""𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕.""

Special thanks to @poisonedpenpress @malloryarnold & @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one feels tropey but in a great way. I love the stories inside the story. And the final reveal was great. I loved every part of this fast-paced thriller/horror.

The riddles were my most favorite part! Im not very good at them, but I'll love to listen and let my mind work. For these people, probably their worst nightmare......or what comes next 😈

Read if you love:

🔪 Agatha Christie vibes
🔪 Secret will
🔪 Horror writers
🔪 Locked mansion
🔪 Riddles

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:


ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ What's your favorite movie? (Scary or not)

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #howtosurviveahorrorstory #malloryarnold #poisonedpenpress #poisonedpenpresspartner #partner #netgalley
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While it'd been on my radar before this, I was fortunately to be approved for a Netgalley ARC for the book. It seemed to have everything I wanted: a colorful cast of characters, a dangerous game with a dead man, and it's all about other writers. So count me in, Flynn, for this is right in my wheelhouse.

What I end up in was a present-tense mess. The ensemble cast introduction is awkward and disjointed. None of these characters are remotely likable except the character that may as well hung a sign that said: HORROR TROPE - FINAL GIRL around her next. In fact, it was ham-fisted storytelling that made me realize that was following horror tropes way too much. I expected some genre savvy, some lampshading and subversion (which to be fair, the Final Girl moment is a little bit subversive) and we'd have a good old time.

None of these people -- who have at least one horror best seller under their belts -- should be this stupid. I'm thinking of several writers who might be awful people and they'd still do better than pack on a good day, because I know how they talked about the genres they loved, what drove them to the work. I can't imagine any of the cardboard cutouts we're presented with could name three horror WRITERS let alone BOOKS they loved beyond 'Mortimer Queen.' Now some of this is because they're walking imposter syndrome given legs and half finished paragraph of character detail.

These characters are shallow. They will be hard to care about... at all. They are all genuinely awful people. I don't even care about the predictable results. At 20% I knew this was going to be potentially interesting, maybe even enjoyable still. At 70% I knew it wasn't going get better, and just as the death traps got lazy the writing got more so. Much like our Mr. Queen might say, 'It needs revision.'"

This book would have been good if the author had remembered that character not events that happen to characters are the real key to horror. People need to empathize to be able to sympathize with them, feel dread when they're in danger, to be upset if they are hurt. I couldn't say this at any single character. But by the time I was halfway through I knew the plot beats and exactly where it was going and the only reason I finished the book was a sense of duty was to see how bad the horrors of each room would get -- not the actual horror where I would share the protagonist's dread. No, I wanted to just how bland the book could be by the time I reached the end.

Final verdict: It puts words in a order I could read them in. Kiddle Pool depth disaster, but I couldn't turn my eyes from the book like a rubbernecker past a crash site. Was in a language I could read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a fun, spooky read filled with haunted house vibes and twisted games. The story centers around a famous horror author who, following his death, brings a group of writers to his eerie estate for a will reading with far more sinister intentions. I enjoyed the book’s creepy atmosphere and clever premise. The only challenge was keeping track of all the characters in the beginning, but once I settled into the story, it was an entertaining ride.

✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Mallory Arnold, & Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm always so grateful! ✨

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

Mallory Arnold delivers a clever, laugh-out-loud twist on the horror genre with How to Survive a Horror Story. Equal parts spooky and hilarious, this book is packed with sharp wit, quirky characters, and a meta take on every horror trope you can imagine. It’s the perfect read for fans who love their scares with a side of satire and heart. A wildly fun and original ride from start to finish!

3.5-4⭐️ This was a creepy mystery that is definitely different than any book I have ever read before. Creepy characters and even more creepy things that happen. Reminded me of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen for the gifted eARC.

How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold.

So fun! I really, really enjoyed this. Seven authors are invited to the famous Mortimer Queen's manor to accept the items he left them from his will. Instead, they're made to play a game of survival. Solve the riddle and progress to the next room.

I loved the clue inspired elements like the characters and the setting, but make it all horror. Chef's kiss. Definitely recommend this one.


I had already pre-ordered it before I was accepted for an e-arc, and im glad I did because now I have it on my shelf. But still, thank you to netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author for the e-arc to review.

A group of writers are left something in the will of a famous horror author, but when they arrive to his home for the reading of the will, they find themselves trapped in a game of revenge. This was a decent read, some horror elements mixed with a mystery/puzzle story in which the "guests" need to solve a riddle to progress through each room before the house metes out justice for the ways they have wronged the dead author. I didn't love the ending, but it was good overall. 3 stars.

This was so much fun! It was a spookier/horror version of Knives Out and I really could not get enough.

I had a lot of fun with this! I haven't read a ton of mysteries, but learning the backstory of each character and the things they'd done to get to where they were truly kept me on the edge of my seat. Every time I started to think a certain way everything was turned around on me! In the best way. It was tricky, clever, gory and more than a little creepy.

I wanted to love this book the premise was interesting the writing was engaging but I kept losing interest in this one and had a bit of a hard time keeping up with all the characters. This book follows seven authors who get invited to a famous authors will reading. Having met the mysterious Mortimer only a handful of times the authors are confused but excited to see what may be coming their way that is till the house turns into a real life saw house/ escape room where if they don’t solve the riddle the house will eat one of them. I am not sure what exactly put me off on this book but I really had a hard time finishing this book it started out fun and fast paced but felt like it turned a bit repetitive towards the middle really struggling to capture my attention. With that said I still thought this was a fun read but with such a promising premise it was a bit of a let down, but I did enjoy this authors writing and hope to read more from them in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

So, this book starts off with a group of individuals invited to a dead man’s mansion for a will reading. If you’ve ever seen a movie or read these kinds of books, you know where this is headed. Right? Well, sort of….This book takes us on a journey. It’s an enjoyable journey and one that makes you laugh, makes you mad, and leaves you with questions. Overall, this book was really interesting, and I actually wanted to keep coming back to it to see where it took me. I was engaged the entire time, and I admit, I was somewhat surprised by the ending. I kind of wish the book was longer and there was more detail on each of the characters and their particular stories, but nonetheless, I enjoyed the writing and the drive of the story. I would recommend to a friend.

Legendary Horror Author, Mortimer Queen, has died. With no heirs to his fortune, seven authors of Queen's choosing have arrived at a creepy old mansion for the reading of his will.
Each of the seven authors have their own horror tales to tell of their time with Queen, so when the reading turns into a giant trap... how are they even surprised!

I love a good haunted house story, with an escape room feel thrown in too? Yes!
With 7 different POVs and finding myself a little confused who's story I was on, I feel like this one didnt hit the mark for me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Horror story meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - just swap children trying to win a candy factory to horror authors trying to stay alive in a house that wants to kill them. While I found the story more fantastical then scary, it was still enjoyable. Having the chapters being told from all of the different kept it fresh and moving. The downside for me was the ending. I was a little disappointed by it. While I liked that it didn't end the exact way you are thinking it would, I think I would have liked it more if it did end more of the way the narrative set it up for.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Thank you to NetGalley, Mallory Arnold, and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC. I loved this cat-and-mouse thriller—it gave off major Clue vibes blended with nostalgic ’90s horror tropes. Thrown into a house of horrors, the characters—and the reader—are left unraveling the chilling mystery of why it’s all happening. A gripping, must-read thrill ride!

So here’s the deal: six (or seven? who’s counting) horror authors get invited to Mortimer Queen’s creepy mansion because the dude kicked the bucket and left behind a will that’s basically Saw meets Clue. They think they’re about to get rich. Spoiler: they’re about to get dead. Or at least very traumatized.

The vibe? Fall of the House of Usher tries on a YA horror costume, sprinkles in some Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone energy, and then forgets to edit the final draft. But hey, I was entertained — and sometimes that’s all I need.

I LOVED the idea: a sentient, hungry house that basically says “guess the riddle or get eaten”? Yes, chef. The characters? They each did something shady to poor Mortimer and now they get to solve riddles that aren’t nearly as clever as they think they are.

High points:
✨ The drama — petty authors with secrets? Inject it into my veins.
✨ The spooky house with its I’m alive and I will eat you attitude. Iconic.

Low points:
🔍 The writing gets repetitive. Like, we get it, the house is scary, move on.
🔍 The riddles could’ve used a Google search for “hard riddles for smart people”.
🔍 The final reveal was… okay. I didn’t gasp, I just did a polite nod.

Did it make sense? Not always. Did I care? Also no. Did I have fun? Yup. And sometimes that’s enough.

Would I recommend it? If you like your horror campy, your haunted houses hungry, and your morally questionable authors stuck in a murder puzzle — grab this one, lower your expectations, and enjoy the chaos.

Seven horror writers show up to Mortimer Queen’s Manor after he passes away for his will reading. They each have a connection to the legendary author, but not all in a good way. They soon learn they’ve entered no ordinary home that inspired one of his novels. What follows is a locked-room thriller where we learn their histories with Mortimer Queen & if they’ll all make it out of the house alive.

I really liked the concept of this book, and the setting of the manor is so well developed, I could see it so clearly!
I loved the “short stories” intertwined with the current story, it was an interesting way to learn the true history of each character. But I felt like the story was drawn out too long, and could have done with some tightening up & maybe less characters so the twists didn’t end up feeling monotonous. I will say that lots of times I read a horror book but it plays out more like a thriller, and this one definitely had horror elements.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing the ARC for my honest review!

Review of How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 out of 5)

If Clue, The Fall of the House of Usher, and a haunted escape room had an unholy literary love child, How to Survive a Horror Story would be it. The premise? Deliciously meta. A group of writers summoned to a reclusive horror icon’s estate for the reading of his will, only to find themselves pawns in a deadly riddle game inside a sentient, bone-hungry manor. Yeah—it’s that kind of party.

Mallory Arnold serves up a self-aware horror tale packed with genre nods, riddles, and an ensemble of flawed, secret-keeping authors who might be more dangerous than the house itself. The setting is gloriously gothic, the concept is clever, and the rules of the game keep the stakes high (solve the riddle or become wall décor).

The drawback? The cast is a little crowded. With so many POVs, it can feel like speed-dating a dozen horror stereotypes—some memorable, others forgettable. Pacing drags at times, and while the horror leans quirky-creepy over truly terrifying, it works if you're in the mood for campy chaos.

Not groundbreaking, but undeniably fun. Perfect for spooky season binging—especially if you enjoy watching creative types get eaten alive by their own ambition (and possibly by the house).

How to Survive a Horror Story is a fast-paced, clever mix of haunted house horror and writerly drama that doesn’t take itself too seriously—while still keeping the stakes high.

A group of writers show up expecting an inheritance and instead get pulled into a creepy, riddle-filled game inside a mansion that clearly has a mind (and appetite) of its own. The atmosphere is eerie, the twists are fun, and the story plays with horror tropes in a fresh, entertaining way.

Perfect for fans of locked-room mysteries with a supernatural edge and just enough dark humor to keep things from getting too heavy.

Thank you Mallory Arnold, Poisoned Pen Press, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

#HowtoSurviveaHorrorStory#NetGalley #NetGalleyARC #ARCReview #BookReview #WhatImReading #BookRecommendation #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #InstaBook #Bookish #AdvanceReaderCopy #ReviewCopyProvided #BookishThoughts #ReviewersOfInstagram

3 stars!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for the advanced copy to review.

I loved this. This was a really fun read with gruesome deaths and twisty secrets.

It was a little over the top at times - but it kept me enthralled and interested the whole way through.

I liked that this gave Clue/Knives Out vibes (not quite entirely the same) as I haven't really encountered any
books like that before.

Anyway, really interesting and a good time. Not the most amazing story I've ever read, but a fun time nonetheless.

Smile for the Cameras had a fantastic premise - a cult slasher film, a troubled Final Girl, and a reunion that turns deadly. I loved the nostalgic horror vibes and the way the story weaved between past and present, plus the original screenplay excerpts added a clever, meta twist.

Ella is a likable lead, and the setting - remote cabin in the woods - was the perfect backdrop for things to unravel. The tone strikes a nice balance between campy fun and suspense.

That said, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept. There were pacing issues, the backstory felt muddy, and the killer’s motive seemed a little underdeveloped. I also struggled with why the revenge took so long to kick in.

Still, it was entertaining and worth a read for slasher fans looking for a lighter, fast-paced thriller. Not my favorite, but I’d definitely be open to reading more from this author.