Small Town Slasher by Stephanie Rose
Death by TBR Books (August 4, 2026)
Reviewed by Briana Morgan
“There’s no time to run. There’s no time to hide.”
After her partner Charlie’s tragic passing, Jenna Willcot struggles to adjust to her new reality. One day, after arriving home in the wake of the accident, Jenna discovers Charlie booked a stay for them in a “one-of-a-kind overnight experience designed to spark nostalgia and give you the creeps in the best way possible.” The trip is planned and paid for—all Jenna has to do is go.
After traveling to the cozy, small town of Woods Bay, Jenna checks into her horror-themed vacation rental with mixed emotions. She misses Charlie, of course, but there’s also an unpleasant turn of events to contend with. There has been a rash of local murders mirroring crimes of the past, leaving the townspeople scrambling to find the killer and stop them before they strike again.
I grew to love Jenna. She is the kind of queer, disabled protagonist I rarely see in fiction, and this representation really matters. As Jenna faces off against the killer in Woods Bay, I celebrated her wins and mourned her failures. As a horror fan, I also love to see a slasher that isn’t predictable. The pacing of the story never lets up—it feels like watching a scary movie in the very best way.
With plenty of gore for slasher fans and character-driven thrills, Small Town Slasher is a chilling story that should be your next read of the summer.
Perfect for fans of Friday the 13th and Scream.
