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The Final Girl
Five teens went camping. One survived.
Seventeen-year-old Jill Turner is the final girl, the lone survivor of a campsite massacre. Now, a killer is on the loose, and Jill holds the key to catching him. But this killer is no ordinary man. He is a monster, both alive and dead, and Jill knows this all too well. She knows what the monster is. She knows where he comes from. And she knows that he will kill again.
For veteran homicide detective Darlene Moore, this case is personal. Having lost her daughter two years ago, she finds herself drawn to Jill, and she will stop at nothing to protect her. But there is something strange about Jill’s story, something that leads Darlene to wonder if the girl knows more about the killer than she is letting on.
Jill is keeping a secret, one that has cost the lives of four of her friends. As Jill struggles with her past and the knowledge that her actions may have created a monster, Darlene races against time to stop a killer before he strikes again.
Seventeen-year-old Jill Turner is the final girl, the lone survivor of a campsite massacre. Now, a killer is on the loose, and Jill holds the key to catching him. But this killer is no ordinary man. He is a monster, both alive and dead, and Jill knows this all too well. She knows what the monster is. She knows where he comes from. And she knows that he will kill again.
For veteran homicide detective Darlene Moore, this case is personal. Having lost her daughter two years ago, she finds herself drawn to Jill, and she will stop at nothing to protect her. But there is something strange about Jill’s story, something that leads Darlene to wonder if the girl knows more about the killer than she is letting on.
Jill is keeping a secret, one that has cost the lives of four of her friends. As Jill struggles with her past and the knowledge that her actions may have created a monster, Darlene races against time to stop a killer before he strikes again.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 2, 2021
192 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Preston
10 books71 followersKenneth Preston is the author of “The Trouble With Charlie,” “The Final Girl,” and “The Legend of Us.” From literature to television to film, the myriad tales that painted his cultural landscape inspired him to begin writing his own stories. He was born and raised on Long Island and studied English at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 10, 2023
Kenneth Preston's The Final Girl is the type of horror novel that a fan of the "slasher" sub-genre can really get behind. The novel opens with detectives arriving at a gruesome murder scene where four youth have been killed. One of them is wearing a mask and appears to be the killer, impaled with a butcher knife. The three other bodies have multiple stab wounds from said butcher knife. There also is one survivor girl who also has a stab wound. The final girl from the title has a difficult time answering questions by the detectives who want to know what happened. How is it that all of her friends died, but she survived? Did her father have something to do with the killings? Or is it that she has a puppet master manipulating the scenery for an elaborate episodic role? The writer has a tendency to wink at the horror fan with little callbacks to other horror novels and movies. I thought those moments were a little weak, as if he was showing off his horror knowledge, but I was OK with them because I have a tendency to be that way as well. The story is strong, and the characterization is good. There is a surprise ending which I think is perfect, but then again, that may be just me. The book is not perfect, but for me it is pretty darn close.
April 7, 2025
This was a great police procedural / horror mix! I think I found my kind of horror genre. I love police procedural and the spooky spin on this one made me feel like Halloween in March!
When a group of friends are brutally murdered at a campsite one lone survivor remains making her the final girl. A detective on the case is fighting her own demons and grief while trying to unveil the killer and the final girl’s trauma after this slashing.
This was fast paced and interesting and kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the psychological thriller aspect to it as well.
When a group of friends are brutally murdered at a campsite one lone survivor remains making her the final girl. A detective on the case is fighting her own demons and grief while trying to unveil the killer and the final girl’s trauma after this slashing.
This was fast paced and interesting and kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the psychological thriller aspect to it as well.
February 21, 2022
Kenneth Preston's The Final Girl was a riveting read. Its chilling easy-to-read fast-paced page-turning plot was filled with intrigue and suspense. The reader was taken on a thrilling roller-coaster ride of a lifetime as the detectives raced to solve the murders. Interestingly, the subplot involving one of the detectives figured somewhat into the main plot. Oh my goodness! I'm still revved up!!
October 29, 2022
Part police procedural part old school slasher
I really enjoyed this one and the references to Stephen king and horror movies was a nice touch
The narrator did an excellent job
If you love all things horror this is definitely the book for you 5stars
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
I really enjoyed this one and the references to Stephen king and horror movies was a nice touch
The narrator did an excellent job
If you love all things horror this is definitely the book for you 5stars
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
October 3, 2021
The Final Girl
I chose this rating because it was a good book. I liked the story and the twist at the end was fantastic. The only thing I didn't like about the story was the fact that the main character, the Detective, was constantly sad and kind of crazy with grief at losing her daughter. It was pushed very hard. But in the end it was an intricate part of the story. Again excellent twist at the end. You won't expect what's coming.
I chose this rating because it was a good book. I liked the story and the twist at the end was fantastic. The only thing I didn't like about the story was the fact that the main character, the Detective, was constantly sad and kind of crazy with grief at losing her daughter. It was pushed very hard. But in the end it was an intricate part of the story. Again excellent twist at the end. You won't expect what's coming.
August 27, 2021
A fantastic thriller.
With just 10-12 characters, the thrill was maintained throughout, though at some point of time, I was able to guess, the author had written it so well and meaningful when the clarity came.
With just 10-12 characters, the thrill was maintained throughout, though at some point of time, I was able to guess, the author had written it so well and meaningful when the clarity came.
September 14, 2021
Awesome Book
I enjoyed the plot, real I stick characters terms and alternating viewpoints from which it was written. Hope to read more by this author.
I enjoyed the plot, real I stick characters terms and alternating viewpoints from which it was written. Hope to read more by this author.
October 6, 2021
Great book
This was such a good book I read it in 2 days. The story had really good twists and turns.
This was such a good book I read it in 2 days. The story had really good twists and turns.
November 16, 2021
Kept me up reading!
Totally enjoyed this book. It was full of twists and some shockers. It keeps you guessing until the end. I would recommend for all my horror/mystery readers.
Totally enjoyed this book. It was full of twists and some shockers. It keeps you guessing until the end. I would recommend for all my horror/mystery readers.
February 28, 2022
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Horror / Mystery
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Author Kenneth Preston's The Final Girl is a take on the Horror genre with a nod to Stephen King's Carrie. Key Characters: Jill Turner, Detective Darlene Moore, Detective Harry Mitchell, and Amanda Turner. When a game called the Final Girl based on horror movies goes awry leaving four teens dead and one injured but alive, a troubled investigator whose own daughter died several years ago insists on taking the case. But will her emotions blind her to the ugly truth?
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Horror / Mystery
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Author Kenneth Preston's The Final Girl is a take on the Horror genre with a nod to Stephen King's Carrie. Key Characters: Jill Turner, Detective Darlene Moore, Detective Harry Mitchell, and Amanda Turner. When a game called the Final Girl based on horror movies goes awry leaving four teens dead and one injured but alive, a troubled investigator whose own daughter died several years ago insists on taking the case. But will her emotions blind her to the ugly truth?
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 24, 2022
The Final Girl
With my busy schedule, I don't often write reviews of books, but this book was so awesome that I had to take a few minutes to write about it. The book was well written and kept my interest all the way to the end. I will certainly look for more books by this author.
With my busy schedule, I don't often write reviews of books, but this book was so awesome that I had to take a few minutes to write about it. The book was well written and kept my interest all the way to the end. I will certainly look for more books by this author.
March 7, 2022
A twisting story on par with the best out there
Even more ambiguous than who is the killer is the question of who exactly is the real victim in this well-woven web of a novel. Would recommend it to anyone, especially those with a deep love of old horror movies
Even more ambiguous than who is the killer is the question of who exactly is the real victim in this well-woven web of a novel. Would recommend it to anyone, especially those with a deep love of old horror movies
September 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. It was creative and intriguing. It did get a bit predictable towards the end but I had thought that Diane would make it to the end. Would definitely recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2021
Read this!
Kenneth Preston has quickly inched his way up my favorite author list. I've read two of his works so far and I'm praying there are more!!!
Kenneth Preston has quickly inched his way up my favorite author list. I've read two of his works so far and I'm praying there are more!!!
March 31, 2022
Four stars is a go .. You lots of improvements to make, ...I will read your other books
July 20, 2023
Bizarre police thriller
This story kept you on your toes until the end. So much drama and suspense.. Never saw the twist coming. Great read!
This story kept you on your toes until the end. So much drama and suspense.. Never saw the twist coming. Great read!
December 20, 2023
a little weird
If you like Carrie and slasher movies, you’ll love this book. It got weird for me but I finished it in even if the twist was obvious.
If you like Carrie and slasher movies, you’ll love this book. It got weird for me but I finished it in even if the twist was obvious.
February 15, 2022
Campsite murder
Awesome read, fast paced, twist and turns keeps you on your toes, great characters and good storyline, keeps you wondering what's next
Awesome read, fast paced, twist and turns keeps you on your toes, great characters and good storyline, keeps you wondering what's next
January 6, 2026
This book has a lot of twists and turns! Many different plot lines that sometimes took away from the major murder mystery but overall a very good read.
December 30, 2023
"The Final Girl" follows 17-year-old Jill Turner, the lone survivor in a grisly campsite slaying of four other teens, and homicide detective Darlene Moore as she and her partner attempt to piece together the circumstances behind the murders. Initially, the case seems cut and dry, but when peculiar evidence and eventually Jill's own admittance reveal that all may not be what it seems about the killer, the story begins to take on quite a bizarre turn.
I valued how this book made it a challenge to predict the way its plot would unravel. There were moments when I wasn't certain if something paranormal was afoot or whether specific characters were mentally unstable. And I so enjoy a storyline and characters that keep me guessing! Take Jill Turner, for instance, an incredibly intriguing and multifaceted character. On one hand, I sympathized with her due to her extremely lonely, sheltered upbringing and the emotional scars she carried both for surviving the mass murders and facing violence at home. Yet on the other hand, there was something subtly sinister and almost frightening about Jill. I was never certain whether she was the victim, the perpetrator, or something in between, for she was never completely honest with others or with herself.
While this novel touches on dark themes such as grief, guilt, bullying, domestic abuse, and psychological trauma, it is handled very tastefully as well as realistically. I found it particularly poignant how the author describes Detective Moore's struggle with guilt and shame in the aftermath of her own teenage daughter's death only two years before. Darlene has become emotionally numb and thus tries too hard to feel something and simply keep the memory of her daughter alive. Because of this emotional turmoil, she throws herself into Jill Turner's case with almost reckless abandon and begins to feel connected to her in special ways. Little did Darlene know that Jill’s secretive and disturbed past might hold the key to solving the campsite murders and saving Jill’s life.
After an earth-shattering twist shakes up the plot, the nail-biting closing acts of “The Final Girl” took me on a ride that was both heart-wrenching and gruesome. Then despite all the horrors and tragedy, Preston ends his book on a note that I found surprisingly beautiful as well as sadly cathartic. It definitely gets a well-deserved five stars from me!
I valued how this book made it a challenge to predict the way its plot would unravel. There were moments when I wasn't certain if something paranormal was afoot or whether specific characters were mentally unstable. And I so enjoy a storyline and characters that keep me guessing! Take Jill Turner, for instance, an incredibly intriguing and multifaceted character. On one hand, I sympathized with her due to her extremely lonely, sheltered upbringing and the emotional scars she carried both for surviving the mass murders and facing violence at home. Yet on the other hand, there was something subtly sinister and almost frightening about Jill. I was never certain whether she was the victim, the perpetrator, or something in between, for she was never completely honest with others or with herself.
While this novel touches on dark themes such as grief, guilt, bullying, domestic abuse, and psychological trauma, it is handled very tastefully as well as realistically. I found it particularly poignant how the author describes Detective Moore's struggle with guilt and shame in the aftermath of her own teenage daughter's death only two years before. Darlene has become emotionally numb and thus tries too hard to feel something and simply keep the memory of her daughter alive. Because of this emotional turmoil, she throws herself into Jill Turner's case with almost reckless abandon and begins to feel connected to her in special ways. Little did Darlene know that Jill’s secretive and disturbed past might hold the key to solving the campsite murders and saving Jill’s life.
After an earth-shattering twist shakes up the plot, the nail-biting closing acts of “The Final Girl” took me on a ride that was both heart-wrenching and gruesome. Then despite all the horrors and tragedy, Preston ends his book on a note that I found surprisingly beautiful as well as sadly cathartic. It definitely gets a well-deserved five stars from me!
August 1, 2023
Jill Turner is on a camping trip with her "newly acquired friends", a group who loves old horror movies and plays games based on them. Jill's father is dead, and she is being raised by her fundamentalist religious mother who worries about her daughter being "sullied" (a word which is used a lot). The plot is interesting. Why was Jill the final girl, the lone survivor when everyone was brutally murdered? Who was the man with the smashed-in face (great name for a villain in a horror story). The characters were all flawed and not totally believable. But are the characters in old horror movies ever believable? The detective Darlene had recently lost a daughter the same age as the teens and in real life I doubt she would have been on this case. The story is told with chapters alternating between Jill and Darlene which was works well in telling this story. The twist was not totally unexpected but parts of it were and it was effective. I listened to the audiobook gotten through Audiobooks Unleashed. The narrator Megan Hudgins did an excellent portraying the young Jill Turner.
February 24, 2022
A Big Dose of Crazy
A game based on horror movies goes awry leaving four teens dead and one injured but alive. A troubled investigator whose daughter was the same age as the teens when she died insists on taking the case. But will her emotions blind her to the ugly truth?
This book is awful. The female investigator is completely unbelievable. Hard to believe she would be given a gun and a badge much less charge of a multiple homicide. The survivor and her family are the usual and the nonsense about her purity being sullied was just ridiculous. Did not believe it and did not like it.
A game based on horror movies goes awry leaving four teens dead and one injured but alive. A troubled investigator whose daughter was the same age as the teens when she died insists on taking the case. But will her emotions blind her to the ugly truth?
This book is awful. The female investigator is completely unbelievable. Hard to believe she would be given a gun and a badge much less charge of a multiple homicide. The survivor and her family are the usual and the nonsense about her purity being sullied was just ridiculous. Did not believe it and did not like it.
April 6, 2022
Slightly repetitive in and out of chapters, but that’s what keeps you from forgetting the main storyline. It was worth reading, I definitely liked it and consider reading more of this writers novels. I need to research their work, of any others. I do recommend this, a keep you guessing who done it. If you’re into slight mystery, with a sharp edge on horror, then read this!
June 16, 2022
The story was 'sullied'.
How many times can you use the word 'sullied' in one book? Decent book, ending was very predictable. Felt like I was rereading things throughout book as a lot was repetitive. Less is more, could have been much shorter and easier to read without restating everything multiple times.
How many times can you use the word 'sullied' in one book? Decent book, ending was very predictable. Felt like I was rereading things throughout book as a lot was repetitive. Less is more, could have been much shorter and easier to read without restating everything multiple times.
March 6, 2023
Man. I thought it was me. But I just didn't like this. By the end, I had a running count for the number of times "sully" "unsullied" and other variations were used. It was over 40. I hated it. It was very repetitive. The story wasn't smooth. There were also several grammar/spelling errors. Reading this was a battle.
August 22, 2021
Bizarre!
Don't think this is in my preferred genre. Not much into "possessed" by the dead kind of thing but anyone who likes the thought that the dead can rise up, take over the living to seek revenge; then this is a quick read book meant for you.
Don't think this is in my preferred genre. Not much into "possessed" by the dead kind of thing but anyone who likes the thought that the dead can rise up, take over the living to seek revenge; then this is a quick read book meant for you.
August 12, 2021
Not the kind of book I thought it was but did finish, maybe I learned something from reading it.
Read
January 23, 2022DNF at page 76
April 5, 2022
Hard read, well written
July 21, 2022
I enjoyed the book I’m just tired of the DID trope in horror being used just kind of seems like a “oooooh scary person with mental Illness is a murderer!”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews