This is the last Grady book I will be reading in a really loooong time. I have read three books he wrote, and I have had enough. Sadly, because this is a book that has a lot of potential. So what is this book about?
Lynnette Tarkington is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are back—someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece.
“But the thing about final girls is that no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.”
If this doesn’t sound like enough, I have another bit:
“The Final Girl Support Group pays tribute to and slyly subverts our most popular horror films—movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Scream.”
That sounds quite good. Let’s see closer who our final girls are:
Our main character, Lynnette Tarkington, is inspired by the movie Silent Night, Deadly Night, which was released on November 9, 1984. However, unlike the other final girls, she is not inspired by a character from the movie.
The next final girl is Adrienne, who is based on Alice Hardy from Friday the 13th, released on May 9, 1980. Adrienne’s story mirrors Alice’s survival of a camp counsellor massacre, with her name referencing Adrienne King, the actress who played Alice.
Marilyn Torres is based on Sally Hardesty from The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which was released on October 11, 1974. Her name is taken from the actress Marilyn Burns, who played Sally in the movie.
Dani Shipman was based on Laurie Strode from the 1978 movie Halloween. Her backstory involves her brother Nick, a mental asylum escapee who slaughters people on Halloween. You can see the similarity between this story and Laurie and Michael Mayer’s story.
Heather DeLuca is based on Nancy Thompson from A Nightmare on Elm Street, released November 9, 1984. I must add here that Freddy Krueger always has that special place in my heart! When I was a teenager, a new version of this movie was in the cinemas and I could not go because I was not 18, and my dad went with me so I could see this movie. It was one of the good memories and I still cherish it in my mind! Anyway.. Back to the Heather DeLuca… She is inspired by Heather Langenkamp, who played Nancy in the movie. This area has some supernatural-inspired elements as well.
Last but not least, we have Julia Campbell, who is based on Sidney Prescott from Scream, released December 18, 1996. Julia survives a massacre orchestrated by her boyfriend and his friend, mirroring Sidney’s experience in the Scream. Of course, she is inspired by the actress who played Sidney, Neve Campbell.
With all of this information, would you read that book? It seems a little like he took existing stories and tweaked them to fit the novel’s narrative. Still, if you don’t know these movies, you will easily read this book. You don’t need any other information for it.
These characters were a little confusing. There were too many for them, and I did not have enough information to feel more connected to this story and the characters. The only one I remembered was Lynnette, our narrator and driving force of the novel. She is doing the investigation of who wants to kill all the final girls. She was not the perfect narrator for me. Dear Lord, she was really hitting my nerves. Lynette in my eyes: paranoia, distrust, abrasiveness, emotional repression, insecurity, impulsiveness, judgmentalism, perceived cowardice, obsession with control. I hated all of it. She did not feel like a human at all. Just one big annoying flaw.
The other thing I have a problem with is that this book is shelved as horror, and I don’t think it really fits.
A horror book should create a sense of dread or unease, but this book was an easy ride.
Emotional impact, such as fear, which I could not find in this book. Tension and suspense: Where are you?
This book was another no for me. I think I should pick something else… by someone else.
- Atmosphere and tension: This is the backbone of horror- how well the book builds a creepy, unsettling vibe. Does the setting (dark woods, haunted house, possessed people) pull you in? Does the book keep you on edge, dreading what’s next? A great horror book makes the air feel thick with unease. 0
- Characters and Relatability: Are the protagonists fleshed out enough to care about? Do their fears or flaws resonate? Weak characters can tank a story- nobody roots for a cardboard cutout. The best horrors make you feel their terror as if it’s your own. 0
- Plot Coherence and Pacing: Does the story hold together logically, even in its madness? Are twists earned, not just cheap shocks? Pacing matters too- too slow, and it drags: too fast, and the fear does not sink in. A tight, well-structured plot keeps the horror gripping. 1
- Fear factor and Impact: How much does it actually scare you? This varies by reader—some want visceral gore, others subtle dread—but the book should leave a mark, whether it is nightmares or lingering chills. It’s about emotional punch, not just jump-scares on paper. 0
- Writing Quality and Styles: Clunky prose or overdone cliches can kill the mood. Does the language flow, painting vivid images without bogging down? The best horror writers wield words like weapons, sharp and deliberate, ampifying the story’s power. 0
Final score: 1/5 OUCH! That was harsh.