the story is compelling and the surprises just keep coming. the characters are so real, that you won’t be able to stop reading but it could have been explored more.

you will start to question everything and yourself which is INSANE. did i get scared? hell yes i kept looking over my shoulder hahaha.

highly recommend

"Wicked Jenny" is a creepy, atmospheric thriller with a strong, dark vibe and a twisty plot. While the pacing can be a bit slow at times, the spooky setting and surprising ending make it an enjoyable read if you’re into psychological suspense and revenge stories.

I love a slowburn but this was too slow even for me. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wicked Jenny by Matt Hilton is an intense and atmospheric thriller that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go. From the first page, Hilton establishes a gripping narrative with a chilling sense of dread, making it clear you’re in for a dark ride.

The story centers on themes of revenge, guilt, and the weight of the past, all brought to life through vivid prose and well-drawn characters. Jenny is a compelling figure—her presence looms large, a haunting mix of fragility and menace. Hilton does an excellent job of weaving in her backstory without bogging down the pace, which is relentless in the best way.

The pacing is one of the book’s greatest strengths. There are moments where the tension is almost unbearable, and Hilton masterfully balances action with quieter, emotionally charged scenes. The rural, eerie setting is beautifully described, adding a layer of isolation that heightens the stakes.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star read for me is that some of the twists felt slightly predictable, and a few secondary characters could have been fleshed out more. However, these minor critiques didn’t detract much from my overall enjoyment.

If you’re a fan of gritty, suspenseful thrillers with a psychological edge, Wicked Jenny is a must-read. It’s a chilling tale that lingers long after the final page. Highly recommended for fans of Matt Hilton or anyone seeking a dark and satisfying story.

I enjoyed this book! It was well written and I liked the setting and description. The addition of some paranormal elements was great too. It was super creepy in parts.

I felt the relationships between the characters could have been explored a little more, and I did find it a bit slow paced at times. But overall, a really enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series!

The spooks and the chills! I loved the setting of a psychological paranormal story, with it passing back and forth between the past and the present, to unfold events.

You really don't know who is behind anything until it all comes together in glorious revenge. Beautifully put together, entertaining, and hard to put down.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the copy!

Wicked Jenny is a decent thriller with a good atmosphere and a strong premise, but the uneven pacing and lack of emotional depth left me wanting more. It’s a quick read with a chilling vibe, but it didn’t fully deliver on the suspense or character development I was hoping for.
The twist at the end was surprising, but I didn’t find it entirely satisfying, as it felt somewhat rushed and not fully set up throughout the narrative.
Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Green Jenny or Wicked Jenny, an urban legend brought to life in this terrifying story of murder, deception and death.
It’s an addictive read that causes the reader many a shiver and a desire to leave the light on!
The ending is simply petrifying and shocking in equal measure, literally left me gasping for air.
Have you been a bad boy?
Well, keep looking over your shoulder because something may be coming to get you!
Thoroughly gripping and well deserving of a 5 star rating.
Highly recommended.

Net Galley ARC Review: Thank you so much to Net Galley for this opportunity!!
Overall, this story has a very interesting premise and there are some really fun twists!! However, I do feel like the characters were a bit boring and the ending was kind of predictable. It was ok but it wasn’t great.

I really liked this one! Kept me reading and excited to see the end. I didn’t quite guess the twist either. A nice blend of classic thriller with supernatural elements.

Andrew and his boyhood friends were “almost” witnesses to a horrific crime when they were younger. After the murder of one of their group, they reunite as adults and uncanny events occur. Are they all seeing the almost dead girl from their past? Has she recovered and moved back to town?

Coming of age horror with a spin on the folk horror story of Ginny Greenteeth.

I absolutely love the cover. It is what caught my attention and made me look at this book. Story was ok, nothing really special. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Woah this book was so good. I had such a great time reading this. I was on the edge of my seat/ Thank You Matt Hilton. I had no clue what was going to happen next.

The mind can be a powerful thing--especially when fueled by vengeance.

As teens, five friends tangentially witness a wrenching and violent attack on two female classmates. As far as anyone in town is concerned, the guilty party was caught and punished. But there seems to be someone (something?) convinced that those five friends know more than any of them have shared.

Wicked Jenny is gritty and gruesome. The more I read, the more I questioned what actually happened in the past and what was unfolding next. The horror genre isn't really my cup of tea, but I was engaged throughout much of the book. Things started to feel long-winded and somewhat repetitive, leading me to skim-read through some chapters until I reached the height of the vicious reveal.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wicked Jenny is a psychological thriller that revolves around 5 young men who have drifted apart since an incident when they were 13. Most of the early story is from Andrew's point of view. He seems to be the "glue" which holds the five kids together when they were growing up. The book opens with one of the old "gang" having been murdered. There are some supernatural elements to the story, but if the characters were on a certain Reddit group they would all be labeled as ESH.
Wicked Jenny flows well, dipping selectively back into the past, then resuming in the present. While a bit predictable at the end, it was enjoyable.

I received a free e-arc via NetGalley

I love a good horror novel and the idea of a dual 1980’s/present day timeline drew me in. Unfortunately, the book was just not great. The writing style felt childish and the book moved slowly. It was just boring in the end.

I'm sorta on the fence with this one. I enjoyed it, but I found it overly predictable. I'd give it 3 stars.

The mix of paranormal and real was something I enjoyed and I think the author managed this mix well. The characters made me uncomfortable, which I assume is the entire point of the story, but like I said it was overly predictable and I knew what was coming very early on.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me. I found the plot slow and the writing was too plain. The characters were also too similar and it was hard to follow what was happening. It’s not a bad book by any means, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

In 1988, five friends spend their time roughhousing around as well as doing some very unpleasant things to frogs in a very uninhabited, marshy area where they can do as they please. During one of these excursions, they stumble across two other female classmates, Melanie and her sister Poppy. The boys are not very nice to the two girls at all. They make fun of them and then eventually go on their way. Unbeknownst to the boys , Melanie and Poppy are severely attacked after they leave. Fast-forward to present day where we are re-introduced to the five boys all grown up, of course tragedy strikes again, which brings them all together and in turn has them revisiting their past. Who was involved in the current and past tragedy? Could the legend of Ginny Greenteeth, a supernatural being that is connected to the pond, be the culprit?

As the plot advances, I was asking myself: Could this just be something as simple as a human murderer or really a supernatural entity that is involved. The book does a great job of putting both into play. I really enjoyed the chapters of the past even though I didn’t really get a good vibe that these friends were as close as what they were intended to be. Carl did not seem to fit in with a group at all. However, it was still enjoyable to watch them interact and then how it all played out once tragedy struck. I actually preferred the 1988 timeline over the present. I just felt that some of the present chapters in regards to figuring out both tragedies felt overused. What I did like about the present day was the angle of Poppy. I wish there would have been more time devoted to her. I also really enjoyed the ending. I just felt getting there took too long. Overall, I definitely liked this book and how it turned out. It was just missing a little bit in the middle to connect it all fluidly. I would certainly recommend if you enjoy the coming of age mixed with a bit of supernatural.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Actual Rating: 2.5/5

Matt Hilton’s Wicked Jenny begins with an intriguing, spooky setup: a group of childhood friends—Andy, Carl, Johnny, Brian, and Gavin—are dealing with the violent death of one of their own. The dynamics between the boys, particularly with Carl as a sadistic bully, set the stage for an unsettling tale of revenge and mystery. However, the story struggles to maintain its momentum, with uneven pacing and shallow character development detracting from its potential.

While the eerie atmosphere and supernatural elements offer some thrills, they often veer into corny territory. The pacing is especially problematic, starting off slow and only picking up around the halfway mark. Even then, the spooky moments fail to fully immerse the reader, often feeling more like a distraction than a core part of the story.

The biggest drawback is the cast of unlikable characters. Andy, who takes center stage, is a particularly frustrating protagonist. The dialogue is frequently misogynistic, and every female character is written in a reductive, negative light. This choice makes it difficult to invest in the narrative or care about the unfolding mystery. Moments that should deepen the plot instead reinforce the flat, unsympathetic nature of the characters. Even the female character POV chapters have poorly written perspectives, which reduce the emotional impact of their stories unfolding.

By the end, Wicked Jenny feels more like a missed opportunity than a compelling read. Its mix of slow pacing, unlikable characters, and an underwhelming resolution leaves little impact, though it may still appeal to readers looking for a light, spooky diversion. For those seeking a gripping or satisfying revenge story, this one falls short.

I am deeply grateful to NetGalley and Severn House for this opportunity to read a digital ARC and provide my honest review.

Wicked Jenny is creepy fun, and a perfect read for fans of Stephen King or Dan Simmon’s coming-of-age horror books!

This dual-timeline novel takes the reader back and forth between a childhood friend group and the traumatic event they all endured, and the present day when one of their number is found murdered. After his murder, frightening things start to happen to the remaining friends. As they work to get to the bottom of whatever’s happening, they start to realize that no secrets can stay buried forever, and something nightmarish just might be after them.

This book is very well-written, and had some genuinely creepy moments. I really enjoyed the story, and I hope the author continues the series! I would recommend this to fans of coming-of-age horror, thrillers, and folk horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the arc!