This was a fun, campy old-school horror slasher. Though I was able to predict the killer and the complicit person early on, still it was ok. Fans of scream, phantom of the opera and greek mythology will appreciate this. This was a read me now book and the cover art plus title drew me in. Thank you, NetGalley for the arc.

Final Dress is a thriller/mystery/slasher set in the world of a community theater.

When Shawna takes an internship at the local theater, her Mayor father, Bill, isn't too happy. He has bigger plans for his daughter and doesn't particularly care for those weird theater people. But soon, Shawna gets the acting bug and lands a role in the latest production. But "breaking a leg" is the least of her thoughts once dead bodies start piling up.

This is more of a whodunit kind of novel for the first two thirds of the book. But It ramps up to full on horrifying slasher territory for the last few chapters with all the tropes I personally love from that genre.

While not the bloodiest or most brutal slasher tale, it's well written, has a fast paced narrative, and has a few twists at the very end you won't see coming.

I think fans of thrillers and mysteries might enjoy this one more than horror buffs but I found myself caught up in this world and hooked on the story because I had to know who the killer was.

This is a fantastic book to read if you're in the mood for something not so dark or gory to read. I recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

R. Saint Claire’s “Final Dress” is a chilling blend of theatrical intrigue, slow-burn suspense, and brutal slasher horror, though most of the thriller and horror aspects occur towards the end of the book. Set in a barn-turned-theater, the book explores the dark underbelly of a summer theater production, where ambition, jealousy, and long-buried secrets collide with blood-soaked consequences.

The story begins with a mysterious flashback involving the disappearance of a young actress, Candace, twenty years ago. This eerie prologue sets the stage for the modern-day plot, where Shawna Anthony, a naive and sheltered college graduate, begins her internship at the community theater. Shawna’s journey from intern to understudy to lead actress unfolds against the backdrop of simmering tensions among the theater’s colorful cast of characters. While the first half of the novel focuses more on theater life and Shawna’s personal growth, the horror elements take center stage in the latter part of the book, where the story truly comes alive, mostly in the last 70-80%, which is entertaining and filled with blood and gore.

Saint Claire’s writing excels in building atmosphere, particularly in the final act. The titular “final dress” rehearsal marks a sharp turn in the plot, ramping up the suspense and unleashing a series of gruesome, theatrical murders. The barn-turned-theater is an inspired setting, rich with eerie charm and foreboding ambiance that perfectly complements the carnage. The vivid and creative death scenes are a highlight, delivering on the gore and shocks that slasher fans expect.

The twist revealing the killer’s identity and motives is both surprising and satisfying, tying the mystery of Candace’s disappearance to the present-day horrors. The first half of the book does have a pretty slow start as the story mainly focused on Shawna’s growth in the theater world rather than the mystery aspects. I found the beginning of the book a bit of a struggle to get through. Shawna’s naivety sometimes felt more suited to a high school graduate than a college one. Some supporting characters, like the jealous Penny, verge on melodrama, but their exaggerated personalities add to the theatrical vibe. Overall, the pacing could have benefited from a more balanced distribution of action, as the first half occasionally drags.

However, the book’s strengths lie in its ability to weave an engaging story that blends Shakespearean drama with the slasher genre’s macabre thrills. I would recommend “Final Dress” for slasher enthusiasts and theater lovers who enjoy a slow-burn setup with a grisly payoff. R. Saint Claire delivers an unforgettable finale filled with gore, tension, and a touch of dark humor. While the slow start may require patience, the climactic bloodbath and shocking twists make this book a standout addition to the slasher genre.