This has an intriguing premise and a promising Dexter-like main character, however, the writing and organization need significant work. There was a lot of jumble and confusion that really pulled me out of the story and made it hard to continue on. A good editor could help make this a five-star thriller.

So like any good comp title, the Dexter comparison really drew me in to pick up this book. I was a bit on the fence because while I love the Dexter TV show, I had some significant issues with the book. So I was pleased when the comparison was more on the subject matter in the book and not so much on the tone of the writing. I do think the description above makes the book seem like it will have a darker tone than what we actually get on page. I overall had a good time and found the characters as well as the mystery plot to be well developed.

Hilrey's character is obviously the center of this read and I think he was a really interesting character to follow. I did find the first chapter or two to be a big info-dumpy with his history - both professionally as well as his past crimes. After those first few pages, however, we get right into the current narrative and it was smooth sailing from there. I loved that we got the details of Hilrey right from the beginning so this is one of those reads where it wasn't so much of a mystery of what happened in his past, but more so of when the other characters will find out. Hilrey's character was well developed and had a very distinct voice which I always like in these type of reads. While Hilrey was retired, he obviously hasn't lost his detective instincts and so following him for this investigation was interesting and I loved seeing the contrast between his history and the newer methods that are used now. The other characters in this read are also well developed and I got a really good sense of all of their characters. Since this is book 1 in a series, I hope we get to see more from these side characters in future books.

The mystery of the current murder that Hilrey and Dakota are investigating was really interesting and well plotted. We get a lot of bodies dropping and a lot of different leads for our investigation team to follow. We get a lot of leads especially when connecting the current murders with crimes in the past and I think Alman does a great job of leading the reader through these investigation points without anything feeling overly dry or repetitive. Because we had so many victims in only a little over 300 pages, I did find myself not remembering the names of each victim. So by the end of the book, when they are going over each of the crimes and how they are connected, I couldn't really remember specifically which one they were talking about unless they noted specific details of the kill or something specific to each victim (like their job). I know that the character name issue is something I have and might not be an issue for all readers.

Alman does not shy away from the kills in this book - both in number and severity. The horror aspect comes in mostly from the brutality of the kills but the actual descriptions and certainly leans into a body horror sort of descriptions. The kills reminded me a lot of the kills in the Hannibal TV show where the bodies are mutilated and displayed in certain ways. The descriptions of these scenes is given in a sort of clinical way and not overly drawn out.

This is being listed as book 1 in The Campfire Murders series, I wasn't sure how it would end. There are a couple ending options that this sort of story would naturally conclude with and it somehow manages to touch on each of them. This does not end up in a cliff hanger, which is one of the ending options I was worried it would be. It ends in a similar way to most police procedural series where the case is solved but there are other plot points that are left open for the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

Publication date was February 26, 2025.

Revolving around Detective Diaz and retired Detective Higgins, we follow a series of murders that relate to unsolved cases during Higgins years of service.

The Sharp County Slasher portrays a vigilante, similar to Dexter, executing criminals who evade justice. The story was intriguing and I loved how intricate the crime scenes were. While I found Higgins character irritating at times, I enjoyed his relationships with coworkers and his genuine empathy towards partner Diaz.

Thank you NetGalley! The premise of this book is what drew me to it. It started out great. It was slightly confusing at points with the characters inner dialogue and trying to determine who was talking/thinking. I wanted to like it but couldn’t unfortunately

If Dexter is your brand of twisted justice, then The Sharp County Slasher will have you hooked from page one. A moody, blood-streaked thriller with a moral compass that spins wildly, this novel blends gritty procedural with psychological suspense in all the right ways.

Set in the shadowy backwoods of Sharp County, the story centers on Hilrey Higgins—a retired detective with a double life. Once a lawman, always a killer… but only the right kind of killer, or so he tells himself. Hilrey’s carefully curated quiet life is shattered when a string of murders begins to mirror his own long-forgotten crimes. Someone knows what he did. Worse, they want him to start again.

Enter Detective Dakota Diaz, a sharp-tongued, no-nonsense cop from the city who doesn’t buy into small-town pleasantries or unexplained holes in Hilrey’s past. The dynamic between these two is electric—tense, wary, and deeply human. Their uneasy alliance becomes the novel’s moral fulcrum, forcing readers to question justice, redemption, and whether some monsters really can change their nature.

Authoritatively paced and dripping with Southern noir atmosphere, The Sharp County Slasher doesn’t just revel in blood—it digs deep into guilt, identity, and the terrifying idea that the past doesn’t just haunt you. It hunts you. As the body count rises and the line between hunter and hunted blurs, you’re left wondering not just whodunnit—but who deserves to get away with it.

Verdict: A tense, morally murky thriller that grips like barbed wire.

3.5 ⭐️ 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 & 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳! 𝘐𝘯 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺, 𝘈𝘳𝘬𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘬!𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦! 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 2 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥.

𝘖𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘝𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER is a story about a small town serial killer who may or may not be courting an earlier murderer in the same small town. It’s a quick and easy read that moves at breakneck speed, with little to no-filler. You’ll enjoy this novel if you’re a fan of Dexter and I personally advise you to go into it without reading the synopsis because there’s a fun plot-point that I think is better enjoyed if you go into this knowing as little as possible.

A few things to note, I did find some of the twists a little bit predictable and fully guessed the identity of the killer in the first few chapters. The author’s style is also a little simple for my taste and the conversational stylings between characters didn’t work for me. The main character is supposed to be in his 70s but his inner dialogue was way too hip and didn't read like an old retired cop.

That being said, what I enjoyed most about THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER was how gruesome the killers’ crimes were. There are some insane visuals at play here that had me reeling and gagging (even as an avid and well-versed horror fan). The author has some really great ideas that weren’t executed as well as they deserved to be. Still, if you’re a fan of crime and serial killer procedurals and can look behind the simple prose, you’ll find some fun stuff to enjoy in THE SHARP COUNTY SLASHER, which promises to be the first in a new series!

A serial killer is at work in a small town. They seem to be copying another unsolved serial killer from the past. They have a message for the detective who worked the case.
A retired detective, a detective who just moved from a big city, and an FBI agent tackle the biggest case of their careers.

This was a book that felt rushed and spread too thin. The attempt at sub-plots was there, but just felt like filler. The killer was obvious right from the jump, both of them. It felt like it was trying too hard to be the next cop mystery series, and it was incredibly unbelievable to me. This is a small town, and no one noticed all those people going missing after doing horrible things? My first guess would be a cop in that scenario, every time!
The writing left something to be desired. Everyone had the same voice and feel, so I did not notice a difference in the characters. Detective Diaz was a bit bland, sadly, and very obviously a woman written by a man. Retired detective Higgins was immature, bland, and utterly unbelievable as a 68-year-old. I could see the potential, but I just don’t feel it was met.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The sharp county slasher was an enjoyable quick read! I did guess the twist immediately and saw it coming but I still enjoying the book ! At points the dialogue for our main detective/ serial killer Hilrey did feel slightly out of place for his age with some of the phrases and I feel like our main characters I would have loved to have had more depth and history on them, especially on Hilrey. But considering it’s a such a short book , I think that it did well to entice me in ! And I loved alot of the more descriptive detailed elements on the kills and crime scenes, that I felt was really well executed and kept the book interesting. I liked the little subtexts for each chapter of the “copycat killers” inner monologue/ thoughts, I think that was a great addition to the novel and kept the pressure on ! I also loved the dynamic between Hilrey and Dakota, and hope we get to see and learn more about them in more detail in the future. Overall even with some issues with dialogue, this is definitely is a quick fun read , especially if you like shows like Dexter or criminal minds! And i definitely would like to read the next instalment!

also the cover is giving the perfect slasher read perfect for summer !

Thank you to victory editing Netgalley co-op and netgalley for the e-arc for my honest review

First and foremost, a big thank you to the publisher for the e-ARC of this book. As someone who’s always been a huge fan of slasher movies—the suspense, the mystery, the thrill—I was immediately intrigued when I saw the premise of this book. It had that classic horror vibe I love, and I just knew I had to dive in. From the very first page, it felt like stepping into one of those nostalgic, blood-soaked films I grew up watching. The atmosphere was eerie in all the right ways, and I was excited to see how the author would twist the familiar tropes into something fresh and exciting.

1.5 ★ – This one wasn’t for me.

I totally misunderstood the synopsis of this book. For whatever reason, I thought this was going to be a cozy mystery, even though the synopsis clearly says that this one is about a retired detective. But in my head, I imagined it as a cozy mystery, and instead, it turned out to be a police procedural. And to be honest, as a general rule of thumb, I completely dislike that kind of story. So, one of the main reasons I didn’t enjoy this book at all is probably just that I’m not the right audience for it.

That said, I also must admit that I struggled with the writing itself… so… much. The writing in this book felt cheesy and cringey. And there are a couple of reasons why: to begin with, I had a hard time believing that the main character was supposed to be 70 years old. He read more like a teenager. The jokes he made, his dialogue… none of it felt authentic or age-appropriate.

There are also so many comments said by most of the characters that made me feel cringey and uncomfortable—it just didn’t work for me. I find it hard to believe that detectives or police officers talk like that or act that judgmental. Their dialogues don’t sound natural or real. I considered most conversations in this story way too far-fetched.

To continue, I was unable to connect with any of the characters—there wasn’t a single one I could root for. Again, the main character came off as immature and juvenile (something that I could maybe see working in a guy in his 20s or 30s, but impossible to believe in a 70-year-old man). He ended up being incredibly annoying. Even Dakota recognizes how immature he is, which makes me think that the whole situation was intentional… but that didn’t make it any less frustrating and annoying.

Now, let’s talk about the serial killer’s POV. Oh my god. Every time we’re inside his head, which happens briefly—maybe a paragraph or two, usually at the beginning of a chapter—it’s just so cringey. He reads like a kid, and the way he thinks and “monologues” feels like something out of a cartoon villain script. It’s over-the-top in a bad way, immature, and honestly gave me serious secondhand embarrassment. It completely killed any suspense or intensity those moments were supposed to bring.

There are moments in the story that should’ve had impact, key revelations and major reveals, but they fall completely flat. The reveal of the murderer, for example, is so anticlimactic. It’s basically, “Oh yeah, I’m the killer,” and that’s it. No tension, no drama. It just made the whole story feel underwhelming.

In the end, this book simply wasn’t for me. I misunderstood what I was getting into, and even beyond that, the writing and characters didn’t do the trick for me.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review is for an ARC received through NetGalley!

I thoroughly enjoyed "The Sharp Country Slasher"! It's a magnetic and intriguing novel told from the perspective of Hilrey Higgins, a retired detective and serial killer who finds himself on a twisted path as he helps in investigating HIS copycat, who seems to know a lot about him and is determined to send him a message by leaving behind a trail of clues that draw him deeper into the chilling and dark scheme.

The author does an excellent job of writing vivid, detailed descriptions of the crime scenes, and I was particularly struck by the dark and disturbing nature of the slasher's methods for taking out his victims. To be honest, I didn't feel an ounce of sympathy for the criminals he targeted; they were indeed horrible characters who seemed to enjoy their wrongdoings and have the audacity to do it again because they got away with it the first time! In a way, I thought they got what was coming to them! The mystery unfolds like a classic whodunnit, keeping you guessing throughout. I managed to figure out who the killer was early on. Still, the gripping narrative kept me turning the pages, and I was eager to know the motives behind the killer's actions as well as whether Higgins would ultimately get caught for his previous sins.

That said, there were a couple of things I found a bit off-putting. Despite being under 200 pages, the book felt a bit dragged out in places because of the lengthy conversations and some thrills were cut short, which led me to skim over a few pages. I also think it would have been quite thrilling to include a third-person perspective, perhaps from the killer's point of view, to amp up the suspense further. More "hunting scenes" from the slasher's POV would definitely have added to the excitement! Overall, though, I really enjoyed the read, and I can't wait to read into "The Campfire Murders #2"!

I mostly read horror and some thriller at times but they usually include a paranormal element. This story is a detective thriller that follows primarily two characters as series of new murders happen that closely represent murders of the past when detective Higgins was part of the small police unit. He is joined by detective Diaz to help once again try and solve these gruesome murders.

I really enjoyed that interaction and banter between the two main characters and clues surfaced. There was a reveal early on that made me question whether all the murders are good or bad. It was a page turner that kept me interested from the start to final reveal at the end.

If you are a fan of gruesome murder mystery stories that walk you along the path of solving them you will love this one. This was outside my normal genre but I had a good time reading it.

This book is everything I could ever want from a creepy, mysterious read. The atmosphere was disturbing and dark. The characters were so fascinating and I just ate everything up.

This is not what I expected from a book so heavily marketed under the term Slasher. I went into this thinking it was going to be like a classic old-school slasher story, but ended up getting a serial killer novel. Which is fine. It just wasn’t what I expected nor wanted out of this.

If you're a fan of dark thrillers with morally complex characters and edge-of-your-seat suspense, The Sharp County Slasher is a must-read. Andrew Alman crafts a chilling and atmospheric mystery that feels like it could sit right alongside Dexter—gritty, psychological, and deeply unsettling in the best way.

The story unfolds in a rural setting where a string of gruesome murders shakes a small community. What makes the novel especially compelling is the constant tension and sense of unease. You’re never quite sure who to trust, and the hunt for the killer keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s that slow-burn suspense, mixed with just the right amount of intensity, that really pulls you in.

In short, The Sharp County Slasher is perfect for fans of psychological crime fiction. It delivers twists, tension, and that addictive need to turn just one more page. Highly recommended if you're into stories that make you think while keeping your pulse racing.

Man, this was my kind of book. Retired cop SLASH serial killer reaturns to the fold of the PD to help track a new serial killer who is following his MO to get his attention - or are they?

It had the feel of 80s slashers with the intelligence and moral compass of Dexter and overall a fast paced and enjoyable read. Were there some expected tropes? Hell yes - but I love me them tropes.

Horror and serial killer readers - don't sleep on this one!

The Sharp County Slasher is a fast-paced thriller by Andrew Alman. The story follows retired Hilrey Higgins, a retired small town detective, who harbors a dark secret, and Detective Dakota Diaz, a big city detective who just transferred to the small town in Arkansas . Together they are investigating a string of grisly murders that mimic a series of unsolved murders that Higgins originally investigated. This is a quick (less than 200 pages) mystery that I was able to read in a day. I really enjoyed the Dexter vibes, it made me want to have a Dexter rewatch. I did enjoy reading about the relationship between Higgins and Diaz, but I did wish it was a bit more developed. This book did keep me intrigued, and I would be interested in reading more by the author. Thanks NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#TheSharpCountySlasher was a great read provided by #NetGalley. The Arkansas symbolism throughout the book was very accurate. I hope there is a sequel to this book, because the ending seems like a perfect gateway to the next generation of characters. I have already looked up the author’s other books and I plan to order another one!

This was a solid start to the campfire murders series. The hook was fast paced and kept my attention. It was predictable, but I think that was done on purpose. If you like Dexter, this was a pretty fun nod in its direction.