Thank you Bantam #partner, for the advanced and finished copies of Backstabbers in exchange for my honest review. I obtained the audiobook from one of my subscriptions.
Publisher: Bantam / Random House Audio
Published: June 2, 2026
Summary:
When three friends lose their way in a serial killer’s old hunting ground, they must fight to survive the threat in the woods—and each other—in this spiky, heart-pounding slasher.
Never turn your back on a friend.
Jade, Stef, and Zoe are hiking Washington’s Bones Hollow Trail, braving cougars, black bears, and the storms that roll in without warning. The friends’ paranoia isn’t helped by listening to a true crime podcast about the serial killer who once roamed this same forest.
Then 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, with 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? But unfortunately for them, the only thing more twisted than this nightmare is their friendship . . .
My thoughts:
While the slasher horror genre isn’t usually my go-to, I absolutely loved this one! And to think that it’s a debut…talk about impressive and an author to watch, for sure!!
This is such a pulse-pounding, unsettling read! It had me checking over my shoulder the entire time, jumping at every noise I heard, and also feeling incredibly anxious. This was such a stressful read but in the best way possible, if that makes sense. Knowing that these girls are hiking in the woods, on the trail of a known serial killer, while listening to a podcast about said serial killer – seriously??
But what really makes this book stand out is how layered it is. Besides the terror and thrills, there is the exploration of the girls’ friendship. While we do see some emotional depth here, what really struck me is how toxic this friendship really is and I loved how well this was done. Not all is as it seems and it was terrifying the manipulation that went on!
I cannot recommend this book enough. It is perfect for your summer reading, especially if you love those slasher movies!
Audio thoughts:
As soon as I saw that Brittany Pressley was narrating this one, I knew I had to listen to it. She did an outstanding job bringing this one to life, reinforcing the fact that if Brittany is narrating something, I will be listening to it!
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