A LOT more time at the camp, which would’ve been a lot more effective means to tell this story (and been similar to, oh I don't know, YELLOWJACKETS-- a thing this is supposed to be like??? *eye roll*). That also could've cut down on the page count TREMENDOUSLY and helped make the million characters a lot less confusing.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. It was a little longer and slower than I like my thrillers. The last 100 pages were great but, unfortunately, the journey to them wasn’t. This had so much potential but, sadly, just did not have the execution to back it up.
Anyway, thank you to Kensington Books for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
So. This is pitched as being Yellowjackets meets Friday the 13th — which it did not live up to?? Yes, they were at a summer camp and yes, there was a then and now aspect but those were the only ways they were similar? This was also said to be a modern slasher which it definitely was not???
Ultimately this book was way too long to be an effective thriller and all the action was in the last 100 pages (which is, coincidentally, the section I liked best??).
This also had waaaay too many characters, a few of whom were completely unnecessary (everything with the cop added exactly nothing to this story and shouldn’t have been in this book; I ultimately found myself skimming all of her sections because I found them so boring and irrelevant).
I also read a few other reviews when I’d first started this (and wasn’t connecting with it) that explained one of my biggest problems — apparently this is actually a sequel and I haven’t read the first book. Which is... not great.
This is not *marketed* as a sequel but some big questions that this never answers are covered in another book. So this should either *be* marketed a sequel or have briefly explained the backstory that was covered in another book. As it was, this book just always felt like it was missing something.
There was also a part in this book where Emma was about to explain her accident and her niece cUT HER OFF and said she doesn't need to explain herself to anyone. UM. WHAT ABOUT THE READER?!? If that information is going to be in a cOMPLETELY DIFFERENT BOOK, that should be mentioned upfront, not discovered from reading other disgruntled reviews.
This also did not switch back and forth from the past to the present, which I don’t think worked for this story. It had a few flashbacks but I think this should’ve been dual timelines and spent A LOT more time at the camp, which would’ve been a lot more effective means to tell this story (and been similar to, oh I don't know, YELLOWJACKETS-- a thing this is supposed to be like??? *eye roll*). That also could've cut down on the page count TREMENDOUSLY and helped make the million characters a lot less confusing.
Overall, this just wasn’t for me. It was a little longer and slower than I like my thrillers. The last 100 pages were great but, unfortunately, the journey to them wasn’t. This had so much potential but, sadly, just did not have the execution to back it up.
Anyway, thank you to Kensington Books for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
I DNF’d this book about 100 pages in. It’s so boring with writing that feels really juvenile. There’s a grown man who refers to his penis as a willy…come on. I also found the writing overly descriptive to the point where some sentences were confusing to read and ran on too long.
This book is also supposedly a sequel which is not mentioned anywhere on Goodreads or in the synopsis. Because of this you lose a lot of context on a few of the characters.
I’m only bothering to review it because I received a free ARC from a giveaway. With how bad this book is I wish I hadn’t even won.
This book is also supposedly a sequel which is not mentioned anywhere on Goodreads or in the synopsis. Because of this you lose a lot of context on a few of the characters.
I’m only bothering to review it because I received a free ARC from a giveaway. With how bad this book is I wish I hadn’t even won.
March 15, 2023
What do you expect or want from a book before you start reading ?
I want to be kept on my toes in anticipation of what will happen next.
I want that can’t stop won’t stop feeling when I know I should really only read just “one more chapter”
And ultimately I want characters who feel real and relative .
Well…
Check ✔️
Check ✔️
Check ✔️
This book checks off every box on my list for what I believe is a soon to be bestseller .
I was consumed early on and didn’t want to put this book down for even a bathroom break.
This was my first by Nancy Bush but it won’t be my last ! Due out 6/27/23 ! You don’t want to miss this one!
The Camp
Teaser :
Friday the 13th meets Friends Like These at a summer sleepaway camp isolated in the woods of Oregon, as New York Times bestselling author Nancy Bush puts a diabolical modern twist on the classic 1980s slasher film trope!
There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-charged nights. At Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack, there are stories about a creeping fog that brings death with it. But here, they’re not just campfire tales. Here, the stories are real.
Twenty years ago, a girl’s body was found on a ledge above the lake, arms crossed over her heart. Some said it was part of a suicide pact, connected to the nearby Haven Commune. Brooke, Rona, and Wendywere among the teenagers at camp that summer, looking for fun and sun, sex and adventure. They’ve never breathed a word about what really happened—or about the night their friendship shattered.
Now the camp, renamed Camp Fog Lake, has reopened for a new generation, and many of those who were there on that long-ago night are returning for an alumni weekend. But something is stirring at the lake again. As the fog rolls in, evil comes with it. Those stories were a warning, and they didn’t listen. And the only question is, who will live long enough to regret it?
I want to be kept on my toes in anticipation of what will happen next.
I want that can’t stop won’t stop feeling when I know I should really only read just “one more chapter”
And ultimately I want characters who feel real and relative .
Well…
Check ✔️
Check ✔️
Check ✔️
This book checks off every box on my list for what I believe is a soon to be bestseller .
I was consumed early on and didn’t want to put this book down for even a bathroom break.
This was my first by Nancy Bush but it won’t be my last ! Due out 6/27/23 ! You don’t want to miss this one!
The Camp
Teaser :
Friday the 13th meets Friends Like These at a summer sleepaway camp isolated in the woods of Oregon, as New York Times bestselling author Nancy Bush puts a diabolical modern twist on the classic 1980s slasher film trope!
There are always stories told around the fire at summer camp—tall tales about gruesome murders and unhinged killers, concocted to scare new arrivals and lend an extra jolt of excitement to those hormone-charged nights. At Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack, there are stories about a creeping fog that brings death with it. But here, they’re not just campfire tales. Here, the stories are real.
Twenty years ago, a girl’s body was found on a ledge above the lake, arms crossed over her heart. Some said it was part of a suicide pact, connected to the nearby Haven Commune. Brooke, Rona, and Wendywere among the teenagers at camp that summer, looking for fun and sun, sex and adventure. They’ve never breathed a word about what really happened—or about the night their friendship shattered.
Now the camp, renamed Camp Fog Lake, has reopened for a new generation, and many of those who were there on that long-ago night are returning for an alumni weekend. But something is stirring at the lake again. As the fog rolls in, evil comes with it. Those stories were a warning, and they didn’t listen. And the only question is, who will live long enough to regret it?
April 7, 2023
Oooh, creepy camp, murder, and a cult leads to a very enjoyable read.
I loved how this one went between two different events. Emma saw something when she went to camp as a teen. But her accident happened shortly afterwards, so it’s all confusing to her and her family. Now the camp is reopening and Harley wants to attend. Will bad things happen again. You must read to find out.
I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of this one. It was hard for me to figure it all out. Once you start reading, you won’t put it down until finished.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the chance to read and review this one.
I loved how this one went between two different events. Emma saw something when she went to camp as a teen. But her accident happened shortly afterwards, so it’s all confusing to her and her family. Now the camp is reopening and Harley wants to attend. Will bad things happen again. You must read to find out.
I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of this one. It was hard for me to figure it all out. Once you start reading, you won’t put it down until finished.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the chance to read and review this one.
March 17, 2023
I have read several of Nancy Bush’s thrillers, but this one was my favorite by far! I loved the creepy camp setting with the strange commune down the road. I loved the two different timelines and seeing the characters progression (and in one case, a sad regression.). Most of all, I loved the multiple twists in this story and the fact that the ending was a complete surprise. This was a super enjoyable thriller and a definite favorite!
March 22, 2023
Camps, cults, mystery and murder. What else could you ask for in a book? This had a lot working in it's favor and it definitely succeeded. Highly likeable characters along with one's you also kind of hate. This was a bit on the longer side but with that comes more depth. I finished this thoroughly enjoying it but also felt like something was missing but can't figure out what. Four Stars.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
April 6, 2023
Creepy Camp setting! Dual timelines and murder, mayhem and cults.
What's not to like? Nancy Bush pays homage to the 80's slashers and I am here for it! Will there be a repeat of the murder such as the one that closed the camp 20 years ago? Past Campers return to the scene to find out!
#TheCamp #NancyBush
What's not to like? Nancy Bush pays homage to the 80's slashers and I am here for it! Will there be a repeat of the murder such as the one that closed the camp 20 years ago? Past Campers return to the scene to find out!
#TheCamp #NancyBush
December 30, 2023
I really have nothing nice to say about the book. It's so boring & dull & has an unnecessary amount of characters being thrown in all over the place. Nowhere does it give friday the 13th or yellow jacket vibes. 👎🏻
June 19, 2025
This book was about 384 pages too long. I finished it hoping it would get better, but it didn’t.
June 6, 2023
The Camp by Nancy Bush makes me really glad I never went to a summer camp...or was born into a cult. I found this to be very suspenseful and I finished the last half of the book in two days. I appreciate the author wrapping up *almost* everyone's stories, but it is killing me to not know what happened to Emma. Did I just miss it? I would read another book that followed Emma's Story for a few months before Camp Love Shack until she returns 20 years later for the parents/alumni weekend.
Also, respect to Sunny Dae.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Books for the advanced review copy. I have added more Nancy Bush books to my TBR.
Also, respect to Sunny Dae.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Books for the advanced review copy. I have added more Nancy Bush books to my TBR.
August 11, 2023
Murder and mayhem at a summer camp but not the fun Friday the 13th experience you were probably expecting from the book description. Like everyone else, I, too, thought there were too many characters to the point that there really wasn't a clear main character you come to care about. VERY early on, I was already confused about who was who and what the significance of anything they were saying was and how they related to anyone else. The writing style was not compelling, a lot of telling instead of showing. And you'd get these loooonnnngggg paragraphs along the lines of (this is just an example from my head not actually anything in the book exactly): "..., said Suzy, who had talked John into letting her go to camp, along with her best friend Jane, who was also her stepsister, well, not her actual stepsister because she was not John's actual daughter but the daughter of his first wife who he had only been married to for a brief period before she died, leaving him to raise Jane . And John didn't know it yet, but she had also convinced Billy, her boyfriend of 6 months, to come along to camp, too. They planned to say that it had been a last minute decision because Billy's parents were getting a divorce and he needed to get away for awhile because his best friend, Steve, had been the victim of bullying at school and Dwayne had told him it would be beneficial to do camp." Confusing writing, confusing cast of characters, confusing plots (plural). A chore to read.
June 3, 2023
I really wanted to like this. With a setting that just brings to mind so many teen slasher movies of the 70s & 80s, this had the potential a campy & gory homage. However, I thought that it was so busy & complicated that it missed the mark. There’s a lot of characters, and we see this book through many POVs, but it seemed like new characters were being added every few chapters, and I gave up on trying to remember who was who. With the new characters came different plot lines, and while they all linked up by the end of the story, they all just seemed to complicate the story, and I found it a real struggle to read. I found most of the characters to be pretty unlikeable, and didn’t care if they survived their weekend at Camp Fog Lake or not.
Thanks to Kensington Booms & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Kensington Booms & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2023
I was really excited to receive a copy of The Camp for review. The cover is amazing and the summary is really intriguing. however, I did not find this to be the action-packed, edge-of-your-seat novel I was hoping for. It was suspenseful, and there was a lot going on, and a lot of questionable characters (a few I liked... many I hated). The last third of the book did pick up pace, and definitely had some interesting reveals and twists. I give this 3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4.
did-not-finish
June 20, 2023I tried, but I just couldn't get into it. I wasn't a fan of any of the characters and was just bored. I quit at 20%. :(
June 16, 2023
In The Camp by Nancy Bush we get a layered mystery hora that it’s everything you read Nancy Bush four. In 1988 when it was still called love shack camp we meet Brooke Wendy rowena and Emma it is the last night of the camp in just a few stragglers or left behind Emma feels like she is over it and just wants to go to bed she doesn’t want to entertain the Catty click that is the other three girls. She is also tired of talking about the camps history and the folklore that comes from the commune or cult across the lake but when she tries to go to sleep she hears screaming and when she goes to investigate she sees something but what what does the other three girls have to do with it and how did a member of the commune wind up dead on suicide rock along with one of the boys from the camp. Fast forward to modern day Emma was attacked and now has mental problems stemming from that violent assault she lives in an assisted living facility but also spends a lot of time with her sister and her niece. This is how she hears Love Shack Camp has now been change to Fog Lake Camp and they’re reopening it. Brooke is in the middle of a divorce and is definitely not going to attend the reopening except when her old friend Rowena calls Brooke does her best not to fall back into the same role let Rowena call the shots mentality but eventually she does agree to go to the camp opening. Eventually most of the old gang returns to the camp mostly to monitor their children who are now counseling the new campus. Rowena‘s daughter Kelly goes along with Harley Emma‘s niece and even more when the maintenance guy is back. What the campers don’t realize is that you can change the name but that doesn’t mean history will not repeat itself. There is a murderer in their mitts but who is it and why did he take out Sweet Marlon the maintenance guy? This was such a good story Nancy Bush is known for her great teen horrors but as I’ve said in previous reviews I think this year is the year for books like this because she is definitely out done her self this is a layered mystery with a twist that are truly surprising it seems to come out of left field but totally fits the narrative I really did enjoy this book and highly recommend it… What a great horror! I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
October 12, 2023
Objectively, this is one of the worst books I've ever read.
First off this is advertised as inspired by Friday the 13th, so you'd expect a slasher. It is a "thriller" and I put thriller in quotes because at no time was this thrilling. The comps for Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix are absurd and inaccurate.
Overall the writing is very poor. There are a million prospective characters, all women 17-40 years old and they're all written the exact same. This make the plot confusing, when its not boring. This story should have been 150 pages, yet its over 400. Many of the characters also had multiple names for no discernable reason (though I have to assume it was supposed to be red herrings)
Although the book itself was confusing the "plot twist"/killer was extremely obvious about 1/2 way through the book and I am REALLY BAD at guessing twists in thrillers. I had an idea the killer was a man from from the start. The reader just wasn't introduced to him until about 50% into the book.
Finally, the use of a disabled character to create suspense was just gross.
First off this is advertised as inspired by Friday the 13th, so you'd expect a slasher. It is a "thriller" and I put thriller in quotes because at no time was this thrilling. The comps for Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix are absurd and inaccurate.
Overall the writing is very poor. There are a million prospective characters, all women 17-40 years old and they're all written the exact same. This make the plot confusing, when its not boring. This story should have been 150 pages, yet its over 400. Many of the characters also had multiple names for no discernable reason (though I have to assume it was supposed to be red herrings)
Although the book itself was confusing the "plot twist"/killer was extremely obvious about 1/2 way through the book and I am REALLY BAD at guessing twists in thrillers. I had an idea the killer was a man from from the start. The reader just wasn't introduced to him until about 50% into the book.
Finally, the use of a disabled character to create suspense was just gross.
April 30, 2023
"The Camp" is a thrilling page-turner that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. As a fan of slasher movies from the 1980s, I was delighted to find that this book reminded me of those classic films in all the best ways.
Bush expertly weaves together a suspenseful plot filled with some unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. What I loved most about "The Camp" was its ability to capture the essence of the slasher genre while still feeling fresh and unique. It had all the tropes that I love, from the isolated setting to the mysterious killer, but also managed to subvert my expectations and keep me on my toes.
Overall, "The Camp" is a must-read for fans of the slasher genre and anyone looking for a thrilling and suspenseful read. Nancy Bush has created a true masterpiece that I will be recommending to everyone I know.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher Kensington Books, Zebra for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bush expertly weaves together a suspenseful plot filled with some unexpected twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. What I loved most about "The Camp" was its ability to capture the essence of the slasher genre while still feeling fresh and unique. It had all the tropes that I love, from the isolated setting to the mysterious killer, but also managed to subvert my expectations and keep me on my toes.
Overall, "The Camp" is a must-read for fans of the slasher genre and anyone looking for a thrilling and suspenseful read. Nancy Bush has created a true masterpiece that I will be recommending to everyone I know.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher Kensington Books, Zebra for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2023
“Hello, the 80’s are calling!”
This is a solid and entertaining read paying homage to the 80’s slasher movies. The camp itself has an history with buried secrets. The atmosphere is creepy and dark, and. We have a sordid history coupled with new counselor who are seeking fun and sun. I wonder does any of this sound familiar? There is no hockey mask though!
The story moves quickly with a dual timeline. The writing is neat, clipped, and fast. This novel, with multiple twists leaves you wondering exactly where it is going. In this story, you will find mystery, thrills, murder, and a shocking ending that you don’t see coming.
I recommend this one by Nancy Bush. It’s suspense and entertainment at its best.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This is a solid and entertaining read paying homage to the 80’s slasher movies. The camp itself has an history with buried secrets. The atmosphere is creepy and dark, and. We have a sordid history coupled with new counselor who are seeking fun and sun. I wonder does any of this sound familiar? There is no hockey mask though!
The story moves quickly with a dual timeline. The writing is neat, clipped, and fast. This novel, with multiple twists leaves you wondering exactly where it is going. In this story, you will find mystery, thrills, murder, and a shocking ending that you don’t see coming.
I recommend this one by Nancy Bush. It’s suspense and entertainment at its best.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 16, 2023
Camp Luft-Shawk, nicknamed Camp Love Shack has tales of death connected to it. Twenty years previously a young woman's body was found and another camper went missing and was never found. Now, twenty years later, the camp has been renamed Camp Fog Lake and it is reopening. The alumni has bee invited to join their own children for a.parents weekend. Those who were there all those years ago are back.and still keeping the secrets they've held for so long. They want to make sure nothing happens to their own children even though so many years have passed. Will the alumni weekend go off without a hitch or will secrets come to light and more death plague the camp. Love the series and hope the author brings the characters back again soon.
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