How to Survive a Horror Story feels like a nostalgic throwback to late ‘90s and early 2000s horror films like Red Rose and The Haunting. The story follows a group of writers invited to the manor of renowned horror author Mortimer Queen for the reading of his will. Each guest has their own connection to Mr. Queen—some more sinister than others. Expecting to inherit something of value, they quickly realize his true intentions are far more twisted: a deadly game of survival. The rules are simple—solve the riddle to progress to the next room or die.

This was a fun, fast-paced horror read. While I found the riddles a bit too obvious, the punishments were creative and suspenseful without being overly gory. It’s a great choice for both teens and adults looking for a thrilling story without excessive violence, gore, or sexual content. I was absolutely satisfied from beginning to end and thoroughly impressed with Mallory Arnold’s debut novel. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future!

Even better than I had been expecting! The reviews don’t lie, this was fast paced, exhilarating, and thrilling. The characters are unique, and well developed. I will definitely be buying future books by the author immediately. Absolutely excellent.

How to Survive a Horror Story is completely different from the thrillers I usually read. Seven authors are stuck in a house and everyone has a secret they’re hiding. I was so entertained by this book and the writing was strong. I did have to suspend my disbelief and tell myself that some of the things that are happening are realistic and possible, but once I got in that mindset, I could not stop reading. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves a good fast paced thriller. (4.75/5)

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

A fun read, but the horror moments were a little light on the scares for me. The set up was intriguing, but I wanted a little more tension and psychological terror happening instead of just scary moments.

Mallory Arnold is officially one of my new auto-buy authors.

How to Survive a Horror Story is exactly what the title promises-a sharp, thrilling, and deeply unsettling ride through a haunted house that refuses to be just a backdrop.

It gives The Westing Game, The Haunted Mansion, and Ready or Not in the BEST sense. I could not think of a better combination if I tried, and I flew through this in one night as if I were doomed to the same fate as the participants.

When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen dies, a group of writers gathers at his sprawling estate, expecting their cut of his fortune. Instead, they find themselves trapped in a deadly game, where solving riddles is the only way forward and failure means becoming part of the house itself.

From the very first page, this book hooks you with its eerie, locked-room mystery setup. Each of the invited writers has a hidden connection to Queen, and as the game unfolds, so do their secrets.

The tension builds at just the right pace, blending psychological suspense with outright horror as the house proves to be far more than just bricks and mortar. It’s alive, it’s hungry, and it has no intention of letting them leave.

The novel strikes a perfect balance between biting wit and creeping dread. Fans of classic gothic horror will love the Fall of the House of Usher vibes (it's one of my FAVORITES), while the razor-sharp dialogue and clever twists make it feel fresh and modern. It also plays with the idea of storytelling itself...why do we love horror? What makes a truly great scary story? And at what point does fiction bleed into reality? I just read The Compound as well and these two were a SPOOKY combo.

With its eerie atmosphere, unpredictable turns, and a cast of characters you’re never quite sure you can trust, How to Survive a Horror Story is the perfect blend of literary homage and pulse-pounding suspense. If you love locked-room mysteries, haunted house thrillers, or stories that feel like a horror movie unfolding in real time, this one’s a must-read. Just maybe don’t read it alone at night when you have work the next day.

The Queen Estate is Ready to Welcome You!

How to Survive a Horror Story is a literary tour de force! This book captures a locked-room mystery with the gore of a slasher novel. It is excellent, pulling no punches, and with a mystery component that had me up all night trying to solve. Mallory Arnold is talented, and she will be an auto-buy author for me.

There are 7 unique attendees to the Queen estate, each deviously crafted by Mallory Arnold in this story. Each character has a unique perspective that I was equally invested in. The best part about this story is that the mystery solving doesn't follow a typical order. There is organized chaos in a way that keeps the reveals and twists refreshing. It was delightful to get this fresh spin on a classic trope and I believe readers are going to enjoy it as well.

This story isn't for the faint of heart. There are some gruesome scenes within these pages. However, if that sounds like something you enjoy - BUY THIS BOOK! It is disturbing and creative and terrifying. I think classic horror fans are going to love this and it has such fun surprises for any psychological thriller readers as well.

Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Scott Thomas, Sian Gilbert, and Grady Hendrix! Check this out if you're in for a scare!

When a group of horror authors are invited to a will reading by the biggest name in the horror genre, Mortimer Queen, they all show up, and what you imagine a reading to be is anything but. Everyone has a secret about why they are there, and as the book goes on, these secrets are revealed.

This is a fun and spook-filled story about one of my favorite horror tropes, but it might be a bit over the top for some readers. It was close to a Five-star rating but missed the mark of making a stronger connection of our main character to Mortimer is not as strong as that of the other authors.

Thank you, NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Mallory Arnold for this eArc out July 2025!

I like the story that was adapted from escape room games. Then, i felt bored.
I like the premise, but not the plot.

This book had so much potential to be great but the execution feel a bit flat.
- I enjoyed the overall story and learning about why each character was there
- The characters were interesting and it was great to see their personalities unfold (even if a bit tropey).

However, there were a few things that fell short

- There was a lack of suspense. I just didn't feel it and that was a shame because it's a main part of the genre.
- The ending was such a stretch and I found it very unbelievable

Thank you NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC

Thank you to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and @netgalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I love a locked room thriller and this was deliciously entertaining. It did NOT read at all like a horror story, so I think the title is misleading. But it's a fun, bingeable read!

This was such a fun read! It had all the elements of a good time and I can't wait to recommend it to customers.

An enticing thriller with a unique set a characters. I really enjoyed the mystery of this story and how it kept me on my toes. The plot was engaging and I felt like it was a pretty fast read.

In this horror story book we see a race for survival, and characters scrambling to keep their lies hidden and make themselves look like the victim. But in the end only one of them will survive the night and escape the house of horrors.

This was everything I needed in a horror story, this vaguely remined me of the writing of Grady Hendrix. While this is the first book of Mallory's that I have read I think she has found her spot in the book genre world and I hope she continues.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC

This was such a fun debut. Horror isn’t usually my genre of choice, so more avid readers may have other opinions, but I thought this had the perfect blend of suspense, lightheartedness, and gore. There were some plot holes in general and I would’ve liked to have earned a few more answers throughout, but overall I really enjoyed this!

Absolutely brilliant premise and it is nailed! I read this in one sitting! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was a fun read! The ending was predictable but I enjoyed learning the backstories of each character how they were all interrelated. I will be buying this when it releases to have a physical copy. I really enjoyed this ARC.

Okay... I guess it's just not my kind of book. I tend to really like thriller books but this one in particular was not what I expected.
One of my main problems is that it's too descriptive with things that aren't necessary. It's a thriller book, not a fantasy one in a made up world and so I don't think it's necessary to describe everything so much, I think at times that took me out of the reading quite a bit.
Mind you, I think it's pretty funny, especially for a thriller and it's a book that reads pretty fast. I think the idea, although it was nothing very new, was pretty good but the execution could have been better.
The characters, beyond the fact that each one was hiding things, seemed to me rather flat and in the end, instead of trying to escape from the mansion, they wasted time with nonsense and the ending leaves you with more questions than answers.

📖 Book Review 📖 Listen, I’m not rooting for chaos and mayhem to unfold after an untimely death in real life, but on paper: I am all in. Mortimer Queen has left quite the legacy and an assorted band of writers has gathered per his last will and testament. Told from multiple perspectives, the eccentricities of Mortimer Queen and each person’s relationship to the horror author unfold in the most delightfully delicious and dark manner. What starts as a quiet evening soon evolves into a game when the house comes alive with fear. Mallory Arnold flawlessly breathes an air of magic into her writing that flies off the page, creating an atmospheric read that envelops the reader. How to Survive a Horror Story is a perfectly paced, suspenseful, and absolutely thrilling ride!

I absolutely loved the sound of this book. Horror is one of my favourite genres so I was naturally drawn to the book.

The set up of the book were brilliant. It gave me a very Clue-meets-Saw vibe. The characters, although you didn't know their stories yet, you knew they were unlikable and certainly the way they were acting solidified your opinions early on. The characters had to solve clues to survive and move, each of the clues related to something that the characters had done to the author, and even thought it meant another character might die, they still did not want to admit their wrong-doings - great character flaw, I loved it.

However as the book moved it, the style became a little less polished and I felt some of the motives became less deserving e.g. Crystal - totally understood that one, but Buck seemed a little harsh in the end. But I guess that sums up the author up, he also came over as an incredibly unlikable character. That also made the overall reason for the whole thing a little out of character, to suddenly help someone, didn't seem like something he would do.

I think before release, the book needs another go through and some of the conversation and style needs to be tidied up towards the end.