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The Executioners Three
From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries.
Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?
Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.
But her investigation is quickly disrupted by the rivalry between her school and the school of the partying teens she got arrested. For over twenty years, the two student bodies have had an ongoing prank war, and Freddie's failed attempt at Good Samaritanism has upped the ante. Worse, the clever—and gorgeous—leader of the rival prank squad has set his sights on Freddie.
As more pranks unfurl, more bodies also start piling up in the forest. But it's the supernatural warning signs around town, each plucked straight from an old forgotten poem called "The Executioners Three," that worry Freddie the most. She knows the poem and its blood curse can’t be real, but she's quickly running out of time to prove it.
Because the murderer—or executioners?—knows she's onto them now, and their next target just might be Freddie.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?
Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.
But her investigation is quickly disrupted by the rivalry between her school and the school of the partying teens she got arrested. For over twenty years, the two student bodies have had an ongoing prank war, and Freddie's failed attempt at Good Samaritanism has upped the ante. Worse, the clever—and gorgeous—leader of the rival prank squad has set his sights on Freddie.
As more pranks unfurl, more bodies also start piling up in the forest. But it's the supernatural warning signs around town, each plucked straight from an old forgotten poem called "The Executioners Three," that worry Freddie the most. She knows the poem and its blood curse can’t be real, but she's quickly running out of time to prove it.
Because the murderer—or executioners?—knows she's onto them now, and their next target just might be Freddie.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2025
218 people are currently reading
19827 people want to read
About the author
Susan Dennard
25 books9,331 followersSusan Dennard is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series (now in development for TV from the Jim Henson Company), and the Something Strange and Deadly series, in addition to various other fiction published online.
Before becoming an author, she got to travel the world with her M.Sc. in marine biology. She also runs the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits and Daydreamers. When not writing or teaching writing, she can be found rolling the dice as a Dungeon Master or mashing buttons on one of her way too many consoles.
You can learn more about Susan on her website, blog, newsletter, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Before becoming an author, she got to travel the world with her M.Sc. in marine biology. She also runs the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits and Daydreamers. When not writing or teaching writing, she can be found rolling the dice as a Dungeon Master or mashing buttons on one of her way too many consoles.
You can learn more about Susan on her website, blog, newsletter, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
August 27, 2025
If you told me a small-town prank war could somehow spiral into a cursed, spine-tingling mystery full of cryptic poetry, supernatural symbols, and heart-thumping romance—I wouldn’t have believed you. But here I am, absolutely consumed by The Executioners Three and ready to shout about it from the rooftops.
Susan Dennard doesn’t just craft a story—she summons it, and this one rises from the foggy woods with the perfect mix of eerie folklore and 90s teenage chaos. At the center of it all is Freddie Gellar, a delightfully stubborn amateur sleuth with a nose for weirdness and a tendency to find herself in the worst kind of trouble. She’s the kind of character you want to sit next to at lunch and solve a mystery with after school.
What starts as a well-intentioned 911 call turns into a wildfire of secrets, ghost stories, and grisly discoveries. And as Freddie digs deeper, you start to feel the creeping dread inching up your spine right along with her. There’s something ancient at play in this town—something that hums through the trees and watches from the shadows.
The book doesn’t just deliver on scares (and it definitely delivers), it also nails the emotional heartbeat of its characters. The banter, the crushes, the friendships—it’s all so vivid and real. Freddie’s bond with her best friend Divya? Pure gold. And Theo? Let’s just say he’s the kind of rival/love interest that makes you swoon one page and question his motives the next. Delicious.
This is one of those rare reads where the mystery is just as fun as the characters, and every twist feels like a jolt of adrenaline. The town’s dark past, the curse, the haunting references to “The Executioners Three”—it’s all layered so beautifully, I couldn’t look away. And yes, I stayed up way too late flipping pages with a flashlight app and second-guessing every creak in my house.
If you love your thrillers with a nostalgic twist, clever protagonists, and just the right amount of supernatural horror—this book will absolutely grab you by the collar and not let go.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group / Tor Teen for sharing this unputdownable teen fantasy novel's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciate.
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Susan Dennard doesn’t just craft a story—she summons it, and this one rises from the foggy woods with the perfect mix of eerie folklore and 90s teenage chaos. At the center of it all is Freddie Gellar, a delightfully stubborn amateur sleuth with a nose for weirdness and a tendency to find herself in the worst kind of trouble. She’s the kind of character you want to sit next to at lunch and solve a mystery with after school.
What starts as a well-intentioned 911 call turns into a wildfire of secrets, ghost stories, and grisly discoveries. And as Freddie digs deeper, you start to feel the creeping dread inching up your spine right along with her. There’s something ancient at play in this town—something that hums through the trees and watches from the shadows.
The book doesn’t just deliver on scares (and it definitely delivers), it also nails the emotional heartbeat of its characters. The banter, the crushes, the friendships—it’s all so vivid and real. Freddie’s bond with her best friend Divya? Pure gold. And Theo? Let’s just say he’s the kind of rival/love interest that makes you swoon one page and question his motives the next. Delicious.
This is one of those rare reads where the mystery is just as fun as the characters, and every twist feels like a jolt of adrenaline. The town’s dark past, the curse, the haunting references to “The Executioners Three”—it’s all layered so beautifully, I couldn’t look away. And yes, I stayed up way too late flipping pages with a flashlight app and second-guessing every creak in my house.
If you love your thrillers with a nostalgic twist, clever protagonists, and just the right amount of supernatural horror—this book will absolutely grab you by the collar and not let go.
A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group / Tor Teen for sharing this unputdownable teen fantasy novel's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts that I highly appreciate.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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August 26, 2025
Happy release day 26th of August!
This book is the reason why I’m still picking up YA stories once in a while. What a fun, delightful ride!
The Executioners Three made me crave October even more than I already did. Perfect autumnal atmosphere, a solid paranormal mystery set in the late nineties in a small town with a historical village center, wrapped up in silly teenage shenanigans that somehow managed to be actually hilarious instead of annoying.
While the cover gives a certain serious dark academia vibe, don’t let it fool you. The story itself is closer to Scooby-Doo in vibes, coupled with a nostalgic feeling of watching Are You Afraid Of The Dark as a kid from the safety of our blanket fort. It gave me a little bit of whiplash at first, this constant pendulum swinging between silliness and genuinely creepy, bloody murders tied into a centuries-old curse, but the dissonance somehow worked.
I think the overall cheeky feeling to it helped immensely. The teenage characters were enjoyable to follow on their sleuthing precisely because of how self-aware the story was about it, written in a tongue-in-cheek way. It didn’t take itself too seriously and didn’t try hard to convince me that the teenage melodrama isn’t exactly that, which actually allowed me to appreciate it? Not sure how much sense I’m making, but what should have been objectively cringe situations made me laugh and grin instead. And when it came to the more serious situations, I was still on the edge of my seat, gobbling it up.
Freddie was a great female character to follow; she’s bold and precocious, a complete smart-ass in a charming way who not only has good instincts, but is also quite quick-witted. She and her friends really felt like the nineties kids (you know, playing Snake on Nokia, arguing about Backstreet Boys vs NSYNC supremacy, referencing X-Files).
Then of course we have the love interest, Theo. Oh boy, I was afraid the teenage romantic subplot would annoy me and serve as an unnecessary distraction from the mystery, but I didn’t actually feel that way at all. Who even am I? 😳 Theo was such a sweet addition, and the banter between him and Freddie, and the pull between them made me excited in a giggly way. And I think that the few chapters from his POV helped endear him to me immensely.
(Also, he’s a handsome, tortured boy - Freddie’s words, as she apparently has a weakness for those. And that’s how you know the author is snickering while calling us readers out lol)
The ending really stuck the landing beautifully, making this book sound like an origin story of a future FBI special agent for paranormal activities (because yes, finally a YA mystery with dead bodies where police actually appear to investigate at the end, you don’t see that very often!)
Still, go into it with the right expectations, especially when it comes to teenage sleuthing - that always requires some suspension of disbelief. But if you ever liked Veronica Mars and are looking for something a bit more paranormal, this could be a real winner.
(There could also be a discussion about why the kids never go to adults for help, and we would probably arrive at something like a lack of self-preservation instinct, an overinflated sense of teenage self-importance, and their general scepticism about the adults’ abilities to care or actually do something, especially if said teens grew up encouraged to be as self-reliant and independent as possible lol)
There was one thing that managed to bother me, though it’s a minor thing. Freddie has pretty intense instincts, bordering on a sixth sense, residing in her gut. Which is nice to know, but the author went above and beyond to remind us. Freddie’s gut was mentioned 49x throughout the book, and that’s just...unnecessary. And it got Very Distracting Indeed (iykyk), especially when said gut was clenching and churning constantly. At some point, it stops being about intuition and starts calling for a thorough colonoscopy 😅
Many thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
This book is the reason why I’m still picking up YA stories once in a while. What a fun, delightful ride!
The Executioners Three made me crave October even more than I already did. Perfect autumnal atmosphere, a solid paranormal mystery set in the late nineties in a small town with a historical village center, wrapped up in silly teenage shenanigans that somehow managed to be actually hilarious instead of annoying.
While the cover gives a certain serious dark academia vibe, don’t let it fool you. The story itself is closer to Scooby-Doo in vibes, coupled with a nostalgic feeling of watching Are You Afraid Of The Dark as a kid from the safety of our blanket fort. It gave me a little bit of whiplash at first, this constant pendulum swinging between silliness and genuinely creepy, bloody murders tied into a centuries-old curse, but the dissonance somehow worked.
I think the overall cheeky feeling to it helped immensely. The teenage characters were enjoyable to follow on their sleuthing precisely because of how self-aware the story was about it, written in a tongue-in-cheek way. It didn’t take itself too seriously and didn’t try hard to convince me that the teenage melodrama isn’t exactly that, which actually allowed me to appreciate it? Not sure how much sense I’m making, but what should have been objectively cringe situations made me laugh and grin instead. And when it came to the more serious situations, I was still on the edge of my seat, gobbling it up.
Freddie was a great female character to follow; she’s bold and precocious, a complete smart-ass in a charming way who not only has good instincts, but is also quite quick-witted. She and her friends really felt like the nineties kids (you know, playing Snake on Nokia, arguing about Backstreet Boys vs NSYNC supremacy, referencing X-Files).
Then of course we have the love interest, Theo. Oh boy, I was afraid the teenage romantic subplot would annoy me and serve as an unnecessary distraction from the mystery, but I didn’t actually feel that way at all. Who even am I? 😳 Theo was such a sweet addition, and the banter between him and Freddie, and the pull between them made me excited in a giggly way. And I think that the few chapters from his POV helped endear him to me immensely.
(Also, he’s a handsome, tortured boy - Freddie’s words, as she apparently has a weakness for those. And that’s how you know the author is snickering while calling us readers out lol)
The ending really stuck the landing beautifully, making this book sound like an origin story of a future FBI special agent for paranormal activities (because yes, finally a YA mystery with dead bodies where police actually appear to investigate at the end, you don’t see that very often!)
Still, go into it with the right expectations, especially when it comes to teenage sleuthing - that always requires some suspension of disbelief. But if you ever liked Veronica Mars and are looking for something a bit more paranormal, this could be a real winner.
(There could also be a discussion about why the kids never go to adults for help, and we would probably arrive at something like a lack of self-preservation instinct, an overinflated sense of teenage self-importance, and their general scepticism about the adults’ abilities to care or actually do something, especially if said teens grew up encouraged to be as self-reliant and independent as possible lol)
There was one thing that managed to bother me, though it’s a minor thing. Freddie has pretty intense instincts, bordering on a sixth sense, residing in her gut. Which is nice to know, but the author went above and beyond to remind us. Freddie’s gut was mentioned 49x throughout the book, and that’s just...unnecessary. And it got Very Distracting Indeed (iykyk), especially when said gut was clenching and churning constantly. At some point, it stops being about intuition and starts calling for a thorough colonoscopy 😅
Many thanks to Daphne Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC!
September 4, 2025
This was a book I didn’t know I needed, but I’m so glad I picked it up. It was a great read! I really loved Freddie and the whole mystery around the family trees and how everything connected to the bigger plot. The writing style and pacing were spot on, which hooked me in.
April 24, 2025
I TORE through this! Stranger Things meets Scooby Doo.
Part high school rivalry and pranks with burgeoning romances, part creepy supernatural murder mystery.
Freddie is one of the best heroine’s I have read recently. She is so distinct and very relatable. Dennard loves her leading ladies to wear glasses, be unapologetically nerdy, and be too smart for their own good. Freddie is Velma from Scooby Doo.
We have creepy Executioners from a creepy poem and a determined heroine who won’t take no as an answer. Plus, a great best friend who supports everything.
I cannot give much away about the romance because there’s two love interests - the popular jock and the Montageo to her Capulet, her sworn enemy.
I can tell you there are kissing scenes and it got HOT in there! It still remains closed door and clean though.
“Um, I tried to respond, but you were like a freaking freight train going over a cliff. Now please put on the jacket.”
“Why?”
“Oh my god!” He flung up his hands—and the blazer. “I want you to put it on because I’m going to kiss you for a very long time, and I don’t want you to be cold.”
Similar to The Luminaires, Dennard is excellent at creating a small town where everyone knows each other and talks. This one has French ancestry and this plays into the plot and also comments on money and prestige and revenge.
One note: Freddie’s mother was weirdly supportive of her daughter getting out there and doing delinquent teenager things. This was funny, but also overdone and unrealistic.
I also kept wanting to go back to the mystery rather than the prank war.
This was just so addicting. Funny, witty, full of references (this takes place in 1999), and such a great ending.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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Part high school rivalry and pranks with burgeoning romances, part creepy supernatural murder mystery.
Freddie is one of the best heroine’s I have read recently. She is so distinct and very relatable. Dennard loves her leading ladies to wear glasses, be unapologetically nerdy, and be too smart for their own good. Freddie is Velma from Scooby Doo.
We have creepy Executioners from a creepy poem and a determined heroine who won’t take no as an answer. Plus, a great best friend who supports everything.
I cannot give much away about the romance because there’s two love interests - the popular jock and the Montageo to her Capulet, her sworn enemy.
I can tell you there are kissing scenes and it got HOT in there! It still remains closed door and clean though.
“Um, I tried to respond, but you were like a freaking freight train going over a cliff. Now please put on the jacket.”
“Why?”
“Oh my god!” He flung up his hands—and the blazer. “I want you to put it on because I’m going to kiss you for a very long time, and I don’t want you to be cold.”
Similar to The Luminaires, Dennard is excellent at creating a small town where everyone knows each other and talks. This one has French ancestry and this plays into the plot and also comments on money and prestige and revenge.
One note: Freddie’s mother was weirdly supportive of her daughter getting out there and doing delinquent teenager things. This was funny, but also overdone and unrealistic.
I also kept wanting to go back to the mystery rather than the prank war.
This was just so addicting. Funny, witty, full of references (this takes place in 1999), and such a great ending.
Arc gifted by Del Rey.
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August 23, 2025
A campy and spooky YA paranormal mystery set in the late 90's! This definitely reads like it was written for teens, though sometimes it's a bit of a mismatch for me between the fairly young personality and sense of humor of the heroine and the rather intense makeout sessions she has. But I guess that kind of does track for actual teenagers.
The Executioners Three is set in small-town America and high school senior Freddie gets involved in a prank war between her public school and the seniors at the local private school. Then dead bodies start appearing in the woods, a rhyme about a curse seems to line up with what's happening, and oops she is crushing on a boy from the enemy side! While this gets fairly dark and violent at times, the tone is always light and kind of silly. A fun read for fall! The audio narration is good and definitely adds to the young and campy vibe of the book. I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
The Executioners Three is set in small-town America and high school senior Freddie gets involved in a prank war between her public school and the seniors at the local private school. Then dead bodies start appearing in the woods, a rhyme about a curse seems to line up with what's happening, and oops she is crushing on a boy from the enemy side! While this gets fairly dark and violent at times, the tone is always light and kind of silly. A fun read for fall! The audio narration is good and definitely adds to the young and campy vibe of the book. I received an audio review copy via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
05/08/2025
2025 reads book 37
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Susan Dennard does it again! This was so much fun. While this is young adult I need to give a fair warning that there are some parts in the book that are creepy and downright filled with gore. If you are squeamish, please be warned.
The descriptions of the nineties made me feel super nostalgic for that time, even if I was way too young back then to remember them very well. The old Nokia with snake on it and the descriptions of that damned ringtone brought me back to being 5 years old. The main character Freddie was quirky, but in an actual fun way and not in a way that she thinks she is better than anyone. The main couple is cute and the romance felt very real: they truly were two dumb 17 year olds navigating their first relationship amid the chaos of a prank war between their two high schools.
Absolutely loved the horror aspects of the story, and while some descriptions were very gory as mentioned before, they didn't feel over the top or like they didn't work in the setting of the book. Even though it is coming out in august, it's a perfect Halloween or fall read!
18/07/2025
I GOT AN E-ARC!!!
2025 reads book 37
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Susan Dennard does it again! This was so much fun. While this is young adult I need to give a fair warning that there are some parts in the book that are creepy and downright filled with gore. If you are squeamish, please be warned.
The descriptions of the nineties made me feel super nostalgic for that time, even if I was way too young back then to remember them very well. The old Nokia with snake on it and the descriptions of that damned ringtone brought me back to being 5 years old. The main character Freddie was quirky, but in an actual fun way and not in a way that she thinks she is better than anyone. The main couple is cute and the romance felt very real: they truly were two dumb 17 year olds navigating their first relationship amid the chaos of a prank war between their two high schools.
Absolutely loved the horror aspects of the story, and while some descriptions were very gory as mentioned before, they didn't feel over the top or like they didn't work in the setting of the book. Even though it is coming out in august, it's a perfect Halloween or fall read!
18/07/2025
I GOT AN E-ARC!!!
August 28, 2025
I received an ARC of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via Black Crow PR and the publishers TOR publishing.
The Executioners Three is another fantasticly dark and spooky read from Susan Dennard, which was also very nostalgic, being an 80s and 90s child/teen.
Freddie Gellar has become part of the cool crowd overnight after reporting screams from the nearby woods, not knowing there was the rival school out partying in them. This caused all the kids to get arrested and made her a prank war hero to her classmates.
The next day, a dead body is discovered by Freddie and her best friend Divya as they are passing through the woods. Freddie can't help herself and finds herself following in her deceased fathers footsteps to uncover strange happenings, paranormal occurrences, and digging up a hoard of secrets as well as joining in playing more pranks on her rival school with her new friends.
I loved the dark twists and turns and learning about the towns curse and piecing it all together alongside Freddy. The book felt like the perfect balance of all elements, and I loved the 90s nostalgia (backstreet boys v N-Sync, X Files) and the romance between Freddy and Theo!
With Halloween nearly here, this is definitely the perfect read to pick up!
The Executioners Three is another fantasticly dark and spooky read from Susan Dennard, which was also very nostalgic, being an 80s and 90s child/teen.
Freddie Gellar has become part of the cool crowd overnight after reporting screams from the nearby woods, not knowing there was the rival school out partying in them. This caused all the kids to get arrested and made her a prank war hero to her classmates.
The next day, a dead body is discovered by Freddie and her best friend Divya as they are passing through the woods. Freddie can't help herself and finds herself following in her deceased fathers footsteps to uncover strange happenings, paranormal occurrences, and digging up a hoard of secrets as well as joining in playing more pranks on her rival school with her new friends.
I loved the dark twists and turns and learning about the towns curse and piecing it all together alongside Freddy. The book felt like the perfect balance of all elements, and I loved the 90s nostalgia (backstreet boys v N-Sync, X Files) and the romance between Freddy and Theo!
With Halloween nearly here, this is definitely the perfect read to pick up!
December 7, 2024
ohhhhhh this is such a wonderful book 😭 for anyone who loves the season 1 vibes of riverdale, this book is for you! CANNOT wait for the world to meet freddie (and theo 🤭)
February 21, 2025
3.5. Very campy and could be fun if you don't get annoyed easily by quirkiness. I easily get annoyed by everything. 🙂
July 21, 2025
4.0 ★— Oh, this was just super cute!
Set in an idyllic small-town America in the late ’90s, The Executioner’s Three follows seventeen-year-old Freddie Gellar as she accidentally stumbles into a mystery only she seems able to solve. Between prank wars, teenage crushes, and a string of gruesome deaths, Freddie quickly finds herself in over her head.
This is the perfect slightly spooky read for early fall — cozy, nostalgic, and just a tiny bit eerie.
Freddie is a well-written and genuinely fun heroine, and the surrounding cast is just as lovable. The whole book gave me the same warm, fuzzy feeling as the Halloweentown movies or a fall-themed episode of Gilmore Girls.
The book features a ton (and I do mean a ton) of late ’90s pop culture references, which is something I mostly enjoyed, though it did occasionally feel a bit heavy-handed. It leans hard into the nostalgia, so if you’re not in the mood for a barrage of references and wink-nudges to that era, you might feel a little fatigued.
That said, the story presents a somewhat idealized, progressive version of 1999 America, particularly in its inclusive and accepting atmosphere. While not realistic, I didn’t mind it at all! It added to the charm and made it easy to sink into the spooky teen vibes of the story.
The mystery itself was fun to unravel. While a bit predictable, I still enjoyed following Freddie’s sleuthing and schemes. The strength of the characters and their dynamics kept me more invested than the twists did, and that’s not a bad thing! The author incorporates humor and emotional depth, with a sweet romantic subplot that ties it all together nicely.
I was thoroughly entertained, had a ton of fun listening to this and really recommend this to anyone that wants some lighthearted 90s spooky vibes!
🎧 Audiobook/Narration:
The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, with distinct voices that suited each one really well! One thing that stood out, though, was that a few of the iconic ’90s songs featured in the book weren’t sung or spoken in tune with the original melodies (possibly due to rights issues?) which wasn’t a big deal at all, but quite hilarious to listen to.
__________________________________________________
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
Set in an idyllic small-town America in the late ’90s, The Executioner’s Three follows seventeen-year-old Freddie Gellar as she accidentally stumbles into a mystery only she seems able to solve. Between prank wars, teenage crushes, and a string of gruesome deaths, Freddie quickly finds herself in over her head.
This is the perfect slightly spooky read for early fall — cozy, nostalgic, and just a tiny bit eerie.
Freddie is a well-written and genuinely fun heroine, and the surrounding cast is just as lovable. The whole book gave me the same warm, fuzzy feeling as the Halloweentown movies or a fall-themed episode of Gilmore Girls.
The book features a ton (and I do mean a ton) of late ’90s pop culture references, which is something I mostly enjoyed, though it did occasionally feel a bit heavy-handed. It leans hard into the nostalgia, so if you’re not in the mood for a barrage of references and wink-nudges to that era, you might feel a little fatigued.
That said, the story presents a somewhat idealized, progressive version of 1999 America, particularly in its inclusive and accepting atmosphere. While not realistic, I didn’t mind it at all! It added to the charm and made it easy to sink into the spooky teen vibes of the story.
The mystery itself was fun to unravel. While a bit predictable, I still enjoyed following Freddie’s sleuthing and schemes. The strength of the characters and their dynamics kept me more invested than the twists did, and that’s not a bad thing! The author incorporates humor and emotional depth, with a sweet romantic subplot that ties it all together nicely.
I was thoroughly entertained, had a ton of fun listening to this and really recommend this to anyone that wants some lighthearted 90s spooky vibes!
🎧 Audiobook/Narration:
The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, with distinct voices that suited each one really well! One thing that stood out, though, was that a few of the iconic ’90s songs featured in the book weren’t sung or spoken in tune with the original melodies (possibly due to rights issues?) which wasn’t a big deal at all, but quite hilarious to listen to.
__________________________________________________
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
August 18, 2025
🍂 🔍 📜 📚
This was 90's paranormal Scooby-Doo/Nancy Drew vibes spot ON!!
I enjoyed it so much, as someone who loves all things paranormal sleuthing but I wish there was more sleuthing in here because that didn't really happen until about halfway. This was funny and I love how the main character, Freddie, was a detective nerd herself and also now I really want to watch X-Files. I also ADORE the relationship between Freddie and her best friend, Divya- they were so cuteee and supportive of each other.
Also the amount of Romeo and Juliet references made me (almost) glad that I studied it in school before, otherwise I would have had no idea what Freddie was referencing. But some parts of that were hilarious.
The plot twist (murderer reveal) for me was really expected and I was not surprised unfortunately but that doesn't mean that the mystery aspect of it wasn't good- its just wackier (farfetched?) and more typical than what I would have expected!
I'd say that the only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because of the romance. I really didn't like it. It was kind of meh. I found the kissing scenes really repetitive and iffy. Also I think Freddie and Theo were quite instalovey because they BARELY knew anything about each other. Like they made out two or three days after they met and after some banter. It felt really shallow. But thats just a personal ick for me so...
I very much recommend this!! A perfect standalone to binge read and it really gets you hooked.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!!
--------------------------------------
Update: soooo guess who manifested the arc
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TBR
This sounds right up my alley so im super excited for ittt
This was 90's paranormal Scooby-Doo/Nancy Drew vibes spot ON!!
I enjoyed it so much, as someone who loves all things paranormal sleuthing but I wish there was more sleuthing in here because that didn't really happen until about halfway. This was funny and I love how the main character, Freddie, was a detective nerd herself and also now I really want to watch X-Files. I also ADORE the relationship between Freddie and her best friend, Divya- they were so cuteee and supportive of each other.
Also the amount of Romeo and Juliet references made me (almost) glad that I studied it in school before, otherwise I would have had no idea what Freddie was referencing. But some parts of that were hilarious.
The plot twist (murderer reveal) for me was really expected and I was not surprised unfortunately but that doesn't mean that the mystery aspect of it wasn't good- its just wackier (farfetched?) and more typical than what I would have expected!
I'd say that the only reason this didn't get 5 stars is because of the romance. I really didn't like it. It was kind of meh. I found the kissing scenes really repetitive and iffy. Also I think Freddie and Theo were quite instalovey because they BARELY knew anything about each other. Like they made out two or three days after they met and after some banter. It felt really shallow. But thats just a personal ick for me so...
I very much recommend this!! A perfect standalone to binge read and it really gets you hooked.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!!
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Update: soooo guess who manifested the arc
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TBR
This sounds right up my alley so im super excited for ittt
August 1, 2025
For this one I went between the physical and audiobook. Both were good so you'll be happy to go with either format. The audiobook narration was excellent. A YA murder mystery with a touch of supernatural and romance. I really enjoyed it. It has all the creepy vibes, and the 90’s references that felt so nostalgic, I loved it. There is even a good amount of humor too which is a nice touch. This is a perfect book to get you in the cozy mood for Fall. An overall really fun book.
Thank you to the publisher, and macmillan audio for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, and macmillan audio for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
May 24, 2025
This story did the spooky season atmosphere perfectly! It’s set in a tiny historic town surrounded by misty forest during a Halloween festival, it felt like spooky Stars Hollow! Everyone knows everyone, it’s full of 90’s references and the whole story feels very nostalgic and cosy even with the mysterious happenings.
The parts of the story focusing on the prank war between rivals schools and the interactions within the group of friends were the highlight of this book for me. Freddie was a wonderful character to follow, her banter with her best friend, hilarious comebacks and her awkward but sweet approach to romance kept me interested and entertained throughout.
The one thing that didn’t work for me was way the mystery plot wrapped up. The ending was a little bit too quick and convenient and I felt that more explanation was needed for why the events took place in the first place. Still I enjoyed my time reading this book and would read more from Susan Dennard in the future.
The parts of the story focusing on the prank war between rivals schools and the interactions within the group of friends were the highlight of this book for me. Freddie was a wonderful character to follow, her banter with her best friend, hilarious comebacks and her awkward but sweet approach to romance kept me interested and entertained throughout.
The one thing that didn’t work for me was way the mystery plot wrapped up. The ending was a little bit too quick and convenient and I felt that more explanation was needed for why the events took place in the first place. Still I enjoyed my time reading this book and would read more from Susan Dennard in the future.
August 9, 2025
Between that cover and Sooz's name, I knew I was going to read this one, so I didn't even look at the synopsis.
I loved Freddie. She's smart and unwavering and it was so much fun being in her head. Theo is a bit mysterious and absolutely smitten. Together these two have banter for days and I loved reading every exchange. Oh and BFF Divya is a scene stealer.
Plot wise, it was a fantastic mix of 90s throwbacks, creepy atmosphere, and gore. The mystery unfolded at a delicious pace and kept me guessing and while I could have done with a million more pages at the end, I'm satisfied.
Overall, this is exactly the sort of book I'll be reading again when fall hits.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved Freddie. She's smart and unwavering and it was so much fun being in her head. Theo is a bit mysterious and absolutely smitten. Together these two have banter for days and I loved reading every exchange. Oh and BFF Divya is a scene stealer.
Plot wise, it was a fantastic mix of 90s throwbacks, creepy atmosphere, and gore. The mystery unfolded at a delicious pace and kept me guessing and while I could have done with a million more pages at the end, I'm satisfied.
Overall, this is exactly the sort of book I'll be reading again when fall hits.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
December 4, 2024
this book is so dang FUN. perfect for fans of CW's Nancy Drew, it's just the right balance of spooky small town murder mystery and rival schools prank war with bonus 'oh no the (prank war) enemy is hot!' I'm just absolutely giddy after reading this. I was laughing throughout, but it didn't take away from the Very Serious Murders Indeed. I like this book even more than her Luminaries series, which I enjoyed immensely. the reveals are perfectly timed, the twist immensely twisty, and the romance, well let's just say threddie has my whole heart <3
February 12, 2025
Thank you to Tor Teen for providing an Advanced Reading Copy of this book via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
As an elder millennial, I couldn’t get enough of the 90s references sprinkled throughout The Executioners Three. Susan Dennard crafts a story that feels both nostalgic and fresh, weaving in nods to an era that shaped so many of us. The moment I realized that I graduated high school the same year as Freddie, I felt an instant connection—honestly, I think we would have been friends in real life. Her quirky, offbeat personality was one of the highlights of the book for me. She’s smart, a little awkward, and endlessly determined, making her a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for.
That said, I was completely unprepared for how scary this book would actually be. The supernatural elements were incredibly well done, setting a creepy and unsettling tone that lingered long after I put the book down (which, to be fair, wasn’t often). Once the mystery started unraveling, I found myself unable to stop reading—I even read straight through my lunch and barely noticed my stomach growling.
One of the strongest elements of the book was the loyalty between Freddie and her best friend, Divya. Their friendship felt so authentic, with its mix of unwavering support, inside jokes, and the kind of fierce devotion that can only come from years of shared experiences. It’s rare to find female friendships in fiction that are this well-developed, and I absolutely loved seeing their dynamic unfold.
And then, of course, there’s Theo. The interactions between Freddie and Theo were an absolute delight—filled with tension, humor, and just the right amount of heart. Their chemistry jumped off the page, making every scene between them something to look forward to.
With the quirkiness of the characters, the Buffy-esque dialogue, and the cozy yet terrifying mystery, The Executioners Three felt, in the very best way, like the early books of Sarah Rees Brennan. The blend of humor, horror, and heart made for a truly immersive reading experience. If you love books with smart, quirky protagonists, strong friendships, and a touch of 90s flair, this one is definitely worth picking up!
As an elder millennial, I couldn’t get enough of the 90s references sprinkled throughout The Executioners Three. Susan Dennard crafts a story that feels both nostalgic and fresh, weaving in nods to an era that shaped so many of us. The moment I realized that I graduated high school the same year as Freddie, I felt an instant connection—honestly, I think we would have been friends in real life. Her quirky, offbeat personality was one of the highlights of the book for me. She’s smart, a little awkward, and endlessly determined, making her a protagonist I couldn’t help but root for.
That said, I was completely unprepared for how scary this book would actually be. The supernatural elements were incredibly well done, setting a creepy and unsettling tone that lingered long after I put the book down (which, to be fair, wasn’t often). Once the mystery started unraveling, I found myself unable to stop reading—I even read straight through my lunch and barely noticed my stomach growling.
One of the strongest elements of the book was the loyalty between Freddie and her best friend, Divya. Their friendship felt so authentic, with its mix of unwavering support, inside jokes, and the kind of fierce devotion that can only come from years of shared experiences. It’s rare to find female friendships in fiction that are this well-developed, and I absolutely loved seeing their dynamic unfold.
And then, of course, there’s Theo. The interactions between Freddie and Theo were an absolute delight—filled with tension, humor, and just the right amount of heart. Their chemistry jumped off the page, making every scene between them something to look forward to.
With the quirkiness of the characters, the Buffy-esque dialogue, and the cozy yet terrifying mystery, The Executioners Three felt, in the very best way, like the early books of Sarah Rees Brennan. The blend of humor, horror, and heart made for a truly immersive reading experience. If you love books with smart, quirky protagonists, strong friendships, and a touch of 90s flair, this one is definitely worth picking up!
August 11, 2025
Unfortunately, this turned out to be a book that wasn't meant for me. The plot sounded intriguing, but the execution wasn't what I'd hoped. I wasn't invested in neither the characters nor the plot; everything fell flat for me. Very sad, but unfortunately this is not a book I can recommend.
May 11, 2025
3.5/5
August 13, 2025
The nitty-gritty: The characters steal the show in this fun, fast-paced YA supernatural mystery, a great blend of humor, romance and creepy intrigue.
Susan Dennard is one author I will break my “no YA” rule for, and I’m very happy I had the chance to read The Executioners Three, which appears to be a standalone novel. If you enjoyed Dennard’s The Illuminaries, you’ll find this one has a similar vibe, with a creepy forest and a story that revolves around a school setting. The characters are wonderfully quirky, the banter is funny, and the romance is oh-so-sweet. But “sweet” and “funny” are tempered with a rather dark story about a family curse, and the underlying mystery was a lot of fun.
Freddie Gellar lives in the small town of Berm, is a senior at Berm High, and has just (inadvertently) gotten the seniors at Allard Fortin Prep—Berm High’s rival school—arrested, after hearing screams coming from the woods and calling the cops (the Fortin kids were partying in the woods, wrong place wrong time!) After this unexpected event, Freddie is asked to join the popular seniors, whose “prank wars” against Fortin Prep have been going on for years. Freddie is thrilled to finally be part of the “in” crowd, especially when cute fellow senior Kyle starts asking her out.
But weird things are happening in Berm. Freddie keeps hearing the sound of pealing bells coming from the forest, even though the town’s historical bell doesn’t ring anymore. Hundreds of crows fill the trees in the forest, and odd shapes appear out the shadows. And then Freddie and her best friend Divya find a dead body in the woods. Freddie has always been an Answer Finder (according to her late dad), and she hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps one day and join the local police force. And when another body turns up, she decides to conduct her own investigation. An old poem in the Historical Society’s archives called The Executioners Three might hold the answers to what’s happening, but Freddie can’t figure it out on her own. She’s surprised when help comes in the form of Fortin Prep student Theo Porter, a maddeningly annoying boy who pushes all of Freddie’s buttons.
The local Harvest Festival is only weeks away, and Freddie is determined to solve the mystery before anyone else dies.
Susan Dennard sets her story in 1999 in a small French logging settlement from the 1800s, and I found this fascinating backdrop to be perfect for this supernatural mystery. Freddie’s mom works for the local historical society and is in charge of City-on-the-Berm, a historically preserved town where tourists can get a taste of the life of the French settlers (think a Sturbridge Village-like town), complete with a Fall Festival where volunteers reenact the French discovering the area and settling down. The forest surrounding City-on-the-Berm is the setting for most of the scarier parts of the story, and as she has done in past books, Dennard uses this setting in some very creepy, atmospheric ways.
The mystery surrounding the poem and what’s happening in the woods was a lot of fun, especially with Freddie throwing herself into the roll of Nancy Drew and teaming up with Theo. And of course by doing this, she’s attracting the wrong sort of attention and putting herself and her friends in danger. Dennard weaves a fascinating mystery around the old poem and the original settlers of Berm, and she does a great job of bringing all her clues and puzzle pieces together at the end.
But honestly, it was the characters and their relationships that really shined. Freddie is such a fun character, a curious girl who worships Scully and Mulder from The X-Files, although she leans more towards Scully since she doesn’t believe in monsters or the supernatural, lol. I loved the friendship between Freddie and Divya, especially the fact that they both love the boy band NSYNC and worship Lance Bass (they have a Lance keychain that they believe brings them good luck, and they take turns sharing it).
And I adored Freddie and Theo together, who start out as enemies—they do go to rival schools, after all—but soon realize they are undeniably attracted to each other. Freddie imagines them as the Capulets and the Montagues from Romeo and Juliet, and they decide to keep their burgeoning relationship a secret from their friends. There are some adorable kissing scenes between the two, which was the perfect amount of romance for the story. Their hysterically funny banter is top notch, and I found myself laughing out loud every time they were together. All the side characters are fantastic as well, especially Freddie’s parents, who have a great relationship with her.
The story seems to be a standalone, although Freddie and Theo and the others really grew on me and I wouldn’t mind a reunion at some point! The Executioners Three was a lot of fun, and I think it will be a hit not only with Susan Dennard’s fans, but with new readers as well.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
Susan Dennard is one author I will break my “no YA” rule for, and I’m very happy I had the chance to read The Executioners Three, which appears to be a standalone novel. If you enjoyed Dennard’s The Illuminaries, you’ll find this one has a similar vibe, with a creepy forest and a story that revolves around a school setting. The characters are wonderfully quirky, the banter is funny, and the romance is oh-so-sweet. But “sweet” and “funny” are tempered with a rather dark story about a family curse, and the underlying mystery was a lot of fun.
Freddie Gellar lives in the small town of Berm, is a senior at Berm High, and has just (inadvertently) gotten the seniors at Allard Fortin Prep—Berm High’s rival school—arrested, after hearing screams coming from the woods and calling the cops (the Fortin kids were partying in the woods, wrong place wrong time!) After this unexpected event, Freddie is asked to join the popular seniors, whose “prank wars” against Fortin Prep have been going on for years. Freddie is thrilled to finally be part of the “in” crowd, especially when cute fellow senior Kyle starts asking her out.
But weird things are happening in Berm. Freddie keeps hearing the sound of pealing bells coming from the forest, even though the town’s historical bell doesn’t ring anymore. Hundreds of crows fill the trees in the forest, and odd shapes appear out the shadows. And then Freddie and her best friend Divya find a dead body in the woods. Freddie has always been an Answer Finder (according to her late dad), and she hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps one day and join the local police force. And when another body turns up, she decides to conduct her own investigation. An old poem in the Historical Society’s archives called The Executioners Three might hold the answers to what’s happening, but Freddie can’t figure it out on her own. She’s surprised when help comes in the form of Fortin Prep student Theo Porter, a maddeningly annoying boy who pushes all of Freddie’s buttons.
The local Harvest Festival is only weeks away, and Freddie is determined to solve the mystery before anyone else dies.
Susan Dennard sets her story in 1999 in a small French logging settlement from the 1800s, and I found this fascinating backdrop to be perfect for this supernatural mystery. Freddie’s mom works for the local historical society and is in charge of City-on-the-Berm, a historically preserved town where tourists can get a taste of the life of the French settlers (think a Sturbridge Village-like town), complete with a Fall Festival where volunteers reenact the French discovering the area and settling down. The forest surrounding City-on-the-Berm is the setting for most of the scarier parts of the story, and as she has done in past books, Dennard uses this setting in some very creepy, atmospheric ways.
The mystery surrounding the poem and what’s happening in the woods was a lot of fun, especially with Freddie throwing herself into the roll of Nancy Drew and teaming up with Theo. And of course by doing this, she’s attracting the wrong sort of attention and putting herself and her friends in danger. Dennard weaves a fascinating mystery around the old poem and the original settlers of Berm, and she does a great job of bringing all her clues and puzzle pieces together at the end.
But honestly, it was the characters and their relationships that really shined. Freddie is such a fun character, a curious girl who worships Scully and Mulder from The X-Files, although she leans more towards Scully since she doesn’t believe in monsters or the supernatural, lol. I loved the friendship between Freddie and Divya, especially the fact that they both love the boy band NSYNC and worship Lance Bass (they have a Lance keychain that they believe brings them good luck, and they take turns sharing it).
And I adored Freddie and Theo together, who start out as enemies—they do go to rival schools, after all—but soon realize they are undeniably attracted to each other. Freddie imagines them as the Capulets and the Montagues from Romeo and Juliet, and they decide to keep their burgeoning relationship a secret from their friends. There are some adorable kissing scenes between the two, which was the perfect amount of romance for the story. Their hysterically funny banter is top notch, and I found myself laughing out loud every time they were together. All the side characters are fantastic as well, especially Freddie’s parents, who have a great relationship with her.
The story seems to be a standalone, although Freddie and Theo and the others really grew on me and I wouldn’t mind a reunion at some point! The Executioners Three was a lot of fun, and I think it will be a hit not only with Susan Dennard’s fans, but with new readers as well.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
September 3, 2025
Such a solid YA mystery/thriller. I enjoyed the audio fine and thought the story wrapped up nicely. Around the middle I was left wanting a bit more suspense, but in the end everything came together nicely with a fun ending! Fun characters, loved the nods to the 90’s, boy bands and Lance Bass! Cheesy parts were cheesy in the best way.
August 23, 2025
The boy band references were top tier (take me back to the 90’s) This was a fun read and the audio was very well done
August 23, 2025
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.
In a small town, a man is found hanged. The town seems to want to cover it up with the easiest explanation and move on. Freddy's late father was a cop and her mother a bit of a town historian. She finds a little folklore which might explain what's happening but no one believes her because she has been a part of the local high school prank war. So she and a boy from the rival highschool become involved investigating but can they stop the deaths or keep themselves out of the crosshairs?
I really loved Freddie as a character. Sure, there is some teen angst in there... relating her crush on a student from a rival school to Romeo and Juliet was perhaps a bit dramatic. But she was plucky and clever and just made you want to root for her. I liked the fact that this was real world with only hints of the supernatural so it was easy to follow. I agree with the comparisons to Stranger Things with the intrepid teens and in this case a love for 90's pop culture, but vibe wise it reminded me of the classic Hocus Pocus.
In a small town, a man is found hanged. The town seems to want to cover it up with the easiest explanation and move on. Freddy's late father was a cop and her mother a bit of a town historian. She finds a little folklore which might explain what's happening but no one believes her because she has been a part of the local high school prank war. So she and a boy from the rival highschool become involved investigating but can they stop the deaths or keep themselves out of the crosshairs?
I really loved Freddie as a character. Sure, there is some teen angst in there... relating her crush on a student from a rival school to Romeo and Juliet was perhaps a bit dramatic. But she was plucky and clever and just made you want to root for her. I liked the fact that this was real world with only hints of the supernatural so it was easy to follow. I agree with the comparisons to Stranger Things with the intrepid teens and in this case a love for 90's pop culture, but vibe wise it reminded me of the classic Hocus Pocus.
August 22, 2025
The romance was JUST. SO. GOOD. And I loved the 90s nostalgia. So fun.
July 31, 2025
3.5 stars
Susan Dennard is the queen of ya mystery small town spooky. I loved the luminaries series and when I saw this, I couldn’t wait to read it. She does this genre so well and I loved the incorporates poem and history of the small town. I felt like the 90s references were a bit too much at the start but overall was fun and nostalgic.
Susan Dennard is the queen of ya mystery small town spooky. I loved the luminaries series and when I saw this, I couldn’t wait to read it. She does this genre so well and I loved the incorporates poem and history of the small town. I felt like the 90s references were a bit too much at the start but overall was fun and nostalgic.
June 11, 2025
I love the vibes of this book. Late 90’s, awkward teenager who gets caught in a mystery and wants to solve it but somehow accidentally rolls into several side quests. It’s entertaining in an endearing ‘ah, kids’-way, but also in an ‘on the edge of your seat’-way. As a nineties kid, the amount of references was amazingly nostalgic. Playing snake on your nokia, the X-files, Scooby Doo, AIM - gods I miss those messaging services. The amount of Romeo and Juliet references made my literature heart happy as well.
Susan Dennard always manages to write a world that sucks me in, and I always go through it with the main characters - Freddie’s intensity made me go through it. I flew through this book, read it in one sitting, as I couldn’t go to bed until all was unravelled. The suspense got me on the edge of my seat, once again trying to figure out what clues I was missing, who I should or shouldn’t trust. Add to that a rivalry relationship, and you end up with a wonderful story.
Additional Mae rec: this book vibes even more with your favourite nineties playlist playing in the background!
Susan Dennard always manages to write a world that sucks me in, and I always go through it with the main characters - Freddie’s intensity made me go through it. I flew through this book, read it in one sitting, as I couldn’t go to bed until all was unravelled. The suspense got me on the edge of my seat, once again trying to figure out what clues I was missing, who I should or shouldn’t trust. Add to that a rivalry relationship, and you end up with a wonderful story.
Additional Mae rec: this book vibes even more with your favourite nineties playlist playing in the background!
June 10, 2025
That was the single greatest piece of 90s nostalgia that I’ve ever read. Scooby Doo was one of my favorite shows growing up and the references in THE EXECUTIONERS THREE were absolutely spot on. I’m sure it was no coincidence that Freddie Gellar, the main character, was named after Fred from Scooby Doo and Sarah Michelle Gellar (who played Daphne in the live action Scooby Doo movies) - and if it was coincidence, it was an entirely happy one.
I loved this story. The romance was so sweet and the numerous boy band references made it even better. I also loved that you couldn’t tell if the mystery was supernatural or not until the end. It felt so Scooby Doo because of that.
I also enjoyed the X-Files references and it even gave Stranger Things vibes.
All in all, this was a great story which made my 90s baby heart happy. It’s perfect for spooky season and is easily my favorite Susan Dennard book to date.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved this story. The romance was so sweet and the numerous boy band references made it even better. I also loved that you couldn’t tell if the mystery was supernatural or not until the end. It felt so Scooby Doo because of that.
I also enjoyed the X-Files references and it even gave Stranger Things vibes.
All in all, this was a great story which made my 90s baby heart happy. It’s perfect for spooky season and is easily my favorite Susan Dennard book to date.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 25, 2024
This book has so many things going for it!
One, Freddie is funny. I connected with her level of sarcasm right away.
Two, the nostalgia in this book is REAL. So many references, from boy bands (rivalry), old school cell phones, TV shows from that era... It just doesn't stop and it's peppered throughout the entire book.
Three. Theo Porter. Freddie Gellar. Chemistry. Enough said.
Four. Amazing BFF. Everyone needs their version of Divya in their lives.
Five. How in the world can a book that is so funny also be horror at the same time? Intriguing plot (twists) as you'd expect from Susan Dennard, paired with witty, masterful writing. Above all, Freddie's voice is very distinct and unique, and Susan makes it stand out.
It's a skill. It truly is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
One, Freddie is funny. I connected with her level of sarcasm right away.
Two, the nostalgia in this book is REAL. So many references, from boy bands (rivalry), old school cell phones, TV shows from that era... It just doesn't stop and it's peppered throughout the entire book.
Three. Theo Porter. Freddie Gellar. Chemistry. Enough said.
Four. Amazing BFF. Everyone needs their version of Divya in their lives.
Five. How in the world can a book that is so funny also be horror at the same time? Intriguing plot (twists) as you'd expect from Susan Dennard, paired with witty, masterful writing. Above all, Freddie's voice is very distinct and unique, and Susan makes it stand out.
It's a skill. It truly is. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
August 9, 2025
Eureka and Gesundheit! This book made me laugh several times!
The Executioners Three is about Freddie Gelar who ends up in a supernatural adventure in her own little town in the nineties. She keeps hearing strange noises and people are showing up dead. Freddie's gut feeling tells her there is something strange going on and she decides to investigate it.
I loved Freddie. Even though everything around here felt weird, she tried to make sense of it all. I feel like a real person would do this as well. Sometimes people in books just feel fake to me. Freddie felt very realistic. Except for the part where she gives her phone a name. WHY?! 😂
I must say I didn't know what to think of this book in the beginning. In the first few chapters there was a lot of talk about the school rivalry that didn't interest me that much. But when the spooky things came up I could not put this book down. There where a few plottwists I didn't see coming and I loved the characters. Divya was my favorite! She always helped her best friend Freddie and was just the sweetest person. And she is queer, so that's another plus!
In the book there was talk about a poem called The Executioners Three and I loved how everything seemed to keep coming back to this. It does get a little graphic at moments but I do love a gross scene so I don't mind, haha.
If you are looking for a seasonal read this is your book. The story happens while it's autumn and has Halloween vibes. I don't know if there will be a part two for this book but I would definitely read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @netgalley for letting me read this Arc! 🫶🏼
The Executioners Three is about Freddie Gelar who ends up in a supernatural adventure in her own little town in the nineties. She keeps hearing strange noises and people are showing up dead. Freddie's gut feeling tells her there is something strange going on and she decides to investigate it.
I loved Freddie. Even though everything around here felt weird, she tried to make sense of it all. I feel like a real person would do this as well. Sometimes people in books just feel fake to me. Freddie felt very realistic. Except for the part where she gives her phone a name. WHY?! 😂
I must say I didn't know what to think of this book in the beginning. In the first few chapters there was a lot of talk about the school rivalry that didn't interest me that much. But when the spooky things came up I could not put this book down. There where a few plottwists I didn't see coming and I loved the characters. Divya was my favorite! She always helped her best friend Freddie and was just the sweetest person. And she is queer, so that's another plus!
In the book there was talk about a poem called The Executioners Three and I loved how everything seemed to keep coming back to this. It does get a little graphic at moments but I do love a gross scene so I don't mind, haha.
If you are looking for a seasonal read this is your book. The story happens while it's autumn and has Halloween vibes. I don't know if there will be a part two for this book but I would definitely read it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @netgalley for letting me read this Arc! 🫶🏼
August 28, 2025
Set in 1999, this paranormal mystery delivers buckets of nostalgia alongside spooky small-town secrets. Think: playing Snake on your Nokia, Goosebumps on your shelf, AIM chats, asking Jeeves, McDonald’s Hamburglar, The Craft, Austin Powers, Backstreet Boys vs. NSYNC – even Ferris Bueller gets a nod. If you lived through the 90s, this book is a full-on memory hit.
The story follows Freddie Gellar, wannabe sleuth and X-Files fangirl, who accidentally gets half the rival high school arrested after hearing screams in the woods. Next day, a body turns up. While the sheriff insists it’s suicide, Freddie knows there’s more at play – especially when creepy omens from an old poem, The Executioners Three, start surfacing: crows, fog, bells… and murder.
I loved the eerie small-town vibes, and the way the mystery builds towards the end. There are moments that really ramp up the tension and had me hooked. It has a similar feel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – which I loved – but while that one hit the mark, this one didn’t land the same way.
Why? Mostly the YA tone. A lot of it is rival schools pulling pranks, which felt childish. Freddie’s “Eureka, and gesundheit!” habit made me cringe, and naming her camera (Xena) is one thing, but calling it “sugar wookums”? Big ick. Add in the constant Romeo & Juliet quoting and it grated after a while.
Overall though, I enjoyed the nostalgic touches, the creepy folklore, and the final ramp-up of mystery. If you’re looking for a Halloween read with paranormal shenanigans and a big hit of 90s nostalgia, this could be right up your street.
3.5 stars bumped up to 4
The story follows Freddie Gellar, wannabe sleuth and X-Files fangirl, who accidentally gets half the rival high school arrested after hearing screams in the woods. Next day, a body turns up. While the sheriff insists it’s suicide, Freddie knows there’s more at play – especially when creepy omens from an old poem, The Executioners Three, start surfacing: crows, fog, bells… and murder.
I loved the eerie small-town vibes, and the way the mystery builds towards the end. There are moments that really ramp up the tension and had me hooked. It has a similar feel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – which I loved – but while that one hit the mark, this one didn’t land the same way.
Why? Mostly the YA tone. A lot of it is rival schools pulling pranks, which felt childish. Freddie’s “Eureka, and gesundheit!” habit made me cringe, and naming her camera (Xena) is one thing, but calling it “sugar wookums”? Big ick. Add in the constant Romeo & Juliet quoting and it grated after a while.
Overall though, I enjoyed the nostalgic touches, the creepy folklore, and the final ramp-up of mystery. If you’re looking for a Halloween read with paranormal shenanigans and a big hit of 90s nostalgia, this could be right up your street.
3.5 stars bumped up to 4
August 22, 2025
This YA novel blends a small-town mystery with a heavy dose of '90s nostalgia and I loved every second of it. From Lance Bass shoutouts to pop culture references, it’s so '90s-coded that I actually laughed out loud more than once. That said, I’m not sure how well it will resonate with younger readers, since many of the references are likely to go over their heads. This one definitely feels geared more toward Millennials who grew up in that era.
The mystery itself was fun and engaging, though the plot was just okay overall. What really carried the book for me were the vibes, it nails the nostalgic tone and atmosphere in a way that made it a super enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen for the ARC.
Release Date: August 26, 2025
The mystery itself was fun and engaging, though the plot was just okay overall. What really carried the book for me were the vibes, it nails the nostalgic tone and atmosphere in a way that made it a super enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Publishing Group, and Tor Teen for the ARC.
Release Date: August 26, 2025
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