How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold is a locked room mystery set inside a haunted house. It is Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None meets Saw, if it were set in a haunted house. In this story, all the characters fighting to survive are horror writers.
The plot follows a deceased bestselling horror author who invites seven fellow horror writers to his estate for the reading of his will. Instead, they are forced to play elaborate life or death escape room games in order to survive.
The premise is a lot of fun, and the central idea is very strong. Unfortunately, I wanted much more from the characters.
We follow the perspectives of seven writers: Petey, Buck, Chester, Scott, Melanie, Crystal, and Winnie. Each of them shares a secret connected to the late Mortimer Queen. They all write different styles of horror, including erotica, cosmic horror, literary horror, and extreme horror. Alongside the present day narrative, we get flashbacks showing each character’s interactions with Mortimer, as well as chapters from Mortimer’s own perspective.
My favorite characters were Scott, Chester, and Crystal. Everyone else was fine, but I found several of the characters to be inconsistent. Scott, for example, was one of my favorites, yet in one scene he is on the verge of a panic attack, only for those feelings to disappear entirely the next time we return to his point of view. Moments like that made some of the emotional beats feel less believable.
The horror comes more from anticipation and the psychological tension of long buried secrets being revealed than from graphic violence. When the gore does appear, it happens quickly, almost as though we the reader immediately looks away. There are three deaths in particular that stood out and were genuinely memorable.
The writing is impressive for a debut novel. Early on, Arnold describes the road as a broken spine, a metaphor I absolutely loved. Her writing style reminded me a lot of Darcy Coates, especially in the atmosphere and pacing.
The ending was just okay for me. I enjoyed everything that happened inside the house, but the story continues beyond that point, and that’s where I had the biggest issues. I didn’t feel that the motivations behind a couple of important decisions were strong enough to justify the characters’ actions.
Why did I read How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold?
The title alone had been enough to put this book on my radar. It also has gorgeous sprayed edges featuring bloody teeth, which certainly didn’t hurt.
I had RSVP’d for a Paul Tremblay signing that also featured Mallory Arnold. I like reading at least one book by an author before meeting them, so I picked up her debut. I still had about fifty pages left when I met her. During the signing, I found out she’s local to Tennessee, which made me even happier to support her work. I also picked up her newest novel, Cross My Heart, I Hope You Die, which has equally amazing sprayed edges.
Plot Summary:
Mortimer Queen has died and invited seven horror writers to his estate for the reading of his will. Every one of them has crossed paths with the famous author before, and for most, the encounters ended badly. They assume this invitation is his way of making amends.
It isn’t.
Mortimer Queen’s estate is home to a haunted house that must be fed. Through a series of elaborate escape rooms, the writers are given the opportunity to confess their sins and seek redemption. There is a way to escape—but first, the house has to let them leave.
What I Liked:
Chester, Crystal, and Scott were easily my favorite characters. They all begin as fairly insufferable people, but their character arcs gradually reveal more depth and made me care about them.
The opening chapters leading up to the estate are very well written and immediately pulled me into the story.
I especially enjoyed the library and garden sequences. Both featured the strongest atmosphere and some of the novel’s best moments of horror and gore.
The pacing is excellent. The novel moves quickly and is an easy book to finish in just a couple of sittings.
What I Disliked:
I struggled with some of the character inconsistencies and motivations. Several decisions didn’t feel earned, making it harder to fully invest in the story.
I also thought the final two flashbacks failed to sell what Mortimer Queen considered either unforgivable or admirable. Those moments needed more emotional weight.
I would have rearranged the order of a couple of the deaths. I think doing so would have created a stronger emotional impact during the climax.
Recommendation:
How to Survive a Horror Story is a solid debut from Mallory Arnold. I loved many of her descriptions and thought the central premise was fantastic. Readers who enjoy Darcy Coates’ blend of haunted houses and accessible horror should definitely give Arnold a look.
For me, the novel feels about 70% thriller and 30% horror. While I can’t fully recommend it to all of my followers, I do think Arnold shows a great deal of promise as a writer. I already own her second novel, and I’m looking forward to seeing how she grows.
Rating:
How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold
3 out of 5
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