Joshua Winning takes a stab at the slasher genre and succeeds in absolutely killing it. Was that a good metaphor? I'm really quite proud of that one. Heads Will Roll pays homage to the nostalgic ‘80s/‘90s genre whilst retaining its uniqueness, taking a classic story horror fans will recognise and breathing fresh life into it. Winning has executed a thoughtful and fun meditation on LGBTQ+ rights, social media and cancel culture, melding together a well-trodden trope of a summer camp gone wrong, with a healthy side dose of moral and societal commentary all whilst keeping the tone light and witty. Think Scream meets American Pie Presents.

After a thoughtless tweet that went viral (for all the wrong reasons), sitcom star Willow finds herself the victim of cancel culture and a slew of online vitriol. Because of the unrelenting hate, she heads Camp Castaway, a retreat for the ostracized promising a digital detox, and what do the kids say these days? A chance to get out and touch grass?

This is the perfect ratio of slasher-y gory goodness, peppered with horror Easter eggs both movie and book fans will delight in (any Jade Daniels fans?). It’s clear we are in safe hands with an author who knows his way around culture references we hold dear to our Halloween hearts. With punchy fast-paced prose and dark humour laced throughout, this is an addictive read and the pages fly by.

The varied cast are relatable and authentic, and I was instantly invested in the likeable ensemble. There is a focus on looking inwards and the character development is fantastic. Winning is victorious in building palpable tension when Willow arrives to the camp, suspending readers in a vortex of unease as Willow tries to navigate her strange new surroundings

This wouldn't be a slasher without some cheese, am I right? Some predictable tropes such as isolated settings, bad phone signals, urban legends and of course, creeping lurking figures in the woods will appeal to fans of the genre. Although familiar, it didn't deter from my enjoyment. Akin to a roller coaster, there are many twists and turns and the reader is left on the edge of their seat wondering whose head will roll next.

At the beating heart of this book is a reflection on cancel culture and how quickly society can demonize others for a simple mistake, and sometimes not for any mistake at all. Instead of tackling the subject, Winning simply caresses it. I'll admit, sometimes the moral lessons can feel heavy-handed in horror, but in this instance this technique works perfectly. It allows the darker message running throughout to linger in the back of my mind long after I finished reading. Choosing to focus more on the carnage and head-rolling allowed me to indulge in the nostalgia and fun of the story. Are some parts predictable? Yes, but this is a slasher, and what would Randy Meeks do? Observe the rules! Heads Will Roll is a triumph in revisiting the slasher trope in a modern setting that will leave fans more than satisfied.