This was a fun listen! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but with Barrie Kreinik's smooth voice as the narrator, not to mention the great story line, I was HOOKED at the 3 minute mark! In fact, I finished the book in one day. I needed to know how this was going to end.

I'm usually a little squeamish with some descriptions of gore; however, the authors did a great job. I never felt the need to skip ahead to avoid too much. While this is still a horror book, learning the backstories of each character made the unforeseen horrors not so devastating. In some cases somewhat comical! I've already recommended this book to several of my friends that love a good suspense novel with a little gore thrown in.

I will be reading anything else this duo puts out in the future!

I really enjoyed You Better Watch Out. It was a fast paced, somewhat gory, thriller that kept me wanting to read...or listen... since I listened to the audio book. It was a quick listen at only about 6 hours. The narrator was good and easy to listen to.

I really liked the idea behind this book. Strangers waking up in a ghost-town and not knowing why or how they got there. All while being killed one-by-one. It kind of reminded me of Saw. I did have a pretty good idea who the killer was about halfway through, but it didn't take away from the ending. There were still a few twists that took me by surprise. I thought that each character was written well and each had their own voice so they didn't blend together.

If you're looking for a shorter thriller (with a Christmas theme) that can keep you engaged, this one is good!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to listen to You Better Watch Out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was easy to listen to, definitely, a thriller/slasher type that kept my attention throughout. Someone mentioned that it is somewhat like Saw and I can definitely see why. Definitely recommend, you will enjoy this audiobook.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillian audio for providing a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of You Better Watch Out in exchange for an honest review.

You Better Watch Out is a serial killer thriller that takes place around Christmas time. The audiobook is almost 6 hours and I flew through it because it is a fast paced story, full of suspense and had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. Towards the end of the book, I was able to guess who the serial killer was and I was initially disappointed, however, there was more to the story that quickly grabbed my attention and had me enjoying the book until the end. The book gave me similar vibes to the movies Saw and Escape room. If you are looking for feel-good Christmas vibes, this is not the book for you.

It's a 4 star rating for me.

This book was freaking fantastic!

It is the perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit. It was like House Of Wax meets Saw. A group of strangers are stuck together in a weird fake town and have no idea the link between them and why they're fighting for their lives. I will say, I spaced out in the middle and I'm mad because life got busy while I was listening, but hot dam that ending was great.

Go in with an open mind and know it's a novella length story that still gives the thrills of a full length book. Mini spoiler: this also gave off White Bear vibes from Black Mirror but in a totally warped, crazy way.

Definitely checking out these two authors because I've never heard of them until now and I loved this book!

You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth reminds us that Christmas really is the best time of year ... for serial killers! This book starts out with a scene resembling the movie The Hunt. Five strangers all find themselves trapped and stranded in a deserted, but carefully orchestrated town. They quickly realize this is a serial killer's playground! This well put together book was a quick read and left me ready for a sequel!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book as an ARC. All opinions are my own.

I did not see that twist coming 🤯
This was a really fast paced, engaging read all the way through. 48 hours before Christmas Jessica wakes up in a faux town with several other individuals. They have all been kidnapped and dumped into this fenced in town together. They quickly realize they are being picked off one by one but they don’t know who is after them, they do however figure out the why rather quickly. As time goes on Jessica is left with Eddie to try to escape before they are killed. Will they make it out? The last 40% Off this book had me on the edge of my seat, giggling, gasping out loud, and saying “oh shit” multiple times.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

A special thanks to NetGalley for this free audio ARC. I flew through this book and really enjoyed it. The narrating was great. The premise of this enticed me from the beginning and I loved the added element of Christmas. All the characters are abducted and brought to an abandoned town with seemingly no way out. This was a creepy and suspenseful thriller which kept me intrigued the entire time.

There are a lot of intense and gorey kill scenes, which I thought was interesting, but something to note if you don’t like that. All of the different characters and their personalities made for a well-rounded storyline throughout. I also thought it was interesting that everyone had a different past that led them to this point.

I wasn’t completely shocked by the big twist, but there were elements to it and smaller twists I didn’t expect at all. Really like true ending and hoping this isn’t the end of this story. Would definitely recommend reading for a creepy Christmas thriller.

A fast-paced, 'turn-off-your-brain' popcorn thriller, if you have read The Stowaway from a few years back, the same writing duo has delivered another bingeable, adrenaline-filled story with holiday-themed set pieces.

The synopsis does a decent job at keeping majority of its plot under wrap (highly recommend going into this knowing as little as possible, since it's barely longer than a novella), but if you're expecting a mystery with logical backbone, just know this novel is putting more emphasis on spectacle rather than 'making sense'. There are also a couple odd writing choices: one regarding a specific character's full name (nearly identical to a real-life individual—but why?). And the other is its epilogue, which feels unnecessarily tacked on and trying too hard to create a shared universe with the writers' other work.

Even though it does feel like I'm pointing out more and more flaws as I'm objectively reviewing You Better Watch Out, there's no denying I was having fun while reading (the audiobook is perfectly produced): hooked me from the get-go, grossed me out by its violence, and even surprised me with its reveal. Not at all a literary masterpiece, but definitely high on entertainment value.

Macmillan Audio ALC
A prefect horror novel for the upcoming holidays. It's cold and atmospheric, and I loved it. There's something about a locked-room horror novel that makes the suspense level so high, and the author's knew exactly how to keep the reader hooked, yet terrified. I also love Barrie Kreinik's narration, and she captured the terror of these characters so well. I was left shocked, scared, and satisfied. I highly recommend this for horror lovers, and it's a short one you won't want to put down.

I really enjoyed the audiobook for You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth! 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.

I thought it was the perfect length and it felt like I was listening to a thriller/horror movie. The plot is perfectly paced and has the right amount of twists and turns to keep the reader or listener hooked.

I love a good whodunit and this one had a great eerie setting. I enjoyed the Christmas theme, this book is the perfect spooky read for either Halloween or Christmas. This book can definitely get a bit gory, so proceed with caution if that isn’t your thing. Some of the twists are a bit predictable (I was able to predict the “big” one early on), but it’s still a super fun and entertaining book.

The narration by Barrie Kreinik was excellent, the voices she did for the characters were so distinct that it felt like I was actually listening to a multiple narrator audiobook!

I really enjoyed this one and fully recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and the authors James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth for the ALC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You Better Watch Out releases October 15th!

Fun holiday thriller/slasher book. Fast paced, lots of action and I did not see that ending coming! I think I was caught up in the pages to even fathom it quite before it happened. Thank for the ALC! Great narration.

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!