A story that is cloaked in mystery from the very beginning. Seven writers are invited to the will reading of legendary horror author Mortimer Queen at his grand manor.
Some of the group had close or long relationships with Queen for example Buck- his former assistant. But others aren’t quite sure why they were invited, especially unpublished author Melanie. In fact, she can’t quite place how or when she met Queen.

But of course, everything is not what it seems. And in order to leave the eerie manor, they must play a game, concocted by Queen, where dark secrets will be revealed and survival is not guaranteed.

You never quite know which way things are going to go. As the story unfolds more and more is revealed but I had some lingering questions after the conclusion. I felt the ending was quite anticlimactic because I wasn’t quite sure what to believe.

Maybe the point is to not know which version of events to believe, because we know Queen can basically make anything happen. So I don’t quite believe that the evidence Melanie finds in the cabin is legitimate.

Plus we have the fact that both Crystal and Winnie mentioned Queen abusing his wife. And they don’t seem to know each other that well, so it’s not like one would have found out from the other. What are the chances they both happen to mention that in their own version of events and are lying. So are we just glossing over the fact that he probably was abusing her?

I just don’t like that Melanie didn’t take all of this into consideration and immediately believed Queen.

This one was going so well until the last few chapters. That being said, I did enjoy the majority of it.

I overall enjoyed this book. I found the plot pretty predictable for the most part, but the characters drew me in and I enjoyed reading the "short stories" about each one. The haunted house setting was great, and I liked how varied each room was.

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

Oh, this was so much fun! A very "me" book filled with mystery, some spookiness, puzzles, and twists. Perfect for those who eagerly anticipate fall during the summertime!

How to Survive a Horror Story is about a young aspiring author who's invited to a will reading of an acclaimed and famous horror author at his secluded, oversized mansion. Not familiar with the guy besides a chance meeting she weeks before his death, Melanie is bewildered and confused over the invitation. But not too confused to ignore the invitation. When she arrives at the manor, she encounters six other authors of the horror scene who were connected to the late Mortimer Queen in different ways. 

While the title suggests this book acts as a loose step-by-step guide to surviving a horror story, it is not. It's more like an account of what happens over this fateful will-reading weekend in Mortimer's manor. And the horror theme/element of the book wasn't really prominent for me while I was reading. The tense between the characters progresses naturally and there's a dominant thriller vibe in the narrative that comes across strongly in the book.

But since I was aware that the deceased and the guests of the house, besides Melanie, were horror writers, I was expecting the creepiness before it actually happened. And since the book is told in third person the ominous will-reading stated what they were to expect while trying to solve the riddles of the manor, that added another degree of separation to my overall reading experience. 

How to Survive a Horror Story will keep readers entertained and invested as the hours tick by with the guests struggling to work together and make it out alive. This book gave me huge Clue vibes and there really wasn't a point where I wasn't linking the characters or scenes in this book to the movie. Chester, Chrystal, Petey, Scott and Buck all have their own version of events that differ from the late Mr. Queen. 

All of them are scared and want to make it through the weekend in one piece. And for their plan to survive to work, there needs to be trust.
And Melanie's character not being able to remember the details of the day she met Mortimer kinda leaves this big question mark over her head the entire time because we don't know if Melanie's character can be trusted or not.

I had a good time reading this book and although I felt the ending was kinda sour and plotty, I would recommend this book to other thriller and mystery book readers who enjoy locked door riddles and psychological tension with their books.

I’m a sucker for a good locked-room mystery, and this one delivered in spades. Instead of the usual family gathering for a will reading, this story throws a twist: a group of writers is summoned to the eerie mansion of Mortimer Queen, a legendary horror author. They’re intrigued—and more than a little confused—about why they’ve been chosen and what awaits them.

Given Queen’s love for puzzles and theatrics, no one is too shocked when things take a strange turn. His mansion is straight out of one of his novels—macabre, unsettling, and full of odd staff who only add to the growing tension. When the guests are informed that they’re part of a game, they’re curious… until they realize participation isn’t optional.

And the stakes? Life or death.

That’s when the real horror kicks in.

As someone who usually leans toward logical, tidy mysteries, I had to remind myself this isn’t your average whodunit—it’s horror, and it leans into the genre fully. If that’s your thing, you’re in for a treat. If not, this might not be the book for you. The blurb keeps the details vague, so I’ll follow suit, but the way each character connects to Queen—and to the game itself—is both clever and chilling.

Each of the invitees has secrets, and Queen is hell-bent on dragging them into the light in the most twisted ways possible. What I really appreciated is that the characters feel real. They’re not just stock victims in a body count—they’re flawed, complex people. Not all of the inhabitants of the mansion can say the same…

From start to finish, the story oozes with a creepy, slow-burn atmosphere that had me turning pages late into the night. I devoured it in one sitting. It’s creepy, clever, and compulsively readable—a perfect blend of mystery and horror.

I really hope the author keeps writing books like this. I’m already ready for the next one.

I've tired of locked room (island, boat, airplane) mysteries but that's before I opened this locked house horror tale that blends a mystery with murder and the paranormal. It's a page turner with tricks. You navigate the house as the characters do and no spoilers from me as to how it works out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good one.

This was one of those books that sounded incredible on paper: a group of horror writers trapped in a haunted manor, solving riddles room by room while the house picks them off one by one? Yes, please! The premise immediately hooked me, and I was genuinely excited going in.

That said, while the concept was super fun and had a lot of potential, the execution didn’t quite live up to the setup. The story had moments of cleverness and suspense, and I appreciated the nods to classic horror tropes, but overall it felt like it didn’t fully commit to either being genuinely creepy or sharply satirical. The pacing was uneven, and I often found myself wanting more depth from the characters and the atmosphere.

I debated between giving this 2.7 or 3 stars, but ultimately settled on 3 because I didn’t have a horrible time reading it, there were definitely entertaining bits, and I can see horror fans enjoying it as a light, meta take on the genre.

If you’re in the mood for something quirky, mildly spooky, and full of references to horror storytelling, this might be worth a try.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC of How to Survive a Horror Story in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such an entertaining and creative book for a horror genre, with a mix of spooky moments and humor. I liked how the characters were self-aware and acted like they knew they were in a horror movie, it made the story feel different and entertaining. The book had creepy scenes but wasn’t too scary, so it was a good balance. It also had some good messages about friendship and facing your fears. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes horror but also wants to laugh a little along the way.

Thank you so much NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

7 authors attend a will reading in which they were told they would be receiving something of value from a fellow author. What they find they have been given is not exactly what they thought.

This book gave me such a nostalgic feeling while reading this. It felt like reading a modern-day Agatha Christie novel, mixed with more horror elements. There were lots of twists and turns throughout the book, sometimes literally. I sped through this book, because I truly did like reading it. The characters were fun to read about, and the ultimate plot of the book was so entertaining. The plot twist at the end is also one that I did not see coming at all. Some of the horror elements that were brought up gave it an old school horror vibe.

However, there were a few things that did make it feel like it was lacking a little bit. I wish there had been a little more information on some of the characters. Without giving anything away, there were two characters that were made to look like they were interested in each other, but it felt very forced and random. Also, I feel like the character development for the main character went downhill at the end of the book. She was built up one way and did a complete 180. The ending actually made me so sad.

Overall, it is a fun read that you can get through quickly! 3.5/5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC of this book. This was nonstop good, creepy, gory done well, fun! The ick factor is so on point I was totally blown away. In this book we follow Melanie, Chester, Crystal, Scott. Buck, Winnie and Petey on their collective adventure of dealing with what Mortimer has left for them. This is a very introspective narrative about how people cope with the choices they make. I couldn't put this down.

A group of horror writers are invited to the estate of the late, great Mortimer Queen; the king of horror fiction. He has included 8 contemporaries and peers in his will, and they flock to his estate to hear what he’s bequeathed them. However, they soon realize that their inheritance is more sinister than they could have imagined; the group are forced to play a game with deadly consequences if they don’t win.

This was a fun and fast paced cozy horror mystery. Fans of Clue will enjoy this one, it feels thematically like a horror spin on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The character work was a little clunky at times, with the characters feeling more like caricatures (for example, Buck felt like an SNL depiction of a country boy), but the plot moved quickly and had some interesting turns. I think mystery fans looking for something with a bit of paranormal would enjoy this one!

3.5 Stars rounded up

A group of writers trapped in a twisted, escape room style haunted house by the vengeful spirit of a dead colleague? Yes, please! The premise of How to Survive a Horror Story is darkly clever and irresistibly fun, especially for fans of meta horror and stories that skewer the literary world.

Told through alternating POVs, each character takes a turn narrating their experiences in the manor, intercut with eerie vignettes that reveal what each of them did to anger the deceased author. These interludes were some of the strongest parts of the book. Sharp, damning, and often darkly funny, but the way they were structured felt disjointed. The shifts between perspectives and backstories didn’t always flow smoothly, making it difficult to track who was who, and why their sins mattered in the moment. I often found myself flipping back to earlier chapters just to reorient.

Despite the narrative structure being a bit chaotic, I was still fully entertained. The character work is excellent. Each one is deeply flawed, and watching them unravel under pressure is part of the fun. This isn't a gore heavy horror; it leans more toward psychological tension and slow building dread, with a healthy dose of dark satire.

Overall, if you're in the mood for a horror story that’s more about guilt, ego, and revenge than outright bloodshed, this one is worth checking out, even if the storytelling gets a little tangled along the way.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Mallory Arnold for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

How to Survive a Horror Story had such a cool setup; a spooky old manor, a group of horror authors trapped in a twisted game, and a meta, haunted feel. It should have been a blast. But sadly, it just didn’t deliver. All the characters kind of blended together, so even with seven POVs, there wasn’t much depth or tension. The creepy atmosphere showed up here and there, but not enough to carry the story. I really wanted to love this one, but it ended up feeling kind of flat.

I received a free copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Crafty. That is the word for this book. A gruesome in both body and soul tale of how to manipulate the perfect successor, like a serial killer grooming an apprentice. An abused child desperate for appreciation that they will embrace the monster as it is soothingly whispered into their ear that everyone around them was the real monster [I feel like some reviewers misunderstood that and thought we were being told to feel bad for Queen, but we were not, he is the biggest monster of them all] absolutely chilling twist. The setting feels like a heavy, humid, cramped room instead of a manor with its riddles and sinister feel, like a monster in of itself. But of course, we were told that from the start.

⅘. 8/10 .

I had a good time with this one! When I started it I was in a slight reading slump, nothing was catching my interest. Before I knew it I was already 20% into this one.

This does have 7 POVs. They are the individuals that were mentioned in the Will of a well-known author. The characters are at times a little out there but it also goes with their character.

I really enjoyed the concept and the outcome.

ARC provided by NetGalley, sourcebooks, & poisoned pen press.

3.5 stars rounded up and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

Mallory Arnold knows how to write a spooky setting, I'll give her that. The dialog and characterization could use a little bit of work, but I enjoyed the hell out of this novel.

If this is her debut novel, I'm excited to see what she comes up with next.

In this quirky, blood-soaked horror novel, a group of classic horror movie archetypes find themselves trapped in (you guessed it) a horror story. But instead of running scared, they’re trying to outsmart the tropes that usually get people killed. The story bounces between characters, each with their own flashbacks and mini arcs, as they piece together what’s really going on and how to survive until the end credits.

I really enjoyed this one overall! I liked the structure and the way it was written—switching narrators and jumping between timelines made it feel lively and a little chaotic (in a good way). It’s definitely tropey and doesn’t shy away from the gore, but it’s more “fun-horror” than nightmare fuel. Think The September House vibes: creepy, gory, and self-aware without being genuinely terrifying. If you’re looking for a horror story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, give this one a try.

How to Survive a Horror Story comes out July 8, 2025. Huge thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
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This really looked like it would be a fun one.
And the first 20% of the book was promising. But then I got really bored with it.
I have picked it up and put it down so many times, I just don't have any interest in finishing it.
I think the best part was the descriptiveness with the house, gothic vibes, very grabby...
But the rest of it was just meh. A shame, great premise for a really fun book.
In fairness, because I did not finish it (50%)...I will give it 3 stars just in case it got better!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poison Pen Press for the ARC of How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold. This story starts with group of strangers who have been invited to the mysterious home of the late horror author, Mortimer Queen for the reading of his will where they are invited to play a game as he completes his final story. The rules state that they have to solve a riddle in a specific amount of time in order to proceed to the next room of the house. If they answer wrong or too slowly, the house itself will devour them. Through the book, each stranger's story and connection to Mortimer Queen is revealed as they navigate the often gruesome stages of the so-called game. Mixing mystery and horror, this book is perfect for fans who enjoy a good riddle, a setting where the characters are locked together, and don't mind exploring a haunted hungry house. 3.5 stars rounded up.

4.5 ⭐️

Following his death, top horror writer Mortimer Queen invites a group of fellow horror writers to his estate for his will reading. Assuming they were left something of great value, the group arrives in good spirits at the Queen Manor in Vermont. The group quickly discovers that this is no typical will reading and is actually a game. Will everyone make it out alive?

I inhaled this book, I loved it so much! Each character was written so well and I loved each of their story lines. This face paced mystery kept me turning page after page until I found out what happened! This was such a good read with a satisfying ending.

Big thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Mallory Arnold for the arc! Grab a copy when it drops on July 8th (just look at the sprayer edges of the deluxe edition 🤩) 💜🖤