Slasher Summer

A Novel

By: E. L. Chen

In this campy love letter to the slasher films of the 1980s, seven friends reunite for a weekend of fun—only to be hunted down by a cold-blooded killer. But the real horror is not being able to escape who you were in high school. . . .

The sleepy town of Cedar Lake is best known as the shooting location of the campy ’80s horror flick Slasher. In high school, preppy Patrick, jock Jason, cheerleader Tiffany, stoner Freddy, goth Jennifer, and nerdy Mikey had played the cast of Slasher during midnight showings, with virginal Carrie as the Final Girl, of course.

Years later, the friends reunite at the remote cabin where Slasher was filmed. They’ve changed since high school—Carrie found a boyfriend, Patrick came out, Mikey bulked up, and, well, Freddy’s still stoned—and they’re looking forward to a weekend to catch up. But when night falls, and the eponymous masked killer is spotted, the reunion takes a deadly turn. The friends discover their tires deflated and the phone line disconnected, and soon they’re being stalked by a mysterious assailant. Is someone trying to make their Slasher experience as authentic as possible?

One thing is for sure. Before the night is over, they each will have to take on the role they thought they'd left behind.

Critic reviews

“With gory kills, suspenseful twists, and tight pacing, Slasher Summer is a blood-soaked delight that takes throwback horror nostalgia to fresh, frightening heights. Absolutely thrilling.”—Justine Pucella Winans, award-winning author of How to Survive a Slasher

“A smart, disturbing homage to the slasher tradition, reimagined with contemporary teeth. Slasher Summer will stay with you long after the blood has dried.”—Daphne Fama, author of House of Monstrous Women

“Slasher Summer is a bloody Valentine love letter to slasher films and asks the question:[IF1] What if the cast of The Breakfast Club ended up in the world of Scream? It’s a terrifying and exhilarating deconstruction of the subgenre that’s chock-full of the devilishly clever easter eggs horror fans love. Chen knows how to bring the blood and the scares, but she also explores the multi-chambered heart of friendship in a way that is both powerful and poignant. I give this one two severed thumbs-up—and a Lynchian severed ear for good measure!”—Ian Rogers, author of Family and Every House Is Haunted

“Lake cabins and Final Girls and masked reunions, oh my! Talk about a love letter to the horror films of the 1980s: Slasher Summer by E. L. Chen not only delivers in bloody spades but cuts like a knife, slashing full-throttle toward an ending the sleepy town of Cedar Lake won’t soon forget—if they live through the night!”—J. H. Markert, author of Sleep Tight

“Slasher Summer is a masterful tribute to the genre—weaving together hilarity and vicious murders before twisting the lovable formula on its head. Chen’s respect and love for the familiar tropes go much deeper than blood and gore. You could not ask for a better time. This is truly a slasher story after my own heart.”—Vincent Tirado, author of You Should Have Been Nicer to My Mom

“Slasher Summer is a retro slasher movie in book form. It has all the summer camp vibes, brutal kill scenes, and a wicked twist on Final Girl mythology. It’s bloody, clever, and just psychologically nasty enough to keep you side-eyeing everyone on the page. If you like your slashers a little feral, get on this one.”—Sadie Hartmann, author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered