Stephen Graham Jones’ Don't Fear the Reaper is a thrilling and chilling sequel that masterfully builds on the horror and suspense of its predecessor, My Heart is a Chainsaw. In this novel, Jones returns to the eerie town of Proofrock, Idaho, weaving a tale that is as much a homage to classic slasher films as it is an exploration of trauma, resilience, and the human spirit.

The story picks up four years after the Independence Day Massacre, with Jade Daniels—now going by Jennifer—returning to Proofrock just as a massive winter storm hits the town. But the storm brings more than just snow; it brings Dark Mill South, a notorious serial killer, who escapes from prison and makes his way to the seemingly quiet town. What follows is a gripping and blood-soaked battle for survival that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Jones excels at creating a tense and immersive atmosphere. The snow-covered, isolated setting of Proofrock is described in vivid, almost cinematic detail, enhancing the sense of claustrophobia and dread. The winter storm becomes a character in itself, adding layers of difficulty and danger to the characters' fight for survival. This setting perfectly complements the relentless pace of the novel, as the terror unfolds with relentless intensity.

Jade Daniels, the heart and soul of the series, is a complex and compelling protagonist. Her deep knowledge of horror movies, which was both her shield and her sword in the first book, continues to play a crucial role. Jade’s character is further developed in Don’t Fear the Reaper, as she grapples with her past trauma and the haunting memories of the massacre. Jones delves into her psyche with empathy and insight, making her both a relatable and inspiring figure. Her resilience and determination to face the horrors of Proofrock head-on make her a standout character in contemporary horror fiction.

The supporting cast is equally well-drawn, with new and returning characters adding depth and intrigue to the narrative. Each character's response to the unfolding terror is portrayed with a realism that enhances the overall impact of the story. Jones’ ability to create multifaceted characters ensures that readers are emotionally invested in their fates, heightening the tension and stakes.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its meta-awareness and homage to the slasher genre. Jones deftly incorporates references and tropes from classic horror films, using them to both subvert and reinforce expectations. This self-awareness adds a layer of depth and enjoyment for horror aficionados while still delivering a compelling and original story. The balance between paying tribute to the genre and crafting a unique narrative is expertly handled, making Don’t Fear the Reaper a standout in modern horror literature.

Jones' prose is sharp and evocative, capturing the brutality and beauty of the winter landscape and the visceral horror of the killings. His writing is both poetic and unflinching, immersing readers in the nightmarish reality of Proofrock. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter ratcheting up the tension and horror, leading to a climax that is both shocking and satisfying.

In conclusion, Don’t Fear the Reaper is a masterful work of horror fiction that solidifies Stephen Graham Jones' reputation as a modern master of the genre. With its compelling protagonist, immersive setting, and relentless suspense, the novel is a thrilling and satisfying continuation of Jade Daniels' story. Fans of My Heart is a Chainsaw and newcomers alike will find much to admire and fear in this chilling sequel. Jones’ ability to blend homage with originality makes Don’t Fear the Reaper a must-read for horror enthusiasts and a testament to the enduring power of the slasher genre.

I'm actually reading the closing chapter of this trilogy right now, and I ADORED Don't Fear the Reaper. It is a wonderful mix of tragedy, resilience, and mind numbing terror, and not just from the murderous man stalking Proof Rock.

5 stars

Jade Daniels is back in Proofrock after being incarcerated for the massacre that she spent her life praying for. It turns out, it wasn't what she wanted to happen. Now she's back and a convicted serial killer known as Dark Mill South is being transported through the snowstorm that is slamming the town. This was so DAMN GOOD! I loved it. I loved being back with Jade, but I also loved following different perspectives throughout the town as well as a paper written by Galetea Pangborn covering the events of Jade's life and the events of the Dark Mill South massacre and the showdown between him and Jade. It was so good. I loved Jade's friendship with Letha and that fight and drive she had. She essentially becomes Jade in her evolution since the July 4th Massacre and it's so cool to see her fill in the gaps that Jade has shut down in herself and refused to engage with. Watching Jade reject her identity and her own nickname to cope with returning to town was so heartbreaking, but seeing her reclaim her identity with each body she stumbles upon and eventually evolve into a final girl was so fun to cheer own. She's such a well-fleshed-out heroine and I love the progression of her in this book. That last line was truly iconic. I can't wait to read the final book in the trilogy.

Stephen Graham Jones is one of the greatest living horror novelists.

This series pulls from classic horror tropes -- specifically horror movies -- and it feels weird to say that a horror novel is fun to read, but these books are just so damn fun to read.

Stephen Graham Jones does it again. His books are INCREDIBLE horror novels and I can’t recommend them enough. In this particular series, Jade (our MC) is a horror movie fanatic and so I think this is best fit for someone who likes slasher movies so they can pick up on her references

Stephen Graham Jones is one of my favorite favorite authors, and Jade is a freaking badass goddess. His books are like little love letters to the horror movies I grew up with. A new story from Proofrock is like a warm hug from Freddy Krueger, in the best way, and this one just keeps delivering, from the end of the first chapter all the way to the glorious, gory end of the book. Two chef's kisses.

There is no stopping Jones or Jade Daniels. The followup to My Heart is a Chainsaw we needed. Once again, the voice Jones has established with readers cuts like a hard core slasher film. He can't miss.

What I love about Jones is he never shoes away zbout showing ys the ugly parts of his protagonists. These aren't virginal goody goody final girls, but girls on fire ready to burn the world diwn with them. I always recommend Jones to anyone that will listen.

I thought I posted this review ages ago which is why it so late, but damn, Jones has a fan for life in me.

My favorite final girl is back! Jade Daniels is such a likable and relatable character, I couldn’t help but root for her. I had to get this book in ASAP as I recently got the finale to this series. I LOVED the first book and this one definitely did not disappoint. It is truly one of the most gruesome, descriptive horror novels out there. The movie references are so on point and abundant, and I couldn’t love that aspect more. I have been watching scary movies forever and love to hear some favorite scenes and characters mentioned. I was especially excited about the Native American lore mentioned and allusion to their mistreatment. I am so excited to dive into the next book and see how this story concludes.

I didn't realize that this was part of a horror series. I had not read the first book in the series, and had no idea the content. I'm not a big horror reader so I DNFed fairly quickly.

*Thank you @gallerybooks for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because rating 4 stars or less.*

Don't Fear the Reaper (The Indian Lake Trilogy #2) by Stephen Graham Jones
Publication date: February 7, 2023

Date read: September 6, 2023



Four years after her tumultuous senior year, Jade Daniels is released from prison right before Christmas when her conviction is overturned. But life beyond bars takes a dangerous turn as soon as she returns to Proofrock. Convicted Serial Killer, Dark Mill South, seeking revenge for thirty-eight Dakota men hanged in 1862, escapes from his prison transfer due to a blizzard, just outside of Proofrock, Idaho. Dark Mill South’s Reunion Tour began on December 12th, 2019, a Thursday. Thirty-six hours and twenty bodies later, on Friday the 13th, it would be over.

Stephen Graham Jones is a polarizing author, I've found. Most people either love him or hate him. After reading both The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw (as well as the first volume of Earthdivers), I was still feeling torn. I like the way he tells a story, but both of those books felt to me like they were a little too long and a little too confusing. (Chainsaw, especially, took a very long time to get to any real action). And his kills are very gory - that didn't bother me, but I know it will be off-putting for some readers. But despite my liking his books but never being blown away, at the same time, if I see he has a new book coming out, it's an immediate must read.

Which brings me to Don't Fear the Reaper. For anyone who has been feeling like I have - who likes his books but is looking for a little something more - this is the book you have been waiting for.

Reaper starts out strong and fast with the gory action and rarely lets up. Jade (going by Jennifer now) is more mature, more reserved after serving her time and is done with horror movies. In fact, it's now Letha - back in a bigger role here - who is horror-obsessed and has to convince Jade to pick up the torch when the bodies start dropping once again. But don't let the description fool you - Jade is still as badass as she ever was, but a lot more grounded this time around (which honestly makes her more relatable, in my opinion). I liked Jade in Chainsaw, but she could sometimes be a little much; here, I found her an even more fun character. And I loved getting the addition of the returning supporting cast's POVs as well, especially Letha.

My only complaint with this book is that there were sometimes a little too much going on (as opposed to the first book, where I didn't feel like there was quite enough). This had it's positives (so many bodies!), but it's negatives as well. Without spoilers, I felt that the ending got a little confusing, and I'm honestly not 100% sure who killed who in some of the scenarios. This is the only reason why the book couldn't get to 5 stars for me.

Overall, though, this book is a thrill ride. Lots of blood and gore. Lots of classic slasher references (although if you're not well-versed on all of the movies, it's perfectly okay; there were a fair amount of movies mentioned that I have never seen, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything, plot-wise). Fun characters. Crazy serial killers...

I do recommend reading My Heart is a Chainsaw first. I feel like you could technically read this book as a standalone without being completely lost, but there are so many callbacks to Chainsaw, that I really wouldn't recommend trying. This book is better (in my opinion), but the first book is also very good and will give you such a great background on Jade, that I wouldn't skip it. Also, keep an eye out for March 26, 2024, when the final book in the trilogy - The Angel of Indian Lake - is set to drop. I know I plan on grabbing myself a copy.

Rating: (a strong) 4/5 stars

Content warnings: gore, murder, child abandonment, racism, animal death

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

The sequel was interesting but I don't know if the series is right for me. Will definitely recommend to other horror readers who are horror movie buffs and love slashers.

Don't Fear The Reaper proves that sequels can be just as good - if not better than the original. My Heart Is A Chainsaw was one of my favourite horror books of 2021 so this is a highly anticipated follow-up that delightfully delivered. I had a blast meeting Jade again and returning to the lake town of Proofrock. She is a changed person after the events in the first book. I was sad to read about what she went through in the recap at the start of the book, and how her spirit and demeanour have been dimmed by the trial. We always get stories about Final Girls that end when the monster is defeated. But what happens after? What happens when people don't believe in Final Girls? But even when she wants a new life, to her dismay, people are dying again and she must figure out how to survive - and save others.

The frozen winter setting is the perfect backdrop to a gut-chilling bloodbath by a dangerous, mythical boogeyman. Dark Mill South is a force to be reckoned with, and every encounter between him and other characters is violent and suspenseful. The supporting characters - like Jade's best friend Letha, the former town sheriff Hardy, and massacre survivors Cinnamon and Ginger - bring their own perspectives to the horrors. I was anxious to see how it ended but also not ready to say goodbye to Jade. Horror fans, you're in for a treat.

Something about these books just don't jive with me, but I can't pinpoint what it is. I wish I was one of the folks who really loved this series. I will read the final book.

Don't Fear The Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones is the perfect middle chapter to Jade Daniels' trilogy by expanding her character and the world around her. The more mature and wiser Jade has come out of the first book as the hero the town needs and the foil to the killer. It is a treat to read through passages that show the growth the character displays and how it contrasts with the Jade from the first book. Once the body count starts the pace quickens immensely and it becomes a brisk read. Highly recommended for fans of SGT and the first book. I can't wait to see how the story ends with the upcoming third book.

I just have to say that SGJ is hands down one of my favorite authors and Jade is one of my favorite final girls. I love all the slasher references and reading these books has given me films to watch that I didn't even really know. I know that this is going to be a trilogy so I don't want to say that this is better than My Heart is a Chainsaw, I think I need the final installment in order to really judge that, but I did enjoy this so much. SGJ gets better every time and while I loved this, I know that I will be sad when the trilogy comes to an end. The only thing I will say is that there were multiple POVs and it took me a minute to track everything and felt a bit disjointed at first, but I think that is the only downside.

I am SO GLAD this turned into a little series of books, because I really loved the first one and was very much excited for this follow up! This doesn't disappoint at all, and it's a PERFECT read in the winter time, whereas the first book was a better fit for summer. Jade is one of my all-time favorite horror book characters, and I loved spending more time with her, especially seeing her new friendship/relationship blossom. This was just so good!!

This novel is maybe better than the first installment in the trilogy—it plays out more like a classic slasher, but with a lot of heart. Only SGJ pull this off.

"Don't Fear the Reaper" by Stephen Jones follows a girl following her towns serial killer.

I would give "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Stephen Jones a 2-star review because, the idea was interesting but the actual reading failed me.

This sequel to my heart is a chainsaw does not disappoint. A serial killer, more bodies piling up and a blizzard sets an incredibly spooky atmosphere in this one.
.
Thank you #gallery and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Jade is back, and a new class of Proofrock High students is about to be terrorized! I didn't love this as much as the first book, but I enjoyed seeing Letha and Jade's sweet friendship and teamwork in taking down a scary serial killer on the loose. I can't wait to see what the author dreams up for the next installment.