Always The First To Die - Great End of Summer Read
“Can life become a horror film? Can you get lost in what you create?”
When Lexi was a teenager, she starred in a famous slasher film and fell in love and married the director’s son. Years on, her husband has been lost at sea and now her daughter has lied to her about where she really was. She’s actually on the famous Pinecrest Estate owned by Lexi’s Father-in-Law, Rick, and a hurricane is about to hit. Lexi, who has a troubled relationship with Rick, races to the Florida Keys to rescue her daughter. But she has no idea what she’s driving into – murder, ghosts, the wreckage of a hurricane, and who knows what else.
Hitting shelves September 13th, Always the First to Die by R.J. Jacobs is a fun horror romp great for fans of slashers, storm chasers, and oddball directors.
book mood board created from images found on weheartit.com
“In the next ten minutes, I was murdered three times. I’d never felt more alive.”
Here’s what I loved:
Rick, while mostly a villain type, is a really fascinating character. He is a famous slasher director who prides himself on getting the most realistic reactions as possible from his actors. Which may include genuinely scaring the shit out of them, keeping secrets, and encouraging rumors' of ghosts and curses. His complicated relationship with almost everyone in this book is really interesting to read.
The story jumps back between the original filming of the slasher movie when Lexi gets to act as a slasher victim and current day. Both stories slowly unravel while also tangling themselves together. It’s a great way of telling the story and keeping the suspense high.
The ultimate reveal that weaves everything together is hard to guess but very satisfying. And the final climax of the story moves incredibly fast as both Lexi and her daughter, Quinn, fight for their lives in the decrepit estate.
Overall, this is a fun end of summer read that will have you tearing through the pages breathlessly hoping Lexi can finally become the final girl. Big thank you to Sourcebooks for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Pick up a copy of Always the First to Die yourself on September 13th!
