Jade, Stef, and Zoe are hiking Washington State’s Bones Hollow Trail, braving cougars, black bears, and storms that roll in without warning. Their anxiety isn’t helped by listening to a true crime podcast about the serial killer who once prowled this same forest.
When Stef twists her ankle—badly—there’s no one to hear them scream for help. The only sign of life for miles is a cabin that looks to be straight out of a horror movie, occupied by a man who’s all too eager to invite them in.
As things take a chilling turn, the friends must find a way to stay alive together. After all, who can you trust when your back’s against the wall? Unfortunately for them, the only thing more twisted than this nightmare is their friendship…
This debut novel has been getting some buzz since its release and rightfully so—it’s a slow-burn survival serial killer thriller with slasher elements, final girl energy, and “lost in the woods” horror that entertains. And if you love podcast elements and toxic female friendships (with a proper mean girl character included), this one has you covered. I went in completely blind and I was most surprised by how funny the story was—I’m not entirely sure it was intentional, but some scenes were borderline ridiculous and I was laughing out loud. The protagonist Jade’s inner dialogue is filled with dark humour, sarcasm, along with the voice of a true crime podcast host (Lori Wolf) that narrates key events that unfold for her and her friends—which was so funny and unique. And I don’t remember the last thriller I read with so many flawed and frustrating characters—for most of the book I actively disliked every single one—but I think that’s what makes the story work.
The story is told entirely through Jade’s first-person POV, and her thoughts are very entertaining as she silently judges people, especially her friend Zoey. She’s been holding in years of frustration and resentment, and you can sense disaster coming as soon as Zoey persuades them to abandon the main trail to search for a hidden waterfall. From there, bad things happen one after another and they find themselves lost and in survival mode. You’ll quickly discover that is a thriller where you need to suspend your disbelief throughout, not just during major reveals—so if thars not for you, you’ll likely not enjoy this one. And some of their decisions are just plain dumb, and their behaviour—women in their late twenties arguing and acting like teenagers—may test your patience!
The short chapters, many of ending on mini cliffhangers, make this easy to binge. The first half has a lot of slow-building dread and a predictable setup, but once the women find the cabin in the woods and meet a man who’s all too willing to help, things become much more unpredictable. The pacing is relentless in the last 30 percent, and along with several red herrings and a thrilling but over-the-top cat-and-mouse chase, I felt much more invested in the story. As much as I wanted to root for Jade since she had some real final girl energy, she made several decisions that left me wanting to shake sense into her—especially near the end when she wastes precious time at a critical survival moment. Overall, this was a mixed bag for me, but it kept me entertained throughout, and while I guessed the villains, what unfolded afterwards kept me guessing until the end—so a solid debut!
And if you’re an audiobook listener, do yourself a favour and grab the audio edition. Queen thriller narrator Brittany Pressley elevates the story with convincing, expressive voices, and her portrayals of the villains are equally ridiculous and terrifying—perfect for this book! A very entertaining listen!
Narrator Performance
Backstabbers is narrated by award-winning powerhouse narrator Brittany Pressley. She gives protagonist Jade an expressive voice layered with sarcasm and frustration, perfectly capturing her personality and her reactions to what she faces. A lot of the book takes place inside Jade’s head, and Pressley makes her inner monologues very entertaining. Whether Jade is judging her friends, questioning her own decisions, or listening to true-crime podcaster Laurie Wolf narrate what’s happening to them in her mind (and getting sick of hearing her 😂), Pressley delivers it all with impeccable comedic timing and lots of drama!
The portrayal of the friendship dynamics is where Pressley’s performance shines. Her delivery of the dialogue between Jade and Zoey is full of tension and underlying resentment, and you can literally feel that it’s only a matter of time before things reach a breaking point. She gives Zoey a confident, pushy, and self-centered energy that makes her unlikable from the start but also makes her seem like she’s always two steps ahead of everyone. And for Stephanie, she uses a softer, more hesitant voice that reinforces her “follower” role in the group.
Another highlight is how Pressley portrays the villains. Both are given memorable Southern accents that sound charming, a bit ridiculous, and threatening all at once—not easy to pull off for any voice actor. I found myself chuckling at some of their dialogue and then completely unsettled moments later—the true sign of a dynamic performance!
The climactic cat-and-mouse scenes are the most entertaining. As the danger escalates, Pressley increases her pacing and the emotional intensity of the women, keeping you hooked. Even when the characters make terrible decisions—and trust me, you’ll want to yell at them toward the end—Pressley keeps you fully engaged. If you’re considering this book, I highly recommend the audiobook. Brittany Pressley elevates every scene, and just seeing her name on a thriller (or any audiobook) is reason enough to pick up a copy—you’ll be entertained even through the rough spots in this one!
Narrator Performance
Backstabbers is narrated by award-winning powerhouse narrator Brittany Pressley. She gives protagonist Jade an expressive voice layered with sarcasm and frustration, perfectly capturing her personality and her reactions to what she faces. A lot of the book takes place inside Jade’s head, and Pressley makes her inner monologues very entertaining. Whether Jade is judging her friends, questioning her own decisions, or listening to true-crime podcaster Laurie Wolf narrate what’s happening to them in her mind (and getting sick of hearing her 😂), Pressley delivers it all with impeccable comedic timing and lots of drama!
The portrayal of the friendship dynamics is where Pressley’s performance shines. Her delivery of the dialogue between Jade and Zoey is full of tension and underlying resentment, and you can literally feel that it’s only a matter of time before things reach a breaking point. She gives Zoey a confident, pushy, and self-centered energy that makes her unlikable from the start but also makes her seem like she’s always two steps ahead of everyone. And for Stephanie, she uses a softer, more hesitant voice that reinforces her “follower” role in the group.
Another highlight is how Pressley portrays the villains. Both are given memorable Southern accents that sound charming, a bit ridiculous, and threatening all at once—not easy to pull off for any voice actor. I found myself chuckling at some of their dialogue and then completely unsettled moments later—the true sign of a dynamic performance!
The climactic cat-and-mouse scenes are the most entertaining. As the danger escalates, Pressley increases her pacing and the emotional intensity of the women, keeping you hooked. Even when the characters make terrible decisions—and trust me, you’ll want to yell at them toward the end—Pressley keeps you fully engaged. If you’re considering this book, I highly recommend the audiobook. Brittany Pressley elevates every scene, and just seeing her name on a thriller (or any audiobook) is reason enough to pick up a copy—you’ll be entertained even through the rough spots in this one!
Backstabbers is narrated by award-winning powerhouse narrator Brittany Pressley. She gives protagonist Jade an expressive voice layered with sarcasm and frustration, perfectly capturing her personality and her reactions to what she faces. A lot of the book takes place inside Jade’s head, and Pressley makes her inner monologues very entertaining. Whether Jade is judging her friends, questioning her own decisions, or listening to true-crime podcaster Laurie Wolf narrate what’s happening to them in her mind (and getting sick of hearing her 😂), Pressley delivers it all with impeccable comedic timing and lots of drama!
The portrayal of the friendship dynamics is where Pressley’s performance shines. Her delivery of the dialogue between Jade and Zoey is full of tension and underlying resentment, and you can literally feel that it’s only a matter of time before things reach a breaking point. She gives Zoey a confident, pushy, and self-centered energy that makes her unlikable from the start but also makes her seem like she’s always two steps ahead of everyone. And for Stephanie, she uses a softer, more hesitant voice that reinforces her “follower” role in the group.
Another highlight is how Pressley portrays the villains. Both are given memorable Southern accents that sound charming, a bit ridiculous, and threatening all at once—not easy to pull off for any voice actor. I found myself chuckling at some of their dialogue and then completely unsettled moments later—the true sign of a dynamic performance!
The climactic cat-and-mouse scenes are the most entertaining. As the danger escalates, Pressley increases her pacing and the emotional intensity of the women, keeping you hooked. Even when the characters make terrible decisions—and trust me, you’ll want to yell at them toward the end—Pressley keeps you fully engaged. If you’re considering this book, I highly recommend the audiobook. Brittany Pressley elevates every scene, and just seeing her name on a thriller (or any audiobook) is reason enough to pick up a copy—you’ll be entertained even through the rough spots in this one!
