Wow. This was for me an extremely entertaining summer read. But any season will do if you enjoy entertaining fantasy. Freddie our main character and narrator is so much fun. Teenager living in a small American town, finding out who she is and who she likes, while hunting for the answers to a string of murders. No one is safe from her wit and gumption. The neighbouring school as they prank, or some Feds (with dark glasses? - don’t think we are told.) On that note I hope that the author isn’t nearly finished with Freddie’s life adventures. Thank you to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

4.5 Stars A fun and thrilling read.
This story follows Freddie as she tries to solve a series of murders and mysteries both past and present that all link to a poem.
The story started off a little slow but by the 25% mark I was hooked.
There’s teenage angst, a Romeo and Juliet style romance, pranks, gore and creepy suspense.
I loved Freddie and Theo’s relationship, their back and forth banter and ever growing attraction. It was fun to try and solve the mystery alongside our characters and work out what was real and what wasn’t.
Overall I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Susan for a copy of this arc.

A little bit of a slow start, but once it got going, wow!

This follows the story of Freddie, who has spent her life finding the answers to questions no one else can. And then she finds out about the executioner three. A curse that has haunted the town for years, and one her Dad died before he could solve.

What follows is a murder mystery, where the prank squad have to try and solve it before it is too late!

Fantastic plot, characters and a really good pace to the story. I really enjoyed this one!

The Executioner’s Three is just another reason for me to absolutely adore the work of Susan Dennard! Once again she has crafted a story that will have you on the edge of your seat, jumping at the slightest bump or noise, that also pulls you emotionally back to the emotionally fraught, overwhelming and truly tingling sense of your teens, when friends, reputation, music and all the challenges of boys are truly the core of your focus! This homage to all our teenage selves truly delivers a raft of 1990’s pop culture references, crushes, teen banter and those best-friendships that last for a lifetime or just that school year!
Freddie Geller is 17 and at the cusp of the school year unexpectedly finds herself enmeshed with the cool crowd at school and their ongoing prank war with the neighbouring school! All she did was call 911 when she heard screaming in the woods and now not only is she involved in this ongoing feud, but she is also their enemy’s pivotal target. If only that was all Freddie had to deal with, it would be easy but, there’s also a complete ‘Nancy Drew’ of a cursed, spine-tingling mystery and murders for her to solve.
This is where Susan Dennard truly shines, she takes what could be a pretty generic teen story and transforms it into an spine-tingling, nerve wraking mystery that has it’s routes in ancient myths, legends and a poem about those unspeakable things that hide in the dark woods, lurking and watching from the shadows to catch you unexpectedly.

This book is an absolute delight, delivering jump scares and that jittery feeling you can’t quite shake, ramping up your heartbeat and adrenaline with jaw-dropping twistiness and supernatural monsters, whilst also squeezing your heart with the sheer damned cuteness of Freddie and the intriguing Theo. This combination of truly adorable characters, a great plotline and delivery straight out of Buffy is absolute genius!

Come for the mystery, stay for the vibes, the great characters, the cursed small town and the totally engrossing read that will have you ‘just next chaptering’ all the way to the end!

Thank you so much Daphne Press, Titan Books and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Firstly I want to thank Netgalley and Daphne Press for approving me to read the arc.

I’m familiar with Susan Dennards work, she wrote The Luminaries trilogy which I devoured. So when I saw this book up as an Arc I just knew I had to request it and pray I would get accepted.

Freddie’s status changes overnight after she accidentally gets the students from a rival school arrested. She finds herself making new friends and being involved in the “prank wars” between the rival schools. But what she doesn’t anticipate is the mysterious murders that take place and how it links to the past. And as she’s somewhat obsessed with x-files (and Lance Bass) she turns detective to try and figure out what is happening in her small town.

I would label this book as paranormal, with spirits and blood oaths in the mix, this story is set in the 90s and it made me feel a little nostalgic, it also gives Stranger Things vibes and I’m all for it. I was pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became into the story and how much I liked the main characters in the book. And fear not folks the story has a conclusion and there’s no doomed cliffhanger in sight.

I think it’s safe to say that Susan Dennard has created yet another compelling and gripping story and has made it onto the list of auto buy authors for me.


I will post my review on TikTok and instagram on the 25th august the day before it’s release in England

4.5/5

I wholly adored this book! It was an absolute blast! I honestly laughed out loud multiple times! It’s giving ‘Stranger Things’, early seasons of ‘Riverdale’ and ‘Gilmore Girls’ and I am completely, 100%, here for it!

It has just the right amount of 90s nostalgia, those references were on point! I haven’t thought about ‘Romeo and Juliet’ so fondly in years—we studied it far, far, far too much in school!

This book was cute, cozy and creepy all at once. It has a well developed cast of characters and such a fun spooky mystery to boot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the opportunity to read this title.

This might be Dennard at her best. Her character and world building is always impressive to me and I am sucked in from the start. I really enjoy a good Halloween/ Stranger Things/ Fear Street type of story and this did not disappoint. Freddie was a great character and I loved following her around as she unravelled the real goings-on.
I love the idea of thinking a party in the woods is something sinister and calling the cops. But when things really do start getting creepy the readers will feel it. This was a really great book, and perfect for an October read when the evenings start getting dark.

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 The Executioners Three
✒️ Susan Dennard
💫💫💫💫

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Moral of the story, don't play pranks on each other!

This book is a mystery thriller, I was on the edge of my seat with suspense and honestly it was so good!
I have been a Susan Dennard fan since I first read Truthwitch (also read that series if you haven't already) and I know how good her writing is.
The world building is incredible. Set at bloody Halloween (how can it get more creepy then that?) we follow Freddie, a girl who thought the simple phone call to report what she thought was something sinister but instead was a party... hey, if I hear shrieks coming from the woods I would call too okay? But there is something else at play here and I kid you not I could feel the creepies crawling up my arms as the Scooby Doo ride started.

Aside from the heebie geebie this book has wonderful banter, realism and kissing (the rest is behind closed doors because this is a YA book despite being dark and mysterious). I was up all hours reading this, I had a light on though because I am not a horror person by any means and loved it!

Susan Dennard’s supernatural horror YA romance creates an adorable world of teenage angst and ‘Stranger Things’ level of supernatural horror in a 90s setting - though I did find it a bit confusing in places in ends in a way I really enjoyed overall.

I’m not someone who grew up in the 90s (well technically I did for a few years but that doesn’t count) and so I was confused by alot of the references involved in that; especially in the early part which made it hard for me to feel engaged and drawn in by the world. I feel like this is a bit of a snagging point when it is a YA novel as I don’t know how many teenagers would get the references either.

However, once I hit the 35% mark I was locked in - with the vibes of Stranger Things, Freddie and Theo’s growing adorable relationship and Dennard’s character work being a real standout for me whilst the sort of murder mystery vibes kept me on my toes throughout. Actually one of the first mysteries I’ve not got or figured out in a while and that surprised me. Very Buffy style action which did all work with the 90s vibes overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! Spooky vibes fit for any season with characters you'll live and remember for a lifetime

I LOVED this book, I absolutely tore through it. It was so much fun and gave me that spooky autumnal feeling I CRAVE! Freddie, the FMC, was SO funny and I simply just adored her - she was cheeky and fun but SO clever as well and I loved her progression through the book. She's just someone you could imagine being best friends with. I enjoyed the prank wars and teenage drama mixed in with the mystery and murder and more spooky side. I thought it was really well balanced. I also really loved the romance side plot. I was kind of shocked by the twist at the end but I also didn't really understand why our villain was doing what they were doing or maybe more that it seemed so trivial? HOWEVER, I had so much fun and I really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend to read this near halloween if you're looking for a fun scooby-dooesque spooky mystery.

I gave this a 4.5 stars on fable and storygraph (unable to leave half stars here or on goodreads).

Susan Dennard never disappoints—her storytelling is marvellous!

From the very first page, I was completely hooked. The story follows Freddie, a determined and quirky high- schooler investigating a string of gruesome murders. As she digs deeper, she finds herself caught between a rivalry between two high schools and mysterious, supernatural warnings tied to a haunting poem.

This book gave off major Scooby-Doo, Stranger Things, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibes—in the best possible way. The 90s references added a layer of nostalgia that made the reading experience even more enjoyable. The small-town setting during a Halloween festival created the perfect cozy and eerie atmosphere.
Freddie was a standout character. Her love for The X-Files, her catchphrases, and her relentless determination made her both endearing and engaging. I appreciated her tenacity and the depth she brought to the narrative.

The rivalry between the schools added humor and tension, elevating the stakes and character dynamics without overshadowing the central mystery. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say the twists and reveals were expertly paced and genuinely surprising.

The blend of science and the supernatural was handled cleverly, creating a suspenseful, spooky, and thoroughly entertaining read.

Loved the characters, the plot was engaging especially with the 3 different timelines. I preordered this book as I loved it so much!

The Executioners Three is a really fun and engaging YA paranormal mystery – it’s full of atmosphere and absolutely perfect for spooky season.

The story follows Freddie Gellar who, one night, hears screaming in the woods and calls the police. She ends up getting half the pupils from a rival high school arrested. How was she to know it was a party? Freddie is hailed as a hero and becomes an official member of the prank squad. When a body is found in the woods the following day, the police rule it a suicide, but Freddie isn’t so sure. Determined to uncover the truth, she sets out with her trusty camera to find clues, but what she uncovers is a centuries-old curse and a whole host of secrets.

This was a thoroughly entertaining read that I raced through in a few sittings. It was fast paced with a tense, creepy atmosphere. There are plenty of really eerie, spooky moments in this story, particularly in the woods. There were also lots of twists and turns (and the reveal at the end was not one I suspected at all). I really enjoyed Dennard’s writing style and I found this a really easy story to get lost in.

I thought the characters were really well done, and I really liked seeing the friendships and rivalries between the different groups. I thought the romance was well developed, and I loved the portrayal of friendship between Freddie and Divya. Freddie is a bright protagonist, and I particularly enjoyed seeing her searching for clues and unravelling the mysteries. The only reason this wasn’t a five star read for me was that I felt there were one too many 90s references. Freddie frequently mentions Lance Bass, NSYNC, The Backstreet Boys, X-Files, and her Nokia phone. After a while, these felt a little jarring and took me out of the story. Despite this I had a really terrific time with The Executioners Three so if you’re looking for a compelling paranormal mystery with a brilliant protagonist, this one is definitely a must read.

If you enjoyed Dennard’s previous series, The Luminaries, then I think you’ll enjoy her latest release. In this book, we follow a young teenage girl, Freddie, who accidentally gets students at her rival high school arrested for under age drinking when she hears a scream coming from the woods and reports it to the police. However, the next day a body is found. Brushed off as a suicide, Freddie’s instincts tell her otherwise and she starts investigating an old curse linked to a poem called The Executioner’s Three.

As a 90s kid, this book was nostalgia heaven - references such as playing snake on your Nokia and Goldeneye on the N64. Freddie is also a massive X-Files fan and makes reference to Scooby Doo. If you take those two shows, mix them with Dennard’s distinctive writing style from The Luminaries and you get this book. I loved Freddie as a main character - she was funny and tenacious - there were some great side characters and a really sweet romance amidst the spooky setting. Definitely a great read for the autumn as it’s set around Halloween. It’s a YA book and, while it definitely does read YA, it’s not immature and both the plot and the characters were interesting enough to keep me engaged, despite not being the target age range for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Daphne Press for approving this eARC in exchange for a honest review - I was thrilled to be accepted!


Cozy horror romance, filled with 90s nostalgia, a paranormal mystery and an ancient curse? Yes please.

I have nothing but praise for this book. I love Susan Dennards “The Luminaries” trilogy and this definitely has a similar feel. It’s giving heaps of Sleepy Hollow/ Stranger Things vibes and it’s the perfect Halloween read, I’m really looking forward to this publishing!

The story intrigued me from the very first page - I loved Freddie, our FMC, who is so easy to like and I could definitely relate to her awkwardness at some points 😂 I loved her determination to follow her instincts throughout the book as she delves deeper in the mysteries of the town and all of the strange happenings that are going on.

I think the friendships throughout this book are lovely, especially between Freddie and Divya. They’re both so supportive of each other throughout and it was really lovely to read.

The other main draw of the book for me was the romance - it was cheesy in some parts, but I loved it. The relationship between Freddie and Theo is swoon worthy, with just the right amount of snarky banter and tenderness between them.

I would 100% recommend this book if you love spooky, cozy YA romance with a paranormal mystery woven in. I’m really hoping there will be a sequel to this book as I loved it so much!

3.75 stars

The premise is good. I did not expect the ending (or the plot for that matter) to play out like that, especially the final section. The main issues for me were that the start was a bit too slow (and I think it should have just been a bit shorter) and the relationship between Freddie and Theo was too prominent; and should have been something developing more in the background as opposed to trying to take up half the plot.

A fun, paranormal mystery thriller with suspense, decade long curses and cool characters engaged in prank wars.

Overall I think this is a 3.8 star for me, I love a YA (well out that age bracket now) but I found that I was definitely a little on the older audience side and I think that effected my overall enjoyment (that's on me and doesn't take away from me recommending the book to people who I know would love!). The dialogue and writing style for these late teens (18-19) took me a minute to get into (or over in my case).

The curse, mystery and Scooby Doo meets The X-Files vibes was lots of fun. Spooky summerween vibes with cool, reliable and intuitive main character who's gut and heart speak volumes in solving this small town thriller.

*small spoiler warning*
I did find it predictable and guessed the 'who done it' as soon as they were introduced. Constant reference to 'out-of-towners' and one pops up and is intregrated into the storyline...

Overall I enjoyed my time reading once you look past the slightly quirky / 18 year old late 90's dialogue!!

I have no bad things to say about this book. From the cover, to the poems, to the mystery, the aesthetics (I invisioned stranger things), the banter. EVERYTHING. I was sat there trying to bring out my inner answer finder to solve the mystery myself 😂. I will credit myself a little bit because I my list of suspicion was not far off 👀.
I loved the references that I was able to understand and I bet the ones I didn't were amazing too.
I really liked the love story as well ☕😌 it really was my cup of tea.
The coloquial language also tickled my fancy just right.
I know I might sound a bit vague, but I would hate to spoil this to anyone.
I really recomend this read to you guys, it was fun, outgoing and the author really killed it at grasping my attention throughout the whole book. Never got bored.
Overall, this was an Very Amazing Book Indeed ☺️
Big thanks to Susan Dennard for sharing this one with us.
Can't wait to read more of her books.

This was such a fun mix of spooky and nostalgic. Set in the late 90s, it’s got small-town vibes, creepy woods, a murder mystery, and a heroine who’s equal parts awkward and determined. Freddie and Theo’s banter gave just the right touch of rivals-to-something-more, and the horror moments genuinely got under my skin.

Loved the throwback feel, loved the tension- this one’s perfect for autumn reading. Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!