Breathe in, Bleed Out
"Brian McAuley keeps you guessing the whole gory, satisfying way through this one. Come to this retreat for the blood. Stay for the healing."
--Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of I Was a Teenage Slasher
It's a Midsommar night's Scream in this blood-soaked thriller set at a remote healing retreat from horror author Brian McAuley.
Hannah has been running from her demons ever since she emerged from a harrowing wilderness trip without her fiancé. No one knows exactly what happened the day Ben died, and Hannah would like to keep it that way... even if his ghost still haunts her with vivid waking nightmares that are ruining her life. So when her friend group gets an exclusive invitation to a restorative spiritual retreat in Joshua Tree, Hannah reluctantly agrees in search of a fresh start.
Despite her skepticism of the strange Guru Pax and his belief in the supernatural world, Hannah soon finds healing through all the yoga, sound baths, and hot springs offered at the tech-free haven. But this peaceful journey of self-discovery quickly descends into a violent fight for self-preservation when a mysterious killer starts picking off retreat attendees in increasingly gruesome ways. As the body count rises and Hannah's sanity frays, she'll have to confront her dark past and uncover the true nature of a ruthless monster hellbent on killing her vibe for good.
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781464238208
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1 rating
Carla B.
A blood-slick slasher wrapped in sage smoke and self-help slogans. You’ll breathe in suspense and bleed out shocked.. This book is a total slasher treat with a horror core and a wellness-retreat wrapper. It’s sharp, fast-paced, and full of blood-soaked chaos in all the best ways. The tension ramps up fast and doesn’t let go. If you like your thrillers with a twist of humor and a whole lot of bodies, this one delivers. Keep reading for the full review.
Synopsis:
After surviving a tragic trip into the wilderness without her fiancé, Hannah’s been haunted, literally and figuratively. His death was mysterious, and she's not exactly eager to share what really happened. When her friends invite her to a “healing” retreat in Joshua Tree, she agrees to go. It's supposed to be spiritual and soothing, full of yoga, meditation, and self-discovery. But the vibes take a deadly turn when a masked killer crashes the party. Now, with the bodies stacking up and her grip on reality slipping, Hannah has to decide what’s real, what’s revenge, and whether she’s actually losing her mind… or just next in line.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
This was my first Brian McAuley read, and let me just say, it will not be my last. I was hooked from page one. His writing is clever without being smug, and the pacing had me flying through chapters like I was sprinting through the retreat myself. You get classic slasher tension, but with a fresh voice that never takes itself too seriously.
The setup feels like a mix between a self-help seminar and a horror flick you probably shouldn't be watching alone. And just when I thought I had a theory about who was behind the mask, McAuley said, “Cute guess” and flipped everything on its head. The killer reveal? I did not see it coming. That’s rare, and I live for that.
Also? The vibe shift from spiritual detox to full-blown chaos is seamless. One minute you’re breathing deep and soaking in the desert calm. The next, you’re wondering if the yoga mat is about to become a body bag. If you’re a fan of smart slashers that blend real trauma with gory fiction, this one is a must.
The Vibes It Brings: