📚 Book Review 📚

Heads Will Roll by @joshuawinning 🪓

One knock, two knock, three knock, four…

If you’re looking for a summer camp/slasher giving Friday the 13th vibes, then this is the book for you!

Our main character is the star in her own Netflix TV show and living in LA, but all of that comes to an abrupt halt when she’s suddenly cancelled and unemployed. Now her agent is sending her out to Camp Castaway to give her a break from life. When she arrives at Camp Castaway, it’s the idyllic place to clear your head, full of cabins, a calming lake and in the middle of a beautiful forest far away from the outside world. There are other campers there too, but not for long, and people seem to start to lose their heads over it…

This is my first book by @joshuawinning and it certainly won’t be my last. I can definitely see him becoming an “auto-buy” author for me! Josh’s writing style is perfectly descriptive and features some amazing movie references - the Scream one being my favourite 🖤.

Josh explores LGBTQ+ rights and the topic of being ‘cancelled’ all while creating a terrifyingly creepy tale with a haunting backstory. I’d say this book is a bit of a slow burner, I loved to read about the individual campers and why they ended up at Camp Castaway, but there was a good amount of gore and horror throughout the book to keep you on your toes. Some campers I wasn’t so keen, but others I was absolutely rooting for and I loved how Josh portrayed them! There were some parts throughout the book where I was genuinely scared to read on - this is 100% down to Josh’s insane descriptions and I visualised everything in those pages.

I seriously didn’t want this book to end and because of this I’m going to class it as one of the best books I’ve read, and it marks the 25th book I’ve read this year!

Thank you so, so much @joshuawinning, @netgalley & @michaeljbooks for the e-ARC copy of this book. I’m going to have to buy a physical copy for my shelf when it’s released so I can experience it all over again! Heads Will Roll releases in the UK on 30th July 2024, try not to lose your heads over it. 🪓

A chilling summer read, perfect for dark nights around a campfire....with a phone nearby, of course!

Heads Will Roll kept me guessing right until the end. With the single scene visions of campers being picked off, the reader knew that there really was a killer in the woods, but it was fun to watch the campers range from dismissive to paranoid about the chance of Knock Knock Nancy coming to call. The plot was a touch convoluted at times, with the urban legend of Nancy, the actual truth, and Willow's potential cyber stalkers, but this was part of what kept you guessing. The stream of consciousness that cropped up every now and then had me genuinely confused until near the end, when we discovered two killers communicating via text message! Red herrings galore in this book!

On the whole, a fantastic read, and one I won't hesitate to recommend.

Recently I've been reading a lot of summer camp slasher books and I enjoyed some of them more than the others. But this was exactly the story I was looking for.

"Willow" needs a break from her life and her phone after she's "cancelled" on social media. To escape strangers making judgmental and threatening comments online she goes to Camp Castaway which serves as a place free from electronics. Things are going well until some of her fellow campers start getting killed.

This is a proper slasher and I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers but it's exactly the kind of slasher I wanted. It's bloody and scary at times and there are plenty of fun twists and turns to keep you guessing. Everyone feels like a suspect and at the same time it actually feels heartbreaking when some of the characters are killed.

Some of the plot points come together a little too perfectly but in the end it still works for me. I had a blast.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC!

Heads Will Roll is a camp slasher about cancel culture, zealotry, grief, anger, and finding yourself amongst all the bullshit.

There were a few moments that felt a bit preachy, but overall I really enjoyed this book. It had everything I love in a good campy slasher, but with more three dimensional characters. Really well done.

Definitely read this if you're a fan of AHS 1984!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Heads Will Roll

To start on a positive note, there was a lot that I enjoyed when reading. Heads will roll is a fast-paced mystery full of twists and turns and horror tropes perfect for and horror fan. I thought the conversations on the topic of cancel culture were well executed, and the characters well fleshed out. The plot was gripping to the point that once I settled into the flow of the story, I struggled to put it down, desperate to know what happened next.

[SPOILER WARNING]
However, one thing that soured my reading experience is the use of a very specific trope in which the only black character in the story sacrificed her life to further the story arc of the white main character. Which, as a black reader, I feel is one too overused and unneeded in media. This isn't an attack on the author or story itself. it's just a creative decision I wish wasn't made personally.

Thanks to Josh Winning, Michael Joseph and Netgalley for a complimentary free copy of this novel in exchange for a review.

"Willow" has been cancelled - after saying the wrong thing on social media, and her life taking a sudden turn for the worst, she thinks it best she disappears for a time to get away from all the death threats and backlash. An adult only summer camp completely digital free sounds like the perfect escape but when other campers actually start disappearing, is there more to to this wellness destination then meets the eye? And what's with the creepy urban legend about a headless girl called Nancy who knocks on your door at night?

I had such a good time with this book - told in a very relatable way from Willow's point of view, who is really a person who has been living in hiding since she got her starring role in a popular sitcom, I found her to be a likable and thankfully smart and culture savvy protagonist. The love for horror culture and movies is clearly evident in this book and as a fellow horror fan I loved seeing all the nods to this and how it influenced Willow's actions. I actually really liked Willow as a character and how she managed to finally start breaking away from her very literal character archetype she had been forcing herself to live in to truly become her true self. Whilst there was definitely plenty of horror to keep the stakes and tension high, there was also some great themes about love, understanding and forgiveness which really helped elevate what could have been just another slasher book.

Whilst we follow a lot of old fashioned horror tropes, there's a great blend with new modern tropes too and the dialogue on fame and cancel culture was extremely relevant to our current social media culture. I also loved all the mixed media elements that were scattered throughout at the start of each chapter, adding that extra layer of culture in a book that is as much a love letter to it as a critique. I actually read this book right after another recent horror release centred around horror and fame (Bury your Gays by Chuck Tingle) and I felt this was the perfect counterpart, albeit one with more heart.

I'm definitely going to be looking out for more books by Josh Winning in the future as his brand of horror is really just my perfect cup of tea!
(also kudos to whoever designed the cover for the kindle edition as, I adore it!)

Another win from Winning. This was a brilliant suspense novel that was filled to the brim with drastic moments.

Heads Will Roll is a tense slasher horror with a great twist. I particularly loved the fact that it took place in a digital detox camp for adults called Camp Castaway. The lack of technology at the camp not only made the setting seem more isolated and confined, but it also forced the reader to think about their own dependence on their phones.
At the start though, handing in their phones and adopting new names for their stay allows the campers to be totally free and anonymous. For our main character ‘Willow’ (whose real name we don’t learn until the final page) this means that she can escape from cruel online comments and abuse. She is a victim of ‘cancel culture’ and has reached a real low point after losing her job and fiancé for tweeting something that was (we learn wrongfully) construed as homophobic. Many of the other characters at the camp have also been cancelled or publicly exposed for their flaws. I really enjoyed learning about their individual backgrounds and finding out what brought them to this retreat. I also appreciated that the author didn’t demonise these people but celebrated the fact that they were trying to learn from their mistakes and grow.
This discussion of cancel culture is probably the most controversial part of the book as Josh Winning makes the reader question whether the crime fits the punishment, whether we can judge people based on one mistake and ask why the public can act as judge, jury and executioner without finding real evidence of people’s transgressions. Whilst I appreciated Winning’s criticisms, I did think that he could have made the issue of cancel culture more of a debate in his novel. He never seems to consider that cancel culture is also about calling out powerful figures and holding them to account for their actions. People want to know who they are supporting and question whether they deserve the accolade they receive. I’m not saying that either side of the debate is right, just that I would have been interested to see him broaden this discussion of the topic.
In terms of horror and suspense, I think that Heads Will Roll manages to include some staples of the slasher genre whilst also playing with the audiences expectations. Yes, we have the classic trope of an axe wielding maniac stalking the campers in the woods. Yes, there is a creepy cabin in the woods filled with religious paraphernalia and animal skulls. Yes, there is a strange myth surrounding the camp and a legend about a woman looking for her missing head. These are all familiar horror plot points. But, we also have two characters who were actresses which means that they are familiar with the tropes of horror movies. This meant that they were able to avoid some of the cliches that get people killed (like pulling off the mask of the killer and waking them up rather than running away).
I especially liked the character of Juniper Brown, a former Hollywood action superstar, who battles the killer. She uses her film knowledge and pure willpower to stage a moving last stand in the second half of the book. I also thought that the relationship between Willow and Dani was well written. Although it did progress quickly I think that the isolation of Camp Castaway means that people would bond rapidly. The tenderness between the two felt real and I think that it gave both characters more motivation to survive the night. I also appreciated the queer representation as the horror genre usually focuses on the main straight couple and makes queer people disposable background characters. But not this time!
Now we move on to the criticisms. I think that the biggest thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was the internal monologue of Willow. Throughout most of the book Willow (the main character) hears ‘Willow’ (the character she plays on TV) in her head. She shares pieces of advice, sarcastic comments and repeats some of her catchphrases from the show. I found the voice of this character to be extremely annoying. She is meant to be naive and full of life but this often came across as annoyingly goofy and over dramatic. I infinitely preferred the actual main character to her alter ego. I also had trouble following the big reveal at the end of the novel. I won’t spoil the finale but the motivation of one of the killers doesn’t make sense to me. There is also a catfish situation where one characters instructs another and I find it hard to believe that a) they would fall for that and b) that the one providing instructions could find the other killer’s contact information and learn their background, let alone convincingly trick them into committing murder. But the big reveal at the end of the novel still had impact which is good.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves slasher movies and thrillers which focus on the horrors of isolation. It was certainly thought provoking and the idea of having my head chopped off was enough to scare me away from summer camps.

A summerween must read 🪓

If you’re a slasher fan, you will probably love this book as much as I did! This was such a fun summer camp slasher, with a big but easy to follow cast of characters (some likeable, some not). The vibes were spot on with an isolated setting, a plausible lack of phone signal, and creepy figures lurking in the woods! It was cheesy and dramatic in true slasher fashion and the short chapters made it a speedy read. Also, can we take a minute to appreciate this cover because I am in love 🥹

The only thing this was missing (and this is purely personal preference) was some GORE. While it was brutal, I feel like the unalivings were glossed over a little. I would’ve devoured a bit more detail to help the scenes come to life - in the end it just felt a little too YA for me, which is definitely not a bad thing in itself and I still thoroughly enjoyed it but I tend to like my horror more grisly 🫢

I’m looking forward to reading more from Josh Winning!

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for my ARC of Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

A fun and spooky read for summer.

Willow, a recently ‘cancelled’ actress, checks herself into Camp Castaway for the summer, an isolated retreat where you hand over all technology and can be anyone but the real you. But what begins as a peaceful getaway soon turns into a nightmare when Willow hears about the local legend of Knock Knock Nancy. People start disappearing, and Willow is forced to confront both her real self and the dark past of Camp Castaway.

What follows is, in essence, a queer, feminist Friday the 13th. Or at least, that’s the vibe it gave me.

This was a fun and quick read. While it wasn’t groundbreaking by any means, it had plenty of twists and turns that kept the plot moving at a steady pace. If you’re participating in the Summerween reading challenge, this would make a great contribution as it’s got a lot of spooky summer tropes: a camp setting; local legends; and plenty of slasher action. It’s more than just gore, though, as it makes important comments on the queer community and cancel culture. It’s a slasher with substance.

Publication: August 2024

Thank you kindly to @netgalley and @michaeljbooks for inviting me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Heads Will Roll is my first read from author Josh Winning and it definitely won't be my last... just wow.

I sped through this book like i don't know what. I adore summer camp stories and i adore them even more when they are filled with slasher/horror themes so i was very thankful to be given an early arc from the publishers. Horror and humour what more could you ask for.

Willow is a former sitcom star with her own netflix show ' we love willow. ' that was cancelled after she made a bad tweet that got her cancelled she is sent away to Camp Castaway to get away from social media and find solace in nature and help recover from everything that has gone on. Whilst here she meets other campers that have their own troubles they are running from. Over a campfire Willow learns of the local urban legend Knock Knock Nancy but it's just a ghost story right no need to worry. Everything is going well until campers start going missing, investigations between themselves start and we soon find out dark secrets that are to die for... literally.

This book was such a fun read, it felt like i was watching a slasher movie. The characters were written really well and felt relatable, nobody was the same. Filled with shorts chapters and have the right amount of gore and horror. Horror, slasher and humour is a great mix and i had a few laughs. I finished this book very quick and would definitely recommend to read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers Penguin Random House and Michael Joseph for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed Josh Winning's last novel - Burn the Negative, which was effectively a love-letter to 1990 and early 2000s horror movies, so I couldn't wait to dive into his latest.
Heads will Roll takes the classic 1980s summer camp slasher concept and brings it bang up to date. Camp Castaway is an exclusive woodland retreat where the rich and famous go in order to detoxify from social media. No phones, no computers, no electronics of any kind. Known as "Camp Cancelled" to the small group of inhabitants, it's a p[ace where people who have committed grave social media faux-pax can hide away from the world until the scandal has died down and the social media mobs have moved on to their next target.
Willow is a former sit-com star whose life has fallen apart after several drunken tweets cost her not only her job, but her relationship and her reputation as well. She arrives at the camp in almost a state of shell-shock, but soon begins to relax and come back to herself.
Then the campers begin to go missing.
Fans of the slasher genre will immediately gravitate towards this story. We know that the campers are going to meet gristly ends and a big part of the fun is finding out who is next for the axe, along with working out who among the campers and staff can be trusted. And we are not disappointed. The narrative unfurls at a satisfying pace, with plenty of twists, turns, red-herrings and brutal decapitations to keep the most hardened slasher movie fan happy.
What elevates this story, however, is the way that Winning takes characters who are, on the surface, often pretty loathesome, and shows their human side, peeling away the layers and showing the fallible, hurt human being beneath the polished public persona. By the time the axe comes for them, as a reader you are praying for some miracle to help them escape their fates. It's a powerful and clever condemnation of cancel culture and reminds us that every person who falls foul of the social media morality police is still a human being beneath it all and despite their mistakes.
If anything I enjoyed this even more than Burn the Negative. Heads will Roll is a clever, engaging homage to the slasher movie, with some bang-up-to-date social commentary and engaging, interesting characters.

Eyes will roll. Mine. Constantly.

Fair warning, I'm mid-30s and rapidly growing tired of modern culture. Probably a sign I shouldn't have picked this up, but I always hear about Winning being the nostalgia king and I wanted to give him a try. Taking a jab at cancel culture is right up my street too since that whole concept drives me nuts, so I'm up for others making that point.

A horror set in isolated woods with no technology is always my bag. But not this time.

I was niggled by many continuity issues; hair colour changes in the space of one paragraph, we're told it's the morning yet after a few sentences of dialogue it's somehow the afternoon. Minor errors in the grand scheme but enough to break my concentration and there were quite a lot of them.

There have been many recent slasher novels and we've many more to come, something Winning is clearly also aware of from his unashamed references to Tremblay and Jade Daniels that -honestly- screamed 'pick me' vibes and really irritated me.

Heads Will Roll doesn't take itself seriously, it is a campy (haha) slasher and it's supposed to be. BUT my eyes rolled harder than their heads at this plot.

I'm sure some will find this fun and usually I like a good cheesy novel or B movie horror, but I found Heads Will Roll to be tacky, obvious and poorly written.

A good old fashioned slasher with a few modern twists.
I picked this book up not knowing what to expect and luckily it ticked a fair few of the boxes which I would call a necessity for a good compelling read, it even ticked a few I never new existed too.
Following the well trodden cliche of a group gather at a summer camp, this story delves deeply into the lives of a extremely varied collection of characters, each having fallen foul of cancel culture. All in an effort to rejuvenate or cleanse themselves of these modern issues. That's exactly where this tale starts to become darker, more foreboding, menacing as events unravell.
The author did a marvelous job of covering lgbtq issues but without making it become overbaring and undermining the narrative. This was a breath of fresh air for me, as many stories seem to get bogged down with similar topics lately.
Overall this was a fun, exciting read and one that is well worth checking out.

Creepy and gruesome, couldn't put it down.***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

I'm not sure that I'm the target material for this novel as I found it more an entertaining read rather than a horror, but I can see it has all the elements of a Halloween movie.
"Willow" has gone to camp castaway to recover from being cancelled after making a statement on social media. With her fellow campmates, she hears the story of Knock Knock Nancy, the woman murdered by the preacher. They all smile and think it's a story until a couple of them go missing, is there more to the myth.
Whilst the remoteness of the camp set the scene I didn't really relate to the characters and found the last third almost frenzied and a bit far fetched. Lighthearted rather than a heavy read.

Absolutely addictive. This had me hooked from the get go. I kept trying to guess if it was one of the camp members or an outsider with knowledge of the camp who was out for revenge. The ending shocked me but was totally and utterly perfect!

I really enjoyed Josh Winning's previous novel, The Shadow Glass, which managed to finally balance creepy horror in a subtle, nostalgic way. Heads Will Roll is a completely different novel. It's a bold, in your face, camp horror that relies on the fear of isolation and untrustworthy characters to ramp up the tension.

Our main character, known only by her stage name of Willow, arrives at a mysterious camp after being cancelled online following an Infamous tweet. Camp Castaway is a place to unplug from social media. No phones, no tech is allowed. And the camp councillors make sure you have a relaxing time. But when campers start going missing, and creepy doll heads start appearing, Willow realises that the camp might not be the escape she was expecting.

Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy this one. It just fell a bit flat, and the characters didn't really feel 2ell developed. I think not knowing a lot about Willow or her backstory at first made it hard for me to connect with her, and by the time we do find out more of what she'd done, I didn't care. I get that this is clearly an homage of sorts to 90s slasher, and it did feel very nostalgic, however because of that the plot also didn't feel particularly original and I found my attention waning as a result. The twists didn't really shock me. I guess I was expecting something a bit more like The Shadow Glass.

Good, summer slasher. This author is a wonderful writer, but this time I just wanted more depth from the characters and plot.

I’m glad I was invited to review this fun and compelling Friday-the-13th-esque horror novel.

After being ‘cancelled’, TV star Willow checks into Camp Castaway for a digital detox.

However, the sanctuary quickly descends into a hellish nightmare when two campers go missing.

The campfire ghost story of Knock Knock Nancy can’t be real. Can it?

The camp has a history, and it has come to collect some more heads.

For fans of Riley Sager and Grady Hendrix.