going into this I wasn’t fully sure what to expect, was it a paranormal fiction type short story or a short mystery? I loved how it tied in both, so you didn’t know who the culprit was or whether there really was a ghost. I think that added to the surprise at the end.

The story started off slowly there were ‘accidents’ here and there, I was worried there wasn’t going to be more depth and excitement. But believe me when I say it gets so good, it picks up quickly, gets gory and violent, you just can’t help but turn the pages and read as fast as you possibly can. It really kept you guessing right till the end, I had no idea who the killer would end up being. I devoured the last half in about 15 minutes.

I’m glad this was only around 130 pages because I think it had more of an impact being shorter. As the pace picked up, so did your heart rate and I really enjoyed it.

the only thing that could’ve been improved was how the main character (holly) reacted to everything. Sometimes I didn’t believe things had actually happened because she was so calm and everyone else was freaking out.

But overall, this is a really great read. Short, entertaining, gory, a little spooky. Definitely worth a read. Glad I requested this one, looking forward to finishing Cynthia’s other book ‘win lose kill die’.

When an American-style residential camp is set up in the grounds of an English stately home, the teenage camp counsellors are looking forward to a fun summer of activities. It all starts with a harmless “campfire story” around a bonfire, reciting g a local legend about what took place on the grounds before it became a camp. The story was super fast (I read it in 1 night), I do realize it is a YA story, however I feel it was written almost too simply. There was no background to the characters, and as awful things happen to them, I want to feel bad, but I haven’t been given any I do about them to really muster true feelings. On the flip side, too graphic to be a children’s thriller. Unfortunately I am having to give this a 2 ⭐️ rating because of the lack of background and buildup. There was very little description of the camp, I feel like it landed flat.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a short read and really fast paced, you jump right into the story with creepy things happening to our characters immediately. I would have loved if the book was longer where we could get to know our characters more.

This was a short and fast thriller book.

I really enjoyed it and the fact that it got to the point really quick. if you're in a reading slump or just want to start reading thriller books, this is a very good book to pick up.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fast-paced and quickly went from "oh someone is hunting us" to "omg people are dying this is worse than we thought". Good for any teens who want a quick read on the beach and be slightly terrified.

A short, fast-paced little slasher story. Very “appropriate” for summer with the setting of the novella with the summer camp. I got slight Mats Strandberg-vibes!

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I always love reading this author because there is always such a fine line between thriller and supernatural and I am here for that!! This is a short, quick read but it packs a sucker punch to the gut and doesn’t let up from start to finish!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.

I love Cynthia Murphy as an author and I’ve loved other books of hers, but this one unfortunately missed the mark.

The concept of being stuck in a camp with mysterious happenings seemingly committed by a ghost was so interesting. I couldn’t put it down and finished in under an hour!

My main issue with this book was the length. I know it is a novella but there was too much going on in too few pages. None of the characters had any back story and the twist at the end didn’t have any build up or clues leading up to it.

I feel like elements of this book are too dark to be aimed at young adults and lacked the suitable trigger warnings.

An exciting gateway to thrillers for young readers. This incredibly fast paced story has all the vital elements of a beginner slasher book for younger readers.
Whilst it would have benefitted greatly from being longer and allowing us to get to know the characters a little more, I found it an enjoyable and easy read. It's full of tension building red-herrings and a classic bit of who-dunnit finger pointing with no room for a breather between events, meaning I physically could not put the book down.
I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers with a lower reading level, the perfect book for Autumn. I just know that younger me would have absolutely loved this book!

Welcome to Camp Killer by Cynthia Murphy is a enthralling fast paced young adult horror short story. When an American-style camp is set up in England eight camp counselors are joined in to host a week at Camp Miller- but what happens when things start going wrong and murders occur?

This captivating murder mystery was easy to follow and fun to see unravel. The gradual buildup of tension added to the excitement of reading. It was a page turner, and I read it all in one sitting. It kind of reminded me of a Scooby Doo film, with them all guessing at who was pulling the "pranks" and later on who was killing.

The book was shorter, so we didn't get the chance to truly see the characters developed personalities other than the original brief summary. But, it was still fun to see how everything laid out in the end.

I would definitely recommend if you are in the mood for a short horror novel, this one was a thrill. Thank you to NetGalley, Barrington Stoke, and the author for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Holly is excited to start work as a counsellor at the brand new Camp Miller, a residential camp based on the ever popular vacation staple of American youngsters. There are eight teenagers working there and everyone is looking forward to being away from home, enjoying their favourite sports, and getting paid for the privilege!

When they settle around the firepit on the first night the atmosphere begins to change, rumours apparently abound about their stately home location and a ghost has been seen moving through the grounds. Maybe it should be called Camp Killer instead! Separating for the night the silence is broken by screams and although the problem is quickly dealt with everyone is on edge. Before long however, the situation begins to get out of hand as Camp Killer threatens to live up to its name!

This quick, YA/Horror read didn't quite live up to its perceived potential. Described as suitable for ages 13+ but edited to a reading age of 8 this definitely fulfils that brief but unfortunately, for me at least, it failed to deliver in other areas. The counsellors, who are the main characters, never seemed to get out of first gear by which I mean they were introduced and then there was no development or growth. The horror elements whilst obviously written for early teens were quite rushed and even though there were fatalities there was no sense of jeopardy or danger creeping ever closer. I do think though that someone trying this genre for the first time might find it a good starting point to test the waters so to speak.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Barrington Stoke, but the opinions expressed are my own. I was disappointed in this and found it, even for the designated age range, a little tame.

"Welcome to Camp Killer" is a ya thriller, with horror nuances, written by Cynthia Murphy.

The story follows a group of teenagers, appointed counselors at a summer residential camp, American-style, built on the grounds of an old English mansion. The teens are excited and looking forward to a fun summer of activities. But right from the outset, things don't feel quite right at Camp Miller. Rumors circulate about a brutal past tragedy that occurred on the grounds of the property, and there are the unexplained sightings of a ghostly presence. Then the incidents begin, increasingly serious: snakes in the beds, a near-drowning in the lake, a fatal fall from a cliff face. Are these tragic coincidences or is there something more sinister going on at the summer camp?

The book is basically a short story, in my opinion rushed in its development and not very thorough. However, despite its flaws, I found it to be a compelling, atmospheric and mysterious read that I enjoyed and kept me entertained.

I found the writing sparkling, evocative and simple, with descriptions quite fascinating. I liked a lot the eerie undertone creeping through the pages, the air of mystery and uncertainty. In my opinion the author handled the suspense and the more sinister component very well, keeping me intrigued from beginning to end.

The story unfolds quickly, probably too quickly. In fact, a more placid, introductory beginning is followed by an abrupt acceleration, with events following one another in a frenzy, without pause. While this makes the narration energetic and peppy, it also makes it excessively convulsive. Actions simply slide one after another, important revelations are thrown out and then forgotten, without deepening or explaining. I admit that this did not bother me, because I was absorbed in the events, however, I would have liked a little more calm and information. I really liked the setting of the camp site, as well as the eerie tale related to the ancient mansion.

The characters, for me, follow the same fate as the story. I found them superficial and flat, poorly characterized. On more than one occasion I risked confusing them with each other because of the lack of distinctive elements. Nevertheless, I followed them with pleasure, without boredom. Of course, in the end they conveyed nothing to me, leaving me completely indifferent to their fate, yet they kept me entertained.

All in all, I found it a light ya thriller story, with horror elements, perfect for a summer evening.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I would maybe recommend this to readers who are new to horror and don't want to jump right into something truly crazy. This fell rather flat for me, I wanted more from numerous aspects of the book. I liked the setting, though. I'm willing to check out more from Cynthia Murphy in the future.

Welcome to Camp Killer follows a group of summer camp counselors working at a camp. The camp has a sinister past and soon weird things start happening. The counselors start experiencing paranormal things. Can they get out before it is too late?

To be honest I was very let down by this book. I am such a fan of YA horror books. But this one did not seem scary at all. This book seems like it was written by someone who wants to be R.L. Stine. I thought this book was just okay. Was a good story but I just wanted more of a horror vibe. I also felt like the end felt a little rushed. I do want to read more by this author though. But this one just fell flat for me

Cynthia Murphy as usual has you enthralled and on the edge of your seat with each page that you turn. Finding out what is really happening at Camp Killer will make this a non stop read for you.

Welcome to Camp Killer is part of the excellent Barrington Stoke range, which offers high-interest stories for reluctant readers.
The story is a classic horror, with a group of teens placed in an isolated environment where, one by one, they are picked off. We watch as the characters meet their grisly ends, and - of course - there's a twist that you probably won't see coming that explains it all.
With a Reading Age of approximately 8 years, this is not a challenging read for an adult. It's incredibly fast-paced, so there are naturally some elements of characterisation/plot that could have been explained/developed further that feel a little glossed over. However, for its target audience this is a cracker!

"Welcome to Camp Killer" is a short YA horror story at a summer camp. Like most summer camps, there are eerily tales of the camp's past that spark the camp counselor's interest until strange things happen. This short and fast-paced novel keeps you guessing until the very end. Throughout the end, I thought about Scooby Doo while the characters attempted to solve who was behind the horrors at Camp Miller. The perfect fast-paced summer read for new horror fans!

Thank you, NetGalley and Barrington Stoke, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"Welcome to Camp Killer" by Cynthia Murphy is a thrilling rollercoaster of suspense and mystery. The story takes you on a gripping journey through a seemingly innocent summer camp that hides dark secrets beneath its cheerful facade. Murphy's writing keeps you on the edge of your seat as you navigate through a maze of twists and turns, trying to uncover the truth behind the chilling events at Camp Killer. With well-developed characters and an atmosphere that oozes tension, this book is a must-read for fans of suspenseful mysteries. Prepare to be captivated from start to finish as you delve into the enigma of "Welcome to Camp Killer."

This was a fun summer camp read with an English spin. The characters were engaging and the plot was fairly fast paced and exciting. Perfect for teens in the spooky season.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this enjoyable page turner

Camp Miller, also known to some as Camp Killer, is a newly opening summer camp. Things start going wrong, and suspicious accidents make the teenage counsellors wonder if there is something wrong at Camp Miller, and if that something is one among them or something supernatural.

This Ya novel was a short and fun read, that kept me interested and entertained throughout the story. The setting of this novel is great, and the vibes were immaculate.

I felt that the ending was a bit predictable and been done a million times before, but that did not take away too much of the overall enjoyment of the story. I also think it’s worth mentioning that I’m obviously not the intended audience for this story, so that might have something to do with my feelings of predictability.

I think this would be a great read for Young Adult’s that like something a little more scary than usual, and are looking for an end of summer/fall read.

Big thanks to Netgalley, Barrington Stoke, and the author Cynthia Murphy for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this novel.