Heads Will Roll* is a brilliantly inventive novel that left me completely captivated from start to finish. What sets it apart from other horror novels is its truly unique premise—one that combines eerie, unsettling moments with a refreshingly original twist. The story grabs you right away, pulling you into a world where the stakes are high, the characters are complex, and the horrors lurking around every corner are unlike anything I’ve encountered before.

The author masterfully blends psychological suspense with visceral horror, creating a sense of dread that grows with every page. I particularly appreciated the depth of the world-building and the way the plot kept me guessing, always taking unexpected turns. The unsettling atmosphere is perfectly crafted, leaving me on edge without relying on overused tropes.

What makes *Heads Will Roll* so special is its ability to challenge typical horror conventions while still delivering that spine-chilling experience that fans of the genre crave. It's a story that stays with you long after you've finished reading, haunting your thoughts in the best way possible. If you’re looking for something fresh and thought-provoking in the horror genre, this novel is an absolute must-read!

40/100 or 2.0 stars

This was so over the top with the cancel culture is bad I really couldn't get past 10%. Also, the adult having Willow as their imaginary friend in real life was too chessy for me. The writing style was okay, but it wasn't strong enough for me to want to continue reading this. I would have been a spite read and it probably would have been a worst review than the one I am giving. Maybe it is just this storyline that wasn't working, and I can give the author another chance in the future.

Like the good old late 80s, early 90s slasher movies, this was an all out scream fest. With characters that are just the right amount of "woke" and an excellently heavy plot, this one is movie worthy material. Thrills and chills that don't stop coming and twists that feel like a knife in the gut, this read cuts through to the vittals and keeps on carving right into the heartstrings. I'm totally here for it. How isn't this a movie on Netflix yet??

definitely a bit cheesy in the form of the antagonist but generally fairly good story that delves into some very interesting issues a lot. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Josh Winning has become an auto-buy horror author for me.

Heads Will Roll is a campy horror novel set at a horror camp where adults go to escape from their lives. No phones and lifelines for a couple weeks in the woods, doesn't sound so bad right? Well it wasn't until Knock Knock Nancy starts coming to look for her head.

I loved the horror references throughout the novel. You can tell that Winning is a fan of horror himself due to the amount of references both big and small. The Jade Daniels reference had me smiling. I found Heads Will Roll to not take itself too seriously, which added to the fun. Did it scare me? No, but I still had fun throughout my entire reading experience. I enjoyed the inclusion of forms of media, ex. texts or twitter threads, to help give exposition to the story.

I'm really looking forward to whatever Winning has up his sleeve next.

Rating: 3.5

This was a super fun and campy slasher.

Heads Will Roll follows former sitcom actress Willow, who’s shipped off to a camp in the middle of nowhere after she’s cancelled due to some insensitive tweets. Her image and career have tanked, so Camp Castaway is the perfect place for her to become someone else; there are no phones and fake names, so Willow can become anyone she wants. As she settles in, she starts to like it here and make friends with her fellow campers — especially Dani. But everyone here has a secret, and as campers start disappearing and threatening messages start appearing, Willow is forced to confront both a mysterious killer and her own past.

The plot for this one is just plain fun. It’s a little camp and feels like a throwback to those iconic 90s teen horrors like Scream, Chucky, or I Know What You Did Last Summer. The twists are dramatic but kept me on my toes, and I felt like I was just along for the ride. I feel a little more mixed on the final outcome of the case; it’s a little out there but ultimately I think it still works and matches the overall vibes of the book.

The characters are engaging as well. It took a little while for me to warm up to them as there are quite a bit, but I liked the air of mystery that surrounded everyone and how their backstories were gradually revealed. Willow is a really interesting lead to follow because she’s flawed and has a history, so I found myself questioning what we really knew about her.

Ultimately, I think this one was really fun and I liked how many different threads there were! It’s not a hard-hitting horror and doesn’t do anything too unique, but it makes great use of the existing slasher formula and carves out its own style.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Definitely a solid 3.5 and overall good book. But it just took so much of the story for something to truly happen.

It definitely has the Camp Crystal Lake vibes.. Summer camp, isolated and unplugged from today's world.

If you are a horror fan, you'd love this one... I just didn't like how it wasn't as actioned packed as it had the potential to be. The way the characters were developed and the plot, it had all the key parts to be a FULL 5. The process just took a little longer to reach.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This was an excellent change up from the merry, holiday romance vibes lately.

had sitting in the tbr forever but finally finished it. I enjoyed it for the most part. Im not big into what's going on these days with cancel culture but I like how they threw all that In there. willow seems like a Nieve person but she seemed to get more aware as it went on. I love a camp thriller/slasher. id recommend this to someone getting into horror genre.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

🪓Slasher K!ll3r
🩸Summer Camp for adults
🪓Secret Identities
🩸Myrd3r Mystery

This book sounded very much right up my alley. I do think the story was slow to start off with. it picks up after the first murder occurs, but doesn’t really pull you in at a fast pace until the events with Juniper happen. For a book that’s supposed to be a slasher. I think it should’ve picked up sooner but overall the story was good. I immersion read this one.

The main thing I could not stand in the audio was the inner monologue that is Willow. I just didn’t like those parts. It would always pull from the story. If you’re looking for a slasher a thriller this is the one for you.

Heads Will Roll is an engaging horror slasher set in a summer camp. The unique premise of Camp Castaway, where campers are either celebrities or individuals with significant media attention seeking an escape from their lives, adds an interesting layer to the story. As the narrative unfolds and campers begin to turn up dead, the main character, Willow, is propelled into a suspenseful quest for answers.

I appreciated how the author addressed the complexities of cancel culture, highlighting society's tendency to be overly critical of those who make errors. The mystery surrounding the killer was intriguing and took unexpected turns, which I found enjoyable. Although the conclusion ramps up the gore and intensity with several killings, I felt that the overall tension was lacking. Additionally, some of the final scenes leaned towards being a bit cheesy, which detracted from the story's impact for me. Overall, it was a thought-provoking read, but a bit more tension could elevate the experience.

I loved so much about this one! The cover, the title, the folklore, the camp. The author is clearly a fantastic writer. However, the pronounced woke agenda and the ending/primary villain were so caricatured, it overshadowed the parts I enjoyed.

Still, very grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

Didnt read it, because i got it after Halloween and i wanted it around the time for apooky season. I want to pick it up at some point because i heard a good review about it

Again, Josh Winning does not miss!!! Smartly observed and told with riveting pacing and high concept spin on the summer sleepaway camp slasher.

Willow's been cancelled and needs to get away, and Camp Castaway offers just that--no technology, no connection to the outside world. Just nature and time to heal. Then....people start dying and the woods echo with mysterious knocks....Is the legend of Knock Knock Nancy real or just urban legend?

Ooooh, this one is gory. If you love a straight horror with lots of blood and guts and death set at a remote summer camp....yes, you need to read this one. Josh Winning once again knocks it out of the park with Heads Will Roll. The exclusive Camp Castaway is the perfect backdrop for a horror movie--lots of places to run, hide, and get lost in from the lakeshore to the forest with it's many secrets.
You'll go one a wild ride of twists and turns, and just when you think that maybe this person isn't going to die.....oh, well, you're going to mostly be wrong. Heads definitely roll in this book...literally. This book has so many things to love--family secrets, guests with secrets of their own, a mysterious forest, a campy with a bloody background, celebrity gossip, and my favorite--multimedia tie-ins.

Loved this book, it's another winner for me!

3.5 rounded up
I was a bit concerned about the use of cancel culture and celebrity in this book at first, because I couldn't care less about celebrity culture, however this was done nicely. Josh Winning could have easily written the MC to be a stereotype, but instead made the MC a very real person that the reader could care about.
I could feel the love for horror and final girls shining through in his writing, especially towards the beginning. A shout-out to Jade Daniels? Yes! I was invested now!
Where this story fell a bit short for me was when the action ramped up. I wanted to see more creative kills in slasher-fashion. The revenge plot was also not 100% believable. Overall, this is a fun time and a love letter to horror in general, and i had a good time with it.

**3.5 stars**

This was a great and interesting take on the summer camp slasher trope and gives new meaning to being canceled! I liked the main character Willow, the camp setting was interesting and the personalities of the other campers were fully realized. This is a slasher story so it’s definitely horror with some gore so be warned, but the axe dripping blood on the cover should clue you in to that.

This was my second book by Mr Winning and I’ll definitely read another. I love when books include stuff like emails, texts, transcripts, etc; I think it really adds to the story.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

I am so thankful to Putnam Books, PRH Audio, Josh Winning, and Netgalley for granting me advanced access to this galley before publication day. I really enjoyed the dialogue and plot of this book and can’t wait to chat this one up with my friends!

Heads Will Roll” is a darkly humorous and thrilling ride that brilliantly blends satire with suspense. I loved how Josh Winning crafts a sharp, witty narrative filled with unexpected twists that kept me coming back. The story is both a clever critique of fame and a gripping mystery, making it perfect for fans of black comedy and fast-paced thrillers.

Such a fun slasher read that I couldn't put down! I loved the variety of characters and how everything came together in a horrifying way in the end. Definitely recommend this one!!