Sylvester Barzey’s Camp Lanier plunges readers into a chilling blend of horror, mystery, and historical injustice, all set against the backdrop of an eerie summer camp haunted by dark secrets. Inspired by the real-life urban legends surrounding Georgia’s Lake Lanier, this novel delivers a tense and atmospheric story where supernatural and human threats collide.

The story follows Taylor Johnson, a Black teenager who finds herself thrust into a summer of forced community service at the notorious Camp Lanier after being scapegoated for a petty crime. Right from the start, Taylor’s plight sets up a layered narrative. Her frustration over being punished for her wealthy white friends’ actions, along with her sense of isolation as one of the few Black girls at camp, adds emotional depth to her character. Taylor is tough, resourceful, and curious, and as she begins to unravel the disturbing mysteries surrounding Camp Lanier, her tenacity quickly becomes the driving force of the story.

Barzey expertly uses Camp Lanier’s history as a central source of dread. The legend that an entire Black community was violently displaced to create the lake, only to leave behind a lingering curse, sets the stage for a horror story steeped in real-world themes of racism and forgotten histories. This grounding in reality gives the supernatural elements of the novel an added weight—Taylor’s ghostly encounters, the strange crying in the night, and the whispers of the Atlanta Ripper lurking in the woods are not just scary for their own sake, but for what they represent: buried injustices and a history that refuses to be ignored.

The pacing is well-executed, with Barzey slowly ratcheting up the tension. Taylor’s investigation into the camp’s history and the disappearances that have plagued it for over 50 years keeps readers on edge, as does her mounting suspicion that something far worse than ghost stories is at play. The legend of the Atlanta Ripper, a real-life serial killer, adds another layer of horror, blurring the lines between past and present, between man and monster. As more kids vanish and Taylor begins hearing things no one else can, the story spirals into a terrifying exploration of what might be lurking beneath the lake’s dark surface.

Barzey’s depiction of the camp’s eerie atmosphere and the mounting paranoia among the kids is spot-on, with the isolated setting amplifying the sense of danger. The forest, the lake, and the dilapidated campgrounds are all described with enough detail to pull the reader into the claustrophobic, unsettling environment. Barzey doesn’t shy away from the fear factor—there are genuinely creepy moments that will stick with you long after you put the book down, particularly as Taylor digs

I think the book would have benefited from being longer because it felt really rushed most of the time. We barely met the characters and their personalities and motivations, the characters were acting like they knew each other from years since the first second, the bad people gave away their "badness" since the first moment and there was no other possible baddie, the ending felt super rushed.

Also, the books is full of pop culture references, and while that's nice to date the time the story is supposed to be happening in, it also feels like it will get old REALLY fast.

Camp Lanier is a gripping mix of Get Out meets Friday the 13th, with a dash of supernatural horror rooted in the unsettling urban legend of Lake Lanier in Georgia. From the stunning cover to the eerie campfire vibes, this book delivers campy slasher goodness.

The story seamlessly blends urban legends, historical moments, and ghostly elements, creating an atmospheric read. Taylor, the protagonist, is a standout—real, relatable, and easy to root for. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, adding depth to the fast-paced plot.

Though it leans more into YA horror and can be a bit predictable, the tension and intrigue kept me hooked throughout. The book offers a shorter read but hits all the right beats, balancing backstory, trauma, and escalating terror once the protagonist arrives at the haunted camp. With themes of revenge and survival, the story builds to a brutal, satisfying conclusion.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Camp Lanier—a chilling ghost story, slasher, and mystery all in one. Highly recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Camp Lanier was just okay. I liked our main character and really enjoyed the setting of the book. I enjoyed that it blended the history and lore of the real camp Lanier although I’m not completely familiar with it. I honestly just didn’t feel any tension and the ghost scenes fell flat and felt unbelievable. The characters choices didn’t make sense. I don’t think the writing style is for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sylvester Barzey and Sterling and Stone for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was very good and twisty. I loved that this wasn’t the normal camp slasher and had a really good paranormal element. I flew through it and really would recommend.

Camp Lanier is a YA horror novel that, despite its potential, falls short in execution. While billed as YA, the story reads more like a middle-grade book, with *very* young-feeling characters who make frustratingly poor decisions. The protagonist, Taylor, is introduced as a passive participant in a vicious bullying incident and is later shocked when her so-called friends turn against her, targeting her with a prank that lands her in serious trouble. Her ongoing denial of her friends' true intentions and repeated defences of them, despite obvious evidence, made her a difficult character to root for.

I knew at this point that I was going to struggle with Taylor as a main character, but I pushed through, hoping that her arrival at Camp Lanier would turn it all around.

Unfortunately, it did not. While this novel had potential and explored interesting themes, it did so in such a chaotic, messy way with cartoonishly villainous bad guys and clichéd plot devices like the classic villain monologue. Taylor repeatedly makes the same poor choices ad nauseam with predictably disastrous results, and plot twists that were intended to be shocking instead felt telegraphed. The story's internal logic also falters, with changing rules about character abilities that seem to shift to serve the plot with little rhyme or reason.

I spent so much of this book incredibly frustrated and was honestly baffled by the too-perfect ending, which made it all feel like a poorly executed episode of Scooby Doo. What saddens me most is that I think there truly was so much potential for a fantastic story here and that with more time to develop it and with a lot of editing, this could have been something fantastic. The main character and some of the secondary characters are interesting, if somewhat juvenile, and the commentary on racism, specifically focusing on microaggressions and displacement, was handled with insight, but the writing just feels so incredibly rushed and unpolished, overshadowing everything else this novel has to offer.



Trigger/Content Warnings: bullying, drowning, police brutality, racism, racial microaggressions, racially motivated violence and murder, murder, child murder, fire death

The perfect YA thriller. Atmospheric, locked room spookiness with an excellent twist at the end to keep you guessing. I honestly would not change anything in this book, it is perfect for the audience it is reaching.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital arc!

"Camp Lanier" masterfully intertwines mystery, horror, and emotional depth in this gripping narrative. The story follows Taylor, who, while adjusting to life in a new city and grieving their brother's death, is sent to the titular camp in lieu of jail time.
From Taylor's first day, the ominous camp itself emerges as a character in its own right, steeped in secrets and a haunting history connected to Oscarville. The setting's foreboding atmosphere is amplified by the lake's dark past and persistent eerie rumors, creating an immersive backdrop for the unfolding drama.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, building tension through a series of increasingly unsettling events. Taylor's encounters with ghostly visions and the mysterious Ripper add layers of supernatural horror that keep readers guessing. Are these apparitions real, or manifestations of deeper trauma? The author skillfully balances these supernatural elements with Taylor's very real struggle for survival, creating a compelling psychological tension.
The narrative delves deep into themes of trauma and survival, reflecting on both personal and communal loss. What sets this book apart is its thoughtful incorporation of social themes, particularly racial tensions and historical injustices. These elements aren't merely backdrop but are woven seamlessly into the story, adding depth and resonance to the horror elements.
The gradual unveiling of the camp's dark secrets builds to a thrilling, action-packed conclusion that satisfies both the supernatural and emotional storylines. "Camp Lanier" succeeds not only as a spine-tingling horror story but as a meaningful exploration of history, trauma, and redemption. It's a rare achievement: a thriller that entertains while prompting deeper reflection on its themes.

Since I grew up in GA, this horror story based on the real life history of Lake Lanier jumped out at me!

In the book, Taylor has gotten herself in trouble and has to work at Camp Lanier for the summer. But it’s shady. People have disappeared for years and Taylor is picking up more than a few racist vibes. When she starts seeing ghosts, it’s time to dig into the history of the lake to see if she can save herself and her new friends.

The history of the lake is all too real and I grew up hearing facts and ghost stories about the lake, met folks who wouldn’t set foot in the lake. Built in the 1950s, the land was flooded to create the lake, drowning a number of small towns that had been evacuated for the project. Oscarville being among them, a prosperous all black town. Nothing was torn down first and there are still remnants of the town in the depths of the lake.

This book was a quick easy read with likable characters that I found myself very quickly rooting for. The horror aspect is pretty tame, perfect for YA readers, even ones that aren’t that into horror. I went into this already knowing the history it was based on and I think it would be a great intro into that history. If you were to read this not knowing and not learning the history, I don’t think it would be nearly as enjoyable. I will definitely be recommending this to my history loving students!

Tried this one and I was unable to finish it. It was my bad for not looking into what the book was about. I heard a lot of other people absolutely love this one,

4.5 rounded to 5 stars

Loved it! the humour in the story was awesome. The full-on references to 'our modern' world made the story much more chilling, and knowing real places and events loosely inspired it. I enjoyed being a part of the misfits group sent to Camp Lanier. I really wish there was a tiny bit more plot continuation for Taylor visiting Oscarville. The author's note at the end offered some closure, as well as it provided an opening for individual research to be explored. I've already recommended the book to a handful of my friends to enjoy during this spooky season :)

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review it for an honest review.

The author did a fantastic job developing the main character’s backstory before diving into the mystery and horror at Camp Lanier. Taylor’s character was solidly built, allowing us to understand her background, personality, and personal struggles. The supporting characters were well-written as well. While the story leaned more towards mystery and thriller than pure horror, the horror scenes were still great. Although the plot was somewhat predictable, the journey was thoroughly enjoyable. The setting and premise were top-notch, giving off the vibe of a classic spooky slasher film. Definitely recommended!

Spooky and atmospheric read. Perfect for October chilly nights, cuddling up with your blanket and a flickering candle. Loved the story based on the real life spooky happenings of Lake Lanier.

Camp Lanier masterfully intertwines mystery, horror, and emotional depth. After moving to a new city,Taylor finds themself navigating the complexities of their past as well as newfound friendships, while still dealing with the death of their brother. Their journey is both relatable and intense, and gets even more so as they head to Camp Lanier,where they are sent to complete their time in lieu of probation.

The plot progresses quickly, and builds tension and suspense from Taylor's first day at the ominous camp. The spooky element of Camp Lanier, the impending trip to jail, and the ghostly images (is she seeing things?) kept me engaged throughout.

Camp Lanier itself felt like a character, steeped in secrets and a haunting history tied to Oscarville. The setting enhanced the foreboding tone, particularly with the lake’s dark past and eerie rumors.

Themes of trauma and survival resonate deeply, reflecting on both personal and communal loss. The interplay between Taylor's survival instincts and the camp's supernatural elements created a captivating tension that kept me on edge.

The introduction of the Ripper and the unfolding supernatural occurrences added layers of suspense and horror that were skillfully crafted. The gradual revelation of the camp's dark secrets culminated in a thrilling,action packed ending.

I really enjoyed how the narrative subtly addressed important social themes, including racial tensions and historical injustices, offering a thought-provoking commentary that enhanced my overall experience and made the book even better.
"Camp Lanier" blended horror and social themes,action and lore to make it not just a thrilling read, but a meaningful one.

What a wild ride!
What Butler did with Kindred, Barzey did with Camp Lanier.
His voice is so colloquial and funny, that the humor broke up some of the super tense parts in this irresistible plot.
Not only that, but Barzey did a great job of portraying racial horror in such a modern light.
Can this be the next Jordan Peele movie, please?

I haven't read a YA book that moved me like this one in a very long time.

When Taylor, a Black teenage girl, gets busted for shoplifting due to her white snobby private school friends, she gets sent to work at a summer camp instead of jail, which turns out to be a supernatural nightmare.

I went into this book blindly, and I am so glad I did, What unfolded ended up being better than I could ever imagine. This YA story is everything you could want in YA horror- supernatural events, relatable characters, and a fast-paced story that will keep you hooked. What makes this story stand out is the history that inspires it and the sense of justice and representation that motivates it.

I've known about the atrocities and injustice surrounding Oscarville and Lake Lanier for a while, so when I finally made the connection of this book title to that horrific actions in American history, I jumped up and yelled because what Barzey does with the story is so good. Barzey slowly reveals the racist history of the area in a way that marries supernatural horror with real life terror that sheds a light on issues that are still ongoing for so many displaced people in the USA. I could go on and on, but really, Barzey says it much better than I ever could.

In addition to a radical sense of justice this book gives to the people of Oscarville, it's just a good story. This is everything I would have wanted as a YA reader, and I am so glad I got to read it as an adult.

It took me a little while to get into this book to the point that I needed to find out what happened at the end. Once I got to that tipping it was a very fast read. Loved the plot line, liked most of the characters and loved to hate the bad guys. So many twist and turns all the way to the end. Would definitely read more books by this author.

Well, I usually love horror novels (or thrillers) set on a camp in the middle of the woods. The more secluded, the better!
I did like the ambience on this book, but I never fully believed the characters - they felt too far-fatched for my taste and there were moments I wanted more horror other than mystery.
Still recommend it to readers who are into creepy camps by the lake.

Thank you to netgalley for a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Camp Lanier is based upon Lake Sydney Lanier here in Georgia. I want to preface my review by stating that I am from the same town and grew up going on field trips to lake Lanier and spending summers swimming and fishing there. I have researched information regarding this lake and know its history.

Camp Lanier is a horror mystery novel with a touch of supernatural elements, based at a summer camp.

I knew almost immediately who the killer was and felt that portion of the story was quite predictable. The supernatural elements felt very rushed and lacked depth, and the majority of the characters were not very likable, except for Victoria, who was basically the fmc's best friend at camp.

I liked that the author did take time to learn about Lake Lanier and that this was not a basic lady in white retelling (which is a very common story regarding this lake) at the end of the day it always come down to evil people.

This is a pretty short read best suited for the older YA audience.

2.5 rounded up for incorporating some despicable historic events. Formulaic summer camp horror story, with a focus on racial issues. Very one dimensional…reads like fan fiction. Writing/dialogue is amateurish, but may find fans among the less hardcore YA horror readers.