My Five Word TL:DR Review: a Very Fitting Title Indeed

This was a very entertaining read, it maybe had more plot holes than a leaky sieve, but the title promises that Heads Will Roll and roll they did – and, perhaps because I’m not a massive horror reader – it never failed to take me by surprise. 

Basically you have your classic slasher story, based in a retreat in the middle of nowhere, where a bunch of characters, all trying to escape some sort of trouble, or trauma, or upset in their lives come to be at one with nature, leaving their hectic lives, and any electronic devices, behind. What could possibly go wrong?

As the story begins we meet Willow on her way to Camp Castaway. Her life has imploded following an ill advised tweet that went viral inspiring hate mail and death threats. Her tv show has been cancelled, her fiancée has scarpered and she soon discovers that she really has little else with most of her belongings not actually being hers!  She’s running scared and although this camp is in the middle of nowhere she’s worried about being recognised (leading to some almost comedic attempts at disguise). 

I don’t think I need to elaborate on the plot too much. It’s a relatively small cast of characters with only three employees and less than ten visitors as the story begins. What they all have in common: secrets. 

What I really enjoyed about this. 

We have a good cast of characters. The shy and awkward young man who seems to need protection, a slightly older woman, previously a Hollywood star who retreated into obscurity, a young girl who quickly attaches herself to Willow and becomes friends, a camp leader who feels a little on the edge and another employee who everyone seems to fantasise about with his hot bod and good looks. And then a few others who don’t stand out quite as much and you can’t hep feeling will swiftly become axe fodder – although there are some surprises. 

The setting is certainly remote. Plenty of trees, tiny cabins sprinkled throughout, a beautiful lake and lots of activities none of which involve tv or any other connection to what’s going on in the outside world. Plenty of places for someone to sneak around or hide out and there is more than one person doing a bit of sneaking.  Oh, and I forgot to mention, no locks. I don’t think I would sleep!

Everyone is keeping secrets and some campers know more than others. 

This is a slow build of tension fuelled by a local legend/urban myth know as Knock Knock Nancy.  I won’t spoil the read by delving into that story here. 

The final third of the book, is unrelentingly wicked with people running amok and literally losing their heads. 

In conclusion, I went into this expecting a slasher and the author certainly delivers. I decided from the outset not to question events too deeply and I think that was the right move. As I mentioned above there were certainly questionable areas but I checked my natural inclination to drill down into everything at the start of the read and take this at face value and so it worked.  The tension was ramped up incredibly during the last third and although it’s often difficult to form attachments with this kind of story I did find myself really rooting  for a couple of the characters. There was plenty of blood, the victims were stacking up with indecent haste and I was never quite sure about the eventual reveal although I made a few attempts at guessing. Foolish decisions were aplenty and the axe wielder – well, in the way of any good slasher story – felt almost inhumanly strong and had more lives than a cat. 

I could easily see this being adapted and providing plenty of shocks as people lose their heads. 

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion. 

My rating 4 of 5 crazy, blood soaked stars.