As a huge fan of locked-room mysteries, this one grabbed me right away. Jessica Kane wakes up, injured and confused, in a deserted town with five strangers who have all been attacked. Soon, they realize someone is methodically killing them off, and the tension doesn’t let up from there.

The setup is creepy, and the suspense builds beautifully. Murray and Wearmouth do a fantastic job creating an eerie atmosphere that had me hooked. The characters are well-developed, and the way secrets slowly unravel adds to the tension. When the killer’s identity and motives are revealed, I was genuinely shocked—I didn’t see that twist coming at all!

That said, I did feel like the book was a bit too short. I wanted more time with the characters and the story, especially since the setup was so intriguing. Still, it delivered exactly what I needed in a thriller: fast-paced, full of twists, and a satisfying mystery.

I listened to the audiobook, and Barrie Kreinik’s narration really enhanced the experience. She gave each character a distinct voice, making it easy to follow and keeping the tension high. I’d highly recommend the audiobook for this one!

If you’re into thrillers with dark, suspenseful vibes and love a good plot twist, this one’s for you. Just be prepared for some gruesome moments—it’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s a fun, gripping read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't want to say this was fun, but it was. A whole heap of holiday death and destruction.

Merry Christmas, indeed. (I laughed out loud at this part of the book.)

The town was fun. The deaths were varied and a little gory. The story keeps you on your toes. There's a lot to love here.

James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth deliver an electrifying mix of horror and psychological suspense in "You Better Watch Out." The plot is perfectly paced, with twists that keep you guessing right up to the shocking finale. What sets this novel apart is how it blends the festive cheer of Christmas with a creeping sense of dread, turning a familiar holiday setting into a nightmare. The characters are well-drawn, and their unraveling psyches add a deeper layer to the terror. Perfect for fans of fast-paced thrillers that leave you on edge. Highly recommended!

I got so incredibly sucked into this audiobook that I found myself shouting out omg gross! And no way….stop you idiots!
A slasher book with a Christmas premise which was a quick listen. I did figure out who the killer was about halfway in, but that didn’t make it any less entertaining.
I received an ALC from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

So many thanks to #netgalley, #jamessmurray, #darrenwearmouth and #stmartinspress for this advanced audiobook. There have been few books that have grabbed me and gave me a good shake. This one is one of those I’m going to F up your world books.

I received this advanced audiobook from Netgalley and when I tell you all it’s STUPID good, it’s stupid good. One of the authors is from Impractical Jokers if you watch that show. I’ve caught a few episodes here and there but I kept saying a comedian wrote this?!?! It takes place during Christmas time but with the content, this would also make a great Halloween book. Hell, it’s an anytime book. If you love the Saw movies, THIS is a book for you! Once I got to the “killer” I said 😱😱 and then a few minutes later I said 😱😱😱. Five minutes after that I screamed DON’T DO IT!!! 🫣🫣🫣. I so hope they make a follow up to this book and I hope I get an advanced audiobook again! I sent a FB post to a book group I am in and told everyone RUN DONT WALK AND GET THIS BOOK. The worst part? When it finished 😭😭

I give it 100 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A great and gory slasher, with an original plot and faced paced.
I liked the premise of abducted stranger in a remote place trying to find out where they are and why they are here. The characters are easily identifiable and each have a specific tone. The killer POV was interesting and disturbing.
The audiobook narration was great and really added to the story.
I had a great time and would definitely recommend to any slasher lover.

Nothing like a good, suspenseful, serial killer slasher to put you in the mood for the holidays! This was a good, quick read. There were just enough twists to keep me interested, and the author held back on over doing the gory details just perfectly. I was in suspense and did not want to stop listening! Definitely recommend this one!

*You Better Watch Out* is a chilling, fast-paced thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Jessica Kane’s struggle to survive in a deserted town with strangers, while a relentless killer picks them off one by one, creates heart-pounding suspense. The tension builds as the mystery behind their capture unravels, and the constant threat of danger keeps you guessing. Barrie Kreinik’s narration adds an extra layer of intensity, making the audiobook even more gripping. While some twists are predictable, the story is still an entertaining and suspenseful holiday thriller. A solid 4-star read!

You Better Watch Out was a fun Christmas-themed slasher. There were several twists and turns that were a treat to uncover, and the narrator captured the emotions of the story beats very well. My biggest gripe is that I wished the characters and the story itself was a little more fleshed out. It had good bones, but much of the book felt like an outline. I also hoped the Christmas aspect would have been more prominent. Nevertheless, this was a fast-paced, gritty story that I can imagine will be a big hit.

One thing about this closed-world horror story absolutely gave away the ending, but it was good...and very, very gory.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The beginning was questionable to me but this book ended up being SO GOOD! I was not expecting to enjoy a murder-filled book so much. The epilogue definitely makes me want a sequel!

A group of individuals, who have done some very bad things, all get kidnapped and dropped into an abandoned town in the middle of a blizzard. Then they start dying one-by-one in the most gruesome of ways while trying to figure out what they’re doing there and how to escape.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised with this holiday thriller. It was fun, fast paced, and gory. Just in time for Halloween. The narrator was perfect for this story and truly kept me engaged. Overall an awesome psychological thriller that needs to be put on your TBR!
Many thanks to NetGally, MacMillan Audio, and Barrie Kreinik for sharing the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5
Expected publication date: October 15,2024

This audiobook… I was so happy to get approved, but to be completely honest, it just didn’t capture my attention the way I thought it would

You Better Watch Out is a line from a Christmas song signifying that Santa Claus is coming to town. But the book You Better Watch Out is anything but a feel-good Christmas story. It might take place right before Christmas, but it seems more like a Halloween slasher story. You will be hooked from the very beginning as this very creepy, scary, non-jolly horror story takes place. It was definitely creative in its gory content, and I was totally surprised by the ending and then even more surprised when I realized it wasn’t actually the end. It definitely left an opening for a sequel which I would love to see.

I received this as an audiobook ARC via NetGalley but all opinions are my own. This book releases mid October so the slasher type theme fits well timing-wise. I wasn’t able to get connected to any of the characters and I didn’t feel much depth from the book, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Usually I really get into thrillers but it wasn’t the case here. The synopsis of the book was definitely better than the execution. Thank you to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review.

One of the best things about heading towards the end of the year is reading novels that blend Christmas, horror and thriller themes together. This is what made me dive into You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth. While it was filled with thrilling moments, it lacked in the holiday department.

Forty-eight hours until Christmas, Jessica Kane wakes up with blurred vision, ears ringing, and in excruciating pain. A gash in her head and blood running down her face, the last thing she remembers is going for a run and something or someone hitting her in the head. It doesn't take her long to realize she is trapped in an unknown, deserted town with five other strangers who share similar stories of being attacked and stranded there. Unsure why and how they got there, she knows one thing for certain, she has to find a way out.

That becomes nearly impossible when someone is meticulously orchestrating their deaths, one by one, and the only thing Jessica can do is watch the life leave their eyes. The fenced-in town is the killer’s very own playground and there's nowhere left to hide... she better watch out because she could be next.

This was my first time reading a James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth novel and it was actually much better than I even expected. A locked door horror style tale with a great concept and hopeful narrative. However, the book did lack in overall execution, character development and use of the holiday theme. While that seems like a lot of issues with a book, how could it even be good, that tells you how much a didn't expect from this book.

The cast of characters are plentiful and all have unique backgrounds, but these backgrounds could've use a bit more depth and could use some fleshing out. Additionally, these characters were hard to tell the difference between throughout the book, this is even with outstanding audiobook narration from Barrie Kreinik. Each character should be easy to differentiate but seem to have blend together at moments. Kreinik's narration helped a bit, but that leads me to believe I likely would've been lost when reading the physical book.

Christmas thriller is what hooked me into reading this novel in the first place, but this is where I was disappointed the most. With a title such as You Better Watch Out, a cover which features a wrapped knife as a present and an opening sentence in the solicitation that leads you to believe the novel will focus around the holiday. What we get is a few sentences here and there that let you know Christmas is in the air, but if they left them out of the story, this tale could take place anytime. A let down when you hope for more holiday cheer being taken away.

You Better Watch Out was worth the read and did feature some of my favorite overall themes, such as locked door style thriller. What the book did feature was some brutal kills and is not for the faint of heart.

James Murray is one of my current must read authors, as I enjoy odd horror thrillers. This is a Christmas story, except that a group has been kidnapped and is being murdered one by one. I admit I was engrossed in the story and didn't put it down, but it ended up being predictable for me. Still, if this is your genre, you will enjoy it too! Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook, which has enjoyable narration too

While this takes place around Christmas it makes a great Halloween slasher read. Multiple people find themselves waking up in a strange faux town. The whole town is one giant escape room type of game, except there is no escaping and there are gruesome deaths along the way.

This was short book and was easy to finish within a day. Overall I liked the narration, but at times the ends of sentences would get real quiet. I understood the acting choice, but it just made it difficult to catch the endings at times.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Pub Date Oct 15 2024

If you a slasher fan this works well, not my genre. I also felt set up by the book, but for the type of book it was well written.

When six strangers find themselves trapped in an unknown town who all share the same story of being attacked and stranded there, they must work together to find a way back to civilization. They soon find out they are not alone in this fenced-in town and a killer is hunting them down one by one.

You Better Watch Out was a gripping thriller from beginning to end and had me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed the mystery of the town and finding out what the strangers had in common.
The conclusion of this book was perfect and took me by complete surprise. The epilogue does open up the possibility of a sequel and I would read that in a heartbeat. One aspect that did have me slightly confused was the synopsis. The synopsis has Jessica as the main character when the main focus seemed to be on Eddie. I kept waiting for the main focus to change but Eddie seemed to be the main character throughout this book.

You Better Watch Out comes out on October 15th.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review You Better Watch Out. All thoughts and opinions are my own.