3.5 (2 ratings)
Heads Will Roll
"Very excited to read this slasher" —Stephen Graham Jones, via Twitter
Willow’s worst nightmare was being canceled. But the shadows in the woods of Camp Castaway might destroy more than her reputation.
After sitcom star Willow tweets herself into infamy and stumbles blind-drunk into a swimming pool, her agent ships her off to Camp Castaway. Nestled deep in upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults who are desperate to leave their mistakes behind. No real names, no phones . . . no way to call for help.
Willow’s fellow campers seem okay. Her own favorite actress is even here, making a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when one of the campers vanishes and Willow finds a mutilated doll in her room with a threatening message rolled up inside its mouth. Terror grips the group, campers begin to lose their heads—literally—and disturbing past deeds come to light.
Is Willow about to get cancelled all over again, this time for good?
Willow’s worst nightmare was being canceled. But the shadows in the woods of Camp Castaway might destroy more than her reputation.
After sitcom star Willow tweets herself into infamy and stumbles blind-drunk into a swimming pool, her agent ships her off to Camp Castaway. Nestled deep in upstate New York, Castaway is a summer camp for adults who are desperate to leave their mistakes behind. No real names, no phones . . . no way to call for help.
Willow’s fellow campers seem okay. Her own favorite actress is even here, making a s’more. And did that jaded writer, Dani, just wink at her? But the peaceful vibe is shattered when one of the campers vanishes and Willow finds a mutilated doll in her room with a threatening message rolled up inside its mouth. Terror grips the group, campers begin to lose their heads—literally—and disturbing past deeds come to light.
Is Willow about to get cancelled all over again, this time for good?
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780593544693
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See all editions (7)Reader Reviews
3.5
2 ratings
Matt D.
Feb 8, 2026
Willow has been having a very rough time after “the incident.” Her life is in pieces and she needs a break, so she decides to book a stay at Camp Castaway. The camp offers the campers a chance to escape their troubles. At least, it should be a chance to escape and relax. Local urban legend tells a tale of a woman, Nancy, who had a very unfortunate fate in the woods. Surely it’s all just a ghost story told around the campfire, right?
The tension builds and the action kicks off almost immediately. The isolation, the remoteness, and the small group of characters work together to build a sense of unease with every page.
If you like a good old 80s slasher
The tension builds and the action kicks off almost immediately. The isolation, the remoteness, and the small group of characters work together to build a sense of unease with every page.
If you like a good old 80s slasher
Cheyenne Joy .
Feb 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Heads Will Roll by Josh Winning
Okay, so here’s the thing: this book should have been totally up my alley. I’m a sucker for a good old-fashioned slash and dash — give me blood, chaos, and a group of people running for their lives, and I’m happy. And to be fair, this one had all the right ingredients. A washed-up horror movie cast? A reunion that goes from awkward nostalgia to full-blown nightmare? Yes, please.
It’s an easy read, fast-paced enough to keep you flipping pages without overthinking it. You can tell Josh Winning loves the genre — the references, the campy undertone, the self-aware moments where it almost winks at you through the blood splatter. I appreciated that.
But… it didn’t quite hit. The pacing that made it fun also made it feel a bit rushed, like some scenes were edited down too far. The characters had potential, but I didn’t fully connect — I wanted to care more when things started going wrong. Still, if you love slasher nostalgia and want something quick, gory, and cinematic to burn through on a weekend, it definitely scratches that itch.
Would I read another by him? Probably. Because even if this one didn’t make me scream, it at least made me grin — and that still counts for something.
Okay, so here’s the thing: this book should have been totally up my alley. I’m a sucker for a good old-fashioned slash and dash — give me blood, chaos, and a group of people running for their lives, and I’m happy. And to be fair, this one had all the right ingredients. A washed-up horror movie cast? A reunion that goes from awkward nostalgia to full-blown nightmare? Yes, please.
It’s an easy read, fast-paced enough to keep you flipping pages without overthinking it. You can tell Josh Winning loves the genre — the references, the campy undertone, the self-aware moments where it almost winks at you through the blood splatter. I appreciated that.
But… it didn’t quite hit. The pacing that made it fun also made it feel a bit rushed, like some scenes were edited down too far. The characters had potential, but I didn’t fully connect — I wanted to care more when things started going wrong. Still, if you love slasher nostalgia and want something quick, gory, and cinematic to burn through on a weekend, it definitely scratches that itch.
Would I read another by him? Probably. Because even if this one didn’t make me scream, it at least made me grin — and that still counts for something.