First of all, this cover is GORGEOUS.

I was really anticipating this one, but it didn’t really match up to my expectations. The tone definitely skews on the younger YA side, which isn’t a demerit, but it just wasn’t the type of story I had expected. There were some cheesy moments that maybe were included to balance out the gruesome-ness of the Executioners murders, but I found the overall tone to be a bit wishy-washy.

The characters were cute though. I thought Freddie was funny and she and Theo were suuuper adorable. I could’ve done without the whole “but he’s my enemy wahhhhh” but I still liked them. My biggest gripe with this book is that Freddie seemed to be doing all the investigating on her own, when I was waiting the entire book for her and Theo to finally work together. And once they DID finally make the connection, there was no further work done with them together, which was really disappointing. I also didn’t really like the ending; the murderer was obvious and then the fact that everyone like … forgot what happened (??) was weird.

A cute little YA caper but didn’t quite hit the notes I wanted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this earc

Susan Dennard is just so good at writing YA books, every time she publishes one, she makes me believe in YA again.
This one was not an exception. This is definitely a Spooky Season read and I loved it. There is just something about magic and curses and silly teenagers. And of course, school’s rivalry.
The moment October hits, you’ll need this book.

Dennard’s writing is sharp and cinematic. Her characters aren’t just fierce—they’re complicated, haunted, sometimes terrifying, and always impossible to look away from. The atmosphere is heavy with dread and dreadfully addicting. You’ll keep saying “just one more chapter,” and next thing you know, it’s 3 a.m. and you’re clutching the book like it holds your soul.
Grief, power, sisterhood, and what it really means to carry out justice in a broken world. There’s rage here. There’s heartbreak. There’s so much power in these pages.
If you love morally gray women, deadly alliances, and stories that bite back—The Executioners Three is your next obsession.

What a delight! 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 is a nostalgic experience for young adult romance, mystery, and fantasy readers hitting shelves this August.

When bodies are found in Freddie's town and the local sheriff writes them off as suicide, she investigates the possible murders and uncovers a curse from a forgotten poem plaguing the town. Meanwhile, she's balancing high school classes, a prank war with a rival school, and her growing attraction to a rival prankster, Theo.

Dennard pens a balanced plot, showcasing a silly prank war and murder mystery, in a refreshingly unique voice that, while a touch quirky, was a fun escape! The lush and dreamy autumnal town setting is reminiscent of Star Hollow with a spooky edge. The cast of characters form a Scooby Doo-esque crew, and I loved the rampant 90s references.

I would have enjoyed this even more if Theo and Freddie's relationship played a larger role, but I loved Freddie's independence in her sleuthing nonetheless.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 is an exciting mystery for readers to devour this fall, but be warned - you might end up with "I want it that way" stuck in your head!

Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for the advance reader copy!

I ended up DNFing this one.

In previous years I have liked a majority of her books. They have all had an element of surprise and usually from different subgenres within the YA scope. I knew coming into this one that it was a wattpad story(?). I think that is the platform it was on. The mystery aspect definitely pulled me in from the blurb. My problem for the most part was that I couldn't connect with the writing style. It felt on the younger side of YA and just wasn't to my taste. Maybe I am just at that point where I have to step away them. Thanks for the opportunity to give this one a chance!

"The Executioners Three" is a YA thriller/horror novel by Susan Dennard. Set in the 90s, Freddie is a high schooler who accidentally got the rival school in trouble by calling the police on what she thought was someone being murdered, but was actually an underage drinking party. Now she's part of a prank war between her school and the rich prep school, but is there romance brewing between her and one of the rival students? And a potential serial killer is murdering people in gruesome ways in her town. Where is the mysterious ringing bell that seems to be coming from the forest? A fun and fast YA thriller that is a suggested purchase for YA collections.

How is this the same author that wrote The Luminaries? I don’t understand! The writing was juvenile and the dialogue so bad. I honestly thought it was a middle grade book not a book about kids who would graduate soon. I am devastated as I LOVE the Luminaries series.

This was a DNF because it isn't a genre that draws me in but I see the appeal for those who like it. I will purchase this for my library.

"From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries.

Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She'd simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she'd called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?

Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

But her investigation is quickly disrupted by the rivalry between her school and the school of the partying teens she got arrested. For over twenty years, the two student bodies have had an ongoing prank war, and Freddie's failed attempt at Good Samaritanism has upped the ante. Worse, the clever - and gorgeous - leader of the rival prank squad has set his sights on Freddie.

As more pranks unfurl, more bodies also start piling up in the forest. But it's the supernatural warning signs around town, each plucked straight from an old forgotten poem called "The Executioners Three," that worry Freddie the most. She knows the poem and its blood curse can't be real, but she's quickly running out of time to prove it.

Because the murderer - or executioners? - knows she's onto them now, and their next target just might be Freddie."

Sounds like everyone is out to get Freddie.

Freddie was just calling the cops for help after she heard screams from the woods nearby. The end result was half of the students from her rival school being arrested. Unfortunately, the next day, a body was found. Some say it was suicide, but Freddie believes otherwise. She loves the X-Files and trusts she can discover what is really going on. What secrets will Freddie uncover about her family and her town?

The Executioners Three is a stand-alone mystery that requires readers to suspend their disbelief somewhat. This book takes place in 1999, so the characters must use their critical thinking skills differently than present-day people since the Internet and smartphones were not what they are now. I enjoyed this mystery and looked forward to getting back to my book during the reading process.

I gobbled up Dennard's Lumunaries series last year and was eager to get my hands on her newest work. Simultaneously spooky and laugh-out-loud funny, this book is perfect for anyone waiting for the new episode of Stranger Things to drop. Freddie, the Prank Squad, and Theo are memorable characters, and I loved watching their friendships develop. This book is filled with 90s references and was the perfect read to be transported to a cozy fall village rather than the sweltering heat of the summer.

3.75….the writing style was a little too cutesy/cheesy/quirky for me. I did like her, but it was over the top. The premise was intriguing, but the reveal scenes went too fast & we’re not fully fleshed out, nor did I love the choices the author made. I did enjoy the pranking, the love story, and some of the MC’s quirky humor.

I did not expect to love reading this book as much as I did! I could not put it down; and when I had to stop reading, I found myself thinking about the story nonstop. It had the right amount of intrigue, mystery, teen angst, enemies-to-lovers, suspense, and supernatural all wrapped up in a nostalgic turn-of-the-millenium tale of small-town history, legends, genealogy, and curses. I smiled, I gasped, I laughed, I cringed...I already want to start this story all over again.

Susan Dennard can really do no wrong in my opinion. I love her writing style and her overall attention to detail within her stories and her characters. This would be great to recommend to older ya looking for a suspenseful thriller with X-Files energy and a dash of romance.

The Executioner's Three by Susan Dennard is a YA thriller/horror book set in the 90s. It follows Freddie Gellar, a teenager in a small town that works to solve the mystery of why certain deaths are happening in their small town. Will she solve it or will she be the next victim?

I enjoyed this book! I'd rate it 4 stars. It was well paced, had enjoyable characters, really dug well into 90s culture and references and was spooky enough to keep me nervous about what would happen next. Dennard does a great job at balancing mystery and YA intersections and Freddie definitely became a character you root for. If you want NSYNC references, film cameras, early Nokia cell phones, flustered teenagers, and a hint of horror, check out The Executioner's Three. It's out August 26, 2025.

Thanks to @torteen and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"She had seen enough X-Files and read enough Goosebumps, thank you very much, to know this sort of story always ended badly."

The Executioners Three does not end badly. In fact, the mystery that Dennard weaves is quite masterful, with crumbs sprinkled throughout the story that culminates in a Scooby-Doo AHA at the end.

I adored the 90s references throughout this story. From Nokia phones with snake, NSYNC vs BSB, and yes, so much Mulder and Scully to make my heart happy (all due respect to Freddie, but Lance Bass is not more attractive than peak Special Agent Fox Mulder), this story is like a love-letter to the time I grew up in (though I was younger than Freddie in 1999). This is a ghost story with gruesome murders, but it's also cozy.

Freddie, the FMC, is who I wish I was growing up. She's confident, self-assured, fearless, and so much fun. She attacks sleuthing and hunting through woods searching for clues to a serial killer with the same gusto as braving being a one-woman act for a play her entire town will witness.

I've read many of Dennard's books, and this is arguably my favorite (I will need to let it sit for a little while before that claim becomes fact. Her Witchlands series is so good that I don't yet know if this will dethrone it). This is similar in spooky vibes to The Luminaries, and while it does have its flaws (certain phrases are used a bit too frequently. I don't mind some repetition and callbacks, but there is a limit. Good: Aha, eureka, and gesundheit. Bad: Lance Bass, though I may be slightly biased here since I was a Justin girl growing up and now appreciate Joey so much more for his flawless harmonization skills), I found this story to be quite enjoyable and have been fighting the urge to re-read immediately to see what other clues and references I can find.

I received a free copy via NetGalley and and leaving my thoughts voluntarily.

The Executioners Three is a fast paced horror/mystery/fantasy filled with lovable characters, plenty of twists and filled to the brim with 90's references... safe to say I loved it.

I wont lie, I didn't expect this to fall quite so hard into the horror category, but I would say it leans more towards horror/mystery than fantasy, the opening chapter alone gave me chills and there we so many moments through this book that made my hairs stand on end. Dennard really nails the creepy atmosphere, but thanks to the 90's setting and amount of references to boy bands, as well as a healthy dose of X-Files love, it stays on the lighter end of the horror spectrum.

Freddie Gellar was such a well written character. Think Nancy Drew with a good helping of Scully and Mulder, and once Freddie gets a feeling that something is wrong she can't help but investigate it, even against the advice of the adults in her life. As someone who grew up in the 90's I instantly felt at home in her character, her over the top declarations of love for boy bands and cute boys at school, her joy at being accepted by the cool kids, but the one place where we diverge was Freddie's dogged determination to get to the bottom of mysteries. She's a nerd, there's no denying it, the amount of X-files and pop culture references alone show that, but all these things added together made for a character I never tired of.

Alongside Freddie we get the odd chapter from Theo, Freddie's nemesis and love interest. The Montague to her Capulet... according to Freddie anyway. While we didn't get to spend quite as much time in his POV, I still think Dennard did a fantastic job of building his character, making him so much more than a simple love interest. But my favourite of the side characters had to be Divya, Freddie's best friend, though they couldn't be less similar. Divya with her perfect attendance record and her inability to lie, but when the shit hits the fan she is one of the only people Freddie can rely on, and I loved how much page time was devoted to their friendship.

Propulsive to the max, I really struggled putting this one down because there were no good stopping points. Dennard keeps us intrigued flitting between the mystery, as well as Freddies day to day life as a teenager in the 90's. If I had one issue it was how much time was spent on the prank war between the two schools. This felt a bit OTT in parts, and did make some parts of the mystery feel a little rushed. However, It didn't detract from my enjoyment in anyway and thanks to Dennard's skill with plot twists, as well as the fun she created with the character interactions, I found myself flying through this one in a matter of hours.

The romance was hotter and heavier than I expected, it still stay's PG, but it definitely felt on the steamier side for YA. It did move a little fast for me, but then you have to remember that these are teenagers and they are ruled by their hormones alone for the most part. It was a quick rivals to lovers, but the rivals part made for some truly standout scenes between the two and I honestly loved all of their interactions. But as I mentioned before, my favourite relationship was between Freddie and Divya, that unwavering friendship where you trust each other, no matter how crazy you sound.

This was so different from Dennards previous YA series but I adored the change in pace, as well as the scarier atmosphere she creates. The ending does open itself up to more stories in the world, and I really do hope we get some, maybe with a couple of special agents who pop up towards the end of the book? If you love fast paced YA, with romance, horror and mystery aspects and sooo many 90's pop culture references you feel transported back I would 100% give this a read.

This had such teenage X-Files vibes and I LOVEDDDDDD IT!

Filled with small town history, rival schools with pranks, great friends, spooky shenanigans, and forbidden love, The Executioners Three is definitely for lovers of the unexplainable.

While I could go on and on about this book, not much else needs to be said. Check out the creepy autumnal Y2K vibes for yourself.

This book took a little while to find its rhythm. At first, I wasn’t quite sure where the story was heading, but once the protagonist began investigating the series of murders, the narrative truly came to life. Freddie is an incredibly determined young woman who inspired me deeply.

While I generally don’t gravitate towards the horror genre—and certain aspects of this book lean in that direction, evoking vibes reminiscent of Stranger Things—I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The romantic subplot is sweet and characteristic of adolescent experiences, but what resonated with me even more was the portrayal of friendship, which is both well-written and thoughtfully developed.

Even though I managed to deduce the identity of the culprit ahead of time, I still felt a palpable sense of anxiety for the characters. I devoured the second half of the book with eager anticipation.

This is a horror story about a curse placed on people related to the local Fortin Prep school. Freddie and her cohort of friends from the local high school play annual pranks against the Fortin school. This year the pranks are nothing compared to the strange things happening that seem to be unbelievable like screams in the woods, dead bodies and clues that disappear.. The story seems a bit middle school, but at the same time it could be a stretch for middle schoolers to get involved. There is the obligatory LGTB character, and a lot of kissing. To those of us who are not horror readers, it is not a believable story. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc with no pressure for a positive review.