A suspenseful horror story, Slash is about Ashley King who survived the infamous Resort Massacre.

She’s found hanging in her basement by her fiancé, Todd Matthews.

She left behind clues as to what really happened that night, clues that may reveal the identity of the killer the press has called The Wraith.

With the help of his friends, Todd goes back to the crumbling Hayden Resort, a death-tinged ruin in the Catskills Mountains. What they find is a haunted history that’s been lying in wait for a fresh set of victims. The Wraith is back, and he’s nothing what they expected.

Hunter Shea is one of my favorite horror writers and while he is best known for his cryptid novels, the fact is he has an incredible range. The one constant though is his ability to craft high-octane horror stories that appeal to the horror lover in us all. Like many in the horror community, Hunter is a horror fan first and foremost. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of horror films and books – which you can see from his podcasts Monster Men and Final Guys – and he has an infectious energy when talking about all things horror. That same passion bleeds through in his works and the result is a fun read made for horror fans by a horror fan.

His most recent Flame Tree Press novel Slash, finds him taking his knowledge and fandom and applying it to the Slasher subgenre, which is something that doesn’t get nearly the love it deserves when it comes to books. One thing that I loved about Slash was that it’s set five years after the Hayden Resort Massacre, when the world was first made aware of the lunatic killer known as the Wraith. Ashley King was the only survivor of the massacre and the opening chapters explore the guilt and grief that she feels being the only one to survive after witnessing the deaths of her closest friends. Not only that, she lives her life in constant fear since the Wraith was never found. She hates dark spaces and is constantly looking over her shoulder, worried that the Wraith will hunt her down.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of what happens to the characters that survive slasher films or novels, which is something you often don’t get to experience. Sure, you’ll get brief flashes of what happens if the franchise gets a sequel (which they almost always do), but it usually just scratches the surface. In Slash, Hunter takes these psychological implications and places them front and center. He also explores the inevitable media circus that would result from a horrific event like this and the impact it would have on the lives of those involved and how it could define them as they attempt to recover. You come to empathize with Ashley and the other characters throughout the novel, and it’s these scenes that add a little more depth to the plot. It kind of reminds me of Kealan Patrick Burke’s modern Horror classic Kin in that regard.

Ultimately, the trauma and fear consume Ashley and the aftermath devastates her fiance Todd and their close group of friends. Driven by his grief, Todd uses one of Ashley’s favorite podcasts – The Killer Podcast – to call out the Wraith and make himself a target. But ultimately what starts the chain reaction of carnage that ultimately plays out throughout a bulk of Slash is when he finds the last letter Ashley had ever written him. It hints at the fact that the truth of what happened that night years ago can be found at the Hayden Resort. Armed with this new knowledge, Todd enlists the help of his closest friends and heads back out to the Hayden to get closure once and for all.

The slasher genre has fervent fans that will find any flaw and Hunter is able to avoid those in Slash. There is plenty of depth to the story, but make no mistake, Slash pulls no punches when it comes to violence and bloodshed. Slashers have a long history of memorable kill scenes like the “Sleeping Bag” scene from Friday the 13th VII: The New Blood or the “Bedroom Blood Fountain” of A Nightmare on Elm Street just to name a few. Hunter goes all out in crafting some of his own in Slash that are worthy of being included with some of the classics. The Wraith is an intriguing villain that pays homage to the tropes that people love while being something fairly unique. Hunter gives him a unique backstory that was honestly a surprise for me and amplified my enjoyment of the novel. The Wraith is a seemingly unstoppable force that’s not only incredibly strong, but fast. Not to mention he is seemingly driven by an unquenchable bloodlust and revels in extreme brutality. I know it will sound like sacrilege to some, but if you threw The Wraith into a cage match with slasher icons like Jason and Michael, I think he would more than hold his own, if not outright win. You may be scoffing now, but I’m willing to bet you’ll either agree or strongly consider it once you finish Slash.

Shea builds a great creepy atmosphere by setting the bulk of this story in a hard-hit town in the Catskills. You know how in a lot of slashers, the protagonists roll into an isolated town and it just exudes creepiness? Shea captures that feeling expertly here, and even gives a nod to the trope of the grizzled old man who attempts to warn them one last time to turn back. And then there are the ruins of the Hayden. The isolation of the building and the state of disrepair just amplify the feelings of dread. Also, it’s a pretty sprawling place that gives the Wraith plenty of places to hide and you never know where he’s going to come from next. But more important than the physical settings of the book are the ways Hunter uses their history to amplify the scares. Even though the new group that ventures into the Hayden weren’t there originally, they are haunted by the carnage that has seeped into the foundations of the building over the year based on the Hayden’s sordid history and the reports from the original massacre.

I’ve always enjoyed reading Hunter’s books because they capture that same feeling I used to get browsing the shelves at the video store, grabbing armfuls of classic horror movies. There’s a comfort there, and every time I pick up one of his books, I know I’m in for one hell of a reading experience. At any given time you may laugh, cringe, yell out “holy shit,” or any other reaction you can think of. But, most of all, you’ll have fun. We all know the tradition of slashers and sequels and Shea doesn’t disappoint in that regard, leaving the door open for future stories involving the Wraith. I thought Slash was an absolute thrill ride from start to finish and was full of buckets of blood, mayhem, and great characters. So, if you’re reading this Hunter or any of the folks at Flame Tree Press, please give us more of the Wraith!

There aren't enough slasher-style horror novels, and this one is well-written and entertaining in the same style as a B-movie. The final-girl-years-later premise that it starts out with, with the husband then investigating after she finally succumbs to fear and depression and commits suicide, is a novel opening but I did have trouble connecting with many of the side characters, who in a movie exist to just get killed but in a book needed more development to keep me interested. I hated the friends and thought they detracted from Todd's mission to find answers, which was really the part I wanted more of. Still I will put Hunter Shea on my radar for more books because this one was promising enough.

Okay, so this doesn't have anything to do with this book in particular, so I won't let the fact influence my rating, but I've come to learn that I don't really seem to be into slasher books. Which is surprising considering I've seen about each and every slasher movie ever made and loved pretty much all of them no matter how terrible they were.
But, as I've come to learn, while slasher movies make for an entertaining and comfortably shallow pastime, spending so many hours reading a book and thereby getting to know and growing attached to the characters by learning about their backgrounds and motivations, only to witness them getting butchered one by one is kind of depressing.
Plus, all the rather repetitive hiding-getting-chased-running-away theme that works perfectly for me in a 2 hour-movie, just got kind of old after the third or fourth time reading about it.

So with all that in mind, I still ended up enjoying this book, not least thanks to the creepy setting, Hunter Shea's immersive writing and a cast of interesting and diverse characters you can actually root for.
It took some time for the story to unwind, but once it picked up pace, it was one hell of a tense ride. The backstory was surprisingly smart and not what I was expecting, something I can definitely appreciate, but with enough blood and gore that any slasher fan out there will get their money's worth.

Slash was a fun book for those who love gory slasher movies from the 80's and 90's. Run down area, ill-prepared friends and something (or someone) lurking around. It's a horror novel that would be suitable for a movie adaption. The book has a good pace with a few twists and turns, which made it even more engaging. Of course the book also plays a bit on a few horror tropes, such as the ill-prepared group of friends, a run down area, a killer monster and the whole "final girl" concept.

There were perhaps a couple of places where I would love a bit more depth to the story and a few scenes that were a bit confusing in terms of which characters were there or not (all of a sudden X was mentioned, even if I thought person X wasn't even there to begin with, for instance). There's also some cringe/cramp dialogue a couple of places.

Overall, Slash was a fun and entertaining read, even with the minor issues.

This was a well written horror story! Classic story of a run down area and a bunch of ill-prepared friends there to trying to kill something seemingly unkillable. This one had me going right from the beginning. A final girl, tormented by her fear and memories of the attack so many years ago.

Her long-time partner decides to go face what she faced - to see if it's still there or not and to see if there is any evidence as to what happened that night when so many other friends died. Of course, he doesn't arrive alone and is, instead, with a whole new group of friends. As each horrible attack after horrible attack, it was a race to see how this would all end. I loved the twist and was absolutely all for it, a theme I don't stumble in to often so I enjoyed it! This would be a great movie! So glad I gave this one a try!

Hunter Shea has done it again. His book Slash has the makings of a gory TV movie. I love this genre and while reading this book I honestly could vision who would play the characters on tv. Certainly a must read if you love gore and blood soaked bodies.

So far, Hunter Shea has broken my heart, grossed me out, and entertained me with his versatile tales. From books that are “horror with heart” to more gory “chomp and stomps”, he is a must-read author for me.

SLASH is what readers might expect: a slasher tale. Complete with a run-down location, some expendable characters, and an end that is breathtakingly paced, horror fans are sure to dig this one.

I loved most of this book, watching Todd navigate his fiancés death (not a spoiler - it’s on the book) and start his path of revenge is satisfying. There are a few places I wanted a little more depth and a few places were I wanted less, I feel it would help tighten up the story and add some more character depth for Todd.

That said, more please, Hunter Shea.

Another classic horror tale from one of the best and most consistent working in the genre today. SLASH will give you nightmares for days!

With Slash, Hunter Shea, king of the creature-feature, delivers up another serving of glorious madness & mayhem. While the interaction between a couple of characters got tiresome, hella fast, a very solid opening and a nice punch at the end elevated Slash beyond your basic slasher. I love Hunter Shea and I will read anything he writes.

I always know I am in for a treat when I pick up one of Hunter Shea's books and this was exactly what I have come to expect.
Ashley King is the proverbial final girl in this slasher story with a twist. Five years ago, she was the only survivor of the Hayden Resort massacre. After she takes her own life, her loyal and loving fiance decides to go back to Hayden Resort hoping for some answers. Little does he know that the killer is still there and he and his friends have to fight for their lives.
This was edge of your seat, nailbiting, stay up late excitement.

Slash was published by Flame Tree Press on 24th October 2019 and is available in hardcover, paperback and digital formats. I chose to read and review an eARC of Slash but that has in no way influenced my review.

Holy moly, this is a cracker of a book! If you're a regular visitor to the blog then you may know that I love the horror genre as much as I love crime fiction! I'm particularly fond of the '80s slasher movie' novels and tend to turn to horror when my reading mojo ups and leaves. I asked for recommendations a few months back and the lovely Sharron at booksbehindthetitle suggested I gave Slash a go as she'd recently read it and thought it would appeal. She was 100% right. I devoured this book. Slash has everything I look for in a horror novel but with so much more dolloped on top (in a steaming, festering, bloody pile).

Ashley King was the sole survivor of the Hayden Resort Massacre five years ago. Yup, she's a Final Girl. Todd Matthews, her fiancé, returns home one day to find her lifeless body hanging in the basement. Heartbroken and grieving for his lost love, he returns to the site of the massacre to find out what really happened that fateful night. A serial killer named 'The Wraith' has always been held responsible for the murders and Todd, and his totally unprepared band of friends, want answers. But what they find living in the ruins of the Resort is a whole lot more than they ever expected....

This is Shea's homage to slasher movies and I really enjoyed the high-stakes terror and the unashamed gore fest of Slash. But all is not what it first appears. This is the second book I've read by Hunter Shea - the first being Creature which is also well worth a look - but I get the feeling that Shea (and this really is just a feeling having read only two of this author's books - don't hate me if I'm wrong) has a very distinct style, which Slash benefits from. The story really ramped up a number of notches and was given an almighty gut pulverising twist.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. This is a blood soaked, rip roaring ride of a book and I loved every minute of it. If you're not a fan of gore in your novels then perhaps this isn't for you. But if you've got the stomach, this is one that shouldn't be missed. It ticked so many boxes for me and I'm adding Shea's previous books to the TBR.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Slash. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

This was such an amazing horror story! I really enjoyed this and plan to get myself a finished copy. I will be recommending this to people who I think will love it.

The name says it all: 'Slash' is full of gory slasher action in a well-fashioned B-movie style, where a group of friends has to face some otherworldly evil. Of course, their numbers are soon decimated and blood starts splashing everywhere due to some...let's say unfortunate turns and some very ugly twists.

I loved the beginning, which provides an excellent prequel, and the ending, where we are presented with some really twisted surprise solution. However, the middle part felt a bit long and like going in circles - as the characters were literally doing while searching for a way out.

A very entertaining gore feast from the master of creature features.

Mark my words this book is going to be a huge hit for this author. This is an exceptional horror story..

I really don't want to discuss the plot because I want everyone to discover this story on their own terms. It's intricate. It's breathtaking. It's heart-pumping. It's shiver inducing. It's everything I could ever ask for in this genre. I started this book yesterday morning and tore through 75% without even realizing it. I was completely riveted to the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishing company for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, as much as I'd been looking forward to this one, I just could not get into it. It was supposed to be campy, I think, but it was over to top for me.

Oh where do I began. I had wonderful intentions of reading so many great horror books during the month of October but I read a couple that disappointed and honestly, it put me in a reading slump. So many fellow bloggers knew this was on my TBR and hinted that this one would pull me out of it and that I would not be disappointed. Now I have read numerous Shea books and as mentioned, he's one of my favorite authors, so I knew there was a good chance they were right. Well guess what? They were right.

So Slash starts off with Ashley and her fiance Todd. Ashley and her friends were part of a huge massacre at the Hayden Resort five years ago and Ashley is the "final girl" meaning she is the only one that survived. She lives the next five years of her life being idolized by many but also being in fear that the Wraith will find her and finish the job. So early on, she kills herself (so not a spoiler folks). Todd finds her and understandably has a hard time coping. As part of the progress, he starts looking for clues Ashley left about everything that happened and he eventually starts putting the pieces together. Todd decides to go to the Hayden Resort, which is set for demolition to see if he can find any more clues left from Ashley. His friends decide to follow him. But will they find the clues or will they find more than they bargained for?

This book was such a thrilling read. Now I will admit the first 75 pages or so were slower paced but they were providing a lot of set-up and backstory. Once the action started, it was hold on to your seat time. Those who have read Shea know that he is not hesitant to kill off characters, and kill off he does. He also puts a unique twist on the Wraith that I didn't initially see coming but was oh so pleased about where it was headed. Some of the characters were likable and some not. Some even straddled the line very precariously. The ending was exciting and provided the reader with a conclusion that was digestible. I can say the outcome for one of the characters wasn't what I really wanted, but I'll let it pass.

If you like slasher horror, blood, guts and carnage, then Slash is most definitely the book for you. And it was the book for me because it actually "slashed" my reading slump (I know, I know).

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

Slash was my first novel by Hunter Shea. I had heard great things about the author, and I couldn't wait to read this book.

This book starts off with a character committing suicide in part due to what she endured at Hayden Resort. She was the ONLY survivor. She leaves behind a note detailing what she she can remember from her time thre. Her boyfriend finding it all makes the decision to go to the resort himself to look for recordings Ashley has said she left there.. Any horror fan can predict that something bad will happen, right?!

Ultimately, this book was fantastic. I can't wait to read more by Hunter Shea.

Whew what a great , graphic novel this was I totally immersed myself in it, in fact I’ve read it twice in quick succession as i thought I might have skipped some details. I would love to see this as a movie even if i have to hide behind a cushion. So as I’ve said its graphic but that is not a bad thing considering the novels subject matter. It’s a tormenting read as you follow the after effects of what is left behind for survivors of The Wraith and their loved ones. Wouldn’t you want at to know exactly what or who has tormented your loved one for so long and what did they endure that tore out their very soul. Follow Todd’s journey back to the hell that Ashley survived but that ultimately claimed her. Todd and his close friends go back to find a piece of Ashley she left behind in the hopes they will get closure and finally lay to rest the demons that haunt them. Unfortunately as with all good slasher books/movies nothing goes to plan and we are left following their fight for their lives. It’s a fast , blood soaked , page turning race for life. Adrenalin pumped page after page of action that leaves you gasping at the detail. The author is a favourite of mine who always delivers great characters in darkly disturbing places of fear. Perfect Halloween reading or for any dark night for that matter. Ps didn’t turn of the light too soon after reading.

I love Hunter Shea books and and hunt them out when I can. Again this book did not disappoint. I was so upset for Todd at the beginning and wasn’t sure if he should go ahead with his plan, but of course you know what he will do. At first I thought I had missed something regarding ‘The Final Girls’ but then realised it is a commonly used phrase. The story was entertaining as well as being a horror book, this is a great read for someone just wanting to have a horror read that you can get through quickly. I will definitely recommend and will read many more Hunter Shea books. This book has now made me join his mailing list for new releases