This was a great read! The premise feels ridiculous and then everything starts to make more sense. It takes place between Chicago, Lake Geneva, and Las Vegas as a young statistics professor gets caught up in the aftermath of what is called a low probability event. An investigation is underway to figure out the root causes of the event and her expertise are needed. I would classify this as a mystery with an underlying comical horror element. The main character is complicated but likable as is the supporting cast. Excellent narrator, would recommend this book.

A very chuck tingle book. Horror that has a sense of whimsy to it, bisexuality, and the idea that if nothing means anything then anything must mean everything. Sad and inspiring in the same strokes. I had a good time reading it and will definitely be reading anything else Tingle writes. My biggest draw back from the audiobook was that I did not feel like the audiobook narrator's voice for the main character well. She sounded like a seductive woman smoking a cigarette in a cafe instead of a probability professor who has given up on life and meaning. Not the biggest problem but it did affect how much I enjoyed the book. Will probably read it instead of listening the next time I read this.

I've been having such a hard time writing this review, and that's because I know I need to re-read it in order to actually convey my thoughts. The second half of this book, listening to it felt like a fever dream, and I probably wasn't paying as much attention to it as I should. And unfortunately, I think the second half is when the book is really crucial to understanding the themes Tingle is wanting to explore. I am definitely reading this again and annotating once I have my special edition copy from Aardvark.

At the same time, I know while I was listening to this, I was riveted. Tingle's imagination is so bizarre and imaginative, and the things he comes up with to populate his horror are not the kinds of other people come up with. The idea of a Low Probability Event being a huge disaster and killing millions of people is wild, and he pulls it off. He also, as always, manages to thoughtfully explore queer themes of belonging and identity. (How the two things connect is the part my brain has managed to miss because I went into a fugue state while listening or whatever. Can't explain it. Happened with Victorian Psycho earlier this year, also. Still need to re-read that one!)

I would recommend this book and his other books even for people who don't normally like horror. There's something about the way he writes these books that transcends horror, and it just feels like he's doing something else. Whatever it is is great.

Mara Wilson's narration btw is great.

[4.5 stars]

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC Copy!

This is my first Chuck Tingle book, and I was really excited to dive into his writing because I have heard it is so unique and hilarious, and I was not disappointed.

What a weird and unique story, I literally had no idea what was going to happen at any given moment, and it was wild to say the least. The horror elements, though pretty gross, were also kind of hilarious at times, and other times it was just a series of horrible luck...

I can't wait to dive into more Tingle books, I am officially hooked to the cooky horror style that is Chuck Tingle.

Do I need another book to verify to me that I love body horror? No, we knew but I LOVE BODY HORROR

I did overall enjoy my time listening to Lucky Day, the narrator was very good and definitely suited the character but I unfortunately didn't love the execution as much as I loved the idea for this book. Something that I LOVE about Camp Damascus and Bury Your Gays is the feeling dread throughout the book. It is usually so potent, but I didn't feel that at all when reading this book. Maybe it was because Vera, the main character, was so analytical and wanting to suppress her past so much that I didn't feel attached to her at all, but I did not really connect to any of the characters or the pacing of this book. What I really enjoyed was the queer commentary that this author puts in his horror books. The connection of biphobia to the nothingness and cause of the Low Probability Event was so well done and this type of commentary is why I will forever be anticipating this author's future releases.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for allowing me to have the audiobook arc!

Book Review: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle

This book was wild, but in the best way! Chuck Tingle delivers another amazing horror story that’s weird, smart, and totally gripping. The parts about statistics were surprisingly interesting and the brutal moments kept me hooked. It’s absurd, entertaining, and unlike anything else out there. I loved every second of it and already want to read it again. If you haven’t tried Chuck Tingle’s horror books yet, you’re missing out. Grab this one it’s out now!

In his newest novel, Chuck Tingle takes a look at fate, probabilities, and how deadly they can be. It reminds me of a splash of Final Destination and another film I don't want to name for spoilers. His comedic horror humor is on full display, as expected. I listened to the audiobook, read by Mara Wilson, in almost one complete sitting. I'm not sure if it would have had the same impact on the page as it did in audio format. This one felt quirkier than his previous work, Bury Your Gays. I haven't read any of his self-published works but based on the covers alone I'd say this is probably pretty close to some of those storylines. I hope he'll be a writer that graces us with a new book every year or two.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

Another banger from Chuck Tingle!

I wasn't expecting the plot to be so full on from the get go, but it was a pleasant surprise. I found it very easy to identify with Vera's struggles and how she dealt with her PTSD from the event. The twists and turns were done so well and I loved the cosmic horror element.

A content warning for suicidal ideation applies to this, as well as some biphobia.

Chuck Tingle may not be for everyone, but for me, he has this incredible ability to climb into my head, set up a tiny movie projector, and play out his novels like a movie against the interior of my skull. "Lucky Day" is no exception -- the Low Probability Event that kicks off the story, as well as so many other bizarre occurrences throughout the book, stand out so viscerally I could picture every detail as if watching an uncomfortably surreal A24 original flick.

Vera is an incredibly relatable character caught between nihilism and hope, caught up in a strange investigation as consultant for the unsettling and off-beat Agent Layne. I won't spoil it for you, but if the premise of the book interests you, you're in for an exciting read. I especially recommend the audiobook, as Mara Wilson is an exceptional narrator.

Chuck Tingle’s Lucky Day isn’t your typical horror novel — it’s a wild, weird ride that somehow manages to blend absurdity, dark humor, and genuine suspense into one unforgettable package. The story kicks off after a catastrophic event where millions died in wildly improbable, almost cartoonish ways, shattering any faith in order or logic. Enter Vera, a former statistics professor who’s been broken by this chaos and now struggles to find meaning in a world where luck isn’t just random — it’s deadly.

Tingle uses statistics not just as a backdrop but as a vital element of its narrative. Vera’s expertise in probability becomes the lens through which we see a terrifying casino in Vegas defying all odds. The casino’s success isn’t just improbable; it’s impossibly lucky — and that luck has a sinister price. This is where the story flips from quirky to chilling, as the unraveling mystery threatens everything Vera once believed about how the world works.

If you’re looking for a story that makes you think about fate, resilience, and what it means when the universe stops making sense, Lucky Day delivers. It’s not just a book about bad luck — it’s about how we cling to meaning when everything’s falling apart. There’s something deeply unsettling about a world where the impossible can happen at any moment, and Tingle captures that with a flair that’s as smart as it is strange.

I read the audiobook, and Mara Wilson’s narration is fantastic. She nails the tone perfectly — balancing the deadpan, dry wit of Vera with the story’s creeping horror and weird humor. Her grounded delivery makes the bizarre moments even funnier and more unsettling, while never losing sight of the emotional weight beneath it all.

So, if you want a book that’s part mind-bending mystery, part off-kilter horror, and completely original, Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle is a ride worth taking. It’s a bizarre dance with fate, where the odds are never in your favor — but you just can’t look away. Highly recommended.

Happy publishing day, I'm still counting this as an ARC even though I only got approved for this yesterday.

Chuck Tingle does it again with this horror novel and it's hard to write a review without spoilers but if you're looking for slightly camp, body gore, luck gone wrong in the worst way, Chuck Palahniuk-esque but with clearer writing, then you should pick up basically anything by Chuck Tingle.

Lucky Day kicks off with THE "low probability event" having happened- the day when nearly 8 million people died in the most bizarre and unusual ways, some final destination ways, some just weird. All very weird. Vera is a statistics professor at the height of her career when the event happened and she loses everything. Subsequently, there is an investigation into the casino in her book and that brings us Special Agent Jonah Layne, who is trying to get in front of another possible event. While you're reading this, prepare to have to pause and go back to make sure that's actually what you read because yes, yes you did. It's that good.

Mara Wilson being the narrator was great- she is up there for me in fav narrators and keeps a great pace throughout the whole book.

It’s our lucky day because Chuck Tingle’s new book, Lucky Day, is out! 🎲 Thankfully, ours doesn’t involve a low-probability event.

This was weird (shocker to no one, I know). We follow Vera as she tries to navigate her new reality after the low-probability event that turned her life upside down. Our girl goes through a lot. She’s reluctantly dragged out of her family home where she’s been hiding for a few years and thrust into Las Vegas and investigate an entity she’s always had her suspicions about.

Chuck Tingle always puts a lot of heart into his horror books, lining all the gore (and boy do we have a lot here) with a message that will hit anyone in the chest. As she’s investigating alongside Agent Layne, she has to come to terms with the fact that luck or fate doesn’t always look like you think it will, but it can still be beautiful.

I really enjoyed spending time with Vera. We follow her from being a tight-laced statistics professor, to a lost woman doing less than the bare minimum to get by, to a woman on a path to healing as she discovers who the post-trauma version of her is. Spoiler alert: she’s badass.

If you like solid character development and want to know how a monkey with a typewriter fits into the plot, I suggest you pick it up. I did the audio and had a blast.

Lucky Day is a wildly fun and entertaining read! Former statistics professor, Vera, must investigate a suspiciously lucky casino after a global catastrophe, the "Low-Probability Event," where millions died in bizarre, improbable ways. This surreal horror story explores existence, luck, hope and meaninglessness in an astonishing and complex way. I highly recommend Lucky Day to readers who enjoy speculative horror and science fiction. The narration is top tier for this book!

3.75 stars, rounded up.

Chuck Tingle’s Lucky Day is a bizarre plunge into horror, blending absurdism and surrealism with the unsettling, and sprinkling in Lovecraftian/Eldritch elements. Tingle turns his offbeat, genre-defying talents toward terror with a story that feels part fever dream, part social commentary, and part existential dread.

The plot centers around a protagonist who disassociates from the world after surviving a global catastrophe, only to be dragged back into society and “caring” through an investigation that requires her expertise (statistics/odds). Partnering with government agent, she works to unravel the connection between a Casino and the gruesome “Low Probability Event” while questioning the nature of luck and its related consequences.

Tingle’s prose is as wild and unapologetically weird as ever, but there's a sharp, clever undercurrent that gives the horror real teeth. The surreal imagery and gore linger, and certain scenes genuinely deliver a creeping sense of dread. The book’s emotional core—touching on isolation, luck, and identity—is surprisingly moving, without losing its chaotic feel.

While the book’s originality is its strength, the narrative sometimes feels disjointed. The pacing is uneven, with moments of brilliant tension diluted by abrupt tonal shifts or extended metaphorical tangents. And while fans of Tingle’s style will likely embrace the weirdness, readers looking for a more conventional horror structure might find it frustrating.

Still, Lucky Day is a strange little gem that rewards readers willing to surrender to the absurd. It’s not perfect, but with its mix of bizzaro fiction and experimental horror, it’s memorable, deeply unique, and perhaps just a bit unhinged.

Thank you to NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for the ARC of Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle’s. This review is my honest opinion.

Several of my irrational fears were validated by this book.


Chuck Tingle strikes against with this witty and bleak horror story. The way he can wrap humor into a story with so much death is always amazing. Lucky Day is the sci-fi horror mash up I did not know I needed.


The audio version of this book was enjoyable. The narrator did a good job of bringing Vera to life. Make sure you’re able to pay attention because I do believe I missed a few of the more sciencey (a real word) aspects of this story while my attention drifted.


Chuck Tingle is an autobuy horror author for me. His story’s are smart, scary, and have complex, layered characters that make you care. Love is Real, and Chuck is here to save us. Go on mostly blind because this is a wild ride!

4.5⭐️

Thank you @tornightfire + @macmillan.audio for the ARC & ALC ♡

Not sure what happened to me, but 2025 is the year I’ve embraced horror.
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I didn’t originally gravitate toward horror because I’m a scaredy cat who doesn’t love gore and guts and slashers who come for girls in the night.
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And yet. And yet. I also love deep reads and emotions and feelings and understanding the world. I’m finding that horror, much like science fiction, confronts that which we don’t want to name in polite society.
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I still don’t love body horror, which Tingle excels at, but I do love our main character Vera, a bisexual professor for whom statistics is the only ultimate truth.
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When a “low probability event” happens, it shatters her world. It should have been impossible, like the earth no longer revolving around the sun. [Also ten millions of people are gruesomely killed].
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And then life goes back to normal? What is really happening in the cosmic universe? It’s an identity crisis of epic proportions. Really enjoyed this tale of existential dread.

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။‌‌‌‌‌|• 🎧 Mara Wilson sounds exactly how I pictured Vera Rose, a nerdy professor of probability and statistics. Bravo for excellent narration.

I absolutely had to have Lucky Day from Macmillan Audio! Everything about the synopsis drew me in! This literary, science fiction novel is described as horror, and I guess if you consider that the lack of luck leads to gory, horrific accidents then yea it’s horror. But I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys speculative fiction and science fiction that edges close to the supernatural without crossing the line completely–-it’s all about odds!

Vera’s complete apathy is actually wildly entertaining, but her emotional growth is also so important to the story—the way she ends up connecting with certain things around her is really lovely. I adore the friendship that builds between her and agent Layne, and I also appreciate it’s completely platonic. Then we find out he’s gay while very early on Vera’s bisexuality is a major conflict of a subplot! I was super excited to see these types of characters just out there living the sci-fi life like a queer Mulder and Scully!

While this book has an enormous amount of death and blood, it also has sweet moments and existential questions that I felt rounded out the story. Any X-Files or Men in Black fans will enjoy this book, but I also feel it’s a good piece of literature for anyone with the stomach for some gore too. Five stars!

I absolutely LOVED the narration by Mara Wilson!

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio for the advanced reading and listening copies. Here are my thoughts!

Vera survived the terrifying Low Probability Event, but it significantly impacted her life. She has isolated herself from others and tries to hide from the day-to-day statistics she used to love. Agent Layne shows up at her door, and he is investigating some strange unlikely happenings all linked to a casino. He wants Vera to help him prevent another event from occurring.

There’s something hilarious about saying good morning to a neighbor while listening to the gore that Chuck Tingle provides. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading any of Tingle’s books until now and I loved it. The ridiculousness mixed with the horror is perfectly balanced into a plot that doesn’t stop once it gets going.

I have a love-hate relationship with statistics thanks to university, but this novel incorporated it in an interesting and approachable manner. Vera feels like a real character who reacted reasonably to a highly traumatic event. I liked seeing her decision making as she was faced with crazy obstacles, and there are subtle hints throughout the novel that tie together at the end in such a satisfying way.

I can’t wait to read more Chuck Tingle, if his other novels are anything like this one, I’m in for a treat! He will be an autobuy author for me!

“One woman must go up against the most horrifying concept of all: nothing”

Out today! I just finished one of the most bizarre books I've read, and I mean that as a compliment. The outrageous events kept me hooked, eager to find out what would happen next. Beneath its wild surface, the book explores themes of happiness, the beauty of life, and the simplicity of existence.

My Rating: 4⭐️

I really enjoyed this and I plan to go back and read the author’s previously released books! Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the early release audiobook!

This was a wild ride and I honestly not sure what I just listened to. I had never heard to this author before, but the cover drew me in.

I did feel that the blend of horror and absurdism was done well. Tingle has a twisted imagination. Some scene's were gruesome, which normally doesn't bother me, but at time's I was questioning what I was doing haha. I also felt at times confused because of how absurd some of the things were.

The narrator did a great job with this audiobook. I am not sure that I will pick anything else up from Tingle, especially if all his books are this crazy, but I did enjoy parts of the wild ride that is Lucky Day.


Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.