I love a good horror and forced proximity and Night of Madness mixes that and an author favorite of mine. Night of Madness also asks us about what we are willing to do for our future, for a chance at something more. Keep reading this book review of Night of Madness for my full thoughts.
Summary
Teen influencers compete in a horror movie–themed overnight competition, only to realize the real test is staying alive in this chilling, blood-soaked horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Taking of Jake Livingston and the production company behind Clown in a Cornfield.
Mara is a horror buff whose only fond memories of her dad are bonding over movies by Jack Stanley—the producer of the eighties. Stanley’s campy slasher movies may have kept Mara’s fraught parental relationship on life support and gained a cult following, but the man himself has faded from the public eye…until he announces a contest centered around Asylum, his most terrifying film. Five teen influencers will be invited to spend the night on the fully constructed set; whoever sticks it out until morning wins a hundred thousand dollars.
Stuck in a dead-end job, Mara seriously needs that cash. She may not be a famous influencer, but there has to be a way to manufacture an online presence that will capture Stanley’s attention. With the help of her brother and best friend, Mara finds some creative solutions to her dilemma and lands herself onto the roster of the lucky chosen few by way of her engaging authenticity.
When Mara and the other contestants arrive on set, it’s a horror fan’s dream being immersed in the asylum setting, but as the night wears on, they realize the danger is more than movie magic… They’re not there to win or lose but to live or die. As Mara fights to survive, she discovers an inner ruthlessness she didn’t know she had. Just how far will she go to see the sunrise—and will she still recognize herself by the end?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Night of Madness is exposes our secrets and continues to push us. It asks us what we are willing to do, and share, for the prize. If you love a horror that’s full of psychological mind games, Night of Madness is your book! It is a short action packed story which forces our characters to confront what they don’t want to see. While I wish we got a bit more depth on the side characters, especially since it really would illustrate the mind game aspect, the book surprised me by the ending. Without spoilers, I can just say that Night of Madness is committed to exploring our past and our secrets.
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This makes for a compelling fall read which you can fall into. I’m sorry! Especially if you love the idea of a reality competition show, Night of Madness shouldn’t be missed. Find Night of Madness on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Bookshop. org.