Book Review: You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth

I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.

You Better Watch Out by James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth

Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Series: Stand Alone

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (October 15, 2024)

Length: 240 pages

Author Information: James S. Murray | Darren Wearmouth

If you’re looking for a Christmas-themed read with a horror twist, the wickedly fun duo of James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth will have you covered this holiday season. Part locked-room mystery, part over-the-top gory slasher, You Better Watch Out is designed to leave you in a festive mood while also feeling nostalgic for the campy horror classics. That said, it’s not the most sophisticated, but at least it’s a super quick read.

The story follows a group of characters who all wake up feeling drugged up and confused in an otherwise deserted and unfamiliar town. Christmas is in a few days, and Eddie is a petty thief who recalls being in a parking lot trying to scam an old couple before he was injected with something that knocked him out. Jessica was out on the trail when she was similarly attacked. So too was Trinity, who was in bed when she figured she was chloroformed, and Greg, when someone knocked him unconscious as he was heading out to work. And on it goes. The people involved come from all walks of life, but their stories of how they ended up here are all eerily similar

But why are they here? And who is responsible for bringing them all together like this? Finding the answers becomes increasingly urgent as the group of strangers realize they are being hunted. Someone had gone to great lengths to orchestrate a twisted series of events designed to take out their victims one by one, capturing them before transporting them into a fake town designed to be one giant trap. As paranoia and desperation set in, the survivors must band together to work out why they’ve been targeted in the hopes of coming up with a plan to make it out alive.

Like I said, it’s not a deep read, but pretty sure no one is picking this up expecting it to win any literary rewards. The story feels like a straight-to-TV movie complete with a cast of B-list actors whose roles take a backseat to the anticipation of when or how their characters die. Who’ll suffer the most gruesome death? Which one will be the last one standing? Those are the questions keeping the audience interested, not where these people are from or what major influences in their childhoods shaped their life choices. You Better Watch Out practically revels in these vibes, glossing over character development in favor of action, thrills, and tension. As a result, character personalities and motivation don’t get as much room to breathe, but again, who really cares?

That plot also has a patchwork quality, borrowing themes and ideas I recognize from familiar films like Saw, Predators, and others. And yes, there are plenty of moments that strain credulity, but this is just another thing that gives this novel an over-the-top and campy charm. Let’s face it, you’re not meant to be carrying this book around in your head for days after you read it, or analyze it to death at a book club.  The story wants to be ridiculous and unrealistic, its main goal being to provide entertainment and suspense–a goal that was met. Short chapters also kept the pace moving, and I finished this book in no time at all.

In short, You Better Watch Out is not going to be for everyone. However, if you’re willing to overlook a few weaknesses like superficial characters and storytelling in exchange for some top rate slasher-style suspense, you’ll enjoy this popcorny Christmas-themed horror novel. I was solidly entertained, and as always intrigued to check out more from Murr and Darren.