Welcome to Camp Killer is book where an American-style residential camp is set up in the grounds of an English stately home. Every camp counsellor is the child of people who used to work in summer camps in the US and they’re all very excited and looking forward to a summer full of fun outdoor activities.

But right from the beginning things don’t feel quite right. They learn of a tragedy that occured in the house and of ghostly sightings in the grounds. Then things start to go wrong – snakes are found in someones bed, there’s a near-drowning in the lake and a fatal from a cliff. 

I was actually very excited for this book but it ended up being incredibly disappointing. Here’s why.

The setting. I thought the setting was a really cool idea. You’ve got the classic slasher vibes in a summer camp but it also takes place at an old manor that has a dark past? But I just don’t think it was used very well. It just didn’t feel like the author used the setting of the stately home enough and it just didn’t feel like we were ever there other than occasionally mentioned the great hall. 

The characters. I didn’t care about any of these characters. We didn’t learn anything about them and I couldn’t care less when they were dying. When the final reveal came and we found out who was behind the murders I wasn’t even sure who it was. Like, I had to take a minute to think back about who it was because all of the characters were so bland.

The motive. It was laughable. Like, I actually laughed when I read it because it was just so stupid. Like, not realistic or believable at all and it’s weird that this is the best the author could come up with.

The writing. It was very ‘tell not show.’ Like, everything was being explained to us and we weren’t given the opportunity to figure out anything for ourselves. 

The foreshadowing. There was none! There’s nothing I hate more in thrillers than when the ending is just a massive plot twist that you never ever could have guessed. The best thing about books like these should be that you think back to things that happened and you’re just like ‘of course, that makes so much sense!’ 

It was too short. I think all of the problems are honestly down to the fact that this book was far too short. It was just moving too fast. The first like 30% was set up and then someone was killed and THEN everyone was killed straight away. Like, so quickly. We barely even saw the children in this summer camp because the first killing happened immediately after they arrived. 

I’ve heard about this author before and the rest of her books have far better reviews so I’m excited to try again with some of her books because they have great premises! This one was just not for me.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy to review.