How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold  is a novel about a group of authors invited to the reading of the will of a prominent horror writer.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.




My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes away, and his estate manager, Gia Falcone, sends out invitations to a select few authors to spend the weekend at his manor.  Gia will read Mortimer's will, and each guest is looking forward to sharing in his vast estate.  But the guests are invited to play a game first.  They cannot leave, unless they can progress from room to room by answering a riddle which they must find.  They have an hour to answer correctly, or be punished....  Lives may be lost.

Attending the reading of the will are:

Melanie Brown, who has not yet published anything, and doesn't feel she has the right to be at this gathering of authors.  She barely remembers meeting Mortimer Queen.

Scott Clay, author of the Dark Skies horror series, is a good-looking, somewhat arrogant man.

Crystal Flowers, author of erotic horror, and had a close relationship with the deceased.

Winnie Roach, a 50-something woman, who invited a guest of her own, Felix. She's a gossip-monger.

Buck Grimm. a big Texan, who was once Mortimer's publishing assistant.

Chester Plumage, author of books that center around teens doing crazy things, and is currently being sued by parents of teens that try that stuff.  His motto "Feel the Fear".

Petey Marsh, author known as a one-book-wonder.

All of the attendees have a secret, and they all had somewhat strained relationships with the deceased.  All of them have wronged him, or so he thinks.  Not all will survive this weekend.   The manor was built on the bones of  Mortimer's family, and the manor is hungry.




My Opinions:
This was a fun book to read.  Not funny, just fun.  It was creepy as hell.  Very atmospheric.   Great locked room mystery...and riddles!  The manor is more than just haunted, it's got monsters!  This book really had it all.  And it worked.

The characters were really entertaining, whether you liked them or hated them, they were well fleshed out, and a little over-the-top.  The deceased Mortimer Queen was a bit of a sleazeball too, and definitely bent on revenge. The house was a character all on it's own, and Gia...wow.  Anyway,  I think the way the author told the back-ground of each character within the narrative of the whole story, was really well done.

I wouldn't say this was pure horror, although it definitely had it's moments.  But it was definitely a creepy read, had a couple of twists, and suspense continued to build.  It held my attention from start to finish.  As I said, it was a fun read, and I'll be watching for more by this author.

This is a great take on the just deserts and final girl tropes, with the manor as a familiar but unique setting. The characters are three dimensional and distinct, with Gia being the scariest thing about this book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
What a fun book, and impressive debut novel! This takes inspiration from the classic locked room mystery and gives it a horror twist. I would call this Clue crossed with 13 Ghosts - two movies that I adore, and the concept worked well. A wealthy horror author dies, and 7 authors are invited to his very weird house for the reading of the will, and the inheritance is not at all what the guests expect. There is also a book within a book, which is a big part of the twist. This does have some flaws, common in a first book. The biggest is the book within the book slows the plot down and can feel repetitive. I still really enjoyed this and I look forward to what this author writes in the future. 4⭐️

How to Survive a Horror Story is such a fun, clever twist on classic horror tropes. I absolutely loved the concept, characters who realize they’re trapped in the mechanics of a horror story and have to figure out how to survive? Count me in. Mallory Arnold creates this self-aware, eerie world where the characters are just as obsessed with survival rules as I was while reading.

The book delivers the right amount of chills, mixed with sharp humor and a fast-paced plot that kept me engaged. I especially appreciated the way the tension built steadily without ever feeling forced. The meta elements and references to horror culture were smart and added layers to the story without overwhelming it.

This was a unique, entertaining ride that felt fresh while still honoring the best parts of the genre. I definitely recommend it to horror fans who love a little wit mixed with their scares.

Thank you to the Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this one

I love the story line of this book and you can never really go wrong with a locked in mystery. I also liked that the characters were writers. I thought the book was good, it entertained me. However, i don’t think it will leave a mark on me. It’s definitely good if you’re just looking for a mystery book to entertain you.

thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!

2.5. I thought this started out strong, but very much lost steam. I think the killings themselves are a really good metaphor for the book, because the first death is very gnarly, terrible, and vividly described, but by the end I had very little idea of what was actually physically happening during the deaths. they just sorta happened. I also think the book couldn't really decide on its tone - was it pure horror, a horror-comedy, or simply a thriller? it wasn't bad but it never really came together.

I give the author credit for coming up with like truly terrible characters throughout and still making them interesting. they felt unique, too, which is pretty impressive with all the different POVs. that said, I think the frequent deaths probably hurt the book in that regard, because they could all get picked off at any point, and put an end to anything interesting they had to offer the story. oh and the final survivor is so, so, so obvious, but I did really like that character and thought their journey was interesting (minus the Mortimer worship I think.), so it wasn't too bad.

also what was the point of Felix? still kinda hung up on that one

3.5★ (rounded up to 4★ (for the concept and fun).

Creepy and a lot of fun to read. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy!
This story drops you into a chilling mystery: a famous horror author dies, and a group of fellow writers—all successful in their own right, except for one mysterious newcomer—are invited to his remote estate for the reading of his will. But soon, strange happenings unfold, secrets surface, and the group finds themselves in a tense game of survival.
What I appreciated:

🔹 The premise was an instant hook, with a perfect locked-room/manor setting that gives the story excellent atmosphere.

🔹 The pacing steadily picks up—especially in the latter half—keeping the momentum high and my interest sustained.

🔹 Introducing a fairly large cast can be tricky, but the author handled it well: each character felt distinct, and their relationships added real tension to the group dynamics.

🔹 The writing is atmospheric and suspense-driven rather than gore-heavy—ideal for those who enjoy eerie vibes and mystery over outright horror.

A few elements didn’t fully land:

▪️ I didn’t connect deeply with some characters, so a few emotional moments felt less impactful.

▪️ A few character reactions under stress seemed slightly immature, which sometimes pulled me out of the moment.
▪️ I was hoping the danger and death scenes would carry more gravity and realism.

▪️ The ending was a bit predictable—but still provided a satisfying conclusion.

Final thoughts:
 Overall, it's a fast-paced, entertaining horror mystery with a strong concept and great atmosphere. It’s a promising debut in the genre, and I’m excited to read what Mallory Arnold does next.
—
🖤 I’m always drawn to eerie manors, closed-circle mysteries, and secrets-laden survival stories—and this one absolutely delivered.

4 stars!

I thought this book was super fun and genuinely terrifying! I love a book about a group of authors, and then you add in a little murderous game and I'm sold. I do think the outlandishness of the plot and the characters was a lot at times, but it was camp! It was fun! And that's what I'm here for! I also enjoyed how quick of a read this was, and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5⭐️

It was my first dip into the horror genre for books (which is crazy coz I'm a MASSIVE) horror fan for movies.

I really enjoyed the story that Mallory created in How to Survive a Horror Story - I loved that all the characters were popular authors in the horror genre in this universe who were all bought together to to reading of the will from another high profile author who had passed. But there's more to the reading and the old home that Mortimer used to live in and it's up to the characters to figure it out before it's too late.

If you're new to the horror genre for books but are a horror movie fan like me then you'll probably enjoy this book if you were a fan of the Escape Room movies (starring Taylor Russell)

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me early access to this book! I thought this book was great and I did not want to put it down. I love the spooky vibes. Just reading a horror book in the middle of summer, who am I? Lol great book definitely recommend.

I initially really enjoyed this book, the concept intrigued me and I felt like it could make a really good film! However I feel it's downfall was in the fact that so much of it was so unnecessarily long and drawn out. Like how long were they in that dining room for at the start? It felt like too long. And the ending felt very long and dragged out; it definitely could have been 10% shorter and I don't think the story would have lost a lot. Saying that, I enjoyed the twists and turns that it took and it definitely was a horror story.

Thankyou to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC.

This was such a darkly fun, original read—part horror, part mystery, and part escape room from hell.

A group of horror writers are summoned to the mansion of a famous (and recently deceased) author, expecting a will reading. What they get instead is a series of twisted, high-stakes puzzles that force them to reckon with more than just each other. With no way out and the clock ticking, the body count rises—and the game turns deadly fast.

The pacing was great, the atmosphere was deliciously eerie, and the whole concept felt like a fresh spin on the locked-room thriller. I loved the originality of the plot and the way the tension kept building room by room. It felt like Clue meets Saw meets gothic horror—macabre, brainy, and totally unputdownable. The vibe is eerie and immersive, with a strong sense of dread that creeps in and doesn’t let up.

I haven’t read anything quite like this, and I’m so glad I picked it up.

I love a locked-room story in a gothic setting. This book fit the bill. If you've seen and enjoyed either of the movies: Knives Out or Escape Room, then I think you'll enjoy this story. I found myself not wanting to put this down in an effort to see what was going to happen to this large cast of characters. I did like seeing the story from different perspectives, but I sometimes think too many POVs is not always a good thing. Regardless of that, I very much enjoyed this one!!

‘It’s like if the Wonka Chocolate Factory was a manor, and the kids were best-selling horror authors;’ ‘It’s like if Ready Or Not was a thriller novel;’ ‘It’s like if an escape room and Squid Games were turned into a story,’ are just some of the pitches I’d present to prospective readers of How to Survive a Horror Story.

An absolute thriller of a debut by author Mallory Arnold, How to Survive a Horror Story opens as any good whodunnit or 90s slasher film: with a Dramatis Personnae that introduces us to the principle players of this onion of a mystery.

The Queen of horror fiction—that is, Mortimer Queen—is grandiose, a downright sack of crap, and oh yeah, he’s also dead, leaving a will full of bequeathments to his beloved friends and foes.

But a simple dinner and drinks won’t suffice when it comes to the will reading of this newly passed titan of literary horror. No. What follows a strange cocktail hour and a stranger yet dinner, is a deadly puzzle orchestrated by a dead man and his living manor.

Unknown Melanie Brown, and her co-victims of horror hall of famers, Scott Clay, Crystal Flowers, Winnie Roach, Chester Plumage, Petey Marsh, and Buck Grimm must move from room to room, solving riddles that force them to face themselves and one another in an effort to inch closer to the exit from their fresh hell.

At one point in this story, the book is described as ‘J.D. Salinger meets Agatha Christie’ and I couldn’t describe it more aptly. Despite its title, How to Survive a Horror Story reads more like a commercial thriller than a horror story. Although, take that with a grain of salt from a horror fiction novice.

It’s a story that otherwise is as it presents itself, although it left me with questions and concerns I can’t bring up without spoiling potential readers regarding both on and off-page characters.

I think this recommendation goes out to readers who love unreliable narrators; unlikeable characters; campy horror and thrillers; Agatha Christie; and solid debut books that’ll keep you curious as to what the author will cook up next.

Psyched to meet Mallory Arnold next week so I can tell her in person how much I enjoyed this!

Perfect for readers who crave riddles served with a side of blood and gore, How to Survive a Horror Story unravels through alternating POVs, with each chapter peeling back layers of the characters—and revealing why they were “lucky” enough to make it into Mortimer Queen’s will. This white-knuckle thriller is hair-raising, gasp-inducing, and unapologetically packed with a relentless sequence of slaughter and mayhem.

Which begs the question, Mallory, are you Melanie?

I was so excited to start this book, and didn’t get further than one chapter in before that excitement doubled. Anyone who loves locked-room mysteries will find this debut story amazing. I had so much fun with this book despite how gruesome the deaths were that I was completely unable to put it down.

The characters are written in a way that makes it feel like you kind of understand them, but not the secrets they keep - and trying to guess what those secrets and motives were before they’re revealed had me almost as entertained as the plot did.
Yes, the story doesn’t exactly run on logic, but it is a horror mystery that provides a vast amount of thrills and entertainment, so it didn’t bother me in the slightest.

Arnold debuts with a story that has so many gruesome details and presents it in such a fun way that I can’t wait for her next story.

The beginning of the story starts after the famous horror author Mortimer Queen dies, and has invited a group of horror writers to his old family home for the reading of his will. Most of the characters expect that they will be receiving amends from Queen or part of his large fortune, but no one could expect what the true will is. During the reading of the will, it turns out to be a game that the authors must play. It seems simple enough: solve the riddle in the room and move on to the next available room. However, if they aren't able to solve the riddle, one person will be eaten by the home. This house is very hungry.

The premise of the story is extremely interesting. I do think the story could have been executed slightly better. The story has 7 POVs, which is way too many for me, but it is sort of necessary as they are unreliable narrators. I do think the characters should have been flushed out more - they all seemed a bit similar, it would have been more interesting to dive deeper as it was hard to care if any of them died at all. The book started out slow, but once it got into the actual game the story started to pick up. The whole escape room style was epic - I loved how each room in the house was designed, how they had to find the riddle, and how it blended truths and lies.

Legendary Horror author Mortimer Queen is dead, with no living relatives to bestow upon his assets he has instead extended invitations to seven authors to visit his Manor for the will reading.

Of course there's a catch and a deadly game is set in place for all those within the Manor, all they must do is solve the riddles to clear the rooms, if they don't have the correct answer... Well you'll find out.

I loved the concept of the story and thought it had some creative imagery and I also liked the reveals for how the authors lives had interconnected with Mortimer.

Unfortunately for me where it fell flat was the characters, none of them were particularly likable so there wasn't anybody to root for and I didn't really like the ending.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

My favorite book growing up was The Westing Game, which is much the same premise - someone rich dies and the reading of the will becomes a game.

The twist is that the deceased is a world-famous horror writer and all of the invitees are also famous horror authors.

Each has a very different “relationship” with the deceased, Mortimer Queen. Those relationships often define the things that happen. The “alive” gothic manor house adds to the creepy atmosphere.

This book also features a large cast with multiple POVs, but it does a good job introducing everyone clearly from the beginning. No issues following the shifting POVs.

This story gets pretty scary and gory! Be forewarned!

If a mash up of a mystery, thriller and horror story sounds up your alley, give this a go!

Seven writers are invited by a dead man into his creepy mansion for a will reading, but little do they know that the house is intent on eating them alive.

Horror locked room mystery where the house is alive? Love it.
The premise is so interesting and you're slowly introduced to a cast of horror writers who are in some way connected to the late Mortimer Queen. Their greed brings them in, but they quickly realise that this is a game of survival.

I really liked the writing style and the fast pace of the plot as we jump from room to room. The book focuses on weaving a narrative and how you really don't know whose point of view is correct. Are these writers good people who made mistakes, or are they lying through their teeth? I really enjoyed the creepy and sinister atmosphere the author was able to create. I was hooked on this book. I had my own thoughts on each of the characters, but for the most part, they were complex, well-developed and will evoke strong emotional reactions from the reader. From the get-go go you're rooting for Melanie, the seemingly odd one out in the group (despite this being a multiple pov she seems the central character) while wondering about her role in the plot.

The riddles and their answers were pretty predictable, so I kind of wish that this was something that had been written differently, with the goal still being to expose the characters but perhaps in a less obvious-to-the-reader manner.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading this book and things are tied up towards the end in an interesting manner. I hesitate to call this primarily a horror book. As someone who doesn't usually read horror and gets scared easily, I'd say this is more of a mystery with some horror and gore elements, so you might want to keep that in mind and adjust your expectations accordingly.