I initially really enjoyed this book, the concept intrigued me and I felt like it could make a really good film! However I feel it's downfall was in the fact that so much of it was so unnecessarily long and drawn out. Like how long were they in that dining room for at the start? It felt like too long. And the ending felt very long and dragged out; it definitely could have been 10% shorter and I don't think the story would have lost a lot. Saying that, I enjoyed the twists and turns that it took and it definitely was a horror story.

Thankyou to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC.

This was such a darkly fun, original read—part horror, part mystery, and part escape room from hell.

A group of horror writers are summoned to the mansion of a famous (and recently deceased) author, expecting a will reading. What they get instead is a series of twisted, high-stakes puzzles that force them to reckon with more than just each other. With no way out and the clock ticking, the body count rises—and the game turns deadly fast.

The pacing was great, the atmosphere was deliciously eerie, and the whole concept felt like a fresh spin on the locked-room thriller. I loved the originality of the plot and the way the tension kept building room by room. It felt like Clue meets Saw meets gothic horror—macabre, brainy, and totally unputdownable. The vibe is eerie and immersive, with a strong sense of dread that creeps in and doesn’t let up.

I haven’t read anything quite like this, and I’m so glad I picked it up.

I love a locked-room story in a gothic setting. This book fit the bill. If you've seen and enjoyed either of the movies: Knives Out or Escape Room, then I think you'll enjoy this story. I found myself not wanting to put this down in an effort to see what was going to happen to this large cast of characters. I did like seeing the story from different perspectives, but I sometimes think too many POVs is not always a good thing. Regardless of that, I very much enjoyed this one!!

‘It’s like if the Wonka Chocolate Factory was a manor, and the kids were best-selling horror authors;’ ‘It’s like if Ready Or Not was a thriller novel;’ ‘It’s like if an escape room and Squid Games were turned into a story,’ are just some of the pitches I’d present to prospective readers of How to Survive a Horror Story.

An absolute thriller of a debut by author Mallory Arnold, How to Survive a Horror Story opens as any good whodunnit or 90s slasher film: with a Dramatis Personnae that introduces us to the principle players of this onion of a mystery.

The Queen of horror fiction—that is, Mortimer Queen—is grandiose, a downright sack of crap, and oh yeah, he’s also dead, leaving a will full of bequeathments to his beloved friends and foes.

But a simple dinner and drinks won’t suffice when it comes to the will reading of this newly passed titan of literary horror. No. What follows a strange cocktail hour and a stranger yet dinner, is a deadly puzzle orchestrated by a dead man and his living manor.

Unknown Melanie Brown, and her co-victims of horror hall of famers, Scott Clay, Crystal Flowers, Winnie Roach, Chester Plumage, Petey Marsh, and Buck Grimm must move from room to room, solving riddles that force them to face themselves and one another in an effort to inch closer to the exit from their fresh hell.

At one point in this story, the book is described as ‘J.D. Salinger meets Agatha Christie’ and I couldn’t describe it more aptly. Despite its title, How to Survive a Horror Story reads more like a commercial thriller than a horror story. Although, take that with a grain of salt from a horror fiction novice.

It’s a story that otherwise is as it presents itself, although it left me with questions and concerns I can’t bring up without spoiling potential readers regarding both on and off-page characters.

I think this recommendation goes out to readers who love unreliable narrators; unlikeable characters; campy horror and thrillers; Agatha Christie; and solid debut books that’ll keep you curious as to what the author will cook up next.

Psyched to meet Mallory Arnold next week so I can tell her in person how much I enjoyed this!

Perfect for readers who crave riddles served with a side of blood and gore, How to Survive a Horror Story unravels through alternating POVs, with each chapter peeling back layers of the characters—and revealing why they were “lucky” enough to make it into Mortimer Queen’s will. This white-knuckle thriller is hair-raising, gasp-inducing, and unapologetically packed with a relentless sequence of slaughter and mayhem.

Which begs the question, Mallory, are you Melanie?

I was so excited to start this book, and didn’t get further than one chapter in before that excitement doubled. Anyone who loves locked-room mysteries will find this debut story amazing. I had so much fun with this book despite how gruesome the deaths were that I was completely unable to put it down.

The characters are written in a way that makes it feel like you kind of understand them, but not the secrets they keep - and trying to guess what those secrets and motives were before they’re revealed had me almost as entertained as the plot did.
Yes, the story doesn’t exactly run on logic, but it is a horror mystery that provides a vast amount of thrills and entertainment, so it didn’t bother me in the slightest.

Arnold debuts with a story that has so many gruesome details and presents it in such a fun way that I can’t wait for her next story.

The beginning of the story starts after the famous horror author Mortimer Queen dies, and has invited a group of horror writers to his old family home for the reading of his will. Most of the characters expect that they will be receiving amends from Queen or part of his large fortune, but no one could expect what the true will is. During the reading of the will, it turns out to be a game that the authors must play. It seems simple enough: solve the riddle in the room and move on to the next available room. However, if they aren't able to solve the riddle, one person will be eaten by the home. This house is very hungry.

The premise of the story is extremely interesting. I do think the story could have been executed slightly better. The story has 7 POVs, which is way too many for me, but it is sort of necessary as they are unreliable narrators. I do think the characters should have been flushed out more - they all seemed a bit similar, it would have been more interesting to dive deeper as it was hard to care if any of them died at all. The book started out slow, but once it got into the actual game the story started to pick up. The whole escape room style was epic - I loved how each room in the house was designed, how they had to find the riddle, and how it blended truths and lies.

Legendary Horror author Mortimer Queen is dead, with no living relatives to bestow upon his assets he has instead extended invitations to seven authors to visit his Manor for the will reading.

Of course there's a catch and a deadly game is set in place for all those within the Manor, all they must do is solve the riddles to clear the rooms, if they don't have the correct answer... Well you'll find out.

I loved the concept of the story and thought it had some creative imagery and I also liked the reveals for how the authors lives had interconnected with Mortimer.

Unfortunately for me where it fell flat was the characters, none of them were particularly likable so there wasn't anybody to root for and I didn't really like the ending.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

My favorite book growing up was The Westing Game, which is much the same premise - someone rich dies and the reading of the will becomes a game.

The twist is that the deceased is a world-famous horror writer and all of the invitees are also famous horror authors.

Each has a very different “relationship” with the deceased, Mortimer Queen. Those relationships often define the things that happen. The “alive” gothic manor house adds to the creepy atmosphere.

This book also features a large cast with multiple POVs, but it does a good job introducing everyone clearly from the beginning. No issues following the shifting POVs.

This story gets pretty scary and gory! Be forewarned!

If a mash up of a mystery, thriller and horror story sounds up your alley, give this a go!

Seven writers are invited by a dead man into his creepy mansion for a will reading, but little do they know that the house is intent on eating them alive.

Horror locked room mystery where the house is alive? Love it.
The premise is so interesting and you're slowly introduced to a cast of horror writers who are in some way connected to the late Mortimer Queen. Their greed brings them in, but they quickly realise that this is a game of survival.

I really liked the writing style and the fast pace of the plot as we jump from room to room. The book focuses on weaving a narrative and how you really don't know whose point of view is correct. Are these writers good people who made mistakes, or are they lying through their teeth? I really enjoyed the creepy and sinister atmosphere the author was able to create. I was hooked on this book. I had my own thoughts on each of the characters, but for the most part, they were complex, well-developed and will evoke strong emotional reactions from the reader. From the get-go go you're rooting for Melanie, the seemingly odd one out in the group (despite this being a multiple pov she seems the central character) while wondering about her role in the plot.

The riddles and their answers were pretty predictable, so I kind of wish that this was something that had been written differently, with the goal still being to expose the characters but perhaps in a less obvious-to-the-reader manner.

Regardless, I enjoyed reading this book and things are tied up towards the end in an interesting manner. I hesitate to call this primarily a horror book. As someone who doesn't usually read horror and gets scared easily, I'd say this is more of a mystery with some horror and gore elements, so you might want to keep that in mind and adjust your expectations accordingly.

This book was very much Knives Out meets Scooby Doo meets Stephen King and it was great. I thought this was a very solid mystery mixed with the supernatural that keeps the reader on their toes. It was tense and I enjoyed the twists throughout. Even though this book was swimming in horror tropes, I was very much engaged and I didn't expect the plot to go the way it did. I think this is a great debut and cannot wait to see what Mallory writes in the future.

Oh boy, I had a rough time with this one, I tried really hard to get into this book because I really enjoyed the idea of it, that being said however this book was not for me.

The writing was subpar, the characters weren’t thought through enough, there were a ton of plot holes that by the end of the book I felt like I had more questions than answers.

I also want to note that this book kept making me fall asleep time after time and I had to keep backtracking because of it.

All and all I love the idea I just feel like the story and writing wasn’t executed properly.

How to Survive a Horror Story was a great read! Cannot wait to read more Mallory Arnold! Having the authors going through the rooms of the manor by solving riddles and having the house alive with a time limit was great.

How to Survive a Horror Story follows 7 horror authors as they are invited to the home of an 8th horror writer for his will reading. Mortimer Queen was a legendary writer before his death and each of these authors know him in some way. I love this kind of locked in story set in a haunted house (which may be haunted not by ghosts but by something otherworldly). The story allows each character a voice throughout the novel and provides short stories along the way. I found it incredibly engrossing and quick paced. I would recommend this for fans of locked room mysteries and "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Poe. It could also work for fans of the newer retelling What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, but it is definitely more campy than the 2022 title.

What an extremely interesting premise! I actually loved the ending of this and it is what solidified it as a four star for me. I do wish that the descriptions of all the rooms and what took place were a little more detailed. I don’t feel like I completely immersed myself into the house as much as I could have.

2.5 stars. When famous horror novelist Mortimer Queen passes away, a group of fellow writers are invited to his crumbling estate with the promise of a share in his inheritance. But once inside the decaying manor, they find themselves trapped in a deadly game. To survive, they must solve a series of riddles—each one unlocking the path to the next room. If they fail to solve a riddle, they run the risk of becoming the house’s next victim. Can they outwit the house’s twisted puzzle or will it devour them one-by one?

With its creaking hallways, strange apparitions, and claustrophobic atmosphere, this book had such a cool concept! The multiple POV’s were a bit disorienting at first, but I ended up really enjoying how each character brought a unique perspective to the group’s fight for survival. It was fun to watch the rival authors confront their own horror tropes while also forming unexpected friendships with each other.

There were several elements I enjoyed in this story, but from the beginning, it was clear who would make it to the end-- the plot was just too predictable. While the book had its fair share of creepy moments, it also felt silly and chaotic at times, especially toward the end. The characters were exaggerated and leaned heavily into their stereotypes. Although their backstories were interesting, I never felt attached to them and wanted to love them more than I actually did.

If you like survival stories with haunted house vibes, jealousy, betrayal, and an eerie and puzzling mystery, you may enjoy this more than me!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this book!

The great horror writer Mortimer Queen is dead. As a final request, he invites seven writers to his manor for the reading of his will, promising that he’s left something for each. Soon after arrival, they learn that what Queen has left behind is a game. And the only thing the winner will receive is their survival.

I devoured this book (pun VERY much intended.) This book felt as if my best friend constructed a story including all my favorite things. An infamous horror writer in the vein of Stephen King? A spooky house filled with riddles? Questionable characters all harboring secrets? Grisly deaths? A Scooby Doo reference? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!

I was sucked into this book from the start, thanks in large part to the author’s great writing. Right away we get a beautiful, yet unsettling description of Mortimer’s manor and the surrounding area, describing the road as an “uneven spine” and the windows like “sagging eyelids.” We then meet the characters in relation to chess pieces, and as someone who knows nothing of chess I felt I had a good grip on each of the characters because of the author’s imaginative writing.

As for the characters, this book has seven POVs (eight if you include the mysterious “author” of the short stories at the end of the chapters), which is not something I typically like in a novel. But the author makes each voice unique and important to the overall story that I actually preferred getting to hear from each of the main characters. They are flawed, but fleshed out to understand their motivations. Getting to hear their side, juxtaposed with the short stories has the reader questioning who is reliable and who is being dishonest, which goes well with one of the major rules to surviving a horror story: trust no one.

While the plot of this book is not completely original (Agatha Christie, Knives Out, Saw and the aforementioned Scooby Doo all seeming to inspire), this author took her passion for the horror and mystery genres to create something memorable and a lot of fun.

As for negatives, there are only a few minor things. First, there was an odd attempt at a romance that felt unnecessary and out of place. The second was a writing style choice that was overly used where she broke up sentences to punctuate a point. It’s fine every now and again but she did it. All. The. Time.

I give How to Survive a Horror Story 5/5 stars. The minor critiques listed above did not detract from the fun and immersive experience I had reading this story. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

In this book, we follow seven authors, who are invited to the estate of legendary horror author Mortimer Queen. Once they arrive, they find that they have been forced into playing a game; solve the riddles Mortimer left behind, or the house will sacrifice one of them. This was a really unique and fun premise, and I really enjoyed the story.

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold was pure FUN to read! 📖🏚️

I was prompted to read the description because the pink/purple lettering and wax seal on the cover alone had me captivated (the physical copy is a deluxe edition so I'm sure if the cover didn't get me the rest of it would've)! And with judging a book by its cover always comes the caveat that the inside might not be as good, but I absolutely loved this story and had so much fun reading it. 💌

This falls into a few genres/categories
✨Horror
✨Mystery
✨Thriller
✨Paranormal
✨Dark

Famous and legendary horror author (in my head he is Stephen King-esque) Mortimer Queen dies, and a group of writers find themselves invited to his estate to the reading of his will. The assumption is that they will inherit something, and each of these characters has a unique connection to this literary legend. When everyone arrives, they find that they must play a game - a game where they must solve a puzzle to get to the next room, or the manor will take one of them for itself. ✍🏻📝✒️🏚️

I enjoyed this book because of the character development and each person's connection to Mortimer Queen. Trying to determine whose story was the truth and which secrets behind the secrets were the truth made this story pure entertainment 🍿. There was some gore and some paranormal elements that made the reader have to suspend some disbelief, but in the end I devoured this book in a day and had a fun time doing it - and isn't that what we're all here for? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This releases July 8th! 💖

This was such a fun blend of horror, mystery, and riddles, with just the right amount of creepy.
It gave me everything I wanted from a spooky, locked-room read.