Slasher horror with a touch of cozy mystery and set at a retirement home. It sounds like such a bizarre combo, but the author not only made it work but created such a compelling and heart wrenching story that he has me wondering why other authors haven't ventured into this unexplored territory. 

Philip Fracassi once again gave his readers something different and unexpected. Something I didn't know I wanted to read until he began the story, and I found myself fully transported into his newest world. The horror was chilling, the story perfectly paced, and I quickly formed attachments to all the main characters.

The Autumnal Springs Retirement Home Massacre has feels, tears, and teeth. This is horror storytelling with heart, offering a setting unique to this genre and well developed characters I cared about and whose fate I was  invested in. This is an outstanding page turner that's sitting at the top of the hill as one of my favorite books of the year.

Rose is a resident at the Autumn SPrings Retirement Home where residents mysteriously start dying- and while they seem to be random accidents or natural causes to others, Rose is convinced someone is killing her friends. I liked that this book had a unique premise, something I had never come across before, which is what drew me to request it. Overall, it was okay. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the best book I have ever read. I docked one star just for how slow the first half of the book was- it took me about two months to read the first half. The second half however, really grabbed my attention and I finished the second half in four days. I docked another star for the ending... the big reveal of the book. It could have gone in so many directions and the ending was not it for me personally. It was a little out of left field and while I didn't see it coming (which I always love when I am unable to guess the ending) it was almost an ending that didn't make sense, for me anyway. But I did love the characters and all the unique ways the author used to kill off the residents. Not my favorite book of the year, but it was alright!

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

Another month, another delightful bit of genre fiction from Philip Fracassi. This is the second 2025 novel of Fracassi's that I've reviewed, and I enjoyed this one just as much as the last. This time, instead of THE THIRD RULE OF TIME TRAVEL's inventive sci-fi, we have a delightfully violent entry in the "old folks solving mysteries" genre that has become so prevalent as of late.

I'm not one for cozy mysteries, so I've mostly avoided the huge influx of retirement home or similar set novels about elder citizens with a love of true crime getting to tackle a case of their own. I had a feeling that Philip would have something interesting to mix into the formula, though, and that was certainly true. THE AUTUMN SPRINGS RETIREMENT HOME MASSACRE is a full-on slasher. It's got a massive body count, inventive kills, a deranged killer... what else could you want? When you tell me that an old woman who just wants to spend time with her daughter and grandson is instead going to be hunted by a masked psycho, you have gained my attention.

This book focuses on Rose DuBois, a woman with a difficult past who is just trying to enjoy her later years in peace with her friends at Autumn Springs. The old folks who make up the central cast are a hoot. Fracassi has created a variety of unique, easy-to-root-for senior citizens each with their own challenges, fears, and theories. The vast majority of the story is from Rose's point of view, as we are introduced to the retirement community, its denizens, caretakers, administrators, and even a detective who is starting to think all of these violent deaths at Autumn Springs are maybe a little fishy.

My only real complaints with book are that it teases going supernatural a few times and doesn't quite satisfactorily handle that -- it needed to go all-in or leave it alone -- and there are a few chapters from the killer's perspective that are never interesting enough to feel worthy of inclusion. There's no motive or insight that would make it a more interesting reveal, like many good slasher villains, this one just is what they are and that's good enough. When you're stabbing, poisoning, burning, and tossing old folks from great heights, the point of view worth following is that of the elderly victim.

Ultimately, it's a quick, fun read that injects some over-the-top carnage into the senior citizen mystery world. Fracassi doesn't reinvent the wheel, here, but he gives it a hell of a shove down a steep, bloody hill.



4.5/5

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a slasher with a twist our ‘final’ girl is 78. Rose DuBois is living out her golden years at Autumn Springs when residents begin mysteriously dying one by one. At first, no one thinks much of it because accidents happen, and people die especially at a retirement home. But as the body count rises, Rose and her best friend Miller begin to suspect there’s something far more sinister going on.

Okay, so I didn’t hate the book, but I didn’t love it either. It had all the ingredients for a great horror read: a killer premise, strong characters, and some fun red herrings but for me, the execution just didn’t land as hard as I wanted. At over 400 pages, it felt long, and the pacing dragged in several places. I kept waiting for it to really kick into gear, and it just never quite did.

I love a snarky, take-no-sh*t senior citizen protagonist, and Rose definitely fits the bill. The cast of characters overall was solid, and I liked the way the mystery unfolded… until the ending. **Kind of a spoiler here but not really** but I wasn’t a fan of how little motive we got behind the killings. It felt like a letdown after that much buildup and I’m just not happy with who the killer is.

Also, I wish we had learned more about Rose’s past earlier in the story, it’s clear there’s something there, but it’s withheld until the final chapters, and by then I was just a little over it. I also had a hard time connecting with her, even though she was our main narrator, and I think it’s just the way she was written. I hardly ever look my ‘new to me’ authors up prior to finishing a book, but I had to stop midway to check, if our author was male or female. Sometimes, you can just tell when a man or women writes a lead of the opposite sex. It’s nothing specific; it’s just a vibe I sometimes get. Regardless, something about Rose was just off.

That said, the writing is strong, the concept is great, and this book has found a lot of love from other readers. So, while it wasn’t totally for me, it might be a perfect horror read for you especially for this fall. Give it a shot if you’re into the genre especially if you’re a slasher film fan!

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre comes out September 30, 2025. Huge thank you to Henry Holt & Co for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
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Something is going on at Autumn Springs Retirement Home, and resident Rose DuBois and her beau, Miller, are going to get to the bottom of it.

I really enjoyed this one! I absolutely loved the characters, which I think is the main talking point of this book, honestly. The many characters, whether it was the residents in Autumn Springs, nurses, investigators, etc., were what made this story. I think that is what I love the most about Fracassi's books, is his way of building up a character so effortlessly. This book leaned more toward a mystery 'who-dun-it' than a true horror to me, but when the horrors happened, the horrors HAPPENED, if ya know what I mean. All in all, this was a super fun read that was well rounded with a great plot, loveable characters, and has you guessing 'who could the culprit be?!' the entire way though! Not to mention, I was actually shocked at who it ended up being!

My only tiny complaint, is the length. This read is just over 400 pages, and I found myself being ready to get on with it because there is only so many time a character can be trying to guess what is going on and who is doing it. So, I would have preferred this to be a bit shorter solely for that reason. I never found myself wanting to not finish the book, however, which is a common thing for me and longer reads, which speaks to the sentiment that this is truly a well written and excellent little horror-mystery book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Phillip Fracassi, and TorNightfire for this arc!

5 stars This book was a total ride. I went in expecting chaos, and it delivered. Fast-paced, bloody, and somehow full of heart. The characters felt real, and I actually cared what happened to them, which made the horror even more intense.

It’s dark, funny, and doesn’t waste time. I read it in one sitting and had a blast. One of the most entertaining horror books I’ve read in a while.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Fantastic slasher horror set in the most unassuming place, a retirement community.

Rose and her friends are scared. Strange deaths are happening at her once peaceful and safe retirement community. People die all the time here, but these deaths don’t see natural. Rose is a natural sleuth and wants to find the truth about why her friends are dying.

I loved the character of Rose. She’s smart, she’s feisty and she has faced adversity. I wanted to see her succeed and take down the bad guy.

Loved the setting! There were some particularly poignant and sad scenes surrounding dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Definitely recommend for horror fans.

Philip Fracassi is a madman—in the best possible way. This is the second novel I have read by him and the dude crushes. The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre takes the bloody bones of a classic slasher and reanimates them with heart, purpose, and a whole lot of carnage. The premise alone sounds wild: a killer stalking the halls of a retirement home. But what Fracassi does with it is unexpectedly moving.

This isn’t just about bodies piling up—though trust me, there’s plenty of that—it’s about mortality, resilience, grief, and the undying will to live. Autumn Springs feels real, its residents not caricatures of the elderly, but deeply human, layered, and some are lovable. Rose Dubois, our final girl, deserves to be mentioned alongside the greats.

The pacing is tight, the tension sharp, and the emotion unflinching. Fracassi doesn’t flinch from the horror of aging or the heartbreak of loss—but he also doesn’t forget the humor, the joy, and the friendships that can still bloom late in life. This book blew past all my expectations. A horror story with guts—literal and emotional. Pre-order this one and prepare yourself. The slasher genre just got a much-needed jolt straight to the heart.

First, and foremost, I loved this novel. Philip Fracassi created a fun, suspenseful, 80’s slasher atmosphere in a retirement home of all places. Up until the very end you are guessing and trying to find out who is behind it all. I warn you, pay attention to the details!
Fracassi introduces you to a range of characters that you will grow to adore and slowly watch perish at the hands of our mysterious antagonist. Our main protagonist is Rose, who is a resident at Autumn Springs. Rose is dealing with her own demons and struggles to connect with a fellow resident who adores her, Miller. As Rose slowly watches her friends die and battles her inner voice, she must come face to face with her feelings and become this novel’s final girl.
This is a fast read that will have you laughing, gripping the edge of your seat, and will keep you in suspense until the very end. I want to thank the publisher and author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

We follow Rose DuBois, a woman in her late 70s, living at the Autumn Springs Retirement Home. She has an incredible cast of friends who I absolutely loved. When one of them unexpectedly dies...and then another...and then another....it becomes quite clear that there's a killer on the loose, and Rose is intent on stopping them.

I absolutely loved Rose as our final girl in this fun twist on a slasher. Fracassi never steers me wrong.

Philip Fracassi is one of my favorites authors so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre, his newest horror novel from Tor Nightfire.

I appreciate that his novels are all so different while all still maintaining that quintessential Fracassi style. His novels are so well-plotted and he does something that Stephen King does so well, in that he immerses you into the setting (in this case a retirement home) and allows you spend lots of time with the cast of characters, which makes it all the more devastating as you lose some of them (this is a slasher novel after all).

We follow Rose DuBois, who is spending her retirement years at Autumn Springs. Rose is not your typical final girl. She and her friend Miller become suspicious when a series of suspicious deaths occur at Autumn Springs.

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is a fun, whodunnit slasher with great characters and loaded with humor and heart. But don’t let that fool you as the bodies start piling up…

Thank you to Tor Nightfire for the ARC and for approval on NetGalley.

The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre is out on September 30th.

A very well written novel. Never bored because the characters are so real and complex and the themes handled so adeptly. The ending was a bit of a cop out, but overall the joy of reading this novel was huge.

The title being what it is, I sort of expected a campy black comedy. But what Fracassi delivered was far, far better.

Not only is this piece a taut slasher/whodunit, but a very heartfelt story about family and our winter years. There’s a large cast of beautifully-written characters who happen to be in their 70s and 80s, and that’s pretty rare. Their age is more than window dressing, and their personalities are more than a sweet, dottering elder who knits and hides candies in their cardigans/purses.

So, I came for the slasher/horror, but stayed for a wonderfully fleshed out cast and a thoughtful look at who our seniors are and how they’re treated in their twilight years.

Where to start? I don't mean that in a bad way, oh no. This book was AMAZING!!! When I first read the title, and saw the cover while browsing Fantastic Fiction, I knew I had to read this book. I looked at the release date, and was like. 'ok, I really really want to read this, but...the release date isn't too far away.' then I saw it on Netgalley, and requested it. I'm so happy I was chosen. I devoured this book. Well, as fast as anyone can, while also working part time, doctors appointments, and caring for a 6.5 month old.



I absolutely loved the idea, and setting of this book. What better place to have random murders happen then at an old folks home?

Now, Autumn Springs isn't your typical home for elderly. Most of the residents there are pretty good, and can move around for the most part. It's more of a campus, a mini town in a sense. I thought it was really neat. I used to work in a few old folks homes, none as elaborate as Autumn Springs, but still, I worked with the elderly. Some needed total care, others were more like our protagonist Rose. Rose is a kick-ass old lady. She has a small group of friends, and enjoys their company. She has a daughter Sybil, and a grandson Roy. She talks to Sybil, and Roy quite often, and you learn more about their relationship as the story progresses.

As Rose interacts with her friends, and neighbors weird things start happening, then people start dying. You may be thinking. "Well, It's an old folks home, of course they're going to die." That's what most of the other staff, and residents of Autumn Springs think too. Not Rose, she's on to something.



This story is dark, but also extremely funny at times...apologies, I have a dark sense of humor. The kills are incredible. Very well thought out, and descriptive.



I'm normally not a huge fan or series, but I'm a bit saddened most likely this is a stand alone novel. I would like more of Rose, and what's left of the residents of Autumn Springs

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre.

The premise of this reminded me of The Thursday Murder Club, the current popular trend of mysteries featuring elderly and/or octogenarian
sleuths.

The biggest difference is that the massacre happens on the pages, and it's pretty violent so be aware.

Rose DuBois is living out her golden years at the retirement home. She has friends, a relatively healthy life, and loves her grandson and daughter.

When her friends start dropping like flies, she begins to suspect their deaths are not the result of old age but something more sinister. Murder!

Rose is not your typical final girl and following the tropes typical of these types of books, she has secrets of her own.

At first, I didn't like Rose. I felt she was kind of a whiner, she was jealous when her friend Miller paid attention to other female residents, she was snippy and kind of judgmental.

But I had a feeling there was more to Rose than met the eye and her unspoken background may contribute to her brittle personality.

I've never read this author before and though the writing was good, it dragged.

The narrative felt long winded and longer than necessary.

There's a lack of humor and energy that the author of The Thursday Murder Club series excels at.

The author makes valid points about how society (and family) disregards the elderly, ignores them and pretty much forgets about them.

We pander to them, we take them for granted and use them as free babysitters but this is nothing I haven't read before in similar books featuring older protagonists.

As a result, the tone of the writing and the story is serious and dark but perhaps its supposed to be.

I wasn't a fan of the other residents of the retirement home but no one really lived long enough for decent character development.

I felt the inclusion of the 3 B sisters and their characters was silly and corny.

I guessed correctly who the killer was from the start so the big reveal wasn't a surprise.

This was a breath of fresh air after reading a few books I just didn't love. The Autumn Springs Retirement Home made my thriller/horror loving heart so happy.

I've really started loving thrillers with elderly main characters. When written right, they tend to be some of the funniest and most memorable characters. Phillip Fracassi did not disappoint. Rose is definitely my favorite character and I couldn't stop rooting for her.

I definitely recommend this one and it's releasing just in time for spooky season!

As much as I've enjoyed everything I've read from Philip Fracassi, I've never had as much fun reading one of his books as I did with this one. It's a statement on aging, regret, and redemption all wrapped up in a blood whodunnit slasher populated with a menagerie of engaging, interesting characters.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
Unfortunately, this one wasn't my taste. I really didn't enjoy the Rose, the female main character, at all. I found her to be an extremely unlikable character who acted more like she was 95 rather than in her mid-70s.
But the writing was excellent and kept me interested. Very enjoyable, just not my cup of tea.

I knew just from the title of this one that I was going to love it. I have been a Fracassi fan for a long time so was chomping at the bit to see what he would do here. (Thanks, NetGalley) He did not disappoint.

Expertly drawn and engaging characters, appropriate amounts of violence and a great final girl. It's all here. It also has a tremendous amount of heart.

I connected to all of the characters and am (fortunately or unfortunately) very familiar with memory care facilities and the colorful characters that live there. The setting was realistic and written with care and empathy.

An easy 4.5 Stars rounded up to 5 because I think Philip nailed the tone and pacing of this one. It was such a good time.