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Heads Will Roll

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Heads Will Roll

By: Josh Winning
Narrated by: EJ Lavery
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

A chilling slasher from a razor-sharp new horror voice, perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix and the Scream franchise


If you hear her knock, it’s already too late . . .

Willow is in need of an escape.

A former sitcom star, she’s been publicly shamed on the internet after posting something she really shouldn’t have.

She checks in to Camp Castaway, an adults-only retreat based at an old campground in the woods.

It’s the first night and the campers gather round the fire to tell some ghost stories. That’s when Willow hears the tale of Knock Knock Nancy. A local urban legend about a witch, brutally beheaded in this very woodland.

They say her restless spirit knocks on doors late at night. If you answer, she’ll take your head.

Willow doesn’t believe in ghost stories. But the next day, a camper has vanished under mysterious circumstances. And then that evening, in her cabin, Willow hears it . . . .

Knock, Knock, Knock.

‘A slasher that is both bloody and uplifting. And fun! Every copy should come with a bucket of popcorn’ Gus Moreno, author of This Thing Between Us

Praise for Josh Winning

‘Be sure to make the popcorn and dim the lights’ Paul Tremblay, author of A Cabin At The End Of The World

‘Josh Winning has won my heart’ Clay McLeod Chapman, author of The Remaking

‘Wow! No one can make us feel so much childhood nostalgia and then so much terror as Josh Winning! Absolutely loved it. This one's a killer’ CJ Leede, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Maeve Fly

‘There was the impulse to binge just one more chapter before closing the covers, combined with layered characterization, sensitivity, and Winning's respect for and love of pop-culture’ Deirdre Sullivan, author of Perfectly Preventable Deaths

‘A relentless supernatural page-ripper that doubled as pure catnip for the horror connoisseur in me’ David Yoon, author of City of Orange

‘An all-consuming obsession…a perfect mash-up of Night Film and Harrow Lake’ Dawn Kurtagich, author of The Creeper Man

© Josh Winning 2024 (P) Penguin Audio 2024

Genre Fiction Ghosts Horror Literature & Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Feel-Good Paranormal Haunted

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Critic reviews

The perfect summer slasher... I am quickly becoming a devout follower [of Josh Winning]. His slashers are bangers from start to finish, embodying the fun of classic horror films with smart, modern twists. And honestly, you can’t help but smile at the sheer enjoyment the story brings
Winning utilises the best jump-scare slasher tropes to create a thrilling and fun classic horror story with a modern touch
I really enjoyed the way Heads Will Roll plays with all the horror/slasher tropes, while also taking aim at the pitfalls of social media and cancel culture. A whole lot of bloody fun with a serious message at its heart (CJ Tudor)
Beautifully written and impossible to put down (Fiona Cummins, bestselling author of All of Us Are Broken)
I enjoyed Heads Will Roll, with its compelling, complex characters and inventiveness in how it engaged politically with its horrors (Paul Tremblay, author of Horror Movie)
This book is incredible! A gripping slice of 80s-inspired horror with a rattling good plot, terrific characters and zingy dialogue, and with something important to say about the world today. I can’t recommend Heads Will Roll enough. (William Hussey, award-winning author of Killing Jericho)
Between the frequent jump scares and blood spillage, Winning’s story is packed with an awful lot of heart. Readers will be on the edges of their seats
Winning continues to write great horror novels, and this is a must-buy… a warm love letter to slasher flicks… [he] masterfully builds a story that will leave readers breathless... The pacing is frenetic and captivating
A brilliantly fun horror concept, expertly executed by a blossoming talent in the genre - if you like your thrillers dark, funny, clever and bang up to date, then this is the book for you (Susi Holliday)
I really enjoyed this chilling book. A thrilling read, and it would make a great movie (Michael Wood, author of the DCI Matilda Darke series)
All stars
Most relevant
Well I thoroughly enjoyed this book! the slasher genre was done very well in book format with all the usual tropes yet a wonderful unlying message. The performance was excellent with each character having a distinct voice. Highly recommend.

Slasher a book makes the cut

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would work well, if not better, as a TV or visual adaptation - especially the way it was written.

Didn't anticipate the twist.

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I had an absolute blast reading Heads Will Roll. It stares horror tropes straight in the eye, questions them, and weighs up whether they actually hold water in real life. The result feels fresh - even if “self-aware horror” has started to become a trope by itself in recent years.

The main character is likeable, and the twists genuinely blindsided me. I thought I had the whole thing figured out early on, but nope; the rug was pulled right out from under me.

The pacing is spot-on. The tone strikes a perfect balance between suspense and fun. It’s not just a barrage of jump scares, but a solid mix of mystery, tension, and breathless action.

Every character gets at least some depth; no one feels entirely like throwaway cannon fodder (okay, maybe one… but someone has to die early, right?).

One thing I really appreciated is how the book touched on LGBTQ+ themes without using them as a marketing crutch. The representation is there, it’s acknowledged, but it’s not treated as the sole selling point or exploited for easy points.

If you’re a horror fan, I recommend this one. You’re in for a sharp, entertaining ride that’s both self-aware and sincere.

The is slasher is a cut above the rest

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Wow! This was so hard to get through. It was the most whiny, random premise of a slasher that I’ve ever read. There was absolutely no depth to it at all.

Awful!!

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Very slow to get started, was tempted a few times to not bother with it. Very cliché. Could have been amazing as the plot was solid but didn't deliver.

Slow to start

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